Cruisin’ the Coast, the non-stop celebration of vehicles that navigates an RV-lined U.S. 90, enters its final weekend with a record-setting number of registered automobiles and onlookers.
You’ll find a host of daily entertainment on the outdoor stages at Edgewater Mall and at sites along the Coast, along with concerts at casino venues.
More than 7,100 vehicles are registered for the 18th annual Cruisin’, with an undetermined unregistered collection of autos joining the affair, and dozens of RVs and hundreds of auto enthusiasts watch the cruising. The event dominates major roadways each day and into the evening.
The most important advice to remember as you travel the busy roadways of Biloxi and south Mississippi this weekend: Be patient, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller reminds drivers in this week’s edition of the City Desk webcast.
During the 11-minute program, Miller discusses this year’s record-shattering Cruisin’ the Coast and talks about how police officers train for huge events.
Listen to the City Desk
See photos from Biloxi’s big block party
See the Cruisin’ schedule
Lighthouse crafts fair is Saturday at Visitors Center
More than 30 local artists and craftsmen, including Katrina sculptor Marlin Miller, will be displaying their wares Saturday from 9 to 4 on the lawn of the Biloxi Visitors Center for the Second Annual Lighthouse Arts and Crafts Fair.
Visitors also will have a chance to climb the Biloxi Lighthouse during one of the tours offered every 30 minutes throughout the event.  While admission to the crafts show is free, the charge to tour the Biloxi Lighthouse is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Visitors also are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and watch the cruisers while enjoying the gulf breeze.
According to Bill Raymond, Biloxi historical  administrator and Visitors Center Manager, “The fair gives the center an opportunity to show off the Biloxi Lighthouse, the city’s most beloved landmark, and at the same time we can showcase local artists who have helped support the visitors center gift shop.”
See your overall weekend lineup
City to conduct auction of surplus equipment
The City of Biloxi will conduct an auction of surplus city equipment – boats, vehicles, trailers, tractors, school buses, zero-turn mowers, tools, computers and the like – on Saturday on the Biloxi Public Safety Communications site on Popp’s Ferry Road.
The auction will begin at 9 a.m. A $10 entry fee will be charged.
The site is at 1656 Popp’s Ferry Road, east of Cedar Lake Road. The auction is being conducted for the city by Nick Clark Auctions.
See photos and a list of items to be auctioned
Reef Restaurant opens; Sal & Mookie’s gets permitÂ
By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in economic development, activities included the opening of the Reef Restaurant on Beach Boulevard. The restaurant opened on Saturday, just in time for Cruisin’ the Coast. Although the building is complete and operational, be on the lookout for the addition of two more improvements. A new playground will be added to the beach side of the restaurant, and a new Marty Wilson mural will be painted on the exterior wall facing Beach Boulevard.
Also this week, the building permit was issued for Sal & Mookie’s Restaurant, to be located at 110 Lameuse Street. The $1.3 Million Dollar Pizza and Ice Cream Restaurant will be another welcome addition to our inventory of downtown eateries. The extensive menu includes a number of Italian specialties and a full bar. Construction should begin immediately, and completed sometime in May 2015.
We are currently reviewing plans for improvements to the “Fillin’ Station Restaurant in downtown, an addition to the Ironworks Gym on Eisenhower Drive and 4 new single family houses.
News and notes
Flame-roasted: To see more than a hundred photos from the SRO Biloxi First Roast of Susan Hunt, courtesy of Facebook, click here.
DRC: The Development Review Committee will hear the case of a proposed subdivision off Old Highway 67 when it meets next week. To see the agenda, click here.
Council: The next scheduled meeting of the Biloxi City Council is Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Cruisin’ cams: Want to get a quick look at the traffic scene this weekend — or anytime — before venturing out? Â MDOT offers real-time traffic cams in Biloxi and along the Coast. To see the link on the city’s Traffic Update page, click here.
