Nestled along East Silver Springs Boulevard is The Ocala Civic Theatre. While, I have always enjoyed theatre up North in the DC area, I thought that was one bit of culture that I would have to forgo moving to Ocala, unless I wanted to travel to one of the other larger areas. To my surprise and delight, The Ocala Civic Theatre not only turns out polished, professional productions, it is the second largest in the state.

Recently, I was treated to a production of The Wizard of Oz and was curious as to how a small company could stage such an ambitious show. It was top notch. The sets and staging were imaginative, the special effects were outstanding and the cast blew me away. It was one of the best shows I have seen anywhere.

The theatre’s playbill offers drama, comedy and musicals for both the young and the old. If you have an interest in working behind the scenes, I would suggest linnking to their website for special events, audition information, and educational or volunteer opportunities.   I will definitely go back again and again.

For being a small town, Ocala has a rich, vibrant cultural tapestry. What a surprise I had when I first discovered the Appleton Museum of Art  just off East Silver Springs Boulevard.

As you approach the museum from the parking area, your sight follows the length of a long pool which leads to a bubbling fountain that becomes the focal point further drawing your eyes to the wall of glass that forms the gallery’s entrance. The openness of the space and light that pours in from the front make it quite a happy place to be and sets the mind to wondering what treasures lie ahead.

I have had the pleasure of visiting there 4 times and each time I felt enriched by the experience. The first time I went was to just look around. There was a featured exhibit of paintings that brought me there, but what I found were also sculptures and other exhibits of historical significance that delighted the senses and challenged the mind.

I have also visited on a Mother’s Day with my daughter Jenn for a High Tea in the solarium followed by our viewing an exquisite collection of Princess Diana’s gowns there for the benefit of Breast Cancer. And on another occasion a friend and I were entertained with Salsa music at the outdoor courtyard after dining on a themed dinner in the solarium. This was part of the always popular Appleton After Hours series. My last trip was to take my visiting cousin who has a background in art to show off the Appleton. After touring the galleries, we had hot chocolate at a quiet table for two in the front foyer that borders the Museum shop. Did you know that the Appleton boasts the one and only escalator in Ocala?

In addition to the art, the Appleton offers a wide array of services, ranging from special family events and exhibits, trips and tours to other notable museums and venues, volunteer opportunities, and even space for private parties or events.

We are lucky to have such a notable place in Ocala.

After my little introduction to Ocala last post, I decided to take you around town and spotlight some of the fun and diverse places of interest.

When I first moved here about three years ago, I found a lovely park not very far from my new home. One of my nieces was getting ready for marriage and was looking at some options for an outdoor wedding in a park or garden setting. She invited me to join her to take a look at Sholom Park where we are going to visit today.

This is a place unlike any parks I have visited because it is devoted and designed to be a place of peace. Winding through the maze of paths, there is nothing to disturb you but the trickle of fountains or the running water under foot bridges and the trill of birds. Even the people who frequent the park do so with a respect for the place and for other visitors. On my walk there this afternoon, I encountered a couple resting on a sunny spot of grass, a woman taking her leisure on one of the many benches under a tree reading a book, and a family with two small children tossing a ball. Sound idyllic? Well, it is. Ever time I visit there, no matter how harried I am on the way in, I always leave calmer than when I entered.

Among the pathways, you will see an abundance of flowers, trees and plants which seem to change color and shape from season to season and look as though they just grew there.

Come on, walk with me and as we take a pictorial stroll though the park.

This is a lovely, classically inspired shelter that serves as our starting point. Here we can have a cool drink of water or pick up a map of the grounds and gardens. When my niece thought of using Sholom Park as a wedding venue, we thought this might have been a great place to welcome guests with a prenuptial beverage.

If you want to feed the koi, step into this pavilion where you can look over the rail down into the pond and not only see the koi, but turtles! The fountain lends a lovely ambiance which is so calming.

Everything is natural and the planners certainly made use of plant materials in interesting ways. Look at the imprints of palm fronds and leaves on the trails.

Now, this is the place where the bride and groom could vow their undying love. It looks like a chapel, has lots of benches inside and has a tree and flower bordered “aisle” any bride would love to walk down.

After we pass an outdoor stage where I could just imagine music being played under the stars, we next pass through gates to a part of the park that I think is my favorite. The meditation garden, or The Labyrinth as it is called, is just ahead through this vine covered trellis. In the summer it is covered with roses. Here we can wind through the maze-like path, stopping at each of the 26 plackets that lead us through mindful meditations. Linger here awhile and see what you can learn about your inner self.

So, here we are, back where we started. I hope you enjoyed our walk. Whether you stay for a brief stroll through part of the 44 acres, stay for a picnic, come for a quiet place to read a book or do the meditation, I hope if you are nearby you will come again. Meanwhile, Sholom.

To a quick passerby traveling through, Ocala might look like a sleepy, little town. In fact, some even go so far as to call it Slowcala. That may be true if one compares it to a bustling, big city. But let’s take a closer look.

When I think back to the Washington DC area from where I moved almost 3 years ago and look at why I left, I find the quiet, small town feel just what I was looking for with its rolling green pastures, stately oak trees dripping Spanish moss combined with swaying palm trees, fragrant jasmine, colorful hibiscus, two lane roads with little traffic, and a temperate climate.

Maybe one could call a place like this sleepy. Yet, you might just be surprised at what Ocala offers. It is a satisfying blend of culture, dining, and recreational gems. But the one thing that Ocala is best known for is that it is horse country and that is what I will be focusing on for this look at Ocala.

My attention was first brought to Ocala, when my brother and his family moved here from Pennsylvania to a small horse farm, bringing along their horses. They had Appaloosas and my nieces used to train and compete in some of the biggest National Horse Shows. That was how I first heard about Ocala and began learning what a big industry horses is and particularly how well Ocala is regarded for it.

Called the Horse Capital of the world, you can hardly go anywhere without seeing horses from running or grazing on a pasture to leading a carriage ride through the country side. People fly in from all over the world to buy millions of dollars worth of horses at auction at the OBS (Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company). If you look at the Ocala Marion County Chamber of Commerce, it will tell you that there are over 200 farms and places to train and breed horses, that you could find over 50 different breeds of horses and that almost 29,000 are employed in some facet of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County. Many Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders Cups winners hail from right here.

 I haven’t been to all of the horse related events yet, but I did go to the Florida Carriage Museum to watch my niece Kimberly compete in some Special Olympic Equine Events and we are really proud of her accomplishments. The facility was just beautiful. Besides a really cool carriage display in the museum, it has 10 barns that were spotless and are used as an Equine “Bed and Barn”.

There are some major horse events held annually right in Ocala. Whether you are a competitor, local or international or a spectator there are equine events to satisfy the most discriminating tastes from polo to rodeos to world class horse shows and competitions. Maybe instead of “Slowcala” we may want to call it “Whoacala” !!!! Happy trails.

Here are some links if you would like to learn more about the places and events they hold.

Florida Horse Park

HITS The Horse Show in the Sun

Florida Carriage Museum and Resort

Riding Trails

OBS

Horse and Carriage Tours

South Beach is a place I have always wanted to visit. I don’t know the name inspired images of glitz, beautiful people and well, the beautiful life. Always on TV, always depicting outrageous parties and clubbing. It seemed bigger than life. I anticipated wide broad expanses of tropical splendor, wide, wide avenues, and BIG clubs scattered with the WHO’s WHO. I wanted to see it for myself.

Well, the mind, at least mine, always paints things grander and bigger than reality. It’s like that when I read books and then see the movie. I surely always enjoy the movie, but then I always enjoy the one played in my mind just a little bit better.

To be fair I only spent a short time there and quite possibly didn’t really experience it fully. But first impressions as they say do count. On the other hand, continuing on with trite expressions, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Versace’s House and part of gate

All that said, I want to tell you about my look at South Beach. It was truly glitzy with the art deco hotels and eateries, there were fast cars a plenty, but Ocean Drive was so crowded, the drivers could only creep along. Maybe that was okay in the end because it gave more opportunity to be seen. I had to laugh looking at the young, bare chested men wearing layers of gold chains sitting atop the back seats of convertibles with these “here I am “ looks on their faces. This is definitely a place where you come in your trendiest outfits – or hardly none at all – to see and be seen. I saw a lot of skin. Along the sidewalks were hordes of bikini or thong clad young men and women, cell phones in hand, dancing, on skates or skateboards or standing so deep it was hard to move.

Between cars passing pumping music so loud you could feel the thumping and the various clubs each vying to have their signature music heard, it was deafeningly loud.

Yet, the draw to be there was obvious. Maybe it is just the scene for the young who like the fast pace of this district. I did appreciate the colorful, pastel Art Deco buildings and I did see some notable places and was able to take a few shots to give the flavor of South Beach to pass along. Gloria Estefan’s club, Casablanca complete with an old car in front with none other than Humphrey Bogart in the driver’s seat, Versace’s home and, of course, the famous Fontainebleau Hotel.

It wasn’t what I thought I would see, but it was a fascinating study of human nature and in the end worth the look. Now I can say that I have been there!

My friend Margaret has for some time been telling me about this museum in Miami that used to be someone’s home that was a must see. So we finally decided to take a weekend and head to South Florida to check it out. Stopping on the way in Aventura, we met up with Margaret’s daughter Cindy who volunteered to take us the rest of the way and was our unofficial guide for the day. The three of us had a great time poking around the vast gardens. Good thing we all had cell phones as we often saw things of interest that pulled us off in different directions!! We had a great time and saw and learned an awful lot that day.

 It is called VIZCAYA. Vizcaya has a rich and interesting history. We took the guided tour through the main house. Our guide said Vizcaya is a Spanish word that means “an elevated place”.

 Back in the early 1900’s there was a group of very wealthy industrialists from the north who discovered the wonders of building lavish winter homes in Florida. James Deering was one among this group. He made his fortune as an agricultural industrialist. He had done extensive traveling in Europe and was enthralled by the oppulence of style and design of many of the European estates. Liking the subtropical climate of South Florida, John decided to recreate his own estate in Florida, modifying it with local materials found mostly in the ocean. We were given a tour of most of the estates rooms some of which included the living room, the banquet room, the tea room, the music chamber which housed a pipe organ and library on the first floor and on the second floor were numerous bedrooms, sitting rooms, bathrooms, a breakfast room with a view overlooking the gardens and a huge kitchen – all lavishly decorated with 16th-19^th century collections of furnishings, sconces, fireplaces, and art.  The attention he paid to detail was beyond anything I have seen.  And still with all of this he even included a plethera of modern conveniences.  There was refrigeration, central heating, a telephone booth with an electric switchboard, dumb waiters connecting the upstairs kitchen to the large downstairs butlers pantry complete with a push button communication system so he or his guests could talk to the kitchen, elevators, a system for fire control and a central vacuuming system.

 The two story main house was build of a shell like material around a central open air courtyard which in time he covered with glass to form more of an atrium. Originally the front and rear loggias were open air and afforded cross breezes throughout. Later large glass doors were added to keep out the storms coming in off the water. Still, this courtyard was the center of the home and it was here that the many guests were wined and dined. The home was filled with wonderful art, furniture, statuary, and tapistries collected from estates, palaces and churches throughout Europe.

Photo: Courtesy of Margaret Chifari

Beyond the main house and scattered on 180 acres he created an area to look like a northern Italian village complete with machine, paint and carpentry shops, stables, a dairy, a greenhouse , and quarters for his staff.

The front of the house facing the ocean was often buffeted by winds and water. Finding a solution to this problem, Deering had a stone replica of a ship built to resemble the gondolas of Venice. It is vast in size and it was to this that visitors coming by sea could dock and enter the estate. Our guide told us that he had canopies set up on the “deck” where visitors could take refreshment and rest while waiting for the small boat rides that would take them across the moat like area between it and the residence. Note in the picture the poles like you would find in Venice on the canal and the decorative carvings on the stone ship of which you can see the right side of it.

Outside the mansion are acres of gardens, walkways, fountains, statuary and exotic foliage and flowers. There is even a large swimming pool at the side of the house which his guests could access off the side of one of the terraces or from steps coming from the lower level of the house.

Originally there were 180 acres which now have been greatly reduced and the village is gone. The guide said that a recreation of this area is in the works. It took three architects to design and supervise the building, the garden and artistic supervision and three years to build from 1914-1916. John Deering used this winter home until his death in 1925.

In 1926 a hurricane destroyed much of Miami and damaged the house and formal gardens. They have been restored as they were while Deering lived there.  Today, Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark and Museum.  Besides being able to tour Vizcaya, groups can host special events and weddings on the grounds or terraces.  It also boasts visits from Pope John Paul II, Queen Elizabeth II, Presidents Reagan and Clinton and a summit of 34 leaders of the Western Hemisphere.  The beautiful home also has been the setting for photo shoots.

It took us four and a half hours to get there and it was worth every minute.

Well my birthday was about a month ago and whenever I get to have a “Jenn Day”, meaning I get to pick what we do that day from top to bottom it always involves my two favorite things – good food, and animals. We started the day by having lunch at Mango Mangos which is a delicious place to get quick, flavorful and often healthy choices. Our next destination was the Alligator farm.

We pass the Alligator farm here in Saint Augustine at least twice a week, on the way to the beach or the farmers market and I have always wondered what was behind those tall white walls. I have seen signs advertising the farm all over town as well, and when a few months ago I saw that they had now added a Komodo Dragon to their collection of reptiles, I was sold. I love Komodo Dragons, not in the sense that I want to kiss them,

No, thanks, really.

But I find them to be one of the world’s most fascinating creatures. I wouldn’t want to come across one in the wild, and at the same time I feel bad to see one behind glass, so far away from the Indonesian islands they come from. But I also feel a certain sense of awe to be able to look at one, so close up, close enough to see the texture of its scaly skin.
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I thought that it would be fun to write a different sort of post today about a fun place to go with your best four legged friend in Saint Augustine – a dog park. Roberto and I got a puppy back in September, Pepino and in November we started taking him to Puppy School. Well this past weekend, his trainers at Good Dog decided to host a “Santa Paws Party” for all the Good Dogs at the gazebo at Joe Pomar Park, a large recreational facility in Saint Augustine, FL.

Near the gazebo there is a large fenced in area just for dogs. The dog runs are double gated, and there are two sections, one for small dogs and one for larger dogs (yeah that is a husky there with Pep, but that is his friend Jax, and Jax only came in after his mom asked everyone if it was okay). It really is a great place to take your dog. Pepino loved meeting some new friends and running like crazy. He has some hound in him (either Italian Greyhound or Whippet) and so he loves fast running. Even when we go to the beach, he has to be on his leash, and we don’t have a fenced in yard, so it is difficult finding opportunities to let him go as fast as he can.

He also really enjoyed playing with the other dogs and making them chase him (although they never quite caught up!!!). As every dog owner knows, a tired dog is a happy dog!

Joe Pomar Park is located off Master Drive, just south of the intersection with State Road 16. The park is open daily.

**In the future I may post about other dog friendly places to take your dog in Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine is a very dog friendly town. Dogs are permitted (on leash) at the beaches, and at many eating establishments that have outdoor seating. There is even a treat shop downtown, that is a great pit stop for your furry friend when visiting our beautiful town.**

Today I am going to share with you some of my favorite places in Saint Augustine to dine, eat and drink and also enjoy treats! Some of these establishments in Saint Augustine, may be a little off the beaten path, but are always great places (in my opinion) to get some good food and well worth the little effort it takes to walk there. For several of these places, I have already written a full review. So please check those out! Hopefully in the future I will be able to do actual reviews of each place, but in the meantime, here is the list. If you are looking for a best of category that you have not seen here, please feel free to ask and I will give you my opinion.

Best Breakfast: Athena’s
Need to get your day started with a nice honest breakfast? Then you want to check out Athena’s right off the square downtown. They have very large portions, great omelets, and nice big fluffy pancakes, all for a reasonable price. Great service too.
14 Cathedral Pl, Saint Augustine, FL 32084-4417
(904) 823-9076

Best Unique Breakfast: Casa Maya
If you want a nice, organic breakfast, you have got to checkout Cafe Maya. I had the Poblano Eggs and they were delicious – sunny side up eggs cooked to perfection and covered in Mole Poblano. My husband had a Cuban sandwich (which he loves) and says this was one of the best. They have great organic, free trade coffee and delicious smoothies! Inexpensive and great great quality!
See my dinner review
17 Hypolita St, Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 823-1739

Best Lunch: Gaufres and Good
This place is run by a wonderful Polish couple who used to live in Greece as well. We went here for lunch one day and the food was incredible – freshly made, and out of this world good. We got home made pirogies (they have 3 different fillings) that you can get cooked in several different ways. We also got a huge and perfect Greek salad. I also got a Greek frappe (a type of Greek Iced Coffee drink) that is one of the best I have ever had! So going back for their awesome looking European waffles!
9 Aviles Street, Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-5770

Best Diner: Georgies Diner
Looks just like an old time diner, but run by the same people as Athena’s – and so they have delicious Greek food there – gyros, souvlaki, Greek Salads and really good French fries! The people that work here are super nice and the food comes out hot and delicious! They also serve beer and wine.
100 Malaga St St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 819-9006

Best Gelato: Cafe de Hidalgo
They make all their gelato in house and have all the authentic Italian flavors as well as some more cosmopolitan and American flavors, but the quality is always great! Their flavors rotate, but some of our favorites have been coconut, banana, pistachio, fig, hazelnut and marscapone. Make sure to stand in line to pay first (they give you a ticket for the gelato counter)
See my full review
35 Hypolita Street
St. Augustine, FL
904-823-1196/1198

Best Sandwiches: JP Henley’s
Our friends told us about this one! Go to the back room! It is less noisy there! This place is known for its beer (over 80 international and domestic beers ON TAP – as well as many many more bottled). But you know what? Their sandwiches are awesome and cheap. So be sure to bring your appetite too! Plus you can get 3 different sizes of most of their beers, so you can taste a lot or you can get a big one if you already know your favorite.
10 Marine St, St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-3337

Best English Pub: Prince of Wales
This is a true English Pub – run by an Englishman and his wife! They have the best fish and chips there! It is cute and quaint and they even have some limited outdoor seating if you don’t want to sit inside. They also have lots of great traditional British and Scottish desserts. Yum!
See my full review
54 Cuna St
St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 810-5725

Best Pizza: Kosmic Bluz
We know a thing or two about pizza in this household and are picky about it – one of us being from Rome and the other generally not liking pizza. But this place is awesome! The crust is thin and the toppings fresh, and you can chose white or whole wheat crust! They also have some interesting microbrews on tap and a cute outdoor dining area.
48 Spanish St, Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 825-4805

Best Place for Upscale Drinks: Tini Martini
This place has the best view of the water! You can sit on their nice porch (all light up with tiki torches at night) or inside the bar. It is attached to The Casablanca Inn, a B&B, so if you go during happy hour, they have cheese and crackers and olives. Be sure to get some, as the drinks are pricey (but really good and unique!) and having the snacks kind of makes up for it! They also have live music on the weekends.
24 Avenida Menendez Saint Augustine, FL 32084
1-800-826-2626

Best Coffee: Crucial Coffee
I love this place! It is an adorable little coffee shack on the corner of Cuna and Charlotte. You can go inside to order, or order from the window. Unique coffee drinks that are addictive and delicious. Nice garden area to sit in as well, or you can take it on the go.
See my full review
26 Charlotte St
St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 810-2080

Best Unique Date Idea: Claude’s Chocolate
My husband and I were just walking around downtown one day and came across Claude’s. We saw that they did a chocolate tasting – you get a choice of 4 different chocolates and either wine or champagne to drink. I can’t remember the price, but it was very inexpensive to have a nice glass of wine and enjoy handmade chocolates made with Belgian chocolate. Be sure to try the coconut and the Spicy Mayan! Also delicious is the chocolate covered caramel with French sea salt.
15 Hypolita St , Saint Augustine, FL
904-829-5790

Sometimes when you live in such a beautiful and historic town, such as Saint Augustine, you need to be a tourist in your own town to really understand what the place is all about. Especially when some of the most historic homes in the city are literally steps from your front door. So one Saturday, instead of going to the beach, we decided to be just like the majority of people in this town, which at this time of year are tourists, and see the sights.

Our first stop was the Old St. Augustine Village, after we had tried going to The Oldest House, and the workers there were closing for lunch (closing for lunch, on a Saturday, during one of the biggest tourist seasons???). Anyway, Roberto and I are both history geeks. We like being in the places where so many other people have been throughout the years. Historic places, especially homes, have a certain energy and vibe to them – they are a very real and living part of history and we are privileged to be able to walk the same stairs and floors as people did so long ago.

Old Saint Augustine Village is a collection of nine historic homes that date from 1790 to 1910. There are also housed archaeological records from a 16th century hospital and cemetery, an 18th century Spanish defense line. Its grounds are also filled with some of the most beautiful courtyards and gardens in the city.
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