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An Evening of Storytelling Under the Lights at Raw & Juicy

Thursday, October 16

Raw & Juicy, Grayton Beach

Cocktail Hour at 5 PM | Stories at 6 PM

We’re back at Raw & Juicy for another magical evening beneath the twinkling lights of the Backyard of Love. Come early for a cocktail hour featuring a cash bar from Raw & Juicy, a Sip & Shop with Mignot & Co., and wood-fired pizza by Chef Phil McDonald of Table Five. Then, grab your food, drinks, and a cozy seat before the stories begin at 6 PM.

October’s Story Theme: Belonging

At the heart of every story is the search for connection. Belonging can be found in the embrace of family, in the rhythm of a hometown street, or in the shared language of a chosen community. It can also be marked by its absence—the ache of feeling out of place, the struggle to fit in, or the courage it takes to claim space as your own. Under this theme, we welcome stories and poems that explore what it means to feel at home—or not. Whether it’s the comfort of familiar roots, the joy of finding your people, or the tension of being between worlds, we’re inviting voices that capture the universal (and deeply personal) journey of belonging.

Featured Storyteller: Arlon Jay Staggs

Arlon Jay Staggs is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a Southern storyteller with deep roots, a sharp sense of humor, and a heart for connection. His essays and stories have appeared in The New York Times and December Magazine, and his novel Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits is his debut work of fiction. He holds an MFA in fiction from the University of California, Riverside, a JD from the Mississippi College School of Law, and is an adjunct professor at Northwest Florida State College. Arlon and his husband divide their time between Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and San Diego, California.

Interested in taking the mic to share a story of your own? Request a spot when you register!