On a recent Friday evening during the Fairhope Art Walk, Linda and I met a friend downtown to hear The Modern Eldorados. The band was playing on the sidewalk across the street from Pearl Seafood + Raw Bar, a small but popular restaurant that opened three and a half years ago in the space that used to be R Bistro. After a little while, we decided to settle in at the bar and ordered one of their specialty cocktails and a dozen oysters.
Mah Jongg is taking South Alabama by storm! But here’s the thing—it’s not exactly a new craze. This tile game, which can be traced back to China in the early 19th century, has a rich history. In fact, Confucius is credited with inventing it. His aim? To teach students discipline, strategy, and calculation.
When so many of us were focused on the arrival of the famous ocean liner, the SS United States, a couple of weeks back, I started thinking about another big ship on our horizon. I decided to take a drive over and revisit the USS Alabama.
On Tuesday evening, March 25, Scenic 98 Coastal is excited to bring its South Meets South Wine Pairing Experience to Orange Beach, benefitting The Nature Conservancy of Alabama. For The Love Of Nature is the theme of this event co-hosted by Frank & Co Jewelers and Saunders Yachtworks and will take place at the 8-Reale Speakeasy at The Wharf.
It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to getting on the water. Spring is the season for those clamoring to see what’s new in the boating world, to shop for a boat, or perhaps trade up or down. A while back, Linda and I were looking for a center console to putter around in. My hardcore fishing days are behind me, but nothing beats cruising around exploring the waters in the Scenic 98 Coastal area.
If you’ve ever read James Lee Burke and enjoyed the escapades of Dave Robicheaux, and his cast of entertaining characters, you might want to meet Ace Gonzalez. Ace is the main character of a recent book release, The Lost Republic by Woody Speed, or W.J. Speed, his pen name.
When the vastly accomplished Chef Rich Lee decided to open a restaurant of his own, he had the perfect partner in mind. His wife, Pam, had been in mortgage banking for 35 years but always had a strong culinary interest.
I don't know what I expected when I scheduled an interview with Chip Herrington to talk about his band. Still, I really didn't expect him to arrive at the Bluegill on his motorcycle, dressed in a coat and tie, just coming from the Courthouse where he had an arraignment. An attorney and a musician, with an easy demeanor, I knew this was going to be fun!
If you’ve ever been strolling down Palafox Street on the weekend, you may have noticed a shuttered restaurant nestled in between Intermission Bar and Graffiti Pizza. Being new to Pensacola, and with a culinary background, I was intrigued by this eatery that always seemed to be closed. How do they afford rent on such a popular street? What is the story behind this mystery spot? I started asking around town, and I am sure glad that I did! Read on to see what I discovered about Four Seasons Catering & Eatery, a true staple in the Pensacola community.
What is an Agronomist? - an expert in the science of soil management and crop production. Carmen Flamini is an agronomist working for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as an agent specializing in home grounds, gardens, and pests. She serves Baldwin, Butler, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System provides educational outreach to the citizens of Alabama on behalf of the state's two land grant Universities: Alabama A&M University and Auburn University.
Mike Hutchison was born into a musical family and points to the church as the catalyst for his early love for music. His career has involved stints as a youth music minister, a professional musician, a manager and owner of a retail music store, a music teacher, and a bandleader. His band, Blind Dog Mike & the Howlers, is a local staple and his Baldwin County Instrument Exchange store has serviced and guided local musicians for decades.
The first half of February is chocked full of Mardi Gras events after the festivities kicked into gear at the end of January throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Most of our readers have their established Mardi Gras traditions, but if you still need a Mardi Gras plan or are new to the area, check out the following links for parade schedules and other information.
There has been a lot of buzz about a new Asian Fusion restaurant in Daphne, so on Friday night, my party of three happily set off for the 20-minute drive, to experience the much-talked-about place. Reservations are recommended, so we were early birds and a table was ready for us at 5:15 pm. At 6:45 when we were finished, the establishment was packed! This tells us they are doing something right!
For generations of anglers, sailors, and shippers, the image of Middle Bay Light, as the locals call it, means you are about halfway across the Bay of Mobile. Built “up north,” the prefabricated house arrived in Mobile in 1885. Mobile Bay itself is quite shallow, and before the arrival of the lighthouse, the channel was marked with wooden stakes and barrels. n In the early 1880s, a 17-foot channel was dredged so large vessels could reach the Port of Mobile, and a lighthouse was deemed necessary to mark the channel.
Picture this: a beautiful spring afternoon, a lovely breeze sweeping through the pines, friends gathering, ice chests and picnic baskets full of goodies, and one of your favorite bands playing their best tunes at an outdoor amphitheater.
The smallness of my hometown, Evergreen, Alabama, meant a lack of separation. The poor and the wealthy, the educated and the ignorant, the sane and crazy, and the sick and healthy were thrown together in a tiny, rural piece of geography.