Spring Break in Destin

Ready or not, Spring Break in Destin is kicking off next week. This year is an expanded break that will run for seven weeks. Crowds will ebb and flow based on who is off school what week. It looks like the last couple of weeks of March will be some of the busiest. Of course Easter week is always a busy time too. Let the games begin!

Crab Island time is right around the corner

Several more new establishments are opening during Spring Break. One place is called Wendy’s Kitchen of Destin. I received a nice note from Wendy’s husband Joshua detailing their venture. They will be offering meals to-go that will feed up to 12 people. They are located in the Emerald Coast Center shopping center. They are between Beall’s and Radio Shack. To help get the project off the ground they have started a Kickstarter project. You can go to http://kck.st/1he7cAL for the Kickstarter page or check out their web site at www.wendyskitchentogo.wordpress.com. It sounds like an interesting new place.

AJ's from the water

A few weeks ago I mentioned a new place was going to open in the old El Paso Mexican restaurant location next to Malibu Jack’s. I heard it was going to be a wings and burger kind of place. Opening in a few weeks will be Mama Sherry's Pizza, Wings and Things. The “things” include  charbroiled burgers, sub sandwiches, homemade spaghetti and lasagna and popcorn shrimp. This is a nice building with a patio that faces the harbor.

The building next door was a Head Shop last year but it was also vacant now. Moving into that spot is Nosh Eatery & Café. They will be doing baked goods, breakfast and lunch. With Hogs Breath and Malibu Jack’s next door and Harbor Docks and Gilligan’s across the street, there are a lot of options in this area now.

Malibu Jack's

Main Street in Destin continues to spruce up and add new retail outlets. The latest is called Kaleidoscopes. This is an art boutique that will feature mostly works from local artisans.

Sunshine Cindy and I have not been out yet this week. We have had too much going on with the wedding and Crab Island Mambo. I updated the Happenings in around the Destin area. You can read it all here: http://www.crabislandmambo.com/Happenings.html

The last bit of news from Destin this week was another chapter in the on-going battle between the city and a proposed strip club that is wanting to open in the city. Residents in the proposed area are up in arms and demanding the city stop it. They say it will bring in drugs and unsavory characters. I guess this will be different unsavory characters and drug addicts than the ones that already live in our city. Personally I have never been in a strip club so I don’t know what kind of people frequent that kind of place. But I also think most of the residents up in arms about it have also never stepped foot in one too. I don’t care one way or the other about this place but when I read a quote from someone fighting it saying he does not care how much it costs the city in legal fees as it has to be fought then I get mad. The city of Destin has a small budget. Lawyers are expensive. This is money out of my pocket to fight this. If it eventually opens, I can predict how it will fail….if no one goes there they will pack up and go back to Atlanta! That’s pretty simple.

This is a big weekend in Destin as we work towards Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras festivities are everywhere. Down on the harbor they will have a big parade Saturday afternoon. Our friend Jan Patton will be playing Trop Rock music at Crab Island Cantina from 2-5 pm on Saturday then he moves to the Boathouse to perform in the evening over there. Panama City beach has two full days of festivities culminating in a parade at Pier Park on Saturday night. Get out and enjoy. We hope to see you this weekend!

A full wrap up on all the fun will be out on Monday. See ya then!!