Our dear friend, writer, editor, and former dance studio owner, Gina Lanaux, epitomizes the creative energy that resonates throughout Fairhope’s history. Like many others who chose to make Fairhope their home, she embraces the arts, the unusual personalities, and the free-flowing lifestyle that brings a community together. 

There’s often a lively crowd at Manci’s Antique Club, but now they have one more reason to raise a glass and smile—and it’s a big one. The building that houses the popular bar and restaurant has reached the century mark.

Growing up in the Scenic 98 Coastal area, all beaches along the Central Gulf of Mexico were fair game. The Jewels of the Mississippi Coast to the far reaches of Mexico Beach, Florida were considered our playground. We often found ourselves at Dauphin Island, Sand Island, Ft. Morgan, Gulf Shores, and Pensacola Beach. But there was a special affection for Orange Beach and the Perdido Key area.

The saying “April Showers bring May Flowers” comes from the United Kingdom, and although spring flowers are already blooming throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area, May still brings a lot of change. Students will soon be free for the summer, traffic from the weekly beach migration is ramping up, and rising temperatures remind us to take advantage of the weather before the dog days of summer commence.

We did a story at the end of last year on Pensacola’s Grayson Bay Oyster Company. The interview took place at Odd Colony Brewing Company on Palafox Street. As I was talking to Brandon Smith about farm-raised oysters, we enjoyed a Tidal Guide draft beer, made exclusively by Odd Colony. 

Food meets drink meets good times! Mackenzie Klyce and Max Donaldson own and operate Mobile’s new eatery, the Velvet Pig, located inside the Ice Box at 755 Monroe Street in Mobile.

Being a musician is hard work. Whether playing in front of an audience of thousands or sitting on the dock of the bay with a couple of friends, musicians always seem to experience pure joy when making music. It doesn't seem like work at all.

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.