Gulf Shore Getaway

SummerTide cools off summer with 'Grease'

SummerTide cools off summer with Grease

Unknown to some students on campus, the University has a professional theater company called SummerTide that, for three years now, performs during the summer in Gulf Shores.

"SummerTide's first two seasons in Gulf Shores were absolute successes with many sold-out evenings," said Ed Williams, director of this summer's production of "Grease," and the chairman of the department of theatre and dance. "We are thrilled to be returning."

Starring in this year's production are 2006 graduates Maegan McNerney and Sara Catherine Thomason as Sandy and Rizzo, respectively, and senior Jason Keef as Danny. Other members of the cast include Ben Holmes, Alison Wilkes, Taylor Bridges, Emily Ethridge and Jeff Ingram.

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Suminagashi: The Art of Marbling

Art of marbling slated at museum

"Suminagashi: The Art of Marbling" will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Fort Morgan Museum.

Participants in the program will learn a decorative technique that is thousands of years old. Suminagashi, or marbling, is the Japanese art of printing multi-colored swirled or stone-like patterns on paper or fabric. The patterns are formed by first floating the colors on the surface of a liquid, then laying paper or fabric onto the colors to absorb them.

Participants will marble both paper and cloth, both of which can be used in a variety of projects from scrapbooking to quilting. Marbling is a recognized technique in the 4-H "Decorate Your Duds" program.

University of Alabama's SummerTide theater

While soaking up the sun and sea at Gulf Shores this summer, be sure to take one of those beautiful “summer nights” to see the University of Alabama Department of Theatre & Dance Professional's production of Grease.

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Coastal Wine Tour Wine and Culinary Weekend

Just a reminder of this weekend's Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour this weekend. The following press release is just out this morning.

City of Orange Beach and Southern Breeze Ready for Coastal Wine Tour Wine and Culinary Weekend
City of Orange Beach, AL and Southern Breeze Magazine put final touches on the Coastal Wine Tour, a premier wine and culinary weekend, for its next stop May 19-21, 2006 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The tour produced by Southern Breeze Magazine, a publication exploring, covering and celebrating the "good life" on the Gulf Coast, will be kicking off this event Friday evening, May 19 with the gourmet five-course Winemaker Dinners. This portion of the event is followed by Saturday's Sierra Development's Rio Antigua Grand Wine Tasting and Sunday's Walkabout Brunch at Orange Beach Waterfront Park.
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North Alabama Birding Festival a hit

The first annual (is there such a thing as a "first annual?") North Alabama Birding Festival was a hit last weekend. The festival drew more people from a larger area than organizers expected. With results this positive, especially in the face of competition from about 50 other birding events this spring, festival organizers have decided to make a go of it next year.

Look for the event to take place slightly earlier next year however. This year's migration had run its course by the time the first birder arrived for the three day long weekend event. In addition the trees and foliage had fully leafed out, making the task of finding birds especially difficult for birders.

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Arts Alive! festival in Mobile

Vacationing in the Mobile Alabama area in early May? Plan to visit the Arts Alive! open air arts festival on Saturday, May 13th, 2006.

For one amazing day in May, downtown Mobile's Cathedral Square is transformed into a participatory art showcase for artists in the Mobile area. Reminiscent of New Orleans, you'll encounter all manner of visual, performing, and written arts. The Arts Alive! festival is intended to be a hands-on affair, so take time to experience it to its fullest. You'll have the opportunity to try your hand at many of the artistic methods on display. Even the Historic Mobile Preservation Society is sponsoring a hands-on art booth on the square.