Port St. Lucie, FL October 2023

Cars,

Hey Port St. Lucie,

Welcome October; where the pumpkin spice flavors have already been around for over a month, the pumpkin stands are on every other corner, and it's somehow still in the 80s!

I do love the month of October though. We may not have fall here in Florida, but it is a great feeling knowing that we're easing into the Holiday Season and a few weeks of chilly weather is on the way. Riley turns one at the end of this month, so for those of you who have been following our updates, you are probably as blown away as we are!

This issue is themed "Food and Drink" so we featured a few different ideas to accommodate all ages. In this issue, you'll find a few things like DIY cookies for kids, local restaurant's specialty fall-themed cocktails, a tasty recipe for the upcoming season, and some important information regarding insurance & our featured local roofing company. We love writing about local businesses in town so you can get to know them on a more personal level. Making connections with people on a personal level is so important, especially to make the business transaction feel lighter and easier!

It seems insane that the next time you read this 'Lifestyle Letter' it will be NOVEMBER! But, let me stop getting ahead of myself. Let’s sit back and enjoy the month of October as we prepare for the beautiful chaos of Holidays that lies ahead.

All Our Best,

October 2023

PUBLISHER

Corey Smith | corey.smith@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Alexa Smith | alexa.smith@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Crystal D'Urso; @treasurecoastmom

Lorna Day; ooolalalife.com

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your Instagram photos with @portstluciecitylifestyle

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Meet Mischief; The Eternal Playful Spirit

The Humane Society of St. Lucie County's longest resident, Mischief, turns nine years old this month, on October 11th. He's been residing at the shelter for three years now and is beyond ready to find his forever home! His true passion is gallivanting through sprinklers and chasing after the hose. This lovable senior is ready to bring his enthusiasm, love and affection into your home. If you can open your doors to foster or adopt this bundle of joy, please reach out to change his life, and yours! hsslc.org

Busy G Bookkeeping Solutions is proud to announce a new service!

Starting October, we'll be offering non-profit bookkeeping in addition to grant budgets and grant narratives! We have a heart of service and are eager to help our local non-profits secure much needed grant funds by delivering accurate and up to date financial statements. We will continue to help service based business owners manage their finances to gain the clarity and confidence to make data driven decisions in real time. We take the sting out of doing your books! @busygbooks busygbooks.com

1PSL - A Mobile App for Port St. Lucie

Did you know that you can download "1PSL" on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to stay connected with the City? Residents can use this app to ask questions, request services, access utility payment portals, and stay in the know with news and events!

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/PortStLucie

FALL IN LOVE

WITH THESE COCKTAILS FROM SOME LOCAL RESTAURANTS

Spritz City Bistro

THE SAGE APPLE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5pz Ron Zacapa Centenario

• Organic Fresh Pressed Apple juice

• Muddled apples & sage

• Honey cinnamon simple syrup

• Garnish with dehydrated cinnamon apples & Sage

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Boil the apples, sage, honey, and cinnamon sticks to make the simple syrup.

2. Fill shaker with ice, add Ron Zacapa, pre-made simple syrup, apple juice and shake shake shake!

3. Strain into a glass filled with ice.

4.Last, garnish with dehydrated cinnamon coated apples and fresh sage.

Waterfront Stuart

PEANUT BUTTER

BANANA SMORES

Photography by Jaci Peña, The J Projects

INGREDIENTS:

• 2oz Screwball Whiskey

• 1oz Banana Cream Liqueur

• 1 oz Crème De Cacao

• 1 oz Licor 43

• 6 Dashes of Aztec Chocolate Bitters

• 6 Dashes of Walnut Bitters

• Garnish with chocolate sauce, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate shavings and a toasted marshmallow

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Rim the glass in chocolate sauce & graham cracker crumbs

2. Drizzle chocolate sauce inside the glass

3. Combined all ingredients and shake

4. Pour over a glass filled of crushed ice

5. Top with chocolate shavings & toasted marshmallow

Conchy Joe's

PUMPKIN SPICE MARTINI

INGREDIENTS:

• 1oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

• 1oz Vanilla Vodka

• 2oz Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pour all ingredients over ice

2. Shake vigorously!

3. Strain into martini glass

Oak & Ember

MR. FRESH

Photography by Mainstreet Media 360

INGREDIENTS:

• 2oz Corazon Reposado

• 3/4oz Demerara

• Orange and Grapefruit Bitters

• Large Ice Cube

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add tequila and demerara to a glass over ice

2 . Add in two dashes of orange bitters and two dashes or grapefruit bitters

3. Stir and strain into rocks glass over large ice cube

Optional: Garnish with a cherry and orange peel

Wouldn't it be nice to prepare yourself for potential damage from a hurricane BEFORE it's too late? We have some tips from local expert and professional Phillip Keck, President of Palm City Insured, for you to learn and review. Learn more at palmcityinsured.com

1. At the beginning of every hurricane season take a video inventory of your property, including interior and exterior spaces and roof. This allows much easier processing for claims when the insurance carrier can see exactly what the property looked like before the damage.

2. Get a flood policy. Even if you are not in a flood zone, rising water, even from a hurricane, is not covered in your homeowners policy.

3. Get a wind mitigation and 4 point inspection from a qualified inspector. These inspections show how the property is protected from hurricanes and are your key to discounts on the home policies in Florida.

4. Contact a qualified, licensed, local agent to do a personal review of your current coverages to make sure you are taking advantage of all the available discounts and State programs.

5. Create digital copies of all of the policies so they can be accessed even when the property may not be accessible due to damage.

After reading these important tips, you may have interest in learning more about this company and their expertise. Whether you already reside in Florida, or are buying your new home, you’re likely shopping around for local insurance quotes. Auto insurance, homeowners insurance, even life insurance. Wouldn’t it make life easy if you felt confident enough going with the first quote you received? Not need to shop around and continue the conversation to find the most attainable quote for your family?  Lucky for you, we can make your life easier in just three words. Palm City Insured! Why? Because they are an independent, family owned business. The agency is owned and operated by Phillip,

his father Bill, and wife Kristen. Their goal is to help you navigate the marketplace and secure the proper coverages to protect what is most important to your family.

Phillip started his career in the raw commodities industry and then the financial services & insurance industry, prior to starting Palm City Insured. He was a heavily licensed personal financial advisor in Chicago running a team of 10 advisors. After transitioning to Florida in 2015 to run a region with Access Advisors, he provided financial services and insurance solutions to state employees and private households. Phillip decided to open his agency in 2021. “We want the ability to help clients with their individual, unique insurance needs and bring them the best solutions in the current marketplace. Whether its Home, Auto or Commercial Insurance we have the right tools to fit our clients' needs here in the Treasure Coast and Statewide,” says Phillip.  He started the agency from scratch with no clients and has quickly become the go-to agent on the Treasure Coast, and for hundreds of other households all over the state of Florida due to his dedication and client facing approach.

One thing that sets them apart is how they want their clients to be able to get their agents on the phone and have a personal relationship with them. The team believes that knowing them on a more personal level will help you build trust and confidence in their services. In fact, one thing I took note of when meeting with Phillip is that there’s a good chance we might catch him and his family at one of the Disney theme parks or Universal in their spare time! Having two girls, Harper (14) and Charlotte (12), family outings happen quite often and Disney is definitely one of their weaknesses!! If it’s not there, it’s likely somewhere else outdoors like paddle boarding, the beach or camping. (If you really want to schmooze Phillip though, just start talking golf. Instant friendship!)

Learn more today by visiting their website palmcityinsured.com

“We want the ability to help clients with their individual, unique insurance needs and bring them the best solutions in the current marketplace. Whether its Home, Auto or Commercial Insurance we have the right tools to fit our clients’ needs”

Easy and Classic Halloween Cookie Ideas

Presented By Big Cookie House

Everyone loves a good cookie - Especially, one that’s Halloween themed!

I’ve got all the steps for how to make your own EASY classic Halloween cookies for kids! Karen, the creator of Big Cookie House in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and her adorable daughter, are going to show us a step-by-step on how to make them!

Whether you’re making these for fun at home, or bringing them to a Halloween party, you’re going to find these cookie decorating tips so simple and straight-forward for kids! And that’s exactly what Karen wants to show us- baking with kids can be easy!

As a professional baker, Karen makes her delicious cookie dough from scratch, however, since this is a kids recipe, we want to keep it simple. And, because there’s just no time to pull out that KitchenAid, we are using ready-to-bake-dough found in the refrigerator section at the grocery store. If you are local to Port Saint Lucie, contact Karen to place your order for your next themed party. Find her on Instagram at @bigcookiehouse

Now on to the decorating…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1. Cutouts on Amazon- you’ll want a pumpkin, spiderweb, and ghost cookie cutter shapes.

2 . Piping bags with tips- you can also find these on amazon. (If you have a plastic Ziplock and can poke a fine hole in the corner, you may use that too.)

3. Ready-to-bake-dough found in the refrigerator section at the grocery store.

4 . Frosting– white, orange, green, purple. You can just buy all white and then mix the color in yourself with food coloring.

5 . Bamboo Skewer - but you may be able to get away with a toothpick!

EASY PUMPKIN HALLOWEEN COOKIE:

Steps:

1. To begin, outline the cookie all around.

2 . Flood the outside parts of the pumpkin to create half-moon shapes.

3 . Using a bamboo skewer, try to smooth the icing and spread it all around, to fill in the half-moons.

4. After about 15-20 minutes or after the icing of the half-moons has crusted over, fill the center part. Use the bamboo skewers to smooth it.

Karen’s Pro Tip: While you wait for the icing to crust over, move on to another cookie and toggle back and forth!

5 . Finally, add the stem as the last step!

“Whether you’re making these for fun at home, or bringing them to a Halloween party, you’re going to find these cookie decorating tips so simple and straight-forward for kids!”

EASY GHOST HALLOWEEN COOKIE:

Steps:

1. First, outline all around the ghost shape and flood the entire ghost cookie.

2. Use a bamboo skewer to smooth the icing.

3. Carefully add eyes by slowly dropping two small dots to make the eyes. I helped Penny by guiding her hand.

4. Draw either a fun or spooked mouth, give your ghost personality!

EASY SPIDER WEB HALLOWEEN COOKIE:

Steps:

1. Start with outlining the spider web. See a pattern here? Carefully go around the edge.

2. Flood the inside on the cookie, careful to not go over the edge.

3. To draw the spider web, I helped Penny by playing a “connect the dots game.” Make dots on every peak, starting

on the outside and making an imaginary circle. Do it at least 3 times.

4. Using the bamboo skewer, start inside and drag the tip to the outside points.

5. We used Halloween themed sprinkles that we had on hand to make “food” for our spider friend.

6. Add your spider in the middle by creating a circle and some legs.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make these easy Halloween cookies! Be sure to drop a comment if you made these or are planning to!

Check out my blog “Fall Things to do on the Treasure Coast” by visiting treasurecoastmom.com

A Roofer That CARES

Making a big financial decision can be extremely stressful. In addition to seeing the dollar signs, when the decision concerns the structure of your home for years to come, it makes it even harder.  So, picture this: A company that looks for the best for your finances and your home, while walking you through every step of the process. Answering your questions no matter the time of day, having patience through the process, and putting your personal interests first. Sounds too good to be true, right?  Lucky for us here on

the Treasure Coast and surrounding areas, we have a company called FoxHaven Roofing Group, which makes this vision a reality. Located in Jensen Beach, Florida, FoxHaven services throughout St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties.

Andrew Keys relocated to this area many years ago from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Andy grew up with a father in the roofing industry and was working beside him as early as 13 years old. Although he grew up working with his family in this industry, it was he who

single handedly brought FoxHaven to life. When he initially moved to Florida, he was just trying to keep his head above the water.  After a few years of struggle and hard work, Andy decided to start his own company with the extensive knowledge and education that he had.  He made his way from nothing and found his own pathway to success by dedicating himself to this company.

Shortly after, lifelong friend of Andy’s, Matt Stewart, relocated to the same area and jumped right into the opportunity of working alongside Andy and further developing FoxHaven Roofing Group.  Matt was a General Contractor for 12 years before starting this new journey, but worked with his father mastering overall craftsmanship since nine years old. The skillset of the two together, along with a lifetime of friendship, made for the perfect match to grow this business.

With over 15 years of experience, FoxHaven came to life in 2018 and has since grown to now have 20+ employees. Each and every one of them is thought of as family and plays a vital part in the day-to-day operations.  Speaking with Samira Gonzalez, Office Manager at FoxHaven, she expressed how knowledgeable each member of the team is and how they can all tap in to help one another where it’s needed.  They all work together to make the company what it is and to provide the most top-notch customer service for every client. “We try to add more to the team every few months to increase our workload and focus on growing. Growing makes us better, but

does not and will not change our service. We prioritize the customer experience regardless of anything else,” says Sam.  You can see the truth in this sentence by looking at their perfect five-star rating Google reviews of nearly 120 reviews!

Anything from a roof leak and repair to a full replacement can be stressful for a homeowner. In addition to this, when replacing your roof, now we’re talking about coding, hurricane proofing, insurance… The stress level increases.  But having a team that focuses on subsiding this stress for you is so important. FoxHaven walks you through the entire process to make it as smooth and honest as they can for you to understand each motion.  They will even communicate with the insurance companies for you and provide detailed reports to ensure this process is as smooth and easy as possible.

With so many roof options - concrete or slate or metal, to name a few - it’s not easy knowing or understanding which is best for your house and for longevity. A tip from Andy and the team at FoxHaven is, to go with the metal! Their personal and professional preference is metal roofing, as it seems to be the best to withstand hurricanes, which we all know is a huge hardship for homeowners in Florida! With the hurricanes that we can get, proofing the home is key to helping you in the long run. When the decision needs to be made to spend the extra money on hurricane proofing or not, make the right one. In a previous interview with Andy, he says, “Don’t let it rain inside during the hurricane… It pays to enhance your house!”

“We try to add more to the team every few months to increase our workload and focus on growing. Growing makes us better, but does not and will not change our service. We prioritize the customer experience regardless of anything else.”

If I haven’t raved enough about the team over at FoxHaven, let me not forget to mention ways they give back to the community, too.  Last year they did a giveaway for a free roof! There were multiple participants and one lucky woman, located in Fort Pierce, won the giveaway and got her roof replaced, thanks to FoxHaven’s generous giveaway.  In addition, they always look for the best for the customer. The team will work their way around what needs to be done just to ensure the overall help and support is there and provided to get you the roof you need on your home.

If you’re a homeowner looking for a new roof, this one article might not be enough to make your decision, and that’s OK! FoxHaven encourages people to interview multiple roofers and find who you feel will be best to work with. Find someone who is genuine that you feel good about and trust. When making such a big decision, that’s the most important part.  In addition, read Google reviews and ask neighbors and friends who have had repairs or replacements for recommendations.  Chances are… you’ll route right back to FoxHaven.  In my opinion, if you’re looking for a repair or replacement, save yourself the time and call them at 772-879-5603 or visit foxhavenroof.com

HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR AUTUMN DECORATIONS

PORCH DECOR MADE EASY

Pumpkins, autumn florals, hay bails; we’re starting to see signs of Fall! For many of us, that means running to the store for new decorations, even though you likely did the year before… and the one before that. We’re here to help you appreciate the items you likely already have around the house!  Self-taught, handmade crafter, Carol Marte from LalaInspired Designs, LLC provided us with easy ways to enhance your decorating.

Look around for items such as wooden crates, glass jars, or farmhouse decorations. Glass jars can make for a beautiful DIY piece by filling it with an array of miniature pumpkins or battery operated candles to add some light. Wooden crates can add elevation and be filled with pumpkins! They can be stacked or spilled out for different effects. Farmhouse decorations you may already use in your home such as wooden signs, beads, or lanterns can make for great additions, too.  Carol has a few tips to help you even further make for the picture perfect front porch. Don’t prefer DIY activities?  Follow Carol on Instagram at @lalainspiredcrafts to see & support her products!

KEY TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR AUTUMN SPACE

COLOR PALETTE:

Bring the autumn colors together by adding different shades. Since I have a dark color door, I wanted to lighten it up by adding lighter colors; charming shades of light pink & oranges with a pop of deep reds and vibrant mustards.

PUMPKINS:

Buy the pumpkins! You can’t go wrong with mixing textures and styles like fabric, wooden, and real. The variety makes for a more vibrant space. Find options at Target’s dollar section, Hobby Lobby, or Dollar Tree! Stack different sizes together with a simple glue gun to make for unique DIY pieces, too!

FLORALS:

You can find many types of florals at those same places to create arrangements yourself, or buy them already prepared! The key is to mix in real floral though. Mums are an inexpensive yet beautiful way to liven up the area, plus, they smell nice! Try cutting the tips of pumpkins and inserting a jar to hold florals as well to really give it an Autumn feel.

ACCENT PIECES:

If your space allows, add a fall pattern rug to tie it together and give it a “cozy” vibe. Something with large stripes or plaid is a great accent piece. In addition, find a small table to add a vase with florals or any other pieces you’d like off the ground level.

A Grape Story

LIKE A GREAT BOOK, THE RIGHT BOTTLE GRASPS YOUR ATTENTION & HOLDS YOU CAPTIVE UNTIL THE END

Lorna Day is an author, columnist and local celebrity. She also conducts wine tastings and classes at her store in Stuart which is filled with a plethora of wines, cheese, salamis, chocolates and more. The store is open to the public and offers Gift Curation and private event space. She can be reached at lorna@ooolalalife.com, ooolalalife.com

ARTICLE BY LORNA DAY - OOO LA LA

Chardonnay

Rushing home, feeding the dogs, learning about little Johnny’s day and spending a little family time are common in “any town”, America. Routines become, well, routine. The same can be said for drinking wine. Ask yourself, “Do I purchase the same bottle, style & brand?” I am willing to bet you do, because wine marketing tells us that we are creatures of habit, repeatedly purchasing based on familiarity, recognition and price.

Wine marketing is similar to any other marketing with respect to “pushing” us towards products or ideals that we may or may not know they want us to buy, and we do. Most of us are only familiar with about 12 grape varieties. Interestingly, there are 1,368 Vine variants that can be made into wine and are in small, remote and sometimes not so remote areas of the world.

Opening a new, unfamiliar bottle of wine produced from the same grape, let’s say Chardonnay, for instance, is comparable to cracking open the pages of a book you’ve been dying to read. The label = the cover, the bouquet = the forward, the first chapter = the first sip, and so on.

Do you reread the same book over and over? Maybe every once in a while we do, but our hunger for a new story should match our thirst for a new twist on a grape we already enjoy.

Chardonnay is, in essence, a grape; it originated in the village of Chardonnay in Burgundy, France. A cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, green-skinned, neutral in flavor and also called Chardonnet, Auvernas blanc, Epinette, Rousseau and so many more.

Chardonnay grape is the main grape in most Champagnes and sparkling wines, a fact most people aren’t aware of. Chardonnay from France tastes nothing like California Chardonnay because of how it is vinified, enhanced with Oak, yeast, stems, fermentation and taking into consideration the climate, soil and altitude. Wente Vineyards cloned Chardonnay from Burgundy in 1912, it is the base grape for 80% of American Chardonnay plantings today.

Comparing this Burgundian grape to a romance novel, I would say: A true page turner, I couldn’t put it down, it kept me coming back for more, the character’s that made up the story were as unique as the author’s perspective. I found myself closing my eyes, savoring every sip and trying to read past the written font to truly understand the story more and like any good book, I can’t wait to crack open the next one.

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

OCTOBER 7TH

Healthy Boo-Bays 5k

TRADITION SQUARE; SW MEETING STREET | 7:30 AM

Our third annual race where all proceeds from this race will go towards Friends in Pink. Friends In Pink helps individuals living on the Treasure Coast who are diagnosed with breast cancer, so please help us continue the support!

Treasure Coast International Film, Art & Music Festival

TRADITION SQUARE; 108807 SW TRADITION SQUARE | 9:00 AM

Join in for an event hosted by Treasure Coast International Film Society for the Treasure Coast International Film, Art, & Music Festival! Enjoy live music, vendors, and food trucks at this entertaining event. *Time is subject to change

Junk in the Trunk at PSL Botanical Gardens

2410 SE WESTMORELAND BLVD | 8:00 AM

Our successful “Junk In Your Trunk Community Trunk Sale” is back! Join in for vendors with incredible items along with one of a kinds deals you can only find at this community sale! Bring the whole family, we’ll see you there!

Downtown Stuart Craft Festival

26 SW OSCEOLA ST., STUART FL | 10:00 AM

A two day craft festival with photography, paintings, sculptures, and more showcased from local and traveling crafters. This spectacular weekend festival is not to be missed.

Fall Festival

SUNLIGHT COMMUNITY CHURCH; 477 SW CASHMERE BLVD. | 4:00 PM

This family friendly event with have a variety of activities and attractions from a trunk or treat, to face painting and bounce houses. Live music from the Church Worship Band will be performed throughout the day, all free of charge!

Chili Cook Off

CLOVER PARK; 31 PIAZZA DRIVE | 11:00 AM

The Boys & Girls Clubs of St Lucie County is hosting their 41st Annual Chili Cook-Off at Clover Park.  Taste a huge variety of Chili along with other foods, enjoy live music and entertainment, and different exhibitions and games to keep all ages entertained!

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/PortStLucie

Apple Sage Veal Chop Recipe

APPLE SAGE VEAL CHOP

Serving Size: 4

VEAL CHOP INGREDIENTS:

• (4) 14oz. Bone-In Veal Chops

• Salt & Pepper

Instructions:

1. Season each veal chop with salt and pepper.

2. Sear each side for 3 minutes at medium-high heat in a cast iron pan.

3. Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until the desired internal temperature is reached.

APPLE SAGE SAUCE INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Apples

• 1/2 Cup Butter

• 1/2 Cup Chopped Sage

• 2 Cups Brown Sugar

• 1/2 Bottle Bourbon

• 1/2 Cup Shallots

• 3 Cups Beef Stock

• 1/2 Cup Roux

Instructions:

1. Peel the apples and shallots, then dice.

2. In a small pot, melt butter and add in diced apples and shallots.

3 . Cook until shallots are translucent.

4. Deglaze the pan with bourbon, allowing the alcohol to cook off.

5. Add in brown sugar and sage & simmer for five minutes.

6. Add in beef stock and bring to a boil.

7. Slowly add roux while stirring.

Head Chef Ian Reffner: A signature recipe from Head Chef Ian Reffner at Meating Street Seafood & Steakhouse, located at 10553 SW Meeting St., Port St. Lucie. An environment where you can find both fine dining or late night fun & entertainment. Try this recipe at home and let us know how it goes!

8. Let simmer for five minutes and pour over veal chops.

9. Serve and enjoy!

Tip: Pairs well with whipped potatoes and any vegetable of your choice.