May 10, 2013 - GULF SHORES, AL (GSA)– The City of Gulf Shores would like to make all residents and visitors aware of the following road closures, beach closures and traffic flow modifications related to the Hangout Music Festival.

Traffic/Roadways:

Highway 59 will close from West First Avenue heading south at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Access to West Beach will be available through Windmill Ridge Road or by taking West First Avenue to West Third Street.

Access eastbound to Orange Beach will be available through the Gulf State Park, Canal Road or by taking East First Avenue to East Second Street or East Third Street.

May 7, 2013 -Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – The Coastal Art Center Exhibit Series is delighted to announce the opening of “Celebrating Three of our Own Coastal Artist”, May 2 – June 15, featuring Marion Hawks, Glenda Lee and Keets Rivers. And opening reception hosted by the Friends of the Arts on May 2 at the Coastal Art Center of Orange Beach located at 26389 Canal Road.

Marion Hawks love for the arts was first expressed in her career as an art teacher initiating new art programs, writing art curriculum and teaching students young and old. Hawks second expression of her art passion has been her paintings of botanicals.

She believed in using the natural creativity in students to learn about every other subject. Hawks drive to “play” as she explores a variety of materials and techniques is exemplified in this upcoming exhibition.

Keets Rivers perceptive observations of life are uniquely expressed through her “Nature Scapes” paintings and companion pieces of sculpture. The subject matter is the driver for the medium and size of most of her pieces. Living on the Gulf Coast provides her motivation and stimulation for her art as seen in such series as “Sea Fantasy” and “The Cosmos.”

Glenda Lee is an Alabama native that has painted in both oil and acrylic since childhood. Largely self-taught, Glenda has made a name for herself in capturing the rural southern countryside, in addition to charming vignettes of southern small town life. Since moving to Orange Beach her venue changed to underwater and tropical scenes. She has an enormous body of work and continues to experiment with textures incorporated into her paintings.

These three Southern women will complete this exhibit “Celebrating Three of our Own Coastal Artist” at the Coastal Art Center. Viewings of this exhibit are Monday- Saturday, 10 a.m.-2pm, May 2- June 15 at the Coastal Art Center.

The opening reception and this exhibit is sponsored by the Friends of the Arts, Inc. a non-profit supporting the arts of coastal Alabama. Individual and corporate memberships are available. For more information on this exhibit, make your own glass and pottery as well as class schedules call The Coastal Art Center at 251-981-ARTS (2787).

May 6, 2013 - GULF SHORES, AL (GSA) – The Hangout Music Fest has announced the schedule for the highly anticipated Thursday Kick-Off Party on May 16.

Two stages will host 14 acts at the Hangout site, with the action beginning at 2 p.m. and wrapping at 11 p.m. Tickets for the Thursday Kick-Off Party are on sale now at hangoutkickoffparty and are $45, or just $20 for those who have already purchased three-day passes. The Kick-Off Party is complimentary for VIP, Super VIP and Big Kahuna pass holders.

Promoters also announced that Thursday kick-off party passes, three-day passes, single day general admission tickets and shuttle passes are on sale now.

The Boom Boom Tent: Bones Benny Benassi 9:45-11 p.m., Dillon Francis 8:15-9:15 p.m., LOTUS 6:45-7:45 p.m., Conspirator 5:30-6:20 p.m., Quixotic 4:20-5 p.m., Wick-it the Instigator 3:15-3:55 p.m., and Future Rock 2:15-2:50 p.m.

The Letting Go stage: Umphrey's McGee 9:45-11 p.m., Railroad Earth 8:15-9:15 p.m., Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors 6:45-7:45 p.m., Hayes Carll 5:30-6:20 p.m., MTV Winner 4:20-5 p.m., Reptar 3:15-3:55 p.m., and St. Paul and The Broken 2:15-2:50 p.m.

May 1, 2013,Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) – The The Hangout Music Fest has announced the offer of a limited quantity of single-day General Admission tickets for the festival, courtesy of AL.com and Brett-Robinson vacation rentals.

In addition to the current offerings of full weekend passes, fans will now be able to purchase tickets for any one of the three action-packed days of music that will be held on the sugar-white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 17, 18 and 19. Single-day General Admission tickets go on sale for $89/day beginning Wed., May 1 at 9 a.m. at hangoutmusicfest.

Vicki Applewhite, Vice President, Marketing and Strategy of the Alabama Media Group said, “The Hangout Music Fest is a tent-pole event for our audience, and the one suggestion we hear from local music fans is that a single-day pass would create more accessibility. We are happy to partner with the Brett-Robinson and the festival to make this possible. This is a chance for people to experience Gulf Shores in an exciting way, and we feel sure it will bring them back all year long.”

April 19, 2013, Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Go ahead and circle April 25-28 on your calendars, because you don't want to miss the 2013 Wharf Boat & Yacht Show! With literally hundreds of trailerable boats on the Marina Lawn and another 110-plus in-water displays at The Wharf Marina, this is where you'll find your next boat.

And don't forget to check out BridgeWalk, the center of activity for this year's show. BridgeWalk is where you'll find the event's main stage, and is teaming with live music, fishing seminars, kid's art clinics, and even a fashion show presented by Lucca Clothing Boutique. It's also where you'll find the Yacht Center Pavilion, a high-end experience housed within a climate-controlled tent facility showcasing the industry's finest in marine propulsion, electronics and fishing equipment.

April 19, 2013, Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – Birmingham-based radio hosts Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey of “The Rick and Bubba Show” are set to broadcast live from

Baumhower’s Restaurant at The Wharf in Orange Beach on Friday, April 26 from 6-10 a.m. During the show, listeners will get a glimpse of what to expect on Alabama’s Gulf Coast this summer. Locals and guests are encouraged to attend the event and see the popular morning show in action.

“Rick and Bubba do a great job of promoting the area, and we’re excited to have them back to chat about coastal tourism,” Herb Malone, president and CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, said. “We hope that everyone will come out to the live remote to experience the Rick and Bubba Show in person.”

During the broadcast, Rick and Bubba will announce the grand prize winner of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism’s Grand Gulf Getaway with three weekly prize drawings leading up to the event. For a chance to win prime seating for the broadcast, listen to Sunny 105.7 FM.

Additionally, a breakfast buffet will be available for $7.99 from 6 to 9 a.m. for those attending the show. There will be an additional charge for tea, orange juice and coffee.

For more information on this family beach destination, visit www.gulfshores.com or www.orangebeach.com.

April 17, 2013, Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) – The Hangout Music Fest is set to start off with a bang this year, and the festival is proud to announce an incredible talent line-up for the Thursday Kickoff Party on May 16.

Bigger and better than ever before, fans can experience a whole extra day of music —from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. — as a preview to the annual festival. Two stages will host 14 acts at the Hangout site, featuring: Umphrey's McGee, Benny Benassi, Railroad Earth, Dillon Francis, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, LOTUS, Hayes Carll, Conspirator, Quixotic, Reptar, Wick-it, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Future Rock, and more.

Tickets for the Thursday Kickoff Party go on sale on Thurs., April 18 at 10 a.m. at hangoutkickoffparty, and will be $45, or $20 for those who have already purchased three-day passes for the Hangout Music Fest. Fans can purchase a three-day General Admission pass bundled with a Thursday Kickoff Party ticket for $249. The Thursday Kickoff Party will be free for VIP, Super VIP and Big Kahuna pass holders.

April 16, 2013, Orange Beach, AL (OBA)- Brad Paisley's Beat This Summer Tour 2013 will come to the Amphitheater at The Wharf on June 15.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are $35 and $59 apiece plus applicable fees and service charges.

Special guests will be Chris Young and Lee Brice.

Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com, the wharf box office, or charge by phone 800-745-3000.

According to promoters, all dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change. A

April 15, 2013, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – Do you have a case of spring fever? Concerts, athletic events, festivals and more are sure to cure your symptoms throughout April and May as Gulf Shores and Orange Beach gear up for a variety of coastal events where there will be something for every member of the family to enjoy. Check out the following list of happenings.

17th Annual Mullet Man Triathlon

April 20 Flora-Bama (17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola)

Sign up today for this great triathlon held each year at the Flora-Bama. The scenic course consists of a quarter mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a 17-mile bike race on Alabama Highway 182 and a 4-mile run beginning at the Flora-Bama heading west under the Perdido Pass bridge and back.

Call 850-492-0611 or visit www.florabama.com.

Discovery Day

April 20 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Estuarium at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island)

Explore open research laboratories, children's marine activities, gift shop discounts and free admission for children where families will be able to learn about marine life in an exciting way.

Call 251-861-2141 or visit www.disl.com.

2013 Conference USA Women's Golf Championships

April 22-24 Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (20 Peninsula Blvd., Gulf Shores)

The public is invited to watch these collegiate athletes as they compete for the Conference USA Championship. The three-day championship consists of 18 holes of play each day, and playing partners for the first day will be determined by a blind draw. For every succeeding round, team scores will determine parings. The winner gains the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

Call 251-968-8009 or visit www.conferenceusa.cstv.com.

The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show

April 25-28 The Wharf (4830 Main St., Orange Beach)

With 110 wet slip boats and yachts, more than 200 boats on land, a climate-controlled yacht center pavilion, art activities for children and much more. Guests can get their hands on some of the hottest marine electronics, fishing tackle, marine engines and outdoor equipment as exhibitors will showcase cutting edge marine gear and personal watercraft. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under.

April 8, 2013 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) Janet Ripp has been involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for many years, most in her home.

She and veteran rescuer Jody Young would take them into their homes, find care from sympathetic veterinarians and nurse them back to health. “In our homes people walk up and give you an animal and they say ‘what a nice person, you’re doing such a wonderful thing,” she said. “What a great hobby you have.”

Ripp said having the new Coastal Wildlife Rescue Center up and running at Graham Creek Nature Preserve helps the facility and the wildlife effort get more public support.

“They come to the center and they say ‘how can I help? What can I bring you? How can I support you?’” she said.

Saturday the CWRC will have booths set up to help raise funds for the center at the Foley Earth Day celebration at the preserve.

“On April 13 with the folks at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve have their own event going on,” Ripp said. “They’re going to have food and booths and music from Sassafrass. We’re going to have lemonade for wildlife where you donate to wildlife and get a glass of lemonade.

April 8, 2013, Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Country music legend Toby Keith and partner Frank Capri, CEO of Toby Keith’s I love This Bar & Grill, will open their 12th live music and restaurant venue at The Wharf in the beginning of June.

The world class venue was inspired by Toby Keith’s 2003 hit, “I Love This Bar,” and has since evolved into one of America’s favorite places. The restaurant has more than 1,500 employees nationwide and hosts some of the biggest acts in country music including Trace Atkins, Montgomery Gentry and Gretchen Wilson.

This particular location will be 16,000 square feet and will provide 200-300 new jobs in the Orange Beach area.

April 9, 2013 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Louisiana native, Thomas Wolfe always knew he was destined to be a chef. Since childhood, cooking has always been his passion, so it was only natural for him to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Now, Chef Wolfe is ready to share that same passion with an upscale neighborhood restaurant at The Wharf called Wolfe's Louisiana Pantry. This 6,600 square foot restaurant will serve everything from an array of decadent salads, to oven roasted North American rack of lamb, to New Orleans style Po-Boys. The assorted menu offers something for everyone including a list of delicious deserts.

The restaurant will also sell Chef Wolfe's retail line, The Louisiana Pantry, which will include New Orleans style chow chow, an array of seasonings and what they are most recognized for, bread and butter pickles.

Wolfe's Louisiana Pantry will open sometime in early May.

April 4, 2013, Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The first L.A. Gumbo Festival will be at The Wharf from April 11-13. To kick off the event, Alabama restaurateur and football legend Bob Baumhower and Louisiana Chef John Folse have teamed up to produce the world’s largest pot of gumbo. It will be unveiled on April 11 at 4pm, just before the Kenny Chesney concert at the Amphitheater at The Wharf.

Baumhower and Chef Folse first teamed up in 2011 at the Alabama vs. LSU game, where they cooked the world’s largest pot of gumbo, certified by Guinness World Records®, as part of a fundraiser for the victims of the Tuscaloosa tornadoes. It was so popular the duo decided to create an annual event, hence L.A. Gumbo Festival.

Up to 48 foodies and professional chefs from both states are expected to compete in a series of gumbo cook-offs for $4,000 in cash prizes. L.A. Gumbo Festival attendees can expect to enjoy arts & crafts, kids activities, music, and cooking demonstrations. They can also vote in the People’s Choice and Best Overall booth categories. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will present Animal Planet’s “Little Zoo that Could,” with a variety of animals from alligators to kangaroos.