Green Knight Lounge

[caperjackie]

Recently purchased a boat in Destin which has an unusual spinnaker sail representing the Green Knight Lounge. Can any one give me any information on this? Thanks

[DuneDog]

Recently purchased a boat in Destin which has an unusual spinnaker sail representing the Green Knight Lounge. Can any one give me any information on this? Thanks

This used to be a place in Destin, probably in the late 60's or early 70's. There used to be a giant green knight statue outside. It was on hwy 98 and at the time not much else was around it. I was very young but remember seeing it from the road.

[Allifunn]

Recently purchased a boat in Destin which has an unusual spinnaker sail representing the Green Knight Lounge. Can any one give me any information on this? Thanks

CJ....hope you have some fun with the new sails!

[ShallowsNole]

The Green Knight lounge was on the corner of Hwy 98 and Main St - I think there is a CVS pharmacy there now. The statue stood for years and was a Destin landmark...until in roughly the mid-90s some of the foo-foo, nose-in-the-air folks that had moved to Destin decided it was unsightly.

[JB]

I remember it vividly. It was right across the street from Silver Beach Motel & Cottages where we always stayed. At that point, it was probably the only package store between Ft. Walton and PC.

[kathydwells]

I remember it vividly. It was right across the street from Silver Beach Motel & Cottages where we always stayed. At that point, it was probably the only package store between Ft. Walton and PC.

JB, we stayed at Silver Beach Motel & Cottages also for several years. We were there the last year they were going to be opened. We had to find another place to stay, and that is how we found Seagrove Villa's and Motel!!!!!! I loved Silver Beach!!!!

[Donna]

I remember the Green Knight fondly. Package stores were considered quite exotic then, because Walton County was a "dry" county. The Green Knight was the closest place to the beaches where one could buy alcohol, since it was just across the county line. And I remember the Silver Sands, too. Time for a story...

My aunt and cousins used to come down every summer from Montgomery, bound for the beaches. Kids dying to go, mom not so eager. They would stop to visit us in DeFuniak and my dad would regale his sister, my aunt, with stories about how all the gangsters down in Destin would cut off her fingers to rob her of the very large diamonds that she wore at all times. She would have preferred the loss of a few digits to being thought of a woman without her diamonds, I think. Needless to say, the trip to Silver Sands would be cancelled and we would pile in the huge black Buick for daytrips to the beach.

On one such trip, the radiator overheated between DeFuniak and Freeport. My aunt, terrified of the gangster element, made us kids roll up all the windows and pray for rescue. It was probably 90ish outside, black car, awful conditions. Once SHE was finally pitted out, parched, and more than ready for a proper ladies room, she began to reconsider orders. A station wagon with two traveling salesmen, complete strangers, stopped to help us. She piled out of the car, loaded all six of the cousins into the station wagon without a second thought. Whereupon, we all drove to Panama City Beach and repaired to some restaurant where auntie bought us all a beer. I was the oldest cousin, at the tender age of 10. She was something else!

Happy Easter, everyone and see you next week.

[kathydwells]

I remember the Green Knight fondly. Package stores were considered quite exotic then, because Walton County was a "dry" county. The Green Knight was the closest place to the beaches where one could buy alcohol, since it was just across the county line. And I remember the Silver Sands, too. Time for a story...

My aunt and cousins used to come down every summer from Montgomery, bound for the beaches. Kids dying to go, mom not so eager. They would stop to visit us in DeFuniak and my dad would regale his sister, my aunt, with stories about how all the gangsters down in Destin would cut off her fingers to rob her of the very large diamonds that she wore at all times. She would have preferred the loss of a few digits to being thought of a woman without her diamonds, I think. Needless to say, the trip to Silver Sands would be cancelled and we would pile in the huge black Buick for daytrips to the beach.

On one such trip, the radiator overheated between DeFuniak and Freeport. My aunt, terrified of the gangster element, made us kids roll up all the windows and pray for rescue. It was probably 90ish outside, black car, awful conditions. Once SHE was finally pitted out, parched, and more than ready for a proper ladies room, she began to reconsider orders. A station wagon with two traveling salesmen, complete strangers, stopped to help us. She piled out of the car, loaded all six of the cousins into the station wagon without a second thought. Whereupon, we all drove to Panama City Beach and repaired to some restaurant where auntie bought us all a beer. I was the oldest cousin, at the tender age of 10. She was something else!

Happy Easter, everyone and see you next week.

I Love your stories, Donna!! You should write a book.

[DD]

Donna, I was hoping this thread would bring a story from you!! You never disappoint!!

[Miss Kitty]

Donna, I was hoping this thread would bring a story from you!! You never disappoint!!

...and that's the truth!!!

[Allifunn]

I Love your stories, Donna!! You should write a book.

YES SHE SHOULD!!! I would be first in line to buy it!! Signed copy, OF COURSE!!!!!!

[ShallowsNole]

Cool story, Donna! I concur...a book would be excellent!

[spicesea1]

A mention in NY Times article:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/1...dk8hJUxI9okszw

[Donna]

Thanks for posting this article from the NY Times. I read it, but always regretted not saving it for our beach file. Julia Reed is a wonderful writer. For years, she wrote for Bazaar Magazine and now writes food articles for the Sunday NY Times Magazine and some other major publications. I have always wished she would write a book about her Southern roots. Unfortunately, her home in New Orleans was badly damaged by Katrinia and the flooding. But she wrote a wonderful piece about a dinner party there where they were all making the best of things.

Julie Reed also wrote a piece about the late restaurant named Sandor's, which was a tiny European-style establishment located in the Cape Cod-ish building just north of the Seagrove Market and Cafe. We had a dinner there one night than was over the top, as good as any top restaurant in Paris. The chef insisted that we try his flourless chocolate cake for comparison's sake, when he realized we are friends with Thomas Keller of The French Laundry here in the Napa Valley. I was so full, didn't know where we could put even a shared desert. With all due respect to Chef Keller, Sandor's flourless chocolate cake was actually better than than of The French Laundry. The only downside was its pairing with the raspberry sorbet, which was delicious but interrupted the smoothness of that glorioius Valrona chocolate cake. Too bad the restaurant closed, because it was a gem.

[JB]

I do miss Sandor's. I wonder what has become of him? Is he completely out of the restaurant business?

[kurt]

I do miss Sandor's. I wonder what has become of him? Is he completely out of the restaurant business?

What about Sandor?

[JB]

Thanks for the info, Kurt. Next time we're in Montgomery visiting my (ugh) mother-in-law, going to Sandor's new place will be priority one.

Interesting choice of locations. Pretty rural in that part of the state. I could see him opening a place in say, Birmingham, but Mount Willing? I have lived in Alabama my whole life and have never heard of that town.

[kurt]

Thanks for the info, Kurt. Next time we're in Montgomery visiting my (ugh) mother-in-law, going to Sandor's new place will be priority one.

Interesting choice of locations. Pretty rural in that part of the state. I could see him opening a place in say, Birmingham, but Mount Willing? I have lived in Alabama my whole life and have never heard of that town.

I would like to know when he's open and how to get there.

[JB]

The article said 35 miles south of Montgomery, which would put it pretty close to Troy. I am guessing you could take 331 north and get pretty close to Mount Willing.

I'm sure the Montgomery paper would have a blurb if they opened. Doesn't Landlocked live in Monkeytown? Maybe he knows something.

[mahthamadear]

i've heard he's actually in hungary making wine -- go figure

[Jennifer Steele]

This used to be a place in Destin, probably in the late 60's or early 70's. There used to be a giant green knight statue outside. It was on hwy 98 and at the time not much else was around it. I was very young but remember seeing it from the road.

I have a vivid childhood memory of sitting in the parking lot staring at the green knight while my aunt was inside stocking up.

[Jdarg]

[QUOTE=steeleing1]I have a vivid childhood memory of sitting in the parking lot staring at the green knight while my aunt was inside stocking up.[/QUOTE]

"Stocking Up"-- I love this!!! Can't wait to use it next time I hit the brew through with the kids in the car- Mama's stocking up!!!!

[kathydwells]

[QUOTE=jdarg]

I have a vivid childhood memory of sitting in the parking lot staring at the green knight while my aunt was inside stocking up.[/QUOTE]

"Stocking Up"-- I love this!!! Can't wait to use it next time I hit the brew through with the kids in the car- Mama's stocking up!!!!

Hee Hee...I loved it to Jen-ay!!!!!

[Jdarg]

[QUOTE=kathydwells]

Hee Hee...I loved it to Jen-ay!!!!!

I'm concerned about the Otter family- don't think they have been "stocking up" enough lately....

[Jennifer Steele]

[QUOTE=jdarg]

I have a vivid childhood memory of sitting in the parking lot staring at the green knight while my aunt was inside stocking up.[/QUOTE]

"Stocking Up"-- I love this!!! Can't wait to use it next time I hit the brew through with the kids in the car- Mama's stocking up!!!!

I know - I'm sure my aunt would love this post. Good thing she's not a sowaller yet. But bless her heart...she did have to drive all the way to Destin to get liquor. That was a big trip since my family left Grayton once or twice all summer - to go the PX to go grocery shopping and to take the kids to Miracle Strip Amusement Park.

[steele mama]

[QUOTE=steeleing1]

I know - I'm sure my aunt would love this post. Good thing she's not a sowaller yet. But bless her heart...she did have to drive all the way to Destin to get liquor. That was a big trip since my family left Grayton once or twice all summer - to go the PX to go grocery shopping and to take the kids to Miracle Strip Amusement Park.

1. I'm glad that is something you have never heard your Mama say!
2. Which aunt is not a sowaller?
3. I love you princess!
4. The Green Knight was the the lankmark that we were approaching civilization going from Grayton to Destin.

[Jennifer Steele]

[QUOTE=steele mama]

1. I'm glad that is something you have never heard your Mama say!
2. Which aunt is not a sowaller?
3. I love you princess!
4. The Green Knight was the the lankmark that we were approaching civilization going from Grayton to Destin.

1. No, we definitely grew up with a "dry" immediate family.
2. Your brother's wife
3. I love you, too!
4. I've been in the mood to do something touristy lately, like play putt-putt in Destin and eat crab claws.