If you are a blues fan, you know how great North Mississippi blues is. It catches your ear and then captures your heart with its deep-felt lyrics and haunting melodies.

Let the Cedric Burnside Project shower you with their mixture of blues, funk, R&B and soul for an exhilarating evening of free music Friday, February 3, 2012.

National recording artist Cedric Burnside is one of the modern greats of this genre. And he comes by it naturally, as his grandfather was the legendary blues man R.L. Burnside.

This Friday, February 3, 2012, you will want to be in the audience at The Hangout for a free performance by the Cedric Burnside Project. The main man will be joined by his younger brother, Cody Burnside, on vocals including rap (yes, rap and blues!) and Trenton Ayers on guitar and bass. You’ll discover how amazingly flexible and inventive this trio is as you soak up the sounds of their North Mississippi/Mississippi Hill Country blues, funk, R&B and soul. You might try, but you won’t be able to keep your feet still while they are on stage.

Come early and enjoy your evening meal at The Hangout. Not only will you have a terrific menu to choose from and an energetic atmosphere to enjoy it in, but it will also allow you to claim your favorite spot, as this is a free show with no reserved seating. The music is scheduled for 7–10 p.m. where Highway 59 ends and the fun begins!

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.

The staff and patrons of the world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar know how to party. (If you’ve been there, no doubt you can attest to that fact.) So it’s no surprise that the biggest party night of the year will have the state-line roadhouse jumpin’.

From a dinner buffet to breakfast, with 4 bands on 2 stages, Flora-Bama has it covered for New Year's Eve.

Beginning at 7 p.m., two stages of entertainment will keep things lively—and you’ll enjoy two bands on each stage. The Deck Stage will host Big Muddy and Troy Brannon, while J. Hawkins and Lucky Doggs will appear on the Tent Stage.

A sumptuous dinner buffet will be served throughout the evening, and there will be party favors for everyone. The champagne toast at midnight will kick off 2012, followed by a delicious breakfast.

Get your New Year’s Party tickets in advance to ensure your place at the party. Those 21 and older will pay just $35 for a night of festivities, while the 18–20 set will pay $45. You can also purchase tickets at the T-shirt trailer at Flora-Bama.

Last-minute beach trips are always welcome, so come celebrate the arrival of 2012 in our backyard. We’ll even give you TWO FREE NIGHTS! Make it a romantic getaway in a 1-bedroom property in Orange Beach or gather a large group and share a roomy 5-bedroom Perdido Key condo.

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.

“3, 2, 1 . . .” But it’s too late. Midnight is too late. Your children begged to stay up to see 2011 arrive, but those young eyes just couldn’t stay open that long. Of course, you weren’t surprised, but it was disappointing for them.

Let the young ones celebrate 2012 as they count down to noon December 31 at LuLu's in Gulf Shores.

This year, though, let them experience an event that will make them quite happy. The staff at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores, Alabama is again offering your kids a grand celebration at an hour suited for them. Bring the kids to the Noon Year’s Eve party and let them count down to 12:00 while the sun shines high in the sky.

Doors will open at 10 a.m. for the festivities that include face painting, clowns, games, and a sand castle-building contest. Our own “Little Zoo That Could” will have animals to pet and play with, too. At noon, the countdown will lead to kid-safe fireworks.

At 11 a.m., Amanda Shaw and her band, The Cute Guys, will present a free concert. This petite, 19-year-old champion fiddler was the youngest soloist ever with the Baton Rouge Symphony—at age 8. Since then, she has written and arranged music to play on her recordings and during national and international tours, and she has twice held featured roles in Disney movies. Her entertaining and inspiring performance is guaranteed to captivate all ages.

If you are thinking about making it a beach weekend with your family, perhaps we can encourage you with TWO FREE NIGHTS in a 3-bedroom condo in Gulf Shores or a 3-bedroom Fort Morgan property.

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.

Planning to spend Christmas around our beautiful island area? Don’t spend the day cooking! With four restaurants open, you’ll have plenty of good food available to enjoy, without the hassle of preparation and cleanup.

Seafood, steaks, sandwiches and more will be served Christmas Day at four restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Bubba’s Seafood House in Orange Beach offers grilled, blackened, steamed or fried treats from the sea, as well as steak, burgers, po-boys and more. Order from the menu or enjoy the special Christmas dinner of prime rib. Open 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. at 24621 Perdido Beach Boulevard, across from the beach. 251-974-1800.

Head down Canal Road in Orange Beach, about a mile east of Highway 161, for a Christmas buffet at Fish Camp Restaurant. You’ll enjoy traditional holiday fare, so bring your family for lunch (11 a.m.–3 p.m.) and then return with your extended family and/or friends for dinner (5:30–8 p.m.). 251-980-2267.

Also in Orange Beach, Rafters Restaurant and Sports Bar at The Wharf will be serving from their regular menu beginning at 3:00 p.m. Add a little extra spirit to the occasion when you cheer on your favorite teams on any of the 18 TVs, or challenge your dinner mates to some action in the Game Room. 251-224-6900.

In Gulf Shores, visit Doc’s Seafood Shack in Sawgrass Landing next to Zooland on Highway 59. They will be open 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. to serve both a special Christmas menu and their regular menu that includes plenty of seafood fixed any way you want. 251-967-4800.

It’s not too late to make last-minute arrangements for Christmas at the beach! Pay for 2 nights and get 2 more nights FREE in condos (4-night minimum) or pay for 5 nights and get 2 more nights FREE in houses (7-night minimum) when you provide promo code 11HOL. How about a romantic 1-bedroom condo in Gulf Shores, or a family-sized 4-bedroom condo in Orange Beach? Don’t worry—Santa will find you wherever you are!

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 biggest holiday feast of the year for most Americans will be served this Thursday.

The Hangout makes it possible to enjoy a family-style Thanksgiving feast without the hassle.

You do remember that it’s Thanksgiving, right? (Uh-oh . . . Yes, it’s here already. Is that panic I see in your eyes?)

What if you could have the feast without the hassle? No hours spent slaving over the stove and oven. No separating the cooks from the rest of the group during preparation and cleanup. No dishes to wash. No post-dinner discovery of that dish you spent extra time on and then forgot to serve. And no settling for just a regular, any-day kind of meal.

When you head to The Hangout between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, you can have your feast and eat it too! For just $22 for each adult, $9 for kids 6 to 12, and no charge for those 5 and younger, you can get the kind of celebratory meal you dream about. And no, it’s not a buffet—it’s served up family style at your table!

Dine on an entrée of moist, roasted turkey with turkey gravy, or maybe prime rib (additional charge). Surround the main course with healthy and yummy vegetables such as green bean casserole, fresh corn, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Round out your meal with homemade cranberry sauce, corn bread and sausage stuffing, sweet potato streusel, deviled eggs, and fresh, hot rolls. Finally, reward yourself with a break from your diet. Dessert is too tempting to skip when your options include pecan pie, bread pudding and pumpkin pie.

Reservations are recommended, so call The Hangout at 251-948-3030 to guarantee your place at the table for a Thanksgiving dinner at the beach.

It’s not too late to decide on a Thanksgiving beach getaway. Book two nights in a condo or five nights in a house and get two more nights FREE when you provide promo code 11TG. PLUS, you’ll get a FREE bottle of wine or champagne when you choose to enjoy The Hangout’s Thanksgiving feast, courtesy of Meyer Vacation Rentals.

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 Hangout in Gulf Shores is wonderfully active in the community, whether supplying entertainment (such as The Hangout Music Fest), hosting contests (including the Oyster Cook-off), or welcoming organizations that choose the restaurant as a home base for special fundraising activities.

All-day fun at The Hangout on Saturday, November 19, to benefit breast cancer research and offer a safe haven for children.

This Saturday, November 19, 2011, combines two different causes into one fun event to benefit breast cancer research and to provide a safe home for needy, neglected and abused children.

The 1^st Annual Ta Ta Ride is to raise awareness and money for UAB’s breast cancer research. Ta Ta Towing donates 10% of every tow to this program, so it’s fitting that they are presenting the motorcycle ride/poker run. Register Friday evening at The Hangout’s pre-party between 5 and 8 p.m., or sign up Saturday morning between 9 and 11 a.m. for the 11:00 ride that begins and ends at The Hangout. The fee for each bike is $30, and $10 extra for a passenger. It’s a good thing the weather should be in the mid-70s, as it is strongly suggested that all bikers – gals AND GUYS – dress in a bikini top.

The after party at The Hangout runs from 5 until 9 p.m., and is open to the public. Included will be games such as a frozen T-shirt contest, a men’s bikini top contest ($200 prize!), a cash raffle and a Dyna Super Glide 100^th Anniversary Edition raffle. A $500 prize will be awarded for the best poker hand collected during the ride. Music will be provided by Foxy Iguanas, fronted by Smokey Otis; their family-friendly show begins at 7 p.m., with an adult show following at 11 p.m.

You can party all day or evening, but be sure to arrive before 6 p.m., as a pair of Iron Bowl tickets will be up for grabs in a live auction. The Iron Bowl (just a small contest between Auburn and Alabama) will be played Saturday, November 26, so this will be quite a competitive auction so close to the event date. And your bid supports the Alabama Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch in Summerdale—100% of the money raised will help give school-age children a better life.

Plan for a full day of fun that will benefit good causes. You are promised an enjoyable and appropriate start to your Thanksgiving week. Need more details? Call 251-752-1110 or 251-978-3990.

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.