Archive for September, 2007
Top 5 Sports Bars for Football on the Emerald Coast
September 25th, 2007 Categories: Panama City Beach Living, Restaurant Reviews, Sandestin Living
It’s that time of the year when sports bars become very important in many of our lives. With the advent of Thursday and Friday night college football games, the only two nights that football junkies can’t get their fix is on Tuesday and Wednesday. And with the upcoming baseball playoffs, look for those two nights to be taken too. Nothing is more fun than gathering with friends and family to take in one of these sporting events at one of our great sports bars. Here are our nominations for The Top 5 Sports Bars in our area in descending order.
Honorable Mention – Sportsbook Grill & Bar in Destin, Pineapple Willies on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach & Acme Oyster Bar in Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.
Number 5 – Calypso Beach Cafe and Sports Grill in the west end of Panama City Beach on Front Beach Road next to Calypso Condominiums and Pier Park. My guest and I were there an opening day with a bunch of friends who are avid Ole Miss fans. We watched them hang on to beat Memphis 23-21 in one of the many rooms that are available in this much larger than meets the eye venue. The Rebels haven’t tasted victory again after three more games, although a moral victory/loss to the Gators gives Rebel fans a glimmer of hope.
This is an excellent place to watch your favorite team with over 100 televisions available with 16 of them being larger than 50″. The manager is incredibly energetic and would make for an excellent special teams coach, as the guy is fired up like crazy every time I’ve seen him. We sampled some of their game fare with the best being the sauteed crab claws. They were a little stringy but the sauce was excellent, and everybody at the table was dipping whatever they had (crackers, tortilla chips, quesadillas, etc) in to that sauce. Hoddy Toddy!
Number 4 – Johny O’Quigleys in Destin. Drop the shoppers off at Destin Commons and the readers off at Books A Million or Barnes & Noble and pick them up in three hours or so after the game is over. O’Quigleys is across the street from the mall, has plenty of bar fare and a rollicking place to take in the game with a whole lot of televisions and a lively crowd. We watched the Saints go out of the playoffs last year at the hands of Da Bears at this site, and it was an unhappy partisan Saint crowd that left the restaurant that day. Three games in to the season and the Saints nor the fans have recovered from that beating based on their performance (0-3) so far this year.
Number 3 – Beef O’Brady’s in the Market Shops at Sandestin. Not only do you have televisions at your table to go along with the big screens, but you have an outside area (with bar) to take in games (and people watch) when the weather cooperates – which is most of the time. We arrived late a couple of Saturday nights ago, sat outside and saw the last few minutes of Alabama’s dramatic and exhilirating (for Tide fans) comeback win over the Razorbacks of Arkansas. Tide fans are now back to earth after the Bulldogs returned to the hedges with an overtime victory in Tuscaloosa. Alabama backers still have the inkling that Saban is the one to lead them back to a national championship that they haven’t tasted since the Sugar Bowl victory over Miami in 1993.
Number 2 – Buster’s Oyster Bar & Grill in Miramar Beach. I have to admit that I’m influenced by their oysters and what I feel is the best gumbo in the area that is served at Buster’s. But beyond that there is always a lively crowd on game day at Buster’s watching the 30 televisions that are on display. Buster’s has been a game day tradition for 20 years, and in our area – that’s a real long time. They have a great children’s menu, and it is probably the most kid friendly place to take the whole family to watch the game.
Number 1 – Angler’s Beachside Grill on Okaloosa Island in Ft. Walton – a legend!Click Here to read a full review of Anglers.
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Top Sports Bar & Lots More – Angler’s Beachside Grill
September 25th, 2007 Categories: Destin Living, Restaurant Reviews
Angler’s Beachside Grill on Okaloosa Island in Ft. Walton Beach is our Number One favorite sports bar in the area.
There’s plenty of televisions downstairs, but if you want to feel like you are in the stadium with some really rabid, imbibing fans and a whole bunch of them at that – the second floor of Angler’s is a place like no other.
Angler’s has four 9 foot screens and 91 additional televisions. The place draws an incredibly diverse crowd who swarm in to follow their favorite team.
This includes locals, tourists and lots of folks affiliated with Eglin that can follow their team no matter where they call home.
We were out late one recent Saturday afternoon around sunset to witness the Auburn Tigers eventually fall to the South Florida Bulls.
Tommy Tuberville is starting to feel a little heat and with trips to Florida, Arkansas and LSU in three of their next four games – things could easily get hotter still on the Loveliest Village of the Plains. (Click Picture to Enlarge).
Angler’s is an incredible setting in that it stands at the entrance to the Okaloosa Island Pier (one dollar to enter the pier to fish or just take in the awesome setting) that goes way out in to the Gulf of Mexico. There is also a Kids Playground located right on the beach below and plenty of people sunning or walking on the beach depending on the time of day. (Click to Enlarge).
There’s plenty of outside seating both leading up to the pier entrance (great place to watch the kids play below) and in a separate outside covered seating area that is ideal for watching the sunset or the moon over the gulf.
On this particular night we had the typical sports bar fare with Nachos Supreme, Fried Crab Claws and Chicken Quesidillas. I found the Quesadillas to be the best of the group, but if you are in to quantity – there were a lot of nachos there.
If you are ready for some football, you won’t find a better place to watch the game and feel like you are on the 50 yard line than Angler’s Beachside Grill. They can be reached at 8507960260.
We very much enjoy writing these restaurant reviews. This is our avocation, but our vocation is representing Buyers and Sellers in real estate transactions on the Emerald Coast. If you are interested in learning more about our real estate services, please Click Here.
For our Restaurant Review Credentials, please Click Here.
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You Don’t Have To Be A Member – Santa Rosa Beach Club
September 19th, 2007 Categories: Restaurant Reviews, South Walton Living
Santa Rosa Beach Club is the only white table cloth restaurant on CR-30A directly on the beach with an unobstructed view right down the coast line.
Even though it’s been serving good food for years, there are still many people who think the restaurant is a private club – but not so. (Click above to Enlarge).
We were in one Friday night not long hoping to see a nice sunset over the gulf, but we got a different kind of show instead. As the evening began, dark clouds over the horizon prevented any sunset but made for a beautiful setting. As darkness fell the lightning lit up the shoreline, the dark clouds in the sky and the white caps of the sizeable waves rolling in from the storm.
There was live entertainment that night, and everyone was in a festive mood. We made friends with the couple sitting at the table next to us and compared notes on our dishes and drinks. We started with some fried oysters with tartar sauce that were done just right, some asparagus and crabmeat soup and the house salad. I thought the soup was a little salty but overall we enjoyed all three dishes.
I have eaten at Santa Rosa Beach Club on many occasions to include lunch (try their meat salads – such as chicken, shrimp, etc) and dinner. The main course on this night was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had there. It was offered as a head on snapper (but my guest insisted the head be removed – not in her presence) stuffed with lemon, topped with jumbo lump crabmeat in a beurre blanc sauce. The side dish was grilled eggplant with a little goat cheese and marinara topped with fried leaks. The fish had a great charcoal taste to it, the sauce wasn’t too heavy, the eggplant still had a crispness to it and well the chef just hit the nail on the head with this dish. Outstanding – try it if it’s available when you go. (Click on the fish to Enlarge).
Our new friends were celebrating their anniversary and after my guest commented how much she loved chocolate – a portion was shared with us. She is the dessert expert and I’m not even a huge chocolate fan, but that was a good chocolate tort in my book. (Click to Enlarge).
Santa Rosa Beach Club is the sort of restaurant that for some reason I tend to overlook when I’m dining on CR-30A, even though I definitely know it’s open to the public. Based on our last dining experience there, we will be back soon. Call 267-1240 for reservations.
We very much enjoy writing these restaurant reviews. This is our avocation, but our vocation is representing Buyers and Sellers in real estate transactions on the Emerald Coast. If you are interested in learning more about our real estate services, please Click Here.
For our Restaurant Review Credentials, please Click Here.
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Sandestin – August
September 11th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Sandestin Living
There were two detached single family homes sold in Sandestin in August. The first home is a three bedroom, three and a half bath, 2736 square foot home that sold for $700,000. This home was built in 1988 but has been remodeled, and it has 120 feet on the Baytowne Golf Course. The other home is a five bedroom, six and a half bath, 6200 square foot home that sold for $3.1 million. This home sits just inside the guard gate in the prestigious Burnt Pine area of Sandestin.
There are currently 180 homes for sale in Sandestin. They range from a two bedroom, two bath, 1200 square foot home in Linkside listed at $354,000 to a four bedroom, four and half bath, 5252 square foot home located in Burnt Pine overlooking the ninth tee with an asking price of $2.75 million.
Homes for Sale in Sandestin – Beginning of September
Total # of Listings 180
Lowest Price Listing $354,000
Highest Price Listing $5,199,000
Average Price $1,199,804
Avg. Price/SqFt $419
Avg. Days on Market 217
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Seaside – August
September 10th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Seaside Living
There were two homes sold in Seaside in August. The first home is a four bedroom, four bathroom, 3377 square feet that includes a 484 square foot carriage house and sold for $2.8 million. The other home is one that has been featured on our site for the past couple months, is gulf front with three bedrooms, two and a half baths and a smallish 1925 square feet that sold for $4.475 million.
There are currently 34 homes for sale in Seaside at the beginning of September. They range from a two bedroom, two bath, 1100 square foot home for $1.25 million to a three bedroom, three bath, 2094 square foot gulf front home offered at $5.195 million. The former home is a small cottage but is only two lots back from CR-30A, so you can be at Tupelo Pavillion and down to the beach in a flash.
Homes for Sale in Seaside – Start of September
Total # of Listings 34
Lowest Price Listing $1,250,000
Highest Price Listing $5,195,000
Average Price $2,261,441
Avg. Price/SqFt $1,344
Avg. Days on Mkt 403
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – August
September 10th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
To say that August was a quiet month in Rosemary Beach is an understatement, as there were no homes sold in Rosemary Beach in August. One home did go pending at the end of July that is scheduled to close this month (September).
There are currently 85 homes for sale in Rosemary Beach. They range from a two bedroom, one bath, 710 square foot carriage house for $809,000 to a six bedroom, seven bathrooms, 4356 square foot home for $5.495 million. The latter homes square footage includes a 484 square foot carriage house.
Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – Start of September
Total # of Listings 85
Lowest Price Listing $809,000
Highest Price Listing $5,495,000
Average Price $2,273,238
Avg. Price/SqFt $865
Avg. Days on Mkt 274
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Watercolor – August
September 10th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Watercolor Living
August was a very good month for this community, as there were seven homes sold in Watercolor during that period. They ranged from a four bedroom, three and a half bath, 2067 square feet home for $835,000 to a four bedroom, four and a half bath, 2687 square foot home that sold for $1.795 million.
Homes Sold in Watercolor – August
Total # of Listings 7
Lowest Price Listing $835,000
Highest Price Listing $1,795,000
Average Price $1,295,429
Avg. Price/SqFt $493
Avg. Days on Market 301
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
At the beginning of September there are 154 homes for sale in Watercolor. They start at $824,900 for a two bedroom, two bath, 1262 square foot home on Lyonia Lane and range up to $4.995 million for a gulf front home with four bedrooms, four and a half baths and 2538 square feet in the home.
Homes for Sale in Watercolor – Start of September
Total # of Listings 154
Lowest Price Listing $824,900
Highest Price Listing $4,995,000
Average Price $1,808,543
Avg. Price/SqFt $670
Avg. Days on Market 231
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Alys Beach – August
September 6th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
Things were real quiet related to contracts and closings in Alys Beach in August. There were no closings and nothing is pending at the first of September in Alys Beach.
There are currently 12 homes for sale in Alys Beach. They range from a three bedroom, four bath, 2160 square foot home listed for $1.995 million to a five bedroom, six bath, 3060 square foot home with the asking price of $2.998 million. The larger home was designed by Miami based architects Martinez and Alvarez and features a courtyard with fountain/dipping pool and has 820 square feet of outdoor rooms.
Homes for Sale in Alys Beach – Beginning of September
Total # of Listings 12
Lowest Price Listing $1,995,000
Highest Price Listing $2,998,000
Average Price $2,504,833
Avg. Price/SqFt $947
Avg. Days on Mkt 268
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes For Sale in Destiny & Destiny by The Sea – August
September 5th, 2007 Categories: Destin Living, Real Estate News
August was a very good month in Destiny and Destiny by The Sea. There were two homes sold in Destiny and two homes sold in Destiny by The Sea. The least expensive was in Destiny and is a three bedroom, two bath, 1950 square foot home that sold for $600,000 and a beautiful gulf front home that has six bedrooms, seven baths and 5600 square feet in Destiny by the Sea sold for $4.2 million.
Homes Sold in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – August
Total # of Listings 4
Lowest Price Listing $600,000
Highest Price Listing $4,200,000
Average Price $2,018,750
Avg. Price/SqFt $441
Avg. Days on Mkt 346
(Click on the Graph Below to Enlarge)
There are currently 52 homes for sale in Destiny and 25 homes for sale in Destiny by the Sea. The entry level home for sale in Destiny is three bedrooms, two baths, 2022 square feet listed at $597,000. The most expensive home for sale is in Destiny by the Sea featuring seven bedrooms, seven baths, 5696 square feet for $6.5 million. This home is on a 60′ lot fronting the gulf, was designed by Prescott Architects and built by one of our top homebuilders locally, C.D. Jones.
Homes for Sale in Destiny & Destiny By The Sea – September
Total # of Listings 77
Lowest Price Listing $597,000
Highest Price Listing $6,500,000
Average Price $1,726,618
Avg. Price/SqFt $503
Avg. Days on Mkt 229
(Click on Graph Below to Enlarge)
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Condos Sold & Condos for Sale in Grand Dunes – August
September 4th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Sandestin Living, South Walton Living
There was one condo sold in Grand Dunes in August. It was Unit 2240 in the North Tower (this being one floor below the penthouse level) and has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,333 square feet. The unit was nicely furnished and sold for $1.215 million.
There are currently 48 condos for sale in Grand Dunes at the beginning of September. The entry level unit has a very motivated Seller at $1,098,000. The unit is on the third floor of the North Tower with three bedrooms, three baths and 2,490 square feet. At the other end of the price spectrum is a Penthouse Unit in the South Tower that is five bedrooms, five baths, 4,956 square feet and priced at $4.5 million.
Condos for Sale in Grand Dunes – Beginning of September
Total # of Listings 48
Lowest Price Listing $1,098,000
Highest Price Listing $4,500,000
Average Price $1,738,540
Avg. Price/SqFt $612
Avg. Days on Mkt 260
(Click on the graph below to Enlarge)
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