I know it’s Summer in Destin and it is going to be hot but the last few days we kicked it up a few notches. We had temps in the low 90’s with high humidity making it feel like the mid to upper 100’s. I love it hot but you have to be careful you don’t get heat stroke in this weather. The last week we didn’t have any clouds either but now we are getting into a more normal pattern of 30-40% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Yep, it’s Summertime!
Activity wise this was a pretty slow week for us. I did take Friday off and after running some errands I headed to the harbor for a while. First stop was Landshark Pizza for a brew. Jason was behind the bar. He is going to bartend now as well as serve. I left there and walked down to The Crust Pizzeria. I wanted their baked ziti with sausage for lunch. It is so good and it did not disappoint this time either.
After lunch I walked the harbor ending up at The Boathouse. David, Dougie and a few others were there. I soaked up some sun while enjoying a laid back afternoon. I made one more stop after I left The Boathouse and that was at The Red Door Saloon. There was a great breeze blowing through The Red Door. They had music from a juke box playing. First was a rap song with MF this and MF that. Then came a Meryl Haggard song followed by Harper Valley PTA and then back to a rap song with more MF’s. Interesting song selections to say the least!
When I got home I talked to Sunshine Cindy and told her I would have the cooler filled and for her to join me at the pool when she got off from work. I got to the pool about 4:30, Sunshine Cindy got there about 5:30 and we stayed till almost 9:30. It was nice and relaxing even if the pool water was warmer than bath water. We had our Trop Rock tunes playing and enjoyed a beautiful Destin evening.
Saturday morning we were lazy so I said I would go and get us some breakfast sandwiches from McDonalds. That was a mistake. The McDonalds in Destin had cars stopped all the way around the building. People were parking in the lot adjacent to McDonalds and walking in. It was a zoo. I decided to head down to Whataburger to see if I could get in there. I passed the Donut Hole. They must have had 100 people lined up outside waiting to get in. The Breakfast Place parking lot was also packed. I guess everyone wanted some breakfast!
At Whataburger I found a parking spot and went in. No one was in line at the register. Wow, I thought I would be out quickly. But there were about 7 or 8 people waiting for food. About 15 minutes later I had our couple sandwiches and I headed back home. Note to self: Don’t get out on Saturday mornings for food till September.
In the afternoon Sunshine Cindy, Tiffany, Chaos and I headed to the Destin Brewery. They were doing a beer tasting and they had the Big Red Truck selling food. It was like a tailgate party. They had some tables set up under trees on some grass that helped keep the heat down on a brutally hot afternoon. We tried three different styles of beer and they were all really good. The food from the BRT was also good. We sat with a couple from Niceville and enjoyed their company. Jeff and his wife loved Chaos and we all sat for a couple hours shooting the breeze. It was a nice time and we will be back. Get you some Destin Brewery beer as many of the local watering holes are now carrying it.
The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing at home. I watched some sports and we called it a night fairly early. Sunday Sunshine Cindy stayed in and worked around the house. She cleaned out her closet which was a major project. LOL I did some computer work then cleaned up Badass. In the afternoon I wanted to get out but Sunshine Cindy wanted to keep working around the house. So I got a kitchen pass and I headed off the Landshark for a little while to get out of her way. Paige was working the bar. It was not too busy. Pops came in then Brian stopped in for a few minutes. It was nice catching up with everyone.
When I got home Sunshine Cindy and I sat on the porch. It looked like we might get a big storm as it got dark and the wind started to blow but the dome held and Destin stayed dry.
This weekend the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic fishing tournament was held in Sandestin. There were two Blue Marlin weighed in that were over 800 pounds and one about 650 pounds. Those are some trophy fish being caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Wow!
With the Fourth of July weekend coming up, the busiest week of the year in Destin will here. All rooms will be gone and you need to plan your trips carefully to try and avoid the worse of the traffic. And for the love of God don’t try to go to McDonald’s or any of the breakfast places on Saturday morning!
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend everyone. See ya next Monday as we celebrate!!!
Destin Steve
Monday, June 27, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
It’s finally “next year” for Cleveland sports as the Cleveland Cavaliers are the NBA Champs
I might live in Destin but my sports heart is still with my hometown Cleveland teams. Sunday night I was able to finally experience another Cleveland team win a championship. And since I was only 7 years old the last time a Cleveland team won a championship, this one means a lot. The Cavs are the best team in basketball, the champs and they have the trophy to prove it. I have to admit I didn’t think they would do it when they got behind at the half but for once it was meant to be. Time to let some other fan base lament what went wrong. It’s now time to put to rest the tortured past and look forward to the future. Okay Indians and Browns, you are next!
I watched game 7 at home but for game 6 on Thursday I went to Landshark Pizza to watch the game. Kenny saw I was there and joined me. Jerry (another Cleveland guy) was also there watching the game. The Cavs jumped out to a big lead and held on for the win. Courtney was working the bar and they had all the TV’s on the game. I had a pizza while watching the game that was as good as usual. It felt good to be at a bar watching a game and my team actually won!
This was obviously a great weekend but not just because of the Cavs. Friday was my off Friday from work. I ran a bunch of errands in the morning then decided to head down to the harbor in the afternoon. I stopped at the Cantina. It was a nice day on the water with all kind of water craft making their way into and out of the harbor. I decided to walk down towards AJ’s. I was going to stop at Fishheads but the place was packed. Actually the entire boardwalk was crowded with tourist.
It was hot and humid so I headed back to Harry T’s to get into some air conditioning. Old friend Red was working the bar. She was the afternoon bartender at Anglers for many years when I lived on the island and could walk there. It was good seeing her again. Dan the owner stopped by to chat with me for a few minutes. He even bought me a beer. Then a few minutes later he came back by and asked if I like bourbon. He had one he wanted me to try. It is from Crestview and it’s not very good. I thought Dan was going to pour me a small shot but no, I got a whole glass. But it was free so I had to drink it! Lol
When I finished the drink it was time to head home. On the way out I saw Alan and Jackie. This was their last day in town before heading back to Illinois. They had been in town with family and friends for a week. They are all good people and good friends. We look forward to Alan and Jackie coming back in October for the winter.
Sunshine Cindy didn’t get home till almost 7:00 as she ran some errands after work. We had a birthday party we were invited to but by now it was getting late and a big thunderstorm was getting ready to hit so we stayed home.
One thing about Florida is we get some crazy thunderstorms. It seems like the world is going to end then 20 minutes later the sun is out. We also had a bad one hit Thursday about 4:30 pm. It got so dark it looked like night time. Then the sun comes back out and the humidity seems like it is about 250%. Yep, that’s our home state!
Saturday we had a Crab Island Mambo / Emerald Coast Parrot Head Club beach cleanup. This was our second cleanup of the year. We had over 40 folks come out to cleanup and party with us. Dan from Harry T’s donated a couple cases of burgers and Mike cooked them. Mike and Suzanne also had a few surprises in store for us. Clyde had made a new Shot Ski. This is a board with holes cutout in it. You put shot glasses into the holes, fill the shots with your favorite liquor and you have three people “shoot them” at the same time. It’s a fun time. Then we had a water balloon tossing contest that turned into a water balloon fight. And yes, we cleaned up our mess too!
The entire day was a blast. As the afternoon wore on a group of us went to Fuds on the bay to listen to BT play. He did his usual fun show. By the end of his show and us having been in the sun all day, it started to take a toll so the next stop was home to relax.
Father’s Day on Sunday saw us go to Sunshine Cindy’s parents’ house to celebrate. Her Dad had the day off as I cooked burgers on the grill and the girls cooked some other things in the kitchen. We had a nice visit. Then it was time to head home to watch game 7.
A word of warning…do not try to get into Destin on Saturday’s. You can’t move in Fort Walton Beach as traffic backs up for miles on all the roads to the bridge. And Mid-Bay bridge backs up for many miles from the toll booths. Even as late as 6 or 7 pm it is still a mess. Come in real early or real late. Consider yourself warned! Lol
The new “boat free zone” on Crab Island is now in place. The buoys are in place. The corridor actually runs east and west. For some reason I would have thought it was going to be north and south. This will be interesting to see how the dynamics change out there now.
Don’t forget we have our Crab Island Mambo “Embrace the Chaos” tee shirts and tank tops on sale for just $5 each. Click here to see our inventory and to get your own slice of Destin. http://crabislandmambo.com/Crab-Island-Mambo-Merchandise.html.
This weekend we have a Parrot Head Phlocking at Dockside Café in Niceville on Friday as we “party with a purpose” some more. Plus Rob Roman’s is at Hooks on the Harbor on Thursday for fireworks night and BT is at The Boathouse on Tuesday. Get out and have some fun! Have a great week. See ya next Monday!
Destin Steve
I watched game 7 at home but for game 6 on Thursday I went to Landshark Pizza to watch the game. Kenny saw I was there and joined me. Jerry (another Cleveland guy) was also there watching the game. The Cavs jumped out to a big lead and held on for the win. Courtney was working the bar and they had all the TV’s on the game. I had a pizza while watching the game that was as good as usual. It felt good to be at a bar watching a game and my team actually won!
This was obviously a great weekend but not just because of the Cavs. Friday was my off Friday from work. I ran a bunch of errands in the morning then decided to head down to the harbor in the afternoon. I stopped at the Cantina. It was a nice day on the water with all kind of water craft making their way into and out of the harbor. I decided to walk down towards AJ’s. I was going to stop at Fishheads but the place was packed. Actually the entire boardwalk was crowded with tourist.
It was hot and humid so I headed back to Harry T’s to get into some air conditioning. Old friend Red was working the bar. She was the afternoon bartender at Anglers for many years when I lived on the island and could walk there. It was good seeing her again. Dan the owner stopped by to chat with me for a few minutes. He even bought me a beer. Then a few minutes later he came back by and asked if I like bourbon. He had one he wanted me to try. It is from Crestview and it’s not very good. I thought Dan was going to pour me a small shot but no, I got a whole glass. But it was free so I had to drink it! Lol
When I finished the drink it was time to head home. On the way out I saw Alan and Jackie. This was their last day in town before heading back to Illinois. They had been in town with family and friends for a week. They are all good people and good friends. We look forward to Alan and Jackie coming back in October for the winter.
Sunshine Cindy didn’t get home till almost 7:00 as she ran some errands after work. We had a birthday party we were invited to but by now it was getting late and a big thunderstorm was getting ready to hit so we stayed home.
One thing about Florida is we get some crazy thunderstorms. It seems like the world is going to end then 20 minutes later the sun is out. We also had a bad one hit Thursday about 4:30 pm. It got so dark it looked like night time. Then the sun comes back out and the humidity seems like it is about 250%. Yep, that’s our home state!
Saturday we had a Crab Island Mambo / Emerald Coast Parrot Head Club beach cleanup. This was our second cleanup of the year. We had over 40 folks come out to cleanup and party with us. Dan from Harry T’s donated a couple cases of burgers and Mike cooked them. Mike and Suzanne also had a few surprises in store for us. Clyde had made a new Shot Ski. This is a board with holes cutout in it. You put shot glasses into the holes, fill the shots with your favorite liquor and you have three people “shoot them” at the same time. It’s a fun time. Then we had a water balloon tossing contest that turned into a water balloon fight. And yes, we cleaned up our mess too!
The entire day was a blast. As the afternoon wore on a group of us went to Fuds on the bay to listen to BT play. He did his usual fun show. By the end of his show and us having been in the sun all day, it started to take a toll so the next stop was home to relax.
Father’s Day on Sunday saw us go to Sunshine Cindy’s parents’ house to celebrate. Her Dad had the day off as I cooked burgers on the grill and the girls cooked some other things in the kitchen. We had a nice visit. Then it was time to head home to watch game 7.
A word of warning…do not try to get into Destin on Saturday’s. You can’t move in Fort Walton Beach as traffic backs up for miles on all the roads to the bridge. And Mid-Bay bridge backs up for many miles from the toll booths. Even as late as 6 or 7 pm it is still a mess. Come in real early or real late. Consider yourself warned! Lol
The new “boat free zone” on Crab Island is now in place. The buoys are in place. The corridor actually runs east and west. For some reason I would have thought it was going to be north and south. This will be interesting to see how the dynamics change out there now.
Don’t forget we have our Crab Island Mambo “Embrace the Chaos” tee shirts and tank tops on sale for just $5 each. Click here to see our inventory and to get your own slice of Destin. http://crabislandmambo.com/Crab-Island-Mambo-Merchandise.html.
This weekend we have a Parrot Head Phlocking at Dockside Café in Niceville on Friday as we “party with a purpose” some more. Plus Rob Roman’s is at Hooks on the Harbor on Thursday for fireworks night and BT is at The Boathouse on Tuesday. Get out and have some fun! Have a great week. See ya next Monday!
Destin Steve
Monday, June 13, 2016
Destin in the Summer
The Summer season is in full swing in Destin. Let me give you a day by day rundown of a typical week in Destin in the Summer.
Saturday is change-over day for everyone who spends a week in Destin. (What happens in Destin leaves on Saturday!!!) Saturday morning you have thousands of people all trying to leave town at the same time. The Mid-Bay bridge usually backs up all the way across the bay from the toll booths to Destin. Fort Walton Beach is a little better but it can take a couple light changes to get off Okaloosa Island. Then about noon the influx starts to build. By 2 or 3 o’clock the traffic is backed up from the toll booths on Mid-Bay past Hwy. 20 and even back to Range Road. It can take an hour or more just to go these last few miles. Fort Walton Beach is even worse at Brooks Bridge. The traffic is backed up on all the roads leading to the bridge. This is another hour plus there. Last week I checked the traffic app at 5:30 pm and the traffic was still a mess.
Because of so many folks trying to get into town, you can usually get into our restaurants as they won’t start to fill up till 6 or 7:00. The evening will start to hop with the younger crowd but it’s not as bad as some other nights.
Sunday and Monday are probably the two slowest days of the week as most folks are getting settle into their condos, going to Wal Mart to pick up who’s knows what and Publix to get food and drinks, plus they are hitting the pools and beach for their initial sun burn and just figuring out what they want to do. Restaurants will be crowded in the evenings but unless there is an accident you can get around our roads as long as you don’t go down 98 from one end to the other.
Tuesday is the parade night at Harborwalk Village. People are now getting out and exploring more so traffic is building. The area around the Grande will be busy as folks head to the harbor. Tuesday you see more people walking and crossing the street anywhere they feel like it. You really have to be alert.
Wednesday is the fireworks show on the island. The area at The Boardwalk on the island is now a destination in its own right. Traffic trying to get over Brooks Bridge in the late afternoon is bad as it backs up half way across the island westbound. When you add people trying to get down there for the fireworks you might as well pack a lunch as you won’t be going anywhere quickly.
Thursday is the worse day in Destin. They do a big fireworks show over the harbor at 9 pm but the crowds head to the harbor much earlier. It usually takes me 30-40 minutes to get across the island on Thursdays. The back roads are packed as each Thursday they do a concert at Mattie Kelly on Commons Drive. Don’t go out if you can avoid it! LOL
Friday’s is a wind down day but still very busy as many folks try for that one last blast of their vacation. Plus you have an influx of the weekend warriors coming into town. You need to hit the restaurants early if you don’t want to wait as they get busy after 6 or so. There is usually a fun vibe on Friday nights around town.
And then we get to start it all over again on Saturday!
I was mainly highlighting Destin and Fort Walton Beach but the same dynamics play out in SanDestin and along 30A. Also all bets are off if it rains. If it’s raining you have thousands of tourist all getting into their cars and going…well I don’t know where but most likely the movie theater or bowling alley. All I can say is if it’s raining, don’t head towards the Outlet Mall or the Commons. You will be sorry!
One more thing I want to stress is you need to heed the flag warning system we have on the beaches. A red flag means stay out of the Gulf of Mexico. We have very dangerous rip currents that you can’t see. Last week we had 4 people lose their lives in the Gulf because they ignored the flags. Play in the sand or find a pool but stay out of the water when you see a red flag.
Last week Sunshine Cindy and I got out a few times. Friday night we went to Landshark Pizza for a Parrot Head meeting. A good crowd listened to Coconut Radio perform. Our friends from Southern Illinois made it and it was nice seeing them again. I got to talk to some of the Landshark regulars who were sitting at the bar. Steve, B, Pops, Jenny, Tony are all good people and good friends. After the meeting Sunshine Cindy and I went to the Boathouse with Steve and Dottie. We hung out there for a while listening to Jason Clark. We finally made one last stop at Waffle House on the way home for some late night food.
On Saturday Sunshine Cindy and Tiffany went out to do a little shopping. I met them at The Back Porch for lunch. We had a short wait for a table but it was worth it as we scored a table upstairs. I didn’t even know they had an upstairs dining area. We had great views of the Gulf and everyone on the beach. Plus the food was really good too…A little pricy but good.
Sunday was hot. I went for a bike ride in the morning and did about 6 ½ miles. In the afternoon I headed to Crab Island Cantina to listen to BT perform. Sunshine Cindy decided she wanted to stay home and get some things done around the house. Jasmine was working the bar. BT was doing his thing. A decent crowd was there for brunch. After a short while Julie and Brodie joined me. Then Alan and Jackie also came down. We had a fun time but it’s always fun when BT is performing.
The water in the pass and bay was a beautiful aqua color. The Cantina is a great venue with BT playing with the view of the water right behind him. There were boats and jet skis everywhere. I stayed till he ended at 5:00 then headed home to get ready for the work week. I did watch the Stanley Cup game as Pittsburgh won it all. Congrats to them as they were the best team in the playoffs. My Tampa Bay Lightning almost had them but just came up short.
Next to Landshark Pizza Asiago Skillet has opened. It’s a breakfast place open from midnight to noon. We will try it and let you know what we think.
We have a Crab Island Mambo / ECPHC beach cleanup this Saturday. It should be fun. Come join us on the Island at Beachwalk access #2. Everyone welcome. We start at 9:30 am with a big beach party afterwards. We hope to see you there. For all our activities on the Emerald Coast check out my Crab Island Mambo Weekly Update Page: http://www.crabislandmambo.com/Weekend-Update.html
I will have a full report next Monday. See ya then!!!
Destin Steve
Saturday is change-over day for everyone who spends a week in Destin. (What happens in Destin leaves on Saturday!!!) Saturday morning you have thousands of people all trying to leave town at the same time. The Mid-Bay bridge usually backs up all the way across the bay from the toll booths to Destin. Fort Walton Beach is a little better but it can take a couple light changes to get off Okaloosa Island. Then about noon the influx starts to build. By 2 or 3 o’clock the traffic is backed up from the toll booths on Mid-Bay past Hwy. 20 and even back to Range Road. It can take an hour or more just to go these last few miles. Fort Walton Beach is even worse at Brooks Bridge. The traffic is backed up on all the roads leading to the bridge. This is another hour plus there. Last week I checked the traffic app at 5:30 pm and the traffic was still a mess.
Because of so many folks trying to get into town, you can usually get into our restaurants as they won’t start to fill up till 6 or 7:00. The evening will start to hop with the younger crowd but it’s not as bad as some other nights.
Sunday and Monday are probably the two slowest days of the week as most folks are getting settle into their condos, going to Wal Mart to pick up who’s knows what and Publix to get food and drinks, plus they are hitting the pools and beach for their initial sun burn and just figuring out what they want to do. Restaurants will be crowded in the evenings but unless there is an accident you can get around our roads as long as you don’t go down 98 from one end to the other.
Tuesday is the parade night at Harborwalk Village. People are now getting out and exploring more so traffic is building. The area around the Grande will be busy as folks head to the harbor. Tuesday you see more people walking and crossing the street anywhere they feel like it. You really have to be alert.
Wednesday is the fireworks show on the island. The area at The Boardwalk on the island is now a destination in its own right. Traffic trying to get over Brooks Bridge in the late afternoon is bad as it backs up half way across the island westbound. When you add people trying to get down there for the fireworks you might as well pack a lunch as you won’t be going anywhere quickly.
Thursday is the worse day in Destin. They do a big fireworks show over the harbor at 9 pm but the crowds head to the harbor much earlier. It usually takes me 30-40 minutes to get across the island on Thursdays. The back roads are packed as each Thursday they do a concert at Mattie Kelly on Commons Drive. Don’t go out if you can avoid it! LOL
Friday’s is a wind down day but still very busy as many folks try for that one last blast of their vacation. Plus you have an influx of the weekend warriors coming into town. You need to hit the restaurants early if you don’t want to wait as they get busy after 6 or so. There is usually a fun vibe on Friday nights around town.
And then we get to start it all over again on Saturday!
I was mainly highlighting Destin and Fort Walton Beach but the same dynamics play out in SanDestin and along 30A. Also all bets are off if it rains. If it’s raining you have thousands of tourist all getting into their cars and going…well I don’t know where but most likely the movie theater or bowling alley. All I can say is if it’s raining, don’t head towards the Outlet Mall or the Commons. You will be sorry!
One more thing I want to stress is you need to heed the flag warning system we have on the beaches. A red flag means stay out of the Gulf of Mexico. We have very dangerous rip currents that you can’t see. Last week we had 4 people lose their lives in the Gulf because they ignored the flags. Play in the sand or find a pool but stay out of the water when you see a red flag.
Last week Sunshine Cindy and I got out a few times. Friday night we went to Landshark Pizza for a Parrot Head meeting. A good crowd listened to Coconut Radio perform. Our friends from Southern Illinois made it and it was nice seeing them again. I got to talk to some of the Landshark regulars who were sitting at the bar. Steve, B, Pops, Jenny, Tony are all good people and good friends. After the meeting Sunshine Cindy and I went to the Boathouse with Steve and Dottie. We hung out there for a while listening to Jason Clark. We finally made one last stop at Waffle House on the way home for some late night food.
On Saturday Sunshine Cindy and Tiffany went out to do a little shopping. I met them at The Back Porch for lunch. We had a short wait for a table but it was worth it as we scored a table upstairs. I didn’t even know they had an upstairs dining area. We had great views of the Gulf and everyone on the beach. Plus the food was really good too…A little pricy but good.
Sunday was hot. I went for a bike ride in the morning and did about 6 ½ miles. In the afternoon I headed to Crab Island Cantina to listen to BT perform. Sunshine Cindy decided she wanted to stay home and get some things done around the house. Jasmine was working the bar. BT was doing his thing. A decent crowd was there for brunch. After a short while Julie and Brodie joined me. Then Alan and Jackie also came down. We had a fun time but it’s always fun when BT is performing.
The water in the pass and bay was a beautiful aqua color. The Cantina is a great venue with BT playing with the view of the water right behind him. There were boats and jet skis everywhere. I stayed till he ended at 5:00 then headed home to get ready for the work week. I did watch the Stanley Cup game as Pittsburgh won it all. Congrats to them as they were the best team in the playoffs. My Tampa Bay Lightning almost had them but just came up short.
Next to Landshark Pizza Asiago Skillet has opened. It’s a breakfast place open from midnight to noon. We will try it and let you know what we think.
We have a Crab Island Mambo / ECPHC beach cleanup this Saturday. It should be fun. Come join us on the Island at Beachwalk access #2. Everyone welcome. We start at 9:30 am with a big beach party afterwards. We hope to see you there. For all our activities on the Emerald Coast check out my Crab Island Mambo Weekly Update Page: http://www.crabislandmambo.com/Weekend-Update.html
I will have a full report next Monday. See ya then!!!
Destin Steve
Monday, June 6, 2016
We’re going to Destin…
These words are spoken more often now than at any time in the past years. The tourist are here and the crowds will continue to grow as we hit the peak during the weeks around the fourth of July celebration. It just takes a little patience during this time of the year…and a knowledge of back roads!
This past week I got out a few times. Sunshine Cindy was still not back to 100% on Thursday so I made a stop at Hogs Breath for a while. Cam was behind the bar and Chris Jackson was playing music for everyone. The bar was pretty full. I had a burger and a few brews and watched the traffic sitting on Hwy 98. The outside bar at Hogs is a great locals place. They really take of us, even in season! I got home in time to watch the Cavs get crushed by the Warriors. Looks like another lost opportunity for a Cleveland team.
I was off on Friday. In the morning I ran some errands. Tiffany needed a ride to work at Harry T’s so I took her and decided to stay on the harbor enjoying a beautiful day. My first stop was at Crab Island Cantina. Josh was working and the lunch time crowd was starting to build. I hung around for a while then walked the docks to Fishheads. Melissa was working and had a nice group sitting around her bar.
From there I walked back to Jackacuda’s. I sat at the outside bar. A father and his teenage son sat next to me. They had been out fishing on a charter and wanted Jackacuda’s to cook it up for them. They were from Nashville and finishing up their vacation to Destin as they were heading home on Saturday. It was fun talking to them and their fish fillets made some great fish taco’s.
I saw Carlos from the Cantina as I was leaving and he invited me to come up to his new office. He took over the space on the second floor of the Grande where the radio stations used to be. He told me about a new venture he has. He is going to be marketing a special BBQ sauce. This business will be in addition to his spices he sells, the restaurant, deli, sports bar and marketing company. I don’t know when he has time to sleep! I will see if we can get some Trop Rock music back into the Cantina after the season.
I made one final stop at Rotten Apple on the way home. Tracy was working the bar. Tommy and his dad stopped in. It’s always good to see the captain. Sunshine Cindy went out with Tiffany after they got off work to do some mom and daughter shopping/bonding. They ended up at World of Beer and had a good time.
Saturday was the big Billy Bowlegs pirate festival in Fort Walton Beach. The day started out rough as big thunderstorms roared through our area in the morning. Tiffany was going with friends on a pontoon boat. The rain let up and they did get to the festival. The rest of the day was actually pretty nice. Sunshine Cindy and I went to Hogs Breath in the afternoon. We saw B there and Julie joined us too. Rikkie was working the bar and a decent crowd was enjoying the early evening. We had a nice relaxing time then we went home and sat on the back porch.
Sunday was spent at the in-laws and helping Tiffany get ready to head back home to Atlanta. Despite a weather forecast that called for rain all day, we had a dry day.
The bay side of Destin along Calhoun Ave has not seen much development over the years but that is changing. A new place that will cater to wedding parties will be built. There is already a place called The Bay House open but a sister venue called Veranda by the Bay and lodging called Cottages by the Bay will start construction soon. There has been talk of extending the boardwalk under the Destin bridge and along to the businesses along Calhoun Ave. I can see it happening sometime in the future with the new construction that’s taking place in that area.
The Wild West atmosphere of Crab Island will be getting a little safer. They have talked about it for a year but now there will soon be a corridor in the middle of Crab Island where no boats will be allowed to anchor. This will allow first responders the ability to more easily reach the center of Crab Island in case there is an emergency. With all the boats and crowds it almost impossible for emergency crews to get to the middle of action. The corridor will be constructed with more than 30 anchored buoys placed about 100 feet apart. The zone will measure about 40 feet wide and about a quarter-mile long. This should be done in the next 30 days or so.
Don’t forget we have our Crab Island Mambo “Embrace the Chaos” tee shirts and tank tops on sale for just $5 each. Click here to see our inventory and to get your own slice of Destin. http://crabislandmambo.com/Crab-Island-Mambo-Merchandise.html
It’s going to be a fun week with Rob Romans at Hooks on the Harbor on Thursday for the weekly fireworks show and the Parrot Heads are back at Landshark Pizza this Friday. I will see you next Monday with a full report!
Destin Steve
This past week I got out a few times. Sunshine Cindy was still not back to 100% on Thursday so I made a stop at Hogs Breath for a while. Cam was behind the bar and Chris Jackson was playing music for everyone. The bar was pretty full. I had a burger and a few brews and watched the traffic sitting on Hwy 98. The outside bar at Hogs is a great locals place. They really take of us, even in season! I got home in time to watch the Cavs get crushed by the Warriors. Looks like another lost opportunity for a Cleveland team.
I was off on Friday. In the morning I ran some errands. Tiffany needed a ride to work at Harry T’s so I took her and decided to stay on the harbor enjoying a beautiful day. My first stop was at Crab Island Cantina. Josh was working and the lunch time crowd was starting to build. I hung around for a while then walked the docks to Fishheads. Melissa was working and had a nice group sitting around her bar.
From there I walked back to Jackacuda’s. I sat at the outside bar. A father and his teenage son sat next to me. They had been out fishing on a charter and wanted Jackacuda’s to cook it up for them. They were from Nashville and finishing up their vacation to Destin as they were heading home on Saturday. It was fun talking to them and their fish fillets made some great fish taco’s.
I saw Carlos from the Cantina as I was leaving and he invited me to come up to his new office. He took over the space on the second floor of the Grande where the radio stations used to be. He told me about a new venture he has. He is going to be marketing a special BBQ sauce. This business will be in addition to his spices he sells, the restaurant, deli, sports bar and marketing company. I don’t know when he has time to sleep! I will see if we can get some Trop Rock music back into the Cantina after the season.
I made one final stop at Rotten Apple on the way home. Tracy was working the bar. Tommy and his dad stopped in. It’s always good to see the captain. Sunshine Cindy went out with Tiffany after they got off work to do some mom and daughter shopping/bonding. They ended up at World of Beer and had a good time.
Saturday was the big Billy Bowlegs pirate festival in Fort Walton Beach. The day started out rough as big thunderstorms roared through our area in the morning. Tiffany was going with friends on a pontoon boat. The rain let up and they did get to the festival. The rest of the day was actually pretty nice. Sunshine Cindy and I went to Hogs Breath in the afternoon. We saw B there and Julie joined us too. Rikkie was working the bar and a decent crowd was enjoying the early evening. We had a nice relaxing time then we went home and sat on the back porch.
Sunday was spent at the in-laws and helping Tiffany get ready to head back home to Atlanta. Despite a weather forecast that called for rain all day, we had a dry day.
The bay side of Destin along Calhoun Ave has not seen much development over the years but that is changing. A new place that will cater to wedding parties will be built. There is already a place called The Bay House open but a sister venue called Veranda by the Bay and lodging called Cottages by the Bay will start construction soon. There has been talk of extending the boardwalk under the Destin bridge and along to the businesses along Calhoun Ave. I can see it happening sometime in the future with the new construction that’s taking place in that area.
The Wild West atmosphere of Crab Island will be getting a little safer. They have talked about it for a year but now there will soon be a corridor in the middle of Crab Island where no boats will be allowed to anchor. This will allow first responders the ability to more easily reach the center of Crab Island in case there is an emergency. With all the boats and crowds it almost impossible for emergency crews to get to the middle of action. The corridor will be constructed with more than 30 anchored buoys placed about 100 feet apart. The zone will measure about 40 feet wide and about a quarter-mile long. This should be done in the next 30 days or so.
Don’t forget we have our Crab Island Mambo “Embrace the Chaos” tee shirts and tank tops on sale for just $5 each. Click here to see our inventory and to get your own slice of Destin. http://crabislandmambo.com/Crab-Island-Mambo-Merchandise.html
It’s going to be a fun week with Rob Romans at Hooks on the Harbor on Thursday for the weekly fireworks show and the Parrot Heads are back at Landshark Pizza this Friday. I will see you next Monday with a full report!
Destin Steve
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