Service Spotlight – Understanding Your Check Engine Light
It’s every driver’s worst nightmare. You’re driving down the street, enjoying your day, when all of a sudden a light on your dashboard catches your eye. You look down and see - the dreaded “Check Engine” signal.
When this light flickers on, it means the onboard computer system in your vehicle has self-diagnosed a problem. The cause for this alert varies from a momentary hiccup that has little or no noticeable effect on engine performance or driving safety, to a failure of a major electronic component. Unfortunately, the only way to tell what has triggered this alarm is to run a diagnostic scan on your vehicle to determine the culprit.
The onboard diagnostic system in your vehicle is very complex. To accurately access and diagnose this system special tools are used to troubleshoot your vehicle. At Capital Eurocars, our highly trained staff will access your vehicle’s computer system and put your vehicle into a special diagnostic mode to display the “fault codes.” These are numeric codes that are generated and stored in your vehicle’s computer system when a problem is detected. By retrieving the fault codes, the service technicians at Capital Eurocars can isolate the failed component and begin repairing or replacing it.
Intermittent problems are often more difficult, and may take a significant amount of time to diagnose. In these situations, it is critical to make note of the conditions that caused the light to turn on. Were you driving at a certain speed? Were you accelerating or slowing down, or were you shifting gears?
The better way to understand your check engine light is with a free complete diagnosis and inspection, from Capital Eurocars in Tallahassee.
It’s Easy to Keep the Family Together for the Holidays in the Volkswagen Routan
This holiday season make the trip to Grandma’s house a breeze, in the Volkswagen Routan. Avoid the backseat symphony of “Are we there yet?” by utilizing technology offered in the 2010 Volkswagen Routan to bring the family together. Here are some tips to make your next family road trip fun.
Stay connected, even on the road, with WiFi internet access, available in the 2010 Volkswagen Routan. Use this technology to research cities and states along your route, or the fun things the family can do when you arrive at your destination.
On long road trips today, many families plug in and tune out each other even before they leave the driveway. Instead of falling victim to high-tech disconnect, take advantage of time in the car to reconnect. Utilize the USB port in the 2010 Volkswagen Routan by having each member of the family download music and pictures to a USB drive to listen to on the road. Or download your favorite book to share with the family on the long trips and discuss what you liked or disliked about the story and characters as a family.
Preparing for the long holiday driving season often means taking a thorough look at your vehicle to ensure you and your family reach your destination safely. Volkswagen makes maintaining your Routan easy with standard Carefree Maintenance. Before hitting the road, be sure to check tire pressure and oil pressure so you can drive more and worry less.
*2010 Volkswagen Routan, lease for $379 a month for 39 months, with $0 due at signing, plus tax and tag. Security deposit waived with approved credit. Extra fees may apply at lease end.
Mercedes-Benz Increases Occupant Safety with the Introduction of Pelvic Airbags
Over the years, vehicle safety has increased dramatically. Just as the first seatbelt was perfected over time, the same holds true for another common safety device: the airbag. First introduced in the United States in the mid-1970’s, airbag technology has improved to include front, side, curtain, knee and now pelvic airbags.
Mercedes-Benz has found a new way to ensure your safety with the introduction of pelvic airbags in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, an industry first. This innovative piece of safety equipment works in conjunction with the front curtain and side airbags for a total of three separate devices to protect your head, chest and hips in the event of a side impact collision.
Looking ahead to the future, BMW has released plans to boost the fuel efficiency of their lineup with hybrids, electric vehicles and even four cylinder engines over the next decade. BMW is also planning to expand their offerings with a large crossover based on the 5 series, and a small crossover.
For the first time in over a decade, BMW is considering a 3 series model featuring a four cylinder engine in 2012. BMW has big plans for the 3 series, including a crossover said to resemble the 5 series Gran Turismo.
Plans to expand the ActiveHybrid line are already underway with the debut of the ActiveHybrid 7 model at the Frankfurt Auto Show last month. The twin-turbocharged, direct-injection V8 engine is complimented with an electric motor that combines for 464 horsepower, and is expected to increase fuel efficiency by 15% over the nonhybrid 7 series. The ActiveHybrid X6, planned to go on sale this year, is expected to consume 20% less fuel than the nonhybrid X6 model. A twin-turbocharged V8 works with two electric motors to produce 407 horsepower, and can travel up to 37 miles per hour on electric power alone.
BMW plans to create a sub-brand to introduce a range of environmentally friendly cars. The first electric vehicle, currently called Project i, is expected to debut in 2013 and will be a small vehicle aimed at the urban driver.
To learn more about the future of BMW or to test-drive any of BMWs current fuel efficient models, visit Capital BMW in Tallahassee. BMW has the better way to improve fuel efficiency and Capital BMW has the better way to buy.
In 1951, the Duval Hotel on North Monroe Street opened its doors to the capital city. The hotel’s ideal location only three blocks from the heart of downtown Tallahassee quickly made it the place for socialites and politicians alike to be seen.
More than 50 years later, the hotel’s newest owners are reviving one of Tallahassee’s most notable sites to its former glory. Chad Kittrell, Frank Whitley and J.T. Burnette purchased the hotel in 2007 with the intention of developing a project that would contribute to Tallahassee’s business community as well as become a central part of city leaders’ vision to create an 18-hour downtown.
“Our vision was to revitalize the hotel back to the jewel of Tallahassee,” said Kittrell. “We wanted to connect the hotel to its rich history, while adding a contemporary flare that will be unique to the Tallahassee market.”
Hotel Duval is the first upscale, boutique hotel in the capital city. The newly-renovated 117-room hotel boasts upscale accommodations inspired by the simplicity and elegance of the 1950s, when it was the prominent place to meet and shape Florida’s future.
“In its early years, Hotel Duval hosted important legislators, entertainers and even a president,” said Marc Bauer, Hotel Duval general manager. “We intend to reinstate the hotel’s title as ‘Florida’s Second Capital’ and provide guests with a one-of-a-kind experience during each visit.”
The owners’ inspirations included blending the hotel’s lively history with modern design touches. From the exquisitely appointed guest rooms, where guests will experience sophisticated design and innovative color elements, to the private meeting rooms, the unique and progressive space has an added dimension of customization not available anywhere else in Tallahassee.
For the hotel’s décor, designer Catherine D. Baker was chosen to create a welcoming and personal atmosphere that could accommodate the needs of both the business and leisure traveler. Inspired by the idea that color evokes emotion, Baker developed color palettes for the guest rooms including Refreshing Blues, Uplifting Yellows, Energizing Citrus, Exhilarating Reds, Peaceful Neutrals and Serene Greens. Guests will have the ability to personalize their experience by choosing the color of their rooms based on their individual mood. Complementing the décor is the vibrant artwork of Tallahassee native Blair Oglesby.
“We wanted to create an atmosphere that would stimulate the senses and provide guests with a relaxing retreat,” said Baker. “Allowing guests to choose the color that fits their mood is the ultimate in creating an intimate personalized experience.”
All rooms have views of downtown Tallahassee, iPod docking stations, wireless Internet and 37-inch flat screen TVs. The ultra-modern guest bathrooms are equipped with Rainmaker showerheads, suspended glass vanities, raised pebbled shower floors, and Bath and Body Works amenities. Luxuriously appointed suites feature mini-kitchenettes with a sink, refrigerator and microwave.
After settling into the inviting accommodations, guests can indulge in a dining experience second to none in Tallahassee at Hotel Duval’s anchor restaurant, Shula’s 347 Grill. Named in honor of Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, Shula’s 347 Grill offers an upscale steakhouse dining experience in an inviting and casual atmosphere. The menu features Premium Black Angus Beef, which rises above the standards of USDA Prime beef, as well as exceptional appetizers, seafood and incredible desserts. An impressive wine and spirit menu complements the dining experience and a well-trained service staff will help diners pair the perfect cocktail, beer or glass of wine with their meals.
With more than 7,500 square feet of meeting space, the hotel offers flexible spaces that can accommodate groups from 10 to 200. From the Mahogany Room, perfect for private dinners or small meetings, to the spectacular rooftop Horizon Ballroom, the hotel can create a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for groups large or small.
“We’re raising the bar and creating an experience for guests that simply hasn’t been available in this market,” said Bauer. “From upscale accommodations to supreme service, our goal is to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience that will keep them coming back year after year.”
Volvo to Meet Fuel Economy Standards with Diesel and Plug-In Hybrid Models
Volvo Cars of North America CEO Doug Speck recently announced how the Swedish automaker plans to meet the stringent 35.5 mpg corporate average required in the United States by 2016. It is now clear that diesel engines and plug-in hybrids will be included Volvo’s future. Rumors swirled this summer about the possibility of a hybrid model after Volvo announced their partnership with energy giant Vattenfall.
More details have surfaced this month regarding Volvo’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle, beginning with a European release date of 2016. Approximately 71% of the lithium-ion battery will power the rear wheels up to 30 miles, before the diesel engine will activate to power the front wheels. The new model will also employ regenerative braking technology to increase battery life while the vehicle is stopped. Volvo has created three demonstration cars using the body of the popular V70 model to gauge the wants, needs, and driving habits of drivers.
There is no word yet as to when we can expect to see the plug-in hybrid vehicle in the U.S., however, plans are in place to bring the vehicle stateside. Currently Volvo offers three ultra fuel efficient vehicles that earn an EPA estimated 30 miles per gallon or higher. Visit Capital Volvo in Tallahassee today to test drive the 2010 Volvo S40, 2010 Volvo V50, or 2010 Volvo C30 today. Volvo has the better way to drive into the future and Capital Volvo has the better way to buy.
The moment the door of the 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG arcs skyward, it all makes so much sense. The classic long-nose proportions, those silver strakes along the base of the windshield and behind the front wheels. Of course, there’s a familiar three-pointed star on the nose.
But when it starts up with a growl, the world tilts on its axis. The look is pure is Aufrecht and Melcher, but that sound…cherry bomb? Flowmaster?
Then the car pulls away, with AMG test pilot and five-time German Touring Car champion Bernd Schneider behind the wheel, and your ears begin to tell even grander lies to your brain.
Schneider pins the throttle and the sounds waves — nein, shockwaves — that emanate from the twin pipes immediately end all V-8 musclecar imagery. The throaty, idle wuffle rips into a fast running roar over the rise of turn one — the revs rising impossibly high for such a large-displacement engine. When he lifts in the braking zone of turn two, a millisecond of silence is immediately shattered by pops and crackles of unburned fuel sizzling in the exhaust system. He cracks off one, two rev-matched downshifts, hits the apex, and then is gone — taking the car, that sound, and everything you thought you knew about Mercedes-Benz along with it.
It’s all very confusing, and only gets worse when he pits a few laps later and it’s your turn to run.
It’s a lot to take in, this bellowing, bewinged beast — all snout and tidily truncated tail. They say the SLS’ 6.2-liter, 563 horsepower V-8 engine sits behind the midline of the front wheels, but when you stare at all that real estate up front, it just seems ludicrous. There’s so much acreage at the prow, what goes there? Another engine? (Actually, the dry-sump oiling system).
She’s strangely attractive though, far better looking in person than in photographs. The eyes are wide set, pushed to the corners and separated by a broad mouth, split horizontally by a wing and ring. Back, way back, is the tiny cockpit, inset about a hand’s width from the front fenders — the widest point of the car. A subtle character line runs the length of the car, from the headlights back along the fender, skimming the slender stalks of the side mirrors, before terminating at that small, sumptuously sculpted booty. But enough gawking, how do you get in?
A touch of the key fob ejects a thin handle from the SLS’ smooth sides — a full foot below where you’d normally grab. Lift up, step in, and grasp the interior door handle to close the door as you sit down. It’s all very quick and graceful. Sure, there’s a sill, but it’s low and there’s not much of a threshold, so getting seated requires far less contorting than with the original 300SL — though the whole process is just as much of a show-stopper.
It’s roomier inside than expected. You sit low and twin bulges in the roof mean headroom is good even if you’re tall. Just don’t lean your noggin inboard toward where the door hinges reside.
From here, the view is enthralling and intimidating. The horizon is yours, literally, as the hood dominates the lower third of your field of view. With the hood’s center bulge on one side and a gentle upward fender flare on the other, you have a shallow channel in which to spy the road immediately ahead. Placing the right headlight is more difficult, as you have to look over the bulge across an expanse of metal that just seems to fall away. Provided the pop-up spoiler is down, visibility out back is good, though it’s also difficult to judge where it ends. As you discover, it’s about a yard shorter than expected.
A wide center console separates you from the passenger. All the important controls are here, from the push-button starter to the new T-shaped gear selector, that, like the A/C vents and overall layout of the cabin, is supposed to remind you of jets and fighter pilots. Too bad it’s about 50 percent smaller than the thrust control lever found in Maverick’s F-14. But enough navel gazing — they’re waving you onto the track.
Push that starter and there it is again, that roar, that coarse, throaty idle. These are not run-of-the-mill Benz noises, not the sound of relentless German efficiency. But then, what did you expect? Perhaps the note of the world’s first direct-injection, 3.0-liter inline-six? This ain’t 1952. No, these are modern AMG, DTM, WTF noises.
Foot on brake, T-selector back to drive, transmission selector to Sport Plus, and you’re off. Down into turn two and already you know this is some of the best steering feel of a Mercedes-Benz production car to date, possibly the best of any AMG. It’s direct, but natural feeling and moderately weighted — but not artificially so. What’s more, it pairs deliciously with the suspension tuning.
A rigid aluminum space frame and forged control arm suspension — front and rear — give the SLS an almost formula-car feel. You can feel the wheels move up and down independent of each other and you’re aware of the fantastically stiff chassis.
Front grip is tremendous; right at turn three, again at turn four — the nose just darts to eat up the apexes. The rear ain’t bad either, on the uphill left of turn five, 20-inch-tall, 395/30-profile Continentals serve up wave after wave of torque as the SLS blips through the gears.
Speeds rise with the increasing elevation, and it sounds just glorious; redline is 7200 rpm for this monstrous engine. You’re flat out now toward the infamous turn six, hugging the curbing before going hard on the ceramics discs at the second braking cone and dipping low toward rumble strips and hammering up and out at the exit.
It is here that things begin to get dicey. On this uphill section, quickly through the rise at turn seven, the SLS’ long and wide nose erodes confidence. You can’t see much over it, which is spooky when you’re rushing headlong into Laguna’s famous corkscrew.
Hard on the brakes again before turning into this famously blind, fall-away left-right combination. Are you in the right place? Looking starboard for the candy-cane stripes, you see only the SLS’ hood. You make it through but your knuckles are whiter for it.
Through nine, 10, she goes back to being a legitimate track star. With only about 3500 pounds to carry, and 53 percent of that over the rear wheels, this aluminum-body beauty is easy to chuck and squirt in and out of corners. Hard again on the brakes for turn 11, Laguna’s slowest corner, and when you power out, the tail momentarily steps sideways, before the ESP reins it in. Throttle down, and you’re thundering down the straight, speedo tickling over 120 mph.
Round and round you go, fiddling with the paddles and transmission modes (C, S, S+, M) to find the best combination for the new seven-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch gearbox. After a couple of laps, it’s clear this is not the best dual clutch around. Full-throttle upshifts have a satisfying thunk, and rev-matched downshifts send ear hairs quivering, but neither feel as quick as the gear indicator lights claim.
Confidence ebbs and flows. Drive below your limits and she’s utterly superb — willing, thrilling, responsive to every command. At the ragged edge, some of the clarity goes away. She rewards clean, by-the-book driving. Mix it up a bit, and dash lights flash, throttle gets cut, breaking your concentration. Might the SLS be a better road car than race car?
You take an 80-mile loop down to Big Sur to find out. On real roads, all that impresses is magnified, while all that confounds is diminished. The lovely steering is even better on the sweeping seaside curves of Highway 1. The independently articulating suspension adores well-cambered roads and even sends the SLS sailing effortlessly across less than perfect pavement. There’s no more fretting about the view either: Only the narrowest and tightest of canyon roads present a problem.
How about that gearbox? Like most modern sports cars that walk the line between high performance and strict emissions regulations, the SLS attempts to get you in the highest gear possible as soon as it can. Loaf around and you can sometimes find yourself in seventh gear at maybe 50 mph. Floor it and the digital gear display drops to third gear in a split second, though the actual gear change and resultant manic surge is delayed a beat later. It’s fast enough, but without the impressive immediacy of the dual-clutch transmissions from Porsche, BMW, or Nissan.
The tradeoff is that the SLS is smoother on the street. It is worlds better than the slow-speed herky-jerkiness of BMW’s DCT box. Speedshift is far silkier and much less noisy than the GT-R’s as well. The closest approximation is Porsche’s PDK, but that one feels arguably as smooth at slow speeds and is much quicker when you’re really on it. AMG has clearly biased the SLS’ dual clutch for everyday driving, which means that while the shifting is not brutally fast, it’s smooth enough that you just might forget about the cars track day intentions.So, no surprise that the SLS AMG makes a better street car. After all, that was the point. AMG and Mercedes-Benz pursued a new level of performance with their latest and greatest, and have largely succeeded. It goes down the track better than just about any three-pointed star that’s come before it, yet it’s easy and rewarding to drive on the way home.
Riotous exhaust note aside, it all makes so much sense.
The mysterious BMW M3 with a massive wing spied testing on the Nurburgring a couple of weeks ago has now been identified. It was this brand new M3 GTS, the most extreme 3 series-based factory car of the current E92 generation.
Installed into the engine bay is a 4.4-litre V8 based on the 4.0-litre engine found in the standard M3. Maximum power is 450bhp (an increase of 36bhp) and the transmission is the 7-speed M dual clutch transmission (M-DCT) with adapted shift characteristics. The exclusive 19-inch aluminium wheels come wrapped inside 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres.
Suspension upgrades include the utilisation of yellow springs for a threaded suspension while the rear axle support is said to be bolted in place. Most notable in previous spy materials was the big rear wing which generates high levels of downforce. It is adjustable as well as the front splitter for increased cornering precision and handling.
Despite the factory car having weight-saving pieces like the carbon fibre roof, BMW saw it fit to reduce body mass even further. After all, the GTS aims to beat the old M3 CSL’s Nürburgring lap time. Measures thus taken include employing light body-contoured seats, a new titanium rear silencer whose work can be heard on the video as well as the removal of air conditioning and the rear seat. Rollover protection mounts were bolted on from the B column while a fire extinguisher and a battery master switch/emergency shut-off preparation ensure safety.
BMW will only manufacture the M3 GTS to order and sell it at about €115,000 (US$170 614) per unit. German deliveries begin in May 2010 while other countries are scheduled for the summer.
VW Bus Stolen 35 Years Ago Discovered Bound For the Netherlands
When U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Port of Los Angeles opened a shipping container bound for the Netherlands, they discovered a 1965 Volkswagen bus stolen in Washington state 35 years ago.
Far out, man!
The unusual seizure of the mint-condition bus on Oct. 19 came during a routine inspection of several Volkswagens that were being shipped by a U.S. restorer to customers in Europe. The vehicle identification number of the blue-and-white bus, which was swiped from a repair shop in Spokane on July 12, 1974, was still in police computers.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” customs spokesman Jaime Ruiz said today when the recovery was announced.
The restorer, who was not identified, isn’t a suspect in the theft, authorities said. “He’s a victim himself. He was an innocent purchaser,” said California Highway Patrol investigator Mike Maleta.
Maleta said Spokane police couldn’t locate the woman who once owned the bus. “Allstate paid her $2,500 or so to settle the claim,” he said. “Now, it’s worth $25,000. … It’s in pristine condition. It looks like it’s brand new. So Allstate wanted it.”
Porsche is known for producing sublime road cars, many of which have a racing heritage. Porsche’s latest model, the 2011 Boxster Spyder, is no exception.
In racing, Porsche is known for making its elite race cars topless. Evidence of this can be traced all the way back to the 1950s and the legendary 550 Spyder, and it carries all the way up to today’s RS Spyder, which competes in Le Mans. With its new Boxster Spyder, Porsche aims to take the racing significance of the Spyder body style to the road and create the purists’ Boxster.
Weight is the enemy in racing, so Porsche lightened the standard Boxster S by 176 lbs. to create a more nimble –and faster — Boxster. With the reduction in weight, the Boxster Spyder tips the scales at a mere 2811 lbs., making it the lightest car in Porsche’s lineup. To go along with the lighter car, Porsche revised the suspension to give it even more grip.
Powering the new Boxster is an uprated version of Porsche’s 3.4-liter flat-six, the same engine found in the Boxster S and Cayman S. The version of the 3.4-liter engine found in the Boxster Spyder produces 320 hp instead of the standard 310 hp. The same six-speed manual and optional seven-speed PDK as found across most of Porsche’s lineup transfer the power to ground.
Combining the car’s increase in power and lightened weight equates to a faster car, as the Boxster Spyder with PDK will do 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, eclipsing the Boxster S by two-tenths of a second. The Boxster Spyder will keep accelerating to a top speed of 166 mph — with the top off.
Looking at the Boxster Spyder, it’s immediately apparent the car is different from any other Boxster. The car’s styling clearly takes styling cues from Porsche’s venerable Carrera GT. It looks as though Porsche took the rear-end of a Carrera GT, shrank it, and attached it the front of a Boxster. The car looks as though it’s just begging to be driven — and hard.
Porsche’s new purist Boxster makes its world debut at the L.A. auto show in December and goes on sale this February. It will command about a $3000 premium over the Boxster S, bringing the pricetag to $61,200.
Volvo Records Fifth Consecutive Month of Year-Over-Year Sales Increase Of 19%
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) October sales were up 19.4 percent in the U.S., marking the fifth straight month of a year-over-year increase. In the U.S., VCNA sold a total of 4,437 vehicles in October.
“The past five months have been tremendously exciting,” said Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO. “It shows that Volvo has the right model mix and the right programs to get consumers excited about our brand.”
The Safe + Sound Coverage Plan, a complimentary coverage program, wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:
5 years/60,000 miles of New Car Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
5 years/60,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage
5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance.
Safe + Sound provides best-in-class coverage and has been a major contributor to Volvo’s recent sales success, and will be available until Dec. 31, 2009.
Josh Butler, Chef to Gov. Charlie Crist, Passes Along Some of His Favorite Dishes to Help Make Your Holiday Buffet a Success
After cooking 15 turkeys for Thanksgiving, you’d think Josh Butler would need a break. But there’s no time for that. Christmas is coming, along with a nearly endless stream of holiday parties.
“December is always one of the busiest months,” says Butler, executive chef at the Florida Governor’s Mansion. By the time the entertaining is done, he laughingly admits he has recurring dreams of cookies throwing chocolate chips at his head.
With its fresh evergreen wreaths and garlands, the inviting aroma of baked cookies and brightly decorated Christmas trees, the Governor’s Mansion is a holiday season delight for all the senses.
“There’s a lot of twinkle and shine, lots of cherub faces and a lot of hustle and bustle,” Butler says. “We like to make sure that when everyone leaves they’re happy, full and smiling. The mansion creates an aura of ‘Christmasness.’”
About 1,500 guests - from friends and family of Gov. Charlie Crist to political supporters, staff, media and legislators - are expected to visit the mansion during this holiday season. Each one will be treated to a host of culinary delights that the 32-year-old Butler will whip up each day. The offerings are all hors d’oeuvres served buffet style in the formal dining room because it’s difficult to handle up to 300 guests at one time for a sit-down dinner.
Butler does all the shopping himself.
“I call myself the hunter and gatherer,” he jokes, adding that he buys as many items as he can at local farmers markets. “I try to spend the money with local and Florida-based companies, especially the little businesses.”
The menu is planned so that he can purchase items in bulk and use them for parties over several days. Then, when it comes time to cook, he calls on friends who come in part time to help prepare the goodies.
Menus include the standard cheese and vegetable trays as well as fruits, antipasto platters and homemade focaccia bread that he tops with whatever he finds of interest in one of the three refrigerators or the herb garden. There are cookies galore, plenty of Florida’s bounty from the sea - especially Gulf shrimp - and everyone saves room for Butler’s renowned miniature pecan pies.
Butler has been the mansion’s executive chef since October 1998, when, at the age of 21, he was hired by then-first lady Rhea Chiles. He served Jeb and Columba Bush and remained when Crist became governor. Butler has served such notables as presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush (the latter when he was still Texas governor), University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, baseball greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Willie Mays, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Crist’s focus is on eating healthy, and Butler caters to his taste by finding local organically grown fresh vegetables, as well as roasting chicken, grilling shrimp and baking fish. But at times, the governor enjoys a steak thrown on the grill - tenderloin or T-bone, cooked medium to medium well and seared on the outside.
When Butler isn’t in the kitchen, where he works Monday through Friday, you might find him working on a project tied to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.
“Our job is to come up with recommendations on how Floridians can live a healthier life,” he says of the council’s work. “It’s never too late to exercise and eat well.”
Butler himself will get a good workout over the next several weeks, between the Thanksgiving feast he coordinates and cooks for the governor and his staff and then planning and cooking for the hundreds of guests expected to share the holidays with Florida’s chief executive.
Butler doesn’t like to use recipes. “Most of the things I do are done by instinct,” he says. But he has agreed to share some of his favorite holiday dishes - perfect for the buffet table - with Tallahassee Magazine readers. So fire up that oven, enjoy the season and bon appetit!
FSU’s New Program Teaches Disabled Vets the Pen That Writes the Checks is Mightier than the Sword
For new military recruits, boot camp is a rigorous regimen that transforms them from civilians to soldiers. Although valued in the long run, most recruits are happy when it’s over.
So why are 19 military veterans so eager to get into one particular boot camp at Florida State University?
For starters, drill sergeants aren’t screaming in their faces. Nor are they expected to spit-shine boots or answer every request with a “Yes, sir!” - although it’s a nice gesture. Instead, the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities is a nine-day crash course held at FSU and four other colleges around the United States, designed to help participants get business ventures up off the ground. Dressed for success and armed with portable laptops, the members of the FSU boot camp look more like a gathering of boardroom executives than former soldiers. They listen attentively at one session as speaker Barbara Lay explains the importance of a good presentation, urging them to be confident and remember to practice presentations beforehand. These presentations are what the veterans will use to pitch their ideas to investors interested in their business plans. As they discuss their plans - ranging from opening a pizza shop to starting up youth outreach programs - constructive criticism improves one veteran’s stutter and another’s lack of enthusiasm.
These men and women don’t look like the grizzled soldiers of Hollywood films but more like everyday people trying to get ahead. They carry themselves with dignity and purpose, despite a limp or the need for a cane, and show that they are serious about the desire to make their dreams become reality. The boot camp program came to Florida State in 2008 after program director Randy Blass, 48, saw the program at Syracuse University in 2007 when he was a guest speaker there. Blass served 25 years in the Air Force, obtaining the rank of lieutenant colonel before he retired in 2006, so he understands what it is to leave the military and re-enter the civilian world. The entrepreneurship program is ideal for veterans, he said, because “it gives veterans a feeling of self-sufficiency that traditional employment does not. Veterans feel disenfranchised after leaving the military, and entrepreneurship give them a chance to sustain their lives.”
Blass said the idea of the program is not to give veterans a cut-and-dried version of what they should do, but instead is designed to give them “a better lifestyle, a way of being.” He promises that the boot camp is “not just a V.A. program and not just a helpful way to find jobs.”
Just as military boot camp provides the basics of being a soldier, the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) gives veterans pertinent information they will need to successfully run a business. The course consists of nine intense days of residency at one of the five universities participating in the program, as well as online discussion and assessment exercises beforehand and 12 months of ongoing support and mentorship afterward. Participants are provided everything from lodging to transportation to and from their boot camp. Blass said the program is not called “boot camp” for nothing. Veterans are expected to work hard in the program, even though the strain is mental rather than physical. The basic requirements for admission are separation from active service after 2001 with a service-connected disability and a demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship and business. A résumé and two letters of recommendation are also required, but what the program is really looking for are people who are enthusiastic about their business venture.
There is no deadline for applications - the program works on a first-come, first-served basis. However, space is limited. Funding is provided by private donations, including local businesses and interested philanthropists. Donations are extremely important; the cost for each veteran participating in the program at FSU was $5,000 in 2008. In 2007, the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University began the program as a way to help disabled veterans get back on their feet. The program was designed for veterans who want to become entrepreneurs but lack the know-how and connections needed to run a successful business.
After a successful first year, the EBV Consortium of Schools was launched, a national partnership that also included the Anderson School of Management at the University of California Los Angeles, FSU’s College of Business and the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University joined the consortium in 2009.
At FSU, the 2009 class includes representatives from each of the four services and students came from 12 different states, from California to Florida. Although the program is still new to FSU, graduates are already going on to bigger and better things. Harry LeBoeuf, 53, was a student in the 2008 boot camp program at FSU. After serving in the Air Force for 28 years, LeBoeuf retired at the rank of colonel. With a track record ranging from Operation Desert Storm to being stationed in Germany, LeBoeuf was the superior officer of 1,200 soldiers. After leaving the military, he struggled with internal injuries, but he said, “I go on despite it. I use it to motivate me to do better.” He heard about the boot camp program through a military veteran organization and applied with the intention of starting a business financial consulting firm.
“The EBV helped me to focus and gave me confidence. It clarified my mind and helped me to be realistic,” LeBoeuf said. He now runs Bull Financial LLC out of Crestview, where he assists businesses with money management.
“Everyone at FSU and in Tallahassee made me feel so at home that I want to go back and continue my education there” to earn a Ph.D., LeBoeuf said. He spoke at the 2009 boot camp graduation ceremony, where he told participants what life would be like after the program ended.
“When you finish the program, you’re gung-ho and think you’re going to be Donald Trump, but you need to have realistic expectations,” he warned. “The program helps to give you a spirit of perseverance, because it’s hard work running your own business.” Both Blass and LeBoeuf agree serving in the military is a great asset for new entrepreneurs.
“The military instills the ambition needed to succeed. Entrepreneurs and military folks are a good fit,” LeBoeuf said. “(The military) instills aggressiveness needed to run a business.”
With 5 percent of small businesses in the United States owned by veterans, this seems to be true. Entrepreneurship offers a certain degree of freedom in which you’re your own boss, and this is especially beneficial to veterans. They possess problem-solving skills that other startups may lack through their experience in the military, where at times they may have needed to use cunning and innovation to get out of tight situations.
“They have an understanding of self discipline and social skills in trust, integrity and networking,” said Blass. “I tell them to bring their military experience and use it.” Every day, American soldiers in Iraq and other parts of the world work tirelessly to make this world safer for future generations. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 40,000 soldiers have suffered from injuries, both physical and mental. Many return with little to no skills to use in the civilian world and are unable to adapt to life with a disability. The ones who do attempt to go into business on their own are often passed over because of their lack of experience or education. For disabled veterans especially, traditional employment poses a lifelong challenge. Jonathan Hurley, 26, of Tampa, took part in the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program in 2009. He served in Iraq as a sergeant counter-battery officer and suffered shrapnel wounds. When he returned to the United States, none of his military experience translated into the civilian world.
“It was like just getting out of high school,” he said.
Hurley heard about the boot camp program through the Marine for Life program while living in Tampa, where he ran his own landscaping and construction company. He entered the boot camp with a plan to start a helicopter business geared toward government and police contract work with a fellow veteran.
Hurley said he found the program extremely helpful, noting that “it takes the questions out of running a business.” He is now in the process of completing his bachelor’s degree in aviation science at Utah State College and also hopes to pitch his business plan to government contractors. Although they have put down their guns, the veterans of the boot camp program are doing a different sort of fighting for America.
“Veterans are concerned after they leave the military with no longer being able to help their country,” FSU’s Blass said. “I tell them, ‘You’re helping your country by creating wealth and creating jobs. Help your country by helping build the economy back up to what it once was.’”
This world-renowned exhibit features African-American art and artifacts compiled by Florida A&M University alumni Shirley and Bernard Kinsey. Complete with more than 100 paintings, documents, photographs and rare books, the exhibit is a priceless window into the African-American experience. Visitors to the Kinsey exhibit will have the privilege of viewing letters written by Malcolm X and the Rev. Martin Luther King, the original Emancipation Proclamation and a flag flown by the Buffalo Soldiers in 1889, as well as numerous sculptures and paintings by African-American artists. A guided cell phone tour details the significance of each piece. According to Bernard Kinsey, every item and individual reflected makes up an essential part of black history’s “connective tissue.” “A lot of African-American history has been forgotten and never told, so the idea is to get those stories out,” Bernard Kinsey says. Beginning in 1632, the exhibit traces four centuries of critical moments in history and the arts. The result is a reflection of diverse experiences ranging from slavery and oppression to accomplishment and freedom of expression. “I like showing the juxtaposition there and how things have evolved,” Shirley Kinsey says. In keeping with this theme, the background walls of the display gradually lighten from a deep red to a golden yellow, reflecting humanity’s ongoing progression toward racial equality. This must-see exhibition will be on display at the Brogan until March 21. The collection’s next stop will be at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. - Jennifer Ewing and Corbin Robinson.
November - December Events
Through Nov. 21
Fun French For Kids/Coin des Enfants
Each Saturday, learn and play in French with the Association Francaise de Tallahassee. Groups are divided according to age and level of French (for anglophones and bilingual children). John Wesley United Methodist Church, 1689 Old St. Augustine Road. Call (850) 264-7985 for class times and prices. www.aftally.org.
Through Nov. 29
16th Annual Art Auction
Take a look and bid on beautiful artwork at 621 Gallery in Railroad Square. Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Nov. 6, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. thereafter. 621 Industrial Road. Free. (850) 224-6163, 621gallery.org.
Through Dec. 1
Tallahassee Watercolor Society Open Exhibition
The members of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society are showing a year-round watercolor exhibition in the office of the Florida League of Cities at Kleman Plaza, 301 S. Bronough St., Third Floor. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (850) 878-3278,
tallahasseewatercolorsociety.com.
Through Dec. 4
‘Visions VII’ - Graduating Senior Art Exhibition
Florida A&M University graduating seniors Cary Robinson (Mobile, Ala.) and Darell Threeths Tallahassee) will present their work at the Foster Tanner Fine Arts Gallery, 1630 Pinder Drive. Gallery hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. (850) 599-3161, tr.im/A3lg.
Through Dec. 6
‘Florida’s Fabulous Cold Blooded Fiend - The Gator’
Check out the photography of Dick Bjornseth, award-winning artist and photographer. Museum of Florida History, 500 S. Bronough St. Museum hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays, noon-4:30 p.m. Admission is free. (850) 245-6400, museum¬offloridahistory.com.
Through Dec. 12
Downtown Marketplace
Each Saturday, enjoy live music, fresh produce, artists, brunch/lunch and local authors. Ponce de Leon Park, located at Park Avenue and Monroe Street. Marketplace hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. (850) 224-3252, tallahasseedowntown.com.
Through Jan. 1, 2010
‘Dinosaurs!’
Explore the prehistoric times of the T. Rex with the kids. The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, 350 S. Duval St. Museum hours: Mon through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission: $10 for adults; $5 for students, senior citizens and members of the military. (850) 513-0700, thebrogan.org.
Nov. 13-15
Tallahassee Junior League Jingle Jubilee
There’s no need to run around town scrambling for holiday gifts when you can visit the Tallahassee Junior League’s Jingle Jubilee, a festive market that event co-chair Heather Ross calls “a one-stop holiday shopping experience.” The bazaar will feature a variety of giftables from both local and out-of-town vendors. The group is hoping to have an even bigger selection than last year’s inaugural market. For starters, you can gift friends and family with “A Thyme to Celebrate,” the new Junior League cookbook featuring delicious recipes from Junior League members as well as local celebrities and chefs. The Friday preview party will feature food from recipes in the cookbook. The shopping starts at 9 a.m. and continues to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Jingle Jubilee will be held in the old Goody’s location at Tallahassee Mall, and proceeds support Junior League projects dedicated to helping children and families. Visit www.jltallahassee.org for more information. - Aniko Gomory
Nov. 13 - Dec. 27
‘21st Annual Art in Gadsden’
This annual juried signature exhibition of fine art represents more than 100 artists living within 200 miles of Quincy. Gadsden Arts Center, 13 N. Madison St., Quincy. Call (850) 875-4866 for exhibit times. www.gadsdenarts.org.
Nov. 19-22
‘Once Upon a Mattress’
The Young Actors Theatre will perform its version of the Broadway musical based on the classic story “Princess and the Pea.” 609 Glenview Drive. Tickets: $14 for children ages 12 and under; $16 for students and senior citizens; $18 for adults. Call the box office for tickets and performance times. (850) 386-6602, www.youngactorstheatre.com.
Nov. 20
Downtown GetDown
Friday night, before Florida State University takes on the Maryland Terrapins, come and enjoy food and fun at the “Winter Wonderland”-themed GetDown. Downtown Tallahassee (Adams Street). Event times: 6-10 p.m. (850) 224-3252, www.uwbb.org.
Nov. 20-22
Habitat for Humanity Festival of Trees
Prepare to be dazzled by more than 50 Christmas trees and displays, all decorated by local businesses, florists, individuals and interior designers. Go to “just look” at the beautifully bedecked evergreens and get a big dose of holiday spirit, or purchase one of the trees for yourself. All proceeds from the tree sales will be used to provide housing for local families. The free event is happening at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center on Friday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 22, from noon to 6 p.m. E-mail Carolyn Furcolow at carolynfurcolow@bigbendhabitat.org for more information. - Aniko Gomory
Nov. 21
FSU Football
Florida State University takes on the University of Maryland at Doak Campbell Stadium. Kickoff time to be determined. (850) 644-1830. www.seminoles.com.
Nov. 21
St. John’s Episcopal Church Annual Market
Come and shop for homemade Christmas gifts for the family. A silent auction of unusual and special items will also take place. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 N. Monroe St. Market times: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free. (850) 222-2636, www.saint-john.org.
Nov. 21-22
14th Annual Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival
With a reputation for attracting unparalleled talent, the Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival has become one of the nation’s premier wildlife and sporting art festivals. Explore room after room of sculpture, painting, photography, carving and jewelry as your family enjoys entertaining and educational supporting events and a fun festival atmosphere. Thomasville (Ga.) Cultural Center, 600 E. Washington St. Festival hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days: Admission: adults, $12; children, $5. (229) 226-0588, www.pwaf.org .
Nov. 22
‘Camelot’
Rediscover the grandeur of one of history’s greatest love stories in Lerner and Loewe’s timeless masterpiece. A sumptuous tale set in a land where honor and chivalry reign,
“Camelot” follows the love triangle of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and the young Lancelot. Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St. Performance time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15-$75. (850) 222-0400 or (800) 322-3602, www.tlccc.org.
Nov. 22
Tallahassee Community Chorus Fall Concert
Now in its 22nd season, the Tallahassee Community Chorus will present Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with a full orchestra. Bradfordville First Baptist Church, 6494 Thomasville Road. Performance time: 4 p.m. Tickets are available through the Florida State University Fine Arts Ticket Office (850-644-6500) and Beethoven & Company (850-894-8700). (850) 668-9759, www.tcchorus.org.
Nov. 27-28
Giving Thanks at Mission San Luis
The public is invited to a free celebration of 17th-century Spanish and Apalachee Indian food traditions during Thanksgiving weekend. Mission San Luis, 2100 W. Tennessee St. Event times: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (850) 487-3711, www.missionsanluis.org.
Nov. 28
Native American and Spanish Organic Gardening
Join Mission San Luis gardener John Maiers, also known as Juan el Campesino, for a monthly tour of the gardens and field crops. Mission San Luis, 2120 W. Mission Road. Event time: 10 a.m. Admission is free. (850) 487-3711, www.missionsanluis.org.
Nov. 28-29
‘The Nutcracker’
Take the family to the theater this year for a traditional ballet performance of the holiday favorite, presented by Pas de Vie Ballet. Lee Hall Auditorium, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Florida A&M University. Call (850) 644-6500 for tickets and times. www.sababallet.com.
Nov. 30
Thomasville Christmas Parade
Greet the holiday season with a charming down-home parade and welcome Santa to Thomasville, Ga. Downtown Thomasville, Broad Street. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. (229) 226-3446, www.ymca-thomasville.org.
Dec. 3
Annual Commemorative Mass and Grand Opening
Mission San Luis honors the more than 100 Spanish missions that existed in La Florida during the 16th and 17th centuries with a special mass. Afterward, the new Visitor Center at the Mission will hold its brand opening, featuring new exhibits, a gift shop, state-of-the-art theater, classrooms and a 250-person banquet hall with adjoining outdoor terrace. 2020 Mission Road. Mass, 2 p.m. Grand Opening, 3-5 p.m. Free. (850) 487-3711, www.missionsanluis.org.
Dec. 3
The Manhattan Transfer in Concert
The Grammy-winning a capella quartet, featuring Cheryl Bentyne, Janis Siegel, Tim Hauser and Alan Paul, will perform at the Thomasville (Ga.) Cultural Center, 600 E. Washington St. (229) 226-7404, www.tefconcerts.com.
Dec. 4
First Friday Lecture Series: ‘A Backyard Christmas’
Transform ordinary materials from your yard or garden into beautiful Christmas garlands, wreaths, centerpieces and other adornments for your home. Goodwood Museum and Gardens (Jubilee Cottage), 1600 Miccosukee Road. Event times: noon-1 p.m. Admission is free. (850) 877-7592, www.goodwoodmuseum.org.
Dec. 4-5
Tallahassee Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Once again Clara dreams of her Nutcracker Prince and travels to magical places in this classic holiday ballet. Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center, 505 W Pensacola St. Call (850) 222-0400 for ticket prices and times. www.tallaballet.com.
Dec. 5
‘Holiday Magic!’
Conductor Miriam Burns and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra will present a program of seasonal music, along with a guest artist and children’s chorus. North Florida Baptist Church, 3000 N. Meridian Road. Performance time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $25-$35. (850) 224-0461, www.tallahasseesymphony.org.
Dec. 5
Run for the Redfish
Head for the coast in a running event to benefit the Coast Conservation Association at Panama City Beach. The shotgun start to the race will be at 8 a.m. for the half-marathon and 8:30 a.m. for the 5K. There also is a 1-mile fun run for the kids. The races begin and end at Pier Park. The cost for participants is $25 for the 5K, $40 for the half-marathon. (850) 814-9533, www.runfortheredfish.com.
Dec. 5-6
Market Days
Get a head start on your holiday shopping - and support the Tallahassee Museum - at this seasonal favorite event. About 300 artists will be selling original, handmade works of art and fine crafts. North Florida Fairgrounds, South Monroe Street and Paul Russell road. Event times: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults; $4 for children; $25 for Early Bird tickets. (850) 575-8684, www.marketdays.org.
Dec. 6
Riley House Rock-a-thon
Show your support for the Riley House Museum at its ninth annual Rock-a-thon. Riley House Museum, 419 E. Jefferson St. Event times: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (850) 681-7881, www.rileymuseum.org.
Dec. 10-11
Victorian Christmas in Downtown Thomasville
Celebrate Christmas with the family in the “Great American Main Street City.” Downtown Thomasville, Ga. (Broad Street). (229) 227-7020, downtownthomasville.com.
Dec. 11-13
Singing Christmas Tree
A night of classic Christmas carols is a surefire way to get in the holiday spirit. Instead of just standing on the stage, the Bradfordville First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir is positioned in much-larger-than-life “tree.” Performances nightly begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are free, but must be reserved by calling the church office. 6494 Thomasville Road. (850) 893-0893
Instead of traditional floats, why not decorate a lawnmower for the holiday parade? Havana residents asked themselves the same question and decided, why not? Join them to see what crazy, zany ideas they’ve come up with this year. There’s also a festival including food and vendors. Downtown Havana. Free. Festival begins at 11 a.m. Parade starts at 1 p.m. (850) 539-7422, www.havanaflorida.com.
Dec. 12-13
‘Kiss Me, Kate’
Cole Porter’s Tony Award-winning classic musical is being presented by The School of Theatre at Florida State University. This third annual benefit event features Davis Gaines, an FSU graduate who gained fame performing on the stage more than 2,000 times as the title character in “The Phantom of the Opera.” Gaines will be joined by fellow alums Henry Polic II and Summer Broyhill in what is becoming a holiday tradition in the Tallahassee community. Life imitates art in this play-within-a-play, as actors work out their relationship problems - and a little situation with gangsters - during a production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” that includes much hilarity and music.
Performances are Dec.12 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Fallon Theatre on the corner of Copeland and Call Streets. Tickets are on sale now by calling (850) 644-6500 or visiting www.tickets.fsu.edu.
Dec. 18
Elf Night
Come out and marvel at 250,000 lights adorning Dorothy B. Oven Park. Cider, cocoa and cookies will be served. Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road. Event times: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Admission is free. (850) 891-3915 or (850) 891-8533, www.talgov.com
Dec. 19
Winter Festival
Celebrate the spirit of the holiday season with lights, music and art. Participate in the Jingle Bell Run or view exhibitions and the annual Nighttime Holiday Parade. Downtown Tallahassee. Call (850) 891-3866 for event times and details. www.talgov.com/parks/winter.
Dec. 20
‘The Snow Queen’
Watch the Irish dance students of Killearn Performing Arts perform this classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. This production is perfect for the entire family to enjoy. Lawton Chiles High School Auditorium, 7200 Lawton Chiles Lane. Performance time: 3-5 p.m. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children. (850) 443-7512, www.killearnpa.com.
