The Name: Georgeen Newell was the first one to define us as a posse. She was explaining to a friend how she had acclimated to this area so well and said she had a posse of friends that brought her into the fold; including her in various functions. She later shared this story with Christopher Renteria, operating partner of Fleming’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar. Christopher & his wife, Laci & son Max had been included in the 2007 ‘Orphans Thanksgiving’ at Ladie Bea & Wayne’s and had a somewhat similar feeling of inclusion. They too were newcomers to the area. It was Christopher who then started calling this close-knit group of friends the ’30-A Posse’. Debbie Wheeler, writer for the Walton Sun, picked up on the moniker and stated using it in her weekly column. Other restaurateurs, Ollie Petite, Red Bar, Brenda Darr, FIRE, Johnny Earles, formerly Criollas, Harriet Cromlin, Café 30A, and other locals who saw us out and about on a daily basis started using the ‘…Posse’ to reference the group. It has sort of taken on a life of its own.
The Organization: There is none, period, paragraph!! There is no roster, no by-laws, no dress code (well maybe – no socks), no dues, no officers, etc. You get the idea, etc.
The Group:There are some 20+ friends that wine & dine together and celebrate life quite frequently. Sunday brunch @FIRE is a must! The ‘core group’, of which there are about six, have lunch on an almost daily basis (lunch has been known to morph right into sunset). This group is highly likely to reconvene, if they even part, at about 5:00 or whenever sunset happens. They head to Grayton Beach to meet-up with whoever else is out & about. And then we could move right on to The Red Bar, FIRE, Borago, and Café 30A or if we get adventuresome, we’ll go ALL the way to Grand Blvd. & visit with our buddy Christopher at Fleming’s. Some of the friends are in and out of the area for months at a time, but when they return, its back in the saddle again, time to ride - head ‘em up & move ‘em out.The Functions: Holidays and full moons are times of our largest gatherings. The word goes out and the masses gather. The greater group will include 50-70 who will bring what they like to eat & drink and spread it out for all those gathered. Full Moon gatherings have been a standard for many years. Every month, on the event of the full moon (there are sometimes two full moons in a month, the second one is the ‘Blue Moon’, and that means you have to do it again), the group meets at Grayton Beach directly behind the Red Bar. This is where the spread of food & adult beverages happens, while waiting for the sun to set & the moon to rise. These events demand a toast & a howl, respectively.
The initial holiday gathering was for what we call ‘Orphans Thanksgiving’ at Ladie Bea & Wayne’s. Orphans being defined as not having a family group to gather with or having family you don’t want to be with. That year, 2005, there were about 35-40 that gathered.Other holiday group feastings are: Christmas Day @ ‘Tall’ Tom Hopkins’, New Year’s Adam Party, (the night before New Year’s Eve) @ Dana & Tom Saffel’s, New Year’s Eve @ Hank White’s, Easter Sunday @ Susan Thornton’s and 4th of July @ Grayton Beach.
The Rest:The Posse, generally speaking, makes every effort to support our community art events, Cultural Arts shows, Seaside Rep Theater, Seaside First Friday Art Walkabout, musical presentations at WaterColor, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach. We also support fund raising events for the Children’s Vol. Health Network, Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, & Children In Crisis, etc.
Whoever heard of such, a New Year's Adam Party, sounds like just another excuse for a 'throwdown'. This fun event takes place the night before New Year's Eve, of course, you knew that!!
