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| Volume 1 Number 1 www.panamacitymetro.com January 2008 |
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Porcelain Doll Factory is Local Secret!
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Lionel, Red and Bunny |
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By David Woodby, Editor
OK, everyone who already KNEW there was a porcelain doll factory in Downtown Panama City, raise your hand. Not only have I driven past this fascinating business hundreds of times, I have even been in the store many times. Never had a
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world. The advent of the IFDM gave Deb and Jane the last boost on their way to their current career. Deb and Jane regularly teach seminars on Dollmaking through IFDM all over the world. They also function as judges in competitions sponsored by IFDM. The
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Glass cases hold antique dolls from Europe, antique dolls from the U.S. are in other cases. Antique doll toys and accessories are stacked in displays, atop the glass cases, and in some cases on the floor. I spotted one of the earliest Cabbage Patch Kids in one of the glass displays, I saw antique perambulators, doll toys, dollmaking supplies, paints,wigs, eyes, fabrics, shoes, books, and yes, large handmade dollhouses.
I noticed on leaving that there is another vendor downstairs that builds beautiful dollhouses and furniture by hand. Deb and Jane are also experts in restoration of antique porcelain dolls.
The glass case with the reproductions and restorations of European porcelain dolls from the late 1700's to the early 1800's was the most impressive and fascinating to me. Exquisite detail in hair, painted on features such as eyebrows, fingernails, the small stitches in clothing and buttons, beautiful shoes, is fascinating. When you visit, be prepared to spend some time here. Especially around Christmas time, the Dolls at Elegant Endeavors is one of those extra special trips for Mother/daughter, Grandmother/granddaughter, or Aunt/niece that will provide a never to be forgotten memory you can cherish for a lifetime. In this day and age of electronic toys and marvels, it is hard to impress young ladies with anything that is "so, like, last month." Surprise your young lady, don't tell her of the marvels she is about to see, just take her out "shopping." When I conducted this interview,...Story page 3 |
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By Bob Borich Vol. Executive Director Gulf Jazz Society Inc.
Swing era jazz icons feted in Jan. concert: Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Bunny Berigan remembered Ed Polcer and his New York Swing Street All-Starsare returning to Panama City at the Black Angus Restaurant on Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 2007 (7:00 to 9:30 p.m.) with a musical salute to Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo and Bunny Berigan in a program called "Lionel, Red and Bunny." Last year's "Hoagy and Bix"concert played before a packed house and a crowded dance floor.
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The same band returns this year to present the music and sounds of these three brilliant musicians of Americas Golden Age of Swing.
Joining cornetist Polcer is acclaimed virbraphonist and pianist John Cocuzzi. Other members of the band are tenor sax and clarinetist Paul Hybbell, bassist Frank Tate,...Story page 3
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clue
Deborah Anderson and Janet Lindsay became friends about 1985, and both were involved in dollmaking in small stores in Callaway. Both were involved with Bell Ceramics, then located in Clermont, Florida, and now headquartered in Texas. The company sells supplies, molds, paints, just about anything you can imagine related to the dollmaking trade. Deb's mother and father had owned a ceramics shop in Callaway for 40 years; she holds a degree in Art from Brigham Young University. Jane grew up mostly in Alabama, and moved here in the early 80's from the Phillipines; Jane holds a degree in Clothing Design from the University of Alabama. In 1986, Bell started the International Foundation of Doll Makers (IFDM). Since then, the IFDM has become a leading dollmaking organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of creating fine porcelain dolls around the |
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seminars and competitions have taken these local entrepreneurs to exotic locations in the U.S., Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, and Puerto Rico. They still manage to have the time to run Elegant Endeavors at 551 Harrison Avenue in Panama City, where they also teach classes in dollmaking every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and every Thursday from 6 pm.-8 p.m. Elegant Endeavors is huge inside. 80 or so vendors occupy space inside
this building,and they have Estate Sales; most of the merchandise is sold on consignment for the vendors. You can find beautiful sets of cut crystal or china, and right down the aisle you might be able to replace that sixth shot glass from the set Aunt Martha brought you from her trip to Gatlinburg back in the 60's. It's no small wonder that one can wander around inside this building and miss the doll area...it's downstairs in the right rear corner. |
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Tom's Hot Dogs |
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My father used to tell me that you can tell how good the food is in a restaurant by the number of customers in it. Judging from that criteria, Tom's Hot Dogs at 555 Harrison Avenue has great food. There is an easier way of course, you can go inside and taste the food. As a hot dog afficionado of old, a true epicure when it comes to hot dogs, I can tell you...if there is a better hot dog on this earth than Tom's, I haven't tasted it. I am particularly fond of his chili dog, but there is something for everyone here. Sauerkraut, relish, sausage dogs, chicken salad sandwiches, the menu is pretty large (and so are the hamburgers) for such a small place.
Every day you can walk past Tom's and see people lined up either to the door, or out into the street. Service doesn't take long, and most is take out since there is limited seating, both inside and outside. |
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Tom's was selected as "Best of Bay County" the first 7 years of that event, but afterwards, the category Tom's competed in was eliminated.
John Drummond is the third "Tom", the first being Tom York of Birmingham, Alabama who started the store in 1980 with his wife Pat. In 1987 the second "Tom" took over, Randy Dula and his wife Susan ...Story page 6 |
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Contents: Art - page 2,3 Dining - page 6 Calendar - page 7
Outdoors- page 8 Entertainment -page 9 Business - page 11 Real Estate - page 12 |
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