The annual football game watched by professional football league scouts more than any other game of the year, is set to hit the stage where it always does, right here in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, February 3, 2024, with kick-off time at 12:00 noon at the freshly named University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium. The 11th Annual Reese's Senior Bowl will include several players from Alabama and Auburn, as well as rising stars from colleges across the country...look for me there: I will be holding up Reese's-orange pom-poms on either the American Football Conference (AFC) side or National Football Conference (NFC) side...whichever one looks like it might win...
Speaking of sports, I paid a brief visit to a new, 3-week old local brewery downtown, Wingman Brewing Company in the 600 block of St. Louis Street, an area I will herby christen Brewery Row for the several that have popped up along this slightly off the Dauphin Street path , or BREWMO, in a nod to the folks who use such monikers as LODA (Lower Dauphin Street) and WEMO (West Mobile.) Wingman Brewing Company is associated with the Fairhope Brewing Company, and has invented a few of it's own concoctions, which I sampled, including the Moscow Mule, Wolfman, and Cheap Sunglasses...they also have two Gatorade-ish brews - a Blue Leisure and Red Leisure...all the samples were invigorating, with Cheap Sunglasses standing out for it's blond, light Stella-like flavor....
Before the brew I stepped into Squid Ink where a cordial staff allowed me to try a glass of Pernicious draft beer crafted by the one and only Wicked Weed Brewery. It was a blond with a little bite, and somehow all these descriptions are taking on a life of their own...I lunched on the "London Calling" Fish and Chips, but mind you they have far more sophisticated dish's including sushi, it's just I was set on fish and chips, and these were delicious battered Gulf fish in a vinegar malt and aioli sauce ( egg yolks, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic) on the side...the skinny fries were in abundance and crunchy good...I found two new spies there who also recommended Cotton State BBQ, a few blocks away, for a later lunch....
I danced into the Bienville Souvenir & Gifts at Dauphin and Jackson and you can't miss them for their music system entertains all in proximity (and it's wonderful by the way.) Inside is a real trove of local-oriented gifts filling two large rooms and including one of a kind Mardi Gras masks and costumes, clothing, locally made condiments, candy, hats, a bunch of Christmas stuff - you name it. I really love this shop and if you are shopping downtown and don't pop into this shop you are not a true Mobilian and could be a Fairhope spy worried about Mobile's constantly growing popularity...
I stopped by Three Georges Candy - THE historic place for candy in all of Mobile, and nearby A&M Peanut Shop where I bought another bag of their world famous roasted peanuts I like to crush and use for a deep south version of Pad Thai, or mix some with Sriracha chili sauce and drop it in a bowl of ramen...they have all sorts of nuts and candies and this is another don't miss while you are downtown spot...
The proposed shipping container terminal on Rabbit Creek that stirred up a lot of folks like rabbits being thrown shreds of carrot, was approved by the Mobile City Council with provisions that about 100 acres of wetlands will be preserved...I reached out to Mobile Baykeeper who originally alerted us to the concerns about the wetlands, and checked their web site for updates but at press time ( I just like saying that) no word yet - to my knowledge - if they put their stamp of approval on this new agreement...the devil is in the details but we hope there are no devilish convoluted clauses in this one...
I ran into one of the team members of the Downtown Mobile Alliance and we chatted about their role in keeping Mobile beautiful downtown, especially making sure we have healthy, watered plants and flowers to adore, and especially during a summer like last summer (who can forget?) when the flowers were thirstier than spanking new TikTok influencers for likes and followers...
Work continues on what Downtown Mobile Alliance's Carol Hunter calls Mobile's Living Room, or Bienville Square. Without Bienville Square Mobile would not, could not be Mobile. It's the center piece of the city, and will celebrate its 200th Birthday next year. I had previously expressed concern about the squirrels who famously reside in the park, some who once they know you scurry up like pets to get the treats being offered them...my fears were allayed yesterday when I saw a woman feeding several of the squirrels who came up to one of the construction fences surrounding the renovation site...
It made my day when I saw a couple sitting outside at the Lodi Beer Garden on Dauphin with their two dogs. I asked if I could take a pic and they were very happy to oblige...one of the things I love about Mobile is the friendliness of the people...I am working on being more friendly as well, and often will say "howdy" to total strangers, or even acknowledge the presence of others around me with a gentle nod and smile...I am particularly attracted to single, very wealthy women who are scouting for a travel companion to Paris, London, Tokyo or Florence, or even the iconic Chickasaw if we are driving in a vintage Mercedes...
Prodigiously, I yield your precious time back to you - those who made it this far and just didn't "like" this piece and move on without reading (if you know of any such folks this is your opportunity to become one of my secret informants...)
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Glad Tidings, !Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale...have fun, be safe, and remember my gift does not have to be wrapped. Save paper, right?
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