Welcome back, Esther
Part-time San Miguel de Allende resident Esther Kolko opened her Santa Rosa Beach home to the Women's Art Network Jan. 12, where great food and great art were shared by 46 members.
WAN member Barbara Rischmiller-Brook led a workshop at Artful Things in Niceville on Jan. 20.
Newbie WAN member Emilie Pritchard makes beaded jewelry. View her work at www.EPOriginals.etsy.com, www.EPRugweaver.com, Newbill Collection by the Sea in Ruskin Place at Seaside, or her studio in Panama City. She will also be showing at ArtsQuest in May.
Wendy Prentice's son, Aaron Jackson, and actor Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the TV show "The Office") took Aaron's cause to Hollywood at Christmas with a brunch/fundraiser at the W Hotel to raise money for Aaron's charity, Planting Peace. Wendy's youngest son, William, flew to Hollywood to join the event. CNN aired a clip throughout the day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. View the video at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/12/24/wynter.hollywood.helps.cnn?iref=videosearch_.
Wendy hosted an Artist Social at her Artists at Gulf Place gallery Jan. 24 with a sale, drawings, and free cheap wine. She has added several new pieces of mermaid art to her Web site at http://www.wendyprentice.com, including mermaids wearing shells.
Grit & Grace is now officially under the umbrella of the Cultural Arts Association.
Deb Eberhart said after my article on her "Not So High Tea" ran, Miss Lucille's was so packed that she had to turn some folks away. Some were regulars and some were snowbirds and a contingent from the Seagrove Garden Club came in hats and gloves. "What a hoot," she said. "In this difficult economic winter, it's good to see folks having so much fun." I agree.
The annual meeting of the Sherlock Holmes Society saw a record turnout of 81 folks on Jan. 14. Chick Huettel said the English buffet was fabulous, hailing back to the first meeting in Victorian England with fish and chips, toad-in-the hole, pork pie, and of course English peas. Last was the cutting of Sherlock Holmes' birthday cake. Thirty-five new members were initiated and speaker Walton County Sheriff's Investigator Herb Haigh demonstrated how weapons were used to solve a local murder/suicide.
The year has not started off well for Jack Abbit, who said many of his friends or their families have already had health-related problems. Jack's wife, Lynn, fell last week and broke two bones in her right hand and ruptured a ligament, which required surgery. Get well soon, Lynn!
Tracy Louthain's family just got bigger with the addition of Dylan Thomas born Jan. 16. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and is a healthy, happy baby said the proud mom.
In local travels, Montee Posey has left for Bradenton, Nikki Nickerson has been in Santa Fe, Geri Golding in Dallas, Lisa Hinds in Greenwich, Conn., Hillary Fosdyck in San Diego, and Mike Ragsdale is in the Caribbean. Lisa said Greenwich is beautiful.
Jeffrey Ellis and Heidi are snow skiing in Winter Park, Colo. After a few good stiff cocktails they might just do some Black Diamond runs, said Jeff.
Susie Munz sent greetings from chilly Zionsville, Ind. She said it was colder there Friday before last (-12) than in Anchorage, Alaska. When it reached -2, it was considered a heat wave. "Everything is white, but it isn't sand," she said. "The grandkids and new art commissions are keeping me smiling." Susie is visiting her daughter, Sarah, and has three commissioned works to do while there. She also has a pen and ink submission in "The Art of Love" exhibit at the SullivanMunce Cultural Arts Center Gallery in Zionsville through Feb. 28. Zionsville is a small town with 11 art galleries. While Susie is "chillin," her husband is home in Destin playing golf.
Diane Grey Page celebrated her recent birthday with a trip to Las Vegas where she saw the Cirque de Soleil production of the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," a fantastic performance with mind-boggling visuals, she said. The next night was Bette Midler at Caesar's Palace, then Tom Jones, who gets better every year, she said. He performed eight songs from his new album. Diane is now in the Turks and Caicos Islands doing a two-day trunk show at the new Carnival Cruise Center in Grand Turk. Five ships are expected.
Didon Comer's birthday celebration theme this year was "Fairytales and Fables" for her party Jan. 18. She made the girls-only time special with a donation of some pieces of her recent art project, "The Girls," for a drawing to benefit Shelter House.
Belated happy birthday wishes go out to Chef Tim Creehan, who celebrated on Jan. 24; artist Mark Partington and Realtor Charlie Sutton, who celebrated on Jan. 25; Susan Adams and Realtor Tall Tom Hopkins who celebrated on Jan. 27; Jack Abbit and Rachel Morgan, who celebrated on Jan. 28; and Zandra Wolfgram, who celebrated Jan. 29.
Wish Alaqua Animal Refuge's Laurie Hood a happy birthday today.
Joann Graham celebrates on Wednesday.
Ed Berry, Dawn Moliterno and Shannon Wallace celebrate on Thursday.
Sympathy is expressed to Demetrius Fuller and his family in the death of his father.
Deborah Wheeler is the arts and entertainment reporter for The Walton Sun. She may be reached at (850) 267-4555 or e-mail debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com. Party Line Talk appears weekly in The Sun. Contributions are encouraged.
