Just about four hours’ drive from the Fairhope area will find you transported to what Old Florida used to be like. The port town which borders Scipio Creek and Apalachicola Bay is a distinct 180-degree difference from the bustling and crowded cities of Palm Beach, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.
This is an amazing story. I’m in awe. We love talking about food. We love experiencing food, whether discovering a new eatery, a tried and true favorite, or a new recipe using fresh, local ingredients from the land or the sea. Scenic 98 Coastal has a big appetite when it comes to good food.
On a recent Friday evening during the Fairhope Art Walk, Linda and I met a friend downtown to hear The Modern Eldorados. The band was playing on the sidewalk across the street from Pearl Seafood + Raw Bar, a small but popular restaurant that opened three and a half years ago in the space that used to be R Bistro. After a little while, we decided to settle in at the bar and ordered one of their specialty cocktails and a dozen oysters.
Mah Jongg is taking South Alabama by storm! But here’s the thing—it’s not exactly a new craze. This tile game, which can be traced back to China in the early 19th century, has a rich history. In fact, Confucius is credited with inventing it. His aim? To teach students discipline, strategy, and calculation.
When so many of us were focused on the arrival of the famous ocean liner, the SS United States, a couple of weeks back, I started thinking about another big ship on our horizon. I decided to take a drive over and revisit the USS Alabama.
On Tuesday evening, March 25, Scenic 98 Coastal is excited to bring its South Meets South Wine Pairing Experience to Orange Beach, benefitting The Nature Conservancy of Alabama. For The Love Of Nature is the theme of this event co-hosted by Frank & Co Jewelers and Saunders Yachtworks and will take place at the 8-Reale Speakeasy at The Wharf.
It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to getting on the water. Spring is the season for those clamoring to see what’s new in the boating world, to shop for a boat, or perhaps trade up or down. A while back, Linda and I were looking for a center console to putter around in. My hardcore fishing days are behind me, but nothing beats cruising around exploring the waters in the Scenic 98 Coastal area.
If you’ve ever read James Lee Burke and enjoyed the escapades of Dave Robicheaux, and his cast of entertaining characters, you might want to meet Ace Gonzalez. Ace is the main character of a recent book release, The Lost Republic by Woody Speed, or W.J. Speed, his pen name.
The train depot in Foley was the first stop for many of the city’s earliest residents and visitors. It’s still a great place to start when you want to learn about Foley’s history and the people who have made the place what it is.
Now it’s everywhere. Throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal communities, Mardi Gras is a celebration everyone can enjoy. In fact, Mardi Gras masks were originally worn so that people of all classes could mingle freely. The colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green, and gold represent justice, faith, and power, respectively.
On August 1, 2023, local musician Molly Thomas was on her way to Pensacola with her dog in tow, when tragedy struck. It was 9:30 am and Molly was crossing U.S. Highway 98 just south of Fairhope when another driver T-boned her. Her car flipped several times, and Molly had to be cut out of her vehicle and life-flighted to the University of South Alabama Hospital in Mobile. She was there for one week before facing a year-long recovery.
We are fortunate to have so many Scenic 98 Coastal communities that host monthly Friday evening art walks, showcasing our talented local artists. In Fairhope, it’s the First Friday Art Walk downtown. It kicks off a new month of good times and serves as a big block party, with galleries open, and bands playing, with an opportunity to visit with friends or take the family out for a free, fun evening.
We are fortunate to have so many Scenic 98 Coastal communities that host monthly Friday evening art walks, showcasing our talented local artists. In Fairhope, it’s the First Friday Art Walk downtown. It kicks off a new month of good times and serves as a big block party, with galleries open, and bands playing, with an opportunity to visit with friends or take the family out for a free, fun evening.
Forty-seven years ago, a 22-year-old girl graduated from college with a BA in Dance Education and with big dreams, opened a studio above the Page and Palette and called it Creative Outlet. Its first iteration was a school for many creative classes; piano, calligraphy, guitar, tai chi, drama, and of course, dance. Her father, a hands-on dad, co-signed a loan and taught her how to run the business, with handwritten financial ledgers, postcard marketing, and in-person, 3x5 card registration. It was the Dark Ages compared to the present day, but it worked.
A small shop along a shady lane off Twin Beech Road is where Evans Davis is happy to spend most of his time. Other than playing music, there’s not much he’d rather be doing than finding new uses for old wood.
Created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans in the late 19th century, Oysters Rockefeller was named after the Rockefeller family due to the richness of its sauce and proved to be an instant classic, quickly finding its way onto menus and at lavish parties across the country.