The OBA Community Website

Covering the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast (AFGC)tm since 2006!

OWA Opens today in Foley
by R. Ken Cooper with photos by Michelle & Dylan Stancil
 
July 21, 2017 - Foley, AL (OBA) - The Park at OWA has officially opened this morning at 10am in Foley Alabama. The 520 acre property features a 14-acre amusement park with 21 rides, 44,000 square feet of restaurants & shops, a 14 acre lake, a 90,000-square-foot indoor events center and much more. (As a comparison, the Orange Beach Event Center is  just over 18,000 square feet.) 
 
After only nine months of hard work, the 14-acre amusement park is ready to welcome the public. Festivities for opening weekend include nightly firework shows, a multitude of entertainers and live music throughout The Park at OWA.

Proposed Dollar General

By John Mullen

 

July 19, 2017 –  Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – A redesigned exterior for a more “coastal” look was not enough to sway a majority of Orange Beach Council members to give the go ahead for a Dollar General on Alabama 161.

“I applaud those changes,” Councilmember Annette Mitchell said. “I think that’s very attractive and I think it would look very, very nice anywhere in Orange Beach. Except there.”

4th annual food & wine festival to feature more than 20 chefs and restaurants, Sept. 14-16
 
The Wharf Uncorked 2017July 18, 2017 –  Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival presented by Wind Creek Atmore, set for Sept. 14-16, will bring a dynamic roster of culinary talent from the Gulf Coast and beyond serving up samples of their signature dishes, demonstrating their skills and competing for the ultimate prize.
 
Thursday, Sept. 14 - VIP Kickoff + Chef Showdown
The three-day experience will begin at 4720 Main Street from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reigning showdown champion, Brody Olive (Perdido Beach Resort), will be joined by two mystery chefs for this year’s competition to create the best dish with Alabama Gulf Seafood fueled with culinary challenges and roadblocks. James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, authors of The Couples Kitchen, will emcee as they race against the clock.

Fat Albert
by R. Ken Cooper
 
July 13, 2017 - Pensacola Beach, FL (OBA) - We on the coast certainly love our Blue Angels. And here at the Orange Beach Community Website we love to keep you informed of their comings and goings because, well, we’re really big fans of the Blues, too.
 
We’re treated to practices and flybys throughout the year and we like to keep you informed when they are returning from shows around the country. And tell you what time they are likely to Buzz the Beaches her on the Gulf Coast on the way home. Thank you to our Blue’s Prognosticator John Mason-Smith for his calculations on the timing! 

Patriotic Spirit and Naval Fighter Jets Soar at Annual Pensacola Beach Air Show

Pensacola’s very own Blue Angels highlight Red, White and Blues Week with a spectacular air show over Pensacola Beach

Blue Angels PhotoJune 19, 2017 Pensacola, FL — Thousands flock to the sugar-white sand and turquoise water of this Gulf Coast destination each July to see the U.S. Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron perform at their annual Pensacola Beach Air Show.

The Blue Angels — or “Blues,” as locals call their hometown heroes — are known across the country for their high-flying aerial maneuvers and laser-point precision. Started in 1946, the team celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016 — a long legacy in a city whose reputation as a tourist destination is rivaled only by its military heritage.

Indeed, Pensacola is known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation.” Naval Air Station Pensacola — located just west of the city’s colonial-era downtown — has trained generations of airmen and is the home base for the Blue Angels. In a city with such deep military roots, few things arouse more pride than the sight of the Blues soaring high above the Gulf of Mexico.

That pride will be on full display in days leading up to this year’s air show, to be held July 8 on Santa Rosa Island, just 15 minutes from downtown and a half-hour from the Navy base.

Fresh off of the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, the largest country music festival in the world, Karen Waldrop is returning to the gulf coast with six performances. She'll be performing three shows in Panama City and three shows at the Flora-Bama between June 15th & 24th. Full schedule here: www.KarenWaldrup.com 
 
Karen WaldrupJune 14, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Singer/Songwriter/Performer Karen Waldrup from New Orleans is currently living in Nashville Tennessee pursuing her music career. Karen has been performing gulf coast tours, including the Flora-Bama, with her band for the last 7 years.  
 
Karen says in her bio that the artists who have influenced her music include Alanis Morissette, Ingrid Michaelson, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Otis Redding and Janis Joplin. I detetected a hint of a young Dolly Parton, with an (from her website) "in-your-face" style of country music. She's across the USA and Europe... her stage presence mesmerizes her audiences; often receiving standing ovations.   
 
Karen has made huge strides in her career over this last year. Since her last visit to the gulf coast she's been discovered by CMT and Country Rebel, exposing her to millions of new fans. Based on the views, likes and comments on Karen's videos, she's on the fast-track to national recognition. It's not unusual for Karen's videos to exceed 10 million views and several have received over 20 million.  

Perdido Beach Resort Fireworks
 
June 9, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The 2017 Gulf Coast Dental Conference and 148th ALDA Annual Session is taking place at the Perdido Beach Resort this week.
 
As usual they're having their 4th-of-July quality fireworks show Saturday evening at 9pm (weather permitting, and it looks like beautiful weather this weekend).
 
At the Resort, it's a private show for the folks at the dental conference but, if you'd like to watch, here are some great spots: the decks of Tacky Jacks Grill & Tavern, Cobalt the Restaurant or out on Alabama Point East.
 
If you have pets that are spooked by fireworks, you'll want to secure them Saturday evening. We almost always get posts about lost dogs after this display.


Kiel Thomas arrested at Hangout FestMay 24, 2017 - Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) - For the second year in a row, Kiel Thomas Sheppard, 32, of Newport, Florida left the Hangout Music Festival in handcuffs. Sheppard was arrested on Sunday, May 21, 2017 for doing business without a license after he was discovered selling Hangout Music Fest wristbands just outside the venue. Sheppard was also arrested in 2016 under similar circumstances.

His 2017 arrest is different and significantly more concerning to law enforcement. This year Sheppard was selling stolen Staff and Vendor wristbands. Police said these wristbands could potentially allow anyone that obtained one into secure areas. When apprehended by Gulf Shores Police Officers Sheppard had 9 authentic staff wristbands and 4 vendor wristbands. How many he sold prior to being caught on the last day of the festival is still unknown.