Although freight trains are the current standard in Mobile AL, if lobbying efforts are successful, there may be a return of Amtrak passenger trains to the area.  Mobile’s Mayor, Sam Jones, and other Gulf Coast leaders believe that bringing back Amtrak passenger trains will “improve the transportation arteries into Mobile,” as reported at WKRG.com.

Passenger train service ended in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, shutting down stations from Mobile to Louisiana.  In 2009 Amtrak did a study looking at various ways the rail service could be restored from Florida to New Orleans; their concerns about bringing it back to Mobile would be the cost and ridership when AL residents commonly use cars as it is cuts the time of travel almost in half as compared to by train.  Jones believes that the original train schedule, specifically having the train arrive in Mobile a 3 am, was just an inconvenient time and that they would have more passengers by changing the schedule.  Also, Jones believes that there would not be any extra costs to the city to put the train terminal at Gulf Quest since they are already planning on one, though there will be some funding needed for other aspects of the project.

For more on this issue and other community news in Mobile AL, visit wkrg.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Mobile AL, contact Barbara Reeves today.

There are some great activities coming up in Mobile AL.  Take a look at what’s in store:

Mobile Opera presents “Turnadot” at the Mobile Civic Center on Friday, March 30^th and Saturday, April 1^st.  “Turnadot” is a great tale set in Peking of love, loss, and courage, sure to delight music and theater lovers.

Running from now until May 6^th is the IMAX experience of “Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World” at the Gulf Coast Exploreum.  Adults and children will enjoy this exploration into the prehistoric universe of Liopleurodon, Elasmosaurus, and Shonisaurus – all impressive sea dwellers seen in photorealistic imagery.

An Easter Egg Hunt will be held on March 31^st at Bellingrath Gardens and Home.  This annual event will send children hunting The Great Lawn for thousands of Easter eggs.  Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with admission prices at $12 for Adults, $6.50 for kids 5-12, and free for children 4 and under.

For more on community activities in Mobile AL, visit downtownmobile.org.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL, contact Barbara Reeves today.

Mobile Mystery Dinner performances are always a popular entertainment choice year round in Mobile AL, so mark your calendars for the next dinner that is scheduled for April 7^th.  This unique pairing of both dinner and performance is held at the Mobile Carnival Museum and advance reservations are required as these events fill up quickly.  The price per person is $59.00 and this includes a tour of the museum, unlimited wine bar for the duration of the evening, a delightful catered meal, and a 2 ½ hour hilarious play by the MMD Players that is sure to be enjoyed.  The April 7^th Murder Mystery will be themed “Murder on the casting couch” with a story line that follows an imaginary 1927 Hollywood.  Doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m.; the Murder Mystery and dinner will be for approximately 3 hours and dress is casual.

For more on the next Mobile Mystery Dinner at mobilemysterydinners.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Mobile or West Mobile Alabama, contact local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

The Gulf Coast’s serene beauty is highlighted in a new exhibit for the Mobile Museum of Art this month.  Running now until January 8th, visitors can view an exhibit entitled “Celebrating Our Maritime Heritage: A Coastal Holiday.”  This art display features local artists who have represented the Gulf Coast with their own unique mediums including oil and acrylic painting and photography.  One artist, Penny Lewis, a long time Mobile AL native, who enjoys the natural wildlife of the area represented this love in a brilliant painting called “Odd Man Out” which depicts local pelicans; her painting won 1st prize.  Another artist, William Morris, who won best in show, submitted a stunning piece called “Dusk on the Delta” using acrylics to show the port city at its finest.

The Mobile Museum of Art in Langan Park is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 1-5 pm with admission for adults set at $10 and $6 for students.

For more on this or other community activities in Mobile AL, visit al.com.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, or Fairhope AL, contact local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

Keep the holidays simple this year and let someone else do the cooking!  When friends and family drop by, whether expected or unexpected, give them a sense of the local flavor of Mobile AL.  Here are just a few of the great restaurants to check out in Mobile AL this month:

Shamrock, Rose and Thistle offers a “British, gastropub, Tea Room” cuisine with breakfast and brunch options and a casual atmosphere.

Explore a Middle Eastern cuisine with Jerusalem Café.  This great café is perfect for families with children, business lunches, or an evening with that special someone.

Brick Pit has a local cuisine featuring great BBQ choices.  Have lunch, dinner or takeout for a quick meal after holiday shopping.

Looking for fabulous local seafood?  Check out Wintzell’s Oyster House for a pleasant dining experience whether with family or business associates.

And for Mexican and local Seafood, check out Fuego.  Be sure to make a reservation for a special evening.

For more highly rated dining experiences in Mobile AL, visit tripadvisor.com.

And for information on buying or selling real estate in Mobile or West Mobile AL contact local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

Looking for some fun activities this weekend?  Mobile County AL has quite a few festive events for the whole family starting on Saturday October 29th.  The Chickasaw United Methodist Church, the Cottage Hill Presbyterian Church, and the Government Street Baptist Church will be holding their “Trunk n Treat” activities on Saturday, while the Cross River Church, and First Baptist Church of Irvington will be holding their versions on October 31st.  A “Trick or Treat at the Exploreum” event is scheduled for Oct 31st from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Gulf Coast Exploreum and will feature candy, hands on activities, and critters from the Australian exhibit; admission is $8 or free for Exploreum members.  The Halloween costume contest and parade in Chickasaw is on Saturday for kids to compete based on age groupings for the best costume.  And if you find that all the candy your kids have collected for these activities can be better distributed, Dr. Shaun Small at Complete Dental of Mobile AL will be holding a ‘candy buyback’ on Tuesday and Wednesday November 1st and 2nd; bring any new and unopened treats for a buyback price of $1 per pound and the candy will be sent to U.S. troops serving overseas as part of Operation Gratitude.

For more on these or other great activities this weekend in Mobile County AL, visit al.com.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL, contact local agent Barbara Reeves today.

Mobile County AL will be seeing some preservation projects moving forward due to new funds awarded to the cause.  Today the Alabama Historical Commission announced that they were awarding $47, 600 to go towards three historical preservation projects including Barton Academy, Fort Gaines, and a local cemetery.  The Mobile Historic Development Commission will receive $15,880 for a market needs analysis of Barton Academy in downtown Mobile AL, Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board will be able to use $15,855 to make repairs to the historic Fort Gaines, and $15,880 will go to Friends of the Catholic Church to preserve a cemetery.  These grants are part of the $750,00 total that were awarded statewide by the Historical Commission.  The Historical Commission hopes that this will help develop local economies, provide jobs, and strengthen tourism.

For more on this or other new developments in Mobile AL, visit al.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Mobile AL, contact Barbara Reeves today.

The Mobile Carnival Museum is hosting a fun event this Saturday, September 17th!  This “Mobile Mystery Dinner” event will be an evening to remember as you attempt to solve the mystery while enjoying dinner.  It is $57 per person to attend and the price includes unlimited wine bar, an entertaining play by the MMD Players, a multi-course meal by Creative Catering, and a tour of The Mobile Carnival Museum.  This event has a tendency to sell out, so be sure to make your reservation right away.

Also be sure to mark your calendars for the second annual Murder Mystery Weekend on October 29th to the 30th in Mobile AL as well.

For more on this or other activities in Mobile AL, visit mobile.org.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Mobile AL, contact Barbara Reeves today.

This coming month of September is packed with things to do in Mobile AL.  The Saenger Theatre in Mobile will be having the “Hippiefest” on the 1st, Leon Redbone on the 27th, and Weird Al Yankovic on the 28th.  The Labor day weekend Car and Bike Show Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, September 3rd at the Hank Aaron Stadium, which is sponsored by P.O.W.E.R. Inc, a nonprofit community oriented organization in conjunction with Cross Creek Consultants Inc.; all vehicles are welcome to participate in the show with trophies being awarded to the winners for each category.  This great family event will have music, food, games and prizes and the pre-registration cost for cars is $20 and $15 for motorcycles.  Also, don’t forget to check out the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center.  At the Exploreum you’ll be entertained as well as educated with great IMAX experiences, hands on exhibits, and ‘virtual journeys.’

For more information on coming events for September in Mobile AL, visit wkrg.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in Mobile and West Mobile AL, contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

In a recent meeting, the Mobile City Council voted to approve the spending of $3 million dollars for the completion of the GulfQuest Museum in downtown Mobile AL.  Despite some opposition, the vote was favorable and Mayor Sam Jones hopes that the museum will be a main selling point for the area.  The maritime museum is being constructed at the waterfront and is tentatively scheduled to be finished next year.  Recently estimated projections suggest that around 350,000 people will likely visit the museum each year and put millions of dollars back into Mobile.  The completed museum will have about 90,000 sq ft of exhibit space with many high tech and interactive attractions including a ship piloting simulator.

For more on this project or other planned projects in Mobile AL, visit wkrg.com.

And for more on buying or selling real estate in the beautiful Gulf Coast, including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne Alabama, contact Barbara Reeves today.