Bull Dozers on The Pointe

What a great week we have been having weather wise. Temps in the low 80’s during the day and 60’ish at night. Fantastic! Monday when I got home from work, Mama Mambo and I jumped in BadAss and went to The Pointe. We wanted to get some sunset pictures of our new T-Shirts for the Crab Island Mambo web site. They have completed the dredging of the harbor entrance and all the sand is piled high on The Pointe. Signs are all over about not walking on the dunes but then they have a bulldozer parked on them. So you can’t walk but you can bulldoze across them!

Mama Mambo on The Pointe

The pictures turned out great. The sunset was magnificent as usual. Another couple came by remarking about how nice it was and I said we had to get out and enjoy it as we only get about 300 days a year like this! We stopped at McAllister’s Deli on the way home and enjoyed a good sandwich.

Beach Party

The other evenings have been spent working on Crab Island Mambo stuff. We have a new flyer we are developing explaining what we do so we can put it into the goodie bags for Rendezvous.  Tuesday night we pulled up the DVR of Jimmy Buffett’s concert from Gulf Shores, AL after the oil spill. It was fun watching that.

This past week Destin had a diver die in the water at the Jetties. This is a dangerous area because of the shifting tides. What can be almost calm can turn quickly. Destin is one of the few places in the world that only gets one full tide cycle a day. As the water funneles through the pass, it is very powerful. If you come to visit, be careful and check the tide charts.

Friday night is parrotheads at Crazy Lobster on the harbor. It will be fun. Till the next time…

First Saturday of Spring

It has been a fun few days here in paradise. The weather is great so we have been getting out and about. Thursday night we went to dinner at a place that we have not tried before. La Famiglia Italian Restaurant is right non Hwy 98 just a few feet from the harbor. We weren't expecting much but it was an authentic Italian place. Francesca who is actually from Rome waited on us. She made good suggestions and we had a terrific meal. The place was packed with a good mix of tourist and some local fishermen. We will be back there.

Saturday was our Crab Island Mambo First Saturday of Spring Beach Party. A great turn out and we had a blast on the beach. A lot of spring breakers were around but we had to show them how out to throw a party. A local musician who plays at Pandora's Steakhouse stopped by and did a few songs for us. Several other folks who were on the beach came by to party with us too. It's always fun when you have a party that others want to experience.

In the evening, Mama Mambo and I went to Ciao Bella Pizza as we had a taste for pizza. They make some of the best pies in Destin. This is another authentic Italian restaurant. It takes me back to my childhood when I visit these places. Also makes me wish I had learned Italian but then again I have enough trouble with English. After the pizza we walked over to Hogs Breath Saloon. John and Cam were behind the bar. Dave and his son were there and we chatted for a while with them. Mama Mambo went out to the outside bar for a moment and ran into some more people we knew. Destin is a small town and you always run into people you know.

Sunday was a fantastic day weather wise. The humidity was down, the temps were perfect around 80 and a slight breeze made it all the better. I got out and washed BadAss. (My car!) In the late afternoon, Mama Mambo and I went to KC’s Sandbar and Grill to hang out for a while. Rose and Sara were working the bar. Owners Bev and Mike were sitting at the bar too. This great open air bar in downtown Ft. Walton Beach has a Key West feel to it. We ordered some food and had a bunch of friends come in from a day of kayaking at Crab Island. Jan, Loujean, Terry, Michele, Kenny, James all came is as did Wayne and several others. Sunday is customer appreciation dinner night. They put out a spread of free food. Last night was chicken that everyone enjoyed. A duo from Cincinnati was playing music and we all enjoyed our time under the stars. Check out KC’s when you are in town!

Enjoy your week!

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung in Destin. Okay, it has sprung all over the country but it is always a little more special here in Destin. We have had temps in the mid 70’s all week and the lows have only been in the mid 60’s. Yep, I love living here. I have heard from friends up north how warm it has been this week but don’t get too used to it. It will get cool again.

It has been a quiet week as work has kept me busy this week. We did get out to Friday’s in Destin Monday. For Spring Break being in full swing, Friday’s were pretty slow. I guess now that the snowbirds have left, their business is going to be down a little as the old blue hairs manned many of the bar stools for happy hour! Mama Mambo and I did run into Ruth from our Parrothead club. She is a nice lady who is a chili cooking champion. Other than talking to Ruth for a while we discussed ways to take Crab Island Mambo to the next level. We are still trying to figure it out. lol

We are excited about our First Saturday of Spring Beach Party we are having this Saturday. It will be on Okaloosa Island and it will be our way of showing the young Spring Breakers how to really have a beach party. We always have fun on the beach with our parties. Kenny usually brings a kayak. Everyone brings some snacks to share. There is usually a concoction or two floating around. And if we are lucky, Jan will break out his guitar. Come out and join us!

Spring Break traffic is a little crazy. A wreck on the Brooks Bridge into Ft. Walton Beach last evening had rush hour traffic backed up half way to Destin. Glad I was going the other way. I have seen more people stuck in the sand on Okaloosa Island this year than I have seen in the past. I guess that just means we have more people down here which is a good thing.

Enjoy your weekend. See you Sunday.

Kickoff edition

Welcome to my "Living and Playing in Destin" blog. I will be posting this blog twice a week on Monday and Thursday evenings. I will be posting about the fun we have here on the Emerald Coast.

Just last Thursday we had a Crab Island Mambo party at Anglers on the island. Jimi Pappas and John Patti played to over 75 friends, Mambo'ians, spring breakers and even a few snow birds that still happened to be in the area.

 

Friday Mama Mambo and myself went to see our CPA Tommy to drop off our taxes. We decided we wanted to get some early dinner so we stopped at Fisherman's Wharf. We got a great outside table overlooking the harbor. Walking by on the harbor was Alan and Jackie. They spoted us and joined us for dinner. It was a good time talking with them. They are heading back to Marion, IL today. We will miss them but they will be back in June. One thing about Fisherman's Wharf...the beers are expensive and happy hour prices are only in the bar and not at tables. :-(

Saturday was St. Paddy's day. There were activities everywhere. We decided to go to Fort Walton for the pub crawl. We had some dinner at the new KC's addition. Good food. Then we met up with Jan, Loujean, Kenny, James and a cast of thousands. It was a blast as we hit the stops and ended back at KC's. The place was beyond packed. Good for Mike and Bev!

Temps in the low 80's has everyone thinking of spring. The top has been down as we ride around paradise! Till Thursday.....