PARTY LINE: Vine to Wine packs the house

Destin Charity Wine kickoff — Vine to Wine — Aug. 27 at Sago Palms saw a full house of folks turning out to sample winners for the upcoming Taste of the Beach. Todd Vucovich, Michael McIntosh, Len Olsen, Kathy Fly Bridges, John Russell, Lori Eckert, Lauren Magli, Sheryl Johnston, Richard McNeese, Chris and Ivy Trovas, Bette and Tom Nelson, Wenda and Larry Bacon, Hugh and Judy Sutherland, Myra Williams, and Sarah Sovoda were some of those at the event.

I enjoyed lunch at Santa Rosa Beach Club last Friday. So did Chick and Cathy Huettel, Susan Lucas and Richard Stein, Jack and Lynn Abbit, and Connie Yarbro.

Emeril Lagasse returned to Tim Creehan’s Cuvee Bistro with Susan and Sparky Lovelace last week for yet another meal.

Chef Creehan's Valentina Bella won the contest for the cover of this year’s Bay County Humane Society Calendar. Donna Burgess will donate a portrait Valentina Bella.

This story comes from a waiter at Café 30a: After winning the Super Bowl, Saints Coach Sean Payton patroned the Seagrove Beach restaurant along with other players and coach staff. As Payton walked by a table of New Orleanians, one diner couldn’t help but ask for a peek of the Super Bowl ring. Payton plucked off the ring and said “Here hold on to it while I go to the bathroom.” The group passed the ring around and took photos before he returned to reclaim the wearable trophy.

Walton Sun and Destin Log editorial assistant Pam Griffin has compiled some favorite recipes of her own others in “Mission Love Seeds' Heavenly Delights” cookbook. The book has 745 recipes from around the country and the world. It can be purchased at Destin United Methodist Church Sept. 10 and 11. Call 850-650-5583 or e-mail missionloveseeds@cox.net. All proceeds go to MLS to help with their work locally and around the world.

MC Cunningham played her first gig at Wild Olives last Saturday night, singing and playing acoustic guitar, and was asked back. MC is 14 years old and a freshman at South Walton High School. Her guitar lessons started with Kevin Hall at the former Guitar Store when she was 10 years old, and she studied under Jimmy Ward at Seaside Neighborhood School.

Thanks to country music star Sara Evans for performing a free concert in PCB last weekend.

Cheryl Jones announces that saxophonist Ike Bartley is joining Jones & Co. at AJ's on Sundays.

Brenda Rees watched her big bro call the Dallas/Houston game last Saturday. He's a Walton County native.

Colleen Duffley Productions shot "A Day in The Life of Designer Suzanne Kasler" for the October edition of Traditional Home Magazine.

Valerie Lofton is teaching yoga again at The Studio at Seaside at 7:30 a.m.

Dave Rauschkolb continues to win big. His Deep Stack Poker Tournament at Ebro netted $477 and a fifth place last week. Four finals tables in four weeks totaled $4,077 in winnings. Then, at the Deep Stack Poker Tourney in Pensacola on Saturday, he garnered another final table. Ninety players participated and his take was $2,700. He went out in 11th place at Ebro on Sunday, just missing a 6th straight final table by a slim margin.

Best wishes to Amanda Mara of DeFuniak Springs, who became engaged to Glen Sconiers Aug. 5 while vacationing in Hawaii. An April 17, 2011, wedding is planned on the Beaches of South Walton. Amanda is the daughter of Ken and Sue Mara.

Nancy Abood’s birthday week activities included lunch at Vin'tij with girlfriends. She then left for Atlanta and stayed at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead, then on to Asheville, N.C., staying at the Grove Park Inn.

Richard McNeese celebrated his recent birthday in wine country.

Christina Ruckel’s daughter, Erin Whisenhunt, is coming to visit from Phoenix with her husband Troy and grandchildren Brandon and Jackson. It will be a first visit for the boys. Gary Cook has a boat trip planned for them up the Choctawhatchee River to look for alligators.

Suzanne Boatright is going to New Orleans for Voodoo Fest!

Michael J Thomas is back from Boston.

Chris Pall went to Tampa/St. Pete to watch the Rays beat the Red Sox.

Nancy McConnell is home after six days on the road to Rome, Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Trisha Chason is off to North Carolina.

Lorre James is back from Orlando where she attended the Florida Realtors convention.

Betty Cork is recently back from Africa with her son and grandson.

Farewell to Billy and Marcia Johnson, who are moving to Colorado.

Sympathy is expressed to Ella d’Autilia in the passing of her husband, Mike.

Sympathy is expressed to Paige Schnell in the loss of her grandmother.

Wish a “happy birthday” today to Jim Richard and Ann Robinson.

Tomorrow to Sally Powell.

On Labor Day to Craige Hoover and Cindy Meadows.

Wednesday to Stephanie Burke, Ray and Roy Dollar, and Lauren Rees.

Thursday to Vickie Dollar.

And Friday to David Seering.

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.