About Saint Augustine's Vilano Beach

There is so much happening in Vilano Beach now that September has arrived and summer is almost gone. I have been meaning to keep you up-to-date, but have been falling behind.

Tonight, Monday, September 14th is the first ever Pot Luck Dinner at North Shores Improvement Association's (NSIA) meeting tonight. Instead of the monthly forum, it has changed to a pot luck dinner. Not much notice was given, so I hope you can make it. Bring hors d'oeuvers or a dish to share while getting to know your neighbors.

Directions: Vilano Beach is the closest Beach to downtown St. Augustine, FL. Take the Vilano Bridge (Usina Bridge) to Vilano. Take a left on A1A. Go less than 1 mile to just past Surfside Park to a left on Meadow. Go a little over a block to 120 Meadow Avenue.

Date: Monday, September 14, 2009

Time: 7 p.m.

Where: North Shores Community Center at 120 Meadow Avenue (1 block off of Coastal Highway)

Who: Everyone in the area!

Bring: Dish to share with your neighbors

There will also be a tour of the old Fire Station. There will be a new Sheriff Stop Station located here.

See you tonight.

Barbara Jenness is President of Friends of A1A, vice-president of the local community association North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA), Board member of Vilano Beach Main Street since 1998 and has assisted with the redevelopment of Vilano Beach since 1998. She is a member of the Porpoise Point Homeowner's Association, Serenata Beach Club, and the South Ponte Vedra Civic Association. She was selected as Businesswoman of the Year last year by the Women's Council of REALTORS in St. Augustine because of her community involvement. Additionally she was selected as the 2008 REALTOR of the Year for St. Augustine. Realty/Builder Connection awarded her the SPIRIT award for Passion (selected from all builders & REALTORS in northeast Florida).

Vilano Beach lies just north of the historic downtown area of St. Augustine. Originally a recreation destination, the development of homes in Vilano Beach area came about in the latter half of the 20th century. Homes in this area make great vacation home and good rental properties. Many of them are in walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean or the intercoastal or both.

Some homes cluster around the Vilano Beach Town Center area. Home on the east side of Coastal Highway or A1A line are ocean homes whereas homes on the west side are on the Tolomato River, or Intercoastal Waterway. The beach homes for sale range in price from the low $300,000 to well more than $1 million with proximity to water and boating docks deciding factors. There are a few gated communities as well as several condo associations.

Villages of Vilano is a mixed community of condos and single family homes behind 24-hr manned gates. It is the only community in thi s area that has both intercoastal and Atlantic Ocean access. Mariner’s Watch is a small condo complex built in the mid 1970’s and has both ocean and intercoastal views.

Several Parks such Surfside Park and North Shore Park are in the area. The new Vilano Beach Town Center is currently being designed as a destination point for visitors under the direction of the North Shores Improvement Assoc instructed to revitalize the area.


The Vilano Bridge is the main access to this peninsula. All shopping is a short hike away on the west side of the Vilano Bridge or a longer distance of 20-30 miles north in Ponte Vedra. Some beaches have been riveted with beach erosion problems. The beach itself is known for its shells and high surf popular with surfers. The area is a quieter neighborhood than the beach homes on Anastasia Island. You can park your RV or boat in your yard in these parts. Fising, swimming, and sunset watching, are popular activities.

An Marshall, REALTOR

Prudential Network Realty

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http://www.vilanobeachfl.com/

Pawnee's Cafe and Fine Wines in Vilano Beach, FL

There's a great retail wine store in Vilano Beach where you can find your favorite wines at discount prices---Pawnee's. Pawnee's moved from Ponte Vedra to Vilano Beach a couple of years ago and is leasing the old Barrancotto's Italian Restaurant (was Since 1946 Restaurant after Barrancotto's) at 165 Vilano Road. Here are Sam & Laurie Barrancotto at last Friday night's wine tasting.

Wine Tastings are every Wednesday and Friday from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Pawnee Weaver is the operator and is open Wednesday - Sunday. She serves lunch Wednesday - Friday from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and a fun Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Sunday Market in Vilano is held from noon - 4 p.m., so after enjoying brunch, you can pick up some produce and art from the market. Dinner is served Wednesday - Saturday from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The menu is below followed by more information on Pawnee's and directions.

Pawnee personally greets all of her customers and knows most by name (and also knows their favorite wines!). Pawnee knows how to find the deal on wines and passing the savings onto her customers. Stop by and pick up some wine for dinner tonight, or you can enjoy on the premises for a $5 corkage fee. Pawnee prefers to keep her wines priced reasonably so you can enjoy them with your meal or take home and enjoy, too. She has a great wine cellar.

If you don't see your favorite wine, Pawnee will get it for you! This is such a friendly store and cafe. Many neighbors walk to it. Come enjoy!

Directions: From St. Augustine, cross the Vilano Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway to Vilano. Take a right on Coastal Highway at the traffic light. Take a right on Vilano Road at the stop sign. Pawnee's in on the left close to the Intracoastal.

Barbara Jenness is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and friend of nature serving northeast Florida from Jacksonville to Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine, specializing in waterfront properties (ocean, river, and Intracoastal) and foreclosures. She is an active community volunteer and has been involved with redeveloping Vilano Beach since 1998. She is the current President of Friends of A1A and the Vice-President of North Shores Improvement Association, the governing board of Vilano Beach Main Street. She is a past president of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR) in St. Augustine and the 2008 recipient of two WCR Awards: REALTOR of the Year and Businesswoman of the Year. She was awarded the SPIRIT Award for Passion from Realty/Builder Connection.

Mike's Place - for bait, crabs and shrimp on the Intracoastal just north of St. Augustine, FL

I like crabs. I just do. I like picking crabs. I like taking a couple of hours just to eat them. You don't put on any weight this way. I am like Bubba in Forrest Gump. I like stone, Dungeness, snow, blue, king, you name it--- crabs. I like them steamed, cold, in a salad, crabcakes, baked in a casserole, you get the idea. I just like crabs.

I grew up eating blue crabs that we caught in the panhandle of Florida (okay, my brother caught them). Then I caught them (okay along with my husband) in Maryland. We have been trying to catch them here in Florida but all we keep catching are fish in our crab trap. We will try the St. Johns River soon.

We have been purchasing crabs throughout the northeast Florida area. I have noticed for years the handmade sign for Mike's Place that said "live crabs". As Mike's Place is a bait shop, I thought this meant small crabs for bait, so I never checked out my neighborhood bait shop.

But then a neighbor told me about their stone crab claws that Mike's Place got from Cedar Key, Florida. A 5 lb. bag was $30. I went over and bought the last bag. They went so quickly. So when I was at Aunt Kate's Restaurant that adjoins this property last week, I stopped in to see if they had crabs.

"Yes", said Randy Harris the operator of Mike's Place along with Janie Jones since 2005, "we do have crabs." Being a Doubting Thomas I asked to see them. There they were:

I brought them home at $3.50/lb., steamed them and enjoyed a great meal. Randy told me they usually get the crabs on Thursday (come on, no jokes here).

He also showed me their jumbo shrimp with heads on for $7/lb.

I will be back for those.

Of course, Mike's Place is the place for bait and supplies in North Beach. It is located next to a St. Johns County Public boat ramp, Usina Boat Ramp, at the end of Euclid St. See directions below. Mike's Place also has a boat dock so you can arrive by boat and get your bait and other supplies. Or grab a bite to eat at Aunt Kate's restaurant, get your bait, and have a wonderful day on the Intracoastal in St. Augustine. Come visit.

Directions to Mike's Place:

Take Scenic A1A from St. Augustine over the Usina (Vilano) Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Continue on A1A by taking a left on Coastal Highway and travel about 2.5 miles north to Euclid (by The Reef Restaurant). Take a left on Euclid as directed by this homemade sign

all the way to the Intracoastal. Aunt Kate's is on the right and Mike's Place is on the Intracoastal connecting to Aunt Kate's.

Mikes' Place: 614 Euclid Ave Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 829-8567

Barbara Jenness has lived in the North Beach area since 1998 and is an active community volunteer. She is President of Friends of A1A, vice-president of the local community association North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA), Board member of Vilano Beach Main Street since 1998 and has assisted with the redevelopment of Vilano Beach since 1998. She is a member of the Porpoise Point Homeowner's Association. She was selected as Businesswoman of the Year last year by the Women's Council of REALTORS in St. Augustine because of her community involvement. Additionally she was selected as the 2008 REALTOR of the Year for St. Augustine.

Find out info about Vilano Beach and North Beach at today's Meeting

There won't be a North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA) Forum this month, so you might as well come listen in at the Board of Directors meeting today at 4 p.m. The agenda is jammed back and I just might blog the results, but you never know.

The meeting will begin at the North Shores Improvement Association Building at 120 Meadow Avenue, Vilano Beach, Florida. It will then move next door to the old fire station. We will be discussing plans for the fire station building now that the new one has been built in South Ponte Vedra and this building is no longer used.

The Sunday Market will be discussed along with plans to make this farmer's and arts & crafts venue even better. Additionally the eviction notices for the mobile home occupants on Vilano Road will be discussed and our membership drive.

September 16-18th is the Florida Main Street Conference in Melbourne, FL. Register by August 21 to save $

Barbara Jenness is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and friend of nature serving northeast Florida from Jacksonville to Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine, specializing in waterfront properties (ocean, river, and Intracoastal) and foreclosures. She is an active community volunteer and has been involved with redeveloping Vilano Beach since 1998. She is the current President of Friends of A1A and the Vice-President of North Shores Improvement Association, the governing board of Vilano Beach Main Street. She is a past president of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR) in St. Augustine and the 2008 recipient of two WCR Awards: REALTOR of the Year and Businesswoman of the Year. She was awarded the SPIRIT Award for Passion from Realty/Builder Connection.