Tag: Summer ’10

Taylor Grocery & Restaurant, Taylor, Mississippi

Taylor Grocery is worth the drive, and the wait, from wherever you are. The catfish is a plenty good fish for anybody – so said Mark Twain – and while we agree, this is the best we’ve had, anywhere. Mississippi blackened followed by homemade peach cobbler (our friendly neighbors at dinner said “you can’t go wrong with that in the south”), and an atmosphere full of happy families and kids eating ice cream while a trio sings away, full of audience participation. We were happy to sing along, sign the guest books and the wall, and wish there were more places with such charm, and such customs.

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Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans, Louisiana

Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans was at the top of our list of things to do this summer, especially given what’s gone on here since Katrina. Yes, it felt like volunteer tourism, but the houses themselves, and the families soon to live in them, welcome all the sweat help they can get. The safety brief to start it out quickly transitioned to power tools and roofing under the Louisiana sun. Java oversaw our progress and got dirty with everyone else. Many thanks to Dan, our fearless project manager, who will always have our respect for the work that he does day in and day out.

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Coop’s Place, New Orleans, Louisiana

Coop’s Place is the right answer: local, with a vibe to match, some of the best food in town and a staff that is casual yet proud of the place. When asked what the special is, Steve, our bartender, said Yes, I recommend the food here, all of it. When pressed, red beans and rice with fried chicken came out. Java welcomed the dog friendly atmosphere and the picture of Coop’s dog above the fireplace, so we stayed a good while into our first night in the Big Easy.

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Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope came highly recommended as a local fishery and overall good time. The dock was full of smiling fishermen, some young and some old, several of whom were here because these waters, in the Mobile Bay, are oil free (but not shark free). We headed to Wintzell’s for lunch and enjoyed its food and its sense of humor, and their heartfelt thanks for visiting when they most need it.

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