50 years ago, in 1976, Fairhope had a population of about 6,600 people. It was a sleepy little town where everybody knew everybody, and Fairhope Avenue was where the residents did most of their shopping. Jeanne Byrd opened a store, Jeanne’s, and later called Fantasy Island Toys, with an inventory of primarily dolls and dollhouses. I moved to Fairhope in 1977, and I remember that the store was small, quaint, and charming, just like Fairhope!

If you're looking for a graceful old mansion with tall, white columns at Weeks Bay Plantation, you won't find it. The scenic property just west of Magnolia Springs is a lot of things, but it's really never been a "plantation" in the traditional sense.

Crawfish bread, Cochon de Lait po’boy, boudin balls, catfish almondine, softshell crab po’boy, crawfish enchilada, crawfish strudel, rosemint herbal iced tea. And so much more food.

A few weeks ago, I ran into Paul Harriman at a St. Patrick’s Day party, and then again shortly after at a restaurant on a Sunday evening. We were having dinner with good friends, T.K. Jackson and Jeanie Miller. Paul greeted Jeanie and mentioned that he had recently come across an old article written by Vivian Cannon about her grandfather’s soft-shell crab farm on Weeks Bay. It had appeared in The Mobile Press-Register’s Sunday Magazine on September 2, 1962.

I love stories about women who turn setbacks into opportunities, making lemonade out of lemons, if you will. In Sally Stringfellows case, she made a champagne crab bisque! A single mother with 2 young girls, she needed to figure out a way to make ends meet. 

I love stories about women who turn setbacks into opportunities, making lemonade out of lemons, if you will. In Sally Stringfellows case, she made a champagne crab bisque! A single mother with 2 young girls, she needed to figure out a way to make ends meet. 

With May Day upon us, we have lots in store. This week’s Top Five Things to Do in May is front-loaded for the first half of the month. Keep up with each week’s entertaining things to do throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area featured in Tidbits and Best Bets in Wednesday’s newsletter and on our website at scenic98coastal.com. Thank you to the good folks at Chuck’s Fish and Dharma Blue for sponsoring Top Five each month!