Our Top 10 Picks for April 11-13 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

Happy Friday, everyone! Throughout this weekend there will be fantastic, local events including a golf tournament, beach cleanup, a spring musical event, brunches and more! The Weather Channel at weather.com reports the weekend weather conditions to be in the low-60s for the low with a high in the mid-70s. As of today, the chance for rain is at ZERO percent Friday through Sunday!

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a very safe and BEACHY weekend! Enjoy!

Friday, April 11, 2014:

Suite 100 Private Banking/FNBT.com Charity Golf Tournament

Shalimar Pointe Golf Club

302 Country Club Road

Shalimar

Time: 11 a.m. registration, noon shotgun start

This great, charity tournament series will benefit the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Entry fee is $150 per team. Limited to first 120 players. Sponsorships are available. Call 850.651.1416 to register. www.ShalimarPointe.com.

SunQuest Cruises SOLARIS Champagne & Seafood Lunch Cruise

SunQuest Cruises

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort/Baytowne Marina

9300 Emerald Coast Parkway

Miramar Beach

Time: noon to 3 p.m.

Docked just steps away from the Sandestin Wine Festival, the SOLARIS yacht’s Champagne & Seafood Cruise features four courses with premium champagne pairings and a three-hour cruise. The cruise is $69 per person, including a four-course meal, premium champagne pairings and a three-hour cruise. The dockside reception begins at noon with the cruise taking place from 1-3 p.m. Reservations required online at www.SunQuestCruises.com or 850.650.2519.

Saturday, April 12, 2014:

Fudpucker’s Dine & Paint Party

Fudpucker’s

1318 Miracle Strip Parkway

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 5-8:30 p.m.

The Emerald Cork Traveling Paint Party Studio is bringing the party to Fudpucker’s for a unique Dine & Paint experience! Enjoy a delicious meal, then explore your creative side as you paint your own masterpiece. No experience necessary. Just come ready to eat and have fun painting with others!

Earth Day Beach Cleanup

Time: 8 a.m. – noon

Okaloosa County Environmental Council invites volunteers of all ages to participate. Volunteers are invited to sign in at Beasley Park on Okaloosa Island, the beach park west of Island Princess on Okaloosa Island and Henderson Beach State Park in Destin. Join the Cigarette Waste Recycling Brigade in collecting extinguished cigarettes for recycling into a variety of industrial products.

Murder Mystery Fundraiser

Wyndham Garden of Fort Walton Beach

573 Santa Rosa Boulevard

Fort Walton Beach

Time: Dinner and show begin at 7 p.m.

The Okaloosa Arts Alliance and Act4Murder are teaming up for a fundraiser at the Wyndham Garden Inn on Okaloosa Island on April 12. Okaloosa Arts Alliance supports and promotes art, music, and culture in Okaloosa County, enhancing the cultural environment of our community. The show, ON STAGE FOR MURDER, gives you a backstage look at what really goes on in the green room during a night of songs, dances and plenty of murderous fun! Enjoy a delicious three-course, plated dinner during this fundraising event for a worthy cause. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling Amy at 850.499.8335 or online at www.okaloosaarts.org. Visit www.act4murder.com for additional show night details.

Brunch at Jackacudas

The newest seafood and sushi restaurant on Destin Harbor has just announced that it will host brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. They offer bottomless mimosas and fresh food with a great view. Check it out this weekend! www.jackacudas.com

Photo credit: Jackacudas Seafood & Sushi

Cox Charity Auction to Benefit Covenant Hospice

Cox Media

320 NW Racetrack Road

Fort Walton Beach

Cox presents the Cox Charity Auction to benefit Covenant Hospice, beginning April 12 through May 10. Formerly the Cox Cablethon, this year’s event will feature four week-long auctions hosted online at www.CoxCharityAuction.com. Each auction features a variety of packages starting at 40 percent of the retail value. Additional auction items include paddleboard rentals, spa and massage services, kiteboarding lessons, gym memberships, golf outings, original artwork, diamond jewelry, tickets to performing arts events and concerts, as well as gift certificates to local and national chain restaurants.

The online auction schedule is as follows: Auction One, April 12-19; Auction Two, April 19-26; Auction Three, April 26-May 3; Auction Four, May 3-10. Each auction will feature different items available for bidding. For more information about Covenant Hospice or to make a hospice inquiry, contact the local branch office at 850.729.1800 or visit www.CovenantHospice.org.

Sunday, April 13, 2014:

Spring Musical Eggstravaganza

Destin Commons

4300 Legendary Drive, Suite 200

Destin

Time: 1-3 p.m.

Destin Commons will host this season-inspired event with Sinfonia Woodwind Quintet performing Peter and the Wolf. There will be a performance by members from the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra. Abrakadoodle will be on hand with children's crafts and face painting for families to enjoy throughout the afternoon. For more information, visit www.DestinCommons.com.

Sunday Brunch at Crab Island Cantina

Crab Island Cantina

2 Harbor Boulevard

Destin

Enjoy an awesome Sunday Brunch with one of the best views of the Destin Harbor. Drink bottomless Margaritas, Bloody Marys and Mimosas from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for $12 with the purchase of an entrée. CrabIslandCantina.com

Sunday Brunch at Harry T’s

Harry T’s Lighthouse

46 Harbor Boulevard

Destin

Enjoy a spectacular Sunday Brunch on the Destin Harbor. Brunch items are served with fresh fruits, a fresh bakery basket and your choice of fried potato hash browns or cheese grits. Bottomless Champagne with entrée purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. HarryTs.com

Your March 7-9, 2014 Weekend Entertainment Guide

It’s weekend time and that means time for back-to-back days of entertainment on the Emerald Coast! With Mardi Gras behind us, a variety of other events like runs, fundraisers, festivals and concert series are taking place this weekend. Temperatures are reported by www.weather.com to be in the low-50s for the low and the mid-60s for the high. The chance of precipitation is very slight.

As always, have a BEACHY weekend!

Friday, March 7, 2014:

WEAR ABC TV 3 Hosts Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Blood Drive

OneBlood

4900 Mobile Highway

Pensacola

7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Each year, WEAR ABC TV 3 along with Subway and Pensacola KIA Autosport thank blood donors who attend this event to save lives. Each blood donor will receive a wellness check and a cholesterol screening. Donors will also receive a “Blood Donors are Lucky Charms” T-shirt. Subway sandwiches will be served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Generally, healthy people ages 16 and older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Donors save countless lives every day.

www.OneBlood.org

30A Wine Festival to Benefit the Children’s Volunteer Health Network

Alys Beach

Throughout this weekend-long event, enjoy wine seminars, walkabouts, after parties, live music and so much more! There will also be bourbon and beer tasting paired with barbecue, and pork and pinot featuring croquet.

www.30AWineFestival.com

Photo credit: 30AWineFestival.com. This photo was taken at last year's 30A Wine Festival.

Oyster Reef Construction - Volunteer Opportunity with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA)

Placid Drive

Fort Walton Beach

(Meet at the end of Harrelson Drive)

From 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., volunteers will help the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance move and place bagged oyster shells at the reef site. Wear gloves, clothes and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and wet. Bring a towel, sunscreen, bug spray and a hat. Bring refillable water bottle and snacks. To RSVP, contact Gwinr@nwfsc.edu.

Horizons of Okaloosa County & Act4Murder present Killer in the Kitchen

Wyndham Garden of Fort Walton Beach

573 Santa Rosa Blvd.

Fort Walton Beach

Act4Murder will perform one of the fantastic interactive productions along with dinner, a cash bar and a silent auction. Tickets are $55 per person and all proceeds benefit Horizons. Bring your best detective skills and ready yourself for fun, food and surprises! This year’s performance is titled “Killer in the Kitchen” (think reality cooking show) and just might have an appearance by a celebrity chef! For more information, find Act4Murder on Facebook.

  

Saturday, March 8, 2014:
37th Annual McGuire's St. Patrick's Prediction Run
McGuire's Irish Pub
600 E Gregory Street
Pensacola
From 8 a.m. - noon, everyone is welcome to run/walk in the McGuire's St. Patrick's Prediction 5K Run/Walk. The run begins and ends at McGuire's Irish Pub in Pensacola. Don the color green and come on out for a fun time!
https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Pensacola/McGuiresStPatricksDayPrediction5KRun 

Run For the Health of It 5K/8K

Saint Mary Parish Life Center

165 Coral Ave.

Fort Walton Beach

Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner and show begin at 7 p.m.

The second annual Run For the Health of It 5K/8K run/walk will be hosted by Saint Mary Parish Life Center on March 8. The race is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Participants of all ages and athletic abilities are welcome. The run will help raise funds to provide healthcare services and education to our local community via the new White-Wilson Community Foundation.

www.WhiteWilsonCommunityFoundation.org

The Rat Pack is Back – Special NFSO Fundraiser

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

100 College Blvd. E

Mainstage Theater

Northwest Florida State College

Niceville

“The Rat Pack is Back!” presents a special performance March 8 at 7:30 p.m. to benefit the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO). This smash-hit show is in its 14^th successful year in Las Vegas. Relive the great songs and terrific voices of the original Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact 850.729.6000 or www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.

Home School Fridays

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida

115 Westview Ave.

Valparaiso

March 7 will be the next Home School Friday. The month of March features “Can you ‘Dig It?’ ” During these classes, questions such as “What is an archaeologist?” and “What is the process for unearthing and recording historical objects?” will be answered and explained. Participants will discover important vocabulary terms related to archaeology. You will also get to work together with the teachers with digging, investigating, observing, and collecting and recording data. This hands-on learning experience is one-of-a-kind, so come on out and explore! Space is limited. Please pre-register by calling 850.678.2615.

Tequila and Taco Fest

HarborWalk Village

10 Harbor Blvd.

Destin

1-5 p.m.

Tequila and Specialty Taco Tastings from HarborWalk Village restaurants and other local venues. Live entertainment, raffles, Lick ‘em, Shoot ‘em, Bite ‘em and Eat ‘em Contest and more. VIP After Party at Crab Island will include Reserve Tequilas, live entertainment and more. Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army. Price is free to attend/$10 Tasting Armband/$25 VIP After Party ticket.

ADSO Life Sculpture Workshop

Arts & Design Society of Fort Walton Beach, Inc.

17 1^st Street SE

Fort Walton Beach

9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Participants will create Marquette-size clay sculptures of a live model during this half-day sculpture workshop. Cost of workshop: $25 for members, $30 for non-members, plus a tip for the model. Cost may change, depending on the number of artists. Clay, firing and model fee are included in the cost. Advance registration and payment are required. Please call 850.244.1271 or visit the ADSO office Tuesday-Friday from noon – 4 p.m.

Texas Hold ‘em Poker Shoot Out

Elks Lodge #1795 on Okaloosa Island

1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy.

Fort Walton Beach

The top 10 finishers in this 3^rd Annual Poker Tournament will be awarded prizes. Tickets are sold in advance and at the door. All proceeds to benefit American Cancer Society and Relay for Life of the Emerald Coast. For more information, contact Poker Director Bea at sadie220@yahoo.com or via phone at 850.225.5679.

Spring Break 2014 Concert Series

HarborWalk Village

10 Harbor Blvd.

Destin

Saturdays, March 8, 15, 22 and 29

All guests and locals are invited to HarborWalk Village to enjoy a free Spring Break concert on these Saturday nights on the Destin Harbor. Concerts are free and open to the public. March 8: Gypsy Riot 2-5 p.m. (part of Tequila and Taco Fest), March 15: Continuum TBD (part of 6^th Annual Irish Street Festival), March 22: Gypsy Riot 7-9 p.m. and March 29: Gypsy Riot 7-9 p.m.

Saturday Latin Night at Crab Island Cantina

Crab Island Cantina

2 Harbor Blvd. #100

Destin

Every Saturday Night is Latin Night with “DJ Vasco.” From 9 p.m. – 2 a.m., dance to Bachata, Merenque, Salsa, Reggaeton and top 40. Drink specials all night.

www.CrabIslandCantina.com

2014 Emerald Coast Football Combine

4200 Indian Bayou Drive

Destin

The 2014 Emerald Coast Football Combine is set for March 8 at the Morgan Sports Complex in Destin. Current and former college and high school coaches will be on hand to participate. The goal of this organization is to get scholarships for as many kids as possible. For more information, please call 850.240.0693.

Coconut Kids and Toys & Treasures to Join Forces in Village of Baytowne Wharf

The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W

Destin

The Sandestin Retail Shops are combining two of their most popular stores to provide guests and locals with the ultimate children’s shopping destination. Coconut Kids, a children’s boutique featuring brand names for the little ones, will be joining Toys & Treasures in an expansion project to become the shopping experience unlike any other, catering to children of all ages. The Grand Reopening (seven days of fun) will take place March 9-15 in The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Sunday, March 9, 2014:

Sunday Brunch at Crab Island Cantina

Crab Island Cantina

2 Harbor Blvd. #100

Destin

Enjoy an awesome Sunday Brunch with one of the best views of the Destin Harbor. Drink bottomless Margaritas, Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with the purchase of an entrée. View the menu online. www.CrabIslandCantina.com/Events.html

The view of Crab Island Cantina from the water.

“So You Think You’re Funny?” at Crab Island Cantina

Crab Island Cantina

2 Harbor Blvd. #100

Destin

Crab Island Cantina on the Destin Harbor hosts a comedy competition every Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m. with sign up at 5 p.m. Sixteen weeks of competition with weekly winners to compete for the grand prize of performing at the world famous Comedy Store on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California. The overall winner will receive two round-trip tickets and a three-day, two-night stay at Wyndham Resorts. For more information, please contact Ed Joseph at 321.230.0487.

www.crabislandcantina.com/events.html

Sunday Brunch at Harry T’s

46 Harbor Blvd.

Destin

Come out to Harry T’s for a delicious Sunday Brunch on the Destin Harbor. Brunch items are served with fresh fruit, a fresh bakery basket and your choice of fried potato, hash browns or cheese grits. Bottomless champagne with entrée purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. http://www.harryts.com/.