Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

Stay at the picturesque Berney/Fly B&B (left), have oysters any way you like them at Wintzell’s (below), take in a beautiful view of downtown and the river over cocktails at Skyview Lounge (opposite, left), enjoy an airboat tour (opposite, center), and discover the origins of Mardi Gras (opposite, right). . . all in magnificent Mobile! T he first Battle House was built in 1852. The current building was constructed in 1907, and the structure was completely gutted above the first floor and rebuilt to modern standards. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, featuring Marriott’s signature fine linens and wireless Internet connections (for a fee). Soon the Battle House will add a world-class spa and fitness center. Also in the downtown area—which is where you’ll want to stay, because it’s near most attractions—is the Battle House’s sister property, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, which has been completely renovated. Ask for a room with a view of the river. Nearby, the Malaga Inn, a charming, pink stucco building centered around a courtyard, features antique-filled rooms and offers a homey alternative to larger hotels. And if you like the intimacy of a bed and breakfast inn, try the Berney/Fly on Government Street. A Queen Anne home built in sections between 1858 and 1895, the Berney/Fly offers four rooms, each with a private bath, breakfast each morning, a graceful front porch that’s the perfect place to relax and under the oaks, and a lushly landscaped backyard with a sparkling pool. PLACES TO EAT Many visitors to Mobile have associated the city with Wintzell’s, a landmark restaurant on Dauphin Street downtown. Oliver Wintzell was the colorful, cigar-chomping character who founded the oyster bar and seafood dive in 1938, and it has remained the same, serving fresh oysters—“fried, stewed, or nude”—seven days a week. Today, though, the Wintzell’s phenomenon has spread, now including other locations in other cities, but the original restaurant has the most authentic charm. The walls at Wintzell’s are covered in signs, a tradition started by Wintzell himself—definitely not politically correct, often corny, but always fun to read. Be sure to watch the oyster shuckers at work, and to look at the results of raw oyster-eating contests over the years. 44 s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m Another old-school Mobile restaurant worth visiting is the always-crowded Dew Drop Inn on Old Shell Road in the Midtown area. Famous for its hot dogs, complete with toasted buns and chili, the Dew Drop also serves homemade onion rings, steak fries, fried-oyster po’boys, and daily specials with homemade vegetables. If you haven’t been there in years, don’t worry: Nothing has changed. For more upscale dining, try Café 615 or NoJa in the heart of downtown Mobile—each offers its own, sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere and some of the city’s most inventive cuisine. The Causeway over Mobile Bay (really Highway 98, which is an alternative route to I-10 across the bay), a perennial favorite fishing spot, has also become a hot spot for dining out as well, with several seafood restaurants worth trying, each with their own unique views of the bay and the Mobile River Delta. Try the Original Oyster House, Felix’s Fish Camp, Ed’s Seafood Shed, or the Blue Gill for a true taste of Mobile. I have always loved Mobile because it’s home to me, but there was a time when I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to visit here. After spending the past summer as a tourist in my own hometown, today, if someone asked me, I’d enthusiastically urge them to visit. Rest assured that I’ll never again be struck mute when asked what there is to do in Mobile! AIRBOAT AND MARDI GRAS IMAGES COURTESY OF MOBILE BAY CVB http://southernbreeze.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Words & Notes Coastal Calendar Storefronts Sweet Dreams Art of Living Fixtures Our Backyard Make Yourself at Home Beach Bam! A Big Easy Christmas Upwardly Mobile Can't Drive Old Dixie Down Rock On! The Play's the Thing Cheers Dish Chef's Table Let's Eat Reader Services Last Bite

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