Judy Sells The Shoals

If you’ve been in downtown Florence, Alabama at night in the past two weeks you might have noticed a group of people standing in the glow of a dimly lit street lamp in front of various homes and businesses listening intently to a woman telling a story. While The Shoals always has something going on, one event that you shouldn’t miss out on is the Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk. This unique tour gives you a look into the history and local ghosts that haunt the homes, restaurants, and buildings around Court Street. There are only two nights left for this tour and with Halloween just one night away how else would you spend your evening, but by listening to spooky ghost tales on a dark, chilly October night? The tour begins in Wilson Park at 7:30pm in front of the W.C. Handy statue where you are introduced to your tour guide, Debra Glass, who started the ghost walk in 2002, after the release of her first of many ghost story books, True Ghost Stories of the Shoals, Vol. 1....

As I sit here and write this blog post I’m watching snow gracefully fall from the sky outside my window. But as lovely as it is, I can’t help but think about when I can get back outside and enjoy the beautiful Alabama weather and the eclectic venues of downtown Florence. Having lived in Florence for so many years, I have had the opportunity to see this town grow into a vibrant area full of restaurants with excellent menus and unique styles… and our Downtown hasn't stopped evolving! If you’re not from the Shoals area, we might seem small, but we have a lot to offer. In downtown Florence off of Court Street there are several restaurants that have been staples and the beloved treasures of our town. They have remained consistent producers of yummy food and authentic atmosphere. Ricatoni’s, our resident Italian restaurant offers a warm, cozy environment complete with a wood-fired brick oven that creates the most delicious thin crust pizzas this side of the Mississippi. You als...