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| Photo by LuLu's - Click to Enlarge |
The map below shows where the best viewing areas are, along
the canal, with plenty of parking. Of course you can watch the parade leave
from LuLu’s and arrive from The Wharf, where the whole place is lit up with
Christmas lights and decorations, too.
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| Lighted Boat Parade Viewing Areas |
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| Parrot Heads |
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| Photo by AccuWeather |
The region, situated between the Gulf coasts of the
panhandle and the peninsula in Florida, now faces an 'extreme' risk for various
impacts due to the impending storm. This area is particularly vulnerable to
life-threatening storm surge flooding, destructive winds, and heavy rainfall as
Idalia advances and is projected to reach hurricane status by Wednesday
morning.
In accordance with AccuWeather's RealImpact™ Scale for
Hurricanes in the United States, meteorologists have assigned Idalia a level 3
rating. This assessment takes into account the expected consequences such as
extensive flooding, damaging winds, the potential for life-threatening storm
surges, and the overall toll on infrastructure and economy.
Presently, a hurricane warning has been issued for Florida's
west coast, spanning from the eastern part of the Panhandle down to Tampa Bay
and the regions further south.
Note: Unless the track of Idalia shifts significantly west from its current forecast, the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach region should experience relatively good weather this week. This unqualified opinion is in no way intended to be taken as advice.
August 24, 2023 - 10:50am
The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical development in the western
Caribbean and eastern Gulf of Mexico for the possibility of increased threat to the northern Gulf Coast in the coming days.
A cluster of thunderstorms on the Pacific side of Central
America has the potential for gradual development as it crosses into the
Caribbean over the weekend. A tropical depression could form as it moves slowly
northward.
The NHC gives the disturbance a 50% chance of development
over the next seven days. If further development occurs, any resulting storm could threaten the northern Gulf Coast as early as the first half of next week (Aug 28-30).
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| Click for News Alert |
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| Credit: Gulf Shores CVB |
Seafood Galore: Indulge your taste buds in the freshest Gulf
seafood at the Annual
National Shrimp Festival. Drawing in over 300,000 visitors, this festival
is a seafood lover's paradise. From succulent shrimp to a variety of other
mouthwatering delights, the event showcases the finest culinary creations from
50 local and regional vendors. The boardwalk along the public beach transforms
into a haven of flavors, where you can savor the Gulf's bounty while enjoying
the breathtaking views.
Live Music: There will be over 100
hours of musical entertainment that will have you dancing and singing along.
With a lineup featuring national, regional, and local acts, the festival caters
to diverse musical tastes. From the soulful notes of blues and Motown to the
energetic rhythms of southern rock and zydeco, and the timeless melodies of
jazz and country, the musical variety is bound to resonate with every palate.
The tunes will fill the air from Thursday through Sunday, ensuring that each
day is infused with the magic of music.
Artistic Treasures: For those with an eye for art, the Annual National Shrimp
Festival delivers a visual feast with nearly 200 booths of fine art and
arts and crafts vendors. Stroll through the booths and discover a world of
creativity, from captivating paintings to unique handcrafted pieces. Whether
you're looking to add a special touch to your home or find the perfect gift,
the array of artistic treasures is sure to captivate your imagination.
Save the Date: Make sure to reserve your spot at this year's
Annual National Shrimp
Festival, taking place from October 12th through 15th, 2023. Gather your
friends and family, and get ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate
celebration of Gulf seafood, music, art, and community. With each passing day
of the festival bringing new experiences and memories, this is an event you
won't want to miss. Embrace the fall vibes, relish in the flavors, and let the
music and art sweep you off your feet. See you there!
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| Beach Restoration |
However, if you plan appropriately and are flexible on when you come, and where you stay, you may find some spots and times to visit that enable you to avoid the construction project (see below).
Consisting of dredge barges off the coast, pumping thousands
of metric tons of sand onto the beaches, which is then spread by bulldozers and
other heavy equipment, this vital restoration initiative aims to address the
extensive damage done by Hurricanes Nate and Sally. The focus is to repair and
rehabilitate the beaches, which lost a lot of height and width to the
hurricanes.
According to plans released by the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the project's implementation timeline is as follows:
November: Initiation of beach restoration activities, with a
primary focus on the severely impacted area east of Little Lagoon Pass.
December: Continuation of beach restoration activities,
shifting the efforts to the west of Little Lagoon Pass.
January: Gradual transition to beach restoration within Gulf
State Park.
February: Initiation of beach restoration along Romar Beach.
March: Progression to beach restoration along Perdido Key.
April: Phasing out of equipment and concluding the project
operations.
So, if you plan your dates and locations carefully, with a little luck that the project stays on schedule, you may find that you can have a relatively normal experience on our beaches this winter. The map below illustrates the schedule for the planned work outlined above.
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| Click to enlarge photo |
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| Photo by WKRG News |
In an interview with WKRG's Debbie Williams, Whit Spellman,
the manager of the establishment, expressed strong optimism about the
restaurant's future. He affirmed, "We are committed to making a comeback.
Currently, we are in the process of evaluating the extent of the damage.
However, as we gradually clean up the aftermath, the situation is progressively
improving."
Tina Wesner, another manager at Bahama Bob's, acknowledged
the restaurant's history of encountering adversity. She stated, "I've
experienced challenges like [hurricanes] Ivan and Katrina, but, as my colleague mentioned,
this is an unprecedented situation for us." According to both Spellman and
Wesner, it is estimated that the fire caused significant damage to around 30 to
35 percent of the building.
The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, July 16,
during dinner service when patrons began to notice the emergence of smoke
within the popular tourist destination. Beverly Cross, who was present at the
time, recollected, "We were enjoying our meal when the scent of smoke
reached us. Soon after, there were urgent shouts instructing everyone to
evacuate. It's truly unfortunate. Thankfully, everyone managed to escape."
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| Photo by Gulf Shores FD |
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames within a span
of 30 to 40 minutes after the evacuation.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the local restaurant
community came together in a remarkable display of support, absorbing all 60 of
Bahama Bob's employees into their establishments.
Tina Wesner expressed lightheartedly, "When we are
ready to reopen, they'll need to return to us." However, the reopening
date remains a distant goal. She added, "Although it might take some time,
we are dedicating our efforts to expedite the process as much as
possible."
LOCAL NOTE: Rumor around town is Bahama Bobs is likely to be closed until next tourist season (sometime between Memorial Day and Labor Day).
