Around Town With Shaye Baker

Photos Contributed By Shaye Baker

So here we are, but what are we doing here? Well, the plan is to dedicate this column to talking a little about a lot of things, all happening around town. From farmer’s markets to mental health assistance. From date ideas, to seeking out the best places to work remotely.

From introducing newcomers to the popular hotspots in the Opelika/Auburn area, to hopefully unveiling a few of the hidey hole places that have been overlooked by even the veteran residents of our quaint, little, ever-expanding twin cities. And then we’ll throw in an intimate deep dive into the life of one of our residents from time to time, to get to know the people that call this place home.

And I want to be your tour guide through it all. But that then raises the question, who am I? To answer that, I needed to do a little assessing. Self-reflection is important, because it leads to self-awareness. Selfawareness is vital to know where you are in life. And once you know where you are, you can better plan for where you want to go.

All this to say that after my little time of introspection, I’m a little bit of everything, too. I’m business casual meets good ‘ole boy. Definitely not a suit-and-tie guy, but not quite a mullet either — though if the mullet wasn’t such a commitment, I might have tried it at some point. I mean, business in the front and party in the back would be another accurate descriptor for myself.

I digress. The point is, I don’t mind dressing up, and am capable of it. But if I could wear a hoodie and jeans the rest of my life, (especially if the south-central Alabama humidity would allow it) I think I’d be pretty content doing just that.

I’m 35 years old, never married, with no kids. But I’d like to have a little family before too long. I was born and raised 35 minutes from Auburn, in Reeltown, Alabama. I attended college at Auburn University and have lived within an hour of campus my entire life. But I’ve also traveled to 35-ish states and nine countries, having spent extensive amounts of time in a couple. I speak in a dialect of Southern that’s hard for others to understand at times. I say words like “ain’t,” and when someone

asks how

I’m doing, I say “good” instead of “well.” Even though I know which one is right.

At the same time, I was the valedictorian of my class and received my degree from Auburn in Spanish and International Trade. So I speak somewhat fluent Spanish and am well versed in “redneckese”. I’ve spent a couple nights in New York City and more than my fair share of time knee-deep in an Alabama waterway.

I’m not always politically correct, but I make it a point not to offend anyone the best I can, ‘cause that’s just good raising. I’m an open book and still getting to know myself. I write poetry and I primarily talk about fishing for a living.

I’m a bit of a dichotomy. A walking contradiction at times. A good mix of a lot of things. Well-rounded, I guess you could call me, as long as you weren’t looking at my belly.

I tell you all of this to let you know that I’m a lot like a few of you and a little like a lot of you. I like good food, good fellowship and good times. I’ve lived in this area for a long time, but I’m still discovering it every day. I’m interested in a lot of the same things you are, and my hope is that you’ll enjoy spending a little time with me as we explore around town.

That’s my vision for this column. A unique slice of life, related to the Auburn/Opelika area and the people and places that make this region so special. We’ll review restaurants, tour local churches, tell stories, get to know people, lift up the little guy and seek out and simply enjoy a little good news here and there. I think we could all stand a little of that. I hope you’ll join me for the ride.

Shaye Baker’s first column for LIVE Lee is found on the next page — a look at Christmas lights around our area. His column will be featured regularly in LIVE Lee.

Ever since that star first shone bright over Bethlehem, it seems like we’ve been on this constant path to obsession with little twinkling lights around Christmas time. People will scale tall buildings and battle blown bulbs, untangling knots that the finest maritime men couldn’t have tied. All to adorn a suburban home with a few strands of incandescent illumination.

But it’s not just lights. It’s tradition, nostalgia, electric Christmas spirit. Thousands of little beacons of joy, shining light into the serene night. Emitting little to no heat at all, somehow these tiny bulbs can warm our hearts from hundreds of feet away.

If this has you in the mood to pour a little cocoa and scour the neighborhood in search of a few Christmas lights, you’re in luck.

We’ve done a lot of the legwork for you and are excited to share a few of our favorite light-viewing locales around town, as well as a couple more destinations further down the road.

Scenic neighborhood drive -

You’ll think you’re on Lincoln Avenue in a scene straight out of Home Alone as you make your way through the streets of White Oaks neighborhood in Auburn. There you will see beautiful mansions trimmed with garland, ornately hung wreaths, classy white lights and magnificent Christmas trees displayed proudly in bay windows. This neighborhood boasts some of the most beautiful homes and lights around town.

Christmas in Camelot -

Like White Oaks, the neighborhood of Camelot in Opelika comes together to put Christmas on full display. The homes are again fantastically decorated with lights, wreaths and the whole kit and caboodle. But in addition, this neighborhood features oversized Christmas cards painted by Opelika High School students. Load the family up and set out on an adventure close to home between Dec.1 and Dec. 31, nightly from 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Drive-thru Nativity Story -

If you’re a person of faith and would like to enjoy a retelling of the birth of Jesus according to the Biblical accounts found in Luke 2 and Matthew 2, you can enjoy the Drive-Thru Nativity Story off Robert Trent Jones Trail. This free, outdoor event is located at 100 Spa Loop in Opelika and runs throughout the month of December. Open day and night, listen in on your mobile device as you enjoy the stunning visual illustrations of the birth of Christ.

A roadtrip to Eclectic, Alabama -

An aptly named town to host such a spectacle, this light show in Eclectic, Alabama, features over 20,000 lights set to a wide variety of music, from Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” to “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” composed by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Simply pull into the front yard of the Nedervelt family home, adjust your radio dial and look on with amazement as the overabundance of lights sparkle and flash to tunes like “Jingle Bells”, “Joy to the World” and “Little Drummer Boy”.

Less than an hour west of Auburn University, this light show is free to the public and runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, rain or shine, every night from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. You can sprint over via I-85, or take the more scenic route down Highway 14, where you’re sure to see several more lights along the way.

East bound and down -

If you are a fan of Christmas lights at all, it’s likely you’ve heard of or been to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens. About an hour east of Auburn University, you can experience 10 million

lights across 2,500 acres of winter wonderland. Understandably, this light show comes at a cost, and prices vary widely. But there are other, lesser known attractions in the area that are free to visit and worth a look as well.

Venturing into the scenic little downtowns of Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, Georgia, will give you the feel of a mountain getaway close to home. Take a step back in time and experience main street the way it was, as you meander down the Mayberryesque sidewalks lined with shops busting at the hinges with holiday spirit. Shop for sweets and trinkets as you enjoy all the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas. Close enough for a day trip, or a great place to get away for the weekend, all bathed in the soft glow of Christmas cheer.

Best of the rest -

There are several other options around town for light viewing enthusiasts and people looking for something fun and free to do this holiday season. For a great online resource, look at Opelika’s Very Merry Christmas at OpelikaChristmas.com and a Happy Holidays page that can be found at wwwAOTourism.com.