Birmingham, AL September 2023

Tower on Tenth is the downtown Birmingham apartment with all the style you want, where you want, at the price you need—with bold design, plenty of amenities, and a convenient location.

The elements of style

Dear Reader,

I hope this letter finds you in high spirits and full of creative energy.

Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It is the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.

Style is deeply personal. And it evolves as we celebrate our quirks, our passions, and our desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.

As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this issue inspires you to forge new paths or perhaps explore familiar ones. There is so much here in Birmingham to uplift our spirits, boost your productivity and ignite your creativity.

What I’ve found is that the best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. And that’s something no one on earth can duplicate.  Here’s to being uniquely you!

September 2023

PUBLISHER

Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Denise K. James | denise.james@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Denise K. James, Kali McNutt, MK Quinlan, Randall Porter

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Laurey Glenn, Joann Pai

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Whitney Lockhart

LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray

KALI MCNUTT, PUBLISHER @BIRMINGHAM.LIFESTYLE

Learn

Proverbs 3:5-6

STYLE YOUR BEST HOME.

happened Her cure

SEPTEMBER 28 – OCTOBER 1

Kennedi is cured of sickle cell disease thanks to a life-changing bone marrow transplant she received from her sister at Children’s of Alabama. The amazing treatments, discoveries and innovations for pediatric blood disorders and cancer happening here are helping change lives for the children of Alabama, across the country and around the world.

presenting sponsor O’NEAL INDUSTRIES

design sponsor de GOURNAY

textile sponsor COWTAN & TOUT

benefiting FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

BBGARDENS.ORG / ANTIQUES

@antiquesgardensbham

Lynlee strongly believes in and supports residential growth in Birmingham. Since obtaining her license in 2014, Lynlee has completed over 337 transactions totaling over $165 million dollars of real estate sold in the area. "I have made a huge effort to be intimately engaged in the central city and surrounding "city suburbs" from Forest Park to Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia, so that I can provide the greatest benefit to my clients, which I strongly believe is market knowledge". Her greatest motivation is her clients: She says, "Success to me is doing what I love every day and knowing that my contributions positively impact my clients, my company, and my city and that I have produced the highest quality work."

GET IN TOUCH

FOREST PARK $1,225,000 HIGHLAND LAKES $1,075,000 2600 Highland Ave. S Unit 403 | Buyer’s Agent

HIGHLAND SOLD SOLD SOLD

PARK $815,000

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Alabama Ballet reveals 2023-2024 season

Alabama Ballet’s 2023-2024 season opens this fall on October 20. Highlights of the 2023-2024 season include holiday masterpiece George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in December, the romantic classical ballet Giselle in February, the mixed repertoire performance An Evening of Twyla Tharp in April and the chronicled tale of Bonnie and Clyde in May. Season tickets can be purchased online at alabamaballet.org.

Antiques at the Gardens returns for 17th annual event

Save the date for Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ 17th annual Antiques at the Gardens. Created by a committee of 150 dedicated volunteers, Birmingham’s premier antiques show hosts acclaimed designers and architects and welcomes celebrated antiques dealers from across the nation offering furniture, fine art, accessories and more.  Proceeds benefit the mission of the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which seeks to protect, nurture and perpetuate the Gardens for years to come.

For tickets and information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques-at-the-gardens.

Food+Culture Festival debuts in Birmingham

The first annual Food+Culture Festival will take place October 12 through 15. The festival's mission is to celebrate the Magic City’s dynamic culinary industry with events that highlight epicurean Birmingham. Through an annual food event, the festival provides a platform — or table — where people come together to learn about the region’s rich culture, experience what the city has to offer and discuss issues of deeper cultural significance.

For tickets and information, visit bhamfoodplus.com.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Birmingham

Photography Melissa Dooley

Photography Dee Moore

Adelaide Niketas

Heartfelt Heirlooms

The exquisite jewelry designs of Adelaide Niketas are a lasting gift

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES

Julia Pickle and her grandfather, James Lee Parker, have always shared a special, unbreakable bond. The two are known for their love of gift-giving, and one year, a beautiful snow globe with an angel appeared under the Christmas tree for Julia – a gift from her grandfather to honor Mary Parker, her cousin who died at just 2 years old. Julia was touched by the representation of family legacy. “It started a tradition of giving gifts to remind us of each other,” she says.

Jewelry designer Adelaide Niketas artfully crafts rings, necklaces and other adornments with legacy in mind. When she and Julia met while working together

in D.C., it did not take long for the two women to discover they had much in common. “Anyone who meets Adelaide will instantly pick up on her heart,” Julia says. “The importance of faith and family formed our friendship. She understood my values.”

Adelaide’s art form is rooted in her own familial story: Her grandparents owned an antique shop, where she spent many happy hours as a young girl. “Their hobby was antiquing,” Adelaide says. “They would go to New England — places like Vermont and Maine — on antiquing expeditions. We all love antique jewelry in this family.”

Julia and her grandfather

Adelaide’s art form is rooted in her own familial story: Her grandparents owned an antique shop, where she spent many long, happy hours as a young girl.

Today, Adelaide Niketas Designs is a testament to this designer’s love for her family and for bridging the past and future with fine jewelry. Her passion incited the Parkers to seek her expertise on a special gift for all the granddaughters. “I knew Adelaide was making jewelry, custom designed pieces, and I told my grandfather I would love it if she could make something for all the girls in our family,” Julia says.

The result is a stunning entourage of four necklaces, all featuring a gold disk with each daughter or granddaughter’s initials in diamonds, plus the special touch of her family nickname engraved on the back. All four women wear theirs daily, says Julia, and the project has led to others with Adelaide, including a fifth anniversary wedding ring for Julia and, more recently, a 30th birthday milestone piece.

“I asked my grandfather if he had gold cufflinks he’d be willing to part with,” Julia shares. “Now, his cufflink is transforming into a statement ring with his initials and a diamond border around it. My husband and I don’t have children yet, and I’m excited to pass it down one day. I want pieces that whenever I look at them, I think of my grandparents and our stories.”

The personal touch between Adelaide and Julia is not unusual for Adelaide

Niketas Designs. Because most of her business is word of mouth, and most (but not all) is based in the Magic City, Adelaide works closely with her clients, ensuring she captures not just the physical details of every ring, bracelet or necklace but the emotional ones. Each client meets with Adelaide to show her their own cherished pieces and discuss what a new piece might look like. Next, the designer goes to her studio to sketch out ideas. Finally, when the jewelry is complete, it is delivered to the client accompanied by a special gift: a painting of the original design sketched by Adelaide.

“I source everything in the United States without any overseas manufacturing of materials,” she says. “From start to finish, the handcrafted designs take six to 10 weeks, and I’m in touch the entire time, offering updates.”

By the time you read this, Julia will have her 30th birthday ring fashioned from the gold cufflink — and the wait will have been worth it. To Julia, Adelaide’s dedication and love for the design gives the beautiful ring its layered meaning.

“You can’t buy a piece of jewelry like this — if I tried to, it would never mean what Adelaide’s means to me,” Julia concludes. “She knows our family story.”

ENTRYWAY TO ENCHANTMENT

The florals of Zachary Westall welcome guests to Antiques at the Gardens

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES

Landscape designer and Northeast native Zachary Westall spent afternoons of his childhood perusing public parks and historic homes with his father, an architect, who urged the boy to “be aware of his surroundings.” These words reverberated and stayed with Zach, encouraging him to seek degrees in art history and anthropology – then, after the idea of becoming a museum curator fell flat, to earn a landscape design degree.

By 2012, Zach had a plum opportunity to move South to the Magic City and curate the gardens of a historic house in Redmont Park. On the same visit as his interview, he visited the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and experienced enchantment at first sight.

“I was starstruck,” he admits. “It’s a lovely slice of an oasis in a busy metropolitan area. Even if you’re with a group of people, everyone is having their own experience. It’s spiritual, I think. And awe-inspiring.”

One day, Zach got a phone call from a former staff member at the Gardens, asking for his expert help with a particular garden’s layout. Years of Zach ardently volunteering more of his time led to creating installments and floral arrangements for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Antiques at the Gardens, an annual fundraising event. This year, Zach looks forward to designing the kick-off gala’s signature entryway, ushering guests into a weekend of well-designed beauty. The crowning flower will be dahlias, which have blossomed in popularity in recent years and grew on-site for the purpose of the gala entry.

“When I first moved to Birmingham, not as many people grew dahlias, and the Redmont Park home owner wanted to start dahlia gardens at her house,” Zach says. “I fell in love with how interesting these flowers are. If you plant them and leave them alone, they do their thing.”

In a stroke of luck, the dahlia varieties Zach is growing at the Gardens — to align with the event’s color palettes offered by design sponsor de Gournay and textile sponsor Cowtan & Tout — are the same

varieties he grew at the Redmont house. He admits, however, that growing the flowers in individual pots, rather than on a vine, is a new challenge — as is the summer heat. “Dahlias don’t like high temperatures, but we’ve been fertilizing them and tending to them at night when it’s cool,” he says.

Guests to both the gala and the entire weekend of Antiques at the Gardens will find the work of not only Zach but other talented floral artists, all who contribute their own particular style and concept of natural beauty to elevate the weekend’s events.

“We utilize various floral talents to enhance different areas of the Gardens for the weekend, so that they each have their own venue, and to showcase the talents of our amazing community of volunteers and supporters,” Penney Hartline, director of development at FBBG, points out.

The finished floral and plant installments complement the event’s theme and the Gardens themselves. This year, design sponsor de Gournay’s hand-painted fabrics and wallpapers — featuring a “garden aesthetic” in the words of Penney — will flow seamlessly with the donated botanical art.

“We’re all volunteers, and I’m more than happy to give back,” Zach declares. “To have something as incredible as the Birmingham Botanical Gardens be open to the public, it’s well deserved.”

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 17th annual Antiques at the Gardens will kick off on September 28 with the Gala in the Gardens, featuring antiques to peruse and live music, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres to savor.

The celebration continues all weekend, through Oct. 1, with distinguished speakers such as Hannah Cecil Gurney, Celerie Kemble and Sarah Wetenhall, plus opportunities to shop exquisite home furnishings, textiles and antiques. For tickets and information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques-at-the-gardens.

Dee Moore Photography

“THIS YEAR, ZACH WESTALL LOOKS FORWARD TO DESIGNING THE KICK-OFF GALA’S SIGNATURE ENTRYWAY, USHERING GUESTS INTO A WEEKEND OF WELL-DESIGNED BEAUTY.”

Zach Westall

Photo: Liesa Cole

E Q S Photography

Crème Brûlée,

HOLD THE CRÈME

An iced latte would be necessary to power through that muggy mid-June morning in Paris, and the gracious staff of Hôtel du Sentier knew just the spot. One block away in the heart of Paris’ 2nd arrondissement is Boneshaker Donuts. A chance conversation with the owner and few non-dairy lattes later et voilà, pâtissière Amanda Bankert will visit Birmingham this month to promote her recently released cookbook Voilà Vegan: 85 Decadent, Secretly Plant-Based Deserts From an American Pâtissière in Paris.

Here, Bankert generously offers her crème brûlée recipe, excerpted exclusively for our readers.

Crème Brûlée

Serves 4

Once, during a hellish and chaotic dessert service, I ran out of crème brûlée. Panicked, I improvised and torched ramekins of panna cotta I had stashed in the blast chiller instead. Despite this cowboy kitchen move (not a complimentary chef term, FYI), the sneaky swap was a success, and I learned a lesson about “the classics”: with a bit of confidence, even the venerated dishes of old can survive substitutions. My former head chef would blow a gasket if he could see that these days I use soy cream to make my crème brûlée—but like those diners a decade ago, I bet you won’t be able to tell the difference.

PARIS-BASED VEGAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR TO VISIT BIRMINGHAM

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup (45 g) cornstarch

• 11/2 cups (355 ml) soy cream

• 2 cups (475 ml) barista-blend oat milk

• 1/3 cup (70 g) sugar plus

• 4 tablespoons (50 g) for topping

• 2 tablespoons Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding powder

• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water until smooth.

2. In a medium saucepan, add the soy cream, oat milk, 1/3 cup (70 g) of the sugar, the pudding powder, scraped vanilla seeds and pod, turmeric (if using), and cornstarch slurry and whisk to combine.

3. Bring the custard to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally in order to prevent the bottom from burning. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens (it should resemble pastry cream or vanilla pudding).

4. Remove the vanilla pod, and then pour the custard evenly into four ramekins and place them in the fridge to set for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

5. Remove the crème brûlées from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving (the custard will be too stiff fresh from the fridge). Sprinkle the top of each dessert with a thin layer of the remaining sugar (about 1 tablespoon per serving). Using a kitchen torch, melt the sugar on each dessert until it’s crunchy and caramelized. Serve immediately.

Be sure you are following @birmingham. lifestyle on Instagram and have opted in to our emails in order receive the details on the events related to the book tour!

free & open to the public

Friday, Sept. 8 | 8 A.M.–5 P.M.

Saturday, Sept. 9 | 8 A.M.–2 P.M.

AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

Benefiting the Gardens & featuring our Member Plant Gift

MEMBER EARLY-BIRD SHOPPING:

Thursday, Sept. 7 | 1 P.M.–5 P.M.

Bring a cart or wagon • Check and credit card only

Natives • Perennials • Tropicals • Camellias

Herbs • Trees & Shrubs • Ferns

Stop by the membership table at our Fall Plant Sale and receive your annual Member Plant Gift, a pink dwarf azalea (Rhododendron indicum ‘Satsuki’) courtesy of Leaf & Petal. Thank you for being a friend of the Gardens!

bbgardens.org/fallplantsale

Centerpiece Chic

ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY GLENN

El Shoppo brings high-end home accents to Birmingham

With a keen eye for the truly unique and a penchant for color, editor turned designer Zoë Gowen brings Oaxacan craftsmanship to the people with her recently launched lifestyle brand El Shoppo.

Based in Birmingham and popping up across the Southeast, El Shoppo sources huipils — those easy, breezy hand-embroidered

The Amanda candle is a scene-stealer in this formal dining room.

cotton tunics currently being worn by in-the-know local ladies—as well as an assortment of plastic woven totes and taper candles.

Crafted by fourth generation Oaxacan candle makers, each candle is 100% all-natural beeswax and comprised of peony, rose, and bell flower blooms. Complete with holders custom designed by Zoë, candles stand around three feet tall and are available in

four colors. And while the purple is our current coup de coeur, the black is both earthy and dramatic, perfect for bewitching season.

El Shoppo’s The Flower Candle is currently available in four colors: Amanda (purple), Celine (white), Emma (pink) and Prudence (black) at $500 each.

Visit the shop on Instagram, @shopelshoppo.

TONIA TROTTER PRICE

HAIR BY THEO PETTWAY & CLAIRE HAMBRICK

PHOTO BY CHRISTIE J. WHITE

you

IT’S HOW WEAR IT

Thoughts on style inspired by Jane Birkin

ARTICLE BY MK QUINLAN

With the news of Jane Birkin’s death in July and the many tributes to her distinctive style that have been published since, I started to think hard about what made Jane such a style icon to so many, and how I could break that formula down for my own clients in the real, non-Hollywood world.

I’ve been selling high-end vintage womenswear for over eight years at trunk shows throughout the Southeast, and I have my own shop in Birmingham’s historic Forest Park neighborhood. My clients range from ages 18 to 80, skinny to curvy, short to tall, girlie to tomboy, blondes, brunettes, redheads and everything in between. What’s clear to me from working with so many types of women is that style has a lot less to do with what you’re wearing and a whole lot more to do with how you’re wearing it.

At the root of what Birkin got right in her long run in the public spotlight was her sense of self and her commitment to wearing what she liked, without apology. She didn’t fixate over what clothes or colors were on trend. In the mid ‘60s, that was still push-up bras and hourglass-shaped wiggle dresses, and Birkin was as thin and flatchested as they come. Instead, she wore t-shirts with no bra and carried a large fisherman’s basket instead of a purse. She went topless under a sheer sweater dress at a film premiere.

Confidence, you could say, is queen, and no one set that bar higher than Birkin.

This fall, as far as fashion formulas go, follow Jane’s lead by ditching the rules and taking risks. Avoid fashion trends in favor of clothing that makes you happy when you wear it. Choose accessories that remind you of trips you’ve taken or of people you’ve loved. Dare to be different. Jane did, and we’re still talking about her, 60 years later.

MK Quinlan’s eponymous concept shop in Birmingham, Alabama specializes in high-end vintage clothing & jewelry, contemporary art, and textiles.

By

Photography

Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock Photo and Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo

ARTICLE BY RANDALL PORTER

Local and Luxe

Randall Porter curates stylish finds to finesse your fall

1. Holi (Mane) | VERDE LUSSO Self-care and indulgence are Verde Lusso’s areas of expertise. Holi (Mane) contains two ingredients: marine collagen from wild-caught fish and crushed pearl powder to support skin, hair and nails. It’s tasteless and odorless, perfect for your morning tea or coffee. $99.00.  verdelusso.com/products/holi-mane

2. Dread River Master Series | EBONI MAJOR Prepare for brisk nights with a Kentucky Bourbon blended by master blender Eboni Major, a Birmingham native. $114.00 for 750 ML.  majorinwhiskey.com/ buy-dread-river-whiskey-by-eboni-major

3. Active Infusion Oil | VERDE LUSSO A regenerating retinol facial oil, boosted by a clinical concentration of skin brightening, stabilized Vitamin C. $80. verdelusso.com/products/active-infusion-oil

4. The Randall Porter Candle | THE GLO DUO “The Randall Porter Candle isn’t forcing you to choose between masculine and feminine scents — instead, it marries the two in a way that empowers everyone.” $35. therandallporter.com/ the-dollhouse-market/the-randall-porter

5. Oak Moss Perfume by FARMSTEAD LABORATORIES Farmstead Laboratories’ 100% natural perfumes and aromatherapy oils are small-batch blends made in-house by Deborah and Alexandra Stone. The natural perfumes represent a range of scents and nurture mind, body and spirit. $110. stonehollowfarmstead.com/ products/oak-moss-perfume

6. Aviators | GIANI MARTIN Birmingham native Giani Martin’s first collection of sunglasses showcases three silhouettes sure to speak to the style savant. $150.00. gianimartin.com

From wares to apparel to cuisine, Randall Porter is changing the way people dress, drink and shop. Here, he shares a short list of locally-sourced functional items, uniquely fashionable and refined. Learn more about this cultural curator and tastemaker: therandallporter.com | @randallporter

LEFT: RANDALL PORTER

1. 2.

3.

4.

5. 6.

Serving the Birmingham area since 1958.

For over 60 years, Birmingham has turned to us to deliver unmatched customer service for all your Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Generator needs. Call us today to experience the Guin Service difference.