Culpepper & Co. Nautical Antiques, Lighting & Decor

1619 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am-4pm

Don't you just love when you accidentally find a true gem?!  That totally happened today.  I was in search of another salvage company and stumbled upon this place, Culpepper & Co Nautical Antiques--and I was just in awe of all the cool nautical salvage items.  Ships wheels, old anchors, lights, wooden and glass buoys, maritime maps--you name it and this guy had it.

Perfect place to find one-of-a-kind unique gifts and home decor with a nautical & rustic flare.  I ended up leaving empty-handed this time around because I was so overwhelmed and didn't know what I wanted to buy first.  But believe me, I'll be going back.  I've got my eye on the red, white, & blue striped buoy and a nautical map...

This place is right on the corner of North Dixie Hwy and 16th in West Palm Beach--you can't miss it!  

Tip: There aren't any price tags on the items in this place, so make sure to flag down the owner.  He will tell you how much an item costs and answer any questions you may have about anything in his salvage yard.  

Sand and Sea-Sun Holiday Sand Sculptures

Waterfront & City Commons, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Open to the public usually the first week of December (check website for dates)

I just love this time of year, don't you?!  I get so excited when I start seeing all of the holiday lights and decorations going up, and hear Christmas tunes playing all around.  This means, of course, that I will be on the lookout for holiday happenings during the month of December.

By far one of my favorite holiday attractions since living in South Florida would be the ridiculously detailed sand sculptures spread throughout downtown West Palm Beach.  The main attraction is the Christmas tree, which stands at the base of Clematis Street in Waterfront and City Commons.  This year, the tree towered 35 feet high, and was made of nearly 600 tons of sand!

At night, you can catch spectacular light shows set to holiday music.  The team that organized the attraction even set up a mini golf course next to the tree this year--a 9-hole Christmas-themed course!  Throughout the area you can find 4 more sculptures, including this jolly beach-goer...

Its a unique place to take your out-of-town guests that are visiting for the holidays, or to take a beachy holiday photo-op to send to your loved ones living in colder climates.  

Happy Holidays! 

Tip:  Check out the sculptures on a Saturday morning between 9am and 1pm to catch the Green Market and do a little Christmas shopping to support your local vendors!

West Palm Beach GreenMarket

101 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach FL

Open Saturdays October through April 9am until 2pm;
May through September 9am until 12pm

I've been to a number of public markets now, and with each one that I visit, there is something unique that sets each one apart from the rest.  The GreenMarket in West Palm Beach takes place in the Waterfront Commons area, where more than 60 local vendors set up shop each week with a variety of goods for purchase.  The market is open to the public, where local shoppers and visitors can purchase anything from fresh fruit and veggies to sauces, dips and spreads, infused oils and vinegars, potted plants and bunches of flowers, and baked goods.

In addition, several food vendors are parked throughout the market as well to purchase breakfast or lunch, such as Maceb's Bagels & Deli for a deliciously fresh breakfast bagel, or Cider Donuts for a just-made warm regular or red velvet cider donut.

Some of my favorites from the GreenMarket include Wildflower Granola (their maple pecan and apple cinnamon flavors are to DIE for), Bistro Blends for their many flavors of oils and marinades, Joy's pasta sauces, tapenades, and savory spreads, and Pappardelle's abundant variety of uniquely flavored fresh pasta.

The GreenMarket is conveniently close to hotspots Clematis Street and City Place, so you can easily make it a day of shopping in West Palm Beach.

Note: This place gets BUSY! So parking can be a bit of a bear.  However, parking is free in the Banyan and Evernia parking garages during the market's hours of operation.               

101st South Florida Fair

9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach FL
Open January 18 until February 3, 2013
Monday through Friday 12pm until 10pm
Saturdays and Sundays 10am until 10pm

It's opening weekend of the South Florida Fair! And because its a gorgeous day--and football isn't on until 3pm today-- I talked Brian into going to the fair for a little Sunday fun day.

There's something about these fairs that I just love.  The idea of fried ANYTHING, donut burgers, corn dogs, funnel cake with powdered sugar everywhere, the huge turkey legs, and anything else you can imagine that you wouldn't ever EVER eat any other time.  The bright lights and shrills of enjoyment coming from the sky-high rides.  The giant stuffed animals, noise makers, and plastic toys hanging high over the water gun-shooting, ring-tossing, baseball-throwing, and balloon-popping games.

We munched on a corn dog, chicken wings and kettle chips when we first got there (You know, the healthy stuff! Ha!)  After walking around and taking in all of the fair's happenings, coupled with some excellent people-watching, we tried our hand at a few games.  Brian played about 10 rounds of the baseball throwing game until he finally broke two bottles in a row to win a giant jamaican-looking stuffed toy monkey (I got 3 free shots on the house thanks to the guy manning the booth--however I clearly don't throw hard enough).  Next, we tried our best on the buckshot--shoot the entire red star out of the middle of the paper from a certain distance and win a prize.  I tried once--Brian tried about 15 times until winning a GIGANTIC smiling chili pepper wearing a sombrero (I tell ya, he is determined!) We didn't get to any rides, solely because the two prizes were getting kind of hard to hold!

The fair is going on until the beginning of February, and takes place every January for 17 fun-filled days.  I think we're planning on going back again within the next couple of weeks, I'm dying for a ride on the ferris wheel!

P.S...we came home and scared the daylights out of Brewster when we brought the prizes in the house.  He's being VERY cautious when he comes close to them right now--what a cutie patootie!