Judy Sells The Shoals

Located in the heart of downtown Florence, Alabama is Rivertown Coffee Company, a quaint, friendly coffee shop in the Shoals area. Just this past year they celebrated their 10 year anniversary and established themselves as Florence’s beloved coffee shop. This is the place where anyone, young or old, can take a break, relax, enjoy a drink or meal, and feel right at home. Visiting Rivertown feels like walking down the street to have coffee with a friendly neighbor. Owned by John and Jan Cartwright, they love the residents of the Shoals and are eager to serve and provide high-quality coffee in a comfortable environment. If you blink you might miss the entrance to Rivertown on Seminary Street, just a quick walk from Court Street and Wilson Park, but the modest entrance hosts a coffee shop full of vibrancy, originality, and local charm. Upon entering you are greeted by friendly staff eager to take your order at the counter, which displays the everyday coffee and drink options, daily ...

Last week I wrote about the beautiful parks of Florence, but today I’m focusing on taking the fun indoors. For all the bookworms in the Shoals area, you probably are already aware of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library that proudly sits in downtown Florence, next to Wilson Park. If you haven’t yet checked out this establishment you are truly missing out. But, wait! I feel like when we think of public libraries an image of a dark, musty building comes to mind that only offers the chance to pick up the occasional book. This is not the case for Florence’s public library. FLPL is a place of possibility for young and old and offers much more than a study spot or book check out. It’s a vibrant participant in the community and creates an atmosphere of opportunity and energy, while still maintaining its reputation as a quiet reading retreat. First, we must talk about the appearance of the library and dispel any thoughts of a gloomy, dusty book depot. It is quite the opposite. This st...