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DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS 06.25.2013

Mark your calendars for 7pm tonight when Dr Sherry Johnson, Director of Academic Programs/Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University in Miami, will speak on “Life in Saint Augustine in the 1730s and 1740s as a Remote Military Town on the Spanish Frontier.” Dr Johnson will be discussing how life was affected in the 18th century presidio of San Agustin de la Florida during the British colonial intrusion into the “Debatable Land” of present-day Georgia. Part of the Birthplace of Freedom Lecture Series, this program is sponsored by Florida Living History, Inc, the Fort Mose Historical Society, the St Augustine Historical Society and Flagler College. Everyone is welcome to this free event which is being held at the Flagler Room at Flagler College. Find more info at floridalivinghistory.org.

Downtown residents Rhey Palmer and David Brezing remind one and all that this is the last week for the St Augustine Music Festival 2013 series being held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the historic St Augustine Cathedral Basilica. These incredible classical music concerts are free and this year’s program includes selections from Paganini, Granados, Tarrega, Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Schumann, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky. All concerts start at 7:30 and you don’t want to miss this exciting and inspiring event. Visit staugustinemusicfestival.org for more information. Celebrating its seventh season, it is truly a labor of love to bring such fine music to us and offer it for free so all can enjoy.

Becky Greenberg of St Andrews Court reminds everyone that this Thursday there are two open houses being held at the Alcazar Room at City Hall for the purpose of gathering public input in developing the final planning elements for the Transit in Park project. The meetings will offer the public a chance to discuss and share ideas related to pedestrian connections through the historic district to the Castillo de San Marcos as well as parking needs, opportunities and traffic circulation throughout the historic district study area. Presented by the Planning and Building Department and Marquis Halback, Inc, there are two open houses with the first at 10:30am and the second at 4:30pm and lasting approximately 90 minutes each. For more info call 825-1065.

Our Davis Shores friends want to invite everyone to the Oglethorpe Park Cannon Battery Dedication being held this Sunday at 10:30am at Oglethorpe Park. The park has undergone a major spruce up and this Sunday three cannons circa 1740 and a flag pole with a British/Colonial American Flag will be unveiled. Among the attendees will be two active Admirals (one from Britain and the other from the US), veterans from St Augustine, a color guard, noted singers, a Fife and Drum Corp and of course, General Oglethorpe will make an appearance. Be advised that there will be a signal cannon firing three shots (rest easy – the park cannons are non-operational) and the cannons of the Castillo de San Marcos will respond. Don’t miss Davis Shores firing upon the city for the first time in 273 years! Bring a chair as seating is limited.

Lorna MacDonald of the Raintree Restaurant, 102 San Marco Avenue, invites you to “Murder in the Olde City” being held at the restaurant on June 30, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 with dinner service starting at 6:00 (get there around 5:30) followed by the show at 7pm. The dinner theatre series returns with this tale of murder, scandal, love and deceit set in the 1880s in St Augustine. The audience will participate by serving as the jury in the conviction of the guilty party (yet to be revealed, of course). Tickets are $39.95 and you can call 824-7211 for info and reservations. What fun!

If you’ve missed the art of Suzanne Strock, you have two chances to revel in her oils and giclees starting with Uptown Saturday Night this Saturday when she will be the featured artist at Amistad, 67 San Marco Avenue. Next Friday you can see her work and meet the artist at 57 Treasury during the First Friday Art Walk reception. Selected works from “Rooms with a View,” “Through the Canal” and “Leaving Venice” will be shown and if you’ve never seen her work, it is well worth the trip as you are instantly transported to beautiful places around the world.

Former downtown resident Tom Tibbits will be featured at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery with his “Imprints of Light” exhibition with the opening reception coinciding with the July First Friday Art Walk on July 5. Reflecting St Augustine, our American Community, Tibbits’ work offers fine art prints that illustrate the use of photography as a medium of light – the imprint of light composed to art. Enjoy unique and captivating views of our historic culture, civic commitment, natural beauty and coastal environment. Butterfield is located at 137 King Street – don’t miss this dynamic and “close to home” show.

“Body of Work” opens at Amiro Art & Found during the July Art Walk. The human body has been represented in art since there was art and Amiro will honor that tradition by presenting the work of artists who use the body as a subject. Wire sculpture by Steve Lohman, wood carvings by Alexander Wilds, raku by Estella Fransbergen and Donna Jensen, drawings by Nancy Hamlin-Vogler alongside figure drawings by Sue Moxon, Judith Fox-Fliesser and Deane Kellogg will be on display. Summer makes us more body conscious as we shed our winter clothes – come see the artistic perspective of the human form. Reception is from 5 – 9pm at the gallery located at 9C Aviles Street.

Downtown resident and artist, Hookey Hamilton, is really excited to announce that Ray Brill has joined the Aviles Gallery as of June. Brilli, a respected and admired painter, studied art at the High School of Art & Design in NYC, then at Hunter College and The School of Visual Arts where he immersed himself in fine art, graphic design and color theory. The gallery also recently welcomed Lyn Asselta and downtown resident and watercolorist Rosamond Parrish. If you haven’t seen Parrish’s new book, “Lincolnville: A Sketchbook Journal of St. Augustine’s Historic Neighborhood,” you are missing a rare treat – a watercolor tour of the hidden and not-so-hidden treasures of Lincolnville. Be sure to add the Aviles Gallery at 11 Aviles Street to your must-go list and stop by during Art Walk to welcome the new members.

Joy D’Elia wants dancers to know that the Abella School of Dance 2013 Summer Intensives start on July 8 and run through August 8. Creative Movement will be offered for ages 3-4 with emphasis on fun while learning coordination, rhythm, balance and musical expression. For the 5-8 group, students will receive instruction in ballet, modern, jazz, musical theater, Pilates, dance history, musicality and French. Ages 9-18 will add pointe and choreography to the mix and there will be two 4-day Music and Art Camps held for the 4-7 year old students. Please contact the school at [email protected] or visit abellaballet.com.

Movies by the Bay continue each Wednesday and Friday hosted by Ripley’s St Augustine Attractions and the St Augustine Municipal Marina. Free screenings start at 8:30pm and it is quite pleasant sitting by the river watching a film. Bring blankets or beach chairs and check out the schedule at facebook.com/saintaugustineripleys. This Wednesday features “Tangled” and “Casablanca” will be playing this Friday.

Not enough for you film buffs? Community First Credit Union and the St Augustine Amphitheatre have partnered to present free movies at the Amphitheatre. “The Hunger Games” is playing June 28 followed by “Rise of the Guardians” on July 12 and the series runs through Augustine 23. For more info go to staugamphitheatre.com or call 209-0367.

The new water taxi service from Vilano Beach to downtown works both ways you know. If you like to dine at the Kingfish Grill or just check out what’s happening on “Main Street” in Vilano, you can catch the water taxi at Thursday through Sunday from the Municipal Marina at 1pm, 5pm and 10pm. More stops are being added and this is a great way to visit Vilano with a minimum of driving. Get more info and schedules at JaxWaterTours.com or call Captain Brooks at 322-7194.

Don’t forget the Plaza Concerts while you plan your evening entertainment. A long-standing tradition brings talented musicians to the bandshell at the plaza where you can recline beneath the tree canopy and enjoy a toe-tapping time. This Thursday’s concert features Bob & Joline & the Friends of Mine Band. Bob was recently celebrated with a tribute concert held at The Standard on Anastasia Island. Many friends and musicians came out to honor Bob’s lifelong contribution to the arts and the music lived long into the night. Bravo to Bob Patterson! Come see the show and see what he’s all about. Concert starts at 7pm and you should bring your own chair. For the rest of the season’s schedule you can check out plazaconcerts.com.

The campaign for new and renewal EMMA Guild membership is under way. The guild offers support to the EMMA Concert Association through its volunteer work including the fall gala production and a fund raising event in the spring. The upcoming season promises to be exceptional and will open with Paul Whiteman’s Historic Aeolian Hall Concert of 1924. It was on this program some 50 years ago that George Gershwin introduced “Rhapsody in Blue.” Membership in the guild provides a chance to build friendships while becoming an integral part of bringing classical music to our community. Memberships must be received by July 10 in order to be recognized in the EMMA Guild and EMMA Concert Association publications. Download the form at emmaconcerts.com or call 460-9488.

We are so fortunate to live in a place steeped in history and culture with so many amazing events offered to everyone for free. Get off the couch and take advantage of these remarkable venues and I will endeavor to practice what I preach as well. Stay cool!

 

 

Irene Arriola Real Estate, Inc.
81 King Street, Suite B Saint Augustine, FL 32084
Email: [email protected] | Office phone: 904.829.2002
Cell phone: 904.669.0691 | Fax: 904.829.2029