COMMUNITY & CULTURE

What Auburn Oil Co. has in store for Auburn’s community
Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, founded in October 2019, sells books and local handmade products, but also hosts author signings, trivia nights and blind book dates. The owners, Mike Armor and June Wilcox, envisioned their bookstore to be a place where people can read, drink coffee or wine, chat and have a good time together.

​Auburn students and the mental tolls of the polls
Many students are feeling stressed as they prepare for the upcoming election, with pressures stemming from the need to stay informed, manage differing opinions and juggle academic responsibilities. Experts highlight how stress can impact mental well-being and offer advice on coping strategies, such as setting boundaries around political content and practicing self-care.
Loachapoka: The hidden gem holding Pioneer Park and an annual folk fair
Just a 12-minute drive down the road from Auburn sits a town of only 162 residents.
Loachapoka may be small in comparison to its popular neighbor, yet its history is just as rich. With over 50 years of celebrating ‘Syrup Sopping Day,’ the local museum’s fall folk fair is one you won’t want to miss.
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Peak bird migration has arrived in Alabama: An ‘egg-sighting’ season
Autumn has fallen upon us, bringing with it ‘beak’ bird migration season. It seems we’ve waited ‘owl’ season to observe the movement of billions of birds through American airspace. Keep reading to learn more about fall migration, tips for birders and more!
Welcome to Loxley: Home to ‘strawberry festivals forever’
Year after year, between April showers, Loxley has hosted Baldwin County’s Strawberry Festival at the Loxley Municipal Park. Previously known as “the biggest little town in the county,” it gained its official city status in 2022. Approximately 4,623 people call Loxley home — but countless more pass through daily as they drive on Alabama Highway 59 on their way to the sandy shores of Orange Beach + Gulf Shores.


4 Alabama authors to add to your ‘to-be-read’ list
When many of us think of Alabamian authors, our minds often go to the literary greats like Harper Lee, Kathryn Windham + Fannie Flagg. However, there are many authors in the state with amazing work you may not have read yet. We’ve complied a list of 4 authors, either born or raised in Alabama, that you may want to check out.
2024 Youth Leadership Forum: Disability doesn’t define you
With the assistance of its mentors, volunteers and sponsors, the Alabama Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum provides students with disabilities the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills, make meaningful connections and become confident in who they are. Roughly 30 high school students from all over Alabama are able to partake in the program each year.


Dink & Volley Pickleball holds court in Auburn with the sport’s admirers
With approximately 800 members in the Opelika Pickleball Club, and about 300 in the Auburn Pickleball Club, there was a need within the Auburn-Opelika community for a store to support the sport. Dink & Volley Pickleball, a local, woman-owned shop in Auburn, answered the call.
13 places in Alabama to watch the Final Four game
This Saturday at 5:09 p.m., the Auburn Tigers will be taking on the Florida Gators at the San Antonio Alamodome. Whether you’re in Auburn —with toilet paper in hand, ready to roll Toomer’s — or located elsewhere in the state, we’ve collected a list of 13 places across Alabama to watch the Final Four game.


‘The Jubilee City’: Learn the history behind Daphne’s unique nickname
A “Jubilee” is a rare, natural phenomenon where large numbers of marine life swim from the depths of the bay to shallower waters along a shoreline. In Daphne, commonly known as “The Jubilee City,” this phenomenon brings blue crabs, shrimp + fish to the Eastern Shore — into the readied hands, and ice chests, of the city’s locals.

5 things you may not know about “The Loveliest Village on the Plains”
When most people think of Auburn, they tend to picture the Jordan-Hare stadium, trees rolled on Toomer’s Corner, or the university’s lovable mascot, Aubie. We’ve collected some unique facts about Auburn you may not know yet.
2 Alabama hotels nominated for USA Today’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort—how you can vote
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, as well as the Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa, have both been named as nominees on USA Today's 2025 Best Historic Hotel/Resort list. Keep reading to learn more about the history of the hotels and how to vote!




