14 MAR 05: EAST PARADE
The glossy magazine stood by itself inside the Kroger store, and took me a bit by surprise. For one thing, it didn't show a fancy high-calorie dessert on the cover to make me buy more groceries....
The magazine was one I didn't know about before. "East Alabama Living" published its first issue only last fall, and plans four issues a year. Since "Columbus and the Valley" magazine has six issues a year, I suppose that makes Columbus 50 percent more interesting.
I wondered if the two magazines were published by the same company, but they're not. East Alabama Living is brought to you by The Auburn Network, which puts together Auburn University sportscasts. Sorry, Alabama and Georgia fans - I fear you won't find "fair and balanced" coverage here.
A few articles from the first two issues of East Alabama Living are posted online. The first one last fall took readers on a tour of Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville's home along Lake Martin. Don't tell any administrators this -- but I didn't see a framed picture of Ed Richardson anywhere inside.
The magazine reports Tommy Tuberville and his wife built their spacious home along Lake Martin in 2000. So far, the coach says he has NOT brought the Auburn football team there for any outings. But that's OK - I doubt he's invited any A.U. trustees there lately, either.
East Alabama Living points out one perk of the lakeside home. Because it's within 30 miles of the Auburn campus, Tommy Tuberville can legally take high school football players there during recruiting trips. Of course, students who turn him down might get pushed into the lake....
The winter issue of East Alabama Living is the latest one posted online. It includes a color-photo tour of someone else's nice lakeside home. What gets me is how perfect-looking the rooms of these homes are - as if children have to stay outdoors at all times, so they don't make a mess.
The winter edition of East Alabama Living also offers an illustrated story on "Rushton Air" - which just happens to have the Auburn Network as one of its clients. How many free flights does the Auburn baseball team get for that one?
From what I've seen, East Alabama Living seems focused on little more than Auburn and Lee County. Hopefully upcoming issues will expand the coverage to other parts of east Alabama. For instance, I'd like to see that $300,000 home a prospective Muscogee County school official bought awhile back....
East Alabama Living also offers dining reviews, such as one for a fancy restaurant inside the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center. Here again, I'd like to see the coverage expand. Let's head for "Don's Fine Foods" in Phenix City, and see how fine they REALLY are.
Now more sights we noticed, on a simply fabulous Sunday:
+ Muscogee County School Superintendent Dr. John Phillips received an award from his alma mater, St. Leo College. No, it was NOT an award for surviving this long in Columbus without getting fired....
+ The Port Columbus museum completed "River Blast" weekend, featuring mock battles between historic Confederate warships. I saw old cast-iron kettles out along the Riverwalk, when I jogged Saturday night - and the participants will be thrilled to learn I didn't spit in any of them.
+ Columbus State's basketball season ended, with an 84-72 second-round playoff loss to Bowie State of Maryland. Imagine my surprise to learn Bowie State's nickname is the Bulldogs - and not the Knives.
+ Former Columbus TV reporter Kimberley Kennedy won an Internet award - not for the show she hosts in Atlanta, but for her hairstyle. Where IS the Candace Cook Fan Club, to provide her that big national break?
+ Instant Message to TV-16 talk show host Nate Sanderson: Wow - you had an "in-guest studio" on your show Sunday night? This time, YOU were the one "Out of Order."
COMING TUESDAY: We play e-mail catch-up, including more about turning blue....
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