Discover Alabama Beaches » Presentations

Gospel Quartet Convention in Orange Beach

Meyer Real Estate — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:24:48 +0000

Good ol’ gospel singin’ is comin’ your way!

Three powerful days of gospel quartet singing February 2-4 in Orange Beach, Alabama. You don't want to miss this!

You’ll be amazed by the tremendous talents of numerous gospel artists, both well-known and up-and-coming, at the Gulf Coast Quartet Convention in Orange Beach, Alabama, on February 2, 3 and 4, 2012.

From 2 until 5 p.m. and again 6 until 7 p.m. each day, rising stars are welcomed to the stage by Phil Cross, Tim Lovelace, Paul Smith, and Rose Gilley.

The evening’s featured and headline performers will take the stage between 7 and 10 p.m.:
Thursday— Phil Cross, HisSong, Mark 209 (formerly The Mystery Men), Tim Lovelace, Fourtwelve (formerly Shiloh)
Friday— Jeff & Sheri Easter
Saturday— The Hoppers

At 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, the Night Owl Showcase will be open to any performers who want to sing again, so be sure to keep the applause going. You may even hear some spontaneous regroupings by the artists.

Saturday afternoon, arrive early and be ready for laughs with the Tim Lovelace Comedy Hour from 1 until 2 p.m. Also on Saturday, 1–4 p.m., Phil Cross is hosting a Writer’s Lab. Both events are available for a separate fee and may be purchased at the artist’s booth in the exhibit area.

All of the events will take place at the Conference Center at The Wharf, except the Writer’s Lab, which is at Romar Beach Baptist Church. And all of the artists will have booths where you can speak with the members, purchase CDs, take pictures and collect autographs.

General admission tickets for the 3-day event are $50, or you may purchase a single-day pass for $25. Artist Circle tickets—$100 full pass or $50 single-day—allow seating within the first 5 rows, where you may also interact with the seated artists. Advance purchase is preferred by calling organizer Paul Smith at 251-981-8960, but tickets also will be available at the door. And don’t worry about where to go for mealtime, as local restaurants will be there with their booths of delicious foods from seafood to barbecue and more.

Besides those mentioned above, other artists appearing at the event include:
James Sheldon
Gold Harbor
GladHeart
Mountain Joy
The Drummond Family
Majestic Sounds
The Copenhavers
Appointed By Grace
Omega
Paul Family
McClellan Singing Sisters
E-SweetsCandy
Darlene Chapman
Restored Trio
Song of David
Vonda Easley
Amy Dunnam
John 3:16
Bourn Again
Grace Trio
The Jonathans
Nikki Ellison

Start planning now, and take advantage of the special price on accommodations when you stay with Meyer Vacation Rentals. Purchase 2 nights in a condo or 5 nights in a house and get 2 more nights FREE, making it extra-affordable to attend this exciting weekend of music. You may wish to claim a nearby condo or house in Orange Beach as your home base, but feel free to choose from any of the 1500+ properties available.

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.

2 Presentations Hosted by Orange Beach Library

Meyer Real Estate — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:04:14 +0000

If you enjoy nature-related discussions and you are in the coastal Alabama area this week, you are in the right place at the right time.

Learn about the Backcountry Trail fire damage and recovery, plus historical and future significance of longleaf pine forests.

This Wednesday, January 25, Philip West will be presenting information on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Orange Beach, and how the fire of 2011 has affected it. As the Coastal Resources Manager for the City of Orange Beach, Philip will offer an overview of the timber and trail damage as well as the recovery efforts. Admission to this 6:00 p.m. event held at the Senior Activity Center (east of Hwy. 161, on Canal Rd., next to the library) is free and open to the public; you may wish to sign up at the Orange Beach Public Library or via their website.

Author Roger Reid, writer/director/producer of the Emmy award-winning Discovering Alabama television series, and scientist Mark Hainds, research director with the Longleaf Alliance, have collaborated on a presentation regarding longleaf pine forests in Alabama. In this free seminar geared to all ages, they will include historical background and future significance of these ecosystems. Their appearance is scheduled for Friday, January 27, from 4 until 5:30 in the Orange Beach Public Library Meeting Room. You may register at the library or their website.

Enjoy the Backcountry Trail and locate longleaf pine during your next stay with us. You and your significant other can hike and/or bike many areas while using a 1-bedroom Orange Beach condo as your home base. Or bring the entire extended family to the beach for a nature-centered reunion—there’s plenty of room in a 5-bedroom Orange Beach property.

Tornados Touching Down at SBCT

Meyer Real Estate — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:47:39 +0000

The first presentation of the 2012 season at South Baldwin Community Theatre brings back a familiar family of characters.

Start 2012 with laughter! Attend Tornados Touching Down at South Baldwin Community Theatre.

Playwright Laura Sansing Pfizenmayer created the not-quite-perfect Whitfield family for Livin’ & Comin’ Back, which was presented at the theater in October 2010. Tornados Touching Down is the second in a series that follows the family through various trials and tribulations. You will quietly chuckle and heartily laugh as they learn to cope with a wedding, a new baby and, as the title suggests, a tornado.

Performances are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 5–7 and 12–14, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, January 8 and 15, at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $15, student tickets are $12; they can be purchased at the box office (10 a.m.–2 p.m. or just prior to performance) or via the SBCT website. The theater is located at 2022 W. 2^nd St. in Gulf Shores, across from the Bodenhamer Center and the Erie Meyer Civic Center. Need more details? Call 251-968-6721.

Make it a beach getaway that includes the show, great dining, plenty of local music, outlet shopping, top-notch golf and more. We’ll even give you ONE or TWO FREE NIGHTS depending on how long you stay! Consider a 1-bedroom property in Fort Morgan or choose a house in Gulf Shores based on the size of your group of family and friends.

Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Meyer Real Estate — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:10:25 +0000

“Oh, no! Not the Herdman kids! They’ll ruin everything!”

In spite of chaos, it really does turn out to be "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at South Baldwin Community Theatre.

The six Herdman siblings, known to run wild while their single mom works double shifts to support the family, only showed up at church because they heard there were snacks. When the notoriously unruly bunch is allowed to take part in the Sunday school’s annual Christmas pageant, the current members’ objections are ignored. The show does go on, in spite of the chaos caused by the newest participants and a few unconventional twists. But the church will never be the same again—and neither will the Herdman family, as they finally learn the true meaning of Christmas.

If this story sounds familiar, it may be for good reason. Barbara Robinson’s rollicking, family-friendly, short story was first published in McCall’s magazine before she adapted it as a book in 1972. Ms. Robinson later scripted it as a play that was premiered in 1982 by the Seattle Children’s Theatre. In 1983, it became a TV movie that starred Loretta Swit as the frazzled, last-minute replacement for the injured director of the pageant.

This version of the play is directed, produced and performed by talented folks from our area. They will ensure that you leave the performance filled with laughter and warmth.

Tickets are going fast, so reserve yours today: Friday & Saturday, December 9 & 10 or 16 & 17, at 7:30 p.m., or Sunday, December 11 or 18, at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Box office hours for the South Baldwin Community Theatre (2022 W. 2^nd St. in Gulf Shores, 251-968-6721), are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Cooking Classes in Gulf Shores

Meyer Real Estate — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:27:21 +0000

Long walks on beautiful white sand, volleyball and other outdoor games, restaurants and night life, miniature golf and amusement parks . . . and a class? Taking a class when you come to the Gulf Shores area may not be top-of-mind, but widening your horizons may provide a welcome new vacation experience.

Cooking is more fun when you know how! Choose from a variety of Gulf Coast Culinary Institute workshops to enhance your skills and bring out your hidden chef.

The Gulf Coast Culinary Institute at the Gulf Shores campus of Faulkner State Community College is offering a tasty array of afternoon and evening workshops through early December. Each class lasts 2.5 or 4 hours, and includes information, demonstration and guided hands-on opportunities.

To whet your appetite for the classes, take note of what the Culinary Institute has in store for you in November and December:

Saturday, November 12, 3–7 p.m. ($45)—Holiday Cajun Style
Who says your holiday meal has to be the same each year? Adopt a full Cajun theme or simply incorporate a few Cajun ideas to spice things up. This class discusses the history, the foods and the cooking techniques of Cajun cuisine. After a little exploration, you’ll get to put your new knowledge to use in the kitchen as Chef Trawick guides you through the steps.

Saturday, November 19, 3–5:30 p.m. ($45)—Sushi
Sushi lovers often declare that they would dine on this delicacy more often if not for the cost. But knowing how to make it means you can serve it often for a much lower cost than dining out. Chef Douglas will describe the history, food and techniques of sushi-making. Once you enter the kitchen, you’ll be instructed on selecting ingredients and cooking the rice, then experience the ease of making large rolls, small rolls, inside-out rolls and hand rolls.

Saturday, December 3, 3–7 p.m. ($30)—Cheesecake
Place a homemade cheesecake on the dessert table, and you’re the star of the gathering. You won’t need to watch someone else take those honors at your next get-together once Chef Douglas teaches you the secrets of successful cheesecake creation. Ingredients, tools and techniques will be covered, followed by guided preparation of a variety of savory and sweet treats. Among the lessons are crusts, styles, garnishes and sauces.

Register for any or all of the classes, held at the Faulkner State Community College campus just north of the Intracoastal Canal bridge in Gulf Shores, by calling 251-990-0445 or 800-231-3752.

Culinary workshops are even more fun when couples, families or friends share the experience, so get everyone together and come on down to the beach! If you haven’t already made your lodging arrangements, take a look at some of Meyer Vacation Rentals’ properties, such as 2-bedroom Gulf Shores condos and houses—or for larger groups, 4-bedroom houses and condos in Gulf Shores might be the perfect fit.

Foley’s Heritage Harbor Days

Meyer Real Estate — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:03:59 +0000

Seldom will you find a two-day festival with such variety—variety of entertainment, variety of educational and historical exhibits, variety of cultures, variety of time periods, variety of edible delights. But that’s exactly what you and your family will be treated to at the 11^th Annual Heritage Harbor Days on November 5 and 6, 2011.

Huge variety of fun! Heritage Harbor Days in Foley, Alabama, November 5 and 6, 2011.

At Heritage Park in Foley (corner of Highways 59 and 98), discover antique tractors from family farms, take a ride on the L&N Depot event train, and thrill the children with a photo opportunity with Thomas the Tank Engine (Saturday only, 10:00, 11:30 and 2:00). Hear stories of the wagon-train days as you sample food prepared in a chuckwagon by cowboy poet/humorist/cook Kent Rollins. Watch for Davy Crockett, who will share tales of his adventures as he walks about the festival grounds.

Visit the many “buildings” of Heritage Village, an open replica of early 20^th-century Foley. Explore a school, doctor’s office, home, general store, sewing shop and candle maker’s work area. Gather in the town square for music of the era and storytelling about Foley’s yesteryear.

Stage acts are scheduled non-stop on two main stages plus the Children’s Village. Banjos, bodhrins, fiddles and spoons share the stage with the Mexican Folkloric Dancers and Native American Dancers. Bluegrass and folk songs are interspersed with popular music of today, including Broadway, and the Navy Band will highlight patriotic music. Sunday’s Children’s Village stage line-up brings storytellers, dancers, martial arts, pageantry and batons. Check out the full entertainment line-up at the festival website.

Watch the experts shuck oysters and teach you how to eat them. Once you’ve mastered that skill, round out mealtime with favorite yummies such as gyros, po-boys, kabobs, corn dogs, funnel cakes, lemonade, waffle-cone ice cream treats, kettle corn, pork rinds and much more.

Experience the history of Foley at Heritage Village during Heritage Harbor Days.

Many local arts and crafts experts will be offering their handiwork, so be prepared to make at least a couple of trips back to your car with gifts for yourself, your friends and your family. And just when you think you’ve experienced all there is at the festival, the organizers toss one more popular family activity your way: Fireworks at dusk on Sunday create a perfect, timeless way to close out the experience-packed weekend.