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.