1/29/2010

Renew your wedding vows on Valentine’s Day

LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores is a fun place to eat. There is always something fun going on for kids and adults. The restaurant showcases top-notch local entertainment and has plenty of room for the energetic to play in the sand or join a game of beach volleyball. Every visitor to the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast should make a point to spend some time in Jimmy Buffett’s sister’s establishment.

Lucy Buffett has contributed immensely to the community and local schools. The restaurant is environmentally friendly and even has a windmill to generate electricity for the Bama Breeze bar on the property. Lucy Buffett has it going on.

One of the things going on at LuLu’s for Valentine’s Day is a “Tropical Re-union” wedding vow renewal ceremony. Of Course, LuLu’s wonderful staff doesn’t do anything part way, they want to break the current Guiness Book of World Records number of 624 couples. Personally, I think they can do it.
Starts at 5pm
Many prizes for marriage related feats
Fun dance music by Cool Rays
Complementary Bubbly Toast
Photographer
If you are in the area, it is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t made plans, Brett/Robinson can help you out with a Valentine’s weekend special. Check the Website, www.brett-robinson.com and click on the “hot deals” tab.

post provided by Luanne Burnett

1/22/2010

Excitement is building on the coast

There is an excitement in the air on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast. People are talking about parades, decorations are going up and ball gowns are being purchased. It is almost February. For locals, February means Mardi Gras.

Most people think about New Orleans and the crazy crowds when Mardi Gras comes to mind. But, Mobile has the honor of being the first to celebrate Mardi Gras. Mobile also has a more family-friendly celebration. The port city’s parades start January 29 with the Conde Cavaliers on the downtown streets.
Beads, Moon Pies and toys will be flying in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, too. The Mystics of Pleasure starts the Pleasure Island parades Saturday, February 13, in Orange Beach at 5:30 p.m. February 16, Mardi Gras day, the Gulf Shores parade rolls at 10 a.m. and the parade in Orange Beach is at 1:30 p.m. We even have a Carnival boat parade that starts 3 p.m. at The Wharf in Orange Beach, travels the Intercoastal Waterway and ends at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores.

If you have never been to a Mardi Gras parade, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are a good place to start. The floats are fun for all ages. All you have to worry about is where to put all the beads and throws you catch.

February is a great time to be on Alabama’s coast. Come get caught up in the excitement and don’t forget your purple, green and gold accessories.


post provided by Luanne Burnett

1/14/2010

Shopping is a great indoor activity

As much as we Pleasure Islanders hate it, we do have to endure cold weather, occasionally. Such was the case last week. Somehow, a much-despised artic air mass made its way to the southern most reaches of the United States. Even the people of south Florida had to find extra blankets to keep the bone-chilling cold at bay.

I wondered about our winter guests that make the trip to our semi-tropical climate each year to escape the cold. The snowbirds I encountered during the week all said it was still warmer here than at home. I guess it is all relative.

There are different types of adverse weather conditions that will keep me indoors on a weekend. One is a rainstorm and another is cold weather. Saturday was one of those days. So, I took my number two granddaughter on a shopping trip for school clothes. It was a belated Christmas gift I had put off for a rainy weekend. It wasn’t raining, but the cold air made it a great day for shopping.

Our first stop was in a consignment store. Foley has some great second-hand shops with good selections and reasonable prices. We couldn’t find any suitable pants, but we did get a white shirt at a good price.

Our next stop was at the Tanger Outlet Center. We knew we would find everything we were looking for there. We visited four stores and were able to come away with everything we were shopping for. Not only did I get her school clothes on sale, I also found a Mardi Gras ball gown, clutch and earrings for me. I call that a productive shopping experience.

We finished shopping around noon and topped the morning off with lunch at Ruby Tuesday in Foley. It was a good day for grandmother/granddaughter time.

post provided by Luanne Burnett

1/12/2010

A two-movie weekend

A recent cool weekend had me wondering what to do that didn’t involve a hat, scarf and gloves. Thank goodness, cold weather is not something we have to deal with very often on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast.

After a morning shopping spree with my granddaughter, I was looking forward to an adult afternoon and evening. My friend and I decided on an afternoon movie and dinner afterwards.

Afternoon movies are my favorite. The matinee prices are a couple of dollars less than evening prices and the theaters are not as crowded. We are lucky to have two great theaters to choose from in our area. Cobb Pinnacle 14 in Gulf Shores is at Pelican Place Shopping Center just north of the Intercoastal Waterway and Rave Motion Pictures Wharf 15 is at The Wharf in Orange Beach. Both are new theaters with comfortable stadium seating and ample parking.

For our Saturday escape, we chose “Sherlock Holmes” at The Wharf. The movie was excellent and the theater was warm. There was a nice crowd that was also trying to dodge the cold, I’m sure. After the movie, we stepped into the brisk evening air and quickly made a decision on which restaurant we were going to visit. We walked north on Main Street to the corner and into Villaggio Grille. When we stepped inside, we were greeted by the smell of a wood fire. The scent seemed very fitting on a cool evening. Villaggio Grille has excellent food and I always have difficultly making a decision on the entrĂ©e. Without any discussion of our choices, we both ordered Shrimp Carbonara. The warm pasta and creamy sauce with just the right amount of gulf shrimp was the perfect meal to warm our insides.

Sunday morning brought another frost. After Sunday morning church service, the afternoon was a blank page before me. I usually try to find an outdoor activity for Sunday afternoons, but the cooler than normal air was once again a deterrent. I opened the newspaper and scanned the pages. I decided it was another good day for a movie. This time, it was “It’s Complicated” at the Cobb Pinnacle 14. The start time was 12:55, so I had time to fix a quick lunch at home and cruise down Highway 59 to the theater. The movie was great and the theater not too crowded.

The sun was bright and the forecast promising for the week ahead, so on my way home I stopped at Pinnacle Car Wash and invested a few dollars toward a clean vehicle. I even stopped at the free vacuum on the way out and removed some of the sand from the carpet in the car.

Warmer temperatures are back in Coastal Alabama and I plan to replace some of the sand I removed from my car with fresh next weekend. I am looking forward to being outside again. But, it is always good to have choices when the weather keeps you in. Sometimes, a two-movie weekend isn’t so bad.


post provided by Luanne Burnett

1/07/2010

Winter adventure on the coast

I like to walk. During the cooler months, I like to walk nature trails. There are many choices in the area and personal preference is the only thing to consider when it comes to finding the perfect trail.
New Year’s Day, I ventured out Fort Morgan Road with a friend to walk the Pine Beach Trail in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. It was a blustery, cool day and when we started the sky was overcast. The trailhead of Pine Beach Trail is in a parking area near Highway 180 and the trail meanders for two miles through forest, wetlands, dunes and scrub. The path is sand and gravel and easy to walk. As we exited the car, a glance around revealed stately live oaks with Spanish moss draped over almost every limb. The trees provide a lush canopy for the parking area.
This was my first time on the trail, so I was trying to take in all the sights, smells and sounds. The cool, gray morning must have kept most seeking adventure at home. We only encountered two joggers on our way in. The trail itself is a wonderful walk. If there have been recent rains, be prepared to get your feet a little wet.
The first section of the trail is through a maritime forest with magnolia trees, pine trees and Spanish moss-draped oaks. As we emerged from the forest, there was a clearing with a two-story observation tower. From the top of the tower we could see Little Lagoon and Gator Lake. The trail separated the two bodies of water and gave way to white sand dunes and scrub. We took a right at Gator Lake Trail taking us west through tall dunes skirting the lake. I wasn’t accustomed to climbing hills, so I worked a few new muscles on that mile of the journey. We exited the trail on Mobile Street and turned south to the beach.
When we reached the beach and headed east the sun finally came out. The warmth of the sun seemed to take some of the chill out of the wind. The beach was deserted with the exception of a man and two boys walking the tide line looking for shells. I made a mental note to come back and look for shells on a warmer day. The sand was firm and walking was easy. I was a little concerned about finding the Pine Beach Trail from the beach, but it was clearly marked. I was glad to see the post in the sand with the hiking man figure.
We entered the trail heading north and into the wind. The sugar-white sand dunes and scrub were beautiful in the bright January sun. The sky was clear and deep blue. But the wind was still cold. Near the junction of Centennial Trail, there is a clearing with a restroom. The clearing also has a bench facing south. Sitting on the bench with the sun on my face and the trees blocking the wind gave me a warm, peaceful feeling. My legs were also thankful for the rest.
The closer we were to the parking area, the more people we saw on the trail. I’m glad we got there early. Looking back at a map of the trails, we figured our journey covered approximately seven miles. We took the long way around and enjoyed it immensely.

post provided by Luanne Burnett

1/05/2010

January Fishing Report from Capt. Randy Boggs

The New Year is off to a great start and the fishing is great too!

The red fish are biting inshore and near shore. Sheepsheads are being caught around the Perdido Pass Bridge and jetties with shrimp. We have several inshore boats available for charter.

Vermillion snapper and trigger fish can be caught in the 120 depths on cut squid. There has also been a big showing of lane snapper.

The report of tuna fishing is good at the offshore rigs.

Be sure to ask for our Brett/Robinson Winter Special that is good through March 15, 2010.

Capt. Randy Boggs
Reel Surprise Charters @ SanRoc Cay Marina
251-981-7173 or 1-800-806-7889