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.