Archive for May, 2008

Exploring the Florida Arts in Jacksonville

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

When you live in Jacksonville, it’s easy to explore the Florida arts. While you may not want to spend time in a museum and music may be more your thing, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find something new to explore:

(source)The Florida Composers’ Competition offers Jacksonville audiences a first-hearing of new music from across the state of Florida. Now launching its fifth biennial Fresh Ink competition, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is one of several American orchestras to hold such an event. Fresh Ink is sponsored by Yvonne and Cecil West, with additional funding by the National Endowment for the Arts.

During Fresh Ink, eight Florida-based composers will hear their original scores played by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Their works were chosen by JSO Music Director and Principal Conductor Fabio Mechetti from more than 20 submissions. JSO Associate Conductor Morihiko Nakahara will lead the orchestra during the Reading Sessions Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and at the Fresh Ink Final Concert Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. during which the selected final works are performed and the Fresh Ink winner is announced.

If discovering new music is your thing and you love the symphony, you simply cannot go wrong by attending one, any or all of the performances. Who knows, with a simple evening out from your Jacksonville condo home, you might come across the next Mozrt or Beethoven!

Florida’s First Coast Communities Have a Lot to Offer

Friday, May 30th, 2008

When you’re looking for a place to live where you will be able to have easy access to everything that you’re looking for, chances are good that you’re going to want to look at Florida’s First Coast communities.

Florida’s First Coast communities have a great deal to offer:

  • There’s easy access to the beach where, even on hot days, cool breezes will blow
  • There’s easy access to some of the country’s best golf courses – and the weather gives you the chance to be able to play year round
  • There are homes on Florida’s First Coast that make it easy to live the lifestyle that you want – whether that means having an easy ability to entertain or simply to know that you’re living in a home that’s wired to a great entertainment system
  • There are festivals and events – as well as great attractions – that are all within a short drive and that happen throughout the year

When you look to Florida’s First Coast communities, what you will find is that it’s possible to live the life that you have always wanted for yourself. It’s all a matter of making the effort to create it.

Living in Florida Means Being Prepared for Anything

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

When you live in Florida, there’s little doubt that there will be times when you need to be prepared for the weather. At no time is that more the case than during hurricane season – especially when you live in a Florida waterfront community.

(source)“We all know that one of the prices we pay for living in the Sunshine State is the potential for hurricanes. Jacksonville residents have been very fortunate that we have not seen the severe impact that other communities have experienced in recent years, but we cannot let that that good fortune create a culture of complacency,” said Peyton. “Residents in Jacksonville and across the state must take the time now to prepare our homes and businesses for a potential storm. Do not wait until a storm is approaching to start making plans.”

By taking the time to plan ahead (and, of course, choosing homes in Ponce Inlet, St. Augustine, Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach that have been designed to withstand the winds and heavy rains of storms), you can be sure that, if there is an emergency, you will be able to stay safe. By looking into all of your options and making an effort to choose the right home, you’ll be taking the first steps toward keeping yourself and your family protected.

While it’s true that there are issues that will be faced – and that many of them will be related to the summer storm season – you really can’t beat the beauty of living in a Florida First Coast waterfront community. Though you want to be sure that you avoid complacency, you’re also going to want to recognize that the area is a great place to be with a whole lot to offer.

Create a Room With a View in St. Augustine, Florida

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

view from st augustine property

There are many people out there who are looking for more than just a condo or a home by the water; when they are thinking about buying property in St. Augustine who are looking for the opportunity to create a home that feels like their own might want to look into buying land.

Why choose a floor plan that doesn’t suit you simply because you want to be sure that you’ve got the best view possible? Why focus on making a sacrifice and having to choose between the land that you want and the home that you want when it is possible to have both?

When you purchase land in St. Augustine, Florida – land that had previously been set aside for a development – you’ll find that you’re able to create your own room with a view; instead of buying a home that’s been built already, buy the land and develop your own property.

When you are looking at your options, you’ll find that it really is possible to get everything that you are looking for – a great view, beautiful land and the home that you’ve always dreamed of building.

Know that You Want to Live in a Florida Coastal Community?

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

If you’ve been thinking about the possibility of living in a Florida First Coast community such as St. Augustine, you may find yourself with a quick list of those feature that you’re looking for.

Let’s say that you want to be sure that you can create a single family home. Let’s assume that you want to be right on the beach, with the waves outside of your front door. Let’s also take it a step further: let’s say that you are looking for a great investment opportunity.

When you start looking into property in St. Augustine, Florida for example, you may think that it’s difficult to get exactly what it is that you’re looking for. However, just because you’ve seen a great deal of information about developments in the area doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to get in and get a great deal.

After all, now is an ideal time to look for great deals on land in Florida’s First Coast communities – you’ve just got to be willing to get out there and look for them.

Living in and Discovering St. Augustine

Sunday, May 25th, 2008

When you’re living in St. Augustine, Florida, you’ll find that there’s a great deal out there just waiting to be discovered.

(source)Both fine and casual dining, nationally renowned art galleries, specialty boutiques, historic landmarks and more than 40 miles of oceanfront beaches make this coastal region a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. A charming pedestrians-only street, St. George, is lined with shops that bring together the old and new. Just a short drive away is St. Augustine Beach on Anastasia Island, which has a fishing pier, shopping and dining. Visitors interested in learning more about the area’s long history can enjoy a variety of tours, such as those of Castillo de San Marcos, the nation’s oldest stone fort, and the Gonzalez-Alvarez house, the state’s oldest Spanish Colonial dwelling. Museums include the living history museum, Colonial Spanish Quarter.

In other words, when you’re living in St. Augustine and you’re looking for something to do, you’ll find that you have easy access to fantastic beaches where you can sit back and watch as the waves roll in and carry your stresses back out to sea. You’ll also find that you are able to discover those things that are new – those boutique shops and fine dining restaurants that are scattered throughout St. Augustine – along with those things that are indicative of the area’s rich history like the Spanish fort and the wide variety of museums.

Whether you want to uncover something that has been present for years and years or you are looking to discover something brand new, when you live in St. Augustine, you’ll find that everything that’s intriguing to you is right there waiting for you.

5 Great Reasons to Buy a Home in St. Augustine Florida

Saturday, May 24th, 2008

When you’re looking for a great place to live in Florida, one of the best places to look is going to be St. Augustine. When you look at buying a home in St. Augustine, you’ll find that there are plenty of reasons why it’s a great option.

Here are 5 great reasons to look into buying a home in St. Augustine:


  1. Unlike some areas in Florida, when you choose to live in St. Augustine you’ll find a relatively temperate climate. Not only is it a coastal Florida area that is unlikely to be affected by hurricanes but also it’s likely to have cooler days in the winters and in the summers.

  2. When you have a home in St. Augustine, Florida, you’ll find that you have easy access to the major cities and destinations when you want to be able to get their quickly.

  3. When you want to be sure that you’re able to find a unique gift for family members or friends, you’ll find that boutique shopping in St. Augustine is readily available so that you’ll be able to find something special.

  4. If you’re looking to live in a great coastal Florida city, you’ll find that you want access to great restaurants with fresh seafood; at the Abacos at Salt Run, there are plenty of great spots nearby to grab a fantastic meal.

  5. When you choose a St. Augustine, Florida home at the Abacos at Salt Run, you’ll find that you’re able to get a great deal on an ideal place to live – all it takes is looking into your options.

In other words, when you’re looking into a home in St. Augustine, Florida, you’re going to want to be sure that you’re getting the best deal along with access to everything else that’s important to you.

The Abacos at Salt Run: Great Homes with Great Views

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

When you’re looking for a St. Augustine, Florida home that has everything you’re looking for – and everything that you want to be sure that you are looking at – it only makes sense to focus on The Abacos at Salt Run. Whether you are looking for ideal condominium homes right on the beach in St. Augustine or your goals is to have an expansive single family home, you’ll find that the area is ripe with opportunity:

Among St. Augustine Florida condos for sale, The Abacos at Salt Run are apart from the rest. Contemporary finishes and upgraded appointments are found throughout the graceful group of residences in The Abacos at Salt Run. The Abacos’ two estate homes provide the privacy of single-family home living and your choice of two floorplans, which each include a convenient mother-in-law suite. Three-story homes are also available, offering 2,800 square-feet of relaxed living, plus penthouse homes and town houses from 2,200 square feet with eastern and western views of the inlet and waterways.

When you choose a home at the Abacos at Salt Run, you can be sure that you are getting a great home where everything has been planned for and thought out along the way. You can also feel confident that all of the things that you want your home to have – including great St. Augustine views – are right there waiting for you.

Coastal living is a great opportunity – it also creates the opportunity for a more relaxed, calm, quiet life – a life like the one that you know you want to live.

Are the Island Cottages at the Abacos at Salt Run Right for You?

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

When you’re looking into living in St. Augustine at the Abacos at Salt Run, one of the things that you’re going to look into is what style of dwelling you’re looking at. If you’re looking for a beautiful ocean manor, you’ll want to know what features you are looking for; if you’re looking for an island style cottage, however, there’s a lot just waiting to be discovered.

Simply put, when you own one of the Island Cottages at the Abacos at Salt Run, you’ll find that you are able to have everything that you’re looking for and then some:

Island Cottage owners can relax in the open plan with its luxurious master bath and water views, plus private sitting room that opens to the balcony, an office area, expansive walk-in closet, upgraded carpeting and a second-floor laundry off the central hall with stone floors, laundry sink and maple cabinets. The kitchen is designed with an open floor plan with a large island, fine finishes such as granite and stone, tall upper cabinetry, crown molding and more. Bathroom features include doors that lead to a lushly landscaped backyard, a private guest bath with generous glass shower, detailed molding, vanities with granite tops and stone flooring in all baths.

Why settle for a home that’s lacking something when you don’t have to? Why put yourself in a position in which you won’t have the high end features that will mean something to you? When you choose to live at the Abacos at Salt Run in St. Augustine Florida, there are no compromises to be made – you’ll simply find what you are looking for.

The Abacos at Salt Run: Enjoying Florida Beaches

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

When you own a home at The Abacos at Salt Run, you’ll be able to take advantage of all that a Florida Beach community has to offer. Specifically, you will be able to enjoy:

(source)The sandy beaches of St. Augustine and the surrounding county are as attractive as the ancient city’s historical sites. Barrier islands provide miles of scenic, unspoiled coastline with plenty of public beaches, including Vilano Beach with its fishing pier, parasailing rentals and parks. On Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach also offers a pier, plus additional amenities from beach volleyball courts and bait shops to restaurants and shopping. Anastasia State Recreation Park, a protected bird sanctuary, has lifeguards, beach chair rentals, concessions and more.

In other words, when you own a home at The Abacos at Salt Run, you’ll find that it’s easy to get out and enjoy the Florida beach – even beyond those Florida beaches that are right outside of your home. By making it so that you are able to watch the sunrise from the beach, to use the beach as your own private health center by running and working out in the sand, or simply by viewing the beaches as a sort of private sanctuary, you will find that you are able to get more out of life; you’ll be able to have a Florida beach retreat each and every day.

In addition of course to the beach retreat is the reality that, when you call the Abacos at Salt Run home, you will find that you are able to have a retreat at home as well. What could be better than that?