For several decades, consumers could always count on finding low last-minute rates for hotels and airfare when traveling internationally. Those days are over, at least for anyone traveling to the UK, where today the dollar is at a 40-year high against the British pound sterling, according to Avanti Destinations, wholesale tour operator specializing in customized independent travel.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT April 17
10th annual Music in Pictures
The 10th Annual Music in Pictures student art exhibition is on display through April at Amavida Coffee and Tea, Rosemary Beach; Coastal Branch Library, Santa Rosa Beach; Freeport Public Library, Freeport; and Ascension/Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Miramar Beach.
ECTC’s Mary Poppins Jr.
“Disney’s Mary Poppins Jr.” will be staged, April 17 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and April 18 at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $12/advance and $15/door; ECTC Teen Program tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Ages 4 and under are free, must sit on an adult's lap.
DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT April 17
Destin City Hall
All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
City Council, 6 p.m. April 19
Special Magistrate Hearing, 5:30 p.m. April 20, City Hall
Town Center CRA-AC, 5:30 p.m. April 21
Parks & Recreation, 4 p.m. April 27
Harbor Capacity Steering Committee, 5:30 p.m. April 29
Locals First
Destin Snorkel's SecondAnnual "Locals First" free Dolphin Cruise and food drive to benefit Harvest House will be April 17-18. Non-perishable food items will be accepted to benefit the local food bank. Call 269-2329 to lock in your seat. A local Florida ID or Military ID must be presented at check-in.
DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT April 10 thedestinlog.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thedestinlog.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT March 6
Destin City Hall
All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
Harbor CRA-AC, 5:30 p.m. March 10
City Council, 6 p.m. March 15
Town Center CRA-AC, 5:30 p.m. March 17
Local Planning Agency, 5:30 p.m. March 18
Harbor & Waterways Board, 5 p.m. March 22
Parks & Recreation, 4 p.m. March 23
Special Magistrate Hearing, 5:30 p.m. March 23
HarborCapacity Steering Committee, 5:30 p.m. March 25
Resources for Rescue
Dog-Harmony will host a live Q & A session, “Ask Amanda: Resources for Rescues,” at Dog-Harmony’s headquarters, 237 Market Street in Santa Rosa Beach, at 2 p.m. March 7.Register to join this complimentary educational seminar hosted both in-person at Dog-Harmony where social distancing protocols will be observed and virtually at www.dog-harmony.org/events. Upon registration, a link to attend the seminar will be emailed to virtual participants.
DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Feb. 27
Destin City Hall
All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
City Council, 6 p.m. March 1
Shrimp & Grits Festival
The Destin Harbor's newest event is back to showcase one of the South's most beloved dishes.
Enjoy delicious food, great drinks and live music on the Destin harbor from 12-4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the second annual Shrimp & Grits Festival. Local restaurants compete for the best Shrimp & Grits dish on the harbor. Tickets are available at www.shrimpandgritsfest.com/tickets.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Feb. 13
Walton Sun
Mardi Gras Street Party
Enjoy the Mardi Gras street party by AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar down on the Destin harbor at noon Feb. 13. Entertainment from Louisiana’s own Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe starts at noon on the big stage and the staff will be throwing beads and moon pies for all to catch. Crawfish boil will be ready along with other festive eats, including Jambalya, Crawfish Étouffée, Gumbo & Poboys, with hurricane drink specials.
Hospitality Job Fair
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is hosting a job fair to fill full-time and part-time positions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Human Resources Office, 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd. in Miramar Beach. Opportunities include housekeeping attendants, food and beverage, guest services, culinary, security, spa, bellman/valet and more. An impressive benefits package for employees at Hilton Sandestin includes a 401K program, health benefits, free daily meal service, team member travel program, recognition programs, childcare assistance reimbursement program, and education reimbursement program
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 23
Walton Sun
Mardi Gras Parade
The Krewe de Yak’s 7th Annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival will be held Jan. 23 on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Spring. The Street fair and Car Show will begin at 11 a.m. and GrasFest will once again be the place to be for food, fun, and family-friendly entertainment celebrating the Carnival season. The Grand Parade will roll at 3 p.m. For more information, call 850-419-5977 or emailtkrewedeyak@gmail.com.
ECTC: Florida Girls
Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) presents Florida Girls at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, 28-30 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at ECTC’s space upstairs at 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach. Purchase tickets at https://tickets.vendini.com.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 16
Walton Sun
Camp Helen Virtual Americana Music at the Lodge
American Music at the Lodge is the 2021 series of unique concerts featuring American roots musicians performing in the lodge at Camp Helen State Park from 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 16 with Rupert Wates. With this new year comes new rules, but still great music in the safest environment.. Camp Helen State Park will provide, free of charge, music videos of their performers this season. Sit back in the comfort of your home and listen to some of the finest music in America today. Concerts will be available online at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfCampHelenStatePark. For more information, call 850-233-5059, visit www.friendsofcamphelen.org, like on Facebook, or email camphelenfriends@gmail.com.
For fans of the cultural and performing arts in Wilmington, once you get past March, 2020 was an ugly year. Sure, there were a bunch of drive-in movies and concerts, a couple of musicals held on the steps outside of Thalian Hall, and a fair number of art exhibitions that were either socially distanced or held outdoors.
But for the most part, when it comes to the arts, the coronavirus pandemic took away everything most people regarded as normal. At present a return to "the way things were" seems uncertain at best.
At the time this story was written in November, a great deal remained unknown about what would, could, might and might not happen in 2021 in terms of arts and events. That said, we can't help but hope.