Full disclosure, Raine Bedsole is one of our closest friends and she is also an extraordinary artist. She was recently selected as one of 9 artists out of more than 250 applicants to complete a sculpture to be placed in The Underwater Museum of Art, less than a mile from the sugar-white sands of Grayton Beach, Florida.

On a recent afternoon in Pensacola, Linda and I met a friend for lunch at BarSteak on Palafox Street. When I walked in the door, a man and woman sitting near the front called out, mistaking me for a friend of theirs. They must have been thinking of George Clooney or Brad Pitt. I get that a lot, so I took the opportunity to stop and introduce myself. 

I think we all know what it feels like to be stressed out from your big important job, and one day yell out, “ I just want to work in a plant shop!” Ashleigh McKenzie was just like Samantha Stevens in Bewitched when she wiggled her nose and nodded her head and ”Poof,” she now works in a plant shop! ‍

With Spring Break right around the corner, the excitement is building in the hospitality industry throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area. I sat down with Steve Hicks and Paul Stewart, two longtime friends and part-time business partners, who will soon be cutting the ribbon on Beach Village Resort, a 71-unit Orange Beach resort.

The beginning of March signals spring is on the horizon and kicks off “festival season.” The Scenic 98 Coastal area has tons of outdoor events coming up this month which will offer a variety of art, shopping, music, food, and entertainment options. Many of these events are free to the public and benefit vital community organizations.

Food meets drink meets good times! Mackenzie Klyce and Max Donaldson own and operate Mobile’s new eatery, the Velvet Pig, located inside the Ice Box at 755 Monroe Street in Mobile.

We did a story at the end of last year on Pensacola’s Grayson Bay Oyster Company. The interview took place at Odd Colony Brewing Company on Palafox Street. As I was talking to Brandon Smith about farm-raised oysters, we enjoyed a Tidal Guide draft beer, made exclusively by Odd Colony. 

Try this on for size… How does a fisheries biologist end up with a regional chain of sunglasses and casual fashion stores? That’s what I set out to learn when I met with Joe Jerrigan at his offices at The Wharf in Orange Beach.