This past Friday, we celebrated a close friend’s 65th birthday by hosting dinner at our house. I knew just what I wanted to serve: fresh-caught fish to grill on the Green Egg. I have this down to a science, so I felt confident it would turn out well. The most important ingredient is purchasing the best type of fresh fish suitable for grilling. That’s where Fairhope Fish House comes in. 

Impact 100, a women's organization with chapters throughout the United States, is currently halfway through its 2026 membership drive. There are several opportunities for those interested in joining this incredible group to meet its members and learn more about the impact they are having on our communities throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area.

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.

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.

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. 

If you want to have a taste of authentic Mexican food without booking a flight and waiting in TSA lines, then look no further than El Paisita in Loxley, Alabama.

Anyone who's been to Gulf Shores knows there are beautiful beaches there, but sometimes that's just about all they know. A visit to the city's museum can fill in many blanks.