We here at VIE - People + Places want to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
[Photos of Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach by Editor-in-Chief Jerry Burwell]
Archive for December, 2008
Merry Christmas from VIE!
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Random Acts of Kindness
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
The holidays have the ability to bring out the best in us if we let them. We become more generous, more sensitive to the needs of those around us. This year, the Salvation Army is finding the giving spirit in valuable gifts left by some anonymous donors in their signature red kettles.
The volunteer emptying Salvation Army kettles in southwest Florida recently came across something that stood out from the piles of spare change and crumpled up bills: a 1911 Liberty Eagle gold coin worth around $1,000.
The person who quietly deposited it outside a Fort Myers supermarket last week continued a holiday tradition of using the iconic red pots to make valuable and unusual donations to the charity.
Read more of this article here.
What Will They Think of Next?
Friday, December 19th, 2008
The Electric Paper Plane Launcher
Looking for a unique toy idea for the holidays? Well, get ready for take off! Take your paper airplane experience to electrifying new heights with The Electric Paper Plane Launcher! This fun kit was designed at Middlesex University, one of the leading design Universities in the UK. With simple assemble, you can discover how spinning motors and plastic discs can be used to launch a plane at over 30 mph!
For more info, click here.
Holiday Home Tour With Live Music & More
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
Locals and out-of-town visitors are invited to enjoy a special holiday tour of Alys Beach’s courtyard homes on Saturday, December 27th from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Open to the public, the event will also feature art works by Allison Wickey, and live entertainment by a variety of musicians, including Bill Evett, Jennifer Steele Saunders and Balder Saunders, and harpist Katie Smith.
Featured in the January 2009 issue of Veranda magazine, Alys Beach’s open house event will include tours of numerous recently-completed homes, including the resort town’s first residence on the beach-side of Scenic Highway 30A. The home, named Villa de Syla, was designed by world-famous Ike Kligerman Barkley Architects P.C. of New York, with gorgeous and innovative interiors by Seagrove’s Design Services of Florida.
“Villa de Syla is a custom home in every sense of the concept,” said Dale Trice of Design Services. “We commissioned original works of art, designed custom pieces of furniture and even created new fabrics especially for this extraordinary space. It’s just an incredible home for entertaining, with numerous Gulf-view terraces and dining spaces.”
For more information about the open house event, please call 1-866-481-8387 or email events@alysbeach.com.
Community Challenge Reminder!
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
CHALLENGE
1-DAY TOY DRIVE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 10 AM - 10 PM
OUTSIDE BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP
Join Destin Commons for the largest community challenge yet to help meet the immediate need to give a gift to needy children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties this Christmas!
Bring a new, unwrapped toy for kids aged 0 - 16
Convenient drive through location for easy toy drop off
THE GOAL: Fill up Tim Smith Acura SUV’s with toys
Destin Commons is located at the corner of Highway 98 and Mid Bay Bridge Road. (850) 337-8700
VIE Holiday Giveaway!
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
In the holiday spirit, VIE is giving away gift certificates to local fine jewelry boutique Destin Jewelers! Register to win a $250 gift certificate here. But you better hurry, these won’t last long!
Oliver!
Monday, December 15th, 2008
Hailed the world over as one of the best-loved family musicals of all time, “Oliver!” brings to the stage some of Charles Dickens’ most unforgettable characters along with one of Broadway’s most memorable scores - just in time for the holiday season. The national tour of “Oliver!” will appear December 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Northwest Florida State College Niceville campus. This special event is the only two-night engagement of the center’s 2008-09 Broadway and Artist Season.
(more…)
It’s a Wonderful Life!
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
We just wanted to remind you that The Grand Theatre Pier Park 16 will be showing the classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart this Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m. both days. Screenings of the film will be free of charge and open to the public. So, come out, sip some hot chocolate and watch a beautiful, classic Christmas film on the big screen.
This year The Grand is partnering with the local chapter of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to provide Christmas gifts for children in need. The promotion, “It’s a Grand & Wonderful Life” began November 28 and will run until December 21. The Grand is inviting moviegoers to generously donate new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls to be placed under The Grand Christmas Tree, a 12-foot Christmas tree decorated in white lights, unique Coca Cola ornaments and polar bears when they come to the movies. The tree ornaments, polar bears and gifts of kindness from theatre patrons will be given out by volunteers from the local chapter of Marine Toys for Tots to local children in need.
Toys for Tots Challenge
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
The Marine Corps’ annual Toys For Tots drive is falling short of this year’s goal, potentially leaving thousands of area children without a gift this year.
Destin Commons has stepped to the plate with the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors by issuing a challenge to the community and area businesses to help make this a special Christmas for children in need. They will be hosting Toys For Tots Challenge, a 1-day drive to fill up an Acura SUV car from Tim Smith Acura.
Bikes, dolls, stuffed animals, games and more are needed. Bring new, unwrapped toys to Destin Commons Center Plaza anytime from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, December 19. A convenient drive-through location in front of Build-A-Bear Workshop will be set up with attendants waiting to take donated toys. Toys are needed for children aged 0 to 16.
“We are urging area businesses to join in the Toys For Tots Challenge,” commented director of marketing, Crystal Petti. “They can have an office drive and come down as a team to drop off their toys. One toy will make a difference. It may just be the difference of a child receiving one toy or nothing at all this Christmas.”
Destin Commons is located at the corner of Mid Bay Bridge Road and Highway 98. For further information, call (850) 337-8700, or visit on-line at www.DestinCommons.com
Christmas Time at Destin Commons
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
December is filled with some fun events at Destin Commons that we don’t want you to miss. The DC Kids’ Club Read & Grow has their monthly story time this Thursday, but this month they will also have a special holiday cookie activity sponsored by Panera Bread. This is a free event that is great fun for kids and good for the budget! Santa is hanging out at Destin Commons these days (see end of post for hours) and the Annual Holiday Doggy Fashion Show is coming up this weekend. Throughout December, Destin Commons will hold a special free art gallery exhibit displaying a collection of over 300 of Norman Rockwell’s famous The Saturday Evening Post covers. This gallery will also hold “Painting in the Commons” where kids can come and create their own masterpieces. Every Saturday leading up to Christmas Day, the gallery will feature a local artist and their modern interpretation of The Saturday Evening Post covers. So, there are lots of fun and free events to check out. Read the rest of this post for further details.
Giving…
Monday, December 1st, 2008
In tough economic times, it is easy to feel like we should hoard everything we have, but it is in times like these that giving becomes even more important. In “Pearls of Wisdom,” an article in VIE’s Fall/Winter 2008 issue, we showcased the life of Annie Lynch who turned 100 years old this year. She talked to us about living through The Great Depression and how the thing she remembers most about that era was the sense of community and the way everyone gave to help each other out. Maybe our economic shaking will serve to help us remember the most important things in life.
A recent BusinessWeek article highlighted the fact that American’s still recognize the significance of giving, listing the top ten American givers who have continued to contribute huge sums of money this year. Warren Buffett and Bill & Melinda Gates top the list of big givers, but more generous donors are joining in, including William Barron Hilton, co-chairman of the Hilton hotel chain who pledged late last year to give away 97% of his wealth — some $1.7 billion — to his family’s humanitarian foundation.The Christmas season is here and there is no better time to remember to open your heart, schedule or wallet and find a way to give. We have listed just a few opportunities to give locally, but if you keep your eyes open, we’re sure you will find more.
Caring and SharingThis Walton County outreach is in need of non-perishable food items, canned goods and baby items (diapers, wipes, formula, etc.)They are open 10:00-3:00p.m. daily and are located at
112 Lynn Street
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Habitat for Humanity Walton County Sponsored
A local family with young children has been provided a home, but the father has become ill and unable to work. This lovely family is so happy about their new home, but they are in need of home items and bedding.
Click here to visit their website and find out how to help.
Toys for Tots
This Marine Corps charity collects donated, unwrapped toys and distributes them to children in need throughout the local community. Drop sites are located throughout the panhandle (COLA 2 COLA), including The Grand Theatre in Pier Park, Gulf Coast Community College, Regions Bank, Starbucks and many more.
Click here to find all toy drop locations.
