Apalachicola, October 2008
The Gathering in Apalachicola is now full, but the Florida Humanities Council will offer the program again in April of 2009. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for the October ’08 program, or would like to be notified when the April ’09 date is finalized please e-mail Monica Rowland at mrk@flahum.org.
Let the Florida Humanities Council introduce you to the town of Apalachicola on the state’s “Forgotten Coast.” Established in 1831, this community’s stunning Victorian architecture, charming downtown, and working waterfront reflect its rich history as one of Florida’s important ports for shipping cotton and lumber. In recent years Apalachicola has been home to a thriving seafood industry, producing 90 percent of the oysters consumed in Florida and 10 percent of those eaten nationwide.
Join us at our Gathering in Apalachicola and absorb the flavor of the Florida town recently named one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Highlights of the Gathering weekend include:
Pre-Gathering activities:
Please note: The following activities are optional add-ons to the Gathering weekend. There are additional charges for Pre-Gathering activities.
Thursday evening, October 16
Start your weekend early with a gourmet meal in a turn-of-the-century setting at the Apalachicola restaurant Avenue Sea. Chefs David and Ryanne Carrier, veterans of such distinguished restaurants as The French Laundry, will present us with an exquisite six-course gourmet tasting menu.
Dinner: $60
Dinner with wine pairing: $80
Friday morning, October 17
Limited to 22 participants. The Pre-Gathering boat tour is now FULL.
We’ll journey up the Apalachicola River with guides from the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR). Encompassing over 246,000 acres in Apalachicola Bay, the reserve is the second largest system of its kind in the nation. During our trip we will visit the site of the historic Fort Gadsden, also known as the “Negro Fort.” The ruined fort was built by the British during the War of 1812 and left to their black allies when they departed in 1815.
River and Fort Tour: $60 Lunch is included. The Pre-Gathering boat tour is now FULL.
The Gathering:
Friday evening, October 17
Chefs David and Ryanne Carrier of Avenue Sea will offer up a magnificent low country boil on the verandah of the Gibson Inn. Then, we’ll stroll over to the historic Dixie Theater to meet our evening presenters, author Connie May Fowler, and historian Andrew Frank. Andrew, professor of history at Florida State University, will lay the historical groundwork for our exploration of Apalachicola by discussing the themes and trends that have shaped the region since the 18th century. Connie May, author of Remembering Blue, a poignant novel about life and love near Apalachicola, will provide a sense of place by describing how her writing has been influenced by the Forgotten Coast.
Saturday, October 18
This morning we will savor the sweet side of Apalach as we meet beekeeper George Watkins, the leading producer of Tupelo honey in the area. George will describe the process by which he harvests honey, and will also spend time talking about his life as a shrimper in Apalachicola. If we’re lucky, he may even give us a tour of his shrimping boat!
After lunch at a local restaurant we’ll join Bill Spohrer, President of the Apalachicola Historical Society, and Anita Grove of the Chamber of Commerce on a historic tour of Apalach. Bill and Anita will describe the history of some of the town’s most architecturally significant homes and perhaps even take us in a few.
We’ll wrap up our afternoon with a visit to Tommy Ward at the Thirteen Mile Oyster Company, operated by the Ward family for more than 70 years. Tommy will teach us how to read the waters, tong for oysters, and shuck the delicious bivalves.
This evening we’ll enjoy a reception and dinner at the Apalachicola Art Museum . Then, we meet some of Apalachicola’s resilient people, who have embraced and preserved a Florida way of life, during a panel discussion moderated by oral historian Amy Evans from the Southern Foodways Alliance.
Sunday, October 19
Following this morning’s farewell breakfast we’ll visit Apalachicola’s Chestnut Street Cemetery, established in 1831. A fascinating glimpse into the mores and customs of the time, the cemetery’s epitaphs tell the history of the town through gravestone art that reflects the historic, religious, and burial traditions of the 19th century.
Lodging:
Participants must reserve and pay for their own accommodations.
FHC has arranged for group rates at two historic Apalachicola establishments:
The Gibson Inn, a tin-roofed Victorian Inn with a wrap-around porch, is our un-official headquarters for the Gathering weekend. Rates range from $99.00 for a room with two twin beds, to $225 for a King Suite.
The Gibson Inn
51 Avenue C
Apalachicola, FL 32320
(850) 653-2191
http://www.gibsoninn.com/
The Coombs House Inn is a romantic Bed and Breakfast in an elegant Victorian mansion. The former home of a wealthy lumber baron, the Inn is a glimpse into Apalachicola’s affluent past. Rates start at $149 a night.
Coombs House Inn
80 Sixth Street
Apalachicola, FL 32320
Toll free: 888-244-8320
http://www.coombshouseinn.com/
Fee Schedule
All registration fees help support the public programs and services of the Florida Humanities Council.
Pre-Gathering
Pre-Gathering activities are optional add-ons to the Gathering weekend.
Six-course dinner at Avenue Sea. Thursday, October 17: $60
Six-course dinner with wine pairing. Thursday, October 17: $80
River boat tour and visit to Fort Gadsden. Friday, October 18: $60 The Pre-Gathering boat tour is now FULL.
The Gathering
Fee includes Friday-evening reception and dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday farewell breakfast; and all scholars, guides, and presenters.
$300/person
Please note: All Gathering participants must be members of the Florida Humanities Council. An annual FHC membership is valid for all individuals residing in the same household. If you are not a current member of the Florida Humanities Council, an additional $50 FHC annual membership fee will be applied to your final registration total.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be received in writing (by e-mail, fax, or mail.) Cancellations received prior to September 1 will be subjected to a $50 processing fee. Cancellations received between September 1 and October 3rd are subject to a cancellation fee of 25% of total registration costs. No refunds will be given after October 3, 2005.
Registration
Space in The Gathering and the Pre-Gathering is limited. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The Gathering in Apalachicola is now full, but the Florida Humanities Council will offer the program again in April of 2009. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for the October ’08 program, or would like to be notified when the April ’09 date is finalized please e-mail Monica Rowland at mrk@flahum.org.
Contact Information
Monica Rowland
(727) 873-2005
mrk@flahum.org
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