Florence AL Archives - There Goes Connie

Looking Back at my 2018 Travels and Recommendations

01/07/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t just looked back at my calendar and all of the photos I took. During 2018, I visited 23 destinations, finished construction/decisions/moving involved with our new house and hosted the 11th Annual Cousins Camp. You might think I’d be ready to stay home for awhile, and yes. I truly do savor days for writing, thinking and “just being.” But, those of you who know me best, know that I always LOVE planning. So, happily my calendar is filling up with more amazing places to explore in 2019.

A few of the trips I made in 2018 were purely for fun, but 100% have or will end up as blog posts or articles in other publications. And, 100% of the places I visited can be wholeheartedly recommended for you. The vast majority were in my heartland, a.k.a. The Deep South, but I also got on a few airplanes along the way.

I began the year with Steve on Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL, and we ended our travel year seeing New York City at Christmas time. In between, there were fabulous restaurants, hotels, museums, attractions of all kinds and stunning displays of nature. Here are some highlights, pretty much in order as I saw them through the year. Maybe one or more of them will capture your attention and draw you in for a closer look. Please stick with me as we explore more hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems in 2019.

Shellhunting with the shorebirds on tranquil Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL in January of 2018.

The iconic tree in Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 2018.

February is a wonderful time to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are many activities and advantage for snowbirds, and of course, the seafood is always fresh and delicious.

A search for the many painted mules in Jasper, AL is a fun pursuit. While there, the shopping and dining options are plentiful.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum is an important destination. While in town, try some of the great restaurants — Highlands Bar and Grill, Galley and Garden, Chez Fonfon, etc. — and take the elevator to the top of the Vulcan.

It was so much fun to share a “Gone with the Girls” tour with my daughter and granddaughter. Clay and Henry Counties and their towns of Jonesboro, Locust Grove and McDonough (just a few miles south of Atlanta) are full of great eateries. shops and attractions, among them is the Road to Tara Museum.

Oxford, Mississippi is home to the University of Mississippi, 4 restaurants owned by John Currence and Rowan Oak, home of novelist William Faulkner. What a great town!

In addition to famous recording studios, boutique hotels, the University of North Alabama and good Southern eats, be sure to visit the store and workshop of Natalie Chanin and get a close look at her fabulous textile artistry.

The historic and beautiful Dunhill is a great place to stay in downtown Charlotte. The rooms are comfortable, the location is great, and The Asbury, adjoining restaurant, has award-winning chefs.

Biltmore House and Gardens is a MUST when visiting Asheville, N.C. Also, consider one of the delightful B & Bs in the area.

While visiting the Old 96 District of South Carolina, I highly recommend staying at The Inn on the Square in Greenwood, S.C.

Historic Brattonsville is an informative attraction in the Olde English District of South Carolina, between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC.

Canton OH is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and SO MUCH MORE!!

Downtown Cleveland is filled with sports venues, hotels and restaurants. A little further out are attractions for history, art and music lovers, and don’t forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Columbia, TN has a great historic downtown, the James K. Polk Home and the Blythewood Inn Bed and Breakfast. Be sure to plan a stop when you’re in the Nashville area.

Gadsden, AL has Noccalula Falls within its city limits, plus a wonderful Main Street with shops, restaurants and a very active cultural center.

Corinth, Mississippi is the site of important Civil War history. Here is a poignant fountain outside the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

The Palm Court, ornate restaurant inside the Plaza Hotel in New York City, is where one of America’s most famous Afternoon Tea parties takes place.

Go. See. Eat. Experience. There’s a great, big, fascinating world out there.

(Just scroll back through my blog posts to read about these places in greater detail).

Gunrunner Boutique Hotel: Exceptional Lodging in the Shoals

05/28/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

If you’re like me and enjoy searching out the newest and the quirkiest places to spend the night, if you enjoy hearing the history of a building or the motivations and dreams of the owners, then I would suggest that you consider the Gunrunner Boutique Hotel in Florence, Alabama. Located at 310 East Tennessee Street, just a block away from Court Street, Gunrunner enjoys strategic proximity to shopping, dining and main events in Florence.

The ten suites of Gunrunner are behind and above two thriving businesses—Turbo Coffee and Greasy Hands Barbershop — and there is a large event space in the rear of the building.

Turbo Coffee on the ground floor of the Gunrunner.

Coffee shop bar area near the front access to the Gunrunner.

Greasy Hands Barbershop on the ground floor of the Gunrunner Hotel.

Event space in the back of the Gunrunner.

Billy Ray Casteel, the hotel’s owner, insisted that each suite would be decorated around a theme with a specific connection to the Shoals. Guests may choose from the Billy Reid Suite (decorated by designer Billy Reid himself), Frank Lloyd Wright Suite (the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Alabama is only a few blocks away), the Glencoe Suite (named for a famous racehorse of the 1800’s owned by the Jackson family who built a mansion in Lauderdale County), the Lion Suite (a reference to the mascot of the University of North Alabama) and others. The Devil’s Backbone Suite is the only one truly handicap-accessible. It is on the ground floor and has a walk-in shower. Others are reached by a flight of stairs.

The ADA-compliant suite at the Gunrunner.

The former warehouse building has been overhauled and completely repurposed but still retains exposed brick walls, wood ceiling beams, and a former freight elevator is now where the bar is located.

Common area accessible to the guest suites.

The bar and lounge area in the common space of the Gunrunner.

Guest suites feature bedding by Peacock Alley, luxurious robes, Bluetooth speakers, flatscreen TV, Keurig coffeemaker, private bath, private parking and keyless entrance. As a matter of fact, Gunrunner strives to be as hands-off with its guests as possible. Reservations and payment are made on-line, then guests are given a code to use to access the main door and their particular suite.

Florence hosts First Friday events in downtown, the Helen Keller Festival, the W.C. Handy Festival, and, of course, dozens of special happenings at the University of North Alabama. Find a special occasion and check out the website of the Gunrunner. I assure you this will be far from a “cookie-cutter” experience.

Florence, Alabama Native, Natalie Chanin: Her Factory and Her Cafe

05/21/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

“A Feather’s Not a Bird” by Rosanne Cash begins with these lyrics:

I’m going down to Florence, gonna wear a pretty dress
I’ll sit atop the magic wall with the voices in my head
Then we’ll drive on through to Memphis, past the strongest shoals
Then on to Arkansas just to touch the gumbo soul

A feather’s not a bird
The rain is not the sea
A stone is not a mountain
But a river runs through me

There’s never any highway when you’re looking for the past
The land becomes a memory and it happens way too fast
The money’s all in Nashville but the light’s inside my head
So I’m going down to Florence just to learn to love the thread

A feather’s not a bird
The rain is not the sea
A stone is not a mountain
But a river runs through me

Those of us who are natives of North Alabama, know where Florence, Alabama is, and we certainly know which river she’s singing about — the Tennessee, of course! We might even be familiar with “the magic wall” Rosanne Cash mentions in the second line. That refers to the mile-long stone wall monument Tom Hendrix built in honor of his great, great grandmother’s journey back from Oklahoma after being carried from her homeland during the Trail of Tears. And, “the voices in my head” suggest the name the Yuchi tribe gave to the Tennessee River — “the river that sings.”

But, what about “wearing a pretty dress” and “learning to love the thread?”

That’s where Natalie Chanin comes into the song. Cash and Chanin spent time sightseeing and sewing together during a trip Cash made in 2013 to explore some of her daddy’s roots (Johnny Cash). While traveling the Natchez Trace, Cash was led naturally to Alabama. The trip inspired Cash to the point that she named her 2014 album “The River and the Thread” and wore a Natalie Chanin coat when she accepted three Grammy awards that year.

I believe you, too, will be inspired when you make a visit to Ms. Chanin’s factory, store and cafe in Florence. Natalie Chanin spent 20 years as a designer and stylist in New York and Europe before being drawn back to her hometown and bringing her creative talents with her. Alabama Chanin, 462 Lane Drive in Florence, is housed in a former t-shirt factory.

Entrance to Alabama Chanin in Florence, AL.

Warehouse-type store.

The Factory Store is open from 10:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday and from 10:00 to 3:00 on Saturday. Items for sale include both handsewn and factory-made fashions, as well as home goods and accessories from local artisans. Ms. Chanin’s designs are extremely high-end, and when you look closely and see the intricacy of the work, you will better appreciate the price tags.

Alabama Chanin also opens the factory to sewing groups on the first and third Tuesdays of each month for those who want to enjoy improving their skills while socializing with others. DIY kits and stencil templates are for sale for beginners and advanced seamstresses. Ms. Chanin believes strongly in passing down sewing arts and offers a variety of classes that can be found on the website.

Tours of the Factory are hosted at 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The tours are free and last about 30 minutes. It is extremely interesting to learn about the behind-the-scenes process for creating the elaborate pieces produced by Chanin and her team.

Factory Cafe is a popular place for lunch with its wide expanse of tables, natural light, and fresh, delicious menu. Diners order at the counter, and then dishes are brought to the table. The day I visited, Natalie herself was serving guests. I SO wanted to stop her long enough for a photo but just couldn’t convince myself it was the right thing to do. She’s quite striking in her appearance and appears very humble in spite of her amazing success and worldwide recognition.

At the counter of the Factory Cafe.

I strongly urge you to check out this fascinating gem in Florence, AL. It might just cause you to dust off your long-unused sewing machine.

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