Beginner Friendly Tennis Round Robin in Watercolor

The renowned tennis resorts of Watercolor and Seaside, with the help of Tennis Pro Tracy Townsend is hosting the 3rd Annual Love All Round Robin Tennis Tournament to benefit local charity, Food for Thought Outreach on Saturday, September 21st. The Walton County based non-profit whose mission is to provide food and meals to local children in need, depends greatly on events like these to keep providing services.

The Love All Round Robin last year gained a lot of traction and in addition to raising thousands of dollars for FFT in just a matter of hours, helped bring awareness to an organization that not only serves Walton County, but also most recently expanded to help children in the Destin area.

Beachy Beach 30A Real Estate is the presenting sponsor again this year and will be helping facilitate this event with the help of 30A Tennis and will provide lunch and refreshments for players. Attendees will enjoy a friendly Round Robin competition with other tennis aficionados like themselves as well as participate in a Silent Auction which will include items from local vendors such as designer jewelry from Blessings in Disguise, luxury home goods from Summer House Lifestyle, and unique home and garden items from Clay 30A Nursery and more. Participants will also have a chance to purchase inaugural Food for Thought and Love All merchandise, with all profits going directly to the FFT mission.

Another exciting change for this year’s event, is that not only are all levels welcome to join in the game, both Men and Ladies can participate this year as there will be Men’s Doubles and Ladies’ Doubles. The event is beginner friendly, so novices need not be shy!

Registration is also quick and easy as players can go online to www.lovealltennis.net and pay with their credit card, and even elect to give an extra donation to Food for Thought, should they choose. For more information about the event, whether you want to play or you want to help out or donate an auction item, please email tennis@foodforthoughtfl.org or call 850-231-3060 and ask for Hilary or Britt.

In addition to getting a chance to play with tennis players like themselves, included in the cost of the admission ticket, players will enjoy lunch and swag from Beachy Beach 30A Real Estate as well as two raffle tickets for a chance to win a raffle prize from Cotton Land Title which has generously donated a Off Shore Fishing Trip with Salty Fish Coastal Outfitters. If you can not make the event and still want a a chance at the raffle prize, you can email jennifer@cottonlandtitle.com for more details.

You can also stay connected to this year’s event by visiting the Facebook Page for 30A Tennis, where you can share the event with friends and get a sneak peak at some of the auction items as the event nears.

To find out how you can help Food for Thought Outreach as they work to serve more schools in our area, visit their website at www.foodforthoughtfl.org or email them directly at info@foodforthoughtfl.org.

Light up the Night In Sandestin for Shelterhouse

This coming weekend is Run for the Redfish at Pier Park then the weekend after, many of our PCB Daily friends are headed to Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina to light up the night with the Luminaria Run to END Domestic Violence at 5 pm on Saturday, December 8th.

Shelter House, the domestic violence center serving nearby Okaloosa and Walton counties, is once again teaming up with Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for a unique twilight run that will shine the light on domestic violence in our area.

The Luminaria Run to End Domestic Violence will take place on Saturday, December 8, starting and ending at Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina. The course will be lined with more than 2,000 luminarias, lighting the path for the runners.

The race includes 5k and 9k courses winding throughout Sandestin. “We chose the 9k distance to represent that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S.,” explained Shelter House Executive Director Michelle Sperzel. “The luminarias symbolize how Shelter House and our community partners light the way to a safer place for victims of domestic violence.”

Children are encouraged to participate in the run. This family-friendly event will include a party at the finish line featuring s’mores, thanks to the Destin Dream Team and hot cocoa to keep us warm courtesy of San Gelato.

This is a twilight race starting at 5pm. Registration for the 5k is $25 for adults in advance or $35 on site and $10 for children in advance or $15 on site. The 9k race costs $40 in advance or $50 on race day for adults and $15 in advance and $20 on race day for children. Walkers are also welcome.

Luminary bags will be labeled and placed along the course in honor or in memory of loved ones. Bags are available through a $10 donation to Shelter House and can be purchased at the Shelter House office in Fort Walton Beach or on site the day of the race.

If you want to make a weekend out of it, you can……Sandestin is offering special rates for race participants wishing to stay at the resort. Call 800-622-1038 for reservations or reserve online at www.sandestin.com with the group code HOUSE2.

To register, please go to www.shelterhousenwfl.org or www.imathlete.com. For more information on the race, sponsorships or luminary bags, call Shelter House at 850-243-1201.

You can also stay tuned into the Luminaria Run via some of the Event’s generous media sponsors such as Sowal.com, 30a.com, SouthWalton.com and Destin Shines.

The inaugural Luminaria Run drew more than 260 runners last year and raised over $7,000 to help keep abused women and children safe.

Shelter House, Inc. is a state certified domestic violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton Counties and offering emergency confidential shelter, crisis counseling, a 24-hour hotline, children’s programs, information and referrals, education, professional training, safety planning and prevention services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.

If you feel that a family member or intimate partner is endangering your physical or emotional safety or if you know someone experiencing this in their home, call Shelter House’s hotline at 1-800-44-ABUSE or 850-863-4777.

Shelter House depends on the generous heart of many local small businesses including but not limited to: ERA Realty of NWFL, Waterstone Mortgage, Dixie Electric Car, Emerald Coastierge, Pleat & Perry, Run with It, Pyroshows, Golds Gym, BE Events, KIND Bars, Furry Fanatics, Think it Wear it Express, Lululemon, NWFL Track Club, Emerald Coast Chiropractic, Chobani, Marriot Courtyard, Beach-N-Bakery, GLAS Designs, Silversands Premium Outlets, Wagley Design, Off the Vine and Many MORE!

Share the Shelter Music Fest Hits 30A

Shelter House and Alaqua Animal Refuge are joining forces once again to raise awareness and funds to save the lives of people and animals impacted by violence in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The 2nd Annual Share the Shelter Music Fest will take place Saturday, September 29 at Gulf Place on 30A in Santa Rosa Beach.

Concert goers should expect a full day of music, art, food and fun. Gates open at 11 am with performances running from noon to 10 pm.

In addition to music, the festival will feature local food vendors and artists with selections ranging from jewelry to clothing to refurbished furniture. A bounce house will be on-site for the kids to enjoy.

Share the Shelter jpeg — Invite Friends with their Event Page.

Performers include: Geoff McBride of NBC’s “The Voice” , singer and songwriter of hits such as “American Honkey Tonk Bar Association” Bryan Kennedy; Florida GRAMMY Showcase winner Chris Alvarado; and 2012 Best Band on the Emerald Coast in Emerald Coast Magazine Heritage. Kelsey Anna, Boukou Groove, Megan McCormick, Forrest Williams and Daphne Willis round out the lineup.

General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children (ages 2 to 12). VIP tickets are $125 and include VIP lounge seating, food and drinks. The VIP section sold out last year, so be sure to purchase your pass early.

Leashed dogs are also welcome at this year’s concert. VIP Pooch Passes are available for $20 and include access to the VIP lounge (with human VIP) and a Puppy Pampering Bag with treats. Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.sharetheshelter.org. There will be an additional $5 charge for tickets purchased at the gate.

Like the Share the Shelter Facebook page for the latest updates on musicians, vendors and more.

The 2011 concert drew more than 500 music fans and brought in over $21,000 for Shelter House and Alaqua Animal Refuge.

Foreclosures & Summertime Dreaming on The Beach Show

1. Deal #1 is a Wild Heron Foreclosed bungalow for only $279,900
SEVERAL OFFERS ON THE TABLE AT TIME OF FILMING.
2,496 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths
Gated neighborhood of Wild Heron located on Lake Powell with amazing amenities
Fitness center, Kayaks, canoes, fishing, swimming pool, boat house, walking trails and 24 hour security
2. Deal #2 is a beautiful Gulf front community home for only $765,000
Summertime Dreaming is an amazing beach home with a guest house
Pool with beautiful architecture and landscape
Over 2,000 square feet and total of 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths
Several walk overs to the beach with 3 pools and playground, tennis courts and 24 hour guarded gate
3. Deal 3 is move in ready GREAT investment condo for $224,900
EXCELLENT rental potential with a fully furnished Beachy Beach FUN
Beautiful pool with murals and great access to your beach front with excellent views
Near the water park making it a family fun spot

Planning for New Year’s Eve? Ideas Have Arrived

Christmas is right around the corner, which means that 2012 is looming near as well! If you aren’t sure how to spend the last moments of 2011 maybe you’ll find some inspiration in these events!

Pier Park’s 4th Annual Beach Ball Drop

Say farewell to 2011 and hello to 2012 at Pier Park with a family-friendly celebration that includes balloon artists, stilt walkers, and the release of over 7,000 beach balls. The countdown to midnight will involve the lowering of a 800-pound beach ball and fireworks to celebrate the start of 2012.

Festivities are set to begin at 5:30pm on December 31st, 2011 with the beach ball release being scheduled for 7:00pm.

Visit previous articles to get a feel for the event:

Beach Ball Drop 2010

Pictures from 2010

A Video of 2008’s Event

3rd Annual Countdown to Seaside! A New Year’s Eve Celebration

Seaside’s festivities begin at 7pm on December 31st, 2011 and will continue into the wee hours of 2012. The event is a family-friendly party with live entertainment, kids’ art projects, street performers, and a firework display over the Gulf of Mexico. Performances will include Kyle Lamonica at 7pm, The David Mayfield Parade at 8:15pm, and at 10pm Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers will take the stage. Midnight will be greeted with an amazing firework display.

From 7pm-11pm, Abrakadoodle will be offering free unique art projects for children. These projects will include noisemakers and time capsules! There will also be face painters to help get everyone in the festive spirit!

SHINE- A NYE Celebration in Paradise, at the Holiday Inn

The Holiday Inn is partnering with Give Kid’s The World Foundation for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will help a family with a child, whose medical bills and conditions would have prevented them from enjoying their time together, make amazing memories.

They have special prices for a room, dinner, party, breakfast, and drink tickets- all including a late checkout time! Please visit them online to see the different packages and pricing available for New Year’s Eve. Have fun celebrating a new year for a great cause!

Make sure to have fun, because “how you start the year, is how you spend the year!”

Richard Adams Book Signing: Author of The Parting

The Hidden Lantern in Rosemary Beach will be holding a book signing for the award-winning author Richard Adams this Saturday from 10am-12pm. Richard Adams is the author of The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War.

Richard Barlow Adams

The author of this book graduated from West Point in the Class of 1967, the first of three brothers graduating from West Point. He served in Vietnam as an artillery forward observer for D Company, 1/506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. After returning to the United States he worked as an army aviator for the Army Corps of Engineers. He later returned to Austin, TX and his family to begin a career as a consulting civil/environmental engineer. Later, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA where he formed, grew, and sold an environmental engineering company. Since the sale he has consulted as a sole practitioner and pursued a second career in writing.

Adams has remained active in alumni affairs at West Point, even serving as adjunct assistant professor to West Point’s Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering and as adjunct professor to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Southern Methodist University.

The Parting

Describing life in the Victorian Era and at West Point, The Parting, is based on non-fictional sources. The story involves West Point’s military and academic excellence, Jefferson Davis’ ties to West Point, General Winfield Scott, British Royalty’s first visit to North America, and Benny Havens, the legendary tavern keeper.

There are characters from several states, Edmund (Ned) Kirby (New York), Henry du Pont (Delaware), Thomas Rosser (Texas), George Custer (Ohio), Adelbert Ames (Maine), Nathaniel Chambliss (Tennessee), Charles Patterson (Arkansas), Henry Walter Kingsbury (Connecticut), Emory Upton (New York), Charles Hazlett (Ohio), Patrick O’Rorke (New York), Charles Ball (Alabama), and Henry Farley (South Carolina), serving as cadets at West Point. The story of The Parting focuses on John Pelham from Alabama, who does not like following the rules West Point laid out for him.

Enjoy meeting the author and getting your copy signed!

Where Color + Texture Collide

The Hidden Lantern Gallery in Rosemary Beach is proud to host a new show, Where Color + Texture Collide. This exhibit will feature artists Lauren Carvalho and Donnelle Clark. This exhibit will be on display from November 7th, 2011 till December 10th, 2011.

About The Exhibit

Donnelle Clark uses colors and varying surfaces to play to optical and tactile senses making the texture almost touchable. Utilizing materials with different qualities, such as Japanese paper, tissue, sand, burlap, lace, and more Clark maps a natural landscape on her pieces. Her pieces oscillate between abstract and representation. The picture to the left, Turtle, is one of the pieces to be featured at the exhibit.

Lauren Carvalho, Gallery Director and Resident Artist, is well known for oceanic sculptures. She gathers her materials from the local landscape, including leaves, palm bark, and pine cones. The pieces she uses are selected for their textural qualities and natural color shifts, and how they come together to form tone, line, and texture. Carvalho’s work gives the materials a new purpose. You can see her Gold Blue Fish (above image) at the exhibit, as well as the piece to the right, Patterned Flight.

About The Hidden Lantern Gallery

Located in Rosemary Beach, The Hidden Lantern Gallery is committed to making local and regional emerging artists more visible to the public. The gallery opened in 2010, and has since been home to a large variety of art – many outside the traditional boundaries. The Hidden Lantern doubles as a bookstore, where you can find a unique selection of quality texts. The bookstore opened in 2011. The Hidden Lantern hopes to inspire and engage those who visit their gallery.

Enjoy your visit to The Hidden Lantern for Where Color + Texture Collide!

Seacrest Wolf Preserve provides safe haven for displaced gray wolves

Preserve dispels myths, educates the public on this fascinating carnivore

Mystic, a British Columbian alpha female wolf. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Cynthia Watkins, owner of the Seacrest Wolf Preserve has been fond of animals as long as she can remember. A show breeder of Siberian Huskies early on in her career, she became interested in the conservation of wolves in the 1980s. In 1995, Cynthia became involved with the Yellowstone National Park Wolf Reintroduction Program where she experienced her first physical contact with a wolf.

“The experience stoked the fire of conservation in my heart,” Cynthia said beaming with enthusiasm for the animals.

What started off as a small conservation effort in 1999, Cynthia and her husband Wayne now care for 25 pure gray wolves along with several other animals at their preserve.

Click here to continue to Walton Outdoors story and video

Experience WaltonOutdoors.com

WaltonOutdoors.com One of Northwest Florida’s most exciting and growing industries is, without question, eco-tourism. Northwest Florida inhabitants enjoy one of the most diverse areas in all of America, an area that can rival places like Costa Rica with its pristine coastline, diverse ecology and landscape.

One site dedicated to showing off our incredible area is WaltonOutdoors.com, an online community resource for outdoor life in Walton County and the surrounding area. Lori Ceier, the site’s founder, acknowledged the power of eco-tourism as an untapped resource for our area.

The entire region of Northwest Florida is covered in eco-jewels from places like Econfina Creek and Morrison Springs to Eden Gardens and Topsail, places that the area’s expanding market will fly in to see. It will be interesting to see, as the new airport comes online, the eco-tourism effect. Our area as a whole, from Panama City Beach to Walton County and surrounding areas should see a tremendous benefit.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4243895&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1

WaltonOutdoors.com showcases everything from beaches, hiking, fishing and more. The amazing variety of activities throughout the area is and will continue to develop into a massive draw for the tourism industry.

To all you people who haven’t been out to experience our truly amazing area, take a quote from WaltonOutdoors.com’s founder; “Get out and explore.”

Please visit http://waltonoutdoors.com. We think you will be amazed at the depth and quality of the information Lori has developed regarding all there is to do outdoors in our area.

Opinion: Why all the 30A Love?

Recently a trip to 30A by the TooCreative team, meant to experience the magnetism of a increasingly popular area just west of Panama City Beach, caused grumbles among a few of our readers. Questions as to why a hyper-local media outlet would suddenly focus on a totally different city filled comment and email boxes. Well, just so you know, there was an underlying purpose behind the trip that walking the cobblestone streets only seemed to underscore: the future of Panama City Beach is on 30A.

It should be said that Panama City Beach’s future is much, much, larger than 30A and to be frank, I’ve always seen Panama City Beach becoming a smaller-less-hedonistic version of Miami. At the same time, however, I recognize how badly PCB is in need of an identity change. With the new airport scheduled to be operational in less than a year, there is not enough time to truly make the change needed to not only win over the new market but to change the unflattering perceptions of PCB in current markets. The solution then, is 30A.

Many readers took our trip to 30A as betrayal; us PCBdaily guys going over to talk about the enemy. You’d be shocked at how many people criticized us saying we were turning our heads towards Destin. My initial reaction was that perhaps they don’t realize how close Panama City Beach is to 30A—much closer than Destin, they don’t realize Bay County ends mere yards from the luxurious strip, they don’t understand that when that new airport comes online Panama City Beach’s inevitable expansion will go westward right into, you guessed it, 30A. So why all the canoodling, you ask? Well, it’s all about perception.

If you’ve never been to New York City, New York, you may not realize the actual size of the city. It’s big, but not as big as you may think. Southerners are notorious for assuming that when someone from “Up North” says, I’m from New York, they automatically are from New York City. That’s not the case. But the perception still lingers. Same case for 30A. When people talk about Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach and great restaurants like Calizas or the Red Bar, others assume they are talking about Destin. Imagine if those same people associated those places with Panama City Beach. All of a sudden, the Redneck Riviera takes on a more artistic and cultural identity. Imagine if Panama City Beach a held few of its events in Rosemary Beach or encouraged Seaside to hold part of its festivals at Pier Park. Imagine if the magic that makes up Panama City Beach blended with the magic of Seaside. The benefit would be immense.

This idea, mind you, didn’t come out of thin air and surely I am not the first person to think of it. I once worked for a company called Paradise Found Vacation Rentals, who coincidentally rented units in the Villages of South Walton. I saw firsthand the guests who stayed spent more time in Panama City Beach than 30A. Currently, Oaseas Resorts rents units within the Village of South Walton.

The big question on everyone’s mind is, when that new clientele from Chicago and New York fly into the new airport will they be more inclined to turn left off 79 or right? Many of these people have never heard of Panama City Beach and if they have they know the city as the party-capitol-of-the-south. I’ve lived in St. Louis, been to Chicago, Cincinnati and spent time in New York. What Panama City Beach is growing and developing into is a better, more multifaceted landing pad for this new clientele; a clientele who likes jazz and blues, good wine, attractions, shopping, beach lifestyle and well staffed, nicely appointed accommodations. Panama City Beach will be that place, and it almost is now, but not quite. What you have on 30A is a ready-made transition for that clientele. I’m not suggesting Panama City Beach guests go out and stay or spend all their money on 30A, only that they see 30A as an extension of Panama City Beach’s versatility, giving Panama City Beach a richer, enhanced perception.

This all begins with co-operatives. As it stands, Panama City Beach allows the Destin area to assume 30A as its own. With new ad/creative and PR agencies representing Panama City Beach, co-operatives with businesses, accommodations and events in that area will be easier than ever. And, truth be told, if you don’t think 30A businesses have PCB envy already, you’re wrong. During our trip to 30A, we found that lots of business would be more willing to work with Panama City Beach than you might imagine. In fact, only one comment, out of dozens, said “only if Panama City Beach cleans up its image,” the others were excited about the prospect. There simply needs to be a greater participation and Panama City Beach imprint in that area. We could exchange databases, co-op for events, work together on city programs such as beach clean-up and recycling and so much more. In the end, Panama City Beach will absorb some of 30A’s magic and 30A will ride the wave of Panama City Beach’s expansion. It’s a virtual win-win, if not an inevitability.

I guess this piece is a call to action. Panama City Beach needs to extend a hand to 30A. This isn’t “betrayal” thinking as much as it is “futuristic” thinking. We only have one shot to make a great impression on New York, Chicago, Detroit and cities we never dreamed would have direct flights into our little town. Now is the time to set aside our differences and show these new vacationers everything we have to offer. So, CVB, TDC, JB Inc, Fahlgren, Lou Hammond and all you local business owners we encourage you to take a ride and re-discover 30A; I’m positive you’ll find yourself thinking what I’m thinking.