One last post from Alabama

We have been in St. Augustine, FL since last Thursday, arriving just in time to partake in the campground Christmas party.  A fair number of people showed up and we met several couples.   The campground provided all of the food and drink, we didn't even have to bring a dish.  They are having a  dinner today, but we decided to just spend a quiet day just the 2 of us.   We have a few items on our list of things to see while here but wanted to wait until after Christmas.

One site we toured while in Alabama that I missed blogging was the United States Sports Academy Museum in Daphne, AL.  The museum is located on the main campus  of the academy.  The academy is a non-profit, private graduate school. Their mission is to serve the nation and the world as a sports education resource for instruction, research and service.  The role of the academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports.   It is the first and only of its kind in the US.   Established in 1972 to turn around new scientific finding that linked poor preparation of coaches to the injuries incurred by the athletes they supervised.   It awards the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree. All of their classes are on line.

The museum dedicated  in 1984 to the preservation of sport art, history and literature through the acquisition and display of works from around the world in many different medias...   It is believed to be the largest collection of sports art in the world containing over 1,500 pieces of art.

Front entrance sculpture.

"A Tribute to the Human Spirit"  A mural found on the face of the main building dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in professional baseball.  One of the largest public offerings of art in the US standing at 27 feet high, 12 feet wide and valued in excess of $2 million. 

 "Borzov the Sprinter" by Bruce Larsen

 The Black Wall featuring a sampling of baseball art paintings and sculptures.   

The two rows at the top of the wall represent paintings by Cristobal Gabarron for 100 years of Olympics from 1896 to 1996.  

This is his painting from the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.   The red figure at the bottom right represents the human figure and is found in every painting.  The dove represents international peace and is also in every painting except 1916 and 1940 when there were no games due to the wars.

Paul "Bear" Bryant by Leroy Neiman.

Tribute to the Negro League.  "Kansas City Dugout" by Kadir Nelson.

 "Beyond Parameters" by Abiola Akintola

 "Jordan the Basketball Player" by Bruce Larsen.

Created from scrap metals.

"Pele"

A bronze bust sculpted by renowned St. Louis artist Harry Weber.  

Larry Bird

Indiana Hoosiers

These 2 pictures are for Ron's brother Bob who resides in Indiana.

"Super Bowl MVPs" by Bernie Fuchs

Sculpture of Lou Brock by Harry Weber.

"Walk of Fame"

Over 2,000 engraved bricks with the names of those who achieved renown in their respective sports.

A couple of individual bricks....lifetime Cardinal Stan Musial.

and Albert Pujols...remember him?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lighted Boat Parade

Our 2 month stay in Foley AL is coming to an end.   We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and will again make it a winter destination in the future.   One of the last events we attended with a group from the resort was dinner at Tacky Jacks to watch the lighted Christmas boat parade.   The restaurant is  located on the inter-coastal waterway making it a great viewing location.   There were about 30 privately owned boats decked out in Christmas lights and other holiday themed decorations.   First, second and third place awards are given in three categories:   boats over 33 feet, boats under 33 and sailboats.   Entry is free and I think it is prestigious to be a winner.   

After 10 years of use our camera finally died.   We ordered another one which arrived the day before this event, so the pictures are not great.   We need to practice night shooting a little more.  Some of the boats trolled nice and easy and others thought they were in race, so some of the photo's I couldn't use here because they were blurred.   But you get the idea.   It was something different for us and we had fun.

Hope all is well!

2012 Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival

It began in 1984 as a "small end of the year party" for local artists and friends but, over the course of  time, has blossomed into an 11 day festival encompassing the entire Gulf Coast area and is dedicated to the real architects of the music industry - the songwriters.  The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival  this year hosted over 200 songwriters from across the country and around the world.   Their venues are 30 various restaurant/bars, art studios and music halls as they move around from location to location along the gulf between Alabama and  Florida.  We chose to see the artist at LuLu's on Friday night and Flora-Bama on Sunday afternoon.  We chose these 2 places because they were restaurants we had identified as locations we wanted to have a meal.   LuLu's is owned by Jimmy Buffetts  sister  at what started out has a bait shop and an outdoor burger bar has grown into one of the most popular spots on the gulf.  And this Friday night was no exception...it was packed.   We didn't get a great seat to see or hear the band while we ate but moved closer to the stage after we finished our meal.  Ron got a just " okay" cheeseburger and I got one of the best shrimp quesadilla's I've ever had.   You'd think the sister of "Cheeseburger In Paradise" would serve up a decent burger even in this land of seafood.

Brian White and Karyn Williams

Our plans were to drive to Flora-Bama,, about 20 miles from Gulf Shores and of course on the Florida-Alabama state line right after 10:30 mass Sunday morning, spend a couple of hours, eat lunch then head home.   We arrived around noon and got home at 9:00 pm.   We were so entranced not only by the talent of the performers but the whole experience.    Although a program is published so you know who is playing where, it is a very casual atmosphere.   As one group is performing if they see another songwriter walk into the place they invite them up on stage.   Its like being at a jam session..    I did not expect the level of musical talent - I thought just because they can write a song doesn't mean they can sing or play a guitar.   But I was wrong.   We saw a tribute to Rusty McHugh, Danny Griego, Rusty Budde, Red Lane, Wayne Carson, Brice Long to name a few.   If your like me you've never heard of them, but they have played along side of or have written songs for Randy Travis, Joe Diffe,  John Michael Montgomery, Josh Turner, Tracy Byrd, Taylor Swift .....

Flora-Bama started out as a lounge and packaged liquor store in 1964  and after surviving a fire that consumed the building the day before it opened, Hurricane Ivan and a host of owners/co-owners over the years, it is a very popular hangout for visitors and locals alike.   Because the building has gone through several remodeling projects and expansions, it resembles a hodge podge of eating areas, sitting areas, an outside stage with picnic tables, 2 indoor stages and various cozy corners where friends gather to have a drink, munch on chicken wings and listen to music

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is dedicated to and named after the late Frank Brown who was the night watchman at the Flora-Bama for 28 years, retiring at the age of 91.   He wore a pair of matched revolvers, slung low, but never had to use them.  The story is it was enough for him to say. "Now you boys don't have to be like that.  What would yo' mamma say?"  He is a respected and loved legend in this area.

 Flora-Bama

Various songwriters

They get a good turnout every year.

          We are talking about coming back to this area again next year to spend more time at the festival.

Hope all is well!

"Success is when a man gets what he wants.  

 Happiness is when a man wants what he gets."

Frank Brown, former Flora Bama night watchman