Author: Shruti Shah

Precious Heirlooms

Plump red tomatoes are popular with area gardeners and their friends who get to share the bounty when in season. However, the colors, shapes, and sizes seen in these gardens and supermarket produce sections barely scratch the surface of the…

Protect, Share, Inspire

My father taught me to love nature. As far back as I can remember, he educated my family on every animal species we encountered, planned camping vacations for us, and shared stories about the importance of preservation. He taught us…

Into the Woods

At first light in a Walton County forest, the air hangs damp and cool, heavy with the scent of pine and palmetto. A white-tailed deer slips through the trees. Somewhere overhead, a woodpecker taps. A father kneels in the sand,…

Sunken Treasure

Most of us will never star in a Hollywood production, but a few miles off the coast of Panama City Beach, you don’t need to be an A-lister to grace one of Disney’s most iconic movie sets—you just need a…

Shell Shocked

Spend enough time around Destin and Fort Walton Beach, and you will probably meet Tina. Tina is a bit of a celebrity around the area, showing up at parades, visiting classrooms, talking it up with vacationers and anyone else. To…

30A Getaway

Captivated by the local charm of the Emerald Coast’s famed 30A, the homeowners knew this was the place when they chose the community of WaterColor as the destination for their family beach home. Located in Santa Rosa Beach on the…

Guardians of the Wild

Here on the coast, wildlife is never far from view: A sea turtle inches across a sandy expanse; an osprey surveys the marina from above; dolphins crest the waves offshore; and a deer slips quietly through the tree line at…

It's All Elemental

Last summer, while visiting some biohacker-inclined friends in Southern California, I found myself inside a DIY backyard sauna. As a Floridian and hot Pilates enthusiast, I assumed I was built for heat. I took the seat closest to the furnace…

Where Land Meets Sea

Less than a decade after opening the award-winning George Bistro + Bar, Chef George Lazi and his wife, Luba, decided to expand their culinary footprint in 2021 with a second enterprise. And while they could have mirrored much of what…

The Fabric of Health

As microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and forever chemicals have made their way into everyday discourse, it’s easy to fixate on what goes into our bodies, but what we wrap our bodies in is just as important. From our socks to our…

Hit the Trails

Trail running sounds like a simple practice. In essence, it is a sport that requires only determination, a pair of good-fitting shoes, and exercise attire, but there are nuances and learning curves. Consider how a foot lands on uneven ground…

June/July 2026 Calendar

13th Annual Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo June 5-7 This weekend event at the Flora-Bama Ole River Grill is a low-stakes fishing tournament for all ages and skill levels. While participants can enter a variety of competitions, the focus is on fun…

Shutter Speed

Chris DeLorenzo is on a hunt. The 30-year-old Grayton Beach resident stalks his way around ’70s muscle cars looking for light, looking for color, looking for treasure. That’s how he describes his fine art approach to photographing automobiles at a drag…

Fauna Fantastica

The Northwest Florida Panhandle is uniquely positioned to represent a diversity in ecosystems. The Panhandle is split into two ecoregions: the Southeastern Plains (inland) and the Southeastern Coastal Plain (nearshore). Our inland environments boast pine forests, rolling hills, and diverse…

Water Works

The dog days you’ve been dreaming of are around the corner, leading to beach days, pool parties, and day trips to nearby springs.  You may be used to pulling frayed denim shorts and a baggy T-shirt over a trusty swimsuit…

Wild West Weekend

Although it’s only a short drive away, Westgate River Ranch feels like stepping through a portal into Florida’s frontier. Set amid hundreds of acres of whispering oaks and open pastures, this storied property delivers Western charm with an upscale, family-friendly…

Colorado's Reborn Frontier

Travelers flock to the Colorado Rockies for skiing, hiking, and crisp alpine air, but deep in the San Juan Mountains lies a different Colorado altogether. Hidden between stands of blue spruce, ponderosa, conifers, and aspen groves, steaming mineral pools emerge…

The Big Chill

Frosted Starlet A lavish spin on a provocative martini variation, this icy granita is destined to be a showstopper at any summer gathering  Ingredients 2 oz. Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur 2 oz.…

Waterless Wonders

 Stone’s Throw The Kate McLeod Daily Stone Deep Moisturizing Lotion Bar ($45 for starter kit) is a cocoa butter concentrate comprising beneficial fatty acids. The brand’s original formulation—a combination of rose, frankincense, and neroli known as The Daily—delivers a light…

Honoring Impact

On a bright afternoon in late winter, the Hotel Effie was flooded with light, warmth, and purpose––850 Business Magazine’s Pinnacle Award luncheon had returned for its 12th year.  Each year, 850 Business Magazine presents the Pinnacle Awards to exceptional women…

Life Through the Lens

To Wayne Simpson, life is a delicate balance of preserving a moment forever and living in the moment. When behind the lens, he is attuned to what will make for a quality photo while reminding himself to stop and take…

A Gracious Life

It’s been said that life is measured not by the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away. I would argue that the legacy we leave—the breathtaking moments we’ve gifted to others—multiplies the value of a life…

Heavy Layers

I step off the dirt parking lot just off 30A and onto a mosaic path. Native plants brush the walkway’s edges. A massive tree throws dappled shade across the property, where three paintings framed inside wooden pavilion structures form a…

Bloom Into Beauty

Flowers bloom as the spring season along the Emerald Coast beckons residents and visitors alike to a bouquet of events.  Coming out of winter hibernation, you’re likely seeking a look that’s fresh, colorful, and possibly a bit unexpected. When mixing…

Spinning Around

Every April since 2008, Record Store Day has celebrated the unique culture of independent record shops through in-store events around the globe. On the Emerald Coast, stores such as Central Square Records and Revolver Records offer locals a place to…

Dance to Your Own Beat

Movement to music is a melding of mind, body, and spirit.  The mind works to remember the choreography or to create it. The body exerts energy, adrenaline, and stamina as it pirouettes, sashays, leaps, and lunges. The spirit is enlivened…

Where To Brunch?

It’s a Sunday morning. You and your closest friends are feeling hungry. Are you thirsty, too? Fonville Press  Alys Beach Right off of 30A, the cheerful Fonville Press Market + Cafe serves refreshing breakfast and lunch options all day. Check out the…

AV Club VIPS

Picture This  Artwork makes a statement within a home and often serves as a focal point in a room. But what if, instead of a static piece, you could change that statement depending on your mood, entertaining endeavors, or seasonal…

Mint To Be

Fresh herbs are a critical component of culinary success; however, they are sometimes difficult to source in local markets. Fortunately, perennial herbs can be easily grown in North Florida, resulting in an almost year-round supply. All that is required is…

Out And About Outfits

During the spring season, the Emerald Coast is alive with outdoor festivals during the day and elevated entertainment by evening.  With a packed social calendar, you’re defrosting from winter, emerging from your chrysalis, and curious about what to wear. If…

Secret Castles

In the ninth century, the once-mighty Frankish empire of the Carolingian dynasty began to fracture, giving rise to a feudal system that reshaped Europe’s landscape. As power splintered, noble lords built the first castles—not just as homes but as symbols…

Golden-Hour Gems

1. In a Nutshell Renato Cipullo shell earrings with amber set in 18-karat gold, $11,000, by special order. renatocipullo.com  2. Scorpio Season Heavenly Vices Celestial Stories necklace with amber and Madeira citrine set in 14-karat gold, $6,000. heavenlyvicesfinejewelry.com  3. Sting…

New School Of Thought

As a dad, Matthew Weinberg was certain his daughter Sienna’s future was promising. But when it came time to enroll her in school, frustration set in.  The 4-year-old girl had apraxia, a speech motor dysfunction. Her parents tried to enroll…

Local And Lyrical

April showers bring May flowers as well as National Poetry Month.  “While poetry may not cure the ills of the world, it can help people cope by providing creative outlets that can turn brutality into beauty with the simple turn…

Irreplaceable Creations

There’s a special feeling that comes from living in, or even driving through, a truly artistic community. Every building catches your eye. Every door beckons. Fulfilled, purposeful, unique lives are surely being lived inside every window. I feel assured in…

April-May 2026 Calendar

SANTANA’S ONENESS TOUR 2026 APRIL 1 Experience the legendary sound of Carlos Santana on the “Oneness Tour.” A celebration of unity, spirituality, and timeless music, this tour brings Santana’s signature blend of rock, blues, Latin rhythms, and soulful guitar magic…

Rushing Around

When a Floridian hears the word “adrenaline,” a roller coaster might first come to mind. Add water to the equation, and it might be surfing or jet skis. I’m pleased to report, though, that we in the Panhandle have access…

A Bold Beach Aesthetic

Pensacola’s In Detail Design Collective, led by creative chief Cheryl Clendenon, gives new life to the coastal condo aesthetic. This jazzy character of this Pensacola Beach property takes their upbeat, unexpected style center stage. Here, boho “beach chic” is replaced…

Singers, Songwriters, and Stages

I love live music as much as the next person. But let’s be real. In an era of dynamic pricing tactics and endless added fees gouging our wallets, it can feel impossible to enjoy more than one festival or major…

Two Decades, One Baton

When Sinfonia Gulf Coast raised its baton for the first time in 2005, it did so with an audacious promise: to redefine the symphony experience along Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast. Two decades later, that promise has become a lived reality—one…

Meditation Garden Must-Haves

Water Features For an acoustic curtain that will facilitate inward focus, consider incorporating water features into your garden. Different types and sizes produce distinct sounds and volume levels. The trickling, bubbling, and splashing water of tiered fountains create symphony-like notes…

Drink the Rainbow

Harvest Smash  This smoky, fruity symphony of toasted figs, bursting blueberries, and fresh basil is ideal for celebrating the bounty of summer. Ingredients ½ cup fresh blueberries   2 fresh figs, chopped   Fresh basil leaves to preference, plus more…