Loving Our Town October

Destined for Greatness By Robert Waldner With a family lineage steeped in musicality, young Johnny Lawrence was destined for musical prominence. “I grew up watching my dad sing and play guitar. He was a songwriter and an amazing storyteller,” says Johnny. “When I was a kid, my dad introduced me to music from the grunge era.” Hearing masterpieces like ‘Rooster’ by Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam’s ‘Jeremy’ solidified his desire to become his own unique musician. A native of Virg

Saint Augustine Musicians you HAVE to See! By Georgia Rae Taylor As the owner of Graet Goods, I get a front-row seat to the heartbeat of St. Augustine—and it sounds like late- night guitar runs, keys that spill their stories, and a ocean surf dream you can’t quite shake. This town’s music isn’t background noise; it’s the way we breathe. From Michael Jordan’s soul-deep blues that turn a quiet bar into church, to Uncle Marty’s unapologetic, body-and-piano confessions, to the ge

A Vocal Powerhouse By Robert Waldner “I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer,” says Rachael Warfield. “When I was a kid, my Grandmother would find me performing for my friends on the front patio when she would pick me up for school.” Both of Rachael’s parents had a deep love for music that they bestowed upon their daughter as a child. “Their passion awakened an affinity for music deep in my soul,” she says. “My mother encouraged me to take piano, voice, and acting lesson

Sounds From Saint George Street By Carly Overbey St. George Street is a sensory amusement park for your ears, nose, and eyes. As one of America’s oldest streets, its energy and history hum right out of the architecture. Layer in the delicious aromas drifting from kitchens, live music on nearly every corner, and world- class people-watching, and you know you’ve arrived. What truly makes St. George Street special isn’t just the visitors—it’s the mix of local talent that turns t

Where Every Voice Matters By Danielle Torry At Art Box Studios, “emerging” is not a label—it’s a beginning. Our Emerging Artist Program serves emerging and underrepresented artists—turning first chances into first chapters with real stages and walls, studio-approved mentorship, and a supportive audience that celebrates both process and final product. On any given night, music, henna, spoken word, and painting share the same floor—proof that this cultural hub is where every vo

Where the Music Matters By Robert Waldner When you walk into Music Matters Remixed, you might as well be walking into owner, Eric Wenstrom’s, teenage bedroom. All his favorite band posters, like Duran Duran, Dead or Alive, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and Blondie decorate the walls. The shop gives off a homey, welcoming feeling, which is exactly what Eric wants it to exude. As an unique kid, growing up in St. Augustine in the 80s, expressing himself through music and f

No Age Limits By Robert Waldner Deb Seekings’ musical journey spans nearly fifty years through the highs and lows of her life. She is one of six siblings and her father was a third generation piano player. “I started at the age of seven with piano lessons,” says Deb. “As a kid I learned to read music and picked up different instruments.” Though she never played in high school, Deb would go on to become a music major in college and develop her hobby into a career later in life

'Addicted' to the Music By Robert Waldner “I was wearing a Barney costume in front of a large audience at the age of two,” recalls Stevie Lynne of her first stage performance. A songwriter since nine years old, she has always had artistry coursing through her veins. “In my preteen years, I wrote over dramatic, heartbreaking songs,” she laughs. Crediting her mom with much of her musical development, Stevie Lynne continues, “She released a children’s album that included some of

The Musicians By Robert Waldner Shayla Nelson & Hudson Vance Photography by Ken Bacchus To experience live music in the Ancient City is to be enlightened on the fundamental values of music itself. On any given night, the streets are alive with a melodious aura that can only be upheld by bestowers imparting a love for their timeless craft to the world at large. Especially during this season, music comes alive here in Our Town. The walls of local ve

True Guest Stories from Three Stories Inn By Marie Mantanona-Milton At Three Stories Inn, our walls hold the spirit of storytelling. We believe every stay has a story. Through nominations, selected Guests are gifted a weekend in one of the novel apartments at the inn. The Foreword, The Prologue, and The Epilogue. This month, we have selected Matthew Cocchi as our featured story. The Foreword In every town, there are people who quietly brighten the streets, not with neon light

SOGNO – Where Dreams Come True By Leigh Cort In the 1950s, when dining out was a celebration of style, taste, and culture, dinner wasn’t just a menu of food; it reflected an amalgam of American life. The story of Italian food in America is fascinating. Spanning over a century influenced by its beloved integral part of American culinary culture! Owners of Sogno Stacy Critelli and Brian Rinehart The post WWII era was a turning point when American soldiers from Italy brought bac

Music has the Power to Move People By Susan Swearingen Owner of American Piano Music Cotre Swearingen At age ten, Corte Swearingen wasn’t expecting a life-altering moment at Walt Disney World. But on Main Street U.S.A., he heard a pianist playing Scott Joplin’s The Maple Leaf Rag and everything shifted. “I couldn’t take my eyes off his hands,” Corte says. “I had just started piano lessons, and this music grabbed hold of me and never let go.” Now based in St. Augustine, Corte

St. Augustine’s Autumn & Winter Song By Susan Swearingen Artwork by Carl Thurman St. Augustine has always moved to its own rhythm. It’s a rhythm you feel if you pause long enough: the steady wash of the tide at Anastasia, the peal of church bells drifting across the Plaza, the hum of music spilling into narrow streets. Here, rhythm is not just sound; it is life itself. At dawn, the first rhythm belongs to the sea. Waves break on Vilano and Crescent Beach, as ste