Tag: Lifestyle Blogger

Lifestyle Tips /

Pensacola Florida Has Something For All Taste Buds

Buttery, smoky oysters, wood-fired locally caught lionfish and what’s that? A fried green tomato topped with crab meat, bacon and a shallot-champagne vinaigrette? Do we have you drooling yet? Pensacola’s cuisine has a mind of its own combining New Orleans creole flavors with a southern twisted Gulf side experience. Our cuisine is so important to us that we dedicate a whole festival season to it and you’re invited!

It’s a well-kept secret that fall is one of the best times to visit a coastal southern town. With a light breeze in the air, the best sunsets of the year and an eclectic mix of seasonal cuisines and cocktails, Pensacola is sure to be your go-to vacation this fall.

First on the docket is Tastemakers. We know you’ve probably heard of a pub crawl, but a restaurant crawl? Dine your way around the world through downtown Pensacola with dishes such as alligator sausage with watermelon relish, southern fried chicken, Irish boxty’s and so much more. The event passport provides free entry to the afterparty at the famous Seville Quarter, so you won’t want to forget that! If you want to continue around the world, stop in for the Greek Festival. Get your fill of baklava, gyros and dolmathes while vacationing.

Next up is Taste of the Beach. Sip, savor and surf through over 20 Pensacola Beach restaurants offering signature cocktails and dishes right next to the Gulf of Mexico. The festival is free to enter and all dishes are under five dollars! Later in the afternoon, the PensacolaBeach Chefs will take the stage to present live cooking demonstrations. Additionally, the festival will host cooking competitions, live entertainment and kid-friendly activities.

If you haven’t had enough seafood, just wait. The 40th annual Pensacola Seafood Festival kicks off the last weekend in September showcasing the freshest Gulf seafood in the country. Spanning three parks in downtown Pensacola, festival-goers can taste tapas from over 25 vendors, view regional art and bask in coastal ambiance.

For someone with a different palate looking to still enjoy the shoreline, opt for the best barbecue party on the coast at the Pensacola Egg Fest. Situated on top of Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium spanning Pensacola Bay, chefs meet at sunrise to prepare the day’s smoky goodness. Delicious samples to the public begin at 3 p.m. with everything from oysters to brisket to paella and even desserts!

Whether you’re looking for southern fusion or Gulf Coast seafood, Pensacola has options for everyone. Our cuisine is award-winning, according to Southern Living, Florida Travel + Life, Florida Trends Golden Spoon and Business Insider just to name a few. Our standards reflect history and culture dating back over 450 years that visitors are sure to experience the moment it hits their taste buds. We can’t wait for you to join us. For more information, visit www.visitpensacola.com.

About Visit Pensacola

Visit Pensacola is the destination management organization for Escambia County which includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. With over 450 years of rich history and 18 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visitors from all over the world are lured to our pristine shores every year. Visit Pensacola supports the community vision of tourism by serving as the central body responsible for building tourism as an economic engine for our community through leadership, connection, collaboration and communication.

Celebrity /

Boyz II Men, Jeffrey Osborne and Kenny G Take the Stage at 22nd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

With an expanded lineup of popular performers and a team of A-list celebrity chefs creating new dishes, the 22nd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival brings the best of the best to celebrate 35 years of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort.

The annual Disney tour of tastes is expanding in 2017 for a longer-than-ever 75-day run, from August 31-November 13. Growing in scope as one of America’s top food festivals each year since 1996, the Epcot event will run for 13 additional days of inspired sips and bites throughout the park’s World Showcase and Future World areas. Guests will have a chance to mix and mingle with celebrity chefs, experience hands-on culinary workshops and demonstrations at the Festival Center, and get their gourmet groove on at nightly Eat to the Beat concerts.

Celebrity Chefs

A-listers of the culinary world bring their talent to Walt Disney World once more to delight guests and inspire palates. Catch your favorite mealtime maestros in action at exclusive events, such as Party for the Senses, and special culinary demonstrations. Some of the celebrity Chefs participants include:

  • Erika Cline (Oct. 5 and Oct. 7) – Creator of her own chocolate boutique, Bleu Chocolat, in the Virgin Islands. The bean-to-bar chocolate boutique that showcases cocoas of many different origins.
  • Huda Mu’min (Oct. 6 and Oct. 7) – Record setting winner of Food Network’s Cut Throat Kitchen, host of The Kitchen Table and fan favorite on ABC’s The Taste.
  • Dana Herbert (Oct. 07 and Oct. 9) – The winner of TLC’s “Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker” is an expert sugar artist best known as “The Sugar Daddy” because of his work with pulled and blown sugar.
  • Jennifer Hill-Booker (Oct. 13 and Oct. 14) – Her cooking style is a modern reinvention of Southern cuisine that incorporates seasonal ingredients with French culinary techniques she learned at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Paris.
  • Carla Hall (Nov. 3) – Co-Host of the popular ABC TV show “The Chew” and competitor on Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars.
  • Kenny Gilbert (Nov. 10 and Nov. 11) – Top Chef Season 7 contestant and owner of Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen in Fernandina Beach, FL, Gilbert’s Social in Jacksonville, Fla. as well as his own spice blend line.

In addition to her appearance in November, celebrity chef Carla Hall will join her fellow co-hosts of ABC TV’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series “The Chew” at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.  For the third consecutive year the series will tape five shows on the Epcot stage on October 4-6. The shows will air October 9-13, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PDT on the ABC Television Network.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Eleven new-to-the-festival bands, including Kenny G. and Baha Men will join 21 fan-favorite musical acts for a diverse lineup of artists set to rock America Gardens Theatre stage throughout the festival’s 75-day run.

Each night during the Festival, the stage lights up with some of the industry’s top recording artists including:

  • Baha Men – The band that revived the deep musical legacy of the Bahamas and achieved world fame with the hit song “Who Let the Dogs Out” will perform Sept. 4-5.
  • Kenny G – One of the biggest-selling musicians of the modern era, this master of the soprano sax will perform October 23-24.
  • Jeffrey Osborne – Known for his song “On the Wings of Love,” he will be performing on Oct. 14-15.
  • Billy Ocean – The international pop and R&B star of the ‘70s and ‘80s, who rose to fame with hits such as “Caribbean Queen” and “Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car” will perform on Oct. 25-26.
  • Living Colour – Known for their song “Cult of Personality,” and with a new album coming out this fall, this popular band will perform some of their top hits on Nov. 4-5.
  • Boyz II Men – Recognized as one of the most successful musical groups of the ‘90s by Billboard magazine, this top-ranking band will bring its famous a capella harmonies to the stage on Nov. 6-8.

Happenings at The Festival Center

At The Festival Center, guests can stop start off their culinary adventure and get helpful information, including a park map, Times Guide and Festival Passports (also available at select Epcot locations).

The Festival Center is also home to:

  • Festival Center Wine Shop: Choose from an incredible selection of wines and spirits from prestigious makers featured throughout the Festival.
  • Intermissions Café: Recharge and relax with mouthwatering menu options perfect for day or night noshing.
  • Back to Basics Series: Discover delish tips and tricks from the industry’s top culinary pros! These helpful hints will have a profound effect on your next meal.
  • Book Signings and Meet & Greets: Meet celebrated authors and other food-and-wine-industry personalities.
  • Bottle Signings: Rub elbows with some of the world’s top beverage experts!
  • Seasons of the Vine: Get a behind-the-vines look at the process that transforms delicate grapes into the “nectar of the gods”—step by nectarous step.
  • The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar – Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company: Marvel at chocolate sculptures created by our own Walt Disney World Resort pastry chefs, and explore the journey chocolate must take to get from the bean to the bar.

 

Included with Epcot Admission

Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Festival Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) and get details at www.EpcotFoodFestival.com

Beauty /

Cuvée Beauty Must-Have Travel Kit for Labor Day

For healthy, tousled hair this Labor Day, stash the Cuvée Beauty Everyday Essence Travel Kit in your weekender bag! This three-piece kit provides you with champagne infused products that are your ultimate must haves no matter where you are headed for the holiday weekend. It’s everything you need for flawless hair in one chic, travel friendly package.

Filled with three deluxe travel size products that will give any girl on the go the full Cuvée Beauty experience, this kit includes Shampoo, Conditioner, and the Première Treatment, which are all sulfate-free, paraben-free, and cruelty free! All of these products contain the Cuvée Complex, which incorporates luxurious ingredients like champagne, white truffle, and platinum, to create a one of a kind formula that repairs and strengthens for lush and shiny hair. These brand new travel kits also provide new tips and tricks to help give you amazing results no matter where in the world your travels take you!
Get it now at CuveeBeauty.com for $30
Birmingham /

Birmingham Restaurant Week 2017 – Local Culinary Cuisine

Birmingham Restaurant Week started on August 11 – 20, 2017 for residents and tourists in the Alabama area.  This is a great opportunity for customers to eat and try new dishes for a reasonable price.

Click on the [link] to view a list of lunch, dinner, and brunch options with participating locations. Prices range between $5 – 30 and the menu varies from down-home Southern cuisine to Mexican inspired dishes.

 

Lifestyle Tips /

Boy Smells Scented Candles Eclectic Collection

Boy Smells scented candles are the creations of David Kien and Matthew Herman who established the brand in 2014 in the Pico-Union District of Los Angeles California.

Whimsical and irreverent, the eclectic collection offers a variety of smells ranging from subtle to bold, designed in easy sophistication and hallmarked by the signature Boy Smells matte pink label.

What began as a scent experiment has quickly emerged into a robust collection of eleven styles. Each candle is designed with a uniquely personal expression in mind; notes plucked from a catalog of olfactory memories are offered in a modern context by crafting candles that are familiar yet unexpected.

BOY SMELLS  – BRAND IDENTITY

Boy Smells is purposely tongue and cheek. We approach candles the same way we approach all design: with a sense of humor and accessibility for everyone.

Identity is so much more layered and complex than it used to be, and the scent is a landscape that can truly explore these cultural changes. There are masculine scents that our girlfriends like, and feminine scents we love. So, for us scent is gender-fluid. In fact, Boy Smells intentionally plays with the preconceptions of scent designed for gender.

It’s meant to be fun and irreverent and enjoyed by all. This is what differentiates Boy Smells.

BOY SMELLS  – THE PRODUCT

Coconut and beeswax blended candles with a braided cotton wick, in a glossy black glass tumbler. Comes in an embossed matte pink carton. Manufactured in Los Angeles, CA. 8.8 ounces (249g). 3.4 inches (8.6cm) tall.

RETAIL PRICING RANGES FROM $29.00 – $30.00

Birmingham /

Montgomery Announces Exciting Event Calendar for 2017 – 2018

With more fun and exciting events planned for 2017-2018 than ever before, Montgomery is adding to its reputation as one of the newest must-see travel destinations in the South. Offering a diverse roster of festivals and events, there is always something to see and do in this dynamic, riverfront city, whether it is listening to national recording artists perform live at the River Jam Music Festival or exploring the booming craft beer scene at the annual River Bend Brew Festival.

Known for its Southern hospitality and its revitalized downtown, Montgomery was the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement and has established itself as a landmark Deep South destination. Montgomery is adding to its events lineup this year, which features concerts, festivals and a wide array of cultural activities.

“We are proud to offer a jam packed schedule of events for visitors to make unforgettable memories,” shares Vice President of Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Dawn Hathcock. “From music festivals to national athletic competitions, there is something for every visitor coming to Montgomery.”

Below is an overview of annual events held in Montgomery:

Montgomery Restaurant Week, August 11-20, 2017

Coinciding with Alabama Restaurant week, this culinary celebration gives visitors the opportunity to discover new restaurants, dishes and drinks. Featuring amazing deals at some of Montgomery’s best restaurants.  For more information, go to www.eatmgm.com

Buckmasters Expo, August 18-20, 2017

The Montgomery Convention Center hosts a 3-day expo for the deer hunting industry with over 300 exhibitors from around the country. Kids activities, live concerts, demonstrations and lots of special guests will be featured. For more information, go to http://www.buckmasters.com/Resources/Expo

Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival, August 26, 2017

Over 60 teams from Central Alabama and beyond converge on Riverfront Park in downtown Montgomery to compete in this fundraiser which culminates in a dragon boat race. Off the water, browse various goods from local exhibitors and artists. Live music and food from local vendors will also be featured. Don’t miss the inaugural Gun Island Chute SUP CUP standup paddleboard competition on the Alabama River! For more information, go to https://montgomerydragonboat.org/

Broadway Under the Stars, September 7, 2017

The 31st annual Broadway Under the Stars concert will be held lakeside at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The Montgomery Symphony will perform Broadway classics as attendees relax on blankets and lawn chairs at this free yearly concert celebration. For more information, go to http://www.montgomerysymphony.org/pops-concerts/

Riverwalk Wine Festival, October 14, 2017

Over 100 wineries offer tastings, making the most of Montgomery’s beautiful riverfront park on an early fall afternoon. The event is made complete with live music, food vendors, and discounts on on-site wine purchases. For more information, go to http://visitingmontgomery.com/calendar/event/riverwalk-wine-festival

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, December 16, 2017

Named for Alabama’s state flower, this college football bowl game annually features a matchup between top teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. The game is televised live on the ESPN family of networks. For more information, go to http://www.camelliabowl.com/

Anniversary of Hank Williams’ Death, January 1, 2018

The native of Montgomery was the first country music superstar and one of the most important songwriters of the 20thcentury. Each year, his grave hosts a ceremony to commemorate his fascinating life on the anniversary of his death. This year will mark the 65th anniversary of the musician’s passing. For more information, go to http://visitingmontgomery.com/calendar/event/64th-memorial-anniversary-of-hank-williams-death

Montgomery Half Marathon & 5K, March 10, 2018

This annual race takes runners through some of Montgomery’s most beautiful neighborhoods and past many of the city’s most famous landmarks. Featuring live entertainment for both racers and supporters, the Montgomery Half Marathon is one of the top road races in the South. For more information, go to http://themontgomeryhalf.com/

Taco Libre sponsored by Modelo, April 2018 

Alabama’s Taco Festival features a wide assortment of tacos of the state’s favorite local taco joints, restaurants and food trucks, along with plenty of refreshing beer and margaritas and live regional bands. The event is held at “The Yards at Western Rail” a 40-acre venue in a reclaimed train shed and yard. For more information, go to http://www.lightninglinemgm.com/tacolibre/

Alabama Book Festival, April 2018

Since 2006 this event has welcomed book lovers to Alabama’s premier literary event. Thousands of people gather for author readings, book signings, writing workshops and more. For more information, go to http://alabamabookfestival.org/

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Spring Repertory Season, April 25 –  May 6, 2018
Each spring this surprising theatrical find nestled in the exquisite 300-acre Blount Cultural Park achieves a rarely attempted feat – professional repertory theatre featuring Shakespeare and the classics. This year’s season includes Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night alongside the classic based on Alabama’s own Helen Keller, The MiracleWorker. For more information, go to www.asf.net

Flimp Festival, May 2017

The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts hosts this family-friendly festival which invites folks to Blount Cultural Park for a wide range of art-related activities. For more information, go to http://mmfa.org/visit/flimp-festival/

River Jam, May 2018

Every May, music lovers converge on downtown Montgomery to attend this free two-day event which showcases over 10 live bands. Concerts take place at Riverfront Amphitheatre and Union Station Train Shed. For more information, go to http://visitingmontgomery.com/calendar/event/riverjam-and-riverbend-brewfest

Riverbend Brew Fest, May 2018

Montgomery‘s Annual Riverbend Brewfest features live music, local food vendors and a large selection of local, regional and nationally renowned craft, seasonal, specialty and micro-brewed beers. For more information, go to http://visitingmontgomery.com/calendar/event/riverbend-brewfest

About Montgomery

Situated on the banks of the Alabama River, Montgomery is the capital and the second largest city in the state of Alabama. Established in 1819, Montgomery has been the site of major historic events which have shaped the history of the United States. Emerging from its agricultural roots in the 19th century, Montgomery transformed from the Cradle of the Confederacy to the birth place of the Civil Rights Movement in less than a century. Today, this vibrant river town is experiencing a resurgence which has seen its downtown revitalized and has reestablished itself as a landmark Deep South destination.  Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines and American Airlines. For more information, call 334-261-1100 or visit the official website of the Montgomery Convention and Visitor Bureau at http://www.visitingmontgomery.com.  Stay connected with Montgomery on Twitter (@MGMCapitalCool) and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryCapitalCool).

Beauty /

Summer Travel and Getaway Essentials

The summer months are all about quick weekend getaways, so it’s best to stock up on the perfect travel essentials! Make sure you pack your bags full of Sun Bum and John Frieda and listen to experts like Umbreen Sheikh and Sophia Gushee on how to make the most of you short vacation!

Sun Bum Original Sunscreen 

Bigger isn’t always better, so breeze through security with serious sun protection stowed away in your carry on. Just like the full-sized versions, these cute little sunscreens deliver the same premium, ultra-lightweight formula and irresistible beachy smell.

John Frieda Hot Air Brush

Dry and style your hair in just one step with this multi-tasking hot air brush, newly redesigned with a sleeker, 1” ceramic titanium-coated barrel.
Ask the Experts:
Umbreen Sheikh, Founder of Wink Brow Bar

When grooming at home, it’s alright to tweeze a couple of hairs from the middle of the brow but do not touch any hairs that are in line with the nose. If you take a pen or a stick and put it vertically up against the side of your nose you can see where the brow should start on both sides.

Sophia Gushee, detox and wellness expert and author of A to Z of D-Toxing

•Broad-spectrum, which will guard against both UVA and UVB rays
• Water-resistant
• Safer key ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, preferably without nanoparticles. If they are not available, then select avobenzone at 3 percent.
Travel /

2018 ESSENCE FESTIVAL – Weekend Getaway

Essence today announced the official dates for the 2018 Essence Festival® presented by Coca-Cola®, which will take place from July 5 – 8, 2018 in New Orleans, LA. Limited advance tickets for the 24th annual event’s nightly concert series will be available starting August 10 at 10:00am ET.

On the heels of a record-breaking 2017 Festival, the highly anticipated event is expected to feature a diverse, all-star roster of musicians and speakers for its nightly concert series and daytime empowerment programming respectively. The 2017 “party with a purpose” drew over 470,000 attendees and featured first-time performances by Diana Ross and Chance The Rapper, plus keynote conversations with Ava Duvernay, Mary J. Blige, the cast of the critically acclaimed film “Girls Trip” – Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish – and many more.

Festivalgoers can start planning their ‘girl’s trip’ and weekend getaways by visiting Essence Festival for a recap of the 2017 Festival, information about advance ticket sales, the latest news about the Festival and to sign up for Festival-related newsletters.

Join the Essence Festival community by following us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2018 Essence Festival on Facebook for additional updates.

Sponsors of the 2018 Essence Festival® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola® and major sponsor State Farm.

Summer 2017 /

Looking For Florida’s Best, You’ll Find It In Pensacola

The Pensacola Bay Area continues to prove to be a destination vacation through recent accolades. Known most well for its sugar white beaches, voted to the 10 Best Beaches in Florida by Conde Nast to be exact, the coastal city has established itself as an all-encompassing travel and leisure spot for visitors around the country.

Trips to Discover, an online travel publication that reaches over 7 million people, named the area to the 14 Best Day Trips in the Florida Panhandle and to the 12 Best Florida Summer Vacations on a Budget. The Pensacola Bay Area offers a multitude of activities from exploring the Gulf Islands National Seashore and its majestic forts, learning where Don Tristan de Luna landed and established America’s First Settlement over 450 years ago or enjoying the vibrant cultural scene downtown.

The Pensacola Bay area is known for its fresh Gulf Coast seafood, so well-known that Food Networks “Great American Food Truck Race” and host Tyler Florence stopped in to experience it. Business Insider named Taqueria El Asador, a local taco stand, to the 50 best tacos joint in all of America and Southern Living awarded the Flora-Bama the best bar in the entire state of Florida! Speaking of cocktails, locals favorite and owned by one of Visit Pensacola’s celebrity chefs, Skopelos restaurant has been awarded the 2017 Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator magazine!

As Pensacola gears up for the Fall Festival season, it places a significant emphasis on the culinary scene. We encourage foodies to come and experience a vast variety of tastes including gulf coast seafood, Greek, American street food and so much more. Festival season is the prime time to plan a vacation to the area as the official tourism season has come to a close, rates have declined and the weather is mild. You can easily say this is a locals favorite time of year!

Only in your state again named The National Naval Aviation Museum to the Best Free Activities in Florida and the Historic PensacolaVillage to the 13 Unforgettable Tours in Florida. With over 450 years of rich history, Historic Pensacola is a living laboratory that guides guests through 28 properties that have been fully restored. The village is fully operable and includes daily colonial living history demonstrations. The National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum and features more than 150 restored aircraft’s representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation. Spanning 37-acres of ground space and 350,000 square feet of exhibit, the museum is open daily and offers free admission.

The US Navy Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow is currently in the running for USA Today’s Reader’s Choice award for top 10 Best Airshows. Be a part of our next accolade by voting daily, visit http://ow.ly/WNWj30dmkEa.

For more information about Visit Pensacola, call 1-800-874-1234 (toll-free) or go to http://ow.ly/Rga530dxikW.

About Visit Pensacola

Visit Pensacola leads the effort of economic development through tourism in Escambia County. Comprised of over 200-member businesses, VisitPensacola’s mission is to position the Pensacola Bay Area as a premier year-round travel destination through tourism marketing, communications, meetings and conventions, reunions and group tour initiatives. For more information about Visit Pensacola, call 1-800-874-1234 (toll-free) or go to VisitPensacola.com.