Mastering the ratio of excitement to exercise, a contender in the workout space has arisen in the South. Battle Republic is a Birmingham-based boxing-inspired gym that is shaking up the fitness scene. The classes draw inspiration from the high-octane world of boxing, encapsulating that energy and bringing it to participants in a challenging 45-minute workout. […]

The University of Alabama continues to invest in a legacy of home-grown talent, providing youth programs beginning at the age of four. Parents can find information about all summer programs offered on the Youth Programs website, but we’ve provided a list of highlights below: 1. Summer Reading Program – USA Today just reported that “Alabama, […]

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Alabama announced earlier last month that it was awarded more than $27 million of $265 million in transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), or about 10 percent of the total award. The funding will be split between two coastal Alabama projects, […]

Through an enormous greenway initiative, the Singing River Trail continues to blaze a path that will eventually connect the towns in North Alabama with over 200 miles of outdoor trail system. Once completed, the trail will, of course, offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, health and wellness. The Singing River Trail is so much more than […]

One of the biggest hot air balloon events in the southeast, the annual Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, is returning at the end of this month. On Memorial Day weekend, May 27-28, more than 60 colorful balloons will fill the Decatur sky at Point Mallard Park. In addition to hot air balloons, the family-friendly […]

It’s a new day at Homewood Gourmet, which has moved to a new home in the heart of Homewood after 26 years wedged into a narrow storefront at a nearby shopping plaza. The move to 2703 Mamie L. Foster (18th Place South) gives co-owners Chris and Laura Zapalowski extra kitchen and refrigerated storage space, allowing […]

It’s been a great year so far for Nathan and Michael Pocus, the Birmingham brothers and founders of Domestique, a decade-old coffee-roasting company with a growing roster of cafes and a clear vision for the future. In February, Food & Wine Magazine listed Domestique’s coffee beans among the nation’s best, citing the quality of the […]

Beauty is a highly subjective concept that is constantly being reshaped and reworked over time. With certain beauty standards and ideals seeming to find themselves in nearly all aspects of modern society, many have tired and shifted their focus away from rigid concepts of what makes one beautiful, instead opting for a focus on inner beauty and how one feels versus how one is perceived.

“That can’t be true,” a young girl from Cullman insists. The year is 1957 and her mother has just told her of the latest band of optimists that have come through the state en route to Blount County. The first few times she caught wind of this, she was sure she had misheard. This story, […]

Festival season is in full swing, and Alabama has an exciting few months ahead. From electronic to country music, the Yellowhammer state has something to offer everyone. We have put together a list of four music festivals taking place this spring and summer that cannot be missed.  Sol Fest (New Brockton) May 4-7 Sol Fest […]

  Oak Mountain State Park is the largest state park in Alabama and offers over 11,000 acres. Oak Mountain is home to “more than 100 miles of trails, an 18-hole golf course and driving range, horseback riding facilities, fishing lakes, boat rentals, picnic and beach areas and majestic Peavine Falls.”  The park is also unique […]

If you’ve ever asked yourself “How do they do that” after devouring a slice of Ashley Mac’s signature strawberry cake, Ashley McMakin’s new cookbook is for you. Ashley Mac’s Kitchen serves up more than 100 recipes featuring hits from McMakin’s 17-year-old catering business and five cafes, as well as tried-and-true recipes from her own home […]

It’s here! The entire Alabama family has the opportunity to come together and lift up the next generation of legends. The University of Alabama explains Bama Blitz as “an inspiring online fundraising event for alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to come together and support The University of Alabama. Using the power of social media […]

  For years, a giant sign reading “It’s nice to have you in Birmingham” greets people crossing the Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard bridge toward downtown. A distinctive landmark, the mural is painted on a wall outside John’s City Diner. The restaurant’s owner, Shannon Gober, recently announced on social media that he has closed the eatery after […]

Every culture has its own special crowd-pleasing baked sweets such as cookies, cakes, pastries, and breads. In Mexico, and to people worldwide with Mexican roots, these treats are collectively known as pan dulce (literally, sweet bread). European-style baking with wheat flour was introduced by the Spanish and French occupiers who once ruled Mexico. But the products […]

  The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, most often referred to as The Kelly, is a cultural gem in the heart of Wetumpka. With a vision to “engage, inspire, and educate artists and the public at large by promoting local and regional visual arts,” The Kelly intends to stoke the embers of creativity and […]

  As Alabamians and as Southerners, tradition is a huge part of our culture. And no one knows that better than Temple Bowling, part-owner of one of the state’s oldest companies, Golden Eagle. Golden Eagle Syrup has been a staple in Alabama pantries since 1928 when Victor Patterson created the recipe for his now-iconic table […]

Spring is in full swing and for those making their way to The Plains to catch some spring football action, there will be plenty of things to do surrounding Auburn Football’s annual A-Day game set to kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. First-year Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze […]

If you want the freshest locally grown vegetables for your family, there’s no easier solution than joining a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture programs give small family farms a crucial economic boost and allow consumers to develop relationships with the people who grow their food. Here’s how it generally works: Customers buy shares of what the farmers […]

Sustained warmth, blooming flowers, and singing birds all are welcome indicators that winter is ending in Alabama. But for me, the appearance of locally-grown strawberries – all juicy, sweet, and crimson red from skin to core – is the tastiest sign of spring. U-Pick farms are already open in south Alabama, while those in central Alabama […]

  Well-known throughout the country for its fan-favorite football program, The University of Alabama is an increasingly well-loved university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama steeped with history. The campus takes on a new life in springtime, with thousands of flower blooms alongside tastefully crafted landscaping, proving  a picturesque location to be enjoyed by students, visitors and alumni. […]