ARTIST FEATURE
THOMAS ARVID
Thomas Arvid is one of the Wine Country's most recognized artistic ambassadors. Arvid's depictions of wine capture the essence of the unpretentious enjoyment of an elegant and relaxed lifestyle. Arvid's large oils are widely acknowledged as the visual embodiment of the gracious, casually elegant napa valley lifestyle, his paintings have featured both american and international vintages. Currently, there is a four-year wait for arvid originals, and his commission list is closed. His work strikes a resounding personal chord among collectors and gallery directors alike. "Thomas' paintings are very seductive and exciting; you just can't take your eyes off of them," says denise sweeney, owner of wyland's paradise galleries in destin. "Viewers gravitate toward his work, finding moments from their own lives reflected in the images he's created."
FASHION
Wet, Wild & Wonderful
Nine full-color pages of the summer's hottest fashions photographed on Destin's beaches.
BUSINESS CASUAL
ECEL
Almost 200 young professionals were in attendance on the evening of Thursday, April 20, as Emerald Coast Emerging Leaders (ECEL) celebrated the success of its first year and presented the first Emerging Leader of the Year Award to Mary Kathryn Speake, a private banker with GulfSouth Private Bank. Also, during the celebration social, 14 ECEL members took to the runway, showing off the best in this season's business casual clothing. From dressed down business suits to dressed up denim, Today's Fashions & Fun and Off Saks 5th Avenue clothed the women and men, respectively, in the hottest styles.
HERITAGE STOP
ARTURO MENNILLO
The pristine beauty of destin's early years is preserved by the work of the area's unofficial first historian - Arturo Mennillo. In the 1940s, when New York native Arturo Mennillo was stationed at Eglin Air Force base, he met his future wife, local girl Olivia Brunson, the daughter of local charter boat captain, Reddin Brunson. Instead of joining the family fishing business, Arturo followed his passion-photography. From 1945-1966, Mennillo's artistic efforts became a nostalgic and priceless collection of photographs depicting important and not-as-important events that occurred in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, Eglin and the surrounding area. His 10,000 black-and-white images include the area's beautiful sugar-white beaches, sport fishing at it finest, founding families through their life events, street scenes and celebrity visits.
