St. Augustine, Florida Weekend Happenings-come enjoy the nation's oldest city.
Another fun-filled weekend is planned for St. Augustine. Click here for more details.
Art
The First Friday of every month in downtown St. Augustine is the First Friday Art Walk. This Friday, August 7th, Schola Contore, the St. Augustine women's Gregorian chant choir will present a free concert at the Cathedral Basilica. Shuttles run on a continuous look every 30 minutes.
Beach Activities
Concert
Outdoor Nature Events
Barbara Jenness is a Licensed Real Estate Broker 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 tries her best to get out and enjoy all the wonderful things St. Augustine has to offer.
Serenata Beach Club is a private club located on the Atlantic Ocean in South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach. 
I enjoy many social events here including Tuesday Trivia, live music on many Sundays during the summer, Ladies Luncheon, the Book Club, the Artist Series, dining, happy hour, the hot tub and the adults-only pool. I also appreciate that they don't have a meal minimum and there is a full exercise facility with many classes at no charge. I keep meaning to exercise and I do my best to avoid Kim Miller, the on-site personal trainer. Kim e-mails me and other members weekly with health information. See how I took the picture below outside of the room---too scared to even enter!
Some of the classes held include Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Intervals, Fitness Circuits, and Aqua Aerobics.
When I was inducted as the 2007 President of the St. Augustine Regional chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR), the installation was held atSerenata Beach Club. I think all the members remember the installation as during my "acceptance" speech an endangered Right Whale jumped out of the water. Yes, I lost all control of the meeting---gladly. It was so exciting! I guess she wanted to be part of the action. Cordel Crowley made sure all the arrangements were done to perfection for our lunch installation. He is assisting us with WCR's fundraiser in October to benefit WCR's education programs and breast cancer. The event is called Bratini and combines decorative bras sold at auction and modeled by men and Martini's. The event will be Oct. 23. More to come on that in another blog.
There are many activities planned for August. Hopefully this member's only link will work for you so you can view the August newsletter. Please leave me comments if it doesn't work and I will find a workaround.
There is golfing at Marsh Creek Country Club for Serenata Beach Golf Club (SBGC) members and guests on August 14th which reminds me that the club has established a golf club that competes in area tournaments. Additionally, members of Serenata have reciprocal rights with Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for golf, tennis, dining, swimming, and fitness.
The August drink special is Malibu Punch which I had on Sunday---very sweet, but very good. Fantasy Football "education" will be this month, too so one will be prepared. Prime Rib Dinner Buffet will be August 14th, while on August 27th there will be Grill Out Under the Stars. The Ladies Luncheonthis month will feature fall fashions by ETCETERA. The Book Club will meet on August 11th and will discuss Dissolution by C.J. Samson.
Do you like physical challenges? On August 15th members will compete on the Jump Rope Competition. Additionally for ages 12 & up will be Kayaking (August 4th), Hiking (August 11th), and Biking (August 18th).
Serenata does so many special things for kids. On August 13th there will be the 3rd Annual Family Talent Show. August 20th members can go on a field trip to Sea World. There is also a Surf Camp and Serenata Kids Camp (ages 3-12) with fun events including a field trip to the Museum of Science & History (MOSH). I had a photo of the kid's activities room with Kelli Lojacono (she heads up the programs) and General Manager Steve Harrison, but the photo was not great so I thought I would like to keep them as friends.
Now, the picture of Sean, who made me a great strawberry/banana smoothie for this morning's Agent-to-Agent Breakfast, came out great. 
The Agent-to-Agent Breakfast is held the first Wednesday of every month and is open to real estate professionals and site agents in northeast Florida (Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine). It is a great opportunity to share one property with the group. It has been very beneficial for my business and it is nice of Serenata to provide this event at a nominal charge. The attendees do not need to be members of Serenata.
Steve Harrison told me that one of the company's values is giving back to the community. He is on the board for the Council on Aging(COA). COA is also Serenata's charity. They sponsor a golf tournament and gala each year and raise about $50,000. Carol Hutnan, a Serenata staff member, teaches Brain Gym at COA. The entry fee for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting is a can of food that is donated to COA.
In addition to the Agent-to-Agent meeting there are other community events at Serenata that are open to non-members. The Economic Development Council(EDC) meets the second Thursday of each month. There is a church serviceat 9 a.m. every Sunday. Also, Serenata is where I (and obviously others!) go to vote. Serenata also is a sponsor of the WCR's golf tournament each year.
Serenata is a lot like Cheers: Everyone knows your name. It is a fun, relaxing beach club and I urge you to check it out. There is not a dress code. I usually take my customers here for lunch to break up the day. It gives you a great feel for the lifestyle of our area.
Membership information can be found on their website.
Directions:From Ponte Vedra take Scenic & Historic A1A(aka 3rd Street) south past Sawgrass and Guana Research Reserve to 3175 S. Ponte Vedra. From St. Augustine, go over the Vilano Bridge, take a left on A1A and go a little over 3 miles to 3175 S. Ponte Vedra.
3175 South Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082
904-823-3368
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.
The Reef - Great Oceanfront Dining in North Beach just a few miles from downtown St. Augustine.
We have enjoyed dining at The Reef Restaurant since it opened and before when it was Compton's. We would travel from Ponte Vedra for Compton's lobster specials and their wonderful Sunday Champagne Brunch.
Shortly after moving into our oceanfront home just a short walk north of this restaurant, we learned that the builder of our home, Coleman Construction, was also the builder of this restaurant. Our home was built in 1988, a year before Compton's. Compton's was open between 1989 and 1999 when it closed due to Mr. Compton's health.
The Usina family owns the property and had different managers and a name change to McMulVei's Reef (combining the 3 operator's last names at that time). Later the restaurant was renamed The Reef and in the summer of 2003, Jeremy Ticehurst became the General Manager.
Under Mr. Ticehurst's management, the Reef is once again the place to go for Sund
ay Brunch, repeatedly winning best brunch awards (3 years running!). Additionally, they have won other dining awards as shown on the wall upon entering the restaurant.
You will also see the fish tank soon after entering (no, dinner is not in the fish tank).
The Reef's local's discount of 10% in addition to their great food and service keeps me and other locals coming back frequently. They have great nightly specials and are currently having a great happy hour special from 3 - 7 p.m.: discounted well & house brands drinks and select appetizers at 1/2 price. (sesame-crusted tuna, spinach & artichoke dip, calamari, and fried green tomatoes to name some of my favorites).
On Tuesdays they feature Surf & Turf:
|
Slow Roast Prime Rib |
$13.95 |
|
Classic Fried Shrimp |
$10.95 |
|
Snow Crab Legs |
$16.95 |
|
Prime Rib 'N' Shrimp |
$17.95 |
|
Prime Rib 'N' Crab |
$19.95 |
The Reef Restaurant has Twilight Dining Specials for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Here's a sample, but I must warn you, their menu and offerings do change:
|
Classic Fried Shrimp |
$10.95 |
|
Datil Lime Pasta Primavera |
$11.95 |
|
Country Fried Steak |
$12.95 |
|
Tilapia with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce |
$13.95 |
|
Slow Roast Prime Rib |
$13.95 |
There is a banquet room upstairs that is great for special events. There are plenty of oceanfront balconies to enjoy the view & breezes.
As one of the few true oceanfront restaurants in northeast Florida, The Reef is a wonderful dining experience. I feel like I am on vacation here.
Just about every Sunday, we enjoy brunch at The Reef. Richard ("Rick") Kuncicky performs classical guitar. We bought his CD early on and probably need to buy a new one by now. You get all you can eat snow crab legs, shrimp, omelet station, carving station, eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, all you can drink champagne and more. Please view the Menu.
But yes, it is all about the view.
See you soon at The Reef!
Directions to The Restaurant:
Take Scenic & Historic A1A from St. Augustine over the Usina (Vilano) Bridge over the ICW. Continue on A1A by taking a left on Coastal Highway and travel about 2.5 miles north 4100 Coastal Highway. Turn right into The Reef Restaurant parking lot.
4100 Coastal Highway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-824-8008
Aunt Kate's restaurant at the river in St. Augustine, Florida is in the North Beach neighborhood of Vilano Beach.
When we moved from Ponte Vedra to St. Augustine (North Beach) in 1998, the first night after we closed on the purchase of our new home, we went to dinner with our new neighbors. We walked a couple of blocks to Oscar's. I was in very casual clothes and had to borrow my neighbor's sandals, which were many sizes too big. But, I knew it was a casual place and would be fine. We had an enjoyable time on the back deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Unfortunately, a fire destroyed Oscar's in 2001. We waited many years for the Usina family to rebuild. We are glad they took the time necessary to do things right.
In March, Frank Usina and his family built a new 5,000 square foot waterfront restaurant on the former site of Oscar's. The Usina family has owned the property for more than a century and the new restaurant is named for his grandmother, Catherine ("Kate") Usina, who bought the property in 1904 and ran the restaurant for many years. With 2,000 square feet of deck outside overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and 150 feet of floating dock, Aunt Kate's has quickly become a favorite St. Augustine dining establishment. You can visit Aunt Kate's by road or water. Many people walk or ride their bikes to this new favorite neighborhood restaurant.
Yesterday, I had visiting friends visiting. They live in Jacksonville, but were visiting St. Augustine for the day. When it came time for the dinner decision, I knew just where to go.
I have been enjoying Aunt Kate's frequently. My last visit I had the baked Rotini with fresh locally caught shrimp and had to have that again. Our waitress, Heather, said it was her favorite, too. I also recommend the baby-back ribs. I really like the fish tacos, too and my husband usually gets the pulled pork. I have enjoyed each of my meals here. During the grand opening celebration I sampled each of their soups (Minorcan Clam Chowder, New England Clam Chowder and She-Crab).They are all future award winners! Aunt Kate's is currently serving locally caught blue crabs, too.
The service at Aunt Kate's is responsive and friendly. Matthew, the general manager, checks on every table and ensures the customer's satisfaction. He told me they stage seating to make sure the kitchen doesn't get overloaded so people get their meals quickly and hot. Ours were.
Upon entering Aunt Kate's you will notice a wall of old photos portraying the history of Vilano Beach, North Beach, Porpoise Point and the restaurant.
The history provided by the restaurant says that just before the turn of the century (that being the century before this one---i.e, 1890s) Captain Frank Usina married Catherine Evans. The newlyweds moved south, just north of Miami so Frank could continue his job building railroad depots for Henry Flagler. Yellow fever struck so they moved back to St Augustine. Adolphus Pacetti (North Beach is named after this family: Pacetti North Beach) suggested they use one of the railroad houses that still stands North East of the restaurant.
When the yellow-fever epidemic was over instead of moving back to south Florida, Frank suggested they purchase the property. Her family built the current restaurant so her legacy lives on.
The restaurant is built in a low-country style with great porches for relaxing, a metal roof and a wonderful deck on the Intracoastal. 
The deck is built around great oak trees. Many people request the "tree" table. There are many misters installed to keep you cool.
Notice the bar. 
The part of the hull of the old Victory II forms the base of the bar. The Victory II was launched in 1918 and was the main mode of transportation to our area (North Beach and Vilano Beach) from St. Augustine before the bridge was put in.
Today, during my visit, I notice a new brick patio just off of the back deck being constructed. I can't wait to see the final product. This brick patio leads down to a sandy beach. Next to Aunt Kate's is a bait shop called Mike's Place, which I will blog about shortly.
The food is wonderful, the prices are affordable, the service is spot-on and all with this wonderful view:
Directions to Aunt Kate's Restaurant:
Take Scenic A1A from St. Augustine over the Usina (Vilano) Bridge over the 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.
612 Euclid Ave Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 829-1105
About the author:
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. She also enjoys eating out regularly!
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As a waterfront specialist (ocean, river & Intracoastal), Barbara Jenness provides real estate services in Northeast Florida from St. Augustine to Jacksonville (Ponte Vedra, Crescent & Vilano Beach).
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