Posts by
Gina Lanaux
Artsy Side Of Life
The Language of Art: Barbara Haines
Like so many little girls, Barbara Haines dreamed of becoming a ballerina. At the age of 6, after seeing a ballet performance on TV at home in Budapest, Hungary, she asked her mother for ballet lessons. The ballet master at the Kálmán Nádasdy Conservatory, Adél Orosz, gave her a one-month trial, and with a natural gift, she excelled. A fun fact I learned while having coffee with Barbara: Budapest is divided into two sides, which are connected by seven bridges. She was born on the ‘Buda’ side, which she described as scenic and natural, while the ‘Pest’ side, on the other hand, is more urban and industrial. The Conservatory was on the ‘Buda’ side.
Sports & Fitness
Fairhope Area Swim Team: FAST
Walking into the Fairhope Recreation Center Pool on a Tuesday morning during the Fairhope Area Swim Team, aka FAST practice, I am stimulated by the sights and sounds of approximately 350 kids in matching team swimsuits, swimming laps. There are eight lanes with coaches on each side, loudly giving instructions to swimmers aged 7 to 17 years.
Community Endeavors
Hope Community, Baldwin County
I first heard about Hope Community in 2021 while working on another local publication. The article quoted Shawn Graham, vice president at the time, “It's not about race when we speak of diversity. It's about the contribution of all people to our community.” I was delighted to hear about an organization dedicated to understanding, communication, and a future for all of its citizens, but the skeptic in me couldn’t foresee how this concept could be effectively implemented. Boy, was I wrong!
Events That Inspire
Maria Hoffmann and Little Roots, Big Adventures Summer Camp
“At Little Roots, Big Adventures, I want to give children what I had as a child,” Maria Hoffman exclaims in a bright, enthusiastic voice. With Native American heritage, Maria grew up in the mountains of North Georgia and attributes her love of nature to her grandfather, who exposed her to the natural world while hiking and camping. She reminisces about walking barefoot in creeks, catching minnows, and chasing frogs and lightning bugs.
Epicurean Delights
Cosmo's Restaurant and Bar, Orange Beach
There is a paw print in the logo of Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar, and I never knew why. While lunching there with girlfriends, I learned that the restaurant was named for the owners, Brian and Jodi Harseny’s, beloved black dog. His portrait is prominently displayed on an outside mural and on a particularly nice silhouette painting of Cosmo and his cat friend, Junior Mint, looking at the moon. Junior Mint is still alive, living the good life with the Harsenys, but Cosmo is in Dog Heaven.
People & Business Profiles
Jennifer Blackwood, Battles Wharf Market
When Jennifer Blackwood was working as a Pharmaceutical Rep in the Panhandle of Florida, she had a favorite old gas station in Seaside, which she frequently visited. “ It had a lot of personality, and when I saw Battles Wharf Market, it reminded me of that special place.” And here she is, the new owner of the iconic market on Scenic 98, just north of the Grand Hotel.
Day Trippin'
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
We spent Easter weekend on 6150 acres in Gulf Shores known as the Gulf State Park. I could walk on the beach and see nothing but water and sand for miles, which is quite rare in the condo-dense Gulf front strip from Gulf Shores to Perdido Key.
Dive Bars & Music
Chip Herrington and the Mobile Big Band Society
I don't know what I expected when I scheduled an interview with Chip Herrington to talk about his band. Still, I really didn't expect him to arrive at the Bluegill on his motorcycle, dressed in a coat and tie, just coming from the Courthouse where he had an arraignment. An attorney and a musician, with an easy demeanor, I knew this was going to be fun!
About Contributor
Gina Lanaux
Gina Lanaux, daughter of a journalist and advertising executive, graduated from Julius T. Wright School for Girls in 1973. There, a rigorous English teacher required her to write essays, book reports, term papers, and creative compositions. While doing this homework, having a father as a teaching editor was beneficial because she learned to craft sentences with proper grammar and syntax and to appreciate the written word. She graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Dance Education and opened a dance studio in Fairhope in 1978, where besides teaching dance, she wrote newsletters, emails, curriculum, press releases, and social media content to grow and manage her business. Upon retirement in 2020, Gina began a job with Fairhope Living Magazine as a content coordinator, editor, and writer. When Scenic 98 Coastal was created, she was happy to help her friend Zeb Hargett with editing and writing Scenic 98 Coastal. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her mind in her retirement.
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