Life + Culture

Strength With Purpose

For Jonathan Young, gratitude means remembering where you started and using what you’ve been given to serve others. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio Strength With Purpose For Jonathan Young, gratitude means remembering where you started and using what you’ve been given to serve others. For Jonathan Young, strength has never been only about what a person can lift, endure or accomplish. These days, it looks more like knowing when to reset, remembering why...

Local Services

Gift of Giving

South Baldwin unites to brighten Christmas for children in need. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio For many families, the holidays arrive with excitement, traditions and the promise of something special under the tree. For others, Christmas can bring a quieter worry: how to make the season feel joyful when the budget simply will not stretch far enough. That is where Toys for Tots in South Baldwin County steps in. For the past six years, Bonnie has been...

Local Services

A Willing Heart

Orange Beach Church finds gratitude in connection, community and showing up for the next generation. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by J.D. Swiger - Swiger Studios For Carson Krueger, ministry has never followed a perfectly straight path. His journey has included everything from working as a club and wedding DJ to touring with a band, mixed martial arts, construction, teaching and pastoral ministry. Each experience, however different, has given him another way to connect with people. ...

Life + Culture

A New Promise for Baldwin County Families

Strong leadership, shared purpose and a dedicated team creating new possibilities for Baldwin County families. Article by GCCL | Photography by Lillian Norris Growth begins with people willing to believe more is possible. At Family Promise of Baldwin County, a dynamic team of professionals is bringing experience, compassion and fresh ideas to the mission.  Beth Biggs | Leading the Promise Since becoming Executive Director of Family Promise of Baldwin County in 2019, Beth Biggs has been a...

Food + Beverage

Coastal Crab Cakes

A Lump of Ocean Divinity Article by Chef John Hamme | Photography by DK Media There is something about fresh seafood that instantly brings the Gulf Coast to the table. Whether you are planning a summer dinner, entertaining friends or simply wishing you were enjoying a meal with a view of the water, Chef John Hamme of Spectrum Resorts is sharing a recipe that delivers a little taste of the beach right at home. And if you would rather let someone else do the cooking? Add these to your must-try...

Food + Beverage

Made From Scratch

Ten years of Buzzcatz magic Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by J.D. Swiger - Swiger Studios Some recipes start with butter and sugar. Others begin with a bagel shop in Pennsylvania, a pastry degree, a move to the Gulf Coast and just enough courage to keep creating. For Kim, the General manager & Executive chef behind Buzzcatz Coffee & Sweets in Orange Beach, the recipe has been building since 1994, when she took her first restaurant job at a bagel shop while in college. She later...

Arts + Culture

Pour Decisions

Old traditions are shaping what we drink next. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by J.D. Swiger - Swiger Studios Three years into our annual check-in with Winston McQuitery, one thing is clear: wine is changing, but not necessarily in the way people think. Consumption may be softer, especially among younger drinkers, but Winston sees something more interesting happening locally. Millennials and Gen Z may be drinking less, yet many are becoming more intentional about what they do choose...

Life + Culture

A World of Wine

After more than two decades spent learning, tasting and teaching, Robin Riddell Jones is helping Gulf Shores discover great wine without the intimidation. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by J.D. Swiger - Swiger Studios For Robin Riddell Jones, wine has never been about impressing people. It has always been about bringing them together. Long before she opened her wine shop in Gulf Shores, Jones was drawn to the connection between the land and the table. She grew up in Mississippi around...

Home + Design

Designed With Purpose

Freda Butler creates beautiful Gulf Coast spaces while building family, business and community connections. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio Long before Southern Palms Furniture & Decor became a trusted name along Alabama's Gulf Coast, there was a little girl who simply saw the world differently. At four years old, while most children were choosing toys, Freda Butler was helping her grandparents select fabric to recover a family sofa. It seemed like a small...

Life + Culture

Creative Impact

Artist, entrepreneur and community leader Tara McMeans Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio Creativity has never occupied just one corner of Tara McMeans’ life.  This year, McMeans and her team celebrate the 20th anniversary of Design Print Promote, the creative marketing agency she founded to help businesses connect with their audience. Over two decades, the company has supported clients through branding, design, printing, promotional products and marketing...