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Cooking, Entertaining
Tour of Magnolia Grill
with Tom Rice
Tour Description: The Magnolia Grill is located in downtown Fort Walton Beach and is equal parts museum and restaurant. The home was ordered from a 1910 Sears Catalog. It is filled with pieces of local and military history. Tom and Peggy Rice, the owners, have deep family roots. Tom Rice will lead you through the entire restaurant explaining the significance of many items. He will also walk you around the outside to explain unique construction.
Tour Host Bio: Tom Rice is not only a restaurant owner, but a pillar of the Fort Walton Beach community having won many awards for his civic contributions. To name just a few, he received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by establishing the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast for veterans and their families and serves on the Board of Directors of Veterans Florida raising funds to construct the Veterans Tribute Tower at Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Notes: We will meet at Magnolia Grill at 9:30-11:00, 157 Brooks Street SE, Fort Walton Beach. Following the tour, you are invited and encouraged to stay for lunch (at your expense) and enjoy this unique restaurant and its vast and varied menu.
Games Galore
with Karen Lauer
Course Description: Want to expand your social skills while having fun? This class will give you an opportunity to do that by learning new equipment and card games. Come join us and learn some new games and get refreshed on old standards.
Instructor Bio: Karen Lauer is an experienced artist and CLL class leader. She loves to play games and introduced Wizard to the CLL community and camp conferences.
Tour of the Board Chef September 14
with Annmarie McArthur
Tour Description: Students will build a charcuterie board to take home with ingredients provided by The Board Chef. To build your board you will be provided with eight cheeses, three types of salami and accoutrements such as dried fruits, olives, sweetie peppers, etc. You will learn to shape your salami slices into roses. A fee of $25 (payable in cash or credit card) will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the ingredients.
Tour Host Bio: Annmarie has been in the food industry since her first job at the age of 14 in a Southern California pie shop. She has worked on every side of this amazing industry, not only as a brands manager for a national broadcaster liner as a center of the plate specialist, but as a successful entrepreneur. She took a leap during Covid, took out every tool, called on every business relationship she had, made a plan, moved to Fort Walton Beach and started The Board Chef.
Notes: The class location is 322 Harbor Place SW, Fort Walton Beach. This is a residence with plenty of on-street parking available. A $25 fee payable by cash or credit card will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the ingredients provided. The class will last approximately 1.5 hours (90 minutes). If you register for the tour and need to cancel, please email smcnairLTC@gmail.com as soon as possible to allow someone on the wait list to take your place.
Tour of the Board Chef September 21
with Annmarie McArthur
Tour Description: Students will build a charcuterie board to take home with ingredients provided by The Board Chef. To build your board you will be provided with eight cheeses, three types of salami and accoutrements such as dried fruits, olives, sweetie peppers, etc. You will learn to shape your salami slices into roses. A fee of $25 (payable in cash or credit card) will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the ingredients.
Tour Host Bio: Annmarie has been in the food industry since her first job at the age of 14 in a Southern California pie shop. She has worked on every side of this amazing industry, not only as a brands manager for a national broadcaster liner as a center of the plate specialist, but as a successful entrepreneur. She took a leap during Covid, took out every tool, called on every business relationship she had, made a plan, moved to Fort Walton Beach and started The Board Chef.
Notes: The class location is 322 Harbor Place SW, Fort Walton Beach. This is a residence with plenty of on-street parking available. A $25 fee payable by cash or credit card will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the ingredients provided. The class will last approximately 1.5 hours (90 minutes). If you register for the tour and need to cancel, please email smcnairLTC@gmail.com as soon as possible to allow someone on the wait list to take your place.
Tour of New World Wine and Cheese
with Jackie Cox
Tour Description: Discover the art and science of pairing wine and cheese in this engaging, guided tasting experience. Participants will sample a curated selection of wines alongside an expertly selected variety of premium cheeses to complement the wine list. A $25 cash fee will be collected at the start of the class.
Tour Host Bio: Jackie Cox is a founder and manager of Wine World. She will use her expertise to guide you through the cheese tasting. Wade Stalwart is the wine sales manager and will guide you through the wine tasting.
Notes: We will meet at Chan’s Wine World, 4424 Commons Drive East, Destin, Florida.
Tour of Katie’s House of Flowers & Gifts
with Emily Clarrey
Tour Description: Emily Clarrey of Katie’s House of Flowers & Gifts will showcase a day in the life of a florist. She will also help attendees create small fall flower arrangements. A fee of $25 will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the fall flower arrangements. Please bring the exact amount.
Tour Host Bio: Emily and Dylan Clarrey have owned Katie’s since 2017. Katie’s has been in business since 1965 and serves most of Okaloosa County. It has a long-standing reputation in the community for being community first and providing stunning floral arrangements. Katie’s was recognized as the 2023 Niceville Valparaiso Small Business of the Year. Emily was recognized as a recipient of the United Way’s 2025 40 under 40. Katie’s amazing family of 12 is at the heart of everything they do, and they are extremely proud to carry on Katie’s legacy.
Notes: We will meet at Katie’s House of Flowers & Gifts, 402 Bayshore Drive, Niceville, FL 32578.
Tour of Just Think Cake
with Kristen Welch
Tour Description: Just Think Cake is an award-winning cake shop where your vision becomes a tasty reality. Participants will decorate 6 cupcakes (to take home) with piped frosting and fondant accents. A $15 cash fee will be collected before class begins.
Tour Host Bio: After being gifted with a cake decorating class, Kristen found her niche and began a flourishing business in 2011. She is now well known for her delicious and expertly decorated cakes for any occasion!
Notes: There is a $15 Fee to cover materials cost. We will meet at Just Think Cake, 2 David Street, Unit D, Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Tour of Old World Wine and Cheese
with Jackie Cox
Tour Description: Discover the art and science of pairing wine and cheese in this engaging, guided tasting experience. Participants will sample a curated selection of wines alongside an expertly selected variety of premium cheeses to complement the wine list. A $25 cash fee will be collected at the start of the class.
Tour Host Bio: Jackie Cox is a founder and manager of Wine World. She will use her expertise to guide you through the cheese tasting. Wade Stalwart is the wine sales manager and will guide you through the wine tasting.
Notes: We will meet at Chan’s Wine World, 4424 Commons Drive East, Destin, Florida.