 Hey There Weekend Dreamers! Today we’re continuing with our newest series - “Street to the Beach” - here in fabulous Atlantic Beach, Florida! Why are we doing “Street to the Beach” you may ask? Well, because all of life’s greatest paths lead to the beach - of course! So we’ll start our morning on the land, and we’ll end our morning with our feet in the sand. Many thanks for being here this lovely Saturday morning in Duval County on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll be going on a walking tour throughout the streets and beach in the town of Atlantic Beach. This small coastal town is loaded with charm, and lots of little boutique shops, restaurants, and some lovely hotels. My goal with “Street to the Beach” is to bring a little slice of the coast your way. But more importantly, to show you what life is like in a specific beach town each week, while we are on land, and then in the sand. Let me know if you’ve ever been to Atlantic Beach, Florida? Or are you considering traveling here in the future? And I’ll see you in the next one… somewhere under the beautiful sun. Love you, Christine P.S. Be sure to share out my YouTube Channel with anyone who wants to go on an adventure! Hey! Did you know I regularly livestream in Atlantic Beach, Florida? You can check out my Atlantic Beach playlist right here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IQK2bgqaLepmK4_ZU7lfJFC&si=1fTvxF0AYHkUuKQd Here’s my playlist on various hotels throughout The Sunshine State: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7ITjbP1GO43tS15E8ygPqEDs&si=e0myd0gcofEiKcuf Plus, here’s my Jacksonville Beach, Florida playlist! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IQPEtmraXz0KI3AX5JZzdCF&si=ESvHlebbb8rzXPbP Beach Diner is located at: 501 Atlantic Boulevard Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 You can visit Beach Diner online at: www.beachdiner.com Salt Air Inn & Suites is located at: 425 Atlantic Boulevard Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 You can visit Salt Air Inn & Suites online at: www.visitsaltair.com Hotel Palms is located at: 28 Sherry Drive Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 You can visit Hotel Palms online at: www.thehotelpalms.com This video was filmed LIVE on Saturday, June 22, 2024 in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Video 431. Livestream 138. #walkingtour #atlanticbeach #florida ___ Hey There Weekend Dreamers!! Thanks for joining me for 'Street to the Beach' on this lovely Saturday morning! Today we enjoyed a fabulous walking tour in Atlantic Beach, Florida. And as we walked 2.30miles together, well, we saw a lot: *State Route A1A/Atlantic Boulevard. *Beach Diner. *ABBQ (Atlantic Beach Barbecue). *Many large murals. *Salt Air Inn & Suites. *The Hotel Palms. *A lovely water fountain in an outdoor garden at the Community Presbyterian Church. *Atlantic Beach Elementary School. *A clock tower memorial in front of the Atlantic Beach Police and Fire Departments that we discovered was a Tide Clock! *A beautiful sea turtle statue memorial. *Frazier Park. *The Continental Hotel site landmark - which we learned was the site of a hotel in Atlantic Beach built by Henry Flager in the early 1900's. And, finally... We made it out to the beach! Where we saw some large and powerful waves, as well as surfers, dogs, and a stormy looking summer sky. Why do we do "Street to the Beach" you may wonder? Because, life's greatest paths lead to the beach! See you in the next one... somewhere under the beautiful sun. Love you, Christine P.S. Hope the rest of your weekend is filled with the stuff of dreams. #walkingtour #atlanticbeach #florida (Links to information on the Beach Diner, the Salt Air Inn & Suites, and the Hotel Palms are in the video description). ___
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6/5/2024 0 Comments 258) Historic St. Augustine, Florida Walking Tour! 5 Hotels, Shops A1A San Marco Ave, Raintree Restaurant Hey There Fellow Dreamers! Thanks for joining me on another walking tour of historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida! Did you know I regularly livestream from The Ancient City? I’ve linked my playlist down below which includes all my videos from fabulous St. Augustine. Today we’re touring a portion of State Route A1A. We’ll be walking past five of the hotels, plus the shops, restaurants, landmarks, finding the walking distance, and parking options along a specific stretch of A1A called San Marco Avenue. This is an area I’ve never streamed from yet, so I’m extra excited to explore with you this morning. So, grab your iced latte, sunblock, don’t forget your walking shoes, set your watches… and let’s stroll, baby! And if you’re watching LIVE, please say hello! If you’re watching on the replay - Hi! What do you think of St. Augustine? Are you considering traveling here to the Nation’s Oldest City? Either way, thanks so much for joining me today, and exploring another area of St. Augustine, walking alongside me. And I’ll see you in the next one… somewhere under that beautiful sun. Love, Christine P.S. Don’t forget to share out my YouTube Channel with anyone who may want to go on an adventure. Here’s my playlist from St. Augustine, Florida: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IR1_dRr5VSHL0-RVtvKNDSV For more information on the Raintree Restaurant, check out their website: https://raintreerestaurant.com/ The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District is located at: 116 San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, Florida 32084 Good news! The DoubleTree is pet-friendly! More information about the DoubleTree can be found here: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ustsmdt-doubletree-st-augustine-historic-district/ The Castillo Inn, St. Augustine, Florida is located at: 110 San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, Florida 32084 No pets allowed. More information can be found by calling them at 904.824.2871. The Economy Inn is located at: 94 San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, Florida 32084 No pets allowed. More information on the Economy Inn can be found here: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ustsmdt-doubletree-st-augustine-historic-district/ The Spark by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District is located at: 42 San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, Florida 32084 Good news! Pets are allowed. More information can be found here: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ustsape-spark-st-augustine-historic-district/ The Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel is located at: 6 West Castillo Drive St. Augustine, FL 32084 No pets allowed. More information can be found here: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/jaxrj-renaissance-st-augustine-historic-downtown-hotel/overview/ This was filmed LIVE on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in St. Augustine, Florida. Video 416. Livestream 131. #walkingtour #staugustine #florida ___  'The Raintree Restaurant' 2024.
 5/9/2024 0 Comments 245) Explore With Me: Vilano Beach Florida. Public beach, hotels & distance from ocean, Magic Beach Motel Hey There Fellow Dreamers!! The start time for this live stream is approximate due to travel. Please have your notifications ON if you would like to catch this stream while LIVE. And thanks for joining me on our next Floridian adventure today! This morning we’ll be checking out the tiny, and picturesque, coastal community of Vilano Beach. So thanks for being here and doing some exploring with me, and I’ll see you in the next one… somewhere under that beautiful sun. Love you, Christine P.S. Don’t forget to share out this video with anyone you think who may want to go on an adventure. The hotels we are checking out today include the following: 1) The Saint Augustine Beach House 2) OceanView Lodge 3) Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach 4) Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine - Vilano Beach 5) Hyatt Place St. Augustine 6) Magic Beach Motel For more information on Vilano Beach, Florida, check out the website below: https://www.vilanobeachfl.com/ For more information on the Magic Beach Motel, check out their website at: https://www.magicbeachmotel.com/ This video was filmed LIVE on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Vilano Beach, Florida. Video 387. Livestream 119. #explorewithme #vilanobeach #florida ___  'Magic Beach' 2024. 6x8 watercolor on cold press watercolor paper.
 4/11/2024 0 Comments 231) Walk With Me: Bird Island Park in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida! Lots of turtles, ducks, geese and birds Good Morning Fellow Dreamers!! Thanks for joining me as we explore Bird Island Park in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida! We’ll walk around the lake on the path and boardwalk. We’ll see some beautiful birds, and a whole bunch of turtles along the way as well. And guess what? We also may see a Shetland Sheepdog - out in the wild! Just keep your eyes open… you never know what we’ll find out in the natural world. Thank you for walking with me, hand-in-hand. And I’ll see you in the next one! Love you, Christine *Fresh off the palette* ‘Life is windy… Flip your hair back and keep going.’ is my newest watercolor painting, and will go up for sale on Christine’s Floridian Dreams after this livestream ends. This creamy white, black, and blue image, represented in the thumbnail for this livestream, is a 6x8 inch watercolor on cold press watercolor paper. It is my illustration of a grey heron looking out at the world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for buying art from a living artist and supporting my future creative endeavors. This was filmed LIVE on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Video 355. Livestream 106. #birdwatching #pontevedrabeach #florida ___  'Life Is Windy... Flip Your Hair Back And Keep Going.' 
 10/20/2023 0 Comments 135) Breathtaking Sunset LIVE at the North Beach Guana River Preserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida! Kiss the Sun Goodnight with Me! Happy Friday y’all! I hope you are having a fabulous start to your weekend. Join me this evening for a breathtaking sunset at the North Beach Guana River Preserve located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. This magnificent preserve is located right on the A1A Scenic Coastal Byway - just look for Ponce De Leon and you’ll find it! Actually, one of my favorite parts of driving on A1A is to look for Ponce De Leon and say I always say hello to him! So I hope you enjoy some views of the sandy dunes in all their natural splendor, a peek at the ocean water, lots of seashells, and a heavenly sunset atop the scenic overlook. Thanks for joining me, subscribe if you’re new, and thumbs up if you’re enjoying all the sights and sounds of Florida that I am sharing with you, right here! And let’s say goodnight to that golden sun, until tomorrow my friends. Filmed LIVE on Friday, October 20, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Livestream number 16. #guanapreserve #pontevedrabeach #florida   10/18/2023 0 Comments 134) Mickler's Landing, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida LIVE! Wake Up The Sun With Me! Let's Walk 1 Mile Where will we all be in July of 2029? That is the question I am pondering today. And I would like you to join me on a six year journey - together. Let’s go! On Friday, October 13, 2023, SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket for NASA into outer space. I find this quite fascinating, so I invite you to join me as I ramble on about this venture - and - let’s walk one mile together on the beach while we’re discussing this massive voyage. This launch was SpaceX’s 8th Falcon Heavy, and NASA paid SpaceX a sum of $131 million to launch this mission. The mission cost to NASA is $1.2 billion. The spacecraft is the size of a tennis court, and is now traveling on a six year journey, going 2.2 billion miles away from us here on Earth. It will arrive at an asteroid in July, 2029, and then study its magnetic fields and chemical makeup. Now- all of that information is WAY too complicated for me to even begin to understand. I can barely process the fact that the rocket lifted off successfully and left Earth’s atmosphere, let alone the fact that we sent something to land on an asteroid billions of miles away. But the point I’m making here today is about the journey - the voyage itself. We are voyagers… we always have been, and we always will be. As humans, we will always be looking out at the horizon, and wonder what is beyond it. This mission acts upon that belief. And I can’t help but do some dreaming of my own today... About what life will be like when that spacecraft makes it to its destination? Where will we all be? What will we be doing? What dreams - that we have today - will we have made come true? What will we still be dreaming about - six years from now? In this video, I invite you to add your dream, or dreams, into the comment section down below. I told you my own dreams in the video, and I’d love for you to share yours with me, and with the rest of all the dreamers out there. Think of it as sort of a form of ‘accountability’ or a declaration of sorts. There is definitely power in writing down your thoughts. So go ahead and let me know what a dream of yours is that you hope to have accomplished by the time this spacecraft meets up with the asteroid 2.2 billion miles from now, and six years from now. We can all work on our dreams together, and let’s meet up on the flip side once again. I’m going to check back on this video six years from now, and let’s see what we’ve dreamed along the way together. So today, I want you to dream - dream loud, dream hard, and dream proud. I am proud of you, and you should be proud of you too. Love ya! Christine Mickler’s Landing is a public beach access located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. At the intersection of A1A and Ponte Vedra Boulevard, there are bathrooms and showers on site, and this beach access is handicap accessible as well. Mickler’s Beach, as it’s also known, is an extremely popular spot to soak in the sun while in the greater Jacksonville area. Especially during the summer time, and weekends, Mickler’s Landing’s fairly small parking lot can be constantly full, with cars waiting in que to park, and a backup on the roadway. There are now lots across the main intersection that charge to park to help in the need for extra parking spaces. Mickler’s Landing is also a known shark tooth hunting spot. So while you may be looking out at the horizon line when you’re here, be sure to look down into the sand as well. You never know what kind of treasures you may find. Filmed LIVE on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Livestream number 15. #micklerslanding #pontevedrabeach #florida Ron On The Go: https://www.youtube.com/@RONONTHEGO About the mission launch: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/watch-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission.html About the mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaizD3e--h8 ___ 10/15/2023 0 Comments 132) Big Talbot Island State Park, Florida -LIVE- Sawpit Creek Boat Ramp on the edge of Jacksonville Wow! This is my first visit here! And I’m so grateful I could share it with you - LIVE! I’ve never stopped at this area of the Big Talbot Island State Park in Florida before. I’ve been to other areas, but never stopped the car at this exact parking lot before. Walk along with me as we explore Big Talbot Island. The views alone are worth a stop y’all. Let’s explore the Intracoastal views along the waterfront. The breathtaking marshes and wetlands, and grand, plantation style homes, settled off in the distance, along the water’s edge. It was a golden, sunny afternoon, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me. Let me know in the comments down below - have you ever been to Big Talbot Island State Park? And, either way, let me know if you loved the peaceful, serene atmosphere on full display in this magnificent setting. I hope you are having a fabulous day everybody! Love ya! Christine Filmed LIVE on Sunday, October 15, 2023 on Big Talbot Island, Florida. Big Talbot Island State Park is located: Florida A1A Jacksonville, Florida 32226 #bigtalbotisland #florida #floridastateparks #intracoastal 10/8/2023 0 Comments 127) Vilano Beach, Florida LIVE from Porpoise Point, Saturday Night, 4 Wheel Drive Car On The Beach Well, we’ve had quite a day today! Join us as we wind down the evening in Vilano Beach, Florida! If you didn’t catch the earlier stream, we had lunch and walked around Buc-ee’s in St. Augustine! You can catch that livestream replay right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPfd6bYS_jY Our adventures continued throughout St. Johns County this lovely Saturday, and our last stop was Porpoise Point, located at the southern edge of San Pablo Island in Vilano Beach, Florida. This is a not-so-secret spot on the island and if you blink, you really will miss it. Tonight we are taking you on a drive-on beach! Wahoo! Gosh - I live for this stuff you guys! So join me as I live streamed as we watch an autumn storm roll in, and the sun go down. It was an impromptu visit during my travels that day, and I got out of the car and realized all the natural beauty I was looking at, and I knew I needed to share this landscape with y’all. So let me know what you think? Have you ever been to Porpoise Point? Have you driven your vehicle on a beach before? Don’t let these moments in life pass you by. Get outside and breathe it all in baby! Editorial Disclaimer: *****But whatever you do - do NOT attempt to come out on this beach without an all-wheel drive car! Only 4 wheel drive passenger vehicles are allowed. You WILL get stuck without one, even if you think you won’t. Safety is first priority when driving on a public, crowded beach. There are not many unique spots like this, so let’s keep it special, and safe, ya’ll and please make sure to follow all local ordinances and rules if you do drive on out to this breathtakingly beautiful beach.***** Filmed LIVE on Saturday, October 7, 2023 on Porpoise Point, San Pablo Island, Florida. Also known as the Vilano Beach Point in Vilano Beach, Florida, as well as another common local term - the St. Augustine Inlet. Either way - if you’re looking to go, just go to the end of the island, and you’ll be sure to find the spot where the intracoastal meets the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks for joining me this evening. Love ya’s, Christine #vilanobeach #florida #porpoisepoint 8/24/2021 0 Comments 110) VLOG #27] Vacuum SnoutYoutube Shorts Video #shorts  Hey Everyone! Check out my first Youtube Short video! It only took me a few months to figure out how to post a thirteen second, on repeat video, lol. I had a lot of fun making it, so let me know whatcha think please. I hope y’all enjoy ;) Christine  #shorts #sheltielife #dunkindonuts #shetlandsheepdogs #youtubeshorts
~Finding Peace Amidst A Simple Morning Walk~  9/11/2020 0 Comments #82) September 11, 2020 'Oh Say Can You See'  'A September 11th Afternoon - 2020'
 *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series I’m always trying to do something I’ve never done before - to try something new. Whether it be a new recipe in the kitchen, read a book I never thought of reading, drive a different route to get where I’m going, expand my taste buds with a new brand of coffee, or visit somewhere I’ve never been… Well, in the spirit of that continued search, we finally made it to The Grom… Angie’s Grom, that is.     We had visited Angie’s Subs for the first time a while back - before the plague - and had intentions to then get ourselves on over to The Grom as well, but then everything shut down. And it only took us some freaking years to finally make it to the most local of local establishments in town here at the beach. Located at 204 3rd Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach, The Grom describes itself online as a colorful and quirky sandwich joint. They serve breakfast and lunch and coffee and sodas. And on weekends they also have a Sunday Brunch menu.  With a Facebook page and an Instagram, social media is the way to stay connected with the Grom online. So if you’re looking for an online menu before going in, check them out on social for the latest and their daily specials. The Grom is a daytime cafe - of which there are a lot in town. Their hours are normally 7am-4pm on Monday through Friday, plus 7am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday’s, with dine-in, takeout, and delivery having some limitations right now during the coronavirus situation we all find ourselves in.   Described as a local dive, or the beaches dive, I knew I wouldn’t need to be dressed in my Sunday finest to visit. A tank top, shorts, and some flip flops are more than dressy enough, and most people get their food while going or coming to the beach for the day. And with the early morning start, it’s a great, quick stop to get coffee on the way to work for the day. Angie’s also sells reusable drink mugs too for hot coffee refills to go. On this day, we were once again out on a morning walk with the pooch. And decided it was finally time to pay them a visit.  The vibe is fun and most definitely beachy. Silly, and most certainly colorful. There isn’t a dry or boring space on any wall. Service is fast-casual, paying at the counter, then waiting for one’s order to be called. Out the front door and around to the side, there’s a cute little outdoor seating alcove that we found ourselves situated at, enjoying the beautiful morning. I’ve been in love with the tall palm tree being hugged by a table and chairs forever and glad to finally sit at it.  For purposes of this visit, we ordered two hot coffee’s, to go. Plus hubby ordered the breakfast burrito/wrap meal - which comes with home fries. They also offer iced coffee - already premade and sweetened. We opted for the hot coffee, adding cream and no sweetner.     Our total for two coffee’s at $2.50 each, plus the single breakfast meal at $5.99, was $11.76, plus tip. The price for a cup of coffee is certainly one of the cheapest around, and the cup a generous size as well. Actually, word of mouth has it that Angie’s offers generous portions and remains extremely inexpensive. I would say that rumor is true. With our cups of coffee being quite large - comparable to a Starbucks venti size hot drink, and the portion of food in the to-go box, we definitely got our money’s worth. In fact, my coffee was so large I didn’t finish and put the rest in the fridge, to reheat the next morning. Fast, simple, and in and out. We took our order home to eat on the balcony. Another Sunday at home. Another week on the way. And another place I’d never been checked off my imaginary list… What something new did you do this weekend? And what something new will you be trying this week? ~ 
*Have you been to Angie’s Grom? What’s your favorite item on their menu? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Hey - you there - If you’re looking for the rest of Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge, check out the links below: 72] Breezing Through Life @ Breezy’s Coffee Shop 69] Chaunie’s Coffee Truck 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida Also - you may wanna browse through some more of my ponderings, and poems, here: 73] What I’m Missing Right Now 71] My 69 Week Break From Social Media ~ Why I Left & Why I Came Back 68] A Sunday Stroll 65] The Sea Life ~ Happy Easter 64] Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 57] First Watch on the First Coast 55] The Shamrock 54] Um, Open @ Angie’s Subs 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe *Part of - Bean’s Kitchen - series 5/11/2020 0 Comments #74) Rita’s vs. Whit’s ~ Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches ~ Ice Cream Edition 2020 Always and forever in the search of the best dessert on the planet - today, I’m bringing you two more ice cream adventures: Rita’s vs. Whit’s In a battle of wits… for Bean’s Best @ The Beaches 2020 ~ Ice Cream Edition ~       As of May, 2020 - you can now dine outside in Florida at restaurants.  For the purposes of today’s competition, I went to both Rita’s and Whit’s, almost back-to-back. Two ice cream outings in less than one week’s time. I might at well become a formal dessert critic - because my tummy knows a good dessert when it meets one, that’s for sure. We started out at Rita’s. And by we, I mean hubby and I. We planned our visit for directly after he picked me up at work back on Monday, April 18. Keeping in mind, this challenge took place during the worst of the worst of the economic shut down. So as you may be able to tell, we were in desperate search of a food outing. With a whole ton of businesses and restaurants completely shut at that time, I was determined to patronize as many local businesses as possible that were still open. And I’m happy to report that both Rita’s and Whit’s made it through, intact. And both are still open today. The only offering not available to us at that time back in April, was not being able to dine inside - but - Florida - we don’t really need dining inside here in The Sunshine State. Plus, Rita’s is strictly outdoor grab-and-go counter service anyway - no dine-in option available - with a drive-thru around the side of the building. Also, note that if you are interested in drive-thu at Rita’s, you’ll want to make note that the transaction window is on the passenger side of the car.  Rita’s: Drive-thru on the left, view from the back of the parking lot.  Rita’s: Drive-thru view from the front of the building.  We opted to skip the drive-thru, parked and walked up for the counter service option, for purposes of my review. I ordered one large soft-serve chocolate/vanilla swirl with extra sprinkles for myself, and one large cherry Italian ice for the hubby. He is a huge fan of Italian ice, in any flavor, and I am a big fan of chocolate - anything.   Both of our treats were delicious. Our total came to $11.64, plus tip. My large was not “large” - to me - I would say more like a size medium at the biggest. But for the Italian ice, Bryan received a huge, generous cup of cherry flavored ice. Either way though, I was simply happy to have something cold, because is there anything better than something cold after a long and sweaty shift? We love Rita’s and go there semi-frequently. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to find the $2.00 off coupons in the monthly coupon mailer, but we haven’t had any lately. Always extra creamy, and always delicious. Rita’s remains a fabulous and inexpensive dessert outing, and the location can’t be beat. Three blocks from the beach, and directly on A1A, Rita’s location is directly in the heart of Jax Beach. You can easily grab a cone, and head straight out onto the sandy shores a few minutes later. Moving onward to Whit’s, we ventured over there, on Beach Boulevard, on the evening of April 20th. Once again, after hubby picked me up from work. Our second ice cream location of the week. And after another long, hot shift at work. Whit’s also usually has $2.00 off coupons in the Jax monthly mailers, but, of course I am always without my coupon clippings and am forever ill-prepared to save a buck. Yet, always prepared to spend... Why is that, by the way?   Back entrance of Whit’s.          And while Whit’s does not have a drive-thru, or window service, their dining room remained open for to-go service. So, there we were at Whit’s, for our second ice cream adventure of the week. We ordered a large chocolate Whitsper (their version of a Blizzard) for $7.00, and a medium Butterfinger Whitsper for $6.00, for a total of $13.91, plus tip.     While both of these outings took place smack in the middle of the Presidential Guidelines of 30 Days To Stop The Spread of the Coronavirus, in my opinion, it was fabulous that so many dining establishments remained open and available for take-out. Especially for everybody still working… long, hard hours outside the home. Restaurants and coffee shops and treats have been imperative and a literal lifeline to making it through an extra-long, extra-stressful shift. I love Rita’s and always have. We continue to go there on a regular basis. But, in my dessert foodie opinion, Whit’s win’s the award here. Their portions remain solidly larger than Rita’s. Large - to - Large comparison, you get way, way more ice cream at Whit’s than at Rita’s. Even if you ask for more at Rita’s, their largest does not compare to Whit’s. And when I go out for ice cream, give me the largest size please. Whit’s is also very pet-friendly, and even has a doggie menu. My furry baby has had their ice cream/dog bone sundae, and she very much approves. And now that the 30 Days to slow the spread are complete, and businesses are resuming operations, here in Florida we are at 25% dine-in occupancy. And outdoor dining feels fairly normal. Meaning, if you grab ice cream at either of these locations, right now, you can once again grab a bench, grab a chair, pull open the umbrella, and eat under the sun. Or inside - if you need the air conditioning. Ahh the little things in life… 25% occupancy. Overall, Whit’s definitely wins the day for me, simply on their sizing. I love ice cream, maybe as much as donuts… and coffee, oh jeaz. I think I just love a lot of things. But when I pay for a large, and then get a really generous helping, they win. Hands down. Plus - doggie menu. Any place that keeps some dog bones on hand, is a winner in my book. So, congratulations to Whit’s Jax Beach for being the very Official Winner of Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches - Ice Cream Edition ~ 2020. And an amazing and huge and heartfelt thank you to both locations, for being open during the worst of days, and feeding us good and conforming treats to brighten our saddest of very sad days. ~ 
*Have you been to Rita’s or Whit’s? Which do you like better? Are you more of an Italian ice person, or an ice cream swirl sorta person? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, for more dueling dessert/debates around Jacksonville, check out some more of my flavorful Floridian adventures, below: 70] Peterbrooke Chocolatier ~ Bean’s Battle for Best @ The Beaches *Bean’s Best Award Winner! ~ Chocolate ~ 2020 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 And, if you’re searching for a fabulous diner while in town, you can check out a variety of my local Jacksonville area diner reviews, right here: 57] First Watch on the First Coast 54] Um, Open @ Angie’s Subs 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come  *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series If you’ve been patiently waiting for Starbucks to reopen their doors, you may want to consider checking out Breezy’s while you’re in Jax Beach. As the coffee giant closed their doors at the beach a few weeks back, those long days might have well been eternity. But a lot of the local shops, the small businesses trying to survive, having been doing their best to remain open - for to-go service. So as Starbucks remained closed, and in my infinite search to find every coffee shop around, I was reminded of Breezy’s. Located directly on A1A and 237 8th Avenue South, and less than three blocks from the sandy and breezy beach, Breezy’s Coffee Shop is the ideal cafe if you’re looking for a quick, yet relaxing, outing. It’s small, alright. And it’s quaint, and charming. And while Starbucks is my usual go-to coffee shop, I was extremely glad to find myself at Breezy’s doorstep on a sunny and cheerful day along the coast.      Situated in a bright yellow old beach cottage, the cafe is on the first floor of the home. There is plenty of outdoor seating around back on the outside patio. Although, for purposes of this visit, there was no on-site dining allowed due to the coronavirus - which was just fine for hubby and I. We were on a morning walk with our furry baby when we stopped in.      I had been to Breezy’s only once before. It was about a year ago. And it was right around two o’clock in the afternoon. We walked in and were informed they were closing for the day. We made a quick purchase, and hadn’t been back since. I figured, no time like the present to head on back for a second outing. So if you are headed to Breezy’s you’ll want to make note of the somewhat limited business hours. They close at 2pm five days a week, and are open until 9pm for wine on Friday and Saturday evenings. So while it is definitely a local cafe, and an alternative to Starbucks, there’s nothing like the dependency of Starbucks’ hours of operation if you are a busy person like I am. Also due to the coronavirus, there was one copy of their menu outside the building. It was sitting on a bench. It was suggested that we look at the menu outside, then come on inside once we were ready to place our order - all to-go, obviously. So I went inside to order. And I was reminded of how much I cannot wait until dine-in is once again allowed. Such a cute little shop, with cozy seating, and newspapers ready and waiting to be read, all set out. Even if just chilling out for a few minutes to soak in some air conditioning, coffee shops remain a wonderful place, in my book, to cool off.     We both ordered two frozen lattes. To go along nicely with the hot weather on our early morning walk. And hubby ordered the sausage breakfast sandwich, which comes on sliced pita bread - he was given the ham sandwich instead - but enjoyed it just fine. I ordered a slice of the homemade banana bread - the infamous bread of the moment - during the pandemic. I highly recommend the banana bread. Our total was $19.80 for the two cold drinks and the two breakfast items.      And if you are a fan of seeking out and photographing all the local wall murals in town, Breezy’s is the place to be for that as well. The surrounding area buildings and alleyways are painted, so if you’re sitting outside at the cafe, you’ll have a fun time gazing at all the art while you’re soaking in the sun. Yes, it was definitely a gorgeous spring morning at the beach. And I was so grateful to be outside, walking, and with my doggy. We walked home the rest of the way with our cold and refreshing drinks. Passing Starbucks up, enroute home and merely two blocks away from Breezy’s… I immediately noted their first day of operation since the coronavirus had them closing their doors! Exclamation point well deserved. The drive-thru line might have well been a mile long according to my eyes. I was not the only one happy to see them open and alive once again. Arriving home, and grateful for my breezy and beachy outing… feeling all the calming coastal winds while out exploring... I made note of plans for the following day - I will most definitely be at Starbucks tomorrow. ~ 
*Have you been to Breezy’s? Have you missed Starbucks as much as I have during this crazy pandemic? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, for the rest of Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - check out the links below: 69] Chaunie’s Coffee Truck 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida Plus, if there’s a diner in town - I’ve been there! And if there’s one you think I need to visit - PLEASE - let me know! You can check out my visits to many local area diners, right here: 57] First Watch on the First Coast 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come  **Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches ~ Award Winner 2020!** It’s a hard job - but somebody’s gotta eat all the chocolate. And for the sake of the written word - that’s exactly what I’ve done.  Besides, with hard work, comes great reward… And chocolate may be the ultimate reward, my dear friends. I’ve been popping into Peterbrooke Chocolatier since I discovered it a few years back. Located at 363 Atlantic Boulevard in Atlantic Beach, Florida, Peterbrooke is situated directly in the heart of Beaches Town Center. As soon as I discovered Peterbrooke, I absolutely had to go inside. So I did, and I ate the best chocolate - ever.          Fast forward to today, in 2020, and Peterbrooke STILL has the best chocolate I ever ate. I’m just grateful I live so close to their shop so that I can visit whenever I want. And recently, with all this stay-at-home madness upending civil society… and with World War 19 causing Civil War 2.0 - chocolate was subtly calling my name. It may have been just a whisper, but it was calling, nonetheless. Then, with all restaurants still being closed - and take-out, curbside, and delivery being the only way to dine “out” - a chocolatier, to-go sort of shop was out loud screaming my name. So after work the other day, I decided it was time to take action on the chocolate front of this global war… I’ll call it - Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches. Either that, or… The Battle Of The Bulge. Stepping back into this heavenly chocolate shop after a long parting of at least a year or so, I was simply excited that the OPEN sign flashing in the upper right corner window, actually meant that they were really open. Because as more businesses close by the day, that sign doesn’t usually mean much any more. Walking in, we were met with another sign - the power was out. But, yes, they were open. Come on in. We were then met with another sign, and a basket of gloves for us to use, per their request. We both put on the gloves.   I knew just what I wanted. Eyes right on my target. The Jag Paws - the Jax version of Turtles.  And like I said, for the sake of the written word, I simply had to buy a few more things. I couldn’t buy just a bag of Jag Paws, that’s simply not enough chocolate for a girl! So, I figured since I always purchase a darker chocolate, that my other purchases would be in the white chocolate family. I then grabbed a bag of white chocolate covered pretzels, and a white chocolate lollipop.           I spoke with the cashier as we paid. I had just missed Peterbrooke’s biggest holiday of the year: Easter. Because chocolate and bunnies go together perfectly, of course. I mentioned how glad I was that they were open. She mentioned that they were not even certain how much longer they would be. I hoped to see them again. ‘Tis the way of today. I suppose. I would not be telling you the truth if I said there was a better chocolate shop in Jax. They absolutely are the winner. Peterbrooke is more than deserving of Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches - Chocolate - 2020. The cost is high. And I’m not gonna lie about that either. But there’s a reason. You just can’t buy the best chocolate of your life and not pay the most you’ve ever spent on chocolate. So, while $27.02 looks high, sounds high, and is - very - high, it was all worth it, my dear friends. And if you go, you’ll probably agree. You’ll take one bite of the best of the best, and the next thought out of your brain will be - When are we coming back for more?   As we said goodbye, we sat in the little blue chairs and table set up outside the front door, for a mere moment. Our last stop and duty before heading home for the night. It was Saturday night at the beach. The traditional “Opening Of The Beaches” Weekend in Jacksonville. A yearly celebration, a weekend parade - a tradition in town going back 73 years. Even though normally, the beaches are open year round here in Jax, the town comes together each spring to officiate a ceremonial opening of the beaches. Think - Gilmore Girls - town square style event - only a bit more wild. And more ceremonial in nature than anything else, the Beaches opening parade is as much of a party here in Jax as Pete’s Bar is on Thanksgiving morning. Just another reason to party. To celebrate life. Life at the beach. On an island. Living next to the sea. And 2020 would have been year 74 of the parade - before it was canceled due to the coronavirus. Yes, we were sitting outside, and it was Saturday night at the beach. 2020. Hubby picking me up from work. Off early on a Saturday. The sun still out. A normal Saturday night in town would have meant the entire area would be hopping. Endless parties. Endless fun. Bike riders everywhere. Music. Talking. Laughter. But instead, we sat down in front of the chocolatier, and stared at a visibly and noticeably vacant parking lot. A lot that is usually never empty. Diners from Poe’s. From other restaurants. Shops. And on a Saturday, the lot would be even more packed. Cars waiting for spots to open up. But not on this Saturday night. Empty. Looking around. Soaking in the quiet surroundings. It was just sooo sad. When will Poe’s open back up? When will the other restaurants open for dine in? Shops? When will people not be scared to leave their houses? When will life return to this little corner of Beaches Town Center? I don’t know. And I do care. In the interim, however, there is always chocolate. And the world still keeps on turning. And awards still must be handed out. So, plague or no plague… civil war or no civil war, life as we know it, or life as we know it not, the chocolate must be eaten. And Peterbrooke Chocolatier is hereby officially awarded Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches 2020. Congratulations, my dear and chocolatey friends. You’ve won The Battle Of The Bulge. Thank you for the sunshine you add to the sky.  In a vast sea - of open parking spots… Thank you for being open. Thank you for still fighting to survive, and sticking it out this long. And mostly, thank you for the best chocolate I ever feasted upon. ~ 
*Have you been to Peterbrooke Chocolatier? Where did you eat the best chocolate you ever had? I’d so love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, for Bean’s Best Award Winner of 2019, be sure to check out V Pizza, below: 15] V Pizza ~ The Very Best Pizza In Jax Beach! Plus - for some further fun in the Florida sun, and lots of sweet treats in Jax and beyond, check out the links below: 52] Keeping Cool - And Creamy - In Key West 45] Dessert First, My Friends ~ Cantina Louie 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~ 21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts 14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market 11] Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South 3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer 2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens 1] Happy Birthday America ~ 4 Simple Steps To Help You Have An Easy Americana 4th:  Hey there yall! Happiest of Happy Monday’s to you - each and every one. I hope you had the very best weekend of your life... I hope your Sunday was: Simply. Swell. Actually, I hope you ate a delicious ice cream Sundae. On. Sunday. I hope you got your Sun Daze On. On. Sunday. But, you know what I really hope???... I really hope and wish that your day was a supercalifragilistic one. On. Sunday. I hope your Sunday was a full blown expialidocious one. On. Sunday. And, even if you didn’t happen to devour a delicious sundae - on Sunday - and, even if you didn’t have a long and repetitive song stuck in your head - on Sunday - then I hope you did the very next best thing to that. Sang the very next best song to that. And dined on the very next best thing to that. I hope you enjoyed a delicious meal. On. Sunday... On my Sunday, I dined at a diner. The Metro Diner - to be exact.     Metro Diner has grown significantly in recent years. And on our busy, yet lovely and leisurely Sunday, hubby and I dined at the Ponte Vedra Beach Metro Diner location. However, there are many locations throughout Jacksonville. And we’ve been to most of them. Metro Diner is a regular part of our “dining out” experience. The one and only original Metro Diner, located in San Marco, is the perfect and very quintessential diner. And this diner became so popular that others were built around and throughout Jacksonville. And now, very recently, Metro Diner has spread throughout the entire SouthEast and is growing at a fairly rapid pace. But San Marco is and remains probably my favorite of their locations. Old trees. Historic neighborhood. Directly next to the gateway to Downtown Jax. Yet, this past Sunday, we stayed on the island, not venturing over the bridge, for anything. So we chose a Beaches location to dine at. Still the same food. Still the same atmosphere, service, and friendliness. Just a different area of town, very and much closer to home.  The Jacksonville area Metro Diners are so popular, that Guy Fieri found himself making a stop to Jax, FL. He featured Metro Diner on the popular cable series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. And that stop in by Guy has only made Metro Diner even more famous. And while it started out and is known as the place “where the locals eat” - Metro Diner has grown to be a must-visit stop on the list of business travelers, tourists, and spring-breakers, and families young and old, while they are visiting the greater Jacksonville area. I know that I am always recommending Metro Diner to lots of out-of-town visitors. And I’ve had many a wonderful meal there myself, whether it is just with the hubby, or with lots of friends and family too. So while I had a leisurely Sunday yesterday, it was also filled with busy and errand-filled tasks that needed to get done. But, you know what? Life, every day, isn’t just about “getting stuff done.” Running around: doing tasks, and chores, and a list of never-ending errands…. Even if you have an errand-filled day, there’s always room for good food. And Metro Diner was a no-brainer choice for us. We were in the Ponte Vedra Beach area, and planned lunch out at the Diner while doing my long check-list of things I knew I wanted to get done that day. I simply added Metro Diner onto that to-do list. And it became a must-do. And there we went.  While I love the Jax Beach location; and it’s so close to home. The Ponte Vedra Beach location I might love even more. The Diner in Ponte Vedra is part of the Sawgrass Village shopping complex. A complex filled with a grocer, a variety of restaurants, lots of clothing shops, a surfboard shop, stationary, treats, and most importantly - a Peterbrooke Chocolatiers. There’s also hotels and other restaurants around back. Including the Sawgrass Marriott Resort. So, while from driving down A1A, Sawgrass looks like it’s just a Publix and a few other things, there’s a lot of other treasures mixed in and behind. Location, location, location.      Outdoor patio. And when you pull in the complex, and drive toward the Diner, if that lot is full, just keep rounding the corner, and there’s an entire, larger, hidden parking lot in the back. The Diner also has a nice, covered, outdoor patio for dining facing the water in Sawgrass.  Back of diner.   And at Metro Diner, when you walk inside, they always thank you for coming in, and say goodbye and thank you on the way out.    We were seated in a booth of a crowded restaurant during the lunch rush. Not an open seat or table to be had. Families on outings, couples, very large parties, and very small ones too. Metro Diner is the place to be for everyone on a Sunday morning at the Beach. Very crowded. Expect a potential wait if the timing is just right. And while we were seated immediately and didn’t wait at all, I also easily and immediately chose the lemonade to order, no decision making time needed. I love their lemonade and I almost always it. And hubby ordered the iced tea.   And, in about two seconds, I chose the French Toast with a side of Bacon. When my meal was served to me, our lovely server put it down in front of me, and before the plate even hit the table, I already smelled cinnamony goodness. My meal had the scent of a bakery. It was heavenly. The bacon at Metro Diner is perfect, so I always recommend ordering a side if your meal doesn’t come with it.    All the Diner’s have a large chalkboard inside, clearly listing the daily specials, and maybe special pies, drinks, deals, or holiday-themed goodies. So, while my hubby always seems to order the Eggs Benedict, he chose the Sunday Special this time around - which happened to be spicy fried chicken Benedict. And the meal came with a generous side of hash browns.    As is typical in Florida, but not so much so in the winter, it rained while we were enjoying our meal inside, and by the time we left, the rain had cleared and the ground was drying. We said goodbye and carried on with the rest of our day on the coast. The misty air and salty breeze all-consuming and heavenly, indeed. Over and over I told my husband how much I love a Florida winter day. And my tummy was full of Sunday goodness. And my heart was full of gratefulness too. And my head was full of song. Yes, inside it a little tune… And I'm really not quite sure what song was in there??? And I’m not sure where it came from? Or what the words were? I just think I recognized it as a little hummm, and a little garbled… and I think it went a little something like this: Um-dittle-ittl-um-dittle-I. Um-dittle-ittl-um-dittle-I. ~  Check out these other delicious and diner-filled stories below, why don’t ya? 16) Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come 19) Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 22) Saturday On San Pablo Island Y’all may also enjoy: 9) Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida *Part of ~ Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge ~ 11) Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South 39) The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 40) Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 48) Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia Have you been to Jacksonville’s Metro Diner? What’s your favorite Metro Diner location? I’d love to know! Let me know with a comment down below.
 The Beaches Green Market is a local farmer’s market in Neptune Beach, Florida. The market takes place every Saturday, year round, and is centrally located in the small beach town at Jarboe Park.    Always from 2pm-5pm, it’s a fabulous place to pull over on a Saturday while out running errands, or to grab some bakery, maybe even flowers, to bring along to a gathering. If you’re out for your weekend grocery shopping, I’d recommend stopping here for fresh, local produce, before heading to the grocer for the rest of your needs.      Some of the vendors tend to be the same each week, and yet there are always some different booths each time as well, or maybe even a food truck. There’s always a surprise or two each visit, which makes return visits likely and more enticing. Once you go to the Green Market - you tend to come back on the regular.      In the past, we’ve purchased fresh and delicious produce, gifts for family, as well as some lovely seagrass scented candles from Eden’s Leaf Naturals; all depending on what our needs are for that week. This week, while we didn’t make any purchases, we still enjoyed the visit.    And with the added bonus of the market being pet friendly, your dog can come along with you and enjoy the park afterward. With ample parking surrounding the entire large property, it’s an easy stop to add into your Saturday activities.  And I was especially excited for this Saturday’s Market because I knew it was their official holiday market! There was jewelry for sale, coastal ornaments, and lots of reusable gift bags available for purchase. There was also a holiday craft table set up for children to make their own candles. And they even had a local band playing. Wearing red and white Santa hats… THIS was most definitely my favorite part!       Beaches Green Market can be a quick stop, or a leisurely part of your weekend activities. Its location in Jarboe Park is a very popular local park in the Beaches community, and this setting allows the Market the perk of being surrounded by walking paths, a lovely maintained community garden, fountains, and tables and chairs for picnics. All under a clear blue and bright and sunny sky.    Basketball courts and full sand volleyball courts are a nice addition as well. There also is a small, old, historic house on site, and children really like wandering up to it and explore. I noticed the old home was decorated for the holidays and looking quite adorable. And then I found out that’s where Santa and Mrs. Claus sit on the porch, to greet children and ask what the want for Christmas. The little house is just across from the Jarboe Park official decorated Christmas tree.     I highly encourage an outing to the Beaches Green Market. It’s a great way to shop local - including always having a variety of local produce and other products available. I believe one of the real goals of any Farmer’s Market seems to be to help bring the local community together, and that’s exactly what this one does. So get on out to your market, look for Santa while you’re there, and be sure to bring along your list to give him. ~ 
11/11/2019 1 Comment #22) ~ Saturday On San Pablo Island ~ Within “The Beaches” area, as it's commonly known to both locals and tourists alike, reside the small towns of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach - and the town I now call my home - Jacksonville Beach. These three communities, along with a few more small towns, make up the modest coastal barrier island, that is both officially and unofficially, known as San Pablo Island.  San Pablo Island is located just off the eastern coast of Florida, and nestled next to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The name of the island itself here is not known to most people… they tend to simply call home - The Beaches. And there’s yet even one other mysterious nickname given to our island home appropriately classifying it as ‘No-Name Island’ - very much reminding me of the funky, quirky, and strange and sometimes hilarious, names of some of the famous Key islands to our south. But San Pablo Island has a rich and dated history going back hundreds of years, and even much, much longer. A vibrant Native American history lives and breathes here, and the Timucuan Indians lived here in the 1500’s, when a French explorer came upon the area. We now have the Timucuan Reserve named after them. And while there’s a small and extremely old, weathered and worn, and really just a completely dilapidated sign welcoming you as much as you drive through our town - ‘You Are Now At San Pablo Beach’ it reads, (named after the San Pablo River)... I can only imagine how old that sign really is. And as the sign is so very old and worn, it seems to just camouflage itself to the natural grasses surrounding it. Many pass by daily not even seeing it. We also locally have San Pablo Road, just off the Island and paralleling the intracoastal, and we have Pablo Avenue, right here at the beach. A lot goes into a name… when you consider branding, logo, tourism, marketing, publicity, hotels and restaurants and newspapers and any press; history, town pride, changing times and culture, refrigerator magnets, tee-shirts, trinkets and treasures for visitors to take home, etc. Some years ago there was a push and really quite a major effort to help rebrand our area to more “officially” be called San Pablo Island. Hotels and the tourism industry in general liked the idea and I believe they still do. A name helps classify a location and familiarize those traversing to or through. A name slightly broad and confusing as “The Beaches” - plural - is not very brand-worthy it seems, except to those who already know the area and/or reside here. And as those things tend to do, the effort and move to name-change seemed to stall, and fall apart in meetings and such. As many of those such changes and requests for changes tend to die out... Thus, today, we are still known as “The Beaches” to most, and confusion reigns for the tourism industry here. In comparison, Amelia Island, located just to the north of us, is known as that - ‘Amelia Island.’ They seem to know their history, are ok with picking a name and staying with it, and they honor it well. Princess Amelia, daughter of George II of Great Britain, is for whom the Island is named. But Amelia Island has a very rich and fascinating history as well, and they seem to be slightly more proud of it and they do a great job in educating the public of that history. You absolutely cannot visit Amelia Island without learning upon arrival of the history of the eight flags. Signs will tell you as much and show you as much upon entry to the island. With my father being a huge history buff, I remember thinking at the time of learning about the eight flags that he would find it fascinating. Amelia Island is famously known as “The Isle of Eight Flags” and is the only location in all of the United States with such a unique history. It simply means that the island has had power transferred through eight different flags before finally obtaining its current and official status as part of these United States. The history of the eight flags is known and proud on the island. When I first found that piece of information out I was utterly fascinated. And standing in great contrast is the tiny old and worn sign welcoming you to San Pablo Beach, here on San Pablo Island. It’s a welcome sign that really seems to get no care or concern, but it does its job every day and welcomes you to our island.  Pablo Avenue lies just a few blocks from our worn and ancient welcome sign, and its therein that lies The Beaches Museum. A Museum that celebrates Culture, History, and Community. And while our dated welcome sign doesn’t have much appeal, the Beaches Museum does. The history of this area is not very well-known to most, and this museum does an absolutely fabulous job of educating the public on our heritage and historical facts thereof. This historical marker and living piece of history is also a place most people drive past every day, and may not even know if its existence. In fact, I’ve lived right here in town just alongside it and had never visited it formally. Well, bring an Art Fest into town and I’ll go anywhere.  Hurray! Another Art Fest. And on yet another absolutely gorgeous autumn day in the South. All the variety of arts and celebration thereof here is actually one of the reasons I fell in love with Jax Beach. This past weekend, The Beaches Museum hosted the 6th Annual Beaches Art Fest. It was a must-do for me. And while I had just recently attended the Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market some weeks ago, I had eagerly awaited this event all year as well. This fest to me, supersedes any other fest around. The art on display is full of passion and color and depth. Every booth has the artist directly on hand to talk with as well which I especially love. And now, after being to many of these events, I’m recognizing names of artists that continue to come back and sell there each year.   I really enjoy how merely slowing strolling from one covered outdoor exhibit to the next that the eye immediately catches the difference in an artist's passion. One may specialize or have a passion for florals, and one may enjoy painting the many unique sunrise and sunsets of the coastal region. One booth was composed of entirely Japanese floral paintings. An artist may have blown glass, and one of the final tents I arrived at had on display works of art made entirely from origami paper. There were necklaces all beautifully arranged with tiny and intricately folded colored papers, making flowers, squares, any shape you could imagine, all folded out on her display table. Everyone, who once they understood what they were looking at, was completely wowed by it. It was a definite surprise to see, as I had never seen anything like it in my life, and it is for those reasons I relish with joy attending these fests each time they come around.   And I must admit I regret extremely not purchasing one of her paper origami necklaces. I also failed to obtain her card, thus, not being able to look up where she will be next. She explained the necklace I had my eyes on was only $29.00 and comes with a beautiful chain as well. A chain of length that I could custom choose. I walked on by, to think about it, and instead purchased a ring that I absolutely adore, from La Soucique Studio, of the aforementioned Amelia Island. It was $35.00 and I was so very pleased with my purchase. I know I can’t buy everything, and I reminded myself that money doesn’t grow on trees, but I do really very much regret not purchasing one of the origami necklaces. I can only hope to see her again at a future arts event and make that my purchase for the day.  While slowly we strolled both up and down San Pablo Street taking in the fest in its entirety, we also walked on through the property and grounds of Beaches Museum. It’s set up as a small historic village, spanning the length of the blocks next to the fest.  And as I had never been previously, I thought it an ideal day to check it out since we were already present literally at its location. Supposedly the museum is open 10am-4pm every Saturday, with free admission. We were somewhat disappointed to find many locked buildings. All we could do was take a quick peek inside most of the historic sites through windows, while the main building remained open and available to use the restroom facilities for fest-goers. We very much enjoyed walking the grounds though, and it was a most perfect autumn day in Florida to witness the natural beauty surrounding the facilities. The museum is home to parties, weddings, art exhibitions, the annual famous Polar Express, and many other such fun events for both adults and children alike. It seems The Beaches Museum has something going on year-round. I just highly recommend calling ahead to verify if you’d like to see the actual inside of some of the buildings. It was an altogether ideal day in the South for me. And afterward, we ate breakfast, for lunch, at Beach Diner in Atlantic Beach. Every time I’ve been there the owner comes over to say a sweet hello. A much older man, whom you can tell genuinely loves his customers, stopped to talk with us as we ate our delicious meal. As we were paying up at the cash register on the way out I could see him still going round from table to table, smiling with and high-fiving each person he met. A most lovely Saturday on my very own Island… San Pablo Island. It made me smile as we walked to our car. ~
 If you’ve been looking for the finest beignets on the island - and not just any random beignets - then look no further than Another Broken Egg Cafe… Because THEY have the best beignets at the Beach! And, I know, this is definitely not New Orleans… beignets are not plentiful around here. But they really are the best around. I’ve had the opportunity to visit NOLA three times thus far in my life. The most recent trip being in 2016, which feels like an eternity away from such fabulous memories. Such a very special place and a vibrant city that I could easily move to in two seconds flat. So it was 2016 the last time I was blessed with the opportunity of being able to dine upon beignets. On that most recent visit, my hubby and I had arrived in NOLA by rail from Chicago; Amtrak specifically. I remember sitting outside at a table at the famous Cafe Du Monde. It was Thanksgiving weekend. The Christmas season was officially starting and beautifully decorated trees were popping up everywhere I looked. Everything we ate and drank that weekend was divine. But the beignets were the best of it all.  NOLA ~ 2016 We ordered a plate of the traditional beignets, and each a cafe au lait to sip. I remember powdered sugar being everywhere. It’s was draped all over the seat I sat upon. It was layered throughout the entire ground floor of the outdoor patio. It was floating through the surrounding air in swirling motions. It was ghostly and magical at the same time. It had snowed powdered sugar in the city of New Orleans - and it was magic. Because whether or not it was real snow falling, we were sitting at the very heart and soul of NOLA. We sat there and soaked in all the excitement. All the wonderful sights and smells and sounds. If you ever make it to New Orleans, be sure to plan a stop at the Cafe, and remember to get a table for a more leisurely experience. There is also a quick service line area, which mostly caters to the countless tourists who need to taste the piece of heaven but are in a rush to see everything else too. So if you have the time on you hands, take the seat and sit a while. Because sitting down and observation can sometimes be the most moving and important aspect of your travels. And as for the beignets themselves, they were heaven on this earth. And the ones I ate this past week were too! And who would have guessed that ‘Another Broken Egg Cafe’ was born in Louisiana? They really serve up some fabulous southern hospitality at the Broken Egg as well. We had the friendliest server, and the first thing she asked my hubby and I was if we had ever been to the Cafe? No, we said, this was our first visit. We had attempted to dine there a few times, mostly on the weekends, and the place was always packed - too packed to even find a parking space. Most recently, we had made inside the front door. It was a Sunday morning. And everyone in Jax Beach goes out to breakfast on Sunday mornings. We had somewhere to be that day and thought we could “squeeze in” an outing to the Cafe beforehand. They had a one hour wait; sigh - sad face. We had to leave. We reminded ourselves to try them again, on a weekday. So just the other day, which happened to be a Wednesday and just after the lunch time rush, we walked into the Cafe. We literally had the place to ourselves! Such a lovely and peaceful time to dine out sometimes.  Since we told our server that this was our first visit, she said she’d be right back. Upon return, she mentioned that an order of beignets had been started for us. It was on the house - it’s their way of welcoming us in, she said, and wanting us to come back again. And as you can tell by the fact that I’m writing about this magnificent food creation, we will most definitely be returning. I ordered what I had intended to order after I had searched their online menu earlier in the day - the classic French toast, a side of baked bacon, and unsweetened iced tea. We each drank at least two glasses of their fabulous tea.     The beignets were a very unintended surprise, so I hadn’t planned that food into my day. A few months ago I completed a personal weight-loss journey and major transition to a very healthy lifestyle. But one of the commitments I made to myself during that change was that I would always allow myself desserts. I lost a total of 83 pounds, while never giving up desserts. I love treats too much to eliminate them entirely from my life, and I refused to restrict myself in that area. So any weight loss that occurred had to occur while allowing access to treats. The only difference now being continual moderation. So, with complete confidence - as the completely unplanned powdered beignets were served to me, I was able to sample them. And THAT sample and THIS picture below are the prime reasons that desserts remain a part of my life.  Wow. Amazing. Their ‘biscuit beignets’ were heaven on this earth. No words can accurately describe them - and they should definitely not be missed out on. I highly recommend visiting the Cafe and placing an order. Or, better yet, mention that it is your first visit if it truly is, and you’ll probably be treated to a very special treat. The photo at top shows their “half order” that was served to us, which comes with four beignets. A full order comes as a batch of eight.. After my first bite, I immediately inquired if diners are able to place to-go orders. And during this inquiry I multi-tasked... and I dreamed of picking up a full batch of biscuit beignets on a regular basis and eating them all in front of the tv in the evenings, by candlelight… I can dream, right? Yes, of course, our server mentioned. She said that she personally was bringing home a batch for her teenage son that afternoon. She wanted him to help her clean up the house, and her son’s response, can you bring me some beignets? Smart kid. My husband ordered an omelette with a side of baked bacon, and he also drank an unsweetened iced tea.  Both of our meals were much too large for us to finish in one sitting. So we had a second meal for the next day made from our leftovers that we brought home. Second-day breakfasts can be the best. But second-day breakfasts with a beignet on the side IS the very best. Beyond our doggie bag, we were also each sent away with to-go cups of yet another glass of iced tea. You definitely get your money’s worth there, that’s for sure. And then, after we paid, our server presented us each with a sealed return certificate. Put them in your purse and don’t open them, she mentioned. When you come back, your server will open the sealed envelope for you and each certificate is a winner… maybe even an order of beignets.   After the shock of the beignets wore off, we paid our check and were ready to leave. I made a mental note to myself on the way out the door. We will be back… and while it’s been a very long few years since I made it to NOLA for a visit, something tells me it won’t be nearly that long before I make the trek down A1A for a visit to the Broken Egg Cafe. ~  NOLA ~ 2016
 “If you feed them they will come.” As well as, “First feed your soul.” These are some of the wooden signs adorning the walls of Beach Diner in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. And what an absolutely adorable little diner it truly is.  Beach Diner is a local small business in the greater Jacksonville area. In my opinion the diner is a wonderful mix of greasy spoon, cafe, and a beachy bistro too. There are five locations in various local Beaches communities. I’ve been to three of them so far - and my goal is to try all five within the near future. The five diners are located in Atlantic Beach, San Marco, Fernandina Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Mandarin. Each Beach Diner that I’ve been (Atlantic Beach, San Marco - and now for today’s review - Ponte Vedra Beach) has a fun, eclectic, and of course, beachy vibe.  The diners are set up offering patrons various styles of seating. Traditional counter style diner service is at the front of the diner in Ponte Vedra Beach. Booths and tables are also throughout, including a lovely, shade-covered patio outside, just off its location on A1A, where dogs are also welcome (bonus!).  White beadboard covers the walls of the diner, with coastal decor and funky, fun, “beachy” paintings adorned on the walls.  I ordered the two egg meal. Served with two scrambled eggs, bacon, and choice of toast - I chose the multi-grain wheat toast, served with butter already on it. The meal also comes with your choice of style of hash browns. So whatever potato you want that day, you can get it.  I highly recommend always ordering their bacon, even a side order if you happen to be ordering something else on the menu. Full of delicious savory flavor and never overcooked, my husband and I can’t replicate it at home if we continually tried.  Service is ALWAYS friendly. A very warm and welcoming environment, indeed. In my opinion, Beach Diner is one of those very special, and very Southern diners - overflowing with quintessential Southern Hospitality.   Some folks stay to have leisurely and slow morning meal and linger over their coffee, while watching the televisions situated above the counter. Jaguars mostly guaranteed to be the channel of choice on the air. Newspapers and laptops, families, and couples. A quick meal or slow, it’s a nice, relaxing outing any time you come for a visit. Upon leaving, as a bonus on the way out the door, I was able to say hello to a very excited dog sitting politely on the patio. The owner said her dog loves coming to the diner each week to be greeted by all the people coming in and out. Beach Diner is simply a lovely little local spot in the Beaches community. And next time you’re looking for a breakfast that you don’t have to cook - bacon you don’t have to fry yourself, eggs you don’t have to scramble yourself, and hash browns you don’t have to hash yourselves, get on over to Beach Diner - where you will be reminded to first feed your soul - with some real darn good food. Staff and servers wearing Beach Diner tees or their favorite Jaguars apparel are ready to serve a wonderfully delicious meal to you. ~ 
 I had literally been looking forward to this event all year - The 2019 Annual Jacksonville Beach Vintage Flea Market had finally arrived. This year the event took place on Saturday, October 12th, from 9am-3pm. And, competing for attention, the Jax Beaches Oktoberfest was taking place just down the street a bit - so there was definitely plenty to do in town on this long, three day, holiday weekend.  An open air sunny market complete with all kinds of vendors selling their treasures was an absolutely ideal Saturday morning for me. I grabbed the hubby and brought him along - with the promise of coffee - even though the promise of coffee was for myself too. I remembered last year that Chaunie’s Coffee Truck was at the market, and I had the best iced latte in the entire world while looking at all the various trinkets and furniture and art. But, alas, no coffee vendor this year at the Vintage Market. And I heard that Chaunie’s was over at the Seawalk Pavilion setting up at Oktoberfest this year. So coffee would have to wait for both of us until we were done browsing around.  However, there was a very small snack vendor selling to raise funds on behalf of the Fletcher High School Band. But I do think a coffee truck would have done great business that morning had they been there, as lots of folks had their Starbucks cups in hand while out shopping.  The market takes place up and down the blocks parallel the Beaches Museum. The streets are closed off to traffic and pedestrians are everywhere. We went fairly early just after it started at 9am, and the surrounding parking lots were already full. As we parked, shoppers were walking back to their cars with all kinds of neat finds; some things brand new, and some things very, very old.  I really enjoy that mix of old and new at this market as it provides something for most everyone’s tastes, interests, collections, and budgets. And for anyone with a creative brain, browsing through all the vendors can spur lots of ideas and inspiration. The other benefit of attending this market is its timing - it’s a fabulous place to find some holiday gifts and I was able to check a few items off my list while there.     For myself personally, I took home two very unique and homemade treasures that I know I will cherish forever. I absolutely love pottery and glasses and vases, and have an ever-growing collection in my home. For at least the last two years I had been on the lookout for the most perfect piece for the center of my coffee table. Shop after shop, market after market, over two years, I looked, and I patiently waited. I needed just the right thing, in just the right color. And I do believe it’s always worth the wait. I came upon Sea Le Vie, and it was there that my two year search ended in a flash. Before I even knew the price I said this was it. And my find was literally only $8.00. I have paid a whole lot more for mass-produced, not hand-made, pieces.  Plus, I was also able to speak to the creator. I think she was aware of how excited I was with my find, as she told me that she loves it when someone loves her work enough to take it home with them. I immediately understood her comment, as nothing brings me more joy than when I sell a painting to someone who is truly interested in what I paint; and loves and enjoys the art I create enough to hang it upon a wall in their own home. And her aqua painted glass piece that I purchased is now sitting in my home in front of me on the center of my coffee table - the most perfect piece that I am glad I patiently searched all over for, and ended up finding so close to home.  About half way down the block, and sitting strategically perfect amongst all of the many vendors is the Driftwood gift shop. This place is adorable and no visit to Jax Beach should end without at least a quick stop into this lovely store. Creative and colorful seasonal decor alongside a variety of unique merchandise from local creators on display, there are seemingly endless items to browse through and admire. And if you are looking for actual Driftwood - this is definitely the place to go.       Priced at $25.00, the second item I purchased at the market was a handmade coastal Bethlehem manger scene depicted with oyster shells, to add to my Christmas decor. I have been collecting oyster shells out on the beach since our move to Florida, so these pieces really caught my attention right away.  This type of shell happens to be my absolute most favorite item to collect from the sand. Well, I can’t forget about shark teeth - but those are like finding a needle in a haystack - in three years I have found a total of two. And I do need to give my hubby full credit on both those finds. But collecting unique treasures from the beach has become an utterly enjoyable hobby of mine. I quickly fell in love with the beauty and smoothness and texture of oyster shells and am in the process of collecting enough to make a wreath of them for my front door. So my eyes are always open to hunting out these unique finds; and then when I saw this booth, I was immediately and completely enthralled. Specifically, the unique manger scenes really caught my eye upon first sight. The manger itself is made from driftwood. Various angels flying overhead, along with Mary and Joseph, are each represented by oyster shells of differing sizes, and set up in various ways and positions. The baby Jesus is represented by a most beautiful pearl, thus becoming the focal point of a breathtaking piece of hand-made, hand-crafted art. Then, the star above in the sky is represented by a starfish, but of course. And since I was never able to find a just-right and oh-so-perfect manger scene in the past - one that would immediately catch my attention and my heart - I knew this was the piece when it spoke to me most promptly. Perfection - priced at $25.00 - and I could tell straight away they were all handmade with love.  I spoke to the vendor and I was so excited. Naturally I wanted to know if she sold online. She is a local retired school principal, and makes all her creations “just for fun.” And she is not interested in selling online as she doesn’t want it to become “too big of a thing.” Well, she definitely has something going on, and if she ever went online it would definitely become a thing bigger than it is, quickly. I thanked her and her husband for the most wonderful treasure I was able to take home with me that day.  Browsing through the Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market was a very successful and lovely Saturday morning outing. A fabulous way to enjoy a leisurely, peaceful, slow-paced, and local community event, it’s a great way to kick-start any holiday weekend. And you may just walk away with the most perfect trinket or treasure to enjoy for years to come in your home. For myself, I know it was an extraordinary morning adventure, and afterward...we were off to find some coffee. ~
 What a gem of a place! If you are seeking a leisurely evening meal or a relaxing night out in the Jax Beaches area, definitely consider going to Eleven South. Keep in mind that if you’re not aware of its location, you may not even know there’s a restaurant on that block of 11th Avenue.  Named for its address within Jax Beach, just East of A1A, and situated only a couple blocks from the ocean, Eleven South Bistro & Bar is nestled within the coastal neighborhood community. Surrounded by beach cottages, it blends right in to its surroundings. A quick drive by or glance, especially when the restaurant is not open, and it could definitely be mistaken for a home if not paying attention to it. I had always heard that Eleven South was a locals place, with consistently regular and repeat diners who also bring in their out-of-town guests for a great meal while they are visiting Jax. And after hearing this information through word-of-mouth, and then seeing the quaint little building that houses Eleven South, I immediately thought that it reminded me of a perfect little Supper Club. When I lived up north in Illinois, I traveled in and through the state of Wisconsin a lot. And my favorite places to dine in the entire state were all the many and countless local Supper Clubs my husband and I would just stumble across during our travels. We could never go wrong with choosing a Supper Club for dinner. We could be anywhere in the entire state of Wisconsin, and as long as we could find a Supper Club, we knew the food would be good. And these Wisconsin Supper Clubs always gave me the impression they were a very local establishment. Wherever we were the vibe was local and friendly. These were places buried into a community, sitting off on a side road somewhere, most often well off the beaten path, and hard to find. I ate at these places long before GPS on my smartphone could take me there. We had to find them on our own. We would come across them at the end of a long street, buried amongst evergreen trees. And they were the only place around. I remember getting excited when we found one. It was like being a kid playing the license plate bingo game and the excitement of whenever I’d find the state I’d been searching for so long and so hard to find. The needle in the haystack. These were not places along highway rest stops with tired and weary travelers looking for a quick meal and then rush back onto the road. They were places far away from any interstate and filled with locals where everyone knew everyone. These travels in Wisconsin feel like a very long time ago now, and sometimes I tend to wonder if places like this still exist? And was I really alive ‘so long ago’ that I actually lived without GPS on my phone? Or did technology just advance that quickly? Is there any place left where everyone knows everyone when you walk in? Life is so very fast-paced now, with people always rushing and not taking that extra moment to slow down and talk to each other, in person, as much anymore. When I went into Eleven South, it was just as had been described and as I imagined. It is a locals place - that welcomes everyone. It was a warm and inviting atmosphere. It is a not-very-noticeable, off-the-beaten-path, not-near-any-highways type of place. And walking in, it definitely made me think that the old-fashioned Supper Clubs of the world still exist. I had been wanting to try Eleven South since I first noticed it. The only thing that had consistently kept me from going sooner is the parking situation. After my visit there though, I would say do not let the parking situation deter you from enjoying a great meal and a most lovely evening out.    Just a quick glance at the property made me note that there are only a tiny amount of parking spaces. And the tiny parking lot had valet staff and many coned off spaces. That was always the issue that had deterred me from visiting, and the situation that evening was no different than what I had witnessed prior. Not being a fan of paying for parking if I can help it, I had just assumed not to go and choose a different restaurant. But that Friday night was different… we were celebrating a special occasion and I knew I wanted to go somewhere we normally wouldn’t choose. So Eleven South it was for us; and parking would just have to solve itself. We saw the full lot and valet and lots of orange cones and took ourselves out to 3rd Street, parked in the siding, and walked over. While walking in we spoke with a very friendly and definitely busy valet staff member. He was running back and forth parking cars and talking to us at the same time. He parked a car, and ran, and spoke to us. We walked - he ran - he talked. If my doubts about the parking made me stay away in the past, this very kind human being made me want to walk in. Only since I lived down in the South have I met such friendly people. He was happy and friendly and literally running around doing his job… and did I mention friendly? He explained that they have an agreement with the dentist office close by for the valet to use their parking lot in the evenings. We went on a Friday evening, right when they opened for dinner. And the lots were already full… I was right about the parking, there’s just not a lot of spots at all. After walking in and toward the hostess stand to the right of me was the bar. It was packed. And they had only opened moments ago at 5pm - we had a 5pm reservation. Everyone was talking and laughing with each other.  Friendly hostesses, servers, and other staff greeted us inside. It was quite a typical hot Florida evening and we chose an indoor table to escape the heat and cool off. We were taken to a very large booth loaded with pillows. I had never eaten in a restaurant ever in my life where this amount of pillows surrounded me. I was quite amused by the sight. And I then proceeded to use every pillow… propping myself up and sitting higher, and leaning back on the pillows. Only once I sat down did I understand why they gave us pillows...the booth was enormous and when I sat I immediately sunk in deep. The pillows were doing their job bringing us back to a normal level even with the table. I was so amused by this.  Our server was very friendly. He explained some delicious sounding specials and also informed us they have a small garden out back where they grow some of what they serve. That fact fascinated me. Locally grown and served restaurant food is also something I think is rare these days. And a gem if one can find it.      We had a long and leisurely evening. I ordered one of the specials - a pork tenderloin dish. My husband ordered a steak and a tomato salad appetizer. I skipped the appetizer. Our server explained to me that dinner takes a while to cook and would I like anything at all while I wait? No thank you I stated, but he was so friendly and nice about everything. We chatted about how we live close by and he said he used to live close by as well, and had liked Eleven South enough at the time that he wanted to get a job there. He genuinely enjoyed his job. And was as happy as the valet was on the way in. My pork tenderloin was the most flavorful and perfectly seasoned I’ve ever had. Served with roasted brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes, I would so order this again. My husband enjoyed his steak and asparagus. I tried a piece of steak and he tried a piece of the tenderloin. While we both agreed his steak was good, we both also agreed that my dish was absolutely amazing. Get the pork tenderloin on special - you won’t be disappointed. Then it was time for dessert. I have a thing for desserts. I have a thing for pastries and donuts and cakes and desserts of all kinds. But of all the sweet things made on this earth, I have more than just a thing for creme brûlée. If creme brûlée is on the menu, I’m getting it. If I didn’t plan for creme brûlée I’m still getting it. I love creme brûlée. We ordered the creme brûlée. We both ordered coffees and they came out to us first. My husband ordered the cafe au lait, and I ordered black. Both drinks were not hot - at all. But if you can tell by now, that single disappointment would not deter me from coming back. If anything, I probably could have just asked if they would warm it for me? Then the dessert came and it was the best I ever had. My mother-in-law always says that the dessert she is currently eating at that very moment is ‘the best I ever ate.’ That is how I felt about this creme brûlée. As we were paying the check and leaving, I noticed through the window to the outside a few golf carts come driving up into the parking lot waiting in line to have the cart valet parked. I had never seen a golf cart be valet parked once before this night in my entire life, let alone more than one cart waiting to be valeted. I thought yep, definitely a locals place… that I would love to bring my family to when they come for a visit. ~   *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series Just opened this week! Yay! I absolutely love trying new coffee shops! There is definitely something exciting and intriguing to me when I hear news that a new coffee shop is opening up in the neighborhood. What’s on the menu? How’s the variety and selection? What’s the vibe like inside? Do they keep good and flexible hours of operation? And most importantly, are the drinks delicious enough for me to come back? The answer is yes. On a hot Florida afternoon, my iced latte was cool and delicious; and yes, I will be planning a return visit quite soon. Sago Coffee is simply a fun, upbeat, and modern coffee house instilled with local charm.  I must admit that a personal goal and challenge to myself at least for a couple years now has been to visit and try as many different coffee shops as I can in my daily adventures and travels. I call it ‘Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge.’ And this hobby has only grown and strengthened due to how much fun and enjoyment I’m having with it. Don’t get me wrong - I’m still quite a fan of the big chain coffee shops and I do frequent them, but I’m attempting to give at least equal time and money to those non-chains… those hidden gems of the towns I visit and drive through. Those coffee shops that locals frequent and tourists and visitors are lucky to find either with a Google search or through word-of-mouth. Small business coffee shops have become very intriguing to me, and I haven’t met one yet I didn’t like.  Sago presents a very simplistic menu of hot and cold coffees - including espresso drinks, pour overs, and hot teas. Plus a basic seasonal drink menu as well, with three autumn themed drinks currently being offered. Served in the most adorable glass cups that remind me of an old fashioned mason jar with a modern twist, each glass means one less to-go cup being tossed after a single use. If you are dining in you can request glass - and they still have to-go cups available if you are taking your drink with you.  Visiting in mid-afternoon, the first thing I noticed was that the entire place was packed. A good sign? Parking is certainly at a premium and we parked down the street as the lot was entirely full, with cars waiting for open spots in the small lot. The first feature I notified was the massive and fun garage style windows - and lots of natural light flowing inside... this presents a very warm and open, breathable feel. Edison style lighting throughout and upbeat and lively modern music playing on loud speaker, the vibe is definitely beachy - modern - friendly. Coffee shop chic. Sago offers a variety of seating options. I chose the comfy leather couch to sit and work on my iPad, but there were also single chairs with end tables for drinks to rest upon, long tables, high-top tables, and an entire different seating room off to the side as well. This adjacent side room flows nicely into the main seating area and could easily be utilized for business meetings or study groups, set up almost as an office conference room, but very multi-purpose. In today’s modern age, business transactions of all kinds occur daily at coffee shops, and Sago Coffee is most certainly aware of and prepared for those business meetings to succeed in a warm and friendly environment.   The price was fair and average to all the other surrounding local coffee shops - nothing too extreme at all. Merchandise was offered for sale on a shelf adjacent to the cash registers, including bags of coffee for home brewing. I’m already considering taking a bag home with me on my next visit.  And lastly, I love the hours of operation. Sago is open for all the early birds such as myself, who wake up daily before the sun does. And they are open for those who need that quick late afternoon and evening energy zap and WiFi after dinner. Students will appreciate they are open evenings as a great place for studying as well as meeting for group projects.    So come on out to Sago for your next coffee outing… I would definitely recommend trying Jax Beaches newest coffee shop in town. You won’t be disappointed; and you will leave awake, energized, and ready to take on the rest of your day with a smile. ~~ 
 On a hot Florida summer day, also our 16th wedding anniversary, we took a drive down south on A1A to have dinner at The Reef. Having driven this state route between Jacksonville and St. Augustine numerous times, I consider getting to The Reef a treat in and of itself. A quick glance out of the car window and I am treated to some of the most scenic coastal views around the entire southeast United States. Pelicans flying overhead, waves crashing on the shore line, much of the road bordered by a coastal reserve––it’s a breath of fresh air to drive through so much nature at its absolute finest. Besides Vilano Beach, The Reef is one of the very few eateries to stop at when enroute between Jax and the nation's oldest city. There’s only about one other place to dine (Cap’s), which requires a turn off of A1A heading toward the intracoastal, as well as a gas station and convenience mart. So naturally, The Reef is in quite an ideal location to catch all of the many passersby and tourists who are hungry and aching for a break from the car. Pulling off of the coastal highway and into the sandy parking lot overlooking the dunes and straight out onto the Atlantic, it never really gets old to see such a sight. The ocean water was changing color quickly that afternoon, along with the abruptly changing weather. Then, gazing upon The Reef, one must not be fooled by its low-key and rough exterior. The weathered, gray board and batten structure's exterior provides a casual, laid back and beachy vibe; however, walking in was a different story. The interior is really a place much fancier than I expected. The hostess took us to our seats and we walked past tables adorned with cloth napkins and table cloths, and for a moment wearing my sundress, I didn’t know if I was dressed appropriately? Was I underdressed? We were seated at our table outside, as requested, on the waterfront. The location: most ideal. Service was quite normal––no rush, and not too slow either. The views: priceless. I quickly stopped worrying about what I was wearing once outside. As more people were seated, some were dressed up a bit, and some dressed very casual. We began our meal with drinks and a shrimp cocktail. Cheers to another year of marriage! While sipping our drinks the weather turned very quickly. The skies darkened and a brief late afternoon Florida rain storm came upon us. The staff suggested we move inside before dinner and right as our meal was served it started pouring. We watched the storm chase people off the beach from the window of our new candle-lit table. Our main courses were steaks with seasonal vegetables. The meal itself was a bit pricey to me for what we got but no real complaints at all. We ended with a very tiny vanilla ice cream scoop and a key lime pie tart to share for dessert. While sipping our coffees we witnessed the sky turn blue and clear up just in time to watch the sun go down. While the restaurant was a little expensive in my view, the drive to get there was definitely worth it to pull over and enjoy a meal on the coast any day. And sometimes a restaurant experience actually isn’t about the food itself or how much we paid, or how good the meal was; it’s about the experience of getting there after sixteen years of marriage and dreaming of what’s to come next after that shared meal together. 
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October 2024
CategoriesAll 100th YouTube Video 12 South 12 South Nashville 15K National Championship 1935 Hurricane Memorial 1 Hour Loop Ocean Sounds 1st Place Sports 1 Year As A Livestreamer 2020 2024 Periodical Cicada Emergence 2025 Planner 26.2 With Donna 30 Minute Beach Walk 4Ocean 4th Of July 4th Of July Travel 5K Race 9/11 A1A ABBQ Acosta Bridge Acrylic On Canvas Acrylic Painting Acrylic Painting On Burned Wood Acure Acure SPF 30 Day Cream Adairsville Advent Calendars Adversity A Guy & A Golden A Guy And A Golden Alan Roberts Alba Botanica Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Sunscreen SPF 50 Alba Botanica Kids SPF 50 Al Carius Alligator All Wheel Drive Amanda Moon Art Amazon Amelia Island Amelia Island Coffee Amelia Island Florida Amelia Schoolhouse Inn America Amtrak Amtrak Auto Train Amtrak Roomette Amtrak Silver Service Amtrak Silver Star Angeletti Cookies Angel Food Cake Angies Grom Angies Subs Anna Maria City Pier Anna Maria Island Another Broken Egg Cafe Appetizer Apple Cider Donut Apple Watch Arlington Lions Club Park Art ASMR Atlantic Beach Atlantic Beach Arts Market Atlantic Beach Barbecue Atlantic Beach Elementary School Atlantic Beach Fire Department Atlantic Beach Heritage Tree Atlantic Beach Police Department Atlantic Boulevard Atlantic Ocean Auto Ferry Autumn Autumnal Equinox Autumn In Florida Autumn In The South Aviles Street Avondale A Year Brushed Upon Canvas Azure Oceanfront Residences BabylissPro Hair Straightener Background Ambience Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Bacon Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Bakery Bali Balis Park Basic Invite Bay Breeze Cottages Baymeadows Beach Ambience Beach Boulevard Beach Cottage Beach Diner Beach Diner Ponte Vedra Beach Beaches Art Fest Beaches At Vilano Beaches For Australia Beaches Go Green Beaches Green Market Beaches History Museum Beaches Museum Beaches Oktoberfest Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol Beaches Town Center Beaches Water Tours Beach Fest Beachin' Beach Vibes Beach Walk Beans Baking Series Beans Basement Bash Beans Best Award Winner Beans Coffee Shop Challenge Beans Recipes Beef Stew Before And After Beignets Bennie Furlong Senior Center BEPREADY Best Western Best Western Historic Bayfront Best Western Oceanfront Betty Crocker Betty Crocker Angel Food White Cake Mix BeYou Jewelry Big Talbot Island State Park Bird Island Park Bird Watching Birthday Birthday Party Birthday Zoomies Black Friday Blackhawk Bluff Blue Angels Bluebird Bluebird Of Happiness Bluebird Of Happiness Statue Blue Bloods Blue Cypress Fishing Pier Blue Moon Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine Boxty Brach's Brach's Halloween Mellowcreme Pumpkins Bradenton Beach Breakfast Review Breezy Coffee Shop Breidert Green Brewery Review Bridge Of Lions Broad Street Broad Street Chattanooga Broadway Brooklyn Bryan Pieper Bucee's Burger Republic Butterfly Butterfly Garden Cafe Du Monde Calhoun Cal-Sag Channel Cal-Sag Trail Cantina Louie Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Elation Carriage Way - 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