SoWal Scene - South Walton County, Florida Blog

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.

A unique & beautiful venue for your wedding - Weatherall Fine Art Weddings in Santa Rosa Beach

Curtis Weatherall of Weatherall Fine Art and his wife, Heather, have a neat venue and service for brides and grooms as well as lovebirds who want to celebrate their anniversary with family and friends at their gallery on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach - Weatherall Fine Art Weddings.

The gallery provides the perfect setting for an upscale wedding and celebration, accommodating up to 100 guests inside and out under a tent, creating an exquisite atmosphere for your event. They offer complete wedding ceremony and reception packages for the destination bride or they can tailor their services to meet your needs.  Have your wedding ceremony here or at the beach, a short stroll away, then celebrate with family and friends in this sophisticated venue.

I caught up with Heather recently to ask more about Weatherall Fine Art Weddings.

Do you help brides to be with all the details of their reception?

Yes, I am personally involved with all the details of each wedding and reception at Weatherall Fine Art. Many of our brides are either very busy or from out-of-town so they want me to coordinate the wedding day for them. I offer complete packages for the wedding ceremony and reception but the bride and groom may be involved as much as they like. I really try to get an idea of their style and dream for their wedding day because expectations are unique to each couple. I want their wedding to be special to them and their family. I really enjoy making their wedding day everything that they have dreamed of! It is definitely a passion of mine.

Can people hold their wedding there as well?

Yes, most couples choose to get married on the beach at sunset, which is within walking distance to the gallery, and then celebrate with the reception at the gallery. But some couples prefer to have both the wedding ceremony and reception at the gallery. The gallery is always a backup to the beach for the ceremony in event of rain. Our packages include the ceremony at either location.

How many people does the space accommodate?

Weatherall Fine Art can accommodate up to 100 guests. The gallery has both indoor and outdoor space that can be utilized for the event. The outdoor space can accommodate a 40x40 tent set up if the couple prefers. There is also a two bedroom honeymoon suite located above the gallery that can serve as a lovely honeymoon for the couple.

What about other events - bridesmaid luncheons, anniversary parties, etc??

We have hosted anniversary parties, bridesmaid luncheons and rehearsal dinners in addition to weddings at Weatherall Fine Art. The gallery is a wonderful venue for just about any upscale event.

Weatherall Fine Art Weddings is located at 3730 Scenic 30-A West, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.  Their phone is 850-419-3962.  Their website is www.weatherallfineartweddings.com.

Related Information:

• Weddings in South Walton
  

JamBone - A Hardwood Joint in Santa Rosa Beach

I couldn't hold out any longer.  I had been waiting to try JamBone - a new barbeque restaurant that recently opened on Hwy 98 in Santa Rosa Beach - with Olivier but, his schedule being what it is during the season, trying to find time to grab a quick lunch or dinner alone takes some planning.  And last week, as I was driving toward Destin, my craving for BBQ won out and I made an impromptu stop at JamBone for lunch alone.  Wow - am I glad I did. It was absolutely, fantastically delish and I can't wait to get back to sample more from the menu. 

Owner Scott Alderson opened this "hardwood joint" in what was Coco's restaurant.  I must say - it is the perfect location for his concept as the strip mall it's located in is fairly run down and outdated.  Anything other than a "joint" in that space wouldn't fit with the feel of the location.  But JamBone fits perfectly and will do well because of it - it's that Location. Location. Location. thing.  I really like how they have it set it up as well.  There is no table service - you order at the counter and they call out your number.  As their tag says, it's "slow food .... fast".

What is truly remarkable about JamBone, though, is that it is the first eco-conscious barbeque restaurant I have ever been in - or even ever heard of.  Yes, folks, JamBone is a green barbeque joint!  How fabulous is that?  I don't think that this is a marketing stunt, either.  They seem take their eco-role seriously, from using corn and sugar based biodegradable to-go cups and containers to only using hormone and steroid-free, free range, and organic meats (which you can tell in the finished product) bought from local farms whenever possible.  I just love it!  CONTINUE READING...

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Adieu - Locanda Italiana Ristorante in Santa Rosa Beach

Gosh - I just HATE to see that - the ominous "For Lease" sign in a restaurant that had excellent food but just couldn't survive.  I drove by Locanda Italiana (4942 Hwy 98W in the strip mall with Don Pedros and Chopstix) yesterday and noticed the sign on both the restaurant and the attached Coliseum Bar. 

Opened in 2007 by three Italian men - Lorenzo Pacifico, Vittorio Gianni and master chef Alfonso Di Bonito - the menu was authentic southern Italian cuisine with a special emphasis on seafood.  OK...so I cannot tell a lie - I had never been there - but I had only heard rave reviews about it which is why it is heart-breaking to think maybe they didn't survive.  My hope is that they moved to a new location - I shouldn't start rumors that they are totally kaput as I don't know this - but when I called their number it said the number is no longer in service and didn't give a forwarding number.  Not a good sign.

You know, it is perplexing why some businesses work and others don't.  Some times there definitely are obvious reasons - bad location, lack of marketing or lack of quality marketing, sucky food, bad atmosphere - but more times than not, there are no real reasons, or at least not enough logical ones to fully answer "why".  Hmmmm......

Adieu - OneYoga Boutique Studio, South Walton

From the website:

"It is with great regret that I am announcing that OneYoga Boutique Studio - South Walton will be closing indefinitely on March 13.

It's been quite a ride for me personally and professionally and I am eternally grateful that  I have had the opportunity to bring South Walton it's first multi-style yoga and meditation studio dedicated exclusively to both practices. I will be ready and willing to pursue the opportunity again if and when the area is ready to support me so please stay tuned in the future!

There are several places in SoWal to take a yoga class still - Dancing with Life in Seagrove, Balance Health Studio in Seagrove, Yoga on 30A in Grayton Beach - so please continue to support these small businesses."

New Publix breaking ground soon? No. [sigh]

I was very excited to read a few months back that Publix had purchased a parcel of land near the corner of Hwy 98 and Veteren's Road in Santa Rosa Beach for a third store in SoWal.  This new location is really near my house and anything that can save me time in a day - like going to the grocery - is welcome in my book.  I was here when the nearest grocery store was the Winn-Dixie and Brunos by the outlet malls - about a 40+ minute drive for me round trip - so I am really grateful when I hear something as trivial as a new grocery store is opening in my neck of the woods.

I know some in the community were asking why in the world would we need another Publix when we already have had two Publix grocery stores open up in the last few years in SoWal - one at Grand Boulevard-Sandestin and another at WaterColor Crossings.  Well, here is my selfish answer.

SoWal Scene Q & A - Curtis Weatherall of Weatherall Fine Art on 30A

I had the pleasure of meeting Curtis Weatherall of Weatherall Fine Art recently.  His gallery is located at 3730 Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach in an adorable 2-story Florida beach cottage which Curtis and his wife, Heather, built.

What an incredibly nice guy and talented artist Curtis is!  You must stop by his gallery if you are looking for that perfect piece of unique and original artwork for your home or office.  All of Curtis' work is beautiful in it's simplicity - simple sophistication is what comes to mind when I am in his gallery.  He will do well in SoWal.

I caught up with Curtis online for this week's SoWal Scene Q & A.

You are fairly new to SoWal - where did you move from?

My wife, Heather, and I along with our son Jackson moved here from Sarasota, Fl in 2005.  Sarasota was very nice, but nothing compares to the natural beauty and beaches of South Walton.  It always felt like home every time we visited, we are glad to have finally settled here.

Why SoWal?

After completing my M.F.A I worked and exhibited in Washington, D.C .  While there I became friends with an artist who owned his own gallery and this experience pushed me to start thinking about doing the same. I began to look for a place to open my gallery. While on a vacation in SoWal, Heather and I said “This is the place.” Being from Jackson, MS we had visited the area all of our lives, so SoWal felt like home.  The opportunity to move here and start the process of opening the gallery presented itself in 2005. We opened Weatherall Fine Art in 2007 and the support of a community that embraces creative endeavors has made it an easy transition.

A SoWal Hidden Gem - Kitchen Garden Books & Antiques

Attention bibliophiles!  Kitchen Garden Books & Antiques, a specialty bookstore tucked away in a beautiful pine flat wood forest on Highway 331 in Santa Rosa Beach, is a SoWal hidden gem.  Proprietor Lynn Nelson has assembled a vast collection of rare, antiquarian & out of print books on cuisine and horticulture and is a highly regarded leader and specialist in her industry. 

A voracious reader and walking encyclopedia of culinary knowledge and history, Lynn has been involved in the culinary world in one way or another since the late '70s and is an avid and passionate gardener as well.  She has some really neat antiques for sale in the shop as well, many of which, not surprisingly, are culinary in nature.

Most of Lynn's sales are done online although she does keep regular hours for local and visiting customers on Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM.  Located at 24357 US HWY 331 S in Santa Rosa Beach (phone 850.622.1077) receive a 10% discount on your next visit when you mention "SoWal Scene"!