Positive Places, People and Their Passions

Holiday Memories from the Wilderness Lodge 2011 Walking back to my office, the soft glow of the lanterns wrapped in their holiday greens, help lead the way, but the shadows and the images they create on the walls and moisture laden windows, only add to the mystique and magic of this fairy tale place. Rounding the corner, at first look nothing seems unusual or out of place but at closer observation, there must have been a wee visitor to the empty quietness of this gorgeous Lodge......all that's left is one tiny shoe, sitting alone beneath the holiday wreath, the flickering and crackling flames in the massive stone fireplace of the Lodge lobby,  only adds to the mystery of how it arrived, unnoticed.  As my mind roars to life, there are many things to ponder here!!!!  Why would one so tiny be out in the wee hours of the waning night time?  Was it a visitor from Mickey's Very Merry or is this one tiny shoe, a little blue and green Croc adorned with Mickey head...

Arcadia, Florida.....a journey into the past A recent journey to the quaint town of Arcadia, Florida, located along the southern ridge of US 17 in DeSoto County, revealed just how wide open and diverse this tropical land is.  Agriculture is the key to this region, the drive, just over an hour from the Lakeland area, is picturesque. The color green, every possible variation of this color, is evident and where the brilliant blue sky and the horizon meet.......it's stunning! Massive fields, a few scrub palms along the roadside and lazily roaming cattle define the area. The straightest road we've ever driven since a four hundred mile plus trek across Kansas a number of years back, we marveled at the remoteness of this place, only ninety minutes from the major theme parks in Orlando and just over an hour from Lakeland.  Passing through Fort Meade, Bowling Green, Wauchula and Zolfo Springs, we reach the small town of Arcadia, Florida.  With a population of seven t...

A&E Wines...The Dream, the Concept, the Reality .....the Future Our Story:  "Wine has always been my passion. After working over a decade in the restaurant business and learning as much as I can about hospitality and wine programs, I wanted to bring this beautiful beverage to everyone’s home, but not in the same way most of the big box stores do. That's when A&E Wines was born. My first and only priority is your satisfaction, which I bring thru incredible service and years of experience. I believe success will come naturally from this philosophy.  A&E Wines allows me to blend hospitality and the very best of the retail world, creating a perfect shopping experience for you." Cheers, Andrey Kolchurin                                ********************************************** The Young Man.........The Dream After completing college at age twenty and with a degre...

" A farmer's market is a farmer's market!" Not true! Whether located In a trendy neighborhood, off the beaten path, a tourist area or some other location, these markets offer an in-depth look at the local neighborhood.  Location, location, location....perhaps, but some local markets offer less expensive prices, homegrown stories, and often a glimpse into the lives of the vendors and "hawkers" that make these markets unique. Central Florida's Farmers Markets are abundant, with operating hours throughout the week.  A local favorite in Polk County, Market World, just off the Polk Parkway, is somewhat of a cultural phenom.  With numerous vendors vying for your business, it pays to walk the long aisle a few times watching and listening before purchasing.  Most offer all produce currently "in season," others with harder to find items such as affordable turmeric  and ginger root, Lychee fruit and Gooseberries.  Specialty produce such as Japanese...

Minus Ten Degrees Walking to my car in the wee morning hours, surprised at the quickness of my step, but the welcomed coolness of the evening breeze felt invigorating.....and all it took was a ten degree drop in temperature and a manageable humidity level.  The night sky was brilliant, even the heavens were celebrating.   This morning temps again another ten degrees lower,  as was the dew point.  Birds of prey returning from the hunt, super vocal, but settled down in the canopy of the preserve, as the night sky retreated.  Morning foraging animals including a family of Sandhills taking brisk walk, all seemed to have spring in their step! Out at the garden center, newly arrived flowers eagerly awaiting "adoption" also appeared, brighter healthier and ready for minus ten degrees cooler. Freshly watered, droplets shined like thousands of diamonds in the crisp clear morning sunlight....amazing minus ten degrees gets the credit! Heading back home, ...

Southern Grit and Goodness! With shorter days and less relentless sun, the annual migration of snowbirds has begun. An annual Fall tradition.....Peebles BBQ in Auburndale, recently opened for the season.  September through June,  local residents are able to enjoy this cultural cuisine.  To understand just what this third generation restaurant is....understand this southern state, its people, its cuisine...its lifestyle. Some forty miles away from the theme parks, shopping meccas, restaurant chains and whatever else dominates the central Florida landscape, nestled in the heart of one of Florida's older counties, Polk County, is a small seasonal dining establishment named Peebles BBQ and it's about as "local" as it gets.  This gritty little smokehouse, a former chicken coop (according to local yore) is open just three days a week (Thurs. Fri. And Sat.) and packs the customers in.   But what is it that appeals to its patrons?  Nothing better than...