Good mornin’, Fairhope! 😄 Your FREE Fairhope Now newsletter is here, kicking off like the first play of College Football season! This edition is packed, including a spotlight on Fairhope’s own Riley Leonard, starting as QB for Notre Dame. Want to help your friends get in on the action? Send them to FairhopeNow.com or forward this email so they can hit that subscribe button like a homerun—no, it’s not a touchdown, but close enough for nerds like us 🤣 

In today’s newsletter :

1. The Blind Tiger is Opening Today — Probably 😂 

2. Fairhope’s K1 Center Revamp to a Tech Hub Begins!

3. Fairhope’s Riley Leonard Starting as Notre Dame QB This Weekend

4. Famous Fairhope Cats Get Their Own Portraits

5. Quick News from around Fairhope

6. Fairhope Adoptable Pets : Cooper the Australian Sheppard

7. Let’s Go! Fairhope Events Section

The Blind Tiger is Opening Today — Probably 😂

The long eternal wait for The Blind Tiger to open may be finally over !!!! The word from multiple sources is that today The Blind Tiger on the Fairhope Pier will be OPEN to the public. A few lucky folks and VIPs have been trying out The Blind Tiger over the last couple of evenings and the reviews are ALL EXCELLENT. You can see more images of the food and decor here. Apparently they didn’t want the hassle of doing a whole big Grand Opening thing so they just decided to go ahead and open it today without any big announcement. That of course is always subject to change, but if you swing by there and they are open and/or you do end up eating please post about it in the Fairhope Now FB group.

Fairhope’s K1 Center Revamp to a Tech Hub Begins!

AL.com reports that Fairhope’s beloved K1 Center, a 100-year-old schoolhouse, is finally getting its much-anticipated facelift! After years of waiting and a lot of nail-biting from locals, the city has secured the funds to turn this historic gem into a tech hub for emerging startups. The renovation will preserve the building’s charming exterior while giving the interior a modern twist, perfect for housing the Hatch program and other tech ventures. With construction set to start soon, Fairhope might just have a tech hub by the end of 2025, right in the heart of downtown!

Fairhope’s Riley Leonard Starting as Notre Dame QB This Weekend

Fairhope’s own Riley Leonard is all set to make his big debut as the starting QB for seventh-ranked Notre Dame’s primetime season opener at No. 20 Texas A&M (6:30 CDT; ABC-TV) Riley has the skills, the poise, and the Fighting Irish faithful buzzing with anticipation. Stepping into the spotlight at Notre Dame is no small feat, but if anyone’s ready to rise to the occasion, it’s Leonard. Here’s to hoping he kicks off the season with a bang and gives us all something to cheer about! He was one of the few players out of Baldwin county recently featured in the release of EA Sports College Football 2025 game and he just signed an NIL deal with hat maker New Era as well.

Famous Fairhope Cats Get Their Own Portraits

The two famous Fairhope French Quarter cats recently had their portraits painted by Fairhope artist Kelly Allen. Marble (on the left above) and Fancy (on the right above) are legends in the downtown area. Fancy was even briefly catnapped a couple of years ago. Kelly had requests to paint them from fans and she just finished her project. She reports that Fancy’s fur was “a beast”.

Quick News from around Fairhope

1. Fairhope Single Mom with 6 Children Needs Help with Beds

2. Fairhope Story of Kindness Goes Viral

3. Karaoke Available in Fairhope on Saturday Night

4. Fairhope Film Festival Scheduled for Nov. 7-10

5. Pet Adoption Fees Waived at The Haven thru Aug. 31

6. Labor Day Weekend Events at the American Legion

7. Labor Day BBQ at American Legion - Drive Thru or Walk Up

8. Boom's Thai Kitchen opens in Piggly Wiggly in Fairhope

Fairhope Adoptable Pets : Cooper the Australian Sheppard

Meet Cooper, a lively 3-year-old Australian Shepherd with endless energy and a big heart. He’s incredibly loyal and combines his loving nature with a strong drive to stay active. Cooper is intelligent, quickly mastering commands like “sit” and “wait,” and thrives on challenges. His high energy makes him the perfect adventure buddy, whether hiking or training, and his affectionate side ensures he’s a joy to be around. Cooper’s enthusiasm for learning and working makes every day with him exciting and full of love. Read more about Cooper and other adoptable pets at the Haven by clicking here.

Let’s Go Fairhope sifts through endless posts, websites and insider-scoop information to bring you the skinny on events and things to do locally. It filters out the noise and gets to the point. It’s a simple list, presented in a friendly format, reminding us at-a-glance of what’s happening each week. Our fans say they like it because it’s basic, easily accessible, can be printed and posted on the fridge, and found on social media. Click here to visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Friday, August 30
Sign up for Let’s Go! Fairhope here

• 8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local Info & Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

• 11 am - 1 pm: Community Cafe Donation Lunch @ Fairhope United Methodist

• 12 - 2 pm: Close Knit Knitting Circle @ Fairhope Public Library

• 1pm: Sip & Pour Paint Pots Arts & Crafts w/ Disco Dave @ Dragonfly Emporium

• 1 - 3 pm: Eastern Shore Islamic Center Weekly Jummah @ FH Unitarian Fellowship

• 6 pm: Open Mic Night @ American Legion Post 199

• 6 - 9 pm: High Cotton Band @ Fairhope Brewing Company

• 6- 9 pm: Live Music @ Bill E's

• 6 - 10 pm: Thom Oglesby Solo Piano @ Gambino's Italian Grill

• 6:30 pm: “Singo” Night “Where Bingo meets your favorite tunes” @ Rotolo’s

• 6:30 - 8:30 pm: Line Dancing Lessons w/ social dancing after @ Lucky Horseshoe

• 6:30 - 8:30 pm: The Light Travelers - Live Music @ Page & Palette

• 6:30 - 9:30 pm: The Selma Boys - Live Music @ District Hall

• 7 - 10 pm: Zoe Burdett - Live Music @ The Hope Farm

• 7 - 11 pm: Live Music / 10 pm - 2 am: Live DJ @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

• 7:17 - 7:41 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

• 8 - 11 pm: Cat Rhodes & The Truth - Live Music @ Bone & Barrel

• 9 pm - 12 am: Live Music @ The Ravenite Pizzeria

Saturday, August 31
Sign up for Let’s Go! Fairhope here

• 7:30 am: 28 Miles Ride + Casual/Beginner Rides @ Procycle

• 9:05 - 10 am: Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

• 9 am: Last Saturday of the Month Ladies Brunch @ Celebration Church

• 9 am: Grief Support Group in the Pool Room Before Business Hours @ 2 Shots In

• 1 - 3 pm: Lee Rozelle - Author Signing Event @ Page & Palette

• 4 - 8 pm: Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck @ Fairhope Brewing Company

• 5 - 8 pm: Cam Lewis - Live Music @ American Legion Post 199

• 6 - 8 pm: Desert Rose School Spirit True Colors Paint & Sip @ Clovis Cafe

• 6 - 9 pm: Swampwater Symphony - Live Music @ Fairhope Brewing Company

• 6 - 10pm: Thom Oglesby Solo Piano @ Gambino's Italian Grill

• 6:30 - 8:30 pm: Rock & Roll Bingo @ District Hall

• 7 pm: Live Music / Live DJ 'til 2 AM @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

• 7 - 10 pm: Live Music or DJ Doors open at 6 PM Music at 7 @ Lucky Horseshoe

• 7 - 10 pm: Zack Chavers - Live Music @ The Hope Farm

• 7:16 - 7:39 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

• 8 - 11 pm: Catiwompus - Live Music @ Bone & Barrel

• 9 pm - 12 am: Karaoke @ The Ravenite Pizzeria

Sunday, September 1
Sign up for Let’s Go! Fairhope here

• 7:30 am - 5 pm: Services at @ 3 Circle Church Fairhope, Celebration Church, Fairhope, Church of the Apostles, Fairhope Christian Church, Fairhope Church of Christ, Fairhope United Methodist, Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship, First Fairhope, Lebanon Chapel, Redeemer Lutheran, St. James Episcopal, St. Lawrence, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Twin Beech AME, Unity on the Eastern Shore and more

• 8:45 pm - 9:45 am Meditation @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship

• 9:30 am: Veterans & First Responders Support Group before open @ 2 Shots In

• 9:30 am: Bill Coleman Live Jazz Guitar During Brunch @ Tamara’s Downtown

• 2 - 4 pm: Pickleball @ Fairhope United Methodist

• 5 - 9 pm: The Tip Tops $15 - Live Music @ American Legion Post 199

• 6 - 9 pm:New Growth Dinner Featuring Chef Bill Briand @ The Hope Farm

• 6 - 8 pm: Live Traditional Irish Music @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

• 7:15 - 7:38 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

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- John Oldshue, Anne Dorman, & Lynn Oldshue