Saint Augustine Beach, FL

The City of St. Augustine Beach continues to celebrate its birthday with music and exhibits in the city's Cultural Arts Center. The exhibit is part of an event called a Chautauqua. What is a Chautauqua?

I had to Google that one and found that it was an "adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day." The first Chautauqua was held at a campsite on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York State.

How does that tie into St. Augustine Beach, I wondered. >>>MORE

Marjorie Taylor, Watson Realty Corp. is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine. She holds the professional designations of CRS, CSP, e-PRO, GRI, TRC and is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augustine Beach, Florida.
904-591-9121
www.TheBestAgentInStAugustine.com
Marjorie@MarjorieTaylor.net
View My Blog

Locals have all seen the bumper stickers -- St. Augustine a Sleepy Fishing Village.... but St. Augustine Beach, incorporated in 1959, was never really a fishing village and anything but sleepy. Long-time residents recall that the beach was quite the exciting place to be. The hard packed sand was wide enough for planes to land and cars to race on. There were even polo games with autos in lieu of ponies.

Today the only planes you will see are in the sky and beach polo has been replaced with Frisbee tossing and paddle tennis. Additionally, The St. Augustine Beach Pier Park, located directly across from Seaside at Anastasia Resort Condominiums, offers a variety of fun activities such as the Wed. Farmers Market, Music by the Sea Concerts, fishing on the pier, Volleyball, and a new Splash Park for the kiddies.

As St. Augustine Beach celebrates its 50^th birthday this year more and more visitors are discovering why so many of us have decided to call this home. The reasonable prices of Homes in St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach, top rated public school systems and tropical climate are enticing. That is why I moved here in 1978 and why I am living here today. I love St. Augustine, fishing village or not.

Marjorie Taylor, Watson Realty Corp. is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine. She holds the professional designations of CRS, CSP, e-PRO, GRI, TRC and is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augustine Beach, Florida.
904-591-9121
www.TheBestAgentInStAugustine.com
Marjorie@MarjorieTaylor.net
View My Blog

Replacement of the two Summer Haven Bridges along Scenic & Historic A1A in St. Johns County, FL is to start in August 2009 and continue for 2 years.

A Construction Open House will be held on August 20th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 5-7 p.m. at Whitney Labs at Marineland. The bridges will be significantly wider and a bit higher than they are now. There will be shoulders, bike paths and fishing areas.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has issued the following press release so the public can view the plans and better understand the timeframe and possible inconveniences.

ST. AUGUSTINE The replacement of the Summer Haven Bridges along State Road A1A just north of the Flagler County line is scheduled to begin in August and take approximately two years to complete. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has scheduled a construction open house to provide more information and details, including traffic impacts on this major project in St. Johns County.

The open house is scheduled for Thursday, August 20 at Whitney Laboratories located at 9055 Ocean Shore Boulevard, across from Marineland. For the convenience of the public, it will be held twice -- between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m.

FDOT staff will be available to go over the plans and answer questions. There will be no formal presentation so those interested in the project are encouraged to drop by at any time.

For more information about the open house or FDOT construction projects in St. Johns County, contact Sandra Mancil at 800-475-0044 or sdmancil@pbsj.com.

Only a couple of blocks from the beach is a sprawling home covering two lots on the corner of Oak Rd. and Willow Drive in the Woodland subdivision. The original house built in 1967 included 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. In the mid 90’s a 24’x13’ family room, step-down dining area, and new master suite and bath were added. Now the older and new sections of the home are conveniently divided to provide privacy for in-laws, guests, or children/grandchildren.

Even if you love the beach, tho, the real charm of this home is realized in the yard. The property itself is a substantial 173x104 but the upkeep is minimalized because the pool, home, and 2-car garage utilize a large portion of it. The back yard is fenced in containing pets or kids. Surprising stone or brick patios are sprinkled here and there and a coy fish pond and fountain create a perfect spot for a reflection. Even the informal landscaping has the appearance of easy upkeep and sporadic maintenance. Come and sit a spell – you’ll be mesmerized.

An Marshall, REALTOR
Prudential Network Realty
Extremely Full Service
www.Amarshall.prudentialnetworkrealty.com
view my blog
email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com

www.stjohns.k12.fl.us

Tim’s Wine Market provides local wine expertise in St. Augustine Beach. Because of their fine appreciation for wine, proprietors Kathyrn Vaughn and Michael Salley opened the 1st of the Tim’s Wines franchises in 2007. Their knowledge of wine continues to expand and they are working towards a designation of Certified Specialist of Wine. Service, selection, and value is the mission of the company.

They enjoy a casual lifestyle as reflected in the warm welcome customers receive walking through the front door. In fact, store mascot, Sabrina, a friendly great dane, will show you the way. Regular wine tastings occur at the casual bar where the wine “du jour” is liberally poured for introductory purposes. This sampling helps customers make good choices from the selection of more than 500 bottles. Wine can even be consumed by the glass on bistro-style table outdoors.

The store provides education for customers including small gatherings to scrutinize subtle difference of special wines and discussion of the wineries. In fact the web site’s education tidbit includes “The first European settlers to make wine in the United States made it near Jacksonville, Florida in 1562 from Scuppernog grapes.”

There was never any doubt that they would open in fabulous St. Augustine. Specifically, the location of their store is the SeaGrove Town Center on A1A at A Street. This is a quaint neighborhood with single family residences, condos, and a commercial district that includes local Library, Post Office, bank, Tropical Smoothie, gift store, and other commercial buildings.

You can contact Kathryn and Michael at (904) 461-0060 or visit during store hours: Tuesday – Friday 10:00-7:00 and Saturdays 10:00-5:00

An Marshall, REALTOR
Prudential Network Realty
Extremely Full Service
www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.com
view my blog
email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com
http://timswine.com/