Posts by 

Gina Lanaux

Epicurean Delights

Cosmo's Restaurant and Bar, Orange Beach

There is a paw print in the logo of Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar, and I never knew why. While lunching there with girlfriends, I learned that the restaurant was named for the owners, Brian and Jodi Harseny’s, beloved black dog. His portrait is prominently displayed on an outside mural and on a particularly nice silhouette painting of Cosmo and his cat friend, Junior Mint, looking at the moon. Junior Mint is still alive, living the good life with the Harsenys, but Cosmo is in Dog Heaven.
People & Business Profiles

Jennifer Blackwood, Battles Wharf Market

When Jennifer Blackwood was working as a Pharmaceutical Rep in the Panhandle of Florida, she had a favorite old gas station in Seaside, which she frequently visited. “ It had a lot of personality, and when I saw Battles Wharf Market, it reminded me of that special place.” And here she is, the new owner of the iconic market on Scenic 98, just north of the Grand Hotel.
Day Trippin'

The Lodge at Gulf State Park

We spent Easter weekend on 6150 acres in Gulf Shores known as the Gulf State Park. I could walk on the beach and see nothing but water and sand for miles, which is quite rare in the condo-dense Gulf front strip from Gulf Shores to Perdido Key.
Dive Bars & Music

Chip Herrington and the Mobile Big Band Society

I don't know what I expected when I scheduled an interview with Chip Herrington to talk about his band. Still, I really didn't expect him to arrive at the Bluegill on his motorcycle, dressed in a coat and tie, just coming from the Courthouse where he had an arraignment. An attorney and a musician, with an easy demeanor, I knew this was going to be fun!
Community Endeavors

Ben's U-Pick Flowers, Ben Trione, Daphne

Imagine walking outside at sunrise and seeing forty thousand zinnia blooms in your backyard. Ben Trione, descended from one of the first Italian families to come to Daphne, experiences this spectacular sight every morning from May through November. His ancestors were farmers, and he has the innate ability to grow hundreds of thousands of zinnias and sunflowers, which he generously delivers to 15 different Nursing Homes on the Eastern Shore. 
Artsy Side Of Life

Fairhope Film Festival Announces New Executive Director

One of the best things about Fairhope is that it has a Film Festival. Like the Sundance Festival, Tribeca, South by Southwest, and many others, the Fairhope Film Festival, held on the second weekend in November, features forty of the best films. This year will be the thirteenth annual event, and a new Executive Director will be at the helm. 
Sports & Fitness

Plot Twist Yoga Studio

Forty-seven years ago, a 22-year-old girl graduated from college with a BA in Dance Education and with big dreams, opened a studio above the Page and Palette and called it Creative Outlet. Its first iteration was a school for many creative classes; piano, calligraphy, guitar, tai chi, drama, and of course, dance. Her father, a hands-on dad, co-signed a loan and taught her how to run the business, with handwritten financial ledgers, postcard marketing, and in-person, 3x5 card registration. It was the Dark Ages compared to the present day, but it worked. ‍
Artsy Side Of Life

Historic Fairhope Art: Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Art is a rich part of Fairhope’s legacy, and the art series entitled The Twelve Days of Christmas has become one of the City’s most legendary symbols of the season.