“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded,” Yogi Berra Long-time professional baseball player and manager, Yogi Berra, famous for his jumbled sayings that always made a point seemed to say it best. “It ain’t over til it’s over,” and “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” are some of my favorites.

I first met J. Willoughby about 25 years ago at a little dive bar in Pelham, Alabama, that I was part owner of called The Mug Shot Saloon. The Mug Shot was known to have customers dancing on the bar and was a favorite hangout for motorcycle "enthusiasts."

We are fortunate along the Scenic 98 Coastal area to have so many fine local musicians to see and hear at great venues! It’s something that makes the Gulf Coast special. A couple of weeks ago, Linda and I ventured to Avenue Pub in Orange Beach to hear our good friend, Mike Estep, play with his old high school buddies, The Selma Boys. The weather was a bit dreary that afternoon, but the music and food were outstanding.

I recently visited with Susan Sizemore in Orange Beach to learn about a Scenic 98 Coastal eatery, bar, and entertainment staple. It turns out they are unsure when Tacky Jacks first came to be. Was it in 1980 or 1979? No official records exist since Orange Beach wasn’t even a city when Tacky Jacks opened.

There is a new speakeasy in Orange Beach tucked away behind a vault door by Frank & Company at The Wharf. You don’t see many speakeasies these days. They are thought to have been created during prohibition-era days when illicit hidden bars with alcohol had to be quiet to stay undiscovered. ‍

The Ice Box in Mobile has just celebrated its third birthday by growing a little larger, a little wiser, and even more fun, if that’s possible. The brainchild of Taylor Atchison and Stoney Boatman, this local watering hole has been a surprise waiting to happen ever since it opened its doors in February 2020. And it’s not over yet! More surprises are cooking as we speak.

The Book Cellar at the Page & Palette in Fairhope has become a frequent stop for meeting friends, attending author events, and enjoying live entertainment. It’s casual and cozy with a nice, full bar, TVs for watching sports, comfortable lazy boys just in front of the stage, and plenty of high-top tables to take in whatever they have going on that day or night.

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…