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...

Real Estate

Welcome Home

Modern design meets quality construction Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio Today’s homebuyers want more than a place to live. They are looking for thoughtful design, durable construction, everyday comfort and long-term value. That's when Danielle comes along; you see, all across Baldwin County, D.R. Horton continues to build communities that combine modern finishes, practical floor plans and convenient locations for buyers in every stage of life. As D.R...

Arts + Culture

Art That Connects

J.D. Swiger honors musical history while expanding Swiger Studio’s reach into Mobile. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by J.D. Swiger - Swiger Studios For the third time, Gulf Coast City Lifestyle is proud to feature artist J.D. Swiger of Swiger Studio, whose work continues to connect people through creativity, history, and community. Known across the Gulf Coast for inspiring budding artists and making creative expression feel approachable, Swiger has built a reputation that reaches...

Life + Culture

Against All Odds

Kelsey Neel’s journey from cancer survivor to miracle motherhood Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by JD Swiger- Swiger Studio Kelsey Neel had no idea, when she began the fight of her life, that just two years later she would be rocking a baby fast to sleep. The last time we shared Kelsey’s story, she was facing breast cancer with courage, uncertainty, and more strength than anyone should ever have to find inside themselves. Her days were filled with appointments, surgeries, treatments...

Life + Culture

Mini-Me Adventures

For Paige and Nanno, adventure begins close to home. Article by Lillian Norris | Photography by GCCL/Paige Moore For Paige Moore and her daughter, Nanno, the best adventures do not have to be expensive. In fact, some of their favorite memories have come from discovering the no-cost things to do right here in their own community. Paige and Nanno are, as Paige puts it, “two peas in a pod.” Whether they are heading to the library, walking through a park, or finding something new to explore, the...