Musings on the beauty of Alys Beach from the photo files of Alys Beach Marketing.
Continuing the series from our premier issue, we offer another visual exploration of the design detail found in Alys Beach. Last month we celebrated the “White Space” as a visual element important to composition, and the most defining element of Alys Beach design, in “The Shapes of Alys.” In this issue, we begin our look at the fine details that enchant and engage us as we explore and discover our town. The play between architecture, landscape and common spaces encourages us to slow down and observe and then, when we look around, we can become captivated by the breathtaking details that reveal themselves like secrets unfolding.
While many of the tile floors featured here were found within private homes and vacation rental properties, a testament to beautiful interior design behind the walls of Alys, we invite you to look down on your next stroll through the pedestrian paths and alleys of Alys Beach to discover some of the patterns and hidden messages tucked into the cap rock pathways and thoughtful transitions. If you’re staying in Alys, you might find joy in the designs unique to your home, and in the whimsical pebble patterns and mosaics found in Caliza. No matter your perspective, whether hidden within the private homes for owners and guests to enjoy or thoughtfully tucked into the public spaces and walkways, inspiration can be found in the smallest of elements throughout Alys Beach.
Enjoy this collection of ruminations on our discoveries as we’ve chanced upon a peek behind the curtains, and we hope that these photographs will encourage you to take in the ground details during your next walk through Turtle Bale Spring, Sea Garden Walk or Bamboo Alley. Likewise, we’d love for you to share your discoveries with us by tagging #floorsofalys in your social media posts.
As we’ve continued to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve found a shift in our perspectives and in our priorities, and we’ve seen those shifts driving energy into our real estate sales at Alys Beach. As we look to vacation and enjoy weekend escapes in places we can drive to, as we yearn to feel far away while keeping close to home, as we discover new day-to-day patterns and our home offices have become more integral, and as we seek more meaningful connection with our families, our neighbors, and with the natural world around us, Alys Beach has been authentically and uniquely positioned to serve these priorities. And so, our Sales Office is a hive of activity these days and we are all grateful to see new neighbors choosing Alys Beach as their haven, their safe escape and their place to make new memories.
Did you know that The Alys Foundation is responsible for funding the Alys Beach signature events and artwork, and also supports local nonprofits? Let us give you the lowdown on the Foundation so you know the role it plays in our town and the larger community!
One of the functional roles of The Alys Foundation is its mission to support local charities within the Walton County area. Understandably, we saw a substantial spike in grant requests flood into The Alys Foundation at the onset of the COVID-19 response. These charitable organizations needed immediate assistance to bolster their supplies and services in order to address the rapidly increasing needs of our community in the midst of pandemic. These needs ranged from providing additional food services for the food insecure to providing funding for the vital services involved in providing safe spaces for children in need of refuge from abusive circumstances.
Additionally, The Alys Foundation assisted the Point Washington Medical Clinic, the only free, donation-based Medical Clinic in Walton County, by providing PPE supplies as well as ensuring that they had the technology and means to best serve those facing illness and injury within our community. During this time of pandemic response, The Alys Foundation donated over $125,000 in addition to 500 masks, four gallons of hand sanitizer and 10 face shields to these organizations to ensure the safety of their staff, volunteers and the folks in need of their services. Moreover, throughout these months, several of our Alys Beach team members provided more than 50 hours of volunteer time to aid and support these local charities.
We are so proud of The Alys Foundation’s contributions to our community at large, and for the opportunity to support these causes. If you are interested in donating to The Alys Foundation, please contact Alexis Miller at amiller@alysbeach.com. Your support of The Alys Foundation reaches throughout all of Walton County and we are honored to play a small role in the efforts to effect positive change in our community.
This summer, Alys Beach has partnered with the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and 30A.com to keep the creative energy flowing while the world around us remains unpredictable and public access is limited. The Art on Demand online programming series highlights local creatives and creative enterprises through virtual tutorials, workshops and friendly competitions to keep our shared audience, local and far beyond, engaged in creative pursuits and creative community.
From artist workshops and studio tours, mixology sessions for at-home cocktails, floral design workshops, architecture and landscape tours, virtual fitness and wellness sessions, visual arts demos and classes, wine tastings and education, and more. Each segment is designed to bring these experiences into your homes, to entertain and instruct, to help us connect creatively in a new way.
Program segments are being presented through Alys Beach (Facebook, Instagram) and CAA (Facebook, Instagram) social media channels as well as through media partner 30A.com. Those episodes that have already aired are still available to enjoy, and episodes such as Spirit Wars, a friendly mix-off competition between NEAT’s Hunter Church and Restaurant Paradis’ Lindsay Hedglin, a Sculpture Tour through Alys Beach with Alys Protzman, and Something to Wine About with Casey Dunn are at the top of our list of recommendation. Upcoming episodes not to be missed include the following, with many more to come! Stay up-to-date on scheduling by visiting Alys Beach, the CAA and 30A.com on Facebook.
An Architectural Tour of Alys Beach with Marieanne Khoury-Vogt | July 3
Kickstart to Understanding Light & Shadows with Heather Clements | July 8
Plein Air Painting with Melody Bogle | July 15
The Art & Design of Entertaining with Grove Fisher | July 22
An Evening of Family Fun with Huck & Lilly | July 29
Summer isn’t cancelled, but “events” and offerings might look a little different this summer…
Based on Florida Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order limiting gatherings of more than 50 people, Alys Beach has recently made the extremely difficult decision to extend the suspension of events, including the cancellation of the Sinfonia Goes Pops and Fourth of July Concerts and Fireworks Shows, the Alys Beach 5K & One-Mile Fun Run, Summer Concerts and Reels, and the 13th Annual Digital Graffiti Festival. While we are unable to host these highly anticipated events, we continue to present creative ways to come together in small groups of friends and families for private tasting events for the grown-ups, and crafts and activities for kids of all ages.
Alys Beach is built for community and, especially at summertime, its courtyards and pocket parks are made to buzz with intimate, al fresco gatherings, family movie nights and cocktails with friends. Our hope in creating a festive menu of cocktail kits, in-home tastings and movie night packages is to encourage our guests and homeowners to come together and make sweet, lasting summer memories. Let us help you craft, create, celebrate together safely and responsibly this summer!
DIY Craft Kits (available at the Alys Beach Bike Shop):
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- Sandcastle Building Kit
- 4th of July Patriotic Craft Kits
- Design-your-own Kite Kits
- Scavenger Hunt for an Alys Beach Jigsaw Puzzle
In-home Experiences for the adults:
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- In-home Wine Tasting
- In-home Spirit Tastings (Whiskey or Tequila)
- Cocktail Kits
- Movie night Kits
The newest addition to the sculptural landscape of Alys Beach, Recline in Blue was unveiled in February 2020, and is currently turning heads on 30A.
Recline in Blue is the work of world-renowned sculptor and Royal Academician, Dhruva Mistry (India, 1957). Mistry’s works have been exhibited and collected worldwide by such museums as Tate, Royal Academy of Arts and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Asian Art Museum in Fukuoka, Japan and Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.
Recline in Blue is part of Mistry’s Recline sculptural series, which graced the cover of Architectural Digest‘s The Art Issue, India edition. The piece explores planes, materials and scale with laser cut steel assemblage and shapes “recall(ing) a musical sensuality,” says the artist of his work. In a TED Talk on the topic “Learning from Art and Sculpture,” Mistry sites inspiration in “…learning from life… learning from flora and fauna and animals and humans.”
Recline in Blue is a striking addition to the Alys Beach collection of outdoor sculpture, with the high visibility of a position within the south median along Scenic Highway 30A, in the heart of Alys Beach’s Town Center. She lies in repose, on a bed of green grass and in a position suggestive of a sunbather, beckoning passersby to stop and enjoy an artful Alys Beach moment.
Alys Beach was recently featured on the cover and throughout VIE Magazine’s July 2020 architecture and design issue.
VIE Magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine based here in Walton County though with a reach far beyond, has chosen to feature Alys Beach on the cover of its July architecture and design issue, including a special edition real estate feature. The article, La Crème de la Crème, profiles the increase in real estate activity here in Alys Beach with editorial from Jordan Staggs and an interview with Vice President of Sales at Alys Beach, Tom Dodson, and Director of Public Relations, Diana Lane. This special issue of VIE Magazine makes a perfect addition to your coffee table! Sneak a peek at the digital edition online.
Thank you for joining us for the Second Edition of The Alys Journal. We hope that you enjoyed this little respite, and that it offered you a brief pause for the serenity and joy of Alys Beach.
