Culture

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

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Birmingham’s creative scene is getting something fresh, immersive, and just a little mysterious this weekend. 1881: Denim Edition—a curated, speakeasy-style social experience—lands at Sloss Furnaces on Saturday, November 22, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Created for the city’s creatives, tastemakers, and culture lovers, 1881 is the brainchild of curator Randall Porter. The concept takes its […]

1881 Denim

1881 Brings a New Kind of Magic to Sloss Furnaces This Saturday

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November 20, 2025

At her home in the quiet town of Douglas, Alabama, Shandyn Unruh patiently plants rows of ranunculus, pansies, and bearded irises. The autumn days are growing shorter as she places the bulbs into the ground, trusting that the work she does will bear beauty in the spring.  “Flowers have always been my security, my sanctuary,” […]

Cottage with flowers

The story behind the natural artistry of Sweetbriar Florals

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November 17, 2025

Birmingham’s music history has never looked quite like this. This month, Sealegs Press releases A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll, a hardback art book featuring every piece from Craig Legg’s legendary 350-painting exhibition—a project that stunned the city when it debuted at East Village Arts in 2023. Preserving Birmingham’s Sound The original show was […]

Craig Legg sitting in front of his artwork

New art book celebrates more than 70 years of Birmingham Rock & Roll

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November 14, 2025

Discover the importance of Native American Heritage and how the Poarch Creek Indians preserve their identity and history.

Deer toe shaker traditional worn by native american women

Native American Heritage Month: Honoring the past, protecting our future

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November 12, 2025

It’s music to their ears. The University of North Alabama’s Department of Entertainment Industry has made the Billboard magazine charts. But, it wasn’t not for a top-selling song. Instead, the department was named one of the publication’s 2025 Top Music Business Schools for its success in preparing the “next generation of music business leaders.” “Being […]

UNA Music

University of North Alabama named among Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools

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November 10, 2025

A new kind of retail experience, highlighting the world’s best craftsmen and women, conservation through craftsmanship coalition, and creating community afield.

Outside of AVONTUUR in Homewood Alabama

AVONTUUR: The spirit of adventure finds a new home in Homewood

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November 10, 2025

When we began our project in Blossomwood, we wanted to create more than just a beautiful house. We wanted to craft a true sanctuary, a space that feels grounded, personal, and timeless. That is where the idea From Seed to Sanctuary came from — the home’s journey from its roots to becoming a place of […]

Pillar & Peacock

From Seed to Sanctuary: A New Chapter in Blossomwood

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October 30, 2025

As summer fades and the first cool winds of fall sweep through Dothan, Alabama, something familiar starts to take shape. It’s the smell of roasted peanuts drifting through the air, the distant rumble of carnival rides, and the steady pulse of live music. When fall settles over Dothan, it can only mean one thing: the […]

Where Tradition Meets Celebration: The National Peanut Festival

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October 24, 2025

Birmingham is gearing up to host its first MADE SOUTH Market, bringing together more than 50 of the South’s finest makers and artisans for a weekend of craftsmanship, creativity, and Southern hospitality. From hand-poured candles to artisanal coffee and thoughtful home goods, this inaugural Birmingham market highlights the best of Southern making, all under one […]

A man and woman stand at a bar during a lively indoor event with string lights hanging overhead. The man, wearing a plaid shirt and cap, reaches for a drink while the woman smiles at the camera holding a cup. Multiple cocktails and bottles are displayed on the counter, and other guests can be seen in the background.

6 Southern Makers at Birmingham’s MADE SOUTH Market

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October 23, 2025

Blue Feather Candle Company began during one of the most challenging seasons of Karen and Mark Williams’s lives. What started as a small creative escape soon became a symbol of hope and healing. Rooted in faith and inspired by Psalm 91:4—“He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings”—the name […]

Karen Williams stands behind Mark Williams, smiling and resting her hand on his shoulder as they pose in a bright living room. Mark is seated on a leather chair, and behind them are a lamp, decorative shelf, and potted plant.”

A conversation with the Blue Feather Candle Company team

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October 16, 2025

For nearly two decades, there has been a quiet but powerful force for good on an assuming block in downtown Birmingham. Much ahead of its time in many ways, Jones Valley Teaching Farm has become a staple of service in the South.  “JVTF uses food as a foundation so young people can lead, create, and […]

group of people work in raised garden beds at Jones Valley Teaching Farm. Some are planting or weeding while others stand nearby. Trees and buildings, including part of the Birmingham skyline, are visible in the background.”

The story behind Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s Twilight Supper

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October 16, 2025

The fourth annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) offers visitors a chance to learn from some of the world’s most renowned quiltmakers whose quilts are celebrated as some of the most significant artistic contributions to American art history. For their first time at WEWA, Gee’s Bend Quilters will offer a three-hour workshop, allowing participants to learn the basics of […]

A woman wearing a blue dress examines a red and white quilt hanging on a clothesline at an outdoor quilt display. Other colorful quilts and handmade cloth dolls are arranged nearby, with people in the background viewing more quilts.

Gee’s Bend quilters offering workshop at 2025 Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival

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October 15, 2025

At just 11 years old, Birmingham native Charley Ann Petry runs Honey BeeHam, a small business specializing in 100% pure beeswax candles and local honey. Her journey began after helping her dad with his beekeeping and discovering a love for working with beeswax. What started as a simple experiment soon became a growing business known […]

A gloved hand holding a corner of a tray of bees with honey. Clusters of bees are seen on the screen.

Q&A with maker Charley Ann Petry of Honey BeeHam

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October 8, 2025

The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce is bringing back one of its most beloved gatherings this fall. On Sunday, October 19th, from 4:00–8:00 p.m., Crestline Village will once again transform into a lively dining destination for the second annual Harvest on Hoyt. Presented by Finch Fine Wines, the event brings neighbors together for a seasonal […]

Large assortment of people pictured down a long straight table with table settings and bottles of wine. String lights and green trees hover over the table.

Harvest on Hoyt returns to Mountain Brook with food, wine, and community spirit

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October 1, 2025

Alabamians know that fall is the perfect time to get outdoors. As September fades into October, the rolling hills are painted in shades of amber, orange, and crimson, and a peaceful walk on one of the state’s celebrated trails is exactly what’s needed for a moment of calm. Decatur and its surrounding landscape offer more […]

A forest scene at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama with tall trees covered in vibrant autumn foliage. Golden, orange, and red leaves fill the canopy, creating a warm, colorful landscape.

Discover Decatur: Fall forest bathing in North Alabama

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September 26, 2025

Nestled between rolling hills and winding rivers, north Alabama’s communities offer more than places to live—they offer ways to connect, explore and grow. The Alabama League of Municipalities’ (ALM) Live Locally Alabama campaign celebrates the residents who bring these cities to life. From discovering local shops and attending seasonal festivals to volunteering at neighborhood events, […]

Live Locally Alabama: North Alabama cities invite exploration and enrichment

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September 23, 2025

On a crisp fall day along the banks of the Coosa River, the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) invites Alabamians to slow down, look closer, and celebrate the natural beauty that surrounds them. Presented by The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, the festival blends fine art, outdoor adventure, family fun, and hands-on experiences in […]

The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival returns to the Coosa River

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September 22, 2025

Facelifts Have Evolved The new era of facial rejuvenation is here—one that moves beyond the overly pulled, overfilled, and visibly altered results of the past. Leading that shift in the Southeast is Dr. Blake Raggio, double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and founder of Raggio MD in Birmingham. His modern approach to facelifting and facial rejuvenation […]

Raggio MD: The Truth About Facelifts

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September 18, 2025

The TumTum Tree Foundation has announced Nov. 6-8 as the dates for its annual wine auction weekend, one of the nation’s leading charity wine events. For more than three decades, the Birmingham-based nonprofit has brought together top chefs, world-class winemakers, and generous supporters to raise millions for Alabama children facing life-altering and life-threatening illnesses. That […]

Birmingham’s TumTum Tree wine auction brings in top chefs and winemakers

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September 15, 2025

As summer winds down, the folks at McGee Farm are preparing for the arrival of fall. Each year, McGee Farm welcomes thousands of visitors to its Florence pumpkin patch to celebrate fall and all its glory. From September 27 through October 31, McGee Farm will be open daily, inviting the public to a fun-filled pumpkin-picking […]

Florence’s McGee Farm prepares for its 30th pumpkin patch season

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September 15, 2025

What truly defines the Cameron home is a daughter’s wish to honor her mother’s legacy through her art. From the very beginning, the house was envisioned as a place to live alongside her mother’s work that she had left behind, a collection of deeply personal pieces that now shape the essence of the space. Due […]

An Inside Look: Elegant Retreat on Shoal Creek

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September 9, 2025