COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Aug. 3
All area codes are 850 unless noted.
Cooking classes
Kitchenique Cooking School will hold classes, Girls & Grapes Wine Pairings, from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 3 and Mediterranean Flavors Aug. 4, at The Cuvee Catering Cen-ter, 12590 Emerald Coast Parkway Suite C in Miramar Beach. Cost is $28 and $55, respectively. Call 837-0432. Register at www.kitchenique.com.
• Aug. 9: Chef Tim Creehan's Simple & Healthy Cuisine features recipes for his new cookbook. Cost is $55.
• Aug. 11: A family style Summer Dinner Party with new recipes. Cost is $48.
• Aug. 17: Local Fish Basics I presents purchasing, prepping and cooking three most popular fish. Cost is $55.
• Aug. 18: Local fish Basics II is a continuation of first course and uses three different fish. Cost is $58.
• Aug. 23: Local Fish Basics III focuses on prepping and cooking whole and stuffed fish. Cost is $58.
• Aug. 27: In Hands on Basic Knife Skills learn all there is to know about the most important tool in your kitchen from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $65.
• Aug. 30: Summer Dinner Salads Plus Dessert features the whole meal deal salads. Cost is $48.
Food For Thought Thursdays
Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, 435 Grand Blvd. Suite Q104 in Grand Boulevard, will give 20 percent of food and drink sales to Food For Thought Outreach during Happy Hour from 3-7 p.m. Aug. 4 (the first Thursday of each month).
Open House
The community is invited to the Open House and Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Aug. 4 for Sacred Heart Health System’s newest outpatient center at The Mar-ket Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway West at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Big Truck Day
All ages can see the trucks parked in the parking lot at the Destin Community Center from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 5. No charge.
Lunch program
Whole Foods Market will host a Back-to-School complimentary lunch program at noon Aug. 7. The first 100 registered children, 12 and under, will receive a free Whole Foods Market lunch ready for the first day of school. Lunch includes sliced turkey and cheese or a hummus and veggie option, served with a banana, Back to Nature chocolate chip cookies and a juice box.
Kids Eat Free
IHOP offers a Kids Eat Free program for ages 12 and under from 4-10 p.m. through Sept. 25 to celebrate back to school.
Master Gardeners Lecture
Okaloosa County Master Gardeners presents Marg Stewart and Karen Harper's "Gardening for Independence” at Crestview Extension office from 10-11 a.m. Aug. 17. There is no cost to attend this program, but space is limited so registration is required at 689-5850.
• Sept. 21: Karen Kirk-Williams presents "Fall and Winter Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds” at Extension Annex in Fort Walton Beach.
• Oct. 19: Dave Gordon presents "Rhododendrons-Native Azaleas" at Crestview Extension office.
Paddle at the Porch
The fifth annual Paddle at the Porch, a stand up paddle board race, begins at 9 a.m. Aug. 20 behind The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House in Destin. It offers races for all skill and age levels, with its 1-Mile Beginner Ride, 3-Mile Recreational Race, 6-Mile Elite Race, Kids’ Fun Paddle and, new this year, Relay. The top three male and female racers in the 6-Mile 12 foot 6 inch Elite Race will split a $6,000 cash purse. A Packet Pick Up Party and Board Demos is Aug. 19 at The Back Porch. Regis-ter at www.paddleguru.com/races/5thpaddleattheporch.
No Kid Hungry
IHOP restaurants will offer a short stack of their buttermilk pancakes for just $1 with 100% of the proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 23.
The Disciplined Dance of Dressage
The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will host The Disciplined Dance of Dressage at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at The Destin Library. on Friday, September 9th, (2:00 PM) at the Destin Library. The program is free and open to the public. Josie Kelly, local Dressage trainer and a 2011 Grand Prix level Champion, will take us behind the scenes of Dressage, the oldest and highest level of Equestrian training. Jodie is the great-granddaughter of Mattie Kelly and continues to compete and train both riders and horses at her stables in Kelly Plantation.
Steak & Stake Dinner
Evander Holyfield will be the special guest speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast’s third annual Steak & Stake fundraising dinner Sept. 22 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Walton in Santa Rosa Beach. For information on sponsorships or tickets, contact Rob Engel, director of development, at rengel@bgcec.com or call 862-1616.
Bereavement Support Group
Share and learn more about the grief journey you are enduring with an Emerald Coast Hospice bereavement group at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Destin Library. Groups are free and ongoing.
Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market
The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in Grand Park in Miramar Beach between Cantina Laredo and Tommy Bahama’s. Vendors will offer locally sourced food-based items including produce, eggs, milk, butter, grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb and pork, honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams.
Farmers Market
The WaterColor Coastal Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday at Cerulean Park. Traditional Farmers Market items such as local farm fresh produce, eggs and dairy products will be available. There will also be a large variety of organic and homemade items such as Greek gourmet foods, hot and jerk sauces and grass fed beef, chicken and pork. Market is held from March through Labor Day.
30A Farmers’ Market
This community event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in Town Center in Rosemary Beach features fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, cheese and more. Market is held on Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Seaside Farmers Market
Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and other unique offerings Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Amphitheatre behind Raw & Juicy. Enjoy special cooking demos and activities.
Bridge
Emerald Coast Bridge Club will be held at 10 a.m. Monday and Thursday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 307 Harbor Blvd. in Destin, in the old Parlor. Cost is $7. No partner necessary. For more information, call 380-1558 or email nzdet@aol.com.
Destin Life Center
Recreation and fitness activities at Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, are from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday visit the Soul Café for lunch. Call ahead for dine in or pick up. For information, call the DLC at 837-2021.
• Adult Open Soccer: From 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Fee is $2/player.
• Adult Open Volleyball: From 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays. Fee is $2/player.
• Pickleball: From 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
• DLC Fitness Cardio/Weight Room: Nautilus equipment, three treadmills, two ellipticals and one recumbent bike. Memberships are $40/calendar quarter; $30/month; $20/week; and $10/day.
• Community Fitness Classes: Indoor cycling, Zumba, Rise and Stretch, PIYO, Cardio Dance, Forever Young (senior aerobics) and more. Costs are $40/month; $7/class; $20/month Forever Young, fitness for seniors; and $3/individual Forever Young.
Destin Community Center
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
• Aerobics: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. Bring water and towel. Cost is $3/session.
• Capoeria: Class in the Brazilian martial art that combines the elements of dance, acrobatics and music will be held on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. for adults 18 and over.
• Chair Yoga: Monday and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. Cost is $4/class.
• Dodgeball: Ages 13-16 play from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays; ages 17 and up from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays; and ages 8-12 from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.
• Game Room: Open to children age 10 and older from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Basketball/volleyball court, ping pong/foosball/air hockey/pool tables
• Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents and $2/non-residents.
• Senior Ping Pong Lessons: Free for Destin Seniors from 1-2 p.m. every Tuesday. Call to sign up.
• Table Tennis: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Paddles and balls provided.
• Youth Dodgeball: From 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays for ages 13-15 and for ages 8-12 Thursdays. Fee is $3/session for nonresidents and $2/session for residents.
• Zumba Gold: From 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Fee is $6/session.