Samford University has been working on some major renovation and expansion projects to help the school make an even bigger impact in the 21st century.  One of the priorities of Samford University with any renovation is to embrace the past while providing for the future. That means keeping that classic look that has made the […]

On a quiet Alabama morning, before emails and meetings begin to pull at the day, Tom Adams finds clarity in the field. Quail hunting has been part of Tom’s life for as long as he can remember. It’s a tradition rooted in time spent with his father. Early mornings, steady footsteps through tall grass, and […]

Before the chants, before the speeches, before history was written into law, the Civil Rights Movement was sung. Music moved through churches, jail cells, and city streets, carrying grief, faith, anger, and hope when words alone fell short. These songs did more than accompany marches; they helped people endure them. They were an offering of […]

Winter in Alabama has a way of keeping us guessing. Just when the afternoons start to feel like spring, another cold snap rolls through and reminds us March hasn’t quite made up its mind. On those brisk mornings and unexpectedly chilly evenings, there’s still nothing better than wrapping your hands around a warm cup of […]

One of the most underrated aspects of Alabama is the state’s remarkable capacity for ecotourism. Ranking fourth in the nation for biodiversity — and first among states east of the Mississippi River — Alabama encompasses an extraordinary range of ecosystems. Forests, woodlands, prairies, glades, rivers, and even marine habitats shape the landscape. From caving and […]

You might already know Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato, a staple in Hoover since opening in 2014 — the kind of place that smells like warm dough and simmering sauce as you open the door. Inside, the energy is lived-in and unpolished in the best way: flour-dusted counters, and the steady hum of conversation between friends […]

Alabama is a state full of surprises, offering something for everyone — from colorful Mardi Gras parades along the Gulf Coast to quiet stretches of protected land for hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Each week, communities across the state come together to celebrate heritage, art, and the outdoors: world-class dance and theatre performances, local quilt […]

When David Silverstein talks about The Pizitz, the pride in his voice is unmistakable. It’s there in the way he recalls the building’s long and winding narrative arc–from retail anchor, to vacant shell, to a living, breathing center of downtown Birmingham once again. That pride, evident in every detail of Bayer Properties’ restoration, echoes something […]

Dr. Maggie Crosland, the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Curator of European Art, guides me through the museum’s newest exhibit with a sense of curiosity and warmth; it’s clear that she is immensely proud of the collection before me. The exhibit? The much anticipated Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, which traces the evolution of French art […]

For Sam Walker, lead singer of Clay Street Unit, growing up just outside of Montgomery meant the best of both worlds: the charm of city life paired with the wide-open spaces of his grandparents’ farm in Clay County. “I treasured every year I spent there,” Walker says, reflecting on Ashland and Montgomery alike. “I try […]

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has awarded $5 million in grants to five historically Black churches across the United States, with each receiving $1 million. Among the recipients are First African Baptist Church in Beaufort, South Carolina; Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago; Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles; Mother […]

When the Super Bowl kicks off this weekend, Alabama won’t just have fans watching — it will have its footprint on the field. From college programs across the state to the NFL’s biggest stage, Alabama’s football roots will be represented on Super Bowl Sunday. This year’s Super Bowl features several players with direct ties to […]

Mary Fehr’s photography is immediately recognizable, and in many ways has become synonymous with her hometown of Birmingham. Fehr is a master at elevating the everyday, whether she’s capturing a romance, a chef in the kitchen, or a fleeting moment between friends. Her photographs don’t just show what’s in front of the lens; they show […]

This February, The Pizitz Food Hall is giving Birmingham plenty of reasons to step away from the desk and rediscover lunch downtown. With crave-worthy featured menu items from its diverse lineup of vendors, free community programming at Forge, film screenings, and seasonal experiences, The Pizitz is positioning lunch as more than a meal; it’s a […]

On Fat Tuesday, Dauphin Street hums with music and motion as beads arc through the air, MoonPies thud into waiting hands, and the call of “throw me something!” echoes between historic buildings. Massive, ornately decorated floats and costumed riders move through downtown as a centuries-old tradition comes fully alive. This is the peak of Mardi […]

There are places in North Alabama that do not just sit in the past–they carry it with them. You walk through the door and the pace changes. The light feels different. The floor creaks under your feet in a way that reminds you history is not an abstract idea. It is something you can still […]

This story originally appeared in Magnolia & Moonshine. An 1870 mansion in Selma, Alabama, has found new life as a place where art, community, and joy intersect. Known as Byrdland, the historic home belongs to artist Trés Taylor and his wife, Helene, who have transformed the space into a living gallery and gathering place rooted […]

If you’re looking for Las Floriditas in downtown Mobile, you might not find it right away. The first thing you’ll notice is the giant Moon Pie on top of the RSA Trustmark building, where you’ll find Las Floriditas in the basement. The second thing you’re bound to notice? Roosevelt “Rosie” Patterson. At 6-foot-5, he sits […]

“There’s so much to do!” Emma Gilbert responds when I ask how the new year is going for her–and that, she believes, is a good problem to have. Gilbert has been painting for as long as she can remember, from the time she was able to hold a brush. Once she learned what paint was, […]

In this memoir, Alicia Varnedoe traces her journey back to the woods of her childhood, where family backpacking trips in the Sipsey Wilderness became an early education in resilience—and a foundation for the writer she would become. My dad had a different idea for the ideal family Fall Break outing. While our friends napped on […]

Need a getaway for just the two of you? How about a rustic, romantic weekend in North Alabama? There are many lakeside cabins, mountaintop chalets, and bluff-top rooms all across the region to spend getting away from it all. Sip champagne and admire the view from your balcony or curl up fireside under a cozy […]