This is a story about a story slam, a live storytelling event where participants share personal stories based on a theme. My favorite podcast, The Moth, “promotes the celebration of the commonality and diversity of the human experience through the art and craft of true personal storytelling.”

If you drive by the Weeks Bay Visitor Center and see a school bus or two parked out front, just know that it’s a field trip that’s not just fun and games. There’s probably some serious learning happening, too, and it could even be life-changing.

Where to begin? I had so much fun with this story, that I had to rewatch Almost Famous again to see the reference to Topeka, Kansas, the inspiration for the parent company that produces Moon Crush Curated Music Vacations. This classic 2000 movie is about a band on the rise, and the story fits like a glove for the journey of Andy Levine, Chief Promise Maker. He created and launched the Moon Crush concert series in Destin, Florida, and hosts it several times a year. It’s the industry of cool!

Known as “The Venice of America,” the Sunshine State’s own city of Fort Lauderdale has numerous ways in which to get around. Although many of its citizens and visitors move about the city by auto or bicycle, a large number of people navigate the city by boat. 

With the holiday season upon us, I decided to visit the folks at Beau Rivage & Casino in Biloxi to see what they have in store to get us into the spirit. Turns out, there are a lot! The resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has dressed up for the holidays. The fun is on full display.

For Dharma Blue in Pensacola and Chuck’s Fish in Mobile, good deeds are always at the forefront of their restaurant's mission plan. This also includes the original eatery, Harbor Docks in Destin, Florida. On a recent Moon Crush music festival weekend in Miramar Beach, Florida, Charles Morgan, Harbor Docks’ founder, invited our group to experience their 29th annual Take A Kid Fishing Day on Sunday, November 3. We loved it! 

December brings the magic of the holidays to the Scenic 98 Coastal Community with an array of festive events for all ages. There's no shortage of seasonal cheer, from sparkling tree lighting ceremonies and vibrant parades to captivating holiday concerts and theatrical performances.

Remember the little ditty, “Every party needs a pooper, and that’s why we invited you?” Here is a sure-fire way not to be that person! Lights by the Bay is the side gig of Ashley O’Brien, and she can help you dress up any celebration with marquee light displays and digital photo booths.

We recently attended an event at 8 Reale in Orange Beach, where Patron revealed a new tequila. As part of the festivities, the Patron logo was perfectly sculpted in sand. As guests arrived, the sculptor, Janel Hawkins, was adding the finishing touches to the work of art and it got my attention.

Peter Albrecht has always been one of my favorite people. Whether he is reporting the news for WKRG News 5 or working to honor the legacy of athletes by serving on the board of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, he is professional and engaging. Recently, I was fortunate to sit down with Peter for “the rest of the story.”

At Scenic 98 Coastal, we love promoting good causes, and there are many opportunities to get involved. We encourage people to support these causes when they are the right fit.

Zoe Lombard-Todd, Artistic Director of Children’s Dance Theatre and owner of Creative Outlet Dance Academy in Fairhope, has performed in the classic Nutcracker Ballet for more than 23 years. She knows the music and choreography backward, forward, and sideways. At 7 years old, she was cast as a baker with Alabama Dance Theater, under the direction of Major Burchfield.

Are you looking for a quick road trip that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit? We have the answer. Andalusia, a quaint small town with a big personality, is hosting the perfect family-friendly Christmas in Candyland celebration which runs December 6 through December 29. 

Orthopedic care has made great strides in improving the quality of life for people in the Scenic 98 Coastal area. As we age, stress on our joints can become acute, and fortunately, science and medical procedures have advanced so much that replacement surgery has become commonplace. 

Busy musician Jimmy Lee Hannaford loves playing cover songs at his gigs along the Gulf Coast, but he’s ready to reveal more of his artistic skills as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. That’s exactly what he does on his brand-new album, called Jubilee.

Ashley Terrell’s talent graces the homes of many art lovers in the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Her landscapes and abstracts are ethereal and soft with muted colors, painted with big brushes, so the shapes have no edges. With layers and layers of thin acrylic paint, she glazes the finished piece with a clear top coat. “The glaze makes the colors pop out, creating depth,” she explains. Get ready, Ashley has chosen to Change!

I have been looking forward to hearing the story of Cris Eddings and his mother, Yoshie, for a while. Cris is a partner in the original Chuck’s Fish in Tuscaloosa with Charles Morgan. My son first introduced me to sushi there, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Bright and always cheerful, Cris has a warm, inviting, and infectious personality.

The Fall Festival Season is upon us, and the November calendar is overflowing with chances to get out and enjoy the cool weather. It’s a great opportunity to relax before the hectic holiday season begins. There is something for everyone, with festivals of all sizes and themes offered across the Scenic 98 Coastal Area.

If you like classic Southern cooking with a healthy twist, you’re in luck. Cheryl’s Café in Spanish Fort offers a wide array of lunch options and plenty of choices for the most finicky eater. 

The GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL is about to take off again on November 1-3 in downtown Pensacola as it has, almost uninterrupted, since 1973. As always, the all-volunteer committee will put their heart into organizing a beautiful 3-day event and the fine artists who grace Historic Seville Square will provide the soul with their amazing creativity.

One yellow cat is responsible for creating the Hound Dog Music Festival benefitting the Baldwin Humane Society and Beth Fugard, chairman of the event for the last 8 years, is the mastermind behind it. She had a rental property in Silverhill with a nice tenant who had a yellow cat. The cat looked out the window when she walked her property, which was once the Woodhaven Dairy.

When Rob Holbert has some downtime, you might find him at the end of his backyard pier on the west side of Mobile Bay. But don’t expect him to linger too long out there. Being co-publisher of the Lagniappe newspaper, something he’s done for 22 years now, demands a lot of hours

Along Scenic 98 in Fairhope lies a gem of a restaurant that is sure to please the most demanding epicurean. Called “R Bistro,” owned by Misty Rider, this restaurant you will say is “tres magnifique” after tasting some of their offerings.

Felder Rushing is a celebrity: an author of eighteen books, thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, a radio talk show host (The Gestalt Gardener) on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, and a guru to plant people all over the United States. He lives in Jackson, Ms., and is a horticulture specialist. Recently, I met and heard him speak in the Daphne Senior Center courtyard. Why? A Plant Swap!