Does Your Town Make the Grade?

One of the many reasons we travel is to experience culture and scenery different from the place where we live. We want to see different vistas, hear different accents, taste different cuisines and experience different adventures. But, for all the differences we look for, there are some qualities that consistently make visiting some towns superior to others. We like towns that are easily walkable and have a variety of shops and restaurants. We love towns with beautiful landscaping, parks, green spaces, art displays, murals and creative lighting. We enjoy towns that share their history and preserve historic buildings. We look for towns with a vibrant atmosphere where there are events, festivals, street performers, artists and musicians. Towns that appear well loved and clean are always appealing. Downtowns that not only have shops, restaurants and businesses, but also spaces for living are more interesting. These are the characteristics that make people want to visit and keep them coming back. How does your town stack up? If you award up to 10 points for each of the following components of a great community, does your hometown pass or fail? 

▢ Pedestrian-friendly design:

Does your town have wide sidewalks, well-placed benches, shade trees, well marked crosswalks, and traffic calming measures to prioritize pedestrians? 

▢Variety of businesses:

Does your town have an interesting mix of retail shops, restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions, and offices to cater to different needs and interests?

▢ Public spaces and gathering places:

Are there parks, plazas, green spaces, open squares, and outdoor seating areas where people can relax and socialize? 

▢ Aesthetic appeal:

Are the buildings well-maintained with attractive facades, interesting public art, and landscaping? 

▢ Historic preservation:

Does your downtown have well maintained historic buildings to add character and a sense of place?

▢ Accessibility:

Do you have public transportation options? Do you have bike lanes? Is there convenient parking near your downtown?

▢ Active street life:

When people visit your town, will they find outdoor dining, street performers, events, and activities to create a vibrant atmosphere?  

▢ Community focus:

• Are there events and activities that promote a sense of belonging and connection among residents?

▢ Safety and cleanliness:

Does your town have well-lit streets, visible security presence, and clean sidewalks?

▢ Mixed-use development:

• Does your community have mixed-use buildings with a combination of residential, commercial, and office space to encourage a live-work-play environment? 

  
  

  Add up the scores. Did your town make the grade? Which

  areas need the most improvement? Is anything being done 

  to make improvements to any of the areas? Tell us how your 

  town scores.

When Dreams Become Reality

 

In 1956, when  President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act which developed the interstate highway system, he connected cities and towns across the country with roads that opened up travel in a big way. People could hop in their automobiles and be across the country faster than ever before. What he might not have realized was the devastating impact it would have on smaller towns and communities, as traffic was rerouted and travelers sped past on their way to bigger destinations.  The only stopping in many towns was taking place on bypasses and once vibrant downtowns became ghost towns. 

Scottsboro was one of those small towns negatively impacted by the drive through interstate mentality. If you look at old photos of the downtown area, they are filled with cars, people, restaurants, theaters and shops. By the late 80s, things were different. Shops and restaurants closed. Theaters all went away. If people came to downtown Scottsboro, it was mostly for business, to see their attorney or visit the courthouse. In fact, if it had not been for the courthouse and the attorneys moving in and keeping the buildings from decaying, there might not have been anything left on the square. 

Recently, however, things have begun to change. People are starting to see the value of small towns and the unique travel opportunities they can offer. They are specifically searching for off the beaten path destinations, for rural experiences and cultural interactions different from the ones available in large cities and urban areas. People are drawn to attractive downtowns with one of a kind dining and shopping opportunities, easy walkability and interesting history. They want experiences of all kinds in large cities and small towns, too. 

With this renewed interest in smaller communities, downtowns and main streets are coming back to life. Communities are sprucing up their downtowns with wider sidewalks, innovative lighting, lush landscaping, attractive building renovations and interesting and colorful community art. Scottsboro became an official Main Street Community in 2018 and, with the help of Main Street Scottsboro, has worked on improving the downtown in all of these areas. The latest project, spearheaded by the Main Street Scottsboro Design Committee, with the support and advice of the Scottsboro City Council, and a giant assist by the Bynum Foundation, is a downtown green space to be located on the square. Two Sisters Square, on Peachtree Street, will be a gathering place for people to come and relax in downtown Scottsboro. It will be a place for eating, resting, and enjoying music and events. Hopefully, it will be an addition that brings new business, more visitors and renewed life to the already beautiful downtown square. 

This project is a testament to the unique contribution of women to the city of Scottsboro. It is named after two special sisters, Jessie Sue and Lucy Bynum, whose generosity and civic mindfulness have contributed, in many ways, to improving the lives of the citizens of Scottsboro. A fountain, which will be located in Two Sisters Square, will be named Julie’s Fountain, in memory of a dear friend and former teacher, Julie Gentry-Michaels, who served on both the Main Street Scottsboro Board and the Main Street Scottsboro Design Committee. Julie was passionate about improving the downtown area and worked tirelessly to make the square more beautiful by planting flower baskets, hand watering plants and even painting a mural. Just a few months before her untimely passing, she instigated the application process to the Bynum Foundation that would ultimately make this park a reality. Finally, the park has been the dream and many hours of work and planning by the dedicated ladies of the Main Street Scottsboro Design Committee. I am proud to have worked alongside former members, Julie Gentry-Michaels and Vickie Shelton and the current committee, Merri Wright, Kathy Wright, Jane Bergman, Diane Widgeon, Deborah Moody, Vicki Watts, Penny Green, City Council representative, Nita Tolliver and Main Street Scottsboro Director, Julia Whitehead. We hope Two Sisters Square will be a beautiful and vibrant addition to the square and will be used by the citizens of Scottsboro for many years to come. 

Richi Reynolds

Put Rich Justice in Your Beach Bag

Heading to the beach this summer? I’ve got the perfect addition for your beach bag. Robert Bailey’s, Rich Justice, is a “can’t put down” legal thriller that starts with a bang (literally), then twists and sizzles until it ignites into another explosion at the end. It’s the third and final installment of Bailey’s Jason Rich series about the trials and tribulations of an alcoholic billboard attorney as he battles his own personal demons and a growing meth trade in and around his hometown of Guntersville, Alabama. The stories take place in the beautiful northeast corner of the state, where the mountains meet the lakes. So pour yourself an Alabama Slammer, dig your toes into the sand and spend a couple of ideal beach days with Jason Rich and friends. 
 

A Big Thank You, A Big Step Forward

 When you travel, what kind of towns do you like to visit? Do you prefer drab, sprawling downtowns that are broken up and require driving from place to place or would you rather visit attractive places with wide sidewalks that are easily walkable? Do you visit towns with few shops, restaurants and activities? Do you ever say, Let’s visit this town because I hear they have lots of places to park? Or, maybe,  you say, Wow! Let’s build our vacation around this town because it has fast food and a Dollar General on its parkway.

If you are like my friends and me, you like towns that are easily walkable, towns with lots of shops and restaurants, towns that capitalize on their history and towns that have attractive green spaces that invite you to come in and stay a while. It’s not that parkways and parking aren’t important, but those aren’t the things that attract visitors to come to your town, the things that invite people to DRIVE TO your town instead DRIVE THROUGH. 

Since 2014, Downtown Scottsboro has been working towards giving people a reason to come spend time in our downtown, to make it a place for people to eat, play, shop and live. In 2018, we took a big step forward when we earned Main Street designation. We’ve hosted events that have grown in attendance, worked hard to improve the appearance of our square by planting flowers, weeding flower beds, and hanging flags and strings of twinkling lights on our light poles. Our latest big project has been to design a pocket park with public restrooms, a stage, a water fountain and tables all set in an inviting green space so our community can really enjoy and spend time on our beautiful square. It is a big project and at times we’ve felt we might have bitten off more than we can chew. We’ve gotten a Bynum grant, for which we are really grateful, but we are still a long way from having the money to complete the project. 

Last night, however, we got a big shot in the arm. Our city council voted to allocate $125,000 towards the project. This is huge and not only does it get us closer to our goal, it gives us incentive to keep trying. These council members proved last night that they are forward thinking and dedicated to building a better Scottsboro. Please remember them when it comes time to vote. They want a dynamic downtown, just like we all do. They want thriving businesses, attractive spaces and vibrant events and activities that make people want to come to our town to spend their money and their time, just like we do. So, thank our council members, Richard Bailey, Nita Tolliver, Ralph Dawe, Mike Ashburn and Donna Frederick. We can’t do anything without effective leadership and this council deserves our appreciation. They make hard decisions everyday and with this decision they showed their commitment to building a better and more dynamic downtown. And if you, like us, think a downtown park is something that our town needs, Main Street is happy to accept any donations towards this endeavor. Leadership is vital, but they can’t do it all by themselves. They need our help. We appreciate your support.

Spend a Day in Fairhope: 5 Uniquely Fairhope Things to Do

Welcome to Fairhope, You've Arrived! Arrived in paradise, that is, if your version of paradise is live oaks dripping with Spanish moss in a flower covered slice of heaven overlooking Mobile Bay. Fairhope is arguably on of the most picturesque small towns on the Gulf Coast. Here are five Uniquely Fairhope things to do in this sunshine covered hamlet. 

1. Let's start with The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa. With a private beach, two 18-hole golf courses and a slew of high-end, exclusive experiences and events designed to cater to the needs of its discerning clientele, The Grand is, well, bliss. If you are looking for a memorable getaway, this beautiful resort is a wonderful place to start. 

2. Love a good book? Then you have to visit Page and Palette, a Fairhope landmark for over 40 years. With creaky wooden floors, shelves packed with amazing books and gifts and a bar and coffee shop in the back, Page and Palette is the kind of place where you can get lost for hours. 

3. For quirky and unique history, you must visit the handmade Hobbit hole, Henry Stuart House. Known as Tolstoy Park, the Henry Stuart House sits in the middle of a parking lot that was once the 10 acre woodland home of Henry Stuart, the Hermit of Montrose. In 1923, diagnosed with tuberculosis and living in Idaho, Stuart was advised to move to a warmer climate. He chose Fairhope and spent two years fashioning his own bricks to build his tiny round home. Finding Tolstoy Park can be challenging, but it is so worth the effort.

4. Eat the world's best beignets at Panini Pete's. Yes, New Orleans gets all the attention for Mardi Gras and beignets, but Alabama is home to the first Mardi Gras in the country and the most divine beignets. The powdered sugar pastries at Panini Pete's are airier and lighter than their Louisiana cousins. They come with a squeeze of lemon and they are delicious!

5. Visit the Fairhope Tea Plantation, the only tea farm in the state of Alabama. Savor a cup of the house tea and sit under the covered porch while you enjoy learning about one of the oldest tea plantations in the country. 

And there you are, five reasons to visit beautiful Fairhope. These five will get you started, but don't stop there! There is so much more to do and see and eat in this fair village. Once You've Arrived, be sure to come back and tell us what you discover.  

 

Spend a Day in Scottsboro: 5 Uniquely Scottsboro Things to Do

 Welcome to Scottsboro, where the mountains meet the lakes. I love that description of my town, because it’s so true. Scottsboro is nestled at the foot of the Cumberland Plateau to the north and sheltered by Sand Mountain to the east and south. It sits right on the banks of the Tennessee River and Lake Guntersville in Jackson County, home to the largest number of caves of any county in the state. Come spend a day in this pretty town! Here are five Uniquely Scottsboro things to do.

1. Come play at Goosepond Colony. Play a round of golf  or maybe you prefer to play on the water. You can go fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking or swimming. Then again, perhaps you like the woods. There are beautiful hiking trails and camp grounds, surrounded by 326 acres of serene woodland. 

2. Visit the world famous home of Lost Luggage, Scottsboro’s Unclaimed Baggage Center. You can spend hours combing through the store’s 50,000 square feet filled with everything from books and jewelry to electronics and apparel. If you love digging for treasure, Unclaimed has to be on your bucket list.

3. Have a sweet treat at Alabama’s oldest soda fountain, Payne’s. You can enjoy lunch, too. Try a red slaw dog, or my favorite, the Reuben with a side of potato salad. How about, Luanne’s favorite, a fountain coke with peanuts? You can’t leave Payne’s without a smile on your face.

4. Craving a meat and three? Step off Scottsboro’s historic square and head to Magnolia House. They have the best chicken fingers, coleslaw and mac ‘n cheese in town. Their strawberry pecan salad is delicious too, if you prefer something lighter. But don’t forget to ask for a roll with some strawberry or honey butter.

5. Pick up a sack of sausage rolls or homemade donuts at Variety Bake Shop on the square. I love their pork tenderloin biscuits, too. Did I mention the custard-filled chocolate covered donuts?

There you have it, your 5 point starting spot for all things Scottsboro, but don’t stop there! There’s so much more! Visit Scottsboro and tell us your favorites. 

Welcome to Wilson

 

Actually. Welcoming Wilson might be more accurate. 

We recently decided to visit Wilson, Arkansas, having no idea what to expect. Boy, were we impressed! It was welcoming! From the hotel, to the grocery store and everywhere in between, there was someone to greet us and offer assistance.

This tiny town, population 710, owned by Gaylon Lawrence, Jr., is chock full of southern charm and hospitality. 

Our adventure began on a Tuesday morning. We had reservations with the town’s only hotel, the beautiful Louis Hotel and a three hour road trip. On the way, my phone rang. It was the concierge at the Louis with a few questions. ‘What snacks can we leave for you in your cottage? Drinks? Would you like extra pillows? At what temperature would you like the thermostat to be set? Do you need reservations anywhere? Is there anything else we can do for you? Are you interested in any of our activities?’ Actually, we were interested in their mixology class, but sadly, it was scheduled for a different night. 

I called when we got to town to get directions to our cottage. ‘Come straight to the town center and we will be outside to greet you.’ 

At the hotel, we got a personal tour of the establishment, a list of places to visit, and an escort to our cottage.

 

We got settled in and then piled back in the car for a two minute drive (y’all, the town is tiny!) for lunch at The Grange. The food was delicious!

After lunch, we went shopping. First, at White’s Mercantile, owned by Holly Williams, the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. (how’s that for an Alabama connection?), then on to Tom Beckbe, an upscale men’s store started by Radcliffe Menge, an attorney from, you guessed it, Alabama! Our final shopping destination was the Wilson Pharmacy. Did I mention that the town is tiny?

With our shopping completed for the day, we decided to check out The Delta School, a private school started by Gaylon Lawrence, Jr. Lawrence knew if he wanted to reinvent the town, he needed to start with the children, so, with the help of educator, Jenifer Fox, he envisioned a “school where the only rows are in the garden and the only back seats are in the hydra go-cart the elementary students invented”. The heart of the school is a greenhouse and garden where students, pre-K through grade 12 plant the seeds, tend the plants, and harvest the fruits and vegetables. 

Currently 85 students attend the school. Although Delta School is private, students are not turned away for financial reasons. This is a magical place!

Next we went back to our cottage to prepare for our dinner at the Wilson Cafe. But first, a phone call from the hotel. They had arranged for us to enjoy a private mixology class after our dinner. We were awed and excited!

Dinner at the Wilson Cafe was just what we had come to expect from this incredible little town, SPECTACULAR!

We had local blackened catfish, jambalaya, honey jalapeño carrots, mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables and herby homemade bread and butter. And then, our mixology class where we learned how to make two of the Wilson’s signature cocktails, Malibu Sunset and the Smoky Daisy. We had so much fun and the drinks were delicious. 

After dinner we strolled over to see the town’s 500,000+ Christmas light display and, even though it only snows on the weekends, they turned on the snow JUST FOR US! It was a fantastic light show that definitely put us in the Christmas spirit. 

We were exhausted and happy by the time we returned to our cottage. The beds were cozy and comfortable. We all slept like babies. 

The next morning we got up, had breakfast at The Grange (delicious again), stopped by the local grocery store, where we were greeted at the door like celebrities, and drove a few miles out of town to Dyess, the home of country music legend, Johnny Cash. In Dyess, we got to tour Cash’s boyhood home.

 

It was a perfect holiday getaway. You should definitely visit Welcoming Wilson.