Plainsman's Choice 2026 highlights the best food in the Auburn-Opelika area. Read to learn more about the winners of this section's four categories, including: Best restaurant, best Mexican food, best dessert and best coffee.
On March 5, Auburn Women in Law collaborated with the CARE Humane Society for an evening of puppy yoga at Be Yoga. Participants were able to partake in a one-hour class of yoga while enjoying the energy and rambunctiousness of the puppies from 6 to 7 p.m.
On Dec. 25, 2025, roughly two dozen Buddhist monks passed through Auburn and Opelika on their 2,300-mile peace walk across the United States. Foundry Opelika Church housed the group on Dec. 25, while community members volunteered and prayed with the monks throughout the day and into the night. On Dec. 26, the group began their trek from Opelika to Cusseta, Alabama, where over 100 onlookers greeted them. Supporters are able to keep track of the monks through a live map found on their social media.
Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads a moment of quiet, mindful presence during a lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
A venerable monk presses his palms together and points fingers upwards towards a group of Chambers County Deputy Sheriffs in a gesture of deep respect. The Walk for Peace has a police escort for safety, traffic management and crowd control.
A venerable monk poses for his portrait during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
Two women express emotion after a moment of mindful presence with Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.
A woman shows respect to the Venerable Monk by sitting on her knees and offering up her wrist. The monk then ties a blessing bracelet made from yarn around her wrist.
At the end of the lunch stop the monks tie blessing bracelets of yarn and beads to the wrists of the supporters that they met in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025. The bracelets serve as physical reminders of the walk. They also bring good luck, protection and positive energy.
Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads a moment of quiet, mindful presence during a lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
Before lining up and serving themselves the monks chant to bless the food. Volunteers sit on their knees with their palms together and fingers pointed up in a gesture of respect.
A venerable monk takes a moment to sit with a visitor and pray during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.
Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads the group of monks to Collins Farm in Cusseta, Ala. for their lunch stop after walking from Opelika, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.
