Bayfront Marin House
Innkeeper(s):
Sandy and Mike Wieber
Halloween Happenings 22 Oct 2012, 3:00 pm
When I was a little girl, I loved the fact that Halloween gave me the opportunity to wear makeup--because my mom didn't allow makeup until I was much older. And what little girl doesn't love all the candy--my brother and I got candy I had never even heard of!!
Now that I'm older, I still am pretty happy about the candy--especially anything chocolate. But what I like most now is the craftiness--there are so many cool things to make this time of year!
Here are a couple of the projects I've done at the inn lately. And Mom, if you're reading this, you'll notice that none of them involve eye shadow!
Christmas is Coming 21 Oct 2012, 7:25 am
I know, I know...it's not even Halloween yet. (And I heart Halloween!)But we've just announced our Nights of Lights special, so I've been humming Christmas tunes all day.
What's so special about our Nights of Lights special? Well, when you stay two weeknights (that's Sunday through Thursday) during the Nights of Lights event (it runs from November 17 through January 31), you get the following:
- FREE tickets to the Green Trolley, which will take you through town so you can enjoy the two million twinkling lights while sitting down
- FREE fudge from local candy-maker Fudge Buckets (seriously, they're served in a little bucket with a spoon. How smart is that???)
- FREE hot chocolate at Fudge Buckets
And, of course, you get all the cool free stuff
that you've come to expect--a hot southern breakfast every morning,
our world-famous happy hour, parking, wifi, access to bikes...the
whole shebang!! And you get the chance to enjoy our own awesome
light display...here it is in 2011.St. Augustine was named one of the Top Ten Places in the WORLD to see holiday lights by National Geographic last year. And the Bayfront Marin House is the best place in St. Augustine to enjoy the festival!
It's Festival Time 10 Oct 2012, 5:35 am
We frequently ask our guests "What do you have planned for today?" Of course, if they ask us what we recommend, we usually have one or two suggestions for them to get the most out of St. Augustine.But this weekend there is so much going on that I'm not sure what I'm going to tell people to do!! And if I told them everything, they literally would not have any time to take any of my suggestions.
Here are just a few of the festivals going on around town:
Oct. 12-14 Greek Festival. Held on Francis Field, this annual event is a fun weekend of food, music and dancing. It's only $2 a person, and kids under 12 are free. You can get more details at www.stauggreekfest.com.
Oct. 13 Treasures of the Fountain. Our county United Way sponsors this family event, taking place at the Fountain of Youth. Twenty-five bucks will get your whole family in (up to 6 people), and give you access to all the games and food dotted around this beautiful venue. For $50 a person, you can also enjoy a gourmet dinner that night, served by local chefs. Learn more at www.treasuresatthefountain.com.
Oct. 13 Fiesta de Aviles. Held on Aviles Street, the oldest street in the country, this is a free event that includes lots of music and pageantry--including a running of the bulls in the afternoon (okay, it's humans dressed up as bulls, but still, pretty fun!) It's only about 2 blocks from our bed and breakfast, and in the evening they have a Sangria contest to see which restaurant can serve the best. Of course, I think ours is the best, but I'm always on the look out for the competition, so I'll definitely be there!
October 13 Great American Scarecrow Festival. Held at Simple Gestures on White Street, just over the Bridge of Lions. You can make your own scarecrow, bob for apples, and just have some fall fun at this annual event.
October 13 Riverdale United Methodist Church Arts & Crafts Fair. Love craft fairs? This is a nice one, held right at the church. It's not too early to start your Christmas shopping, and there's a fish fry at the end of the day!
Of course, all these festivals are in ADDITION to the long list of cool things that you can always do here in St. Augustine--like climbing the lighthouse, going on the pirate ship, and just laying in the sun at the fort.
No matter what you plan to do--I hope you plan to do it in St. Augustine!! See you around town!
Ancient Olive, A St. Augustine Experience 9 Oct 2012, 6:52 am
I'm not talking about a dining experience, either. I'm talking about an experience full of flavors, and scents, and great discussions about amazing food. It's just that there wasn't a lot of food there.
Besides some dipping bread, of course.
The Ancient Olive on King Street specializes in olive oils and balsamic vinegars. They have a ton of each--literally filling the store with stainless steel containers holding the mysterious liquids. There is cubed bread for the tasting, but they also provide small plastic cups so that you can dip your tongue in the goodness as well.
What do they have? Let's start with the olive
oils. There are olive oils from around the world, and the very
helpful staff (ask for James, who actually ran down the street to
get me some ice cream so that I could taste a blood orange olive
oil on top of Claude's vanilla bean ice cream) will walk you
through where each is from (the processing standards vary
dramatically from region to region, and James is happy to explain
the intricacies to you in a way that's entertaining and
enlightening all at once).There are infused olive oils, with the light taste of basil, lemon, herbs, butter, or any number of other interesting flavors.
Then there are the vinegars--a delicious array of deep balsamic vinegars with hints of espresso (I bought a bottle), strawberry, blueberrry, lavender, apple, vanilla, and many many more. (You can see all of their offerings at www.theancientolive.com).
You can taste as many as you like, and the staff will make suggestions for usage at home. For instance, on First Friday Artwalks, the Ancient Olive staff makes a delicious salad with pears, strawberries, and a strawberry infused balsamic vinegar and a basil olive oil. Delish!
You can buy their products in 375 ml bottles, or in small tasting-sized bottles (hint, hint--stocking stuffers, anyone??) They also sell homemade pastas, as well as a small selection of beautiful serving pieces (I am lusting after a tray I saw there...and I may have to go back this weekend to pick it up!)
I could go on and on all day about the wonderful staff (James got married in St. Augustine 2 years ago, and a lot of his guests stayed at the inn, so of course we were fast friends!), the amazing flavors, and the expert suggestions, but really--you have to "experience" it yourself.
Crabby Saturdays 6 Oct 2012, 3:01 pm
Because on some Friday nights we like to get a couple dozen steamed crabs--just like at home (well, not just like at home...at home a dozen crabs are a Ulysses S. Grant, plus a couple of Alexander Hamiltons; whereas in Florida they're closer to an Andrew Jackson. Just Jackson--with a couple of George Washingtons left over).
Now, we can only eat about a dozen crabs between us. What are the extras for? Why, we pick them and make a delicious fresh crab dip for our guests, of course!
We have a couple of recipes that we like, but here's the one that we're using today:
Sandy's Old Line State Crab Dip
1 tbsp butter
2 packages cream cheese (8 oz. each)
1 tsp horseradish sauce
5 dashes tabasco sauce
1/2 lb. crab meat
1/2 cup finely minced onion
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1-14 oz. can artichoke hearts
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Saute the onions in the butter until they are softened but not brown.
Add the cream cheese, and stir it over low heat until it is soft. Add the Worchestershire, horseradish,
Old Bay, and Tabasco. Stir until well blended.
Fold in the artichokes and crab meat.
Put the mixture in a shallow baking dish (about 1-1/2 inches deep).
Sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly over the top
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. The cheese should be brown on top and the sides should be bubbling.
Enjoy!!!
The Bayfront Marin House:Non-Opposable Thumbs Up!! 1 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
They call it Puppy Love.
You know the feeling: you're dying to go on vacation. You NEED to take a vacation because you can no longer take what it is that you've been taking (with apologies to Earl Wilson).
But you *really* *really* want to take your puppy with you on vacation, not because they've been taking a lot (if anything, they've been giving), but because they're one of the few things that you don't want to get away from.
Don't worry, if man's best friend wants to come with his best friend, he totally can. All the rooms on our first floor are pet friendly. That includes
You know the feeling: you're dying to go on vacation. You NEED to take a vacation because you can no longer take what it is that you've been taking (with apologies to Earl Wilson).
But you *really* *really* want to take your puppy with you on vacation, not because they've been taking a lot (if anything, they've been giving), but because they're one of the few things that you don't want to get away from.
Don't worry, if man's best friend wants to come with his best friend, he totally can. All the rooms on our first floor are pet friendly. That includes
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The King George (small dogs only)
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The Hopkins Cottage
-
Robinson Lewis
-
Burgess Cottage
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Coquina Suite
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Napoleon Suite
-
Francisco Marin
Our pet fee is $30 a day--just mention that you're bringing
your little baby when you make your reservation, and we'll have the
room ready for you and your four legged friend. Because we have
some puppy love ourselves--we hate to think of your little buddy
alone in a kennel!
Ice Cream Wednesday 26 Sep 2012, 12:39 pm
Yup...today is the LAST ice cream Wednesday of the summer!!! We have a couple of rooms open tonight...and they all come with complimentary ice cream.
And what did the hub make for the occasion? Chocolate cheesecake with a strawberry swirl. Mmmmm.
Spoons away, friends!!!
Supper with the Spirits: Call for Tickets! 24 Sep 2012, 10:51 am
SUNDAY SUPPER WITH
THE SPIRITS
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER
30TH
AT THE DOW MUSEUM OF
HISTORIC HOUSES
1790 –
1910
THIS EVENINGS TOUR,
“SUPPER”, AND ENTERTAINMENT SPONSORED IN PART BY SAVOIR
FAIRE
Tonight you will be having your supper in
the 173 year old Dow House, one of the 9 historic houses on the
beautiful Dow Museum grounds. These last 200
years, many folks have lingered here for a night or a fortnight;
however tonight, we will sup with spirits of two famous ladies who
brought the Gilded Age to St. Augustine.
At 6:30 PM guests will arrive at the gate
and be greeted by their guide in period clothing, then shown to the
1906 Worchester House where wine and cheese refreshment will open
the evenings’ festivities.
As the guests enjoy the refreshment and
mingle, the atmosphere changes, suddenly it is 1906; the flamboyant
Dr. Luella Day Mc Connell sashays onto the scene in her Barnum and
Bailey fashion, introduces herself as Diamond Lil, and her
fascinating St. Augustine story unfolds. When
the Diamond Lil energy fades, the real life guide steps in to bring
everyone back to the present, it is time for the lantern light tour
of historic homes and gardens.
At 7:30 PM, after the tour of homes, the
guests will be seated for a lovely plated
supper. The candlelit, linen covered tables will
be set with chilled salad and carafes of wine.
Candles are flickering; soft music is filtering through the cottage
as the main course is efficiently served. Tables
cleared, desserts and coffees served.
Suddenly another woman appears from the
dark, she looks to be a contemporary of Diamond
Lil. Could it be that infamous Ida Alice
Flagler, the second wife of millionaire developer Henry Flagler?
The wife who hosted the most elaborate balls St. Augustine has ever
seen! Disheveled but determined, clutching her
Ouija Board, it is evident she has been here before, in the dark
and quiet, looking, looking. Tonight however,
you are here!
Tonight all guests will receive a copy of
author Karen Harveys “Daring Daughters”!
·
When: September 30th 2012
·
Time: “Activities” begin promptly at 6:30; you don’t want to miss
anything!
·
Place: Dow Museum, 149 Cordova St. St. Augustine, Fl.
904-823-9722
·
Menu: Sliced beef tenderloin with steamed prawns, with horseradish
sauce. Potatoes Maison: herbed, whipped, piped and baked. Steamed
fresh carrots with butter and dill. Nantucket salad. Key Lime cake
with fresh berries,
·
coffee, red and white wine.
·
Price: $ 59.00 per person, cash or charge, includes a copy of
“Daring Daughters”.
·
Reservations: Required reservations paid 3 days prior to
event.
Contact: Dow Museum 904-823-9722 or Melissa
Stuart 904-501-1253
More Views of the Princess Margaret 15 Sep 2012, 5:44 am
But have you seen pictures of the entire suite? Have you seen...the BODY JETS??? (Our entire staff is clamoring to stay in this room, but it's been full ever since it's been reopened!!)
In case you haven't seen all of the angles in this room, here are a few of them:
 |
| Check out the body jets in the glassed in shower. |
 |
| More body jets, horizontal style!! |
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| From your seating area, you can see the Matanzas Bay. |
It's Friday, and I'm Going to the Beach 14 Sep 2012, 6:13 am
But a walk by the water sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
Happy weekend, everyone!!
