12     |    VIPDestinMagazine.com

We are proud to announce the much-anticipated 

winners of

 VIP Destin Magazine’s readers’ choice 

awards for BEST IN DESTIN in this issue. Local 

winners will be invited to the Black Tie Ball to accept 

their awards in style. On March 23, we will convert 

the ballrooms at the Hilton Sandestin to a festive and 

exclusive celebration in honor of the winners that 

you, the readers, have chosen. Each year we strive 

to create the most memorable event in the area in 

acknowledgement of these coveted awards.  

In January, VIP photographers snapped photos 

at lunches, dinners, ground breaking ceremonies, 

and even went back to the future to bring you the 

happenings around Destin. In this issue you can learn 

about a new biodegradable bead being developed 

to help with the clean up after Mardi Gras Parades. 

In 

Coastal Cuisine you will find a great story of how 

Louisiana loves gumbo, leaving you with a nice gumbo 

recipe. Speaking of recipes, February is the month of 

love and 

Swizzle on page 59 features some Love Elixir 

recipes for you.

Mardi Gras celebrations are starting to kick off.  You 

can find these listed in 

Save the Date and in our online 

calendar. I was raised in the rural West Virginia mountains.  Mardi Gras was something that 

we heard of and saw on television but really only associated with New Orleans.  As I grew up 

and began traveling, especially in the South, I realized that Mardi Gras was something that was 

celebrated more broadly than just in NOLA.  However, until moving to the area a few years 

ago, I had no idea of the extent in which the Mardi Gras season was such a celebrated spectacle. 

Other cities have celebrations and use Mardi Gras as an excuse to have a party.  

I had no idea that my future would take me in such a direction to lead me to this wonderful 

place called the Emerald Coast where I would see what Mardi Gras was really all about. 

I hope your February begins with the fun of Mardi Gras and ends with you finding your 

Valentine!

letter from the associate publisher

Verla Price

Associate Publisher

12 - AP LETTER.indd   1

1/29/19   10:48 AM