Culture

Discover the soul of Alabama through exclusive SoulGrown stories about its rich culture

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I love honey. I used to quickly follow that statement with another declaration: I hate bees. But that’s not accurate. I never hated bees; I feared them. And, like many […]

Alabama Things Worth Knowing: Zizi’s Bee Company

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January 23, 2024

When people think of popular filming locations, they don’t usually think of Alabama. They gravitate toward states like New York or California. Atlanta, Georgia usually makes the top of the […]

Alabama filming locations behind your favorite shows and movies

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January 20, 2024

I am EARTH. The “I” in East Alabama Rural Innovation & Training Hub’s acronym is conspicuously missing, but it is the crux of their purpose. Notice in the logo the […]

I Am EARTH: How individuals will bring revival to East Alabama

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January 18, 2024

Brewton, a small South Alabama town with a population of just over 5,000 people, is the home of Drexell & Honeybee’s — a restaurant that operates solely on donations, charging […]

Alabama’s Drexell & Honeybee’s is keeping Dr. King’s legacy of service alive

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January 15, 2024

In 1834, James Mallory moved his family from Virginia to Alpine, Alabama. For over forty years, the family used the land for farming, adopting innovative techniques to see stronger crops. […]

Selwood Farm: The story behind Alabama’s first hunting preserve

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January 13, 2024

When the 2024 edition of the Birdsong Farmers Market begins January 13, Andrew Kesterson will pile his Belle Meadows Farms stand with just-picked baby carrots and leafy greens grown near […]

8 Alabama farmers markets to enjoy during winter

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January 11, 2024

Few places in the world hold men’s health and skincare in such high regard as South Korea. Seoul is a wellness haven known as the “Skincare Capital of the World.” […]

Connecting Worlds: How Seoul Inspired the South’s First Skincare Line for Outdoorsmen

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January 8, 2024

One of Alabama’s most popular local parks holds a history that few of its thousands of visitors may know about. See below from Red Mountain Park about their fascinating history […]

How a historic mining town became one of Alabama’s favorite parks

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January 7, 2024

Whether it’s a stunning bouquet of dahlias, a spread of farmstead cheeses, or small-batch skincare, Stone Hollow Farmstead is well-known across the state and beyond for its quality products. The […]

5 must-have wellness products from Stone Hollow Farmstead

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January 4, 2024

Mike J Rosato was a man of legend to those who knew him best. Born in Ensley in 1941, Mike J was known for his genuine spirit and kind demeanor. […]

The deep Alabama legacy behind successful racehorse Mike J

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January 1, 2024

In honor of the holiday, we are stepping back in time to take a look at how Alabamians celebrated Christmas around the state in the early and mid-1900s. Downtown Birmingham […]

Vintage photos of Alabama cities at Christmastime in the 1900s

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December 24, 2023

I’ve always been in awe of makers. It started with the admiration I had for my grandaddy John, an engineer who devoted his retirement years to his backyard shop in […]

Alabama Things Worth Knowing: Southern Makers

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December 23, 2023

Alabama Houses recently shared the fascinating history behind the Mobile property known as the Murray Forbes Smith House: This house was completed in 1851 for Murray Forbes Smith, and his […]

This historic Alabama home inspired HBO’s The Gilded Age

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December 22, 2023

The triumphant feeling of crossing a finish line does not know the boundary of age. For many, running provides the perfect opportunity to experience this feeling – even kids. From […]

Little Feet, Big Strides: How BCBSAL Kids Marathon Inspires a Lifetime of Healthy Habits

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December 21, 2023

The beloved collectibles store What’s on 2nd has been an unmissable stop for Alabama treasure hunters for nearly two decades. When you walk through the door, you’re immediately enchanted by […]

What’s on 2nd: The legacy of Birmingham’s most fascinating shop

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December 20, 2023

One of the most important landmarks in Mobile is the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Thousands of visitors come to learn about the battleship’s incredible history and USS Alabama Battleship […]

The history behind Mobile’s USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

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December 19, 2023

Gift-giving can be challenging and stressful, but it can also be an art and an incredible message of love, sentimentality, and storytelling. So while the numbers from sales and the […]

How the beauty of Alabama inspired the creation of Mudtown Pottery

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December 15, 2023

Nominated by Garlan and Heather Gudger, Megan and Shannon Brantley were honored at our 2023 Soul of the South Awards as our Artists & Makers category winners. Biography Megan and […]

Soul of the South Award Winner Profile: Megan and Shannon Brantley

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December 13, 2023

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts in partnership with the Smoot Harris family, City of Wetumpka, and sponsors including the featured “Top Dog” sponsor Regions Bank, delivered a successful […]

Meet the 7 award-winning artists from the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival

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December 13, 2023

For decades, the Hontzas family has fed Birmingham. A few branches of the family tree still do. But their numbers are thinning, after Theo Hontzas announced that his Smoke House […]

Breaking: Beloved Birmingham family business, Smoke House, closes after 63 years

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December 12, 2023

From the glittering landscapes to the world-renowned cuisine, there’s something uniquely special about France that captivates even the novice traveler. The French are experts in living well—and celebrating well—so when […]

A Taste of France: A guide to experiencing a French Christmas in Alabama

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December 10, 2023