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Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Through September 28, you have TWO great reasons to visit the historic Swift-Coles Home in Bon Secour, Alabama.
Beautiful heritage quilts in a lovely historic home. See both when you visit the Swift-Cole Home in Bon Secour, Alabama.
The house, listed on the registry of Alabama Historical Landmarks since 1978, was built on the Bon Secour River banks circa 1882. Many accounts of ghostly sightings have been reported, describing scenes with Civil War soldiers, servants and guests.
We can’t promise apparitions, but we can promise a lovely exhibit of a material kind.
Rare heritage quilts and educational information have been gathered by members of the Island Quilters Guild. In the family parlor of the Swift-Coles Home, visitors may examine a quilting frame and learn about the process of quilting a dogwood pattern. A display describing the history of quilting is accompanied by some of the typical quilting patterns.
Once you better understand what the craft is all about, take your time as you wander through the 16-room home. In each area, you’ll be impressed by the artistry of stitched, appliquéd or embroidered quilts of many colors and interesting patterns.
To admire the quilts, feel free to stop by any Tuesday or Friday through September 28, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Admission to the Swift-Cole House, located at the end of Co. Rd. 49 in Bon Secour, is just $5. Further details are available by calling the Baldwin County Department of History and Archives at 251-580-1897.
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Posted in Activities, Arts, Arts Visual, History, Presentations | 4 Responses »
Tags: Alabama, art, Bon Secour, destination, display, exhibit, family, Gulf Coast, History, house, quilt
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Mist glitter.
High-energy Celtic music by the renowned quartet Mithril can be heard for free in Gulf Shores on July 22.
That term evokes a beautiful scene of peacefulness, sometimes stirred by lively winds, but unbroken by human voices. In the fictional Elvish language of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, it would be pronounced “mithril”—and a local group named Mithril succeeds at creating such a scenario through their music.
Lift your spirits with Mithril’s unique style of “Celtic Pops” on Thursday, July 22, as part of the free Gulf Shores Out & In concert series. You’ll hear Celtic/world music with influences of classical, Middle Eastern and American folk styles. The four talented members are fun to watch as they play a diverse range of instruments, and their classical training is evident in the group’s effortless precision.
Mithril’s upbeat show will begin at 7:00 p.m. indoors at the Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores, corner of W. 19th Ave. and W. 2nd St.
Grab your family and some friends, and start the fun in the afternoon with a trip to the Gulf Shores Museum (free admission, open until 5:00 p.m.) to learn of the area’s history, including shrimping and hurricanes. Chat over a delicious dinner at any of the island’s restaurants or enjoy a picnic dinner in the park. Then spend the evening tappin’ your toes to live music.
“Free” is always a good thing, and so is the music of Mithril.
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Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Arts Performing, Concerts, Events, History, Nightlife, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, Celtic, concert, family, Fishing, free, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, Ireland, Irish, island, Mithril, music, musical, Nightlife, Scotland, Scottish
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Wednesdays in July don’t have to be the dull “hump day” of the week. Not when you visit Bellingrath Gardens and Home.
Visit Bellingrath Gardens & Home on Wednesdays in July for special activities.
On July 21, from 10:00 a.m. until noon, Bellingrath is taking the opportunity to celebrate Ice Cream Month. Thanks to some assistance from Blue Bell Ice Cream, the whole family can enjoy games, activities and, of course, ice cream.
The July 28 offering will supply food for the curious brain as Tom McGehee gives a special presentation regarding the interior and exterior architectural features of the famed 1935 English Renaissance home. The program is scheduled for 10:30–11:30, allowing plenty of time afterward to enjoy lunch and meander through the beautiful gardens during the afternoon
Bellingrath Gardens and Home is located in Theodore, just south of Mobile. Wear your walking shoes, and be sure to take your camera to capture the beautiful summer roses!
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Posted in Activities, Alabama, Businesses, Events, History, Nature and Wildlife, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, architecture, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Blue Bell, destination, English Renaissance, family, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, History, house, ice cream, Mobile, Theodore
Monday, April 26th, 2010
No, he didn’t invent peanut butter or discover sweet potatoes, although you’ve probably heard otherwise. But George Washington Carver did find many previously untapped uses for both.
Known for his work with peanuts and sweet potatoes, George Washington Carver’s amazing talents span many fields.
Did you know that this great man was not only a brilliant scientist, but also an artist? He painted, played both the piano and the guitar, and wrote poetry. He also loved to teach, even creating a horse-drawn classroom so he could reach the poor who had no means to attend school or learn proper farming techniques in rural Alabama. His humanitarian efforts were at the root of his actions, touching folks from every walk of life.
It’s no wonder “George Washington Carver”—on loan from the Field Museum in Chicago—is The Museum of Mobile’s largest and most expensive exhibit. Learn how the infant slave was rescued from kidnappers, raised by his owners, and driven by relentless curiosity to leave his home at age 13 to pursue a formal education. Follow his path to two colleges in Iowa, and eventually to a teaching and research position at then-named Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Delve into the numerous successes he had with agricultural research, including work with Henry Ford on a biofuel.
Admission to The Museum of Mobile is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students; children under 6 are admitted free. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The “George Washington Carver” exhibit will be available through July 4, and is included in the museum admission fee.
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Posted in Activities, Arts, Events, History, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, biofuel, exhibit, family, George Washington Carver, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, Henry Ford, History, island, Museum of Mobile, Orange Beach, peanut, slave, sweet potato, Tuskegee Institute
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Spring brings thoughts of the freedom of warm days ahead, including plenty of water-related activities to be enjoyed. But as you look forward, don’t miss a unique opportunity to peek into life on the seas as it was more than 500 years ago.
Replicas of two of Christopher Columbus' ships visit Gulf Shores March 10-15.
Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta—yes, two of the ships used by Christopher Columbus—will be docked at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from March 10 through 14, along with a knowledgeable and passionate staff eager to answer questions.
The Nina, Columbus’ favorite of his three famous ships, exists in replica form as the only floating museum of its kind. The Pinta replica was built with a handful of modern amenities and is available for private parties and charters. Both are a type of ship called a caravel, which was commonly used as a trading vessel. And both were recently handcrafted using old-fashioned tools but without the benefit of an actual blueprint from their day.
Since February 2009, these two ships have been making their way around the U.S. After a short break for the crew and some time to make any needed repairs and adjustments, they are back on the seas and ready to delight crowds at a number of destinations throughout the country.
Plan now for your opportunity to learn about the ships, about Christopher Columbus, and about life during the Age of Discovery. Walk-aboard, self-guided tours are open from 9:00 to 5:00 each day. Tickets are just $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for students, and free for ages 4 and younger. For more information, call 284-495-4618, or visit The Columbus Foundation’s website.
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Posted in Activities, Alabama, Boating, Events, Florida, History | No Responses »
Tags: Age of Discovery, Alabama, Beaches, caravel, Christopher Columbus, destination, family, Florida, Foley, Fort Morgan, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, History, island, Nina, Perdido Key, Pinta, replica, saltwater, shoreline, tickets, tour
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Ask any reader of Christian novels to name the most well-known author in that genre, and invariably the answer is Gilbert Morris.
Join the discussion with prolific author Gilbert Morris on March 8 in Gulf Shores.
Combining his passion for history, religion, literature and writing has proven to be successful for this author—more than 200 of his books have been published, including the Christy Award-winning Edge of Honor. Although nearly all of his books are adult-level historical fiction, he has also touched the minds and hearts of the younger generation with his youth fiction.
Whether writing alone or co-creating with his children or friends, the pastor-turned-English-professor enjoys exploring characters, locations and specific time frames by crafting stories that are told through one of his 33 series.
Bring a friend and get acquainted with this prolific author at the Thomas B. Norton Public Library in Gulf Shores, the city he chooses to call home. Gilbert is eager to discuss his books, answer your questions and even sign your favorite tome on Monday, March 8 beginning at 6 p.m. (Don’t own one of his novels? Books will be available for purchase during this engagement.)
For further information about this free event, call 251-968-1176.
Stay informed of local activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Real Estate on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Events, History, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, author, books, Christian novel, Christy award, discussion, family, Fort Morgan, free, Gilbert Morris, Gulf Shores, History, island, library, Orange Beach, sale, Shopping
