PARTY LINE: Bye, bye summertime; hello fall; welcome Shaq

Boy, what a glorious weekend! It really felt good to be able get back out and walk the beach again. It was a perfect kiss goodbye to summertime.

The long weekend of fun began Thursday night with Sinfonia’s season kickoff at Seagar’s.

Restaurant manager Kevin Moran and Maestro Demetrius Fuller saw a full house for the event. Joan Luchese, Stacey Brady, Phyllis Hasty, Gale Culling, Traci Stokes, Nancy and John Cottle, Kay Phelan, Colleen and John Riddle, Carol Rankin, Joyce Watersmith, Myra and Michael Williams, Lorre and Bob James, Joan Sallis, Erin Walker, Steve Barber, and Marcia Hull were just some who filled the place.

 Friday night, I enjoyed a glorious dinner at the home of Marinella and Bob Monk overlooking the bay. Marinella’s French roots were evident in her gorgeous home and she prepared a dinner to match. A selection of wines and cheeses accompanied her quiche Lorraine, which was divine. David and Loretta Elliott joined us to round out the evening.

 On Sunday night, pianist David Seeing held court at Grand Boulevard’s park with one of his fabulous concerts. Prior to the concert, Cantina Laredo held a VIP pre-concert meet and greet with munchies and drinks. Kay Phelan, Marge Hoover, Gayle and Dude Klutts, Traci Stokes, Stacey and Mike Brady, Marcia Hull, George Barnes and Gayle Schoettle, Myra and Michael Williams, Angela Triplett, Mike and Sherri McCarty, Georgeen Newell, and John and Debi Morris were some of those attending.

Christina Ruckel and Gary Cook held a Labor Day cookout for friends and family at their artsy home on the bay Monday. Their daughter, Erin Whisenhunt, husband Troy, and children Brandon and Jackson were visiting from Scottsdale.

I welcomed my first born to the beach for the holiday, along with her boyfriend.

Denise Earles spent Labor Day sailing in Ocean Springs.

Emeril Lagasse was here for the holiday and seen shopping at Chan’s Wine World. He dined at Smiling Fish Café one day and made a return visit to Cuvee Bistro, where he created his own dish, a lamb and venison tasting plate.

Shaquille O'Neil was spotted Monday, enjoying his Labor Day on the white sands of Sandestin.

Fred Ruder visited Perdido Key over the weekend.

Sheila Wachsman is back from visiting family in Louisville. She also went to Cincinnati, where she had the pleasure of watching her best friend from high school's son get married.

Kate Kelley went to St. Augustine.

Paige and Sam Peek, along with their daughter, Holly, were among the guests at President Obama's speech in New Orleans Aug. 29 marking the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Holly attends medical school at Tulane University and is Miss New Orleans 2010.

Phil McDonald sat next to Art Alexakis (lead singer of Everclear) on a flight to Portland. Art told him places to go while there. Phil was traveling to Portland to cook at Paley’s Place.

Nancy Veldman headed to Mississippi.

Diane Grey Page is back from three months in Boston, where she had 10 shows in the Cape Cod area with side trips to Chicago for the 4th of July, New York and Las Vegas. She returned to the flying trapeze school in New York and studied aerial "silks"... think Pink on the MTV awards ... basically acrobatics in the air suspended by two strips of material.

Carol Saucier sends greetings from Evanston.

DuRee and Jeb Stewart recently visited Athens, Ga., and her boys and met her youngest son’s (Blake) future mother and father in law. They dined at The River Club in Suwanee, the same neighborhood that comedian Ron White, and Braves player Javier Lopez live in, where the homes are gorgeous and the food at the club is over the top. DuRee dined on bison.

Jeb just returned from Detroit after visiting family for a couple of weeks.

DuRee’s son, Aaron, graduated from college recently and got an IT job with Dial America. Her oldest son, Jason, an Air Force Major, is in Kuwait and will return in November to his home in Boston, Mass.

Paula Carter visited family in Alaska.

Judy Zito spent her birthday weekend babysitting in Indy, then on to Chicago to meet friends for a few days of grown-up play before heading back to Indy.

Lots of folks traveled for football last weekend.

Laurie Hood went to Atlanta for the first LSU game.

Joyce Sunday, Kellie Biegler, and Sharon Jenkins went to Tally for the first FSU game.

Michelle Tommey went to Auburn.

Check out the home Tracery Interiors designed at Lake Martin in the new “Birmingham Home & Garden.”

Columnist Ron Hart spoke at the Hamilton County Libertarian event in Chattanooga last week.

Congrats to Zandra Wolfgram, the new editor of Emerald Coast Magazine.

South Walton was given a mention in the Washington Post.

Consign Mint Boutique celebrated its one-year anniversary last week.

Alison Porter is moving to St. Pete. Sorry to see her go.

Wish a “happy birthday” tomorrow to Ladie Bea Lackey.

Monday to Sharon Maxwell and Marianne Burbach.

Tuesday to Stephen Marlette and Billy Garrett.

Wednesday to Angie Druetta.

And Thursday to Susan Paladini.

Deborah Wheeler is the arts and entertainment reporter for The Walton Sun. She may be reached at 850-654-8443 or e-mail dwheeler@waltonsun.com. Party Line Talk appears weekly in The Sun. Contributions are encouraged.