Taste of THE Beach offers events to wine, dine, donate

What happens when several popular events that are longtime favorites get together with new events that are sure to become longtime favorites? Taste of THE Beach is created.

The four-day culinary and cultural celebration begins today with the theme: Wine. Dine. Donate.

Seven events, ranging from wine-tastings and film-screenings to winemaker dinners and a charity auction, will benefit 11 area children’s charities.

Tickets for all events are available by calling 850-267-0683 or online at tasteofthebeachfla.com.

Festivities kick off 5-8 tonight with Taste of THE Harbor at Emerald Grande in Destin. This new event will feature distinctive wines and culinary delights, according to a press release. Cost is $50 per person.

Next up is Taste of Bay Wine & Food Experience 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Tickets are $50 per person.

Also Friday is the Al Fresco Reserve Tasting at Ruskin Place in Seaside. It includes wine, sushi and hors d’oeuvres and live chamber music. Time is 6-8 p.m. Cost is $145 per person.

Friday and Saturday night, the Telluride MountainFilm on Tour brings celebrated movies by independent filmmakers to WaterColor for the ninth consecutive year. This years films are a collection of shorts with the theme of food. Gates open at 6 p.m.; showtimes are 7-10 p.m. Cost is $30 per person for one night; $50 per person for both nights; children 5 and under are admitted free.

Saturday uncorks one of the largest events, the Seeing Red Wine Festival at Seaside. This picnic-style festival runs 1-5 p.m. and costs $120 per person. Live music accompanies the dozens of domestic and international red wines to sample.

Also on Saturday, local restaurants will offer Winemaker & Shakers Dinners 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person. Participating restaurants include Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood, FireFly, Restaurant Fire, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Finz and Beachwalk at Henderson Park Inn.

On Sunday, Taste of THE Beach & Charity Auction will provide a finale to the event 3-6 p.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Cost is $35 per person.

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In case you missed this in the avalanche of holiday activities last week, the ice skating rink at the Village of Baytowne Wharf opened Halloween day.

It will stay open through Jan. 31, 2010, for those of you who miss this seasonal activity and for those of you who would like to try it for the first time.

Cost is $8, plus another $2 if you need to rent skates.

Non-holiday hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Holiday hours, Nov. 22-29, are 2-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

The rink is also available for private parties. Call 850-267-8118.

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Fort Walton Beach High School will present a Veterans Day concert at 7 p.m. Monday in the school auditorium to honor active-duty and retired military personnel.

The combined program will feature the FWBHS Band, Chorus, Forensics and ROTC.

Admission is free. Canned goods/non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the FWBHS Leadership Christmas Connection.