Summer is in full swing throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal community, although it doesn’t officially start with the Summer Solstice on June 20th. The extra daylight hours are a welcome opportunity to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of our community, whether it's biking, fishing, sailing, playing sports, or just relaxing on the beach!
You never know what you’re going to get when you sit down with someone for the first time. I mentioned to my friend, Jack Wallace, that we had received an inquiry from the Pink Pelican Art Gallery owner about an event they are having in late May. He said, “That’s a great art gallery. We love going there, and they are great people.” I decided that I would like to meet Tamara Scott, the artist who owns the Pink Pelican Art Gallery in Orange Beach.
Once they’ve been to Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, many people think, “Ok, been there, I’ve done that, I’ve been to The Bahamas.” While, about five decades ago, I was a part of this category of people, once I discovered the “Out-Islands,” also known as “The Family Islands,” I fell in love with an entirely new and unique aspect of true Bahamian island life.
Most people traveling along U.S. 98 probably breeze through the little town of Lillian with little more than a passing thought, but Curry Weber isn't like most people. The audio engineer and archaeologist moved to this community on Perdido Bay nine years ago, and he's determined to find out as much as possible about its past.
Something that even some of my friends don't know about me is I'm into birds, and have been for over 30 years. The preferred term is "birding" for people who are seriously into it, but I've never quite put myself in that category, even though I do own a handful of reference books, some nice binoculars and even a high-powered spotting scope.
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.
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.
In 2006, after hurricanes Ivan and Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Mark White, having recently moved from Vail, Colorado, to Alabama, found a BBQ joint in Orange Beach that didn’t survive the storms.
Growing up in Mobile, I spent much of my youth attending and watching my two older brothers play sports. My dad was especially involved with Murphy High School’s track team, raising money for their booster club. It was called the Cinder Club because running tracks in those days were made of cinder that required long spikes on shoes to gain traction.
If you ever get a chance to visit with Gus Silivos, Owner/Executive Chef at Agapi Bistro + Garden in Pensacola, you are in for a treat. A few Fridays ago, Linda, her son Jack, and I had dinner at Agapi while it was pouring rain outside. We sat at the bar enjoying a wonderful meal and interacted with the delightful staff.
There is a pottery studio and showroom in Navarre, Florida, called Holley Hill Pottery. The owner/artists are Marty, Brenda, and Jason Stokes, co-founders of the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society and the WoodStoke Pottery and Kiln Festival which is coming up on Saturday, February 10th.
This time of year, especially for those who want to escape to warmer weather, head South. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to traverse the waterways by boat through South Florida and arrive at a tropical Bahama destination. I’ve heard of many who’ve done it, with trepidation at crossing the Gulf Stream. It can be a harrowing experience. Here is one such tale and we hope it conjures up a Parrothead version worthy of Jimmy Buffett.
Some people are lucky to have been born with creative genes. How creativity manifests itself can take many tracks, often depending on a person’s environment. In the case of ultra-talented Fairhope resident Elisabeth Hays, it was the free reign she was given as a child to do whatever she wanted to do in her art room, the finished attic of their home.
If you’ve ever been strolling down Palafox Street on the weekend, you may have noticed a shuttered restaurant nestled in between Intermission Bar and Graffiti Pizza. Being new to Pensacola, and with a culinary background, I was intrigued by this eatery that always seemed to be closed. How do they afford rent on such a popular street? What is the story behind this mystery spot? I started asking around town, and I am sure glad that I did! Read on to see what I discovered about Four Seasons Catering & Eatery, a true staple in the Pensacola community.
What is an Agronomist? - an expert in the science of soil management and crop production. Carmen Flamini is an agronomist working for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as an agent specializing in home grounds, gardens, and pests. She serves Baldwin, Butler, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System provides educational outreach to the citizens of Alabama on behalf of the state's two land grant Universities: Alabama A&M University and Auburn University.
Mike Hutchison was born into a musical family and points to the church as the catalyst for his early love for music. His career has involved stints as a youth music minister, a professional musician, a manager and owner of a retail music store, a music teacher, and a bandleader. His band, Blind Dog Mike & the Howlers, is a local staple and his Baldwin County Instrument Exchange store has serviced and guided local musicians for decades.