South Walton's town of Gulf Place is bustling this year with events, live music concerts, art classes, farmers markets, wine walk abouts, new shops, and with a great beach town vibe! The latest town news is the addition of four great new businesses: The Perfect Pig, Preacher's Kitchen, Islanders Coastal Outfitters, and The 30A Store.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast is one of only 163 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America grant. Sinfonia Gulf Coast is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support its January 23, 2015 performance of the world premiere of American composer Nico Muhly's electric violin concerto "Seeing is Believing," featuring award-winning electric violinist Tracy Silverman.
The 2nd Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration and Paddle Board Drop will take place at Midnight on Dec. 31 at Redd’s Fueling Station on Scenic Highway 30a in Blue Mountain Beach. Last year the "Drop The Paddle Board" event drew an enthusiastic crowd of revelers who witnessed the board drop to ring in the New Year.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort contributed $20,000 to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast for funds raised by staff, volunteers and the community during the 28th Annual Sandestin Triathlon last August. Resort officials presented hospital president Roger Hall with the check during a brief ceremony last week.
Grayton Beer Company in Santa Rosa Beach has completed their new taproom! Open to the public since Nov. 21, the taproom boasts a 40-ft. bar made of recycled wood pallets and 25 taps where customers can enjoy all of Grayton’s unique brews, including specialty small-batch beers. The bar will also feature guest taps for other craft beers as well as collaboration beers between Grayton Beer Company and other local craft breweries.
Shelter House received one of two grants in the amount of $125,000 awarded by Impact 100 of Northwest Florida. The domestic and sexual violence center will use the grant to purchase a new building that will house its main Program Office in Fort Walton Beach and increase the agency's capacity to serve the community.
Locally based insurance agency Insurance Zone (IZ) recently expanded and opened a new office location on Scenic Highway 30A. The expansion allows Insurance Zone to better serve clients in Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties and throughout the Emerald Coast.
Tickets are on sale now for South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, taking place April 23-26, 2015 with a star-studded lineup of celebrity winemakers.
Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar has officially broken ground on the new Panama City Beach location at Pier Park. The new Pier Park location will be Osaka’s third location, owned by Destin residents, Michael and Annie Chou.
In an agreement between Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and the Sun Belt Conference, the prestigious Raven Golf Club will be the league’s host site for the men’s golf championships for the next four years. The four-year deal starts with the Sun Belt Conference men’s golf championships on April 17-21, 2015. The subsequent conference championships will be held each April through 2018.
