My Perdido

Finding Jesus at the Flora-Bama

A Ministry of the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church

Jeremy Mount, Pastor for the Worship @ the Water at the famous Flora Bama Bar, opened the service with an announcement few could imagine when he congratulated those in attendance for officially attending church in a bar. 

He encouraged the eclectic crowd of flip-flop wearing, foot-stompin', multi-generational congregants  to embrace the Spirit and spread the word of "messy Christianity" where no one is excluded.  We are all a mess and deserve less but get more from a loving God who even dwells amongst His flock who gather at the Flora-Bama.
The service drew about 300 to the famous location on the Florida/Alabama state line to worship in song and prayer and to hear the message.  Jason Justice and his fellow musicians provided the diverse mix of Christian music with a rock-a-billy undertone and which included an impromptu solo from a Birmingham vocalist who wandered in with the rest of the curious and the faithful.

The extention ministry of the local Perdido Bay church was welcomed by Flora-Bama owners Pat McClelland and Joe Gilchrist who offered their tented stage area for welcomed shade from the July sun.  The intention is to conduct services through the summer tourist season and into the fall. The hope and prayers according to Jeremy Mount and senior Pastor Darren McClellan of the main church are to build a core body of Christ to sustain the location year round. A devoted beach front congregation will welcome visitors from all over who visit Perdido Key, FL and Orange Beach on the Alabama side.  The "Key" and the Alabama Gulf coast draws folks nation-wide with the georgeous white sands and the laid back and family oriented atmosphere.  Summer tourists, Spring and Fall escapists and winter, long term guests known as "snow birds" are attracted to the area.

The service will be held every Sunday at 11:00 AM in the area under the white tent.  Parking is provided and through the summer months plenty of water and fans.  Everyone is invited, in the Christian tradition, no matter your religious persuasion or cultural background.  Dress is of course casual, amazingling so in some cases, but the open doors, open hearts and open minds concepts prevail. 

Where:  Flora-Bama on Perdido Key

When: 11:00AM every Sunday

What: Contemporary Church Service where all are welcome

Perdido Springfest and Fair

Many of our neighbors are deeply involved in our youth programs and none are more dedicated than those in the Perdido Bay Youth Sports Association.  They are putting on a first of its kind event and want to see you at the Perdido Springfest & Fair March 22-26^th. 

Open 6pm Tuesday – Friday (corrected from 3:00pm) and Open 3pm Saturday with full-blown fair rides, live entertainment, concessions, games, petting zoo, pony rides, vendors,  etc...  There has never been an event like this in Perdido before.  We want to help make it possible for everyone in the community to come and enjoy themselves.  Admission is free.  Parking is free.

 

$5 OFF  SUPER COUPONS HERE

Big Band Music is back

The National Naval Aviation Museum Presents Music Program:

Featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra with a Special Tribute to the Centennial of Naval Aviation

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, a fully self-contained group consisting of 19 members, will bring unique jazz and big band sounds to the Museum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3. This special concert will include music and swing dancing that will pay tribute to the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

 
 The World Famous, Glenn Miller Orchestra, is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements.  With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time.  The present Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world.  As of January 2011, trombonist Gary Tole is the orchestra's musical director.

 Tickets to The Glenn Miller Orchestra performance at the National Naval Aviation Museum are $27.50 for general public and $22.50 for Foundation members and groups of 20 or more.  The Cubi Bar Café will feature a special menu before concert with a cash bar beginning at 5:15 p.m. 

About the National Naval Aviation Museum

The National Naval Aviation Museum features nearly 300,000 square feet of displays and is one of the world’s largest aviation museums. Located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, the facility boasts more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation and is Florida’s most-visited museum. Among the countless things to touch, see and experience is the brand new museum expansion, Hangar Bay One, which adds 55,000 square feet of exhibit space. Don’t miss thrilling flight simulators , as well as the drama and power of amazing IMAX® films on a seven-story tall giant screen. The Cubi Bar Café offers a unique dining experience, and the Flight Deck Store is the perfect place to find a memento capturing the spirit of Naval Aviation. Museum admission is free. The National Naval Aviation Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The National Naval Aviation Museum features FREE admission and a full slate of events throughout the year including many to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation.  For a list of upcoming Museum events, exhibits and attractions, visit NavalAviationMuseum.org or call the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at (850) 453-2389 or (800) 327-5002.

Frank Brown Music Festival-Perdido Key Magic

26th Year of Songwriters Extraordinaire

The 26th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’
Festival will be held November 11- 21, 2010. The festival is an opportunity for songwriters and musicians from all over the world to have their songs heard. During this exciting 11 day festival, these special performers play at up to 25 venues, including Pensacola and Perdido Key, Florida, Orange Beach
and Gulf Shores, Alabama, with concerts featuring Grammy Award winning songwriters and the up and coming stars of tomorrow.  (Most concerts are free to attend, although some venues may have a cover charge). The festival has been awarded one of the Top Twenty Events by the Southeast Tourism Society. We have also been recognized by Billboard and American Songwriters Magazine. The Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival has been referred to as the largest gathering of SONGWRITERS’ at one time anywhere in the world.
Join us and make some memories!  See all of the details on the web site here.

Here is news on an early chance to see and hear some of the finest music entertainers/writers:

There will be a progressive night of great music by local songwriters to kick off the 26th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival!  

Wed. Nov. 10th -- 6:30 pm Tipseas Steam Shack, Orange Beach --- The Honky Tonk Angels - Rhonda Hart, Donna Slater, Elaine Petty, Lisa Zanghi & Sandra Laird

7:30pm  North Shore Grill in San Roc Cay, Orange Beach -- Rick Whaley & Lea Anne Creswell

8:30pm  Silver Moon -- Hosted by Cathy Pace - Music includes Johnny Barbato & friends

 

Huge Weekend Swirling around Perdido Key

Music Concerts and Power Boat Races

De Luna Fest

This weekend at Pensacola Beach, De Luna Fest will be held on Pensacola Beach from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17.

 
Three stages will be set up on the beach to provide a venue for more than 20 bands to rock on Friday and Saturday, including Stone Temple Pilots, 311, Paper Tongues, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Better Than Ezra, 30 Seconds to Mars, Cowboy Mouth and The Bravery.

A third day, Sunday, was recently added and is free to the public, with tickets. Willie Nelson will headline, and other performers are to be announced.

Organizers are working with Pensacola area chefs to provide local eats for the thousands of expected fans. For example, Southern cooking with a Creole twang will be offered at the bazaar “Ariola Food Market.” There will be something for every one, from burgers and popsicles to creole classics.

The Five Flags Tourism Group is presenting De Luna Fest, and Sam's Club is contributing to the event in order to support the Pensacola area. The festival was already planned before the Deepwater Horizon Spill, but organizers decided to use it as an opportunity to stimulate some much-needed business in the area.

“We wanted to do something to help area businesses and residents move forward after the gulf oil spill,” said Sam's Club spokesperson, Susan Koehler in an e-mail. “It was important to our associates and members to show support and we thought this was a great event.”

Pensacola hasn't had a major music festival in about four years, and since the recent environmental disaster over the summer, the area could use some fun in the sun. De Luna Fest seeks to encourage people to come out, enjoy some food and music and support the area since the economic damage it suffered after the oil spill in April.

The festival also celebrates a settlement in Pensacola by Don Tristan de Luna, a Spanish conquistador, in 1559. De Luna celebrated his expedition's arrival with a three-day beach festival, known as the original American beach party.  Now Pensacola can join in on the festivities with the annual De Luna Fest.

A portion of the ticket sales from the festival will be donated to ecological endeavors such as Emerald Coastkeeper, the water-body guardians of the region, and the Gulf Coast Energy Network, which works on improving energy efficiency.

Tickets are still available. A weekend pass is $90 online and single-day tickets are $47.50 online.

For more information, visit the De Luna Fest website, DeLuna Fest Web Site

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Events

Two of the biggest names in music will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15th-17th in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on Friday, October 15th and Brad Paisley performing on Sunday, October 17th. These two shows signify the next installments of Alabama’s “Concerts For The Coast” event series.

A limited number of tickets will be available for local distribution to area residents on Saturday, September 11th. A valid government issued photo ID is required and there is a 2-ticket limit per person available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Details are available on the website Concertsforthecoast.com. DeLuna Fest on Pensacola Beach, and Bon Jovi in neighboring Gulf Shores aren't the only two events that'll be shaking the area. This weekend, the Gulf Coast Powerboat Association will present the Thunder on The Gulf powerboat races in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. If you never been to a powerboat race, then you'll be in for some powerboat excitement as dozens of racers negotiate a course just off the beach.

The event is returning after taking a hiatus last summer while Thunder organizers regrouped after a bad 2008 economy, but the race is back and bigger than ever. The actual race takes place noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, but the general public is invited today and Saturday to get up close to the mighty powerboats and to meet the racers from around Southeast.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, Oct. 16

• Dry pits at the Gulf State Park, open to public, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission $5.
• Practice in the Gulf of Mexico noon to 3 p.m.

Sunday, Oct.17

• Dry pits at the Gulf State Park, open to public, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission $5.
• Racing in the Gulf of Mexico in front of Gulf State Pavilion noon to 4 p.m.

 

When the Coast is Clear

Here is the most poingent moment at the Jimmy Buffet concert that may have been missed.  Folks around me on that magical beach concert were in tears. Put this in the hands of all our friends of the Gulf coast.  Pass it on.

4th of July Perdido Key Style

Start planning your 4th of July weekend activities.  See what's going on in the Perdido Key area.

 

• July 3rd: Annual Barbecue and Fireworks Gala at Perdido Beach Resort. 6:00-9:30 pm
• July 3rd: Old Time Independence Day Celebration Meeting at the Amphitheater at Big Lagoon. 11:00 am-6:00 pm
• July 3rd: A Star Spangled Celebration at Lost Key Marina & Yacht Club. 11:00-3:00 pm 
• July 3rd-4th: Santa Rosa RiverFest 2010 in downtown Milton. Will take place all day Saturday & Sunday
• July 4th: Sliding with Style - Tike Slide Contest at the Pensacola Beach. 10:00 am
• July 4th: Coastal Awareness Celebration at Cobalt in Orange Beach. 6:00-9:00 pm
• July 4th: Pensacola Fireworks Show on the Pensacola Beach soundside. 9:00 pm
• July 4th: Sertoma's Fourth of July Celebration located Seville Square downtown Pensacola. All day event.
• July 4th: 5K Run Supporting the Make a Wish Foundation at The Wharf in Orange Beach. 7:30 am
• July 4th: Open House at AMVET Post 292. 2:00-6:00 pm
• July 4th: Open House at AMVET Post 240. Noon
• July 5th: Lost Key BBQ at the Clubhouse. 1100 am-2:00 pm

All Buffet Tickets Gone

All the free tickets made available Wednesday morning (June 23) for the CMT Presents Jimmy Buffett & Friends Live From the Gulf Coast concert were claimed in less than 10 minutes. The ticket distribution on Ticketmaster's website began at 10 a.m. Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band will host the July 1 show featuring Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Landreth, Jesse Winchester and additional guests. The event, to be staged on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala., is being organized to demonstrate support for and solidarity with residents, businesses and the culture of the Gulf Coast. A portion of the show will air live on CMT from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Performances will be simulcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio and streamed live on CMT.com.

Perdido Key Art and Wine Festival Saturday

Buy tickets for the festival here:  Tickets

  

Don't Miss the 2010 Wine & Arts Festival

 

Enjoy food, fine arts, live entertainment and wine sampling under the grand tent at the inaugural Perdido Key Wine & Arts Festival. It's an event you'll come back to year after year.

  

Saturday, June 12, noon-7 p.m. 

 

Sample the wine in your own signature keepsake wine glass, and purchase your favorite wines to take with you. Enjoy live entertainment with Johny Barbato and the Lucky Doggs from 3-7. $15 wristbands can be purchased at the event and include food and wine sampling and your commemorative glass.

Arts Festival from noon-7p.m., Wine Festival from 3-6 p.m. outdoors at Villagio, 13700 Perdido Key Drive. For information call (850) 492.4660.

The 2010 Wine & Arts Festival is sponsored by ResortQuest and Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce.