Additional summer highlights in Vero Beach includes food.  When summer hits the Treasure Coast, it can often cause folks to run inside for central air and rarely resurface. Yet for many of the chefs throughout our area, it is a time to get creative.  Featuring, seasonal ingredients and dining al fresco, even as the temperature begins to rise.  As the weather warms up, find the good in it all by experiencing some of our area’s best restaurants.  Even better, there is virtually no wait time!

After a devastating fire closed the oceanfront, Citrus Grillhouse, Chef Scott Varricchio is back with the newly named Citrus restaurant.  Progress about a year, the venue is fresh with revamped color schemes, seating and acoustics.  Additionally, the staff is gracious and cheerful to be back at work open for dinner seven days a week and lunches Monday through Saturday.  Best part, being able to sit outside this time of year with some of the best panoramic views in the county.   In his featured salad, Chef views it as his rendition of “peaches and cream.”  It includes, burrata with local peaches and baby arugula dressed with a fig vanilla balsamic and crumbled almond.  It is a true culinary delight for those looking for something semi-savory yet surprising light.  Burrata is a fresh Italian cow milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream.  Delightfully, the robust flavors of the fresh peaches and herbaceous of the arugula and nuttiness of the almonds made for a wonderful merriment of flavors accentuated by the La Marco prosecco split.  Consequently, Chef’s new summer menu will include an array of fresh and seasonal ingredients like corn, shellfish and soft-shell crab.  When given the chance, be sure to add on an order of the truffle fries. They are so scrumptious and easy to share, chef kids “I think I am a pretty good chef, yet people seem to really know me for my fries.”

Next, the Blue Star in downtown Vero Beach is also thinking creatively with fresh, local ingredients. Chef Kitty Wagner’s signature summer watermelon salad is a work of art when it comes out of the kitchen.  It features, sweet Florida watermelon, crumbled feta, pickled red onion, arugula and kalamata olives provide a pleasing salty, tangy yet sweet flavor profile in every bite. “These are the kind of flavors that entice the taste buds,” Chef Kitty elaborated on, “yet it isn’t overly filling making it a great starter course or a fine dish to be served after one’s meal.”  Accented by perfectly sliced kalamata olives that helps the dish to look like a ray of watermelon sunshine, the herbiness of the arugula shines through the saltiness of the feta while adding structure to the sweetness of the watermelon. What is the dressing you might be asking? Nothing, the juice from the watermelon and the fresh feta mixed together serves as its own sensational sauce. Perhaps the best accent to the dish was the crispness and subtle strawberry profile of the Mont Gravet 2017 rose.  Served perfectly chilled, this full-bodied rose is perfect for sipping on before, during and after this dish. It’s profile also has the finesse to stand up to the density of Kitty’s famous risotto.

When in Sebastian, be sure to visit the Crab Stop. It is right on the river and provides terrific views and a wonderful breeze.  Adorned with baby blue umbrellas and a happy staff, the Crab Stop of Sebastian is open daily Monday through Saturday from 11am-9pm and Sundays from 1pm-9pm.  At this riverfront restaurant, fresh and flavorful seafood is the star and it shows.  My pick, the Mrs. BB Shrimp Salad was a great choice on a warm afternoon.  This robust salad had eight grilled and seasoned shrimp on top of a bed of romaine tossed with tomatoes, cucumber, egg and plenty of shredded cheddar cheese. Looking for a real bonus? Try adding crumbled bacon really makes this salad pop!  Better yet,  pair it with the red sangria, made with Sycamore Lane Cabernet. Refreshing sangria helped bring out the flavors of the salad and the tangy balsamic dressing.  Consequently, the berry profile was sensational and was highlighted by the freshly muddled citrus.  With a second location in Vero Beach, be sure to visit this local success story with the owners winning Entrepreneur of the Year in Vero Beach and Sebastian.

Summer highlights in Vero Beach outside of food include all the fun at Riverside Theatre.  Every weekend there is a free concert in the loop. Beyond that, in the air conditioning, check out a comedy show or dueling pianos; it is awesome!

The post Summer Highlights in Vero Beach appeared first on The Treasure Coast Insider.

The term crescendo means to gradually increase in intensity and Vero Beach’s Centennial Crescendo is on target to do just that come Saturday, October 26.  To that end, Finale committee members are seeking volunteers for that special day.  Those that can work on setting up and taking down as well as helping with the morning parade and other activities throughout the day.  This is the time to be in touch with Co-Chair Tammy Bursick at 978-4700 offering your time and manpower!

Under the direction of Centennial Co-Chairs City Clerk Tammy Bursick and Councilman Tony Young, our city’s celebrations are a little more than half way over with Florida Power & Light is the Centennial Presenting Sponsor and the month of May being sponsored by The Cattleman’s Association.  Please visit the Centennial website www.VeroBeach100.org regularly for times, locations and details on all activities.  Event times, dates, locations and descriptions are subject to change.

Come to the City Clerk’s office, inside City Hall, to pick up a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day!  The Centennial coloring books and posters are available for purchase at just $5.00 a piece.

Reserve your spot in the Centennial Parade!

John Michael Matthews chairs the Centennial Parade, “Vero Beach Through the Ages,” and invites local organizations, schools, clowns, musicians, and businesses to participate.  The committee is looking for floats, music, live entertainment and other creative ideas to enter the route that begins at 10 a.m. at the Vero Beach High School that will recreate the good old-fashioned jubilee our town is known for.

To fill out a participation form online, visit www.verobeach100.org, deadline is recommended by June 15 and applicants will be notified by July 16. First-come, first-served. Number of participants will be capped at 100.

May 1, 2019: Poetry Contest by Laura Riding Jackson Foundation

The Laura Riding Jackson foundation is inviting all Indian River County students (categories for elementary, middle, and high schools) to enter the “Celebrate Where I Live” Poem contest by entering a poem that features an historical person, place, event, or industry that makes Vero Beach a special place to live. Winner will receive gift certificates from the Vero Beach Book Center; First ($100), Second ($50), and Third ($25) place winners awarded in each category (elementary, middle school and high school). Winning poems will be read at the Centennial Celebration at Riverside Theater on August 8. Writing in verse. May include but is not limited to prose poetry, free verse, formal poetry, song lyrics, and spoken word. Poem length must be a maximum of 50 lines. Students will submit two copies of their poem: one with their name and school and a second copy without name or school identification. Submit entries to poetrycontest@lauraridingjackson.org or to LRJ Office, 1914 14th Ave., Vero Beach, 32960. Entries may be submitted beginning March 15. Deadline for submission is May 1. Winners will be notified by May 15.

May 26, 2019: Founder’s Day-Centennial Tree Dedication

“The Founders Day Centennial Tree Dedication” will be held at MacWilliam Park at 1:30 p.m. The City Tree and Beautification Commission is recognizing the day the City was incorporated in 1919. This event is sponsored by Carlton Fields.

May 26^th, 2019: “Family and Faith Day Celebration” will run from 2-4 p.m.  A wide array of food will be sold from food trucks while the family is entertained, and children enjoy face-painting, games and other special features for the children to participate in. Nearly twenty religious establishments will be represented with informational tables as well as offering additional games for the children. Music will be provided on an outdoor stage by several inner faith groups. Attendees may feel free in bringing their own chairs to relax outdoors to enjoy the day. Programs will be handed out that day so attendees can discover all that is being offered.

Also, if you get a chance please visit the Indian River County Main Library to see the wonderful 1919-1920 timelines created by the Genealogy Department.  After seeing it firsthand with my 12-year-old son, it inspired us to take a bike ride throughout town to see the differences in many of the buildings, homes and streets from then to now. It is impressive!

Tune in Wednesdays, at 5pm on 1370am to the Vero Insider for in-depth interviews with yours truly as host including a complete background about Founders Day set to air on May 22^nd.

The post May Centennial appeared first on The Treasure Coast Insider.

Starting in January submit your favorite Centennial photos! To commemorate Vero’s centennial and celebrate 35 years of vision within the community, Florida Eye Institute has unveiled a photo contest called My2020ExperienceSM.  Entries are divided into months to coincide with the series of yearlong activities. The public can upload their digital photos directly to the site.  A winning photo will be selected each month. Winners will receive a gift card valued at $50.  At the conclusion of Vero’s yearlong Centennial Celebration in October 2019 a Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the winning monthly entries. Grand Prize will be $250 cash.  More information can be found at My2020Experience.com and VeroBeach100.com.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019-Monday, March 11, 2019 

Calling all photographs, whether it is family or event related, and documents (examples include but are not limited to: land records, business records, examples of mortgage or bills) from 1919 through the 1920, the first year we became a city, to be received by the Archive Center & Genealogical Department of the Indian River County Main Library.

(with photo by Lee Orre/ Photographed left to right   – front row-Keria Murphy, Zachary Westrom, Cam Phillips, Chloe Secunda, Loren Schaefer, Constantin Andres and Michelle Wagner; Second row is Pete Kersey and Brenda Corum.)

Copies of all these documents will be proudly displayed on a six-panel presentation board with help from the students at St. Edwards be a part of the historic display on the 2nd floor at the Main Library that will be held from Monday, April 1, 2019 to Monday, July 31, 2019.  Please bring your donations and copies will be made. For more information:  Michelle Wagner: mwagner@irclibrary.org     772-770-5060 Ext 5.

Friday, January 4 – Wednesday February 27, 2019

Centennial “All around the Town” 

Enjoy this exhibit in the Foyer Gallery Lobby of The Emerson Center featuring paintings and photography of local places around Vero. The Emerson Center is conveniently located on the campus of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, on the SE corner of 16th Street and 27th Avenue in Vero Beach. Receptions with the artists will be held on Thursday, January 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, February 17 from 1-3 p.m. For more info dawnorre@gmail.com

(Photo by Lee Orre/ Artists include but not limited to left to right) May Brandt  Lee G. Smith  Ellen Fischer  Lou Mullen  Lisa and   Wyatt Hyora.)

Friday, January 4   Show and reception following is 5-7 p.m. at the Vero Beach Art Museum.

 Centennial Children’s Poster and Art Show (Sponsored by New Vision Eye Center)

Each school is invited to participate in the Centennial School Art Competition. The subject of the art will be Vero Beach City landmarks. Each school is allowed 3 entries and the selection of the entries will be made by the school. Works will be displayed at a Vero Beach Museum of Art exhibit on January 4 followed by competition winners announcement and a reception on January 4 from 5-7 p.m. The Vero Beach Art Club will judge the posters. For More info contact Dawn Mill 559-9795, dawn.mill@comcast.net

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Trolley Historical Tours-Sponsored by Piper

This must-do interactive and historical experience,  is a narrated tour (by microphone) taking folks from the Downtown Historical areas to Piper Aircraft/Dodgertown area, on along 43rd Avenue to l6th Street school area to McKee and Miracle Mile/Young Park on the mainland, and Beachside historic references with several stops along the way including the Airport, Memorial Island, VB Museum of Art, the marina, dog park, rowing club area.

Held the 1st Saturday of every month beginning on Saturday, January 5, 2019 through Saturday, September 6, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.(Excluding April 2019) There is a maximum of 20 people per tour and reservations are needed by calling the City Clerk office by 3 p.m. on Friday the day before at 772-978-4700. Reservations are filled through March 2019. Meeting at Chamber of Commerce in downtown Vero Beach at 8:45 a.m. For more information: Joan Edwards, 562-5048, joal18@comcast.net

Saturday, January 5, 2019 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate the Arts Festival-

The Cultural Council of Indian River County holds this annual arts fest at Riverside Park’s Under the Oaks and includes live performances from member organizations, artists on display, many food and arts booths. Ms. Centennial will be there with a White Glove Moving/Pak Mail Beachside tent offering a bit of centennial flare. For more information contact Barbara Hoffman, 770-4857, director@cultural-council.org

Saturday Jan 5, and Sunday Jan. 6, 2019

Waldo Sexton Homestead Days 

Saturday: 10am-4pm

Sunday: 12pm-4pm

Indian River Magazine and the Mark Tripson family invite you to take a rare tour of the original 1914 homestead of Vero Beach visionary Waldo Sexton, who created such masterpieces as the Ocean Grill, Driftwood Inn, Patio Restaurant and Szechuan Palace. You’ll find the home much the same way as when Sexton lived in it. See his secret garden and patio and the home he built next door for his daughter and the grounds of his Vero Beach Dairy and later Tripson Dairy. Hear tales of the iconoclastic Sexton from his gregarious family members. Presented as part of the Treasure Coast History Festival.  5000 12th St., Vero Beach.

$10 per person.  For more information-Mark Tripson, 772-473-1714/ waldosgardeninfo@gmail.com

(with photo courtesy of Charlotte Tripson/ The Waldo Sexton house as seen in the 1930s after the second story is added. Siblings Barbara Sexton, left, and Jacqueline Sexton, right is with mom Elsebeth behind the horse and brothers Ralph Sexton, front, and Randy Sexton on the horse. )

Thursday, January 10, 2018  7pm to 9pm

IRC Historical Society Current/Prospective Membership Meeting “Journey into the New World

– Story of the St. Johns River” Woman’s Club 1534 21st Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.  For more information visit  www.irchistorical.org

Friday-Monday, January 18-21. 2019

Vero Ice Age Lectures  (with photo by Wyatt Hyora)

The Brackett Library will be the site for the Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee’s (OVIASC) exhibitions and lectures for the world-class local archaeological and paleontological site originally excavated in 1916 and excavated from 2014-2017 by OVIASC and its scientists and local community volunteers. For more information contact Peggy Lyon, 913-1701, pegjohn1@bellsouth.net

Photo by Wyatt Hyora: Pictured at the Brackett Library Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee exhibit are:  Randy Pictured (from left) are: Anne Dunn, Secretary: Randy Old, Chairman, Peggy Lyon, Sandra Rawls, and Carol Fennell, Directors.  Board Members not pictured  include:  Jack Hamerski, Vice Chairman, Sean Seevers, Treasurer, Patty Hamerski, Judi Collins, Mary Singer, Directors.

Saturday, January 26, 2019  2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

“Waldo Sexton, Vero Beach Pioneer”

I personally can’t wait for this production! The Indian River Charter High School/Schumann School for the Visual & Performing Arts-will perform a musical play about the relationship of “Waldo Sexton, Vero Beach Pioneer” and his love for our city and how he wanted to share the beauty with others.  A part of the story centers on unpublished letters between himself and the famous writer Zora Neale Hurston when she lived in Fort Pierce.  This production will be performed by musicians, dancers, singers and actors from the school.  The location is the Waxlax Center for the Performing Arts at St. Edward’s.  For tickets at $10 each and more details: https://www.showclix.com/events/irchs

Saturday, Jan. 26^th 4-8pm

For the adventurous, carnivore in us all come check out the Wild Game Feast hosted at Summer Crush Winery. Put on by the Oceanside Rotary to benefit Treasure Coast Community Health with sponsors, White Glove Moving & Storage as well as others yet to be announced.  This buffet feast of exotic meats, desserts, sides and other more traditional fare is a great family-fundraising event featuring: live music from the Tom Jackson Band, dancing, bull whip cracking competition, corn hole, raffles and auctions. Beer &wine sold separately all at just $35 per person; tickets available online at Wgfroatryvbo.org.

Of course, epic events such as this require the help of great sponsors. A big thank you to Florida Power & Light for being the Centennial Presenting Sponsor. The month of January is sponsored by Indian River Genealogical Society. WTTB New Radio 105.7 FM/1490 AM is the Official Centennial Flagship Radio Station.

Clearly, there is no shortage of fun to be had as we launch 2019 with fun, family and friends. For in depth interviews and details tune into my show, The Vero Insider, at 5pm on Wednesday airing on 107.9fm/1370am and please visit the Centennial website www.VeroBeach100.org regularly for times, locations and details on all activities as they are subject to change.  Happy 2019 Vero Beach, looking forward to seeing you at the many festivities this month; cheers!

The post January Centennial Festivities appeared first on The Treasure Coast Insider.