S

o who’s not tempted by 20 different types of tequilas to sample, tasty tacos and other 
authentic Mexican cuisine alongside a gorgeous beach and a chance to gear up for football 
season with great raffl e baskets? Kick in that it’s all part of a fundraising fete for the 
cultural arts along the Emerald Coast.

Rockin Tacos Grill and Tequila Bar on Okaloosa Island played host to fans of the Mattie Kelly 

Arts Foundation with the 2nd Annual Tacos and Tequila at its Gulfside restaurant August 25. 

It was the perfect time to hone your Tequila trivia. Did you know that much of the work in 

making tequila is done by hand? Or that it takes 8 to 12 years for the Blue Agave plant to mature 
enough to make tequila? How about that physicists fi gured out how to turn tequila into diamonds 
– too small for jewelry but big enough for electronic and industrial uses. 

 Tacos and Tequila organizers however were able to turn this event into a diamond level 

opportunity to benefi t the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. The money raised through ticket sales, 
along with the raffl e of super-sized, sports-themed baskets, will benefi t outstanding cultural 
programs that include Concerts in the Village and All Kinds of Art Summer Camps for kids.  

Top bidders took home great packages like The New Orleans Saints gift which offered up two 

Club Level tickets, a $50 gas card, $200 Ruth’s Chris gift card, a $250 American Express gift card 
for an overnight stay and more. 

Tacos and Tequila - Now that’s the way to let art lovers, sports fans 

and Mexican cuisine enthusiasts score big for Emerald Coast Culture. 

For more on the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, go to: 

mattiekellyartsfoundation.org. 

photos by

 

Kay Phelan & Michele Nicholson

story by

Michele Nicholson

Joy & Ron Todd, Marcia Hull

Ardelle Bush & Joh Locht

John Perry & Sixco Martinez

Mike & Stacy Brady

Robert & Karen Lyerly, Dottie Liufau, Alexis Tibbets & Jim Liufau

Tacos  

&

 Tequila

   VIP Destin at Rockin Tacos Grill & Tequila Bar

October/November 2016   |   77 

77-78 Event Tacos and Tequila.indd   1

9/27/16   2:10 PM