Unintended consequences can pay huge dividends. Such is the case with Airbus’ only final assembly manufacturing facility in the United States. Both the A320 passenger jet and now the newly added A220 are all assembled, painted, and delivered in Mobile, Alabama. This story concerns joy, disappointment, and a massive win for the city and the entire Scenic 98 Coastal community.

Meeting a friend for lunch is always a good plan on a hot Summer day. On a tip from a friend, we decided Kingfisher Craft Sandwiches on Barrancas Avenue in Pensacola was the ticket, and the restaurant was calling my name.

My Dad was born in 1927 in Mobile, Alabama. He was a big man with a big voice who liked to tell stories. And, I think because of his size and his booming voice, sometimes it sounded like he was exaggerating; maybe he was, I wasn’t sure. However, like most little kids, I enjoyed these big stories, but as I grew older, I began to wonder whether these stories were real, heavily embellished, or maybe not true at all.

Fresh Off The Boat Restaurant at the SanRoc Cay Marina in Orange Beach began in 2014 at The Hangout Festival, sort of… That’s where Jerr McCutchen and David Buster met. Jerr, who is from Mobile, handled all the entertainment aspects of the festival, while David was the food guy.

Regardless of the pursuit, talent, passion, intelligence, and perseverance are a winning combination. Sarah Clark, owner/operator of Bay Gourmet and the Crown Hall Events Space at the corner of Broad Street and Dauphin Street in Mobile, has these qualities in spades.

Tucked away under the Theo Baars Bridge that crosses the Intercoastal Waterway from Perdido Key to Innerarity Point is an old bait shop turned restaurant that will knock your socks off.

My family, particularly my mother, was a great believer in helping people in need, all people in need, and volunteering everyone else to help them too. For our family and Mom’s close friends, there were endless projects requiring food preparation, events organization, and time spent with strangers.

What about summer makes us yearn for the next great book to read? Beaches and tranquility are the answer. Who better to advise us than our local, independent bookseller? I recently stopped by three independent bookshops, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Page and Palette in Fairhope, and Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe in Pensacola, to discover their take on the summer reading list.

As a third grader, Caroline Carithers experienced an event that changed her life and set her on a career path she envisioned as a young girl. 

My boyfriend, Jack Mayson, and I recently tried Brother Fox for the first time on my birthday, and we absolutely loved it! When you first walk into the restaurant, you get a groovy vibe with a calming and zen feel. Upon taking our seats, our server greeted us and took our drink orders while we perused the menu. We didn’t know where to start, the menu was so pleasantly different from typical fare at other local restaurants. 

There is a new event production company in the Scenic 98 Coastal community, and the largest 3-day RockaBilly Music Festival, Car Show, and Pin-Up Pageant in Alabama are set to take place June 30 through July 2 at the Robertsdale Coliseum, Arena, and Fairgrounds.

If you ever need firefighters to show up on your property to save lives or to help solve a serious issue like the one we had in our home recently, I can attest to the professional, courteous, and thorough job accomplished by the team at Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department, the FVFD. 

Linda and I attended Bryant Whelan’s retirement party on Memorial Day at the Eastern Shore Art Center. Her husband, Patrick, made all the arrangements. As we arrived, we saw this great vintage 1966 Ford Econoline van parked out front. It’s an eye-catcher painted in a beautiful blue and cream motif. It was the Brew Bus. How cool!

Downtown Mobile has lots of great options for good food, drink, and atmosphere. One of my favorite places is The Noble South. As the tagline says, it’s A Taste of the South in a beautiful old building at 203 Dauphin Street in the heart of Mobile’s Entertainment District.

There are a lot of great things happening right under our noses that we are just learning about at Scenic 98 Coastal. We need to get out more…

For the thrill seekers among us, maybe you’ve always wanted to travel to faraway places, see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, swim with the manatees, or even compete on a game show.

I had the good fortune to meet Liz Damrich on Easter Sunday at a friend's house. She, her husband, Michael, and their two young children walked two doors down from Liz’s parent’s house to join the festivities. At first glance, this is a striking, exotic young family—unpretentious yet engaging, everyone dressed in chic and comfortable fashion.

With a “Dallas comes to Fairhope” wedding this past weekend, Linda and I woke up late Saturday morning with food on our minds. We ran a few errands while trying to decide on a late breakfast or early lunch. The truth is the Bay Breeze Cafe made the decision easy.

God drove Man out of the Garden of Eden and into a life of toil. He loves us, so He created the northern Gulf Coast. He brought forth wild beasts of the forest, birds of the air, and Red Snapper. In fact, there are so many fish, beasts, and birds along our coast that some men hardly toil at all.

It’s funny how life’s experiences can lead to doing what you love and doing it well. Niches are discovered somewhat by happenstance, not necessarily by design. Experience is a great teacher, and often, it’s the failures that are the best learning experiences when you look in the rearview mirror. I enjoy hearing the backstory that leads to something really great. That’s what Red or White Wine is all about.

Writing a book is no small task. Having dipped my toes in the publishing business many years ago, I admire anyone who decides to put pen to paper to write a novel or their life story. It takes courage and willingness to be subjected to criticism and opinions that aren’t always kind.

The Half Shell Oyster House is a Gulfport, Mississippi-based restaurant that several years ago opened a location in Mobile and then another in Spanish Fort. I’ve been to both restaurants many times and have never been disappointed. Recently, I found myself between meetings in Mobile with some time on my hands and a hungry belly, so I stopped by Half Shell for lunch.

The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope has served as the cornerstone of the art community for as many years as I can remember. Since 2017, Bryant Whelan has been its Executive Director. Bryant has announced her retirement at the end of May, and a search for her replacement has recently been completed. Hers are indeed big shoes to fill!

The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope has served as the cornerstone of the art community for as many years as I can remember. Since 2017, Bryant Whelan has been its Executive Director. Bryant has announced her retirement at the end of May, and a search for her replacement has recently been completed. Hers are indeed big shoes to fill!