Judy Sells The Shoals

Odette, a popular restaurant in downtown Florence, Alabama, has greatly impacted our community by providing us with a healthy, delicious Farm to Table menu that features locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, but to truly appreciate this local eatery one must understand every aspect behind Owner Celeste Pillow's decision to open a restaurant that has easily become the Shoals’ preferred stop for incredible fare. After leaving Florence to pursue a degree in Art at the University of Montana, Celeste traveled to New York City to continue her education in cuisine—two focuses that go hand-in-hand. With little intention to become a chef, she still wanted to grow in her understanding of the art of cooking, which she did at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan. After time spent in New York working and learning in the restaurant industry, she began her journey home to Alabama where she first landed in Birmingham and eventually decided to move back home to The ...

Nestled in the hills of Les Cayes, Haiti is a green plot of land lined with palm trees overlooking the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. In a country struck with poverty and tragedy, this lot is a space that represents hope and potential—it’s a place where one day children will laugh, learn, and have the opportunity to make a difference in the future of their country. However, this future is only possible if our Shoals community partners together to make a difference. Melissa Daniel Bain, a Muscle Shoals native, and the founder of The 610 Project loves two places—The Shoals and Haiti, and she invites our community to join her in serving the people of Haiti by building a training space for children and adults that will facilitate education, vocational training, and microenterprise. The dream to make a difference began 6 years ago after her first trip to Haiti as a volunteer with Soles4Souls. After traveling across the United States as an RV Tour Spokesperson for Soles4Souls ...

Driving up to the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism and Visitor Center you’re met with the shimmering waters of the Singing River and the soaring Alabama pines—both iconic reminders of the Shoals area and an ideal location for the Visitor Center, which celebrates and embodies everything that makes up an area so rich with history, talent, and beauty. The stunning building filled with informative displays, dynamic technology, a gift shop, and friendly staff, makes a Visitor Center that is truly one-of-a-kind, and a must-see for both local residents and those new to the area. The goal of the Center is not to be a museum, but to give each person who walks through the door a taste of everything the Shoals has to offer, and to send them out to explore the many attractions and events across the Quad Cities.  The front of the Tourism & Visitor Center is structured with towering pine posts and tall, wooden doors created by local artist Robin Wade who also designed the...

Two weeks ago Thread fabric store opened in downtown Florence, Alabama in a large, narrow building with simple, cream walls and a rustic, hardwood floor, but the shelves are stocked with rows of vibrant colors in every shade and hue—a cheery, inspirational invitation to create. Located on North Court Street, the adorable shop just recently opened its doors and is run by incredibly talented individuals who want nothing more than to empower and encourage each of their customers to create. While Thread sells a wide range of independent patterns, sewing and craft books, supplies for every sewing projects, and of course designers fabrics—their goal is not just to provide quality products, but to inspire others to make something that is a lasting reminder to the talent and originality that lies within us all. Walking through the front doors of Thread sparks the imagination and opens up the possibility to dream. If you lack inspiration at home, all you have to do is wander a...