Come to the Wild Side of Tallahassee, FL

Looking for a wild adventure? Come walk among the cypress with the wild creatures at the Tallahassee Museum. Known as “The Junior Museum” when I was a kid, is a place you can spend all day with the family! Located along the shores, wetlands and cypress groves of Lake Bradford in northwest Tallahassee, it’s right among the perfect natural setting for exploration and observation.

The Tallahassee Museum has been home to Birthday Parties and special events, Scouting activity days, workshops, classes and guest exhibits for over 50 years! Originally housed downtown at the McMillan House in 1958 and it was used for Junior League meetings, school board meetings and received loans through the Treasure Chest program. In 1960, 10 acres of land on Lake Bradford was purchased. The first exhibit built on the property was the Big Bend Farm buildings. In the next few years, four more buildings including a classroom were added. More land was purchased in 1972 and construction began to develop the Wildlife Exhibit. Small animals that were injured or orphaned were added to the exhibit because they could not survive in the wild. Volunteers were an integral part of the success of the museum. Adult volunteer programs as well as youth volunteer programs have helped to maintain this museum over the years.

Pack a picnic lunch or grab a light lunch at the Trail Break Cafe’. There are  boardwalks roaming through the forest and over parts of Lake Bradford and overlooking the wildlife habitats. There are great views of Red Fox, Cougars,Black Bear, Bald Eagle and Red Hawk aviaries and my favorite are the entertaining otters. The Big Bend Farm is modeled after a real working 1800′s era farm. Sheep, goats, Donkeys and mules, chickens and a peacock are easy to observe and often on exhibit for petting.

Bring the kids out and discover your wild side at the Tallahassee Museum! There’s plenty of room to run and play, see and do! Don’t forget your camera,.. allow at least 2 hours for a great experience and when you are finished, consider joining the museum and saving on future visits.

9 am – 5 pm: Monday-Saturday
12:30 pm – 5 pm: Sunday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day and New Year’s Day

Admission Rates:

October 30^th

10:00 am – Sunday at 2:00am

Location: Midtown, Tallahassee

This Saturday, the merchants of Midtown Tallahassee are celebrating Halloween and inviting you to join the celebration. There’s something for the whole family!

Schedule of Events:

Assembly on N Monroe St & Surrounding Businesses:
Trick or Treat all day!

From 2-5PM, this area will have a bounce house, music, & treats in the parking lot of Krewe De Gras
Krewe De Gras – From 2-5PM, there will be drinks and funnel cakes (for only $3), & treats for the kids. The Halloween party and costume contest will run from 9PM-2AM with special guest band Catfish Alliance.
The Crepevine – From 3-7PM, kids get free spooky dessert crepes, and all other crepes are buy 2, get a free dessert crepe.
The Grey Fox – From 2-6PM, visit the petting zoo, enjoy cider, & treats. From 6-8PM, adults can enjoy bear, near bear, & snacks.
Sakura – Roll your own sushi all day long.
J. Michael Hair Design – Come by for candy and discount cards from 10AM-2PM.
Your Ultimate Massage – Come by for candy and $10 off any scheduled service from 11AM-5PM.
House of Style – Check out the spooky front porch, candy, & coupons from 10:30AM-7PM.
Manor @ Midtown:
The Filling Station – Come by for special treats from 2-4PM. The Halloween party will run from 10PM-2AM with the Donovan Chappman Band & DJ Nate Bragg.
Sweat Therapy – Kids will go fishing for toys & treats at the “Go Fishing” booth from 2-4PM.
1123 @ Midtown:
Be apart of the “Fright Foto” at 1123 Midtown from 11AM-4PM. Choose one of the two spooky Halloween vignettes and have your picture taken, courtesy of professional photographer Courtney Gwaltney. From 11AM-2PM, enter your picture into our Facebook contest and the winner will receive $100 to any of the 1123 Midtown businesses listed below.

Stop by for Trick or Treating & more!
Lucy & Leo’s Cupcakery – Decorate cupcakes from 3-5PM.
Textures – Check out the Halloween craft table from 3-5PM.
Kanvas – Come by for candy and coupons from 10AM-5PM.
Summers Realty – Pick up helium balloons for the kids
Little 5 Points @ Midtown:
Come celebrate the grand opening of Rinse & Repeat!
Orleans @ Midtown:
Stop by the businesses of Orleans @ Midtown from 10:30AM-7PM for treats, a popcorn machine, coupons, and candy. There will be haunted Halloween crafts from 11:30AM-2PM.

Also, enjoy wine into the evening with The Wine Loft, Cole Couture, Cabellos, and Vocelles.

*Sponsored by the shops of Midtown Tallahassee and brought to you by What’s Next Marketing – Social Media Management & Digital Marketing*

Oklahoma! Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains,………

Yes! You know it and now you can see it for yourselves! Just 20+ miles east of Tallahassee on Highway 90 is Monticello, Florida, home to the historic Monticello Opera House.

OKLAHOMA by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Presented by M&M Productions

You’ll have a rip roarin’ good time as you watch Curly and Laurey fall in love. Tap your toes and sing along to familiar songs such as “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” and “People Will Say We’re in Love”. Hoot and holler and bring down the house as the cast sings the title song “Oklahoma”. Yeow!
October 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Friday & Saturday (Except the 30th)

Doors open 6:30 PM, Dinner 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM

Dinner/Show $35; Members $30; Students $25; Show Only $15; Members $12; Students $10 
Sunday Matinee:

Doors open 12:30 PM, Lunch 1:00 PM, Show 2:00 PM

Matinee/Lunch $22; Members $18; Students $15. Matinee Only $12; Members $10; Students $8 

Saturday October 30

Doors open 5:30 PM, Dinner 6:00 PM, Show 7:00 PM (in advance of the Monster Mash)

 
Oklahoma/Monster Mash package; add $15 per couple to dinner/show or show only.

Search Homes for Sale in Beautiful Monticello, Florida via Debbie Kirkland, Realtor’s website and MLS Search Engine.

When:

Friday, October 29 at 7:00pm

Saturday, October 30 at 6:00pm

Where:

Concert at the Old Ice House

Carnival in Riverfront Park, all on Water Street

Details:

Benefit Concert, Friday Night October 29, 7-11pm, Old Ice House

Family Carnival, Saturday Afternoon October 30, 2-6pm, Riverfront Park

Franklin’s Promise Coalition presents a weekend of Halloween treats, October 29-30. Friday evening Big Daddy’s Tangled Roots will set the town on fire with a soulful concert of Blues and Jazz on the docks of the Apalachicola River. The Old Ice House on Water Street will serve as the perfect setting… for the benefit. Tickets of $20 per person or $35 per couple will get you in the party. The tickets will include some of the best dishes from area restaurants and refreshments will be available. Don your costume and you make take home a great prize.

Saturday afternoon, from 2 to 6 pm, Riverfront Park will be hopping with an Old Fashioned Halloween Carnival for the whole family to enjoy. There will be carnival games, children’s activities, entertainment, prizes and candy! The carnival is provided by Franklin’s Promise Coalition and the events are supported by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. The events will benefit the Franklin County Food Pantry and the Community Development and Land Trust Corporation( affordable housing).

For even more Halloween fun, the Apalachicola Area Historic Society will host Ghost Tours at the Chestnut Cemetery at 7pm on Saturday evening.

Make a weekend out of it, visit Historic Apalachicola, you will find great shopping, wonderful restaurants and beautiful accommodations.

View Historic Apalachicola near Debbie Kirkland, Realtor in a larger map

Meeting and networking with Chris Brown, Orlando Mortgage Broker at Certified Mortgage Planners has been one of the most valuable connections I have made in social networking. Sharing knowledge, especially knowledge born from experience and delivered from real-life and in real-time is helpful to me in working with buyers and sellers in my real estate business.

Chris is a leader in the mortgage industry and in dealing with customers who are purchasing a home, recognizing that this is one of the most valuable investments with the greatest long-term yields that we have. Below are a few of what I consider to be the most helpful consumer and home-buyer information sources written by Chris Brown.

Avoiding Common Mortgage Scams

http://www.mortgagechiliblog.com/avoid-mortgage-scams/

See How Credit Missteps Affect Your Credit Score

http://www.mortgagechiliblog.com/fico-credit-missteps/

As Buyer Foot Traffic Increases, So Does Homebuilder Confidence

http://www.mortgagechiliblog.com/housing-market-index-october-2010/

For Mortgage consulting or information please contact Chris Brown, Orlando Mortgage Pro for home mortgage or real estate investment lending questions.

Connect with Chris Brown:

1 407.367.2974

1331 S International Pkwy

http://www.Facebook.com/RealEstateFreeHelp
http://www.FreeScenarioReview.com

http://www.MortgageChiliBlog.com

http://www.CMPFL.com

Oct. 22nd, 2010 the Inaugural Belt Buckle Ball benefiting Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, FL poses to be yet another fun filled night for Tallahassee residents.

Many kids with cancer, advanced and unordinary illnesses travel from Tallahassee, FL to Gainesville, FL and Shands Children’s Hospital every day. Without events like this, many of the wonderful services they offer families would not be possible. Join the Tallahassee for music by Tobacco Road, BarBQue, ride a mechanical bull and play cornhole games, poker tournaments and enjoy an evening with your friends overlooking Bradley Pond.

When:  October 22, 2010  7:00PM

Where:  Bradley Pond, Centerville Road Across from Bradley’s Country Store

Printable Brochure

Map – Directions  Centerville Road from Capital Circle NE, about 11 miles… across from Bradley’s Country Store,.. you can’t miss it!

Tickets are available for $75 each and can be purchased by contacting
Stephanie Andrews at (850) 386-6417 or andrse@shands.ufl.edu,
or by visiting www.shandskids.org and clicking October 22nd on the Calendar leading to The Belt Buckle Ball.

You know, the older I get, the more these events mean to me. If you are looking for a party, then at least let some of the proceeds benefit something bigger than a bartender. This time of year, there are literally dozens of charity events around Tallahassee, FL. Watch your calendar and schedule some fun with your friends for a great cause!

Quincy, Florida is rich in history. Don’t fool yourself that Highway 90 is all that there is to this quaint southern town. Every front porch tells a story, every native octogenarian could write a book on the Quincy of yesteryear. Many a Coca-Cola was shared on these porches it is certain, as this is what made Quincy, Florida famous!

Located just 20 miles from Tallahassee, FL, via Highway 90 West, Quincy lies in the rolling hills of North Florida Quincy is the county seat for Gadsden County. Part of the woodlands run along the banks of the Ocholocknee river, Little River, and the greater Gadsden County, FL area borders reaches the shores of Lake Seminole and Lake Talquin State Park. Quincy is heavily dependent upon agriculture, farming tomatoes, tobacco, mushrooms, soybeans and other crops for its employment base. Quincy investors were largely responsible for the development of its local Coca-Cola company into a world wide conglomerate.

John Smith who migrated from Virginia put Gadsden county on the map when he ventured south and brought Virginia  and Cuban tobacco seeds to Quincy,which eventually blended and named the “Florida Wrapper.” Gadsden county became very prosperous, and a few folks still carry the names of their once wealthy relatives.

During the Civil War, the European markets were no longer available and very little tobacco was grown until Colonel Henry DuVal, President of the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad began doing business with New York leaf dealers and manufacturers. Much of Gadsden county land was bought for growing tobacco and this continued until 1970 when tobacco companies came under fire and demand diminished. The last crop of shade grown cigar wrapper tobacco was grown in 1977. That’s two years before I was born!

Mr. Pat Munroe, a banker, father of 18 children from two wives, and W.C. Bradley were among the stockholders of three of the banks that released 500,000 shares of new Coca-Cola common stock. They urged widows and farmers to invest for $40 each and several did. Eventually that stock split, and made as many as 67 accounted for investors  and Gadsden county residents rich. To give you an idea of the stock’s value, a single share of Coca-Cola stock bought in 1919 for $40 would be worth $6.4 million today, if all dividends had been reinvested.

Florida’s Antebellum style homes and Florida cracker houses were a huge influence on home design back in the pre and post civil war days. Front porches overlooking one’s property were the gathering places for friends, family for doing business and for quiet enjoyment. There were few back porches, life seemed to be open, comfortable and welcoming.

After an open house event at Magnolia Forest in Quincy yesterday, I took a ride through the back roads, near the downtown Quincy area to photograph some of the beautiful front porches and scenery of these homes. If only they could talk,…

View Full Album

See homes for sale in Magnolia Forest, Quincy

Search the MLS for Quincy, Florida Homes For Sale

It’s that great time of year.. you can see it, can you hear it?  One of my favorite events each year is the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Greek Food Festival! 

October 22nd AND 23rd

10AM – 10PM

Holy Mother of God Church. 1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 . 850-878-0747

This event is open to the public, and suited for families and people of all ages. Tents provide shelter, music and dancers in full Greek attire entertain on several stages and surrounding the tents are the grills where you will find Gyros, Pastitsio, Souvlaki,Spanikopita, Tiropita and wonderful Greek Salads. Inside the temple, you will find some of the most amazing pastries and can have them packaged to take home as well!

Rich in Greek heritage, the ladies and men that prepare the food for this event have been working on these Greek pastries and grills for years! Part of the enjoyment is touching base with some of the Greek families and friends I have known all my life.  I took pictures last year at the event of some of the lovely folk dancers and colorful costumes! 

Don’t miss this lively, fun festival!

Printable Event FLYER

Today is the perfect day for the “Pickin in the Pines” Festival at Tall Timbers Research Station.

October 17th, 2010

12:00 – 6:30 PM

Wagon Tour through the Pines

$10 per person or $40 per vehicle

How to Get There – Directions

As you may or may not know, I am a breast cancer survivor. 8 years now and each year more and more grateful! Breast Cancer has touched more people in my life than I care to mention. It seems we are closer to cures at times, and other times we are fighting the uphill battles and we loose people we care about. I’ve lost too many. My goal with this post is to offer you ways to get involved, to donate, to show your support for those touched by this disease.

In Tallahassee, we have many different support groups, many organized events to increase awareness of breast cancer, to help pay for the screenings, the treatment, the prostheses and wigs that help people feel “normal” during their treatment, the cures and treatment advances, and many support systems for those battling this disease.

First, take a look at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare also participating in the a great video to the Pink Glove Dance just released last week! – See anyone you know? Check out the photos too! The 2010 sequel to the Pink Glove Dance features more than 4,000 healthcare workers and breast cancer survivors from all over the United States and Canada.

Here are a few events you may want to become involved in during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in the Tallahassee, Florida area. Do you have an event I need to post here? Let me know.. I will gladly post it!

Paint It Pink Campaign at FSU Women’s Sport Events

The Florida State University Women’s athletics teams are once again joining forces with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare for the second annual “Paint it Pink” campaign. During the 2010-11 seasons, eight women’s sports will host a `Pink’ game. Fans will have the chance to contribute to the cause all season long through different fundraising opportunities at each `Pink’ game.

The following dates are set as official `Paint it Pink’ home games:
Thursday, October 7 – Soccer vs. Clemson (Soccer Complex) at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 8 – Cross Country- FSU Invitational (Apalachee Regional Park) at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 23 – Swimming and Diving- (Morcom Aquatics Center) at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 24 – Volleyball vs. Duke (Tully Gym) at 1:00 p.m.
Friday, February 11 – Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Tech (Donald L. Tucker Center) at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 – Softball vs. Virginia Tech (Softball Complex) at 1:00 p.m.
Friday, April 15 – Women’s Tennis vs. North Carolina (Scott Speicher Tennis Center) at 4:00 p.m.
Track and Field – “Paint It Pink” date is TBD

Hungry Howie’s Pizza Donates

The next time you decide to order a pizza, you may want to think in pink.

All five locations in Tallahassee will be serving you their delicious product inside of bright pink boxes embezzled with breast cancer awareness ribbons.

For every pizza purchased this month, Hungry Howie’s will make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Chrome Divas of Tallahassee’s 9th Annual Breast Cancer Poker Run

Was a huge success again. Over 200 riders gathered for a poker run event which led riders in and around the Tallahassee area ending at the Moon where a band played, and lunch was served. Prizes and cash 50/50 contests raised money to support The Women’s Center at TMH. You can always donate if you know a Tallahassee Chrome Diva, or contact me with your donation!

Pinnacle Massage Therapy

Donating a portion of their proceeds to Tallahassee Memorial Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center. PinnacleMassageTherapy.com

“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Walk at Southwood

Sunday, October 24, 2010 Southwood Town Center Registration at 12:30 Walk begins at 3:00pm.

Directions: How to get to Southwood Towne Center

Event Page for the Leon County Event.

“Fight Like A Girl Event ”

The Brenda E. & Roger S. Luca Family Endowment Challenges Triple Negative Breast Cancer. All proceeds benefit TMH

Chez Pierre Restaurant

Sunday October 17th 3 PM – Until ??

Visit www.tmh.org/LucaEvents for more information and ticket purchase.

“Pour It On”

Create your one of a kind art piece! $20 donation covers cost of art and donation to the Luca Family Endowment at TMH

October 23, 2010  4PM – 10PM

FSU Master Craftsman Studio
905 West Gaines Street

I am sure there are events I may have missed, so many high schools, college organizations and churches are planning events this month. If you’d like me to post your event, just drop me an email and I’ll get it on the post.