OurShoals

Pulled pork, hot slaw, white BBQ sauce—if you’ve ever wondered what Alabama barbecue was all about, there are plenty of lunch spots around the Shoals where you can get an education. We ate our way through anything and everything that comes off a smoker the past few weeks and came out with five top barbecue joints you should try. Among them: .Florence, for its brisket special on Thursdays and vinegary baked beans we couldn’t stop eating. Check out more about 306 and our other four choices in the full story on our website.

Heading into the holiday weekend stocked up on local goods! We picked up these eggs from St. Florian Fiber Farm, sourdough loaf from Oakland Bakery and coffee beans from J. Brooks Coffee Roasters out of Memphis… and we’re already looking forward to Saturday morning (and, um, we couldn’t wait to dig in a little early, obviously). It’s all from Cottonwood Farm & Grocery in Florence—one of our favorite spots to shop on Court Street. Check out more about it and see our other top shops in the story on our website.

What are you up to this weekend?