I was recently invited to sit in on a roundtable discussion with the principals of Portside Advertising and three of their long-term clients. The occasion was Portside’s 20th year of being in business, providing clients with advertising counsel and marketing execution. The subjects were how methodology has changed and progressed over the years, and what subsequently, the future holds.

On a beautiful day in downtown Mobile, one might drive down historic Dauphin Street, windows down, feeling that mix of live oaks, bay breeze, and the hum of the Port City at lunchtime. The street is lined with restaurants, shops, and bars, each with its own story, but there’s one spot that carries a little extra flavor of fame.

The Fall Festival Season is overflowing with chances to get out and enjoy the cool weather. It’s a great chance to relax before the hectic holiday season gets into full swing and there is something for everyone with festivals of all sizes and themes being offered across the Scenic 98 Coastal Area.

If you're dining at Cheeseburger Randy's and want to speak to the person in charge, don't ask for Randy because there isn't one. There will be plenty of people extra willing to engage with you, though, including Alex and Marcus as well as Faith, Caleb, Sam, and Sand.

Matthew Jacquette is new to the Scenic 98 Coastal music scene. When he says he’s only been playing guitar for 9 months before ripping off some incredible riffs, you’ll get caught up in his infectious personality. He's a jokester, for sure, but the high energy and guitar skills he’s honed over the years belie his youthful exuberance.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know what a “Parrot Head” is: a devoted fan of the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, known for his tropical-themed music and associated lifestyle. I knew that Jimmy had a huge fan base, but I was astounded to learn that these folks have conventions where members of Parrot Heads in Paradise, which has around 200 sanctioned clubs with 20,000 members, meet every year in late October and have been doing so for 33 years!

Even though he usually leaves his instruments at home, Mr. Proctor's students know he's crazy about music. A big clue is that one of their classroom's walls is filled with artfully arranged posters of rock bands like R.E.M. and Wilco alongside blues greats like Muddy Waters and Little Milton.