Hall’s Haven By The Bay

09/14/2026

“This is the first time we’ve had any entity address what’s happening out there,” Finley says. He’s referring to a restoration project the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program completed at the northern tip of Mon Louis Island in 2016"..."“This was a thriving community at one time,” Finley says. “There was a shipbuilding business at Fowl River. Fruit and vegetables went out on the train to the city. And mostly, people here didn’t concern themselves much with what was happening in Mobile. They were happy and content here on the island.”

Recently, SoulGrown Alabama sat down with Eric Finley to recount the history and tradition of the Utopia Club on Fowl River. The Club was a social respite for Black Mobilians to fish, swim, and play on Alabama's coast in a time when segregation kept them from the public beaches.

The first in a multi-part series on Mon Louis Island, this article tells the story of an important piece of Mobile's coastal history and culture. To read the full article, visit the link below.

https://soul-grown.com/the-history-of-mon-louis-island-and-the-community-that-built-its-own-utopia/

08/31/2026

07/22/2026

A balloon release may last only a few moments, but its impact on the environment can last much longer.

Every balloon that is released eventually comes back to earth, where it can become litter and pose a threat to wildlife, waterways, and natural habitats. The good news? There are plenty of meaningful ways to celebrate milestones, honor loved ones, and create lasting memories without harming the environment.

Small changes in tradition can make a big difference. Choose a wildlife-friendly alternative and help protect the beauty of our planet.

Learn about the environmental impacts anad eco-friendly alternatives here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6502

06/28/2026

We're luck to call this place home, but we need your help! 🩵 Sign up to Volunteer at the 39th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 19 and 'get the trash out of the splash' to keep our community clean!

Learn More: https://alabamacoastalcleanup.com/

06/18/2026

One of our favorite things about Fairhope is that there is always music!
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
🎵 Mike Estep & John Keuler — The Hope Farm, 6–9 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
🎵 Pineapple Express — Fairhope Brewing Company, 5–8 PM
🎵 Yeah Probably — The Book Cellar, 6:30–8:30 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
🎵 Underground Revival — Fairhope Brewing Company, 4:30–11 PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
🎵 The Tip Tops — American Legion Post 199 Tiki Bar, 5 PM
MONDAY, JUNE 22
🎵 Rosa Court Jesters — The Book Cellar, 5:30–7:30 PM
👇 If a friend was visiting Fairhope this week, where would you take them first?
You can receive music updates in you inbox every Wednesday!
Sign up for free! scenic98coastal.com

06/17/2026

You shouldn’t have to think about toxic chemicals before feeding your family the fish you caught.

But here we are again.

Newly released fish consumption advisories warn people to limit eating certain fish species from waterways across the state, including waterways in Mobile and Baldwin counties; Alabama's testing of fish has found toxic contaminants tied to cancer, developmental problems in children, and other serious health risks.

Every new advisory is evidence of pollution making its way into our rivers, our bay, and our coastal waters.

And instead of giving Alabama stronger tools to respond to local contamination issues, lawmakers passed SB71, a law that restricts state agencies from adopting protections stronger than federal minimum standards in most cases.

Federal rules are often slow to catch up. Our communities are the ones left dealing with the consequences.

This should make people angry.

We should expect better than this. We should expect leaders to protect public health. And we should stop treating fish consumption advisories like they are just part of living on the Gulf Coast.

See the new advisories and learn more here: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/tox/fish-advisories.html

05/31/2026

05/15/2026

🥗 Join us Saturday, May 16th, at noon for our Community Spring Harvest Potluck at the Anna T. Jeanes School property. Our raised beds and herb gardens are flourishing with lettuces, arugula, peppers, onions, tomatoes, basil, dill, and even strawberries.

We’ll be gathering in the shade under the beautiful oak trees, so feel free to bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket. We will be making a big salad from our garden bounty to share with everyone. If you're curious about what's going on at the Anna T. Jeanes School property, this is the perfect time to come by and learn more about Hope Community. We’d love to share our vision for the property and our ongoing efforts within the Fairhope South community. Whether you're a longtime neighbor or a new friend, come see how we’re growing together!

When: 5/16/2026
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Anna T. Jeanes School property
6925 Twin Beech Rd., Fairhope

What to bring: Please bring your favorite side dish, dessert, or drink to share with the group. We can't wait to see you there! 🍓☀️

05/01/2026

🌧️ Rain Update: May Day Time Change 🌸

We are delaying our May Day celebration for a few hours to let sun come back out! ☀️

🕒 NEW TIME: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The forecast indicates that the rain will clear out by mid-morning, so the grounds will hopefully be perfect for picnics by 1:00 pm! 🧺

⚠️ Plan B: If the weather doesn't cooperate, the entire celebration will be moved to our official rain date: Saturday, May 9th. If rescheduling to the 9th becomes necessary, we will post that decision on Saturday morning.

🙋‍♀️ To Our Volunteers:

Volunteer shift times are updated to match the new schedule. Please check your email for your updated volunteer times.

• Can't make the new time? If the shift change no longer works for you, feel free to cancel your signup via the link in your email, or email us at [email protected].

• Newly Available? With the move to the afternoon, we now have openings for those who were busy in the morning! Check our signup page to grab a spot. 🤝

Thanks for being flexible! See you this Saturday afternoon! 🌷