LOOK FOR ALLISON'S WORK ON THE GULF COAST IN MAY

We are so excited that with the end of the school year and summer approaching, the Alabama Gulf Coast is celebrating its comeback since the BP Crisis.

The Hangout Festival in full swing on May 20-22 as well as Memorial Day will bring lots of people flocking to the shores.
Check out the MULLET WRAPPER FOR UP TO THE MOMENT COVERAGE ONLINE OF EVENTS and to see the article.

Allison's work will be featured at a new restaurant in Orange Beach during the celebration weekends.

Rotolo's, a well established restaurant in Louisiana offering authentic Italian Cuisine opens in Orange Beach at 25755 Perdido Beach Blvd. (across from the new Hampton Inn) on Thursday, May 19.

Allison's paintings will be featured/for sale until June with 10% of the sales for The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Drop in during the Hangout Festival and Memorial Day events for casual italian dining!

Allison lived in Gulf Shores just prior to Ivan and opened a seafood restaurant with her husband, Chad (CPA, Mortgage Broker) in Mt. Brook, AL. Chad still works locally with Kiva Dunes/ Ft. Morgan.

Allison, author of Birmingham Sketchbook, has many ties with the Gulf Coast, not to mention that she vacationed there from teh time she was small.

Last year she was a featured artist at the Orange Beach Art Center (be sure to check that out as you travel along Canal Road in Orange Beach, the mossy trees on the water make it a magical artists retreat and gallery space.

Her work is also currently at LUCCA Boutique-The Wharf. There you will find the GIRLFRIENDS SERIES. Be sure to stop in and tell Lisa we sent you.

Allison still says her claim to fame is her musician son, Brent McCollough, who got his start on the Gulf Coast's Sunny 103.7 at the age of 8 singing Piano Man.

Visit Allison's website at to purchase prints at Fine art or click HERE

and contact Rotolo's at www.rotolos.com or at 251-223-9104.

GUSTAV

The Gulf Coast has seen quite a bit of activity, and the state of Alabama in the past three weeks with a tropical system sitting on us a few weekends ago.

Weblink to the Gulf coast is available here if you want to take peek.

While I lived on the Gulf Coast for four years, I decided to take it to higher ground and of course, sympathize with those who choose to remain there full time.

I expecially feel for my friends at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo who need funding now more than ever to move the zoo to highter ground...
Another evacuation has taken place.

Gulf Shores, Alabama

A Plug for the GULF COAST

I have to say,
the more I travel
and the more coastal sand I put my toes into,
the more I realize what a treasure we have here in the Panhandle of the
Gulf Coast.

Chad and I took the kids to Destin, Florida.
Nowhere, not the coasts of Italy, of the French Riviera, Costa Rica...
California (Newport Beach is where I was born), even MIAMI BEACH sand does not rival what we have here
NOWHERE...compares to the crystal blue ocean and powder white fluffy sand of Destin.

And a bit West is Gulf Shores, where I can walk the beach and not pass one person in the winter and might have a few dozen pass by my deck as I soak in the sun to the sound of the crashing waves, fly my kite, let a dog run freely.

Those are things you certainly can't do on those "other beaches".

As gas prices rise, we count our blessings, that we are only hours to the most beautiful shores in the world.

As the sun was setting, a couple said their vows in front of a few dozen close friends and family.