This time of year, especially for those who want to escape to warmer weather, head South. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to traverse the waterways by boat through South Florida and arrive at a tropical Bahama destination. I’ve heard of many who’ve done it, with trepidation at crossing the Gulf Stream. It can be a harrowing experience. Here is one such tale and we hope it conjures up a Parrothead version worthy of Jimmy Buffett.

Some people are lucky to have been born with creative genes. How creativity manifests itself can take many tracks, often depending on a person’s environment. In the case of ultra-talented Fairhope resident Elisabeth Hays, it was the free reign she was given as a child to do whatever she wanted to do in her art room, the finished attic of their home.

If you’ve ever been strolling down Palafox Street on the weekend, you may have noticed a shuttered restaurant nestled in between Intermission Bar and Graffiti Pizza. Being new to Pensacola, and with a culinary background, I was intrigued by this eatery that always seemed to be closed. How do they afford rent on such a popular street? What is the story behind this mystery spot? I started asking around town, and I am sure glad that I did! Read on to see what I discovered about Four Seasons Catering & Eatery, a true staple in the Pensacola community.

What is an Agronomist? - an expert in the science of soil management and crop production. Carmen Flamini is an agronomist working for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as an agent specializing in home grounds, gardens, and pests. She serves Baldwin, Butler, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System provides educational outreach to the citizens of Alabama on behalf of the state's two land grant Universities: Alabama A&M University and Auburn University.

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.

The first half of February is chocked full of Mardi Gras events after the festivities kicked into gear at the end of January throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Most of our readers have their established Mardi Gras traditions, but if you still need a Mardi Gras plan or are new to the area, check out the following links for parade schedules and other information.

There has been a lot of buzz about a new Asian Fusion restaurant in Daphne, so on Friday night, my party of three happily set off for the 20-minute drive, to experience the much-talked-about place. Reservations are recommended, so we were early birds and a table was ready for us at 5:15 pm. At 6:45 when we were finished, the establishment was packed! This tells us they are doing something right!

For generations of anglers, sailors, and shippers, the image of Middle Bay Light, as the locals call it, means you are about halfway across the Bay of Mobile. Built “up north,” the prefabricated house arrived in Mobile in 1885. Mobile Bay itself is quite shallow, and before the arrival of the lighthouse, the channel was marked with wooden stakes and barrels. n In the early 1880s, a 17-foot channel was dredged so large vessels could reach the Port of Mobile, and a lighthouse was deemed necessary to mark the channel.