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.
May is upon us and the dog days of summer are not far behind. There are still plenty of exciting outdoor events to take advantage of the weather throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area and across the Gulf Coast. If you fancy a road trip, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival cranks up again Thursday for the 2nd weekend of festivities.
This is more than a story about Moe’s Original BBQ. It’s a story about perseverance, leadership, music, finding your calling, faith, survival, being knocked down repeatedly, getting back up, and a big dream finally coming to fruition. Attitude and reflection are also a big part of this story.
Food is a big part of what we do at Scenic 98 Coastal. Our approach is to write about places we enjoy, where the experience is always satisfying. We don’t consider ourselves food critics, but we enjoy all kinds of options from no frills to fancy. It’s all about the experience, and a good dining experience comes in many flavors.
Pickleball is for all ages, all levels of athleticism, and every socioeconomic group. It has been described as a combination of ping pong and tennis. Scenic 98 communities have more than 50 pickleball courts that we know of plus more in process, all built within the last five years. In fact, it is difficult to even find pickleball players that have actually played the sport for more than five years.
Pickleball is for all ages, all levels of athleticism, and every socioeconomic group. It has been described as a combination of ping pong and tennis. Scenic 98 communities have more than 50 pickleball courts that we know of plus more in process, all built within the last five years. In fact, it is difficult to even find pickleball players that have actually played the sport for more than five years.
Have you ever had a professional chef come into your home and cook for your party or family gathering? Or be able to enjoy entertaining your guests and not have to worry about getting dinner ready or what wine to serve? If not, let me tell you about my nephew, Chef Seth Hargett.
Alan Alford, his wife Kathy, and their son Taylor co-own (with Coby Lake) and operate Ferus by the Bay, a new brew pub and restaurant on the corner of Church Street and De La Mare in the heart of downtown Fairhope. If you’re not familiar with the place, that’s understandable. Church Street has been closed and under construction since Ferus by the Bay opened six months ago. With construction now complete, it’s as if they just re-opened. And it’s good!
Noell Broughton and Mark Strickland are at it again. They opened Grace Restaurant and Rooftop Bar at 555 Dauphin Street at the end of October, and I’ve been eager to check it out. So, I did, on a Friday when the weather was nice and pleasant, and people were in a holiday mood.
Anne Dorman is a ball of energy! She first caught my attention on Facebook as the co-founder and administrator of Fairhope Now. I admired the group for its quick, witty promotions of small businesses in the area, entertaining photos of beautiful sunsets, and consistent content without the… let’s just say, unnecessary catty responses that often ruin the moment.
If you have someone in your life who loves the outdoors, enjoys hunting and fishing, is a runner, or just needs something casual but high-quality to wear daily, McCoy Outdoor is your place. The store is chock full of everything you can think of for enjoying all that the Scenic 98 Coastal area has to offer. I sat down with Dubby Hannon to discuss the latest trends at McCoy Outdoor Company.
Therapy Dogs of South Alabama opens with a major impact. Seven registered Therapy Dog Teams are already visiting Mobile Infirmary in Mobile, and three Teams are registered to visit Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and Daphne.