Destin Commons Holloween Costume Contest

Destin Commons hosted it’s 6th annual Lil’ Goblins Spooky Halloween Costume Contest this past Saturday and saw hundreds of children The contest consisted of three age groups with each group being judged on the cutest, scariest and most original costumes. Great prizes were awarded from Destin Commons and Build-A-Bear Workshop and all proceeds benefitted The Ronald McDonald House.

31st annual Destin Seafood Festival returns to harbor

May 14, 2009 2:53 PM

On Oct. 2-4, the 31st annual Destin Seafood Festival will return to its waterfront location at HarborWalk Village in Destin with headliners Joan Jett and Survivor.

Entertainment on Friday, Oct. 2, will culminate with the Grammy-Award-winning band Survivor at 8 p.m. With 10 albums during its 32-year career, the band’s hits include “I Can’t Hold Back,” “Eye Of The Tiger,” “High On You” and “The Search Is Over.”

Joan Jett, set to take the stage Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m., is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with eight platinum and gold albums. She also has nine Top 40 singles, including “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” In addition to touring, Jett currently hosts a weekly radio program on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Faction.

In 2008, more than 36,000 attended this 3-day event, which boasts fresh local seafood from some of the area’s best restaurants, live entertainment, including nationally known headliners and local favorites, arts and crafts, children’s activities, and more.

Story from thedestinlog.com

25 Things to do in Destin

August 04, 2009 7:06 PM

Jennifer Rich, Destin Log

DESTIN, FL – These days there’s more fun to be had in Destin than just lying in the middle of the road and waiting for a car to pass.

“I remember laying down on Highway 98 in February 1980 as a prank,” said longtime developer Bob Bonezzi. “We never saw a car. It was like they neutron bombed the whole place. No one was here in the dead of winter.”
 
Now no matter if it is winter, spring, summer or fall, there is always something to do in Destin.
 
And as part of the city’s quarter century anniversary, here are Destin’s its very own Top 25. Enjoy!

1. Hit the beach. The Emerald Coast’s pristine beaches and jewel-toned waters draw 4.5 million visitors every year. As locals, we are lucky to live in this paradise and it’s easy to take the beaches for granted when we see them every day. So every once in a while, wiggle your toes in the sand and think “There’s no place like home.”

2. Go fishing. When anglers die, they don’t go to heaven — they go to Destin. The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village boasts the largest fishing fleet in Florida to take care of those who live by the rod and reel. The industry has had its challenges over the past year with regulations and the economy, but the captains are still backing into the docks with wahoo, mingo, amberine, mackerel, snapper, shark, blue marlin and other highly-sought species.

3. Find Flipper. If reeling in fish is not your style, admiring the marine life from a glass bottom boat on a guided tour is another way to enjoy what is swimming below. Dolphin cruises catch pods in their natural habitat as the guides give history, stories and fun facts about Destin. The dolphins are always more than happy to entertain. And chartering a boat is also not a bad way to see a Destin sunset.

4. Party at Crab Island. It’s doubtful a party spot is what O.T. Melvin and his crew had in mind when digging the trench in 1926 that turned into East Pass, but those four men created a natural attraction for Destin. In the 60s, Crab Island was an above-ground sandbar providing refuge for nesting seabirds and picnicking families. Today, dredging and coastal weather have submerged the island, making it a popular place for boats packed with partiers to drop anchor.

5. Take in some art … and the arts. The Emerald Coast has loads of talent and plenty of places to show it off. Local artists have incorporated themselves into the scenery at restaurants, galleries and festivals. Destin has an outlet for all types of art from painting and sculpture to mixed media and light shows. Art shows and festivals can be found through the Destin-based Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s Web site.

6. Walk in the park. Destin parks offer the best in sports and natural recreation. Clement E. Taylor City Park, James Lee Park and Harbor View Park provide views of Choctawhatchee Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Destin harbor, respectively. If you’re feeling competitive, Buck Destin Park has courts for basketball and tennis. Mattie Kelly Park offers a boardwalk self-guided tour through Destin’s wetlands and Henderson Beach State Park is a haven for swimming, hiking, grilling and relaxing on the beach.

7. Swing a golf club. One of Destin’s main tourist attractions is its world-class golf resorts. Between Kelly Plantation and Regatta Bay, there is enough top-notch golfing right here in Destin to satisfy even a PGA tour professional. Certainly even the most demanding amateurs can have a great time with a group of friends as they unwind on one of our local fairways.

8. Visit the Destin History and Fishing Museum. A tour around the museum might be just what your family needs to relax, bond and learn about Destin’s humble beginnings. The ladies at the museum will be happy to talk about the fish to be caught around Destin and show artifacts from the founding families.
 
9. Get pampered. Living the good life is better when you look the part. And feeling good is a priceless commodity that many of the full-service spas and salons are waiting to give those who want a taste of the pampered life. A makeover or a massage may be just what you need to start looking and feeling your best.

10. Treasure hunt. Christmas shopping in July is no strange feat on the antique circuit. Just ask the ladies at Smith’s Antiques Mall, a collector’s paradise that’s been voted Best Antique Shop on the Emerald Coast. The lure of shopping for items from yesteryear has locals popping in for small home projects and tourists loading their SUVs with one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Owner Nedra Smith said the lure of these aging pieces is all about the treasure hunt.
 
11. Stroll through HarborWalk. HarborWalk Village is one of Destin’s newest attractions, intriguing visitors as they cross the Marler Bridge. The village is a “festive marketplace” with a New Orleans flavor on the food and drink side of things. Boutiques, boat watching and free outdoor entertainment are a few of the village’s specialties.

12. Spend the day on 30-A. If quaint little seaside towns are you taste, try walking or biking through the pedestrian friendly and sustainable communities. 30-A is disconnected from the hustle and bustle of tourist traffic, and offers some of the area’s best art.
 
13. Have some eco-fun. Ecotourism is a growing market for Destin with all of the natural resources around us. Paddling around the bay and picnicking at the park are two ways to enjoy Destin without harming the environment. Gather some friends and volunteer to clean a stretch of beach or roadside to feel good while having fun.

14. Have a whale of a time. World-known artist Wyland gave Destin a mural the size of … a whale. Wyland Whaling Wall #88 is one of the marine artist’s largest murals and one of Destin’s signature landmarks. It greets motorists heading over the Mid-Bay Bridge with a 1,480 by 60-foot display called “Marine Life of the Gulf.”
 
15. Slide into Big Kahuna’s. Big Kahuna’s has the answer to hot summer days in Destin. Get wet with speed slides, raft rides, pools, lazy rivers, and simulated surfing. If you are looking to stay dry, Big Kahuna’s also has bungee jumps, Go-Karts and mini-golf. See photos of the park, click here.

16. Get some retail therapy. Shopping in Destin is not for wimps. Destin Commons, anchored by Rave Motion Pictures, Bass Pro Shops and Belk, has over 80 specialty stores in the open-air atmosphere. To the east, Silver Sands Outlet Mall boasts 100-plus designer names. Nearby Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin offers a wide variety of shops, boutiques, restaurants and a hopping nightlife scene.

17. Hit the town with Fido. Leaving the pooch at home is a painful thought for some pet parents, so why not plan a dog friendly day? HarborWalk Village is a pet friendly stroll beside the harbor. Harry T’s has outdoor seating with loops on the picnic style tables to secure leashes while you chow down. After lunch, head to Henderson Beach State Park for playtime or a walk down their nature trail in the pet friendly park.
 
18. Roll up your sleeves and volunteer. Whether you are looking for community service hours, or just a chance to help out, Destin has plenty of opportunities to serve. The local churches always need a hand. Many children’s programs are available through the YMCA, Destin Community Center, and Morgan Sports Complex.

19. Let the kids call the shots. We are lucky to live in a thriving, family-centered community, so why not let the kids decide what to do for a change? Tear out the community section of The Destin Log and have the kids pick out one of the events.
 
20. Get your eat on. Many of Destin’s eateries claim to be world famous, and for good reason. Take advantage of the down home cooking and Gulf cuisine offered every day in one of the dockside seafood restaurants such as Harbor Docks, AJ’s, The Lucky Snapper and Dewey Destin’s.
 
21. Take the shuttle and sight-see. For those looking for a cheap, cool, relaxing day trip, the Okaloosa County Transit shuttles are the perfect solution. For only a dollar, you can ride the shuttle around the area and take in all the wonderful sights in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. The WAVE serves as a convenient way to save gas, tired feet and cash.

22. Try on water sports or crafts. You don’t have to be a boat owner to enjoy the water. Emerald Coast waters beckon with rentals of kayaks, paddle boards, personal water crafts and surfboards.

23. Find your zen. Destin beaches have a certain magnetism when is comes to seeking nature to find some inner peace. Early morning yoga and sunset worship on the beaches are a break from the mundane.

24. Race at The Track. Destin’s “Family Fun and Recreation Center” boasts bumper boats and cars, a big arcade, thrill rides, mini-golf, and enough of its namesake attractions, Go-Kart tracks, to keep the family entertained for hours. The Track offers several different types of race tracks, including “Wild Woody,” a three-tier rollercoaster experience, a slick track for older drivers who think they can handle the challenge, and even two smaller ones for the youngsters.
 
25. See Destin by air. Take the high ride with sight seeing. Destin has a few businesses that take customers up in helicopters or airplanes on tours of the city. The skies are always open!

Destin Real Estate Market Update

Inventory is down over 10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sales are up almost 12%

 

 

 

 

 

With all of the best properties flying off the market, there will be no better oportunity then NOW.  STOP WAITING, START CALLING.

Brittany Bryson

(850) 543-9481

brittany@bbindestin.com

Yes, the Housing Market Has Rarely Looked Better

By JAMES B. STEWART

Passing through the Fort Myers, Fla., airport a few weeks ago, I noticed people eagerly signing up for a free bus tour of foreclosed real estate—with all properties offering water views. During the ride to my hotel, the young driver volunteered that he had just bought his first house, paying $65,000 for a foreclosed property in nearby Cape Coral that last sold for over $250,000. He said he had never expected to be able to buy anything on a driver’s salary, let alone something that nice. Last week, Standard & Poor’s reported that its S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price index of real-estate values increased this past quarter over the first quarter of 2009, the first quarter-on-quarter increase in three years. Its index of 20 major cities also rose for the three months ended June 30 over the three months ended May 31, with only hard-hit Detroit and Las Vegas experiencing declines. The week before that, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales volume of existing homes was up 7.2% in July from June. View Full Image Associated Press .In short, the data suggest that real-estate prices hit a bottom some time during the second quarter, and have now begun to rise. There’s no way to be certain that this marks the end of the long, painful correction that followed the real-estate bubble, but clearly prices are no longer in free-fall. That means if you’ve been sitting on the fence, it’s time to act. Ordinarily I’d never try to time the real-estate market, but I can understand why buyers have been cautious. Few want to buy in down markets, just as stock buyers avoid bear markets. And for most people, of course, buying a house is a much bigger decision than buying a stock. But with real-estate prices nationally now down about 30% from their 2006 peak and showing signs of turning up, the prices aren’t likely to go much lower. Every real-estate market is local, and so there may be a few exceptions. Overall, though, I can’t imagine a better time to buy than now. In addition to bargain prices, buyers also should find plenty of homes to choose from. The inventory of unsold homes was 4.09 million units in July, up 7.3% from June, according to the National Association of Realtors. And mortgage rates this week were at a two-month low of close to 5%, according to Zillow. Even the stricter appraisal process is working to the advantage of buyers. Appraisals are coming in far lower than most sellers have been expecting, forcing them to face the new reality of sharply lower prices. And with stricter standards, lenders aren’t going to let buyers borrow more than they can afford, which protects buyers and helps to keep prices down. Unless you’re really prepared to accept the demands (and headaches) of being a landlord, I don’t recommend direct ownership of real estate as an investment. The days of buyers lining up to flip Miami Beach and Las Vegas condos are mercifully gone. There are much easier ways to make money in real estate, such as real-estate investment trusts or buying shares in home builders and other housing-related businesses (such as Home Depot). Historically, the mean rate of return on real estate has been around 3%, according to research from Yale economist Robert Shiller, who co-developed the Case-Shiller index. Shares in REITs and other stocks have often done much better. But there’s a good reason homeownership has been such a central part of the American dream. It delivers security, pride of ownership, a sense of community and decent investment returns as a bonus. I felt glad for my driver in Florida. He represents the other side of the foreclosure crisis. For every hardship story, and no doubt there are many, others are realizing their dreams of home ownership and getting what may well turn out to be the deals of their lives. James B. Stewart, a columnist for SmartMoney magazine and SmartMoney.com, writes weekly about his personal investing strategy. Unlike Dow Jones reporters, he may have positions in the stocks he writes about. For his past columns, see: www.smartmoney.com/commonsense.

Cap and Trade bill Myths versus Facts

Many Realtors® have either called or emailed ECAR, FAR or NAR regarding the Energy bill that passed the US House of Representatives last Friday. This bill is also referred to as the “Cap and Trade” bill, the “Green” bill and the “Climate” bill. 

According to NAR, there is A LOT of misinformation being circulated in the press and on the radio regarding the content of the bill.  As a response, NAR has put together the below Q&A on myths/facts that should answer many of the questions that are floating around out there. 

Good News for Local Real Estate

Good news still can be hard to find in the local real estate market, but it appears there’s something positive shining through the darkness. Thanks to a government incentive of $8,000 and interest rates below 6 percent, first-time homebuyers are finding themselves in the right place at the right time. “The more people learn, the more interest there is,” said Gloria Frazier, owner of ERA American Realty of Northwest Florida. “Prices have come down to where affordability is excellent.” A 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage of 5.5 percent means there’s an opportunity to be seized. “In the late 1990s, we had the same housing affordability, but I don’t think there have ever been incentives like these,” Frazier noted. Numbers from local lenders appear to bolster that claim. At Northstar Mortgage in Fort Walton Beach, the percentage of first-timers securing home loans rose from 8.9 for the first five months of 2008 to 52.6 this year. According to Northstar’s Sue Botelho, 14 percent of first-timers range from 21 to 25 years old and 50 percent are 26 to 34.

Entertainment Update

Family Fun Arts Fest
DESTIN – The Okaloosa Arts Alliance is accepting vendors and silent auction items for the second annual Family Fun Arts Fest to be held May 17 a Henderson Beach State Park on U.S. 98. The festival and park are free and open to the public all day, with parking available in the park. All proceeds benefit the Okaloosa Arts Alliance. Contact Amy Baty, executive director, at info@okaloosaarts.org

Digital Graffiti
ALYS BEACH – The second annual Outdoor Projection Art Festival Digital Graffiti will be held June 6 with artists using the latest technologies to project original works onto the town’s white walls. There will be more than $6,000 in cash for winning artists, including a $1,000 Best Local Submission award. Any artist from Walton, Okaloosa or Bay county is eligible to win that special category. The Web site is digitalgraffiti.infor. The deadline is April 30. Call (866) 481-8390 or e-mail   
events@alysbeach.com

Cube It
FORT WALTON BEACH – The Arts and Design Society’s Art Center is calling for artwork for an exhibit titled “Cube It,” which will be held May 8-29 at the ADSO Gallery, 17 First St. S.E.
All art, which can be of any medium, is to be inspired by cubism. This exhibit is open to all artists age 18 and over. There is a non-refundable entry fee of $25 for ADSO members and $35 for non-members, for two or less pieces of artwork.
Entries will be accepted from 1 to 4 p.m. May 2 or from 9 a.m. to noon May 4 at the Gallery. Call 244-1271 or visit artsdesignsociety.com

Fort Walton Beach Public Library
The Fort Walton Beach Public Library is looking for artists to display their work in the library lobby in glass cabinets for smaller artwork and wall space for large pieces.
The library looks for the artistic quality and originality of the artwork or collection, its ability to link the Library with the broad and diverse audiences and community interests of Fort Walton Beach and the ability of the artwork or collection to invite discovery.
If interested, contact Jennifer Kepple at 833-9590.

Camellia Grill blossoms as latest HarborWalk New Orleans icon

 

Camellia Grill

HarborWalk Village is steadily becoming the little sister of New Orleans with the addition of another one of the Big Easy’s legendary eateries — the Camellia Grill.

The diner-style restaurant with counter service and sweet Southern hospitality celebrated its official opening on Thursday with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m., but they were not ones to turn away the curious few that trickled in ahead of time.

“This is delicious,” squealed eight-year-old Leeanne Morrison, while she plucked away at a heaping mound of fries fresh out of the fryer.

‘Where amazing experiences happen’: Baytowne Wharf evolving with Tupelo Courtyard

Tupelo Courtyard

As Tupelo Courtyard rises, Michigan developer sees Sandestin ‘bouncing back’ from recession

April 23, 2009 – 1:52 PM

Fraser Sherman

Developer Tammy Lenhardt sees more potential in the Emerald Coast than in the Rust Belt.

That, the Michigan businesswoman told The Log, is why she’s developing Tupelo Courtyard down here in the Village of Baytowne Wharf rather than up north. Lenhardt said she became familiar with Baytowne Wharf while visiting Sandestin for business meetings.

“The local business economy here (in Michigan) was tied to automotive and residential building markets and was really hard hit,”

Lenhardt said. “We looked at areas we thought would recover more quickly … Sandestin, I believe, is going to bounce back and is going to be a better long-term investment.”