Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

17th Annual Lighthouse Festival & Michelob Ultra 5K 2009 – St Augustine, FL

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St Augustine has one of the prettiest lighthouses on the coast. If you haven’t visited it yet, here is your chance. On Saturday, March 21, it’s time again for the annual Lighthouse Festival. During the festival St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum will offer free admission to the tower, the museum and the grounds during the festival.

The festival has lots of fun activities for both kids and adults. As always there will be special games and crafts for children, great food, pony rides, and archaeological activities. Children can even buy, build and sail their own model boat in the pond.

Radio Disney AM 600 and the Disney Fun Squad Cast will broadcast live from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Local entertainers will perform throughout the day including live music from Josh n’ Lou.

The Michelob Ultra 5K Run/Walk and the Shepard & Shepard Fun Run will also be held during Lighthouse Festival courtesy of the Junior Service League of St. Augustine. The 5K Run begins at 4:30 p.m. and the Fun Run begins at 5 p.m.; both races will start and finish in front of the lawn of the keepers’ house. Registrater in advance by visiting the Junior Service League of St. Augustine’s website www.jslofstaugustine.org, or participants on the day of the race from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Last year about 8,000 visitors came to the lighthouse for the festival throughout the day. Free parking will be available at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (which is probably your best bet for parking) and there is a shuttle that will take you from there to the festival. Paid event parking will also be available at the Lighthouse & Museum.

This festival takes place on Saturday March 21st from 11 am – 6 pm.

For more information call (904) 829-0745 or visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com

Florida Winery Wins Again

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – The San Sebastian Winery of St. Augustine, FL and Lakeridge Winery of Clermont, FL have done it again! Winning a total of fifteen awards at the 21st Annual International Wine and Juice Competition held at the Florida State Fair; both wineries continue to demonstrate the success they have enjoyed since their first entry at the Florida State Fair back in 1988.

Taking home the gold were two of San Sebastian’s top selling wines, Port, their top selling dessert wine and Vintners White their second top selling table wine. Coming in a close second and winning the silver were San Sebastian’s Vintners Red, Blanc De Fleur, and Cream Sherry and Lakeridge’s Southern White and Blanc Du Bois. Achieving the bronze are San Sebastian’s Stover Reserve, Blanc Du Bois, and Castillo Red and Lakeridge’s Crescendo Special Reserve, Blanc Du Bois, Chablis, Stover Reserve, and Cuvee Blanc.

Both San Sebastian Winery and Lakeridge Winery offer complimentary tours and wine tastings seven days a week. Their wines are also available for purchase at participating Publix, Target, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods, Sweet Bay, World Market, Fresh Market, Wine Warehouse, Total Wine and More, Winn-Dixie, and Albertsons stores throughout Florida. San Sebastian and Lakeridge wines have always been produced by “green” standards, and dedicated to remain stewards of our environment. For more information please visit www.lakeridgewiney.com or www.sansebastianwinery.com

157 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 826-1594
www.sansebastianwinery.com

Golden Spoon Awards to St Augustine and Ponte Vedra

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Restaurants receive prestigious Golden Spoon awards
Florida Trend Selects Best in Florida!

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (January 12) – Three of the finest restaurants in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra will begin 2009 with special recognition that comes annually to less than 40 of Florida’s thousands of restaurants. Each year since 1977, Florida Trend magazine has bestowed Golden Spoon awards to Sunshine State restaurants that offer diners the very best in food, service and décor. This year, 37 restaurants received Golden Spoon honors – including Restaurant Medure in Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine’s 95 Cordova and Opus 39.

Located in the beautifully-restored Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, 95 Cordova features the very best in New World cuisine served in an opulent setting complete with lavish antiques, exotic silk fabric and hand-painted 24-karat gold ceilings. In its recognition of 95 Corodva’s excellence, Florida Trend said: “Class act of town in a beautifully-reborn grande dame hotel and a kitchen that is ecumenical. “ Phone: 904.827.1888 or www.casamonica.com/95cordova/
St Augustine Florida
“A food gallery where cooking is artful,” is how Florida Trend describes Opus 39 located at 39 Cordova Street in St. Augustine. New American cuisine is the specialty at Opus 39 where all of the culinary creations allow the ingredients to speak for themselves. Simple, elegant food, in an elegant artistic setting –everything is made in-house at Opus 39, from the fresh-baked breads, to the finishing touches on the exquisite desserts. Phone 904.824.0402 or www.opus39.com

Florida Trend says Restaurant Medure, 818 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach, “is a smart fixture to the beach. Seafood dolls up with microgreens, shiitake and Southern buttermilk. The monkfish is as pretty as caviar.” Cosmopolitan-chic beach dining in a restaurant with sleek décor sets the atmosphere for a culinary experience featuring the freshest ingredients, an inspiring wine list and an eclectic menu. Phone: 904.543.3797

In addition to the area’s acclaimed Golden Spoon recipients, an outstanding selection of other restaurants in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches are among Florida Trend’s choices for the Best 500 restaurants in Florida. These include Ponte Vedra Beach’s JJ’s Liberty Bistro, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and The Augustine Grille located in the Sawgrass Golf Resort and Spa, a Marriott Resort. St. Augustine’s contributions to this prestigious listing include A1A Ale Works Brewery & Restaurant, Café Atlantico, Gypsy Cab Company, Le Pavillon, and Saltwater Cowboy’s.

For more information on dining, attractions and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches, go to www.Getaway4Florida.com or call the Visitors and Convention Bureau at 1.800.653.2489.

The Dark Knight Returns to World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® THEATER

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Limited Showings of “The Dark Knight” at the IMAX Theater at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine.

The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater is one of the selected theatres for the upcoming re-release of its 2008 the summer blockbuster, “The Dark Knight,”. A special engagement of the film will begin Friday, Jan. 23 and tickets will be available to the public on www.wgv.com and in the theater box office beginning Friday, Jan. 9.

Heath Ledger as the Joker
Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film’s huge commercial and critical success has spurred talk of possible Oscar nominations for its director, producers and cast – most specifically, for the late Heath Ledger and his edgy performance as the Joker. Additionally, to date, “The Dark Knight” has grossed approximately $512 million domestically and $440 million internationally, including more than $55 million in IMAX.

Fil;

“The Dark Knight” features six sequences filmed with IMAX cameras (including the opening six minutes), which marks the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras – a revolutionary integration of 35 mm and IMAX film formats.

Running approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, “The Dark Knight” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.

Advance tickets available Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 at www.wgv.com Film runs Friday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater
World Golf Village
I-95, Exit 323, St. Augustine, Fla.

904-940-4123 or www.wgv.com

The 2D World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater offers unique movies and entertainment enhanced by state-of-the-art, specially-designed cinematic technology. Located at World Golf Village, the 300-seat IMAX Theater is the largest IMAX screen in Northeast Florida, housing an 80-foot-wide by six-story-high screen to show a variety of entertaining and educational movies throughout the year.  For tickets, film descriptions and show times, call 904-940-IMAX or visit www.wgv.com.

Christmas Movies at World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX in December

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World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater to Feature Two Holiday Family Favorites
“The Polar Express” and “Santa vs. the Snowman”

The Polar Express
An inspiring 90-minute animated holiday adventure based on the Caldecott Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express tells the story of a boy battling with the belief of Santa Claus’ existence. The film takes audiences on the boy’s extraordinary journey to the North Pole with the train’s conductor (voice of Tom Hanks) where he receives an extraordinary gift only those who still believe in Santa can experience. Ticket prices for the special engagement film are $10 for adults, $9 for military, seniors and students and $8 for children 3-12.

Santa vs. the Snowman
This movie tells the story of a lonely Snowman who at first is swept away by the magical wonders of Santa’s Village, only to become jealous of Santa because he is adored by children everywhere. An all-out, riotous battle for Christmas ensues, with the Snowman and his minions squaring off against Santa and his elf army for the rights to be Santa and receive all the love, good tidings and friendship the jolly man in red has all to himself. Tickets to the 35-minute film are $8 for adults with discounts for military, seniors, students and children.

The two holiday films will screen at the IMAX theater through Wednesday, Dec. 24. Tickets to both films can be purchased at the theater box office or on-line at www.wgv.com.
A complete film schedule as well as additional ticket information can be obtained on-line at www.wgv.com or by calling 904-940-IMAX (4629).