Mobile Bay Magazine - March 2019

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES

March 2019

THE WELLNESS ISSUE

BALLIN’

PICKUP GAMES AT SAGE PARK

Binky Oswalt’s

IRISH FEAST JUDGE ROY BEAN

REBORN

HEALTH

NUTS MOBILE’S LOUISE MCCOWN + FOUR MORE WELLNESS WARRIORS

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CONTENTS | VOLUME XXXV / ISSUE 3

COLORFUL, NUTRIENT-DENSE WHOLE FOODS ROUND OUT THIS GUACAMOLE VEGGIE BOWL, FEATURED EXCLUSIVELY ON OUR WEBSITE. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

MARCH 2019

38

Post-Mardi Gras Detox

Five healthful recipes crafted to kill the guilt and avoid the trap of fad diets.

46

Daily Wellness

Four leaders in health and wellness share their regular regimens and inspire us all to get on the right track.

52

Eat Play Love The Kowals’ familyfocused Fairhope home is a restful retreat away from the daily grind.

 “Wellness” is a buzzword thrown around a lot these days, and the term can seem confusing.

But this $4.2 trillion industry is aiming to make a big impact on the mental and physical health of the world through exercise and diet goals, de-stressing and mindfulness and using precision medicine to target a person’s individual health needs.

Get the recipe for this healthy Guacamole Veggie Bowl at mobilebaymag.com/guacamole-veggie-bowl. march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 5

CONTENTS | VOLUME XXXV / ISSUE 3

MARCH 2019

34 ON OUR COVER

22

Louise McCown shows off her love of fresh produce and high style.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU YELLOW RAFFIA EARRINGS FROM SWAY, FAIRHOPE

24

9 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 REACTION 12

BAY LIFE Snapshots from the Athelstan Club’s Domino Double Rush

15 ODDS & ENDS 17 AWARENESS Tech that takes the guesswork out of medicine 18 ARCHIVES Medicinal herbs are a holistic health approach that continues to prosper 21 THE DISH

22 TASTINGS Iron Hand Brewing’s offerings — beer to bread — are all handmade 24 BAY TABLES Binky Oswalt’s Hidden Ireland food tour comes to life in Mobile 30 SPOTLIGHT Tickle Creative builds upon Bay-area favorite Judge Roy Bean

32 TRADITIONS Matching for the medical job of your dreams

76 ASK MCGEHEE Mobile’s mysterious “Floating Island”

34 BAY LIFE Pickup basketball games on Sage Park’s court

78 IN LIVING COLOR King Patrick Feore arrives in his royal regalia

60 MARCH CALENDAR 70 ARCHIVES The Infant Mystics’ tellall Carnival book

B’BALL BONDING AT SAGE PARK PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN BINKY OSWALT’S IRISH DINNER PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU THE IRON HAND HIMSELF PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

 The recipe for bangers and mash originated in wartime Britain during food shortages, when bread and water were added to sausage to stretch the meat. When cooked, the fillers expanded, blowing holes in the casing and coining the name “bangers.”

Find Mobile’s newest version of the British classic at Iron Hand Brewing, featured on page 22.

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Mobile Bay VOLUME XXXV

No3

MAR 2019

PUBLISHER T. J. Potts Stephen Potts Judy Culbreth

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Maggie Lacey MANAGING EDITOR/WEB Abby Parrott

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Amanda Hartin

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Hallie King PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Virginia Mathers

ART DIRECTOR Laurie Kilpatrick

EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Buck Kate Huete

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

ADVERTISING S R. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Joseph A. Hyland Anna Pavao ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Ray

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ADMINISTRATION CIRCULATION Anita Miller ACCOUNTING Keith Crabtree AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Mark Singletary

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mallory Boykin, Emmett Burnett, Frank Daugherty, Jill Clair Gentry, Daryn Glassbrook, Tom McGehee, Breck Pappas CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Summer Ennis Ansley, Matthew Coughlin, Michael Dumas, Elizabeth Gelineau, Jack F. Ross III ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL OFFICES

3729 Cottage Hill Road, Suite H Mobile, AL 36609-6500 251-473-6269 Subscription inquiries and all remittances should be sent to: Mobile Bay P.O. Box 43 Congers, NY 10920-9922 1-833-454-5060 MOVING? Please note: U.S. Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through their bulk mail unit.

Please send old label along with your new address four to six weeks prior to moving.

Mobile Bay is published 12 times per year for the Gulf Coast area. All contents © 2019 by PMT Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or the management of Mobile Bay. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions will be edited for length, clarity and style.

PUBLISHED BY PMT PUBLISHING INC .

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EXTRAS | EDITOR’S NOTE

Get in the groove

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

I

have a tendency to choose the absolute worst times to work out. Most people’s successful exercise regimens call for an early alarm clock, an exercise partner for accountability and a fun class to keep them motivated. I, on the other hand, have a hard time getting in the routine and don’t find my motivation until it’s too late.

Picture the scenario — I’m seven months pregnant, my waistline is growing, along with my ankles, and I am worried about staying healthy and strong. My busy work schedule (not to mention kids at home) having prevented me from meeting my exercise goals, I start looking around for a class to attend. Some yoga with a gentle stretch might be just what the doctor ordered.

So late last year, with an ever expanding belly, I picked a yoga class on my lunch break from work that I knew would be just the ticket. Unfortunately for me, I picked the wrong class. Very wrong. What I thought was restorative yoga (picture old ladies doing gentle stretches to new age music) was actually a Bikram class attended by every fitness instructor in town looking to get extra sweaty between meetings with clients. I made my apologies when I realized the mistake, but they convinced me to stay and just do what my pregnant body would allow. After 30 minutes in child’s pose, I quietly slipped out the back.

Spontaneity might not be the best thing when it comes to keeping a workout regimen going strong. But if you can find something that works with your schedule and keeps you motivated, go with it! Personally, I like to get outside and go somewhere. The thought of walking endlessly on a treadmill bores me to death, but give me a paddle board or a bicycle and I could go all day. To each his own. Health and wellness can mean something different to each person, and the best place to start is with what works for you. The biggest takeaway from this MB issue is that you can start small and see big changes.

It turns out plenty of people are realizing the benefits of eating smarter and striving for wellness. Did you know there is now even a category called wellness tourism? Yes, people are taking trips solely to focus on mind and body. Yoga retreats, health spas or a weekend with like-minded cycling enthusiasts might be just what the mind and body need. If that sounds far-fetched, take a look at the numbers. Wellness tourism is a $639 billion market annually, and is projected to reach $919 billion by 2022, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Nothing flabby about that.

Here’s to your health!

Maggie Lacey EXECUTIVE EDITOR

maggie@pmtpublishing.com

SWEET INDULGENCES MY FAVORITE TREAT IS GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, BUT IF YOU’RE TRYING TO SKIP THE SWEETS, DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION AND THEY’LL SEND A BOX OF COOKIES TO TROOPS OVERSEAS? HURRY, THE PROGRAM ENDS EARLY MARCH.

[LOVE THIS ISSUE]

WHAT’S COOKING BINKY OSWALT AND CREW TOOK CLASSES AT THE WORLD-RENOWNED BALLYMALOE COOKING SCHOOL IN IRELAND, BUT YOU CAN BUY THE BOOK AND TRY THESE FABULOUS RECIPES AT HOME.

MEOW THE INFANT MYSTICS CAT EMBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AROUND TOWN, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER SEEN THIS VINTAGE VERSION FROM THE 1881 BALL INVITATION. SUCH CHARM! IMAGE COURTESY MOBILE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY

OBSESSED I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THESE PHILODENDRON LEAF EARRINGS WORN BY LOUISE MCCOWN IN OUR DETOX STORY. FIND THEM AT SWAY IN FAIRHOPE.

PATTERN PLAY THE STUNNING TILE USED ON SHANA KOWAL’S KITCHEN BACKSPLASH KEEPS CATCHING MY EYE. ORIGINAL STYLE’S SALISBURY TILE IN BLACK ON DOVER FROM BAY FLOORING & DESIGN

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EXTRAS | REACTION

Tell us how you really feel ...

Impressive go-getters making waves in the Bay area

On January’s cover story, “Meet the New Class,” featuring Moshae Donald, Esq., and fellow 2018 40 Under 40 honorees

LEBR ATIN CE

10

G

MEET THE NEW CLASS!

A TOUCH OF CLASS

January 2019

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES

40

YEARS

UN

Cover girl! Congratulations on your award; it is well deserved.

0 DER 4

MOSHAE DONALD, ESQ. 40 under 40 honoree

- Christienne Gibson Wow! You made the cover.

We are lucky to have you.

MOBILE’S OWN MOUNT RUSHMORE

Hot WeMo Eatery

Hidden Gems of Semmes

Places to eat, shop and play in this quiet, budding city

PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN

Flipped Out Kitchen

- Linda Collins Jensen

[MORE ONLINE]

Find additional local stories on mobilebaymag.com.

Here’s what’s new on the website!

Here Comes the Bride Did he pop the question on Valentine’s Day? We want to hear all about it! Submit your free engagement announcement online, and we’ll share your story.

Super Salads Get back on track with your New Year’s resolutions with these 10 scrumptious salad recipes chockfull of healthy ingredients.

‘SEMMES-PLY’ THE BEST On January’s feature story, “Semmes: City of New Growth”

Thank you to Mobile Bay Magazine for seeing in Semmes what we already know.

- Diane Skelton Moore

E.O. Wilson [should be on our landmark, too].

Semmes, you’ve come a long way since 1952, when I was a fifth-grader at the old 1902 schoolhouse. I loved to hear Ms. Scott read “The Hardy Boys” books to us after lunch. The unique town you have become gives me a sense of pride to say, “I’m from Semmes, Alabama.”

- Brian Axsmith

- Bob Hudson

I nominate Emmett Burnett for Mobile’s literary Mount Rushmore. Mark Calametti deserves much credit for his great illustration as well. I’m still grinning as to the “illumination” into the life and personality of the great city father Bienville. Much enjoyed.

SURFIN’ UP MEMORIES

SET IN STONE On January’s quick read, “Mobile’s Own Mount Rushmore”

- James McCaghren

 Want to share your thoughts and reactions to this issue with us?

Email maggie@pmtpublishing.com.

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On October’s “Ask McGehee,” about the old Bankhead Tunnel toll booths In my teens, we used to drive to Gulf Shores and surf. It is hard to believe we couldn’t scratch up a quarter [for toll money]. We would always stop at a small store in Magnolia Springs and go through the trash in search of glass bottles that we could cash in for deposit returns. Thanks for the memories.

- John Tapley

Designing Woman Exterior designer and MB contributor Catherine Arensberg has been named the lead designer for the 2019 Festival of Flowers (March 21 - 24). Go online to read her column packed with expert tips and ideas for your outdoor space.

Party Pics Share your event with us! Fill out the Party Pics registration form and submit your photos to be featured in a gallery on the Web.

Join Our Email List Get the latest in fashion, food, art, homes, history and events delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for our email list at mobilebaymag.com.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 11

PEOPLE | BAY LIFE

Next Dance will be Double Rush The Athelstan Club’s annual Domino Double Rush ball gives debutantes, their parents and club members a chance to dress up and party down. photos by MICHAEL DUMAS

1

2

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Leading Lady Mary Ashley Hand turned heads as Marilyn Monroe, even reenacting the iconic actress’s performance of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Escorted by Marshals carrying flambeaus, the costumed debutantes paraded through downtown Mobile on their way to the 145th Domino Ball. The debs, including (from left) Ebie Douglas, Taylor Naman, Cecile Nicholson and Marie Inge, donned creative costumes.

The jazzy sounds of Excelsior Band epitomize the Carnival season. Debutante Brook Burkholder and her Athelstan Club escort Steve Ladas take part in the traditional first dance.

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FROM TOP McKenzie Courtney and Ali Sutherland enjoy some bubbles prior to the tableau. From left, Lizzie Zieman, Mary Douglas Anderson and Tristen Turk teamed up as the ladies of Mamma Mia. Lee Tonsmeire looks like a Million Dollars.

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EXTRAS | ODDS & ENDS

Welcoming Wellness text by HALLIE KING

40 DAYS

OF LENT Why 40 days?

The number is significant in Jewish and Christian faiths: The book of Genesis says it rained for

40 DAYS AND NIGHTS before a flood came, destroying the earth below.

The Hebrew people spent 40 YEARS in the wilderness in search of the Promised Land.

March 26

NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

Try keeping spinach raw to avoid leeching out the water-soluble vitamins during cooking. Toss up a raw spinach salad to celebrate!

IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 6.8 percent of Mobile County residents and 8 percent of Baldwin County residents claim Irish-American heritage as their primary ancestry, according to the American Community Survey.

Get inspiration from the Emerald Isle starting on page 24.

THE WELLNESS INDUSTRY REPRESENTS

Moses fasted for 40 DAYS in preparation to receive the Ten Commandments.

Jesus spent 40 DAYS fasting to begin his ministry on earth. [ NOTABLE OPENING ]

POST Craft Cocktails & Wine Bar The newest addition to the O’Daly’s family of drinkeries, this upscale cocktail lounge opening Downtown on Dauphin Street promises the finest wines and luxe libations.

“DOUBLE RUSH” means that women can ask men (or other women) to dance at a ball.

Tradition has it that double rush was started during World War II, when men were away and ladies still wanted a turn on the dance floor. The tradition continues today in Mobile at Mardi Gras balls, although the first dance is reserved for the leading lady.

5.3

PERCENT OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT The wellness economy grew 12.8 percent from 2015 to 2017, nearly twice as fast as the average annual global economic growth of 3.6 percent.

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GUMBO | AWARENESS

Precisely Focused A new kind of technology is on the horizon, and it’s taking the guesswork out of medicine.

PHOTO COURTESY USA HEALTH

text by AMANDA HARTIN

T

hey say newborns don’t come with instruction manuals. But what if they did? Imagine a world in which a new mom leaves the hospital, babe in arms and reference book in hand. Within the pages of the guide is the child’s DNA blueprint, and listed alongside are diseases the child could face based on his or her individual genetic sequencing.

This kind of medical technology isn’t yet readily available. But according to Errol Crook, M.D., professor and chair of the University of South Alabama Department of Medicine, babies born today can expect to see it within their lifetime. While all of this may seem rather like science fiction, the technology is actually based on a practice that has been around for at least two decades — precision medicine.

Simply put, precision medicine is an approach to health care that allows providers to make specific medical decisions based upon several factors, such as ethnicity, lifestyle and, now, human genomes. Focus on genomes has slowly made its way from the medical field into homes thanks, in large part, to do-it-yourself DNA studies such as 23andMe. Results proving familial bloodlines have probably been conversational fodder around many a dinner table.

But what if the results could tell you more? What if they could determine the efficacy of certain prescription medicines or deduce your probability of acquiring certain diseases? Science is rapidly heading in that direction, but it’s a little more involved than just taking the results of an at-home test to your health care provider for deciphering. In many cases, he or she won’t be able to decode it, either.

“There are only about 25 actionable genes right now,” Crook explains, saying that things like breast cancer, colon cancer or autosomal polycystic kidney disease all have genes that have been positively identified as being linked to the respective disorder. Additionally, some genes have been linked with metabolic rates for certain drugs.

To clarify, consider the following two examples. Suppose a patient has a family history of breast cancer. Knowing the history, the provider might suggest screening for the breast cancer gene. If the gene is detected in the patient’s DNA, then proactive steps could be taken, such as early screenings or, in some cases, prophylactic mastectomies. Suppose another patient is diagnosed with a blood clot in the leg, which requires

anticoagulation treatment, such as warfarin.

Thanks to an identifiable gene, patients can now be screened to see if they are a high- or slow-metabolizer, and from the results, the best dosage could be selected.

“There is no test, however, that the provider is going to do just in general,” Crook cautions. “If there are certain things that are clinically indicated, such as ethnicity and a positive family history, then they will start looking at it. Going forward, and with each new discovery of another gene, providers are going to have more powerful tools that will allow them to personalize their treatment and wellness plans for you.” MB

Interested in an at-home testing kit? Here are a few choices: health.vitagene.com Discover the top supplements recommended for you based on an analysis of your genetics, goals, medications and health conditions. ancestry.com From your origins in over 350 regions to the most connections to living relatives, no other DNA test delivers such a unique, interactive experience.

23andMe.com More than 125 personalized reports reveal your ancestry, health, wellness and more.

LivingDNA.com The site says it can pinpoint percentage breakdowns for ethnicity within 80 worldwide regions, no matter how unique the ancestry.

 The more researchers know about what makes each of us unique, the more tailored our health care can become.

Visit JoinAllofUs.org to enroll in the national human genome initiative.

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HISTORY | ARCHIVES

The Oldest Medicine The holistic health approach of medicinal herbs continues to prosper in the wake of modern medicine breakthroughs. text by DARYN GLASSBROOK

I

f you look in your bathroom or spice cabinet, chances are you’ll find many common household items that derive from medicinal herbal traditions that are hundreds or even thousands of years old.

The mouthwash you used this morning? It probably contains thymol, which is naturally produced by scarlet beebalm, a plant in the mint family that many Native Americans used to make an herbal tea for treating mouth and throat infections. That clove of garlic you used to season your steak? It was given to the first Olympic athletes in ancient Greece as a performance-enhancing drug.

The Robert Thrower Medicinal Garden was established at the Mobile Medical Museum in 2017 to educate the public about herbal medicine, the oldest form of medicine in the world, with roots dating back to the dawn of civilization.

The garden was named for Robert “Glenn” Thrower Jr. (1961 - 2017), an ethnobotanist who served as Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Thrower was an adviser to the Mobile Medical Museum in the early stages of the garden project.

The garden features 50 plant species representing civilizations from five continents. Together, they tell a story of acculturation and ingenuity in the human struggle to survive.

The first contact between European explorers and the indigenous peoples of the Americas permanently changed ecosystems across the globe. The encounter, called the

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Columbian Exchange, was extremely deadly, involving war, conquest and the spread of disease. But out of this tragic conflict came a few promising advances in horticulture.

In the 17th century, colonists introduced the European honeybee to the Americas and taught the Cherokees the art of beekeeping. As a major pollinator, the honeybee increased crop yields and added color and variety to the landscape.

On the other side of the ledger, Native people instructed the colonists in the culinary and medicinal uses of chili peppers, beans and blueberries, enabling them to survive in harsh and unfamiliar climates. These herbs, among others, were then shipped across the Atlantic to Europe and Asia.

“Tobacco was cultivated by Native American people long before becoming a major cash crop for export to European markets,” says Dr. Erin Nelson, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of South Alabama. “It was widely used throughout Mesoamerica and North America at the time of European contact for its psychoactive and painkilling properties.”

In a parallel development, the Transatlantic Slave Trade cut off African slaves from many of the herbs that they had known in their ancestral homelands. But they carried on the rich legacy of African herbalism, developing new folk traditions around herbs that they discovered through contact with whites and Natives in the New World, such as asafetida, sassafras and peach leaves. Decades after the end of slavery, the herbal

remedies of black midwives and root doctors were eagerly sought out by clients of all races, particularly in the South and the Caribbean.

Herbal medicine took many physical forms: teas, powders, syrups, aromatic mists, balms and salves. In Europe, Asia and the Middle East, herbal preparations and treatments were carefully transcribed in medical manuals for posterity. Among Native Americans and African-Americans, herbal knowledge was usually transmitted orally between a mentor and an apprentice.

Despite these cultural differences, nearly all herbalists shared a strong belief in the spiritual side of healing. Whatever powers an herb possessed ultimately derived from a divine source.

Native medicine-practicing men and women believed that the correct diagnosis and treatment of an illness would be revealed to them through dreams, animal spirit guides or other prophetic signs. In African-American communities, peppermint was used both to relieve labor and abdominal pains and to bless a house with good fortune.

Olive oil, which has been used for thousands of years as a laxative, lubricant and cleanser, was once associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who gifted the first olive tree to the city of Athens. Jews, Christians and Muslims appropriated olive oil for sacred anointment ceremonies.

Before pharmacology and clinical testing, it was often difficult to pinpoint the potency and effectiveness of any given herb. A dizzying range of healing powers has been attributed to some of the most common herbs such as yarrow, aloe vera and sage.

In many cases, herbs that seemed to be successful in relieving pain or treating one type of illness would be prescribed for other conditions as well, until the herb acquired a reputation as a panacea. Physicians today refer to this phenomenon as “indication creep.�

Indeed, clinical testing of traditional herbal remedies has had very mixed results.

Nevertheless, ancient herbalist practices such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda still have millions of passionate advocates all around the world. There is even a research team at The University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom called AncientBiotics, which tests herbal remedies recovered from medieval English manuscripts. They see their work taking on more urgency with the rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes.

For better or worse, it appears that herbalism, the oldest medicine, may be here to stay. MB

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FOOD | THE DISH

Bite of the Bay

KASEE HEISTERHAGEN, Assistant United States Attorney

BOLOGNESE AT PIZZERIA DELPHINA “Pizzeria Delphina is my go-to place for a lunch date with my husband. The pizza is phenomenal, but my personal favorite is the bolognese made with ground chuck, pork, sofrito and pomodoro sauce. I always order the large portion so that I have leftovers for the next day. The service is quick and friendly. Easily one of the gems of Downtown!”

PIZZERIA DELPHINA • 107 DAUPHIN ST. 375-1644 • FACEBOOK.COM/DELPHINAPIZZA

JACK MCCOWN, Owner, Atchison Home

STUFFED CHICKEN AT RUTH’S CHRIS “You can’t go wrong with a perfectly cooked steak at Ruth’s Chris, but I like to resist the temptation and get the not so obvious choices. Start off with the veal osso bucco ravioli to satisfy your pasta and cheese cravings. Then order the stuffed chicken — you will not be disappointed. The chicken is stuffed with cheese and is always juicy and most tender. For dessert, do the obvious thing and get a Chrissy. How can you go wrong with an ice cream cocktail?”

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE • 2058 AIRPORT BLVD. • 476-0516 • RUTHSCHRIS.COM

CARL HARPER, Vice President, Harper Technologies, LLC

FLOUNDER AT CORNER 251 “Corner 251 in the Admiral Hotel Downtown is a great restaurant for light eats, good cocktails and a small selection of flavorful entrees. This visit, I indulged in their flounder fillet. A tender and flaky, generously sized fillet is seasoned to perfection, dusted in cornmeal and fried until perfectly crispy. Paired with a side of French fries, this meal makes a great choice for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Add your favorite condiment, or enjoy it as prepared to experience the full flavor.”

U/10 DIVER SCALLOPS AT SOUTHWOOD KITCHEN. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

MB’s contributing food fanatics share the local dishes that made them hungry for more.

B’BETH WELDON, Artist

SCALLOPS AT SOUTHWOOD KITCHEN “Southwood Kitchen’s chef Jeremiah Matthews prepares a fantastic dinner in a casual atmosphere. We decided to test the kitchen — one of us had the U/10 diver scallops and the other had the black grouper. The scallops were outstanding, served with a green onion and goat cheese orzo and pea shoots. The grouper, sauteed with a crawfish and Crystal Hot Sauce bearnaise sauce, gained rave reviews. I hope you, too, will consider this wonderful choice on the Eastern Shore!”

CORNER 251 AT THE ADMIRAL HOTEL

SOUTHWOOD KITCHEN • 1203 US HWY 98

251 GOVERNMENT ST. • 432-8000

SUITE 3D, DAPHNE • 626-6676

THEADMIRALHOTEL.COM/DINING

SOUTHWOODKITCHEN.COM

 What dishes made you drool and left you hungry for more? Share them on our Facebook page! march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 21

FOOD | TASTINGS

Iron Hand Brewing text by MAGGIE LACEY • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

SHAVED ROAST BEEF

I

f you don’t have a friend in the world, you’ll find one here.”

Those words are written across the front of Iron Hand Brewing’s facade in large, hand-painted letters. The saying originated with the Waterfront Rescue Mission when the nonprofit used the De Tonti neighborhood location as its headquarters, but the mantra still somehow fits. The mission might be a little different these days, but the openness and camaraderie remain.

Ben Ross and his wife, Rebecca Williams, premiered their beer-making enterprise in December after three years of planning.

Ben was anxious to change careers when his offshore job did not offer the ideal schedule for a flourishing new marriage, and Rebecca suggested a brewpub on a whim. The couple searched up and down the Gulf Coast for the perfect location, finding it in De Tonti Square.

The inspiration came from brewpubs Ben frequented while living in Portland, Oregon, when he was in his 20s. As the first and only eatery in De Tonti Square, Iron Hand is filling a void for area residents but also bringing new people in for food and a warm atmosphere.

Despite the number of small breweries opening in the Mobile area, Ben points out that it’s still behind most other cities of similar size for

“

breweries per capita. His Alaskan hometown, a town of 7,000 people, has three breweries. Pensacola, he says, has seven. “All the brewery owners in this area are really supportive of each other, and a rising tide floats all ships.” The perfect analogy for a former seaman.

Ben and Rebecca always wanted to serve traditional British pub food because it would pair nicely with the porters and stouts he planned to brew. There’s a “nice, heavy-handed American IPA” on the menu as well. The Iron Hand has six taps, and they hope to eventually have five of those pouring their own beer. For now, however, their one-barrel system admittedly can’t keep up. They ran out of beer their first night and have been pushing their limits to meet demands ever since. In the meantime, they have plenty of other beers available, as well as wine and cocktails. “We’ll never serve a well drink here. The alcohol menu might not be extensive, but we keep it quality.”

The quality of the food is top-notch as well, with everything made from scratch, including the sausage for the bangers and mash. All the sandwich breads and hand-tied pretzels come from a sourdough starter that originated with his mom. We highly recommend you stop in and find a friend, whether you need one or not. MB

 Iron Hand Brewing • 206 State St. • 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 – 10 p.m. Monday – Friday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday 725-6912 • facebook.com/ironhandbrewing • average entree price $10

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BANGERS AND MASH

[ON THE MENU ]

SOURDOUGH PRETZEL

SHAVED ROAST BEEF

BANGERS AND MASH

CHEESECAKE

Housemade and handtied. We love it dipped in the Welsh rarebit (beer cheese) sauce made with Rebecca’s First Amber.

This off-menu special, left, is carved from super tender Sunday roast, covered in house gravy and served on a sourdough hoagie.

Homemade sausage, mashed red potatoes, onion gravy and a side of peas. It’s not 100 percent authentic, but it’s close.

Fluffy, not too sweet and drizzled with seasonal berry sauces. Ben is searching for fresh rhubarb, saying in Alaska it grows like weeds.

FOOD | BAY TABLES

Hidden Ireland Chances are, you don’t associate gourmet food with Ireland.

Binky Oswalt says you should. text by MAGGIE LACEY • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

W

hen you think of Ireland, green fields of clover filled with peacefully grazing fluffy white sheep may come to mind. Or gray clouds and gentle rains and hedgerows as far as you can see.

Daydreams might include stone walls and rosy cheeks, pints of Guinness, rowdy pubs and good-natured fun. But you generally don’t think of gourmet food.

Thirty years ago this May, native Mobilian Binky Oswalt took her first trip to Ireland.

She was a busy travel agent back then, and wanted to explore for herself some of the new soft adventures she had been hearing so much about. She took a walking tour of Ireland and met guide Conn Moriarty. “He was this young, wild, crazy thing with so much passion and pride for his home country,” she tells me. “And he loved the outdoors.” The two became fast friends, and within the year Binky was back in Ireland for meetings with Conn and his friend Ann Curran to begin plans for their own travel company called Hidden Ireland.

The three friends, whom Binky describes as the three legs of Hidden Ireland’s stool, have been arranging private, customdesigned tours of the magical green island ever since. Flights, cars, drivers, meals, hikes and personally tailored activities — it’s all handled seamlessly with Binky as the U.S. contact from their “world headquarters” in a small office at her midtown Mobile cottage. Meanwhile, Conn and Ann take care of travelers from the moment they land

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in Ireland to the moment they leave. Everyone who books a Hidden Ireland excursion leaves feeling like these three are family.

Walking tours are their specialty — clients meander down hidden paths that skirt rocky ocean coastlines that they would never have found if they planned the trip on their own. Quaint accommodations await at the end of a day trooping through the mist, and surprisingly, a fantastic meal does as well. Binky says that trip after trip travelers have come back raving about the wonderful food, which far surpassed their expectations.

It seems Ireland has more to offer than Guinness and green pastures after all.

With that in mind, last year Binky teamed up with local caterer and foodie Martha Rutledge to plan a food tour of Ireland. Their group spent a week munching their way through County Cork, tasting the delights of family farms, cheese producers, accomplished chefs and cooking schools. Centered around the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Organic Farm and Gardens, the group sampled phenomenal meals while learning from the impassioned producers about their high-quality products.

Binky describes Darina Allen, who runs the

cooking school, as a “one-woman tornado who swept through Ireland and changed how natives think about food.” She says it shows all over the country. Darina’s cookbook came home in everyone’s suitcases that trip, and each person since has enjoyed making the fresh, modern Irish recipes while remembering their blissful week walking through the Emerald Isle. MB ABOVE Binky Oswalt serves the Ireland-inspired dishes that she and Martha Rutledge made from The Ballymaloe Cookbook.

MARTHA RUTLEDGE’S LAMB CHOPS

IRISH CHEF DARINA ALLEN’S BUTTERED CABBAGE

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TRADITIONAL BROWN SODA BREAD MAKES 1 LOAF

Recipe adapted from Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe Cookery School 2 cups whole-wheat flour (preferably stone-ground), plus more for the work top and baking sheet 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda, sieved 1 ounce butter 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix dry ingredients together in a large, wide bowl. Rub in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Using one hand, stir in a full circle, starting in the center of the bowl and working toward the outside until flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet or sticky. When it comes together, turn out onto a wellfloured board.

3. Roll dough around gently with floured hands long enough to tidy up the crumbs.

Flip over and flatten to about 2 inches.

Sprinkle flour onto a baking sheet. Lay loaf on top of flour. Mark the surface with a deep cross and prick each corner to “let the fairies out” of the bread. Bake 45 minutes.

4. Cool on a wire rack, wrapped in a clean tea towel while hot if you prefer a softer crust.

RADISHES WITH BUTTER AND SALT Butter tones down the peppery bite of fresh radishes, a perfect appetizer in the early spring when you can find them growing locally.

Wash, trim and thinly slice radishes.

Top a bite-sized slice of Irish brown soda bread with salted butter (Binky and Martha like Kerrygold – an Irish brand that is easy to find in stores).

Sprinkle with sea salt and top with sliced radish.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Pink Irish gin makes a refreshing cocktail. Betsy Otts samples the flavors while reminiscing about her Irish food tour. Binky and Martha show off the pièce de résistance, Martha’s lamb chops, in front of Irish works of art. Salted radishes and butter top Irish soda bread.

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IRISH PINK GIN COCKTAIL MAKES 1 3 ounces pink Irish gin, or gin of choice 2 dashes elderflower liqueur (such as St. Germain) tonic water sliced red grapefruit, for garnish

1. Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and elderflower liqueur. Top with tonic and garnish with grapefruit.

MARTHA RUTLEDGE’S LAMB CHOPS SERVES 8 - 10 2 racks lamb chops, frenched 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced 2 tablespoons dried rosemary 1 tablespoon sea salt zest of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper

1. Combine all ingredients in a large zip-top bag and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

2. Preheat grill to medium heat. Remove lamb from zip-top bag. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper to taste. Wrap aluminum foil around the bones to prevent burning.

3. Grill until internal temperature reaches 135 - 140 degrees. Slice into chops and serve immediately.

DARINA ALLEN’S BUTTERED CABBAGE SERVES 8 - 10

No Irish meal would be complete without a little cabbage on the side, and this simple recipe comes together quickly.

3 tablespoons butter sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste 1 1/2 heads green cabbage, julienned

1. Put 3 tablespoons water in a wide saucepan with 2 tablespoons butter and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, add the cabbage and toss over high heat. Cover the saucepan and cook for a few minutes.

Toss again and add salt, pepper and remaining butter. Serve immediately. march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 27

BEARA COAST HOTEL SEAFOOD CHOWDER SERVES 10 - 12 AS ENTREE, OR 20 AS A STARTER

This boutique hotel on the “Wild Atlantic Way” serves caught-that-day fish to its guests and visitors. Martha Rutledge adapted the recipe from the hotel’s chef, Mark Johnston. It is warm and comforting and best served with a hunk of Irish soda bread slathered in butter.

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 head of fennel, diced 14 ounces carrots, diced 14 ounces celery, diced 4 cups white wine 4 cups fresh fish stock 3 lemons, halved 4 cups cream 1 3/4 cups butter, softened 1 1/4 cups gluten-free flour 1/2 pound salmon, diced 1/2 pound grouper, diced 1/2 pound scallops, diced salt and pepper, to taste dash of lemon juice 1/2 cup green peas, blanched 1/2 cup green onion, chopped

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add vegetables and saute until tender. Add wine, fish stock and lemon halves, and simmer until reduced by half. Remove lemons, add cream and begin to bring to a boil.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix butter and gluten-free flour to form a paste. When the cream is near boiling, slowly add the flour paste a small bit at a time. Reduce heat, add seafood to the pan and slowly simmer for about 10 minutes until the fish is cooked. Do not let it boil.

3. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice, and garnish with peas and green onion.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Mary Day Dumas dips into some seafood chowder.

This recipe from Beara Coast Hotel in Ireland can be adapted to include any kind of seafood. Flipping through the pages of The Ballymaloe Cookbook takes them back to their foodie trip. Pat Frazer talks about touring farmsteads and meeting purveyors. A stack of coffee-table books on Ireland sits in Binky’s living room.

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IRISH COFFEE MERINGUE ROULADE SERVES 12

Martha Rutledge adapted the recipe from Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe Cookery School to create a show- stopping rolled confection.

4 egg whites 2 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder (not granules) 1/2 pint cream, whipped 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Irish whiskey chocolate-covered espresso beans, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Line a 12 inch-by-8 inch Swiss roll pan with silicone paper or aluminum foil and brush lightly with a flavorless oil such as sunflower oil.

2. Put egg whites into a spotlessly clean and dry bowl. Add all but 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.

Whisk with a stand mixer until egg whites stand in firm, dry peaks, 10 – 15 minutes. Sieve coffee and remaining powdered sugar together and fold in carefully.

3. Spread meringue carefully with a palette knife onto pan.

Bake 15 – 20 minutes.

4. Lay a large sheet of aluminum foil on a work surface. Invert meringue onto foil. Remove pan and peel back silicone or foil. Allow meringue to cool.

5. Fold whiskey into whipped cream in a medium-sized bowl. Spread whiskey cream over meringue, reserving a small amount for decoration, and roll up from the long side.

Carefully ease the roulade onto a serving platter. Put leftover whiskey cream into a baker’s piping bag and pipe 6 – 8 rosettes along the top of the roulade. Decorate with chocolate espresso beans. Keep chilled. Cut into 1-inch slices for serving.

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PEOPLE | SPOTLIGHT

Turning a Space into a Place An artist and a developer combine forces to reimagine Judge Roy Bean. text by MAGGIE LACEY

I

once won a chicken drop.

Fifty squares — or some other number, no one remembers anymore — were drawn on a large sheet of plywood set on the ground. Wagers were placed and the chicken was set loose to roam the squares. When the hen stopped to do her business, that number was the lucky winner. I had the lucky number that afternoon, and I won yet again that night when my sister bet me my bar tab that I wouldn’t pick up the chicken and carry it around for the rest of the night. I did, and my sister paid the tab.

Perhaps that’s not the most glamorous or even dignified anecdote by which to remember Judge Roy Bean, but it was a good one.

And countless other locals from both sides of the Bay have decades’ worth of fun memories of Judge’s. Its founder, Jack West, was a natural placemaker, according to award-winning artist Ameri’ca Tickle (pronounced Ah-ma-rica). Placemaking is about creating a space where people want to go, a place worth caring about. Jack understood the concept before anyone in this area used the term.

With a little triangle of land in Olde Town Daphne, right on the border of Montrose, West built his social institution on the site of the old Embassy lounge. Before that, the spot was a Catholic church, the predecessor to the Shrine of the Holy Cross that now sits half a block away. So the location of Judge’s was and had always been a gathering spot for the community.

Ameri’ca, a (fifth-generation) resident of Daphne and descendant of the original Allegri, understands the sense of place that Judge’s represented. So when she and her husband, Jason Tickle, were looking to find the right spot for their first joint development project, the site was the perfect fit.

While Ameri’ca might have a true Baldwin County pedigree, Jason is a newcomer. Brought to the area as a developer for some high profile, large-scale properties, he soon found he was growing weary of the collateral damage brought by commercial institutional development. Too many bad examples of suburban sprawl, stormwater runoff issues, endless parking lots and places where you really don’t want to visit left a bad taste in his mouth, and he dreamed of doing things a different way. “There comes a time when you look around and realize you are the grow-up in the room,” he explains. “If I’ve got the background experience and skill set, it’s time to step up and do something right.” Fortunately, a group of visionaries had been working across the country to lead the way toward what is now known

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ABOVE Jason and Ameri’ca Tickle are most at home surrounded by natural elements. The initial renderings for Judge’s Square, designed by Birmingham architect Jeffrey Dungan, show green space, courtyards and water as central parts of the design.

as “new urbanism.” Put simply, it’s a way of designing buildings and spaces that puts the person before the automobile. Jason admits that new urbanism doesn’t have all the answers, but it is certainly taking steps in the right direction.

It’s true that new urbanism is about adding green spaces, benches, lighting and sidewalks. But it is much more than that, Jason explains.

Just because you build a plaza or park doesn’t mean people will go there just for the pleasure of it. Jason references the plazas in Europe as the success stories with their three- and four-story buildings that open

right onto the street, allowing people to flow through commerce and sidewalk cafes in a pleasurable and meaningful way. For some reason, since WWII, in the United States we have moved away from building like that, shifting the focus entirely on what works best for our cars instead of our minds, bodies or communities. Jason says new urbanism, on the other hand, is simply about building to human scale and incorporating nature in a way that makes people feel at home.

Combining Jason’s experience in development and Ameri’ca’s creative eye, the husband-wife duo envisioned a mixed-use complex of upscale apartments, boutiques and cafes that would create a little village for the neighborhood and be open to the entire, diverse community. They teamed up with some of the top architects and landscape designers in the country — leaders in a new kind of development — to craft a plan that would utilize everything in the new urbanist’s tool kit: green space, natural elements, sidewalks and seating all applied to the former Judge Roy Bean site in a way that best suited that particular property. It isn’t cookie-cutter development; there is no one-size-fits-all design here. In the end, they hope to create a place where people want to spend time, choose to linger, and leave feeling refreshed and reconnected. Reconnected to themselves, to nature and to their community. It’s a lofty goal, but one worth pursuing in our architecture. “Jack West was ahead of his time,” Ameri’ca says.

“He set up opportunities for meaningful experiences to happen. We hope to learn from him how to bring that sense of community.

That was his success.” The Tickles hope it will be theirs as well. MB

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GUMBO | TRADITIONS

Match Day Everything is on the line for a group of students about to begin the next phase of their careers, and it all culminates one Friday in March with the opening of a small white envelope. text by EMMETT BURNETT

F

inally, the long-awaited event on every medical student’s list is here.

After endless undergraduate work, years of study and weeks in interviews, the University of South Alabama’s future physicians are about to meet their destiny. Match Day is here.

On March 15, 11 a.m. locally, 43,000 medical students around the world, including 19,000 from the U.S., will simultaneously open envelopes containing their residency locations. Seventy-seven of those students are from the University of South Alabama.

“This is the most exciting and important day a medical student has,” says Dr. Susan LeDoux, USA’s assistant dean of medical education and student affairs. “South’s mission is to prepare our students for the next phase of their career, which is residency.”

Matching begins months earlier. As part of an online application process, fourth-year med students apply for residency programs throughout the nation. In turn, program officials screen the applicant pool, selecting candidates for interviews.

Basically, students and programs meet, greet and interview one another. Students rank their top choices in order of preference.

The residency programs also rank the students interviewed. Results are fed into a complex computer program that determines the match that is revealed in March.

With interviews completed, applicants hold their breaths. One waiting to exhale is Spanish Fort’s Trevor Stevens.

“It is a lot like speed dating,” says the internal medicine student. “Match is fun, exciting

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medicine specialist and 2011 and frightening at the same University of South Alabama time.” Four years of medical med school graduate recalls. school are on the line.

“Stress is enormous. EveryStress is high. Applicants thing up to that point rides are responsible for travel costs, on your residency interviews.” which are expensive. There Her pressures were typical can be many flights and hoand then some. “I was older tel bills. “I was in a lot of airthan most applicants because I ports,” Stevens notes about the was a nurse for 10 years prior,” 12 interviews he undertook she says. “I thought my age in a month. “Traveling always might be a deterrent.” And feels like something is going there was another factor. wrong, like the time my flight “I was eight months pregwas delayed eight hours.” nant,” she says, smiling There is also the added presproudly. “That’s not supposed sure of being away from your job for a month. “You learn to “It is a lot like speed to matter, but obviously it does.” Apparently it did not manage your time very well,” dating,” says the inter- matter to Duke University he adds.

Out of respect for the nal medicine student. Medical Center.

Duke receives about 5,000 schools, Stevens declined to reveal who he met with, but “Match is fun, exciting applications. About 400 are notes, “The experience was and frightening at the accepted for interviews, of which 40 are placed in resideninvaluable. My goal was to find a program and location same time.” Four years cy. Bryan was one of the 40.

“It was tough. Very chalI would be happy with while of medical school are lenging, but worthwhile,” making a difference and being on the line. she remembers about Duke the best physician I can be.” days. “I learned so much During interviews, students engage with a variety of talking points: while in residency.”

Bryan offers advice to future classes. “Be “Why us?”; “What can you offer?”; “Tell us observant when meeting your potential resiabout you.”

“You learn something at each interview, dency partners during the interview,” she says. and I did the best of my ability,” says Stevens. “Watch them and notice how they get along Dr. Kimberly Bryan remembers those with one another. If you feel an uneasiness, days. “I was on the road doing interviews at that might not be where you need to be. Trust least every other week,” the Mobile internal your gut feeling.”

Match Day is always held the third Friday of March. Locally, at the Mobile Convention Center, 77 USA medical students will rip envelopes at the stroke of 11 a.m. After sharing results with family and friends, each student will take the stage, announcing their news to a jubilant audience. He or she will then pin their residency location on a U.S. map in front of about 600 cheering supporters.

But the journey continues. Graduation is in May. Internships start in the summer. Many of the new recruits have about three months to relocate and begin work in an unknown town, treating unknown patients.

Meanwhile, at the University of South Alabama, a map with 77 pins of the Match Day Class of 2019 will be displayed on campus. Each pin represents a student’s journey, a future doctor’s hard work and the quest for residency. MB

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PEOPLE | BAY LIFE

Inside the Lines at Sage Park At a busy Mobile intersection, commuters have a front-row seat to the “poetry in motion” that is pickup basketball. text by BRECK PAPPAS • photos by MATTHEW COUGHLIN

I

first visit the Sage Park basketball court on a cool January evening. Under the lights, an intense, but friendly, five-on-five game is well underway. Some guys wear sweatshirts, some aren’t even in shoes, one wears a Space Jam T-shirt and more than a few are talking trash. I quickly learn that the biggest talker, a 20-something-year-old in a lime-green hoodie, is also the best on the court. I find a spot on the sideline and lean back against the cold chain-link.

Like anyone who has ever been stopped by a red light at the busy intersection of Dauphin Street and Sage Avenue, I have often been distracted by the pickup games at this public court. Thanks to the installation of lights last summer, the night games have added an almost theatrical element to a once-dark intersection.

It’s only natural to want to meet the actors.

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When the game ends and players begin shuffling toward the parking lot, I try striking up a conversation with anyone who will listen. At the mention of a magazine article, the Talker says over his shoulder, “Y’all need to put me on the cover.” And just like that, the court is nearly emptied. The curtain on the night’s performance has dropped.

Three days later, when I visit the court for a second time, I arrive before sundown in the hopes of watching how the action evolves over several hours. I walk up on what must have been a valiant battle — two teammates are lying on their backs in exhaustion and defeat while their two friends congratulate each other. All four are students at Spring Hill College and say Sage Park is “a good place to come when the gym is taken up.”

The rest of the crowd are clearly schoolkids enjoying an after-school shootaround. One student wearing a backpack tells me he and his friend go to Booker T. Washington Middle School.

“You a recruiter?” he asks, noticing my notebook.

That’s a first.

Phones and headphones are put to the side, and a spirited game of 21 begins. One youngster with glasses, sent to the free-throw line, kisses the ball before sinking his shot. As the sun sets across Dauphin, long shadows stretch across the court and the temperature plummets. Darkness being the cue, the students eventually gather their things and dangerously dart across Dauphin. Although most passing cars have switched on their headlights, the automated lights over the court remain lifeless.

At that time, a man wearing an Alabama sweatshirt, sandals and short dreads occupies one half of the court, shooting around with a miniature version of himself.

LEFT Sage Park regular and former McGill-Toolen standout Tevin Bettis, the 2011 6A Mobile Press-Register Player of the Year, now plays semi-professional ball for the Port City Tornados. “I’ve seen known enemies out here playing basketball against each other,” he says.

RIGHT David Gales, left, and Vince Thomas, right, both 19-year-old graduates of Murphy, shoot around on a warm winter’s day.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 35

Jerome, I learn, is a welder at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. He often comes to Sage with his 6-year-old son, dribbling around with him until enough adults arrive to start a pickup game. Jerome once played basketball at Williamson High, which is a common story at Sage. Before I leave, I will have met former basketballers from Blount, McGill-Toolen, LeFlore and B.C. Rain.

At 5:35 p.m., the court is suddenly flooded with light. The show is back on. At some point, Jerome has returned to his car to put on his basketball shoes, and now he joins a pickup game with three new arrivals.

His energetic son starts climbing the fence.

What begins as a two-on-two game turns into a three-on-three, then a four-on-four.

There’s an unpredictability to the whole night that’s captivating. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, where you went to high school. If you came to play, and the numbers are even, the game will fold you in.

While tonight’s pickup game is clearly just for fun, one unnamed court regular tells me there’s money to be made out here during the summer. As proof, he pulls out his phone to show me a video of himself,

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pulling up to sink a game-winning shot from nearly half court. An intensely focused crowd of more than 100 — mostly young men — erupts and storms the court. That shot, he claims, won his team $5,000.

“We stopped going out to the club, and we’d come out here instead,” he told me. “This is like another job. People were making real money out here.”

Although slightly skeptical of the dollar amount, I had heard rumblings about the gambling that takes place at the court. I had also heard that the lights now automatically shut off at 10 p.m., likely an attempt to suppress late-night wagering. It’ll be interesting to see, once summer rolls around, the effectiveness of the new light policy.

Three hours into my visit, I realize the entire scene is picturesque in a strange way; the bright lights, the movement, the passing cars, even the glow of the nearby Wells Fargo and Shell station signs. It’s a healthy reminder that beauty has a way of smacking you in the face in the moments you don’t expect to find it. Across the court, Jerome drives, steps back and hits a mid-range jumper, and I hear a small voice call out from the parking lot, “Good shot, Dad!” MB

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POST-HOLIDAY POST-MARDI GRAS POST-BUSY LIFE AND POOR CHOICES

DETOX 38 mobilebaymag.com | march 2019

The road to wellness is not paved with restrictive fad diets that burn out after a few weeks, or even a few days. By changing the gamut of the kinds of foods you eat — eliminating processed ingredients and empty carbs — you can kick-start a new way of eating that is both sustainable and enjoyable. text by HALLIE KING • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU

M

odern society never tires of her self-care chronicles in her blog “Learnthe fad diet. The challenge of ing Out Loud.” When her father passed discerning fact from fiction away from a heart attack 12 years ago at the faces consumers time and age of 52, she stepped back to evaluate her time again as these “new” fads emerge — al- life — 25 years old, engaged, working a job though most are far from inventive. Gener- that exhausted her. She was ready for a more ally, food trends cycle through our pantries, fulfilling life change. are then proven unsustainable and lose their “I didn’t know anything about cooking momentum, only to be reintroduced to the or health and certainly didn’t figure it out market with new, fashionable names and overnight, but I started the journey then,” fictitious claims.

McCown says.

Even with the nation’s uptick in food In subsequent years, she viewed countconsciousness, about 75 percent of Ameri- less health and wellness documentaries, cans still consume too much added sugar, read books and consulted with healthsaturated fat and sodium from processed conscious friends and peers to kickand refined foods, according to start a wellness regimen in her the Office of Disease Prehome. When she joined vention and Health ProBeautycounter in 2014, motion. How, then, to she established daily find the balance to aclifestyle choices that complish the healthdiverted her and “I practice the 80/20 rule. related goals set from her family from the Eighty percent of the time year to year? Once unhealthy products I’m completely mindful, but the Christmas and surrounding them. the remaining 20 percent is New Year’s confections “As I began to full of grace, sugar stale and the influx of switch out all of my and pizza!”

Carnival king cakes and personal care prodMoonPies runs dry, where ucts and home cleaning to begin? products, my kitchen clean Enter our version of a “detox,” out was part of the process,” the buzzword that triggers thoughts of McCown says. “As a mom of four 30-day cleanses, radical exercise regimens little ones, I practice the 80/20 rule. Eighty and foods that you don’t want to eat. But percent of the time I’m completely mindful, in its simplest form, all a detox serves as is a but the remaining 20 percent is full of grace, way to eliminate the overly processed stuff sugar and pizza!” currently filling your body and replenishing Little health guides like the 80/20 rule it with nutritious and delicious whole foods keep her pantry healthful and balanced. that, when incorporated into a daily life- Other tips that guide her eating habits instyle, create sustainable and doable change. clude meal planning to keep priorities (and Louise McCown, a managing director for budgets) in check, shopping on a full stomclean beauty brand Beautycounter, is a self- ach to avoid impulse purchases and browsproclaimed “wellness warrior” who catalogs ing the perimeter of the store to ensure the

80/20

EARRINGS AND NECKLACE FROM SWAY, FAIRHOPE

majority of her grocery cart is filled with the freshest ingredients. She appoints friends as accountability partners to keep her cooking and exercise schedules on track, and uses make-ahead meal prep as a tool for preparing full weeks of healthy and tasty dishes and snacks to keep on hand in order to have better-for-you foods at the ready.

To begin your own lifestyle conversion, start by experimenting with more nutritious versions of your favorite dishes, such as including leaner cuts of meat or more vegetables. But indulge when it’s merited.

“Know that one day will not ruin you,” says McCown, but remain conscious that the healthful choices are generally the ones that will make you feel, and subsequently look, your best. With a few modifications, your holiday guilt will melt away and any new food guilt will cease to exist. MB

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Louise McCown’s Tips for Starting a Detox in a Healthful Way

JUICING

An occasional freshsqueezed fruit and vegetable juice can add a jolt of vitamins and a natural boost of energy to your day.

McCown enjoys fresh-pressed juices as an accompaniment to a wholesome diet, but to kick off a cleanse, she sometimes uses them as the backbone to start her eating habits on the right foot. While juicing is not the key to perfect health, it is a resourceful way to ensure your body gets the daily nutrients it needs in the necessary quantities.

“I did my first real cleanse eight years ago,” says McCown. “It was a full month of juicing daily, truly clean eating with zero processed foods, no dairy, no wheat and completely grain free. I never knew I could feel so good.”

Getting to this stage can be a challenge, so heed McCown’s advice while making the process your own.

1.“Know your limits. With juicing, it’s important to be realistic with how long you can do it. I know that I can handle a three-day cleanse comfortably. Even one day is a great place to start. Five days is just too long for me and my lifestyle.”

2.“Set yourself up beforehand to be able to manage it mentally and physically. The week leading up to your cleanse, you should be eating as many veggies and unprocessed foods as possible. Up your water intake big time. Cut back on caffeine the week before as well to minimize headaches and fatigue.”

3.“During a full cleanse, you can always include clean soup recipes and sip on organic bone broth. I like to include soup for my dinner — just make sure to have soup that is mostly broth and good veggies.”

CRUNCHY AND COLORFUL CHOPPED SALAD WITH GINGER-TAHINI DRESSING SERVES 4

They say the easiest way to regulate your diet is to “eat the rainbow.” By filling your plate with color, you know that you’re getting an array of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and flavors.

2 cups kale 2 cups Brussels sprouts 2 cups purple cabbage 2 carrots 1/2 red onion 2 tablespoons tahini 1 lemon 2 teaspoons honey 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

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1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and minced 1 clove garlic, minced salt and pepper, to taste 2 cups broccolini, blanched 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 2 radishes, thinly sliced

1. Finely chop kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and red onion with a food processor or sharp knife.

Pour into a large serving bowl and set aside.

2. To make dressing, zest and juice lemon and whisk together with tahini, honey, olive oil, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper.

3. Pour half of ginger-tahini dressing into bowl with vegetables. Toss to fully coat.

4. Top with broccolini, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds and radishes. Drizzle with remaining dressing and serve immediately.

TAHINI

A sesame seed paste prepared similarly to nut butter. It is commonly found in hummus and offers a nutty flavor and creamy texture.

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GRAIN-FREE GRANOLA SERVES 16

Whole grains certainly have their place in a balanced diet, but nuts provide a comparable amount of fiber and protein to benefit digestion and weight management, as well as unsaturated fats for lower cholesterol and heart health. This granola contains no added oils, refined sugars, sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners. Serve over nondairy yogurt for a bowl full of plant-based goodness!

FARRO

An ancient grain with a chewy texture and a fiber-filled nutrition profile. Buy whole farro to get the most nutrients.

PEA PESTO FARRO WITH GULF SHRIMP SERVES 4

When food is locally sourced, you know it’s the freshest available. Enter Gulf shrimp. Served over a bed of farro and naturally sweet pea pesto, the entire food pyramid is represented in one dish. If you can’t find whole farro, semi-pearled or pearled work just as well.

2 lemons, zest and juice divided 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided red pepper flakes, to taste 1 pound Gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup farro 2 cups vegetable broth 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

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1. In a large bowl, combine zest and juice from one lemon, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine. Toss shrimp to coat and set aside.

2. In a medium pot, combine farro and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes (or the time designated on package).

3. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine peas, garlic and walnuts until a thick pesto forms. Add Parmesan and the juice of one lemon and pulse to combine. Slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil, pulsing until smooth.

Season with remaining salt and pepper.

4. When farro is al dente, drain any remaining liquid and toss with pesto. Pour into a serving bowl.

5. Right before serving, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add shrimp. Cook 1 - 2 minutes on each side until pink and cooked through.

If the pan is crowded, cook in two batches.

6. Top the farro with shrimp. Garnish with parsley and lemon zest. Serve warm.

15 dates, pitted 3 tablespoons golden flax seeds 2 cups raw almonds 1 1/2 cups raw pecans 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 3 tablespoons chia seeds 3 egg whites 1 cup dried apricots, or other unsweetened dried fruit, diced 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds unsweetened nondairy yogurt, such as coconut milk yogurt, for serving (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Place dates in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside.

3. In a food processor, pulse flax seeds into a fine powder. Add nuts and pulse into small pieces.

4. In a large bowl, combine flax seed and nut mixture with coconut and chia seeds. Set aside.

5. Drain dates and blend in a food processor until a loose paste forms, adding soaking liquid as needed to reach desired consistency.

6. Meanwhile, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold into date paste until combined.

7. Stir nut mixture into egg white mixture and toss to combine, ensuring that each piece is coated.

8. Spread mixture evenly across a large, rimmed baking sheet, pressing into a firm rectangle.

Bake 20 minutes.

9. Break apart into coarse clusters with a fork. Stir in apricots and pumpkin seeds. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and bake 15 minutes.

10. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

FLAX SEEDS

The body doesn’t fully digest these fiber- and omega-3 fatty acid-filled seeds. To get maximum benefits, buy milled flax or grind your own.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 43

DARK CHOCOLATE

Flavanol-rich cocoa solids help relax blood vessels and enhance blood flow. Choose dark chocolate with a 70 percent or higher cacao range.

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THREE INGREDIENT SWIRLED FUDGE SERVES 8

For dessert lovers, keep added sugar to a minimum by making treats at home with naturally sweet ingredients. Unsweetened almond butter has a nutty and subtly sweet flavor on its own. Dark chocolate satiates chocolate cravings and adds an extra antioxidant boost without being loaded with the unhealthy stuff.

And talk about easy!

MATCHA

Finely ground green tea leaves, which allow you to ingest the entire leaf and 100 percent of its nutrients. One serving is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea.

1 cup 70 percent cacao dark chocolate, chopped 1 1/4 cup almond butter, divided 6 tablespoons coconut oil, divided

1. Line the bottom and sides of a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Melt chocolate, 1/4 cup almond butter and 2 tablespoons coconut oil over the stove or in the microwave. Stir until smooth and pour into bottom of pan. Refrigerate.

3. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons coconut oil in a small bowl.

Cool slightly. Stir in remaining cup almond butter until completely smooth. Pour over chocolate mixture in loaf pan and swirl -with a butter knife.

4. Refrigerate in pan at least two hours or overnight, until completely firm.

5. Lift parchment paper from loaf pan to remove fudge. Slice in half lengthwise, then slice each half in quarters to create eight equal rectangles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain optimal texture.

 Go online for more!

Grab the recipe for our web-only Guacamole Veggie Bowl at mobilebaymag.com/guacamoleveggie-bowl.

LOUISE MCCOWN’S MATCHA LATTE SERVES 1

“Matcha is full of so many wonderful benefits like antioxidants (137 times those in brewed tea), and it helps your digestion and even your metabolism,” says McCown. “Plus, it’s a slower release of caffeine, so I don’t get jittery like coffee can trigger.”

1 teaspoon matcha powder 1 tablespoon collagen peptides (optional) 1/4 cup hot water (not boiling) 2 tablespoons creamer (McCown prefers Silk Almond Milk Sweet & Creamy Creamer)

1. Combine matcha powder and collagen peptides in the bottom of a small mug. Pour hot water over and whisk to dissolve, ensuring there are no lumps.

2. Froth creamer in a separate cup. Pour on top of prepared matcha and serve.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 45

CARLYE WATERS

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Daily Wellness Four local trainers share the ins and outs of their typical daily schedules and remind us that we all have what it takes to get healthy. text by AMANDA HARTIN photos by MATTHEW COUGHLIN

CARLYE WATERS | HEALTH AND WELLNESS “

I

thought I was healthy,” Carlye Waters says of her breast cancer diagnosis at age 35. The life-changing news propelled Waters into an in-depth nine-year quest for health and wellness information. Eager to share her wealth of knowledge, she launched illume Health & Wellness, which has enabled her to work with clients of all ages, including her favorite group, teenage girls. “If I can make an impact in their lives before they go to college,” she explains, “then perhaps they won’t wind up where I did.” Waters offers individualized wellness plans, as well as grocery store tours and label-reading classes. Her advice to people who WHILE IT IS AN ACQUIRED might be intimidated about making TASTE, THE BENEFITS nutritional changes is to make them OF A LEMON JUICE, a little at a time. “I won’t tell you APPLE CIDER VINEGAR to throw everything in your pantry (ACV) AND CRANBERRY away,” she says. “Instead, I say use JUICE “COCKTAIL” ARE up what you have and replace it with INNUMERABLE. LEMON a healthier option.”

JUICE PROMOTES

HYDRATION, INCREASES

DAILY SCHEDULE VITAMIN C INTAKE AND 5:00 a.m.

AIDS IN DIGESTION. ACV I always start my day with a warm IS KNOWN FOR ITS ABILITY mug of water, lemon juice, apple TO KILL BACTERIA AND cider vinegar and cranberry juice.

DECREASE CHOLESTEROL. It’s super detoxifying. Then I’ll have PURE CRANBERRY JUICE green tea or coffee. I usually don’t TOUTS URINARY TRACT AND eat breakfast, especially if I’m teachHEART HEALTH. ing an early class at Glow Yoga.

5:30 a.m.

Two or three days a week, I’ll work out at home. I like to jump on my mini trampoline for a cardio workout.

8:00 a.m.

My mornings are either spent taking or teaching yoga classes. The rest of the morning is set aside for seeing clients or holding workshops.

10:00 a.m.

If I’m not doing intermittent fasting, I’ll make a midmorning smoothie. Water, chia seeds, flax seeds, collagen protein, blueberries and frozen spinach are perfect. I’ve even tried a chocolate cauliflower rice recipe.

12:00 p.m.

For lunch I’ll have leftovers from the night before or throw together a salad with romaine, kale or buttercrunch lettuce and chicken for protein. I always have chicken on hand, either some that I’ve baked or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

1:00 p.m.

I always have follow-up appointments with my clients.

4:00 p.m.

For a late-afternoon snack, I enjoy an apple, a handful of nuts or homemade granola. A boiled egg and some avocado are other good choices. I love snacks with healthy fats and a touch of protein.

6:00 p.m.

I try to have my weeknight dinners already planned out. Soups, baked chicken and spaghetti are family favorites. My kids prefer spaghetti squash noodles to pasta noodles.

8:00 p.m.

Pre-bedtime I enjoy a square of dark chocolate. If I’m really craving dessert, a chia seed pudding made with chia, a can of coconut milk, vanilla extract, blueberries and cacao nibs is perfect.

FINAL THOUGHTS Preparation is key. Think about what activities you have during the week. Are you going to be coming in late? Crock-Pot or Instant Pot recipes are quick, easy and efficient.

SPENCER CALLAHAN, DC | FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

S

ometimes, life hands you lemons. But in Fairhope-native Spencer Callahan’s case, he was handed mysterious health issues. After bouncing from doctor to doctor, Callahan dove into the world of functional medicine, which he describes as a more holistic approach to ONE OF MY GUILTY medicine in which root causes for diseases PLEASURES IS HAVING or ailments are sought. He then created SAUTEED BEEF LIVER FOR his own proverbial lemonade by opening DINNER ABOUT EVERY Bayview Optimal Performance, a mediOTHER WEEK. IT’S NOT FOR cal practice that offers chiropractic care, EVERYONE, BUT LIVER IS sports performance therapy and functional VERY GOOD FOR YOU; medicine. Callahan says that in addition to IT’S THE BEST SOURCE OF environmental and genetic factors, health VITAMIN A, AND IT’S HIGH problems can usually be traced to one of IN IRON. three causes: lack of sleep, insufficient exercise or improper nutrition.

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DAILY SCHEDULE 7:00 a.m.

I’ve never been a morning person, so my wakeup time depends on when my first patient is. But before I do anything else, I drink at least 16 ounces of water, sometimes 32. Most people are severely dehydrated and don’t realize it.

7:30 a.m.

I let the dogs out and start the French press. There is no consensus on whether or not coffee is good for you. I think you need to weigh the pluses and minuses based on your own health history.

7:45 a.m.

I think it’s important to eat breakfast. I’ll eat whatever is leftover from the night before. Sometimes it’s chili or lentil stew. I also take this time to read medical research.

9:00 a.m.

I see morning patients until about noon.

Noon I go to restaurants around the office a lot. Lunch out is a guilty pleasure for me, since I eat breakfast and dinner at home. I make the “better bad option” when dining out. I eat a lot of wraps and sandwiches with grilled chicken.

1:00 p.m.

I take a break and walk down to the pier to meditate and get sunshine and fresh air.

1:30 p.m.

I spend the afternoon seeing patients.

5:00 p.m.

I work out three to four days a week before dinner.

I do a lot of weights — more functional movement stuff, like dumbbell, stretches, squats and lunges.

6:00 p.m.

Dinner is usually something fairly healthy. CrockPot meals or sauteed chicken breast are easy.

10:00 p.m.

I am a big proponent of sleep. For me, getting seven to nine hours a night is ideal, but it’s not always realistic.

FINAL THOUGHTS I think a lot of people have this false idea that you have to wake up in the morning and have egg whites and spinach and rice and a dry chicken breast. In my opinion, people can take it to the extreme when trying to become healthy, and sometimes that can become unhealthy.

JESSICA WATKINS | FITNESS PRO

E

ver the student athlete, Mobile-native Jessica Watkins felt lost when she graduated college. “When I quit training for cheerleading, I didn’t know how to stay healthy,” she explains, adding, “That’s what threw me into fitness.” After receiving her master’s degree in nutrition and journalism — she is a former news anchor and magazine contributor — Watkins branded her own fitness regime, FIT by Jessica LLC. Among the wheelhouse of offerings are kid-friendly mama boot camp classes, on-demand workout videos and meal plans. Watkins knows healthy lifestyle goals can be intimidating. “Just focus on one transition at a time,” she says. “It’s the small adjustments that lead to a lifestyle change.”

DAILY SCHEDULE 3:45 a.m.

I work out 6 days a week. I run three days with a goal to get in 10 miles each week, followed by circuit training. The other three days I focus solely on strength training. No impact; I’m not trying to get my heart rate up. I always take one day off.

5:00 a.m.

I teach early morning classes twice a week. I don’t usually eat breakfast before class, just maybe half a banana.

6:45 a.m.

For breakfast, I’ll either have plain Greek yogurt with nuts and a drizzle of honey, or I’ll fix a bowl of sauteed kale and a poached egg.

8:00 a.m.

I’m back to teaching classes from mid- to late morning.

12:30 p.m.

I always have vegetables on hand, so I like to make salads in jars and eat them with balsamic vinegar.

I also love quinoa bowls with tomatoes, bell peppers and Italian seasoning. Sometimes I’ll even make a vegetable sandwich, which is just two pieces of toast, hummus, Dijon mustard, and A HEALTHY SNACK WHEN layers of cucumber, YOU NEED IT CAN KEEP bell peppers, spinAN ENTIRE DAY OF CLEAN ach leaves, avocado, EATING FROM GOING OFF alfalfa sprouts, black TRACK. I ALWAYS HAVE pepper and a drizzle BANANAS, GRAPES OR of balsamic vinegar.

HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX 4:00 p.m.

WITH ME FOR ON-THE-GO Every afternoon I SNACKS. A CONTAINER have a sweet indulWITH CARROTS AND gence; a bite of dark HUMMUS IS ANOTHER EASY chocolate is my hapTAKE-AND-GO OPTION. py place.

6:00 p.m.

I like to follow the Fit by Jessica meal plan. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my cooking nights, and the rest of the week is for leftovers.

FINAL THOUGHTS We’re not here to weigh stuff all day long. That’s where people tailspin. You have to enjoy life. Food should be enjoyable and used to recharge.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 49

ADAM HEISLER | ATHLETIC TRAINER

F

or some, playing baseball professionally might be dream enough.

But for Adam Heisler, former Chicago White Sox center fielder, announcing his retirement meant returning home to do what he’d been dreaming of since childhood — establishing Heisler Heat Baseball Academy, a training facility that offers strength training and conditioning for athletes at all levels, from youth to current professionals. Despite the demands of running a successful business, Mobilenative Heisler still finds time to concentrate on his own personal fitness goals and is often found sprinting or pumping iron alongside trainees.

“But the focus now isn’t on how much weight I can lift,” Heisler says of his current mind-set. “It’s more about keeping me healthy.”

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DAILY SCHEDULE 8:00 a.m.

I get up a little later than most people would think, mainly because we work so late into the night.

8:30 a.m.

Breakfast is the meal I usually cook, and I include things like eggs, bacon or sausage, fruit and coffee. I’d rather cook something good than hit a drive-through.

9:30 a.m.

Five days a week I do strength training, and the workout varies from day to day.

11:00 a.m.

I go back home and shower and get a protein shake to hold me over until lunch. If I have errands, I’ll run those. Otherwise, I do some reading on new drills that are out there. I’m a big believer that things will change and evolve — I don’t want to get stuck in the past.

12:30 p.m.

By this point I’m back up at the facility where I’ll eat lunch. I’ve been doing meals from Clean Eatz, a place that does the prep for you.

1:00 p.m.

I spend this time doing administrative work, like making travel ball, practice and lesson schedules.

3:00 – 9:30 p.m.

The first lessons start coming in around 3, and we go until about 9:30.

Throughout the afterNOT EVERYBODY HAS TO noon, I’m drinking HAVE A SIX OR EIGHT PACK water and snacking on OR BE A PROFESSIONAL almonds.

ATHLETE. IT’S ABOUT ASKING 9:30 p.m.

YOURSELF, “DO I FEEL As soon as I get home, HEALTHY ENOUGH TO GO I’ll eat. I’ll either stop OUT AND PLAY WITH MY

by Chipotle or I’ll cook KIDS OR GO FOR A WALK?” something like ground turkey tacos or red beans and rice.

FINAL THOUGHTS I think the main thing is to be accountable for how you spend your time. Don’t let yourself go, because once you do, it’s hard to get it back. MB

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EAT PLAY LOVE text by JILL CLAIR GENTRY photos by SUMMER ENNIS ANSLEY

One family-centric Fairhope home is filled with special touches that unite parents and children, making the most of their precious time together.

T

ucked away on a tree-lined street off Scenic 98 in Fairhope, Keith and Shana Kowal’s home is incredibly close to everything there is to enjoy on the Eastern Shore, yet hidden from the busy, rapidly growing community.

That duality is perfect for the Kowals, self-proclaimed homebodies who moved back to Baldwin County from Atlanta to enjoy their tight-knit circle of family and friends. Their children, Jenna Helen, 12, and Gunnar, 10, spent summers in Fairhope visiting family and begged to

move to South Alabama.

“In Atlanta, we didn’t feel that sense of strong community, but here, we have found it so quickly,” Shana says. “Our kids love it here.”

Designed for togetherness Shana, who began her career in medicine but discovered a passion for interior design later in life, spent two years designing every element of their gorgeous home, which was built in 2015 by Craig Homes, Inc. An open floor

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 53

plan encourages family time and easy, kid-friendly gatherings. A spacious but cozy great room includes the kitchen, dining room and living area, and rather than hide the bedrooms upstairs on their own, Shana placed each one adjacent to this communal family space.

“Having all of our bedrooms on the main floor was actually my kids’ biggest request,” she says. “In our home in Atlanta, they were upstairs, and my kids told me they didn’t want to be detached from us in the new house.”

Another must: a fireplace.

“I know this is South Alabama and basically the tropics, but we love a fire in the fireplace,” Shana says. “Just about every day, my kids come home from school, get in their PJs, light a fire and snuggle up in their chairs. That was something we started in our previous home, and we couldn’t imagine not doing it here.”

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“IN THE KITCHEN, I WANTED DIMENSION MORE THAN COLOR, SO WE DID A VENETIAN PLASTER ON THE WALLS,” SHANA EXPLAINS. THE MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE MOSAIC BACKSPLASH FROM BAY FLOORING ADDS A TOUCH OF OLD-WORLD FEEL, ALONG WITH CUSTOM WOOD CABINETS AND HOOD FROM B&D CABINETS. THE WATERFALL ISLAND IS A SLEEK AND MODERN CONTRAST. THE SWOON-WORTHY PANTRY HAS OPEN SHELVING, A WINE CHILLER AND A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH VIBE.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 55

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KEITH AND SHANA PURCHASED A HENREDON DINING TABLE AFTER THEY MARRIED IN 2004, AND IT SAT UNUSED IN A FORMAL DINING ROOM IN THEIR ATLANTA HOME. NOW, THE TABLE IS AT THE CENTER OF THE GREAT ROOM, AND THE FAMILY USES IT DAILY. THE MUDROOM WAS DESIGNED TO FIT A SECRETARY AND AN OLD ENGLISH PIECE WITH LOTS OF DRAWERS THAT STORES BATTERIES, FLASHLIGHTS AND OTHER HOME NECESSITIES.

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 57

Designed for real life Shana has nothing against shiny white paint and furnishings, but she also believes in pragmatic design. The Kowals have two children and three dogs. Rather than fussing about scuffing the floors or dirtying white furnishings, they designed a home the family could enjoy. From the durable European white oak flooring to semigloss paint in the hallways, every detail of the home reflects Shana’s priorities.

“I have a lot of nice antiques but didn’t want it to feel like a museum,” she says.

Another feature of the home is the absence of formal spaces. Every room and piece of furniture is used and enjoyed.

“The first table Keith and I bought together sat in a formal dining room for 15 years, and we only used it at Christmas,” Shana says. “Here, we use it every day. We eat all of our meals at this table, the kids do homework here — it’s a special piece to us, and now we can appreciate it.”

Designed for rest Shana and Keith met in Atlanta while they both practiced medicine. Shana was a physician’s assistant in a family medicine practice. Keith, an ENT with expertise in robotic head and neck surgery as well as sleep medicine, rented space at Shana’s practice.

They married in 2004, and Shana chose to quit practicing medicine and stay home when Jenna Helen was born. Keith’s career took off, requiring him to work long hours.

When the family relocated to Baldwin County, Keith opened his own practice and has invested a lot of time ensuring its success.

In addition to Keith’s work schedule, the family travels frequently for the children’s sports — Jenna Helen is a talented equestrian athlete and travels to compete in the HunterJumper A-Circuit, while Gunnar plays travel basketball in addition to being part of Christ the King Catholic School’s team. “The whole purpose of us moving here was to have more family time,” Shana says. “When we’re all home, we want to spend a lot of quality time together. I wanted everyone to have a warm, cozy space to relax when we aren’t working or traveling.” MB

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“I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN MY LAUNDRY ROOM, SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE A FUN ROOM,” SHANA SAYS. HER DESIGN INSPIRATION BEGAN WITH THE DRAPERY FABRIC, WHICH LED TO LIME GREEN FRAMES THAT HOLD PHOTOS OF HER CHILDREN. “WHEN DOING LAUNDRY, I’M SURROUNDED BY MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF OUR KIDS,” SHE SAYS. THE UPSTAIRS GUEST BATHROOM FEATURES CHARLES FAUDREE WALLPAPER, A CUSTOM CABINET AND ANTIQUE EGG PRINTS FOUND AT SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKETS IN ATLANTA. THE MASTER BEDROOM INCLUDES THE MOST CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ELEMENTS IN THE HOME, LIKE AN ACRYLIC BENCH AND A GOLD LEAF ART PIECE SHANA FOUND ONLINE THROUGH THE ETSY SHOP BLUEBERRY GLITTER.

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EXTRAS | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Spring into March!

MARCH 15 - 17 FAIRHOPE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Explore the beautiful streets of downtown Fairhope and join more than 230 arts and crafts exhibitors.

DOWNTOWN FAIRHOPE FAIRHOPEARTSANDCRAFTSFESTIVAL.COM

ORCHID SHOW AND SALE

MARCH 16

MARCH 1 - 3

MARCH 2

ORCHID SHOW AND SALE Mobile Area Orchid Society members will display their best orchids, and vendors will be on site. Admission: $13 for adults; $7.50 for ages 5 - 12; free for ages 4 and under.

ST. JUDE BIKE-A-THON 8 - 10 a.m. Support St. Jude Children’s Hospital by sponsoring cyclists.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

MARDI GRAS Catch some throws at the oldest and family-friendliest version of Mardi Gras.

MARCH 1 - 31 AZALEAS BLOOM OUT Watch more than 250,000 azaleas bloom over 65 acres of Bellingrath Gardens. Admission: $13 for adults; $7.50 for ages 5 - 12; free for ages 4 and under.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

DAUPHIN ISLAND WATER TOWER DAUPHINISLANDCHAMBER.COM

THROUGH MARCH 5

TOUCH-A-TRUCK 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Get up close to a variety of trucks and meet the people who build, protect and serve our community. Noisefree hour is from 10 - 11 a.m.

Admission: $20 per car.

HANK AARON STADIUM USAHEALTHSYSTEM.COM/EVENTS

MARCH 16 - 17 CALLAGHAN’S STREET PARTY 10 a.m. Join the 73rd annual St. Patrick’s Day party. Music plays until 11 p.m. Saturday and returns all day Sunday.

CALLAGHAN’S IRISH SOCIAL CLUB FACEBOOK.COM/ CALLAGHANSIRISHCLUB

MARCH 20

PLANTASIA SPRING PLANT SALE 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Spring Plant Sale features thousands of blooms from annuals to trees as well as herbs, vegetables and fruit. All plants are specially selected for the Gulf Coast climate.

LYON NEWELL CHARITY THROWS MEET 3:30 - 6 p.m. This meet is unique in that it is a sporting event, a memorial event and a charity event all in one.

Proceeds benefit The Child Advocacy Center and the Lyon Newell Scholarship. Admission: $5 for adults; $3 for students.

MOBILE BOTANICAL GARDENS MOBILEBOTANICALGARDENS.ORG

ERVIN S. COOPER STADIUM UMS-WRIGHT.ORG

DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE.ORG

MARCH 14 - 17

 To have your event included in the online or print edition of Mobile Bay Magazine, email calendar@pmtpublishing.com.

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MARDI GRAS EVENTS THROUGH MARCH 9 MARCH 21 - 24

MARCH 23 - 24

MARCH 30

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. With over eight acres of exhibits under open sky and massive tents, this year’s festival has a Dutch Gardens theme and will showcase a canal, water wheel, floral features and tulips.

Admission: $12 in advance; $14 at the gate.

THE LITTLE MERMAID 7:30 p.m. Sa. 2:30 p.m. Su. Mobile Ballet’s final performance of the season re-imagines Hans Christian Anderson’s magical tale into a dazzling ballet.

Tickets: $20 - $60.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHILI COOK-OFF 11 a.m. Taste some of the best chili in the Port City at this spicy competition.

MARCH 23 AZALEA TRAIL RUN The Azalea Trail Run is the premier running/walking event produced by the Port City Pacers. It includes 10K and 5K races and a 2K Fun Run/Walk.

MOBILE CIVIC CENTER FACEBOOK.COM/MOBILEATR

MARCH 23

MARCH 28 LITTLE BLACK DRESS 6:30 p.m. Join the 21-and-up cocktail party and runway show all in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Cocktail attire. General admission tickets: $100.

FORT WHITING AUDITORIUM RMHCMOBILE.ORG

MARCH 29 - 31

DOWNTOWN CAJUN COOK-OFF 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Enjoy food, live music, drinks and games to benefit the Child Advocacy Center. Tickets: $10 in advance; $13 online; $15 day of event.

WHARF BOAT & YACHT SHOW 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. With over $150 million in boats and products on display, your next dream getaway setup is just waiting around the corner. Tickets: $8 - $25; ages 12 and under free.

CATHEDRAL SQUARE CACMOBILE.ORG

THE WHARF MARINA AND LAWN WHARFBOATSHOW.COM

MARDI GRAS PARK FACEBOOK.COM/ACSCHILICOOKOFFMOBILE

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM MOBILECARNIVALMUSEUM.COM

MARCH 30

THROUGH MARCH 11

ELBERTA GERMAN SAUSAGE FESTIVAL Nosh on some of the most delicious German fare, all while supporting the town’s fire department. Don’t miss out on the polka.

IN RECOLLECTION OF REVELRY AND GRANDEUR PAST: CARNIVAL COURTS OF 1969 AND 1994 Celebrate the 50th and 25th anniversaries of the respective courts at this majestic exhibit.

ELBERTA TOWN PARK AT THE CORNER OF MAIN STREET AND STATE STREET ELBERTAFIRE.COM

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM MOBILECARNIVALMUSEUM.COM

MARCH 17 - APRIL 27 MARCH 30 MOBILE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sample various confections and chocolate products from countless vendors. Tickets: $3 in advance; $5 at door; ages 13 and under free.

THE GROUNDS MOBILECHOCOLATEFESTIVAL.COM

THE KNIGHTS OF REVELRY (KORS): HISTORY, HUMOR, AND ART BEHIND MOBILE’S THIRD OLDEST CARNIVAL PARADING SOCIETY Explore the history of the Mardi Gras society, including its infamous emblem device: a jester waving painted cow bladders.

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM MOBILECARNIVALMUSEUM.COM

MARCH 21 - JUNE 8

MOBILE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL FESTIVALOFFLOWERS.COM

MOBILE CIVIC CENTER MOBILEBALLET.ORG

JOHN AUGUSTUS WALKER: ARTIST-DESIGNER OF MOBILE AND CARNIVAL One of the most admired Alabama artists of the early 20th century, Walker designed everything from WPA murals to the Infant Mystics parade.

THE TOUT ENSEMBLE: EDMOND DECELLE AND THE STUDIO DECELLE From the 1920s to the 1960s, Edmond DeCelle was a prominent artist and designer of Mardi Gras.

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM MOBILECARNIVALMUSEUM.COM

march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 61

MARCH AND APRIL PERFORMANCES MARCH 8 THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PRESENTS QUEEN’S “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” 8 p.m. The Black Jacket Symphony performs their take on Queen’s classic album.

Tickets: $25 - $35.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

MARCH 12 THE AVETT BROTHERS 8 p.m. Known for their soulful and honest lyrics and chords, the band is sure to put on a show you’ll never forget.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

MARCH 15 - 24 “THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. Catch this play that pokes fun at musical comedies and murder mysteries.

CHICKASAW CIVIC THEATER CCTSHOWS.COM

MARCH 22 - APRIL 7 “YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. See the Joe Jefferson Players’ performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic.

Tickets: $10, $15, $20.

JOE JEFFERSON PLAYERS JOEJEFFERSONPLAYERS.COM

MARCH 22 & 24 MOBILE OPERA PRESENTS PUCCINI’S “IL TABARRO” 8 p.m. F. 2:30 p.m. Su. Mobile Opera presents one of Puccini’s classics.

Tickets: $10 - $80.

THE TEMPLE DOWNTOWN MOBILEOPERA.ORG

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MARCH 24 BRENT COBB 7 p.m. Grammy-nominated musician Brent Cobb performs as part of his extensive “Sucker For a Good Time” tour.

Tickets: $20 cover charge.

CALLAGHAN’S IRISH SOCIAL CLUB CALLAGHANSIRISHSOCIALCLUB.COM

MARCH 30 - 31 MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS “CARMINA BURANA” 7:30 p.m. Sa. / 2:30 p.m. Su. Mobile Symphony Orchestra plays a collection of songs that date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Tickets: $15 - $80.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

APRIL 4 RONNIE MILSAP 7:30 p.m. The six-time Grammy winner brings his enduring sound to the Port City stage. Tickets: $48 - $78.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

APRIL 6 THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND 7:30 p.m. Hear classics such as “Heard It In a Love Song,” “Fire On the Mountain,” “Can’t You See” and “Take the Highway” performed live. Tickets: $38 - $78.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

APRIL 8 WILLIE NELSON 7 p.m. This event is rescheduled from a previous February date. Tickets from the original performance will be honored.

Tickets: $59.50, $79.50, $99.50, $149.50.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

APRIL 13 JOAN BAEZ 8 p.m. Catch the legend in her last year of formal extended touring. Tickets: $35 - $65.

MOBILE SAENGER THEATRE MOBILESAENGER.COM

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BALDWIN COUNTY STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

[APRIL HIGHLIGHTS]

APRIL 5 - 6 GALLERY OF GARDENS 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Discover the lush gardens along the banks of Mobile’s Dog River and the western shore of Mobile Bay. VARIOUS LOCATIONS MOBILEBOTANICALGARDENS.ORG

APRIL 6 BRIE ARTHUR PRESENTS: THE FOODSCAPE REVOLUTION Brie Arthur talks about her best-selling book, “The Foodscape Revolution.”

MOBILE BOTANICAL GARDENS MOBILEBOTANICALGARDENS.ORG

APRIL 6 CAMELLIA CLASSIC CAR SHOW 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Stroll among hundreds of classic and vintage automobiles displayed on the Great Lawn. Admission: $13 for adults; $7.50 for ages 5-12; free to members and to ages 4 and younger.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

APRIL 6 DISCOVERY DAY 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Learn about our local ecosystem and tour the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. ESTUARIUM AT THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB DISL.ORG

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APRIL 13 - 14 BALDWIN COUNTY STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Don’t miss out on strawberry shortcakes.

LOXLEY MUNICIPAL PARK BALDWINCOUNTYSTRAWBERRYFESTIVAL.ORG

APRIL 13 EGG HUNT AND BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY 9 a.m. - noon. Scurry around in search of Easter eggs after having breakfast with the bunny. Admission: $13 for adults; $7.50 for ages 5-12; free to members and to ages 4 and younger. Reservations required for breakfast.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

APRIL 16 A TASTE OF ROTARY 6 - 9 p.m. Enjoy beverages, a raffle and tunes at the Point Clear Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser. Tickets: General admission, $75; VIP, $150.

FAIRHOPE CIVIC CENTER TASTEOFROTARY.COM

APRIL 20 GUMBO COOK-OFF 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sample delectable dishes in the name of charity. Tickets: $10.

DAUPHIN ISLAND RODEO SITE DAUPHINISLANDCHAMBER.COM

APRIL 21 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE 6 - 8 a.m. The service is open to everyone in the community. Seating is limited; chairs are welcome. Admission is complimentary.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME BELLINGRATH.ORG

APRIL 26 - 27 MULLET TOSS Toss a mullet over the state line at the Gulf Coast’s biggest beach party.

FLORA-BAMA FLORABAMA.COM

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Mobile Bay Magazine presents

MATURE LIVING Quality care is the leading factor we seek in the pursuit of providing for those we love. When life changes and ailments make everyday tasks a challenge, looking to professionals is the place to start. These three upstanding businesses ensure that your loved ones are in the most capable and trustworthy hands while also receiving the highest level of treatment available to them.

With their service, Bay-area citizens know that they are getting the best the area has to offer.

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PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

SPECIAL SECTION | MATURE LIVING

Synergy HomeCare SYNERGY HOMECARE IS A LOCALLY OWNED SENIOR CARE AGENCY. OUR CAREGIVERS WORK IN HOMES OR FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADLS).

What exactly does Synergy HomeCare do? We provide in-home or in-facility care to loved ones of all ages.

We offer assistance with cooking, cleaning, bathing, walking, transportation and many other services.

What is your mission? Our mission is to provide unparalleled home care to our clients, provide professional development for our caregivers and be an active member of our community.

What sets your business apart from your competitors? We have a close-the-loop program with other agencies in the home such as home health and hospice for continuity of care. We have a full-time quality assurance coordinator who provides

home visits to assist with monitoring the care being provided in the home. We have a large internal office staff dedicated to ensuring unparalleled care to our clients and support to our caregivers is constantly being delivered.

What contributes to your success?

How do you make sure clients get the best care/results? We start by

growth and success since we opened in 2013. Our agency has doubled in size over the last 18 months and has created over 100 jobs. As to where we are going, we are now ranked No. 18 nationwide in the Synergy Homecare system (out of 150 locations).

Our goal now is to become a top 10 agency within the Synergy system and continue to be recognized as Provider of Choice for the Mobile Bay area by Home Care Pulse (the industry standard in quality of care).

conducting in-depth personality profiles on all of our caregivers so we can match them with our clients most effectively. Then, we have an RN on staff to conduct our initial care assessment and create the care plan.

Once our services begin, we have a quality assurance program, as well as a third-party company conducting surveys on the care we provide.

Our commitment to our clients and employees.

How has your business grown or changed and where are you going from here? We’ve had tremendous

1048 Stanton Road, Suite D • Daphne • 251- 621-1900 • synergyhomecare.com march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 67

SPECIAL SECTION | MATURE LIVING

Patrick L. Murphy Jr., M.D. ALABAMA MEDICAL GROUP

What sets your business apart from your competitors? When our practice opened in 1946, there were four generalists who treated both the patient and their family and knew the family’s habits and medical history. Today, we have grown to be the largest physician-owned, multi-specialty practice in our area, with 27 doctors, seven specialties and three locations. Medical technology has evolved, but “knowing the patient” continues to be a method we utilize at Alabama Medical Group. Our mission is to improve the health of those we serve by blending modern medicine with the time-honored values of compassion, empathy and respect. Our physicians take time to find out what’s going on in our patients lives, along with knowing their family medical history — we like to treat the person, not just the disease.

How do you make sure patients get the best care? Being a good listener is critical to being a good doctor. Working as a physician is a very busy job. This is especially true for primary care physicians, like myself, whose job is to deliver and coordinate comprehensive care for patients. Achieving such a goal requires availability, a broad spectrum of medical knowledge and attention to both the “big picture” and the details of a patient’s life and health.

PHOTO BY CHAD RILEY

What contributes to your success? I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family. My wife helps me tremendously by caring for our two daughters and making sure things are handled at home.

This allows me to focus on my work while I’m at the office and enjoy quality time with family when I’m at home. In the clinic setting, aka my other home, I also have a phenomenal team who helps make sure that I’m able to do what I was trained to do — treat the patient.

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PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU

SPECIAL SECTION | MATURE LIVING

Naro Audiology & Hearing Solutions, LLC NARO AUDIOLOGY & HEARING SOLUTIONS PROVIDES THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEARING HEALTH CARE THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE AND THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND MOST ADVANCED HEARING TECHNOLOGY.

What is your mission? Our mission is to provide professional audiological services and hearing health care while developing excellent rapport with our patients by giving individualized attention and personal, compassionate care. We do our best to accurately test and diagnose every patient.

For the hearing impaired, we seek to improve quality of life and maximize communication by listening to the patient’s needs, accurately diagnosing their hearing loss and providing a vast array of communication solutions and cutting-edge technologies to meet the needs of the patient.

What sets your business apart from your competitors? We personalize the patient’s care and solution to the person, understanding that it takes an average of seven years for a patient to make the first appointment to get help for a gradual hearing loss. We obtain accurate diagnostic testing and provide the highest standard of care in hearing technology to address any hearing deficits found. No matter where patients live, we are close by.

We have five office locations across three counties to ease the process of taking the step to take care of their hearing health.

What contributes to your success?

As an experienced professional audiologist with almost two decades of experience working in various settings and a business owner for nearly a decade, I enjoy creating a welcoming environment for all patients while providing the highest quality hearing health care services. My specialized training, along with my interpersonal skills, have helped me establish long-term relationships that have helped build a loyal patient base. I understand the trust patients must place in us and how important it is to earn and maintain that trust. I empathize with my patients and relate to them in a personal way. I ask myself and instruct my staff to ask, “How would I want to be treated?” We strive to create an exceptional “experience,” not just an office visit.

Fairhope • Foley • Bay Minette • Brewton • Thomasville • naroaudiology.com march 2019 | mobilebaymag.com 69

HISTORY | ARCHIVES

Streets like the Gardens of the Gods New book recounts history of Mobile’s Infant Mystics text by FR ANK DAUGHERTY

M

organization with Masonic overtones — including mystery, symbolystic secrets have a way of slipping loose, and word ism and secrecy.” Organized parades with masks, costumes and floats is out about a new history that is one of the most refollowed, and by the 1840s, Edgar notes, “the form of a Gulf Coast markable books ever written about our unique Mobile Carnival, centered on a mysterious, secret organization that stages a Mardi Gras tradition. Quietly printed for members of themed parade, tableaux, ball and supper had taken shape.” Other one of Mobile’s oldest parading Mardi Gras mystic societies for their mystic societies arose, such as the Strikers (1842), TDS (1844), Calf2018 sesquicentennial, “History of the Infant Mystics” by Walter Edbellions (1844), Jim Oakes (1845) and gar casts new light on the development the Indescribables (1846). of Mardi Gras in Mobile. The splendid Not so well-known is the fact that, as illustrations and wealth of tantalizing, piEdgar explains, groups of teenagers and quant details brilliantly convey the miniyoung boys often followed the parades universe that is Carnival. in a spirit of pure fun, and these groups Not since the grand and waggish “Our themselves sometimes organized later into Creole Carnivals” by T.C. DeLeon, pubformal societies. For example, a group lished in 1890, has so good a book been called “The Rising Generation” started written about Mobile Mardi Gras. While as an informal association, and in 1844 capturing much of DeLeon’s playful tone, some of the members might have been as Edgar’s book features solid research and young as 10 years old. But they began to careful scholarship, not surprising in view put on a parade and host a ball within a of the fact that Edgar is a well-known decade. “In essence,” Edgar says, “it approfessor of American history at the Unipears that the organization matured with versity of South Carolina specializing in its members.”

Southern studies. The author of “South And so it was with the IM in the afCarolina: A History” and numerous other termath of the Civil War when the main works, he is also the host of “Walter Edfocus of Mobile Carnival shifted from gar’s Journal” on South Carolina Public New Year’s Eve to Mardi Gras. The CowRadio. Yet even after many years in South bellions once again paraded on New Year’s Carolina, Edgar retains a deep and loyal Eve, 1865, and in 1866 both the Cowbelfeeling for his native Mobile. lions and the Strikers paraded. However, The book casts new light on the bein contrast to a popularized chronology ginnings of the mystic societies in an put forth in 1930 by Erwin Craighead, age that feels increasingly remote. Even editor of the Mobile Register, in his book in the 1820s, Edgar observes, “Mobile “Mobile: Fact and Tradition,” it was not had begun to acquire a reputation for in 1866 but rather Feb. 25, 1868, that fun and frolic.” It is well known that, both Joe Cain’s Lost Cause Minstrels and though Mardi Gras festivities could have the newly-formed Order of Myths held taken place in the French colonial era of ABOVE Mardi Gras ball invitations were elaborate the first Mobile Mardi Gras parades. Why the 1700s, the Mobile parading tradition and hand-delivered in 19th-century Mobile. This one reflects the mysterious theme “Apollo and the Muses.” the shift? For one thing, Joe Cain had began in 1831 when Michael Krafft led PHOTO COURTESY MOBILE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY fortuitously been in New Orleans for the a spontaneous street procession of comiannual fireman’s parade on Lundi Gras 1867, and witnessed the “speccal costumed mummers ringing cowbells and brandishing rakes and tacular” Comus parade the next day, Edgar tells us. Comus itself had hoes through the streets of Mobile on New Year’s Eve. Before long the been organized by a group of Cowbellions who had moved from Mogroup was perpetuated as the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, “a formal

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PHOTO COURTESY S. BLAKE MCNEELEY COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK ROOM AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

PHOTO COURTESY CARNIVAL MUSEUM

PHOTO COURTESY MOBILE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY

bile to New Orleans and wanted to organize a Mobile-style parade there. So lines of Carnival communication between the two Creole cities would have been well established. Finally, the new parades were partly intended as an act of defiance against the Reconstruction authorities. Edgar quotes the Mobile Register for Ash Wednesday 1868, which so rightly observed, “Yesterday was a new era in the mythical, mystical, poetic, romantic and artistic history of Mobile … The last day of Carnival had heretofore been unnoticed in our local calendar.”

In addition to the parades, groups of youngsters marched in the streets as mummers in 1867, 1868 and 1869, cutting hijinks and playing music. One of them was the “Flourbag Club,” whose members followed the LCM at Mardi Gras and threw flour at each other — actually an old European Carnival tradition.

Most likely it was this group that evolved into the HSS, which paraded 1870 - 1873 before disbanding, deeply in debt after blowing their budget on a lavish parade. Their mysterious mystic initials might have stood for “High Society Stuff” or “Heavy Samplers’ Society.” In 1873 the HSS were reorganized as the Infant Mystics, with a number of prominent men included who could put the IM on a firmer financial footing. The new name provided a link to the older antebellum mystic societies of the Mobile tradition, signifying a young group yet still a mystic one. Appropriately cryptic symbols were chosen for the IM, chiefly a knight, an elephant and a cat on a cotton bale.

But the greatest of these was the cat, “the guardian genius of the order, the symbol of silence and secrecy.” “History of the Infant Mystics” is replete with references to grimalkins and moggies, to “his feline majesty” and “his catship.” Members of the IM are called “Catts” throughout the book, and in 2018, we learn, “the youngest Kitten was 26 and several ancient Toms were older than 90.” A rollicking tale of the IM unfolds during Reconstruction, Prohibition, the Great Depression, the two world wars, and the hippie ’60s and ’70s, when miniskirts and turtlenecks were banned at the balls. Dens and float barns come and go

or go up in flames. Great designers and float builders are named and described, masters of chicken wire, papier-mâché, glue, paint and gold leaf, such as Edward J. Pine, Barbara Ann Guthans, John Gus Hines, David Schmohl, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The cat, aka “his feline majesty,” has always been the preeminent symbol of the IM. The 1881 IM parade, “March of the Ages,” featured a gray tabby emblem float and is considered to have been one of the greatest parades of 19th-century Mobile. Master float-builder Webb Odom can be seen putting the finishing touches on one of the floats in the 1939 IM parade, “Picturesque Holland.”

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John Augustus Walker, Steve Mussell and the legendary Webb Odom, wizard of the Mobile style of pastels, sculptural effects and “the mystical,” as he is quoted saying.

Memorable highlights are recalled, such as Gus Walker’s 1937 art deco “Hunting of the Snark” parade, or the 21-float “March of the Ages” in 1881, hailed by historians as one of the greatest parades of 19th-century Mobile.

In 1887, for the extravagant IM ball, the entire Princess Theater, not merely the stage, was transformed into an ice palace “dazzling with electric lights” by designer E.J. Pine.

When the breathless newspaper write-up appeared the next day, there arose such a clamor that the theater had to be opened to the public and an estimated 10,000 Mobilians filed in to see the decorations.

Edgar recounts how maskers once stood like statuary on the floats in the 1800s when it was all about the gorgeous spectacle. But they began to toss candy and serpentine in the 1920s and doubloons and beanbags in the 1960s.

He tells of the decline of flambeaux, flares, confetti and mule-drawn floats, and the rise of electric lighting in 1909 or the city’s rigid new public safety rules, which require parades that once took two hours to finish in an hour and 15 minutes, careening through Downtown

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PHOTO COURTESY S. BLAKE MCNEELEY COLLECTION, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

streets at blitzkrieg speeds. Leading ladies, costumes, themes, favors, invitations, bands and the complicated logistics of putting on a parade are explored and explained. Whereas in 1873 the IM were limited to 100 unmarried young men over the age of 18, the number of active and honorary members, married and otherwise, now exceeds 600.

In 2015 the IM leased the historic Protestant Orphan Asylum building on Dauphin Street near Broad Street, built in 1845 and now known as Cotton Hall, as well as the adjacent Heritage Hall from the Historic Restoration Society for their posh new headquarters and den. A new float barn is to be constructed next door along Broad Street, complete with viewing windows for the public to observe the process of float construction. This will guarantee that for many years to come, the IM will enjoy the multigenerational fellowship so evident in Edgar’s history, and Mobilians will be regaled when, as T.C. DeLeon said, “Mobile’s streets glitter like the gardens of the gods.” MB ABOVE The colorful IM ball of 1940 took place in the crowded ballroom of the Admiral Semmes Hotel against the dark backdrop of approaching war.

 Frank Daugherty is author of the comic Mardi Gras-themed novel “Isle of Joy.”

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HISTORY | ASK MCGEHEE

Who was the mysterious Mobilian known as “Floating Island?” text by TOM MCGEHEE photo courtesy COURTESY OF JACK F. ROSS III, THE DOY LEALE MCCALL R ARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBR ARY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Back in the 1920s, as women’s dresses and hair got progressively shorter, one Mobilian stood out.

As she walked the city streets, her billowing black silk skirt and long, waist-length hair floated behind her. A small hat was always perched on her head, held in place by a ribbon tied under her chin.

Her quick, short steps and long dress gave an illusion that she was “floating” along the sidewalk. Her daily strolls to the Cathedral for mass were usually followed by a walk to the riverfront where, rumor had it, she awaited a lover who had sailed away before their marriage.

The romanticized tale of “Floating Island” became so popular that it caught the attention of South Carolina writer Julia Peterkin, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1929. A year later, she arrived in the Port City to uncover the story behind this legendary character and sought the help of Mobile Press-Register reporter Frances Durham.

The Mystery Unfolds Durham explained that the woman’s name was Mary Eoline Eilands and that her last name could explain, in part, her nickname among the locals. Somehow, Durham convinced Eilands to accept an interview with the famed author. The three met at Eilands’ home, which stood on St. Emanuel Street in what is today an industrial area south of Downtown.

The house was in such a dilapidated state that the two women got no further than the front porch, where the interview was

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conducted. From within came the sounds of a menagerie of stray dogs and cats that served as Eilands’ companions.

The homeowner would disappear inside and then return. She explained that she refused to cut her hair because neither “her Savior nor his holy mother” had cut theirs.

She spoke of her faith, and she gave Peterkin a prayer book inscribed by Father Abram Ryan, insisting she take it as a gift.

The two women departed, and an article about the visit appeared in the Press soon after.

Described as “one of the most picturesque figures” in town, the article proceeded to illustrate her home as “gradually falling apart with sagging sills and rain pouring through the roof.” The article made no mention of Eilands ever explaining why she stood at the river’s edge each day, or much else about her history for that matter.

It may have been the article’s description of “a little old wrinkled woman” that set Eilands off in a rage. Perhaps in her mind she was still a young woman waiting for her missing fiance. In any event, she marched into the Press offices on St. Michael Street, screaming language far more appropriate for the riverfront than a workplace, and began slamming her parasol on the counter, demanding to see Durham. The staff was so concerned with her behavior that Durham was escorted out a second story window and across a roof to the safety of another building.

A Symbol of Faithfulness On Sept. 24, 1937, the Mobile Press-Register reported, “A unique figure that attracted the

interest of Mobilians for two generations will no longer be seen around the city. Known to thousands as ‘Floating Island,’ she has died at her home.” She was 84 years old, and the article termed her a “symbol of faithfulness.”

But her death was not the only news to report. Sadly, a subsequent issue of the paper noted that there had been a call to get four dogs, “pets of the late Miss Eilands who once owned as many as 24.” Their fate is unknown.

As for Eilands, she rests beside her parents in Mobile’s Magnolia Cemetery. MB ABOVE The only known image of “Floating Island” is this snapshot of her walking east on Government Street, circa mid-1920s.

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END PIECE | IN LIVING COLOR

King Patrick Feore, 1928 Original photo from the Erik Overbey Collection, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama • Colorization by Dynamichrome Limited

Mardi Gras King Patrick Feore disembarks the United States Coast Guard Cutter Pontchartrain, which was launched in 1928. After 13 years of service in the Coast Guard, the vessel was transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease Act and was sunk in 1942 off Oran Harbor.

Is King Patrick Feore part of your royal lineage? Let us know!

Email ahartin@pmtpublishing.com.

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