Author: Janecia Britt

The REP Announces Final Curtain Call

With many fond memories and much sadness, The REP Theatre has announced that it will be ceasing operations following the completion of its final summer performances in mid-August, concluding a remarkable 25-year run as a cornerstone of the 30A arts…

Home Is What You Make it

How do you define home? Is it where you live, where you’re from, or where you wish you were? For me, home has always been the beach, even while living in other states. I was raised on Emerald Coast landscapes,…

Creativity Culled the Cool Cat

At times, it is hard to take Christon Anderson seriously. The 43-year-old Panama City native is a serious artist. His works have won awards and been on display in galleries and private collections. His abstracts and mixed media pieces are…

Coastal Caroline

To Caroline Mowry, every detail matters—from the way golden hour alights a glass of white wine on a tablescape to how a crisp, white linen shirt effortlessly drapes across the body.  When your business revolves around creating memorable moments, the…

Cozy at the Cafe

In the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, a homesick Dorothy Gale made iconic a five-word phrase that lives in mainstream use still today: “There’s no place like home.” And she was right. So right that we’ve come to chase…

Turning Heads

A new trend is turning heads in the beauty and wellness community. Head spa treatments entered the internet scene as they became popularized throughout Japan. Specialized salons are now focusing on scalp and hair health, providing both practical results and…

Welcome to Pensacola

A few years ago, I sat on the beach with my sketchbook and drew a happy little pelican. I had no idea that this simple doodle would one day become Pensacola’s new welcome sign, greeting thousands of people as they…

Singular Sensation

Exclusive” is a word often used to describe Alys Beach, a walkable and private 30A community that has been gaining popularity since development began there in earnest in 2004. But it was the term “singularity” that was top of mind…

Anchoring Inland

Living in Florida, there’s no hotter commodity than beachfront property. But it’ll cost you to live Gulf-side.  Walton County, including coastal towns from Miramar Beach to Inlet Beach and north to Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, spans a diverse portfolio of…

What's Brewing On The Beach?

3rd PLANET BREWING Ten years ago, Tim McCool put his head together with homebrewer and fellow Air Force veteran Jason Doster to bring to Niceville its first microbrewery with the goal of creating quality beer and a new community hub. As…

Defining Coastal Chic

A new-age design descriptor, the coastal chic aesthetic focuses on bringing the beauty of nature inside to create luxurious and calming spaces. The style departs from the bold colors and nautical motifs known to the condo aesthetic. Subtle, warm modernity…

Garden Party Time

Sunny days make Florida gardens worth showing off.  Warm weather, beautiful blue skies, blooming flowers, and verdant landscaping set a welcoming scene for more than just the birds and bees. An ultimate backyard experience, the garden party is an elevated…

Hit the Road: In Full Swing

Nestled along both sides of a quiet street in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 20 miles away from Jacksonville, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has been providing guests an amenity-packed seaside escape since 1928. Steeped in tradition, the property occupies…

Hit the Road: Choose Your Own Adventure

As visitors approach the Chronos portal—the gateway to Universal Epic Universe—they’re greeted with these words: “Beyond this gate find gardens green and epic worlds to fill your dreams.” It’s a big promise but one that Epic Universe more than fulfills…

What's in Store?

TRIBE KELLY  Made for firework nights and chilly mornings, the AMERICANA SWEATER brings bold, timeless energy to your closet. This cozy knit is your go-to for year-round layering. Toss it over denim cutoffs, style it with your favorite sweats, or…

A New Chapter in Housing

For families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, the dream of homeownership can feel like a distant, impossible goal. Rising costs, scarce land, and unexpected repairs often force hopeful buyers into an endless cycle of renting. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity…

Anglers Hook Winning Catches at 2025 ECBC

The 23rd Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) returned to Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort from June 18-22, 2025, bringing together 78 elite sportfishing teams for a week of high-stakes competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. With…

ECCAC Back-to-School Drive

The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Centers (ECCAC) in Niceville and DeFuniak Springs have launched their annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. For the third year in a row, Intuitive Research and Technology in Niceville has donated not…

Panama City Beach Topgolf Opens June 27

Modern golf entertainment leader Topgolf announced that it will open its first venue along Florida’s Emerald Coast in Panama City Beach on June 27. This is Topgolf’s 10th outdoor venue in the state of Florida. Topgolf Basics Never been to a Topgolf…

Pinnacle of Purpose

The energy inside the Juniper Ballroom of Hotel Effie at Sandestin on March 26 was unmistakable—joyful, electric, and deeply inspiring. As guests entered the elegant foyer, they were greeted by friendly faces and a festively framed portrait of 12 accomplished…

New Fort Walton Beach Welcome Sign

The City of Fort Walton Beach congratulates Christina Donahoe of Christina Custom Art on her winning design for a new downtown Fort Walton Beach entrance sign. For her design efforts, Donahoe was presented with a check for $5,000 during a…

Comfortable In Your Own Skin

With locations throughout the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Georgia, Dermatology Specialists and Aqua Medical Spa is one of the largest and most trusted dermatology practices in the Southeast. Offering comprehensive dermatology to include everything from Mohs surgery to BOTOX, their…

Tales of Old Florida

Old Florida is synonymous with Sunshine State nostalgia. The phrase indicates a bygone era of small-town coastal living and simpler, less crowded times. Today, the Emerald Coast is a hot spot for tourism—our beaches are bustling, and our economy is…

Florida Cocktails

Carrie Honaker was traveling abroad, on board a barge in Southern France, when she unexpectedly received an email from Cider Mill Press.   The publishing company was looking to recruit Honaker to author a compilation of cocktails made at bars…

The Garden

A close cousin to the cafeteria and inspired by the nearly bygone era of the mall food court, the dining hall boom has carved out space for communities to gather and for local entrepreneurs to thrive.  “You really get the gamut…

Some Kind of Nirvana

Old Florida is synonymous with Sunshine State nostalgia. The phrase indicates a bygone era of small-town coastal living and simpler, less crowded times. Today, the Emerald Coast is a hot spot for tourism—our beaches are bustling, and our economy is…

Building the Beach

It was just after developer and co-founder of Sandcastle Resorts and Hotels Frank Flautt had purchased a 10-acre beachfront lot that would house the future Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa that he placed a call to his friend…

Sea Style

Maria Galati Hill spends her days how most of us wish we could—on yachts.   While there is some play involved, the majority is work, as her family owns the respected yacht brokerage Galati Yacht Sales.   When her grandparents,…

Local Art Here

Best friends Autumn Johnson and Kasey Caldwell co-worked for years selling their respective artwork out of co-op shops. But they never anticipated graduating their work relationship to co-owners.   “We’re like soulmates,” Johnson says. “We know each other very well,…

Revamping the Beach Bathroom

Living in or visiting a coastal town, most people are familiar with beachy bathroom themes popular across condominiums and coastal cottages. The kitschy beach chair and sandcastle painting, a collection of seashells in a wicker basket, hand towels adorned with…

Remember When

At 33, I feel possibly too young to be contemplating the good old days. Still, I sometimes find myself and friends half-jokingly adding “back in my day” sentiments to our conversations. Already, my 30s have felt like a reflective decade.…

Living History

Pamela Holt strolled out of the small outdoor kitchen house on Zaragoza Street at the Historic Pensacola Village with a look of mild consternation on her face.   “My pumpkin pie turned out to be a pumpkin custard,” she announces…

Beyond the Books

Tutoring is a lucrative profession and is often used to supplement a teacher’s salary. Beginners can charge as low as $15 per hour, while those with more experience can receive as much as $80 per hour for high-demand subjects such…

Grand Turk

In February, the Arts & Design Society of Fort Walton Beach announced Michael Lunsford’s Grand Turk painting as the winner of the Viewers’ Choice award in the 65th Annual Beaux Arts Exhibition. And at the 2025 ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival…

Cool Treats

Coming in from the beach—skin still tacky with sand, feeling sun-kissed and salty—a sweet treat is the perfect capstone to a day spent on the Emerald Coast. But who wants to spend hours in the kitchen baking something when the…

Lively Summer Gardens

Most birds have a few distinctive calls that identify them. The northern mockingbird is the exception, with its ability to mimic or mock the call of other birds, hence the common name. They have also been observed imitating non-avian sounds.…

Music as Salvation

I have lived in this flourishing beach town for eight years, and I have never had the opportunity to attend the 30A Songwriters Festival—until this year.   I attended in hopes of being a part of something unique and discovering a…

Honoring Our Heroes

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Vietnam Conflict, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted Honoring Our Heroes: Welcome Home, a tribute to Vietnam veterans with a three-day event that brought together…