Category: Celebrities/Famous Individuals

Local Artist Spotlight

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Morgan Summers is a local muralist based in Lynn Haven. Summers currently splits her time between client-directed work, creating content, and working on her passion project Small Town Walls. You may have seen her murals at local favorites such as the Bay Arts Alliance, The Lovely Project, UCF Downtown, Modern Orthodontics of Clermont, and more. In a recent article, she stated that she has “been pleasantly surprised that if I could just do a good job at what I do, people seem to enjoy it.”(1)

Learn more about Morgan Summers by visiting her official website here. 

Amelia Island Book Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Amelia Island Book Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This annual festival is designed to engage adults and young people in the joy of reading and writing through a series of public events; the events typically feature New York Times best-selling authors, independent publishers, independent authors, awards programs, and workshops. The Annual Author Expo is occurring February 18-19. The event offers the opportunity to engage with more than 100 authors, listen to panel discussions, and get books signed; admission is free to this event.

Additionally, there will be a 20th Anniversary Gala hosted at the Ritz-Carlton. The featured authors at this evening event will be David Baldacci, Mary Alice Monroe, Jennifer Niven, and Jeannette Walls; there will also be a cocktail reception, an author panel discussion, and a book signing. Learn more about the Amelia Island Book Festival and the organization it benefits here. 

Cirque Italia: Water Circus

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Cirque Italia has reimagined it’s popular performance to include lighted water fountains, a pirate adventure, death-defying acts, and a chance for visitors to be part of the search for a buried treasure. Upcoming dates include Tallahassee shows February 17th-21st, Panama City Beach shows February 24th-27th, and Pensacola shows from March 3rd-6th.

The Water Circus recommends that all guests wear a mask to events and is enforcing recommendations set by the CDC. Visit the official Cirque Italia website HERE for more information and to purchase tickets online. 

National Groundhog Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Groundhog Day, a popular North American tradition derived from a Pensalvanyia-Dutch superstition about groundhog shadows. Over the years, the tradition has grown into a cultural monolith in the United States and Canada. Groundhog Day was concieved in the 1880s with the infamous Punxsutawney Phil, who’s modern successor goes by the same name. Phil’s predicitions are reported with mock seriousness but the cultural signficance and genuine childhood enjoyment of the occasion brings it back year after year. Looking to view Phil’s emergence from his burrow? Tune in online HERE on Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:15am to find out live or rewatch at a more reasonable hour. 

National Poinsettia Day

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Today is National Poinsettia Day! Congress created this annual celebration in 2002 as a way to acknowledge the connection between the U.S.A. and Mexico. It is also meant to acknowledge the contributions of Paul Ecke, the founder of America’s poinsettia industry, and Joel Roberts Poinsett, the man who introduced the poinsettia plant to the U.S.A. Poinsett was a botanist, physician, and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. In fact, even the date is a nod to Poinsett; he died on December 12th in 1851.
Poinsettias are a perennial shrub botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and when in their native habitat of Mexico, they can grow 10-15 feet tall! Although most people associate poinsettias with the deep burgundy popular in the U.S.A, there are actually over 100 varieties of poinsettias. The shrub comes in colors like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled. While the plants are not poisonous, they do ooze a milky sap that can cause mild irritation and nausea in animals and individuals who are allergic to latex. 

Flora-Bama Lounge

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Florida is home to the last great roadhouse – the Flora-Bama Lounge! The Flora-Bama was constructed in 1964, two years after Alabama State Route 182 was completed. Route 182 connected Orange Beach, AL to Perdido Key, FL; the Lounge sits at the state line right on the beach. It is the quintessential dive bar where known celebrity millionaires and bikers hang out side by side. Despite having to complete repairs after a few hurricanes almost destroyed the bar, it has remained a renowned location.

 The Bama even has its own special drink: the “Bushwacker“. The drink is a frozen concoction that has a coffee-esque taste. Flora-Bama is so renowned that it has been mentioned by many musicians, some of which are listed below:

  • Kenny Chesney: “Flora-Bama”
  • Kenny Chesney: “Coastal”
  • Jimmy Buffett: “Bama Breeze” and “Rag Top Day”
  • Chris Young: “Lighters in the Air”
  • JJ Grey & Mofro: “Florabama”
  • Blake Shelton: “Good Ole Boys”
  • Neil Dover: “Flora-Bama Time”
  • Riley Green: “Bury Me In Dixie”

Seaside, Florida

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Seaside is the world’s first New Urbanist town which means that it is an unincorporated master-planned community. It’s located in the Florida Panhandle in Walton County. New Urbanism came to prominence in the 1980s in the U.S.A., and is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. However, criticism questions if New Urbanism actually succeeds in being sustainable or just likes the aesthetic design of quaint, pretty towns. You might recognize Seaside from the widely popular “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carrey; it was the primary film location for the movie. 

Super Girl Surf Pro Contest & Festival

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Tomorrow is the first day of the Super Girl Surf Pro Contest & Festival! This is a three-day festival that celebrates women’s action sports while focusing on female empowerment through social, athletic, cultural, and business opportunities.

The surf contest will be held at the Jacksonville Beach pier. The Festival Village at the Sea Walk Pavilion will be occurring simultaneously. The Village will feature live music, family-friendly activities, an ALL-FEMALE DJ competition, women’s beach soccer, women’s volleyball tournaments, free fitness/dance classes, and celebrity speakers. Additionally, there will be a beer garden and the possibility to get autographs from pro surfers. The best part is that all activities are FREE. Come down to Jacksonville Beach to take part in this festival from November 12th-14th! Visit the festival’s website here for detailed itineraries and more information on available activities. 

Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival

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The 37th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is underway! From November 4 – 14th, over 200 performers will be performing at 20 different venues along the Florida & Alabama Gulf Coast. Some highlights include Dean Dillon, Rick Carter, Tess Frizzell, and Bridgette Tatum. A few of the panhandle local venues are the Flora-Bama Central Church, the Southwest Branch Library, Hub Stacy’s, and The Point Restaurant (all located in Pensacola).

Visit the Festival website to view the complete list of venues, the performer schedule, and more! Can’t make it to any of the venues? The Festival has created a Spotify playlist featuring a number of hits that will be played live for your continual enjoyment.

 

Seafood Festival in Apalachicola

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today and tomorrow, visit Battery Park in Apalachicola for the Florida Seafood Festival! The festival includes more than delicious seafood; there will be live music, food competitions, blue crab races, a blessing of the fleet, and the 5K Redfish Run. Music will be provided by country artists Dante Bowe and Drew Parker. Admission is free. Pets are not welcome unless they are service animals. Visit the Florida Seafood Festival website to see a detailed schedule of events, join any of the competitive events, and more!