Halisi Africa: Boutique & Cafe

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Halisi Africa opened in September of 2019 as a boutique and added a Zanzibar Bar in 2020. Located at 1002 Commercial Drive in the Tallahassee Art District, the shop offers a relaxed “shop-and-sip” style for customers that includes clothes, food, and music. Co-owners Vanessa Byrd and Bryant Shaw wanted to encourage customers to experience authentic African customs.

The café and boutique is divided into two sections. The entrance opens to the boutique which features clothing, jewelry, books, and more related to African diaspora. The boutique area also has a few chairs and tables for those guests who want to lounge while they shop. The café offers limited seating for those customers who want to dine in. 

Chipola College 75th Anniversary

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Chipola College is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year! Chipola is the third oldest college in Florida AND the third smallest. Many of those on campus believe its small size is one of the best things about the school as it allows the faculty to truly reach every student. President of Chipola College, Doctor Sarah Clemmons, says that one of the stand-out changes the college has experienced in its last 75 years is its name change: “When we began offering Bachelor’s Degrees, it offered such wonderful opportunities, especially for the students in our five-county service area,” Clemmons said.(1)

To honor their 75th year, Chipola leaders are focusing on celebrating with current and past students. Additionally, they are working to build stronger bonds with alumni. They want to help forge connections between alumni and their old classmates, as well as assist alumni looking to help mentor current students. 

Visit Chipola College’s website here to learn more!

Soaring out of Summer Celebration

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Join the Calhoun/Liberty Community Health Partners tomorrow at Foxtrot 95 Calhoun County Airport for the Soaring out of Summer Celebration. The event starts at 10 am and aims to bring awareness to the Florida Department of Health’s SNAP-ED program and other important local resources. The celebration will host hot air balloon rides, sports activities, bounce houses, yard games, food trucks, live music, a fruit & vegetable stand, and local resource vendors. Admission is FREE so bring out the whole family for a day of fun and education! 

Caribe Family Festival

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This Saturday from 12pm – 6pm, the FAMU Way Market Area will be hosting Caribé! Also called A Festival of Colors, this event celebrates the history, culture, music, and folklife of the Caribbean islands. Guests are encouraged to express their creativity by creating and wearing masks and costumes for the parade. The event is FREE and will feature a parade in which guests are allowed to partake in, music, dance, food, performances, vendors, displays, and more!

Featured performers include: DJ RRane, Gyasi Clarke, The Forgotten Coast Dancers, DJ Dean, Excellence Dance Studio, Breanna Jade, DJ Zoe, Miriam Watkins & the Tallahassee Salsa Dancers from Studio D, Elio Delgado, DJ Ju, Lion Steel Band from Leon High School, DJ Vizyon, and DJ Stan Man. It is being produced by the Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation with partial funding from Leon County/Visit Tallahassee.

Sip & Stroll in Jacksonville

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Every third Thursday of the month, enjoy a night at the downtown Jacksonville waterfront sipping wine, listening to music, and partaking in local eats. Sip and Stroll features specialty cocktails crafted by Manifest Distillery alongside beautiful Florida sunsets. The monthly event is presented by PNC in partnership with the Downtown Investment Authority. Guests can enjoy the picnic area, the southbank riverwalk, and more! Lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and leashed dogs are welcome. Tomorrow is the August Sip and Stroll event. The event starts at 5 pm and goes until 8 pm. Please note that only alcoholic beverages in a branded Sip & Stroll cup are permitted on the Riverwalk during the event; pick up a branded cup at either of the Riverwalk bars.

Mushroom Plant Pal Class

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Gypsybeach Treasured Kreations is hosting a Mushroom Plant Pal class this month. It is a two-part class with the first portion taking place on August 18th and the second on August 25th. The first class will focus on clay sculpting while planting will take place during the second class. Both courses will be from 4-5 pm. The class is only $25 for both sessions! Class includes a planter and succulent. Call Kathie at (904) 451-3071 to pre-register and secure your spot. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here. 

Drag Boat Racing in Sneads

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The Town of Sneads and the Outboard Drag Boat Association is hosting a Sneads Showdown this coming week, August 20-21. The race will be held at Sneads Park on Legion Road. Admission is $10/person while kids 10years-old and younger get in for free! There will be food and beverage vendors on-site for your enjoyment. Please note that while racing does not begin until 10:30 am, the gates and festivities will open at 8 am. Please come prepared for the heat with water, sun protection, and bug spray. 

Grape Harvest Festival

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The 2022 Annual Grape Harvest Festival is coming to the FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research on August 20th! From 8 am to 4 pm, the festival will be bustling with family, food, fun, and agricultural discovery. FAMU is a national leader in viticulture research, and this festival is meant to celebrate both FAMU and the surrounding community.  

Click the photo to visit the Grape Harvest Festival website for more information.

There will be a vineyard trailer ride, grape and wine sampling, grape stomping contest, water slides, a grape throwing competition, a hula hoop competition, live entertainment, fun vineyard run and walk-a-thon, grape picking, a health fair, and more than 60 community exhibitors and vendors! Onsite general admission is $10/person; children under 12 years of age and FAMU students (with valid ID) are free. Non-FAMU students will receive a 50% discount while seniors (65+) will receive a 20% discount. Parking is located off-site at the “Antique Car Museum” located at 6800 Mahan Drive. Parking will open at 7:30 am on the day of the event. A complimentary bus shuttle to the festival grounds will be provided on a 10–15min schedule.

Blountstown Rocks

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In 1963, a group of talented young musicians from small towns across the Florida panhandle would visit Blountstown on Friday nights to play songs of the ’60s at the American Legion Hall. More than 50 years later, Saving Downtown Blountstown and Main Street Blountstown are teaming up to host the “Return of the Villagers.” Come down to the 20 West Saloon (formerly J Milley’s) tomorrow, August 13th, at 6:30 pm for Blountstown Rocks! The dance will provide a nostalgic shimmy down memory lane with the band starting promptly at 7 pm. Food will not be provided but the dance is conveniently located by a number of local restaurants. There will be an open bar available at Return of the Villagers. Please note that the dress code is casual.