Arts + Culture

Rediscovering the Joy of Play

The magic of incorporating play into your life, with and without kids Article by Birmingham Lifestyle | Photography by Ambre Amari It might be a parent dancing in the kitchen with their toddler. A grandparent chasing bubbles in the yard. Or a group of kids and grownups crouched on the sidewalk, taking turns in a high-stakes game of giant Jenga. But play doesn’t always involve children. It can look like reading a novel just for the fun of it, picking up a forgotten hobby, or laughing your way...

Life + Culture

Mildred: The Bird Who Bowed

A trial lawyer, a crow, and an unlikely friendship Article and Photography by Stephanie Emens Balzli It all started with a New Year’s resolution to walk every day. Yep, that’s a low bar, but it had to be something I couldn’t talk myself out of on a busy day. I’m a trial lawyer and practice with my husband, Chris, and we have two very active kids. I had been trying to find some kind of self-care outlet and a little fresh air in the morning was the most doable option. At first, it was just me...

Life + Culture

Turn It Up

Birmingham’s youth rock scene is loud, live, and here to stay Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Mary Fehr When Ethan Brown was nine years old, he heard Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption , turned to his dad, and asked, “What is this?” That moment set his course, and he’s never looked back. “He’s known since day one that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life,” says his mom, Meredith. “And he has not wavered since he was nine.” Now 16, Ethan is the frontman of Oxmoor, a rising...

Home + Design

Strawberries & Storybooks

Designed with timeless charm and everyday joy, this Birmingham bedroom balances sweetness and sophistication in a space where childhood memories are made—and pups are welcome. Article by Blaire Moore | Photography by Mary Fehr “Oh, darlin’, don’t you ever grow up. Don’t you ever grow up. Just stay this little.” —Taylor Swift Designing a picture-perfect bedroom for a little girl is one thing. But crafting a space as graceful as it is grounded in real childhood—that’s its own kind of magic.  ...

Life + Culture

Sit. Stay. Shop.

At these Birmingham businesses, the best customer service comes with four legs and a little attitude. Article by Blaire Moore | Photography by Mary Fehr They nap on antique rugs, greet you like kin, and keep a watchful eye on the UPS man. Some sprawl on cool tile. Others have a chair with their name on it. But all of them—every paw-shaking, tail-wagging one—know they’re the real reason folks stop by. Meet seven of Birmingham’s most beloved shop dogs. Lucy, The Cook Store Title: Mascot &...

Life + Culture

Passed Down, Cast Forward

A Birmingham guide, his grandfather, and the river that keeps giving Article by Blair Moore Before dawn on the river, the fog is so thick you can’t see the other side of the creek. Somewhere in the trees, a squirrel rustles. Birds trade early morning calls, and the Cahaba hums its slow, familiar song. “You just let the woods wake up around you,” says Will Hargery. “The birds start chirping, the squirrels start messing around, and then the water wakes up too.” That’s how it started for...

Arts + Culture

What the Quilters Sang

Exploring a living history with the women of Gee’s Bend Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Mary Fehr I can sew on a button, but it’s not pretty. That’s about the extent of my needle-and-thread experience. Even so, I’ve long admired the women of Gee’s Bend—their quilts, their artistry, their legacy. Their work has been shown at the Smithsonian, collected by the Met, and studied by fashion houses and fine art scholars alike. I’ve read about them in Garden & Gun . But I never imagined I’d...

Sports + Recreation

The Depths He’ll Go

Birmingham scuba diver Jonny Cates hunts relics, shark teeth, and history beneath America’s darkest waters Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Reginald Allen “I hate just sitting around,” says Jonny Cates. “I want to be out there exploring.” And by “out there,” he means deep underwater, searching for Civil War cannonballs, ancient shark teeth, and bottles from centuries past. Cates’s appetite for adventure started early, stirred by his father’s stories of working at dive shops in Florida...

Food + Beverage

New and Noteworthy

Birmingham restaurants to explore this month Article by Birmingham Lifestyle Epice Epice, a Lebanese bistro from Nashville, has opened in Birmingham’s historic Hardwick Building along the Rotary Trail. Led by the father-son duo of Maher and Andrew Fawaz, Epice offers traditional Lebanese dishes, such as hummus, kibbeh, and lamb shank, all presented with modern flair.  Bayonet Bayonet is acclaimed Chef Rob McDaniel’s ode to seafood. With a menu spotlighting Gulf oysters, inventive dishes...

Food + Beverage

La Calma

Soothing, sunny, and blended to bliss—this cocktail is perfect for slow moments and warm days Article and Photography by The team at Adiõs has shared this recipe exclusively with Birmingham Lifestyle , offering a way to enjoy a touch of the bar’s easy elegance home.  La Calma 1.5 oz chamomile-infused Jameson or any Irish whiskey 0.5 oz Amaretto 0.75 oz apricot syrup 0.75 oz lemon juice 2 cups crushed ice Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until everything reaches the same...