At this time of Thanksgiving, we encourage you to remember the organizations in the Scenic 98 Coastal communities that are making a difference and serve as the glue that holds our towns and neighborhoods together.

We love what’s going on in entertainment districts along the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Revitalization among downtown areas in Mobile and Pensacola is attracting excellent new food offerings, bars, shops, and music venues making life along the Gulf Coast better and better each year. One venue we notice each week is Vinyl Music Hall, so we dug a little deeper…

Do you need elevated, one-of-a-kind decorations for an event, a private party, a wedding, a birthday, a bridal, or a baby shower? Do you hope to find special gifts? Maybe you’re searching for unique table decor, eye-catching balloons, delightful party favors, all the accessories… Pop & Pour Party Company is your one-stop shop for an all-things party supplies extravaganza.

Last weekend, The 10th annual Fairhope Film Festival was held in Fairhope. I worked as a volunteer for the event for the first 4 or 5 years and still feel connected to it. Walking to venues throughout the town with stops for drinks and meals in between showings is my version of a perfect weekend! 4 Days, 40 films, is the tagline of the festival, so it's often hard to choose what to screen. I opted for six movies, four that I loved and two not so much…. I also attended the Red Carpet Party Saturday night which is always fun.

Robert Burns wrote, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” When that happens it's best to be nimble and quick on your feet. That scenario was repeated often when Covid hit. The rules changed, especially in the restaurant industry.

Linda and I had the pleasure of a quick, mid-week trip to Birmingham to see Bonnie Raitt in concert last Wednesday. We had early dinner reservations at Automatic Seafood and Oysters before heading to the Birmingham Civic Center Theater for the show.

Last week we made a quick trip to Grayton Beach, Florida with friends. It’s an easy two-and-a-half-hour drive from Fairhope. This time of year is our favorite time to visit and two days is never enough. The weather was perfect, and the crowds were easily managed. That first night's sunset was spectacular!

What brings Jessica Alford, General Manager of the Avenue Pub from Cincinnati, Ohio to Orange Beach, Alabama? Two things. First, she says that in 2015, both she and her mom had a bit of a mid-life crisis, and second, it coincided with the cold weather in Cincinnati. They moved to Pensacola and fell in love with the area.