Nominated by Chris Reebals of Christopher Architecture & Interiors, Mack Braden was honored at our 2023 Soul of the South Awards as one of our Architecture & Interior Design category winners. Biography At an early age, Mack was fascinated with Legos and houses, which naturally guided him to a career in architecture. A native of […]

The Wright family – Amy, Ben, Lillie, Emma Grace, Bitty, and Beau – want to change your perception of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, one coffee drink at a time. Their platform is Bitty and Beau’s, a coffee house franchise that employs mainly people with disabilities, providing what is for many of the workers […]

Located in the Southeast corner of Alabama sits a town called Dothan. The city may be similar to other Alabama towns in many ways, but its resounding characteristic is its rich history with peanuts. Founded in 1885, Dothan began to flourish as a city due largely to Dr. George Washington Carver’s experiments with the now […]

Nominated by Poet Laureate of the State of Alabama Ashley M. Jones, Jahman Hill was honored at our 2023 Soul of the South Awards as our Writing & Storytelling category winner. Biography Jahman Hill is an award-winning poet, playwright, director, professor, and the executive director of The Flourish Alabama, an arts education nonprofit he co-founded, […]

On November 27, Battle Republic founders Lindsey Miller Neal (CEO) and Leah Drury (CCO) will open a third location in Alabama to be planted on Queen City Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. Battle Republic is a boxing-inspired fitness studio established in Birmingham. Raised just 45 minutes from Tuscaloosa in Greensboro, Neal and Drury always knew they […]

Nominated by Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark of Eat KBC, Brooke and Jonny de Jong were honored at our 2023 Soul of the South Awards as our Food & Beverage category winners. Biography Brooke and Jonny de Jong are the impressive couple and co-owners behind Venture Milk, LLC. Brooke grew up near Atlanta, Georgia. After completing […]

In a rural area right outside of one of Alabama’s most charming towns, Fairhope, lies a microcosm of its own known as The Fairhope Tea Plantation. In 1979, the Lipton Tea Company was in the midst of its own set of tea trials. But the experiments were soon halted in the wake of Hurricane Frederic […]

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) has launched a new film office in partnership with the Alabama Film Commission. The North Alabama Film Commission, led by AMLA’s Membership Recruitment Coordinator Thereasa Hulgan, will market and sell the 16 county North Alabama region to the film and television industry. “The North Alabama region boasts a […]

As the only federally recognized Native American Tribe in Alabama, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians are preparing to celebrate their history with their annual Pow Wow, as part of Native American Heritage Month. History of Native American Heritage Month According to the official Native American Heritage Month resource, “What started at the turn of the […]

While Jose Medina Camacho was growing up, a prime sign of fall was the ubiquitous pot of Calabaza en Tacha – candied pumpkin – on his mother’s, grandmothers’, or aunts’ stoves. They would cook down slices of pumpkin in an unrefined sugar called piloncillo, along with cinnamon and vanilla, serving it hot with a glass […]

Two incredible Alabama small businesses have come together to offer something unique for the upcoming holiday season. Anna Brakefield of Red Land Cotton and Natasha McCrary of 1818 Farms have partnered to launch their new limited-edition Bedtime and Bathtime bundles. Each bundle contains premium, American-products from both brands. Red Land Cotton and 1818 Farms represent the heart of Alabama and the American spirit, preserving traditions and supporting […]

I spent much of my childhood hung up on where I lived, or rather, trying to explain to others exactly where I resided. My house was situated in an undefined gray area between tiny Alabama towns. The roads that I lived on didn’t have formal names; they were known by their postal route codes, all […]

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Johnny Grimes, one of the key players in a major upcoming renovation for the Magic City music scene. Grimes shared with us that he and other partners will be purchasing WorkPlay, a music venue, recording studio, and workspace, with the intention of making major renovations to the […]

The second annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) features a fun-filled day designed to celebrate wildlife art and the Great Outdoors. Presented by the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, known to locals as “The Kelly,” the festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. on the banks of the Coosa River in […]

Soul of the South Awards 2023 Winners We believe that Alabama is the Soul of the South. Found within our state lines are gifted human beings who cultivate their craft from home, creating the best of our nation’s culture. These are people who love our land, grow our food, create our art, curate our spaces, […]

Bucky Bowles is an acclaimed wildlife and sporting artist living outside of Columbus, Georgia whose work is currently featured in the “Art Gone Wild’ exhibit at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts in historic Downtown Wetumpka, Alabama.  Raised in Southwest Georgia, Bucky grew up fishing and hunting and developed a love for the outdoors. […]

“People should hunt to connect with nature.” -Justin Grider, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources With more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting land, Alabama is known for its diverse species of wildlife and hunting heritage. The pride of this long-standing tradition in the state is rooted in a posture of stewardship. SoulGrown […]

Over the years, The Shoals has gained an incredible reputation within Alabama and beyond as a Southern musical hub that has fostered the talents of some of the country’s greatest musicians. Visitors come from all over to get a glimpse of the places tied to such greatness, recreating photos in front of landmarks such as […]

Ninety years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps sprang to New Deal life. From 1933-1942, the CCC created a long-lasting impact on Alabama. Around 66,000 young men (White and Black, working in separate companies) built 1,800 miles of roads, nearly 500 bridges, improved hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, and helped create 12 state parks, […]

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery, known to locals as “The Kelly,” has worked together with the Smoot Harris family and the City of Wetumpka to offer their second annual premier wildlife arts festival in downtown Wetumpka next month. The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) is a cumulation and celebration of wildlife and field sports through […]

The Airing of the Quilts Festival will be taking place in Gee’s Bend this weekend and attendees will come from throughout the Southeast to enjoy the festival. See below from The Airing of the Quilts Festival site for more on this incredible annual event. Join the Gee’s Bend community in this annual celebration of its […]