THINGS TO DO

Fatboys: The ultimate Super Bowl destination in 3 locations!

GAME ON! 🏈

Catch the big game and grub at any Fatboys location on February 12, 2023. Destin, Miramar Beach, and Crestview Fatboys will be offering half-off beer and two-for-one margaritas all day.

• The game starts at 5:30 so be there early to claim your seat and get your first order in! View menu

Prefer to watch the game at home? Take advantage of Fatboys exclusive game day to-go offer. Fuel your at-home watch party with 50 wings for $60.

Pick from their delicious house-made sauces and rubs, like sweet orange teriyaki, bourbon molasses, and garlic parmesan. Offer valid for to-go orders only on February 12, 2023.

Promotions are subject to change and may vary per location.

SCHOOL

Bluewater Elementary School upgraded thanks to Half-Cent Sales Tax Funds

Last month, Get The Coast met with Okaloosa Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers and Bluewater Elementary’s Principal Amy Klugh for an exclusive tour of the school.

• The purpose of the tour was to showcase the updates and upgrades made possible by the half-cent sales tax, which has been a game changer for the school.

“We’re here today to show you what the half-cent sales tax has brought to Bluewater Elementary,” said Chambers. “School safety was the number one priority, and I’m proud to say that all 38 schools in the district have completed their [security] projects three years ahead of schedule.”

Standing in front of the new single point-of entry door at the school, Principal Klugh explained the new 1,700 square feet that has created a new front-side of the school.

• “We were able to add 1,700 square feet to the front of the school and give our school resource officer their own office,” she said. “This also allowed us to give our school psychologist and mental health counselor their own space, instead of having to share with others.”

Chambers emphasized the multiple measures the school district has taken for school safety, including having “the number one school resource officer program in the state of Florida,” as well as enhanced video cameras, radio devices and perimeter fencing.

“The single point-of-entry is a great example of the security measures we have in place,” said Chambers. “Families come in through the single point-of-entry, where they have a warm welcome but are also in a secure environment without direct access to the school.”

Klugh took us to the old front office and explained how the new construction allowed them to designate specific spaces for certain staff members.

• “We now have a designated space for our math and literacy coaches, as well as our nurse, administration, guidance, and bookkeeping,” she said. “The front lobby is now a much safer space, as we can now meet and greet visitors to make sure they’re supposed to be on campus before they’re exposed to the rest of the school.”

The playground was the first project completed at Bluewater Elementary, and Klugh was thrilled to show it off. “Our old playground was 15 years old and had many broken pieces,” she said. “We were so excited to provide a new playground space for our 960 students, and they’ve been loving it.”

Chambers concluded by saying, “As superintendent, the safety of our students and employees is my top priority, and I’m grateful to the citizens of Okaloosa County for the half-cent sales tax.”

• “You can’t put a price on safety,” added Klugh. “The updates made to our school are invaluable to our faculty, students, and parents. Thank you, Okaloosa County, for giving our school a safe space.”

Click here to watch the video tour

REAL ESTATE

40 new homes coming to Bluewater Bay with ‘Addie’s Place’ approval

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners reviewed and approved the final plat for Addie’s Place, a proposed 40-lot single-family detached residential subdivision inside Bluewater Bay in Niceville.

The development, being constructed by Randy Wise Homes, Inc., received the Bluewater Bay Notice of Proposed Change approval on February 18, 2020 and a Development Order on May 21, 2021, according to county documents. 

The Board of County Commissioners approved the final plat, finding it to be consistent with the Okaloosa County Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and the Bluewater Bay Development of Regional Impact Master Site Development Plan.

• A final plat approval is the process by which a local government body reviews and approves a final version of a subdivision or development plan. A plat is a map or plan of a piece of land that shows the division of the land into lots, streets, and other features.

With the final plat being approved, the developer can now proceed with construction and the sale of lots within the subdivision.

Addie’s Place is slated to be a gated neighborhood offering classic home designs and a dedicated green space, complete with a pond and surrounding park. The homes in the neighborhood are expected to range from the $700s to $900,000 and will range in size from 2,141 to 4,629 sqft.

Nestled within the Bluewater Bay area, Addie’s Place promises to be a desirable location for those seeking a peaceful and serene community. The approval of the final plat marks an important milestone for the development and brings the community one step closer to becoming a reality.

SCHOOL

Okaloosa School District names ‘Teacher of the Year’

The Okaloosa County School District held its annual Teacher of the Year Banquet at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center on Okaloosa Island on Tuesday, January 31st, 2023. The banquet recognized the achievements of the district’s teachers and celebrated the excellence in education in the county.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Teacher of the Year, which was awarded to Mr. Royal Preston, Construction Teacher at Okaloosa Technical College.

• Mr. Preston is a product of the Okaloosa County School District and has been teaching carpentry and building trades for 30 years at the college.

“I always love celebrating our teachers who spend day in and day out going above and beyond to educate our students,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “They stay after and arrive early to tutor, sponsor clubs, coach sports, and mentor kids. Each teacher recognized this year represents the best of the best at each of our 38 schools, and I am proud to have Mr. Preston represent us at the state level.”

Okaloosa Technical College Director Jon Williams added, “OTC is very proud that our Building Trades Teacher, Mr. Royal Preston, has earned this honor. For 30 years, Mr. Preston has taught career and technical education here at OTC and has led his colleagues locally and around the state in training students to enter the Building Trades Industry.”

The Teacher of the Year Banquet was a success, and the district is proud to have such dedicated and talented teachers who inspire and guide the next generation of learners.

FOOD+DRINK

NOW OPEN: Sura Korean Steakhouse brings Korean-style BBQ to Downtown Fort Walton Beach

Downtown Fort Walton Beach has a new Korean BBQ-style restaurant called Sura Korean Steakhouse.

• The new steakhouse officially opened on February 6, 2023 in the old Bangkok House on the corner of Ferry Road and First Street.

Sura Korean Steakhouse is the brainchild of Ji Hoon Kim, a local, who opened up the super-popular Soi Bistro in Fort Walton Beach back in 2015.

• Korean BBQ is a traditional Korean method that involves cooking marinated meat by placing it on top of an open flame and using a grill that is in the middle of the table to cook it.

However, for Sura…there is a twist

“We’re trying to personalize the experience so that when you come into Sura with your family, the servers will take care of you,” said Kim. “They will take you on this journey with our food and presentation.”

Here’s how it works:

The server presents the table with the steaks and meats that you can choose from the menu. Currently there are two Courses to choose from and you pick your stew option. The meats include:

• Prime New York strip 
• Skirt steak
• Bulgogi
• LA galbi
• Prime filet mignon
• Prime ribeye
• Prime galbi

Once the table has selected the meats, everything is grilled right in front of you by a server or front staff. 

With their main focus being Korean cuisine, Sura also offers Korean soups and Korean noodles. And while they currently prioritize the meats, specifically, Kim says he does plan to have a seafood variation and vegetarian option in the future.

With a successful restaurant for the past 8 years with Soi Bistro, Ji says he saw an opportunity to do more not only for the community, but also for the Korean community in the local area.

• “The Korean community is so small in this area but I feel like we have a lot to offer too,” he added. “I wanted to bring Sura to the area to show the community what we’re about as Koreans and what we can do.”

Part of showing the community what Sura is all about is defined in the style and vibe of the restaurant. Kim says that he designed the space to have a more upscale aesthetic where you can have date nights and a good time out with friends and family.

• He will also take over the old Mai Thai Lounge next door. Although he doesn’t have any immediate plans for the space, he did hint at the possibility of a “speakeasy.”

“We knew we wanted to bring the downtown area to life and give it a better place for people to come, have a little fun, and dress up a little bit,” said Kim during his ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday. “So this is what we decided to do and we want to introduce you to our Korean heritage a little bit.”

The restaurant is located at 201 Ferry Rd SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Click here to view image gallery