August 21, 2008 Issue

The inaugural Beachcomber Music Awards are coming soon, and the big question on everyone’s collective mind is--“What took you so long?”

I can’t answer that, but I can tell you that we have eschewed the “nominating committee” approach favored by many entertainment publications. Beachcomber readers are smart—you know better than to nominate Phish for Best Band, even if Page McConnell did turn up in Grayton Beach recently. The power is in your hands, readers. See The Beat for details on the nominating process, and look for the user-friendly nomination ballot in this issue. You can also nominate your favorites at www.thebeachcomber.org.

If you’re not sure about who is worthy, go out and hear some live music this week. You can also access past musician profiles through our Web site, although in the five-plus years that I’ve been covering the scene, I still haven’t gotten around to covering everyone. I also recommend www.myspace.com, as nearly every local performer has a page there now.

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There are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained this Labor Day Weekend. TiVo the Jerry Lewis Telethon and head out to The Market Shops at Sandestin Monday, Sept. 1 for the huge “Labor Day Sale-abration” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where you can check out the sidewalk sales with “savings up to 75 percent off!!” according to the enthusiastic press release that recently arrived in our overflowing in box. Ladies are encouraged to “drop off your man at Beef O’Brady’s” where the fellas can enjoy the kick-off of college football season, among other things. There are additional details in our Places & Things section along with plenty of other useful information.

Seaside offers a plethora of films, concerts and other family-friendly events beginning Friday, Aug. 29. That same day, the 17th Annual Greek Festival gets underway at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island. Again, check out the hugely expanded Places & Things in this issue.

There are also plenty of concerts—many of them free—featuring local and visiting musicians, movies to see, fantastic restaurants and nightspots, exhibits to ponder, and books to read while you’re taking a break from combing our beautiful beaches. Let us be your guide with this, Our Finest Issue Ever.

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This fortnight, Bruce Collier visits Isaribi Japanese Fusion, one of Destin’s newest restaurants and already a lunchtime favorite among Beachcomber staffers; Breanne Boland reviews Jennifer Haigh’s novel, The Condition; Adam Pope hits the cinema for the new stoner comedy Pineapple Express; The Beat devotes an entire column to…guess what?; Bill Campbell, a/k/a The Roving Rogue, waxes eloquently about singer-songwriter Reed Waddle; Charles Morgan delivers another intriguing Harbor View; and Pepper James shares a fascinating true story about..a lacy undergarment?!

- C.M.

More editorials from Christopher Manson