By Anna Fisher, Associate Artistic and Education Director, Emerald Coast Theatre Company We just closed our 10th season with a sold out run of one of my absolute favorite musicals, “Sound of Music.” It was a little bit magical to end 10 years of incredible shows with such a profoundly beautiful story. I look forward to Season 11 with such excitement and anticipation for what another year of great theatre will bring! We launch Season 11 next fall with Million Dollar Quartet in September/October. This smash-hit musical tells the story of legendary music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins as they come together on Dec. 4, 1956, at the famous Sun Studios. This show has so many great songs including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “I Walk the Line” just to name a few. Elvis will be in the building y’all! We follow that with the timeless holiday classic A Christmas Carol in December. This fast-paced stage version is so fun and includes all of your favorite characters like Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, all the ghosts, and, of course, the original grumpy old man, Ebenezer Scrooge. This show is a mug of warm wassail on a cold winter’s night and just the right thing to get you into the holiday spirit. Our favorite Scrooge, Bruce Collier, will be returning to the stage as well in this production. There’s plenty of chances to catch The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns... Read More

  Announces Grand Opening at City Food Hall in Destin Commons ORO Italian Street Food, a fast-casual dining concept and the first of its kind in Destin, Florida and the Northwest Florida region, announces its Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, June 22nd from 4pm-6pm. ORO Italian Street Food, the highly anticipated authentic Italian street food dining concept – the first of its kind for Destin – hosted an exclusive Friends & Family Night on June 15th, marking a successful prelude to their upcoming grand opening. The restaurant is excited to announce its official grand opening on Thursday, June 22nd at City Food Hall, located in Destin Commons. The grand opening celebration will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Destin Chamber of Commerce at 4pm, followed by a two-hour public event from 4pm to 6pm. The Friends & Family Night, an invite-only event, welcomed esteemed guests, including local media, influencers, and close acquaintances and city officials, for an exclusive preview of ORO Italian Street Food. Attendees were treated to a delightful culinary experience, indulging in a range of signature menu items meticulously crafted by the husband and wife duo, chefs Massimo and Elisabetta Tundo. The event showcased the restaurant’s commitment to delivering the most authentic Italian street food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Elisabetta Tundo, Chef and Owner of ORO Italian Street Food, expressed her excitement, saying, “We were thrilled to share the ORO experience with our friends, family, and esteemed guests during the Friends &... Read More

  [MIami, FL, USA – June 15 2023] – 30A Media, a leading provider of streaming television content, is pleased to announce its recent syndication agreement with FAST Channels TV, a prominent multi-channel distribution streaming platform. The agreement aims to expand the reach of 30A Media’s channel offerings and provide viewers with a seamless and diverse streaming experience. FAST Channels TV is renowned for offering over 200 linear (live) channels and an extensive library of more than 2,000 video-on-demand titles. Their content includes live sporting events, international news, family entertainment, genre-specific music, movies, and TV shows. The platform operates on the concept of Free-Advertising-Supported Television (FAST), enabling viewers to enjoy television programming for free while encountering occasional advertisements. Russell Foy, CEO of FAST Channels TV, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “30A Media’s expanding channel offerings fit well with FAST Channels TV. I am pleased to be working with 30A Media and to increase their reach into many more devices.” This collaboration will allow 30A Media to tap into FAST Channels TV’s extensive distribution network, which includes over 55 TV streaming platforms, including Mometu, Zoneify, Freebie TV, Freecast, FlixHouse, CarbonTV, Glorystar, MYLO TV, ISGTV, RadiantMedia, Streeme, Grove Street FM, Megogo, RAD.live, and VivaLive. The agreement encompasses two key aspects. Firstly, the centralized management platform will consolidate the 30A.Media TV network of channels, facilitating seamless distribution across various connected TV platforms. This consolidation ensures that viewers can access 30A Media’s content effortlessly on new and existing streaming TV platforms. Secondly, the... Read More

  SANTA ROSA BEACH, FLA – Oversee, a leading provider of 30A vacation rental homes, is proud to announce its partnership with Lighthouse Family Retreat, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering families battling childhood cancer. This collaboration aims to enhance the upcoming Lighthouse Retreat taking place September 24-30, 2023, in WaterColor, FL. Lighthouse Family Retreat strives to strengthen families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer by hosting restorative retreats and providing valuable resources. Oversee’s passion to support Lighthouse’s mission stemmed from the personal experience of Michael B. Emerick, co-founder of Oversee, who was diagnosed with primary retroperitoneal testicular cancer in November of 2021. “As a cancer survivor, I understand firsthand the mental, emotional, and financial stress that a family goes through with a cancer diagnosis,” said Emerick. “As a father, I can only imagine the challenge of trying to guide your family, especially a child, through such a delicate time of uncertainty. Helping treat these families to a week at the beach to make memories, relax and reconnect is just a small way of giving back.” The Lighthouse WaterColor Retreat will provide a safe haven for families to rejuvenate and find solace amidst their difficult journey. Eleven houses have been generously donated by Oversee and the 30A community to accommodate the families during the September retreat, however, Lighthouse is still searching for nine more homes near WaterColor. Those interested in fully donating the week or offering a home rental for a lower cost, are encouraged to reach out through... Read More

  BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH, Fla. — South Walton Fire District (SWFD) Advanced Life Support (ALS) units transported an approximately 60-year-old man in critical condition Thursday afternoon following a drowning incident in Blue Mountain Beach. The incident originated at 12:02 p.m. when beach patrons notified SWFD’s Tower 31 lifeguard that bystanders had pulled an unresponsive, adult male from the water approximately 0.4 miles to the west of Tower 31. The lifeguard responded to the scene near the 2400 block of W. County Highway 30A to confirm bystanders were administering aid, then assumed patient care. Further beach safety resources and Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies then arrived on-scene and assisted in lifesaving measures. Emergency personnel then transported the man from the beach at 12:14 p.m. and transferred patient care to SWFD ALS at Ed Walline Beach Access. SWFD Squad 3 and Rescue 3 firefighters then initiated ALS interventions and transported the patient in critical condition to a local hospital. Lifesaving measures were in progress upon arrival at the hospital, where care was transferred to emergency room medical staff. SWFD is unable to release any additional patient information at this time. Single red flags were flying at the time of the incident, which indicate high surf hazards and dangerous rip currents are present. Due to the number of rescues and potential for further life-threatening injuries, SWFD Beach Safety changed beach flags to double red to close the water to swimmers and boogie boarders. Lifeguards encourage all beach patrons to heed the beach flag... Read More