When someone recommends a place to eat I’ve never heard of before, and I make a point of checking it out and have an amazing meal, I wonder why it took me so long to discover it. This is the case with Neighbors Seafood and Chicken in the Tillman’s Corner area of Mobile.

I saw a documentary film last night at the Fairhope Public Library that terrified and inspired me at the same time. Sallie’s Ashes is the story of how the late Sallie Smith and two of her friends set off on a late-in-life crusade to try and force Alabama Power and the Environmental Protection Agency to remove and recycle 21 million tons of toxic coal ash that is sitting in an unlined retention pond on the bank of the Mobile River, only 25 miles upstream of our beloved Mobile Bay. 

I first met Aimee Risser, the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Central Gulf Coast, through my late close friend, Mike Lapeyrouse. Mike ran the American Equity Underwriters insurance division at The Cooper Group, Inc. in Mobile.

As a seasoned musician, Bob Erickson has played hundreds, maybe thousands of shows over the years, but one of the most memorable was recently on the campus of Pensacola State College. The very special occasion was The Tree-Oh's performance for an upcoming episode of StudioAmped on WSRE, which he says was an incredible experience for him and his bandmates.

The sign at the front door of the new American Legion Building says,“ Come on in, Sit where you please, and be at Ease.” In the military, we know ‘at ease’ means to stand in a relaxed attitude with the feet apart and the hands behind the back. On the bay at 700 South Mobile Street, it means to be free from worry and relaxed. Veterans and Civilians alike will feel this vibe when they take a seat in the brand-new restaurant/bar that just opened last month.

What are Recommendables? It’s a new feature from the folks at Scenic 98 Coastal for discovering businesses, restaurants, services, things to do, places to see, and expert advice that we feel comfortable recommending to our subscribers based on our personal experiences. 

When you step into the MAX in downtown Meridian, you may have an urge to look up toward the sky. The high ceilings of the two-story rotunda help draw attention to huge, eye-catching portraits of many of Mississippi's greats in the arts, music, and other creative disciplines.

You may or may not know what the Great Loop is all about, but it’s a voyage reserved for those with a keen sense of adventure, patience, and fortitude. It’s funny how some things just align for lifelong dreams to come together. Bryan and Carol Megginson have the 2020 pandemic to thank for their recent adventure.

Worthwhile causes and organizations abound throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal communities, and I’m always amazed at the impact these humanitarian efforts have in improving people’s lives. 

Worthwhile causes and organizations abound throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal communities, and I’m always amazed at the impact these humanitarian efforts have in improving people’s lives. 

Years ago, after Charles Morgan had opened Harbor Dock’s Restaurant in Destin, and before Chuck’s Fish in Mobile and Dharma Blue in Pensacola existed, they had a cook from Andalusia, Alabama, named Ann Jones who worked in the Harbor Dock’s kitchen for over 30 years. One day, she suggested to Charles that they open the restaurant for Thanksgiving.

With the holidays upon us, we all know the temptation to splurge is in high season. Is there any way around those extra pounds, feeling better about ourselves, or even improving our health and wellness this time of year? Do we really need to wait to get on a better track?

It was the end of World War II. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered that a flight demonstration team be organized to raise and maintain public interest in naval aviation. Within 90 days on June 15, 1946, a group of Navy aviators performed their first flying demonstration at the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Jacksonville, Florida. They were then called the Navy Flight Exhibition Team and were led by Lieutenant Commander Roy “Butch” Voris, who flew a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat.

Now that the peak tourist season of Summer has passed, many beachgoers look forward to Fall for quiet, leisurely, and more peaceful vacations at their favorite beach community. Come Winter, things will pick up as snowbirds seeking a respite from the frigid northern climates descend on beach towns. The migration from season to season is predictable, but it does change, and, kind of like the weather, especially as economic conditions fluctuate. 

Joey Mason of Mason Hills Farm in Grand Bay, Alabama, has done a lot in his 40 years. He’s the kind of man who doesn’t let the moss grow under his feet. He’s not afraid to take a risk, hard work doesn’t scare him, and he always sees a bigger vision for what things can become.

There weren't many vehicles in the parking lot on this weekday at the B.B. King Museum, but all of them had out-of-state license plates. Foreign accents from a few of the visitors reinforced the enormous reach of this Mississippi Delta native, who is perhaps the most famous blues musician of them all.

One of the smartest things I ever did was move to a town so beautiful that my friends quit asking when I’d come visit them and started asking how soon they could come to Pensacola. Like many Saturdays before, this past Saturday, my best girlfriends and I kicked off another fun-filled girls’ weekend with a little breakfast at The Coffee Cup, my favorite local diner, catching up over hash browns and cheese eggs before diving into our weekend festivities.

I was recently invited to sit in on a roundtable discussion with the principals of Portside Advertising and three of their long-term clients. The occasion was Portside’s 20th year of being in business, providing clients with advertising counsel and marketing execution. The subjects were how methodology has changed and progressed over the years, and what subsequently, the future holds.

On a recent trip to the Emerald Coast, Linda and I went to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Destin / Fort Walton Beach. This was my first time visiting the park in about 50 years, but it certainly felt familiar. It was Fall Break, and there were lots of families enjoying the beautiful weather. Of special note, the park is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

On a beautiful day in downtown Mobile, one might drive down historic Dauphin Street, windows down, feeling that mix of live oaks, bay breeze, and the hum of the Port City at lunchtime. The street is lined with restaurants, shops, and bars, each with its own story, but there’s one spot that carries a little extra flavor of fame.

The Fall Festival Season is overflowing with chances to get out and enjoy the cool weather. It’s a great chance to relax before the hectic holiday season gets into full swing and there is something for everyone with festivals of all sizes and themes being offered across the Scenic 98 Coastal Area.

If you're dining at Cheeseburger Randy's and want to speak to the person in charge, don't ask for Randy because there isn't one. There will be plenty of people extra willing to engage with you, though, including Alex and Marcus as well as Faith, Caleb, Sam, and Sand.

Matthew Jacquette is new to the Scenic 98 Coastal music scene. When he says he’s only been playing guitar for 9 months before ripping off some incredible riffs, you’ll get caught up in his infectious personality. He's a jokester, for sure, but the high energy and guitar skills he’s honed over the years belie his youthful exuberance.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know what a “Parrot Head” is: a devoted fan of the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, known for his tropical-themed music and associated lifestyle. I knew that Jimmy had a huge fan base, but I was astounded to learn that these folks have conventions where members of Parrot Heads in Paradise, which has around 200 sanctioned clubs with 20,000 members, meet every year in late October and have been doing so for 33 years!