VIE was thrilled to hear of the return of the local favorite Harvest Wine and Food Festival. The festival is produced each year by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF). It returned on Saturday, November 6, for its fifth annual event after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic and raised over $100,000 to help children in need in Northwest Florida. The mission is simple: to connect wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in NW Florida. Cheers to all of the distributors, chefs, sponsors, and guests for making the grand tasting such a wonderful event year after year!

The venue of the day is the relatively new and buzzed-about Hotel Effie. Named after the owner's matriarch, the Hotel has a family element that emanates through the graciousness everyone working here seems to possess. Walking into the bright and spacious lobby, I feel transported to a swanky metropolitan city, minus the ostentatiousness that comes with that. The modern yet breezy design is refreshing from the typical beach casual decor we Floridians are so used to seeing. Perhaps it's because I am finally off 30-A? Anyone who stays on 30-A knows the running joke of Destin/Sandestin being a faraway "big city." So take it from me, Hotel Effie came to play.

Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups, and adventure-seekers. “We are thrilled to be hosting events at the Real.Fun.Beach once again and look forward to welcoming visitors this weekend for our annual Pirates of the High Seas Fest,” says Dan Rowe.

Oscar Wilde NYC opened in 2017, instigating much fanfare and intrigue as locals, tourists, and literature fans alike ogled its over-the-top interiors and 118-and-a-half-foot marble bar (the longest continuous bar in the city). It reopened in March 2021 after being closed for nearly a year due to COVID-19. “Oscar Wilde turns the Victorian era on its head—without relinquishing any of its glamour."

If you don't know about Miami Spice, prepare to be enticed. Miami Spice is a two-month restaurant promotion organized by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureaus. Participants of this spectacular event can enjoy multi-course menus at a reduced price at Miami's hottest restaurants. We are talking about $28 lunches and $42 dinners, but not your average meal—think over-the-top experiences! Check out the menus of two delectable restaurants participating in the annual promotion—Estiatorio Ornos and Buya Wynnwood. Time to start packing for that impromptu Miami trip, perhaps?

It was a spirited weekend in New York City as Guests celebrated the opening events of Fleuriste St~Germain, an enchanting pop-up flower shop cum cocktail bar that opened in NYC’s Soho neighborhood created by St~Germain elderflower liqueur in collaboration with Oscar De La Renta/ MONSE Fashion Designer Laura Kim and American Ballet Theater Dancer James Whiteside.

Rosé is a way of life, and no place celebrates (and educates) better than The Hampton Social. With multiple locations across the US, the American restaurant is known for its rosé-all-day ethos and coastal-inspired cuisine. The aesthetically pleasing atmosphere and hand-crafted cocktails make it the crème de la crème for after-work happy hours or Sunday Fundays with girlfriends. On June 12, 2021, The Hampton Social in Nashville celebrated its favorite beverage—rosé, of course—with the first annual Pink Party! Learn more about the party and everyone's favorite pink drink from The Hampton Social's beverage director, Greg Innocent.

Chef Stephanie Izard is excited for Everything Crunch to join the sauces and spices in her globally inspired retail food line, This Little Goat. These crunchy toppings consist of foods that pack a bite, like toasted nuts and seeds, as well as puffed wild rice and crispy quinoa, in a variety of bold flavors.

As we start to spend more time playing in the sun and moving our bodies after the cold winter months, we feel invigorated to get back on track with our health and nutrition. These reasons and more make us so excited to welcome the newest addition to Seaside, Florida's AirStream row, Green Stream Juice Café!

The Courtyard at Pescado in Rosemary Beach, Florida, will host a Wine and Food Tasting hosted by Breakthru Beverage on Wednesday, February 10 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. with advanced sommelier Jonathan Ramsey.

Quest Hospitality Concepts LLC is pleased to announce the debut of 30-A’s newest restaurant, The CITIZEN, a coastal tavern and restaurant located within the luxury seaside community of Alys Beach. The restaurant is slated to open on Friday, January 22, 2021.

Family gatherings in this socially distanced holiday season look a lot different in 2020, but amidst so much change, we might as well have fun with it and spice up our classic ways.  Though we wish everything could go back to “normal,” I believe there are important lessons we can learn from these trying times. You don’t have to cancel the holiday; you can celebrate Thanksgiving with a twist on tradition!