Valentine's Day in The Shoals

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Guide for Florence, Alabama

It's that time of year again! Yes, Valentine's Day is upon us, and we've put together a list of things you might be interested in for your Valentine's Day itinerary. Some of these places are brand new, and we're excited to be able to share their Valentine's Day specials with you. We hope you find this list to be helpful. Feedback is always appreciated!

YUMM Sushi & Beyond

117 N Court St

(256) 349-2074

YUMM offers some unique types of cuisine. Sushi might make you immediately think of your typical Japanese seafood fair, but the menu truly lives up to the restaurant's name. YUMM has every kind of dish you've never tried. So, what better time to try something new than Valentine's Day? They have a fantastic offering for Valentine's Day.

Celebrate Valentine's Day at YUMM with this amazing three course dinner:

• Choice of one Wine:
• Kenwood Pinot Noir
• Decoy Duckhorn Cabernet
• Zenato Pinto Noir
• Rodney Strong Chardonnay

• 1st Course - Choice of one
• Firecracker - Tender, crispy gulf shrimp tossed in a creamy aioli sauce, served on top of Asian slaw. 
• YUMM's Lettuce Wrap - Wok-seared, minced chicken, shitake mushroom, scallions, and carrots. Served with cool, crisp lettuce cups. 
• Bangkok Calamari - Fresh tender calamari, flash fried and served with a trio of dipping sauce. 
• Deep Sea -  Seared ahi tuna on a crispy wonton, topped with wasabi ailoli, and pickled carrot.
• 2nd Course - Choice of one
• Drunken Crab - Two golden tempura, soft shelled crabs topped with tangy Thai-roasted garlic sauce, served with spicy mixed vegetables, and stir-fried and steamed rice. 
• Red Planet Roll - Seared ahi tuna, spicy tuna, avocado, jicama, tobiko, eel sauce, wasabi aioli, siracha. 
• 3rd Course - Choice of one
• Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut
• Perrone Bigaro Pink Moscato 
• Dessert
• Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake  - A New York style cheesecake, topped with  a rich layer of chocolate ganache, sits on a sponge cake.
• Exotic Bomba - Mango passion fruit & raspberry sorbetto, all covered with white chocolate.

Enjoy a really fun dining experience  for two that includes a 3 course meal, with dessert and wine pairings at YUMM for $58.00.

Dish Gourmet Cafe & Catering

118 W Mobile St
(256) 766-2414

• Lunch
• Applewood Bacon Wrapped Prawn over Roasted Red Pepper Risotto Cake
• Sweetheart Salad - Mixed greens, mandarin oranges, crumbled cranberry stilton cheese, with toasted almonds and pomegranate-style apple vinaigrette. 
• Dinner - choice of one
• 6 oz Filet Mignon - Served with grilled asparagus, and loaded mashed potatoes
• Chicken Marsala - Served over wild rice, with muscadine wine poached pears
• Pan-Seared Halibut - Served on butternut squash bisque.
• Creme Brulee - with chocolate covered strawberries.

Odette

120 N Court St.

(256) 349-5219

• Appetizer
• Pickled shrimp & avocado mousse crostini
• White bean salad crostini
• 1st Course
• Oysters on the half-shell - Green apple mignonette, house crackers
• Baby arugula salad - Crispy Shallots, roasted mushrooms, spicy pickled carrots, with blood orange vinaigrette
• Tandoori Lamb Sausage - Charred pepper raita, shiso salad
• 2nd Course
• Pan-seared Cod - With lobster ravioli, bacon onion broth, and wilted greens.
• Smoked Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin - Yukon potatoes, braised fennel, and tarragon pesto
• Grilled Beef Striploin - Root vegetable puree, frisee with blue cheese vinaigrette, bourbon jus
• 3rd Course
• Olive Oil Pound Cake - Honey-Almond nougat, and vanilla-poached grapefruit
• Chocolate Bread Pudding - Brown Sugar bourbon creme ainglaise.

The 360 Grille

10 Hightower Pl

(256) 246-3660

Check out the 360's Valentine's Day Weekend Special on their Facebook Page!

Special Activities

• My Bloody Valentine - Haunted House Attraction - Friday 7pm - details
• The New York Voices - UNA: Norton Auditorium - Saturday 7pm - details

2013 - Our Favorite Moments in Florence, AL

Florence, AL's Best Moments of 2013

As 2013 passes into history, we here at the office wanted to reflect on some of our favorite events of the year that went down right here in Florence, AL.

Swamp Romp

Things got dirty at this event back in September. The Swamp Romp was an obstacle event set up at

5 New Places to Eat in Florence this Holiday

5 New Restaurants in Florence, AL for You to Try.

There's a few new faces here in Florence, Alabama. We're pretty well-known for our dining choices, both chain and local. Here's a list of 5 new places for you to get your eats and sweets this Holiday Season.

The Pie Factory

This is not a cake and cupcake joint. This is pure pizza pies we're talking. Located on Court Street, right in the middle of Downtown Florence, Alabama, The Pie Factory is a just-opened full service restaurant that specializes in two of the greatest things ever created: beer and pizza. They've got a massive brew menu, and you can have any kind of pizza you can come up with.

Check out their facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/piefactoryflorence

River Bottom Grille

Here in Florence, Alabama, we catch a lot of cool nights during Winter. Often times, you'll be able to sit outside and enjoy what might feel like a mild Spring evening in much of the rest of the country. The River Bottom Grille is about the most outdoorsy dining experience you can get in Florence, Alabama while still being a restaurant.It's right on the Tennessee River, and I'd say it's tied for the 360 Grille for the best place to watch the sun set. 

Check out their facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/RiverBottomGrille

Ocean Boba Teahouse

The Ocean Boba Teahouse sits just north of 7 Points, in the Seven Points Shopping Center. While this isn't technically a restaurant, it does offer a truly unique drunk experience. You can choose from a large variety of beverage, hot and cold, some you've probably never heard of. So, if you're tired of lattes and cappuccinos, give this a try. Oh, and they also have regular tea. It is a tea house after all.

Check out their facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Boba-Teahouse/1394609820750591

Yummie's Bakery

Yummie's Baker is great for decorative treats, and also plain good sweets. They've got brownies, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, cheesecakes,

Check out their Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/YummiesBakeryAndDeli

Odette

Martinis and cocktails and the cool balance between mod and rustic are what set this little restaurant apart from the rest. You can get specialty drinks, and food ranging from a simple pastrami reuben, to a five-spice duck confit. They offer drinks, lunch, dinner, and dessert. You can get your drink shaken or stirred. No bow tie required. 

Check out their website here: http://www.odettealabama.com/

If you live in Florence and haven't already given some of these new places a try, I highly recommend you do so. If you've got relatives coming, they'll be impressed by what Florence, Alabama has to offer no matter where you take them.

The Sound of First Friday

With the release of the Muscle Shoals movie right around the corner, Florence and the Shoals have much to be proud of with both its rich musical heritage and active music scene today.

You may have heard

If you don't already know, area musicians who helped create the legendary music of the 60s and 70s, along with some up and coming stars performed on the David Letterman show, which was broadcast last night.

Tonight's Entertainment

It's October's turn for First Friday tonight and that means it's not going to be sweltering, which means you should be there. There will be pupmkin-related antics of course, and some pretty great live music courtesy of An Abstract Theory.. Plus there's all the familiar faces, and vendors with plenty of merchandise to browse. For a full listing of events this weekend and next week, see the Weekly What's Happening.

So don't miss out! In my opinion, the First Fridays of Fall are the best

6 Things to do this Fall in Florence, AL

Fall has arrived here in Florence, Alabama. With it comes cooler weather, shorter days, and a lot of cool things that you can only do this time of year! Here are 6 things you absolutely can't miss this Fall in Florence, AL.

The Natchez Trace

The absolute best time of year to see the trace is Fall. No doubt about it, the foliage is simply breathtaking and is an ideal day trip for anyone remotely interested in the outdoors. The Trace is dotted with a variety of natural attractions from caves, to Indian mounds, every few miles, and best of all, it's only 15 minutes from downtown Florence.

McGee Farm

A unique experience that's an annual tradition for many area natives, McGee Farm's Pumpkin Patch offers a variety of activities ideal for families, church groups, or school tours. Find your pumpkin out of hundreds grown right in the pumpkin patch, enjoy a traditional-style meal right from the farm kitchen, or go for a hay ride through the farm.

8211 Co Rd 7, 256-766-2725

Mon-Fri: 3-6pm, Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 1-5pm website

Farmer's Market

You hear a lot about the seasonal changes in the markets, but the Lauderdale County Farmer's Market. Fall brings a different flavor to the stands at the market. You're always in for a surprise, so check it out on any Saturday this October.

Open Sat: 6am-12pm, 256-764-7125 EBT & SNAP accepted

Arx Mortis

Arx Mortis is an award winning thrill attraction featuring Hollywood-quality effects, makeup, and costume design. Push on through a variety of attractions including Covington Clinic Sanitarium, the Graveyard, Sir Cecil's Big Top Circus, and of course zombies.
With 23 exits along the path of terror, you can leave at any time to come back and try again.

See details at the website.

The Ghost Walk Tours

Take a walk with local author and supernatural historian Debra Glass at the Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk. It's a great way to learn some of the lesser-known history of Historic Downtown Florence. Tours start October 18th at Wilson Park at 7:30pm. Admission is paid on site.

Call 256-757-7506 for details. website.

Renaissance Faire

The Alabama Renaissance Faire is an annual event that celebrates the culture and customs of the European Renaissance. It aims to educate and entertain through reenactments, food, costumes, and interactive exhibits.

October 26-27 at Wilson Park

September First Friday

Fall is just around the corner, so come out and enjoy a nice cool evening in downtown Florence!

Seasonal Florence, Alabama

Florence, Alabama is pretty great in its own right. It's a nice, little southern town that's quite a bit more than meets the eye. So what is there to do in Florence, Alabama this fall? Here's a list of things you probably didn't even know were going on!

First Fridays are still going on!

That's right, it may be getting colder, but Florence First Fridays are here for a little while longer. Come to Downtown Florence and enjoy the cozier feel of the Fall First Fridays. 

Also, Rogersville is having their First Saturdays as well, Nov. 3. 

Arts and Crafts are still alive and well!

You may remember the southern winters from your childhood being all about crafting and baking things to help stave off that cold winter weather. You can experience the arts and crafts from all our best local artisans at these events:

• Kennedy Douglas Center - Oil Paintings by Paula Frizbe - Nov. 6 - Dec. 28
• Shoals Community Theatre - The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - Nov. 8 - 11
• Kennedy Douglas Center - 2012 Quilt Challenge - Nov. 14 - Dec. 14

The Natchez Trace

photo courtesy of  Nietngale's Flickr account.

This is the best time of year to visit the Natchez Trace, hands down. Take a relaxing, and scenic drive as far as you want to Mississippi or Tennessee. In fact, you can visit 3 states in one short trip on the Natchez Trace! While you're there stop by and check out Tom's Wall.

You can find a nice, little, organized list of everything to do on the trace here.