The first full week of February leads to a full Wednesday at the Orange Beach Public Library—a day when readers, authors and history buffs are in for a treat.

Patricia Brady will speak Wednesday, February 8, 2012, of her newest book, A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel Donelson and Andrew Jackson

At 10 a.m. on February 8, The Friends of the Orange Beach Library will present Patricia Brady, a historian and author, who will speak about her newest book, A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel Donelson and Andrew Jackson.

From Rachel and Andrew’s love affair to his rise in the military and political worlds, and from wars to plantation life to raising children (often alone), Rachel unwaveringly supported Andrew’s aspirations. Unfortunately, Rachel died just weeks prior to Andrew’s move to the White House, and the president’s devotion to her kept him from remarrying.

Ms. Brady brings the touching story to vivid life for her readers, and you will enjoy her personal glimpse into the lives of the powerful couple and the research that helped to create the narrative.

After savoring a leisurely lunch and shopping in town, return to the library by 3 p.m. for a different brand of insight into our country’s more recent past with the author of a historical novel that ties together events from present day and 1940.

Bob Buckley's novel The Slave Tag finds two college students investigating an unreported murder from 1940.

Bob Buckley’s compelling story, The Slave Tag, is directed by two college students who stumble upon some information about an old, unreported crime. Their interest piqued, the characters eventually follow their research to an unpleasant set of circumstances in the Deep South.

In addition to the discussion of his book, Mr. Buckley (yes, the geocaching expert from previous library programs) will also enlighten his audience on the changed landscape of publishing in today’s world and how it affects authors.

Join fellow booklovers, history enthusiasts and authors for both of these enlightening (and free!) conversations. But don’t say we didn’t warn you—after visiting with these authors, you will be so intrigued by their books that you will just have to purchase your own copies. Happy reading!

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.

Do you find yourself imagining the glorious view from one of our area’s penthouses? Do you wish you could take a peek into—and out of—one of those luxurious, top-floor residences? This Saturday, you can stop imagining and let your eyes take in the View From the Top.

Tour 6 exquisite penthouses with gorgeous views this Saturday to help Sirens of the Sea award scholarships and assist Mary's Shelter.

The Sirens of the Sea organization presents this 5^th annual tour of condos and penthouses to raise funds for their scholarship awarded to a local high school senior, and to give assistance to Mary’s Shelter, a provider of family-style living for homeless mothers-to-be. Your $20 admission helps to make both of these programs possible.

This year’s tour includes six exquisite residences on the gulf and the bay in Gulf Shores (Oceania), Orange Beach (Phoenix West, Sea Chase, Caribe) and Perdido Key (Spanish Key, La Serena). When you purchase your tickets, you will receive directions to each building, plus six raffle tickets. A beautiful basket will be on display at each property, along with a list of its contents; simply place your ticket(s) in the raffle jar(s) of your choice for your chance to win. Plan to stay long enough at each location to absorb the view as you chat with friendly folks and snack on delicious treats.

Simply go to any of the properties Saturday, February 4, 2012, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to purchase your six-property pass and begin your tour. For advance purchase, you may contact Peggy Martin at 251-942-6440 or Century 21 Meyer Real Estate agent Angela Martin at 251-923-6082.

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.

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.

Valentine greetings have been popular since the Middle Ages. The first commercially printed Valentine cards in America appeared in the 1840s. Today, an estimated one billion cards are sent each year, often accompanying the popular gifts of candy and flowers.

Make Valentine's Day even more special when you bring your valentine to the beach.

Those gestures are wonderful, sweet, and certainly appreciated by anyone who receives them. But wouldn’t you like to do something a little different for your sweetheart this year? Say “I love you” by creating a wonderful memory together at the beach.

We can help by offering some love to your budget. When you take advantage of the Valentine Special through Meyer Vacation Rentals, you’ll receive TWO free nights. Rent a romantic 1-bedroom beach or bay property for four nights, but just pay for two. That’s a 50% savings!

If you prefer to celebrate the occasion with spacious, private accommodations for the whole family, rent a house for seven nights and get the sixth and seventh nights free.

Even if you can’t stay the extra nights, you can use them for an early check-in and late check-out, allowing for more leisure time along the coast.

So instead of thinking red or pink this Valentine’s Day, think white sands and blue water—and a little extra green in your pocket. Your sweetheart will love you for it.

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.

Think ahead to February 5, 2012. It’s the height of the winter season. You need to escape to the beach for a bit of warmth, a change of pace, relaxation . . . and football.

Imagine watching the biggest football game of the year while looking out over the beach. Meyer Vacation Rentals can help make that happen for you!

That combination may not be top of mind, but why not? On Super Bowl Sunday, wouldn’t you love to chuckle at the idea of parkas, hats and gloves to get to and from the stadium as you admire the beach view from your condo?

Let us help you make the decision by sweetening the pot with FREE nights. Pay for 2, 3 or 4 nights in a condo and get an extra night free, or book a house for 3 or 4 nights to get another night free. Better yet, come enjoy the beach life for a week—pay for 5 nights in either a house or condo, and we’ll give you TWO more free nights! (Even if you can’t stay the extra nights, you can use those as a late check in or check out.) You’ll find the details at our Lazy Winter Special page.

If you’d like to watch the big game among a cheering crowd AND play some games (how about a grand prize of $5000?), join the folks at The Hangout for their Super Bowl Sunday party. The first 200 people in the door an hour before kickoff will receive free tailgating food, and the regular menu also will be 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.

There is no shortage of opportunities on our island to celebrate the turnover of the calendar year. Some are catering to children and their families, some to the not-so-late-night partiers, some to the energetic adult crowd. But The Wharf in Orange Beach is offering something for all, and admission is free.

Party with the kids all day and your friends all night. Free New Year's Eve celebrations at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. December 31, families can enjoy discounted Ferris wheel rides, face painting, clowns, kids games and contests, special movie presentations, giant sand piles, a bounce house and more. The active day will ensure the kids an early, solid night’s sleep that your trusted babysitter will appreciate.

But your celebration is far from over. Beginning at 6 p.m., six bands on two stages will be cranking out the tunes and keeping your energy revved. As street dancers and firebreathers stroll the grounds, you will enjoy plenty of food and beverages to keep you active into the night. Count down with Lady Gaga as the New York celebration is shown on the JumboTron, then count down with the local crowd as the 14-foot jeweled marlin drops. Toast the new year as large, colorful fireworks marks the occasion.

The night doesn’t have to end at midnight. Head to the Las Vegas Club at the Orange Beach Event Center next to the Main Street area. Or hop a free shuttle to Flora-Bama or Live Bait to extend your festivities into the wee hours.

It’s not too late to gather your family or a group of friends and head to the beach. We’ll even give you TWO FREE NIGHTS! Perhaps a 2-bedroom condo in Orange Beach would be the perfect size, or maybe a 3-bedroom Perdido Key property would be ideal.

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.