SoWal Scene - South Walton County, Florida Blog

SoWal Scene's Weekend Live Music Roundup

Looking for some live jam sessions this weekend in South Walton?  Check out these bands!

FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY

Friday, August 8________

1. Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin | 850.267.8117 7-9pm Coconut Radio Band

2. Bud & Alley's Rooftop Bar at Seaside | 850.231.5900 8pm Phantom Wingo

3. Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin | 850.269.0830 8:30pm Sean Dietrich

4. Fonville Press at Alys Beach | 850.213.5906 5-9pm Trivia Night

5. JamBone - A Hardwood Joint in Santa Rosa Beach | 850.267.1497 9:30pm Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe   

6. La Botana | 850.231.0716 6pm Forrest Williams

7. Old Florida Fish House | 850.534.3045 815pm Fish House Band

8. Pandora's in Grayton | 850-231-4102 6pm spindletree

9. Red Bar in Grayton Beach | 850.231.1008 5-7pm - Jay Liles & 7pm The Red Bar House Jazz Band

10. Stinky's Fish Camp on 30A in Dune Allen Beach | 850.267.3053 8:30pm Jacob Newman

11. Salty Dog Saloon in Santa Rosa Beach | 850.267.1184 9pm Fusebox Funk & J Dash ($5/cover charge)

What neighborhoods are selling on 30A?

Posted by contributing Real Estate Blogger, Bert Summerville-Kain

I think everyone keeps hearing the negative about the economy, but I want my readers to know about the positive things that are happening in our little spot.

The hot, hot neighborhood that has a total of 47 sold homes since January 1, 2008 is WaterColor!  The price ranges of the homes were starting at $695,000 and the highest sale was $3.8 million.  The average square foot price in WaterColor this year is $488/sq.ft. 

The second hottest neighborhood selling is Rosemary Beach with a total of 7 homes and the average price per sq. foot is $710.

The third hottest neighborhood selling is Seaside, coming in with 5 sales and an average price per sq.foot at $903. 

And the fourth spot coming in with a total of 5 sold homes is Cypress Dunes with an average price per sq.foot of $403.  All figures have been taken from our Emerald Coast Association of Realtors multiple listing service.

Okay, okay, if you are not a numbers person, your eyes are probably already glazed over and you are waiting for someone to decipher this code right? 

Bottom line, we have had over 65 homes selling this year in the four mentioned neighborhoods, with a sq.footage cost of well over $600 .  Interestingly, Seaside has held it's value very well inspite of the fact that it is a much older neighborhood than the others.   

Although it might not be a great time to sell, we are not dead in the water either, the wind is still blowing and pushing those sailboats onward. 

Bert Summerville-Kain is a Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach.  Visit her website at www.beachhouseproperties.com.

{ the Thursday A-List } 30A.com's Hot Spots for....

... A Steak!

Attention carnivores - here are the Hottest Spots to Grab a Steak in South Walton as voted by 30A.com visitors:

1. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin
2. Seagar's Prime Steaks & Seafood in Sandestin
3. Fish Out of Water at the WaterColor Inn
4. Café Thirty-A in Seagrove Beach
5. MORE...

Rip currents, drownings and Red Flags in South Walton - The Danger is Real, Folks

Tropical Storm Edouard (video), like all tropical systems that form in the Gulf of Mexico every year, create a very dangerous situation on the beaches along the Emerald Coast - rip currents.  In the last week since the storm formed and moved ashore in Texas, five tourists have drown in Panama City Beach - two of which had been warned by authorities not to enter the water - double red flags were flying - but who chose not to listen and lost their lives because of it. 

In South Walton county, thank Jesus no one has drown recently but many have had to be rescued, most recently, according to the Walton Sun (see article below), yesterday when two got caught in a current at WaterSound, another at Sandestin who had to be life-flighted to Pensacola as she was close to death from drowning and three others who faced similar peril around South Walton.  Double red or red flags had been flying in all instances.

It is important for visitors to know, though, that there doesn't even have to be a tropical system to create rip currents.  Over the Memorial Day weekend, for example, 60+ swimmers who found themselves caught in rip currents had to be pulled to safety in Bay, Walton and Okaloosa counties and two tourists - a 20-year old and a 15-year old - drown.  I have posted on this before (see Related Posts below) and I will continue to post about it because everyone needs to know that the danger is very real and can, as we have seen over and over and over, end up in a tragedy I cannot begin to fathom having to deal with if it were my child, husband, wife, mother, brother, father, grandmother ...... who died because they didn't follow rules - rules meant to protect the very thing they lost - their lives.

So, here once again is critical information - for locals as a reminder, and visitors because we want to equip you with what you need so you can be safe while here with us on your vacation.  Please follow the rules, folks.

• Check the current beach conditions HERE
• Beach Safety Tips and Information HERE

Related Posts:

• What Do You Think?  Swimming on Double Red Flag Days
• 50+ swimmers pulled from Gulf rip currents so far this holiday weekend. Tragically, one tourist drowns.

Related Articles:

Finalists Announced for “Digital Graffiti” Festival

Alys Beach, Florida – (August 5, 2008) – Finalists have been chosen to be shown as part of the "Digital Graffiti" projection art festival to be held in Alys Beach this Labor Day weekend.

"We received many more entries than we ever expected, and from places as far away as Israel, Austria, India, Italy and China," said Kelli Arnold, the town’s Events Coordinator. "It was extremely difficult for our panel to narrow it down, but their selections feature a wonderful combination of local, national and international talents."

Sometimes referred to as "Photon Bombing" or "Urban Projection," underground artists around the globe have started using the latest technologies to project original video art onto skyscrapers and other structures, as a means of creative expression. But no outdoor event has ever been organized before to celebrate these talented artists.

Works submitted by the following 23 digital artists and teams have been selected to be projected during the festival:

• Ian Aleksander Adams (Savannah, GA)
• Dawn Chapman Anderson (Seaside, FL)
• Bryan Beasley  (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• Alan Becker (Ohio)
• Isabella Bertoletti (New York, NY)
• Donna Callighan (Stamford, CT)
• George Cannon (Trumansburg, NY)
• Sean Capone (Brooklyn, NY)
• Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• Adam Hayes Fisher (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• Garrett Horn (Seagrove, FL)
• Philip Scott Johnson (St Louis, MO)
• Dottie King (Pensacola, FL)
• Clemens Kogler (Linza, Austria)
• Florian Kuhlmann (Dusseldorf, Germany)
• Mollie Murphy (Princeton, NJ)
• Alessandro Perini (Cucciago, Italy)
• Alexander Reyna (New York, NY)
• Sumit Roy (New Delhi, India)
• Janis Sawyer (Seaside, FL)
• Mauritius Seeger (London, United Kingdom)
• Robert Seidel (Jena, Germany)
• James Sumpter (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• Michael Wyshock (Oneonta, NY)

These entries will now compete for $6,500 in cash prizes, including a $2,500 "Best of Show" award sponsored by Alys Beach, and a $1,000 "Best Local Artist" award sponsored by www.30A.com. A special $1,000 prize will also be awarded to the best entry with a "green" or environmental theme.

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In addition to fractals, digital animations and other video art, event organizers also received hundreds of compelling images from photographers around the world. A special $500 prize will be awarded to the best still-photography submission. A special wall will feature projected images submitted by the following photographers:

Adieu - Ball's Out Sports Bar on Hwy 331 S

Alas, the rumor is true - Ball's Out Sports Bar - which recently moved to a new location on Hwy 331 S in the old Seabar location at the foot of the bridge - has officially shut their doors.  Why?  I do not know but if their customer service skills were as poor as they were when I called earlier to find out more details about the closing and was hung up on - this is one of my biggest pet peeves - I could see how they may have had an issue.  But hey, I guess I would be pissy, too, if I had to shut down so I won't hold it against them.

Ball's Out was previously located at 4942 US Highway 98 W in the strip mall that also houses Chopstix and Don Pedros.  They always had a big crowd in that location - and I had heard they were successful - so many wondered why they would decide to move when they were doing so well.  Why did they move?  Did the business not follow them to their new location on Hwy 331 S?  Was there legal issues that forced them to close?  Are they opening again in another location?  We are all left to wonder.

Adieu, Balls Out.

George's at Alys Beach

(see lunch menu below)

I finally ate at George's at Alys Beach, the second restaurant venture for local residents George and Ann Hartley, owners of the South Walton landmark Seagrove Village Market at the intersection of Hwy 395 and Scenic 30A in Seagrove Beach. George's the "topic" has sprung up in sooooo many of my conversations of late so I just had to go and see what all the fuss is about and met a friend for lunch there yesterday.

The much anticipated restaurant finally opened it's doors on July 21st but the media buzz surrounding George's started back in March.  Why?  The Florida cottage-style building itself used to sit next to the Seagrove Village Market on Hwy 395.  Yes, for those in the know, it used to house the beloved and quaint Sandor's restaurant and the Hartleys had it uprooted and moved down Scenic 30A to it's current location in Alys Beach. 

So, how was my experience?  Right out of the chute I will give the Hartleys a 10 for the execution of the brand they are creating at George's.  The renovations made to the building are excellent - the ambiance is 100% "feel good" and exudes that elusive cool-factor.  The restaurant seats 60 - 20 inside and 40 on the screened in porch.  I have no doubt that attention to detail in absolutely every facet of the design was taken into consideration and I also suspect nothing went overlooked as it's absolutely seamless in this regard, from the chalkboards to the color schemes to the catchy toad (yes, toad as in frog) theme to the plates to the graphic design to the furniture to the music and on and on.  Great job Ann and George!

So what is up with this toad theme?  As I found out by reading "The Frog Story" on the back of the menu, it's not a reflection of the cuisine you will find at George's or a nod to something about the wildlife in South Walton but a personal story the Hartley's have about linen towels embroidered with leaping frogs they received as a wedding present 25 years ago.  Sounds like those towels prompted a lesson (maybe the first?) in Marriage Compromise 101.  How it inspired a restaurant only they know but it is a cute story and adds character to the whole shebang.

I would describe the menu as eclectic Southern-influenced American cuisine.  What the h*** does that mean?  Well, they offer everything from fried seafood baskets ($13-$15) and 1/2 lb. cheeseburgers with fries ($9) to healthy wraps ($9), spa-inspired items such as grilled tofu on veggie soba noodles ($12) and "Senora Anna's Fish Tacos" ($11).  I really like how they have approached the presentation of their menu - another well thought out detail  - by dividing the menu items into "misbehave" and "behave" categories.  Again, pretty cute and definitely memorable.

For my lunch, although I really really wanted to misbehave with a greasy cheeseburger with all the fixins and a hot, heaping pile of fries with ketchup, I chose to be a good girl and ordered the Curry Chicken Salad ($12) from the behave category.  Mixed with dried fruits, nuts and celery, 2 modest ice cream scoop-sized balls of chicken salad were served on a little bed of organic greens which were tossed with a vinaigrette.  It was delicious - full of chicken with a subtle sweetness from the fruit, creamy mouth-feel from the mayo, crunch from the celery and a mild curry flavor...it's a combination I absolutely adore.  It was served with a side of an orzo pasta with balsamic dressing that was also tasty although under-seasoned - something I noticed in a few of the items.  And yes, I felt like I had behaved after my meal.

SoWal Scene Q & A - Lauren Romano of Heartworks Kids

If there really are angels amongst us, local resident and one of my dearest friends, Lauren Romano, is one of them.  I caught up with Lauren recently online to ask her about her new venture called Heartworks Kids.  Read on, folks ... it truly is an amazing thing Lauren is creating in our community.

How long have you lived in South Walton?  Where did you move from?

Our family has been here for about 5 years now. After living in Boulder, Colorado for 17 years we decided to make the move to the beach.

Why South Walton?

We had heard about this area for a long time and planned a trip to travel from Panama City to Gulf Shores eight summers ago. When we came across South Walton...we fell in love.

A year later we came on vacation again with our first born. Before we left, we put a contract on a cute little Florida beach house. We were crying as we drove to the airport, our hearts were heavy, this place was really getting to us. My husband and I would find every excuse to come for a visit over the next two years.

Then in Aug of '03 we said, "That's it with the rat race!" and moved down in December. People thought we were crazy, but we didn't care. Florida had captured our souls and we never looked back. I think my husband would agree that it was the best decision we ever made.

Tell us all about Heartworks Kids. Where did the inspiration come from to start it?

Hip Happenings in South Walton this Week

Have an upcoming event you want the community to know more about?  Add a comment below.

A weekend of quiet

I'm off to pick up my boy at the Atlanta airport this weekend - he's been at camp in Pennsylvania for the last two weeks - and so will not be posting tomorrow or Sunday.  Well, maybe I will Sunday as I'm addicted but just in case I don't, you know all is well and I will be back for sure on Monday!

Happy weekend, folks!

South Walton on the 'Net - The Love Shack Restaurant, Real Estate & More

1) Birmingham News Online - The Love Shack Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach

Lovin' A New Destin-Area Restaurant
Posted by Susan Swagler -- Birmingham News June 20, 2008  

It's funky, fun and family friendly.  The Love Shack decor is simple but tasteful with lots of warm wood and works by local artists.  The tin roof is not at all rusted.

That's because The Love Shack is a brand-new Destin-area restaurant. (It's near the bay off East Hewett Road, which is off U.S. 98 just west of where U.S. 98 and County Road 30A intersect.) Open now for little over a month, it is as funky as the place in the B-52s' song -- but in a nice, rather sophisticated way. For one thing, it's not really a shack; but it is casual enough that families will love it. Also, it appears to have a solid local following -- always a good sign in an area full of touristy restaurants.

Inside, pretty lighting glows on warm wood walls and is reflected and repeated by strategically placed mirrors. These walls are decorated with schools of fish paintings, some on old barn wood, others are sculpture. Most are by local artist Joe Elmore (www.elmoreslanding.com). There also are several paintings by Justin Gaffrey, who has a gallery and studio down the road on 30A (www.gaffreyart.com). His thickly painted canvases of flowers and fish are dramatic and distinctive.

A wall of windows looks out onto a patio with a lovely pool and a small dance floor where a disco ball creates a colorful pool of glittering light. The actual pool, which features several pretty, graceful fountains, is open for diners (the restaurant is part of a new condo complex; everyone shares). Pack your swimsuit if you're so inclined; pack your kids' swimsuits if you want a little grown-up time at your table. Read More...

2)  Wander over to picture-perfect south Walton County
Tallahassee.com By Andy Lindstrom • SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT • July 15, 2008

Strictly speaking, the Beaches of South Walton run from just west of Panama City's high rises to the luxury hotels and maxi-malls of Sandestin by Choctawhatchee Bay.

But the heart of south Walton County's stunning string of world-class beaches and summer homes is County Road 30-A, 18 miles of nostalgia-inducing resort communities fitted around zealously guarded scrub acres and sea-oat-crowned sand dunes that make the area unmatched for gently managed nature in the Florida Panhandle.

Seaside, the state's original planned community of faux Victorian wooden cottages that has served as a template for numerous knockoffs since its early 1980s origins, may be the centerpiece for recapturing summer vacations your grandparents might remember. But more recent developments designed to cash in on that old-time atmosphere such as Seagrove Beach, WaterColor and Rosemary Beach have sprung up along a bustling little road that didn't even exist until the late 1950s.

At present, more than 14,500 rental units — most of them second homes or condos, with an estimated 65-percent to 85-percent occupancy during the summer months — are available along this part of the coast. An amazing 70 restaurants — seven of them rated among the state's Top 200 by Florida Trend magazine — make dining out a major activity.  Read More...

News and Gossip from Around South Walton

The SoWal Scene's Best of South Walton window decals are in! (see one here)  The winners of the popular polls - voted #1 by SoWal Scene readers - will receive one to put front and center on their store front so the world knows we think they rock!  Look for them over the next few weeks.

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Celebrity Sighting!  Olivier and I caught a glimpse of Laurie Hickson-Smith of Discovery Channel's Trading Spaces in the Publix at WaterColor Crossings recently.  She noticed us staring at her and gave us a little smile - I was embarrassed for gawking.  Sorry Laurie!  She was doing some grocery shopping with her kiddos.  Welcome to the beach!

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I bumped into Dave Rauschkolb, owner of that South Walton institution known as Bud and Alley's and The Taco Bar at Seaside, at the Fonville Press at Alys Beach this morning.  He told me he is opening a pizza place in the vacant location where Café Spiaggia used to be in Seaside this October!  He just returned from a research trip in Naples, Italy and plans on offering authentic, wood-fired Neapolitan 'za - YUM!  Right now, the name of the place is "The Pizza Bar" but he is open to possibly naming it something else.  Keep us updated, Dave!

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Speaking of new restaurants, Olivier spoke with fellow chef, Shayne Vaughan - formerly of Criollas Restaurant - and it appears Shayne is opening his place this fall in the space where Fabrice used to be on Hwy 98 in Santa Rosa Beach.  Shayne, a native of Australia, is naming the restaurant "A Taste of Oz" in a nod to his heritage.  I wonder if  he will be serving Vegemite and kangaroo steaks?  Just kidding.  Whatever Shayne does serve I'm sure will be outstanding as he is incredibly talented behind the stove.  Keep us posted, Shayne!

Related Posts:

• News from around South Walton - July 24
• Et Cetera - July 14
• Et Cetera - June 30

Support Your Favorite South Walton Businesses!

These Polls will expire on August 15th!

Related Posts:

• SoWal Scene's Best of South Walton 2008 - New Polls Added!

Wanted - Volunteers and Projectors for Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach on August 30!

Event coordinators are currently looking for volunteers to assist at Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach on August 30 and businesses and individuals who can lend their projector for the evening!

“Digital Graffiti” at Alys Beach is a festival created to celebrate and promote the world’s most talented and innovative digital artists - with the entire town literally serving as their canvas.

The 2008 festival will be held on the evening of Saturday, August 30th (Labor Day Weekend), with thousands of spectators expected to attend.

The deadline for entries was July 11th, and event organizers say that they were overwhelmed by the response.

Please contact Kelli Arnold at 850.213.5517 or via email events@alysbeach.com  for all the fine details.

Related Posts:

• Calling All Artists!
• Digital Graffiti Festival Draws Entries From Around the Globe

WaterColor Inn and Resort Wins Top Honors in Travel + Leisure World’S Best Awards. Inn Named One of the Top 100 Hotels in the US and Canada!

The readers of Travel + Leisure chose WaterColor Inn and Resort as one of the “Top 100 Hotels in the Continental U.S. and Canada” in the magazine’s 2008 World’s Best Awards survey.  This is the third consecutive year the 60-room, luxury beach front hotel on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast has been named to this prestigious list.

To qualify for the World’s Best Awards, readers of Travel + Leisure and TravelandLeisure.com judged hotels on five criteria: rooms/facilities, location, services, restaurants/food and value. They were also asked to rate the hotel’s appeal for business travelers and families. Out of a total 100 points, WaterColor Inn and Resort earned 84.75, ranking higher than other illustrious hotels such as the famed Greenbrier and several Ritz-Carlton hotels.

This distinction adds to WaterColor’s ever-increasing collection of awards and accolades.  Forbes.com recently listed the property as one of its 2008 “Ultimate U.S. Vacation Spots,” and the Inn was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s coveted 2008 Gold List, which revealed its readers’ choices for “The World’s Best Places to Stay.”

As Northwest Florida’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel, WaterColor has consistently maintained the highest standards of service, providing an unparalleled number of amenities for guests of all ages and tastes. The 499-acre resort’s white sand beach, coastal dune lake, lush parks and woodland trails are a scenic playground for all sorts of leisure activities, from biking, kayaking and canoeing to body boarding and fishing. WaterColor also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, full-service spa, gourmet dining at its acclaimed Fish Out of Water restaurant, and a host of kid-friendly activities at its popular Camp WaterColor. In addition, guests enjoy privileged access to three exclusive golf courses – Camp Creek Golf Club (by Tom Fazio), Shark’s Tooth Golf Club (by Greg Norman) and Origins (by Davis Love III).

The resort also offers several experiential programs that highlight the natural beauty of Northwest Florida, including eco-tours and unique culinary programs like the Foraging the Forgotten Coast Tour, where guests accompany a chef to learn how food gets from the farm and sea to their plate by meeting local purveyors and working alongside them to forage for their own meals.

WaterColor also holds special appeal for art enthusiasts thanks to the July 2008 opening of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art @ WaterColor in the resort’s Town Center. This first satellite branch of the famous Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans showcases changing exhibitions of noted Southern and local artists’ works.

Related Posts:

• Ogden Museum Opens at WaterColor
• South Walton in the New York Daily News

Remember the Clamato!

Posted by contributing Real Estate Blogger, Bert Summerville-Kain

How do I get my house to sell? This is a question that has been nagging home owners for years, and particularly in today’s challenging market.

We are seeing some crazy, creative and unconditional marketing techniques spring up.   For instance, there was a single mother in South Florida who offered herself in marriage to some “lucky” homebuyer, (not sure if I call that "lucky") and a couple in Pennsylvania who offered to will their house’s selling price back to the buyer, upon their death!  Now, I don't know about you, but the only thing that kind of sales pitch would do for me is make me uneasy.

But, what about this?  How many times have you gone to the grocery store never intending to purchase a surplus of goods, and when you get to the checkout, there you are….four boxes of cereal, 6 jars of orange marmalade, and two bottles of Clamato juice ( and I don’t even like the stuff).  But there was a large sign, TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE, which I couldn't refuse!

We are all driven by price, even if we don’t want to admit it. We will purchase something we really don’t need if we perceive that it is a bargain!   

Real estate isn't much different, especially in our area.  A large portion of our home owners are not full time residents.  Simply put, they really don't NEED this home, but instead, they made a decision to purchase for a lot of reasons other than necessity.   It is important and almost crucial in our market for a seller to realize that this is almost an "impulse buying" market.  The value must be distinct in order for the buyer to sort through all of the existing inventory. 

As my Broker keeps saying....."it is a beauty contest and a price war" and I would like to leave you with my advice.................."Remember the Clamato!"

Bert Summerville-Kain is a Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach.  Visit her website at www.beachhouseproperties.com.

Some Videos for your Viewing Pleasure courtesy of YouTube

The Emerald Coast - A Destination Video

Cafe 30A

Coastal Vision 3000 - The leaders of this organization drop by the Northwest Florida Daily News to explain their mission

Experience Beaches of South Walton Shopping