Weekend full of local entertainment

St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau Communications Director Jay Humphreys informed St. Johns County entertainment reporters at Historic City News that there will three days and nights filled with local entertainment, art, music and theater as well as an assortment of indoor and outdoor exploring opportunities this weekend.

Friday: July 22

ST AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION LECTURE PRESENTATION
Learn about the area’s coastal birds during a presentation by Monique Borboem-Abrams, of Florida Audubon. Monique’s presentation, St. Augustine Coastal Birds, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are required. The St. Augustine Art Association Gallery is located at 22 Marine Street in St. Augustine. Call 904.824.2310 or visit www.staaa.org.

EXHIBIT OPENING
See works created by six creative and imaginative minds when Galeria del Mar unveils it latest exhibition. The featured artists include Worley Faver (hand-coiled pottery); Jeffrey Terreson (oil and wax); Peter Mars (Pop art); Dmitri Danish (cityscapes); Josef Kote (expressionist) and Ira Reines (bronze and acrylic sculptures). Located at 9 King Street in St. Augustine, this exhibition will be open thru July 30. For more information, call 904.829.2120.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: July 22-24

OLDEST STORE MUSEUM
Visit the “new” Oldest Store Museum Experience now located at Historic Tours of America, 167 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. Once a popular attraction in the Oldest City, the museum was closed for 10 years, but is now open daily in a new location. The Museum features more than 100,000 household items from a by-gone era – it’s like walking into a Sears & Roebuck catalog from 1900! Plus, live actors add to the fun and charm of this wonderful museum. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for children. For more information on The Oldest Store Museum Experience, visit www.trolleytours.com or contact Dave Chatterton at 904-829-3800 or via email at dchatterton@historictours.com

El CONQUISTADOR THRILL RIDE
Go for a thrilling, high-speed, one-hour ride across Matanzas Bay aboard El Conquistador, St. Augustine’s newest thrill ride. Narrated tour features history, speed and fun aboard this powerful speedboat. El Conquistador departs from the City Marina’s Slip 73. Tickets are $39.50 for adults and $29.50 for children (ages 4-12). Free for active duty military. Special rates for groups of eight or more. For safety reasons, children under four and pregnant women are not allowed onboard. For information and reservations, go to www.elconspeedboat.com or call 904.738.4695.

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER
Experience the first theater on St. Augustine’s St. George Street since a terrible fire destroyed the Genovar Opera House in 1914. The St. Augustine Murder Mystery Theatre features a great meal and great live entertainment daily with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. and an evening show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $43.15 each. For more information, call 904.671.2508 or go to www.StAugustineMurderMysteryDinnerTheater.com.

YACHT OF FUN
Have a captain and a fun-equipped 22-foot boat at your service from dawn to dusk! Yacht of Fun takes up to six people on a full day of whatever passengers prefer – fishing, swimming, stopping at waterfront restaurants, sunning – you name it. The boat leaves from St. Augustine and offers the perfect way to spend a day. The rate is $60 per person for a party of six. For more information, go to www.yachtoffun.net or call Cap’n Mike at 352.246.3836

BEACH HORSEBACK RIDING
Experience the fun and excitement of horseback riding at the edge of the sea. Country Carriages offer daily one-hour rides (weather and tides permitting) from Surfside Park on Vilano Beach. The cost is $75 per person. For reservations (a must) and more information, call 904.826.1982.

Saturday and Sunday: July 23 & 24

PGA TOUR GOLF ACADEMY CLINICS
The PGA TOUR Golf Academy at World Golf Village is offering one-hour clinics for $20 to focus on the building blocks of a consistent swing. Cost is $20 per person. For more information, call 904.940.3600 or visit www.touracademy.com.

Saturday: July 23

LOW TIDE BIKE RIDE AT ANASTASIA STATE PARK
Get a great cardio workout on one of the most awesome beaches in Florida. The 9 a.m. ride is a 3 ½ mile loop and includes an ecology talk at the point of Conch Island. Bring at least one pint of water, bicycle, snack, binoculars, and sunscreen. Bike rentals will be available. Admission to the park is $8 per vehicle, up to 8 people, $4 for single occupant admission, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Anastasia State Park is located on A1A on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.461.2035, or visit www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia.

SPECIAL TASTING TOURS
The Tasting Tours is offering two special tours — the fabulous Vittles and Vino Tour (Specialty food and wine tasting) and their romantic Wine Inn Bed tour (Exclusive Bed and Breakfast viewings with wine tasting). Both tours will be presented via HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE!! Space is limited! For reservations, call 904-325-3911 or go www.thetastingtours.com .

DERRYCK LAWRENCE AT SARA’S
Hear the silky smooth voice of Derryck Lawrence at the new Sara’s Crepe Café in the heart of St. Augustine’s historic district at the crossroads of Spanish and Hypolita Streets. Named “2010 Songwriters of America Artist of the Decade,” Lawrence is reminiscent of Luther Vandross. He will perform in the courtyard from 8-11 p.m. while chefs prepare savory and sweet European crepes. For more information, call 904.810.5800 or go to www.sarascrepecafe.com

PLATTERS, COASTERS, DRIFTERS AND TEMPTATIONS SALUTE

Lead singer for the Platters, Myles Savage will perform at Fort Manendez at Old Florida Museum, 259 San Marco Avenue. Performances will include classic songs of these immortal groups as Myles sings for all in attendance and audience participation is encouraged. Performances are Saturdays at 7:00pm and tickets are $40. A buy one, get one FREE ticket deal is being offered for a limited time. For more information, tickets and required reservations visit www.oldfloridamuseum.com or call 904-824-8874

Sunday: July 24

MURDER IN THE OLDE CITY

St. Augustine’s Raintree Restaurant and the Limelight Theatre are teaming up to bring patrons the acclaimed murder mystery, “Murder in the Olde City”! Set in 1880’s St. Augustine, this powerful tale of murder, scandal, love, and deceit is presented in an entertaining ‘you are there’ style of staging. Based on a true story of love, hate, and revenge in the year 1886, and told with a seamless combination of history, theatre, and storytelling, the audience becomes the jury! Featuring a sumptuous sit-down dinner and professional performers in full period attire, this promises to be the hit of the season! Tickets are $35 per person all inclusive, with adult beverages also served separately. Dinner will be served at the Raintree Restaurant (102 San Marco Avenue) at 7 p.m. with the show to follow at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Limelight Theatre (11 Old Mission Avenue). Please call 904.825.1164 for reservations, or 904.347.5103 for more information.

NOTE: St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, and the Spanish Military Hospital Museum. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum.

For more information on events and activities, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com or call 1.800.653.2489.
Jay Humphreys, Communications Director
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
29 Old Mission Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084