Bring your kids out for a FREE, fun-filled morning of science! This event sponsored by WFSU at the Challenger Learning Center on South Duval Street is designed for the younger set, ages 6-10, but it offers something for the entire family to enjoy. Bring your crew out for a breakfast buffet, science demonstrations, a cool robot building craft, raffles and a screening of Sid the Science Kid: The Movie. Come bright and early for the breakfast, which will be served from 9 AM until 10:30 AM, and then the movie will play from 10:30 until noon, with festivities going on all throughout the morning. If you would like more information, please visit their website http://wfsu.org/sidmovie or call Sarah Mesterton-Gibbons at 850.487.3170 ext. 325.

Tallahassee's San Luis Mission Historical Site, our version of the famous Williamsburg attraction, is the focus of the first chapter in my newest book, The Great Florida Seminole Trail: Complete Guide to Seminole Indian Historic and Cultural Sites. At first glance, San Luis is an unlikely place to begin the Seminole Trail. First of all, the site's historical time period-1656 to 1704-preceded the mass migrations of Creek Indians from the north who, along with escaped slaves, would swell the population of Florida‘s Indians and form an amalgamation of people known as Seminoles. Before the Seminoles arrived, Apalachee Indians lived in north Florida with Spanish missionaries. They grew large amounts of corn to help feed the beleaguered Spanish city of St. Augustine.

When the English and their Creek Indian allies invaded in 1704, most Apalachee Indians were killed or dispersed, their former territory nearly completely denuded of people. Slowly, over the next few decades, Indians began to break away from the various Muscogee Creek bands to the north and resettle the land of the Apalachee, perhaps assimilating any Apalachee survivors still in the area. These Creek Indians settled the Apalachee capital of Anhaica and called it Tulwa-hassee, "Old Town" or "Old Fields" in acknowledgment of the former residents. They settled along rivers such as the Apalachicola, long used as trade routes for their predecessors, and they made frequent forays to the coast for seafood and items such as whelk shells. Eventually, they were called simano-li by their Creek brethren to the north, a term borrowed from the Spanish word cimarron, meaning "wild" or "runaway." Some linguists and historians postulate that the Creek definition also meant "separatist" or "those who camp at a distance."

Today, in walking the grounds of San Luis and perusing the reconstructed Spanish and Apalachee buildings, you begin to grasp a large-scale 17th century experiment in cultural exchange. A large plaza was set up with a church and priest quarters on one side and the chief's hut and an immense circular Apalachee council house on the other. Two traditional styles of architecture were at play-the Spanish waddle and daub and plank buildings, and the pole and thatch Apalachee structures.

The Apalachee council house could hold the entire adult San Luis Apalachee population of 1,400 plus guests. Other villages, along with those of nearby Creek Indians, had similar-sized council houses. To step inside the reconstructed building, with its sweet aroma of smoke and seasoned thatch, is almost dizzying. It is astonishing and worthy of Stonehenge comparisons to think these giant logs, weighing several tons each, were hoisted up by manual labor and handmade ropes. One can sense the oratory that once occurred here, along with dances and other ceremonies.

The San Luis historic site also has a museum, Spanish fort, gardens, blacksmith shop and other attractions. Living history interpreters in period costume are often stationed at various points, especially on weekends and special events. For outdoor lovers, there is a scenic hiking trail along a forested hillside and stream worthy of exploration.

On Saturday, April 6th, at 10:30 a.m., I'm giving a talk at Mission San Luis about the Great Florida Seminole Trail. Feel free to come out. The lecture is free to members and costs the price of admission for non-members. And be sure to roam the grounds afterwards and you'll see why San Luis is worthy of Williamsburg comparisons.

Ok, I was almost giddy when I heard about this event. I know it sounds crazy, but I have always wanted to know how to make kimchee. I'd never, ever attempt to make it without an expert advising me...and Whole Foods Educator Jill Welch is just that. Kimchee is a pro-biotic pickled vegetable condiment from Korea, and apparently, not so hard to make, (when you know what you're doing). It also is said to promote healthy digestion and is a delicious condiment with rice, as well as lots of other foods. New Leaf Market is located at 1235 Apalachee Parkway. If you'd like more information about this workshop (which is completely free, by the way) call Jean Crozier at 850.942.2557 ext. 229.

There aren't a lot of things you can do in this world for free, but here is one you don't want to miss, plus, you'll even learn something...and all, on your lunch hour! In honor of Women's History Month in March, Florida State Archives Historian Jon Grandage presents an overview of women's history from the Florida State Archives. His presentation features examples of remarkable women in Florida history and he will explain how the study of women has broadened our understanding of history. This lecture series takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month and local experts discuss topics related to Florida history, culture and arts. They all take place at the Museum of Florida History on Bronough Street. Visit www.museumoffloridahistory.com or call 850.245.6400 for more information.

Irish singer Naomi O'Connell was hailed by the New York Times as "a radiant mezzo-soprano" after her West End debut as a young, aspiring opera singer in 2012. An international prizewinner, Ms. O'Connell was recently awarded first prize in the 2011 Concert Artists Guild competition and the Altamura/Caruso International Singing Competition in New York. A gifted musician, and natural performer, Ms. O'Connell deftly balances her love of opera with that of art song, musical theatre and popular song with her wide ranging repertoire. Brought up in County Clare, Ireland, she began her vocal training at thirteen, and recently graduated from the Julliard School in New York, where she completed an Artist Diploma in Opera Studies. General admission is $30 ($5 for students). To purchase tickets and more information, please visit www.theartistseries.org

The Florida Panhandle's remote Torreya State Park near Bristol offers more than adventure and wilderness exploration. When I visit, I am a pilgrim drawn to the sacred. The bluffs and ravines within and around this north Florida gem are so unique that some local residents had gone so far as to claim it was the original Garden of Eden, the one where Adam romped with Eve in a natural paradise until lured by Satan to bite the forbidden apple.

Almost every family of fruit tree is represented in the 2,500 plus-acre preserve, from pear to fig. Even the apple--Southern crabapple to be exact--can be found in hollows and deep ravines, along the shores of gold-tinted creeks. Only don't try eating this fruit straight from the branch. Its bitterness will long linger on the palate, and pucker the lips.

On my visits to Eden, I am always astounded by the abrupt change in scenery and topography when I near Torreya's gates. Miles of rolling pine farms, where planted sand pines grow in monotonous, even rows, give way to expansive arms of moss-bearded live oaks. I drive around a bend and sharply descend, experiencing a rare if not imagined taste of Florida mountain driving.

At road's end, a reconstructed antebellum plantation house right out of Gone With the Wind stands atop a tall bluff overlooking the wide Apalachicola River. Touring the structure, I often marvel at the rich river history depicted by drawings and photographs-Indian renegades, riverboat pirates, "Mississippi" gamblers, paddlewheelers and Civil War.

More than fifteen miles of hiking trails wind along the Apalachicola River and interior ravines, and newly acquired adjacent lands will likely open up new hiking opportunities. The terrain is surprisingly steep and the day hiker has the choice of taking one of two seven-mile loop trails-both if one seeks a strenuous challenge. Three backcountry campsites have been strategically placed for those seeking to stretch out the experience.

I often hike the river loop. I usually begin at the mansion and soon descend the bluff past sites of Civil War battery placements once geared for shooting Union boats. The guns never saw action. The raptor's view of this valley remained peaceful during the war years.

Moving onward, the terrain becomes steep. Large roots finger over the trail, having created earthen steps in angled hillsides. Broad-headed skinks scurry through brown leaf mold. If it is spring, they move through fallen blossoms of dogwood and flame azalea. Large white atamasco lilies and trillium flowers sometimes fringe the trail along with bright red carpets of Indian pink. Needle palm, river cane and the taller oak leaf hydrangea dominate the larger understory of flora. Overhead, huge magnolia, beech, white oak and sweetgum trees form lush, shaded canopies.

Deep in the ravines, amid tiny fingerlings of cascading water, is where I usually find the torreya tree, otherwise known as "stinking cedar." Its dark green, waxy needles fan symmetrically on either side of a spindly trunk. This was the famous gopherwood that built the ark, Calloway maintained. The wood's resin has a pungent odor, thus the "stinking cedar" moniker, something Noah would surely have found repulsive when mixed with other smells in an animal-packed ark. The torreya, along with the similar looking Florida yew, grows naturally nowhere else in the world. Once cut for fence posts, a fungal blight now strikes down each torreya tree before they reach maturity, threatening this rare species with extinction in the wild.

Torreya Park is where I often stretch my botanical knowledge. If this area is not the biblical Eden, then it surely is a botanical one. There is Appalachian mountain laurel, Carolina poplar, ashe magnolia, bloodroot and downy rattlesnake plantain, all species more commonly found in Southern Appalachia. Several seed varieties may have floated down the Apalachicola, the river being the only Florida watercourse with mountain origins. Not surprisingly, in the year 2000, the Nature Conservancy highlighted the Apalachicola River bluffs and ravines as a major reason north Florida was selected as one of six regions in the United States having the highest levels of biodiversity.

Eden is best enjoyed with a slight nip in the air, when all-encompassing breezes sweep across the bluffs as if sent by gods.

Some day, when I am completely gray-haired and in the autumn of life, I will visit Torreya to hike the same trails and touch the same trees of my youth. I will smell flowers of a new spring, sense the alpha and omega of my bodily existence, and grasp the unceasing life force. Isn't that what an Eden is for-a barometer of existence, a place for searching and finding, a place to jump off from?

Torreya is Eden. It is completely unique, and yet, there are a thousand more like it, in forests and rivers, coastlines, swamps, mountains and deserts. It is found in small nooks of greenery, whether a city park or backyard, porch or rooftop garden. It is anywhere people have yearned for the natural, and have found it. It is, simply, Eden.

See the work of one of the most influential artists of all time - Flemish Baroque Master Peter Paul Rubens at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts until March 31, 2013. On loan from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the exhibition showcases the beautiful engravings made from his artwork by talented engravers in Spain, England and France, thus making Ruben's compositions available for the enjoyment of an international audience. The FSU Museum is open from 9 AM until 4 PM on Monday through Friday, and 1 AM until 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday. It will be closed Spring Break (March 9-17) with the exception of arranged tours. All museum exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. Call 850.644.6836 for more information.

You have less than a month to see this magnificent and endangered creature in Tallahassee, because on March 1st, the Tallahassee Museum's winter guest animal, will no longer be in residence. This 300 pound, 20 year old male tiger comes to the Tallahassee Museum from the Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation in Gainesville, Florida. The Bengal tiger exhibit is included in general admission, and is completely free for Museum members. Tallahassee Museum is located at 3945 Museum Drive, and is open from 9 am until 5 pm Monday through Saturday, and from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Admission prices vary and range from 9 to 6 dollars (free for children 3 and under). Visit their website or call 850.575.8684 for even more information.

Paddlers, get your sea kayaks ready! Wakulla County is putting together the Apalachee Bay Maritime Heritage Paddling Trail System, a set of ten saltwater paddling trails for both beginning and experienced paddlers. Trail lengths range from three to eight miles through a variety of coastal habitats.

A really great collection of art by a group of 40 Southern artists and craftspeople will be on display at the Thomasville Center for the Arts (600 East Washington Street) until February 14th, 2013 and also on their website. All pieces are by local artists and are available for purchase, as well. This work from the Thomasville Artist Collective, who calls Studio 209 in Thomasville, Georgia home, pushes the limits of creativity and is not to be missed by any art lover. Featured here is a beautiful painting by Hahira artist Jill Bright. Jill, an animal lover, lives on a farm and many of her works feature pets, livestock and wildlife. These art exhibitions are offered quarterly, so call 229.226.0588 for more information, or to find out when the next show is scheduled!

The Cheiftains, led by founder Paddy Moloney, have won six Grammys, and an Oscar, too!  You will not want to miss these musical ambassadors who celebrated their 50^th anniversary in 2012 with performances around the world.  Producer T-Bone Burnett has said of the group: “Throughout all these decades, Paddy and the Cheiftains have maintained their artistic integrity and the joy of making those ancient sounds and calling up those ancient spirits.”  And the New York Times says when describing their performances: “Joy…utterly Irish, carried aloft by tin whistles, skin drums, pipes, guitars and stomping feet.”  This is a concert you’ll never forget.  February 11, 2013 at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in the Wescott Building on FSU’s campus.  Ticket prices range from $75-$35 (only $10 for students) and you can visit their website for more information, and to purchase them.

Since I coordinate most of the state's designated paddling trails for the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails, many people want to know my favorite river. I try to be coy in answering. After all, Florida might have the largest number of scenic and diverse paddling trails of any state in the nation. Plus, my evaluation is subjective and highly influenced by geography. While I have sampled many of Florida's streams, the rivers I paddle frequently are the ones within an hour's drive of my home near Tallahassee, so naturally my favorite would be one of those.

Having lived most of my life in the warmer climate of southern Florida, winter in Tallahassee is my favorite part of the year. When I am not bundling up to go out to the bars, I enjoy watching movies while wrapped up in a warm blanket at home. The best are the blankets that have been in the family for decades, handed down through the generations. Knowing that the hands that patiently created the blanket were the same ones that made your favorite treats growing up makes the warmth kept by those fibers all the more cozy.

The American tenor James Valenti, is coming to Thomasville to perform his beautiful love songs and serenades, thanks to the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation (TEF). On Tuesday, January 29th, at 8 pm, he'll be on stage at the Thomasville Center for the Arts at 600 East Washington Street. In 2010 this highly acclaimed singer was praised by the prestigious Richard Tucker Awards, who recognized him as an American singer poised on the edge of international stardom. This dashing young tenor continues to win accolades for his elegant singing and handsome stage presence in performances at major opera houses all around the world. His TEF program will include beautiful songs performed in Italian, French and English. Visit their website or call 229.226.7404 for tickets and more information - you won't want to miss this fantastic event.

An important voice in the world of chamber music is coming to Tallahassee! Get your tickets now to hear The Jupiter String Quartet. This intimate and tightly knit ensemble plays venues across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They have played in all the finest halls including New York's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, London's Wigmore Hall, Boston's Jordan Hall, and Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center and Library of Congress. The Quartet will perform on Sunday, January 27th from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Opperman Music Hall on Florida State's campus. The program will feature Shubert's Quartet in E-flat Major, D 87, and Brahms' Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1. and promises to be an evening you won't soon forget. For tickets and more information, please visit The Artist Series of Tallahassee's website.

Tallahassee has a big backyard. That's because more than half a million acres of the Apalachicola National Forest begins around the airport and extends west to the Apalachicola River and south to Tate's Hell Swamp near the coast. Unspoiled rivers course through vast stands of cypress and pine, many of which offer prime paddling opportunities, but if you're seeking an outing close to home, a string of ponds and lakes and some of the nicest longleaf pine sandhills found anywhere exist as a partial beltway of natural Florida around the capital city.

An opening reception for Navigating New Worlds: Identity, Perception & Politics in Florida will be held January 17, 2013 at The Florida Historic Capitol Museum on South Monroe Street. This fascinating exhibit will run until the end of the year, and is part of the statewide VivaFlorida 500 commemoration of Ponce de Leon's landing in Florida.  

New to the scene, Joe Mama's Wood Fired Pizza sounds like a tongue in cheek place to eat but they aren't kidding about their pizzas. Focusing on the demographic of people who want more out of their pizza than sheer volume, Joe Mama's brings more of an upscale vibe to the everyday pizza place.

Looking for something fun and educational to do with the kids on a cold Saturday morning? On the second Saturday of every month (the 12th of January is the next one) the Gadsden Arts Center at 13 North Madison Street in Quincy, Florida hosts an art workshop. From 10:30 until noon, retired Gadsden County Schools art instructor Donna Lowman, along with her education assistant, Anissa Ford teach adults and children to appreciate and create beautiful art. This month, you can learn to make amazing marbleized paper! These hands-on instructional workshops are just $2 per person if you aren't already a member of the Arts Center, and if you are, admission is free - quite a bargain to learn a new skill, have a little fun, and you even get to take your masterpiece home! For more information, call Director Grace Maloy at 850.875.4866 or visit their website. 

Just before the winter solstice, I caught up with Daniel Alvarez, Tallahassee's own intrepid kayaking voyageur. In case you missed my June post, Daniel has been kayaking more than six months from the northernmost point in the contiguous United States (in Minnesota) to the southernmost point in Key West. Daniel was just paddling out of New Orleans when he answered my battery of questions via e-mail. True to his nature, he took the historic portage between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River because he "felt like paying homage to the city's founding history."

One of our favorite places to go even before our daughter was born is Lofty Pursuits in Market Square. They have some of the best ice cream and milkshakes I've ever had-all prepared fresh right in front of you by real soda jerks. I will admit we were walking by their store on our way to another when a man tossing what I thought was a rope in the air caught my eye. Once we walked in to see what he was doing we discovered he was actually making candy canes! The smell alone was enough to make your mouth water, and from there we were hooked.

Club Downunder is one of Florida State University's best kept secrets. I say that it's a secret because during my time as an undergrad, I found that a lot of people had no idea that there was an awesome music venue on campus in the student union.

Through the years, so many great bands have passed through Club Downunder during their tours of the south east. Some notable acts that graced the stage include Death Cab for Cutie, The National and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Also, last year, 80's alt rock band "Meat Puppets" played to a packed house, drawing people from North Florida and Georgia.

Dorothy B. Oven Park is a very special spot for our family; it's where we take our family pictures for Christmas and even the spot my husband asked me to marry him. Seeing all the lights and beautiful holiday decorations up at this time of year also make this a popular destination for lots of residents and visitors alike in Tallahassee.

I recently paddled the Wekiva River/Rock Springs Run, one of Florida's two federally designated wild and scenic rivers. Only a few miles north of Orlando, it was difficult to realize that more than two million people live within thirty miles of the river system. The water was sparkling clear, turtles sunned on logs, limpkins probed for apple snails in vast mats of native spadderdock and pennyroyal, and there was not a speck of invasive hydrilla in sight. "The Wekiva is considered one of the most protected waters in the state," Wekiva aquatic preserve manager Deborah Shelley said, "but we still have challenges in the basin."

My birthday passed not too long ago and Lindsay wanted to take me somewhere nice. Somewhere a little classier than my tried and true favorites. "It's your birthday," she told me. "You shouldn't waste your time ordering food at a counter." After running through the short list of the finer local establishments that we knew of, we agreed on going to Kool Beanz Café, since we have both heard so many great things about it.

Yet another way to get you into the spirit of the holidays...the internationally celebrated conductor Kenneth Kiesler and a world-class vocal quartet will collaborate with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra for a spectacular evening of music on December 15th! And as an added bonus, this beautiful celebration of Tallahassee's finest musicians will also include as part of the program our city's own Tallahassee Youth Orchestra Symphony. This fantastic evening of music will offer inspiration, entertainment and plenty of holiday joy with favorites such as Twas the Night Before Christmas and an audience sing-along. The main concert begins at 8:00 pm, but be sure to come early (6:30 pm) for happy hour drinks and a pre-concert in the lobby of Ruby Diamond, where the main event will take place. If you aren't already a TSO season ticket holder, you can call 644-6500 for single tickets to this event.

Both my husband and I love to eat out in Tallahassee; there are many local restaurants that serve so many different types of cuisine. One of our favorite places to go is Coosh's Bayou Rouge located off of Thomasville Road in the Permission Hill shopping center. They have a great selection of all sorts of yummy Cajun food, a great kids menu and some of the best muffaletta ever!

The holidays are coming...and so are the beautiful Christmas ballets! You won't want to miss Christmas In Narnia - an original story ballet produced by Performing Arts Center of Tallahassee (PACT) and Company Etudes Youth Ensemble Ballet. Two performances are offered - Friday, December 14th at 7 pm and Saturday, December 15th at 2 pm and will take place at The Leaf Theatre in historic downtown Quincy. Tickets are selling fast, so visit their website for more information about how to get yours.

Come share the holiday spirit with friends and family at Maclay Gardens Annual Camellia Christmas Celebration. This perfect introduction to the season is sponsored by The Department of Environmental Protection and is free and open to the public. Take a stroll along the candle lit walk and hear the beautiful music provided by our talented local musicians. Enjoy hot cider and cookies while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. You'll even be able to take some of the beauty home if you're the winning bid on festive holiday wreaths and decorations donated by local merchants in a silent auction. All proceeds from the sale of these beautiful decorations will benefit your state park. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens is located just off of Thomasville Road near the I-10 exit on the north side of Tallahassee. Call 850-487-4556 for more information.

If old fashioned wholesome family fun is what you're looking for, you'll definitely find it here. The historic Pebble Hill Plantation, just off Highway 319, a few miles north of the Florida-Georgia line has a great holiday event planned for all ages. Pay just $20 for your entire carload (pack up the entire family!) - and you'll all be in for a whole lot of fun. From 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, on December 8th you and your brood can participate in, and enjoy all of the activities including hay rides, visiting with Santa, crafts you can take home, storytelling, and even holiday music. The main house and grounds will be decked out in all of its holiday finery, and food will be available for purchase on the grounds. Visit the Pebble Hill Plantation website for even more information.

Trees that talk aren't reserved entirely for movies and fantasy books. They are also found at the Bear Creek Educational Forest along Highway 267 in Gadsden County. The Florida Forest Service has put together an impressive push button story program about trees in the forest along a paved self-discovery trail. And beyond the paved trail along five miles of hiking trails, numerous signs continue the education about our area's native trees and shrubs. It's a great way to learn while enjoying the sights and smells of a mature forest along with clear sand-bottomed creeks that emerge from three-sided sand canyons known as steepheads.

"Octopus can really mess with your head, and not always in a good way," Jack Rudloe said, standing beside one the large saltwater tanks at Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea. "They are extremely intelligent, and if they lived longer, we might be in trouble." Rudloe described how octopus at the lab played with various toys, how they were escape artists, and how they started waving at a visiting marine scientist whenever she walked past.

This weekend at the Governor's Square Mall there is a great opportunity for any kids who haven't quite made their career choice yet. Santa and Rudolph will be having an Elf Academy on December 1st, in the Sears wing of the mall to give some special training to kids ages 3-6.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at one of Tallahassee's favorite events, all while benefitting the Tallahassee Museum! For 47 years, this juried arts & crafts festival has featured over 300 carefully selected vendors from across the country. They offer everything from stocking stuffers to extravagant handcrafted works of art that you will never find anywhere else. In addition to the great shopping, you'll really enjoy the fantastic food offerings (of course - my favorite part!).

I'm really looking forward to Market Days this year; it truly is an awesome place to buy unique, hand-made items that make great gifts to give year-round. This year the event will take place December 1-2 at the North Florida Fair Grounds with shopping hours on Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm and on Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm. There are also tickets available for early bird shopping on Saturday from 8:00am-10:00am for you early risers.

Of all the places to go during the weekend in Tallahassee, I find myself spending most of my time in the Gaines Street area. I can't help it if I've fallen in love with Fermentation Lounge and all that surrounds it. Now that it's fall, sitting outside is quite magical especially if you're wearing just enough layers.

The Artists' League of Tallahassee, an informal group of local artists who work in all types of media are sponsoring an Art & Antiques Fair AND Crafts Expo at the FSU Fine Arts Building (530 Call Street) for three days - November 29, 30 and December 1, 2012. What better combination of offerings could there be? My favorite things, all in one place - and I'm really excited! The Fair is free, open to the public and a great way to see all types of artists' work from the past and present. In exchange for the opportunity to sell their work at this venue, artists pay a small fee, then donate 10% of their sales to the museum, so it benefits everyone involved. The event takes place in the upper gallery, and will include antiques, jewelry, enameled metals, ceramics, and prints, in addition to many handcrafted items from members of the Artists' League. For more information, click here.

Well the football game my husband I both look forward to all year is finally upon us. He is a Gator fan and I am a Seminole fan so things will get a bit tense in the Rodriguez house this weekend. We have agreed to dress our daughter neutral this year, but the winner of the game will designate how she'll be dressed next year. I have faith she'll be wearing garnet and gold from head to toe next year though!

A sure sign that the holidays are near - tickets for The Nutcracker are now on sale! This beautiful ballet is being performed in FAMU's Lee Auditorium, and it's an extra special year, too... The twenty-fifth anniversary performance by the Pas de Vie Ballet company, which is a non-profit, semi-professional company of dancers, directors and sponsors dedicated to the preservation of the art of dance. Featuring Tallahassee's own Heather Neff (now with the Joffrey Ballet) as the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker will be performed twice, on Saturday, November 24 at 8 pm and a matinee on Sunday, November 25th at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 to $20, and are available online. The magical performance lasts ninety minutes with an intermission. This is a kid friendly event, so bring the whole family - all ages are welcome!

For many, there is a great calling from nature to escape the panicked rhythm of the city life and retreat back to a more natural state. One that is filled with fields, trees, and plenty of the unmistakable crispness of that Tallahassee air. Being part of an industry that lives and dies by the computer screen, I enjoy any break from its cold glow.

Our caravan of vehicles, topped with festive-colored canoes and kayaks, drove past several busy country churches on a recent Sunday morning. Cool temperatures and clear skies made it a near perfect day for an outing, and southern Jackson County near Marianna was a much anticipated destination.

By now, most of us have been introduced to sushi. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I love it all...especially when the chef is super creative with ingredients (that's where the ‘fusion' comes in). But if you're new to sushi eating, Kiku has a great page, on their website that explains each and every ingredient in great detail, thus erasing any anxiety you might have, (even a how-to for using chopsticks) - BEFORE you go!

Every once in a while I get into those pesky nostalgic moods where I have this urge to dig through my closet. I go on an afternoon long quest to find something from the days long gone to tinker around with for a few hours. The most recent time I found myself itching to play a video game from my childhood. Flowing through my head were memories of crawling through dungeons in search of loot and fighting off swarms of unholy legions. I had to somehow find the first game in the Diablo series.

It's almost that time again...OPA! Time for one of my very favorite weekends of the year - the Greek Food Festival - and if you're in Tallahassee, or anywhere near, do not miss it! It all takes place at the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church on Phillips Road. Admission is free and you can park your car along the road and walk the rest of the way in to the church. Greek bands perform all day long on both days, but are especially fun at night! Tour the Church, dance, and have a fantastic lunch, dinner and dessert. When you can't eat anymore, do take home all the wonderful Greek food you can carry. I (highly) recommend that you come as early as possible...all of the most popular foods sell out first, then you have to wait a whole year to get another chance to buy them!

Thick fog. Whiteness. A blank slate. I paddled this same Apalachicola River two years before, 106 miles from Jim Woodruff Dam to Apalachicola in five days as part of the annual Apalachicola RiverTrek. And like the previous trip, I had joined a group raising money for the Apalachicola Riverkeeper, and raising awareness about the river's plight. But the thick fog at the launch had already made it different.

Since 1996, Gordo's restaurant has been serving authentic Cuban cuisine in Tallahassee. If you've never personally experienced their food, you're really missing out on something great. The original restaurant is on Pensacola Street near FSU's campus, but they've just expanded with a second location in Market Square, on the north side of town, just off of I-10. Their sandwiches and burgers are delicious of course, but when you go, I also recommend you branch out and try some of the traditional Cuban fare, and not JUST the famous hot-pressed Cuban. The croquetas, yucca, empanadas and maduras are nothing short of amazing. Gordo's is well known for their seasoned fries with a signature sauce (don't forget to order an extra side of it) and do come hungry, because their portions are huge. I have never had a single bad thing on their menu, so feel free to be adventurous - I promise you won't be sorry.

This upcoming November is a big month for many people in Tallahassee. No matter what side of the aisle you're on, this campaign season has been exhausting. After a long year of mudslinging, we can all finally go out and cast our vote. Even though I'm excited to exercise my right to vote on the 6th, I'd be lying if I wasn't more interested in what is going on the Saturday before.

Zacadoo's Grille is a franchise that originated in Valdosta, GA, and has made its first out-of-state appearance right here in Tallahassee. Zacadoo's opened late last year on Appalachee Parkway, right next to the La Quinta Inn and across from the SunTrust bank.

When I first saw the building I was intrigued by the name and curious lack of windows. The building is a tan structure with no obvious entrance or exit. I had wondered if the place was one of those futuristic restaurants that were completely run by machines. That would explain the lack of windows and doors since robots don't need a view to produce quality and timely service.

As daytime temperatures become more tolerable, the draw of the outdoors grows. And it's not always a trail or wild place that calls. Sometimes, it's my own yard.

I get the gardening itch this time of year, but the problem is, my wife and I have let the Spanish Needles and other wildflowers take over our vegetable garden spaces after the early summer harvest, and this draws a profusion of bees and butterflies. They are entertaining to watch. And because the flowers often grow as tall as I am, I can easily get inches away at eye level.

Vertigo Burgers and Fries opened up a few months ago and seems like they have shaken up an already active burger community. They're located where Loopers Subs used to be on East Lafayette and Indianhead Drive. With places like Voodoo Dog, Bird's and Monks, I couldn't imagine a new burger place making that big of an impact. What else could you throw on a burger that any of the other places haven't magnificently done already?

Visit My Favorite Things on Friday, October 12 from 4-7 pm and take home your very own little piece of Italy. The founder of Vietri, (producer of fine Italian tabletop), Susan Gravely will be in the store to tell the fascinating story of how she began her company. Choose a piece of Vietri for your own collection, and Mrs. Gravely will embellish it with an Italian blessing for you while you chat with her. Each piece of her beautiful line is specially handcrafted by artisans in Italy. I can tell you personally not to miss this opportunity to meet this amazingly interesting woman. My Favorite Things is the exclusive retailer of Vietri in town, and even has the special designation of "Villa Vietri" - awarded by the company for their outstanding service. Stop by, absorb some Italian culture, hear some stories, and have some refreshments, too! Visit their website or call 681-2824 for more information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the very FIRST Annual Goodwood Jams Musical Celebration October 11-14, 2012, as all the proceeds raised during this concert series will go toward preserving the house, grounds, and the educational programs of this important Tallahassee landmark. Goodwood Plantation's fantastic entertainment complex has a rich, and storied history and has provided enjoyment to our citizens for an incredible 100 years...and it just keeps getting better. Concerts and special events are scheduled throughout the four days of this fun event, and rest assured, there will be something for everyone.

Riding my bicycle to Myers Park as a boy was always fun. I'd explore the wild creek that emerges from seepage and small springs and wonder how a place like this could be so wild only a half mile from Florida's capitol building. The leafy canopy would become increasingly dense as I worked my way downstream and ducked beneath branches and vines, hopping from sand bank to sand bank at first and then just sloshing through the stream. Eventually, the jungle became impenetrable.

On North Monroe, nestled between the Midtown Pass and Masa is Tallahassee's own Paperback Rack. This independently owned book store has been a part of the community for many years and has been a prime mover in circulating many great novels throughout Tallahassee. Just about every book in the place has come from somewhere in this city and many more have probably traveled even greater distances to find themselves atop those shelves

Immerse yourself in Asian culture, right in downtown Tallahassee! Head over to Bloxham and Lewis Parks on Saturday, October 6th, from 10 am until 5pm and see Maturiza Taiko Drummers from Japan, The Taiwanese Youth Folk Sports Troupe, Martial Arts Performers from China, and sample all the fantastic Asian food. There will be representatives from the Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Taiwanese, and Thai communities, so this festival will be an amazing multicultural event. Bring the whole family to learn about Asian music, dance, arts, crafts and, of course, my favorite...the cuisine. The festival is sponsored by the Asian Coalition of Tallahassee, and has grown bigger and better every year.

Please visit www.asiantlh.org for exact performance times and a site map to guide you through the event.

The alligator was no surprise. After all, this was a dike trail in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is known for alligators as well as a profusion of bird life, bobcats and other animals. I just didn't know where I would see the first one.

Translated into English, the name means "a little sin," and for more than twenty years this tiny gem of a pastry shop has been creating the most sinfully delicious confections around! Located in Market Square, just off of I-10 this little storefront sells chocolates, cakes, cookies, pies...and even breads. Visit their website for a listing of what type of bread is baked each day that they're open, Tuesday through Saturday.

The Gaines Street area is one of my favorite spots in town to spend most of my weekends. With the fall season just around the corner, I am excited to enjoy the cooler weather with a walk down the newly renovated area. Even parking alongside Gaines Street brings me joy with the beautiful brick sidewalks and the black iron lamp posts.

As the summer winds down, and the crowds head back to work and school, now is the time to take advantage of ALL the Florida panhandle has to offer - even if it's just for a day! Tallahassee is close to so many great places, and if you've never made the short trek to Seaside (which is technically Santa Rosa Beach) on Highway 30A, you are missing something really fun.

Shoes are an important aspect of everyone's life. Man or woman, it doesn't matter. They carry your burdens without complaints and reflect your personality surprisingly well. Take my father for example. When he's not wearing his dress shoes for the office, he has on a fresh pair of Court Classics. He's been buying the same pair of tennis shoes for as long as I can remember. They're always clean, dependable, and far from flashy. Similar things could be said about my father. He is always up early, hair combed to the side with a part that's held in place by patience and hairspray.

At least I found one. One limpkin probing for apple-snails along the upper Wacissa River just east of Tallahassee. It was shy, moving deeper into the interior floodplain forest as I approached in my kayak, and it didn't do any characteristic clucking. It was the first and last one I would see on this summer evening of 2012.

Kathie Lee and Hoda of The Today Show are on a search for the most-spirited college campus in the United States. We will be highlighting the top 5 reasons why we think they should hit the road and join us at Florida State University. Feel free to share this post and tag it with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU!

Reason Number One - The People of Florida State University

The people at Florida State University are what make it such a truly incredible place. From the honor students to the athletes each and every person adds to the charm of the campus. 

Kathie Lee and Hoda of The Today Show are on a search for the most-spirited college campus in the United States. We will be highlighting the top 5 reasons why we think they should hit the road and join us at Florida State University. Feel free to share this post and tag it with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU!

Reason Number Two - The National High Magnetic Field Lab

As the only facility of its kind in the United States, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (also known as the Magnet Lab) is the largest and highest-powered magnet laboratory in the world. That's right, Florida State University is home to the world's largest magnet! The Magnet Lab also holds a Guinness World Record for the highest magnetic field for a continuous field magnet at 45 tesla!

Kathie Lee and Hoda of The Today Show are on a search for the most-spirited college campus in the United States. We will be highlighting the top 5 reasons why we think they should hit the road and join us at Florida State University. Feel free to share this post and tag it with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU!

Reason Number Three - Florida State University Academics and Research

Many do not know that Florida State University was officially established in 1851 and is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida. FSU is home to nationally ranked programs in many academic areas, including the sciences, engineering, social policy, film, music, theater, dance, visual art, business, political science, psychology, social work, medicine, and law.

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb of The Today Show are on a search for the college campus with the most spirit in the United States. We will be highlighting the top 5 reasons we think they should hit the road and join us at Florida State University. Feel free to share this post and tag it with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU!

Reason Number Four - Florida State University Athletics

The Warchant. Primetime. Chief Osceola.

There are few universities that can rival Florida State University in the field of athletic excellence. As the drum-line begins pounding their steady beat and the Marching Chiefs blare the War Chant to the crowd, fans and players alike get fired up to reign victorious over the competition.

Kathie Lee and Hoda of The Today Show are on a search for the most-spirited college campus in the United States. We will be highlighting the top 5 reasons why we think they should hit the road and join us at Florida State University. Feel free to share this post and tag it with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU!

Reason Number Five - The Florida State University Flying High Circus

Florida State University is home to one of only two collegiate circuses in the United States; The Florida State University Flying High Circus

Looking for a great play to see and a perfect way to support one of our local theatres? "Next Fall" by Geoffrey Nauffts will be performed at the Tallahassee Little Theatre on Thomasville Road for two weekends only. September 14-16 and 21-23 at 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, plus a Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm.

Now this sounds like fun… You won’t want to miss the very first annual celebration of Hispanic cultural heritage right in the heart of Tallahassee.  The Florida Hispanic Professionals Association has teamed up with the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority to put on Tally Fiesta.  Celebrate Hispanic culture while enjoying fantastic and authentic Hispanic food, then burn off all the calories by dancing the night away.  Hispanic music, food AND dancing…a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage month, which officially begins on September 15th.  As home to the 3^rd largest Hispanic population in the state, Tallahassee community leaders are taking great pride in planning this event to spread cultural awareness and have a great time, too.  For more information, please visit their website at TallyFiesta.com.

Take a trip to FSU's Museum of Fine Arts now through November 11th for an exhibition touring from the Waterloo Centre for the Arts in Iowa. "Master Artists of the Bahamas" features works from eleven different Bahamian artists and represents the wide diversity in Bahamian art today. These vibrant works will remain on display, Monday through Friday, in the Fine Arts Building of FSU for the next three months. After September 1st, you can see them on weekends, too, from 1-4 pm. All museum exhibitions and events are FREE, so you have absolutely no excuse not to head on down to 530 West Call Street - and add a little "colorful culture" to your life! For more information about this exhibition, visit mofa.fsu.edu.

The Wakulla State Forest. I had passed the sign dozens of times along Highway 267 near the entrance of Wakulla Springs State Park and had never stopped. Most of the 4,219-acre tract was acquired by the state from the St. Joe Corporation between 2001 and 2003, mainly as a protective buffer for below-ground conduits that lead to Wakulla Springs.

Now, this sounds like some really great fun, and I just can't wait to tell you all about it... The Florida Folklife Program and FSU's Center for the Music of the Americas is sponsoring a two-day round of local performances of Afro-Cuban Drumming and Orisha Dance. The free public performance will take place in the Mission Room of Mission San Luis from 7-8:30 pm on September 6th.

Two talented organizations will combine in September for a series of magical performances you'll need to see and hear to believe. Florida State's College of Music and The Tallahassee Ballet present an Evening of Music and Dance, featuring both classical and contemporary works by four acclaimed choreographers. Live music will be performed by FSU musicians from composers Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Astor Pizaaolla, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Carlos Paredes under the direction of Deloise Lima. Beautiful costumes designed and executed by Ann Todd add even more loveliness to the event. The performances will take place at the Opperman Music Hall in the Kuersteiner Music Building on FSU's Campus. Evening performances (8:00 pm) are offered on both Thursday and Friday, and Sunday's event is a (2:30 pm) matinee. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting the website tallahasseeballet.org.

Throughout Florida's early human history, there were trails-footpaths and water routes that carried people and trade goods for millennia. Over time, many of these trails became roads, highways, railroads and shipping channels, but in the past few decades, Florida has been reclaiming its non-motorized trail heritage. Recreation, conservation, alternative transportation, healthy lifestyles, a vibrant economy, and quality of life are all reasons to embrace Florida's trail renaissance, and the future looks bright. You can help shape that future.

With the college students back in Tallahassee, the city is a little busier, to say the least. Over the past month, thousands of students left their nests and made their way to Florida's Capital City. I felt like the change happened over night. Last Saturday I strolled around Lake Ella and had me a stuffed snowball from Big Easy Snowballs. The weather was beautiful and the people were sprinkled about the lake side shops. The next morning I went to Target to get some scissors and I was met with a packed parking lot and checkout lines that were not actually a mile long, but I had heard them described as such.

Some may see it as an end of a beautiful summer, but I see it as a sign of great things to come. Fall!

I recently purchased a used mountain bike, an upgrade from my old one, so I had a good excuse to test it out on the Munson Hills Off-Road Bicycle Trail just south of Tallahassee. The trail is a 7.5 mile loop with an option for a shorter loop by taking the Tall Pine Shortcut. It traverses rolling hills of pristine longleaf pine flatwoods, and if the hills aren't enough, the Forest Service and volunteers have scalloped out hundreds of shorter dips and rises after laying down a bed of hard clay on most of the single-track surface. The jumps, twists and turns and sometimes narrow openings through the pines make for a fun and challenging ride. Make sure your brakes are working properly!

The Gaines Street area has seen a lot of revitalization in the recent years. From the road being rebuilt and subsequent growth in activity, I am excited to see what the future holds. As a regular visitor to the area, I can see that a lot of that activity has to do with the quality of atmosphere that the bars create.

One of the prime movers in the scene is the team that runs Fermentation Lounge. Those guys really have a knack for crafting an interesting experience with top shelf beers and a quirky surrounding. For example, if you haven't realized, the décor of Fermentation Lounge is based around a 1950's American feel. One that utilizes pieces of comic art and a film projector that plays classic black and white films.

For more than thirty years now, The Museum of Florida History has partnered with Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee to put together an amazing collection of more than 80 works of "quilted art." Come see these expertly handcrafted works, old and new in the R.A. Gray Building on South Bronough Street in downtown Tallahassee during this limited time. You won't be disappointed...this year, they'll even have an historic quilt, circa 1935-1945 in the exhibit.

This past weekend I drove over to Lynn's Oriental Market with my brother to see what sort of crazy flavors of Doritos that they have. After seeing this list on Buzzfeed I had an urge to seek out and try every flavor. Only after ingesting the first chip would I read the ingredients list since I don't want to know the science behind the Doritos magic.

Enter this industrial purple warehouse in the All Saints District off Macomb Street in Tallahassee and you'll feel immediately transported back to the 80's. Alternative music plays over the sound system (we were greeted by a Ramones song upon arrival) and pop memorabilia surrounds you.

The game is on! Two heavyweight contenders with incredible connections, Leon County commissioner Bryan Desloge and Wilderness Way owner Georgia Ackerman, are leaping ahead in fundraising and I'm left wondering if there is any chance for a little guy like me to compete. No, I'm not talking about running for office. I'm talking about raising money for the Apalachicola Riverkeeper.

I've always been a big fan of locally owned businesses, but I have recently become infatuated with a corporate chain. It's a not so little red brick structure next to Earth Fare on Apalachee Parkway. Opening in the beginning of this year, Jason's Deli has become a hot spot for an on-the-go deli experience.

In my younger days, I did a paper route in downtown Tallahassee. It is amazing what you can see at four in the morning-foxes, opossums, raccoons. And then there was a coyote running across Blairstone Road. A coyote, here?

One of the many things I love about Tallahassee is that I can jump in the car and in no time at all experience a great weekend seafood festival. If you're a scallop lover like I am, this one will be perfect for you! Festival gates open at 5 pm on Friday with lots of local art to stroll through while you feast on scallops (prepared more ways than you ever dreamed possible). Friday's live music starts at 6 and can even be enjoyed from your boat if you pull it up close to the beach.

It happens a lot. You're hiking, boating, driving or kayaking with camera at the ready for that unique wildlife photo, and there it is-a bobcat, bear, or fox. You raise the camera to snap the photo, and the animal is gone. That fast. Only a glimpse. The thrill is there of seeing an elusive creature in the wild, but a photo would have been great, too, to share with friends and family.

But what if you had a second chance?

Here's a fun thing to do with a child on a Friday morning in July...and you couldn't ask for a prettier location to do it in. From 10:15 - 11:30 Pebble Hill Plantation on Hwy 319, just north of Tallahassee, is hosting this "Fabulous Friday" event. The activities are $10 (this is for one adult and one child - each additional child is just $3) and include wagon rides, crafts and tours galore!

In summer, the south pours its heat and humidity onto the land. To become attuned to it, you have to spend time in the weighty air, and sweat. Sympathy for other creatures is quickly gained, especially for long-haired dogs, who move sloth-like for several weeks.

Summer is when the south's thin veneer of earth is injected with growth hormone, sending plants into riotous growth. Abandoned yards transform into jungles, and piney woods that have been scorched by spring fires emerge as flowery wonderlands.

Having just moved across town and away from Tallahassee's college sector, I've had the pleasure of seeing a new side of Florida's Capital City. I rarely ventured too far east because everything I thought I needed was right by campus. Now that I've moved, I'm ready to start exploring again. First on the list was finding a good pizza place.

Looking for something fun (and secretly very educational) for you and the kids to do this summer? Well, just pack up your crew and head downtown to the Challenger Learning Center for the FREE monthly planetarium show. The next one will be held this Saturday, July 7th at 10 am: "July Skies Over Tallahassee," and is presented by The Tallahassee Astronomical Society. It's jam-packed with enough information about prominent constellations, stars and planets that can be seen directly above our fair city's summer sky to make anyone an instant expert! If this one hour presentation leaves your group craving more knowledge, you are invited to stay on for the regular 11 am planetarium show at half-off the regular admission price. For more information about this monthly show, as well as other offerings for kids, and adults, please visit challengertlh.com.

If you haven't ever experienced a First Friday Gallery Hop at Railroad Square in Tallahassee, you're really missing something. Did you know that Railroad Square Art Park hosts the greatest concentration of galleries and art studios in our entire state? It's vibrant, energized and constantly evolving.

Since 1985, the Celebrate America! Festival has been a Tallahassee tradition. Friends and families gather every July 4th at Tom Brown Park for an evening of fun, food, and of course...Fireworks! This year's event will feature two stages of live entertainment showcasing the Fabulous Thunderbirds as the headlining act, food vendors, craft exhibits, and for the kids, pony rides, water slides, bounce houses and MORE!

Daniel Alvarez is taking the long way home.

At this moment, he is kayaking towards Lake Superior through Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. After that-the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.

Hailing from the Tallahassee area, Daniel recently embarked on a 4,000-mile solo kayaking journey from the northernmost point of the contiguous United States in Minnesota all the way to the southernmost point in Key West. He calls it "The Heart of America Paddling Journey."

The Tallahassee area is home to the largest concentration of original Southern Plantations in the country.  There are over 70 of them in our area, and Goodwood Museum & Gardens is without a doubt one of the finest.  This gracious antebellum plantation house, built in 1834 in midtown is a sight no resident or visitor of our great city should miss.  It's fantastic art collection and fine period furnishings are all original to the estate, and the magnificent gardens, under the majestic oaks are filled with heirloom plants.

This weekend Big Bend Cares is putting on their annual charity art fundraiser, Artopia.  For 14 years Artopia has been bringing the Tallahassee community together to bid on local and regional art pieces for a great cause.  The cause is to raise money to help Big Bend Cares continue their work to fight HIV/AIDS in our area.

I DO love the South. There's always a festival devoted entirely to what has made a town famous. Monticello is known for its amazing watermelons and has been celebrating them for 62 years now with their Watermelon Festival. The festivities begin on June 8th, but the main events are during the weekend of the 15th and 16th, so check their website for the complete schedule www.monticellojeffersonfl.com/wmfschedule.cfm.

Perhaps some of our ancestors lived in treetops, and no wonder. It's a cool place to catch refreshing breezes and sway gently with the canopies. It feels safe and natural, and it affords a hawk's eye view of the surrounding landscape.

Art is truly everywhere. On Thursday, June 14th the shops and restaurants in The Market District, just North of I-10 will host a wine & cheese party to kick-off their "summer-themed" art exhibition. A different artists' work will be featured in each of the participating stores in the district, and will also be offered for sale. Individual artists will be on hand to meet and greet during this evening only, but don't worry if you can't make it, they'll be leaving their beautiful works of art on display for the duration of the show, which will end in the middle of August. You know you'll find something lively and fun to brighten up your home during this great event! Check out www.TheMarketDistrictTallahassee.com for a complete and up to date list of participating artists and merchants.

Here's something fun for the whole family - ANY Thursday night of the year... You have to feed them dinner anyway, right? Why not do something a little different this week? Load up the car (don't forget your lawn chairs) and head to the "The Food Truck Hub" where Tharpe and Monroe Streets intersect. You can't miss it, the spot is right next to Burger King, and will be filled with Tallahassee food trucks offering just about every kind of food you can imagine (and some you've never even dreamed of).

One thing you'll notice upon visiting Bicycle House on Jackson Bluff Road is that it is a hotbed of activity. People are fixing bikes. People are bringing in bikes. People are waiting for bikes to be repaired. People are looking at bikes for sale. A typical bike shop. Upon further query, however, you learn that everyone working at the shop is a volunteer, and that, after some instruction, even customers can use the shop's tools to work on their bikes.

Experience the rhythms of drumbeats from faraway lands, such as Guinea, Senegal, Mali and the Congo without ever leaving Tallahassee! For the 15th year in a row, the Florida African Dance Festival (FADF) will be held on the Tallahassee Community College campus. This three-day event features dance and drum workshops by internationally renowned artists, as well as an amazing performance concert at FAMU's Lee Hall Auditorium on Saturday, June 9th.

You're committed to shopping local, and it doesn't get any more local than this. Starting in March and running every single Saturday through the end of November, the Downtown MarketPlace really does have something for everyone. Featuring the freshest homegrown produce, organic foods, fresh breads, flowers, eggs, plants and more...

This weekend, June 2nd, the North Florida Brewers League (NFBL) and the Tallahassee Animal Shelter Foundation (ASF) are teaming up for a day of local brews and adorable furry creatures. This wonderful union of craft beer and furry companions is something that I have been looking forward to for quite some time. Last year was a blast and I imagine this year will be better.

Mockingbird Café has recently shed its feathers and evolved into a new image. Growing past the need of being known as a "café," the name has slimmed down to just "The Mockingbird". The logo also changed from the old yellow and white impact lettering to its current minimalist mockingbird impression. I can appreciate the move towards a more elegant look. The café seems to have figured a few things out in its two year life span.

It's hard to imagine, I know, but this year we'll commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. The Museum of Florida History is committed to preserving the remaining pieces of Florida's often under-represented maritime and naval past from this period. This not to be missed exhibition includes artifacts recovered from The Maple Leaf, a Union transport ship that was sunk by a Confederate torpedo in the St. John's River near Jacksonville, during the latter part of the Civil War.

In driving across North Florida, you can still find old highways with abundant green space and small town charm. Highway 98 towards Perry is one of my favorites. Swallowtail kites are often seen in spring and early summer, hovering over piney woods and swamps. They literally dance on air, curling and dipping wings in their tight, graceful patterns. I've spotted bear and diamondback rattlesnakes on occasion, a sure sign of wildness. And in the ditches, I'll look for blue flag irises and spider lilies.

Lake Ella is one of the most beautiful places in Tallahassee. A short walk around that quaint body of water can release you from those nagging frustrations. I enjoy watching the ducks wade through the water and strolling under the tree branches that sway gently in the breeze. Almost any day you can stop by and experience that familiar comfort. On Wednesdays, however, the northern shore blooms with commerce.

It was May, 20, 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation, made by President Abraham Lincoln was announced in downtown Tallahassee. Come celebrate this historic day in our nation's history on the actual site of the local announcement! The Proclamation will be read by Brigadier General Edward Moody McCook (portrayed by Brian Bibeau) followed by a free lunch on the lawn proceeding the program. In addition, you'll also experience period music, speeches and even costumed interpreters. The festivities take place from 2:00 until 4:00 pm at the Knott House Museum located at 301 E. Park Avenue and at Lewis Park across the street.

A hidden gem in the northern region of Tallahassee and a spring tour that is a community tradition. It all begins in the ornamental gardens of Maclay Gardens State Park. These magnificent and picturesque grounds are truly a masterpiece of floral architecture, and this tour is not to be missed. Hosted by The Department of Environmental Protection's Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park and the Friends of Maclay Gardens, Inc, the annual tour of gardens begins at 9:00 am with a breakfast, silent auction and plant sale. Participants are then given maps to tour the gardens at their leisure. Tickets are $25.00 and may be purchased in advance at the park, Native Nurseries, Tallahassee Nurseries, Esposito Garden Center and Wild Birds Unlimited. Park entrance fees are waived on this day for participants.

Breathtaking. That's one word to describe Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. Wakulla Springs is a hidden treasure that has a special place in my heart. As much as I like to think of it as a hidden treasure, it is actually a very famous place. If you have ever seen the movies Creature from the Black Lagoon, Tarzan or Airport 77, then you have seen Wakulla Springs. The scenery is so beautiful and majestic that it has lured Hollywood producers and directors to film major movies in the park for years and years. Aside from movies, Wakulla Springs offers swimming, nature trails, boat tours, a lodge and restaurant.

It's another perfect day in Tallahassee and you just want to get outside and enjoy it, right?  I know the perfect place!  Whether you want to kayak on Lake Hall, hike the scenic trails, stroll through the formal gardens, play on the playground, or simply picnic and watch the birds, Maclay Gardens is the place you need to head.  Conveniently located in the northeastern "Red Hills" area of town, just off Thomasville Road, this nearly 1200 acre park is a peaceful oasis of beauty tucked into a bustling city.

Ochlockonee River State Park, just south of Sopchoppy along Highway 319, is the perfect setting to walk along high river banks under arching live oaks and to walk (or ride) a scenic drive through some of the best maintained pine flatwoods in the state. The red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species, is in relative abundance here along with an array of songbirds, deer and white squirrels (a color variant of the gray squirrel). Bobcat, fox and the occasional bear can also be seen.

This year so far has been exciting for beer and cider enthusiasts around the All Saints district.  Late January marked the opening of Tallahassee's premier cider bar "Cider Lodge".   It's an offshoot of Fermentation Lounge's already robust menu of tasty beverages, but the lodge aims to offer a slightly different environment.  

Looking for something a little bit different to do on a Friday night?  Take a mini road trip to Thomasville and hear some great Southern "folksy" music!  Venture just a few short miles north of Tallahassee and you'll be one of the first to experience the inaugural DUE SOUTH art, music & food event sponsored by Thomasville Center for the Arts.  Set in a hip, urban area of town, the event will showcase cool Southern bands, as well as some great local food and beverage vendors, and even artwork that you can buy and take home.  There is a private preview concert for sponsors before the main concert (you can go to thomasvillearts.org/events/due-south to find out more) OR... just grab a lawn chair, $20, and head north for a little laid back fun.  Building 209 on West Remington Avenue is the place, and the big show runs from 8:00 until 10:30 pm (sponsor pre-show from 6-7).

George Floyd hopes to bring visitors up and down the Apalachicola and Chattahoochee Rivers on a large paddle wheeler. Seem far-fetched? Not if you know George Floyd.

The 55-year-old Apalachicola/Tallahassee native and retired owner of a corporate accounting firm has a proven track record for big projects. He has put together a professional team to revitalize the Apalachicola Maritime Museum along the town's waterfront in a former seafood processing plant. The museum celebrates the rich maritime history of Apalachicola through exhibits, educational programs, and sailing trips on the 58-foot vessel Heritage of Apalachicola.

Are you aware that one of the only two collegiate circuses in the United States is located on Florida State's campus...right in our own backyard?  The program began sixty-five years ago by Jack Haskin as an extracurricular activity, designed to integrate men and women at the newly co-ed institution, and is still presenting spellbinding performances rivaling professional circus troupes today!  The FSU Circus has no animal acts, but does offer three rings of fabulous entertainment for all ages, with an amazing aerial and stage presentation, all performed by Florida State students.

I love trying new Latin restaurants, but if I’m not in the mood for Mexican food, the choices are quite limited.  Ranging from authentic Mexican restaurants like Morelia’s and Los Amigos, to franchises like Moe’s and Taco Bell, Mexican cuisine is well represented all across Tallahassee.  The only Non-Mexican restaurants that come to mind are Black Bean Café (Cuban), Super Perros (Colombian) and Gordos (Cuban).   In Tallahassee’s Latin food realm it seems like Mexican is king and Cuban is a distant second.

In spring 2011 I became a volunteer at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. My role there is to count all the shorebirds and wildfowl at least every 2 weeks.

I'm no stranger to counting birds; I've been counting them, for one job or another for 16 years. Razorbills in Pembrokeshire, Yellowhammers in Lancashire, Northern Wheatears at Dungeness, and Surf Scoters migrating south, past Cape May. I love counting birds; it's one of my favorite things to do. My brother-in-law calls me Rain Man!

Most days if you were to ask me to describe life at my house, I could sum it up with just a few words.  "My life seems like a circus".  So every spring it is such a treat when I get to leave "my" circus to go to a real circus right here in Tallahassee.

The FSU Flying High Circus is really a treat.  One of only two collegiate circuses in the United States where every performer is a student at the university.  I guess in some ways you might even consider me an FSU Flying High Circus Groupie, since I have been going since I was a little girl.  I remember being 8 or 9 years old and the excitement I felt as we entered the big tent.  During the summers we would go to Callaway Gardens for a week, which is the summer home of the Flying High Circus (where you can still find the Flying High Circus in the summer).  We got to actually be circus performers for a week and hang out with the cool college kids who were performers/camp counselors.  

Mother Nature is putting on a spring show along our area rivers these days, and the Sopchoppy River is one of the best showcases for wildflowers. A great profusion of wild azaleas bloom along the shorelines, some with almost pure white blossoms and others revealing a deep pink. They smell like honeysuckle, much sweeter than the non-native azaleas seen in landscaped environments. 

A new Vietnamese restaurant opened up in Tallahassee and it's receiving quite a bit of attention.  Pho 7 came into existence to fill the demands of Tallahassee pho (pronounced "fuh") lovers.  Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup is known for its flavorful broth that both entices olfactory nerves and pleases the palate.  

My nose is running, my throat is a little scratchy and my car is covered in pollen.  Springtime has officially arrived in Tallahassee!  I will take the runny nose, scratchy throat and pollen any day in exchange for springtime in Tallahassee.

Springtime rolls into town every year and takes my breath away (and I don’t mean because of the pollen!).  The weather is amazing.  Warm, sunny days are accompanied by cool breezes that make me never want to go inside (which is evident after the first day or two when my face is burnt from forgetting that even with the cool breeze, you still need sunscreen).  Every where I look there are beautiful flowers in full bloom.  The pink and white azalea bushes blanket the city and the dogwood trees are breathtaking. I wish I could go on and on about the correct names of all the flowers and plants that are in bloom, but I can’t.   Over the years the kids and I have come up with our own names for them.  During the springtime we take long walks and they excitedly point out the gumdrop tree with its purple flowers, the fairy princess plant with its draping greenery and the red dragon, which is a single flower that pops up from the ground in my front yard as if to announce the arrival of spring.  I am a little biased because I love this city, but Tallahassee in the spring is truly one of the most beautiful places to be.<

You may be surprised to learn that Tallahassee is one of the best cities in the United States to watch birds. Really? Florida's state capital, in terms of number of species observed, consistently ranks in the top 10 during Cornell University's annual Great Backyard Bird Count. In 2012 we ranked 7^th in the nation with 148 species, true testament to the great birding opportunities our wonderful city provides to residents and visitors alike. So where can I go to watch all these amazing birds?

There could be no place more beautiful to view and purchase art than from under the mossy oak trees in one of Tallahassee's historic downtown parks.  The 12^th Annual LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival is a much anticipated Springtime event that showcases all types of art by hundreds of artists from across the country.  

Tornado warnings, fierce winds and sheets of rain greeted more than thirty kayakers and canoeists at Ed and Bernice's Fish Camp along Highway 20 twenty miles west of Tallahassee. The camp was the gathering point for Paddle Florida's second annual Dam to the Bay Paddle on the Ochlockonee River in early March-six days, 76 miles-and by first impressions, it would be a trip of the damned. But we knew favorable weather was in the forecast. So, we squeezed tents under pavilions and stayed dry the best we could. We even started a fire along the edge of one pavilion. Sleep was difficult that night as rain battered the tin-roofed shelters.

My main advice for hiking the Cathedral of Palms Trail is to avoid going with a chatty friend. Talking is fine along the 1.7 mile unpaved road walk on the Florida Trail from Wakulla Beach Road heading west, but upon entering the towering stand of sabal palms with the interlocking canopy overhead, the trunks and fronds forming a mosaic of dappled sunlight, a hush seems to envelop and verbal communication just seems out of place. After all, this is a cathedral of sorts, a special place, and quiet just helps you soak it all in.

One of the premier citizen support organization's in the state is in our own backyard-the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park. Few other organizations supporting state parks or other public lands have raised as much money, or advocated so strongly for the resource, as the Friends group, and they have won several awards to prove it.

I spent a lot of time at the movie theater growing up. I loved seeing movies opening nights, especially if I had been eagerly waiting its release. However, as I grew older, I was fine with waiting for a movie's second run at the dollar theaters. With age came patience, and the understanding that a ticket, drink, and candy could run up quite a tab. That realization became more apparent when dating.

There is nothing left to see of Port Leon. That's the remarkable thing about this former town of 450 along the lower St. Marks River. You can hike or bike there, heading west about three-and-a-half miles from the St. Marks Refuge Visitor's Center on an unpaved refuge road or the Florida Trail. When you near the St. Marks River, there it is, or was, in a spacious pine and live oak forest-a once bustling port town that was connected to St. Marks and Tallahassee by a mule-drawn railroad. There are a few foundation pilings just off the trail, but those were likely from an early refuge headquarters, not Port Leon.

I am happy to say that I have stuck with my New Year's Resolution to get my family in shape. I would love to say that all six of my children have shared my enthusiasm, but that would be telling a fib. The other day we attempted a bike ride around the neighborhood. It took two hours just to get all of the bikes out of the garage and air in all of the tires. That took longer than the ride around the neighborhood which lasted less than 15 minutes! The older kids rode so fast that by the time the little ones and myself made it up the first small hill, they were already home. It was then that I realized that if we are going to bond while we are getting in shape, than I am going to have to find some things to do that are new for all of us.

The weather in town has been a fickle beast as of late, but for those who call Tallahassee home, this isn't anything new. The mornings start cold, and the days end freezing. I've been staving off the cold bones with hot teas and coffee, but at night, my sweet tooth gets the best of me. It drives me to venture into the elements to secure a frozen delight.

I'm convinced that the Twilight Trail near Woodville was named because people liked to ride the trail after work and often finished during the twilight. That was certainly the case for me on a recent Friday. I began my 9-mile loop ride at the Lewis Park in Woodville with the sun already dipping behind tall pines.

Along with countless of other Americans, I made the choice of making my New Year's Resolution affect the way I eat. It's time to be more conscious of what I put in my belly. The plan is to have less meat and carbohydrates in my diet, and have more vegetables. Hopefully I will be able to outlast my belly's desire for a late night fast food run. Historically, the cards are stacked against me.

Raising children in Florida's Capital City, I would like to say that they know everything about how the government runs.  I would like to tell you that they are well versed in the history of our state and that they know who our state representatives are and what policies they are fighting for.  The reality is that raising six children doesn't always lend itself to finding time for a history lesson, but once a year I can guarantee that you will find us at the Capitol.

We are starting the fourth week of the New Year and I would like to say that I have stuck to my New Year's Resolution of getting in shape, but that would not be true.  There have been days when I have found myself spending most of the afternoon and evening driving kids to and from their work-outs for the day (soccer, basketball, dance, etc) and my opportunities to exercise have vanished.  It is really too bad that pushing a gas pedal doesn't count as a work-out!

Since winter is an ideal season for hiking, it's time to introduce the premier hiking trail in our region-the Florida National Scenic Trail. The trail runs 1,400 miles from the Big Cypress National Preserve to the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola. In our area, the trail enters from the east along the wild Aucilla River. The Aucilla Sinks, where the river repeatedly ducks underground and resurfaces in a series of sinkholes, is one of the trail's scenic highlights.

As the temperature in Tallahassee drops slightly below a comfortable chill, only one remedy comes to mind that can stave off the cold.  Forget stopping by CVS for some Theraflu, what you need is a heaping helping of some barbecue.  With that first nip of the early morning air, I already know what to get to nurture my frozen bones--a saucy pulled pork sandwich.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I hadn't ridden the Munson Hills Off-Road Bike Trail in a couple of years, and was I ever surprised. Instead of finding stretches of difficult to traverse sugar sand, the U.S. Forest Service and its volunteer partners have put down layers of clay that have been angled for sharper turns and raised in places for fun jumps. There is also an adjoining trail loop, the Twilight Trail, that adds more than nine miles. Added to the long established Munson east and west loops, and there is a total of 21 miles of off-road bicycling fun in this section of the Apalachicola National Forest!

I had first heard about Birds a few years back when my friend had invited me to see him do standup comedy. He's a funny guy, so I figured he'd have some good laughs.  He promised that he had a funny set and that they had cheap Yuengling on tap.  Cheap beer and some laughs?  A pretty hard combination to pass up on a Wednesday night.

This Year, I have a whole list of resolutions.  Of course there are the usual ones, like finally lose the 20 pounds that seems to have permanently taken residency around my waist, eat smart and exercise each day.  The more I thought about the changes I wanted to make for me, I realized that as a family we could use a make-over.  All of us could do with a little more exercise.  My kids play a variety of sports and sometimes while they are at their practices I will walk around the fields for exercise.  But I want this year to be about us taking the time to exercise together.  The first two days we went on a walk around the neighborhood.  Then the boredom set in of doing the same routine.  So this mom set out to find a new place to go to get our exercise together. 
So welcome to the first edition of "A mom and six kids exercise adventures".

The St. Marks River below Natural Bridge has been a frequent companion on Saturdays. I've been helping with paddling trips for the Wilderness Way and we usually launch our colorful flotilla of kayaks on private land along "the basin," a wide marshy area where the St. Marks River rises from underground. Paddlers who don't have this prime access usually launch at the Newport Bridge and paddle up the six miles to the basin and back down again. 

I'm not the most fashionable man, I admit it.  I always stick with safe color schemes for my wardrobe.  Ones that require minimal effort to coordinate like blues, grays, and browns.  Sometimes, if I'm feeling adventurous, I throw in some red to liven things up.  That's why this time of year is always rough for me.  Finding the perfect gift for my girlfriend is a challenge because when the time comes to exchange gifts, I don't want to feel like one of those TV grandmas.  You know the ones who buy ugly sweaters for the grandkids and wonder why they don't wear them when the family gets together for Christmas dinner.

One of the best things about the holiday season that stretches between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and beyond to New Year's Eve) is the return of expatriates to the homeland.

That means that at holiday parties, you will get to reconnect with folks you haven't seen since last year's holiday parties. On any given night at local watering holes, impromptu reunions break out. I can always count on catching up with pals who've moved away at Waterworks, where we can catch up on news over a Capri sandwich and a round of libations.

Manatees. They have a unique lure. As a follow-up to my earlier visit (and blog) on the subject, I awakened before sunrise on a recent frigid Saturday (a real effort for me) and drove to Wakulla Springs State Park. The front gatekeeper had just arrived and I was fortunate to meet a maintenance man at the swimming area who was kind enough to open the gate for me, since the swimming area isn't normally open until around 9 o'clock. I had the tower-and about twenty manatees in the spring bowl-to myself.

This past weekend I stopped by New Leaf Market for their weekly beer tasting.  When I first heard about it, I expected something epic.  I imagined endless amounts of frosty beer mugs on serving trays carried by fleets of German beer maids.  Everyone's favorite Polka hits would be blaring over the speakers and every so often polka renditions of traditional holiday music would come on to get everyone into the holiday spirit. 

Ryan and Rebecca Means enjoy exploring wild places. But the adventuresome couple has taken their passion a step further by beginning Project Remote, an effort to identify and document the remotest locations in all 50 states. They have already traveled to and documented 12 states thus far, and their progress can be tracked on their website.

Bicyclists, joggers, hikers, strollers, birdwatchers and horseback riders can all find enjoyable off-road experiences at the Lake Overstreet Trails in Maclay Gardens State Park. Located near I-10 on the north side of Tallahassee, the trails are easily accessible to thousands of people, highly convenient during these short days of winter.

The groups of bars around Tallahassee reflect some very distinct cultural clusters.  The strip of bars on Tennessee Street caters to a younger crowd.  It's the place where many graduate from their fake IDs and move on to their horizontal legitimate ones.  In contrast, the bars around Midtown offer a calmer, slightly more sophisticated drinking environment without being stuffy. 

The holidays are all about tradition, and I'd like to share one of mine.

While most of the shopping public participated in the Black Friday holiday tradition of wrestling their fellow shoppers for the last video game on the shelf at Best Buy or Walmart, I have plotted my own shopping excursion. Even on a slow day, the malls and big box stores give me the heebie-jeebies, so I have pledged to do my gifting from locally owned galleries and stores. And I will start by wandering through the winter wonderland of LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts' annual Holiday Show, which traditionally opens to the public on the day after Thanksgiving.

If I were to compile a list of my favorite foods, Latin American foods would be very well represented.  Those flavors really bring me back to my childhood, back to when my mother would have me set the table after cutting up onions and peppers for her.  I consider it a blessing that my mother was such a great chef.  I grew up eating a lot of traditional Latin American foods like arroz con pollo and bistec palomilla, and, thanks to her, I find myself making very similar dishes to this day.

I love the lengthening nights of winter, when daylight is whittled away to a luminous sliver and everything seems lit from within by an inner incandescence.

The days count down to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the solar year - a time of ice and fire, when darkness and light are weighed in the scales and the red-gold reign of the sun gives way to the silvered, frosty dominion of the moon.

After reading Internet reviews that the Cadillac Trail is "awesome" and "a must ride trail," I had to venture over to Lafayette Heritage Trail Park just east of Tallahassee. I was not disappointed. Who would have dreamed that an off-road biking trail in Florida could be so well-developed and challenging!

Wakulla Springs State Park just south of Tallahassee is fast becoming a manatee haven. Each winter, more and more of the impressive sea cows are finding the constant temperatures of the springs to their liking. Climb up the diving platform on a cool morning and you might spot a dozen manatees swimming around the spring bowl. And you may find another dozen farther down the river along the jungle boat route.

When I started this blog, my intention was to let people know about all the many fun things to do in and around Tallahassee during the year.  Since I am a Tallahassee native, I thought I would be a pro because I know everything there is to do around here.  What an exciting journey this has been and so much of it is because I am learning how little I really do know about Tallahassee and how many new things there are for me to experience with my children.

Pizza is one of the few types of food that I could eat every day and not get bored.  The variety of toppings available makes it possible for endless combinations. I've grown to find that the taste of cold pizza in the morning rivals hot pizza in the evening.  I'm not sure if the Bagel Bites commercials in the 90's planted the idea in my brain that eating pizza any time was reasonable, but I am certain that it had something to do with it. My love for eating pizza for breakfast has added an extra requirement to my pizza demands.  Every time I think about ordering a pie, I take into account whether or not I'd also enjoy the left-overs.

Breakfast is an odd thing to me.  Since leaving the regimented comfort of my parents' household, the lines between breakfast, lunch and dinner have been blurred.  During the past 4 or 5 years, it wasn't unusual for me to eat cold wings and leftover pizza at 9 am.  And it still isn't.  Through these experiences I've come to question what makes a food a breakfast food.  Are eggs a breakfast food only if the egg is cracked into a skillet and not hardboiled?  What if bacon is laid atop another piece of meat?  Do breakfast type foods have to be displayed separately on a plate?  But what if you somehow streamline the process of consumption by putting the meal in a bread-like enclosure?  Does it find itself in the lunch or brunch territory?

The first thing I noticed about the Suwannee River was that it was low, low and slow. The current at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (River Mile 148.5) was almost imperceptible. Thirty-foot limestone walls-white and pock-marked-bore silent witness to the drought conditions of mid-October. This promised to be the slowest Paddle Florida trip in its four-year existence. With the west wind blowing fallen leaves on the water, it looked as though the river was flowing backwards! Still, any trip on the famous Suwannee River is special, even one with almost slack water.

Continuing Tallahassee's celebration of earthly delights, the 15^th of October was the Annual North Florida Wine & Food Festival.  For the past three years, the Dedman School of Hospitality has been putting on this event to give their students some educational experience and it's been so popular that the event has become a staple of the Tallahassee's October festival line up.

This past weekend, I was driving home from a friend's place.  It was well past midnight and for some reason I wanted a burger to sit in my belly.   There is a McDonalds right down the road from my place so, in my tired and hungry mind, it was the only reasonable option.  As I pulled into the parking lot, I soon realized that I wasn't the only person with a hankering for some junk food.  The line went around the building and almost met itself in front of those familiar golden arches which would have cemented the Idea in my mind that this "quick bite" would be more of a long wait.

I love autumn in Tallahassee.  The weather's cool, dry and breezy.  It's the perfect time to put on some flannel and poke around some pumpkin patches for the perfect one for carving.  If you missed the memo, this is the time of the year where pumpkins are back in style.  Pumpkins have found their way into everything. Pumpkin pies, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course pumpkin beers.  You can realistically experience all that is pumpkin throughout the entire day.

Football in the south is huge.  People here live and breath for the start of fall which means it is the start of football season.  If you are coming to Tallahassee on a football weekend, I can promise you that you will have lots to do!

My oldest daughter is a very gifted artist.  It is fascinating to me to see how amazing her work is when I don't have an artistic bone in my body.  She had heard about these art galleries down at a place called Railroad Square and had been begging me to take her.  I had heard that the first Friday of every month there was something called First Friday Gallery Hop at Railroad Square where all the galleries were opened late, but I was hesitant to go, not sure if it was appropriate for the younger kids.  I had images of dressy people looking at beautiful artwork while my kids ran through the gallery knocking valuable pieces off the wall.  After months of her trying to convince me that it would be fun for all of us, I agreed and we all loaded up to see what the hype was about. 

The recently improved and reopened Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail inspired me to break out my bike and give it a go. First, I thought it best to wipe the mildew off the seat, squirt a little oil on the moving parts and put some air in the tires. As you might gather, I'm not a bicycle aficionado, but I always enjoy the pursuit once I get out.

As summer creeps into fall, the weather is getting better.  It's almost time to break out those long sleeves, but they better be garnet and gold because the dawn of college football is upon us.  That means that the weekend plans are going to get a lot easier.  It's time to get the grills fired up and begin stock piling as many beverages as possible. 

The majority of us spend a whole lot of time in our cars.  Running to and from work, transporting kids to and from events and rushing to get the shopping done.  We base our routes on landmarks that we see and that become so familiar to us.  Often times we aren't even aware of what significance some of these landmarks might hold.

Having spent most of my life in Tallahassee, I can honestly say that there is never a time to be bored.  Our weekends are well thought out with trips down one of the many bike trails, a picnic at one of the parks, visiting a historical site or participating in one of the many community events that go on year round.  Fall seems to offer limitless opportunities of fun with all the fall festivals, walks for amazing charities plus it is a chance to enjoy the outdoors when it is below 90 degrees.  Personally it is my favorite time of year because the leaves are changing colors, the mosquitoes are long gone and our activities do not require me to wear a bathing suit which is great.  I swear our entire summer revolved around cooling off in water and being told by my teenagers how uncool my skort bathing suit was!  No fashion worries during the fall, because I can wear a sweater, hide my mommy muffin top and feel good!!!

The 8^th of October marked the beginning of many great festivals being held in Tallahassee.  It started off with Brewfest which was a blast for craft beer enthusiasts. I waited to attend Brewfest for about a year and I couldn't have been happier with the turn out.  To have the ability to pay a onetime entrance fee and try nearly a hundred different beers gave me a feeling similar to Charlie finding that golden ticket.  I was furious last year that I wasn't able to make it.  I didn't think that it would have sold out but sadly I was wrong.  Everyone that I knew who went couldn't stop bragging about an experience I missed out on.  I missed a world of beer, but this year, I got my ticket and there was nothing stopping me from making it to that festival. 

Last October, I had the good fortune to join RiverTrek 2010-a five day paddle on the Apalachicola River from the Jim Woodruff Dam to Apalachicola Bay to raise money for the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. That set off a plan to create the Apalachicola Blueway, a detailed guide for paddlers wanting to explore the river for a day or the entire length. Then Riverkeeper executive director Andy Smith and I scouted the river by boat to create the guide, and the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails produced the maps. Now, the complete Apalachicola Blueway guide can be downloaded on a new river website, produced by volunteer Earl Morrogh.

Every month, I recharge my cultural batteries and refresh myself by making the rounds of the regular First Friday Gallery Hop. It's one of my favorite arty things to do in Tallahassee.

Along the way, I have made some wonderful friends - artists whose work I've admired (and purchased) and gallery owners who offer space and shelter for those artists. The gallery hop is nothing if not a social affair - you can hob-nob with old and new pals while browsing for art and other treasures.

A dainty pair of lady's leather shoes. A faux-ivory celluloid-backed hand mirror. A toothbrush. A jar of cold cream, half-used. A bottle of fine champagne, stoppered, with the dregs still left inside.
These things left behind - things as mundane as a tin of tooth powder and as elegant as a dainty hairpin - tell the human tale of the frigid April night in 1912 when the ocean liner Titanic was struck by an iceberg and went down in the North Atlantic. More than 1,500 souls perished, and more than 700 survived.

What do you do when a new friend from Spain wants to experience some real North Florida downhome culture?

Take her zydeco dancing at Bradfordville Blues Club, that’s what!

And that’s just what I did with a posse of pals a couple of weekends ago, when our friend Amanda, who grew up in Tallahassee, was visiting from Mallorca, where she lives now. She had brought her friend Lucia and wanted to introduce her to la dolce vita a la Tallahassee.

The upper Wacissa River was on my radar the other day and I saw three other boats. Three! A kayak and two canoes. That's because I ventured to the headsprings just east of Tallahassee after work during the week, taking advantage of the long days of late summer/early fall. I had almost two hours of blissful, quiet paddling, and I had the 42-foot deep Big Blue, the largest spring along the river, all to myself.

On a recent Sunday afternoon we ventured out to the Museum of Florida History located in the R.A. Gray Building in Downtown Tallahassee.  I started taking my children to this museum when they were just toddlers and as they have gotten older it is still a place that they enjoy going.  From the moment you walk in, the children's attention is captured as you wander through the different periods of history from the age of the Mastodon to the Native Indians to the Civil War and beyond. 

I was so happy to see the construction on Gaines Street finally come to an end.  The long standing construction was taxing on the businesses in the area.  So much so that St. Mike's Pub used its sign to convey a simple yet widely shared opinion, "Fix the damn road."  It was always such a hassle to navigate around the area every time I wanted to grab food at Voodoo Dog.  Now that it's over, I can check out the merchandise at some of the shops in the area like Two Moon Trees, Phaze One Skate Shop, and the new Retrofit Records.   

Wakulla Springs State Park is one of my favorite places on the planet. I have swum in the icy waters there, and I have napped on the grass with the chatter of children lulling me into a doze. I have hiked its trails, and I have taken the Jungle Cruise (my friend Linda Hall drives one of the boats) many times, never tiring of the splendid pageant of birds and alligators and silver, leaping mullet.

If you're anything like me, towards the end of the week I start running out of ideas for what to have for dinner.  I can only have pasta or stir fry so many times a week.  Luckily, every Thursday there is a place where a lot of the great mobile food trucks gather together to serve some of Tallahassee's best diverse cuisine.  I'm not talking about premade burgers under heat lamps or ziti on hotplates--I'm talking about Food Trucks.

I recently joined the owner of The Wilderness Way, Georgia Ackerman, her husband, Rick Zelznak and a couple of other friends at Lake Hall for some fun with stand up paddle boards (SUPs). SUPs are a cross between surfboards and kayaks. They look a lot like surfboards, you stand on top of them, but you paddle them with a long paddle.

I had the wonderful opportunity to accompany a WFSU film crew to St. George Island State Park on Wednesday. For their Dimensions television show, they are featuring the Forgotten Coast segment of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, a 1,515-mile sea kayaking trail around the entire Florida coastline that I mapped for the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails. We arrived in the morning just after a rain and the sky was perfect for filming and photography. And not too hot, either.

Opposite in nature than the spring-fed Wakulla River is the swamp-fed Sopchoppy River, about 35 miles southwest of Tallahassee. Fed by small creeks emerging from the watery jungle of the Bradwell Bay Wilderness Area and other wet areas of the Apalachicola National Forest, the Sopchoppy's color varies from yellow-gold to red-black to coffee-colored, depending on rainfall, water depth and sunlight. Think of the river's headwater swamps as giant tea pots brewing a concoction of fallen leaves, cypress needles, bark and wood and you get the picture. The water is clean from a pollution standpoint, however, since it emerges from wholly undeveloped lands. 

If you're hankering for some delicious country smoked sausage and country milled grits, take a leisurely drive up Centerville Road towards Bradley's Country Store. I would suggest putting on some Creedence Clearwater Revival during the ride to put you in the right mood. As you approach Bradley's, you'll surely come to realize how fitting the name is. This quaint little establishment sits under the cool shade of some giant oaks, protected from the pull of time.

I don't have much of a green thumb and sometimes I worry that my children are going to grow up thinking that most vegetables and fruits grow in cans. So I packed up the family and brought them down to the Downtown Market Place to expose them to fresh produce, music and art. I figured the kids and I would walk around a little bit and maybe grab a few tomatoes. Heck, I was even thinking I might try and find the inner Martha Stewart in me and perhaps get some fresh peaches to make a cobbler.

The Engine Room is the place in Tallahassee to check out the newest trends in music today.  It attracts musical acts from across the nation and from different genres ranging from punk to house music.  More recently, a lot of electronic acts are performing there which is telling of the new trend in music.  The music scene is quickly moving towards more electronic acts since emerging technologies are making full bands a thing of the past.  The people who book the shows really have their finger on the pulse of the music industry.

It's an odd memory to have, but I remember the first salad I ordered at a restaurant.  Back when I was a junior in high school, my dad took the family out to Outback Steakhouse.  When the waiter came to take our orders, my dad ordered a rib eye, my mom a blackened chicken Caesar salad, my brothers both ordered burgers and I ordered a house salad.  As soon as the waiter left to put in the orders, the jokes came pouring in from my older brothers.  They couldn't believe that I would order a salad at a steakhouse.  They said it was sacrilege.

Let us now have a moment of silence for Tallahassee's venerable arthouse cinema, the Miracle 5 on Thomasville Road. 

The theater, which had been serving up edgy, indie and foreign film fare for decades, closed its doors Aug. 14 after parent company Regal Cinemas decided it had sunk enough money into an infrastructure that was, admittedly, shabby and crumbling around the edges.

For those who are working for the weekend and need a good way to unwind, Midtown is definitely the place to take it easy. I know that I have mentioned some of the bars in the midtown area in a previous blog but looking back I feel that they're due for a little more attention.  

The Wakulla River has been a refreshing destination this summer. It can be a busy place on weekends, so I try to launch my kayak early, say, by about 9 AM to beat the crowds. Sometimes a cool mist hovers above the water, and when the day starts to warm, it's wonderful to dip arms into the clear, springfed water, and splash my face and head. Or, I just jump in. 

I'm sure everyone's heard some variation of Paul Rudd's rant about Starbucks in the movie Role Models. Even though his character in the film is a huge jerk, the issues he brings up aren't that crazy. Starbucks is taking over the world one sweet beverage at a time. 

If I see a bug in my house, chances are within minutes you will find it on the bottom of my shoe. My children on the other hand, like anything and everything creepy and crawly. So when we heard that Giant Bugs had invaded the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science my kids were begging to go see them.  

Every first Friday of the month, I park in the dirt lot across the street from All Saints café on Railroad Ave (the lot starts to fill up fast around 6:30 pm). I get out of my car and deploy a myriad of text messages to my friends in an attempt to establish a meeting point. I am one of hundreds of people that come together to check out what is happening at Railroad Square Art Park.

For the past few months I’ve been spending a lot of my time around Midtown.  Between getting my iced coffee at RedEye and grabbing a bite to eat or having a few drinks at one of the various bars, it’s almost becoming a second home. 

Not far from Florida State University campus lies a national historical landmark called Mission San Luis.  When you enter the only reconstructed 17^th century mission in the Southeast, be prepared to be taken to the 1690's when the Apalachee Indians and the newcomers from Spain created a community called Mission San Luis.  My kids, who were not looking forward to a history lesson, were truly mesmerized as people wearing costumes from that period guided us through the mission.  It was as if we had gone through a time machine and were watching the people doing the daily activities that would have taken place in this little community in the 1690's.  My boys were excited to learn about the traditional games that the Apalachee children played....not quite the same as the Playstation games of the 21^st century.  

I heard it through the Tallahassee cultural grapevine that the Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science was going to extend the run of its blockbuster exhibit "Baroque Painting in Lombardy from the Pinacoteca di Brera," which was scheduled to close July 20. Well the Tallahassee cultural grapevine was correct! The "Baroque Painting in Lombardy from the Pinacoteca di Brera" has been extended until September 4. 

The kids and I ventured out this past week to see a movie.  Sometimes it can be a challenge to find a movie that doesn't make me wish I was an octopus so I would have enough arms to cover six children's eyes and ears during inappropriate moments in the film.  My 12 year old recalled how a few months ago we filmed a commercial for the Challenger Learning Center announcing their newly remodeled IMAX 3D theater.  Secretly I was thrilled because I know that at the Challenger Learning Center there are films that will entertain everyone.  They have wonderful documentary films like Born to Be Wild and Life Under the Sea that will entertain the entire family        

National Hot Dog Day was last Saturday (July 23^rd) and I felt that the only real way to celebrate a holiday of this caliber is with a tasty dog. Instead of going to the grocery store to purchase some ball park franks to cook up yourself, a better alternative would be to pay a visit to either Dog Et All or Voodoo Dog -Tallahassee's finest hot dog destinations.

There are a lot of good places to get a drink around Tallahassee, but each venue offers something different.  The strip of bars on Tennessee Street caters to the younger college crowd that likes to get rowdy off cheap liquor and even cheaper beer.  Then there are the bars in Midtown like Finnegan's Wake Irish Pub, Waterworks and The Filling Station that cultivate a higher caliber atmosphere.