Lynlee strongly believes in and supports residential growth in Birmingham. Since obtaining her license in 2014, Lynlee has completed over 641 transactions totaling over $293 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.”
Men’s Issue
Have you ever wondered, “Do fathers matter? What differences do I make in my home as a dad?” Let’s start with the simple answer — the importance of a father is tremendous! Fathers make countless differences in their home and family. However, how much impact you decide to make as a dad is entirely up to you!
A father’s gifts of quality time, life-giving words, and positive actions have a long-lasting impact on his children.
As I reflect on fatherhood this month, here are just a few of the ways dads can build up their home:
• A father’s strength can be powerful
• A dad’s words can be fueling and inspirational
• Hugs from a dad can be deeply comforting
• A dad’s smiles can instill joy and confidence
• Time with a dad can be fun and productive
• A dad’s physicality can be challenging
• A dad’s guidance can be life-changing and foundational
• A father’s correction can be life-saving and life-giving
• Adventures with a dad can be exciting and memorable
Let your father or a father figure in your life know how much he matters to you. And if you are a dad, let us be the first to say - thank you. You are invaluable to the people who know and need you as well as the community around you.
Happy Father’s Day!
KALI MCNUTT, PUBLISHER
June 2025
PUBLISHER
Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Blair Moore | blair.moore@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mary Fehr
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Je'Don Holloway-Talley, Blair Moore
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Reginald Allen, Katherine Mullen
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
Birmingham’s
Art Deco
Haute Cuisine + Southern Roots
From his Alabama garden to cross-continent kitchens, Chef Jonathan Harrison brings flavor, culture, and connection to the table
rds, Fiddles, and Gold Teeth
How Pynk Beard
Melissa Cassell
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Board Members Susan Waldrop & Lisa Burton with Hannah Rutledge at Grace House’s Fostering Compassion Luncheon. 2-4: Attendees enjoyed Malone Unlimited’s screening of “Show Her The Money,” an inspiring film highlighting four trailblazing founders and the powerhouse women investors who back them! 5-7: Attendees enjoyed the “Beanbags for Booties” cornhole tournament supporting the Hollingsworth Colorectal Cancer Awareness Fund.
BOLD AS A LION STUDIOS
BOLD AS A LION STUDIOS
BOLD AS A LION STUDIOS
HANNON DAVIDSON HALLI HOLLINGSWORTH
HALLI HOLLINGSWORTH
8-11: Amanda Pair Foundation’s third annual Legacy Classic took place at Greystone Founders Course. 12-13: Odette is now open at Pepper Place. 14: Cheers to one year of Gameday Men’s Health in Vestavia!
OLIVIA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
OLIVIA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
OLIVIA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
OLIVIA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
CAROLINE BORDERS
CAROLINE BORDERS
business monthly
Gameday Men’s Health to Open New Location in Trussville
Gameday Men’s Health is expanding in the Birmingham area with the opening of its newest location, Trussville, happening in June. Known for its modern, man-cave atmosphere—complete with overstuffed chairs, flat-screen TVs, and complimentary refreshments—Gameday offers personalized testosterone replacement therapy and same-day lab results in a comfortable, no-wait setting designed for men. Call 205.382.8843 to schedule a free evaluation.
Front Row: Leslie Wyatt, Morgan Gearhart, Penny Calvert-Ward, Lynda Lewis Back Row: Kenny Burns, Paul Mitchell, Collins Compere, Ken Alderman, Ken Griffin
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 sign out front. Nothing fancy. A man with a smile in his voice welcomed us inside.
“Ron Jackson,” he said, extending his hand. “But everybody calls me Papa Jack.”
He led Jonathan into the batting cage, and they got right to work. He lined up his knuckles and his feet, showed him how to “dance a little bit” in his stance, and instructed him to swing the bat—knob first—from point A to point B. Before each swing, he gave tiny, direct corrections that somehow made everything click.
Then, between swings, he paused.
“Look at me, Jonathan,” he said. “And repeat after me: Discipline… means doing things correctly every time.”
They said it together, like a mantra.
I found myself watching—curious, impressed by his depth of knowledge and coaching presence.
Little did we know, Papa Jack has spent over 50 years in professional baseball. He played in the Major Leagues, coached some of the most legendary hitters in the game, and was part of the greatest comeback story in baseball history. Over time, we started learning his story, bit by bit.
A few lessons in, he brought his World Series ring to show the kids. He let Jonathan hold it and took pictures with them, like they were teammates. Another time, he casually mentioned that he was flying out to Las Vegas. Turns out
“God told me, ‘Go home and get my children off the street.’”
he was going to be honored nationally for his work with inner-city youth.
The more I learned about Papa Jack, the more I wanted to know.
The story starts right here in Birmingham, where he was born as the fifth of 14 children to Thomas and Mary Jackson—a brick mason and a loving mother who instilled faith and discipline in their children.
“Our daddy taught us to work,” he said. “He laid bricks, and we laid bricks too. We didn’t have weights back then,” he added with a laugh. “Our weights were bricks.”
He credits those early days for giving the Jackson kids an edge. Several of his siblings went on to play college or professional sports, including brother Kenny, who was drafted by the White Sox, and Demetrius, who played for the Washington Redskins. His baby brother played baseball at BYU. His sisters were standouts in Birmingham softball leagues. Athleticism runs through the family tree, but grit runs deeper.
“We didn’t just learn how to swing. We learned how to show up. Mental toughness, discipline, perseverance... all that starts before you even pick up a bat.”
By the time he graduated from Birmingham’s Wenonah High School, Papa Jack had football
scholarships on the table. But after praying on it, he knew in his gut what he wanted: to go to the major leagues. He was selected in the second round of the 1971 draft by the California Angels and went on to spend a decade in the Major Leagues, playing for the Angels, Twins, Tigers, and Orioles.
But it was his second act as a coach that would shape his legacy.
Papa Jack became one of the most respected coaches in Major League baseball—renowned in hitting, working with organizations like the White Sox, Brewers, Dodgers, Astros, and—most famously—the Boston Red Sox. In 2003, he was named BoSox Man of the Year, an honor recognizing both his on-field impact and his contributions to the community. In 2004, he helped lead the Red Sox to their first World Series win in 86 years. Along the way, he helped David Ortiz out of a batting slump.
During a 2006 game, Ortiz—“Big Papi”—wasn’t feeling like himself. Frustrated, he retreated to the clubhouse. Papa Jack, reviewing video footage, saw something and called for Ortiz to come down to the cage.
“What do you see?” Ortiz asked.
Papa Jack pointed it out—his hands were late. His posture had shifted.
“You remember what we used to do?” Papa Jack said, demonstrating the adjustment.
Ortiz took a few more swings. “That’s it!” he said, then pointed at Papa Jack on his way to the dugout. “That’s why you’re the best!”
In his next at-bat, Ortiz stepped up to the plate and hit a massive home run, tying Jimmie Foxx’s single-season home run record. The time after that, he sent another ball over the fence to break it. After rounding the bases, he walked straight to Papa Jack and handed him his bat.
It’s still proudly displayed in Papa Jack’s home today. After his wildly successful career in the majors, doors were open everywhere. But Papa Jack prayed about what to do next.
“God told me, ‘Go home and get my children off the street,’” he said.
“We’re here to teach kids life skills. How to get along with your fellow man. How to work through something when it’s hard. How to do things the right way.”
So he came home to Birmingham. With a mission. Through his nonprofit, the Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson Baseball Foundation, and the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, he’s mentored thousands of young athletes—many from underserved neighborhoods. He’s taken them to showcases, connected them to college opportunities, and helped shape lives both on and off the field.
He’s guided players through the Breakthrough Series and the Hank Aaron Invitational. Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves came through that program, along with Lawrence Butler of the Oakland A’s. Plenty more are knocking on the door of the majors.
“It takes a village to raise a ballplayer,” he explained. “You’ve got to be patient,” he told me. “These kids—man, they’re babies. Parents think they’re headed to the big leagues already. But it’s a process. You have to break things down and teach them step by step. Not just in baseball. In life.”
But ask him what moment he’s proudest of, and he won’t name a championship ring or a batting record. He’ll take you to a sunny day at Fenway Park.
“It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.
During his time with the Red Sox, CBS sponsored a summer program for children with disabilities, and Papa Jack was one of the coaches who arrived early to work with them—kids in wheelchairs, kids with Down syndrome—all of them wide-eyed under the shadow of the Green Monster.
“I walked around the outfield,” he said, his voice softening, “with two little girls with Down syndrome, one on each arm.”
He paused, smiling at the memory. “We were just out there under that big wall. They were so sweet, going back and forth saying, ‘Papa Jack’s mine!’ ‘No, Papa Jack’s mine!’”
He shook his head. “Man, I have chills now just thinking about it,” he told me. “That right there was the biggest highlight of my whole career.”
After Jonathan’s lesson, Papa Jack called my younger son—my wild one—and handed him a bat nearly as big as he was.
He knelt beside him, adjusted his feet, lined up his knuckles, and showed him where to look.
In just a few minutes, Joseph went from wildly swinging the bat like he was about to break something to sending the ball flying clear across the room.
Papa Jack crouched beside him and said, “Now look me in the eye. What did you learn?”
Joseph stopped wiggling, looked straight at him, and said, “Watch the ball. Turn my back knee.”
I just stood there, stunned. This kid is three years old—and a rascal at that. That’s the magic of Papa Jack.
“Sports prepare you for whatever you’re going to do in life,” he said, walking us to the car. “We’re here to teach kids life skills. How to get along with your fellow man. How to work through something when it’s hard. How to do things the right way.”
Before we pulled away, he handed each of the kids a signed baseball card. They haven’t stopped smiling since.
I left thinking, Papa Jack is a legend. The man coached Hall of Famers like Frank Thomas. He could be anywhere, doing anything right now.
But the story continues right where it started— here in Birmingham, Alabama, where Papa Jack spends his days out on a field or in an inconspicuous warehouse, passing on decades of baseball wisdom, life lessons, and a love of the game to rookies like mine.
“Sports prepare you for whatever you’re going to do in life.”
A GENTLEMAN’S EDIT
ARTICLE BY BLAIR MOORE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR
Art Deco meets modern function in this private Birmingham office
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 for high-stakes meetings, inviting enough for a scotch at the end of the day.
“He was drawn to Art Deco from the start,” Balanis says of her client. “We wanted to nod to that era without slipping into costume territory.” The result is a study in masculine elegance, where bold patterns, sculptural silhouettes, and jewel-toned textures mix easily with softened upholstery and curated vintage finds.
The inspiration came together almost instantly: a graphic, Art Deco-inspired wallpaper in shades of midnight and gold, a handful of luxe fabric swatches, and an Italian wool carpet in rich lapis blue that grounded the palette. “We laid everything out and realized it just clicked,” Balanis recalls. From there, the design moved from the outside in—starting with wallpaper and wall color, then layering in textiles, furnishings, and accessories that brought patina and polish to the rooms.
Designer Danielle Balanis
At the heart of the space is a sculptural desk from CB2, its fluted oak millwork and warm walnut finish offering a clean-lined anchor against the patterned backdrop. The table and chairs, sourced from Chairish and 1stDibs, add a subtle old-world glamour, their dark-stained frames and tailored upholstery echoing the room’s palette. A television, cleverly framed to blend into the architecture, tucks neatly into the design—ready for global video calls without disrupting the aesthetic.
Throughout the office, texture carries the weight of the design: linen-blend drapes soften the architecture without a hint of shine, velvet adds low-luster richness, and a zebra rug sprawled casually across the carpet delivers a jolt of pattern. “Color choices play a big role in designing a more masculine space,” Balanis says. “Things need a little grain to them, some texture. I don’t like anything too silky.” Masculine design, she notes, is about finding the right tension. “It’s about balance.”
This layered, considered approach reflects Balanis’s own design sensibility. Raised in Tifton, Georgia, she grew up with an early appreciation for beautiful spaces. “I loved walking through homes that were really well done. I just wanted to take it all in,” she says. After studying interior design in college, she moved to Birmingham and worked for an established firm, refining her eye and deepening her craft. When she designed her own home in 2018, everything clicked. “I did it all myself, and friends kept asking, ‘When are you going to start your own firm?’” By early 2019, she had launched Danielle Balanis Design—and hasn’t looked back.
“To see something go from idea to reality, and to know it’s not just beautiful but useful? That’s the reward,” she says. Every space she designs is shaped by the people who will live and work within its walls. “It really is living art.”
Balanis considered this modern office a dream project. The client, for his part, couldn’t be happier. “He was so excited to show his wife when it was finished.”
And while Balanis didn’t set out to spark a movement, the spirit of the space feels like a nudge toward something new: toward personality, toward elegance, toward a modern gentleman’s office that isn’t just a place to work, but a place to live well.
Because style isn’t something you have to save for after hours.
Sourced Locally:
Odette, Design Supply, Alkmy, A Little Rug Shop, Gallery Services
Curated Outside of Birmingham: Chairish, 1stDibs, Pierce & Ward (Los Angeles), Creel & Gow (New York), CB2, Etsy
“I
Mary Meadows Livingston, CFA, CFP® - Founder, Abeona Wealth
ARTICLE BY BLAIR MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR
From his Alabama garden to cross-continent kitchens, Chef Jonathan Harrison brings flavor, culture, and connection to the table
Haute Cuisine +
Southern Roots
Long before he plated a dish in Portugal or simmered 25 gallons of gumbo, Birmingham personal chef Jonathan Harrison was learning the art of good food in his grandfather’s garden. “At the time, I didn’t realize how much that was shaping me—or would shape me,” he says. Years later, as he tends his own sprawling garden filled with okra, tomatoes, zinnias, and six kinds of basil, he sees that early influence in every bite he creates.
Harrison, who grew up in Columbiana, took a winding path to the kitchen. A talented singer, he earned a vocal scholarship before studying journalism at Auburn University. But he never lost his culinary passion. Inspired as a child by Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network, he once convinced his mother to buy him ingredients for her red wine–braised short ribs—a dish he soon mastered and still enjoys.
“At the end of the day, it’s all a means to an end,” he says with a laugh. “I like to eat.” But it’s more than that. Harrison believes food is a universal language—a powerful way to bring people together. He calls his approach “inclusive Southern hospitality,” creating spaces where “the table is crowded, but there’s always room for one more.”
“I’ve watched food bring together the most opposite of people,” he says. “We’ve all got to eat… so that’s instant common ground.”
That ethos carries through to his work as a personal chef, where he crafts bespoke dining experiences for clients across Birmingham, Smith Lake, Lake Martin—and even abroad. “For dinner parties, we turn your home into a boutique restaurant for the evening,” he says. “It’s four to eight courses, and it’s an experience. My team and I do it all—from shopping to cooking to washing the dishes.”
His menus are hyper-seasonal, celebrating Alabama’s agricultural bounty. June, he says, is peak peach and tomato season. He loves to pair them in a peach, plum, and tomato salad alongside hefty cuts of grilled meats, creating a meal that feels both elevated and relaxed.
CONTINUED >
“FOOD BUILDS COMMUNITY. IT CREATES PURPOSE. AND WHEN IT’S DONE WITH LOVE, IT CAN REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE NOT ALONE.”
Harrison’s career took off after a star-making turn on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, which led to freelance work with Food & Wine and Allrecipes, as well as private clients—some of whom he accompanies to Europe annually.
Still taking in the reality that he’s living out his dream, Harrison humbly recalls his first major culinary event: cooking at the Birmingham Food+Fire Festival in 2023, surrounded by chefs he’d long admired. Fueled by a drive to prove himself, he served smoked turkey neck and wild boar andouille gumbo, as well as braised duck leg carnitas with avocado salsa and crispy duck skin. “They were a big hit at the festival that day,” he remembers—an affirmation that he was exactly where he was meant to be.
Harrison’s passion for food and humanitarian work led him to volunteer with World Central Kitchen during the Ukrainian refugee crisis. “I’d never been to Europe,” he says. “But I booked a flight and went to Poland, 12 miles from Ukraine.” There, he joined chefs from around the world to cook for thousands of displaced families—an experience he calls life-changing. “I met people from 15 different countries in that kitchen. It was humbling, beautiful, and it confirmed I’m on the right path.”
For Harrison, feeding others is a calling. “If you’ve been given a passion, you might as well do some good with it,” he says. “Food builds community. It creates purpose. And when it’s done with love, it can remind people that they’re not alone.”
When it comes to creating a memorable dining experience, Harrison pairs creativity with precision. “When you’re hosting, it’s about details, details, details,” he explains. “If you think about something 10% more, you can make it 100% better.” Whether it’s the perfect wine glass placement or using plates that mean something, he believes thoughtful details elevate every guest’s experience in an unforgettable way.
His dream dinner guest? Ina Garten, of course. “She’s the reason all of this is happening,” he says. “I would absolutely love to cook for her someday. I think she’d dig our vibe down here.” Until then, Jonathan Harrison will keep serving up masterful dishes, Southern hospitality—and if you’re lucky—his signature white chocolate bread pudding.
BEARDS, FIDDLES, AND GOLD TEETH
ARTICLE BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY REGINALD ALLEN
HOW PYNK BEARD IS CHANGING THE COUNTRY MUSIC NARRATIVE
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 strings and storytelling.
In this exclusive, Pynk Beard opens up about the day he dyed his beard pink, how country music has always been his aim — even while signed to Motown Records as an R&B artist — and how he’s redefining what it means to “go country” on his own terms.
Born Coleridge Tillman and raised in the Dolomite neighborhood of Birmingham, Kole’s musical journey started long before he stepped into global spaces or began writing music for celebrated artists like Alessia Cara, Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, John Legend, and more. His most recent Grammy came at the 2025 ceremony, for Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen , marking his third Grammy win. But singing country at trail rides and Nashville breweries feels more like a homecoming than a genre switch, Kole said.
“I feel more at home now than I’ve ever felt in my life … Country music didn’t change me. It just gave me permission to be more of who I already was,” he said.
Kole’s first album, Soup, released in 2016, was originally intended to be a country record. “It wasn’t supposed to be R&B,” he said. “But at the time, being signed and trying to make it work, the support just wasn’t there. So I turned it into Southern Urban Pop — that’s what Soup stood for.”
CONTINUED >
Now, years later, Sugar & Salt picks up where Soup left off, this time without compromise. The album is a sonic and spiritual rebirth, rooted in pedal steel, acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo, and the grounding wisdom that comes with being Alabama-bred. Country music, Kole says, simply gives him space to tell the kinds of stories he’s always told, regardless of genre.
“I’ve always been a storyteller,” he said. “If you go back and listen to anything I’ve written, it’s usually very story-driven. R&B often expresses feelings, but I’ve always been like, ‘Let me tell you this story.’”
Kole’s shift in sound and identity came with a bold visual statement. One day, at his home in L.A., he decided to dye his beard bright pink. The act was spontaneous, yet intentional.
“I wanted people to focus on what was coming out of my mouth,” he laughed. “You can’t not look at a pink beard and gold teeth. That’s by design.”
But Pynk Beard isn’t just a look, it’s a personality. “Sebastian Kole is the introspective guy, the writer who stays at home,” he said. “Pynk Beard is loud, outside, enjoying life. This isn’t about fame — it’s about being present, about choosing joy.”
The EP was made independently. Kole teamed up with longtime collaborator Oak Felder to build Sugar & Salt from scratch.
“I could’ve gone the trap-country route,” he said. “But I wanted it to feel real. Banjo, pedal steel, acoustic guitars, fiddles … we wanted the instrumentation to be authentic. And we did a whole lot of gang vocals to encourage people to sing along.”
The album’s title is more than a nod to Southern flavor; it’s a metaphor for contrast, connection, and culture. “There are folks in the South who eat their grits with sugar, and others with salt, and they’ll swear the other is crazy, but it’s all still country,” Kole said. “So, it doesn’t matter if I’m talking about trail rides or bonfires, it’s all country, and it’s the country experience that binds us.”
Kole once wondered how his shift would be received, especially as a Black artist, but said he’s found himself embraced, particularly by fans in the Black rodeo and trail ride communities.
“I thought I’d get more pushback, but the love has been overwhelming. People are seeing themselves in the music,” Kole said.
Now, with a tour kicking off and a merch line on the way, Pynk Beard is bringing his Southern reinvention to the stage. “I’ve never been this happy in my adult life,” he said. “Pynk Beard is here to stay.”
Follow him on Instagram @sebastiankole for updates on music, tour dates, and the upcoming album Sugar & Salt.
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 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.
After a decade in menswear, including his current role at Shaia’s, Green launched Secret Society to help revive the art of dressing with intention. His first collection sold out of every standout design. “Life’s too short to be boring,” he says. “I believe in having a little fun with your style.”
That mix of polish and playfulness shows up in more than just his designs. “Most customers have only ever seen me in a suit and tie since I wear one six days a week,” he says. “Then they run into me in a T-shirt out with my wife and kids, notice the full sleeve of tattoos, and think, ‘Wait, what?’”
Most days, though, Green enjoys sporting classic menswear: well-cut suits, tailored shirts, and, of course, a great tie.
With Secret Society, he sources vintage silks, works with Italian mills, and designs ties that balance timeless structure with a fresh edge. Some feature traditional stripes that nod to old-school Brooks Brothers. Others showcase abstract patterns with a bit more oomph. Green hopes to see more Birmingham men embracing the knit tie, and he’s a fan of the slightly imperfect four-in-hand knot. “It says, yes, I’m wearing a tie, but I don’t take myself too seriously.”
Comfort matters, too. “A lot of people assume ties are uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t be. If everything fits well, you’ll forget you’re wearing one,” he says. “It’s like when you first start wearing a watch. At first, it feels strange. Then it just becomes part of you.”
Sweatpants may have ruled the Zoom era, but Green believes society is shifting back toward a more refined sense of style. “You get to choose how you present yourself,” he says. “When you put on a tie, you’re making the choice to show up.”
For those who still do, Green offers a quiet nod of camaraderie through the company tagline:
Kingfisher Leatherworks is making a name for itself across Birmingham and beyond with its sharp, American-made accessories—from bison belts to whiskey glass cases. At the core is a commitment to enduring craftsmanship and materials made to be worn, gifted, and passed down.
“We have a lifetime warranty on everything we make,” says Andrew Adams, who runs the company alongside founder Luke Kolbie. “There are no corners cut—full-grain saddle leather, American bison, Amish-made construction. These are pieces your son can inherit one day.”
Kingfisher started on the sporting side with handmade shell bags and cartridge belts, then expanded into more versatile lifestyle items like bottle totes and weekend bags. Their most popular product by far? The double bottle tote, built with structure and detail that makes it nearly indestructible, plus options for custom monograms, pewter pins, and logos.
The wearable offerings—especially their belts—make Kingfisher a natural fit for men seeking understated polish. Belts come in rich chocolate or cognac bison and standard harness leather. “I wear our belts with suits all the time,” Adams says. “They’re sharp enough to dress up, and we’re starting to offer interchangeable buckles, too.”
Founder Luke Kolbie puts it this way: "What started as my own need for performance outdoor gear resulted in a grassroots company handcrafting generational leathergoods to the highest standards right here in the USA. Every rivet and stitch is purposeful, ensuring that they can withstand an adventurous lifestyle and serve not only you, but also your heirs to come."
One spring afternoon, a man visiting Birmingham from South Carolina wandered into Marcdión Clothier. He described a suit jacket—just a vision in his mind—and owner Torey Amerson knew he could bring it to life. “We worked through fabrics and details until it came together,” Amerson says. “A brownish-tan pinstripe. Clean. Sharp.”
Before mailing the finished jacket, Amerson added an unexpected custom touch. The man was an avid golfer, something Amerson had tucked away from conversation. He lined the jacket with fabric printed in a golf club motif. “He opened it up, and his wife said it was like he lost his mind,” Amerson says. That jacket sparked a lasting relationship and more orders, including rounds of Derby suits for him and his friends.
Word of mouth is how most customers find Marcdión, which has quietly become a hub not just for style but for connection. “We’re going to start calling it the meeting spot,” Amerson jokes. “I’ve had a priest in here with a rabbi. A news anchor met an artist, and next thing I know, they’re doing a story together.” It’s got barbershop energy, but with blazers. “Guys come in and end up talking about things you’d never expect.”
That spirit carries into every custom look. “I don’t push what I like,” Amerson says. “I listen. I ask about their work, their kids, where they’re from. You’ve got to know some things about the person to choose the right style.”
Style starts with the person, but it’s the custom details that finish the look. “It’s that one little stitch on the lapel button—that’s what sets it apart,” Amerson says. “The contrast thread, the hand pick-stitching around the lapel, real horn or mother-of-pearl buttons—those are the quiet details that tell you it’s a custom piece, not something off the rack.”
Amerson has been in the business for 15 years, and it’s never been about volume for him. “I’m invested in every piece someone purchases,” he says. “I want them to get compliments. I want them to get that job, that promotion, that special someone—whatever they’re going for. I take it personally.”
marcdion.com | @marcdion_clothier
ARTICLE BY BLAIR MOORE
THE MEN BEHIND THE MICS
Inside the wildly popular Birmingham-based sports talk show, The Next Round
On Halloween 2022, news broke that Auburn had fired head football coach Bryan Harsin. Over at The Next Round , Birmingham’s midday sports talk show, hosts Jim Dunaway, Lance Taylor, and Ryan Brown were ready to dive in. They were also dressed as Top Gun Maverick, Evel Knievel, and Ken from Barbie—roller skates and all.
“Other outlets were picking up our conversation about Harsin getting fired, and we’re sitting there dressed like that,” Taylor remembers. “It was just so typical of our show.”
That blend of irreverence and real insight is what’s earned The Next Round its place in fans’ daily routines. It’s a threehour hangout—sports-focused but full of entertaining detours, like debating whether cake or pie is better. (Two to one said pie, but Dunaway still disagrees.) Now in its fourth year as an independent venture, the show has built a loyal following far beyond Birmingham.
“The biggest compliment we get is when someone says, ‘I feel like I’ve just walked into a sports bar and overheard your conversation,’” says Brown. “That’s exactly what we’re going for.”
The trio has worked together for more than 15 years, first at WJOX. The pairing wasn’t born of creative vision—it began as a logistical move, combining two existing shows.
“I didn’t want to work with them, and they didn’t want to work with me,” Taylor says, laughing. “We had different styles, and honestly, none of us thought it would work.”
But it worked. Fast.
“We’ve got three completely different personalities,” Brown says. “But they mesh better than anybody expected.” That chemistry—and the show’s energy—make it stand out. “If you turn on a sports radio show in any city in America, it just doesn't sound like our show,” says Dunaway.
Together, they’ve built something rare: a media brand with edge and staying power. Brown books the guests. Taylor handles sales and sponsorships. Dunaway, described as the “point guard,” leads the show with pages of prep notes and offbeat angles. With the rhythm of longtime co-hosts, they riff through unscripted takes that resonate with fans.
“One of the keys to our show is that we’re not experts,” Dunaway says. “We didn’t play the games. We’re fans like the listeners. We’re riding the roller coaster of the sports experience with you.”
The team’s dynamic extends beyond the studio. They’ve hosted shows from Flora-Bama to SEC Media Days, with stories involving Bud Light kegs at the office, shirtless Tupac costumes, and one now-legendary Taylor Swift lyric tattoo.
Dunaway’s co-hosts love to give him grief about the tattoo— and who wouldn’t? The guy who runs the show with football coach-level prep now has “Long Live” inked on his arm, thanks partially to a bourbon-fueled dare and an enthusiastic social
“We didn’t play the games. We’re fans like the listeners. We’re riding the roller coaster of the sports experience with you.”
media director. But the story’s actually pretty sweet: the lyric is from a favorite song he shares with his daughter, one she loved since her first concert at age 10. When she had it tattooed in college, she told him, “This is for you.” So, naturally, he got a matching one. “Really it’s for my daughter,” Jim says. “But the guys get a kick out of saying, ‘Jim’s got a Taylor Swift tattoo.’”
Fans of The Next Round are everywhere. They’ve been recognized at amphitheaters in Tuscaloosa, beaches in Florida, and hotels in Dallas. That growth is no accident.
“We’re not on traditional radio anymore,” Brown says. “We’re on YouTube, the app, podcasts—so the footprint is unlimited. And it’s expanding.”
So is their love for Birmingham.
“The older I get, the more I appreciate this place,” Taylor says. “The restaurants, the people—there’s a lot to love about this city.”
Favorite local spots? Helen, El Barrio, Oak House. And for lunch— Slice. “I’m heading there right now,” Taylor says.
Behind the hosts is a team of seven who keep the show running, often without fanfare but never without impact. “We’re nothing without the other people,” Dunaway says. “When we fumble the ball, they pick it up for us and keep us afloat.” From video production to social media and operations, each team member plays a vital role. What drives the hosts now isn’t just their own success—it’s helping launch careers and support the families of those who’ve joined the ride. “It’s not just for us anymore,” he says. “The responsibility is a little deeper.”
Above all, The Next Round is about creating space to breathe.
“There’s enough yelling in the world already,” Brown says. “We want to be your escape. Whatever’s going on—bad job, stress, life stuff—if we can help you forget it for a little while and laugh, we’ve done our job.”
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