St. Augustine Traveler’s Tidbits
Issue 5

It's a magical time of the year in St. Augustine! Be sure to make plans to visit during December. There are many delightful special events scheduled that you won't want to miss.

Thousands of twinkling white lights turn our town into a sparkling wonderland with the Nights of Lights celebration that continues from now through January 31st.

Visit for a day or two or spend a week; start an annual tradition, spend Christmas in St. Augustine.

Included in this issue:

• December in St. Augustine - News From Our Home
• What's New at St– Augustine-Travel-Guide.com - More exciting pages for your viewing pleasure.
• Special Review
• January Events
• Spring Events
• Build Your Own Web Business

December in St. Augustine

Greetings from our home,

December is one of my favorite months of the year in St. Augustine. Once the twinkling white lights come on in November it truly becomes a wonderland. Many of the townsfolk get into the spirit and string lights around their properties which adds so much to our community.

Warming up by the fire.

It seems every weekend from now until January we have something special planned.

There is the Winter Wonderland at the Amphitheatre, the Tour of Homes, the Tour of Bed and Breakfast, the Regatta of Lights, the British Night Watch and on and on.

Keep reading for a complete list.

It has been a bit chilly here over the last few weeks. We usually don't use our wood stove until January but several mornings these past weeks I have awoken to a crackling fire in the stove. Our cold evenings are perfect for a cozy fire.

I know our chilly weather is actually warm and balmy compared to what our friends and family are dealing with up north. Brrr. When it's snowy and cold outside I hope you'll stay inside where it's warm and spend a few minutes visiting St-Augustine-Travel-Guide.com to plan your winter vacation here with us.

Jim and I have one last art show for 2008 this coming weekend, December 5 - 7 in Charleston, South Carolina. It is the Christmas Made in the South show held at Exchange Park. Then we take a few weeks off from our bird business before we start preparing for our 2009 shows. Stop by and say hello if you are in the area.

I hope you'll take advantage of this wonderful time of the year and make plans to visit St. Augustine, you'll be glad you did.

From our family to yours - we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

We hope to see you soon.

All the best,
Lynn

What’s New at St-Augustine-Travel-Guide.com:

Several new pages are up that you'll want to be sure to look over.

You'll want to read our interview with Anthea Manny. She is the head of the British Night Watch which is a wonderful event held the first weekend in December. It's a great way to start your Christmas season.

Does a few days relaxing at the beach sound good? Check out our new St. Augustine Beach page. It includes fun things to do and our new St. Augustine Beach Restaurants page. Lots of good information.

Coming soon: St. Augustine Art and Culture pages where I'll introduce you to our talented artists, guide you to our local art galleries and tell you all about our monthly Artwalk and Uptown San Marco events. You won't want to miss this.

Be sure to check back often to see what‘s new.

Special St. Augustine Restaurant Review:

The Kenney's
Purple Olive

Purple Olive is a restaurant you’ll really enjoy. It’s location shouldn’t fool you as it’s located in a strip mall, but the food is far from anything commonplace and the atmosphere is quiet and low-key.

What’s so innovative about this pleasant place is that the owners Peter and Deidre Kenney offer you a unique menu.

Besides the usual choices of appetizers and salads and entrees, you also have the opportunity to pick from the chef’s grill.

Did I mention that owner Peter is also the chef?

The chef’s grill gives you the opportunity to build your own entree.

You may order from the diverse menu of anything from catch of the day, or several beef selections, chicken or pork to herb rubbed tofu and then you pick from an assortment of sauces to accompany your choice plus choose from a variety of side items. Sautéed kale with pine nuts and golden raisins is one of my favorites. This is a unique way of eating.

Let’s not forget desserts. All are made right on the premises and include such delights as creme brulé, fruit tarts and a chocolate toffee gâteau not to be missed. There are wines and beers to delight everyone's tastes.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 5:00 p.m.

Purple Olive
4255 A1A S, Seaside Plaza, Suite 6
Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904)461-1250

Reviewed by the St. Augustine Beach Food Snob

Upcoming St. Augustine Events:

December Events:

• December 1 - 31 Winter Wonderland - St. Augustine Amphitheatre - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• December 3 - Luminary Night at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Free 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
• December 5 - 14 - Festival of Trees; World Golf Village
• December 5 - First Friday Art Walk; Downtown St. Augustine
This is a BIG weekend!
• December 5 - British Night Watch presents An Evening of British Isle Music Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum Free 8:00 p.m.
• December 6 - British Night Watch Grande Illumination Parade - Downtown St. Augustine 8:00 p.m.
• December 6 - St. Augustine Christmas Parade - Downtown 10:00 a.m.
• December 7 - 40th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes - presented by the Garden Club of St. Augustine - noon - 5:00 p.m.
• December 13 - 14 - Annual Holiday Tour of Bed & Breakfast Inns - 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. each day. Sponsored by St. Augustine Historic Inns.
• December 13 - Regatta of Lights - Bay front 6:00 p.m.
• December 14 - Handel's Messiah - Cathedral Cathedral Basilica 3:00 p.m.
• December 14 - Luminaries in the Plaza - Downtown 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• December 17 - Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops - Emma Concert Series, Flagler Auditorium 8:00 p.m.
• December 20 - 18th Century Christmas Caroling - Plaza downtown 7:00 p.m.
• December 27 - Uptown Saturday Night - San Marco Avenue just north of the visitor's center.

January Events:

• January 1 - 4 - Winter Wonderland - St. Augustine Amphitheatre - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• January 1 - 31 - Nights of Lights - Downtown St. Augustine
• January 2 - First Friday Art Walk; Downtown St. Augustine
• January 10 - Three Penny Symphony Mac Frampton: Pop Go the Classics - Emma Concert Series, Flagler Auditorium 8:00 p.m.
• January 10 - Twelfth Night Ball - Government House, west end of the Plaza 7:00 p.m.
• January 18 - Ballet Jorgen Anastasia - Emma Concert Series, Flagler Auditorium 2:00 p.m.
• January 23, 25 - La Boheme - First Coast Opera - Pedro Menendez Performing Arts Center -Friday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
• January 24 - The Czech Symphony Orchestra - Emma Concert Series, Flagler Auditorium 8:00 p.m.
• January 31 - Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra - Emma Concert Series, Flagler Auditorium 8:00 p.m.

Winter Events:

• February 8 - Art Garfunkle in Concert with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
• February 14 - A Day in Old Florida - Faver-Dykes State Park
• March 28 - 30 - The Pirates of Penzance - First Coast Opera
• More to Come next month.

Have you thought about building your own web business? If I can do it you can do it. I highly recommend SiteSell, the company I use to build this site. What I love, is that they teach you how to build a web business not just put up a website. How to be successful.

Dr. Ken Evoy, the founder, really delivers. I have never met him, but you know what, he seems like a friend that really cares whether I and my fellow SBI'ers are successful. Dr. Evoy has changed lives! Check out My Website Story and see what you think.

Watch for these new pages coming to St-Augustine-Travel-Guide.com very soon:

• St. Augustine Eco-Tours
• St. Augustine Art

Ok, that's it for this issue - see you next time and I hope you have a wonderful visit to St. Augustine, Florida, my hometown!

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