I am one of those people who turn their heads at the sight of a classic car. I have many nostalgic and fond memories associated with restored vintage automobiles and trucks from different periods. My friend, David Pierce, just bought a classic MGB which I first saw last week with him smiling behind the wheel.

January is a cold, wet reality check after the festive atmosphere of the holiday season and is often ranked as the worst month of the year to no one’s surprise. Whether you are working off the holiday excesses, working on a new year’s resolution, or getting back in the swing of work / school, the short, dreary days can dampen anyone’s spirits.

When conviction meets passion and perseverance, anything can happen. Going against conventional thought to blaze new trails can be a lonely endeavor, but it’s the path from which most great innovations produce better outcomes.

The Wharf in Orange Beach has become a central part of the town’s budding community where people come to shop, dine, listen to great music, and participate in all manner of sportfishing tournaments. I sat down recently with Jim Bibby, Owner Representative at The Wharf, and Mary Kate Lantrip, Social Media Manager, to learn more about The Wharf’s impact on tourism and residents in the area.

The story of Bellingrath Gardens and Home is fascinating, and I plan to catch up with the Museum and Home Director, Tom McGeheet this spring to explore its auspicious beginnings when the gardens are in full bloom. His reputation as the area’s preeminent historian is legendary.

The October Newcomers luncheon, held at the James P. Nix Center, was replete with catered, individual charcuterie boards by the relatively new kitchen business called Rouxsters. Newcomer members and their guests listened attentively to the presenter, Fairhope Film Festival’s executive director, Mary Riser, who announced the details of the weekend-long event, being held in several areas around Fairhope November 9-12.

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.

For the thrill seekers among us, maybe you’ve always wanted to travel to faraway places, see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, swim with the manatees, or even compete on a game show.