Seaside in Dallas News

DD · #1 05-28-2006, 10:31 PM

Article today in Dallas Morning News about Seaside. Writer loved Bud & Alley's. Sounded like they stayed at the cotttages...
Overall, a nice article..
tried to link it, but came up that you had to register with DMN....sorry..here it is...

The living's easy in idyllic Seaside

Pioneer of planned towns is home to beautiful Florida beach and sunsets

10:32 PM CDT on Saturday, May 27, 2006

By MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Twenty-five years ago, Robert Davis had a dream: to take the 80 acres of scrubby beachfront property in the Florida Panhandle that he’d inherited from his grandfather and create an idyllic town.

One with life’s conveniences close at hand so people could walk or bike everywhere. One with cottages contained by whose low fences and deep porches that promoted would promote the neighborliness of days gone by. One whose architecture resembled the Florida Panhandle of old.

And so he created Seaside, widely acknowledged as the prototype for the New Urbanism or “smart growth.”

The first few structures in town were a cottage, sales office, gazebo and beach pavilion. Today nearly 500 picturesque dwellings sit cheek-to-jowl along more than a dozen streets fanning out from the town center. Biking and walking are the favored modes of transportation and the sugar-white beach and emerald sea the main attractions. While most cottages are second homes, half are in a rental pool, giving everyone a chance to experience Mr. Davis’ dream.

Why pick Seaside?

Florida has a gazillion oceanfront towns, each with its own charm. But none is quite like Seaside. Two British gentlemen stood gazing at the town square in awe recently until one finally said, “It’s like we’re on a movie set” — which it has been. All of Seaside’s cottages are set on small red-brick streets, each with its own uniquely styled white picket fence.

Ordinances require homes to be painted in pastels, so each street is a rainbow of periwinkle, melon, lemon and sea foam green. Carefully raked white-clay-and-sand paths run between many homes and through lush medians — secret passageways, of sorts, that kids find irresistible.

And you won’t find a wrapper on the ground or a derelict home anywhere, lending the town a sense of safety and serenity.

What’s new?

Robert Davis has long appreciated a fine glass of wine. So when he created Seaside, he made sure it wasn’t hard to find one. Wine is sold in Modica Market, the local grocery store, and every restaurant. And the town’s two annual wine festivals are sold out every year. The next, the Seeing Red Wine Festival, is Nov. 2-5. The events feature a winemaker dinner and luncheon and plenty of wine tasting.

Beware of imitators

Alas, Seaside’s success didn’t come without a price. Once a charming development in the middle of nowhere, it’s spawned copycat towns along County Road A in Walton County such as neighboring Water Color. While these developments incorporate some of Seaside’s New Urbanism elements — and one contains a Starbucks that I pedaled to nearly every day — they also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone.

Bike it

You can’t stay at Seaside without renting a bike, preferably an old-fashioned cruiser with coaster brakes and a basket. A relative bargain at $15 for three hours or $50 per week, it’s perfect for making your way around town. A 10-mile paved bike path connects Seaside with its eastern and western neighbors, so head out of town with a picnic lunch at least once.

Scene it

Movie buffs will quickly realize they’ve seen Seaside before — it was the setting for The Truman Show, a 1998 film starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, an insurance employee who suddenly discovers he has unwittingly starred in the longest-running show in TV history, and all of his friends and co-workers are actually actors. Only a few facades were constructed for the film, which was shot almost entirely on location; the “Architectural Office” in the movie is actually a residence in Seaside’s Ruskin Place.

Beyond the borders

There are three state parks relatively close to Seaside. Grayton Beach State Park is considered one of Florida’s finest, featuring rolling sand dunes smothered with golden sea oats, white sandy beaches and pine flatwoods. Best of all, it’s only about two miles from Seaside — a flat, easy bike ride. Hop in the car to check out Eden State Garden, on the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, and Topsail Hill State Preserve.

Don't miss ...

Sunsets on the ocean are incredible. Every evening at sundown, the venerable Bud & Alley’s, Seaside’s first restaurant, rings a bell to let you know it’s time to stop what you’re doing and enjoy the view. Don’t ignore it. Watching the colors change from melon, lime and pale yellow to fiery orange, cinnamon and indigo is relaxing and inspiring.

Checking in

Cottages are available that sleep up to 14 and range in price from $165 to $1,265 per night, depending on the size and time of year. Let the Seaside Cottage Rental Agency book one for you (1-800-277-8696) or go online for photos and virtual tours of the cottages (1-888-732-7433; www.seasidefl.com). Seaside also features one B&B, Josephine’s (1-800-848-1840; www.josephinesinn.com).

Eating out

Bud & Alley’s, a five-star restaurant with a rooftop bar facing the Gulf, offers killer views and soup, salad, pasta and grilled fish specials each evening. Try the tuna dip, a local favorite, to get things going (1-850-231-5900; www.budandalleys.com). Café Spiazzia is a casual joint dishing up pastas, seafood, sandwiches and pizza; try the Spiazzia White, topped with tomatoes, basil, onion, mozzarella and ricotta cheese (1-850-231-1297). For lunch, pick one of the 53 sandwich wraps at Roly Poly Rolled Sandwiches (1-850-231-3799).

Getting there

Seaside is about a 12-hour drive from Dallas. There are also numerous daily flights from Dallas to the confusingly named Okaloosa Regional/Fort Walton-Valparaiso Airport at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, an hour’s drive from Seaside.

Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus is a Wisconsin freelance writer.

Beach Runner · #2 05-28-2006, 10:52 PM

Last week I was catching up on some old newspapers I hadn't read. One was from a March Atlanta Journal-Constitution travel section about the top 10 places to visit in Florida. One of the 10 was the Seagrove Beach area. The only restaurant they mentioned by name was Shades at Seaside. OOPS!

Cil · #3 05-29-2006, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Beware of imitators

Alas, Seaside’s success didn’t come without a price. Once a charming development in the middle of nowhere, it’s spawned copycat towns along County Road A in Walton County such as neighboring Water Color. While these developments incorporate some of Seaside’s New Urbanism elements — and one contains a Starbucks that I pedaled to nearly every day — they also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone.

This mystifies me.
A successful New Urbanist community is *supposed* to stand alone in the middle of nowhere?

Miss Kitty · #4 05-29-2006, 08:36 AM

How ironic! I just threw away the Saturday paper without reading it! Thanks dd!

Donna · #5 05-29-2006, 06:25 PM

This is a very curious article. Seaside has "spawned copycat towns along 30A," including one with a Starbucks? "They also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone?"

Seaside never stood alone. The communities of Pt. Washington, Grayton Beach, Blue Mt. Beach, Dune Allen, Santa Rosa Beach, Destin, Seagrove and others existed for many decades before there was a Seaside. Grayton Beach, at well over 100 years old, is the second oldest coastal community in Florida; only St. Augustine is older. The elements that define Seaside are the more definitive and enduring elements from these early beach towns...oystershell streets, wood frame houses with porches and lookouts, sunfaded pastel colors, on and on...

And Bud & Alleys is a "five-star restaurant?" While I like B&A for cocktails, it would not rate one star in most places. Let's hope the new chef has made a difference, because for years it has been an overpriced, well located restaurant serving mediocre food with decidedly muddled flavors.

This article smacks of a P.R.-initiated travel article and it is a disservice to people who might come here. Seaside has its charms and has done much to set the tone for recent development, in the Old Florida vernacular. However, it also can be characterized as a contrived new town, as it was in "The Truman Show." Give Seaside its due, but get your story right, Ms. McManus!

peapod1980 · #6 05-29-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

This article smacks of a P.R.-initiated travel article and it is a disservice to people who might come here. Seaside has its charms and has done much to set the tone for recent development, in the Old Florida vernacular. However, it also can be characterized as a contrived new town, as it was in "The Truman Show." Give Seaside its due, but get your story right, Ms. McManus!

Well said, Donna, well said!

DD · #7 05-29-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

This is a very curious article. Seaside has "spawned copycat towns along 30A," including one with a Starbucks? "They also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone?"

Seaside never stood alone. The communities of Pt. Washington, Grayton Beach, Blue Mt. Beach, Dune Allen, Santa Rosa Beach, Destin, Seagrove and others existed for many decades before there was a Seaside. Grayton Beach, at well over 100 years old, is the second oldest coastal community in Florida; only St. Augustine is older. The elements that define Seaside are the more definitive and enduring elements from these early beach towns...oystershell streets, wood frame houses with porches and lookouts, sunfaded pastel colors, on and on...

And Bud & Alleys is a "five-star restaurant?" While I like B&A for cocktails, it would not rate one star in most places. Let's hope the new chef has made a difference, because for years it has been an overpriced, well located restaurant serving mediocre food with decidedly muddled flavors.

This article smacks of a P.R.-initiated travel article and it is a disservice to people who might come here. Seaside has its charms and has done much to set the tone for recent development, in the Old Florida vernacular. However, it also can be characterized as a contrived new town, as it was in "The Truman Show." Give Seaside its due, but get your story right, Ms. McManus!

That's kinda what I thought, Donna. Most people here would never know the real story.....you should write her!

Donna · #8 05-29-2006, 10:00 PM

I may write a letter to the editor of the Dallas News, but focus on the issue of Seaside "spawning copycat towns." I was a little hard on Bud & Alleys, perhaps still carrying a grudge since they stopped serving oysters on the half-shell!

(I know...many, many moon past. But it's a beach restaurant!)

As a person who relies on travel articles and personal recommendations for travel choices, I just hate it when someone gets it so wrong. And PR-planted articles are the very worst. We once booked four nights in a place in northern Spain, based largely on an article in a top travel magazine. It was the most expensive of our accommodations by far, yet the most revolting place we've ever stayed in. So bad that all the guests sat around remarking as to how bad it was in the evenings! Despite the hefty price tag, we left early. I still remember going out for a walk one morning (before the dreaded tour buses arrived). From a medieval looking hovel, Rod Stewart was blaring from a boom box. As I walked past, a boxy-headed dog snarled from inside and a woman threw a large bowl of vegetable scraps and bones out into the street. The dog literally climbed over the half-open Dutch door and fell snarling and snapping onto this steaming mess, probably the only reason he didn't jump my bones. So much for Man of la Mancha.

Well, I digress. Dinner is ready. Husband suggested that we forego calorie counting for something tasty. In the mood to cook, we made a pork roast with garlic, sage, and lemon zest; homemade applesauce; broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic olive oil; and a peach cobbler to serve with vanilla ice cream. Put in double duty at the gym, so am now going to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Hope you've all had a terrific and relaxing holiday weekend.

DD · #9 05-29-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

I may write a letter to the editor of the Dallas News, but focus on the issue of Seaside "spawning copycat towns." I was a little hard on Bud & Alleys, perhaps still carrying a grudge since they stopped serving oysters on the half-shell!

(I know...many, many moon past. But it's a beach restaurant!)

As a person who relies on travel articles and personal recommendations for travel choices, I just hate it when someone gets it so wrong. And PR-planted articles are the very worst. We once booked four nights in a place in northern Spain, based largely on an article in a top travel magazine. It was the most expensive of our accommodations by far, yet the most revolting place we've ever stayed in. So bad that all the guests sat around remarking as to how bad it was in the evenings! Despite the hefty price tag, we left early. I still remember going out for a walk one morning (before the dreaded tour buses arrived). From a medieval looking hovel, Rod Stewart was blaring from a boom box. As I walked past, a boxy-headed dog snarled from inside and a woman threw a large bowl of vegetable scraps and bones out into the street. The dog literally climbed over the half-open Dutch door and fell snarling and snapping onto this steaming mess, probably the only reason he didn't jump my bones. So much for Man of la Mancha.

Well, I digress. Dinner is ready. Husband suggested that we forego calorie counting for something tasty. In the mood to cook, we made a pork roast with garlic, sage, and lemon zest; homemade applesauce; broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic olive oil; and a peach cobbler to serve with vanilla ice cream. Put in double duty at the gym, so am now going to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Hope you've all had a terrific and relaxing holiday weekend.

You should write...make 'em get it right the next time!
Your dinner sounds wonderful! I just got through talking about peach cobbler on another thread. And, I love me some pork roast! I did no gym today--vegged on the couch, visited my daughter, played with my grandson, cooked dinner--nothing quite as appetizing as yours. Dang it, maybe I'll go walk the dog!

seagrover · #10 05-29-2006, 10:22 PM

And as many of you that know me has heard my story of coming to Seagrove in the early 60's with my parents - staying in a small cottage on Camilla - and they paid their friends $5 a night!!

There was NO Seaside then!!!

DD · #11 05-29-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seagrover

And as many of you that know me has heard my story of coming to Seagrove in the early 60's with my parents - staying in a small cottage on Camilla - and they paid their friends $5 a night!!

There was NO Seaside then!!!

What a wonderful memory!

I would have loved to have come down there back in those days!!

Donna · #12 05-30-2006, 12:10 AM

The first memory I have in life was, believe it or not, as a baby lying in a crib at the beach. My folks were renting an old beach cottage at Seagrove. There was a big storm and the power went out. Before we lost power, I remember looking at white paint dribbles on the window panes and thinking, "Ghosts!" Then the power was lost and I began to cry. My Dad came in and struck a match over my crib to make sure all was well. I can still remember the flash of that match, the smell of sulphur, and hearing the thunder and lightning and the rain coming down.

Oh, yeah...we weren't at Seaside!

DD · #13 05-30-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

The first memory I have in life was, believe it or not, as a baby lying in a crib at the beach. My folks were renting an old beach cottage at Seagrove. There was a big storm and the power went out. Before we lost power, I remember looking at white paint dribbles on the window panes and thinking, "Ghosts!" Then the power was lost and I began to cry. My Dad came in and struck a match over my crib to make sure all was well. I can still remember the flash of that match, the smell of sulphur, and hearing the thunder and lightning and the rain coming down.

Oh, yeah...we weren't at Seaside!

Dang, you do have a good memory!! I can't even remember what day it is, much less being a baby!!! Great story, Donna!!