The 3rd Annual Cocoa Beach Wine & Food Festival

In the two short years since its inaugural event, the Cocoa Beach Wine & Food Festival has grown from a mere blip on the local radar into a nationally recognized culinary gathering.

Putting more emphasis on the “foodie aspect” of the event, says 2012 Festival Director Tony Hernandez III, entailed the enlistment of celebrity chefs Beau “Beau Mac” MacMillan and Lee Hillson, the addition of five popular Orlando food trucks to the roster, and, for the first time, the option to purchase larger portions of both food and wine from several of the 15 participating local restaurants.

“‘Foodie’ is a term you’re hearing a lot more these days. But I was a foodie before it became popular,” Hernandez laughs. Just a few years ago, he was juggling his busy legal practice and sautéing sofrito at his own eatery, the sorely missed Mr. Cubano in Cape Canaveral. He admits that he and his wife often select travel destinations based on restaurants they’d like to visit and plan their itineraries around meals. It was while traveling that he got hooked on the food truck scene.

“What some of these guys do is amazing,” Hernandez says. “You get a variety that changes daily — sushi, burritos, pizzas, burgers, hot sandwiches — but all top-notch, gourmet stuff.”

Five mobile eateries from Orlando will be serving food, C&S Brisket Bus, 5Gastronomy (known for their 48 hour-braised pork tacos), and Chef Bryce Balluff’s renowned Fork in the Road among them. Having trained at the French Culinary Institute and the Michelin-starred Per Se Restaurant in New York, Balluff will be in good company when Chefs Beau Mac and Lee Hillson show up to demonstrate their cooking techniques.

Fans of the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” will remember Beau Mac beating Bobby Flay in 2006′s “Battle American Kobe Beef.” His distinctive style of blending American flavors with Asian accents helped him propel Scottsdale Arizona’s Elements, at the Camelback Mountain Resort, to one of Gourmet Magazine’s “Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S.”

“A chef cooks from the heart, while a cook cooks from the wallet,” says British native Lee Hillson, who has cooked for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Princess Diana, and Billy Joel. He’s known for his tense battle with Cat Cora on “Iron Chef,” and the “lightly polished, rustic Mediterranean cuisine” he prepares at the Royal Palms Resort’s T. Cook’s in Phoenix has garnered him outstanding reviews from a host of critics and publications.

Returning local restaurants to the 2012 Festival include Silvestro’s, Lobster Shanty, Green Room Café, Chart House, Gregory’s, Rusty’s, Fishlips, and Cape Canaveral’s excellent Rubio’s Cuban Café. New to the roster are Paradise Cove, Melbourne’s Continental Flambé, and Izzy’s Bistro. Along with others like Juice ‘N’ Java and the Bald Strawberry Bakery, they’ll be offering samples of five specially selected wines (both white and red varieties) for guests to enjoy as they take part in raffles, admire vintage automobiles in a car show sponsored by A1A Sign Wave, and dance to the music of ’70s legends Ambrosia.

But one thing that hasn’t changed is the Festival’s dedication to community improvement and their choice of beneficiary, Junior Achievement of the Space Coast. It’s an organization that’s close to the hearts of Hernandez, Sponsor John Aplizar of Alpizar Law, and Presenter Craig Technologies CEO Carol Craig.

Junior Achievement’s aim is to invest in our youth to better our community and, ultimately, the world at large. “It’s about helping mold teenage entrepreneurs,” Hernandez explains. “Kids learn from an early age how to sell their ideas and how to be convincing, passionate, and respectful — all those qualities that are necessary to becoming the good businessmen and women this community needs.”

“For us, the challenge isn’t blowing up the balloons and getting the tents set up in time,” he continues. “The real challenge is making all this work for Junior Achievement. We can’t think of a better, more deserving organization to help.”

Mix all these ingredients together and you have what’s sure to be a delicious, fun day out — and rare local opportunity to “Eat, Drink, Rock, & Stroll.”

The 3rd Annual 2012 Cocoa Beach Wine & Food Festival takes place Saturday, April 28 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, about 1 and 1/2 miles south of S.R. 520. Tickets are $20 in advance through the Festival website — www.cocoabeachwinefoodfestival.com — and at a variety of locations throughout town. Day-of tickets are $25 at the gate. Ticket price includes food and wine samples, beer truck, the car show, and the finale concert by Ambrosia. Tickets are limited, so reserve yours soon. Children under 12 get in free. Separate food and wine tickets will be available at the event for larger portions from several participating restaurants. Gates open at 1 p.m., with the food and wine tasting from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ambrosia take the stage at 5:30 p.m. General, first-come, first-served seating for the concert; bring lawn chairs or a blanket in case all are filled. Special room rates and free parking at the nearby Hilton for festivalgoers and a special “Let Us Give You a Ride” program for imbibers sponsored by Alpizar Law. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.cocoabeachwinefoodfestival.com

Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach

Mike Wittman
By Tobin Bennison

It’s not unusual to meet young artists who’ve been inspired by skate culture, but it’s rare to come across one as humble as local graphic designer Mike Wittman.

Skateboarding’s inherently solitary, DIY aesthetic tends to breed brasher artists who can’t wait to strike out on their own. Wittman, however, saw the benefits of a traditional apprenticeship early on.

Born in Virginia Beach, VA, Wittman, 24, has lived in Cocoa Beach since the age of 11, and it was here that he first became interested in art.

“My first real exposure to art derived from my passion of skateboarding,” he recalls. “I rode for a local skate shop and was inspired by the logos and graphic on the decks.”

After graduating from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale with a degree in graphic design, Wittman interned at the Cocoa Beach Skatepark, but was careful not to ignore his passion and fall into an “unfulfilled job.”

Through persistence, he was offered a part-time position in the art department of Tropical Design, Central Florida’s premier screen printer, which was started by Bill Algeo and “Balsa” Bill Yerkes back in 1990.

After only a few months, Wittman was brought in as a full-time artist with the company, and today, he and colleague David Cruey run the design side of the operation. Through Tropical Design, they’ve been a part of the design process of multiple clothing lines for major retail stores, local businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations.

Wittman cites Cruey as one of his main artistic influences. “I work with him on a day-to-day basis,” says Wittman, “and we help each other in our projects and bounce ideas back and forth in our own personal creations.”

Many other things inspire Wittman’s creative process — everything from music, art, and photography to skateboarding.

“As an artist and designer I try to take an idea and make something out of nothing,” he explains. “I’m a strong believer in the idea that one man’s garbage in another man’s treasure.” As such, some of his pieces are constructed from old skateboards, vinyl records, cardboard, and other miscellaneous objects that bring him inspiration.

“The most important ritual of my day starts with a good ol’ cup of joe,” he laughs. “Normally, I cruise around and go skate, which clears my mind of the day’s obstacles and frustrations.”

“Usually, I have a basic idea of where I want my art to take me, but I let the fluidity of the moment lead me,” he continues. “Mood has a large factor in the process, and some of my favorite pieces developed opposite of the direction I was originally headed. I work mostly in mix media, starting with sketches, and reference what I’ve collected and what supplies I’ve prepared or have at hand.”

Describing his style as “a mixture of the grunge phase and pop culture,” Wittman recently parlayed his creativity into another project, Evasion Clothing, where he incorporates some cleverly juxtaposed designs into the wearable canvas of his own line of t-shirts.

His brother, Jason, helps out with the company. “Jason has been one of my biggest supporters in bringing my concept into reality. He helps me produce our shirts out of his house in Merritt Island.”

The long hours of hard work pay off when Wittman sees his t-shirts on passersby. “It’s such a rush seeing people wearing your creations,” he tells me, “especially when it’s not someone you personally know.” In the short year-and-a-half since its inception, Evasion and Wittman’s designs are starting to catch on locally.

“The best part of living in Brevard is the people and laid-back environment,” he says, and he’s quick to pay respect to the many who’ve helped him in his artistic pursuits here.

“I’ve received a lot of support from my family, friends, the Cocoa Beach Skatepark, and everyone at Tropical Design,” Wittman says with characteristic humility. “They helped get me where I am today.”

Visit Tropical Design Studios online at: www.tropicaldesignt-shirts.com. See more of Mike’s work and purchase clothing at: www.evasionclothing.com or look for the company Facebook.

Wendy Brigham of Crossfit Cocoa Beach
Tobin Bennison

You’ve likely heard a lot about CrossFit, a relatively new fitness discipline, probably from friends who swear by it. You’ve also likely heard from a fair share of detractors.

So what is CrossFit? What makes it different from other fitness programs?

Since they opened in October 2010, Cocoa Beach CrossFit has grown by leaps and bounds, having recently moved to more spacious digs in the Bailiwick Mall on Brevard Avenue.

“The Box,” as adherents call it, is an air-conditioned, fully-equipped facility overseen by experienced, certified trainers who guarantee results within 8 weeks.

Cocoa Beach CrossFit is also the only affiliate facility in Brevard that’s open all day. And thanks to their proximity to the ocean, they also offer popular beach workouts.

Owner Wendy Brigham has a background is in law enforcement and firefighting, and is particularly proud of the many local first responders who train with her. CrossFit is highly popular with emergency and military personnel who welcome the challenges and benefits Crossfit offers.

We asked Wendy to fill us in on why the program has garnered so much attention.

You’re not from here originally. What brought you to the area?

We really felt that Brevard County — Cocoa Beach in particular — was an ideal location for a CrossFit training facility. Plus, being the only beachside CrossFit gym allows us to have beach workouts, which our members really enjoy. We’ve been welcomed by the local residents and the Cocoa Beach Fire Department who train with us. And who doesn’t like living at the beach?

How did you first get into fitness?

I started competitive weightlifting in high school and also surfed every chance I could get!

When did you first get into CrossFit?

I became interested in CrossFit in 2009 when I met our head trainer, Wayne, who has been involved with the program both as a participant and a certified trainer for several years. The short duration and high intensity of the workouts really piqued my interest, and the quick results it provides really were amazing.

What are the particular benefits you’ve found in this program as opposed to others?

Firstly, any exercise program is better than nothing, but we feel that CrossFit prepares you to perform when the unexpected happens. That’s why CrossFit is so popular with first responders such as police, fire, and military personnel. Probably the best endorsement of the CrossFit program is its widespread use by military Special Operation Units. CrossFit provides an overall fitness level you can’t obtain through most other programs.

There’s some controversy surrounding CrossFit as well. Is it more than just a passing fad? What are some of the reservations people have, and how do you address them?

Yes, there have always been CrossFit detractors, but it’s usually those involved with other fitness programs. It’s been described as too intense and can lead to injury. That’s utter nonsense. All our workouts are scaled to your fitness level and/or any physical limitations, such as backs, knees, and other problems you may have. Once folks come in and spend some time talking with our trainers and find out how CrossFit really works, the misconceptions fall away. As far as a being a passing fad, the CrossFit games are televised on ESPN and, like I said before, some of the biggest users of the CrossFit program are those in Special Operations Units. I don’t think our military leaders would allow these highly trained soldiers to participate in workouts that would injure them. Another problem is that due to the recent popularity of the CrossFit program, other fitness facilities are coming out with programs they tout as similar to it. This we know is going to lead to injures to unsuspecting participants. If you’re interested in CrossFit, go to a real CrossFit affiliate with experienced, certified trainers.

What do people find to be the most difficult part of the program? What do you tell people who find it too strenuous?

The hardest part is walking through the door the first time! We are very honest with folks about the intensity. Once they complete the initial instructional sessions and they’ve experienced real fatigue, they realize that they can do this and are on their way to real fitness. Again, anyone can do CrossFit, regardless of age or physical limitations. Our members range from high school athletes to folks in their 60s. Our members are from almost every walk of life. We have many military, fire, and police clients. We have as many women as men, and ages run from 14 to 65. We have a very robust 40-plus program, which is a blast.

Are their any dietary or lifestyle choices people need to adhere to outside the classes?

Good nutrition and exercise go hand-in-hand, and while CrossFit supports both the Zone and Paleo programs, we feel that common sense is a prudent course of action. Personally, we think that eating reasonable portions of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds will allow you to attain your fitness goals.

Any success stories you’d like to share?

One thing we are very proud of is our relationship with the Cocoa Beach Fire Department.  Chief Duckworth is very impressed with the fitness gains of his staff since they’ve been with us. Plus, they’re a great bunch the citizens can depend on when needed. Otherwise, just watching someone get their first pull-up or attain a personal best on a lift is so satisfying for us.

What do you see as the biggest threat to Americans’ health today? Is there something you feel we as a country should change?

Of course obesity is a huge problem in our country, but also a general lack of real fitness is a real concern. We need to get schoolchildren back out on the playground and promote a reasonable nutrition program at home for our children and ourselves.

How does the program differ for beginners as opposed to seasoned veterans?

Once a beginning member completes the initial instructional classes (we don’t charge for these classes), they do the same workout as the seasoned veteran. The difference is that they will be scaled back by limiting the reps or rounds to complete. CrossFit has a “Workout of the Day” (WOD) that changes every day. It makes our workouts anything but boring!

Cocoa Beach CrossFit, located at 14 N. Brevard Ave. in Cocoa Beach, is open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Prices vary; 3x a week is $65, 2x a week is $55, unlimited $75 (monthly), Military, Fire, and Police personnel will receive a discount. They also offer a CrossFit 50+ Program. There are no contracts. Call them at (407) 414-7164 or (407) 572-4517, or go to their website: www.crossfitcocoabeach.com for more information. You’re also welcome to stop in and meet Wendy and the trainers, who’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Rocky Mountain National Park
By Vern Hobbs

“Man, when you’re out there, surrounded by fourteeners, I dunno … just does something to your soul!” my gypsy-blooded neighbor exclaimed, struggling to find words that adequately described his latest pilgrimage to the western mountains.

The term, “fourteeners,” refers to mountains exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation. The soulful effect, for which my neighbor could not find words, may well be what singer John Denver called a “Rocky Mountain High.” Both are right on the mark — it’s impossible to remain unmoved in the presence of such natural grandeur — and there’s no greater concentration of fourteeners than in Colorado.

Though Colorado’s 54 fourteeners are spread throughout the state, the best place to catch a mountain-induced state of ecstasy is within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Established in 1915, “Rocky,” as its devotees affectionately call it, encompasses 265,770 acres of unspoiled wilderness, including 150 lakes, 450 miles of streams, and a 359-mile trail network. Located just two hours northwest of Denver, Rocky is readily accessible, making it one of the most popular parks in the western states, having hosted over 3 million visitors last year.

Straddling the Continental Divide and varying some 10,000 feet in elevation, Rocky contains a variety of diverse ecosystems. Below 9,000 feet, grasslands, bogs, and forests of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir cover the landscape. As the elevation increases, the sub-Alpine forest, with its mixture of conifers and quaking aspens, begins to dominate terrain that becomes increasingly more rugged. Above 11,500 feet the forest disappears totally, yielding to Alpine tundra. Similarly, significant topographical differences exist east and west of the Continental Divide. The eastern slopes, better known as the “front range,” tend to be drier, marked with glaciated peaks and ravines. A measurably wetter weather pattern west of the Divide allows denser forestation at the lower elevations.

While the western slopes of Rocky are accessible through the Grand Lake Entrance, most visitors arrive through Estes Park, an idyllic mountain resort town often compared to the Alpine hamlets of Switzerland. Gleaming like a jewel in the valley below, Estes Park reveals itself in a broad panorama as we round the last of many curves on Highway 36, the last leg of the scenic, two-hour drive from Denver. To the left, the popular aerial tramway scales the face of Prospect Mountain. Straight ahead, nestled along the banks of the trout-filled Fall River, the outdoors shops, boutiques, cafés, and bistros of downtown Estes beckon. But the sight that most captures the eye is the magnificent, four-story Victorian manor perched atop a knoll overlooking the valley — the opulent Stanley Hotel.

Named for its founder, F.O. Stanley, an early 1900s entrepreneur best known for his steam-powered automobiles, the Stanley has hosted the most prestigious visitors to Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park for over a century. The sight of the grandiose hotel may also evoke a sense of déjà vu, especially among Stephen King fans. Many scenes from the film version King’s frightful tale, “The Shining,” were filmed here. Today, the Stanley remains the preeminent lodging and entertaining venue of Estes Park, accommodating guests not only in the original historic hotel, but in luxurious villas located on the sprawling grounds. If the Stanley or its lofty prices seem, well, haunting, don’t dismay, Estes Park offers a multitude of lodging options, including popular chains and mom-and-pop motels, campgrounds, chalets, and cabins. Rates and availability vary seasonally. (Explore all the available options at: www.estes-park.com/lodging.)

The Estes Park gateway offers two entrances into Rocky: Highway 34, via the Fall River entrance station, and Highway 36, through the Beaver Meadows entrance station. Beaver Meadows is considered the main Park entrance and is the location of Park Service headquarters.  Making the Beaver Meadow Visitor’s Center your first stop is a great way to insure making the most of your visit to Rocky. A 20-minute film sketches the Park’s history and outlines the current mission of wilderness preservation. The giant topographic relief map orients you to the Park’s geography and climatologically diverse eco-regions. The current status of trails and facilities and schedules of park activities is constantly updated and posted. Drive-in and backcountry camping reservations may be made, and well-versed Rangers are available to answer any questions.

Highways 34 and 36 eventually meet within the Park boundaries, creating a long, winding loop that makes for an excellent driving tour. This circular route also provides access to Old Fall River Road, another popular driving excursion, and for the die-hard motor-tourist, Trail Ridge Road. This serpentine thoroughfare, constructed along a course that follows ancient Native American trails, connects the Park’s west entrance at Grand Lake to the eastern entrances at Estes Park. Along the way, Trail Ridge Road crests the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,183 feet, making it the highest paved road in the nation.

Despite the popularity of these scenic drives, most visitors to Rocky favor activities more in tune with nature — hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, or simply becoming one with the tranquil splendor that abounds here. The Bear Lake Trailhead, accessible via Bear Lake Road off Highway 36, is considered by many to be the heart of the Park. Along it are numerous trailheads, the fascinating Moraine Park Museum and breathtaking Sprague Lake. The Bear Lake Trailhead provides access to a vast network of trails that offer both sublime strolls and strenuous treks. Many of these trails are served during the summer months by Park Service shuttle buses. This service allows day hikers to venture deeper into the Park’s wilderness before returning to Bear Lake before nightfall.

Though admission to our National Parks was once free, tightening budgets have forced the Park Service to implement fees. The current entrance charge at Rocky is $20 per automobile. Pedestrians and cyclists pay $10. The good news is that an annual pass, allowing unlimited admission, is only $40. The popular “America the Beautiful Pass” gets you into all the National Parks and recreation areas for as little as $80. Whatever fee you choose to pay, the cost will be insignificant compared to the high you’ll experience during a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Learn more at: http://rockymountainnationalpark.com

Dirk Strangely

Edgar Allen Poe with the body of a raven perched on a spindly branch; a zombie-like Pac Man surveying the graves of his victims; Strawberry Shortcake as a hobbling, wrinkled crone; a skeletal, empty-eyed gardener futilely sprinkling seeds on a desiccated twig; a quartet of sweet sixteen partygoers devouring a clown… These are just a few of the paintings to have sprung from the skewed mind of Houston, TX-based artist Dirk Strangely.

Due to arrive on April for a showing at Café Surfinista in Cocoa Beach, Strangely is a frequent guest artist at sci-fi, horror, and comic conventions held throughout the country. Having achieved cult fame in these spheres for his blend of gothic humor and classic composition, Strangely seems to draw equal inspiration from Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, and more mainstream artists like Amedeo Modigliani.

Strangely’s “Ghost of Django the Gypsy,” for instance, depicts an elongated, elastic-limbed Django Reinhardt cradling a murderous-looking guitar. If the jazz legend’s features are sleekly primitivistic, the tendril curling from the body of his guitar body evokes more recent images from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

This curious juxtaposition of forms is part of Strangely’s artistic goal “to show that we are all creatures of dark and light.” To deny oneself either, he says, “is a lesson in self-destruction.”

Not just a visual artist, Strangely has embraced several projects that incorporate film, digital art, spoken word and creative writing, photography, puppetry, sculpture, and even music. As lead vocalist and guitarist for Dirk Strangely and the Hatchetmen, he plays a style of music he describes as a mixture of “surf, psychobilly, honky tonk, and gypsy.” He’s a classically trained jazz and blues multi-instrumentalist, but he’s most at home in a uniquely visual world of his own creation.

But where these bizarre images first took seed is anyone’s guess. Strangely is a seasoned world traveler and admits to have gleaned much from the various cultures and people he’s encountered, but it’s his own journey of inward self-discovery that seems to have yielded the most fruit.

His interpretations of scenes from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass,” in particular are informed as much by tradition and John Tenniel’s original illustrations as they are by Strangely’s own childhood dreams and fantasies. The result is that they pull fans into their own world of self-discovery, a place where human impulses, however strange, can be comfortably embraced without fear of judgment.

Strangely’s own impulses often lead him to juggling a number of projects and ideas at the same time, a process, however chaotic, that has worked out well for him. Always looking for newer methods of expressing his art, he’s produced conceptual art for films, storyboarding, and animation, and has contributed work to many newspapers and magazines, album covers and concert posters, and several books.

Three of his own books are nearing completion, including three for children. In the works are “The Horribles,” “The Little Girl Who Loves Pink,” which recounts the story of a child who uses her imagination make everything her favorite color, and “Zombooz,” which finds toddler zombies describing their relation to each letter of the alphabet. He’s also currently at work on several comics and recently published his own graphic novel, “Dirk Strangely’s Graveyard Girl” to much acclaim.

However macabre some of his works may seem at first glance, they resonate with an adoring fan base that extends well beyond these shores. Thousands respond to Strangely’s blend of surreal, lighthearted humor and sense of human tragedy, and one critic likened a recent showing as a cross between a “fireworks and sideshow.”

It’s fitting then that cutting-edge Café Surfinista should play host to his upcoming local show. The opening is set for April 6, to take place in conjunction with Easter Surf Festival happenings planned throughout the City. To see more of Dirk Strangely’s work, visit www.dirkstrangely.com. Café Surfinista is located in the heart of downtown at 86 N. Orlando Ave. Call 613-3864 for more details.

THE SANDBAR SPORTS GRILL

“You’ve been here how long?”

I had to ask Andrew Bunin a second time, because it seems like his Sandbar Sports Grill has been here far longer than seven years.

It’s a short span of time when you consider older places that enjoy an equally loyal following here. And it’s not very long in which to have made it such a strong Cocoa Beach mainstay, as Bunin and his staff impressively have.

In many ways, it’s the quintessential Cocoa Beach eatery and bar, with its breezy, island atmosphere, upbeat attitude, and devotion to the beachside lifetsyle in all its variegated glory. Signs and stickers plaster the walls as evidence of the connection it has made with both residents and out-of-towners of all ages who’ve left it with fond memories.

But it’s a melange of different elements that have served Bunin so well here. “I’d worked in the restaurant business in California and Hawaii, so I basically took a bunch of different things about places I’ve liked over the years and just tried to make it work for us here,” he says. “We have great food and a great bar and have brought in a lot of great entertainment, from reggae and hip hop to rock bands. It’s the complete package. I’ve always wanted to have a place with a quality, casual atmosphere, a place where people can come in and feel comfortable.”

Though the Sandbar looks weathered enough to have played host to astronauts and “I Dream of Jeannie’s” key grip, Bunin has recently completed a longterm refurbishment from the ground up. And he’s done it so subtly that the salty integrity of the place hasn’t been compromised one bit.

“Over the course of the years, we’ve pretty much rebuilt this entire building from the floor to the electricity to the roof… And we’ve built all this furniture ourselves,” Bunin informs us. “We’re always improving things here.”

In a process that began last year, the Sandbar’s menu has also been revamped to include a broader range of items. Stalwarts can still rely on the Sandbar’s justly famous fish tacos, and will slather at the sight of 14 new specialty dishes like Baja Fish & Chips (panko-breaded mahi and fries), Teriyaki Tuna, and Churrasco — marinated, charbroiled carne asada topped with chimichurri sauce.

There’s also the popular Hungry Surfer (six shrimp, 6 oz. of grilled chicken, 6 oz. of mahi, and crab legs), Gator Tacos, and the generous Monster Taco Platter, which includes three fish tacos — grilled, blackened, or Baja-style — on large, 8″ flour tortillas. All of these new items are served with black beans, Spanish rice, and sweet plantains. Their signature conch fritters and gator tail appetizers have proven popular as well, and the Sandbar has earned recent plaudits for their wraps and enormous, tropical-inspired salads.

Along with enormous burritos, including a create-your-own 5-lb. monster, they also specialize in fantastic burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. In particular, their Taco Pizza (made with seasoned ground beef, pico de gallo, two cheeses, and sour cream) has become a quick and lasting favorite. If that weren’t enough to choose from, the Sandbar also makes excellent calzones and strombolis.

“Food has always been my number-one priority here,” says Bunin proudly. “I have to hand it to my chefs back there, Dan and Frank. Those guys take pride in what they do and they work exceptionally hard.”

But above all, Bunin feels proudest when he sees the smiling faces of his customers.

“I love to come in and look around and see people enjoying themselves,” he admits. “As a restaurant owner, that’s what you look for.”

“We have something for everybody here,” he continues. “It’s so diverse — people in bathing suits and working suits. My goal is that everyone who comes here — no matter what age or background — comes in and has a great time.”

The Sandbar is located where 520 meets the beach, at 300 Ocean Beach Blvd. in Cocoa Beach, adjacent to Shepard Park one block from Ron Jon’s. There’s plenty of free parking on Ocean Blvd.; don’ be discouraged by the small lot just in front of the restaurant. The Sandbar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with the kitchen serving from their full menu until midnight every night. Patrons are served from two bars — one inside, the other in the sheltered outdoor patio — and specials are available Monday through Friday beginning at 4 p.m. Mexican Mondays offer free nachos with your first pitcher and $1 margaritas. Taco Tuesdays see half-price tacos and drafts, and Wing It Wednesdays offer free wings with every pitcher. On Thursdays, the Sandbar throws a “Pizza Party,” with 20″ pies at a 14″ price and $3 wells, 3 Olives drinks, Southern Comfort, and Southern Comfort Lime. Reggae Fridays see $3 Red Stripes and 1lb. of crab legs for $10.99. (All Monday through Friday Specials are dine-in only, except for the Pizza Thursday specials, which also apply to takeout orders.) Lastly, Sunday at the Sandbar is Hospitality Night starting at 9 p.m., with $1 drafts, $2 Jager shots, and $3 Jager Bombs for service industry workers. Check this issue’s ad and “Word on the Street” section for St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Sandbar is also very family-friendly, and offers a special kids’ menu. Call 799-2577 to call orders ahead or view their menu online and keep tabs on their entertainment schedule at www.sandbarsportsgrill.net. You can also find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sandbarsportsgrill

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Matthew Ericson of the Cocoa Beach Professional Firefighters

Thanks to the Cocoa Beach Professional Firefighters, some students from Cocoa Beach High had a slight change in curriculum this past January.

Several kids who recently completed a CPR and AED training course were visited by members of the CBPF to discuss advanced life support and the weighty responsibilities firefighter paramedics carry. Gloved hands at the ready, students were exposed to advanced airway techniques, intravenous access, full spinal immobilization, the use of life-saving medications, and cardio-electrical therapy such as defibrillation and pacing. Afterwards, several students expressed interest in pursuing medical-oriented careers, and a few even considered becoming paramedics by the time the program concluded.

That’s just one inspiring example of what the CBPF does for residents when they’re not running calls or putting their lives in danger. In addition to providing fire protection and life support services, they help charities and organize several community outreach programs designed to engage the community and reciprocate the strong support residents give them.

Matthew Ericson, a firefighter/paramedic with the CBPF and proud husband and father of two, has been with the Cocoa Beach Fire Department for seven years. Since his arrival here from Broward County, he’s helped make it the CBPF’s mission to reach out to the residents of Cocoa Beach with a wealth of courses and charity events. They recently started offering free CPR and AED training and certification classes to the administrative staff for all local churches and schools from the CBFD (now an official training center) and hope to extend them to citizens in the near future. The association also takes part in the Citizens Academy, designed to familiarize citizens with City services. The program, which is open to all residents, also helps demystify City projects and employee responsibilities. Through fundraisers like the annual Chilifest and the upcoming Poker Run and the Relay For Life events for the American Cancer Society, Matthew and the CBPF association are dedicated to giving back to the community they proudly serve and protect.

Matthew took time out of his busy schedule to talk with The Resident about his work, which to him is more a labor of love than mere job.

How did you first get interested in firefighting and rescue?

Actually, my whole family has a public service background. My grandfathers worked for the Hollywood and New York Police Departments. My mother works for the Broward Sheriff, and my father and stepmother are both retired from Pembroke Pines Fire Department. It seemed like a natural progression for me, and I like that my job is very different every day.

You were born in Gwinnett County, Georgia and grew up south of here in Broward County. What brought you to Brevard?

The job. It took me almost two years to get hired. As I was completing my Paramedic schooling, I had over 50 applications submitted with cities and counties all over the state and I was continually traveling. I was actually days away from getting hired with the City of Oakland Park when Cocoa Beach accepted me as a new hire. I feel very fortunate to have started my career so early in life — I was 22.

What is it about this community that makes it so special to you?

The geographic location appeals to me because I enjoy water sports, but I think the character of the City and its unique culture is what I fell in love with. Plus, the people here are much nicer than in South Florida and it seems like you get to know everyone pretty quickly, which makes it feel like home.

During the height of the tourist season, the population of Cocoa Beach swells to something like three times its normal size. How do things change for you during migrations like Spring Break, for instance? 

The long and the short of it is that we are extremely busy — all day and all night. One of the hidden “secrets” of our job is that we keep running calls when most people are at home asleep. This type of all-night shift work — and I’d like to add that it’s not every night, but with some regularity — requires several hours, if not a day or more of recovery. It also requires a lot of caffeine; most of us are coffee enthusiasts. (Laughs) Occasionally we will increase our daily staffing for a special event, but otherwise we are consistent in our product and its delivery year round. Some seasons just require more coffee than others.

I think most people have a storybook idea of a firefighter’s day. But what is it really like when you’re not running calls? What goes on behind the scenes? 

We provide a wide array of services above and beyond structural firefighting, such as emergency medical services on an advanced life support level. We also provide high angle and water rescue, vehicle extrication, confined space and rapid diver capabilities — each of these requires a level of proficiency, so we spend an incredible amount of time training to keep our skills up. We also spend a great deal of time doing fire prevention education, building familiarization, and pre-plans and inspections, which are our essential pre-event approaches to saving lives and property. That is all in addition to running calls, reporting and record keeping, making sure all of our apparatus and equipment is ready for action, and cleaning our house — station maintenance, dishes, toilets, you name it. We literally spend a third of our life at the firehouse. It is our home away from home and our co-workers are our brothers and sisters, which, as you can imagine, adds an interesting relational dynamic.

And as if you’re not busy enough, you’re all involved in a number of community outreach programs. There must be a lot of challenges associated with organizing these events.

It’s a challenge in that it takes a lot of time and effort to keep things organized and sharp, from developing a concept to the delivery of a professional end result. Nearly all of it is volunteer time, and I know that many of us have to keep a close eye on the amount of margin that we have at home and the balance we maintain in our family lives.

What was one of the first programs you were involved with?

My first community outreach program was in front of a large group of Cocoa Beach high school students for Project Graduation in 2005. We demonstrated a vehicle extrication where the “driver” was pinned and badly injured from a drunk-driving incident. We cut the car apart, pushed the dashboard so we could remove the victim, then “packaged” him with full spinal immobilization. We even had a first flight helicopter land to simulate flying him to a trauma center. It was a very elaborate demo, but the kids and community love to see the intricacies of what we do.

What do you think kids get out of these programs? What about the little ones you visit in preschool and elementary school?

I think it depends on who your audience is. Some of the high school students were interested in the field of medicine, so we got to share with them a glimpse of our role in that system. Elementary school kids learn the fundamentals of what we do, that we are here to help, and learn fire safety tips and how to overcome the fear that our turnout gear sometimes generates. Preschoolers are enthralled with the trucks, and we usually try to focus on making memories for the parents by having them wear our gear, “drive” the truck, and take family pictures. Middle school kids are just downright hard to engage! (Laughs) 

Tell us about an inspiring moment that took place at one of these events.

Long before I was hired with Cocoa Beach, we ran an infant drowning that was a code (deceased) and we were able to bring the young boy back to life. He recovered at the hospital and went home without any permanent deficit. Although I was hired after this happened, the family always sends us cards of their family and frequents several of our events. The infant is now a young man — one of several siblings — and the thought of what he and his family have been able to experience together over the years, and moreover, of what they might have missed if help hadn’t arrived when it did, it is just very moving. I am so thankful for how the family has stayed in touch with us over the years. It’s a good reminder that we sometimes make a very big difference. My favorite is when people follow up with us and come by the station for a tour or better yet have dinner with us. The creation of this type intimacy is what makes this City unique, and these types of opportunities, in my eyes, act as a sort of “glue” that personalizes the City’s role in their citizens’ hearts relationally. The community outreach programs improve our relationship with the public in an incredible way. I believe it is the best service that we can provide, secondary to saving lives and property, because it is a highly visible “return of investment” for the taxpayer above and beyond our day-to-day job. Likewise, it works to our benefit two-fold, because what employer doesn’t want to see their workforce doing above and beyond what is expected of them?

How can citizens give back to the Professional Firefighters? Are you in need of volunteers for any of these programs?

We need all the help we can get! You can keep up with all of our events and charities at our website: www.cocoabeachfire.com. There is a page called “Friends” where you can sign up to be a “Friend of First Responders,” which is essentially an email list that we send to our residents to keep them in the loop of how we are giving back in the community. We usually need volunteers during our larger events, like our Poker Run, Chilifest, and Golf Tournament; just contact us by email. Nearly all of our events are funded exclusively by the donations of our local businesses and residents. People can donate right there on our website store or by contacting us directly.

Tell us about the April 1 Poker Run and the upcoming Relay For Life on April 14.

We’re actually helping to coordinate two events for one cause. The April 14 Relay for Life will be at the Cocoa Beach High School and is an overnight walk-a-thon. It’s both a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and an awareness event. We decided to promote some healthy competition to bring more publicity to the event, hence its “Police vs. Firemen” theme. The truth is that we have an outstanding relationship with our Police Department, but at the end of the day we will wipe the floor with their fundraising efforts. (Laughs) Which brings us to the second event, the Cocoa Beach Professional Firefighters’ Poker Run for Cancer, which is our primary fundraiser for Relay for Life. It will be starting at the VFW 10148, located at 150 Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach, starting at 9 a.m. on April 1. You can sign up on our website or show up the morning of the event.

Sounds like you have your plates full. This is really more a way of life than a traditional occupation, isn’t it?  

Yes. Inevitably, this job becomes much more than just a job. We are passionate about the occupation and wellbeing of our “second family” and, most importantly, the future of our Department and the services we provide. We are the best deal in town and it is our esteemed honor and privilege to serve in such an incredible community. I grew up around the fire service and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “It’s the best job in the world.” I couldn’t agree more.

THE BLASKET ISLANDS

By Tobin Bennison

“One day there will be none left in the Blaskets of all I have mentioned in this book — and none to remember them. I am thankful to God, who has given me the chance to preserve from forgetfulness those days, that I have seen with my own eyes and have borne their burden, and that when I am gone men will know what life was like in my time and my neighbours that lived with me.”

So wrote Tomás Ó Criomhthain in “An t-Oileánach” (translated into English from the Irish as “The Islandman”), the 1929 chronicle of his world’s slow decline.

That world, which spun around Great Blasket, the largest of the six islands that make up the Blasket Islands, lay just 2 km. to the west of mainland Ireland’s County Kerry. But to any European visitor at the time it must have seemed as alien as Bombay.

A small community of native Irish speakers once lived there in primitive, thatched stone homes, subsisting mainly on fishing and whaling. The number of Blasketers peaked at 176 during WWII, but their culture would have disappeared much earlier were it not for the efforts of scholars devoted to preserving their stories and way of life.

Upon “The Islandman’s” publishing, Ó Criomhthain became the first and most famous of a small group of writers whose stories were on the cusp of vanishing forever. Linguists, historians, and cultural anthropologists riding the late wave of Ireland’s Gaelic Revival, which began in the 1840s, came to the Blaskets to collect the stories of others, resulting in a compact blossoming of literature the like of which the world had never seen.

Subsequent visits by Celticists resulted in the translation of Maurice O’Sullivan’s lyrical “Twenty Years A-Growing” in 1933 and Peig Sayers’s bleak memoir “Peig” three years later.

Despite burgeoning interest in the Blaskets, however, things looked grim for its inhabitants then. In 1947, they were cut off from the mainland by an extended spell of dangerous weather, and the islanders appealed to then Taioseach Éamon de Valera for emergency supplies, which arrived an agonizing two days later.

The event saw the departure of many Blasketers to the mainland in subsequent years, and those who remained — now working with diminished manpower and a depleted fishery — found it difficult to make ends meet.

In 1952, the Irish government announced that it could no longer guarantee the safety of the populace, and by the end of 1953, the last of the Blasketers had been evacuated.

Since then, the islands have seen visits from morbid curiosity seekers in search of romantic ghosts and from nationalists who find the last vestiges of an older, truer Ireland forever sealed in amber.

For many years, as part of the country’s reinvention, Sayers’s “Peig” was required reading for all secondary-school students, but its popularity waned in the ’90s with the rise of Ireland’s “Celtic Tiger” economy, whose prime movers viewed it as too backward to merit inclusion in their vision of modernity and European acceptance. It says a lot about how far — or how short — Ireland has come since then that it once again enjoys a prominent place in school curriculum.

Tourists usually flock to the Aran Islands to the north, west of Galway, perhaps because they offer a more picturesque image of a perceived “authentic” Ireland — one rife with whitewashed cottages adorned with flower boxes, trundling horse traps, and quaint, open-air folk museums.

For a visitor more in touch with the tragic vein that seems to run fatedly through Ireland’s history, the green, eerie Blaskets provide valuable perspective — a dismal reminder of what can be lost, irretrievably, in the pursuit of progress.

Ferries still operate to the islands from the Dingle peninsula, and the Irish government is in the process of making the Blaskets part of a sprawling national park and heritage site, but their fate rests, once again, in the hands of a fickle, charm-loving public.

Ireland is full of pretty ruins and crumbling testaments to its past, but none are more evocative of of the country’s intangible spirit than the sad, fallen gray walls of the abandoned cottages on Great Blasket.

Through them, the mists twist and the wind echoes the thoughts of all the Blasketers who once found voice through Sayers, O’Sullivan, and most eloquently, Ó Criomhthain, whose final, prophetic words remain both timeless and pan-cultural:

“I have written minutely of much that we did, for it was my wish that somewhere there should be a memorial of it all, and I have done my best to set down the character of the people about me so that some record of us might live after us, for the like of us will never be again.”

Cocoa Beach Thai & Sushi
Tobin Bennison

It was the kind of day that made you proud to be a Cocoa Beach resident.

It was neither too warm, nor too cold — ideal for a family bike ride — and the river at Dempsey Park was bubbling with activity. Dolphin gamboled playfully, and the herons could barely contain their pleasure at the sight of all the leaping mullet.

Since leaving the house, we’d passed and greeted at least 15 friends and neighbors, and now a couple waved to us enthusiastically from their kayak as they rounded a clutch of mangroves, the tenth such instance of us being hailed by complete strangers. It was like something out of “Sesame Street” — and Oscar the Grouch was nowhere in sight.

But where to eat on our journey without fear of dampening our exuberant mood? Where else but Cocoa Beach Thai & Sushi?

We always head here whenever we’re in doubt as to where to eat, and our visit on this idyllic Saturday afternoon saw the last piece of a perfect day fall snugly into place. Thanks to friendly owners Danny and Mon Yodvilai, there’s never a question of being let down.

Since taking over nearly four years ago, Danny and Mon have transformed the once drab, almost industrial eatery into a charming, teak-accented hideaway. By repainting and adding wood partitions in strategic spots, the Yodvilais make this place feel much larger than it is. It’s still very intimate — just as suitable for a family day like we were having or a quiet, romantic meal for two — but you’re never really alone here, thanks to the warmth the Yodvilai family and the staff here exude.

And that’s exactly what we needed to round off the perfect day: the natural, neighborhood friendliness of Danny and Mon. Their son and daughter, who both attended Cocoa Beach High, can often be seen here helping out, and other servers (as well as redoubtable sushi genius Noom) are as much a part of this extended family as the locals who come here on a regular basis.

“We want our customers to enjoy coming here,” says Mon. “We get to know them and their children like family and know just about everyone by name. We recognize their voices when they call in and know right away what they want.”

Cocoa Beach Thai & Sushi works like a well-oiled machine — no small feat, when you consider the breadth of their extensive menu — and as busy as it can get, there’s never a feeling of pressure or tension coming from the bustling kitchen. It’s all good vibes, from the moment you sit down to the time you leave.

Danny, who’s won a number of cooking accolades and in 1997 was voted “Best Chef in South Florida” for his work at South Beach’s Sushi Rock, exhibits incredible efficiency, versatility, and creativity back in the kitchen. These skills enable him to adapt recipes according to individual tastes, create dishes that aren’t on the menu for regulars, and to deliver orders (some just outside their delivery range for loyal customers) without missing a beat.

The beauty of CBT&S is that you can mix and match Japanese and Thai dishes in infinite permutations. It’s all here: from miso and wonton soups to udon, gyoza, tempura, fried rice, and curry and Pad Kee Mao. In fact, you could probably eat here every day for a year and never have the same thing twice.

Even more surprising is how fresh and consistent their food is. Everything is made to order and, like I said, can be adapted to individual tastes. In Chef Danny’s hands, each dish is a symphony of flavor in which each ingredient takes a brief solo. Though the whole is delicious, it’s the components that stand out: the coconut, lemongrass, basil, garlic, and ginger. And the subtle flavors linger long after you’ve finished.

Favorites include the spicy tuna roll, the Red Dragon Roll, the Pad Thai, and the Thai curries. Locals also love the Cocoa Beach Roll, comprised of tuna, escolar, hamachi, cucumber, avocado, asparagus, scallion, and cream cheese. It’s hand-rolled by Noom before being lightly fried and drizzled with a specially prepared sauce.

Along with a wide range of appetizers from either the sushi bar or kitchen are house specialties like the Cocoa Beach Chicken (prepared with cashews, sweet peas, black mushrooms, baby corn, and pineapple) and the Cocoa Beach Duck, a boneless half duck deep-fried with the same ingredients.

There’s a well-chosen kids menu for the many children who come, and a special Japanese lunch menu is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Featured items include chicken and steak teriyaki, nigiri, and sushi and sashimi combination plates. What’s more, it all looks beautiful thanks to Noom’s delicate touch.

It’s tempting to count the beach, the ocean, and the river as the main advantages to living here, but when you think about it, it’s really places like Cocoa Beach Thai & Sushi and people like the Yodvilais that make you feel so fortunate to be a resident.

Cocoa Beach Thai & Sushi is located at 24 N. Orlando Ave. in the heart of downtown Cocoa Beach. They’re open Monday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch) and reopen for dinner hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays. Call 868-0066 to order ahead for pickup or delivery (limited area).

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Tim Dorsey

Interview by M. Alberto Rivera

Tim Dorsey is the man responsible for creating Florida’s most beloved serial killer and amateur historian, Serge A. Storms.  For 15 novels, starting with 1999′s “Florida Roadkill” to 2012′s “Pineapple Grenade,” Serge has managed to endear himself to readers by killing off the unsavory characters who infect Florida and make real headlines regularly. This cathartic purging of the kind of people most Floridians wish there were less of has helped earn Dorsey a dedicated following, which regularly places his books on the New York Times best seller list.

Dorsey is a bona fide space buff who used to cover NASA launches for the Tampa Tribune. His first novel begins in Cocoa Beach, during a shuttle launch. Dorsey has Serge return repeatedly to the Space Coast throughout his adventures, which always keep him a few steps ahead of the law.

The one thing Dorsey and Serge both share is a love of Florida history, from the Spanish conquest and cracker culture to the space race and everything in between. His book, “Florida Roadkill: A Survival Guide and Travel Companion to the Novels,” details the stories behind the stories which inspired the novels, and is chock-full of glossy photos of the actual locales. His newest book, “Pineapple Grenade,” was just released this past month.

The Beachside Resident had the good fortune to catch up with Mr. Dorsey in between stops on his promotional tour for the holiday-themed “When Elves Attack.”

You’re modest about the success your novels have had. Why do you think Serge and his sidekick Coleman have become such popular figures?

I think people are stressed and frustrated and Serge is a stress reliever. They’re very free individuals, and they get to travel Florida and people like the vicarious travel and enjoy the exploration because the locations and landscape are real. It’s like a history tour of Florida.

In one of your novels, Serge asserts that, “CNN is like the local news.”

He mentions that. It was something I was experiencing as I was traveling on a book tour. Also, I was in L.A., and I was waking up with the TV on. I was in that ether of half-awake/half asleep, and it took me a moment to realize I wasn’t in Florida. CNN did back-to-back Florida weirdo stories.

What do you think it is about the Sunshine State that brings out such consistently absurd behavior?

It’s a very dynamic state. And what I mean by that is, other places are sort of settled, where there are several generations, but here there are people coming and going constantly. They’re retiring or they’re entering here from Latin America or they’re moving down here. They are on the run, or they see a chance to make a buck on some land or a scam or something. There’s a lot of growth, and a lot people transferring in and out. There’s a very unstable population compared to other states.

Have you ever written something and felt, “That’s just too implausible”?

Actually, no. Some people will give me feedback and say that something’s too over-the-top or too implausible. Usually that’s the stuff inspired by true stories.

You had been kicking the idea of a novel around for a while before “Florida Roadkill.” What was the motivation or inspiration to finally get it down on paper?

I’d been wanting to do this since I was in high school. I spent 16 years working on high school and college papers and daily newspapers. I kept starting a book over and over again. I think I was intimidated by the process. But what finally got me going was my first child being born. I saw her in her playpen. Whatever happens, just write your first draft and don’t stop. Just write it all the way through. Don’t stop. Don’t keep editing it. I did it like an SAT test — don’t waste time, you can always come back to it. I felt my time was shrinking. If I didn’t do it right then, it wasn’t going to happen. So that was “Florida Roadkill.”

Have you ever considered giving Serge and company a break and developing some the other characters and storylines?

Not right now. The thing is, each book has an ensemble cast. I think it’s the best of both worlds. The readers who want Serge and Coleman get Serge and Coleman. The people who want something else, I have other plot threads and they will meet up with Serge and Coleman at the end of the book or sooner. If I want to write something else, I can do it within the series. That’s how Mahoney came about. I wanted to write that character and he had his own separate plot thread. It’s a different writing style and a different kind of a character. So kind of in a way I do get away from Serge and Coleman within the books. And yet he’s still there.

Your sincere love for the offbeat and out-of-the-way is obvious. What are some of the more memorable places you’ve discovered along the way?

The last book was down in the Everglades. I spent lot of time down in the everglades staying in little cottages way, way out of the way, down in the swamp. I got my camera and notepad and was just taking pictures and driving around… Meeting people and stuff…

You’ve talked about developing the characters who end up dead in your books as the people who irritate you in real life. Have any of these reinterpretations ever caught wind of it and confronted you?

You mean copycats or something?

No. Like with “Triggerfish Twist,” when you realized you’d killed all your neighbors, did you think it was time to move?

I get what you’re saying. It’s funny; you murder a million people and some readers will write to me and say that some of those people in this one book didn’t deserve the death penalty. So the first 100 murders were justified, but the last few weren’t. But no one has recognized themselves.

My favorite way that Serge took someone out was when he took the MRE warmers and put them in a cooler. Is there one way in particular that Serge has offed someone that still makes you laugh?

It just did. The reason I thought of that was that I ate them (MREs) with my in-laws. They gave me a bunch of National Guard food rations and I ate them on the book tour. I’d get the heaters out and added the water to the line. I started wondering what would happen if I filled it up all the way. It just scorched the wall of the motel. So I moved the TV in front of it and left quickly the next day.

Do you have a favorite work from your catalog?

I hear a lot of authors say that it’s like picking between your children. I just try to get better with each one. Human nature is to want to continue get better. So you hope each one is better than the last.

Would you consider writing something more personal at this point?

There’s a lot of autobiographical material in the books, either thinly- or thickly-veiled. A lot of things I remember. I put my grandfather in the books, and actual people. I still have fun with it. I don’t get bored by being too serious with my own personal background.

What is the biggest thing you have in common with Serge?

Florida. I love getting in a car with a camera bag and some notepads and traveling around collecting matchbooks and souvenir pins. I could do that full-time. I just got off the road and I can’t wait to get back.

For all things Tim Dorsey, visit www.timdorsey.com

Mykonos

By Vern Hobbs
www.flying-fish-creative.com

Sinking in boredom, I paged mindlessly through the cable news channels. On one, an animated commentator dissected the most recent GOP debate. On another, a polished doomsayer belabored the Greek debt crisis, predicting the possible “end of Greece.”

“End of Greece?” I blurted out incredulously. “If a little spending binge marks the end of Greece, then there’s no hope for the rest of the world,” I preached. “After all, Greece is where civilization began; mythology, mathematics, the novel — all rooted in Grecian soil. Take the island of Mykonos…”

Mykonos, a 33-sq.-mile, semi-arid, mountainous island rising 1,100 feet above the emerald-hued Aegean Sea, 97 miles southeast of Athens, is one of 220 islands known as the Cyclades. Anthropologists believe Mykonos was first inhabited by Neolithic tribes 3,000 years before the birth of Christ before the Ionians displaced them 2,000 years later. Greek mythology paints a more colorful portrait, naming Mykonos as the battleground where Zeus fought the Titans. A visit today reveals this island to be a ruggedly beautiful, sun-washed Aegean playground where ancient traditions and customs coexist with 21st century hedonism.

Some years ago, following the suggestion of a seasoned wanderer we met in Athens, we sprang for the 30-minute, €130 plane ride to Mykonos expecting to find beach resorts filled with winter-weary European tourists. While such places and people were in abundance, we soon discovered that this intriguing island is in fact a personification of the Greek legacy. A quick taxi ride from Mykonos Island National Airport delivered us to the heart of Chora, also known as Mykonos Town, a peaceful seaport village so idyllic it could have easily been created by a Hollywood set designer. Here, narrow cobblestone streets, flanked by perfectly imperfect stone and stucco houses, wind lazily down the hillside, emptying onto a crescent promenade encircling an azure harbor. New meets old, and strikes a harmonious balance as a vegetable peddler leads his donkey and cart past a waiting BMW roadster. Fishermen mend their handmade nets and spread them to dry on the seawall, across the street from the Internet café. Elderly women, adorned in the traditional black garb of widowhood, gaze in store windows at mannequins clothed in the latest Parisian fashions. I turn to snap a photo of a kitten napping atop a pile of fishing nets, only to be distracted by a tall, white pelican strolling into a nearby shop.

It would be easy to spend an entire vacation, or lifetime, loitering in the cafes along the Chora harbor front, but there is a lot to do and see on this island. Getting around is easy and inexpensive. Public bus routes cover most of the island for fares of €2 or less. Taxis, though limited in number, are very reasonably priced, seldom charging over €12 to go virtually anywhere on Mykonos. Rental cars are available, but with limited parking, narrow streets, and distances seldom greater than 5km between any of the island’s seven towns and villages, a motorbike or bicycle may prove the better conveyance.

Art aficionados will find 26 galleries and 7 museums right in the heart of Chora. History buffs will find the archaeological, folklore, maritime, and agricultural museums fascinating, and may want to visit the Mycenaean or Neolithic archeological sites. Architectural fanciers will find themselves immersed in one of the world’s greatest collections of Cycladic construction — the clichéd blue and while cubic buildings often topped with rotund roofs and always associated with Greece. Regardless of individual interests in structural design, history, or antiquities, everyone should visit to the neighboring island of Delos.

Proclaimed the birthplace of Apollo in Greek mythology, Delos is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Some of the most extensive excavations in the Mediterranean region have been undertaken on Delos, revealing evidence supporting mankind’s earliest recorded history. Though the island is uninhabited and public access limited, guided tours are offered for around €35. Self-guided tours are also allowed after paying a €6 entry fee. Boats depart frequently from Chora, typically charging €12 for roundtrip passage to Delos.

Although thoroughly linked to the ancient past, Mykonos has become famous as a thoroughly modern resort destination. Since the 1960s, the island’s warm, sandy beaches have increasingly become the chosen winter destination for countless multitudes of icebound Europeans longing for sun and surf. The most popular of the island’s 35 public beaches are located on the south shore, sheltered from the prevailing north wind by the inland mountains. Many of these beaches have achieved fame to the point of legend: Psarou, favored for its upscale hotels, condos, and restaurants; Platys Gialos, known for its family orientation and water sports, and of course Paradise and Super Paradise, world renowned among nudists.

Despite the decades of growing popularity, reasonable, even cheap lodging and dining are still found on Mykonos. Make no mistake, luxury hotel rooms and exclusive condominiums rent for prices that might make Warren Buffet blink, but small hotels, bed and breakfasts, and pensions abound. A popular guidebook advises that two- and three-star hotel accommodations range from €75 to €150 per night, based on double occupancy. A visit to http://inmykonos.com however, revealed plentiful rentals advertised for as little as €30 per night.

The variety of eating and drinking establishments run a similar gambit — lavishly pricy, if you desire, but lots of friendly tavernas, and cafés offering delicious food at modest prices. As a general rule, the most expensive restaurants are near the popular tourist resorts, while the more modestly priced, and often more authentically Greek eateries are tucked away in the smaller villages. Whether dining five-star, or mom ‘n’ pop, expect to be joined by a feline guest or two. The Greeks revere cats, even contributing their own recognized breed — the Aegean. These graceful creatures roam freely and are welcomed in the restaurants and bars.

Tripadvisor reports that despite Greek’s current monetary woes, travel related costs have held steady, and recent visitors report little or no crisis-related difficulties. Experts do advise allowing a day or two of scheduling flexibility as brief strikes, usually less than 24 hours in duration, have disrupted some forms of public transportation.

Unlike Athens, a modern, bustling city full of ancient ruins and historical sites, Mykonos is a place where the ancient world blends effortlessly into the modern. Come here expecting decadent pleasures and you won’t be disappointed. But don’t be surprised if you’re also inspired by the time-tested culture. As for the crisis, well, those come and go. Civilization lasts forever.

Beth Kring
Tobin Bennison

Merritt Island artist Beth Kring jokingly claims that she does most of her painting in her car. “If I took my pieces into my house,” she laughs, “my dogs would eat them.”

There’s a kernel of truth in this comical aside. In addition to making beautifully muted tropical watercolors, Beth is devoted to rescuing Bloodhounds. “I have four now; we lost three last year from old age,” she says. “I am pretty limited as regards space, so I work in studios like Art & Antiques on Highland Avenue in Eau Gallie. I also take classes with watercolor instructor Jea Jea Tremble at the A-frame on the ocean when I can.”

An interior designer since 1974, Beth came relatively late to painting. “My interior design work incorporated much of art background and supported many of my forays into different forms of expression,” she tells me. “I took pottery classes at Merritt Island Pottery and BCC in the early ’70s, and did ceramics for many years. I’ve tried glass blowing, welding, and bronze and ceramic sculpture.”

Beth’s garden is full of sculptures from this phase of her career, but it’s her whimsical watercolors that are getting the most attention these days. Inspired by “the tropical wonderland of Merritt Island,” Beth paints dreamlike images of local flora and fauna. But she especially likes the mobility the discipline affords her. “Watercolor is a much more portable media and not as involved with heavy equipment,” she explains.

And Beth knows a thing or two about travel, having moved here in 1969 after a three-year tour of Germany. “It was a grand adventure,” she reflects, “but the weather drove us to Florida where we’d always vacationed. We were originally from Baton Rouge, where it rained a lot more than here.”

“My mother was a talented hobbyist and had her private art teacher come into my school when I was in the second grade. I was very fortunate to have been praised for the things I did in art from a very young age. My high school art teacher was so great that almost all of her students majored in art in college.”

But Beth’s first watercolor teacher was local artist Therese Ferguson, who works at Eau Gallie’s Art & Antiques Studio. “Therese is an amazing talent and the most patient person in the world,” says Beth. ”There are so many brilliant artists here in Brevard in all media.”

A long-standing member of the Brevard Watercolor Society, Beth enjoys working with their school volunteer program, which sees artists working with local students and teachers to promote the watercolor tradition. Formed in 1995, and sponsored in part by the Brevard Cultural Alliance, the non-profit Society currently boasts over 200 members, many of whom, like Beth, are well known both statewide and nationally.

Being part of the Society keeps Beth grounded and optimistic about the future of the arts here in Brevard. “We have so many wonderful artists who reside here,” she says. “And the Brevard Cultural Alliance has worked miracles with little financial support to promote arts in the community. The Brevard Art Museum has also worked for years and succeeded in supporting the arts locally. We’re very blessed to have so many galleries and studios here.”

“We’re also so fortunate to live in an area that is so beautiful and clear,” she adds. Whether they depict flamingos, herons, lychees, or one of her beloved Bloodhounds, Beth’s paintings are also attempts at capturing the unique quality of light found here. But she manages to find equal inspiration when she’s away.

“I take pictures in my travels and either sketch the image or trace my original photos after blowing them up to paper size on watercolor paper,” she explains.

An avid diver, Beth hopes to transform some of her underwater photos into paintings in the months to come. This shouldn’t be too difficult an endeavor, when you consider her commitment to harnessing the inherent transparency of watercolors.

“I sketch in pencil, then try to keep my paintings as transparent as possible. The challenge is to make them transparent, but also bright and colorful without making them look too muddy. I like to paint fast with lots of color, but sometimes I fail tragically,” she admits.

Beth’s sense of humor is a big part of her work as well. “I’d like the world to see my work with humor as I progress in my search for color and expression,” she says. “I’d also like for people to smile when viewing my work since making art makes me smile.”

As for the future, Beth hopes to keep traveling and honing her technique.

“There’s so much to do and so little time,” she muses. “But I love the learning process.”

See some of Beth’s work in an upcoming Brevard Watercolor Society show March 31-April 1. Her work is also on display at the Society’s Member Gallery at Art & Antiques, located at 1419 Highland Ave. in Eau Gallie. To see more of her work or to commission a piece, email her at bskring@bellsouth.net. Visit the Brevard Watercolor Society online at: www.brevardwatercolorsociety.com

Photo: Ezra Millstein

Haiti: A Land Forgotten

By Dan Reiter

Last November, I took a charter flight into the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with Habitat for Humanity’s annual Carter Work Project. Our mission: to build 100 homes for Haitian families displaced by the 2010 earthquake. The quake — a result of 250 years of bottled-up stress on a Caribbean fault line — demolished nearly every building in the capital city, killed 316,000 Haitians, and exiled over one million people to homelessness among the ruins.

One-time President Jimmy Carter flew on the airplane with us. His eyes sparkled as he passed down the aisle to shake hands with each passenger. His voice was spritely and polished, his back slightly hunched. He moved much like a man on the campaign trail.

As we descended upon the island, our plane buckled in heavy turbulence. A nervous tremor rippled through the cabin. Below us, shadows passed wraithlike over scalped brown mountains, a white crescent reef, a turquoise sea. Someone bolted for the bathroom.

Photo: Ezra Millstein

Two years have passed since Haiti’s grande catastrophe. Two years since waves of the injured and the damned poured into tent cities. Since the world wept over Port-au-Prince’s mass graves. More avant-garde disasters have since taken center stage in the collective consciousness: the Gulf oil spill, the Japan tsunami, the Fukushima fallout.

Many countries who pledged aid to Haiti have reneged on their promises. Less than one third of international relief funds have been distributed. An estimated 98% of Port-au-Prince’s rubble remains where it fell. Refugees are consigned to pestilence and oblivion; they huddle under rotting tarps, without clean water, sanitation or food — vulnerable to outbreaks of cholera and malaria, those afflictions of a bygone age.

From above, rivers the color of spoiled milk snaked through the frayed fields at the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. As we descended onto the island, an urban wasteland stumbled into view, a crush of third-world stone boxes, rusted roofs, great mounds of garbage, legions of blue and gray tarps. We put down, taxied past an airplane abandoned in tall weeds. Trash bags fluttered on the barbed wire of the airfield wall. We filed down the steps, quietly, solemnly. Everything seemed hazed in steam.

Photo: Habitat For Humanity

Haiti has long been a nation on the brink of collapse. In 1804, it became the world’s first black republic, and was subsequently squashed under the thumb of sugarcane embargos, pre-packaged wars, and villainous political leaders. At the time of the quake, Haiti was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, already well acquainted with disaster.

A convoy of police cars and SUVs escorted our buses to our camp in Léogâne, near the epicenter of the quake. For two hours we bumped through some of the poorest slums in the Americas. The stink of garbage, the naked children bathing in sewage ditches, the half-dead dogs, the black, sickly goats tied around the necks, and the chronic rind of styrofoam and plastic, knee-deep along the embankments, were too much for some to bear. Others took pictures. Street vendors — beautiful, lithe women — crouched in the filth, hawked black plantains, honey, sugarcane, fly-infested meat. The children’s eyes, at once distrustful, spry and innocent, were yellowed, jaundiced somehow by the proximity to death.

We slept ten to a tent, barracks-style, on light-gauge aluminum cots with flimsy canvas straps. We had come to work, not take vacation. My tentmates were a scattered bunch, hailing from all corners of the continent. One, a computer engineer from Toronto, sat at the edge of his bed, brooding. “I can’t believe how bad it is. Broken concrete everywhere. You would have thought there would be more trees.”

Photo: Steffan Hacker

The old man on the cot next to me, who did not seem suited to a construction site, raised a bony finger. “The sugarcane companies clear cut the whole damn island,” he said. “Ain’t a damned tree left for lumber.”

A sturdy black fellow dressed in khaki unloaded his army-issue duffel bag and took up a more optimistic tone. “Life is calling you boys! Can you hear it?” His voice boomed throughout the tent. “It feels good to get out and help, don’t it?” This was Willie, maven of twenty Carter builds, ex-Peace Corps volunteer, Vietnam vet.

“Did you see the looks on the children’s faces?” the Canadian said.  ”How can they smile among all that devastation?”

“Left ‘em in tent cities with million dollar views,” the old man said.

“Just do what we can,” said Willie. He set his tool belt on the bed, careful not to test the frame. “Ain’t no more to it than that.”

That evening, a Haitian singing group performed for us on a makeshift wooden stage. President Carter provided a rousing introduction. It was a strange contrast — the Parisian mannerisms, the French pursing of the lips coupled with the dark, tribal dances. But Haiti is a country of contradictions. They are the poorest people in the world, but in many ways, the most lovely, living on an island in the middle of the hurricane belt, where drinking water is in short supply. The cities are desperate for reconstruction, and yet they sit atop a lode of concrete stone. A paradox, Haiti. Broken, fissured with incongruities.

We awoke before dawn, filed into the mess tent for bangers and mash, collected our tools, and loaded the buses to the job site. Thus commenced our weeklong toils in the sun and heat of Léogâne.

The work week blurred by. I hefted up walls, slammed thousands of metal twist straps into lumber, bloodied my fingers, soaked and dirtied every inch of my clothing, nearly died from heat exhaustion, sat in a delirium atop the aluminum roof, gloves torn, to bear witness to stunning sunsets over water-carved mountains. Pascal and Marie, two Haitian homeowners-to-be, worked alongside our team, thrilled with these shelters — the size of a small room, with no plumbing or electricity — where they would be living six to a box.

Photo: Habitat For Humanity

The President of Haiti, the copa singer Michel Martelly, appeared for a shining instant, his arm in a splint. Garth Brooks worked among the volunteers, sporting a Stetson hardhat, carrying a drill, a hammer. One sultry night, Garth and his wife, Trisha, gave an impromptu performance on the camp’s stage.

We sweat until we near fainted, waited blurry-eyed in meal lines, slept like the dead in our cots, ate beef and Guinness cottage pie. On Veterans Day, we stood in bowed silence as someone read “In Flanders Field” over a megaphone.

During a week of cold showers, blisters, bruises, and backaches, we became united by the rhythm of our labors, like some gang of mercenary carpenters. We knew we were building more than homes, more than a village. We were building an example. Camaraderie between nations. Good karma.

Jimmy Carter, at age eighty-seven, was proficient with the tape, the pencil, the handsaw. He worked the long days, proselytized the nights.

“We want to help the Haitian people in a way that doesn’t debase them, nor elevate us,” Carter said, his white hair shining in the stage’s spotlight.

“Say what you want about his Presidency,” the Canadian said. “But what a remarkable man.”

Photo: Steffan Hacker

I befriended a young Haitian carpenter, who regarded me with great love in his eyes and taught me how to chew the sweet black sugarcane. We sat under the shade of a Royal Poinciana tree, in a country mired in tragedy, overflowing with love and grace.

Tall palms sway above it all, the children sleep, dream, the sea roils, bright bougainvillea flourish among the wreckage.

In Haiti, the shortest way from one place to another never lies in a straight line. The politics are muddled, the land rights swamped in bureaucracy. But there are some who still believe. Dreamers like Harris Rosen, an Orlando hotelier, who envisions Caribbean kibbutzes, self-sustaining Haitian communes with modular, solar-powered homes. Or Jeffree Trudeau, of the World Bamboo Organization, who hopes to spawn a new lumber industry on these desolate hills. My Canadian tentmate, even, had his own revelation: “Why not just ship in a track hoe and some dump trucks? Gather up all the broken blocks and garbage?”

It all seems logical. The ideas flow into Haiti, but they are polluted somehow on their way into the cities, like the rainwater, sun-bleached by indifference, desiccated as those sickly white rivers.

On the last day, I gave up my tools, my boots, my bedding, and my extra clothing to my Haitian friend. I left camp with a bag as empty as my spirit. I hadn’t shaved or looked in a mirror for seven days.

As our plane soared away from Port-au-Prince, I said a silent prayer for the people of Haiti. I vowed to return. Maybe our 100 homes were a drop in the ocean, but they were tangible enough, proof of what can happen when man and material work in concert. They were sturdy things, anyway. And the roofs would not leak.

To donate to Habitat for Humanity, or to volunteer for the 29th Carter Work Project, which returns to Haiti in 2012, visit: http://www.habitat.org/cd/cwp/participant/participant.aspx?pid=93531977. All donations received will go directly toward the scheduled trip with a goal of building 250 more homes in Léogâne.

JACK BAKER’S LOBSTER SHANTY

Being a contrarian has its undeniable drawbacks, but when it comes to dining, the attitude can open up new worlds of possibility.

I’m glad, for instance, that I never heeded the advice of friends to avoid restaurants like the Cliff House and Alioto’s when I lived in San Francisco in the late ’90s. “They’re just for out-of-towners,” they said. “Locals know better than to bother.”

When I finally did visit those places, it was immediately clear that the naysayers hadn’t even given them a chance. I found the food to be excellent and reasonably priced and the waterfront views spectacular. I managed to convert a few natives before I left, and vowed to take the same approach wherever I moved or traveled to thereafter. It’s a practice that’s kept me in good stead ever since, and one that helped me discover the charms of Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty, a place that’s given similarly short shrift by locals here in Cocoa Beach.

The Shanty’s founder, New Jerseyan and avid fisherman Jack Baker, took up cooking while working at the Biltmore Hotel in Palm Beach. After marrying his Floridian wife and relocating to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Baker opened a tiny, four-top restaurant on the side porch of the family home. Cooking their daily lobster catch in a washing machine that had been converted into a gas-fired boiler, Baker and his father were soon swarmed by people loved their flair with seafood. Trading in the washer for a bathtub-cum-cooker, the Bakers expanded their business and built the first of many Lobster Shanties near the Baker residence.

There are two Lobster Shanties in Vero Beach and six in New Jersey, but the one here in Cocoa Beach is probably the best situated. Located on the Banana River since 1982, the Cocoa Beach Lobster Shanty is one of the few riverfront eateries in the area, and as such offers breathtaking sunset views.

Many locals have fond memories of eating here in their youth, usually for Mother’s Day or wedding anniversaries, but the Lobster Shanty isn’t just for special occasions. They serve a wealth of daily specials, and as tasty as their live Maine lobsters are, their many “turf” and pasta dishes are definitely worth trying. The fact is that the Lobster Shanty offers some of the best values on the beach.

Their popular combination platters are a good example of the kind of bargain you can expect. There are six to choose from, but a favorite is the “Side Splitter,” which comes with shrimp, haddock, a crab cake, scallops, and clam strips. For over a pound of fresh seafood, it’s a great deal.

Other dishes are just as generously portioned, from their  “Triple Treat” (salmon, grouper, and mahi fillets that can be broiled, blackened, or grilled) to their “smothered” lobsters, which get topped with sauteed shrimp, scallops, and mussels and a creamy garlic sauce. What’s more, they’re one of the few places around that can get hold of rock shrimp year-round.

Another favorite, the New England-style baked haddock, shows that this old institution is also very forward thinking. Baked in a Parmesan and bacon crust with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, it’s one of many inventive dishes Chef Glen Dunham has introduced. There are coconut shrimp served with mango-jalapeno jelly, cashew-crusted tilapia with a coconut rum sauce, and a tasty crab and spinach dip.

However, the real surprises here are their steaks, an apricot-brandy chicken, and their excellent baby back ribs. There’s something here for everyone — even the pickiest eaters will find something to love — and kids have their own menu to peruse.

The Lobster Shanty is very family-friendly; kids will enjoy feeding the koi out front or the catfish from their spacious, open-air deck. And the weather couldn’t be more perfect for eating outside at the Shanty. While we were there, as the sun began its brilliant descent, we saw a pod of dolphin bounding southward. It’s at times like that, I reflected, that being a contrarian certainly has its benefits.

The Lobster Shanty is located at 2200 S. Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach. They open daily at 11:30 a.m. and offer lunch specials and a new early dinner menu. On it, you’ll find 14 dishes to choose from, all of which are served with one side, a choice of New England or Manhattan chowder or salad, coffee, tea, or milk, and dessert — all at a very reasonable price. Early dinners are served Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunch menu is available Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The spacious Lobster Shanty is also a great place to host large gatherings, banquets, and reunions. Call them at 783-1350. To view their full menu, log on to: www.cocoabeachlobstershanty.com

MIKKI KRAGELUND 

This January 12, beachside resident Mikki Kragelund and friend Nina Oosterveer — the “Sunny Cyclers” — will be biking the length of New Zealand to raise $5000 for the World Skin Cancer Foundation.

Mikki, whom many here know as “Michelle,” was diagnosed with stage-three melanoma nearly two years ago, but is currently cancer-free, thanks to early detection and treatment. Now living in New Zealand, Mikki came up with the idea for this ride as a way to raise awareness for one of the most deadly — and preventable — types of cancer out there.

Shortly after her birth in Denmark, she and her family moved to Cocoa Beach, where she spent most of her ”fun in the sun” childhood. “From a very early age I remember my parents emphasizing the importance of travel, staying active, and appreciating the outdoors,” she says. “Growing up in Florida was an ‘endless summer’ of year-round boating, camping, surfing and diving excursions — sometimes with sunscreen, sometimes without. It was an afterthought and a challenge to wear consistently when you are so active.”

At 24 and with less than a semester of college to go, a dermatologist appointment wasn’t at the top of her to-do list. But Mikki’s uncle and Southern California dermatologist, Dr. Bill Heimer, had a different idea. ”He makes regular visits to Florida and graciously provides family ‘derm’ checks while he is here,” Mikki says. “On this particular occasion, he was in between visits. He’d recently treated two patients the same age as me (and with a similar history as mine) that prompted him to think about me.”

It would be a few more months before her uncle would make another Florida visit. It was unusual, but for his peace of mind, he called to urge Mikki to go in for a skin check on her own. ”I was very touched by his concern and actually intended to follow through, but I didn’t. I was busy,” she recalls. “I had no symptoms and no real concern. He called again in two weeks to follow up then took it upon himself to schedule an appointment on my behalf. Three days later, I was handed a pathology report that revealed a stage-three melanoma.”

“The next month of my life was a blur of mixed emotions. Did I feel sorry for myself? Did I want pity from people? Did I even want people to know? Should I deny it? Ignore it? I felt ignorant and embarrassed because my Uncle had been begging me for years to be more careful in the sun and to have regular skin checks. Why hadn’t I listened?”

After numerous doctor’s appointments, 14 different biopsies, and one major surgery, Mikki was told that if she’d waited just four more months longer to get a skin check, her chances of survival — even with chemotherapy — could have been less than ten percent.

“It is a complete mystery as to why things work out the way they do in the world, but all I know is that my Uncle, and hero, caught it in time and was able to remove all the cancerous cells.”

Armed with the strong sense of optimism she cultivated while working for the Life Is Good Company, Mikki will join Nina on a 2,400-km bicycle journey to raise awareness for the importance of wearing sunscreen. She also hopes to show people that they don’t have to give up a life outside to avoid skin damage.

We spoke to her about the ride and the people who inspired her to give back.

You’re in Queenstown, New Zealand now. What do you miss most about Cocoa Beach?

I miss Cocoa Beach all of the time and I feel really fortunate to have it as my home base. The people and lifestyle in our little town is something I don’t think you can find anywhere else. At least I haven’t found it yet. I miss paddleboarding through the canals, camping out in the 1000 Islands, boating, playing bocce on the beach, surfing, stopping into the North End for a pint with Tom, or visiting Lolo at the Green Room… The list is endless! One of my favorite quotes is, “Man travels in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.” I’m enjoying every moment I get to see somewhere new in the world, but I love that Cocoa Beach is the place I get to return home to.

What kind of training are you doing for your ride?

All kinds! Queenstown Gym has given Nina and I a free membership so we’re able to train during the work week. We are doing yoga, spin classes, weights, and circuit training. On top of that, we’re cycling and doing a ton of hikes. We’re really fortunate to be in a part of the world that offers so much outdoor opportunity to train.

Where does the route take you? What do you reckon will be the most difficult leg?

The route takes from Cape Reinga, located at the tip of the North Island, all the way to Bluff, the southernmost point of the South Island. It is about 1500 miles in total. We would be lying if we said we weren’t already looking forward to the ferry ride in the middle! The most difficult leg is going to be the west coast of the South Island from Greymouth to Wanaka. There’ll be lots of mountains and steep climbing there. I’m sure we’ll be hugging the pavement at some points and cursing the whole idea at others, but we’ll make it.

What kinds of bikes will you be riding?

Nina and I will both be riding a Specialized Sirrus Touring bike. Do I sound bike savvy? I’m not. It’s a bike designed for less-experienced cyclers who have trouble making it up big hills.

How did Nina get involved?

Nina and I arrived in Queenstown around the same time and found ourselves in the same circle quite often. Since Queenstown is as known for its partying as it is for its outdoor adventures, initially it was hard to meet people who wanted to be up early for a hike or rock climbing. Nina was and still is my “go to”! She’s always my first phone call because she’s always up for anything! The whole idea for Sunny Cyclers came about when we were hiking one morning. I was sharing my story with her and realized it had been one year since that melanoma diagnosis. I felt like doing something to celebrate and she just said, “Okay, let’s do it!” We laugh about it now, because she was thinking more along the lines of celebrating over a pint. She didn’t know what she was getting herself into.

Tell us about your diagnosis. Where was the spot found? Did nothing look suspect to you?

The spot was right on my chest. I had no symptoms and no real concern. I was one month from graduation, so in all honesty, a dermatologist appointment was the last thing on my mind! I was more concerned with “laying out” so I could have a nice base color for the ceremony.

What was your reaction?

I was bartending at Slow & Low when I got the call. I don’t fully remember my reaction, but I remember I had a plate of ribs in my hand and I was just staring at them.

What were your outdoor habits prior to being diagnosed?

Year-round boating, camping, surfing and diving excursions… sometimes with sunscreen, sometimes without. I was probably more inclined to reach for the ordinary “hat and shades” than sunscreen. I’ve been known to use tanning lotion and even spent the occasional 15 minutes in a tanning bed. In summary: My sun protection habits were terrible… Non-existent, even.

What do you do now when you’re outdoors?

A thick layer of sunscreen, a pair of hiking boots (with a high chance of mismatched socks), and some tacky ensemble of sun proof gear. And believe it or not, I’m single! We all love being out in the sun, and it’s hard to avoid, especially in Florida. The World Skin Cancer Foundation says it best: “Screen. Shirt. Shade!”

Above all, what have you learned from this experience?

I’ve learned that I’m not invincible and that a good tan isn’t nearly as important as my own health. I love to be outside. It definitely takes more effort to be safe in the sun, but it’s not impossible. I’ve also learned that I love to cycle!

You friend Barry offered you a lot of support after your diagnosis. How long have you known him?

I have only known Barry about three or four years now. I met him up in Boston while I was working for the Life is Good Company. He was diagnosed with cancer just before I was, however, his prognosis was much worse than mine. I remember him calling me right after I had just finished some diagnostic tests. I was in the stages of my diagnosis where I didn’t know if the melanoma had reached my lymph nodes yet, and admittedly, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. I answered the phone and the first thing out of his mouth was, “What can I have of yours if you go first?” I just doubled over and let the laughter pour out of me. His comment was so unnerving, yet it had exactly the light-heartedness I needed. He was a huge inspiration to me through the whole process. He has also fully recovered now and still causing trouble up in Bean Town.

You family has offered a lot of support too, of course. Tell us about them.

Mom’s hysterical. The older I get, the more I appreciate her wit and sense of humour. She is a beautifully free-spirited intellect who always encouraged commitment and urged me to create my own path, and she has, dare I say, a stronger sense of adventure than I do. Dad is a breed all his own. If any of you in town know Lars, I’m sure that’s enough said. He is a true sailor and waterman who found entertainment in strapping waterskis to my feet before I could walk and had a scuba tank on my back by the time I was 12. I hold him fully responsible for my complete love of the outdoors. And my Uncle Bill is my hero. What else can I say? At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. Between the three of them — and also my grandmothers, Gam and Boss, and my Uncle Donny — I had a pretty good support system.

And you’ve dedicated this ride, among other things and people, to your brother, Christian.

Christian is my best friend and my inspiration. If I could choose anyone in the world to travel, hike, surf, sail, bike, climb, camp, or explore with, it would be him. Every time.

How much money have you raised for the ride thus far?

So far we’ve raised over $3000 dollars. Our goal is $5,000, but we feel pretty confident that we’ll be able to surpass that. We have had unbelievable support here in New Zealand as well as back home. Absolutely Natural is a Melbourne, FL-based sun care line that retails all natural, chemical-free sun care products. Sunny Cyclers has partnered with Absolutely Natural and they will be the title sponsor for the ride. They’ve generously donated $1500 to our cause, 100% of which will go directly to the World Skin Cancer Foundation. They are going above and beyond to help us in our mission to raise further funds and awarenes. Nina and I both feel very fortunate to have them on our team.

What else are you in need of? Are you all kitted out for equipment?

We are ready to go! We have been fortunate enough to have organizations interested in sponsorships, so we have received our sun protection products from Absolutely Natural, bikes from Brazz, and panniers from Natural High. Outside Sports has supplied us with bike shorts and jerseys, and WSCF has even shipped over a tent for us to sleep in for the next two months! Thanks, guys!

How can people follow you or donate?

We will start our trip January 12, 2012. You can donate, follow our progress, and keep up with all of the adventures on our website www.sunnycyclers.com. All donations go directly to the World Skin Cancer Foundation — www.worldskincancerfoundation.com 

Silvestro’s

By Tobin Bennison
Photos by Rich Sullivan 

Since taking over last September, the new owners of Silvestro’s have had their work cut out for them.

There’s no delicate way of putting it: prior to their arrival, the restaurant was fraught with problems — exorbitant prices, imperious staff, and inconsistent food among them. But one of the biggest difficulties they’ve faced is less tangible: shedding Silvestro’s of its image as an exclusive aerie of the well-heeled. They’ve made impressive progress thus far, and their efforts to draw a broader-based clientele — and lure errant regulars back to the fold — continue.

It’s a daunting task, but the new team — comprised of Managing Partner Alex Koorbanoff, Manager John Larkin, and Executive Chef Brad Kennett — is more than up for the challenge. A small group of local investors, made up of concerned regulars, enlisted the experienced trio to turn Silvestro’s into a more efficient, customer-friendly eatery. Thankfully, the changes they’ve implemented haven’t affected its original reputation as one of the fine dining jewels of the Space Coast.

“We want to provide the best quality food at the lowest possible prices,” Koorbanoff says. Trimming the once voluminous menu down to it essentials was one of the first steps on the path toward that goal. They’ve shed a lot of the Italian-centric dishes to make room for more seasonal, Mediterranean-influenced items, and the result, surprisingly, is something much closer to the true roots of Italian cuisine. The wine selection has been similarly streamlined to accommodate smaller boutique wines and bottles from countries other than just Italy. As a bonus, the majority of them are available by the glass, and smaller batches are often obtained and offered as specials.

Chef Kennett uses only the freshest ingredients, and works what’s available into a menu that’s informed, as in Europe, by the seasons. All pastas — from the fettucine and tagliatelle to the tortelloni and ravioli — are made by hand, from scratch, daily. Kennett also makes his own gelato daily, as well as the bread and desserts. Imagination plays a strong part his cooking as well, and you’re just as likely to find plantains or lemongrass-infused dishes as you are to see traditional things like chicken Parmigiana, gnocchi, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Silvestro’s also prides itself on its excellent steaks and fresh seafood, which finds its way into zuppa di pesce, lobster ravioli, and their Land & Sea Carpaccio. Pescatarians will find much to love here, as will vegetarians. Whatever your taste, you’re sure to find something that will intrigue and astound you.

“We always have a new and interesting twist on the menu,” says Larkin. “But if you’re not feeling adventurous, you can always count on that classic you’d find in Grandma’s kitchen. We offer the best of both worlds here. You could eat a special a day here for a year, and never get the same thing twice. But we’re also more than happy to recreate something a customer enjoyed on a previous visit.”

This new approach — a mixture of bold innovation and adherence to tradition — has won Silvestro’s the approval of none other than the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a society of highly discerning gastronomes established in France over half a century ago. A regional branch of the group chose Silvestro’s to host a seven-course dinner this past November, and the event was an incredible success. They also host monthly themed wine dinners, which feature specially prepared dishes to compliment a unique selection of wines.

Silvestro’s has also made efforts to reach out to the community, and a variety of local groups and charities hold regular meetings in the adjacent banquet room. Once a month, this room is transformed into a dance space, another well-received change that often begins with tango and foxtrot before giving way to disco by closing time. Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays host live piano accompaniment, and Wednesdays and Saturdays see performances by guitarist/vocalist Jose Lebron.

Locals and visitors have been won over by all these improvements, and the majority of lapsed Silvestro’s believers have been reconverted. “It’s great reconnecting with a lot of people who, for whatever reason, took us off their radar,” says Koorbanoff.

“As a manager,” Larkin explains, “it’s not the gushing compliments I seek out; I want the curmudgeon. It’s about listening to the bad as well as the good. We’re active in the conversation and are happy to hear about other ways we can improve. The onus is upon us to make our customers happy.”

Silvestro’s is located 2039 N. Atlantic Ave. (in Banana River Square) in Cocoa Beach. They’re open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Happy Hour at their bar is held every night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The popular instructor-led dance nights have been put on hiatus for the month of December, as have their wine dinners, but both will resume in January 2012. This Christmas Eve sees the arrival of a special Italian-style seafood menu, inspired by that country’s Christmas traditions, and New Year’s Eve will center around a special Surf, Turf & Champagne menu and fresh lobster specials. Check Silvestro’s website — www.silvestros.com for more details. Silvestro’s is also renowned for their catering and banquet-hosting skills. Give them a call and they can help you create a special menu reflective of your tastes and financial needs for holiday gatherings both large and small. And if you’re wearing shorts with children in tow, don’t let the elegant decor turn you off. Silvestro’s is more family- and kid-friendly in its new incarnation. To make reservations, or to inquire about group luncheons, call 783-4853. View their entire menu and wine list online at www.silvestros.com.

Roger Burleigh of Green Gloves Garden Center
By Tobin Bennison 

Twenty-seven years ago, opening a nursery and landscaping company was probably the last thing on Roger Burleigh’s mind. Back then, skateboarding and BMX occupied most of his thoughts. The half-pipe he built in the backyard of his family’s Merritt Island home attracted Cocoa Beach groms like John Mayo and the Slater brothers, so it’s no wonder he soon added surfing to his list of consuming interests.

Burleigh remembers his mother, who was then a librarian at Tropical Elementary, taking him to 2nd Light almost every day and doing her schoolwork in the car while he surfed until dark. “My parents were in the process of splitting up, so I asked Mom if we could move to the beach,” he says. “In the summer of ’86 we were beach-bound.” So began a love affair with the beach that continues to this day.

Though he still surfs with a passion, Burleigh found a new way of expressing his enthusiasm for the beachside a little over one year ago. Through Green Gloves, the multi-faceted garden center he opened in August 2010, Burleigh and his crew cater to a variety of local landscaping needs. More than just a plant nursery, Green Gloves offers a wide range of landscaping and installation services — from trees and low-voltage lighting to full irrigation systems and decorative water features — and custom-builds outdoor furniture and garden structures like pergolas, pagodas, arbors, and unique trellises.

“We also offer bulk mulch on demand to our customers,” says Burleigh. “If you need five yards of mulch, we can have it delivered. If you need decorative rock instead of mulch, we can have it delivered and install it, too. We also have access to topsoils, potting soils, and pallets of sod on demand. We do brick paver walkways, decks, and driveways, and offer installation of the plants bought from our store. If we don’t have the plant you’re in search of, we can get it for you. And we deliver free to all our local customers.”

Since opening, Green Gloves has been warmly welcomed by the community. Much of its success is due to Burleigh’s landscaping and business skills, both of which he learned relatively late in life.

After graduating from Cocoa Beach High in 1987, Burleigh went to BCC in an effort to “figure things out.” “Not much was figured out there,” he laughs. “Afterwards, I found myself in the restaurant biz bartending for a good bit of 10 years until I was approached by one of the real estate brokers in town. ‘Romo,’ they call him. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot about the business. I learned that ethics was a huge part of real estate, and I continue to use those ideas in my business today.”

The idea for Green Gloves came to Burleigh while designing and installing landscapes with friend Shelley McKinney. “We didn’t get very far because it was a lot of work for the two of us,” Burleigh remembers. “In the meantime, Shelley bought a property on Pineapple in Melbourne, with plans to open a retail nursery and gift store. She was having issues with the City to change the zoning. I mentioned to her about a property in Cocoa Beach that was available and an easy opening. It was once a nursery for 25-plus years. They sold plants and had an outdoor power equipment shop that did quite well back in the ’80s. Shelley wanted to make things work where she was and she finally got her store open. It’s now called Elbow Creek.”

“I kept thinking about how there wasn’t a plant nursery in town and how much we could use one here in Cocoa Beach. I showed my parents the property and they were more excited about it than I was. It seemed like a great idea, and wouldn’t you know it, it was. It’s a lot of work with all the different projects we have going on, but it’s an interesting way of life. We’ve had a lot of local support that we greatly appreciate. It’s tough to meet everyone’s needs, but we certainly try to go the extra mile to keep our customers happy.”

Green Gloves is also built on a solid foundation of advice and help from friends, one of whom, Jerry O’Shea, put Burleigh on his landscaping crew back in the ’80s. “That was a fun job that I actually liked doing,” Burliegh recalls. “Other than that, I didn’t have a whole lot of experience. I was fortunate enough to meet a couple who own a nursery in Lake Washington, Bryan and Colleen. They’re true horticulturists who know a heck of a lot to do with landscaping. Bryan basically took me under his wing and mentored me for the first solid
year. I still call on them every week for advice and to see if they have plants I’m in need of for a customer.”

Thanks to them, and furniture designer and artist Don E. Scroggs, Burleigh has come to regard landscaping as more of an art than a profession. “You have to have an eye for it or learn to develop the eye for it. Bryan, Colleen, and Jerry have all given me a lot of advice in this department. I also couldn’t have done this without Don. I think I’m starting to catch on,” he says modestly. “I tend to look at landscaping on a whole different level now that I’m in the business. If I see a kick-ass landscaped house, I’ll stop and take a closer look and take some pictures for future reference.”

Photos are a big part of each project’s initial approach. “We offer to come to the customer’s house to see what their property looks like, take photographs, and create what the property could look like once the landscaping is complete,” Burleigh explains. “We use the photograph with a landscape program that allows us to install plants in the areas of interest. This helps put the customer’s mind in the right direction. We offer them different ideas about Florida landscaping, but we also want to know what they think of their neighbor’s landscape. We can get pretty close to what they’re after once we’ve settled on their the likes and dislikes.”

Burleigh has also seen his fair share of challenges, something he always welcomes. “The biggest challenge was the first job, the Cocoa Beach Community Church addition. We were so very blessed to have the opportunity to tackle that job. I think there’s a challenge in all landscaping jobs. Every job calls for a different need and everyone has different taste. But we like tackling problems. We had a customer who wanted a beach in their backyard. That was a fun challenge. That one had tons of coquina rock and crushed coquina and beautiful white sand like you see on the Gulf Coast.”

Back at the nursery, Burleigh stands amid a verdant burst of herb and vegetable plants, unusual succulents, and beautiful, brief-blooming Apostle’s Iris, musing on the power of plants. “The best thing about this business would probably be the common love for plants that we all share,” he says. “They’re all around us and they are a gift from the higher power. We are so very fortunate to live in a place where we can enjoy the beautiful colors they provide us with.”

Green Gloves Garden Center is located at 160 S. Orlando Ave (just south of City Hall) in Cocoa Beach. They’re open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to “2ish” on Sunday. Call 403-4390, or log on to: www.greenglovesgardencenter.com

Estonia: Land of Song
By T. Bennison

“So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!”

It’s uncertain whom Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel was thinking of when he created the Whos — they’re most likely a composite of several disenfranchised peoples — but he would have found much to inspire him in the story of the Estonians.

It was 1957 when Seuss published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and the small Baltic nation, then under the heel of the Soviet Union and largely forgotten by the rest of the world, was making barely a peep. But in 1990, something incredible happened: Against overwhelming odds, Estonia won its long-yearned-for independence, not through war, but through resounding song.

Estonia has long prided itself on its rich choral tradition. In the city of Tartu’s Literary Museum is a collection of over 1.3 million folk songs, the second largest behind Ireland. It’s estimated that one in three Estonians is active in a choir or vocal society, and the national anthem, “Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm” (“My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy”), springs quickly to the lips of both young and old.

Written in 1869 by journalist and poet Johann Voldemar Jannsen, “Mu isamaa” sparked what is now known as the Estonian National Awakening. Twelve years earlier, the first Estonian language newspaper appeared, and in its pages can be found the first use of the term Eestlased (“Estonian”) as a new way for people to identify themselves. Prior to that, maarahvas (“country people”) was generally accepted, despite its hickish connotations and roots in serfdom under the Russians.

Though they’ve existed as a distinct people since the age of the Roman historian Tacitus, who described them as abjectly poor, but “so well content that they do not even need to pray for anything,” Estonians have rarely been masters of their own land. The smallest of the Baltic nations (the two others are Latvia and Lithuania), Estonia is also the richest in the region, both in terms of its natural resources and strategic position on the Baltic Sea.

Exploited almost continually since the 4th century by Slavs, Danes, Teutons, Swedes, and Russians, the country didn’t get its first taste of independence until 1905, when the All-Estonian Congress convened to demand autonomy from Tsarist rule. A potential revolution was soon quashed by martial law, but in 1918, one year after a demonstration by 40,000 workers in the capital of Tallinn, Estonians declared independence. Struggles between rival factions ensued, but Estonia succeeded in adopting its own constitution in 1920, followed by admittance into the League of Nations one year later. Lasting freedom, however, was to be short-lived.

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, an agreement forged between the Soviets and the Nazis, resulted in Russia’s absorption of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in exchange for a promise of non-interference in Hitler’s push eastward. Occupied by Soviet troops and with tens of thousands of its people carted off to Siberian work camps, Estonia became a republic of the USSR in 1941. When the Nazis ignored the Pact later that year and invaded Russia, Estonia naively welcomed them as liberators. But by the end of Word War II, the country had lost over 280,000 lives as a result of the German occupation. Of that number, some 75,000 were shot or died in concentration camps. Countless others who weren’t conscripted by the Nazis fled to Finland.
During the Stalin era, Estonia was flooded by Soviet immigrants in a move to Russify the country and rape it of its timber, fisheries, and vast mineral deposits. Seuss’s Lorax would have wept at the scene: pristine lakes reduced to fetid cesspools, whole forests cleared, and an impenetrable, gray pall of pollution hanging over its towns and cities.

At the height of Gorbachev’s Glasnost reforms in 1987, Estonians began a strategy of gathering en masse for impromptu “singing” demonstrations, culminating in the 300,000-strong “Song of Estonia” festival held in Tallinn’s Song Festival Grounds. Anthems and folk tunes hitherto forbidden by the Communist regime reached the ears of the international community, and the sight of more than a quarter of the country’s population joined in song stirred Estonia’s Baltic neighbors to hold similar peaceful events.

In 1989, on the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, over two million Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians linked hands in an uninterrupted human chain that spread some 370 miles across the Baltic. Deterred from restoring order at every turn by peaceful demonstrations and human shields, Russia began withdrawing its troops from the region in 1991, and by 1994, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were granted independence.

Theodor Geisel surely witnessed these events unfold before he died in 1991, and it’s tempting to imagine his pleasure at having inspired, if not presaged them. His gentle, peace-loving Whos, whose weapons were their indomitable spirits and voices, would have been pleased as well.

Ted Taylor of Ted Taylor’s Fitness
• Tobin Bennison 

Ever since he moved here from Baltimore, Maryland in 1995, personal trainer Ted Taylor has been a well-respected and very visible member of the Cocoa Beach community.

You’ll often see the incredibly fit 70-year-old walking on the beach with his wife, Susan, or stepping out of his downtown gym to Juice N’ Java next door for a smoothie.

Though he cuts an imposing figure, Ted is a soft-spoken man, the kind who downplays the many interesting events that have helped shape his life. He was a bail bondsman and bounty hunter for 30 years and has won 11 major bodybuilding titles — including Mr. America, Mr. World, and Mr. Universe — and countless other fitness awards. He has hung out with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late, great Jack LaLanne, and has probably been told that he should write a book more times than he cares to remember. Fortunately for us, he has.

Part memoir, part fitness manual, “Stay Fit for Life: How to Make Healthy Living Easy for the Rest of Your Life” is full of fascinating anecdotes and outlines Ted’s own 90-day body transformation program. The book also explains his simple “50/50″ eating plan, in which eating whatever you want on alternating days helps turn your body into a more efficient fat-burning machine.

Above all, “Stay Fit for Life” encapsulates a philosophy that has improved Ted’s own life and the lives of many others who’ve come to him for guidance. “What I offer through my book and at my gym is the whole package,” he says. “This is a fat, out-of-shape country. I have some film clips of people walking around in the 1960s and compare them to what I see now on a regular basis. I look around me now and I think, ‘Who are these aliens?’ Right now, 80% of Americans are overweight and 40% of them are obese. We indulge ourselves way too much in this country.”

With the holiday season right around the corner, it seemed like a perfect time to get some of Ted’s insight and advice.

You’re originally from Baltimore. What brought you to Cocoa Beach?

The weather. (Laughs.) I did a lot of business down here. I was a bail bondsman and bounty hunter and a lot of the people from up north would come down here to jump bail. I came down so much that I got an office. I started noticing that prices were cheap on real estate and there were some good investments around, so I bought a hotel — the Beach Place — and retired here in about 1995. I kept that until 2001. I had a gym in the hotel, and when I sold it I moved the gym here. I’ve been here in this location for about 11 years.

But you got your first taste for bodybuilding back in Maryland. What got you interested in fitness?

When I was 14 years old, I had some… Well, I wouldn’t call myself a juvenile delinquent, but I had some problems. My father wanted to punish me for the summer — you know, just keep me inside. So I said, “What if you let me join the YMCA? When you go to the office you can drop me off and pick me up on your way home.” I just wanted to get out of the house. I went downstairs — they called it the boiler room — and they had a weight room there. I was so impressed by the people there and that’s why I started. That was in 1955. I stuck with it and entered my first competition in 1959 and won Mr. Teenage Maryland. I was about 18 years old at that time.

What did your father think of that? He must have been very proud.

He looked at it positively because he was grooming me to be a bail bondsman and bounty hunter like himself. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and take over the family business. He understood firsthand that you didn’t have to use a weapon if you had a strong physical presence.

And you did follow in his footsteps eventually.

Yes. He was my idol. But even then, you had to go a long way to get a compliment from him. I saw that his psychology was that you shouldn’t praise people too much. We had 99.5% apprehension rate working together. If I missed one person I never heard the end of it. Success was expected of me and he was tough as nails. Nowadays, everyone gets a trophy. Have you noticed this? They’ll say: “My daughter came in 9th place!” Now I believe in praising your children, but not to the extent we are today. But raising children is the hardest thing in the world.

You have children of your own. Does your passion for fitness run in the family?

I have two daughters, Lauren and Michelle. Lauren lives in Baltimore, Michelle in Atlanta. They’re both in great shape. I never pushed them hard, but I started a plan with Lauren when she was 14 and her body started to change. My wife Susan, who is 63, is in excellent shape. We’ve been married 24 years and she’s the love of my life. I have a sister who is 81 and in perfect health. My brother just passed away at 75. He was world-class artist who studied under Norman Rockwell, but he was also a gymnast and was the guy I looked up to. My father died at 95 — and he smoked 18 cigars a day and drank whiskey. But growing up, I started the interest in fitness, actually. After I started, many of my family members got involved. My niece is a world champion and my nephews all admired me growing up. They were always pretty proud of “Uncle Ted.”

You must have been a formidable bounty hunter.

I did it for 30 years and did quite well. Like I said, we had a 99.5% apprehension rate. That’s better than Dog the Bounty Hunter. In the ’60s, this was place was like the Wild West. I had more authority than an FBI agent and I had the full authority to go into any dwelling under any suspicion. If I suspected someone behind that door, I could bust it down. I could pull you over and take your car to chase someone else. But when I was younger I was a little arrogant. I think I took it further than I had to sometimes. As I grew older, the pressure started taking its toll. That kind of work takes its toll on your sleep schedule and your eating habits. The element of surprise is your greatest advantage, but I got into plenty of scrapes. I’ve been shot, stabbed, hit by a car, thrown out of a window… I still have trouble sleeping sometimes.

What are your thoughts on steroid use?

You know, it’s like anything out there — like smoking pot and graduating to heroin. If you do it in moderation and just be reasonable, it’s good for getting a jump start. But it’s also a falsehood, because when you stop taking them, you lose what you gain. Some guys start doing them and can’t work out unless they’re doing them because they’re dissatisfied with the results. I think that the best way to go about it is the natural way. If I had to impress two words upon people they would be moderation and consistency in training.

Over the years, fitness trends have come and gone, but yours seems more rooted in tradition. You don’t seem like the kind of trainer who screams and berates his clients.

You’ve seen trainers do that, hmm? Young guys, right? (Laughs.) I don’t do that. I still have a passion for this and I’ve got over 55 years of knowledge working with me. But with these trends you’re talking about, they have to sell magazines, right? They have to keep coming up with something different to sell you. That’s the American way. I saw one recently with this guy pulling these heavy chains. Have you seen this? Good god. But at least it’s getting people to the gym. But there are a lot of bogus things out there. I believe in the basics and the way it started. When I started, it was Steve Reeves. Remember him, the first Hercules? I just try to get people back to basics, starting with nutrition. I’ve never counted a calorie and have never been on a diet. I eat what I want to eat. This is part of my 50/50 plan. You can eat what you want to eat every other day — you just can’t pig out two days in a row. Every time you run into a problem is on the weekend. Pig out on Friday or Saturday, but not both. If you do it every other day, you’re body knows what’s happening. It takes two days for the fat to get stored. I don’t believe in diets. They don’t work. I’m sure you’ve seen people go on crash diets and lose 50 pounds and then gain it back. What I do is monitor and critique people’s eating habits and oversee a half-hour workout three days a week. It takes very little of your time to do this and you get guaranteed results.

And things must get particularly difficult during the holidays.

It’s the danger time. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, the average American gains 7 lbs. and loses four of it. So in 20 years, they gain 60 pounds they never get rid of. Every day, everywhere you go during this season, there are temptations to overeat or graze. Cookies, fruitcakes, sweets, alcohol — you really start eating and drinking out of boredom or to relax from all the stress. It’s a miserable time of year. I hate it. For me, the holidays were always a moneymaking time when I was a bounty hunter because that’s when criminals came home. My wife hates when Christmas comes around because I get so grumpy. She calls me “The Grinch.” But this is also a really strategic time for me and my clients. I’m with them every other day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve to give them some encouragement. It’s all about moderation. And remember that the short time you derive pleasure from junk food will stay with you much longer through your life.

What’s your own regimen like?

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I get up at 4:30 a.m. and I’m here by 5:30. I stay all day long with a one-hour break. But I work out five days a week for several hours. I like to be regimented. I think it’s something I picked up in the military. If I have a break in my schedule or something doesn’t go as planned, I don’t like it. I also bike, swim, and landscape. This place is very conducive to body building and exercising.

You work with a surprising number of senior citizens here as well.

Yes, both men and women. It’s quite satisfying to see an 80-year-old bench press 200 lbs. He has no confidence when he comes here and he’s bowling over with enthusiasm by the time he leaves. In three months, I can get an 80-year-old to double his strength. I’ve got a got a 95-year-old who comes here. I really enjoy helping the seniors here. And they’re so amazed by what they can do and the results they get. More and more older people these days are staying in shape, living longer, and improving their quality of life. I have a plan to get as many local seniors in shape as I can. I met Jack LaLanne when I was 19 and he was 53. Back then, he offered $10,000 to anyone who could keep up with his workout. I tried it and lasted for about 15 minutes. When he was 59, he swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco handcuffed and shackled. Being in his presence, you just knew that you were in special company. He had a 28-year-old German Shepherd! Dogs aren’t supposed to live that long. I think he died prematurely. He expected to live to about 115, and I think he could have done it.

You’ve won loads of trophies over the years. What’s the last title you won?

Mr. Space Coast Over 70. I’m proud of it, but after all those other titles, it’s really no big deal. And I don’t mean to sound arrogant. Many of the other guys competing were just no comparison. I just go at it a lot more. Most of them do maybe two or three days a week, but I put in five when I’m training for a contest. It’s a lot of stress to put on your body, but for me, nothing’s an effort. I just love what I do.

Ted Taylor’s gym is located at 73 N. Orlando Ave. in downtown Cocoa Beach. Drop in or call 960-7778 to make an appointment.

The Legend of the Seagullmen

How does one go about explaining the Seagullmen phenomenon? With great difficulty.

Conceived by brothers Frank, Chris, and David Dreyer and a group of close friends, the Seagullmen are a fascinating fusion of live music, performance art, cutting-edge theater, puppetry, 3-D film, and folkloric folderol.

Originally from Philadelphia, the Dreyer brothers moved to Cocoa Beach in 1977 when their father came to the Space Coast to start an advertising agency. “Each of us have been pursuing creative careers since we graduated from Cocoa Beach High,” Frank says, “and sometimes our talents are brought together on projects like ‘Legend of the Seagullmen.’”

David, the youngest, had been in bands since before graduation and has made his mark as a production designer for films, TV, and music videos in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Chris is the founder/director of the 3D Film Festival and has produced several movies over the years. Frank, the eldest, is a creative director/film producer based in Los Angeles and is also known as the performance artist Heinous Bienfang.

“Our professional careers have helped fuel the development of our artistic projects, giving us a chance to utilize each others talents,” Frank explains. “Even though we live in different cities, we all take turns staying in Cocoa Beach where our mother still lives. We’ve been helping her fight through stage-4 breast cancer for the last five years. She has a great support group in Cocoa Beach, but sometimes it gets tough. David has had to spend the most time back here. Our friends, especially the Mowreys, help her a lot when work takes all three of us away. Our mother, Angela, is a very inspiring person, courageous in her faith, and has always supported us to step up to what we think we would want to accomplish creatively.”

As the Seagullmen, the Dreyers and their comrades have created a local seasonal tradition with the riveting shows they put on each November.

We asked Frank via email to help us unravel the mystery of the avian heroes in preparation for their November 25 show in downtown Cocoa Beach.

It might be best to start off with an explanation of the Legend of the Seagullmen. Recount it for us.

This is a 400,000-year-old story with pirates, sailors, a rock band, and mythical sea creatures, officially qualifying it as a legend. The song, “The Legend of the Seagullmen,” go figure, tells the story. Four hundred thousand years ago, a league of pirates, led by Captain Red Beard, sold their souls to the Seagull God King, who in turn granted them an immense treasure and the power to live forever. However, just as Red Beard was reciting the chant, “We are the aire, we are the Seagullmen,” he was stabbed in the back by Man o’ War Man, who wanted the power and treasure for himself. The Seagull God King felt pity for the pirates and granted their souls eternal life as seagulls. So whenever you see a seagull on the beach it contains the soul of pirates long lost. Since that time, the Key has been hidden from the Man o’ War Man by a collection of sailors and pirates. Recently, the Key and the Legend were in possession of the Skipper, but that changed during a poker game gone bad at the lair of the Asian Pirate, which is located on an island off the coast of Cocoa Beach. The dying Skipper entrusted the Key and the Legend to Crusty the Sea Captain, with instructions to swallow the Key and give the Legend to a band of mercenaries waiting in Casablanca. The Skipper blew himself up rather than be taken by the Man o’ War Man and his Ghost Crab Army, and Crusty escaped. He made his way to Cocoa Beach, and being a drinking man, didn’t realize the Skipper meant Casablanca, Morocco, not the dive bar in Cocoa Beach. It so happens that a band called the High Voltages was playing at the bar that night, were mistaken for the mercenaries, and were told to travel with Crusty to the Seagull God Temple. They chartered a boat and followed the instructions of Crusty to become the new Seagullmen. Now, their arch enemy, Man o’ War Man, will stop at nothing to get back the Key and the power of the Legend.

How did you guys come up with the concept?

You may imagine that if you spend enough time in Cocoa Beach against your will, you either learn to love it or go crazy. The Seagullmen is all about doing both and embracing the subtle joys of our mythically world-famous hometown. We’re famous for a fictional TV show that was never shot on location here, for God’s sake. I don’t know if any of the three of us would be spending this much time here if our mother didn’t need us; we do have a love/hate relationship with Cocoa Beach. Imagine if Kelly Slater could only surf the waves here… He’d get quite bored. But it’s a great hometown. But with the Seagullmen, it’s mostly about David’s actual adventures playing with his band, the High Voltages, and how one night after a show at the Casablanca in downtown Cocoa Beach they met up with a crusty old sea captain who spun a tale of the Legend and gave them the Key to unlock the transformative super powers the Seagull God King gave them. Because they were a rock band, the powers come out when they play shows. You really just need to see the movie.

The story has been unfolding and progressing for some time now, right? Is it recapped for newcomers each time? At what stage is the Legend now?

As with all good long tales, the audience is introduced to the Legend of the Seagullmen at each show. How many bands start off a show with a 12-minute introductory movie? We always add more to the story every time we tell it. And if you’ve seen the show before, you haven’t seen the next one.

So it’s more than just a concert. How would you describe it?

The Seagullmen is a true 360-media phenomenon. More than just a band, it’s a story that is lived and told with film, video, music, art, and performance. The Seagullmen have cast a spell over the inhabitants of Cocoa Beach, and when they hear the music rise over the salty ocean breeze sweeping down Minutemen Causeway, everyone crawls out of their holes like ghost crabs to come to the show.

Who is currently in the lineup?

David, also known as “The Doctor” on guitar/vocals, Steve “Jewop” Caglianone on drums, and Dave “Gravy” McCullough on bass are the High Voltages. They wield the power granted by the Seagull God King to become the Seagullmen, and play their shows with Crusty the Sea Captain on keyboards and the Seagull God King on guitar. They must fight off villains like Captain Red Beard, Man o’ War Man, and the Ghost Crab Army. During the show, other creatures, pirates, and people join them onstage to help, including Manatee Man, who loves the Seagullmen but hates humans, as you can imagine. There’s Bloody Bill, the marine biologist who murders in the name of science, and the Asian Pirate… or whatever he is. Personally, I’m waiting for the Jellyfish Queen to make an appearance.

How did Brent Hinds of Mastodon come to be involved?

As a good friend of ours from Atlanta, Brent came with David to Cocoa Beach for some R&R a few years ago. He learned his true calling in life and is now a part of the Legend of the Seagullmen. His other bands — Mastodon, Fiend Without a Face, and West End Motel — are just excuses for him to travel the world and hunt for the Man O’ War Man. You really need to see the movie. It will all make more sense. Mastodon is playing the House of Blues at Lake Buena Vista on December 1. I highly recommend going.

Seagullmen shows have become a kind of seasonal tradition around here. How well does it go over with the Art Show crowd? I’ve heard some people were initially perplexed but were won over by the time it was all over. 

For the last few years, we’ve played shows on the Friday after Thanksgiving, before the Space Coast Art Festival, and they have been insanely popular. That Friday night is also big for the reunion crowd from Cocoa Beach High. We’re fighting with the City to allow us to hold our concert downtown, but it’s still in negotiation at the time of this interview. Each time the Seagullmen have played, they’ve overwhelmed the venue. Shows at Casablanca and at the North End Pub couldn’t hold everyone, and the bartenders are left crying in fetal positions after the show due to the massive thirsts of the crowds. Last Mother’s Day weekend we played an outdoor party in the field next to Mai Tiki and packed that place, too. I mean, you’re in Cocoa Beach, and if you miss the Seagullmen show, it’s like missing a shuttle launch — you have no excuse, just walk outside! If anyone was perplexed before a show it was intentional. That shouldn’t stop you from just showing up. Does a Ghost Crab ask what the hell that piece of dead flesh is on the beach or does it just start eating it?

What can people expect from the November 25 show? 

The band spent most of August and September in Los Angeles filming “The Legend of the Seagullmen Movie” in 3D with an expanded story line — so this will be much different than the last show we had for our “Seagull d’Mayo” party at Mai Tiki. So, 3D projection is in order, and we’ll have glasses for everyone with admission. (Please note: subject to be in 2D without notice…)

How long does it take you to prepare for a show?

Usually about three months to plan a major event, build the props, and make the movie. This time we’re going from a big show at the 3D Music Fest in Hollywood in September and Atlanta’s Little Five Points Halloween Parade and Festival in October to this show in Cocoa Beach on November 25. So we’ve been working on this show officially since August, but planning it since the day after the last show in May. It will take us all week just to set up the show and bring in the performers from out of town. Not to mention that the last 24 hours are usually spent with a dozen or more people not sleeping, just to get in all the last-minute details. Having it right after Thanksgiving means our whole family will be on hand to work on the show. I have four kids, and my wife and oldest daughter, Alex, help quite a bit. We hope a few of our cousins show up again. Last time, our cousin, who was the Sheriff of Atlantic City County, showed up unannounced and helped us with security… actually mostly with the authorities. The cost to put on a show this size is much more than any average band or event, with the props and equipment, not to mention the cost of making a short film. The citizens of Cocoa Beach have been very generous in their support, making it all worthwhile. And we hope to get a lot of ghost crabs to come out again this time.

What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face for this performance — and past performances?

Projectors, Projectors, Projectors! Anyone have a 3D projector we can borrow to avoid us having to ship one from Los Angeles? Everything is done DIY, which can be liberating, but it also means that there are a lot of logistical challenges. But I think that spirit adds to the atmosphere. It’s chaotic at times and we don’t know what will go wrong, but after putting on shows and performing for 20 years together, we all know that anything can happen, so we just roll with it.

Tell us more about the film. And what does else does the future hold for the Seagullmen?

It depends on whether the Seagull God King wants us to spread the Legend more or not… In Hollywood this is also know as “raising the budget.” We’re satisfied with just letting our friends in on it, but we think there are a lot more people out there who need to hear the story. Most of the backstory has only been told in film, and we do plan on developing the current adventures of the Seagullmen as they do battle with Man o’ War Man and try to escape the revenge of Captain Red Beard. Most of these stories are told during the live concert, but in the future we could easily see comic books, a TV series, and a feature film. I’ll leave you with the chorus from the song, “Legend of the Seagullmen,” because if you read this far into the story you deserve to hold the Key: “That’s right, this is entertainment/We don’t know why, we can’t explain it/It’s the legend and the power of the Seagullmen.”

The Seagullmen perform on November 25 in downtown Cocoa Beach at an as-yet-undisclosed venue. Check their websites online — www.theseagullmen.com and on Facebook: “Cocoa Beach Seagullmen” — or check www.thebechsideresident.com for further details as they emerge. You can also see video samples of their performances and short clips of the planned film.

Bok Tower Gardens
• Vern Hobbs

This month, as we honor our veterans and observe Thanksgiving, consider a destination, not far from home, that represents one man’s gratitude to his adopted nation. Bok Tower Gardens, near Lake Wales, Florida, was conceived by Edward Bok as a symbolic gesture of appreciation to the United States for providing him with opportunities that transformed him from an impoverished immigrant into a wealthy entrepreneur.

Bok arrived in New York from Holland at the age six. Seven years later, with only a minimal education, he left school to work as a Western Union messenger boy, but soon landed a job with Scribner’s Sons Publishing. Through hard work and determination, Bok learned the publishing business from the ground up, becoming Scribner’s advertising manager, and later, editor of The Brooklyn Magazine. Eventually he founded his own company, Bok Syndicate Press, which produced The Ladies’ Home Journal. Though his achievements made him wealthy and influential, Edward Bok never took these gifts for granted. Striving to share his good fortune, he became a prolific philanthropist who established numerous charities. Still, he wanted to create a physical symbol of his appreciation to the American people, and believed that a place of beauty, serenity, and peace would be the perfect gift.

To create this most personal endowment, Bok purchased 250 acres near Lake Wales and commissioned famed landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead, Jr. to morph this pine-covered sand hill into “a spot of beauty second to none in the country.” Olmstead worked continuously for the next five years, creating a world-class botanical garden that is nothing short of inspired artistry. Seasonally arranging the native foliage, he insured that some portion of the park would always be in bloom. Terracing the gardens along the slope of the curving hillside, he created a pleasing illusion of depth and height far greater than nominal elevation rise would suggest. Bisecting these terraced gardens with shaded, meandering pathways and gently flowing pools, he created the atmosphere of solitude Bok insisted the park must purvey.

Edward Bok was no doubt pleased with Olmstead’s grand creation, but being a man driven to superlatives, he felt the park needed something more. Recalling the carillon towers of his native Holland, Bok resolved to complete his votive park with just such a structure — a singing tower.

Carillons, numbering fewer than 600 the world over, are not merely bell towers, but huge musical instruments in their own right. Bells of various sizes — 60 in the case of the Bok carillon — are positioned within a stone tower. At the base of the tower a mammoth keyboard controls clappers which strike the individual bells, producing resounding yet clear and gentle tones. Skilled musicians known as carillonists, themselves quite rare, produce music by striking the giant keys with their feet and fists. The result is a sound totally unique, and once experienced, totally unforgettable.

Olmstead was joined by noted Philadelphia architect Milton B. Medary and a select cadre of stone cutters in 1927. Edward Bok decreed that the crowning jewel of his garden would be no mundane or uninspired tower, but rather a magnum opus. Railroad cars delivered blocks of Georgia marble and north Florida coquina, as well as the one-of-a-kind bells, ranging in size from 16 ounces to 11 tons. Celebrated New York sculptor Lee Lawrie soon joined the crew, and was charged with creating sculptures and bas-relief impressions befitting the grandeur of the monument and celebrating the creatures native to its surroundings. The magnificent project was declared complete on February 1, 1929, when President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the tower and gardens to the American people.

Eighty-two years after “Silent Cal” spoke what were certainly few words, Bok Tower Gardens remain open to the public every single day of the year. Edward Bok’s inspiration, a quote from his grandmother, is spelled out above the visitors’ center archway — “Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” Those simple words are the credo faithfully upheld by the professional and volunteer staffers that maintain the gardens today. Serenity embraces you the moment you begin to saunter along the shaded pathways. The cacophony of modern life recedes, supplanted by gentle fragrances, shafts of sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy, and the lilting song of birds. Just as you imagine the moment could be no more beautiful, the crystalline notes of the carillon waft through the air.

In addition to providing a place of respite from a hurried world, the gardens are dedicated to learning and environmental preservation. Garden Campus Programs offer interactive educational opportunities through universities and local schools. The horticultural staff has recently created the Endangered Plant Garden to showcase their efforts to save threatened native flora.

Bok Tower Gardens receives limited funding from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, but is sustained principally through private donations and memberships, and operates as a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors.

Despite escalating costs, admission is only $10 for adults and $3 for children. Fees are sometimes increased for special events, but throughout the year free-admission days recognize select groups, such as grandparents, and anyone is admitted without charge on their birthday. A gift shop is located on the grounds, and while The Blue Palmetto Café offers light, healthy fare, picnicking is not only allowed, but encouraged.

Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Bok Tower Gardens, and special events are scheduled throughout November. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra performs their Sunset Symphony Fall Concert, November 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. A musical salute to America’s veterans is set for November 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., and you can join visiting astronomers on November 18, between 7 and 10 p.m., to observe the Leonid meteor shower. Thanksgiving is celebrated November 24 with a carillon concert from 1 to 4 p.m. Special events continue through December. Learn more at: www.boktowergardens.org.

In this month of remembrance and reflection, treat yourself to a Bok Tower Gardens visit. Stroll up the hillside until you reach the reflecting pond and stand before the splendid carillon tower. As the shadows lengthen and the sunlight plays on the marble, remember that this place was created — out of pocket and at great expense — by a man who simply wanted to say “Thank you” to a benevolent nation. In the presence of such a legacy it becomes impossible not to consider the many things for which we are individually thankful. For most of us, as it was for Edward Bok, the list is long.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Smokehouse Foods
• Tobin Bennison

It’s 11:15 a.m. when we arrive to meet Smokehouse Foods owners Wes and Jackie Meadlock, and the dining room of their Port Canaveral eatery is already starting to fill up. When we emerge from the kitchen after a 10-minute tour and demonstration of their indoor smoker, the line to the counter is twelve deep.

To say that Smokehouse Foods is one the most popular lunch spots in the Port is an understatement. This is the preferred stop of fishermen and nearby engineers on their lunch breaks, and it also attracts other locals who’ve been let in on the secret.

The Port might seem an odd location for an authentic barbecue joint, but regulars are happy the Smokehouse is somewhat concealed. Because here, hidden in plain sight amid a huddle of seafood grills and tiki bars, you’ll find some of the best barbecue in the county. When you learn that the Meadlocks also smoke hundreds of pounds of locally caught fish daily, the location starts to make a lot more sense.

Charters regularly bring in large catches to be smoked and vacuum packed here for safe travel. Customers get to keep half the catch, and the other half is kept by the Meadlocks and either sealed and sold individually, or turned into some of their excellent smoked spreads. In their large refrigerator case, you’ll find shrimp, conch, and salmon spreads, mussels, and golden brown filets of smoked yellowfin, mahi, tilapia, wahoo, amberjack, and kingfish. All seafood is slow-smoked on the Meadlock’s 500-lb. outdoor smoker; a 600-pounder inside is reserved for succulent chicken, beef, and pork, different cuts of which are also stocked in the take-home case. Choose from ribs, tri-tip, whole chickens, breasts, and wings, plump turkey legs, pork butts, Italian sausage, and even alligator.

Originally from North Carolina, Wes lived in Alabama for 13 years, so the Smokehouse barbecue style reflects a mixture of both those states’ traditions, in particular those formed in Eastern Carolina and Northern Alabama. As such, Wes uses vinegar-based barbecue sauces (used only after the smoking stage is complete) and tops many of his sandwiches with homemade coleslaw. As for the wood they use, Wes likes bay for its white smoke, the light, subtle flavor it imparts, and the deep golden color it produces. And we did find that unlike hickory-smoked meats, the Smokehouse’s is suggestively rich rather than overpowering.

A lifelong barbecue aficionado, Wes began to hone his technique in 1995 while cooking at Eau Gallie’s Charlie & Jake’s, which Jackie then co-owned. Now in this location since 1997, he and Jackie seem to have found a comfortable niche, and their easygoing, uplifting personalities have become just as famous as their fantastic food.

We tried one of the Smokehouse’s top sellers, the packed Smokehouse Ultra, a pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw, sliced pickles, jalapenos, mustard, and their signature barbecue sauce. We’ve tried a lot of barbecue sandwiches, but this creation, with its harmonious blend of tang, salt, and sweetness, sets a new standard. The Ultra and the Alabama Slammer (pulled pork, vinegar slaw, pickles, and spicy sauce) are two favorites with regulars, but the Meadlock’s fish tacos are downright legendary. Wrapped in a soft tortilla with cabbage, onions, tomatoes, salsa, and shredded cheese, they can be prepared with smoked fish of the day or smoked salmon.

The Smokehouse also offers smoked sausage, pork, beef, chicken, or turkey tacos, and wide selection of wraps — from smoked fish, tuna salad, and a Costa Rican veggie style with Lizano to ham, chicken caesar, tri-tip, and pulled pork. All meats and seafood can be served as traditional sandwiches as well. Also on the menu are five special platters, including things like half chicken, pork loin, wings, and ribs.

Sides include barbecue beans, potato salad, chips and pickle, macaroni and cheese, steamed vegetables, authentic dirty rice, and either creamy or vinegar slaw. There are two other intriguing sides here: Canaveral and Texas caviar, both of which are salsa fresca-style mixtures of fresh beans, vegetables, and spices. Brunswick stew and New England clam chowder are also on hand, as well as large chef’s salads, which can be topped with smoked fish, salmon, seafood salad, or any of their meats.

By the time we leave, every table inside is full and each of the four outdoor picnic benches has been claimed. Business should start to slow down around 1:30 p.m., Wes says, but he and his staff will just begin the real push, preparing more meat and fish for tomorrow. Smoking such a wide variety of food is demanding, exacting work, but witnessing this much enthusiasm for your final product has to be well worth the effort.

Smokehouse Foods is located at 525 Glen Cheek Dr. in Port Canaveral. They’re open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call in your order ahead for pickup — 784-9300. The Meadlocks smoke all their fish and meats on the premises and vacuum seal a selection in their refrigerator case for dine-in or take out. They also sell all of their own bottled sauces, as well as several other brands, and a range of deli sundries. Call 24 hours in advance for catering orders; Wes and Jackie can help you put together platters and a selection of side items for business meetings, weddings, and other large gatherings. Order well in advance of Thanksgiving smoked 20-lb. smoked turkeys and 6-lb. hams.

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Transylvania
• By Dicky Funston •

“… Sometimes, as the road was cut through the pine woods that seemed in the darkness to be closing down upon us, great masses of greyness which here and there bestrewed the trees, produced a peculiarly weird and solemn effect, which carried on the thoughts and grim fancies engendered earlier in the evening, when the falling sunset threw into strange relief the ghost-like clouds which amongst the Carpathians seem to wind ceaselessly through the valleys…” — from Dracula, Bram Stoker (1897)

Had Bram Stoker never chosen Transylvania as the backdrop for his Gothic masterpiece, it would still be a strangely foreboding place. As it is, this mountainous region of northwest Romania is forever linked in our minds to the vampire myth.

Stoker himself never set foot here, instead relying on travelogues and secondhand accounts he found in London libraries for his descriptions, but he should be commended for accurately capturing the mystery of what was then — as now — one of the wildest and most misunderstood corners of Europe.

Girt by the Carpathian Mountains to its east and south, Transylvania contains the highest concentration of large carnivores in Europe. It is home to half the continent’s bear population and a third of its wolves. As early as 2004, two hikers were mauled by a rabid bear within sight of Brasov, Transylvania’s metropolitan hub.

Roughly 86 miles to the south, in Bucharest, Romania’s teeming capital, officials are at pains to downplay the threat of roving packs of wild (often rabid) dogs, the numbers of which are estimated to be between 100,000 and 200,000.

But it’s really in Transylvania that one feels the unsettling closeness of untamed nature. Elsewhere, societal order and civilization can be seen to encroach on the surrounding forests, swamps, and moors. Here, the opposite seems true. It’s as if the walls encircling many of the cobbled, medieval hamlets were built less for protection than for a delusionally comforting peace of mind, a kind of admission that nature will win out in the end.

Known as Dacia to the ancient Romans, Romania has long had a reputation for wildness. To a 3rd-century legionary garrisoned near the Transylvanian frontier, the embattled Welsh marches must have seemed a veritable Club Med by comparison.

In the centuries following the Roman withdrawal in AD 271, Transylvania bore incursions from Goths, Huns, Saxons, Slavs, Mongols, and Magyars before being put to the yoke by Ottoman Turks in the 1400s.

Vlad III, the inspiration for Count Dracula, was the son of a Wallachian duke who led a fierce resistance against these occupiers. Known as Vlad Dracul (or “dragon,” from the Latin “draco,” an honorific bestowed by the chivalric Order of the Dragon to which he belonged), Vlad III’s father named him Draculea, or “Son of Dracul,” shortly after his birth in 1431. It was much later that he earned the epithet Tepes, or “Impaler,” due to his predilection for the brutal practice.

Imprisoned in Turkey as a youth, perhaps as part of a ransom, young Vlad no doubt suffered at the hands of his captors. That he was regularly raped by members of the Turkish court is likely fantasy, but might explain why, years after his release and return to his homeland, he put so many of them to the stake in this way. It’s said he impaled between 40,000 and 100,000 Turks and Greeks for harrying the borders of his realm.

The practice was by no means unusual for a 15th-century warlord, but Vlad seems to have employed it with particular relish. Done in such a way as to avoid piercing any vital organs, victims might hang aloft in agony for up to two days before succumbing. However ruthless he may have been, Vlad ultimately succeeded in staving off a full-blown Turkish invasion during his fitful reign.

Today, Transylvanians regard Vlad as a mixture of folk hero and founding father. Mention of Stoker’s Dracula, however, is usually met with bemusement, if not outright disdain. Still, locals — especially those from Sighisoara, the town where Vlad was born — play along gamely in the many shopping and tourist districts, hawking vampire-themed mugs and t-shirts with a verve normally accorded to the sale of saintly relics.

Interest in Dracula accounts for a high percentage of visits to Transylvania, and Romania as a whole has come to depend on the income vampire tourism brings in.

After landing in Bucharest, morbid pilgrims usually head north toward Bran Castle, otherwise known as “Castle Dracula.”
The purported site of the fictional castle is open to debate — Stoker seems to have made it an amalgam of several citadels — but Bran does features several decidedly fanglike turrets in the midst of some breathtaking, heavily forested terrain.

Vlad Tepes’s real castle — or at least one of the ones he frequented — is miles away in the southern region of Wallachia.

Yet everyone here gives a collective shrug when faced with the facts of Bran’s connections; it’s been attached to both Dracula and Vlad for far too long to merit emending the legend.

Myths of all kinds hold powerful sway over Transylvanians, but the same could be said of any other people with strong ties to their land. It’s just that in Transylvania, somehow, the walls separating fact from fiction are, much like those surrounding the hillside towns here, put up as a courtesy, to delineate rather than defend.

And if the odd ravenous wolf skulks through the town gates in search of a meal, so be it.

This is, after all, his domain.

Terri McCutchan
• Tobin Bennison •

For Cocoa Beach artist Terri McCutchan, nature is “God’s palette,” a gift to be appreciated in all its forms.

Terri was born in Miami to parents who encouraged her creativity from the start. Her mother, an artist herself, was particularly supportive of her interests, and it was she who taught Terri to see art in everything around her. To this day, Terri credits her mother with opening her eyes to the boundless beauty of nature, and her work is still informed to some extent by the landscape and architecture of Miami and the Keys.

Terri’s first after-school job was a position at the University of Miami’s Art Museum. “I was invited by the art instructor to help assist her with the pre-school art program,” she says. “This was my first up-close experience with a gallery and it was love at first sight. I knew back then that I always wanted art to be a part of my life.”

In 1984, at the age of 15, Terri and her family moved to Brevard. In college, she majored in art while working part-time in the graphic arts department at the Florida Solar Energy Center. During this period, she also found time to volunteer with an art therapist who worked with the elderly, many of whom struggled with Alzheimer’s. It was an experience that
opened Terri’s eyes to the healing properties of art, but one that also pulled her in a new direction.

“It was at that point that the spirit led me on a different career path into the nursing profession,” she says. “My art was put on hold for a time in my life when my husband and I were also blessed with the gift of parenthood and our children. Being a full-time mom and part-time nurse was the priority.”

A few years ago, Terri’s husband created a studio space for her in their garage and encouraged her to pick up her paint brush again. Once she did, she fell in love with painting all over again and knew she needed art back in her life. Now it’s the beauty of Cocoa Beach that inspires her.

“Living by the ocean and being surrounded by all the vibrant natural beauty of the barrier islands is such an inspiration for my art,” Terri tells me. “Painting is my passion. It frees my spirit to feel one with God’s abundant beauty in nature.”

“It’s still a challenge to make the choice to let go and carve time out of my busy schedule to paint,” she admits. “But when I do pick up my paint brush, I know I made the right choice. My artwork is what helps keep me balanced. It refreshes me, and I feel so connected to God and his amazing energy in our environment.”

Terri also says that once she starts painting, her mind shifts to “a very personal space” where outward distractions seem far away. “I wear hearing aids and usually remove them to enjoy the quiet. Painting to me is a lot like meditation. It enables me to slow down, center myself, and see with a different awareness.”

Many of her current paintings are acrylic or oil translations of personal photographs that capture this sense of heightened consciousness. Beginning with several rough sketches, Terri then combines them until the composition feels right. “I will do a slight sketch directly on my canvas, then just dive into the canvas with my paint. Usually, before I finish one painting I’m already throwing ideas around in my head about what to do next. The interesting part is taking an initial idea, developing your own interpretation, and then seeing if they develop and change as you work through the piece. The end result is usually somewhat different than how I first envisioned it.”

Two paintings that best represent Terri’s technique and vision also happen to be among her personal favorites. The first, called “Livin’ Easy,” was inspired by a photograph she I took of her bicycle on the boardwalk at Lori Wilson Park. “Riding my bike on Cocoa Beach has always been a great way to spend a lazy afternoon,” she explains.

The other, “Summer Breeze,” stems from a snapshot Terri took at Rockledge Gardens. “The pathway leading you into the painting is so inviting. I gave the owners of the Gardens a print as a gift and they told me that the big coconut palm in the painting actually wasn’t there anymore,” she recalls. “It had been lost to a winter frost. So I felt it was cool to have captured the palm while it was once still a part of the landscape.”

Over the past year, Terri has been honing her technique by working with Renee Decator, one of her favorite local artists. From Decator, she’s learned about using complimentary hues and working from a limited palette of color. The lessons help challenge Terri to enhance her current style. “I’ve learned that being in the presence of other artists is very important to nurture your creative side,” she says.

As a member of the Brevard Cultural Alliance and part of their ongoing “Art in Public Places” initiative, Terri has displayed her work at Holmes Regional Medical Center and Space Coast Cancer Centers in Merritt Island and Titusville. Recently, she was also invited to participate in the Fifth Ave. Art Gallery’s “All 4 Love” charity exhibit, the proceeds from which went to the local Sentinels for Freedom, which provides assistance to soldiers returning home with life changing injuries. Throughout November, a collection of Terri’s work will be on display in the Cocoa Beach Library.

To view more of Terri’s work, visit www.terriartwork.com

Juice ‘N Java
• Tobin Bennison •

Ask a group of friends to describe the ideal café and it’s likely you’ll hear some wildly different answers.

What’s sure is that they’ll all find something to love at Juice ‘N Java.

Both expansive and suitably cozy, this favorite local spot pleases the social butterfly and solitary thinker in all of us. There’s enough room outside for a sidewalk patio, and plenty within for large and small works of art, a performance space, full kitchen, a wine bar, and a bona fide coffee roaster. In many ways, Juice ‘N Java is the ideal café, but it also offers so much more than just muffins and mochas.

This January, owner Jenny Pruett will celebrate two years in business, but it seems much longer. This must be due to Jenny’s positive spirit, which flows through every corner of the place — so much so that it’s hard to remember a time when she wasn’t at its helm.

Many will remember Juice ‘N Java’s first incarnation in the Bailiwick Mall, one block to the west, and the way it was under subsequent owners in its present location, but it’s under Jenny that the place has truly come into its own.

Characteristically, Jenny credits the original owner with having set a solid foundation for her success. The rest she chalks up to business basics and her strong sense of faith.

“This was just meant to be,” she says, citing the fortuitous way she came to learn of its availability, the uncommon loyalty of her beloved staff, and the warmth and swiftness with which locals accepted her.

“I know things aren’t great out there, economy-wise,” she admits, “but you wouldn’t know it sitting in here. We are truly blessed to have wonderful customers and to be part of such a great community.”

And giving back to the community is a central tenet of Jenny’s philosophy, as evinced by her support of local artists like Rick Piper and Sheri Stewart, who hosts children’s art classes and activities here from time to time. A bulletin board keeps regulars in touch with civic developments and events, and of a weekday morning, surfers and students can be found mixing with local politicians and businesspeople over coffee and smoothies.

But Jenny’s desire to make Juice ‘N Java an alternative to nocturnal, downtown enticements has ushered in a spate of canny changes here. Having recently earned professional barista certification in San Diego, she hopes to revitalize the café’s standing as an Eden for coffee aficionados. She’s also turned her attention to her wine bar and will soon introduce a revamped menu, which is sure to pull Juice ‘N Java closer toward the realm of upscale bistros.

A special “After 5″ menu will debut later this month, and will feature items like 6- and 10-inch personal pizzas, quesadillas, and nachos. What we’re most looking forward to, however, are some of Jenny’s flatbread creations. There’s a pear and Brie version, drizzled with a Balsamic glaze; a Venetian style, with pesto, grilled chicken, Roma tomatoes, and goat cheese; a simple “Vintage,” topped with grilled onions, oven-roasted garlic, and melted butter; and an Asian chicken flatbread customers are raving about already. Topped with chicken, grilled onions, melted mozzarella, sweet peppers, and an orange mandarin ginger sauce, it’s easy to see why.

The menu will also compliment the café’s well-attended wine bar with an artisan cheese platter, served with crackers and marinated olives, which includes wedges of vintage Van Gogh, Mezzaluna Fontina, Gran Cru Gruyère, Red Spruce Cheddar, and buttermilk Bleu.

Before 5, things are just as interesting. Choose from a number of spring-mix salads like the creamy curry chicken (with Madras curry, craisins, almonds, and honey), the avocado-laden Cobb, the Aloha (which incorporates coconut flakes, mango, and pineapple), and the Piper Crunchy, a perennial favorite named after Cocoa Beach painter Rick Piper. All come with a choice of over 10 house-made dressings.

Juice ‘N Java is also renowned for their deli-style wraps and sandwiches, all of which are prepared with Boar’s Head meats. Paninis can be made with sourdough cheese bread, multi-grain, sun dried tomato bread, or ciabatta. Two of our favorites are the Milano (turkey, Brie, mango chutney, creamy garlic aioli, spring mix, and tomatoes and onions) and the Ultimo, made with turkey, honey maple ham, roast beef, sharp Provolone, and pesto. They also serve excellent tuna and crab melts. If you’re ever in doubt as to what to choose, local favorites are handily indicated.

But breakfast is what many come here for, and their selection of bagels, bialys, and breakfast burritos is one of the best in town. You’ll also find waffles, granola bowls, oatmeal, French toast, smoothies, and of course, a full range of your favorite coffee concoctions made from their espresso machine. Coffee is roasted fresh every Saturday, and the comforting smell draws people from miles around.

More than just a café, Juice ‘N Java is a way of life for many beachside residents. It’s where they love to start their days – and now – it’s also a great evening alternative the next time you find yourself strolling downtown.

Juice ‘N Java Café is located at 75 N. Orlando Ave. in the heart of downtown Cocoa Beach. They’re open Monday and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with live music from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.); Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They routinely host special events, tastings, art openings, and offer live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Check their Facebook page for updates and scheduled events. Look forward to their new menu later this month, and expect wine flight night in the near future. They offer a wide range of baked-in-house breakfast treats and several rotating coffee flavors as well. Call 784-4044 for more information.

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Jillian Burghardt of The Rossetter House Museum
• M. Alberto Rivera • 

The history of the Rossetter House is the history of Brevard County. Overlooking the Indian River in Eau Gallie, on a property shaded with live oaks and sea grapes, this home has witnessed more than 150 years of change in the community.

The property was owned and developed by three different families, each of whom made lasting contributions to the county. When John Carrol Houston arrived in what is present day Eau Gallie, there were precious few towns nearby. It wasn’t until 1877, when commercial steamboat transportation became a reality, that there was significant growth in the area.

The Houstons called their homestead Arlington in 1859. It is believed that John Carroll Houston had his slaves build the first structure on the property where the Rossetter House now stands. From this site, he operated a refuge and staging area for blockade runners transporting goods from the Indian River to the St. Johns River during the Civil War. During the Reconstruction, Houston served as a Brevard County Commissioner while he and his family played hosts and hunting and fishing guides for wealthy northern sportsmen and naturalists. Houston also established Brevard’s second post office in 1871.

Upon Houston’s death in 1885, the property went to his daughter, Ada Louise Houston. The back portion of what is now the Rossetter House was built after her marriage to William R. Roesch, who went on to become Eau Gallie’s first Mayor and founder of the city’s first newspaper, The Eau Gallie Record. Sadly, five of the Roesch’s six children died between the years 1887 and 1895. They are buried in the Houston Cemetery nearby.

The current configuration of the Rossetter House now stands on the property James Wadsworth Rossetter purchased in 1904, and is restored as it stood in 1908. Rossetter’s fish company was one of the largest consumers of gasoline in Eau Gallie, which is how he came to be the Standard Oil agent for South Brevard County. When Rossetter died in 1921, his eldest daughter, Carrie, took over her father’s agency and ran the business successfully for 62 years, ultimately becoming the longest running Standard Oil agent in the country.

Dr. Ben Brotemarkle of the Florida Historical Society offers some insight into just how incredible Carrie’s feat was for the time. “She (Carrie) went up to Louisville, Kentucky, where Standard Oil was based, and she went to the board of directors of Standard Oil and asked to take over her father’s operation,” he says. “Keep in mind, this is a young woman, and this is within months of women having received the right to vote in this country.”

“The way she told the story is that she listened in at the keyhole as the board of directors went back and forth behind closed doors and finally someone said, ‘Let the little lady have it. She’ll fail within a year and we’ll give it to a man.’”

In 1991, Caroline and her sister, Ella, donated their family home and collection of Victorian antiques to the Rossetter House Foundation as a monument to Eau Gallie’s past. Visiting this beautiful home-turned-museum is a must for anyone hoping to get a glimpse of a simpler, less-hurried time.

Jillian Burghardt manages the historic site and was good enough to sit down with The Resident to discuss its unique appeal. After reading this, you won’t have an excuse not to visit.

How did you become involved with the Rossetter House Museum?

Historic cemeteries have always interested me, and I began as a volunteer about four years ago to help maintain the Houston Family Cemetery, which is part of the Museum. The craftsmanship and charm of historic homes and stories of the lives of the people who lived in them is always fascinating to me.

The Museum hosts various community events year round, from Santa’s arrival in December to an Easter egg hunt in the spring. Is there one you enjoy most and why?

All the events involving children are most enjoyable. It’s our way to connect with our community, to cultivate young children’s interest in history and the Museum through a fun family event. The fall “Trick-O-Treat Scavenger Hunt & Fall Festival Bake Sale” is one of my favorites. What could be better than costumes, hunting for candy and decorating a cupcake with the Cupcake Witch? Ahh… to be a kid again!

Featured fall events like the Ghost Tours and Witches Garden Teas sell out very quickly. What’s one of the more interesting stories you can share from the Ghost Tour?

The Ghost Tours are based on a visit by two local psychic mediums who shared their impressions of what lingers on the property. The tour includes our two historic houses and the cemetery. According to the psychics, we have energies on the property. One of the psychics saw the apparition of a woman hovering over the foyer in the Rossetter House. The apparition said, “There’s too much commotion in my house.” Others while on the tour have shared some interesting occurrences; someone heard the name “Sam” whispered in their ear in the cemetery. Interestingly, there is a grave, missing a headstone, of Samuel Houston there. Others have taken photos of strange mists and possible orbs of light. Also, strange voices (EVPs) have been recorded.

The Murder Mystery Tour has become a very popular event as well. Is it the same mystery to be solved each time? Who’s responsible for writing the play and who are the performers involved?

The Rossetter House Murder Mystery Tour is a family-friendly event performed three times a year. (Upcoming Mysteries in 2012 are set for March 17, July 7, and September 1.) The Museum staff and volunteers write the murder mystery, which is based on the “Clue” board game. We choose a time period for the mystery — the last one in September was set in 1943. Volunteers, some of whom are professional actors, and staff perform as suspects. The mystery is never the same. We change different aspects of the mystery, such as the murder weapon, the room, and who committed the crime. Upon completion of the tour you can solve the mystery: Who did it, with what weapon, and in which room. If you guess correctly, your name is entered into the drawing for our Mystery Grand Prize!

The RHM is special in that the items in the Museum are all from the same collection, and weren’t donated or acquired from various sources. What are some of the more unique pieces visitors can see on display?

In the Ladies’ Parlor we display a Victorian Brass Bird Cage with a bird in it that tweets. An item I think is most surprising to visitors is our 1931 Model A Ford, which is displayed in the small garage on Hector St. on the north side of the Museum property. There are many antiques, from furniture, books, china, and silverware to small collectables on display throughout the house. When groups of young children visit and we explain what the chamber pot that sits on the floor by a bed is, that gets the biggest reaction!

What is RHM’s role in EGAD (Eau Gallie Arts District)?

The Rossetter House Museum is located in the Eau Gallie Arts District and is the south-end historic anchor for the district. The museum one of the few remaining preserved historic landmarks of the town of Eau Gallie. As a member of EGAD, we support the revitalization and preservation of the District. The Museum contributes to and is evolved with EGAD events. For example, in November we participate in the EGAD Scarecrow Challenge and in December for the upcoming Razzle Dazzle event, for which we’ll host four holiday tablescapes in rooms throughout the Rossetter House. Also, participating in the Eau Gallie Founder’s Day Fish Fry, coming up on February 18, the Museum creates an eye-popping History Tent display, featuring a wall of historic photos of Eau Gallie from the 1800s through the 1960s. Also, our Ghost Tours, which run February through October, coincide with the First Friday EGAD events. Our participation in EGAD events helps to provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the many unique historic and cultural treasures the District has to offer.

The RHM has become increasingly popular with for weddings and private functions. Can you tell us about what’s available to people looking to host an event here?

The rental of the grounds and gardens of the House are available for weddings, receptions, and other events. Expansive lawns, a charming courtyard patio surrounded by gardens, and tranquil ponds create a vintage ambience for any special occasion. Fall, winter and spring are the most popular seasons for weddings at the here. We also provide private garden teas for groups or organizations (20-40 people). In addition, the Roesch Parlor is available to rent for small gatherings, parties, and showers or meetings. Tea service is available (maximum 20 people) as well.

The Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens, which is managed by the Florida Historical Society, is located at 1320 Highland Ave. in downtown Eau Gallie. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Ghost Tours are held every Friday through the month of October at 7 p.m. Reservations are required; call 254-9855. Cost is $10 per person. A Witches Tea will be held on Saturday, October 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. Wear your finest witch hat and enjoy an afternoon tea in the garden, tea leaf and palm reading, and a ghost tour. Call to make reservations. Cost is $20 per person. Visit them online at: www.rossetterhousemuseum.org

The Fat Snook
Tobin Bennison 

Back in August 2007, four months after the Fat Snook first opened, we raved about their excellent dishes, predicting they would set a new dining standard by which all other local restaurants would be judged. Four years on, the Fat Snook has fulfilled that prophecy well beyond those high expectations.

Four years is a long time for any restaurant to be in business, but when you factor in a lagging economy and the precarious future of the area, the span translates into several eons. That the Fat Snook continues to please a fickle, often cash-strapped public is a triumph in itself. That they continue to challenge our taste buds and still garner enthusiastic plaudits must be due to the courage and creativity of owners John and Mona Foy.

Ten years ago, many of us would have laughed a place that served banana polenta out of town and celebrated its retirement at Fuddruckers. Now, thanks to a shift in eating habits brought on by the Internet, increased travel, the Food Network, and innovative chefs like the Foys, we’d probably do the opposite.

As unlikely a combination as it sounds, the Fat Snook’s banana polenta makes perfect sense on the palate. Even though it’s just one component of their seared, jumbo scallop appetizer, it’s just as delicious on its own. Eaten with the scallops and a bacon-maple marmalade, it transforms a simple dish into a flavorful revelation. It’s also just one of the new items on a recently revamped menu that offers many such experiences.

With that, we had a wild blue crab feature with a chilled avocado purée, and house-made, sweet onion dill bread with orange honey butter. With so many permutations of flavors going on in just these three dishes, you’d be forgiven for expecting the odd clash or misstep, but everything worked wonderfully — so much so that you wonder why no one had ever thought of blending them before.

Other new appetizers suggest similar promise, and read like excerpts of psychedelic gourmet verse. There’s seared, island-spiced tenderloin in Jamaican rum sauce with sweet potato hash and crispy shallots, grouper cheeks escovitch, and grilled Harissa shrimp with cilantro mint raita, to name just a few.

Beautifully presented entrées follow this light and colorful Caribbean-influenced theme. Look for seared jumbo scallops and Florida Shrimp Newburg with jasmine rice; blackened chicken breast with black beans, chorizo, jasmine rice, Manchego, and crème fraîche; and pablano pesto shrimp with pumpkin cheddar grits and chorizo cream sauce.

Their Cuba Libre-braised pork belly (with yucca mofongo, jicama salad, and candied lime zest) was excellent, as was the catch of the day — in this case, a thick fillet of cobia — served with forbidden rice (a nutty, black variant of the grain) and a fresh dragon fruit and carambola salad. Both were fine examples of an approach that is highly original without ever seeming forced.

Other entrées include a grilled duck breast (served in a pinot noir-blackberry and fig reduction with duck cracklings) and a grilled salmon pinwheel with fried green tomatoes, mustard aioli, and a warm squash salad. Vegetarian diners can opt for the free-form goat cheese lasagna, and meat lovers will have a hard time deciding between the filet mignon, a Sriracha marinated flat iron steak (served with a bittersweet chocolate demi-glaze), and the 28 oz. “cowboy cut” ribeye, prepared with a Kona coffee rub, and guava barbecue sauce.

The Foy’s insistence on using fresh, local ingredients lends every dish a taste that’s hard to describe. More of a feeling than a taste, it’s like a slight electric shock — a pleasant jolt of life and vibrancy. Though the core of each recipe remains the same, notes and sub-flavors change according to the seasons and what comes freshest from local farms and vendors.

The Fat Snook recently expanded its dining room as well, and the sight of full tables from our vantage point at the bar was a testament to the loyalty the Foys enjoy. Trust is a hard thing to earn in the restaurant business — especially with recipes this adventurous — but the Foys pull the feat off effortlessly.

The Fat Snook is located at 2464 S. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach. They open at 5:30 p.m., seven days a week, and offer select draughts and a discerning list of boutique wines by the bottle and glass. Call 784-1190 to make recommended reservations. View their entire menu online at: www.thefatsnook.com

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Southeastern Arizona
- In the Footsteps of Buffalo Soldiers, Gunslingers, and Miners

By Vern Hobbs
www.flying-fish-creative.com

“Draw, varmint!” I said in a low voice, bent slightly at the waist, eyes squinted, right hand poised inches from my Colt Peacemaker. I couldn’t help myself!

I was standing in the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, the very place where the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday settled matters with Ike Clanton and his gang. Uttering a cliché derived from hours of sitting dangerously close to the black and white TV of my childhood seemed totally appropriate.

Our tour of southeastern Arizona, a pilgrimage to visit familiar places and rekindle old relationships, began a few days earlier in Tucson. Often overlooked as a travel destination, Tucson offers an inviting blend of cosmopolitan sophistication and southwestern charm. There are many things to see and do in the “Old Pueblo,” but two should not be missed: Old Tucson and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Located just 15 minutes from downtown, Old Tucson will have you saying, “I’ve seen this place before!” If you’ve ever watched a western, chances are you have. The rugged, cactus-strewn mountains provided the perfect backdrop for many films, convincing Columbia Pictures to construct their rendition of the quintessential Wild West town here in 1939. Such classics as “Rio Bravo,” “Cimarron,” and more recently, “Tombstone,” were filmed here. Despite the declining popularity of westerns, Old Tucson remains a significant filming location, and the baby-boom generation’s penchant for nostalgia has made it one of the southwest’s leading tourist destinations.

While Old Tucson is a “wild west fantasyland,” The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum brings us intimately close to the very real beauty of the southwestern desert. Best described as a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all rolled into one, the museum provides interactive learning experiences that cement an appreciation for the unique ecosystems that thrive in this seemingly foreboding land. Ecologically sensitive trails course through the arid landscape, allowing visitors to experience the desert firsthand — seeing, touching, and smelling the diverse flora while observing the native wildlife in spacious, protective enclosures that replicate the animals’ natural habitat.

After our visit to the Museum, it was time, as Mark Twain once said, “to light out for the territories.” First stop: Fort Huachuca, to honor the memory of some all-but-forgotten soldiers. Logic (and a rental car’s GPS) would suggest an eastbound drive on Interstate 10. “I know a better way,” said my native Arizonan wife, Sally.

Highway 83 departs the more traveled I-10 just outside Tucson and winds through the hills and ravines of the Sonoita Grasslands. Here is the Arizona celebrated for some 85 years on the pages of “Arizona Highways,” the state’s official monthly photo album, known for its breathtaking pictorials from contributors like the late Ansel Adams. Yellow, diamond-shaped road signs displaying the black silhouette of a steer, and the written warning, “Open Range,” remind us that the day of the spring roundup and the working cowboy have not yet passed from these vast, unfenced ranchlands.

At the town of Sonoita, comprised of little more than a few ranch houses and cattle pens, we turn left on highway 82 toward Huachuca City. Halfway there, an imposing mesa flanking the highway’s south side induces that same sensation of déjà vu experienced at Old Tucson. Known locally as Turtle Rock, this promontory has “starred” in a multitude of western movies and TV shows.

Nestled in the foothills of the mountain range from which it takes its name, Fort Huachuca represents and divergence of the historic and the futuristic. Testing ground for the Army’s most sophisticated cryptographic and intelligence gathering systems, it seems ironic that this modern military installation began as a rough-and-tumble cavalry outpost. Established in 1877, Fort Huachuca was once home to the 10th U.S. Negro Cavalry Regiment, better known as the “Buffalo Soldiers,” a title of respect given them by the Indian warriors against whom they fought. Today, “Old Fort,” a quadrangle of stone barracks and officers’ quarters surrounding the cottonwood-lined parade ground, is preserved in memory of the Buffalo Soldiers. Their hard life and heroic exploits are showcased at the Military Museum, which is open to the public, free of charge.

Departing the Fort, we headed north again to follow the old stagecoach route to notorious Tombstone. Tombstone’s place in American pop culture has been indelibly forged by a century of cinematic renditions of the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Filmmakers have unanimously decreed the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday the heroes, standing for law, order, and American virtue, while the Clantons will forever represent corruption, vice, and general disgracefulness. Most historians, however, consider the fabled feud to be more akin to the gang wars of 1920s Chicago. Whatever opinion you favor, the physical trappings of the legendary shoot-out remain largely unchanged since that fateful day in the fall of 1881. The Crystal Palace Saloon, where the Earps and Doc Holliday gathered before going to face the Clanton gang, is still serving drinks. The O.K. Corral itself is preserved, along with the Bird Cage Theatre and the Cochise County Courthouse — all just as ol’ Wyatt would remember them.

While Tombstone was shooting its way into history, nearby Bisbee was rivaling the big cities of the east for wealth and opulence. Site of the Copper Queen Mine, which produced ore containing an incredible 23% copper content, as well as the most sought after turquoise on the planet, Bisbee literally became richer by the shovelful. The city fathers imported culture from back east in the form of operas, ballets, and the most popular stage performers of the time. They also built magnificent examples of Victorian era architecture that remain today. The Copper Queen continued to produce for an amazing 95 years, but by 1975 the resource was exhausted. Mining ceased and the local economy faltered, but like its neighbor, Tombstone, Bisbee was too tough to die. Today, the city is engaged in an ambitious renaissance, transforming itself from an old mining town into a modern center for the arts.

Circling the Chirichaua Mountains on highway 191, we took the long way back to Tucson so we could pay respect to perhaps the greatest figure in Arizona history: the great Apache chief, Cochise. Caught in the vortex of radical change, Cochise both fought and negotiated with the advancing European races, always seeking the best possible compromise for his people, and likely preventing their extinction. His final resting place remains unknown to any white man. Apache folklore declares that his distinctive silhouette took shape in the peaks of the Chirichauas. On the face of a splendid Arizona sunset, I saw for myself that the legend is true.

Ryan Speer
Tobin Bennison 

Unlike most artists who adopt aliases, Ryan Speer came up with his “Speerbot” character as a way to unite rather than separate his creative and private selves.

Conceived, according to legend, after Speer decapitated himself in a freak X-Acto blade accident while racing to complete an art project at UF, Speerbot is a capsule-like robot outfitted with Speer’s fortuitously preserved head.

But for the Satellite Beach-based artist, the character is neither a clever marketing gimmick nor an alter ego he feels safe hiding behind. Speer is Speerbot, and vice versa, and the human-machine hybrid was born out of Speer’s desire to embrace a pursuit he’d long resisted.

“As a kid I used to draw comic book characters, build animals out of clay, and basically anything else creative I could get my hands on,” Speer says, “but I didn’t really have much of an awareness of myself as an ‘artist.’ It wasn’t until I enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the University of Florida that I started to gradually become aware of this whole different world where you could sit around and take this sort of thing seriously.”

Even then, however, Speer existed on the periphery of the arts scene there due to a keener interest in partying. “Even though I was starting to explore my identity as an artist, I was never fully immersed,” he admits.

After graduating and moving back to Brevard, Speer became the creative director for 321 Agency, a Melbourne-based marketing firm. During this period, he describes himself as having “stumbled” back into art — that is, the kind of art Speer defines as “a direct reflection of self,” as opposed to the more detached approach graphic design requires.

“I loved the idea of being an artist, but I didn’t consider myself one,” Speer tells me. “Over the years, we (321) produced several art shows and the first, ‘The Fine Line,’ is when I started meeting a lot of the local artists around town — Derek Gores, Cliffton Chandler, Christopher Maslow, Jeffrey Noble, Matt Noble, Casey DeCotis, John Sluder, Dave Burton. The time period between ‘The Fine Line’ and the two subsequent ‘Robot Love’ art shows was when I first really started exploring art as much more than just class assignments.”

“Before I met those artists, art was something ‘other’ people did,” Speer continues. “As a kid and into my teens, I hardly showed anyone the art I produced. I wouldn’t say I was embarrassed of being creative, but I guess there was some sort of realization that something was somehow different about how my brain processed information. Meeting other people who were just as bizarre as me was what really unlocked the desire to take the creative things I had always been doing out of compulsion and to assign a purpose to art, which is for the artist to share his or her own uniquely screwed up way of looking at the world. That’s what makes art interesting to me — sharing your subconscious and being brave enough to admit how screwed up the stuff going on inside there is. We all know we have this repressed chaos hiding inside us; artists just have the guts to admit it, and even beyond that, to turn it into something they are actually proud of.”

For Speer, that proud moment came in 2010, when he created an intricate sculpture of Speerbot for the well-received “Robot Love v.2.0″ exhibition. Called “Speerbot in Its Natural Habitat,” it’s a piece Speer considers to be one of his crowning artistic achievements, and one he now regards as the physical manifestation of a strained time for him, both as an artist and professional designer.

“That Speerbot sculpture is a very important piece for me personally,” he tells me. “‘Robot Love v.2.0′ was an interesting time for me and everyone else involved. For many reasons it was a very tumultuous time, but it was also a huge turning point in my life. To be quite melodramatic, the Speerbot sculpture is a physical manifestation of this turning point.”

Up to that point, Speerbot was simply a sketch he’d doodle from time to time. After parting ways with 321 Agency, the character became something much more. Recalling the sculpture, Speer describes the “nature-meets-warehouse” scenery surrounding Speerbot. “(There were) little birds made out of newspaper and metal wire suspended high up in the air, grass and sticks I found in the back alley, and a dead tree. We used a massive scissor lift to suspend the tree from the concrete walls and ceiling beams … it must have been 20 to 30 feet tall once it was done. In a very weird way, the sculpture itself became like a living thing. My girlfriend’s daughter used to put a blanket over him at night to keep him warm!”

Now a freelance creative director, Speer uses “Speerbot” as the name for his graphic design company. It’s also the alias under which he creates the imaginative art he once kept separate from his professional life. As Speerbot then, Speer has come full circle with a diverse range of skills at his disposal. As well as being a talented illustrator, designer and musician, he’s also adept with photography, videography and music production, making him well suited to approach design problems from several different angles.

“A vague solution to a problem can sometimes be seen through the haze,” Speer says, “but usually by the time I’ve reached the final destination, I’m surprised by what I find. Each project is a brand new start, and because I never limit myself to certain materials or artistic style, the process is usually a unique process of excruciatingly rewarding trial by error. Each creation is a completely fresh challenge.”

See Ryan Speer’s work online at: www.speerbot.com. You can also see some of his art in the flesh at The Standard Collective in Melbourne Square Mall.

Lear Bunda Writer/Director of “The Space Coast” Movie
Interview by M. Alberto Rivera; Photos by Jason Maris 

Over the years, Brevard County has served as the backdrop for a number of space-related films. But in each — from “Apollo 13″ and “Space Cowboys” to the unintentionally hilarious “Armageddon” — the Space Coast comes across as just that: a backdrop. Rarely do moviegoers get much insight into the soul of the area, much less the people who live and work here. Local filmmaker Lear Bunda, however, is about to change all of that with “The Space Coast,” his first feature-length film.

One of Bunda’s first memories was witnessing the Challenger disaster from his bedroom window. The event affected him deeply, and he’s been fascinated by the space program ever since. “Me and a lot of my friends were ultra space enthusiasts,” the Melbourne Beach native says. “We’d follow everything about NASA.”

As writer and director of “The Space Coast,” Bunda attempts to capture the wonders of our unique environment the way only a resident could. Though shooting for the independent comedy is still in progress, it’s safe to say that many Brevard landmarks will play as prominent a role as the film’s space-obsessed teenager, Dustin, who struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut against all odds.

“Dustin tries everything under the sun to get out of his small town on the shuttle, but he runs into obstacles like surfer gangs, police in the surfer gangs, the football team, and a father who enjoys partying more than his own son,” Bunda explains.

“It started off as a book about the 50 most ridiculous stories that have ever happened on the Space Coast,” he says, “but when I realized I was witness to about half of them, it was the perfect opportunity to draft a screenplay incorporating some of these events into it. One of the best things about the movie is that it’s drawn from real life. I always think that stories that happen in real life are way funnier than ones you make up, and this movie is filled with true stories.”

From the age of 11, Bunda has made over 50 short films informed by his childhood experiences and humorous observations. Now 28, Bunda lives in Atlanta, where he works as an editor for Adult Swim.

We spoke with Bunda there via email to ask him about “The Space Coast,” blowing up dishwashers, and unsung comedic genius Steven Seagal.

You live in Atlanta now. What do you miss most about Brevard?

As you may know, Atlanta is landlocked, which is sort of a nightmare not being able to go the beach after work or on the weekends. I try to get down to the Space Coast every other month. I genuinely miss the amount of nature you get to see and experience on a daily basis. Oh, and breeze. You all have breeze and it’s not fair.

Which Adult Swim programs do you work on?

I’ve worked editing at Adult Swim for nearly six years. I edit “Squidbillies” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” How do you edit a cartoon, one might ask? Traditionally, shows are made using storyboards and animatics before being sent to Korea to be animated, but that’s not how we do things. The producers record a script and hand me all the voiceovers for the entire show. Then they say, “See ya,” and for the next few months I build the entire show on my own — the action, the backgrounds, the timing, and the sound effects. Then we fine-tune until it’s ready to get animated. So what I put together is ultimately how it will air. I make, essentially, a very detailed moving animatic. It’s like making an infinity-piece puzzle. That’s what makes it so rewarding!

How did you first get into filmmaking?

I did TV production at Melbourne High School, which gave me access to equipment and an audience. I was only interested in comedy and it allowed me to perfect jokes and timing like a chef bakes brownies. Filmmaking is an art form that lets you share the way you way you see things, especially if they don’t exist yet or are ludicrous. It’s world building, and the Space Coast is a larger-than-life place where it’s normal for teenagers to build their own rockets and launch them into space off the beach.

What are some of the main challenges in working on “The Space Coast”?

It’s challenging to make this film with a low budget, which is essentially what I can afford. We have actors from all over the country I’m trying to get involved with the project, so it’s a real coordinated effort to get people here and on the same schedule to get some shooting accomplished.

Is it primarily a collaborative effort at this stage? Had you written everything beforehand or is it unfolding and changing as you go?

I had a sound, 90-plus-page script that I’ve worked on for about two years that I was really happy with. But once you get shooting I like to use it as a blueprint and see what interesting directions it can take while we do it. Actors make it come to life, so it’s good to give them the keys and let them run with it.

How much access do you have to the space center and technical props?

You’d think it’d be easier to get access to the space center, but they pretty much only help people out who are involved in movies like “Apollo 13″ and have a $100 million budget and a guaranteed distribution. You’d think they’d enjoy the promotion. But when life throws you lemons, you have to improvise. We’re going to be making a giant rocket out of dishwashers and free appliances we find off Craigslist. Then we are going to explode said rocket.

How many of your own experiences went into the character of Dustin?

I wouldn’t call it a biopic, but there are a lot of real elements about me and people who are playing themselves in the film. I saw Challenger blow up when I was four and the experience sort of stuck with me.

You mention that the idea for your film stemmed from a compendium of ridiculous Space Coast events you witnessed. What were some of those?

The most ridiculous stuff though was the surfer gangs — adults in their late 20s who would show up at high school parties with fake papers claiming they were STD-free. And these things would work… It was shocking. Oh, and I found a dead orca whale on the beach when I was like eight years old. It was in the paper and stuff.

At what stage in the filming process are you now? Is there a timeline for completion?

I shot a good 20% of it back in May with the talented Dana Snyder (Snyder voices the character Master Shake on “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”) and am currently in the middle of putting together an edit of what’s completed. The main actor at the last minute got into NYU film school, so we’ll have to hold off on shooting until he can get back. I plan on a serious shoot near year’s end when things cool down.

What are you in need of to carry on with the film? Backers? Technical help? Extras?

We will be needing extras when we go to shoot some of the larger crowd scenes. We have a really solid crew of industry professionals that are eager to take on a project this big. When we shoot, we can definitely use food. I’m looking for interesting props. Who knows, someone may have like a moon rover in their garage they’d let us use… We have a few private backers but we’re very interested in finding others who want to be involved at that level. We plan on bringing this to every major film festival and travel the country with it.

You’re a big fan of the movie “K-PAX.” What’s made you see it over 200 times?

“K-PAX” may be the greatest movie of all time. …But you’re only allowed to watch it as a comedy. Completely ridiculous movies that try to be serious amaze me because I can’t watch them seriously. A lot of times people never try to watch, say, a Steven Seagal film as a comedy. You should try it.

Any other films or directors you admire?

I’m a huge fan of Terry Gilliam, Kubrik, the Coen Brothers, Ridley Scott, Robert Zemeckis, Jim Henson, nearly every sci-fi film ever made, and all the “Saturday Night Live” films of the ’90s.

You’re a musician as well.

I’ve written and recorded a lot of music over the years. Making theme songs is a hobby of mine. We did a song a few years back called “In Melbourne” sung to the tune of “On Broadway.” The first line was: “Put your beer in Styrofoam and drive in Melbourne, beachside…” I’m currently recording an album for a new band I’m fronting called Spacewalker. It’s a space-themed indie rock/jazz/metal/pop band. I’m currently looking for someone who can make a space shuttle-shaped guitar that can have flames come out of the booster rockets.

Were you here for the last shuttle launch? How did it make you feel?

I filmed the last launch on the beach up in the Cape. I got a great view of it with a large crowd in the foreground. I felt like I was apart of the mission, having driven down for it and knowing I had once last chance to get it captured. I wouldn’t say I felt same thing the astronauts were feeling with all the gravity and whatnot, but it was pretty close.

Learn more about “The Space Coast” on Facebook and at www.thespacecoastmovie.com. View the trailer at www.indiegogo.com/the-space-coast-movie