A lot of tails are on the line: The world’s best cook-off, coming at you April 17

I’ve been to a cook-off or two in my day. And, geez oh pete, Mobile has its share of ‘em. Chili, wings, Irish stew. BBQ. They’re all good but I’m amazed how many people I talk to have never heard of what is, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, the best: The Annual Shrimp Cook-off.

Behind the scenes at the Saenger: April 9

One of my goals with this blog is to dig out fun things to do on the Gulf Coast that you won’t learn about other places. Here’s a good example. Next Friday the Mobile Symphony will host guided tours of the Saenger Theater and provide a behind the scenes peek of their dress rehearsal of Vivaldi’s Four Season’s concert. Tours are 6-9pm April 9th. No other details yet (do you just show up?) but I’ll see what I can find out and share it here. Check back or subscribe for updates.

JAMmin’ with Jazz Appreciation Month in April

If you think March was jammed packed with things to do, wait until you see April. On top of Arts Alive!, it’s Jazz Appreciation Month and there’s a full calendar of jazzy events. The weather will be great, and events are either free or very inexpensive. So don’t tell me there’s nothing fun to do in Mobile, you can’t afford it or Mobile isn’t artzie. Get out there!

Originally I’d planned to post just a few of the “best” events from the list. I couldn’t choose so I’ve included the entire calendar. Here’s Sharman’s Q&D Guide to help you make your selections (details in the full list that follows):

Yoga under the big blue sky: April 3-May 22

Last fall we went to Thailand. One of the things I saw there was a large group of women practicing yoga in the park. I really wanted to join them but I didn’t have a mat or anything close (I shoulda done it anyway). Yoga outdoors. Ahhhhh.

One of my M&M stringers alerted me yesterday to a new outdoor all levels yoga class.

Get your MOJO workin’ on Monday nights

If you love jazz and you’ve never been to a MOJO meeting, you’ve really missed something. MOJO stands for the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed. The group meets on the 4th Monday of each month, and you don’t have to be a member to attend. Each meeting features a live performance and a light jambalaya dinner for $10. Yes, $10! And it’s only $7 if you join! Don’t tell me you can’t afford that.

Some things just ain’t right

Like the fact that it’s March 13th and the St Patrick’s Day celebrating is over. Hey, real Irish celebrate on the real St Patrick’s Day. We don’t let a little thing like work get in the way.

Kiss your ash goodbye this Ash Wednesday

I stole this title from a Heroes ad in the Lagniappe. It was too good to resist and I’m going to plug the restaurant so it’s okay, right?

First I should say that Heroes is one of our favorite restaurants downtown. Love the grilled tuna salad. Every time we go there I think I’ll order something else. But I never do. Same thing with Kevin.

Love the deck. The perfect place to enjoy the Mobile weather, especially when there’s something going on in Cathedral Square. The prices are great, the vibe is good. What more could you ask for?

How about no smoke? Done. On February 17, 2010, Heroes will go smoke free inside. HAAA-lay-lou-ya.

Catch a rising star at Serda’s

Serda’s Coffee Shop downtown is another business I like to plug. It offers something for everyone: great coffee, good food, adult beverages, comfy sofas in a laid-back atmosphere and yoga on Thursday nights. What more could you ask for?

How about some of the best local music in town?

And the winner in the category of Best Theater in Mobile is…

the Crescent Theater on Dauphin Street downtown. Last week the powers that be in Hollywood announced the 2010 Oscar nominations. Five of the ten nominees for Best Picture played here in Mobile at, of all places, The Crescent (An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, A Serious Man, and Up in the Air).

So if you’re under the impression that you need to go to the megaplexes to see the best movies in town, think again.

Blitz tour of Downtown Mobile digs

As promised, I took the downtown home tour, aka “Open House Blitz,” last Sunday, along with Kevin and a handful of other people. Of course, the Saints were playing (although the kickoff was well after the tour ended). That, combined with the soggy weather, pretty much guaranteed the blitz would be a bomb.  Still, it was a good opportunity to get a feel for what’s on the market downtown and what’s going on with prices.