The month of July always kicks off in high gear with Independence Day celebrations across the country. Communities and venues throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area are hosting events to commemorate the holiday, so be sure to check out the Tidbits & Best Bets section at the end of the newsletter for all of this weekend’s events.

Much like the legend of the immortal Phoenix's powers to regenerate by bursting into flames just as it reaches the end of its life and then rising from its ashes toward the sun, the GulfQuest Maritime Museum has risen to become the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico.

You never know who you’ll run into along the Alabama coast—maybe even a member of the Rolling Stones.

The small community of Bon Secour has seen generational changes throughout its history, especially regarding the rich bounty of seafood harvested, processed, and shipped to restaurants and consumers, first locally, then regionally, and now nationally.

When Grandchildren visit during their summer vacation, besides swimming in pools, the bay, and the Gulf, an educational activity is a good balance. (This also gives grandmother 3 hours to catch her breath!) My 6-year-old grandson spent a week with Ashton Crist, owner of Kids Stem for Kids Mobile Bay. For the unfamiliar, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The camp he attended in Fairhope had a Minecraft theme which means it is based on a top-rated video game that every kid I know is obsessed with. Needless to say, he was psyched to go!

Throughout June, the Mobile Arts Council’s Gallery @ Room 1927 will feature works by four Mobile-based artists. The exhibitions, titled “Figures of Imagination” and “Ethereal,” have contrasting themes, but are compatible in their focus on figures, extreme detail, and surreal imagery.

Throughout June, the Mobile Arts Council’s Gallery @ Room 1927 will feature works by four Mobile-based artists. The exhibitions, titled “Figures of Imagination” and “Ethereal,” have contrasting themes, but are compatible in their focus on figures, extreme detail, and surreal imagery.

Throughout June, the Mobile Arts Council’s Gallery @ Room 1927 will feature works by four Mobile-based artists. The exhibitions, titled “Figures of Imagination” and “Ethereal,” have contrasting themes, but are compatible in their focus on figures, extreme detail, and surreal imagery.