Candid Florida

Pitaria in the City

Sandra Friend — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:34:47 +0000

Tucked into an urban Tallahassee strip backing up on FSU, Pitaria is a grill shop serving up souvlaki, pita, dolmades, and other Greek standards in veg and non-veg versions (make mine lamb!). Around for nearly 20 years, it’s obvious it’s an FSU tradition as the back-to-college crowd files in. Falafel, hummus, and fava beans accent the menu. Opa! You’ll find them at 617 W Tennessee, downtown Tallahassee.

Moon Shot

Sandra Friend — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:46:29 +0000

Moon shot at Dicerandra Scrub

Growing up in the Space Age, it’s always been a joy to stop in Titusville and admire the view across the Indian River Lagoon of the hustle and bustle of Kennedy Space Center.

It saddens me that the wind-down of the Space Shuttle program will have a ripple effect on local businesses, such as the Clarion Inn at the end of SR 50 that just recently closed. But there will always be the moon.

Space View Park is an excellent place to see the starry skies over the Indian River Lagoon, but I lucked into this daylight shot in Titusville at Dicerandra Scrub Preserve, no tripod, with my Nikon D-80. Perhaps the stars were in alignment?

Free fishing for Father’s Day in Florida

Sandra Friend — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:00:47 +0000

Heading out to sea at Jupiter

In honor of Father’s Day – and to encourage Floridians and visitors to hit the beaches – Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed this weekend – June 19-20, Father’s Day weekend – as a “free saltwater fishing weekend” for all. No licenses required, but state fishing regulations still apply.

Learn more about fishing for free in Florida this weekend!

Welcome Home

Sandra Friend — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:31:13 +0000

There’s always been a certain magic about crossing the Florida state line. It’s not that the terrain or tall pines look any different than South Georgia. This magic is tourism-wrought for the weary traveler, and it comes in the form of the Florida Welcome Center.

When I was a kid on our annual road trip down from New Jersey, it was a momentous event. Clean restrooms! Free orange juice! Smiling faces! And the relief of my parents that the question was finally answered– “Are we there yet?”

This week’s stop at the I-75 Welcome Center triggered a flood of memories and a few tears over losing one lifelong road trip companion, my Dad. But the place was bustling and full of joy, with more families making memories for the future.

P.P. Cobb General Store

Sandra Friend — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:09:43 +0000

Sour cream and onion flavored crickets. Soda that comes with a warning that you’ll poop blue after drinking it. Stacks and stacks of exotic beers and ciders floor to ceiling. And all of it jam-packed into a historic wrapper, a general store in downtown Fort Pierce. It’s weird, wild, wonderful and whimsically unexpected. Don’t miss it! They serve deli and bakery items, but you’ll have a hard time finding it behind all the beer and candy. Good luck! Open Mon-Sat 8:30-6:00 @ 100 Avenue A, Fort Pierce.

Loaves and fishes at Bethesda-by-the-Sea

Sandra Friend — Sun, 23 May 2010 04:07:07 +0000

At Bethedsa-by-the-Sea, worship is not held just in hallowed halls but in the grace of the garden. Surrounding this historic Palm Beach church are colorful plantings of unusual tropical plants like the big leafed sea grape. Behind, the lively Cluett Memorial Garden invites a stroll, where the fishes – colorful koi – will follow you until you break bread with them. Find a moment of serenity here.

In Hamburger Heaven

Sandra Friend — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:49:36 +0000

When in downtown Palm Beach…let the memories lead you into Hamburger Heaven, an oldie and goodie from the 1940s. It was like slipping into the five-and-dime with Mom for a burger, with mile-high cakes, root beer floats, and egg custard tempting! Right in the heart of it all, and yes, they’ll have you out in time to beat the meter.

Along Florida’s Turnpike

Sandra Friend — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:24:23 +0000

Seen along 200 miles of driving Florida’s Turnpike:

Accident, minor: 1
Accident, major, with all emergency personnel on site: 1
Construction cranes: 7
Cormorants, perching: 3
Disabled vehicles: 5
Rain Showers: 4
Rain Showers, torrential: 2
Reckless drivers: 3
Sandhill cranes: 1
State Troopers: 2
Swallow-tailed Kite, airborne: 1
Tailgaters: 7
Turkey: 1
Walls, persistent: throughout Orlando

Drip drop flush

Sandra Friend — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:29:57 +0000

Toilets have been going green for years, but this one spotted in a local government building is a new one for me…pick your flush! One drop for Number One, three drops (why not two?) for Number Two. A new twist on low flow.

Put a little South in your mouth

Sandra Friend — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:27:31 +0000

I pulled into the packed parking lot at Southern Sisters in Sebastian because it looked like the in place to be, and what a pick for gluten-free me! The cheeseburger salad was just what I needed after building up a hikers’ appetite. Extensive menu, happy regulars, and cakes (which I can’t sample, dang it!) to die for. Along US 1.