If you’ve ever attended a civic function on the Eastern Shore, you’ve probably run into Skip Jones. He may be the most civic-minded man I know. His interests run wide and deep. He is also an ‘Old Salt’, an endearing term for someone who knows their way around the waterfront.
We are asked this question all the time, “What are you reading, watching, new music, or podcasts you are listening to? So we asked our readers. Here are some of their responses:
Perhaps the most anticipated annual July event in the Scenic 98 Coastal area is the Pensacola NAS Blue Angel Air Show. Regardless of how many times you may have seen it, it never disappoints.
I've never met any of the Beatles, but I did talk to Ringo Starr on the phone for a short while, and it was certainly a thrill. I thought I'd tell the story in detail in honor of his 85th birthday, which is coming up Monday, July 7.
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.
Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar has earned its stripes as one of Pensacola Beach’s famous landmarks. It is one of those iconic beach bars that define beach towns. Many such establishments dot the Scenic 98 Coastal landscape, harkening back to the youthful days of basking in the sun, catching a wave, or trying your luck casting from the beach.
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!
For going on three decades, the Baldwin Pops has provided the symphonic soundtrack for Fairhope's big Fourth of July celebration. It seems a shame that these hard-working musicians don't get to see much of the fireworks.
The Pearl & Horn is another great restaurant in Pensacola. This weekend, we did a bit of damage at the Palafox Market Saturday morning, before putting our name on the list for lunch at a new restaurant from the folks at George’s Bistro & Bar. Chef George and his wife, Luba, gave the community something special when they opened George’s Bistro & Bar in uptown Pensacola. Pearl & Horn is their newest creation that highlights their cultural food experience and brings the area something to talk about.
U.S. Highway 98 was initially built in 1933 as a route from Pensacola to Apalachicola. It has since been extended, and now runs 964 miles southeast from Natchez, Mississippi to Palm Beach, Florida. Beginning at the Causeway in Mobile, heading east, Scenic 98 hugs some of the most beautiful coastlines along the Gulf of Mexico to St. Marks, Florida. This is a drive worth taking.
When I was a boy, my grandmother, who was a phenomenal “country-cooking-at-its-finest cook” came to visit from North Carolina, she would bring me a large tin of homemade Toll House cookies. She brought more than one tin for the rest of the family, but this one was mine, and I carried them around with me until the last one was gone. My love for chocolate chip cookies knows no bounds.
Ten years ago, a small group of young, professional, enterprising men and women from both sides of the Bay and all walks of life came together to create an organization. Their goal was to make a difference in the lives of young people, to level the playing field so to speak.
My grandfather, a dentist in Mobile, was a speckled trout fishing enthusiast, even though he was allergic to trout. Before the Dauphin Island bridge was constructed, fishing trips involved loading an outboard motor, gas tanks, trawl net, tackle, ice box, etc. into a car and driving to Cedar Point, renting a skiff, and outfitting it. A trip to Sand Island was a big day.
One of my favorite activities in the Fall in Fairhope is the Live at Five Concert Series It is so much fun to pack your cooler and your lawn chairs, gather your friends, and set up the perfect spot to experience an outdoor concert.
I find wedding planning an interesting process. It’s chaotic and stressful on so many levels. Most planning involves the bride, the bride’s mother, the mother of the groom, and, on occasion, the groom himself. But what about the father of the bride? What’s his reward at the end of the day? He’s usually the afterthought until it comes time to pay the bills.
On a sultry, First Friday Art Walk evening in August, we met some friends at The Book Cellar to listen to some great music and to see who was out and about. As the event space for Page & Palette, The Book Cellar is becoming the go-to place for music, drink, and author events. There’s an author event this evening that I wish I could attend featuring Rinker Buck as he will tell tales of his “Huck Finn” style adventures in Life on the Mississippi. It starts at 6:00, but arrive early to get a good seat, meet friends and chat over a cool libation.