“Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James
Musings on the beauty of Alys Beach from the photo files of Alys Beach Marketing
Continuing this series, we offer another visual exploration of the design detail found in Alys Beach. Last month we celebrated the “Floors of Alys” as an often unexpected and playful design detail offering an element of surprise throughout both the common and private spaces of Alys Beach. In this issue, we continue our exploration of the fine details that enchant and engage us as we explore and discover our town. The play between the white masonry of our iconic architecture and the pops of color and texture encourages us to slow down and observe and take inspiration from the enchanting details that reveal themselves in the frame of a lens.
Colorful shutters, trellises, gates, doors and other elements of detailing and mill work offer bright contrast to the “white space” that we explored in the first edition of The Alys Journal – moments that feel lighthearted without compromising on function or craftsmanship. Colors, while selected from within the Alys Beach design language, are chosen by each original homeowner and add personality and vibrancy to our streets and pathways.
Enjoy this celebration of cheerful and thoughtful detail amongst the beauty of Alys. We hope that this collection of images will inspire you to call out a different side of the enchantments of Alys Beach on your next stroll through town.
Peruse this collection of the latest real estate sales offerings to come onto the market here in Alys Beach. The Panhandle of Florida has recently been placed on the top of the list of vacation rental markets in the U.S. based on highest return on investment by Rented Inc. and Weiss Analytics’ fifth annual analysis, which speaks to the vivacious activity we’ve seen over the last several months in the Alys Beach Sales Office. Certainly, as way of life has shifted around the COVID-19 phenomenon, our appreciation for this slice of beauty along Scenic Highway 30A has been bolstered.
As a luxury Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), Alys Beach is designed to encourage connection within the privacy of the individual homes as well as within the community in a marriage of common and private spaces. As we look to refresh, relax, and soak up the summer, the world class amenities and natural resources within Alys Beach answer the shift we are seeing in our priorities and perspectives. School and work days have become more transient and flexible, and our lives adjust from the bustle to focus on safe, meaningful connection with our families, our community, and the natural world around us.
Alys Beach logo wear and logo gear are the perfect accessories to start the school year off right, whether your family is returning to school in-person or virtual.
This summer, no matter what decision best fits your family’s circumstances, back to school shopping is likely to look a little different. In the spirit of heading into this school year with optimism and some semblance of normalcy wherever we can manage it, we’ll be incorporating a little back to school shopping into our plans.
The Alys Shoppe tops our list of shopping stops for logo tees, logo Yeti gear and the essential must-have logo sweatshirt. The Shoppe is open for in-person shopping for those who need to check fit and feel, though note that in-store capacity is still limited to 10, and all guests and team members are required to wear face coverings while inside. Face coverings and hand sanitizer are readily provided for a safe, healthy shopping experience.
If your preference is to stay out of the stores, or if you happen to be further away from Alys Beach than you’d like to be, we encourage you to enjoy the online shopping experience on the Alys Shoppe website. Here you will find logo gear and logo wear in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes, and you can back to school shop from the comfort of your home.
Whether returning in-person or virtually, we wish all of our families a safe, healthy and happy back to school season and school year. In the meantime, soak in the warmth and joy of the summertime and “Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Did you know that, while The Alys Foundation is responsible for funding the Alys Beach signature events and artwork, it also supports local nonprofits? Let us give you the lowdown on the Foundation so you know the important role it plays in our town and the larger community!
“For the past few years, Alys Beach has provided consistent and valued partnerships in our programs with their commitment to volunteerism. Most recently, as Food For Thought had to quickly modify our services to meet the needs of our community after schools closed due to COVID, Alexis Miller and her team provided much needed volunteers. In addition to the volunteer hours, Alys Beach is a generous donor, supporting our services. Partners like this provide us a solid foundation and empower our organization to continue to provide critical resources to the 3,500 food insecure children we serve every week of the year.” – Tiffanie Nelson, Founder & Executive Director, Food For Thought Outreach
The Alys Foundation is proud to have partnered with Food For Thought for the past eight years in the fight to help resolve food insecurity for families in need within our local region. Food For Thought is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Santa Rosa Beach, FL that provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy to prepare food for students who are dependent on free or reduced school meals. Food For Thought has been combating child hunger since 2010, and currently serves 32 schools in Walton and Okaloosa Counties, providing backpacks for 3,300 students each week. The mission is to support childhood development and the educational experience by bridging the gap between the meals provided in-school, and those needed over weekends and holiday breaks. Food For Thought serves a critical need for many families in our area who would otherwise struggle greatly to put food on their tables.
The Alys Foundation has worked with Food For Thought to provide funding to support day-to-day operations, as well as providing a new, specialty van for versatility in serving Walton county and our neighboring counties. In addition to providing funding in excess of $200,000, Alys Beach employees are frequent volunteers at the Food For Thought warehouses with well over 100 hours of donated time. Volunteer hours have also been incorporated into the activities of the Stephen’s Family Weekend, an annual event coordinated by the Alys Beach Events Team. Alys Beach’s commitment to Food For Thought has also resulted in the organization’s receipt of 500 donated masks from PRADCO, a subsidy of EBSCO Industries, to allow them to continue to safely serve the community during the current pandemic.
Most recently, Team Alys Beach; comprised of Alys Beach employees, homeowners and friends of the community; has organized for a friendly “race” to fund Food For Thought’s annual “Stock the Pantry” fundraising event designed to provide funds for the support services needed to kick off the new school year. This year, “Stock the Pantry” is a virtual event aiming to raise the funds to feed area families in need, including the extension of curbside pickup to address COVID-related safety concerns. We would love to invite you to join Team Alys Beach as we work towards our goal of raising $10,000 for this year’s “Stock the Pantry” event! If you are interested, please contact Alexis Miller at amiller@alysbeach.com for more information.
The newest addition to the Alys Beach public arts arrives on the northwest side of town.
The most recent installation of public art to be added to the Alys Beach collection can be found just at the base of Fonville Park’s rolling hills in a sandy patch flanked by organic bench seating – the perfect spot for a “Literary Lair.” These large-scale bronze sculptures of three bunnies and a carrot bring a playful whimsy to the north side of Turtle Bale Pedestrian Path and offer the perfect spot for a storytelling session.
Award-winning sculptor, Jim Budish, a Colorado native currently residing in Illinois, studied at the Art Students League in Denver and the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, along with International Sculpture Center workshops at the Art Institute of Chicago. Budish sculpts these monumental forms in foam with a hot knife, applying clay to the surface and casting in bronze using lost-wax casting, or cire perdue, an ancient sculpting method allowing for precision and intricacy.
Exaggerated both in scale and in proportion, Budish explores the attitude, emotion, and personality behind the “Joie de Vivre” he hopes to draw out of his audience and celebrates the special creatures that inhabit our environment. Moving away from the shoreline and the sea turtles nesting on the beaches, and towards a more organic, thicketed landscape north of 30A, these bunnies represent the progression of the natural ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Our hope is that these playful bunnies will inspire you to connect over a good story or a quiet moment of rest. Perhaps this Literary Lair will serve our families who will be conducting learning from home this fall; a spot to bring their lessons outdoors, or a spot to regroup for a simple, restful moment in the fresh air. When you meet them, you’re sure to be charmed.
“Summer is singing with joy, and the beaches are inviting you with dancing waves.”
—Debasish Mridha
A summer day in Alys Beach is a magical thing – full of all the possibilities that summer holds. From sunup to sundown, this is the picture we’ll paint.
BREAKFAST: Rise and shine, it’s a quiet morning in our beautiful town, and the sun is up over the Gulf before 6 AM. Today, grab Golden Milk and an Acai Bowl from Raw & Juicy for a clean start (to balance out the donuts from yesterday’s visit to the essential Charlie’s Donut Truck).
MORNING: Enjoy a morning Yoga class at ZUMA Wellness Center (scheduled yesterday with the ZUMA Wellness Concierge). Work up a sweat in the most relaxing environment, keeping safe distances and honoring the safety protocols in place at ZUMA. Expansive glass doors open the studio views out to the peaceful courtyard space, the perfect spot to enjoy a post-workout protein boost from ZUMA Café.
MIDDAY: Today, the Gulf of Mexico is still and crystal clear, so head to the beach to rent Stand-up Paddle Boards from Beach Services. Gliding over the water, you’ll have the perfect view of the aquatic world beneath you and, it’s turtle season, so maybe you’ll catch a glimpse…
After your SUP adventures, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Have your Blackened Shrimp Tacos and your Chips & Guacamole delivered straight to your beach chairs from Piper’s Kitchen’s Beach Delivery Service. Don’t forget to add their cool and refreshing house-made Pineapple Jalapeño Agua Fresca!
AFTERNOON: Pop into the Alys Shoppe to grab a logo tee or a performance shirt with UPF protection, and a quick gift for your coworkers, kids or the dog sitter before hopping on your bikes and hitting the Timpoochee Trail along Scenic Highway 30A. This is the best way to explore some of the neighboring communities including Rosemary Beach and Seacrest, as well as getting a closer look at the artwork and sculpture around Alys Beach.
DINNER: After grabbing cocktails or mocktails al fresco at NEAT Tasting Room in the Town Center, head back to Caliza for a beautiful meal poolside. From healthy to indulgent, enjoy a menu of bright, bold flavors focused on seasonal ingredients sourced from regional, artisan purveyors.
EVENING: Head back to the beach for a Beach Bonfire, arranged through Beach Services at Alys Beach. Soak up salt air and conversation under the stars, with a crackling bonfire for ambiance. S’mores optional.
There are so many ways to spend your summer days at Alys Beach. This is just one possibility! A nap in a hammock on a breezy terrace, sunset cocktails from a rooftop pool, a run through the Nature Trail, a private Tequila Tasting with friends, a popcorn and pizza movie night with the kids…endless possibilities for relaxation, making memories, and making the most of the dog days of summer in Alys Beach.
You may be spotting Alys Beach in some of your favorite publications this month. Alys Beach partnered with the Condé Nast Global Media Company on a feature article for Architectural Digest. AD invites its readers to “Get to Know Alys Beach, Florida,” which “Sounds like ‘Alice.’ Feels like Wonderland.”
Khoury Vogt Architects found themselves in the spotlight of Florida Design Magazine in this month’s issue, featuring the Young home of their design. This exquisite home shines in the feature article, “Exotic Elements Stun in Alys Beach Home,” which includes insights from the homeowners, interior designer Susan Bohlert Smith of Bohlert Massey Domestic Art & Interiors, Inc., and the architecture, interior design and landscape architecture of KVA’s Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt.
Thank you for joining us for the Third Edition of The Alys Journal. We hope that you are enjoying your summer, whether with us in Alys Beach in body or in spirit. In the wise words of John Lubbock, turn-of-the-century British politician and naturalist, “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
