Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), one of the nation’s premier fundraising organizations, announces the retirement of President John Russell after more than 10 exemplary years of service to the organization. Under his leadership, DCWAF has grown from a grassroots organization to the third largest charity wine auction as ranked by Wine Spectator; raising more than $3.8 million for 15 Northwest Florida children’s charities in 2022.

On Friday, August 3rd, 2022, J.Leon Gallery + Studio, the area's newest fine art gallery, hosted its monthly Sip N' Stroll event, where three new artists debuted in the gallery's Fall show. The gallery welcomed artists, Liubov Haskins, painter and jewelry artist, Staci Dabson, skateboard and surfboard painter, and Dorothea Berkhout, oil painter to the talented lineup of featured artists.

Hotel Effie has partnered with the Emerald Coast Autism Center for a special one-night event hosted by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson on July 15 at 6pm-10pm. The pre-fixe dinner will take place at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ovide, nestled in the heart of the world-famous Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Corcoran Group, LLC announced today its affiliate, Corcoran Reverie, has welcomed Worth Properties LLC of Nashville, Tennessee, led by co-founder, President, and Principal Janet Jones, to its growing operation. The announcement was made by Corcoran President & CEO Pam Liebman, and Corcoran Reverie broker-owners Hilary Farnum-Fasth and Jacob Watkins. Corcoran Reverie’s growth marks the seventh Corcoran affiliate to announce an expansion in less than one year, with Worth Properties LLC now operating as Corcoran Reverie. Corcoran Reverie also announced it has been named the official real estate brokerage of the Tennessee Titans – the first time a Corcoran affiliate has partnered with a National Football League organization.

The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) is pleased to announce that the 17th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family raised more than $3.8 million for children in need in Northwest Florida. The record-breaking results are a staggering $1.8 million increase over the previous year.

On a sunny and brisk Sunday, February 20th, 2022, 3,200 runners from the local area and 40 states took their places at the start line in the New Urbanism town of Seaside, Florida, to participate in the 20th running of the Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K. The Seaside School Foundation proudly reports that over $700,000 was raised to benefit the Seaside School, Inc., through Seaside Race Weekend efforts.

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 Say It Southern Getaway is a must-attend event. For those of you who don’t know, Courtney Goolsby and Sarah Stone Smith are the creators and cohosts of the Say It Southern (SIS) podcast and The Getaway. They are champions of women entrepreneurs who love to tell stories about Southern women and their passions. I knew from the second I listened to my first SIS podcast that I wanted to find a way to be involved in this event and it did not disappoint! The long weekend took place along the beautiful beach towns of Scenic Highway 30-A in Northwest Florida with around forty guests from around the Southeast and beyond. We all left with new friends, renewed energy, and new ideas on how to live our best lives and have fun while doing it.

"We Interrupt This Broadcast" offers a behind-the-scenes look at the news coverage, funeral, and intrigue surrounding the death of Princess Diana. The podcast, based on Joe Garner's New York Times Bestselling book of the same name, celebrates the crucial role broadcast journalism has played throughout our nation's history. Hosted by legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis and narrated by NBC's Brian Williams, each episode presents an in-depth look into the reporting of, and reaction to, events that have since become benchmarks in history.

E. F. San Juan is celebrating its 45th year in business and is known for its custom architectural moulding, millwork, and cabinetry. Their craftsmen and designers, led by the company’s owners, create innovative, artistic and efficient solutions. They don’t just seek customers; they seek partners as committed to their experience as they are.

When we live in a community abounding with beautiful beaches and gorgeous luxury homes, it is imperative to remind ourselves that this is not the reality for most of our world. At VIE, we feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to support important causes through partnerships with real-world heroes. As some of you may already know, our VIE Beach House Show Home, seen in our April 2021 Issue, was built to give back not only to our community but to others around the globe who need it the most. With the help of the home's developers Jim and Suzy Accola, we partnered with The Sonder Project and Food For Thought Outreach to donate a portion of the proceeds from the home's sale.

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!