Bay Buzz
06/11/13Sugar and SpiceI watched in horror as the burly man two tables down from me proceeded to pour a troubling amount of Heinz 57 on his crisp romaine. He took a deep breath before he began to fork the salad like he was some back-alley cardiothoracic surgeon doing open heart surgery for the umpteenth time that day. He then commenced dumping the remains of the salt shaker on his fries, adding a dash of pepper and scraping out the rest of the ketchup bottle with a plastic knife and a pound of perseverance. As a Dallas girl through and through, I assumed when I moved to Mobile a few weeks ago that I would fit in. And, so far, I think I do. Many of the people I’ve met are church-going, mannerly and indefatigably hospitable. They’ve got the same Northeast Texas, slight and sweet... |
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06/05/13Mobile Bay's Biker BluesTwo weeks ago, my husband and I finally found the time in our busy schedules to carve out a weeklong vacation in Cape Cod, Mass. During our short blissful stay on the East Coast, we packed in every touristy activity a Southerner could imagine. We ate Boston-style pizza, ferried to Martha's Vineyard, tracked down the Kennedy Compound, toured every lighthouse we could find and ate enough lobster and clam chowder to hold us over for the next 10 years. We saw the sites, dined on the best and yet, one of our most overwhelming takeaways from the entire trip was something so simple. New Englanders bike. And no, I don't mean hopping on two wheels to coast down the driveway to check the mail. These people bike everywhere — work, school, shopping, you name it. It... Posted at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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05/14/13Weevil, Weevil Rock YouIt sounds a little silly to say I had lofty expectations for a statue of a bug, but there I was, leaned forward with excitement as we navigated Enterprise’s downtown streets (well, street) toward the town’s most famous landmark. I was expecting a bronzed beetle the size of a minivan. I was expecting some sort of viewing area, with plaques and maybe a grassy knoll, or at least some sidewalk and a couple of benches. And then, we suddenly had to swerve on Main Street to avoid hitting what looked like a Greek goddess offering up an alien to her fellow deities. It was even better than I expected. The purpose of the statue is to pay homage to the tiny insect who changed life as it was known for people in the Wiregrass. The pest, which feeds on the buds and flower of cotton... |
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05/07/13On the MenuApproximately two months have passed (63 days to be exact, but who’s counting…) since I launched a new workout routine and made my first grown-up attempt at living a somewhat healthy lifestyle (see previous blog here). Much to my own surprise, I've actually stuck with it. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, and I suppose it's true. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to grow fond of working out. Thus far, the most difficult part of my newfound "eat right and exercise" mantra has been the former rather than the latter. Not necessarily because of my love for french fries and ice cream, but more from my struggle to find healthy foods I like. I don’t like onions, I don’t like peppers, I... |
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04/26/13Blue Jean BabyJeans shopping can be just about as daunting as trying on bikinis in January. The cut, the length, the fit, the wash, the color, the comfort level – these are all factors to consider. It’s all enough to leave a girl melting in a puddle of discarded, ill-fitting pants and begging for a drink. The Blues Jean Bar to the rescue. This past September, local fashionista Lauren Courtney returned to town from a season in the Crescent City, bringing with her the hip personal service denim shop. The biz, which also boasts brick-and-mortars in New Orleans, SoCal and NYC, among others, shares a full-time retail space with Femme Boutique on Old Shell Road and likewise offers a fun van-o-denim for occasional pop-up shops and at-home trunk show parties all over Alabama. Guests at... |
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04/23/13Raising the BarreAbout a month ago, a classmate mentioned a Barre class to me and said it was an intense workout. I had no clue what she was talking about, and I immediately thought, “That’s what they said about Zumba too.” I like a challenge, and acting like Shakira just didn’t cut it. I like to consider myself athletic. I have a gym membership, I get the occasional 5-K in and I run at least two half marathons a year. Thus, I went to my first Pure Barre class with a mindset it would be pretty easy. I realized I was wrong as I began to sweat just five minutes into the warm up. The warm up consisted of an assortment of exercises, including a plank, side planks and push-ups. Nobody dreads arm workouts more than I do. Needless to say after three seconds of a side plank,... |
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04/22/13A Brief History of Mobile’s Ties With SpainThis April marks the bicentennial of Mobile becoming an American city, when the Spanish, whose rule we had been under since 1783, handed us over to the U.S. In celebration of that surrender, Juan M. Molina, the Spanish ambassador to the United States, visited Mobile and was presented with a key to the city. Here are some key points from Molina’s brief history lesson on the city’s connection with his homeland along with some historical background from Wayne Sirmon, chairman of the Alabama war of 1812 commission. For most of Mobile’s 33 years as part of the Spanish empire, life here was quiet and men from Britain, France, Spain and the young United States were able to set aside nationalistic animosity. In 1812, just days after Louisiana was admitted as the... |
04/18/13Standing O for Show BoatLast Thursday’s forecast was storms, possible tornados. If there is one thing I hate in this world, it’s being out in the rain. I’m that girl who wears rain boots, rain jacket with the hood up and uses an umbrella. Needless to say, the thought of making the trek downtown to see Show Boat was less than exciting. Luckily, the weather cleared about 20 minutes before I had to leave, making way for two rainbows and a dry drive to the show. The production, presented by the University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre and Dance, traveled to Mobile to perform for one night only and a little rain did not detract from what would be a fantastic performance. For those of you who don’t know, the plot of the show centers... |
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04/16/13All the Single LadiesI am single. This is not an easy thing to be in this town. In my mid-20s, I’ve dealt with my fair share of interrogations about my love life and fix-ups. I know they mean well, but still. The truth is, things just aren’t as simple as they used to be. Tried-and-true dating has become somewhat of a foreign concept, and one-night stands have become more the rule than the exception. When searching for Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now, we ladies have to walk a fine line – try to be a little more than just a fling, and way less than a stage five clinger. Last week, Matthew Hussey released a new book, “Get the Guy,” in an attempt to help girls navigate these muddy waters. Not sure if I’ll read it, but the promo for it is hilarious and spot-on for what... |
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04/04/13Reasons to Love MobileLast week, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the scores of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index to determine America’s most content and miserable cities (see the list). Much to our surprise, Mobile ranked as the third most miserable city in the nation. Les Miserables? We beg to differ. Our fair city is one to celebrate, a place with beautiful landscapes, amazing food and a unique culture that makes us never want to imagine living anywhere else. In a recent Mobile Bay Magazine Staff Poll, we determined the following 13 reasons to love the Port City, rain or shine. Here's to you, Mobile; if loving you is wrong, we don't want to be right. 1. Minutes from the water. Growing up in Louisville, it took us at least 9 hours to get to the beach. Here, we are able to go for the... Posted at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
