Coastal Currents - News & Events on the Gulf Coast

Oysters, Music & Football
Are you game to taste all the team entries of Rockefeller, Gulf Coast Cajun or chef’s choice raw oysters on the half shell? Saturday, November 3 is your golden opportunity to try these delicious creations at the 5th Annual Oyster Cook-off at The Hangout presented by Alabama Gulf Seafood. Add to the mix live music, big-screen TV viewing of SEC college football (Alabama vs. LSU), a beer garden, games and prizes, PLUS free nights, and you have the ingredients for full-on fun at the beach. We will even kick in a free $20 gift card to The Hangout.

Hangout Oyster Cook-off Special
Condos: Rent 2 nights, get the 3^rd night free
Houses: Rent 3 nights, get the 4^th night free
Promo Code: 12OY-T
PLUS a free $20 gift card to The Hangout

• The Oyster Cook-off fun and food begins at 10 a.m., with live music throughout the event by The Banditos, LF Knighton, and The Soul Rebels Brass Band. 
  
  
• The celebrity judges for the cook-off are David Holloway from the Press-Register, Birmingham News & Huntsville Times; Erin Street from Southern Living; and Devon Walsh from WKRG TV. 
  
  
• Celebrities are even competing against regional chefs. Martie Duncan, a finalist in the Food Network Star competition, and her four team mates will square off in all oyster categories. 
  
  
• Regional chefs include Chef Jim Smith, the governor’s executive chef; Chef Wesley True from True in Montgomery, Chef James Boyce from Cotton Row Restaurant, Pane e Vino and Commerce Kitchen in Huntsville; Chef Bill Stellwagen from Westin Huntsville; Chef Stafford Decambra from Windcreek Casino in Atmore; Chef Rob McDaniel from Springhouse Restaurant at Lake Martin; Chef Leonardo Maurelli from Railyard Brewing Co in Montgomery; Chef Landon Thompson from Iberian Pig in Atlanta; Chef Alec Naman from Naman’s Catering in Mobile and Chef Chris Sherrill from Eat & Staycations in Orange Beach.
  
  
• Teams will also represent the following Gulf Coast restaurants: After Ours, Big Fish Restaurant, Bubba’s Seafood House, City Grill, Gulf Island Grill, Happy Harbor, Jellyfish Restaurant, Live Bait, Little House Bistro, LL’s Seafood, Louisiana Lagniappe, Nolan’s Restaurant & Lounge, Old 27 Grill, Original Oyster House, Paradise Island Daiquiri, Rotolo’s Pizza, Seaside Package, Shaggy’s Bar & Grill, Shrimp Basket/Steamer, Steve’s Place, Tacky Jack’s, The Gulf, The Hangout, Voyagers @ Perdido Beach Resort, West Beach Grille, Wintzell’s Oyster House and Wolf Bay Lodge.

Off the Beaten Path
Your next souvenir from a trip to the beach can be artwork that you created during an easy, fun painting party at Life’s a Canvas located in the SanRoc Cay shopping center in Orange Beach. Everyone receives step-by-step instructions and yet each painting is unique to the individual.

Everything you need to create your masterpiece is supplied, including the canvas, paint, and an apron so the only paint that goes home with you is on your picture and not your clothes. The music is lively; the faster the tempo the faster you paint. It’s fun to look around at your fellow painters and watch a studio full of paintings come to life.

To add to the relaxation, you’ll find a quaint little Tiki Bar for wine and frozen cocktails. Plan to shop for upscale beach-themed home décor items and eclectic jewelry during the paint-drying breaks. No experience is required to come away with a cool painting that you will treasure after an interesting night out on the coast.

Music & Food Festivals
Come celebrate Alabama’s plentiful fresh, local fare at a brand new festival, Alabama Festival of Flavor, in Foley on October 19 and 20. In addition to cooking competitions, there will be food and wine pairing events and a ticketed Farm to Table dinner. Check out the vendors for a fresh bundle of flowers or local art, and watch the live performances at Heritage Park in downtown Foley.

Find a new favorite musician when nearly 200 songwriters from across the country show their special talents at the 10-day Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival November 8-18. Venues up and down the coast at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (Alabama) plus Perdido Key and Pensacola (Florida) will host the musicians. You can definitely gain an up-close-and-personal concert experience and perhaps a new perspective when you hear the background stories of the songs told by their authors. Most venues are free, with some charging a modest cover fee. You’ll find every type of setting, from the listening room experience to family-friendly dinner and music venue to a gritty roadhouse. Head to the coast for one weekend, both weekends, or all ten days of this musical festival.

MORE Fabulous Things to Do
Plan your fun coastal times around these events. Find more details at our Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Calendar of Events and Gulf Shores Music Calendar.

October
19–20        Alabama Festival of Flavor, Foley
19–20        Terror on the Gulf at The Hangout, Gulf Shores
20               Mystics of Pleasure Rib-off, The Wharf in Orange Beach
21               Baldwin Pops Concert, Orange Beach Waterfront Park
26–27        Terror on the Gulf at The Hangout, Gulf Shores
27               Boo Ball Costume Party at The Hangout, Gulf Shores
27               Elberta Sausage Festival, Elberta
29–31        Terror on the Gulf at The Hangout, Gulf Shores

November
1–3            Angel Ride & Concert at Oak Hollow Farm, Fairhope
2–3            Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show, NAS Pensacola
3                Oyster Cook-off at The Hangout, Gulf Shores
8–18          Frank Brown Songwriters Festival, Orange Beach & Gulf Shores
16               Ice Skating Rink returns to The Wharf, Orange Beach
23              Coastal Christmas Kick-off
25              Santa by the Fire at Gulf State Park Pavilion, Gulf Shores
27              City of Orange Beach Tree Lighting at The Wharf, Orange Beach
29              City of Gulf Shores Open House, Gulf Shores

December
1                Taste of the Islands, Orange Beach
7                Sleigh Ride through the Backcountry Trail, Orange Beach
8                Santa Drop at Flora-Bama, Perdido Key
8                Merry Market at The Wharf, Orange Beach
8                Lighted Boat Parade, Orange Beach

Meyer is your beach vacation and concert connection.