December Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

Just as we were starting to get used to 2016, the entire year has flown by and it’s time to start thinking about 2017. But even though the new year is right around the corner, there is still plenty of time to have some fun with all of the great events that our friends at the Activity Center have planned for the month of December.  

You might be looking for your favorite regular events like the Shabbat Dinner Club, Coffee and Canvas, the Free Beginners Tennis Clinic, or you might be more interested in once-a-year festivities like our annual New Year’s Eve party. Either way, we’ve got you covered with a packed calendar this month! 

Social Events 

We will kick off the holiday season with a festive holiday party at Skyview Restaurant from 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, December 13. The party will feature a fabulous menu that starts with an Artisan Cheese and Fruit Display and ends with some amazing seasonal desserts. There will also be live music provided by our good friend Charlie De.

The Shabbat Dinner Club will be getting together on Friday, December 23 in the Garden Room at The Grille where the doors will be opening at 5:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:15 pm. This month, diners will have the option of choosing from Chicken Piccata or Stuffed Tilapia Bercy.

The biggest party of the year will be the New Year’s Eve Celebration in the Hampton Room on December 31. This is a formal affair where black ties are optional, but the fun is mandatory! The evening will feature a fabulous dinner of Prime Rib and Napa Chicken, as well as professional DJs, a live band, and a live feed of “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” in Times Square. 

Arts & Education Activities 

The speaker series will be back on Monday, December 5 at 1 pm in the Activity Center. This month, our guests will be B.J. Darvis from the UF/Citrus Cooperative Extension and Steven Davis who is the Citrus County Florida Yards and Neighbors Coordinator. Our guests will be discussing how to maintain your yards using Florida-friendly landscaping techniques.

Local artist Vanessa Fuller-Brown is at the Activity Center on Tuesday, December 6 for another installment of Coffee & Canvas. This month, the class will be working on replicating Georgia O’Keeffe’s “White Calla Lilies on Red.” If you have never been to a Coffee & Canvas event before, this is a great time of year to start. For just $60, members will be provided will all the supplies they need to recreate this classic painting.  

Golf & Tennis 

Vendors representing Ping, Callaway, Wilson, Cleveland, Mizuno, Cobra, and Taylor Made will all be on hand for Demo Day at the Skyview Driving Range on Saturday, December 3 from 9:30 am to 3 pm. This is a great opportunity for golfers of all skill levels to try out some of the latest and greatest equipment, and even preorder some items that haven’t hit the market yet!

You can learn how to really put those new clubs to use by attending any of the Free Golf Clinics that are planned for the month of December. Golf Pro Wayne Larson will be instructing beginner golfers on December 5, 6, and 7. Then intermediate golfers will be invited to attend on December 13, 20, and 27. All clinics start at 11 am.  

Ready to put those new golf skills to work? Skyview will be hosting their Husband & Wife Championship on Monday, December 5. Then they will be having their annual Cross Country Golf Tournament, which is an absolute blast to participate in, on Friday, December 16.

The Oaks Course will be hosting the St. Nick Open on Saturday, December 10. This shotgun start tournament benefits Toys for Tots, and everyone attending is invited to bring an unwrapped toy to donate.

Dinner Specials 

As if you weren’t already going to have too much food to eat over the holiday season, there are also some amazing dinner specials lined up at each of our restaurants this month. Sunday Brunch will be back at Skyview Restaurant on December 18, and then you won’t want to miss out on their Brazilian Steakhouse Night on December 27.

The Tiki Bar will be hosting a Caribbean Christmas Buffet on Thursday, December 15 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The island-style menu will feature Coconut Garlic Shrimp, West Indian-Style Chicken with Sauce Cien, Curried Goat, and lots of Caribbean sides. There will be live music from Steel of the Night.  

The Grille is having “A Taste of Asia” on December 6 that will give you the opportunity to try a wide range of Asian cuisine. They will also be hosting a fabulous New Year’s Eve dinner with entree selections of Blackened Scallops, Prime Rib, Surf & Turf, Stuffed Chicken, Ahi Tuna, and more!

Should you happen to find some time for yourself this month, you might want to make an appointment at BellaVita Spa, where the specials this month include a Cinnamon Enzyme Exfoliation Treatment, a Cranberry Spa Pedicure, and a Holiday Escape Massage. Any of those three choices would be an excellent way to finish out a wonderful year here at the Villages of Citrus Hills!

Stretch it Out: Yoga Studios Near the Villages of Citrus Hills

If you’ve never been to a yoga class before, it might seem like one of those hip exercise trends that come and go over the years. But once you experience your first vinyasa flow class and make it all the way through to the relaxing shavasana pose, you will no doubt be hooked.  

Yoga offers a powerful, low-impact workout that promotes personal growth along with physical development. It is great for treating chronic pains like lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and even carpal tunnel syndrome. At the same time, yoga students are able to use movements and breathing to produce all kinds of emotional and spiritual developments too! 

Luckily, we are fortunate enough to be virtually surrounded by yoga studios!

 Yoga Classes at BellaVita Spa & Fitness Center 

The first place to find a great yoga class close to the Villages of Citrus Hills is right in our very own BellaVita Spa & Fitness Center. Here you will find basic yoga, power yoga, and restorative yoga on the class schedule each and every week.

The basic yoga classes are taught by Nancy and Sheila, and they focus on stretching and breathing as they work through the entire body. These classes are great for beginners, but the instructors are also able to offer more challenging positions for experienced students.

If you are looking for more of a meditative experience, Cindy’s restorative yoga class offers a yin yoga style that focuses more on deep stretches that are held for longer periods of time. These classes are known to have an amazing impact on your mental state.  

Citrus Yoga & Fitness 

If the class times at BellaVita don’t fit your schedule, an alternative for yoga near the Villages of Citrus Hills is Citrus Yoga & Fitness located on Meadowcrest Blvd. in Crystal River. 

There are a total of six different instructors here that offer classes for all levels of yoga throughout the week, and those classes can be paid for on a per class or per month basis.

The ladies at Citrus Yoga are a fantastic resource for anyone who has never tried yoga before. Even if you aren’t sure about taking one of their classes, they will still be happy to help you understand exactly what benefits you can expect from a regular yoga practice.

Pure Elements Yoga and Wellness Center 

Another great choice in Crystal River is Pure Elements Yoga and Wellness Center located right off of Highway 19. Their focus is on using yoga as a treatment to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and alternative therapies.

Classes here are scheduled every Monday and Wednesday evening, so if the morning classes at other studios don’t work for you this is a great alternative.  

Inverness Yoga & Wellness Center 

One of the best resources for all things yoga near the Villages of Citrus Hills is the Inverness Yoga & Wellness Center. Here you will find a very full schedule that offers multiple classes to choose from on just about every day of the week. You can pay for those classes one at a time, or take advantage of their monthly rate.

In addition to yoga classes, you will also learn about stress workshops, yoga retreats, and teacher training for when you are ready to take your yoga practice to the next level.  

No matter which studio you find most interesting, adding a regular yoga practice to your life will dramatically change you from the inside out. So, contact one of these great studios or just head over to a class at BellaVita and start working on your downward dog!

Sushi for Days: Nearby Sushi Restaurants

Over the past decade, sushi has been one of the fastest growing cuisines for people who like to eat out on a regular basis. Sushi is delicious, and is typically on the healthy side of the food spectrum, and if you know what you are doing it doesn’t have to cost a fortune either! 

Whether you prefer the flavors of raw salmon and tuna, crunchy tempura battered shrimp, or just a simple California Roll, there are multiple choices for getting sushi within a short drive of the Villages of Citrus Hills.  

Sushi-O is a unique experience that takes the time to think of new ways to incorporate a number of different local ingredients in with their traditional Japanese flavors. You will find them in a little plaza off of West Norvell Bryant Highway in Lecanto.

Zesty Edamame Salad

An entire page of the menu is devoted to their impressive selection of specialty rolls, where you will find classics like the Kamikaze Roll and Rainbow Roll. They also have some creative twists on the classics like their Tempura Philly Roll. 

If you’re looking for sushi in the Crystal River area, Ginger Asian Bistro is the first place you are going to want to stop. They’re located on Highway 19 and offer a great mix of Chinese and Japanese cuisine.  

Part of the massive menu includes a long list of specialty rolls. Try their Crystal River Roll, which includes shrimp tempura with avocado. 

Ginger Asian Bistro also has excellent lunch specials. Take your pick of two or three classic rolls along with soup or salad.

Fuji Asian Bistro, Homosassa 

Located along Suncoast Blvd in Homosassa, Fuji Asian Bistro is the real deal when it comes to Asian-style seafood here in Citrus County. Their menu features a dynamic selection of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine where you will find plenty of great sushi.

Szechuan Snapper

If you are looking to try something outside the box, their Gator Roll is one of the best sellers on the menu! And if you are heading out with someone who isn’t a sushi fan, the sweet and sour chicken here is excellent as well.  

Three More Options in Ocala

If you are on a serious quest to find the best sushi around, you will also want to plan a few trips out to Ocala. There you will find three fantastic options in Asian Pop, Edo Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse, and Grace Sushi.

Each of these restaurants offer a slightly different type of atmosphere, but at their core they are all built around serving up some of the most delicious sushi rolls you have ever tried.

With three great choices, right here in Citrus County, and three more in nearby Ocala, the sushi lovers of Citrus Hills are well-equipped to dine on their favorite combinations of raw and fried seafood pretty much every day of the week if they like.

Enjoy!

November Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

Just like that, the summer months have faded into our memories and the holidays are right around the corner. In addition to all of the regular monthly events and activities that are usually on the calendar, we also have quite a few seasonal things to get excited about here in the month of November.  

Whether you are interested in getting together with friends to enjoy a show, learning something new, taking down one of the big golf tournaments, or just grabbing a great bite to eat, the Villages of Citrus Hills has got you covered this month! 

Social Events 

The first big social event of November will be “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”, sponsored by The Vacationers Club. This hysterical murder mystery will have you at the edge of your seat throughout the entire evening on Saturday, November 12 at The Straz Center for the Performing Arts.  

This month’s Trivia Challenge will be held on Tuesday, November 15 in the Hampton Room. As always, the doors will open at 5:30 pm with dinner being served at 5:45 pm and the contest starting at 6:30 pm.

The Shabbat Dinner Club will be back on Friday, November 18. This month, dinner will include your choice of Beef Brisket or Bourbon Salmon, and each choice will be paired with soup, vegetables, potatoes, and Carrot Cake.

Members who are looking for a great day trip will want to reserve their tickets to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 27. Tickets are available at the Activity Center and they include round trip transportation, a pregame tailgate party, and a ticket to the game.

Arts & Education 

DocTalk will be back on Monday, November 7 at 1pm in the Activity Center Auditorium. Dr. Nishit Choksi will be discussing “Physicians Insights on Heart Conditions,” which should be very helpful for anyone struggling with a heart condition.  

There will also be a new Wednesday lecture series with Dr. Joe Coffey discussing the “Challenges Facing the New President.” No matter who is elected, we can all agree that they have a mammoth task ahead of them!

Local artist Vanessa Fuller-Brown will be instructing members on replicating Vincent Van Gogh’s “Mulberry Tree” at this month’s Coffee & Canvas event on Wednesday, November 9 starting at 10:30 am.

In order to help our members get a better grasp on new technology, there will be a Tech 101 seminar and workshop on Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 11 in the Activity Center Card Room. This entire event will be focused on “The Do’s & Don’ts of Windows 10.” 

The Activity Center will also be hosting a Vacationers Club meeting on November 14 and a meet and greet event with The Greener Side Haven Animal Shelter on November 30. 

Golf & Tennis 

As the weather is cooling down, the golf is definitely heating up at all of the courses across the community. The first big event this month will be a 2-Day Major Men’s Better Ball Tournament on Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8.

You should also mark your calendars for the Giving Thanks Pro Shop Scramble on November 12, the Ladies’ Citrus Cup Championship on November 18, and a VIP Championship Event on November 28.  

In addition to all of those big tournaments, you are also going to want to make a note that December 3 will be the next Demo Day at the Skyview Driving Range.

At the Skyview Tennis Center, there will be a Free Beginners Tennis Clinic on Tuesday, November 8. Then the Skyview Mixed Doubles Championship Tournament and Burger Bash is scheduled for the weekend of Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 20.

Dinner Specials 

Two dinner specials that you definitely don’t want to miss at Skyview Restaurant this month will be the Fall Harvest Wine Dinner on Tuesday, November 15, and the New England Clambake on Tuesday, November 29.

Then there will be Thanksgiving specials at both Skyview Restaurant and The Grille on Thursday, November 24. Skyview Restaurant will be serving a sit-down Thanksgiving Dinner, while The Grille will be offering a buffet-style meal.  

The Grille will also be serving a Comfort Food Buffet on Thursday, November 3 and a Taste of Italy meal on Tuesday, November 22, so you will want to mark those on your calendar as well!  

Spa Specials

In between prepping for the holidays and attending all of these fantastic events and activities, you might also want to take advantage of the Hot Stone Swedish Massages and Peppermint Patty Spa Pedicures that are going to be on special at BellaVita Spa all month long.

It looks like you have an exciting, fun-filled month ahead of you!

Great Day Trip: Caladesi Island

While its exact ranking will vary slightly from year-to-year, no one will deny that Caladesi Island is one of the absolute best beaches in America.

This practically untouched state park is located just west of Clearwater, but the only way to get there is to take the 15-20 minute ferry from Honeymoon Island.  Including the ferry ride, Caladesi Island State Park is just under 2 hours away from the Villages of Citrus Hills. 

America’s Best Beach

Once you arrive at Caladesi Island, it is easy to see why it was rated the top beach in America in 2008 and continues to be featured on similar lists year after year. This beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water remains undeveloped. There are no highways, no traffic, no homes, and no commercial buildings. 

While the island is completely undeveloped, there are still plenty of amenities like a snack stand, umbrellas for rent, and lifeguards on duty when in season. In addition to having great sand, and warm water, the beach is also a great place for shelling because it is not overpopulated with tourists. 

For the Active Beachgoers

The idea of relaxing on an untouched beach sums up a perfect day for many of us, but those who need a little more activity will not be disappointed either. Caladesi Island State Park has three miles of nature trails that weave their way through the island’s interior. 

There is also a three-mile kayak trail through the bay. As you hike or paddle around the island, you are likely to spot some of the local gopher tortoises burrowing in the sand dunes. 

Because of the lack of tourist traffic, local anglers will find great salt-water fishing both from the island’s beaches and the surrounding waters. There are also plenty of picnic areas, and if you have your own boat, you can make a reservation to dock it at the Caladesi Island Marina for an overnight trip. 

Stopping for Dinner

There is a small cafe located right on Caladesi Island, but if you are going to be passing through Clearwater on your way back home, you will definitely want to consider stopping at Cristino’s Coal Oven Pizza. This family-owned pizzeria makes some of the best pizza you will ever try. In addition to their fantastic pizza, Cristino’s also specializes in chicken wings that are smothered in garlic and caramelized onions, homemade lentil soup, and their famous panzerotti!

Another great local restaurant that you might want to try is Eatin’ Fresh, but they are only open for lunch, so you will want to make sure to plan your day accordingly and either get back from the island in time to eat or eat before you head out to the beach. Eatin’ Fresh has a great selection of fresh seafood including some outstanding fish tacos and the original Stone Claw Taco. 

The ideal trip to Caladesi Island probably starts with a light lunch of Stone Claw Tacos at Eatin’ Fresh around 11:00 am. From there, you can head out to Honeymoon Island to catch the ferry to Caladesi Island and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or exploring the nature trails. Follow your beach adventure with a coal oven pizza from Cristino’s and you will be both relaxed and well-fed for your trip back home to the Villages of Citrus Hills.