Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard and his wife Valerie invite patrons to dine on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day – New Years Eve and New Years Day…celebrating their best Christmas gift. They are sharing their 3-Diamond AAA Award with friends, fans and family after opening Bistro de Leon two years ago in historic St. Augustine.

Chef Poinard is proud to say “We are honored to receive this coveted recognition for our little Bistro. During the holidays, we are displaying it proudly, especially from Christmas Eve throughout New Years Day. I have prepared exceptional holiday menus along with Valerie’s exceptional wines”.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Poinard is serving a 4-course menu for $39 per person.

New Years Eve and New Years Day Poinard is serving a 6-course menu for $69 per person.

Note: The Poinard’s are offering (in addition to their Bistro wine list) an amazing wine for their holiday dinners: “1989 Chateau Pape Clement Grand Cru Classe’. For guests who reserve it in advance, it will be opened two hours prior to dining. Cost; $210.

For interviews, menus and photos, contact: Leigh Cort Publicity

Bistro de Leon

#12 Cathedral Street

St. Augustine, Florida

904-810-2100

Friday, Saturday & Sunday: November 26, 27 & 28

NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

St. Augustine, Florida’s annual Nights of Lights provides one of the Southeast’s most memorable holiday events. In a manner befitting the Nation’s Oldest City, this inspiring display of light is based on the tradition of the town’s original Spanish colonists who placed a white candle in their windows to brighten the nights during the Christmas holidays. This 17th edition of the festival features more than two million tiny white lights adorning the palm trees and buildings of the city’s historic district. Reflected in the waters of Matanzas Bay, outlining the colonial city, and including the nearby beaches and lighthouse, this light display creates a holiday wonderland in a place with real history on every street corner. For a complete list of activities and events during Nights of Lights, visit www.NightsofLights.com.

WINTER WONDERLAND AT ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATER

Slide on in to Winter Wonderland and experience a real ice skating rink, ice slide, Elf Express train rides, The Elf Village, sleigh rides and SNOW! There are even scheduled visits from Santa. New this year – a ski chalet with a bar and closed circuit television! St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1340 A1A St. Augustine. Hours are November 26 through December 17, Monday through Thursday 4 to 10 p.m.; Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays noon to 10 p.m.; and December 18 through January 2, Sunday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. Admission is free with activity participation fees. For more information, call 904.209.0367 or visit www.WinterWonderlandFlorida.com.

SANTA’S BIG RED CHRISTMAS TRAIN

Enjoy St Augustine’s beautiful Nights of Lights Celebration from Santa’s Big Red Christmas train! Santa’s Big Red Christmas Train operates 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $7 for Adults and $3 for children 2-12, children under 2, free. For more information, call 904.829.6545.

HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAY TROLLEY

Explore St. Augustine’s famous Night of Lights in the cozy comfort aboard the Holly Jolly Trolleys. Caroling, hot cider, homemade cookies and complimentary magical viewing glasses, handcrafted by Santa’s elves add to the magic of your evening. Tours depart from the St. Augustine Visitors Information Center located at 10 Castillo Drive. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children 6 – 12. For more information call 904.829.3800.

Harry Potter at the imax

See Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the latest and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, on the giant screen at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theatre located at One World Golf Place in St. Augustine’s World Golf Village.. For show times through December 31 and advance ticket information, visit www.WorldGolfIMAX.com or call 904.940.IMAX.

Friday and Saturday: November 26 & 27

CANDLE LIGHT TOURS OF VILLA ZORAYDA

Explore the beautiful Villa Zorayda, decorated for the Holiday season, featuring a live Christmas tree in the “Court of Lions”, decorated in the Villa’s traditional Red and Gold Colors and a beautiful crèche nativity scene that that has been a Villa tradition since the 1930s. Starting at 6:30 p.m., enjoy refreshments of cookies and punch. Then the guided candlelight tour begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children 7-12, children 4-6 are free (not recommended for children under 3). Villa Zorayda is located at 83 King Street in St. Augustine. Reservations are suggested. For more information, visit www.VillaZoryada.com or call 904.829.9887.

Saturday & Sunday: November 27 & 28

FALL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

See art created from lace to limestone and crayons to crystal. Enjoy unplugged entertainment, plein air artists at work, and the Kids Art Zone. This juried art festival takes place at Francis Field behind the St. Augustine Downtown Historic Parking Facility located on West Castillo Drive in St. Augustine. The festival is sponsored by the St. Augustine Art Association and takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is a $1 donation. For more information, call 904.824.2310 or visit www.staaa.org.

Saturday: November 27

LOS PRESIDIALES DE SAN AGUSTÍN AT FORT MOSE

Experience an 18th-century historical interpretation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free black settlement in the continental U.S. Fort Mose State Park is located just north of St. Augustine off U.S. 1 at 15 Fort Mose Trail. Admission is $4 for vehicles up to 8 people, $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. For more information call 904.823.232 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose.

BEACH PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Get a great holiday photo and help support the St. Augustine Lifesaving Association. From 9 a.m. to noon, Santa will be posing for photos on the beach just north of the county pier in St. Augustine Beach. For more information, call 904.540.4255.

UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

A favorite end-of-the-month event, Uptown Saturday Night takes place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. the last Saturday of every month in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, St. Augustine. Galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios remain open during this special time. Meet the artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other events contribute to the party-like atmosphere. The Mission of Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING for Uptown Saturday Night. For more information, call 904.823.9263.

Sunday: November 28

EMMA CONCERT: ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET

Enjoy the spontaneous, passionate and dynamic performance of this renowned world-class ensemble. The performance begins at 2 p.m. in the Flagler College Auditorium, located at 14 Granada Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information call 904.797.2800 or visit www.EmmaConcerts.com.

NOTE:
St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to Government House Museum, the Lightner Museum, the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, and the Spanish Military Hospital Museum. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum (donations are welcomed).

For more information on events and activities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com or call 1.800.653.2489.

St. Augustine’s renowned ‘Nights of Lights’ is a magical memory to every visitor who has experienced the brilliant twinkling lights that illuminate America’s Oldest City. For the sixth year, guests of the Inns of Elegance will receive a holiday gift of an exclusive private ride on the St. Augustine Sightseeing Train and a complimentary beverage at the Tini Martini Bar.

With any 2 night stay Sunday thru Thursday (November 28, 2010 – January 27^th, 2011) guests can enjoy this very unique holiday ‘Train Tour’ gift from their Innkeeper. The ‘Light Up Your Life’ promotion is included in the seasonal room rate at any of the (5) Inns of Elegance. In addition, the Tini Martini Bar is serving each guest a complimentary beverage pre-or post- train tour.

Enjoy the ‘Nights of Lights’ Magic of the Season as you ride the sightseeing train during this promotion and enjoy the breathtaking “Nights of Lights” display in downtown St. Augustine.

During “Night of Lights”, there is a thrilling profusion of more than two million tiny white lights strung throughout the ancient streets and historic buildings of the St. Augustine when the Annual Nights of Lights celebration sparkles to life. It paints a story book picture in the evening darkness, bringing joy to the thousands of residents and visitors that come to soak up the flavors of history, art, good food and Spanish tradition of displaying a lighted white candle during the Christmas holidays; the spectacular illumination in St. Augustine reflects the city’s 446-year history while old live oaks remain as sentinels in America’s oldest city.

The Inns of Elegance are a celebrated collection of romantic bed & breakfast inns in historic St. Augustine Florida. Casablanca Inn, Inn on Charlotte, Westcott House, Bayfront Marin House and St. Francis Inn.

• Gourmet Breakfast
• Outstanding Accommodations with Picturesque Settings
• V.I.P. Personalized & Attentive Service
• Award-Winning Historical Properties

For information and reservations, contact the Inns of Elegance at 877-616-6444.  www.innsofelegance.com

Fireworks, Hotel Deals, Concerts, Art Walk…And More!
STAR-SPANGLED EVENTS SET FOR JULY 4TH IN
ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA & THE BEACHES

A spectacular fireworks show high above the ancient Castillo de San Marcos and reflected in the waters of Matanzas Bay is just one of many memorable July 4th weekend events set for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches.

Selected last week by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top ten places to live in the United States, St. Augustine combines the best traditions of America’s Independence Day with activities that never fail to inspire and delight residents and visitors alike.

Fireworks Over the Matanzas is the traditional July 4th spectacular in St. Augustine. This year, the event gets underway at 6 p.m. with a free, two-hour concert by The All Star Orchestra concert in the Plaza de la Consititucion in the heart of the historic district of the Nation’s oldest city. One of the region’s most popular big bands, The All Star Orchestra will combine patriotic favorites with nostalgic Big Band and Swing music. At 9:30 p.m., a bursting shell high above Matanzas Bay will signal the beginning of a pyrotechnic extravaganza that for the next 2 0 minutes will thrill thousands of spectators. To enhance the fireworks experience, local radio station WFOY/1240-AM will broadcast a stirring soundtrack of great popular music to coincide with the aerial spectacular. The broadcast can be heard on radios throughout the fireworks viewing area from Vilano Beach to the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Plus, a sophisticated audio system using loudspeakers will insure spectators along Matanzas Bay will be able to enjoy the musical accompaniment.

Following the fireworks, many shops, galleries and restaurants in downtown St. Augustine will remain open for the benefit of spectators at the fireworks show. Plus, for those who have not made their 4th of July B&B, hotel or resort reservations, the Visitors and Convention Bureau has made booking last-minute accommodations easy. For a link to room availability and special accommodations rates for this popular weekend, simply go to www.Getaway4Florida.com and click on the special July 4th Room Availability Button.

Fireworks Over the Matanzas is just one of the many July 4th weekend events available in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches. Combined with a visit to the gorgeous beaches of the area, sightseeing in one of the nation’s most historic cities, a round of golf on some of the most famous courses in the world or just some special pampering at the spas and resorts of Ponte Vedra Beach, these events are sure to make this Independence Day weekend a time of special memories.

Here are some great weekend activities:

Thursday, July 2:

FREEDOM TRAIL TOURS
Embark on a narrated tour of St. Augustine’s Civil Rights Landmarks: Freedom Trail. Featuring the many sites and homes of the people who participated in St. Augustine’s pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement of 1964, the tour takes place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours depart from Excelsior African American Cultural Museum, 102 M. L. King Avenue in St. Augustine. Suggested donations are $15 for adults and $7 for students and will go toward sponsoring the 40th ACCORD’s efforts to erect additional Freedom Trail markers. For tickets and more information call 904.825.1194 or 386.986.4121 or visit www.accordfreedomtrail.org.

SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA
Bring your chair and enjoy an evening concert in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion while enjoying bluegrass and beyond performed by The Driftwoods. The concert is from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free to the public. For more information, call 904.825.1004 or visit www.plazaconcerts.com.

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE FIREWORKS
Enjoy one of the largest fireworks displays in Northeast Florida as the World Golf Village celebrates Independence Day. Bring blankets or lawn chairs (no coolers please) and find a spot around the Walk of Champions to enjoy the show. The Fireworks take place at 9:30 p.m. and admission is free. The World Golf Village is located at Exit 323 off I-95 in St. Augustine. For more information, visit www.wgv.com or call 904.940.4123.

WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER
Start your Fourth of July weekend sampling early at this special fund raiser for The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. Located at Urban Flats Flatbread and Wine Company in the Shoppes at Ponte Vedra, the fun begins at 5:30 p.m. For just a $20 tax deductible donation, participants can sample flatbreads, desserts and the very best wines from Urban Flats. Proceeds benefit the Cultural Center’s arts education programs. For more information, call 904.280.0614.

Friday, July 3

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Join one of St. Augustine’s most popular cultural events on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries – plus, great food courtesy of the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association. And at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica, the Don Thompson Chorale will present a free Christmas Concert. Tours begin at Rembrandtz American Craft Gallery, 131 King Street. Galleries are open from 5 to 9 p.m. St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer attendees a complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries. Shuttles run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes. For more information, call 904.829.0065 or visit www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com.

Saturday, July 4

SAND SCULPTING CLASSES AT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
Come learn about the art, techniques and tools to make great sandcastles. In preparation for the City of St. Augustine Beach’s 50th Birthday sand sculpting contest on November 7, there will be sand sculpting classes for kids of all ages the first Saturday of every month through October. These family-fun instructional sessions take place each Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon on the beach in front of Ocean Trace Ramp at St. Augustine Beach. The classes are free and open to the public. For more information, call 904.501.1253 or email Melissa@citgateproductions.com, or visit www.50thBeachBirthday.com.

GTM Environmental Education Center – CREATURE FEATURE, TRAIL WALK, AND NATURE MOVIE
Experience a fun and educational stroll through the uplands trails located within the Guana Reserve. The walk will cover approximately one and one-half miles round trip. Bring water, bug spray, and wear closed toe shoes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The walk takes place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and starts at the Guana Dam trailhead pavilion. Then, at 11 a.m. join Research Reserve Visitor Services Specialist Jake Fitzroy for an informative presentation about the Pine Snake, including habitat, diet, predators, breeding, population status and other fun facts. Plus, the movie “Crash: A Tale of Two Species” will be shown at 10 a.m. The GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, approximately 8 miles north of Vilano Beach in Ponte Vedra South. Admission is$2 for adults, $1 for Children 10 to 17 years old, and free for children 10 and under For more information, call 904.823.4500.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Have a blast at one of the East Coast’s largest fireworks shows! The spectacular fireworks burst above the ancient Castillo de San Marcos and reflect in the waters of Matanzas Bay. The 20-minute show includes a stirring soundtrack of great patriotic music. Admission is free with the best vantage points located along the bayfront between the Castillo and the Bridge of Lions. The fireworks blast off at 9:30 p.m. For more details, call 904.825.1004.

4TH OF JULY ROOFTOP CELEBRATION AT THE WHITE ROOM
Come celebrate our nation’s independence at the grand opening of The White Room’s Loft and Rooftop and enjoy the fireworks with the best view in town. Throughout the evening live entertainment from jazz and American classics will be performed. Dinner and party packages ranging from $30 to $50 are available. The White Room is located on the third floor of 1 King Street in St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.824.9056.

4TH OF JULY ABOARD THE VICTORY III
Hop aboard St. Augustine Scenic Cruises’ Victory III for the best seats in town for the Nation’s oldest city’s 2009 fireworks display on Matanzas Bay. The Victory III will begin boarding at 8:15 p.m. and depart the City Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Space is limited advance ticket purchase required. For more information or to order your tickets, call 904.824.1806 ext 210.

4th OF JULY ABOARD THE BLACK RAVEN
Come aboard if ye dare for a blast of a good time aboard the Black Raven. The Black Raven will be departing from the St. Augustine Marina for a sail about the Matanzas Bay for this year’s spectacular fireworks display. Boarding is at 8 p.m. and the Raven departs at 8:15 p.m. Tickets, which includes light snacks and a beer or wine are $55 per person. For more information and reservations call 877.578.5050 904.826.0000 or visit http://www.blackravenadventures.com/.

4TH OF JULY TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
Celebrate the 4th of July at the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse with a magnificent view of the skyline and the fireworks. This memorable event begins with a sunset view. Then when darkness sets…… spectacular fireworks! St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is located at 81 Lighthouse Avenue in St. Augustine. Tickets are $40 per person and space is limited. For reservations call 904.829.0745 ext. 207. For more information, visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com.

Sunday, July 5

AQUATIC PRESERVE KAYAK TOUR
Enjoy beautiful views of the Princess Place Preserve while a Florida Master Naturalist interprets local ecology, history, folklore, and proper kayaking technique. The tour leaves from Faver-Dykes State Park for a 3-hour paddling eco-tour through one of the best kept natural estuaries in Florida and be a million miles from nowhere! Faver-Dykes State Park is located off US1 South at I-95 Exit 298 in St. Augustine. The tour is from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $50 per person and includes park admission, kayaking equipment, guided tour and photos. For more information or to reserve your space, call 904.347.1565 or visit www.RippleEffectEcoTours.com.

For more information on special events, activities, accommodations and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, call the Visitors and Convention Bureau at 1.800.653.2489 or visit www.Getaway4Florida.