Fairhope Now | 07.31.2026 | German Tourist Falls For Fairhope Charm

Friday, July 31, 2026

Happy Friday, Fairhope!

We are deep in the kind of summer that makes you think hard about whether that parking spot is worth a two-block walk in the sun. Apparently, at least one person on the planet has done the math and still come up Fairhope. A German soccer fan who traveled the country during the World Cup has named our little town his favorite city in the United States, and we are choosing to take that as a completely unbiased assessment. Meanwhile, the Fairhope Public Library is sending summer readers off in style with ice cream and certificates, which is honestly the correct way to celebrate anything. And if you are already looking past the weekend, mark your calendar for Founders Fun Fest on August 8th.

Your Friday Funny:

"I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes, so she hugged me." -Unknown

— Joy Davis, Anne Dorman, John Oldshue

A German soccer fan who went viral on social media during his World Cup trip across America has declared Fairhope his favorite city in the country. Freddy, known as @FreddyLA7 on X with over 700,000 followers, visited major destinations including Boston, Washington D.C., Nashville, and Niagara Falls before settling on our little town as the top stop.

Mayor Sherry Sullivan stopped by Mr Gene's Beans to congratulate top readers from the Fairhope Public Library's Summer Reading Program. Each young reader received a certificate and a free ice cream cone to celebrate their hard work turning pages all summer long.

Mark your calendar: Founders Fun Fest is August 8th from 2–8 pm at Founders Park. Expect food trucks, a homerun derby, inflatables, and a movie in the park — plus a special celebration of the Fairhope Girls Softball League and their community work.

Madeline Martin, bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London, is coming to Page & Palette on Wednesday, September 30th at 6 PM to sign and discuss her new historical novel, A Time of Witches. She'll be in conversation with local author Gabriella Saab. Pre-orders are available now.

For Fairhope artist Melanie Grein, creativity has never been a hobby. It has simply been a way of life. From making her own shoes in elementary school to building a career as a professional artist, Grein says art was the path that chose her. After spending two years as a part-time resident before moving to Fairhope full time five years ago, she discovered the coastal landscape began transforming her work. Water inspires her the most, living by the coast is a part of life she’s not willing to give up. Her palette shifted to brighter, more coastal colors while her signature circles became a defining element of her abstract paintings. The sky, natural surroundings of Mobile Bay, and any beautiful thing she comes across also guide her work.

Whether she's painting abstracts or creating collages out of beautiful fabrics, Grein says every piece that leaves her studio has earned its place. "I never want to hold my best work back," she said, explaining that she wants collectors to experience the artwork she's most proud of. Although she has found a signature style, Grein continues to push herself creatively, believing every new painting is another opportunity to learn, grow, and discover something unexpected.

Source: Editor

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