We’ve all heard the jokes: What’s the difference between a savings bond and a bass player? The savings bond matures. What do you call a girl on a bass player’s arm? A tattoo. Three musicians and a bass player walk into a bar. There are so many more jokes. 

“We could be in San Diego,” my friend Ellen said. “Blue skies, low humidity, and eating lunch outside.”

Located at 1808 Old Shell Road, the Dew Drop Inn has survived hurricanes, recessions, inflation, and a pandemic. There’s a reason it is Mobile’s oldest dining establishment: it’s just that good.

Pensacola has a long history of people who have been successful in their business endeavors and have reinvested in the community in important ways. Not necessarily seeking recognition, their involvement in lending time, talent, and treasure to the arts, health and wellness, and support for those needing a helping hand through local programs raises the overall well-being and appeal of their hometown. These philanthropists see their largess as an opportunity to leave their community a better place long after they are gone.

With Fairhope’s heralded Arts & Crafts Festival celebrating its 74th year, expect to be impressed and entertained March 20 - 22. This year’s theme is “Classic Fairhope in Black and White.” Every day from 10 am until 5 pm, the downtown streets will be filled with hundreds of artists and artisans from all over the country displaying and selling their creations. Special event parking and shuttles will help carry the more than 200,000 expected visitors to and from the Festival site.

There is a very hip and cool art scene happening in Mobile and Baldwin counties, and Brian Tan is right in the thick of it. He was recently awarded the 2026 Visual Artist of the Year at the Artys, a project of the Mobile Arts Council that recognizes artists who have made a meaningful impact on the creative community.