November 4th, 2010
No, I have not moved to these towns in North Florida. But, I certainly have enjoyed visiting them; checking out the beaches, restaurants and shops.
I must say that the residents and shopkeepers, wait staff, you name it, have been so nice, so gracious and helpful. It has been refreshing.
The town of Atlantic Beach is small. You can walk it in no time. Lots of little shops and restaurants come alive in the evenings with some of them offering entertainment.
The beach is amazing. I have said it before. Wide and perfect for walking, biking or just sitting. I love the beach houses that hide behind the dunes. People say that the beach houses here reflect Old Florida.
Residents are taking care of the towns of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach. Everything is clean, brick walkways have been installed. These towns have character. That’s it!!
Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach are right next to each other. So much so that taking one step will place you in one or the other.
The name “Neptune Beach” came about in 1922 when one of the residents in the area built his own train station “Neptune” requiring the train to stop and take him to Mayport every day. Mayport is one of the oldest fishing villages in the U.S.
When I visited the last time I found a cluster of shoppes in Neptune Beach. They are called 200 First Street Courtyard Shoppes. The location of these shoppes is the old Ed Smith Lumber Company.
Now the shopkeepers are all local women; they own and operate these businesses.
Up until October there was music in the Courtyard, sponsored by the merchants at 200 First Street. That will pick again next year in April.
www.200FirstStreet.com is the website you can visit to find out what is going on.
Every Thursday of each month from 5 to 9 p.m. you will find the North Beaches Art Walk. Merchants work in tandem with artists providing a venue to show and sell original art work.
A lot of these artists are sponsored by the shoppes at 200 First Street, and you will find the courtyard all set up with musicians adding to a festive evening.
Some of the stores have the following events at the moment:
Deanne Dunlop Photography – Until tomorrow, November 5th – Spokesmama – 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon. Mom & Baby Photo Parties.
Then from November 6th until the 20th – Quick Takes – for Christmas Cards.
And, on November 18th there is a High School Open House for 2012 Ambassadors.
For more information please visit www.deannedunlop.com or call 904-610-5669.
Later, on November 26th there will be a celebration commemorating the 10th year anniversary of 200th First Street from 4 to 8 p.m. An invitation to share an afternoon of shopping, while enjoying music in the Courtyard, complimentary champagne and cake.
As the holidays approach, the BeachesTown Center will be holding their annual Holiday Celebration on December 4th.
Also in December you will find Santa on the Courtyard every Saturday.
The other shoppes at 200 First Street are:
First Street Gallery – www.firststreetgalleryart.com. Tel. 904-241-6928
Boutique Unique – Casual, fun clothing for women. 904-241-7109
Bali – Furniture, gifts and jewelry – www.balicargocompany.com 904-270-2254
Lillie’s Coffee Bar – Fresh coffee roasted daily opening at 7 a.m. Perkcussion gathering first saturday of the month. www.lilliescoffeebar.com 904-249-2922
Jaffi’s – “Is the go to store fore everything a girl wants”. Effortless styles, comfortable and wearable. 904-249-4030
First Street Gallery – Exhibit “At the Beach – Leigh Murphy” – Local watercolor artist, Leigh Murphy, has been the winner of over 100 awards. She is best known for her realistic and detailed rendering of shells. The artwork will be on display until January 6, 2011. 904-241-6928
One store that I really enjoyed visiting at 200 First Street was Red Daisy. I wrote a post on 8/15/10 and if you would like to see it just click on the month of August under Archives on the left hand side of this website.
Again, I stopped but did not have time to visit too much. The owner is Tracy Raymond. Red Daisy is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from Noon until 5 p.m. Tel. 904-339-0137.
Red Daisy offers home furnishings, gifts, jewelry, soaps, candles, lotions and rugs. Tracy likes to combine the “old” with the “new”. She says that it is a contemporary antique shop, with a little funky jazz thrown in.
Red Daisy is ready for the holidays.
Have a great day!!!
November 3rd, 2010
Always looking for a place to eat took me to Aqua Grill located at 950 Sawgrass Village, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. Tel. 904-285-3017. Website www.aquagrill.net.
Agua Grill is in a very visible spot, taking advantage of the traffic up and down on A1A and being that it is located right by one of the most beautiful golf courses.
It is open for lunch and dinner. Different menus are available: lunch, bar, dinner, and gluten free. Of the restaurants that I visited on this trip, it was the only one that had a gluten free menu. The other ones, adjusted the dish to the dietary requirements.
I went twice to Aqua Grill. Late afternoon for lunch, sitting outside and by the lake was very nice. I did not have a reservation for dinner but at this time of the year it was not a problem.
The restaurant, as well as the food is eclectic with a casual atmosphere. Agua Grill has been in the area for many years and everyone I asked had only good things to say about it.
For lunch I ordered rock shrimp sauteed with mushrooms, red peppers, fresh dill, scallions, garlic and shallots in a lemon meuniere sauce. It came with crispy baguettes which I proceeded to dunk in the sauce. Very good.
Another person ordered the backened fish and shrimp tacos served with grated cheddar, pico de gallo and black beans and rice. The fish was very well seasoned and the black beans were pretty good too, I must say.
A Mediterranean plate of stuffed grape leaves, kalamata olives and feta cheese was also ordered. Always a good one.
We sat there for the longest time watching, not sure yet, a bird or a snake swim for the longest time catching fish.
I had not had fried green tomatoes in a long time and for dinner I started with those. To tell you the truth they were the best I have had. Crispy bacon, fresh goat cheese, thai remoulade and cajun shrimp salad.
For dinner I had the Dynamite Chilean Sea Bass, spicy Asian, stirred fried vegetables, portobello risotto, and sesame butter sauce. It seemed that every time I could I would order the sea bass. This one was very good and the risotto was delicious, as well.
Another dinner entree ordered was the Pepercorn Marinated Ahi tuna, with Chinatown vegetable Lo-Mein, Chinese black dragon sauce, and an almond crusted shrimp.
The New Englad Cod was ordered from the gluten free menu. It had a sprinkle of crab, asparagus and hollandaise sauce. I think he liked it but would have preferred something different.
I would definitely go back to Aqua Grill. I enjoyed the setting very much. If the weather permits and you decide to try it, then eat al fresco.
And, please remember,
Talk to you later…
November 2nd, 2010
There are times that you feel so comfortable in a hotel that all you want to do is come back again and again. Just by chance I found One Ocean, back in July. I was looking for a hotel in the areas of Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville Beach. Not knowing about it I booked this hotel on Atlantic Beach. I had not visited this town either.
Wonderfully surprised by the quaint town and accommodations; I have been there 3 times already. I wrote about it on July 18th so all you have to do is go on the left hand side of this website and click under Archives on the month of July, 2010 and scroll down to the 18th.
 Azurea, the restaurant One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa is located at One Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Tel. 904-249-7402. They have a great website, www.oneoceanresort.com.
 Azurea's Bar This hotel has the best and easiest check-in procedure. All you do is drive to the front and give them your name and they will hand you the keys to your room with pertinent information. That’s it!!
One Ocean is a signature collection of luxury resorts. You can get as pampered as you want to or not. It is ocean front so all you do is walk out. Want to walk around Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach and check the shops and restaurants? It is all right there. That was an instant attraction for me; not having to use the car unless I wanted to.
 Azurea's Booths I had a room with a view and it was so nice. I never got tired of looking at that beach; north and south. It is so wide and long.
This hotel has captured the serenity of the ocean. Beautiful colors.
At 4 p.m. the lobby bar opens up and there you will find Hugh. Friendly chat and comfortable atmosphere.
Right before I left I had breakfast in the hotel. The service was good and my frittata was very tasty. Fruit was ordered, as well.
The other breakfast was enjoyed so much; the potatoes were delicious and the chorizo gave those eggs a kick.
I did not have dinner at the hotel but I understand that it is excellent under the supervision of Chef Ted Peters. Check the website to learn more about Azurea, its menu and Chef Peters’ bio. You will be impressed.
 Entry to Azurea, the restaurant
Have a great evening!! Talk to you later…
August 15th, 2010
Discovering new beach towns!! It has been a lot of fun. Last week I stayed in Atlantic Beach, but right next to it, in the next block is Neptune Beach.
I found a cluster of shoppes at 200 First Street. There are 7 businesses located at this location. What’s unique about it, is that they are all own and operated by women.
Some of these women have been born and raised in this community. Yes, those locals and natives I have talked about in past posts. They contribute to the community by working together and they support each other.
If you find yourselves in this area on a Friday night stop by because there will be music in the courtyard until October from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
I spent time checking Red Daisy, one of the stores at 200 First Street. The owner? Tracy Raymond. The address is 201 Lemon Street, Suite 304, Neptune Beach, FL 32266. Tel. 904-339-0137. E-mail thereddaisy@comcast.net.
At first I thought it was just for outdoor decor, you know patio, etc. etc. As I came in I discovered that there is so much more. Actually, the store is pretty big.
Tracy was so nice and full of information. She is a native and this store reflects her passion for antiques; Florida vintage items and the contemporary designs, as well. She likes to mix things up.
The stores has paintings, flower arrangements, linens, towels, jewelry and those vintange items I have been mentioning.
During the 1940’s and 1950’s it was a time when the U.S. interstate system came about. People took to the roads and states wanted to capitalized on tourism. They made easily packable souvenirs. One such souvenir was a tablecloth that showed the tourist areas of that particular state. Those vintage tablecloths are now sought after.
Red Daisy has several of them. One that caught my attentions was all in red with the alligators around the edge. Others have different colors. Some people use them as such, frame them or even make pillows out of them if they are not in the best condition.
Here, have a peek to Red Daisy – classic, home, fun.
The Beaches Town Center is the heart of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach. It is where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean and just 12 miles east of downtown Jacksonville. It is a pedestrian friendly area, full of restaurants and shops; a destination appealing to tourists, locals and natives.
If you want to know what’s going on, please visit www.beachestowncenter.com.
Have a great day!!!!
August 14th, 2010
Finding little eating gems is what I love the most. The first time I visited Atlantic Beach, Florida a few weeks ago, I kept eyeing a bright shack across the parking lot of my hotel.
Even though I was on Atlantic Beach, by the time you cross to that parking lot, then you are in Neptune Beach.
Last week I was back again on that beach, and this time I was definitely having a taste of that cuisine.
The owner of the Bar-B-Q Sticks is from the Philippines. Her husband, I think helps, as well. The address is 120 1/2 Lemon St., Neptune Beach, FL 32266. Tel. 904-247-7180.
So polite and friendly; but not just them. I found out that in that whole area people were genuinely friendly and full of information.
The basics of Philippine cooking is that it is basic; no special skills are needed. Most dishes are either sauteed or stewed; others are boiled, braised or fried. Not too many baked dishes are found. Due to is tropical climate, it is really too hot to bake.
Some of the ingredients used are coconut milk, anatto seeds known as achiote, banana blossoms found inside the banana pods, shrimp paste, chorizo, bean curd, and Chinese cabbage, among others.
I decided to get the daily special which was the Bar-B-Q Sticks. You could get chicken or beef. I also wanted to try the lumpias.
Lumpias are considered pastries even though the filling is meat, and vegetables, if available. They are from Chinese origin, similar to spring rolls, but the pastry is much thinner. They are served with a sweet and sour sauce.
Both dishes were so good that I went twice to their place. It is a best kept secret in Neptune Beach.
Even though that is the only thing I tried, other patrons were getting rice noodles, sauteed vegetables, and even the ever present hamburger was on the menu. So, really, a little bit for every taste.
What’s not to like? Beach block, parking, outdoor seating, cheap and the food is delicious!!
Talk to you later…you know I will….Gorgeous day in the Delmarva Peninsula!!
July 19th, 2010
Beach eateries; don’ you love them? Those come as you are small eateries that are found in all coastal towns. Their food is usually pretty good and the establishments are dependable.
We saw one on Neptune Beach this past week; The Atomic Flying Fish. Neptune Beach is right there with Atlantic Beach. Of course, we needed to try it. Had not read anything about it.
The owner, very friendly and the food was very good.
Michael had the Marvelous Mahi-7, seasoned and served with shredded cheese, pico, sour cream, and black beans.
Pico de Gallo is an uncooked condiment used in Mexican cuisine made from chopped tomato, onion and/or jalapenos or serranos, lime juice, cilantro, cucumber and even mango. Perfect for tacos and quesadillas.
I had the Super Grouper-8, which was blackened and served with cheese and pico. Fresh grouper!!
All tacos were served on shredded lettuce on 8″ flour tortillas with tortilla chips.
Atomic Flying Fish is located at 309 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL. Tel. 904-372-0882. Opened Tuesdays through Sundays at 11:00 a.m. You will find them on Facebook, as well, so check them out to see what is going on.
Some of the other tacos on the menu were:
Pineapple Shrimp-6, which was marinated wild-caught shrimp with cheese and pineapple.
Cali Fish-5, which was seasoned fresh-water catfish with shredded cheese and pico.
Alligator-7, also blackened with cheese, pico and spicy remoulade.
Soups: Served with oyster crackers.
Stewnami which was a spicy squid and scallop bisque, sund-dried tomatoes and jalapenos. Supposedly, creamy and delicious.
Neptune Beach Clam Chowder, with corn and blue crab.
It was so good that we went back again for more!! Well, Michael did.
Have a great day!!…Talk to you later….
July 18th, 2010
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I have been moving around a bit this summer; Delaware Beaches, Boulder, Colorado, Puerto Rico, South Florida and for the past few days I have visited Atlantic Beach, Florida.
Atlantic Beach is the first town in the First Coast. It is located in Duval County, next to Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach. Around 13,500 people reside in this unique beach town.
The city of Jacksonville has the esteemed honor of having the largest urban park system (over 80,000 acres) in the U.S. Approximately 50,000 acres have been acquired and placed into conservation parklands. Local communities, like Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville Beach have partnered in order to secure the acquisition of vital salt marshes that meander through the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Atlantic Beach exudes small town charm and intimate seaside tranquility. The beach is unbelievable; wide and gorgeous, never ending.
Throughout that northern coast I could not believe how accessible the beaches were to the public.
Atlantic Beach is really small; the center of town is just a few blocks long. Restaurants, shops and bars welcome its visitors. Guess what? No parking meters.
As I walked around the streets of this beach village I could not help to think of the term I hear people mention that have resided in all these coastal towns of Florida; “it was like old Florida used to be”. I finally saw what they meant.
The towns is simple and attractive. The ocean front homes on Atlantic Beach are classic beach homes. Life along the coast; “laissez faire” kind of living. Breathing that salt air, early morning walks, riding bikes, getting a suntan; just thinking about it puts me in that kind mood.
I met Sophie on the beach. She was just strolling with not a care in the world. Sophie was a ferret. She was so friendly and definitely, cute.
I am back in Delaware now, but cannot forget the feeling that Atlantic Beach gave me.
Talk to you later…..you know I will…
Note: Some information for my post was taken from www.preserveflorida.org.
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