| The Ocala Lifestyle: In our blogs, we feature many elements of the Ocala lifestyle. Among them are home design, planned communities, nature, the arts, dining, theater and sporting activities. Our town sits at the center of a county whose economy is largely dependent on the equine industry. As we have pointed out elsewhere, this industry brings $3 billion in revenue into our community annually. However, The World Equestrian Center will finally open its doors in early 2021 and will impact our economy as no other single business ever has. It is expected to trigger a growth never before experienced here. As a result, the W.E.C. will cause the contribution of the equine industry to more than triple over a period of a few years. Of course, we will continue to report on both the W.E.C. and the equine industry in our posts. But Ocala is more than a focal point for the equine industry. It sits at the center of a network of parks and nature reserves. The largest of these is the Ocala National Forest, a network of lakes and treed landscapes that is home to a wide variety of wild inhabitants. Here you can hike, boat, fish and enjoy lounging in natural spring waters. The arts participate integrally in the local economy as well. Therefore, we will feature shows at the Appleton Museum of Art and other galleries, local studios of famed artists and art fairs. We will also take note of performances by the local symphony, plays of interest and performances by other musicians. Finally, we may blog about local networking events, clubs, charitable fundraisers and much more. Please join us weekly to find out what’s happening. |
The ever-evolving world of Ocala home styles is exciting indeed. 2024 is predicted to usher in a refreshing blend of bold statements and intimate, social settings. As we continue to tailor our homes to our post-pandemic lifestyles, we will see a resurgence of personal expression. Of course, this creativity will be coupled with a renewed … Read more
The Mother’s Day tradition offers many and varied opportunities to celebrate the amazing women in our lives. Each lady is special in her own way, and each deserves to be celebrated and shown how much she is valued. The Origins of the “Mother’s Day in Ocala” Tradition1 A story is told of a woman who … Read more
The essence of Ocala haute cuisine is evolving as more and more amazing options become available every day. My wife and I are passionate about many things, but travel and fine dining near the top of our list. We have traveled to six of the seven continents and experienced the history, culture, art and culinary … Read more
Ocala living is about enjoying the holiday season with family, friends and neighbors. Be proud, of our town. But you don’t have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style, even in these inflationary times. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still plenty of … Read more
Our home town Ocala feeling is about enjoying. To that end, Ocala offers lifestyles to please everyone. Of course, the arts are integral to life in our community. Therefore, we support them with all our souls. Our flirtation with the nurturing of the arts began with the Hub, a clothing store founded in 1953 by … Read more
Celebrate the holidays Ocala style. Our town is an amazing place where festivities abound from Halloween to New Years Eve. Among them are the many offerings of the World Equestrian Center. Of course, this is also a time to enjoy a symphony under the stars, the many dining choices found in our town and much … Read more
The Ocala art scene is burgeoning with creativity. To be sure, Susan and I are art lovers. Therefore, we are excited that the works of amazing artists are an integral element of the Ocala lifestyle. A few years ago we set out to explore the Cote d’Azur, the Mediterranean coast of France. Of course, this … Read more
As an Ocala Realtor, I am proud to live in and serve a community that features many outstanding people, some famous, most not. Among the many talented and immensely successful people who call Ocala home, Mark Emery stands out. Emery and his family migrated to Ocala when the young lad was just four years old. … Read more
Ocala parks are the very essence of life in our town. Our granddaughters were to visit for the weekend and we set out to plan a wonderful adventure for them. In researching our options, we discovered that Ocala is a city of parks. There are more parks per capita in our town than you could … Read more
Ocala artists add to the aesthetic charm of this part of Florida. Fortunately, our town features a thriving community of talented artists who are instrumental in making Ocala a great place to call home. So we indulge our passion for art by introducing you to several of the most talented among them. Our Passion For … Read more
When I was in my early teens I ignored the importance of physical fitness. In fact, I was well on the way to being obese. I weighed about thirty pounds more than my friends and had perfected the art of being a couch potato. Unfortunately, my greatest thrill was reviewing the upcoming fall TV schedule … Read more
With the advent of the pandemic, the Ocala home is becoming the office of choice too. You may have experienced a shift from office centric employment to working from home. Initially most viewed such a shift as being temporary. To be sure, they expected that once the threat of COVID-19 was over, they would return … Read more
The Ocala equestrian lifestyle has been the focal point of our community and our economy for nearly a century. However, the opening of the World Equestrian Center has now launched our community onto the global stage. In the process, it has also ensured that our farmland preservation area will be protected. We are about to … Read more