SoWal Scene - South Walton County, Florida Blog

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

Business in South Walton - Starbucks closing in Rosemary Beach & WaterColor - Say it ain't so!

A few weeks ago, Olivier mentioned he had been hearing rumors that the Starbucks at Rosemary Beach AND WaterColor were slated to close as part of a major downsizing the company was undertaking in response to the sluggish U.S. economy.  Alas, the rumors were laid to rest a few days ago.  Starbucks released a list of 616 company-owned U.S. stores to be closed and - gulp - Rosemary Beach and WaterColor are on the list.

When Olivier first told me the rumor, my initial response at the time was something like...

"Aaaahhh...well, that is the stupidest rumor I've heard in a long time, my love!  Geesh."

My denial had kicked in - I'm an unashamed brand snob and Starbucks is right up there for me - their Café Americano is my absolute favorite coffee drink in the world - and Starbucks at WaterColor as it is an adorable location and really convenient for me as they have lots of parking and outdoor seating, making it a practical place to meet friends or clients.  My denial skewed my rationale on this matter, looking something like this: 

• Rationale: Every time I stopped in at either location, there were customers, sometimes in a line that went out the door! 
  Truth: OK OK - that was usually only up until around noon but when they were busy, they were busy!
  
• Rationale: Both stores are in some of the best "prime" South Walton commercial locations on Scenic 30A!  Most businesses would love to be in those spots! 
  Truth:  30A commercial lease prices are unjustifiably as high as some major metropolitan areas around the country, thanks to the run up in real estate pricing a few years ago which is still adjusting itself.
  
• Rationale: I'm sure they had put a chunk of change into renovations and space costs.  Why would they close down and lose their past, and future, investment?
  Truth: It's either close 616 company-owned stores now or die.  Plus, they can always re-enter the market in the future (which they will).

So, what does this tell us about the state of the economy - not only in South Walton - but the country at large?

Hip Happening, Notable News from WaterColor & WaterSound

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art opens museum in WaterColor

Building upon the larger regional and national interest in the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans, the Ogden will open a new satellite museum on July 3, 2008 located in WaterColor Resort, one of the South's most popular and rapidly growing regions along Highway 30A in Northwest Florida, in the former Cerulean's location right of of Scenic 30A in the WaterColor Town Center (next to Sugar Pies Cafe).

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art @ WaterColor will showcase a number of changing exhibitions, and will also incorporate a branch of the Ogden ’s Center for Southern Craft and Design.

Eileen West will be the on-sight coordinator of exhibitions and daily operations for the Ogden Museum of Southern Art @ WaterColor and will serve as the public representative of the WaterColor location.

The first two exhibitions at WaterColor will be Hunt Slonem: Artist and Collector and Richard Sexton: Terra Incognita, both organized by the museum:

• Hunt Slonem: Artist and Collector offers an intimate glimpse into this famous painter’s life—including his two Louisiana plantations and New York loft and studio. His paintings of birds, animals, flora, saints and other mystics are a colorful result of a lifetime of travel and collecting, incorporating his growing interest in the natural and historical worlds of Louisiana.

• Richard Sexton: Terra Incognita, will appeal to admirers of fine photography, particularly to those who appreciate landscapes. His black and white photographs of the Gulf Coast are dramatic, yet haunting—reminders of a Gulf Coast that has seen its share of change during the 15 years (1991 to 2006) Sexton documented the region. It will be cherished by anyone who spent time running through the dunes, forests and tropical settings of this beautiful, yet sometimes stark coastal environment.

The museum will be open daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is free. Phone is 850.231.7735.

• • •

First Annual Summer At The 'Sound Pre-Independence Day Extravaganza

WHAT Summer at the 'Sound is a free public event to celebrate the Village Commons opening at the new WaterSound Community.  Families will enjoy a WaterSound Showcase of Homes tour, swimming in the new Village Commons pool, face painting, magic tricks, live music, kickball, Frisbee, soccer games, giveaways and door prizes, as well as free treats and soft drinks.  Guided bike tours along the Intercoastal Waterway, kayak tours on Lake Powell and golf at the 9-hole Origins course will be offered.  Box lunches are available for purchase.

Family Golf Outing Includes:

• A round of golf for adults ($15.00); Kids 15 and under play free with an adult. A golf cart costs $10.
• Free short game clinic, including chipping and putting, with a member of Camp Creek's professional staff.
• Kid’s Chipping and putting contests.  A small wading pool will enable kids to chip in the water. Winners get candy and treats.

When Thursday, July 3rd, 2008; between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Where Events will take place in and around the new Village Commons Pool, a central gathering spot and resident community hub.  The Davis Love III-designed Origins (nine-hole) Golf Course is just a short stroll from the Village Commons.

Directions WaterSound is located in South Walton County in Northwest Florida, on Highway 98 just north of Scenic Highway 30A, half a mile north of Camp Creek Golf Club and three miles east of WaterSound Beach. The address is 180 North WaterSound Parkway, WaterSound, FL  32413

For event information please call, 850-534-2100

About WaterSound  WaterSound is the newest residential community in the Town of WaterSound.  It sits between the Intracoastal Waterway and Lake Powell, one of the world’s rare dune lakes fed by both rainwater and meandering tides - perfect for freshwater and saltwater fishing.  WaterSound is located three miles from WaterSound Beach, a 256-acre gated community set on a mile of white sand beach, and WaterSound West Beach, a 62-acre gated community with private beach access located adjacent to Deer Lake State Park.

South Walton on the 'Net - Editorial from the Anniston Star (in NE Alabama)

Related Post: NatureWalk at Seagrove

Editorial notebook: The wrong side of the road
In our opinion | 06-30-2008 | The Anniston Star Newspaper (NE Alabama)
*See Source Article Here*

SEAGROVE BEACH, Fla. — County Road 395 connects U.S. 98 to County Road 30-A, which local boosters designated "Scenic 30-A" and it is, mostly.

As beach developers pushed inland during the late, lamented housing boom, they built on both sides of CR 395. Today, the road divides success from failure and offers a good look at what has — and has not — happened to the Florida real-estate market.

Two developments, Watercolor on the west side and Nature Walk on the east, tell the tale.

Watercolor and the economy took off together. Financed from the deep pockets of what was once St. Joe Paper Co. (the largest private landowner in the state) and set down on property that its developers already owned, Watercolor was designed to attract people with the resources to build houses that were statements of achievement and affluence as well as investments. People did just that. In the years that followed, sounds of hammers, saws and Spanish filled the air.

There is less of that now, but despite the slowdown everything in Watercolor is still clean, green and dripping with prosperity.

Fabrice at WaterColor is opening for dinner

I spoke with Fabienne, owner of Fabrice Patissier with husband Fabrice, this morning and they will be opening for a limited dinner service on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings starting July 3 through the busy summer season.

A favorite breakfast and lunch spot for locals and tourists alike, Fabrice and Fabienne attempted a dinner service a few years ago when they first opened in their Highway 98 location in Santa Rosa Beach (which is now a production facility for them) with limited success so they stopped almost as soon as they started, focusing on building their breakfast and lunch clientèle.  Now, several years later, they have built a brand and have a beautiful space in a new, prime storefront on Scenic 30A.  As the saying goes, Location - Location - Location and I can't imagine they won't be wildly successful now in offering dinner.

I am not privy to the menu but I would suspect we can all look forward to simple dishes prepared with high quality ingredients - Fabrice's signature - and delish - style.  Oh, and probably some the best desserts you can find outside of France!

With limited seating in the restaurant, be sure to make a reservation for dinner by calling them at 850-231-9910.  Call them for hours of operation for dinner. Note that they don't take reservations for breakfast/brunch or lunch. 

Fabrice is located at 1777 County Road 30A, Unit 101, in WaterColor on Scenic Hwy 30A next to Starbucks.

Hours of operation are Breakfast: Mon-Sat from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.,  Lunch: Mon-Sat from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sunday Brunch: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Related Posts:    Beach Eats Beat - Fabrice
                          Open For Business

SoWal Scene Readers Have Spoken-The Best Pizza In SoWal is at...

PIZZA BY THE SEA IN WATERCOLOR CROSSING (BY PUBLIX)

Congratulations owners Bryan and Stacy Pritchett and the entire Pizza By The Sea staff!  I will be presenting them with a framed "Best of SoWal Scene" certificate!

A sampling from their menu:

OUR FAVORITE PIZZAS

• What’s Kickin’ Chicken…Basil pesto, grilled chicken, Feta cheese, red onions and bacon
• Queen Margherita…Almost too pretty to eat. Roma tomatoes and fresh basil
• Rabbit Food…Green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, Roma tomatoes and red onions
• One Mean Supreme…Pepperoni, ground beef, Italian sausage, green peppers, mushrooms and red onions
• BBQ Chicken, Y’all…We’re ex-Texans after all! BBQ sauce, BBQ chicken, green peppers and red onions
• Doggie Breath…Fresh garlic, red onions and pepperoni. Served with a breath mint
• Quadruple Bypass…Prove your manhood! Italian sausage, pepperoni, ground beef and Canadian bacon
• Daddy O’ Drew…Pepperoni and feta cheese just the way Andy likes it

Pizza By The Sea is open for lunch and dinner - they are located at 88 Watercolor Way [map] - phone 850.231-3030.  Website is www.pizzabythesea.com.

Just In - St. Joe's CEO Stepping Down In May '08

By MARK BASCH
The Times-Union

The St. Joe Co. announced late on Monday that company President and Chief Operating Officer Wm. Britton “Britt” Greene will be promoted to chief executive officer, effective May 13.

CEO Peter Rummell, who has run the company for 11 years, will continue as chairman of the Jacksonville-based real estate development company.

Greene, who has more than 25 years of experience in real estate, has been with St. Joe since 1998.

Time to hit the gym

It was that time of year again for me recently - time for the dreaded annual physical.  Now, I knew going in that I am not in top condition.  I turned 37 last year and I have noticed little things starting to fall apart - body parts appear to be sagging in a whole new way, my skin seems to have lost some of that youthful glow, recovery after a big meal or a night of wine drinking with friends is longer, and, most noticeably, my clothes began to shrink. 

But even my awareness of these things didn't prepare me for the news that I now weigh as much as I did when I was pregnant with my second son, Luc - and he was an 8lb, 8oz bundle of joy at birth.  OMG.

Not one to mull around after receiving shocking news, I took immediate action and joined a gym.  There are a few gyms in SoWal and I did a little homework before making the decision to join Grayton Beach Fitness.

Fabrice Patissier at WaterColor Resort

As it will quickly become apparent, I am a die-hard foodie and a big part of my and Olivier's life revolves around eating, cooking, and drinking wine...oh, and talking about eating, cooking and drinking wine, too.  I met Olivier in a restaurant kitchen and the menu at our wedding reception entailed a 3+-hour, 6 course meal with wines selected for each course.  I knew that night we were a match made in heaven - having taken such pleasure in planning the meal together and then both feeling so proud as we watched others enjoy our selection - and we have happily eaten our way through 13 years together since.  We have eaten at almost every place in South Walton and now I have a forum to talk about it!  Life is good.  

I met one of my dearest friends, Lauren Romano (that is beautiful Lauren in the picture), yesterday at Fabrice on 30A at WaterColor for a girl's lunch.  I really enjoy this place and from Fabrice's almost immediate success since opening, I'm not alone. 

Fabrice and Fabienne have pulled off something very difficult in the restaurant business - offering simple, consistently well-prepared, high-quality food at reasonable prices - cheap by South Walton standards in my opinion for the quality.  Fabrice, a world-class pastry chef, makes a lot of his menu from scratch and you can tell as you can't really order anything bad.  And the bread is to die for - you have to try the bread! 

My fav is the Roast Beef Sandwich but I decided to try something new and ordered one of Fabrice's Signatures - the Chicken Salad.  The description on the menu verbatim is "Sliced Chicken Breast marinated in Sweet Spices a top, Mixed Greens,

Pizza By the Sea is Yummy!

I received an email from Stacy this morning with the new specials offered at Pizza by the Sea in WaterColor Crossings (by Publix).  I won't post about the specials here - you need to sign up on their eList to receive them.  I couldn't find an email link on their site so I guess call them 850.231.3030 or when you stop in for a pie, ask to be put on their list.

I really really love the vibe of both Pizza by the Sea and their other business 2 storefronts down at WaterColor Crossings, Movies by the Sea.  Stacy and Bryan Pritchett have done a fabulous job of creating community at both places and you just feel happy when you are in Pizza- or Movies by the Sea.  Never short of smiles, I have only had the pleasure of speaking with Stacy and Bryan once but they seem like really down-to-earth folks and I encourage anyone in need of a movie or a pizza fix to support them and make the stop.

Tuesday night is a fun night to go to Pizza by the Sea.  It's become a locals night of sorts and you are bound to bump into someone familiar.  They put out toys (that you can also purchase from Movies by the Sea) for the kids to play with which lets Mom and Dad sit down and relax a bit.  Great idea guys!

Last time we ate at Pizza by the Sea, we had the BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Margherita pizza which were both really yummy.  You can see the menu here.  We haven't been since before the holidays but I will be sure to snap some photos next time I'm there to share.