Monday, October 28, 2013
By Phillip Norris
The first annual Fairhope Film Festival will debut on Nov. 7-10 in historic downtown Fairhope. More than 40 international award-winning films will be shown in four downtown walkable venues over the four-day festival. The glitch for some, however, is it’s a fall football weekend, and many don’t want to miss their favorite team play. Have no fear, because downtown Fairhope has lots of sports bars that will offer your game of choice within walking distance of the film venues.
Bobby Kilpatrick, owner of My Place Downtown, said he has four TVs in the bar and will have a large-screen TV in the courtyard, cold beer and any mixed drink that you can think up. Across the street at McSharry’s Irish Pub, Ronan McSharry will open as early as an SEC game starts and always has lots of quality beers on tap for the discerning football/film fan. Up the street at Courtyard@311, Jennifer Pierce has just purchased four new big screens and has worked up menu specials to go along with your favorite team’s game. Courtyard@311 offers football viewing at the indoor bar with table seating, a game-day upstairs big screen room, and an outside courtyard that features college football on Saturday and pro football on Sunday.
So here’s the deal: you have access to great films and great sports bars all in one of the most beautiful small cities in the South. If you love great films and football, come on down. If you love great films but have a significant other who doesn’t, then park him or her at a great watering hole while you see films that have just won the top awards in the United States and abroad..
Also at the Fairhope Film Festival, there are two great parties in the lineup — one on Friday and one on Saturday night. These parties provide an opportunity for you to meet and mingle with film directors and actors who will be in town for the Festival. Plus, who knows, they may be sitting next to you at one of Fairhope’s downtown taverns watching the Crimson Tide or the Tigers go for a win.