CanalRdKelley

5th Annual Oyster Cook-Off at the Hangout

2012-11-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

The Oyster Cook-Off at the Hangout in Gulf Shores, AL has been one of my favorite local events the last few years, mostly because the competitors were all comprised of teams representing only local restaurants. This year, state and regional teams were added to the mix, so it was necessary to expand into the Hangout parking lot to make room for the additional tasting tents. I had my doubts about the event growing in size, but after sampling a tasty oyster from new contender, The Iberian Pig, I was all about it. I just felt sorry for the judges who had to taste oysters from over 40 teams being judged in three different categories. I hope someone gave them a prize!

Congratulations to Overall Grand Champion: Happy Harbor

Hangout Music Festival 2012 in Hipstamatic

2012-05-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

Fort Morgan...It's a dog's life!

2012-05-14T16:36:00.002-05:00

There's nothing like a day at the beach with your dog. That's what is so great about the beaches at Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores on the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are many dog friendly beach house rentals and the dogs are allowed on the beach with a leash.

Meyer Vacation Rentals

Gulf Rentals

Orange Beach Festival of Art

2012-03-10T17:00:00.000-06:00

The Orange Beach Festival of Art is held annually the second weekend in March at Waterfront Park on Canal Rd in Orange Beach. I love the food, music, the art, and best of all the location. The songwriter stage is set up directly behind the Coastal Arts Center on Wolf Bay, which offers an amazing backdrop for this event.

The kids love the park next door, and best of all you can bring your dog! What other festival can you do that here... NONE!

FloraBama under Construction

2012-03-01T16:00:00.000-06:00

This was the FloraBama in Dec 2004 after most of the sand from Hurricane Ivan had been removed.

Here are some shots of the new Main Room under construction in March 2012.

I can't wait for the Grand Re-opening of the Main Room the entire month of April and for Mullet Toss! It's gonna be a great year on the Gulf Coast!

New Year's Eve at the Wharf

2011-12-31T14:59:00.000-06:00

The Wharf is the place to be for New Year's Eve in Orange Beach! It seems to get bigger every year... live music, great food, fun people and I think there is now a jeweled marlin that drops at midnight. The only problem is you can't see it because it isn't lit up. Maybe next year.

Ah Karen...one of my favorite bartenders at Rafter's. Doesn't she look like Faith Hill? She rocks. So does Faith.

Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival

2011-11-16T17:01:00.000-06:00

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, named after the late Frank Brown who was a night watchman at the FloraBama for 28 years, has become one of the most celebrated events on the Gulf Coast. Over 100 musical artists come together each year in November to perform and collaborate across multiple venues in the area during this 10 day festival For a list of performers and venue schedules, check out: http://www.fbisf.com

RB Stone at Rafter's in Orange Beach, AL 11/16/2011

Shawna P at Rafter's in Orange Beach 11/16/2011

Simmons Brothers at Rafter's in Orange Beach 11/16/2011

4th Annual Oyster Cook-off at the Hangout

2011-11-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

Seaside in November

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

Off season is a great time to travel on the Gulf Coast. Traffic is not bad, rates are lower, and the weather is comfortable. My husband and I usually head for Destin around November because it's only about 2.5 hours from Orange Beach, and we love the beach communities and restaurants along 30a, especially Seaside. One might wonder why we live at the beach, but take a vacation to another beach. Well, it's simple. Everyone needs to experience different things and different places. Seaside is different because there are no 30 story condos along the beach, there are many 4-way stops which slow traffic, keeping it safe for pedestrians and cyclists to maneuver, and the town center is practically on the water, making it easy to access the beaches, lodging rentals, as well as shopping. This place is about community first, which is not a new concept. I think it's now called "new urbanism" and thanks to DPZ, the architectural firm who designed it, Seaside is a perfect working model of that idea, and has been for more than 20 years. Basically, you can get everywhere on foot. Some people call it a fake town... I call it awesome!

Here are a few pics from our last trip:

Seaside Post Office

Bud and Alley's Pizza Bar Patio

I remember when taking the above photo, I overheard a woman on the walkway say, "I can't believe this restaurant has all this prime real estate, and you can't even see the beach from the patio, and wow, what a long walk down to the beach." I laughed. Some people just don't get it.

Prosciutto di Parma Pizza

Tiramisu and Coffee

Jack

Airstream Food Vendors

Seaside in November

Local info:
http://www.thirtyareview.com/
http://www.30a.com

Popular area rentals:

http://www.cottagerentalagency.com/

http://www.360blueproperties.com/SeagroveVillasMotel/

http://hibiscusflorida.com/ (bed and breakfast - dog friendly rental available)

Note: Dogs are not permitted on the beach per Walton County regulations. Exception: dogs owned by Walton county real property owners or permanent year-round residents who have obtained a permit from The Walton County Tax Collector.

40th Annual National Shrimp Festival

2011-10-13T16:44:00.000-05:00

I love the annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, AL. It runs Thursday through Sunday the second full weekend in October. The weather is great, and the festival is usually the only time I can find those yummy cajun pistols. I like to grab one of those while checking out the art booths along the beach boardwalk.

Monarch Migration

2011-10-01T17:03:00.000-05:00

I love this time of year between October and November on the Gulf Coast. These beautiful little butterflies stop and have a little nectar to nourish them for their long journey to Mexico for the winter.

For information on monarch migration, native plantings, and where you can see them locally, check out the following websites:

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Hugh Branyon Back Country Trail

Hangout Music Festival 2011 Hipstamatic Highlights

2011-05-22T11:13:00.000-05:00

FloraBama New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip

2011-01-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

Nostalgia...tradition...whatever the reason people participate in events held at the historic FloraBama, it can be an interesting if not memorable experience. I usually prefer to be a spectator, especially on New Year's Day for the Annual Polar Bear Dip. There is just something fun about watching other people do crazy stuff. So, although you won't see me take the plunge into the Gulf of Mexico on the first day of the new year, I can offer some important "tips on the dip":
1. Arrive about an hour early for parking (the dip takes place at NOON annually).
2. Don't park on the side of the road in the sand...you will need a tow truck.
3. Bring cash, because if it's packed, it's usually CASH ONLY

Annual Nautical Night of Lights Boat Parade

2010-12-05T17:57:00.000-06:00

View from Wharf Marina of a boat passing under Foley Beach Express.

The best spot to view the boat parade is at The Wharf in Orange Beach. We usually find a place close to the marina to check out the decorated boats as they travel along the Intracoastal Waterway from Lulu's to Zeke's Marina. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to duck into when the weather gets cold or wet.

3rd Annual Oyster Cook-off at The Hangout

2010-11-13T18:54:00.000-06:00

One of my new favorite local events is the Annual Oyster Cook-off at the Hangout in Gulf Shores. It's held in early November and it's a great way to taste the local flavor only steps away from the beach.

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show

2010-11-12T19:20:00.000-06:00

The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is on of the most exciting, patriotic, and family friendly events held annually on the Gulf Coast. The acts include everything from skydiving to pyrotechnics, and of course the highlight of the show, the Blue Angels. They return to their home base, the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fl each November and put on a spectacular show full of unbelievable maneuvers for the home crowd and their dedicated fans who travel from all over specifically to see them perform their magic in the sky. So, whether you choose to watch from the front row bleachers, a tailgate party outside the airfield, a boat in the Pensacola Bay, or while simply sunbathing on one of the nearby beaches, this event is on not to miss.

Tips: If you can't make it for the entire day, the Blue Angels usually fly around 2pm, but get there early because parking can be a mess, and it's a bit of a walk to the gate. Bring earplugs for the kids and a light jacket if you stay for the night show. Admission is free but seating can be purchased if you don't want to bring your own chairs.

Note: Coolers, outside food, tents, umbrellas or are not pets allowed. Strollers, blankets, portable chairs are allowed.

My Favorite Place to "walk the dog"

2010-11-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Pirate's Cove is one of my favorite places to hangout on a nice weekend. Besides the tasty bushwackers and juicy burgers, the people, the water, and the dogs make this place truly magical.

I recorded this audio of Reddog & Friends with an iPhone, and used a few pictures I snapped at the 2010 Cove Dog Olympics. Maybe my next trip I can actually video the hula hoop action and the dogs laid out listening to the Reddog blues. If you haven't been here, it's worth the trip. It's even better by boat.

FloraBama Annual Mullet Toss

2010-04-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

I have been to the Flora-Bama many times over the last 25 years, but this was my first Mullet Toss to attend since moving to the Alabama Gulf Coast. It was a blast, especially with all the butts, boobs, and bushwhackers.

Outdoor bar

The famous bushwhacker

Main Stage

If I only had one of those Mediterranean Condos next door, I would be at Flora-Bama every night.

I wish I had a tan like this guy, but I would probably look like hell in 30 years.

The view of the mullet toss activities from the upper deck bar

Nice chairs. Perdido Beach Services rents these for the best VIP viewing.

View of the Flora-Bama from the beach

Measuring a toss

Boobs and a bushwhacker

Jack doing the bushwhacker dance waiting on Luther our taxi driver. It looks like he had a great time.

A great day to fly a kite...

2010-01-23T16:48:00.000-06:00

It has been a year since I lost my Father to lung cancer. It seems like only yesterday we were ﬂying a kite on the beach at the Alabama Gulf State Park. It was actually Spring Break 25 years ago, and my family's ﬁrst visit to Gulf Shores. I can remember it so vividly, because it was one of the happiest times of my life.

My parents, my sister, my cousin, and I camped in a tent, cooked out at the campsite (feeding the raccoons the crock pot macaroni we did not want to eat), took the wooded nature paths to the beach, and played in the ocean. It was a marvelous experience, and one that I will never forget.

My Dad loved the beach, and so do I. That love of the beach is one reason why I moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast. It is also a beautiful place to experience some of the things I think are really special in life. People and nature.

Today is the perfect day to ﬂy a kite. I think that is how I would like to honor my Father today. He would like that.

My first watercolor painting class

2010-01-12T15:00:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe it took me this long to take my first watercolor painting class. For some reason, I thought I could never make the time. I have a long way to go, but I was thrilled to take home a painting where I could actually recognize the subject. It was the same success I felt when learning to ride a bicycle. True achievement. I really must thank Dody. She was my instructor today at Phoenix East Condominiums in Orange Beach. I think she changed my life. Dody helped me realize, I am not too old to learn something new.