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...

Life + Culture

Birmingham's Built History

Explore an Evolving Landscape Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Nathan Watson To understand Birmingham’s architecture, start beneath the surface. The city was founded to capitalize on a rare wealth of minerals—iron ore, coal, and limestone—all within close proximity. That natural advantage fueled an industrial economy built on iron, steel, and the railroads that carried them. In just a few decades, Birmingham rose to become not only the industrial capital of the South, but also its rail...

Travel

Through the Lens of a World-Traveling Doctor

From Tasmania to Tokyo, Dr. Joseph Wu captures light across the globe Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Joseph Wu Dr. Joseph Wu is a Birmingham physician, a father of three, and a landscape photographer who finds beauty in the quiet corners of the world. What began as a casual curiosity in 2014—just playing around with a camera—quickly turned into an unexpected passion. A landscape photography workshop in Iceland lit the spark, and he’s been exploring the world one frame at a time ever...

Style + Beauty

Well Suited: Birmingham’s Custom Style Scene

From suits and ties to heirloom leather goods, these Birmingham brands are elevating men’s style one detail at a time Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Provided Secret Society Neckwear Nathan Green describes his style as “classic meets rock and roll,” and it’s hard to think of a better way to sum up the spirit of his custom tie line, Secret Society Neckwear. His pieces blend tradition with just enough edge to add character to a suit—and reflect the personality of the man wearing it. ...

Life + Culture

For the Love of the Game—and the Kids

Birmingham’s baseball legend Papa Jack teaches the next generation more than how to hit Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Katherine Mullen When my 10-year-old son Jonathan joined his baseball team last year, he was a true rookie. His coach mentioned a guy named Papa Jack—said if we ever wanted hitting lessons, he was the one to see. Jonathan was eager to level up his swing, so we found our way to a small brick warehouse across town, not really knowing what to expect. There was a small...

Arts + Culture

Beards, Fiddles, and Gold Teeth

How Pynk Beard is changing the country music narrative Article by Je’Don Holloway-Talley | Photography by Reginald Allen Sebastian Kole isn’t abandoning soul; he’s just giving it a Southern twang. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for his rich vocals and R&B chops, has re-emerged under a new moniker: Pynk Beard. And yes, the name is literal. With a vibrant pink beard, gold teeth, and a new EP full of life lessons, joy, heartache, and grit, he’s trading in smooth ballads for steel...

Home + Design

A Gentleman's Edit

Art Deco meets modern function in this private Birmingham office Article by Blair Moore | Photography by Mary Fehr If work is where we spend half our lives, it ought to feel a little more like this. Tucked inside a quiet Birmingham office building, designer Danielle Balanis has created a space that feels more suited to Manhattan or Mayfair. Saturated in deep sapphire blues, burnished woods, and soft gold accents, it’s a room layered with rich materials and thoughtful details—tailored enough...