Normal

Chandler Williams has had a camera in his hands since he was a senior in high school. It was a 35-millimeter camera and while he still loves film, he works more with digital now.

“Film is just not an option time-wise when doing production work,” he says.

Chandler didn’t plan a career in photography, but he was the one to take family photos and document travels. When he bought a house and learned he and wife Jessica were expecting twins, he realized he needed to make money.

Golf enthusiasts will have the chance to hit the links with dozens of sports legends and other celebrities in the South Walton Celebrity Golf Classic November 1-3 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  Although this is the tournament’s 16th year, it marks the first time the event is being sponsored by Visit South Walton. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit Working Warriors, which serves the military community by working with corporate America to provide jobs and economic independence to our nation’s heroes.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 gift from the Dugas Family Foundation for the project development of Phase 1B for the Amphitheater and The Village Green located at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida.

Looking for a way to support the beaches we love? Need community service hours for scholarships or merit badges? Join the South Walton TDC for the 28th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 15. The first 100 volunteers will get a commemorative t-shirt. Stay tuned for details regarding hours and locations. Meanwhile, please contact Amanda Barkley at (850) 267-4578 with questions.

I have found my new favorite cocktail. Okay, maybe I found more than one. My recent visit to Fish Out of Water was truly an eye-opening and tasty experience. 

As I walked up the stairs I felt like I had stepped into a sophisticated, uber-metropolitan venue.  I found a seat and was greeted by beverage manager John Ryckert. He suggested the Something Good and Strawberry Lemonade - both from the signature cocktail list. Each turned out to be delicious and refreshing. 

Miss Julie is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg dealing with class,love, lust, the battle of the sexes, and the interaction among them.

A new project is underway by Shelter House to help pets and their families - it's a first of its kind for Northwest Florida.

Did you know that 68% of battered women report violence toward their pets? Some studies show that close to 50% of abused women stayed in relationships because they could not take their pet with them to a shelter.

The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is South Walton’s only full-service hotel, featuring everything you could want in a beach vacation all in one spot: top-notch restaurants, spotless golf courses, an incredible spa, and amazing beachfront accommodations. All of it in a spectacular South Walton setting, with sugar-white sand leading to the seemingly endless turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The official results are in for our 2012 "You're So SoWal if..." contest!  We had so much FUNN reading all of the GRAYT entries! This year's submissions ranged from heartwarming to hilarious, emotional to whimsical, and of course some may be a bit controversial.

We're overwhelmed with the participation of so many SoWal beach lovers from near and far, and thank everyone so much for sharing what SoWal means to them, especially our loyal SoWal Forum members. 

Registration is now open for the popular half  marathon and 5K event, which will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2013. This always sells out quickly so register now! 

Presented again by Vera Bradley, the Seaside Race attracts runners from around the country and is one of the signature fundraising  events for the Seaside School Inc., an award-winning public charter school in SoWal.