Lisa Barton

Several Sundays ago I went to the holiday edition of Open Mike, at the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center, which showcased the talents of local musicians. There were a wide variety of performers from classical guitarist, pianists, and opera singers to bluegrass and rock and roll. There was also a wide range in the ages of the performers – from fourteen to ninety. I was amazed to see how much talent we have right here at home, and particularly enjoyed the sense of community and easy banter between performers and audience. This was the fifth and final gathering for this year, with three of the previous performances occurring over the summer, and one during the fall. The next performance is scheduled for the spring of 2009, to be followed with more gatherings over the summer. These events are free to the public, are informal and are lots of fun.

The Ponte Vedra Cultural Center is a great asset to the Beaches community. The Center offers art, cooking, music and dance classes for all ages, as well as lectures and a changing venue of exhibits by local artists. During the summer and holiday breaks, the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center also offers special art camps for children. For more information and for event schedules visit the Cultural Center website.