September is shaping up to be an entertaining month with football, festivals, music, and plenty to do all across the Scenic 98 Coastal area. While you are out and about, be sure to stop by Chuck's Fish in Mobile or Dharma Blue in Pensacola for the freshest seafood, steaks, and the best sushi you ever put in your mouth. Your taste buds will thank you!

What is it about a college campus that impacts our communities? This is not a political opinion, but a firsthand observation from my perspective as the director of development of the Culverhouse College of Commerce at the University of Alabama many years ago.

It's almost a cliché to say there's not a bad seat in the house, but it's literally true at OWA Theater in Foley. You can easily get so close to the stage that if you want to voice a little encouragement to a performer, you can wait for a quiet moment between songs and won't even have to shout.

Last summer, when my 7-year-old grandson, Will, was down from Birmingham for his annual two-week visit with me, he saw a bunch of sailboats out on the bay and asked what was going on. When I explained it was a sailing camp held at the Fairhope Yacht Club, he said, “ I want to do that next summer!”

Boat building has a rich history around Mobile Bay. As in most communities that rely on the water, boats were built to serve practical purposes. They were tools. Lawrence Stauter, whose Stauter Built Boats are synonymous with Mobile Bay and the Delta, designed and built his boats to be optimal fishing boats for our local waters. Nothing more, nothing less. 

There is plenty to keep you entertained throughout the Dog Days of Summer, so take advantage of these main events coming our way in August. Thanks to our good friends at Chuck’s Fish and Dharma Blue for supporting our efforts to keep you informed of all the Scenic 98 Coastal happenings each week in Tidbits and Best Bets. Let’s get started!

Summer is a time for scattered showers and scattered people. As we move into August, I hope you are enjoying changes of scenery and routine and the last fluid activities that the end of summer often brings.

If you think you’ve had the best seafood ever, think again: if you haven’t tried dining at Felix’s, you haven’t had the full-fledged experience of dining like a royal.