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At this point in late summer, with the Labor Day holiday only a few weeks away, we wonder how the summer passed by so quickly! Perhaps you saw that, too, and did not have a chance to take as much of a yearly break as you would have liked. While 2009 took everyone's breath away with its economic problems, many of you found a trip to our beach to be the best way to get away from it all and relax, and for that we are grateful. The staff and management at Avista Resort want to offer our appreciation to each of you who selected our beautiful oceanfront vacation site as your top choice for a summer vacation. We hope to see you again soon, perhaps for some of the holidays this fall and winter!
The summer held many surprises, such as unexpected cost savings. Avista Resort was able to offer some exciting deals at varying points during the past several months. Also, gasoline, though historically a bit pricey in summer, held its costs to a moderate level compared with the $4/gallon earlier this year. Other savings occurred in entertainment prices. For example, the "kids free" deals at The Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert brought many families together for an evening's entertainment (both end after Labor Day). Also, the low costs for the traditional summer-fun entertainment in the form of O. D. Pavilion and the water slide called "The Hippo," both open through Labor Day.
As the 2009 winds into autumn, we hope that you will reassess your holiday plans for the remainder of the year, especially if you did not find time or budget to have any summer vacation at all. Consider how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to toss the golf clubs in the car and drive here to the Grand Strand for a Thanksgiving get-away. After all, the point is to get away for some down time, even in a rough year! Because our location is drive-able within a day or less for most of you, spending the holidays at the beach saves money. With Labor Day only around the corner, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not far behind.
Your Friends at Avista Resort!
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Back, by Popular Demand – Snowbirds at Avista
The self-proclaimed "Queen of the Snowbirds," our concierge Abbey Phillips, announces her return. She plans plenty of entertainment for "snowbirds" this year during their winter months away from homes in Canada and other parts north of the Carolinas. At their home-away-from-home here at Avista, she will include some of the former activities that always elicited praise from previous participants, such as the Meet and Greet Breakfast, Trivia Nights, and the ever-popular Golf and Show Outings. Long-term guests can also expect fun and surprises, plus new activities such as day-trips to Wilmington and Charleston.
Old Favorites:
- Golf outings
- Show outings
- Trivia nights
- Potluck dinners
- Meet and greet breakfast
New Favorites:
- Monday Fun Day
- Chartered day trips to Wilmington and Charleston
- Bring your own wine and cheese (BYOWAC) parties
- Fishing trips to the Cherry Grove Pier
- Card and board games (If you have a favorite, feel free to bring it along!)
- And MUCH MORE!
Anyone with suggestions for events and activities is encouraged to send ideas to Abbey through her email at concierge@avistaresort.com.
Join us in the fun and explore the new features of North Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand that have popped up since you have been away. One of the most exciting additions to the area is the Robert Edge Parkway that links our Main Street directly to Highway 31 and Highway 9 to the west, making trips to amusements to the south and west much easier to access. This parkway is expected to be officially open by September 1st.
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News from JUST OFF MAIN
Chef Marvin Jones announces a new "tapas" menu coming soon to the fourth floor's Tree Top Lounge. He promises some delicious surprises, but look for his "Wild Mushroom Croquette with Asian Plum Sauce," also his Colossal Gambero (prawn) in Garlic Sauce." Of course, a tapas format of appetizers allows you to sample many of our chef's specialties without filling up on any one dish. Some people make a meal out of tapas, an adventure in dining.
For the monthly featured special at our first floor's Just Off Main Restaurant, Chef Marvin has created an extraordinary seafood dish called "Stimulating Grouper Pescatore on a Bed of Linguine." As we have pointed out in past newsletters, Chef Marvin sometimes releases his tasty recipes as a treat to his special guests, and he has chosen to let us share this dish with you:
Stimulating Grouper Pescatore
Ingredients:
- 8oz portion of local grouper
- 1oz.chopped garlic
- 1oz. chopped shallot
- 3oz chopped tomatoes
- 4oz fish stock
- 4oz. white wine
- 2oz. chopped basil
- 2oz. chopped mushrooms
- 3oz. tomato juice
- 6oz.( cooked linguine)
Directions:
- Pan-sear the grouper in a hot skillet until golden brown on both sides. Add garlic, shallot, and mushrooms.
- Then deglaze with white wine, fish stock.
- Bake at 350 degrees for fifteen minutes.
- Return the pan to the stove and add diced tomatoes, basil, and tomato juice. Allow the sauce to reduce until it thickens slightly.
- Remove the fish from the pan and toss cooked linguine in sauce.
- Place pasta in the center of a plate and stack grouper on top with reminding jus from the pan. Salt and Pepper to taste
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Such a flavorful dish might well be followed with a light summer dessert. No complications here, especially with the end-of-summer harvest. If you make Chef Marvin's grouper dish at home, why not try this easy recipe for a little something sweet at the end of the meal:
Collect two ripe small to medium cantaloupes, sugar to taste, juice from one lime, spring water (about 1.5 cups), two peeled/sliced kiwis, and a half-pint of fresh raspberries. Peel the melon of rind and remove its seeds. Cube the melon meat and toss the chunks in a blender with a tablespoon of sugar and half of the lime juice and half of the water. Pulse and then grind until smooth (adjust the sugar to your taste). Pour this mixture into bowls, and repeat the process for the reminder of the dessert. Top each filled soup bowl with a slice of kiwi and some raspberries. Chill and serve if you can wait that long to eat this refreshing cold dessert soup.
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Around Town This Month:
Summertime Temperatures: Late summer temperatures, long daylight hours, and reduced prices can make this the best time to vacation. Anyone even remotely considering a summer vacation need not worry about lost opportunities in savings because Avista still has some great pricing options for you.
North Myrtle Beach Connector: August 31st is the newly revised projected opening of a connector road officially named the Robert Edge Parkway. Locals call it the "North Myrtle Beach Connector" because it will connect NMB's Main Street area (right on the coast) to the inland vehicle arteries of Highway 31 and Highway 9.
Ocean Drive Pavilion: On August 1st the O.D. Pavilion opened and runs through Labor Day, providing sheer delight for children of all ages from 4 pm to 11 pm each day. Offering traditional amusement park rides on a pay-per-ride basis, people can stroll through on a summer's afternoon and evening, smelling the pungent cotton candy, roasted nuts, and funnel cake smells and hop on the ever-popular Ferris wheel (bring your camera for some "wow" vacation photos). The Tilt-A-Wheel, bumper cars, and many other rides provide a way to reconnect with family members or meet new friends.
Events Free to Children: With 16 years of experience entertaining America, The Alabama Theatre continues to offer its free performance tickets to children through the summer and ending on September 6th. Two free children's tickets per each full-price adult ticket are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (for more information, link to http://www.alabama-theatre.com/06/SpecialsDiscounts.html or call 800.342.2262). Other discounts are in effect, too, so ask about the 2-show special!
Also, consider taking your kids to a concert when you visit the beach. From now through September 6th, children are free at Legends in Concert where that special "zing" feeling comes from attending any live concert. Legends presents actual professional artists replicating famous legends in music, comedy, dance, and variety shows. Two children per paying adult are eligible for free tickets to Legends' concerts, with more information available at 843.477.5678.
Golf in the Fall: Cooler temperatures, beautiful courses, and great deals, especially at the "Glens" group: Glen Dornoch, Heather Glen, Shaftesbury Glen, and Possum Trot golf courses. Take a trip to the Scottish highlands right her along the Grand Strand. The breath-taking views and natural beauty add to the excitement of these fair but challenging courses. Contact our golf agent for details in booking with your accommodations.
2010 in the Grand Strand: The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the 2010 U S A Triathlon National Championship Festival will be held on November 6th at the Marina Inn, Grande Dunes. Because the event is a national championship at Olympic-level, this news is exciting for the entire community, and the Strand expects to welcome up to 3,000 athletes with many more family, friends, and spectators.
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Local Events Calendar - September, 2009
The full list of Grand Strand events is available at our web site at 2009 Calendar.
For your convenience, here is a quick link to check accommodations availability.
Ongoing events:
- Pelicans Baseball! Now through Labor Day. See the Pelicans' web site at http://www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com for details. (843) 918-6000.
- Summerfest! Now through September 5, 2009. See the 10:15 pm fireworks every Monday at Barefoot Landing over the lake. Boardwalk entertainers nightly. www.BarefootLanding.com.
- Now until 10/31. Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo. For recreational fishermen only. Fishing area: coastal waters from the NC line at Calabash southward to the South Santee River. Where boats are involved, only the fish caught from those that depart and return to port within the above named area are eligible. Entry card must be completely and clearly filled out. Anglers must see weigh masters to certify fish. For more information, contact the Fishing Rodeo Committee at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: 843-626-7444 or toll-free at 800-356-3016. Email -- info@VisitMyrtleBeach.com
Calendar events:
9/4-5. Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival. This event includes a run/walk, live music, plenty of kid-friendly activities and food, car show, and much more.
9/5 to 1/3/2010. Faces and Stories: A Portrait of Southern Writers. Sixty photographic portraits of famous authors are presented in this traveling exhibit from the Southern Arts Federation at the Burroughs and Chapin Art Gallery. For more information, 843.238.2510 or email to artmuseum@sc.rr.com.
9/6. Barefoot Improv Comedy Show. The Barefoot Improvisers perform in an audience-interactive comedy show every Sunday from 4:30 - 5:30pm through September 6 at DockSider's Grille. For more information, 843-597-6393 or online at www.carolinaimprov.com.
9/7. South Carolina Senior Open Pro/Am. Tidewater Charity Tournament Committee. Play with a PGA Senior Professional. Have a chance to win a 2009 Volvo C30 in hole-in-one contest, closest-to-the-pin gift certificates, and many other prizes. Details 843-283-3752 or www.tidewatercharitytournament.com. Proceeds benefit Autism Advocate Foundation and North Strand Helping Hand. Tidewater Golf Course in beautiful North Myrtle Beach, SC.
9/12. Loretta Lynn at the Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach. Get tickets now to be part of the audience for this country music legend. Her live performance begins at 7 pm. Call 800.342.2262 or see www.alabama-theatre.com for more information.
9/12. LeAnn Rimes at Freestyle Music Park with Billy Joe Royal. The park opens at 11 am, and the concert begins at 8 pm. For details about park events call 843.236.7625.
9/12 and 13. The 4th Annual Oktoberfest in Little River, SC. Celebrate the fall season on the waterfront in historic Little River. Starting at 9am and lasting to 6pm, you will enjoy authentic German cuisine prepared by Erna Blome, special musical guests providing live German music, and dancing throughout the day. With free admission to all children under 12, a special Children's Booth holds lots of fun, games, and surprises. More than beer, authentic German music, bratwurst, and polka, Oktoberfest is a great party! For details 843-249-6604.
9/18-27. Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art. The 2009 Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art will be held September 18-20 and September 25-27. Headlining the Festival will be Steve Tyrell, jazz vocalist, arranger, producer. This is a "Kid Friendly" Event. Location is Brookgreen Gardens and Litchfield Plantation. Call for details: 843-237-4774. Online: www.pawleysmusic.com.
9/19. Beach Sweep. Become a part of the "keep the beach clean" solution and join volunteers around the country, state, and nation in this annual event as we band together to "sweep" our beaches clean. In order to make it more fun, prizes will be awarded for certain categories and a raffle drawing will be held for all participants. Drinks will be provided. Appropriate for all ages. Contact Myrtle Beach State Park or SC Department of Parks and Recreation at 803.734.1700 or toll free 866.224.9339.
9/30 to 10/3. Fall Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. Located in Inlet Square Mall Event Grounds at Murrells Inlet, SC. Also, Ragtops and Roadsters Auto Museum, Murrells Inlet, SC. For more information see http://www.myrtlebeachbikeweek.com.
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GUEST COMMENTS
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Here are some of the recent notes sent in to Avista:
We stayed at the Avista Resort at 300 N Myrtle Beach in a 3 bedroom oceanfront condo. We have no complaints! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Everything was so convenient and the staff was very helpful. Our Grandkids had a blast! We will visit again.
Email received as a response to the newsletter, Smith/Harris Family, 09.01.09.
After reading the other reviews, I was somewhat hesitant about staying here. However, as soon as we walked in the door, my fears were allayed. The hotel lobby was clean and spacious, the staff courteous and friendly. Our room was clean, and had all the amenities we were promised. The view from the balcony was beautiful! (We were in an oceanfront room). We had to change our room because we wanted a separate entrance into the bathroom. The manager, Angela, and the rep, Theresa attended to our request in a friendly, courteous, and timely manner. The hallways were clean, and there wasn't any noise on the floor we stayed on.
Email appearing on Yahoo Travel by an unnamed contributor, 08.02.09
We have been coming to Avista for quite some time. Our stays have always been enjoyable. I would like to make a comment about one of your booking specialist. We had the pleasure of having the services of HEATHER to book our stay. I cannot tell you how much we appreciated her care. She went above and beyond to make our stay the best we could have had. We all had a fantastic time. Thank you from all of the Kas family and hope to see you again next year.
Email received as a response to the newsletter, Kas Family, July stay, email dated 08.05.09
This condo was very clean and had an excellent view of the ocean. It's on the same floor as the fitness center and the laundry facility so it was really convenient for that. We hope to go back next year. It was just my husband and myself and was perfect for that, it could sleep eight but might get a little crowded with all adults, especially because there is just 1 bathroom.
Email on TripAdvisor.com from a traveler from Jamestown, OH. 06.01.09
Groups at AVISTA RESORT
Thank you to the following groups for selecting the Avista Resort to bring their group members and share in their time together here at the beach:
- Anderson Family Reunion
- Campus Crusade For Christ
- Hill Birthday Party
- Pulice / Midler Wedding
- Tisdale Family Reunion
- Carrasco / Almonte Wedding
- Mack / Washington / White Family Reunion
If you and your group are considering a wedding, family reunion, or other get-together, Avista offers a wide array of ways to please every member of your party. Check online with our group sales office to begin the process of arranging your next event.
Fun Facts
Why did pirates have to wear eye patches? Answer: they didn't. Wearing an eye patch was a trick that ancient mariners used to defend themselves. When under siege, they would wear an eye patch over one eye as they fought against enemies. Should a ship be boarded, the captain would retreat below decks. There he would switch his eye patch to the other eye and immediately his vision was adjusted to the darkness. The pursuers would take minutes to switch their vision from bright sunlight. In fact, they would be dead before they regained vision.
One out of three beachgoers cannot swim at all.
Jellyfish swim in a group called a "smack," and whales swim in a "pod." Herring swim in a "seige."
If you see lightning at the beach, you should get out of the water right away, seek shelter in a building or a car rather than on the beach where you are the highest object on the horizon.
If there's no warning sign or flag posted, do not assume that conditions are safe to swim.
Males account for about 80% of all drownings at the beach.
A white cotton shirt is like an SPF 7 lotion - need more because that is not enough protection from the sun!
Type A ultraviolet rays, while they don't tan the skin, can pass through a car or building window and contribute to cancer and premature wrinkles. Type A age ("A"). Type B burn ("B").
In 1845, the hand-cranked freezer was invented, allowing Americans to make ice cream more easily at home.
Americans consume the most ice cream in the world per capita, with Australians coming in second. In particular, more people in the state of Alaska eat more ice cream per capita than in any other state in the country.
The Northern Central states have the highest per capita consumption of ice cream at 41.7 quarts. The top three cities in America that purchase the most ice cream on a per capita basis are: Portland, Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; and Seattle, Washington.
Continuing Avista's Path toward the Green
Since much of the evidence of "green" responsibility to the environment and to conserving energy is invisible to our guests, we will list a few:
- Wind energy. With some parts of the wind turbine project at Avista being funded from outside sources, Avista continues its work with scientists and scholars in a feasibility study of a wind turbine at the resort. Stay tuned for further information as it develops.
- Avista constantly gives itself a thorough review for ways to improve its environmental awareness.
- Washing clothes in cold water, as possible, saves not only dollars in hot water but also saves in the clothing fabric and colors as well. Avista's Housekeeping looks for opportunities to wash in cold water, and many of its guests use the cold water principle, as well.
- Buying and using products made from recycled materials, such as kitchen ware. As possible, Avista resupplies condo units with recycled products.
- While Avista Resort is not in the surfboard industry, did you know, though, that bamboo surfboards, light and durable, are favored by the "green" industry over fiberglass boards? For one reason, they dent rather than shatter.
- Surge protectors help energy "vampires" from draining electricity through machines, even when the power is turned off. The savings in the cost of electricity more than makes up for the price of the surge protector.
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