Photographed by Erica J. Bean Clothing provided by Ms. Mulligans & Danzar Hair and Makeup provided by Indulge Salon Jewelry by Premier Jewelry On location at The St. Augustine Distillery We had a wonderful experience at our recent photo shoot. There were five beautiful local ladies, Ann, Lori, Rachel, Dina and Tracy, each with their own unique look and personality. They began by relaxing with a glass of wine as the talented staff at Indulge Salon accentuated their beauty with the right hair and make-up. Stylists from Danzar and Ms. Mulligans helped them choose the perfect party dress to project the feeling of playful celebration that surrounds the holidays. The ladies enjoyed getting dressed-up and spending time as friends and our photos reflect it. Each look was finished with jewelry from both Danzar and Premier Jewelry.
Some spirits helped create a festive mood as the ladies met up at the St. Augustine Distillery with our awesome photographer Erica J Bean, to explore the old ice plant building which has been renovated into the area’s only small batch distillery. The combination of modern locals onsite at this historic place created exactly the mood we wanted for our holiday fashion photo shoot. We hope you enjoy living vicariously through our pictorial. May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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*photo by Stacy Lynne Photography
Walk into the kitchen at First Coast Technical College School of Culinary Arts on any given morning and the students are busy doing morning prep work. The scent of onions, datil peppers and garlic fill the air as they baste, cut, chop and boil depending on the menu for that day. Once the prep is complete the food is ready to serve to guests at Walter’s Reef, the school’s on-campus restaurant, which by the way, is open to the public. Creating meals for diners at Walter’s Reef gives students the chance to really become chefs with hands on learning under the direction of experienced senior chefs who are their teachers. This is one component of the dynamic program run by Program Supervisor, Chef Scott Bennett. Students not only prepare the food, they also serve it. Hospitality Instructor Denise Jones says this teaches students about the importance of communication between the front of the house where the guests eat and back of the house where the meals are made. The students recently won second place in a statewide competition in Orlando, reflecting the high quality of the program and its instructors. Students in the program are from many different backgrounds. Adonica Steiger was working in an office position, and decided to enroll in the program after attending an open house. “My initial goal was to open a food truck but I have changed my mind. I am still looking for my niche in the kitchen; my goal is to discover what I am really good at and can enjoy improving upon every day. I graduate in January 2015 and hope that I will have a better idea for what area in the culinary field I would like to pursue. I have an interest in fine dining so I am eager to learn more on plate presentation prior to graduation.” Adonica appreciates the way the senior chefs encourage creativity in their students. Another student, William Eric Hutcherson was a licensed crane operator for fifteen years until a back injury forced him to change careers. Since he always loved cooking he decided to attend an FCTC culinary open house. He says, “FCTC has a very informative program and easy enrollment. I really enjoy the one on one with the chef’s and the fact that we actually are involved in production made my decision to enroll a easy one. I plan on pursuing my dreams of becoming a chef by seeking employment in the Assisted Living field and enrolling in the apprentice program offered at FCTC”. A few students have actually enrolled after entering retirement because they love cooking and wanted to learn more now that they had the time and freedom. One such student is Chef Bob Henle, who attended FCTC in 2001, after a long career with the Air Force. Henle is now the Head Chef at one of the area’s best restaurants, The Reef in Vilano Beach. FCTC prides itself on training chefs for the many wonderful local restaurants of St. Augustine and the First Coast. WALTER’s REEF is open Tuesday thru Friday from 11am to 1 pm. For only $10 you receive a drink, soup, salad bar, appetizers, main course and dessert. Daily menus http://fctc.edu/cafe/ THANKSGIVING DAY LUNCHEON: FCTC’s School of Culinary Arts will host our Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon Thursday, November 20th. Seatings are available at 11 am or 12 pm. Cost is $13.00. Reservations are required. Our luncheons sell out fast; secure your spot asap! Call 904-547-3455 or email denise.jones@fctc.edu. Reservation deadline is Monday, Nov. 17th. HOLIDAY PIE SALE: FCTC’s School of Culinary Arts is now accepting pre-orders for pumpkin and/or pecan pies. Pumpkin pies are $6.00; pecan pies are $9.00. Pies can be picked up at Walter’s Reef Café from 9 am – 2 pm on Monday, November 24th or Tuesday, November 25th. To place your order, call 904-547-3461 or email rebecca.pelletier@fctc.edu. Order deadline is Monday, November 17th. See more at: http://fctc.edu/cafe/ by Lisa Farese It was a blending of expressions - all ages, all levels of expertise and all mediums imaginable came together as one. The result? Vibrant works that hung adjacent to one another, depicting a woven tapestry of St. Augustine created by none other than the very residents who call this historic city home. It was Ancient City Mosaic, and the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration team is bringing it back as part of the Tapestry: The Cultural Threads of First America exhibition. Celebrating the three cultures that formed the foundation of the American culture—Hispanic, African and Native American cultures—this exhibition has three main prongs. There will be a signature, 4,000-square-foot exhibition, a community-wide passport program and, of course, Ancient City Mosaic. The main exhibition will have a strong archeological component to it. Additionally, there will be a council hut built to scale, a model of the San Pelayo ship on which Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés traveled to St. Augustine in 1565 donated by Avilés, Spain, early maps and documents, and even interactive touch screens. “It’s a contemporary cultural expression of who we are,” said Dana Ste.Claire, director of the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration. Addition-ally, the passport program will take the exhibition even further with a citywide guide to exhibitions and locations that relate and continue to tell the story of these cultures. “It will connect visitors, school students and residents to 30 plus historic sites,” Ste. Claire said. Finally, residents of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in the final component—Ancient City Mosaic. Canvases will be available at various locations throughout St. Augustine for pickup during the call to artists next month. The inspiration for which is “St. Augustine through their eyes.” “We want the community to help us build the exhibition,” Ste.Claire said. “It is like a giant birthday card to St. Augustine and an expression of St. Augustine culture.” The community pieces will be displayed in the Visitor Information Center in downtown St. Augustine alongside the main exhibition starting in early April. “This is a celebration of who we are, our culture and our special history,” said Ste.Claire. “We want to embrace it as a community.” For more information, visit www.staugustine-450.com or like the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Facebook page for reminders on the upcoming call to artists at https://www.facebook.com/450th. by Lisa Farese A series of tiny dots made with a paint brush tip smaller than a pinky finger in vibrant greens, blues, yellows and browns captures the eye. After a few steps back to catch a full glimpse of the 4 foot by 4 foot canvas, a child’s face emerges. In fact, nearly the entire back wall of this St. Augustine gallery is filled with these incredible faces painted in oil paints with an impressionistic flair. And just as these young faces were woven together with tiny dots of color, a painstaking labor of love that takes 40 to 60 hours each canvas, beautiful threads woven into African fabric adorn the edges of each painting, each one with unique patterns and colors brought home from Tanzania. One can’t help but wonder who these children are. What are their names? What is their story? Well, they are Frank, John, Glory, Aneth, Mary, Rebecca, Irene, Maurin, Beatrice and Isaka to name a few, and they are among a class of 24 orphaned children in Tanzania. Here artist and photographer Jenna Alexander spent a year with the Rafiki Foundation teaching preschool and first-grade art and physical education to these 24 orphaned children, and as she left these children with newly imparted knowledge, she came home with inspiration. “They taught me more than I taught them,” Alexander said. From this knowledge, the Even Me project was born. With a campaign on Kickstarter.com, Alexander raised the funds needed for the materials to create this series of paintings, but they didn’t start as paintings. While in Tanzania, Alexander was also able to devote a great deal of her time to photography. “There were so many beautiful faces and people there,” she said. “You can’t go out at night there, so I learned to edit photographs.” These photographs of her students would later inspire her project. “It works for me to do different mediums and have different creative outlets,” Alexander said. “I love the social aspect of photography, but I also love the solitude of art, so I paired the two.” This pairing of art and photography can been seen throughout her gallery. With photography including wedding, maternity and family portraits, to the Even Me paintings, to cartoon characters of couples or bridesmaids, to her naptime botanicals series and even a distillery label, her talents appear limitless. So, as Alexander continues work on the Even Me project and prepares to show 12 of these pieces at the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center in April 2015, she hopes to eventually sell the these pieces and donate the proceeds back to the children, some of whom have even seen their completed paintings through Skype, for their college or vocational funds. And you may want to stop by the gallery to see her work in person, for due to the unique perspective of the paintings, passersby still have much to discover. “I don’t want to tell the whole story because we don’t know the whole story,” Alexander says when asked about this unique perspective. Neither do we. So, catch a glimpse for yourself at the Jenna Alexander Gallery located at 77 San Marco Avenue, Unit 3, or visit www.jenna-alexander.com. by Debbie Gaylord Did you know sea turtles, or tortugas in Mexico, lay hundreds of eggs in a nest on the beach and then swim away and leave the baby turtles to fend for themselves? Lucky for the hatchlings, they have a built-in magnetic sense that helps them find their way. When they are only babies, they swim like maniacs to get as far away from shore as possible until they catch the Gulf Stream and it pulls them out into the center of the ocean to that magical place called the Sargasso Sea. The sea has this special healing seaweed the turtles like to eat. When they are ready to nest as adults they use their inner compass to return to the exact place they were born. They don’t need a map or a GPS or anything like humans use to help them find their way home. While visiting Tulum, Mexico on the Riviera Maya this summer I witnessed more than ten sea turtles nesting on the tranquil beaches at night. The largest number came up during the full moon. It was pure magic to see the giant creatures lift their bodies from the ocean and climb up the beach. I felt like I was part of something ancient and wonderful, a witness to nature’s blessings. Since they are an endangered species, teams of marine biology students scour the beaches waiting for the nesting turtles, protecting them from passersby, tagging them and measuring them for research. The best part of our turtle adventure was that it was unexpected. It was a simple yet powerful gift bestowed by place and time. We had taken the two-hour flight from Orlando to Cancun and driven about an hour and a half south to our beach house in Tulum seeking the turquoise blue waters off the reef, peace and relaxation under thatched roof palapas. We chose an eco-friendly house without air conditioning that was run with a solar powered generator, planning to visit the Mayan Ruins, eat delicious Mexican cuisine, take in the local culture and explore some of the eco-centered activities for which the area is well known. The fact that tortugas gathered there in July and August was our little bonus. The Mayan Ruins were stunning, located on the bluffs high above the sea, and only a short five minute drive from the house. For history buffs, more elaborate ruins are within a few hours if you are feeling more adventurous. Another highlight of Tulum was the food. Sand floors and beach views abound and ceviche, a raw fish dish that is cured in limejuice & mixed with chili peppers to bring out the flavors was our favorite addiction. We ordered it at almost every restaurant where we ate and each place had its own spin. Also, the delicious fresh seafood was a draw; the butterfish, the red snapper, Caribbean lobster, and whole fresh fish complete with heads and eyeballs. But let us not forget the Mezcal! In Tulum there are entire bars devoted to the distilling and serving of Mezcal, made from the agave plant. The bartender owner at our favorite place, Mamma Mui had an entire menu of drinks he concocted with his homemade Mezcal combined with freshly squeezed juices (direct from the fruit not sitting in a refrigerator somewhere). I highly recommend “The Mamma Mui” – a deliciously fresh Mezcal cocktail mixed with cucumber juice and lime, the rim of the glass laced with salt and chili powder. Tulum, Mexico will change you – The Mayans called it City of Dawn. It lends a sense of renewal and rebirth that I encountered with new experiences and peace that permeated my soul. Like the turtles that flock there in the summer Tulum has a slower pace that allowed this Americana to take in nature and slow down for a much needed change. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
On October 3, the movie “Gone Girl” is set to be released. Your mission: to buy, download or by any means necessary, procure a copy of the novel by Gillian Flynn. Published in 2012, the book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and an instant book club favorite. Once the movie version is released, your window of opportunity will be shut forever. Water coolers, playgrounds and cocktail hours alike will be buzzing with the details. The beauty of this novel lies in the stunning twists and plot turns you will never see coming. On the eve if her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne goes missing. The facade of her seemingly perfect life begins to unravel, and you are taken on the psychological ride of a lifetime. Run, don’t walk, to buy your copy. Hide the title with a slipcover, because anyone who has read this book will be dying to ask you, “Have you gotten to the part where...?” Review by Ann Hayes What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty A 39 year old super mom knocks herself out at her Thursday spin class and wakes up thinking she is 29 and pregnant with her first child. Alice can’t remember the last 10 years of her life and learns she has 3 children and is in the middle of an awful divorce and custody battle with the man she remembers as the love of her life. What happened in the last 10 years? The man she is in love with is yelling at her, her sister doesn’t even like her, she goes to the gym and she hates the gym, she has a moms group and a best friend who no one will talk about. How can she remember and put her life back together? If our life is made up of memories what happens when they are gone? When you wake up to the life you never wanted how do you get the life you loved back? Review By Katie Morrison Heart of Palm by Laura Lee Smith Local author, Laura Lee Smith’s Heart of Palm is a saga of a native North Florida Family, the Bravo Family, set in St. Augustine. “Some call them Florida crackers, some call them rednecks. They love to run their trucks in the dunes, their powerboats along the Intercostal or its tributaries; they support the UF Gators and the local Lil Champ. Sometimes they’re in the local jail or ER and sometimes passed out at the fish camp.” – Vermeer Fan. Through its unique characters like the matriarch Arla, the story allows readers an insightful glimpse into the complexity of life and culture here. A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams Lily Dane’s family has summered in Seaview. Rhode Island for generations. Set in the 1930’s the story centers around Lily, her former best friend Budgie and Nick, the man they both want for their own. If you crave a tale about family secrets, love triangles and the tangled webs we weave – and let’s not forget seaside views, this one is for you! Beautiful Ruins By Jess Walter Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins is set in coastal Italy in the 1950s and present day, beautifully weaving together a modern day search with an epic event in the life of Italian villager. When a young beautiful actress named Dee Moray arrives to stay at The Hotel Adequate View, everything changes. As the book progresses we find out what happened to these characters over time and how their lives and the lives of so many others were changed as well. Publisher describes it as “an irresistible romp through Italy in the Technicolor era, when a starlet hooked up with the dashingly drunken Richard Burton and charmed the townspeople in a tiny seaside village”. The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani This coming of age novel set in the 1930s, takes us from the North Florida to North Carolina, as a young girl names Thea Atwell is sent away from home to the Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls in North Carolina. The setting is beautiful and conjure up images of what it was like to live in this time and place. But the story of why Thea has been exiled is what draws you in and keeps you hooked. Thea’s actions are sometimes disturbing as her shadow side comes through in this story about dark secrets and youth, and the consequences of our actions. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Honestly, the book is great though sad. It conveys the hardship of two families, each with teenagers battling cancer. The romance between the two teenagers is the heart of the story and even through the most difficult of life’s challenges they have the greatest of times, reminding us that life is short and infinitely precious. Even if you have seen the movie - the book is worth reading! Review by Josh Rosenbaum by Debbie Gaylord
It is an age-old question - Who are we?_ Playwright and Creative Director, Ian Mairs and his band of storytellers, musicians, poets and performers has materialized the answer for our community with the live show SWAMP RADIO, a celebration of the culture, arts and history of northeast Florida. This July, Swamp Radio will perform its latest with “Summer in the Ancient City” in St. Augustine at the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College July 18-19 at 7:30 pm. Mairs, whose other works have been produced from New York City to Atlanta, is passionate about the project as it centers on his hometown and the people and places that make it one of the best kept secrets on the east coast. He says Swamp Radio was inspired by NPR shows like ‘The Prairie Home Companion’ and ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me’. Ian enjoyed these shows and thought it would be amazing to develop something similar for Northeast Florida, the place where he grew up and which he loves dearly. “I hope Swamp Radio will chronicle the story of our community, and help people celebrate and mythologize where they live”. Ian moved here as a child and noticed right away that Northeast Florida has what he calls a different flavor. “Overall”, he says, “Floridians are optimistic”. Mairs describes his experience best. “My father moved us to Jacksonville from Los Angeles in 1970. From the minute we crossed the state line, I felt I had set foot on a new planet. The air was hot and wet. The trees were lush and green. Everyone spoke with a funny accent. It didn’t take long for me to be hypnotized by the place. I came to understand folks in North Florida had a certain way of doing everything: cooking vegetables (frying them), making iced tea (with a ton of sugar) and answering your elders (with a “yes ma’am” on the end of every response.)” The stories and music of Swamp Radio conjure up a lifestyle that weaves together the past and present that is mysteriously just beneath the surface. Our community is a transient one, and Swamp Radio is able to provide a deeply pleasing introduction to newcomers while at the same time providing an accurate reflection to natives with oddly familiar characters like Swamp Lady or the flowing sounds of the Willow Wacks. The name Swamp Radio first came to Ian about two years ago. He wrote it down on a post it note and stuck it on his refrigerator where it stayed for a while until the ideas began to flow and it gained a momentum of its own. He says the response has been amazing. The idea attracted many unique contributors and Swamp Radio was awarded a Spark Grant from the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, allowing them to produce two highly successful shows focusing on Jacksonville this past Spring. The podcast (available on at swampradiojax.com) has listeners from all over the world. According to Mairs, Swamp Radio will evolve slowly to maintain its integrity. The team of creatives plans to do shows in Brunswick, Georgia and New Orleans after their show in St. Augustine this Summer but there is no clear path other than seeing where the road takes them. This summer Swamp Radio will turn its attention on St. Augustine: The best darn day trip you’ll ever take. Gas up the car, grab a Big Gulp, hop on Interstate 95 South and before you know it you’ll be parked in the oldest city in America. In this live episode, Swamp Radio will highlight the winning charms of St. Augustine — checking in with the groovy sounds of The WillowWacks (hometown duo), a quirky and not-so-serious side to the city’s rich history (provided by historian Wayne Wood) and the secret to making a Watermelon Mint popsicle from the folks at the Hyppo. Here’s the lineup:
For more information please visit: http://www.swampradiojax.com/ by Lisa Farese School is out, and the temperature has heated up. Many of us are enjoying the long, sun-kissed days, which can only mean summer is back. Of course, between vacations and summer camps, this season can get expensive, so we’ve compiled a summer fun guide that will give you plenty of fun things to do as a family, or simply on date night, that won’t cost you a penny. So, grab your flip flops and head out on an adventure this summer!Enjoy Music Amid the Waves at the Music by the Sea Concert Series Grab your beach chair or blanket and head down to the St. Johns County Pier Park on Wednesday nights. Here you can enjoy the breezy summer nights to the tune of local bands. You can also grab a bite to eat from the featured local restaurant each week or bring your own picnic lunch. Food service starts at 6 p.m., and the concert starts at 7 p.m. New to the series this year are theme nights. July 30th will be Parrot Head Night and Sept. 24th will be Tie Dye Hippie Night. The series will commence for the season after the Sept. 24th concert. For more information, visit http://thecivicassociation.org/music_by_the_sea_summer_concerts. Find Yourself Saying, “Shhh, No Boat Horns Please” at Movies by the Bay Did we mention your beach chair will come in handy this summer? Ripley’s St. Augustine Attractions and the St. Augustine Municipal Marina are hosting free movie screenings at the downtown Marina each Wednesday and Friday night at 8:30 p.m. for which you will, once again, need your beach chair. Wednesday nights will feature family friendly movies such as The Sandlot and Tangled, and Friday nights will feature classic movies such as Sleepless in Seattle and Fried Green Tomatoes. Movies will run through the week of Aug. 16. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/saintaugustineripleys/posts/456714524406081. Enjoy Music in the Air at Concerts in the Plaza Head downtown on Thursday nights for a concert in the Plaza de la Constitución, which is the heart of downtown St. Augustine. These concerts start at 7 p.m., hosting a variety of music, and will take place each week until Labor Day. For more information, visit http://www.staugustinegovernment.com/the-city/featured-stories-archive/CitP14.cfm. Have a Blast with 4th of July Celebrations Join in the fun with the 4th of July celebration in downtown St. Augustine, which will begin at 6 p.m. with a performance by the All Star Orchestra. The fireworks display will follow and start at 9:30 p.m. and will be set off near Castillo de San Marcos in the Matanzas Bay. For more information, visit www.FireworksOverTheMatanzas.com. * Can’t get enough fireworks? The World Golf Hall of Fame will also be hosting a community fireworks display, and it will take place on July 3 from 5-10 p.m. at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Additional dinner and a movie packages are also available for a cost. For more information, visit http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/visit-the-museum/events/. Get Upbeat at Uptown Saturday Night On the last Saturday of each month, head to the San Marco District where you will find antique and art galleries open late amid a festive atmosphere. Here you can enjoy live music and refreshments as you bob in and out of these unique galleries. Sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association, the event takes place from 5-9 p.m. each month and spans the stretch from Ripleys to Mission of Nombre de Dios. For more information, visit http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/listings/view/4008. Enjoy a Sunset at Vilano Beach Town Center Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a sunset. Take in the beautiful sites of the setting sun at the Vilano Pier and also enjoy venders, music, arts, crafts and more at the Sunset Celebration at Vilano Beach Town Center on July 5 from 3 p.m. until dusk. For more information, visit www.vilanobeachfl.com. Walk Among Art at the First Friday Art Walk
True to its name, St. Augustine’s First Friday Art Walk takes place the first Friday of each month. This is a great opportunity to take a gander at all of the unique artwork St. Augustine has to offer. Complete with refreshments, entertainment and even free rides on the St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolley Tours, it’s a fun summer night that won’t break your budget. So what are you waiting for, stroll downtown from 5-9 p.m. the first Friday of the month. For more information, visit www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.org. Head Out on a Journey with this 450th Commemoration Exhibit As our nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act, so too does our city with the display of the Journey Exhibit. Come see artifacts and documents, AP photos, a video, and even an actual Woolworth’s counter as you step back in time. The exhibit is located downtown at the Visitors Information Center and will be open until July 15. For more information, visit www.journey2014.com. Go Beyond Books with the St. Johns County Library Summer Programs With multiple branches to choose from, there are many summer programs both for adults and children alike this summer. Some of the children’s programs this summer include book clubs, kids Lego brick clubs, summer film festivals, bedtime stories, magic shows, summer gaming programs, yoga classes, art labs, puppet theaters and even sign language classes. So whether you need a day to cool off or simply a rainy day plan, check out what your local library has to offer. For more information; http://www.sjcpls.org/ Find Summer Serenity with a City Wellness Yoga Class Find your inner peace after a busy day with a yoga class this summer. Bring a friend or go alone for a calming yoga workout on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. for the donation-only class at City Wellness. Located off A1A and 16th Street, you can enjoy a walk on the beach after class. For more information, visit http://citywellnessfl.com/ Go Back to School with Flagler College Tours Flagler College calls the former Hotel Ponce de Leon home and provides tours of the stunning display of Spanish Renaissance architecture built in 1888. Tours are given at the start of each hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 74 King Street. If you want to pay a small fee, you can also take a tour of the newly renovated solarium, which offers amazing views of the city. For more information, visit www.flagler.edu. Step Back in Time and Discover Downtown Historical Sites With history practically everywhere we turn, there’s no better place to take in Florida’s history than right here at home. As St. Johns county residents, we get free admission to boot at many of these sites. Here are a few downtown sites that only require proof of residency: The Oldest House, the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, the Peña-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly House Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios Museum. Become a tourist without leaving home this summer. Make a Splash at the St. Johns County Pier Complete with a beautiful view and a constant ocean breeze, the splash park at the St. Johns County Pier is a great place to take your family for a relaxing and refreshing day. Complete with covered benches and pavilions, you can enjoy a picnic lunch splash side. There’s also an adjacent playground and, of course, the beach just steps away. For more information, visit http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Recreation/FishingPier.aspx#.U5pPij9OXug. Take in a View from Under the Tall Sky The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is hosting the Under the Tall Sky Exhibition featuring work from artists Barbara Holmes-Fryefield and Fay Samimi. Stop in weekdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The exhibit will run until early July. For more information, visit www.ccpvb.org. Sip Away a Summer Day at the San Sebastian Winery If you need a break from the beach, head to the edge of downtown for a complimentary tour and tasting at the San Sebastian Winery. These tours and tastings are offered daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. Here you can discover winemaking, tour the facility and taste test this St. Augustine wine. For more information, visit http://www.sansebastianwinery.com/information.php. Cool Down at the St. Augustine Distillery If you seriously need to cool off this summer, the St. Augustine Distillery is the perfect retreat. Formerly a historic power and ice plant in the early 1900’s, the newly opened distillery offers tours and tastings. Located at 112 Riberia Street, tours and tastings take place between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit www.staugustinedistillery.com. Reserve Your Day Outdoors at the GTM Reserve The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra is a great place to take in the outdoors this summer. With 74,000 acres of conservation land and a mission of educating, the staff at this reserve offer various guided tours. The cost of many of these tours are free once you pay the park admission fee. For more information, visit http://www.gtmnerr.org/. Get a Bazaar Take on History at the Colonial Quarter The Colonial Quarter opens its doors on the last Saturday of the month from 6-10 p.m. to passersby who want to peruse arts, crafts, music and even magic in this historic quarter. And don’t forget to climb the tower for a breezy view of downtown. For more information, visit www.thedowntownbazaar.com. Cruise Back in Time at the Fort Matanzas National Monument What better way to enjoy a summer day than to head out on a boat ride? Well, you can do just that at the Fort Matanzas National Monument. Catch the ferry across the Matanzas Inlet to the fort, which was built between 1740 and 1742 to protect against enemies heading north from the Matanzas Inlet. Here you can tour the fort and hear about its history, after which the ferry will take you back to shore. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm. Earth To Echo Relativity Media July 2, 2014 In Relativity’s PG summer family adventure movie, Tuck, Munch and Alex are a trio of inseparable friends whose lives are about to change. Their neighborhood is being destroyed by a highway construction project that is forcing their families to move away. But just two days before they must part ways, the boys begin receiving a strange series of signals on their phones. Convinced something bigger is going on, they team up with another school friend, Emma, and set out to look for the source of their phone signals. What they discover is something beyond their wildest imaginations: a small alien who has become stranded on Earth. In need of their help, the four friends come together to protect the alien and help him find his way home. This journey, full of wonder and adventure, is their story, and their secret. From http://callhimecho.com/#story And So It Goes Clarius Entertainment July 11, 2014 There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little (Michael Douglas), and that’s just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet, until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah (Diane Keaton) and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart, to his family, to Leah, and to life itself, in this uplifting comedy from acclaimed director Rob Reiner. From http://www.clarius.com/films.html Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Fox Movies July 11, 2014 A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species. From http://www.foxmovies.com/ Planes: Fire & Rescue Walt Disney Studios July 18, 2014 “Planes: Fire & Rescue” is a new comedy-adventure about second chances, featuring a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. When world-famous air racer Dusty (voice of Dane Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire-and-rescue helicopter Blade Ranger (voice of Ed Harris) and his courageous team, including spirited air tanker Dipper (voice of Julie Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter (voice of Wes Studi), ex-military transport Cabbie (voice of Captain Dale Dye) and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero. “Planes: Fire & Rescue” hits theaters in 3D on July 18, 2014. From http://movies.disney.com/planes-fire-and-rescue/ Hercules Paramount July 25, 2014 Both man and myth, Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) leads a band of mercenaries to help end a bloody civil war in the land of Thrace and return the rightful king to his throne. A tormented soul from birth, Hercules has the strength of a God but feels the suffering of a human. Unimaginable villains will test the mythical power of Hercules in Director Brett Ratner’s gritty take on one of the most epic action heroes of the ages. From http://www.mightyhercules.com/#/about Tammy New Line Cinema July 2, 2014 Melissa McCarthy and Susan Sarandon star in New Line Cinema’s comedy “Tammy,” marking Ben Falcone’s directorial debut.Tammy (McCarthy) is having a bad day. She’s totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house. It’s time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she’s broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option, with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs. From http://tammymovie.com/ Magic in the Moonlight Sony Classics July 25, 2014 “Magic in the Moonlight” is a romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue. The film is set in the south of France in the 1920s against a backdrop of wealthy mansions, the Côte d’Azur, jazz joints and fashionable spots for the wealthy of the Jazz Age. http://www.sonyclassics.com/ |
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