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30A Songwriters Festival Venue Guide 2012
January 6, 2012 by SoWal Staff
Here's the SoWal guide to all of the venues for the 2012 30A Songwriters Festival. The excitement is building and we have some excellent spots up and down Scenic 30A which will be full of great music. One of the best things about the festival is the great variety and uniqueness of all the venues.
It would be difficult to hit them all so we'll try to give you a little insight so you can pick your spots. Click for printable map. SoWal.com is thrilled to be an official festival stage sponsor at First Note Music Hall in Blue Mountain Beach - a stellar venue that is set up by musicians, for musicians, all year round. Click for the full festival schedule.
No matter what venue you're at you're likely to see a SoWal photographer and lots of SoWal stickers!
Amavida Coffee - Rosemary Beach
South Barrett Square
Rosemary Beach, FL 32413
Phone: 850-231-1077
See map: Google Maps
http://www.amavida.com
- right out front on the square in Rosemary Beach on the sidewalk at Amavida is a great little intimate pace to see acts. You're a short stroll from the beach and close to excellent shopping and dining from the Merchants of Rosemary Beach.
2236 East County Hwy 30A
Seaside, FL 32459
850-231-5900
See map: Google Maps
http://www.budandalleys.com
- Bud and Alley's is a SoWal beachfront tradition. The stage is out back in the dunes. There's excellent food from this Florida Trend Golden Spoon Hall of Famer and a rooftop bar with unmatched gulf sunsets. Excellent shopping on both sides of Scenic 30A on the square in Seaside and an easy walk to several other festival venues.
23 Nonesuch Way
Alys Beach, FL 32413
850-213-5700
See map: Google Maps
http://www.alysbeach.com
- Caliza is a must-see SoWal landmark anytime but during the festival it is an amazing scene. Although Caliza means "limestone" in Spanish, the Caliza Pool was designed using cues from the traditional Greek agora and Roman piazza, complete with lush gardens featuring soothing fountains and tropical palms.
89 Central Square
Seaside, FL 32459
850-231-5669
See map: Google Maps
http://centralsquarerecords.com
- Central Square Records is a local gem and has a festival mentality all year round. Hanging out in a real record store just makes you feel good. Add a live performance overlooking Seaside's central square and the gulf and you'll feel more than special.
2052 W. County Hwy. 30A Redfish Village
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
See map: Google Maps
http://firstnotemusichall.com
First Note is a special place to see music and SoWal.com is thrilled to be the official stage sponsor for the entire festival. It's what the place was built for and the intimacy and professionalism will impress you.
Fire at Gulf Place
7 Town Center Loop Gulf Place
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: 850-267-9020
See map: Google Maps
http://www.restaurantfire.com
Fire is adjacent the Gulf Place amphitheater, another venue on the west end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach on Scenic 393. Great food and atmosphere has been created by Brenda Darr and her crew who moved over here from New Orleans.
34 Goldenrod Circle
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-534-5000
See map: Google Maps
http://www.watercolorresort.com/florida-gulf-coast/restaurant.asp
- Fish Out of Water is a fine restaurant in the WaterColor Inn which features unmatched gulf front views from the dining room and the sunset deck.
7 Town Center Loop
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-499-1469
See map: Google Maps
http://www.gulf-place.com
- Gulf Place is on the corner of Scenic 393 and Scenic 30A across from the gulf. There is plenty of space on the wide green lawn and plenty of dining and shopping. Fire Restaurant and Smiling Fish Cafe are as good as it gets for good eats in SoWal.
Hibiscus Cafe - Back Yard of Love
85 Defuniak Street
Grayton Beach, FL 32459
See map: Google Maps
http://hibiscusflorida.com
- Hibiscus is a local's favorite any time of year. The Backyard of Love is a beautiful space under the oaks lined with gardens and vine-covered walls. It's an authentic place for authentic music.
4281 E. County Hwy 30A Suite 102
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-231-0716
See map: Google Maps
http://www.labotanas.com
- La Botana is an intimate treasure in the heart of Seagrove Beach. The popular hot spot is expanding to accommodate more fun in 2012.
63 Defuniak Street
Grayton Beach, FL 32459
850-231-4102
See map: Google Maps
http://pandorasgraytonbeach.com
- Pandora's offers indoor and outside dining, drinking, and jamming. The palapa stage out back has long been a favorite place to hang and listen to live music. The roof has been known to have been raised more than once.
Bud and Alley's Pizza Bar
Gulfside on Scenic 30A
Seaside, FL 32459
See map: Google Maps
http://budandalleys.com/menu_pizza_bar.php
The food is awesome and you're right in the dunes. The amazing Terrazzo is modeled after one the owner dined in while touring Italy.
South Barrett Square
Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
(866) 348-8952
See map: Google Maps
http://www.rosemarybeach.com
- The town hall is a great space with high ceilings right in the heart of Rosemary Beach on the south side of Scenic 30A. It's just down the shop-lined street to the beach.
Quincy Circle
Seaside, FL 32459
(866) 976-6198
See map: Google Maps
http://www.seasidefl.com
- the Lyceum lawn is long and rectangular between the oaks and the two-story Seaside Neighborhood School building. As you pass through the Lyceum arch from Central Square you enter a magical place that will be filled with great music.
215 Quincy Circle
Seaside, FL 32459
(866) 976-6198
See map: Google Maps
http://www.seasidefl.com
- The Meeting Hall Theater may be the best venue in the festival for real music lovers. It's an intimate stage with only a dozen row of seats with professional lighting and sound. It's easy to focus on the artists. It's where most of the Seaside Repertory Theatre's production take place.
63 Hotz Avenue
Grayton Beach, FL 32459
850-468-0417
See map: Google Maps
http://www.shortyssurfside.com/home.html
- Shorty's is a local favorite and features music downstairs (surfside) and upstairs (topside) - a very cool place in the heart of Grayton Beach to hang out. Great seafood and sushi in "downtown" Grayton.
60 North Barrett Square
Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
850-231-6264
See map: Google Maps
http://theskcafe.com
- Another great spot on the square in Rosemary Beach to kick back and hear some great tunes. The brick-lined patio is warm and inviting and folks spill out in to the street to listen and dance.
238 WaterColor Way
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
See map: Google Maps
http://www.watercolorresort.com
- The BoatHouse in WaterColor is an excellent spot on Western Lake. Beautiful gardens, a fountain and watercourse, a giant lawn, an arching bridge, and lakefront docks all make for an amazing scene.
The Gathering Spot
34 Goldenrod Circle (inside the WaterColor Inn just past the lobby)
WaterColor, FL, 32459
See Map: Google Maps
http://www.watercolorresort.com
The Gathering Spot is one of SoWal's best kept secrets, Although it is right in the heart of South Walton, even many locals don't know this is a great little bar/restaurant where you can hang out with friends and share a drink. They also have regular sushi specials. Just outside you can lounge by the pool, or the firepit on cool evenings, then take a stroll over the boardwalk onto the beach.
37 Town Loop Center, Unit C9 Gulf Place
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-278-6532
See map: Google Maps
http://www.thenakedgrapewinestation.com
- An excellent sidewalk wine bar in Gulf Place just across from a gulf front park. There are plenty of accommodations in Gulf Place along with dining and shopping.
4801 West County Hwy. 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 267-2305
See map: Google Maps
http://www.vueon30a.com
- An excellent restaurant right on the gulf just west of Scenic 393 and Gulf Place. Right across Scenic 30A from the Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club golf course.
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