Editor’s Journal

One of the best perks about writing for a living is being invited to cool openings and receptions. Around here people tend to do it right, often wining and dining you in the hope it might yield some free publicity results.

Never let it be said I can’t be bought with food and drink. I realize I’m wandering dangerously close to Bill Campbell territory, but the invitation had my name on it, so off I went on a windy day last week to the unveiling of the revamped Barefoots Beachside Bar & Grill at the Sandestin Hilton. I thought the sojourn would be short on reception and long on public relations, but I was wrong.

These folks brought out the big guns bribery wise with many wandering servers giving out big samples of signature potent potables for $1000 Alex. (Save the Dreamsicle for dessert!) There was a cold crustacean area where friendly folks would give you all the crab, oysters on the half shell, and jumbo shrimp you wanted. I thought this station was the whole deal—but no—it was simply the first course with six more to follow! Rack of lamb, seared salmon, crab cakes, quesadillas, salad, cowboy steak and mini pastries, oh my!

I had invited sales person Nancy Nacol to come with me just in case the Hilton wanted to whip out a checkbook and buy some advertising. Since the only other people I knew there were Julie Root and Trisha Chasen, of JazRoot, Inc. who invited me in the first place, I was glad to have the company and someone to share all the food with.

I hadn’t seen Trisha and Julie since the last time they invited me somewhere. Trisha mentioned that when she last saw me I commented on how chagrined I was every time pictures of the big check were submitted for publication. I had told her at the time these photos would only see the light of newsprint when people started doing something interesting in them or they were obscenely large donations to worthy charities. I extrapolated this snippet of conversation into a column, giving out my queenly rules for inclusion in my own smart-assed fashion. Unbeknownst to the general public, columns sometimes are born this way.

Since then, Trisha and Julie have been trying to convince their clients to do something interesting with the big check. “See, we listen to you Leah,” Julie said. I had to laugh. I could just picture these two competent PR women trying to convince their clients to get down and boogie-woogie on the big check. Mostly it ain’t gonna happen in uptight corporate world, so JazRoot, Inc. has simply stopped sending me the big check photos. Bless ‘em.

Oops. I see I have digressed from the originally intended repayment for a lovely evening at Barefoots. The Hilton folks have created a lovely oasis overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, adjacent to several swimming pools, for folks to eat and drink under thatched huts with very comfortable chairs. Those of use who more than amply fill a chair get quite pinched in the wobbly, somewhat narrow plastic jobs that populate most outdoor eateries, so these chairs are quite nice for wide-bodied models of humans.

Barefoots is, I believe, intended as a casual but elegant al fresco dining experience in the evening with all the beach funk needed on hot summer days for adults and children. Cloth napkins will complement the adult beverages for evening diners. Live entertainment will be on tap as well. For guests of the Hilton, it will be convenient but for locals, it should become a destination in and of itself.

Please mark my account paid in full.

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