PRESLEY KAUFFMAN PATIENT, HOMEWOOD FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Summer Exploration
I recently finished reading the book “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport (highly recommend–it’s basically chicken soup for the overwhelmed soul). The three principles explored in the book are: 1. Do fewer things, 2. Work at a natural pace, and 3. Obsess over quality. The book cites all sorts of household name high-achievers with one thing in common–they didn’t work at a “constant state of anxious high energy, with little change, throughout the entire year.” Their efforts had a seasonal and cyclical nature–and they spent time exploring different fields, places, and ideas.
Sometimes, we need to explore–even to get lost–to be able to come back and do our best work, inspired. And this exploration doesn’t have to be an epic around-the-world adventure. It can be as simple as taking a cue from the kids on page 30 and planning to visit a local body of water. (I’ve got Little River Canyon on my list of places to visit this summer). Exploration might look like taking a true sabbatical from a long-time career to get immersed in something totally different, as David Griner does on page 12.
So, what will you explore this summer? Perhaps you’ll take improv or dance classes, or maybe you’ll visit a small, historic Alabama town like Mooresville. I’m creating a summer reading list for myself–just like high school, but there is no pressure and no book report this time. This summer, I also plan to work through local artist Morgan Johnston’s new creativity course CREATE ANYWAY: The Average Person’s Guide to Igniting Your Creative Spark.
Whatever you do, I hope you can slow down and savor this season. KALI
MCNUTT, PUBLISHER
July 2024
PUBLISHER
Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mary Fehr
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Loyd McIntosh, Emilie Maynor, Denise K. James, Kali McNutt, Rebecca Moody
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mary Fehr, Marcia Weber, USA Wheelchair Rugby, Loyd McIntosh
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David
Alabama
MICHAEL BANKS ARTIST
BOOP
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE #1
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE #2
NARCISSUS
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY’S TEAM USA
ARTICLE BY LOYD MCINTOSH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY USA WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
LOCAL ATHLETES TRAIN AT LAKESHORE FOUNDATION IN PREPARATION FOR THIS SUMMER’S 2024 PARALYMPICS IN PARIS
It’s a Saturday morning in early May, and the gymnasium at Lakeshore Foundation is buzzing with activity. The music on the PA system is loud - very loud . At 9 a.m. on the dot, the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby team takes the floor to begin workouts. Before long, the team members are crashing into each other, dripping sweat, and breathing heavily as they prepare for this summer’s 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
If you’re looking for a teary-eyed story about triumph over tragedy and coping with adversity, look elsewhere. These aren’t disabled athletes; they’re athletes with disabilities, and they are bada**!
Two of the team’s athletes, Zion Redington and Clayton Brackett, live in the Birmingham area and will compete in their first Paralympics this summer, marking a significant milestone for each athlete.
Redington, 17, is the youngest member of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby team. Born in China with ectrodactyly, a condition causing the absence or malformation of the hands and feet, Redington was adopted and lived for several years in Nashville before moving to Trussville to train at Lakeshore.
Despite being a quadruple amputee, Redington is quick, agile, and aggressive. Every play during this training session is designed to get him the ball. He’s also an absolute terror on defense, constantly crashing his chair into opposing players and trying to flip them over—a common occurrence in wheelchair rugby.
"It’s a sport where we can hit other people with our chairs and have the potential to knock or flip them over–I find that very fun," says Redington with a hint of glee.
2024 USAWR Training Squad
“He loves to hit and be aggressive,” says Joe Delagrave, Team USA Head Coach. Delagrave has watched Redington's progression since making the 2024 National Training Squad and believes he has the potential to be one of the sport's best players.
Redington began playing wheelchair rugby at eight years old on adult club teams, which he hated. "I was eight years old, and I was playing with a bunch of people who could very well be my dad. To be completely honest, I was not the biggest fan of it,” says Redington. “Luckily, my mom was able to keep me in the sport until around age 13, and that's when I started loving it.”
On the other end of the spectrum is Brackett, a wheelchair rugby veteran, and Irvine, California native. Now 31, Brackett will make his first appearance in the Paralympics this summer. Brackett suffered a spinal cord injury before he turned two years old. As he grew, he gravitated to wheelchair basketball, even earning a scholarship to the University of Illinois, but his disability affected his hands and limited him on the court. Thankfully, friend and current Paralympic teammate Chuck Aoki convinced Brackett to switch sports. The two had played wheelchair basketball against each other as kids.
Brackett joined a team in St. Louis and quickly excelled at the sport. He eventually moved to Birmingham to pursue wheelchair rugby and finish a business management degree at UAB. He made his first national team in 2015 for the Parapan American Games in Toronto but was cut from the team ahead of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Eight years later, Brackett is a member of the U.S. Paralympic team and is excited to represent his country. He thanks his wife, Hannah, and other family members for their support.
"It was a heartfelt moment when I discovered I made the team. I teared up a little bit," Brackett says. "It has not only been a goal of mine—I’ve had a lot of support from my wife and family. They've had to make sacrifices to support me.”
Coach Delagrave, who played on teams with Brackett for several years in the 2010s, says he couldn’t be happier for Brackett, who deserves this opportunity on the world stage. “I love Clayton Brackett. He's a guy that's been in this program for a while, and he's been around the sport for over a decade now,” Delagrave says. “This is his first Paralympics, and I couldn't be prouder of him.”
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place between Aug. 28 and Sept. 8.
Clayton Brackett and coach Joe Delagrave
Zion Redington
Clayton Brackett
A BEGINNE R ’S MINDSET
DAVID GRINER EXPLORES A PASSION FOR BREAD AT CONTINENTAL BAKERY
ARTICLE BY EMILIE MAYNOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR
“Pursuing new passions can be hard, humbling work.”
“The older I get, the less I want my job to wholly define me,” says David Griner about his recent transition from senior-level advertising professional to apprentice breadmaker.
After nearly 20 years working with companies like Birmingham-based Luckie & Co., Adweek, and, more recently, Creative Ladder, David found himself at a natural professional pause. His wife, Karen, suggested he take a true sabbatical before jumping into his next role and encouraged him to consider what would, as Marie Kondo says, spark joy during his time away from the advertising world. For David, the answer was clear, “I wanted to be surrounded by experienced breadmakers. I realized quickly that as you become senior in your career, you're generally teaching. You get very few opportunities to be taught and inspired. It felt good to want to learn and be open.”
While he had always been active in the kitchen, David admits the precision and
chemistry of baking had been intimidating. He first tried breadmaking during the early days of the pandemic. Soon enough, he was baking four loaves a week, experimenting with recipe variations, and reading baking books. David knew to take his baking skills beyond hobby level, he would need to immerse himself fully in the world of bread.
Guided by a spirit of exploration, David stepped out of his comfort zone and into baking as a near-complete novice. Even—perhaps especially—for an extrovert with an impressive resume, pursuing new passions can be hard, humbling work. David began connecting with professional and hobby bread makers in person, through social media and online forums. On Reddit’s Birmingham forum, he asked if any local bakeries would take on a passionate amateur, which led him to Arthur Wilkie, a baker at Continental Bakery.
Arthur connected David with Carole Griffin, owner of Chez Lulu and Continental
David Griner at Continental Bakery in English Village
“Your career is not this narrow path you’re never allowed to leave.”
Bakery. When they first spoke, Carole surprised David by focusing less on his baking experience and more on him as a person. Carole has a colorful multi-hyphenate background herself—musician, baker, and business owner. She understands the complexity of new hires, explaining, “Running a business is like making bread; both must be sturdy but delicately held. You must know who and what you’re working with and remain flexible. I feel very in love with the culture we’ve created. It’s diverse in every way you can imagine. When we invite someone in, we take it seriously.”
And rightfully so. The bakery operates 24 hours a day and is deeply production-oriented. Three shifts of employees must function synergistically to respond to the bread's demands. Carole describes what made David stand out: “When David came in with a passion for the work, a true curiosity, and a held-back ego, I thought, ‘He’s someone who’s going to align.’ I knew he could blend in with our colorful staff.” The pair agreed on a twomonth apprenticeship.
Before his first 4 a.m. shift, David recalls feeling those childlike jitters we all know. Will I fit in? What if I fail? What if I hate it? At this, David shares, “To grow, you have to have presence, patience, and a willingness to fail.” Carole echoes this sentiment: "Fear will always be prominent in choice-making. But you have to have a sense of self and agency. And humble yourself. When you’re graced with the experience of being fully alive in a moment, that’s it.”
David has certainly come alive at the bakery. Two months have turned to six, and he now has his own creation on the Continental menu; David’s Cardamom Buns—developed in partnership with Arthur, the baker who first brought him into Continental—are a tangible expression of what happens when curiosity meets humility and receptivity.
Contrary to expectations, this sabbatical has not hindered David’s professional prospects. He explains, “Shifting my professional priorities to baking did not close any doors. I’m still pursuing things, just not prioritizing.” In fact, he’s garnered much interest from colleagues and former co-workers and has taken on consulting projects while continuing work at the bakery, knowing he’s not entirely defined or bound by either.
The most surprising and rewarding aspect of this journey has been its positive impact on his family. Speaking of his relationship with his two teenage kids, David says, “We’re already close, but it made them so happy and proud to see me throwing myself into something I love. They are fascinated by it. It has shown them that your career is not this narrow path you're never allowed to leave.”
As we grow older and more established, the need for stability can make the stakes feel too high to explore a passion. Through baking, David and Carole demonstrate that to create a sweet and savory life one must feed curiosity with experiential learning like a baker feeds sourdough starter.
An Artist’s Eye
ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES
Alabama native Michael Banks eschewed tradition to explore the unfamiliar
Michael Banks, photo by Marcia Weber
Becoming an artist was something Michael Banks had to do for himself rather than for an audience. The Guntersville, Alabama native grew up with a single mother who constantly reminded him of his intrinsic worth and talent—and her fierce love helped Michael look beyond any boundaries on his creative journey.
Though the family lived in housing projects and did not have the means to purchase traditional art supplies such as paint brushes, canvases, or acrylics, young Michael was not deterred. Looking back now, he laughs, thinking about how he would take his mother’s mascara and lipstick, transitioning the
talent. Michael is swift to point out that his mother was his first and truest mentor, however, another mentor surfaced during his middle school years: a teacher who hailed from Europe. “She was an artist, we connected, and she showed me what was going on in the art world and how I was already doing it,” Michael explains. “She allowed my mind to explore these new avenues of Picasso and Warhol, people like that.”
cosmetics into makeshift art media. As for a canvas, anything could and would suffice, from a paper bag to the very four walls of their modest home. “I never grew up with a paintbrush—all the things that other people had, I didn’t have access to,” he says. “When I saw the walls on the housing projects, they were all white, and I viewed them as my canvas.”
Understanding her son was creating art the best way he knew how, Ann Banks was the furthest thing from frustrated at her son; rather, she continued to encourage his blossoming
Inspired by his new knowledge that art could take you places, Michael made a declaration of his destiny soon afterward to his family: He would grow up and become an artist. Ann gave the plan her blessing, saying that he could “be whatever he wanted, but he would need to finish high school first.”
CONTINUED >
Narcissus
Boop
Down the Rabbit Hole 1
“WHEN I SAW THE WALLS ON THE HOUSIN G PROJECTS, THEY WERE AL WHITE , AND I VIEWEDTHEM AS MY
Sadly, Michael’s mother passed away during his teenage years, and grief took a stronghold. The young man put his art aside for a while, having lost his first muse. Fortunately, what he’d learned from his mother—to stave off negativity and keep going despite challenges—eventually won out. Michael’s first paid job was a position he’d landed with the support of Jenny Wallace, his guidance counselor —working at Lake Screen Printing in Guntersville. “Art was my destiny, and I didn’t need higher education to do it,” he says. “Being a self-taught artist was my destiny.”
Michael’s path eventually took him to Birmingham, where he displayed some of his original pieces in the well-known Magic City Art Connection, and a new audience would admire and purchase his art. Just this year, he returned to the festival for the first time in a long time—family and the demands of life had kept him busy—and was delighted to find that his fans remembered him and local galleries were displaying his work.
“My work was already displayed in Canary Gallery,” he beams. “So I met with Libby (Pantazis, Canary Gallery’s owner) and we decided on a solo show this July.”
Reflecting on everything that has brought him to this moment, Michael says his work is a testament to himself—he believes strongly in creating art that is distinctive to his perspective, and he is willing to still be surprised and transformed by life. “In a lot of ways, I’m still a student,” he points out. “And the best way I can put it is this: I want my art to be different and to be mine.”
Of course, he’s had his artistic influences. But it’s the emotion, not the craft, that this self-taught creative takes to heart.
“I would stare at Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post paintings on our calendar,” he says, chuckling. “I loved them—I love realism and wanted to know about him. I also had a book about Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. Reading about these New York artists and their passion for creating fulltime...it wasn’t their art I wanted to emulate, but their passion.”
Michael Banks’ art will be exhibited by Canary Gallery this month with an opening reception slated for Thursday, July 18 from 5-7 p.m.
Down the Rabbit Hole 2
LLCANVAS.”
Her Better Nature
Lynlee strongly believes in and supports residential growth in Birmingham Since obtaining her license in 2014, Lynlee has completed over 595 transactions totaling over $236 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 my contributions positively impact my clients, my company and my city and that I have produced the highest quality of work ”
ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR
Magic City Raising the Bar in the
MEET THE OWNERS OF ALABAMA’S FIRST BODYBAR PILATES STUDIO
Elizabeth Barber, Marcie Munnerlyn, and Megan Adams
Katie Hubbard and Kayla Jackson met five years ago when Katie and her husband moved from Florida to the Magic City. It did not take long for the two to become friends and, soon enough, workout buddies. Both women agreed they wanted a lower-impact workout and opted for Pilates. It was a new adventure for Katie, who had previously been an avid runner, and an old favorite for Kayla, who had loved Pilates in college but stopped in recent years.
At first, the two friends drove to various studios around the Birmingham area in pursuit of their workout of choice. Then, one day in 2021, Kayla had a revelation. “I said, I want a Pilates studio closer to where we live,” she says. “I called Katie and suggested my idea—I had a location in mind and everything!”
The two opened the doors in July 2023—after overcoming the hurdles of commercial real estate, they joke—to what would be Alabama’s first BODYBAR Pilates, located in Cahaba Heights. The studio offers the brand’s unique variety of workouts and an activewear boutique in the front of the space. Classes at the studio fall into two categories: “Athletic” and “Balanced.” There are classes for everyone, regardless of where they are in their fitness journey.
“You have the ability to start out on a very basic level, to increase the intensity level at your own pace, and to get a completely different workout when you’re ready,” Kayla says.
CONTINUED >
Marcie Munnerlyn and Megan Adams
Because of the various classes available at BODYBAR, the studio tends to draw participants of all ages, abilities, and athletic levels. Blair Cooper, who started attending BODYBAR despite her insecurities about a recent knee injury, was pleasantly surprised when she fit right in with the other welcoming beginners. “I heard a new Pilates studio was opening, and I figured it was a great time to give reformer Pilates a try and hopefully get past the workout slump,” she says. “I can’t say enough good things about this studio and the wonderful instructors.”
Another BODYBAR regular, Marie Pridgen, was recovering from a kidney transplant when she made what she calls the best decision for her overall health and fitness.
“My very first Instructor was Marcie, and she was very methodical with my situation,” she says. “She guided me to what type of class would be best.”
Inspired by the community’s enthusiasm regarding their first Cahaba Heights location, Katie and Kayla intend to open another studio in Hoover, located in Knox Square – and soon, others across the state. Both agree that fostering relationships is important to their business model, and they’re heartened by the number of regulars who have discovered genuine friendships in BODYBAR.
“We’ve built a community with the Cahaba Heights location, and we plan to build another community with our next one in Knox Square,” Katie says. “We love how we’ve been able to bring that community to our space.”
Visit bodybarpilates.com/studios/cahabaheights
Marcie Munnerlyn and Megan Adams
In the little moments and major milestones of childhood, we are here for our patients and their families – helping, healing, teaching and discovering.
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Jack McMillan, Ella McMillan, Andrew Perez, Noah Perez
The magic of a free range summer in Alabama
ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR
I studied iconic American photographer Sally Mann a bit in college and have always felt drawn to her raw, photojournalistic style. Within these pages, we’ve attempted to capture the timeless beauty of a slow southern summer. Mary Fehr uses black-and-white photography to great effect, eliciting feelings of nostalgia. We hope you are as inspired as we are to savor the simple pleasures of summer that can be found in our own backyard. The Cahaba River Society is a great way to engage with the Cahaba River, one of the world's most biodiverse rivers. Consider joining friends and family for a guided float under a full moon. To learn more about the 191 miles that make up the Cahaba River, including how to support conservation and public access efforts, visit www.cahabablueway.org
Gradient Dance Theater and Community hosts weekly dance classes of all levels and styles. Join us for Ballet, Contemporary, GYROKINESIS® or our rotating ‘Dance Bite’ micro series to explore all sorts of other dance and movement styles. Be a part of our community and learn new things! Your movement celebrated!
Morning Classes: Wednesday 9:30-11am Contemporary Thursday 9:30-11am Rotating Dance Bite
Afternoon Classes: Thursday 12-1pm Joyful Joints GYROKINESIS® Class
Evening Classes: Tuesday 7:00-8:00pm Ballet Friday 5:30-6:30pm Rotating Dance Bite
We Also Offer 1:1 Sessions!
Historic Highland Avenue
ARTICLE BY REBECCA MOODY
Urban explorers often have to dig deep to document the forgotten past of historic neighborhoods. That’s exactly what the Birmingham Historical Society’s Marjorie White and historian buff and neighbor Randy Merritt do in exploring one of Birmingham’s oldest neighborhoods. Highland Avenue winds past three parks at the base of Red Mountain and, when completed in 1875, was the widest boulevard in the South. It was connected via street car to the bustling industrial downtown area only three miles away and was lined with the mansions of Birmingham’s finest who sought cleaner air with treelined streets and lush green spaces. While less than fifteen of these mansions remain today, their varied architectural styles and well-maintained parks suggest what life was like before economic conditions and newer over-the-mountain developments dramatically changed the neighborhood.
Exploring an iconic Birmingham street
2834 Highland Avenue, the Jordan House, is now a single family residence.
The Great Depression of the 1930s forced some residents to divide their mansions into apartments and others to flee, leading to a significant downturn in the neighborhood until the 1970s. Led by new city-financed landscaping along the boulevard, along with park maintenance and the growth of nearby UAB, a resurgence in interest in the area led to the restoration of historic homes and condominium conversions. Today, Highland Park is a diverse historic district consisting of five areas, all listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Milner, Hanover, Rhodes, Chestnut Hill, and Country Club districts.
Birmingham Historical Society located its offices on Highland Avenue in 2023. In cooperation with Randy Merritt, who lived in a historic house nearby, they began collecting photographs of all the homes along the boulevard and family histories of those who once lived there. By collecting these photographs, they explored the neighborhood's architectural history and told the story of Birmingham’s earliest days.
Urban exploration, history exploration, architectural exploration, cultural exploration, and the stories of the people who made significant contributions all come together when uncovering the stories of the past. Since its inception in 1942, the Birmingham Historical Society has been at the forefront of this comprehensive exploration. With over 70 publications, they have painstakingly documented and shared Birmingham's rich history, including Highland Avenue's significant role. Read
3065 Highland Avenue, the Schwab House, is now a single family residence.
The Brown House at 2908 Highland Avenue is now Clubhouse on Highland.
Highland Avenue Houses in 2024
Embark on a fascinating journey down Highland Avenue, where each house holds a unique story. Below, discover the original owners, notable residents, and current usage of these historically significant homes. Homes listed below are organized by street number. followed by house name and year built.
With thanks to Randy Merritt and Marjorie White of the Birmingham Historical Society for contributing this list.
2028 Hassinger House (1898)
Industrialist William H. Hassinger Now Hassinger-Daniels Mansion, a bed and breakfast
2154 Bradshaw House (1892)
Lawyer Caldwell Bradshaw; “Bachelors’ House” P. G. Shook, A. M. Linn, Culpepper Exum and Erskine Ramsay (1906) Now law offices
2220 London House (1894)
Attorney Alexander T. London Now Galley & Garden
2326 Jaffee House (1911)
Jewelry company owner Julius Jaffee Now law offices
2330 Yielding House (1911)
Hood, Yielding & Co. owner William J. Yielding Now law offices
The Three (Evans) Sisters Houses: Ella Harris, Della Enslen, and Gippie Warner
2731 Harris House (1905)
Wallpaper, paint, and decorating business owner George W. Harris Vacant
2733 Warner House (1905)
Confectionary owner Robert S. Warner Vacant
2737 Enslen House (1905)
Bank president and realtor
Eugene F. Enslen, Sr. Now law offices
2800 Burnett-Morrow House (1910)
Distributor of cigars, R. D. Burnett; Attorney and president of Sloss Furnaces, Hugh Morrow, Jr.
Now a single-family residence
2809 Wood House (1908)
Insurance company president W. D. Wood Now apartments
2831 Steward-Miller House (1890)
Mill operator and real estate investor Wesley C. Steward; Attorney and politician Nathan Miller
Now a single-family residence **house moved to 2824 11th Avenue South in 1906
2834 Jordan House (1905)
Widow of physician Mortimer Jordan, Mrs. Florence
Mudd Jordan
Now a single-family residence
2838 Donnelly House (1906) Philanthropist and father of the Birmingham library system, James Donnelly
Now an event venue
2848 Thompson House (1906)
Real estate developer S. E. Thompson
Now apartments
2906 Nabers House (1908)
Banker and investor Zach Nabers
Now apartments
2908 Brown House (1911)
Goodall-Brown mercantile owner William S. Brown; Alabama Federation of Women's Club (1947-1980) Now Clubhouse on Highland
2931 Colby House (1924)
Colby Decorating owner Willis S. Colby Vacant
3053 Loeb House (1913)
Owner of Loveman, Joseph & Loeb Department Store, now McWane Science Center
Now apartments
3065 Schwab House (1918)
Jonas Schwab
Now a single-family residence
Serving the Birmingham area since 1958.
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