Gulf Coast, AL July 2026 by City Lifestyle

Explore OUR Island

CARRIE L. MORRIS, MD, FACS

Board-Certified Cosmetic Laser Surgeon

Triple Board-Certified in Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery

Provider of the Foundation Aesthetic Hair Restoration Method by Dr. J. Epstein

Tough Builds for Tough Water Marine Construction Built to Last

At Weeks Bay Marine, we are committed to delivering exceptional services and expert care, specializing in all marine construction and repair needs. Our expertise extends beyond marine construction to include land development, dredging, demolition services, boat salvage, and tree and sod installation, and seawall construction.

July on the Gulf Coast Feels Like FREEDOM…

It’s early mornings on the water, sunshine dancing across the waves, and the familiar sight of boats heading toward our islands before most people have even started their day. Around here, life is shaped by the water. It’s where memories are made and traditions are passed down.

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this month, there’s something especially meaningful about the freedom and traditions we enjoy along the Gulf Coast. July reminds us how fortunate we are to call this country and this coastline, our home.

Some of our favorite moments happen on and in our waterways. Aboard a boat; cruising to waterfront restaurants, anchoring at our islands with family and friends, or spending the day chasing the next catch. It’s more than recreation; it’s a way of life deeply woven into the heart of our community.

In these pages, we celebrate the boating lifestyle and the unique culture that makes coastal living unlike anywhere else. Our waterways are more than beautiful scenery. They are gathering places, sources of adventure, and the backdrop for unforgettable moments shared with the people we love most. These same waterways must be respected and maintained.

In our Life Begins at the Dock feature, we partner with GSPS Marine and iconic waterfront destinations including OSO at Bear Point Harbor, Pirate’s Cove, and the FloraBama Yacht Club to capture the experiences that define island life along the Gulf Coast.

We also visited with Robyn Choiniere, a nature photographer behind Just My Nature Photography. Through her lens, our coastal community becomes a work of art, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us every day.

Finally, we spotlight Weeks Bay Marine & Construction , a company that has helped shape waterfront living across our area for more than 40 years through their dedication to craftsmanship, integrity, and dependable service.

This issue is a celebration of Gulf Coast living at its finest; adventurous, connected, relaxed, and forever tied to the water that surrounds us.

Thank you for inviting us into your homes and hearts.

Love local. Live local. Spend local.

Until next month…

ROBERTS, PUBLISHER

July 2026

PUBLISHER

Ashley Roberts | ashley.roberts@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Lillian Norris | lillian.taylor@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Robyn Choiniere

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

inside the issue

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Pleasure Island 8U Softball wins their Playoff Tournament. Look at that ring! 2: Pleasure Island 8U Softball Playoff Tournament! Coaches: Adam & Bethany Roughton and Joe Morgan (Not-pictured). 3, 4: 10th Annual American Heroes on the Gulf is one of our favorite events. 5: CABC hosted the annual State of the Cities breakfast. Thank you Mayors Craft and Kennon. 6: Rachal Godwin and Rick Murphy of Ironmen-Outdoor-Ministries-Gulf-Coast are the best hosts with the biggest hearts. 7: Jeremiah Castille, former NFL cornerback and current Bama Football chaplain, gave a moving speech.

HUNTER PETERS

8: Tara McMeans’ design entry won! It will represent the 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival! 9, 11: Makos Softball did it again. 6 time state champs! These girls are a force. #6pete 10, 12: The Annual OBES Cardboard Regatta is always a fun time for students. 13: OB Garden Club at the Veteran’s Memorial ribbon-cutting. Thank you for all you do. 14: Casey Buckner, Jenny Summerville, Pat Dupré, and Ellen Marinaccio at our CABC breakfast.

BRENT WILLIAMS

OBES

OBES COB C.BUCKNER

Robyn’s THROUGH LENS

A heartfelt look at coastal life in motion

ARTICLE BY LILLIAN TAYLOR NORRIS

BY ROBYN CHOINIERE

Some people take pictures of what they see. Robyn Choiniere seems to photograph what she feels and captures the perfect moment of beauty in what she sees.

Where the water, sky and wildlife are part of everyday life, Robyn has developed a way of seeing the Gulf Coast that feels both intimate and extraordinary. Her images are not simply

PHOTOGRAPHY

records of birds, dolphins, sunsets or quiet waterfront moments. They are invitations to pause. To look longer. To notice the beauty that often moves past us while we are busy with ordinary things.

There is an old saying that if you want to know someone, look through the roll of photos on their camera. In Robyn’s case, that camera roll tells the story of someone deeply connected to the natural world. It reveals patience, tenderness, curiosity and an eye for the small miracles that make coastal living so special. A heron with its beak open in a wild, almost comical expression. A dolphin breaking through the water in a flash of silver. A pelican gliding low, completely absorbed in the hunt. A sunset spilling gold across the sky as if the whole horizon has decided to speak.

Robyn sees these moments, but more importantly, she feels them. That is what makes her work resonates, it feels alive. Her wildlife images capture personality as much as form. A bird is not just a bird. It becomes a character. A dolphin is not just a dolphin. It becomes a burst of joy. A sunset is not just the end of the day. It becomes a reminder that beauty is still unfolding, even when things are quiet.

For Robyn and her husband, life on Ono offers a front row seat to some of the most beautiful scenery along the Alabama coast. Yet it takes a certain kind of person to really see it. Many people pass a dock, a bird, a ripple in the water or a dramatic sky without giving it much thought. Robyn does not pass by. She pays attention. She watches. She waits. Then, in the exact second when light, life and emotion meet, she presses the shutter.

That kind of timing cannot be forced. It comes from instinct. It comes from loving the subject enough to be patient with it. Wildlife photography especially requires a quiet respect for what cannot be controlled. The bird may fly. The dolphin may vanish. The clouds may shift. The light may change. Robyn’s gift is not just technical. It is emotional. She understands that the best photographs are often found in surrendering to the moment rather than trying to command it.

Her images also remind us why so many people are drawn to this place. The Gulf Coast has a rhythm all its own. Mornings begin with birds calling over the water. Afternoons shimmer with movement. Evenings settle into color so rich it almost feels unreal. Robyn captures that rhythm with sincerity. She gives viewers a chance to experience the coast not only as a destination, but as a living, breathing home.

There is something heartfelt about the way her photos ask us to care. To care about the heron standing tall in the pines. To care about the dolphin rising through the waves. To care about the skies that change every evening and the

waters that hold so much life. Her work quietly reminds us that wonder is not rare. It is simply easy to miss.

Robyn Choiniere may be an up and coming local wildlife photographer, but her perspective already feels fully formed. It is honest, soulful and beautifully observant. She photographs the world around her with the kind of depth that makes people feel something, and that is no small thing.

Through Robyn’s lens, life on the coast becomes more than scenery. It becomes a collection of fleeting, meaningful moments that deserve to be remembered. And maybe that is the real beauty of her work. She does not just show us what is there. She helps us see why it matters.

Built to Last

COASTAL CONSTRUCTION WITH BALDWIN COUNTY ROOTS

ARTICLE BY LILLIAN TAYLOR NORRIS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JD SWIGER/WEEKS BAY MARINE

Weeks Bay Marine & Construction is built around a simple idea. Coastal property deserves work that is strong, thoughtful and made to last.

Along Baldwin County’s waterways, that kind of work matters. A pier is more than a place to watch the sunset. A boat lift is more than a convenience. A seawall is more than a line between land and water. Each one protects a lifestyle, a property and an investment. In a place where salt air, storms, tides and shifting conditions are part of daily life, marine construction has to be done with more than good intentions. It has to be done with experience, planning and the right equipment.

That is where Weeks Bay Marine stands apart. The company offers marine construction and repair, land development, dredging, demolition services, boat salvage, tree and sod installation, seawalls, boat lifts, site work, materials and installation. It is a wide range of services, but the purpose behind them is focused. Weeks Bay Marine helps property owners build, protect, improve and maintain their waterfront spaces with confidence.

Weeks Bay is not just a location on a map. It represents generations of local knowledge and a lifetime of understanding how this landscape works. That depth of experience shapes the way the business approaches every job, from a residential dock to a commercial marina project.

Marine construction on the Gulf Coast requires a different level of care because much of the most important work happens where people cannot easily see it. Pilings must be installed correctly. Structures must be engineered properly. The foundation has to be strong enough to carry the use, the weight and the weather that comes with coastal living.

Weeks Bay Marine invests in commercial and industrial heavy machinery to make sure those critical details are handled the right way. Proper piling installation is especially important. Property owners don’t want a boat lift to fail once a boat is placed on it. They don’t want a pier compromised by a small tropical storm

because the pilings were not installed to the proper resistance depth. The right machinery helps ensure the job is not just finished, but finished correctly.

That commitment to quality extends into the planning process. Weeks Bay Marine works directly with engineers, and projects are designed to meet and exceed code. Before the build begins, the process can include consultation, design, permitting and surveys.

For many property owners, one of the biggest challenges is knowing what to look for when hiring a marine construction company. Weeks Bay Marine encourages customers to pay attention to the details that matter most. Does the contractor have the proper equipment? Are engineered plans involved? Are permits being handled correctly? Is the team prepared for the demands of the coastal environment? Shortcuts may save time at the beginning, but on the water, they often become expensive problems later.

Another strength of Weeks Bay Marine is the company’s ability to manage multiple parts of a project. A client may need land cleared, a driveway built, house pilings installed, rip rap added, a dock constructed and a boat lift installed. Instead of piecing together several contractors, customers can work with one team that understands how each step connects to the next.

The company also supplies rock, sand, gravel and topsoil, with installation available on all products. That practical range of services makes Weeks Bay Marine a resource not only for marine construction, but for broader site development and property improvement.

Emergency response is another important part of the business. Weeks Bay Marine has team members on call around the clock for urgent needs. The company also works with large insurance agencies to remove and dispose of boats that have sunk, caught fire, been damaged in a storm or failed because of a boat lift issue. In those moments, experience, equipment and quick response all matter.

“On the Gulf Coast, quality marine construction begins below the surface, where strength, planning and experience matter most. That’s why you call the professionals.”

“Weeks

Bay Marine gives waterfront property owners the number one trusted team for the work that protects and improves their coast.”

The heart of the company is craftsmanship. Weeks Bay Marine is proud of the quality its team brings to every project. The goal is high quality work at a fair price, built to last 20 to 30 years. That kind of durability is not accidental. It comes from skill, strong equipment, careful planning and a business culture that values relationships with customers.

Those relationships continue after the project is complete. Yearly maintenance and ongoing support help property owners protect what they have built. When clients have future marine construction needs, the goal is for Weeks Bay Marine to be the team they know they can call.

Looking ahead, the company continues to stay busy with commercial marina work, commercial parking lot projects and dredging for new marinas. The variety keeps the work moving and reflects the full scope of what Weeks Bay Marine can handle.

No job is too big or too small. Whether protecting a private shoreline or building for a commercial waterfront, Weeks Bay Marine Construction brings the same standard to every project.

Build it right. Build it strong. Build it for the coast.

LEARN MORE: Weeks Bay Marine provides marine construction, repair, dredging, land development, demolition, boat salvage, seawalls, boat lifts, site work, materials and installation. Call 251-597-8155. They look forward to serving you today!

At Full Power

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

The 10% Target Mindset

Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.

He calls days later.

That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.

The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.

The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.

“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”

FEATURING JEN COHEN

Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.

1 2

MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS

The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.

STACK THE DECK

Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.

DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE

No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.

SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP

Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.

NEVER MISS A MONDAY

The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.

LIFE BEGINS AT THE DOCK

With GSPS Marine, boating in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach becomes more than a pastime. It’s a way of life.

ARTICLE BY LILLIAN TAYLOR NORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JD SWIGER- SWIGER STUDIO

There is a certain kind of magic that happens when you leave the dock along the Alabama Gulf Coast. The water stretches ahead, inviting you toward lunch with a view, an afternoon at anchor, a sunset cruise, or the kind of fishing story that gets better each time it is told. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, boating is not just something people do on the weekend. It is part of the rhythm of life.

That is exactly the feeling Gulf Shores Power Sports and Marine understands so well. They have spent decades helping families, fishermen, weekend cruisers, and lifelong water lovers find the boat that fits the life they want to live. Since 1994, GSPS Marine has built its reputation on more than inventory. It has built it on knowledge, service, education, and a genuine understanding of how people here use their boats.

Because along the Gulf of America, a boat is not just a purchase. It is a promise.

It is the promise of early mornings by Pirates Cove, coffee in hand, with the Sea Hunt ready for a day that can go wherever the tide takes it. It is the promise of pulling up to OSO or Bear Point Marina in a Contender, fresh from the water, ready to hand over the catch and let someone else do the cooking. It is the promise of easing up to the Flora Bama Yacht Club on an Evotti pontoon, music playing, friends laughing, and no one in a hurry to go home.

The good life looks different for every boater, and that is why selection matters. GSPS Marine stocks one of the largest selections of boats and marine brands in the area, with more than 13 acres devoted to helping customers see, compare, ask questions, and get excited about what is possible. Throughout the year, they stock more than 100 boats, giving shoppers the chance to move beyond dreaming and actually step aboard the models that could become part of their everyday life.

For families, Sea Hunt has become a name that feels right at home on our coast. GSPS Marine has been one of the country’s top Platinum Sea Hunt dealers and it is easy to see why. Sea Hunt offers models from 21 feet to 30 feet, giving boaters room to grow, whether they are chasing fish, taking the kids tubing, cruising with friends, or packing a cooler for a slow Saturday on the water. The Sea Hunt 30 Gamefish with forward seating captures that balance beautifully. It is serious enough for anglers but comfortable enough for the whole crew.

CONTINUED >

Evotti

“The right boat does more than take you across the water. It carries you into the life you imagined.”

A boat should feel capable, but it should also feel inviting. It should handle the day offshore and still be the place where kids eat sandwiches in the shade, grandparents take in the view, and friends gather at the bow to talk about nothing in particular. Sea Hunt understands that family boating is not one single activity. It is fishing, swimming, cruising, exploring, and making memories all in the same afternoon.

For those who want something built with a harder fishing edge, Contender brings a different kind of confidence. The Contender features speak to the boater who knows the thrill of running out early,

finding the bite, and coming back with dinner plans already taking shape. In Orange Beach, the phrase “you hook em’ and we cook em’ ” is more than a catchy idea. It is a lifestyle. There is nothing quite like catching your own fish, pulling up to a waterfront restaurant, and letting the day turn into a meal shared with people you love.

Contender is built for that spirit. It is for the hardcore fisherman who still appreciates comfort, performance, and the freedom to turn a fishing trip into a leisure cruise. Around here, serious fishing and easy living are not opposites. They often happen on the same boat.

Then there is the 525 CS Evotti pontoon, bringing an entirely different kind of boating dream to life. Not every great day on the water needs to start before sunrise or include a tackle box. Sometimes the perfect boat day is slow, social, comfortable, and filled with the simple joy of being together. A pontoon gives people room to stretch out, visit, snack, laugh, and take in the coast at an easy pace.

That is the beauty of working with a dealership like GSPS Marine. They know there is no one size fits all version of boating. Some customers are looking for a new adventure. Some are ready to upgrade from the boat they have outgrown. Some are buying their first vessel and need patient guidance through models, motors, features, insurance, maintenance, and everything that comes after the sale. Education is a major part of the GSPS Marine experience, and that matters when you are making a decision this meaningful.

Buying a boat should be exciting, not overwhelming. The right team helps customers understand what they need, what they do not, and what will serve them best for the way they actually live. A family that wants to island hop, swim, and host friends may need a very different setup than someone who wants to chase offshore fish. A couple upgrading for retirement cruising has different priorities than parents buying a boat for summers with teenagers. GSPS Marine takes those conversations seriously.

Their service department is another important part of the story. Boating should bring freedom, not stress, and dependable service keeps people on the water with confidence. From maintenance to repairs, GSPS Marine supports customers long after the sale, helping protect the investment and the lifestyle that comes with it. Their brands may speak for themselves, but service is what keeps the relationship going.

Sea Hunt

From marine to powersports, GSPS Marine offers a wide range of options for coastal adventure, but boating holds a special place here because water is woven into who we are. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the boat ramp is a gateway. The marina is a meeting place. The restaurant dock is a dinner reservation. The bay, the pass, the backwaters, and the open Gulf all become part of the neighborhood.

So maybe the next chapter is not about waiting for the perfect day. Maybe it is about choosing the boat that helps you make more of them. Maybe it is a Sea Hunt for family fun, a Contender for fishing and fresh catch memories, or an Evotti pontoon for easy afternoons with your favorite people.

Whatever your version of the good life looks like, GSPS Marine is ready to help you get there. Because around here, the water is calling almost every day.