Come see a wide variety of Northeast Florida’s beautiful flora at the annual Flower & Garden Expo this weekend at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center. The event will run Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is presented by The Garden Club of St. Augustine and sponsored by EPIC Behavioral Healthcare. Visitors will be treated to a huge array of native plants, butterfly plants, colorful flowering plants, herbs, succulents, ferns and trees, as well as everything needed to start or enrich your garden.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Kick off spring at the Flower & Garden Expo this weekend!  

The 26th annual Chocolate & Beyond celebration is coming to First Coast Technical College this Saturday, March 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Visitors will be treated to samples of locally made chocolates, desserts and other sweets from some of our area’s finest restaurants and specialty shops.

Guests will have the chance to participate in a raffle, “Guess the Number of Chocolates” contest and silent auction. The auction will include hotel and restaurant gift certificates, sports memorabilia and admission tickets for local attractions and events.

Event proceeds benefit the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of St. Johns County. Its primary focus is on recruiting, training and placing senior volunteers, which number nearly 150, into St. Johns County schools to mentor and tutor students in reading and math. The volunteers also assist in the Head Start preschool reading program.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on The sweetest celebration on the First Coast is coming this weekend!  

A day of beauty, wellness, fashion and fun is coming to the Renaissance Resort World Golf Village on Sunday, February 24! The Fashion & Beauty Expo, hosted by Jacksonville Business Connections, will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature more than 50 vendors.

 

 

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Fashion & Beauty Expo coming to World Golf Village February 24  

The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater is known for its breathtaking 3D nature documentaries, but plenty of action-adventure movies are headed to IMAX in the coming months!

IMAX Theaters are designed to deliver the world’s most immersive movie experience. The 275-seat theater includes the latest IMAX 3D digital projection system, state-of-the-art sound system and North Florida’s largest IMAX screen (50 ft. wide and 80 ft. high).

The theater also boasts large 2D screens with blockbuster movies and engaging documentaries. From super hero action films to family-friendly adventure movies, IMAX is the perfect place to take in a flick (without making the trek to Jacksonville or downtown St. Augustine).

Here are the current shows:

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Action-adventure movies take top billing at IMAX this spring  

The World Golf Hall of Fame is preparing for African American History Month by inviting everyone to see “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African Americans in Golf”. The permanent exhibition contains rare photographs, audio, video and memorabilia to highlight the long, rich history of African Americans in golf from the game’s pioneers in the late 1800s to today’s superstars.

Visitors will see items that highlight the accomplishments of African Americans in the game despite facing steep challenges. This includes Hall of Fame member Charlie Sifford’s PGA Player Card from 1960, the document that officially broke golf’s color barrier. See other items marking the career of 1985 PLAYERS champion Calvin Peete and tennis great Althea Gibson, who was the first African American to join the LPGA Tour in 1964.

Interactive, touch-screen video displays make this one of the Hall of Fame’s most advanced exhibits. Screens show profiles of prominent African American players.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is an original sculpture designed by the renowned sculptor Mario Chiodo.  The piece represents a timeline of African Americans in golf, including 13 legendary players. Each step in the sculpture’s frame signifies a milestone of achievement, beginning with John Shippen in 1896, the first African American to play in the U.S. Open Championship. At the top, Tiger Woods is featured followed by an empty step, begging the question, “Who is next?”

The exhibit launched in 2014 and continues to provide insights into the many contributions of African American players to the game of golf.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on African American History Month: HOF exhibit celebrates Charlie Sifford, Tiger Woods & others  

Come enjoy some ragtime and boogie-woogie music with Bob Milne on Sunday, January 27, at 3 p.m. at the historic Grace United Methodist Church. Bob is known for his electric performances as well as charismatic storytelling.

Never heard of Bob? These interesting facts explain why his concert is a must-see!

Bob is a scientific mystery.Bob is a completely self-taught pianist with the unusual ability to mentally “play” up to four symphonies in his head simultaneously. He has even been the subject of study by Penn State University neuroscientists for the last eight years as they try to figure out how he does this!

In fact, his fans often refer to Bob as a “one-man orchestra” and celebrate his ability to make his piano sound like several instruments at once!

Bob’s music genre has a fascinating history.First played in 1895, ragtime originates from jigs and march music played by African American bands. Throughout the 20thcentury, ragtime spread throughout the U.S. and became an American staple. The term is said to originate from the word “ragged,” in reference to ragtime’s syncopated melody (with unexpected and often off-beat rhythms).

Bob has been a “musical ambassador” for the U.S. State Department.Considered by many to be the best ragtime piano player in the world, Bob brings a contagious energy to his playing. The Library of Congress has even deemed Bob as a “national treasure” and he has served as a “musical ambassador” for the U.S. State Department in Japan and Switzerland.

You can learn from Bob himself.In addition to touring, Bob teaches music history at various universities including Florida Atlantic University. For more information about his classes, click here.
Don’t miss this exciting performance! The concert is free (although the church accepts donations) and will take place in its beautiful large sanctuary (first come, first seated).

Grace Methodist Church is located at 8 Carrera Street in historic downtown St. Augustine. If you have any questions, contact the church at 904-829-8272.

 
 
Comments Off on Ragtime virtuoso Bob Milne comes to St. Augustine January 27  

While the PGA TOUR prepares for the 60th anniversary of its Desert Classic, the World Golf Hall of Fame is also gearing up for the big event. Played every winter in Coachella Valley, California, the Desert Classic features the sport’s top players vying for a tournament win, as well as a celebrity pro-am tournament.

 

The pro-am has included among its competitors Bing Crosby, Desi Arnez and Frank Sinatra, and more recently Jimmy Fallon, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson. Several U.S. presidents have even competed including Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

The most notable celebrity player, however, was Bob Hope. For years considered to be Hollywood’s greatest golfer, Bob first played in the tournament in 1965 when he stepped in as chairman of the board. The tournament bared his name from 1965 to 2011.

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on As PGA preps for Desert Classic, Hall of Fame spotlights early Bob Hope days  

Between shopping, wrapping, decorating and celebrating, the holidays are always a hectic time. Add to that the worry of what to cook for holiday meals. To help relieve some of that stress, the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort offers Christmas and New Year’s dinner options each year.

 

These are no run-of-the-mill ham dinners! Enjoy prime rib on Christmas Eve or seafood and steak on Christmas night, all served on an extensive buffet of tasty appetizers, gourmet sides and delectable desserts. Each dish is prepared and served with the unwavering quality and attention to detail for which the Renaissance is known.

 

Christmas Eve Prime Rib Dinner Buffet: On Monday, December 24, enjoy a delicious Christmas Eve prime rib buffet dinner. The buffet will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $43 for adults and $39 for seniors.

 

read more +

 
 
Comments Off on Renaissance World Golf Village offers stress-free holiday dinner options  

Why spend your Thanksgiving dedicating hours to cooking and cleaning up when you can relax and enjoy the Happy Thanksgiving Buffet hosted by the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village?

Each year, the folks at the Renaissance prepare a full Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. This Thanksgiving, which falls on November 22, the resort will no doubt exceed expectations with another delicious banquet.

The Turkey Day meal is perfect for an entire extended family looking to enjoy everyone’s company, or just a couple seeking a quiet, no-fuss holiday meal.

The Happy Thanksgiving Buffet will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes entertainment by Ken Edwards. The cost is $48 for adults, $42 for seniors and $26 for children.

Forget the stress of cooking this year! Make reservations today by calling (904) 940-8696.

The Renaissance is located at 500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, 32092, in heart of World Golf Village.

 
 
Comments Off on Forget cooking! Celebrate Turkey Day with a buffet at the WGV Renaissance Resort  


This weekend, plan to visit the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum for a special promotion! All active duty military, veterans and their dependents will receive free admission to the museum November 10 and 11.

Also, enjoy a round on the 18-hole natural grass putting green for just $5 per person. Feeling lucky? Take two shots on the Challenge Hole for just $5 (or five shots for $10).

In addition to the activities offered, the Hall of Fame features permanent as well as special exhibits throughout the facility. Just some of the current exhibits worth pursuing include:

  • Gary Player: Grand Slam Success
  • Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf
  • Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory
  • Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality
  • History in the Making (featuring memorabilia from professional tournaments and major championships highlighting record-breaking performances and other historic moments)
  • Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibits (including Class of 2019 inductees Peggy Kirk Bell, Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Dennis Walters)

Join the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in honoring veterans, active military and their families this weekend! Visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org for more information.

 

 
 
Comments Off on This weekend: Free admission for all veterans, active military & families at the WGHOF