Bay Watch
(Editor’s Note: This is a sample of “Bay Watch,” a new column highlighting observations by our staff of the people, places and events that make our area special. It will appear each Friday beginning Friday, Feb. 27)
Hair today, gone tomorrow: A pending visit to corporate headquarters recently necessitated a visit to Ken’s Barber Shop, 2323 E. U.S. (Business) 98 for a big-time $8 haircut and shave. If you’ve never been, it’s a barber shop out of the past complete with the red-and-white striped pole, old-fashioned seat and a duck or two mounted on the wall. There’s also the “wall of shame,” upon which you’ll find ponytails that were whacked off in one fell swoop. Owner Ken Griffith said he’s about to get busy. “It’s slow now, but it’ll pick up when the tax returns start coming in,” he said. “People are broke.”
Sweetest water in town: During a recent lunch at Big Mama’s on the Bayou with our publisher Tim Thompson and Realtor/property mogul Steve Counts of Counts Real Estate Group, I learned two things: Unsweet tea is much like water and business owners know what on their menu is the best. I ordered unsweet tea but mistakenly grabbed a water and poured four Splenda into it (admit it, you’ve done this, right?). I drank half of it without knowing the difference. After the fried food hit our bellies, a fellow wandered by the table and Steve introduced him. Our publisher proceeded to highly recommend the pork chop, “It’s the best I’ve ever had!” Turns out the man knew that, he was Dave Evans, the owner.
Every cat has its Fest? The upcoming DogFest Walk ‘n Roll featured in Sunday’s News Herald and scheduled for March 7 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach has some whiskers waving, based on a Facebook photo submitted by Katie Schneider. Posted with a picture of a gray cat staring at that days’ newspaper is the comment: “What is this? DogFest?! Where the heck is CATFEST?!” Yes, I asked Katie and other commenters, where the heck is CatFest and why don’t they get one going? “Looks like I have a campaign to plan; my husband calls me a cat rancher!” said Melissa Rogers Hagan. “If there's anything cats love, it's going to a festival,” commented Schneider. All I ask is that if a CatFest is attempted, please, please, please invite me to watch this one come together. Because nothing says fun like a putting a large number of cats in a confined space.
Do not argue with Siri’s family: On my way to pick up my English cocker Buddy from a weekend stay at Naju Boarding and Grooming, 5927 Hwy. 22, I got into a heated debate with my Ford Fusion’s voice-controlled navigation system. No matter how many different ways I pronounced “N-A-J-U,” my usually kind female guiding system refused to recognize it. In the ensuing pursuit to make her understand, I got lost. Once at Naju, where Buddy loves to romp when I can’t be around in person, I paid my bill and braced to greet my dog as he bounded toward me. He launched himself onto my leg and peed on me. I say he was excited; friends say he was exacting revenge.
Why, Dwight, why? Because I’m too lazy to pick up the phone, I’ll ask the same question so many people have and hope the man reaches out to me: Dwight Hicks, what is up with that red blazer you wear on all your signs? I can’t decide if the Realtor likes that color, is branding himself with it, or is perhaps a ‘Bama or Arkansas fan. Dwight? 747-5094.
