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 […]

If you’re craving an unhurried, peaceful start to the new year, it’s best to begin with a cozy new book. But what makes a book cozy? It’s the kind of story that draws you in with relatable, memorable characters, and lived-in, inviting settings: small towns, close-knit families, or quiet corners of the world. The pace […]

Chadwick Farm is the kind of property that stops you in your tracks—a rare, turn-key sporting estate where thoughtful land stewardship meets exceptional design. Spanning 1,827± acres in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the property offers rolling topography, sweeping elevation changes, and a diversity of habitat that makes it one of the most […]

Born and raised in Mobile, I had a unique childhood. How many kids grew up watching ships in the bay and military planes at Brookley Field, all while playing on the beach in front of their house? As idyllic as that was, the most exciting time of year was when we travelled to my dad’s […]

There is something special about the way Decatur celebrates Christmas. When the holiday season arrives, the historic neighborhoods of Old Decatur and Albany glow with warmth. Homes are decorated with care, neighbors welcome visitors with genuine hospitality, and the entire community comes alive with a spirit that feels nostalgic and joyful. Each year, the Decatur Christmas […]

As we talk, Tammy West of Glow Floral Event Design is doing what she does best: decorating a Christmas tree. This is the second attempt of the day (the first tree the client ordered was eighteen inches taller than the ceiling), and the power is out. Yet West seems totally at ease as she simultaneously corrals […]

When you arrive at Jubilee Suites on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay, you feel it immediately: a sense of being welcomed. Dana and Jim Maloney have filled the inn with warmth and hospitality, from the vine-covered courtyard to the made-to-order breakfast, every detail shows they deeply care about their guests.  The name Jubilee itself […]

One of my earliest connections to Southern food was in my great-grandmother’s kitchen, on a chicken farm in rural Alabama. We’d make the drive up from Birmingham and arrive in time for breakfast. My great-grandmother, who we lovingly called Ma Cash, was usually still elbow deep in White Lily flour. We’d open the screen door […]