Santa Rosa Beach Voted One of Best Beach Destination for 2011

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
by Kate Hamlin

Santa Rosa Beach Florida which comprises the area known as Scenic 30A or the Beaches of South Walton is located between Destin and Panama City Beach. The sand is white, the area abounds with world class "new urbanistic" communities and the waters are sparkling white turquoise. It's no surprise that Yahoo has just voted Santa Rosa Beach one of the best beach destinations for 2011 stating:

"Although this entire gallery could be filled with Florida beaches, there is one in particular that caught our eye this year. Recently celebrating its centennial anniversary, Santa Rosa Beach, and its long stretch of untouched sand and calm seas offers a quiet escape on the Hogtown Bayou. Though the lapping waves and cool sand are the main attractions, there is plenty to do inland, such as shopping, fine dining, and golfing, and exploring the town's many art galleries and nature trails. As one of the 13 communities of South Walton, Santa Rosa Beach is now easily reached by flying into Panama City's new airport."

Magnificent beach front homes are available for weekly rentals and while Santa Rosa Beach commands pricey rates, the homes are often large enough where the expense can often be split by several families for the beach vacation of a lifetime in paradise. Looking for beach homes for rent in Florida? Check this one out!

Rosemary Beach and Watercolor Starbucks to close

July 17, 2008

Full List of U.S. Store Closures

As we announced on July 1, 2008, Starbucks will close approximately 600 company-operated stores in the U.S. beginning this month and continuing through the first half of FY09. Partners in the stores listed below have been personally notified that their store has been slated to close during this timeframe.
In the spirit of transparency with our partners, customers and communities, we have provided the full list of stores below for general information purposes. Store partners will receive advance notice and more details from their leadership team once a specific closure date has been confirmed.

Full List of U.S. Store Closures http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/USStoreClosureInfo.pdf.
This list is provided solely for general information purposes, and does not create any obligation or commitment by Starbucks Coffee Company with respect to the closure of any particular store. This list is based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Actual store closures may differ depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks related to finalization of third party agreements, expected costs savings, income tax and other benefits associated with the store closures in the anticipated time frame, if at all. Starbucks undertakes no obligation to notify third parties of such changes.

Rosemary Beach Article on St Louis Post

Date: 7/12/2008 Rosemary Beach, Fla., is a laid-back enclave By Jackie Hutcherson St. Louis Post-Dispatch Published on: 07/07/08 "We're addicted to bocce," said Ken Gifford, a resident of Rosemary Beach. "Lawn, sand and extreme. In extreme, it's anywhere you want to throw it. Anything in the street is fair game, except through someone's window." Jackie Hutcherson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / MCT (ENLARGE) Rosemary Beach is a planned community whose appearance is often compared to New Orleans or Charleston. Jackie Hutcherson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / MCT (ENLARGE) The town center features a mix of dining and shopping. So here we are, playing a sunset game of beach bocce as the surf tries to bury our target — a little yellow wooden ball called a pallino — in the sand. This is the place where a bocce tournament is front-page news in the "Rosemary Thymes." Yes, it's that laid back here, but that was the plan. Here's a look at the community's brief history and things to do in-between bocce breaks. Rosemary Beach was created in 1995 on Florida's gulf coast, between Destin and Panama City on Scenic Route 30A. One cachet is that it has a ZIP code — 32461 — that Google recognizes as neighboring Sunnyside. On beachfront property that was about to become a trailer park, Patrick Bienvenue and the Rosemary Beach Land Co. bought the 107 acres with another plan in mind, said Gifford, who is also vice president and managing director of Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Co. The inspiration for it came from classic beach towns such as Seaside. Many may know Seaside as the set of "The Truman Show," with its new urbanist style of cookie-cutter beach homes and uniformity. But the town named for the rosemary herb growing wild in the sandy paths gave the look a new twist. "Here the colors of the homes are natural colors, [and] the landscaping is indigenous to the area," Gifford said. "And there are no palm trees brought in. They weren't indigneous to this area." The look of the homes in Rosemary Beach brings to mind architecture you would see in New Orleans, St. Augustine, Charleston, S.C., and the West Indies. You'll see homes in shades of dune gray, chocolate, Spanish moss, sage green, pecan, fall straw and Atlantic spray. Deep eaves provide shade from the afternoon sun. High ceilings draw breezes through houses. The homes are close together and streets are narrow, which encourages visitors to park the car and walk. It's pedestrian friendly, meaning it's flat and virtually nothing's more than a five-minute walk away. Nearly 570 homes have been completed, and the community has 206 rental cottages and carriage houses. This fall, Hotel Saba, located in the town center, is set to open with 53 guestrooms. EAT AND RIDE It doesn't get much better than riding a bicycle and eating a butter-pecan ice-cream cone, at the same time. This is a great way to learn your way around the town. The Bamboo Beach & Bicycle Co. rents bikes for all ages; rates average $20 a day for an adult bike rental. And the Sugar Shak can supply you with a cone or a malt, candy or real sugar-cane stalks for snacking. After the ice cream, burn it off by taking an eight-mile ride to Deer Lake State Park. It's worth it to see a rare coastal dune lake. It is an estuary, allowing saltwater and freshwater to continually exchange and flush out the lakes, creating some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. They are characterized by the intermittent nature of this connection to the Gulf. When the water level, through rain or other inflow, reaches a certain critical height, the lake will "blow out" and release its water into the gulf. At that point, seawater may enter to create an estuary. A boardwalk across the dunes to the beach has native plants, including scrub oaks and spoonflower. MORE DELIBERATE MODE Another way to see the town is by walking the 2.3-mile landscaped trail that is both a sand path and boardwalk. It has four fitness stations and winds past homes, four public pools and common green spaces. Take a rest stop at the Butterfly Park, which includes a guide to the 15 kinds of butterflies found in Rosemary Beach and what they eat. Cabbage whites, monarchs, long-tailed skippers and zebra swallowtails are some of the butterflies flitting around dining on nectar from herbs, honeysuckle fuchsia and purple pincushions. PLACES TO DINE • Wild Olive: It's a market as well as a bakery and deli with lunch and tapas menus. Try the fried green tomato BLT ($7.95). 1-850-231-0065 • Summer Kitchen: Beach casual spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the family. Established in 1999, this was the first restaurant opened in Rosemary Beach. The Arnold Palmers (half lemonade, half tea) flow freely here. Owner-chef James Dillon's menu includes pastas, sandwiches, pizzas and salads. Try the black bean and rice roll-up ($6). 1-850-231-6264 • Cowgirl Kitchen: Where beach meets West. It's a little bit of Texas in Rosemary Beach. Where else can you have a Mexican or veggie taco, or a mini-Belgian waffle for breakfast? And the soup of the day? "Whatever mama feels like making" is what the sign says. www.cowgirlkitchen.net • Cafe Thirty-A: If you must drive somewhere for dinner, this is where you should go. Named for the scenic Florida highway, this is a white-tablecloth restaurant with a menu that includes fresh fish from the gulf as well as wood-oven-fired pizzas. www.cafethirtya.com

ALYS Beach Poolside Restaurant Open to the Public

Date: 5/19/2008

Dining Feature

Alys Beach invites guests to enjoy a unique new poolside dining experience at “Caliza.”

May 19, 2008

New Poolside Dining Experience at Alys Beach

Special to Florida Freedom Newspapers

ALYS BEACH – Beginning this Thursday, Alys Beach invites guests to enjoy a unique new poolside dining experience at “Caliza.”

“Eventually, we’ll be able to offer locals and out-of-town guests a bustling Town Center full of unique shops, restaurants and other amenities to enjoy,” said Jason Comer, Alys Beach’s Town Founder. “But in the meantime, we want our friends and neighbors to become a true part of our community. That’s why we hope everyone will come and enjoy the Caliza dining experience.”

Now open for its first full season, Caliza’s architecture is punctuated with arched colonnades, fountains, cabanas, tropical gardens, three pools and a restaurant, which will now be open to the public for dinner every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

“Caliza is a dream of a place,” said Andrés Duany, well-known designer of hundreds of new towns around the globe, including the local communities of Seaside, Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach.

“30A is blessed with a diverse selection of excellent restaurants, and we think Caliza will add something very unique to this mix,” said Comer. “I hope it demonstrates to first-time visitors just how fully committed we all are to South Walton’s exciting future.”

“Our goals at Caliza are to use only the highest quality ingredients and to provide the highest possible levels of service,” said Chef Olivier Gaupin, Alys Beach’s Director of Food and Beverage. “The setting is already exceptionally beautiful, and we want the dining experience to be just as extraordinary.”

Before joining Alys Beach, Chef Gaupin was Executive Chef for WaterColor and WaterSound resorts, at a time during which the world-class resort was awarded a coveted 4-Star rating by AAA. Prior to moving to Florida, Gaupin was Executive Chef for numerous other award-winning restaurants, including Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta, where his restaurant was awarded 5-Stars by AAA and named “Top Restaurant in Atlanta” by Gourmet Magazine.

Gaupin said that Caliza’s dinner menu will generally emphasize fresh local seafood, including items such as Apalachicola oysters, and local snapper and shrimp, but will also feature the highest quality steaks and other selections, often with a French or Southern twist.

Reservations are strongly recommended. To make dinner reservations, or for more information about Caliza, please call (850) 213-5700.

Chops opens up at the Village of South Walton on Hwy 30a

Date: 3/20/2008

Destin Chops 30A boasts cutting edge décor with its steaks

New restaurant opens

March 20, 2008 - 9:57AM

By Deborah Wheeler Walton Sun

For a cutting edge restaurant, only a cutting edge designer and artist will do.

To fill the bill, Jim Altamuro, owner of the new Destin Chops 30A, tapped the talents of Destin commercial designer Jennifer Browning and Santa Rosa Beach artist Teresa Cline.

Browning created a coolly sleek aesthetic environment for the restaurant that is edgy yet elegant, which she calls "classic, contemporary modern."

The look was created with using a metallic platinum stainless color palette, which continues even to the light fixtures and from the front door into the bathroom. Zebrawood accents were used for warmth in color.

Browning said she and Altamua looked at other steak houses to see what they had done, but most were dark.

"We didn't want dark. We wanted upbeat and fresh," she said. "This is not your typical steakhouse."

To give the neutral modern design the needed pop of color, classic artwork wouldn't do.

Altamura had worked with Santa Rosa Beach artist Cline in the past and was familiar with her warm, modern abstracts.

"Her art fits in and provides the pop of color," said Browning.

Cline has nine pieces of artwork from her "Ocean, sand and sea" series adorning the restaurant walls, some in large format. She is working on two more. All are for sale.

"They felt my paintings were compatible in tone and movement to the style of the restaurant," said Cline. "I am excited about it because the place is just really cool."

One standout "cool" aspect of the restaurant is the bar area. If the large screen TVs aren't entertaining enough, the lighting behind the bar changes colors every few seconds for a mesmerizing effect.

General manager and operating partner Chris Walling agreed that what sets the restaurant apart is the cutting edge décor, as well as the professional staff and the food.

"The closest prime steakhouse is at Sandestin, which is 22 miles away," said Walling.

The menu offers fresh local seafood as well as sushi, chops and prime steaks priced from $17.95 to $55, prepared by Executive Chef Erik Smith. An early dinner special is offered nightly from 5 - 6 p.m., and happy hour is daily from 5 - 7 p.m.

Smith grew up in the area. Walling is a Dallas native who was tapped for the position by Altamura who contacted him at the Royal Sonesta in New Orleans where he was director of food and beverage. He has worked in the restaurant business for 15 years.

Altamura came to the area 21 years ago and opened Marina Café on Destin Harbor. Destin Chops in Destin followed, and both establishments have garnered a number of awards over the years. Altamura closed Destin Chops in Destin last year in anticipation of bringing it to 30A. He is in the process of building a home in Destin and will be part of the community.

"We are offering the early dinner special that snowbirds and locals alike will appreciate and the happy hour," he said.

Events such as wine dinners will be included in the future once the restaurant has moved out of the soft opening stage.

"The opportunity is here now instead of Destin," he said. "I was the first steak house in Destin and now there are six. The location on 30A is a great location with no prime steak house out there."

As a seasoned veteran of the restaurant business, the current recession doesn't scare Altamura.

"We had the same conditions in Destin 21 years ago," he said.

Altamura believes that when the new airport is built there will be more people coming to the area from the northeast with a taste for fine dining.

He will be ready.

His location in Seacrest, just west of Rosemary Beach, also positions him within walking distance for the more sophisticated clientele that inhabit Rosemary Beach.

Destin Chops 30A officially opened to the public on March 5. Dress is resort casual. Dinner is served from 5 - 10 p.m.

For more information call (850) 231-4050 or visit www.DestinChops30A.com.

30A Officially Designated a Florida Scenic Highway

Date: 2/25/2008

30A Officially Designated a Florida Scenic Highway

(Walton County -2/25/2008) The vote in Tallahassee was "unanimous"

For Immediate Release February 25, 2008 Santa Rosa Beach, Fl – County Road 30A, an 18-mile road which runs parallel to the coastline through a major portion of Walton County, was officially designated a Florida Scenic Highway by the Scenic Highway Advisory Committee Wednesday, February 20 in Tallahassee. This designation includes another 10.5 miles of connector roads which are County Road 83 (Blue Mountain) County Road 283 (Grayton Road) and County Road 395 (Seagrove – Eden Road). The vote by the committee was unanimous. "This designation is the culmination of about 10 years of work started by Commissioner Van Ness Butler who recognized the benefits that would accrue from this,” says District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows. “We are now eligible to apply for grant funding for projects we have identified in the application. Some of these include plans to address storm water management, landscaping, traffic safety, signage, parking, preservation, coastal dune lake protection, and other initiatives that promote the intrinsic resources found on 30A and connector roads. I was glad to see this designation finally come to fruition and appreciate all the work that was done by citizens, elected officials, and county staff over the years." According to the Florida Department of Transportation, designated scenic highways promote a heightened awareness of the state's exceptional resources and unique history through educational and visual experiences. The scenic highway program was developed in response to legislation (Section 335.093, Florida Statutes) "to preserve, maintain, protect and enhance Florida's outstanding cultural, historical, archeological, recreational, natural and scenic resources." It is voluntary and grass-roots based, involving strong local citizen and government support to help meet objectives. The program is perhaps best summarized by its mission statement: The Florida Scenic Highways Program will preserve, enhance and maintain the intrinsic resources of scenic corridors through a sustainable balance of conservation and land use. Through community-based consensus and partnerships, the program will promote economic prosperity and broaden the traveler's overall recreational and educational experience. The Friends of Scenic 30A, formally the corridor advocacy group, will implement the Corridor Management Plan (CMP) applying for grants to accomplish, the CMP, working with partnerships from other citizen organizations, our State Parks, the BCC, the Walton Chamber, the TDC, the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory, the FDOT and government officials to oversee scenic highway beautification and complete the goals set forth in the CMP. Public meetings will be planned by The Friends of Scenic 30A, encouraging citizens who have businesses or homes along the scenic corridor to attend and complete the CMP. Anyone wishing to become involved in The Friends of Scenic 30A should contact the office of Commissioner Cindy Meadows at meacindy@co.walton.fl.us or 850-622-3059. The Walton County Board of Commissioners will recognize the volunteers who have been involved with this significant designation project at the March 11 Walton County Commission meeting at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.