Your Weekly Guide to Fun

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Taste of THE Beach
NORTHWEST FLORIDA – Taste of THE Beach — Wine. Dine. Donate., a culinary and cultural celebration benefiting children’s charities, returns to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast Nov. 5-8. This year’s schedule of events includes:
•Nov. 7: Telluride MountainFilm on Tour show times at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the WaterColor Amphitheater in Santa Rosa Beach. Gates open at 6 p.m. Cost: $25/person for one night;  $40/person for two nights; kids five and under free.
•Nov. 7: Seeing Red Wine Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. on the streets of Seaside. Cost: $100/person.
•Nov. 7: Winemaker & Shakers. Dinners from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at local restaurants. Cost: $125/person.
•Nov. 8: Taste of THE Beach & Charity Auction from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin. Cost: $35/person.
For tickets to all events, call 267-0683 or visit www.tasteofthebeachfla.com.

StageCrafters
FORT WALTON BEACH – StageCrafters will present “1776” Nov. 7-8 and 12-15 at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are available for members at 243-7378; others, at 243-1101; or at door one hour prior to curtain time.
Tickets are also available at all Century 21 offices, Connect With Flowers, PS Gifts, Dowd Title Group and Bayou Books.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra presents the worksof Mozart and Mendelssohn at 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S Palafox Street. Saturday afternoon dress rehearsals will be at 2 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre. Admission is $5. Public is welcome.
For ticket information, call 435-2533, visit www.pensacolasymphony.com or purchase in person at 205 E. Zaragoza Street in Pensacola.

Pioneer Day
NICEVILLE – Pioneer Day 2009, a free, family-oriented event, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park.
Scholars will discuss pioneer lifestyles of 100-150 years ago and the local turpentine industry. Hands-on activities include candle-dipping, ragdoll making and quilting. Other exhibits include demonstrations of pioneer skills, dulcimer music, nature walks and archaeological displays.

Coconut Radio
SANDESTIN – Coconut Radio plays from 7 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Events Plaza Stage at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Comedy Night
OKALOOSA ISLAND – Howl at the Moon Comedy Night by “The Comedy Zone” is held every Sunday night featuring two touring comedians. Doors open at 7 p.m. Dueling Piano Show starts at 8. Comedy Show starts at 9.  Reservations recommended.

Mattie Kelly Arts Center
NICEVILLE – The NWF State College’s Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center presents Tap Dogs Nov. 9. Tickets are on sale through the center's online box office at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org, in-person or by phone.

Restaurant Week: Dining for a Cause
SANDESTIN – The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center in Niceville will be the first-ever beneficiary of Restaurant Week: Dining for a Cause to be held at Grand Boulevard Nov. 9-13.
The week will feature a specially selected three-course meal at each of Grand Boulevard’s five signature restaurants: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Tommy Bahama Tropical Café, Cantina Laredo Mexican Gourmet and Mitchell’s Fish Market. The Center receives one dollar for each select three-course meal sold during the week.
Each visit during the week earns the patron an entry into a drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree to be held Nov. 13 at Grand Park.

Funky Blues Shack Baytowne
SANDESTIN – A unique collaboration of blues-rock, funky pop and hard-rocking originals by Zach Rosicka at 8 p.m. Tuesdays.
Tunes with a distinctive touch by Jacob Mohr at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Wednesday Night Concert Series
SANDESTIN – The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents a free concert from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Events Plaza. Call 267-8117.

Butler Organ Recital Series
FORT WALTON BEACH – The music ministry of First United Methodist Church, 103 First Street S.E., will feature Dr. David Ott for the Butler Organ Recital Series at noon Nov. 11. Call 687-0862.

In-house concert
SANDESTIN – Emerald Coast Coffee & Grill in Grand Boulevard presents guitarist Scott Gilmore from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday. The event is free and open to public.

David Seering at On The Rocks Bar
DESTIN – David Seering is performing at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at Commander’s Palace, On The Rocks Bar, in HarborWalk Village. The local favorite’s music has been compared to Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., and is a must-see for visitors to the Destin area.

American Legion
DESTIN – The Destin American Legion, 311 Main Street, offers the following activities. Call 650-0594.
•Karaoke Fridays with a late night menu.
•Family dinners from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays.
•Ballroom and guitar lessons Tuesdays.

Rock n’ Roll with SOCKS
OKALOOSA ISLAND – Join Save Our Cats and Kittens Nov. 13 at Howl at the Moon on The Boardwalk for an evening of rock n' roll and dueling pianos. Doors open at 7 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m.
Purchase $10 tickets now and enjoy two free Myers Platinum Rum drinks the night of the show.
Tickets can be purchased at Copy Systems inside Destin Wal Mart, at SOCKS Thrift Store or Shelter, 498 Carmel Drive in Fort Walton Beach, or online at www.saveourcatsandkittens.com.
All proceeds will support the SOCKS shelter.

Hurricane Party
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Children’s Volunteer Health Network will host its fifth annual Hurricane Party from 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 13 at Bentley’s on the Bay. Featured will be the rootsy, funky, jazzy, Latin dance music of Jose Conde.
Blackjack tables will be there to help raise money for charity, and both a live and silent auction will feature prizes donated by local businesses and private supporters.
Tickets are $50 in advance and may be purchased at 850-622-3200 or www.cvhnkids.org. Tickets will cost $65 at the door. Party attire is resort casual. All proceeds will benefit deserving children in Walton and Okaloosa Counties.

Blue Angels
PENSACOLA – The Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will close the 2009 season at their annual Homecoming Air Show aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at 10 a.m. Nov. 13 and 14. Gates open 8 a.m.
Other events include the Blue Angels F/A 18 Hornet performances, the Blues' C-130 Hercules transport known as “Fat Albert” and civilian and military aircraft.
There will be a night show at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Aircraft will light up the sky with full afterburner and pyrotechnics.
Admission and parking for all shows is free. Areas will be reserved for the physically challenged. Food and memorabilia will be available.   
 
Mistletoe Market
OKALOOSA ISLAND – The Junior League of the Emerald Coast will host a charitable shopping event from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center.
Admission is $5/adults, $2/children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under. Call 862-2665.

Sounds of the Season community Christmas chorus
DESTIN – The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present their annual Christmas concert, Sounds of the Season “A Baby Changes Everything” at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Village Baptist Church.
Members and winter visitors are invited to participate in a community chorus. Rehearsal dates are 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 at Village Baptist Church in the music suite. The final rehearsal is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Call 650-2226.

Ice Skating Rink
SANDESTIN – The ice skating rink at The Village of Baytowne Wharf will be open Oct. 31-Jan. 31. Non-holiday hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Holiday hours Nov. 22-29 are 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 8 p.m.. Sunday. Skating is $8; skates, $2. Call 267-8118.

Guitar concert
DESTIN – American-born classical guitarist Kevin Manderville will give a solo guitar concert at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Dance Elite. The concert will feature a varied program of traditional and contemporary classical guitar literature.

Shirley Simpson as Erma Bombeck
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Professional actress Shirley Simpson’s one woman comedy/drama to benefit Educational Opportunities for Women will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Santa Rosa Beach Community Church, 3524 W. U.S. 98. Doors open at 1 p.m. Meet the Artist reception follows. Tickets are $20. Call 897-0712 or 654-1532.

2009 Music Ministry Series
FORT WALTON BEACH – Hear old-fashioned Southern gospel music as part of The Children's Neighborhood 2009 Music Ministry Series at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach.  
A love offering will be taken for Children In Crisis to help feed, clothe, and support the abused, abandoned and neglected children of The Children's Neighborhood.

Flutterby Arts Festival
SEAGROVE BEACH – The 2009 Flutterby Arts Festival and Fall & Winter Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 at  WaterColor's Marina Park. The event is free and open to the public.
The Festival offers live puppet shows, storytelling with actors from Seaside Repertory Theatre, butterfly costume parade, artwork from Butler Elementary, yoga classes for children and butterfly garden tours and animal encounters with Nonie's Ark.

Sinfonia Gulf Coast
DESTIN – The Sinfonia Gulf Coast presents “Let the Music Surround You” at 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at Grace Lutheran Church. Recent Metropolitan Opera Competition winner Katherine Jolly will perform Samuel Barber's “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.” Call 269-7129 for tickets.