Lisa Barton

There are many great 4th of July celebrations happening around the First Coast.  Here’s the run-down of events from World Golf Village to Jacksonville Beach.

• World Golf Village kicks the fun off early with their celebration on July 2nd at 9:15 p.m.  Bring a blanket and find a spot along the Walk of Champions!
• In St. Augustine, you can enjoy the fireworks from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Start the evening watching the sunset and as darkness sets in, the fireworks begin. This unique experience does require a ticket ($40) and space is limited. Visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com for more details.
• Rather see the fireworks for free?  No problem!  Head to the St. Augustine Bayfront and watch the fireworks explode above the Castillo de San Marcos.  Best places to view are located between the fort and the recently restored Bridge of Lions.  Show starts at 9:30 p.m.  More details can be found at http://fireworksoverthematanzas.com.
• From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Jacksonville Beach, the Liberty Celebation will be happening at the Sea Walk Pavilion.  There will be live music, food, and plenty of entertainment for the whole family. More information can be found on Jacksonville Beaches’ website.
• Still not satisfied?  Another festive option is to view fieworks on the Jacksonville Downtown Riverfront.  Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m. and can be seen from the North and Southbanks of the St. Johns River.  See all of the details at www.jacksonvillelanding.com.

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I don’t usually write restaurant reviews. I assume that since this is a real estate website, people are interested in real estate, not food. But, I just had a wonderful dining experience that I’d like to share. My husband and I drove down to Caps’s on the Water tonight for dinner. I love the drive from Ponte Vedra Beach down A1A, it’s a scenic trip through the Guana Park. Cap’s is a waterfront restaurant in South Ponte Vedra Beach. Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway, the restaurant has seating on a large deck that has wonderful views of the water. You should see the sunset from here! If you want to come by boat, Caps has a dock and diners can tie-up while eating. Usually the dock is packed, but we’ve always been able to raft-up to another boat until space becomes available. The deck is built around the ancient live oak trees and the sandy beach is a great spot for children to play while waiting to be served. 

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This evening I took a stroll down the boardwalk in Palencia. This neighborhood park is really a jewel! The walk over the marsh to the Intracoastal Waterway and the fishing pier is a little over half a mile, all over a very nicely maintained wooden boardwalk. The expansive views of the marsh are incredibley serene and beautiful. The picnic area actually spans 2 islands and there are picnic tables strategically located to take advantage of the views. One of the nicest aspects of Palencia is the numerous parks located throughout the community. For most homeowners a pocket park is only a block or two away from home. The neighborhood playground in Palencia is legendary, but I think my favorite is the boardwalk. I don’t know anyplace else in Ponte Vedra or St. Augustine that offers such pristine views of Florida’s marshes and wild places.

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Like to golf?  The Jacksonville, Beaches, and Ponte Vedra areas are the places for you!  In the April 2010 issue of 904 Magazine (another wonderful publication from the folks at Jacksonville Magazine), Fred Seely described many of the local places to golf.  Here’s a recap of some of the options, both public and private.

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It’s Heather, your favorite guest blogger!  I wanted to let you know about the next big event hosted by the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce’s Golf Tournament will be held on Dye’s Valley Course at the TPC Sawgrass on July 30, 2010.  The shotgun start will occur at 1 p.m.  Activities will begin prior to lunch with a clinic led by a PGA Tour Teaching Professional and a putting contest.  This is a best ball tournament, so fun can be had by all!

The Awards Dinner will have scrumptious buffet options and a live and silent auction. A lovely sandwich buffet lunch will be served to participants. 

For more information, visit the May issue of Chamber Chat, a monthly publication of the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce.  While you’re there, look for me in the Meet an Ambassador article!

Heather Senterfitt
First Coast Focus

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The 2nd Annual Never Quit Beach Fest will take place in Jacksonville Beach on Saturday, June 5, 2010.  All events will start at the Jacksonville Beach Pier.  This festival’s mission is to raise awareness that heart disease and strokes/hemorrhages may be avoided by combining exercise, healthy diet practices, and regular blood pressure monitoring.

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Looking for something fun and FREE to do with the family?  Try one of these many movie nights around Jacksonville, Nocatee, or the Beaches.  Don’t forget your blanket or chairs!  Insect repellent is a good idea this time of year too.

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The Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) is hosting its 36th Annual Tour of Homes on April 24 & 25th, 2010. Eleven businesses and residences will be open for guests to tour. This event is a fundraiser for RAP which is a private, non-profit membership organization with the desire to enhance and preserve architecture, history, cultural heritage and economic viability of historic Riverside and Avondale areas.

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Tony Allegretti, Market Director for the Riverside Arts Market, gave a great presentation at the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Marketing Association last month. He explained that the Riverside Arts Market was not an overnight phenomenon as it may seem to some, but rather 16 long years in the making. Tony attributes a large portion of the success to the numerous volunteers and interested parties that have come together to support the effort. Economic “on site” impact of the market for 2009 was estimated at $1 million and more than $4 million when incorporating the surrounding businesses.

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The Jacksonville Symphony Designer Showhouse is a major fundraiser for the Jacksonville Symphony. And what a fund raiser it is! If you haven’t been to a Symphony Showhome before you’re in for a real treat. This year the designer show home will be one of the gorgeous new homes in Coastal Oaks of Nocatee. Toll Brothers will feature their wonderful Marquis home which offers 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and a courtyard with a 4 car garage. The gourmet kitchen will be outfitted beyond your wildest dreams as will be the opulent master bedroom and bathroom. The list price for this house will be over $1 million.

The address for the show home is 280 Port Charlotte Drive and the house will be open for tours April 17th through May 9th. Check out the Showhome’s website for information about special events and speakers. All money raised will go to the Jacksonville Symphony Guild and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

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