Celebrating the communities of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
A LIVING LEGACY
18 | Daniel and Nick traverse the continent in an ‘86 Isuzu Trooper.
Deck the Fall… Y
es, it’s only mid-October, but with the cooler temperatures and leaves changing colors, it’s hard not to jump forward to the holidays that are around the corner. For you holiday anticipators, Madoline Markham Koonce’s article about Tyler and Anna Nash and their new book Refreshing Hospitality should help you get ready to welcome guests to your table and home (page 22). Also, Madoline takes a look at the fantastic holiday decorating work of painter and stylist Buffy Hargett Miller who brings holiday style to numerous over-themountain-homes (page 26). And once you are inspired, make plans to attend the Red Mountain Garden Club’s annual greenery sale so you can deck your own halls in gorgeous greenery (page 12).
Yes, it’s only mid-October, but Happy Merry HallowThanksMas!
–BARRY WISE SMITH
| OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS |
31 | Cayden Hofbauer pulls a Houdini.
Jordan Wald Contributors: DT Carmichael II, Madoline Markham Koonce, Loyd McIntosh, Sue Watkins
Account Executive: Julie Trammell Edwards
We would love to hear from you on any subject: lhurley@otmj.com
35, No. 06
Lizzie Harmon helps her dad Hartson study for his MBA at Alabama.
Miss Sims Garden at 913 Irving Road Homewood has lots of pumpkins, gourds, mums and other strange apparitions for sale.
Exceptional Foundation Dinnertainment
The Exceptional Foundation held its 12th annual Dinnertainment fundraiser on September 25 at Country Club of Birmingham. After a cocktail hour and silent auction, guests enjoyed a seated dinner and the ‘tainment portion of the evening when Exceptional Foundation participants showcased their musical and artistic talents to follow the evening’s theme of Disney movies. A highlight of the night was the recognition of retired longtime Exceptional Foundation Executive Director Tricia Kirk. Dinnertainment is one of several fundraisers to help support the foundation’s programs for individuals with special needs. OTMJ
JJ Bischoff and Barry Smith
Charlie Jordan, Carolyn and David Martin, Carmine Jordan and TJ Willings
Jane and Sam Brinkley
Angela and Eric Barnes
Kyle Smith, Andy Gwaltney and Stephen Allen Tom and Katherine Brinkley and Sara Newell
Chuck Branch and Nan and Baker Crow
Elijah Hood and Lakieta Lynn
The Ballerina Club
The Ballerina Club hosted the fall meeting and luncheon at Birmingham Country Club. The Ballerina Club is one of longest existing social dance clubs in Birmingham, organized in 1946. This year’s officers are Stephanie Byrne, president; Glynis Jones & Tracey Boyd 1st VP; Mary Beth Wood, 2nd VP; Amanda Sharp, Secretary; Elizabeth Ezell, Treasurer; Pam Grayson, Asst. Treasurer; Edith Lyon, Parliamentarian; Joy McRae & Susan Yarbro, Hospitality; Anne Ruzie, Membership; Michele Smith, Publicity; Leigh Collins, Directory; Pat Grant, Historian; Ball Committee: Cece Hartley, Martha Smith, Leigh Collins, Mary Owen, Mary Beth Wood, Sallie Chalkley, Loretta Keller, Catherine Meehan and Joy McRae. OTMJ
SAMFORD LEGACY LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON
The Samford University Legacy League kicked off a yearlong 100th anniversary celebration with its annual Fall Luncheon on September 25 featuring Birmingham’s own Sophie Hudson, a popular podcaster, author and the mother of a Samford senior. Known as “Boo Mama” to her The Big Boo Cast podcast audience, Hudson is the author of seven books, including her most recent A Fine Sight to See: Leading Because You Were Made for It.
This popular annual event looked back at the Legacy League’s first century of service, included a student testimonial, recognized 2024-2025 volunteers and board members and featured the presentation of the 2025 Lolla Wright Award to Kimeran Stevens. Before and after the program, guests shopped at a pop-up shop featuring local vendors, with a portion of sales supporting the Legacy League’s scholarship initiatives.
To date, the Legacy League has awarded over $2.1 million in scholarships to assist students who have faced obstacles including homelessness, inner city violence, death or disability of a parent, abandonment, parental addiction and incarceration and the sacrifices of full-time ministry. In addition to providing generous scholarships, the organization provides extra measures of support and practical assistance for the 25 students in its cohort. OTMJ
Mary Anne Freeman, Paula Gossett and Mike Freeman
Laura Bryan, Jennifer Kline, Terri Archer, Lisa Burton, Lisa Warnock and Leslie Moore
Amy Pattillo and Maureen Hallman
Joy McRae, Lauren Hayes, Leigh Collins, Susan Yarbro, Edith Lyon, Stephanie Byrne, Amanda Sharp and Pam Grayson
Kathy Clay, Kimeran Stevens, Jan Cobb and Bill Stevens
Carolyn Keeney and Sheila SmithJulie Edwards and Suzy Johnson
Beck and Julie Taylor, Kimeran Stevens, Jan Cobb and Bill Stevens
Karen Byers, Michele Smith and Virginia Sheffield
Joy McRae, Jan Hunter, Marilyn Ingram, Glynis Jones, Martha Smith and Mary Owen
Gale Sawyer, Judy Adams and Linda Presley
Birmingham Greek Festival
OPA! Thousands of guests showed up in downtown Birmingham October 2-4 to enjoy the 52nd Annual Greek Festival—one of the city’s largest and oldest food and cultural events— at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. For three days, the festival site welcomed guests for favorite Greek foods like gyros, souvlakia, pastitsio and baklava, available for drive-through pickup or on-site dining. The festival also features traditional Greek music and dancing by groups from the cathedral with dancers ranging from 4- to 18-years old. Festivalgoers also learned about Greek Orthodox religious traditions on tours of the Cathedral. OTMJ
The Homewood Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate
Homewood for the Holidays
Downtown Homewood Holiday Open House
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
5-8:00PM
Kick off the holiday season with Downtown Homewood's most anticipated shopping event! Enjoy sips and bites + visit with Santa as you explore the wonderful offerings from local businesses.
BreakfastSantawith
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH 8:00AM-12:00PM
Join us alongside Samford University for a very merry breakfast with Santa! Enjoy a festive morning with breakfast, activities, and a complimentary photo with the jolly man himself.
Edgewood Tree Lighting and Sip & Shop
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH
6-8:00PM
Join the merchants of Edgewood for a cheerful evening of shopping, sipping, and holiday fun — all leading up to the lighting of the Edgewood Christmas Tree at 6:30 PM!
Lighting of the Star & Christmas Parade
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH
6:3OPM
Celebrate the season as we light the Historic Homewood Star at the top of 18th Street. The parad and lighting of the Christmas tree will follow immediately after.
SHOP EARLY, SHOP LOCAL
Kim Kilgore and Daphne Butera
Chris Caywood and Anne Ward Maegan and Mike Argo
Erica Boswell and Claudia Sheppard
Isabella Snowden and Richard and Leslie White
Allison Davis and Allison Baldwin
Katheryn and Kate Umber and Walt and Lyda Burnette
Anne Caroline Miller and Brandon Quinnelly
ZOO GALA 2025
The Birmingham Zoo’s Trails of Africa exhibition was the setting for Zoo Gala 2025 on September 26. The elegant black-tie-optional event celebrated 70 years of “wild” since the zoo opened in 1955 and began with cocktails and animal encounters. Guests then enjoyed dinner catered by Kathy G and a live auction, followed by dancing. The gala was a sold-out success and is the zoo’s largest fundraiser of the year. OTMJ
Baubles, Bourbon & Blessings
The annual Baubles, Bourbon & Blessings charity event, hosted by the King’s Home Shelby Auxiliary, was held on September 23 at Greystone Country Club Legacy Clubhouse. The event featured appearances by Miss Alabama Emma Terry, Hoover’s new Mayor Nick Derzis and his wife Stephanie and other dignitaries; a bourbon tasting, fine cigars, and passed hors d’oeuvres. Participants had the chance to win raffle items including Diamonds Direct earrings and packages from Gunn Dermatology and Pursell Farms. A live painting of Greystone’s Legacy Clubhouse by artist Tina Douglass was also raffled off. All proceeds from the event went to the King’s Home Shelby Auxiliary, an organization that provides hope and healing to women and children in need. OTMJ
Julian and Michele Maha
board members from left: Johnetta Jarrett, Lew Burdette, Ranea Breen, Denice Freeman, Kathy Sexton, Jenna Kapral, Krista Staley, Lori Landis, Bobbie Breeding, Sharon Suellentrop, Allison Milam Cheka, Tammy Lucas and Jim Medley
Chris and Teresa Pfefferkorn
Miss Alabama Emma Terry poses with Jenna Cagle of Prodigal Pottery.
Marve and Bobbie Breeding with Andrew and Randel Harris representing Gunn Dermatology.
Newly elected Hoover mayor Nick Derzis and his wife Stephanie with Kings Home Shelby Auxiliary President Bobbie Breeding and Miss Alabama Emma Terry
Judy and Ryan Phillips and Eric and Karen Jones
Betsy Henley and BT and Elizabeth Tynes
Margaret and Joe Irby Wally Nall and Phyllis and Larry Wojciechowski
Heather and Ralph Stallworth
John and Elizabeth Steiner and Marie and Art Freeman
Heart Gallery
20th Birthday Gala
On September 25, Heart Gallery Alabama celebrated its 20th Birthday Gala at Rosewood Hall, marking two decades of finding forever families for youth in Alabama’s foster care system. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner, inspiring stories from adoptive families and birthday cakes generously donated by local bakers. A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt tribute to co-founder and longtime Executive Director Michelle Bearman-Wolnek, honoring her retirement after 20 years of leadership. The evening also marked a new chapter for Heart Gallery as Leisa Smith was announced as the organization’s new Executive Director. Guests also enjoyed a live auction. The gala was not only a joyful celebration of the past 20 years but also a powerful step toward creating brighter futures for children still waiting for their forever families. OTMJ
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Fund
A time to celebrate and encourage those who have fought colorectal cancer
Guests will enjoy delectable appetizers, and three distinct oyster varieties each offering a unique taste of the ocean, while expert sommeliers guide them through perfectly matched wines, elevating the tasting experience. Scan for tickets
reedgifoundation.networkforgood.com
Walker and Allison Moseley and Alec and Emily Tetstone
Jana Flnikow, Leslie McElheny and Jen Driskill
back row: Leisa Smith, Rosalind Fournier, Michelle Bearman-Wolnek, Amy Haywood and Joycelyn Haywood front row: Emily Reid, Emma Vo and Sharon Jones
Joycelyn Haywood and Amy Haywood, Jalete Nelms, Sandy York and Emma Vo
Rebecca McCormick and Ashley Ferris
Anna Hayden and Allen Gray
Stephen Owens and Libet Anderson
Anna Wellingham, Wes Martin, Cruise Kay and Kenneth Toledo
A Quiet Gift, 70 Years in the Making:
The Memorial Garden at the Birmingham Museum of Art
BY SUE WATKINS
For 70 years, the Memorial Garden at the Birmingham Museum of Art has been one of the city’s most cherished spaces, a serene retreat where art and nature come together. What makes this garden special is not only its beauty but the fact that it has been cared for, invested in and sustained year after year by the women of the Red Mountain Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of America. This has been their gift to Birmingham, quietly offered for seven decades, and it stands as a true community project.
The garden was first imagined in 1955 by club president Fariss Gambrill Lynn. She wanted to create a tribute to those who had enriched Birmingham through their gifts and service. The club worked with local landscape architect William Kessler to bring the vision to life, and members soon rolled up their sleeves. Mondays often found them with
shovels, pruning shears and gardening gloves, doing the unglamorous work of planting and trimming. For decades, the Memorial Garden was maintained by the women themselves, giving the space the feel of a well-loved retreat for the entire city.
As the museum grew and changed, the garden grew with it. In the 1990s, a major museum expansion required a new vision for the Memorial Garden, and Red Mountain Garden Club member Carolyn Dixon Tynes spearheaded its sweeping redesign. She brought in artist Valerie Jaudon to create the garden’s most iconic feature: shimmering tile reflecting pools in deep, rich shades of blue. For her leadership, Caroline Tynes received the Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects, putting Birmingham’s Memorial Garden on the national stage. At the same time, the scale of the project meant that the club could no longer rely solely
on its members’ volunteer labor. Professional landscape services were brought in, and the club has funded those services ever since to ensure the garden remains at the highest standard.
If the pools added elegance by day, the lighting project of 2010 brought magic by night. The vision to illuminate the garden came from well-known Birmingham landscape architect Norman Kent Johnson, who introduced the idea of engaging Charles Stone, the acclaimed lighting designer best known for the “Towers of Light” at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. The project was made possible through the
dedication of the Red Mountain Garden Club and the generous support of the Collat family and Mayer Electric. The lights transformed the Memorial Garden into an enchanting evening destination by creating a soft glow over the pools and greenery, making the garden a place for weddings, events and quiet nighttime reflection. In 2024, the club funded a complete lighting upgrade to keep the garden shining as brilliantly as the night the lights first came on. For all its beauty, the Memorial Garden is not simply ornamental. It is a substantial, ongoing investment in Birmingham’s cultural life. Every project, every enhancement and
left: Red Mountain Garden Club members gather in the Memorial Garden at the Birmingham Museum of Art. below: The Memorial Garden in 1960.
“The Memorial Garden has become a beloved oasis, a place where visitors and event guests alike can enjoy the beauty of nature and art in the heart of the city.”
–dr. graham boettcher
every planting has been supported by the Red Mountain Garden Club through donations and the proceeds of its annual greenery sale.
Since 1982, members have gathered each December to create wreaths, arrangements and mailbox decorations. These look festive on Birmingham’s front doors, but their purpose is larger: every purchase helps sustain the Memorial Garden.
The impact has not gone unnoticed. In 2010, the American Planning Association named the Memorial Garden one of the “Top Ten Great Public Spaces in America.” Over the decades, it has welcomed schoolchildren learning about plants and art, couples exchanging vows and countless visitors pausing for a quiet moment of reflection.
Even with national recognition, the Red Mountain Garden Club has never sought the spotlight. Members say they prefer to work quietly year after year because it is the right thing to do for Birmingham. The garden, they say, speaks for itself.
As the Memorial Garden celebrates its 70th year, it offers Birmingham more than a place of beauty. It shows what a true community project looks like, something built not in a moment but over generations through stewardship, generosity and vision. “The Birmingham Museum of Art is greatly indebted to the Red Mountain Garden Club for its 70 years of dedication,” says Dr. Graham Boettcher, R.H. Hugh Daniel Director and CEO of the Birmingham Museum of Art.
left: RMGC members Cilie Cowin, Sumner Starling and D.A. Tynes below: Cilie Cowin, Co-Chair Greenery Sale, Sue Watkins, RMGC President, Dr. Graham Boettcher, museum director and Fluff Roberts, Chair Greenery Sale.
“The Memorial Garden has become a beloved oasis, a place where visitors and event guests alike can enjoy the beauty of nature and art in the heart of the city.”
And as December approaches, Birmingham residents can play a part in that legacy. Shopping at the annual greenery sale is more than a holiday tradition, it’s a way to give back, to be intentional, and to support a project that has been quietly given to the city for 70 years.
The Memorial Garden is not just a garden. It is a living legacy, and proof that even the quietest gifts can leave the deepest roots. OTMJ
RED MOUNTAIN GARDEN CLUB’S 43RD ANNUAL GREENERY SALE
PUN INTENDED
Many know Homewood poet Charles Ghigna as the author of the popular children’s book The Father Goose Treasury of Poetry: 101 Poems for Children, and yet he has written over 100 books for adults and children published by Random House, Scholastic, Simon Schuster and Disney to name a few. His poems have been published in numerous journals and magazines including Harper’s, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, The Saturday Evening Post and The Wall Street Journal. Ghigna’s newest book for adults is Southern Bred: A Memoir of Gothic Poems, and his latest book of light verse, Puns Not Guns, will be published this month. Ghigna will be in the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at the Summit, Saturday, October 25 , from noon to 2 p.m. signing the book. For more information visit his website at FatherGoose.com.
What prompted this set of puns?
I started writing light verse pieces many years ago just for fun. On a lark, I sent a few to the Saturday Evening Post and The Wall Street Journal. I was surprised when they published them and asked for more. A year or so later Tribune Media Services picked them up for national syndication.
How long does it take you to write a pun?
Some come quickly. Some are stubborn. Depending upon the idea and my initial inspiration to capture it in words and rhyme, it usually takes less than an hour.
Do you use humor to reveal a truth?
Poetry and light verse usually pack a punch in just a few words.
The challenge in writing light verse is to be as insightful and incisive as possible while wrapping it all up with a dash of humor.
Is it easier to write for an adult or a child?
Great question! I’ve honestly never thought about it that way. Sometimes I try to look at the world through the eyes of the kid, and sometimes my old eyes get in the way. I usually just let the idea take me where it wants to go.
Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?
I’ve been writing and teaching most of my life. I started keeping a journal in high school, and just never stopped writing. You write in your attic, which you call the Treehouse. When do you write, and how long do you write when you get started? I’m up here writing in my treehouse most every day when I’m not traveling. I like to write early in the morning and late at night. I do a lot editing in the afternoon.
Can you write us a pun about how this book would be a great holiday gift?
Creating puns is lots of fun
When you are a writer. The trick to writing funny puns— Try to keep it lighter.
Buying puns for gifts is fun
When you are a buyer.
But do not ask the punny one— He may just be a liar OTMJ
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FOOD
Associates, an institutional investment consulting firm. Three guys started it, Bill Terry, Charlie Perry and Bill Mills. It’s a real Birmingham success story. By the time I got there, the business was nearly 30 years old. So, I came in and ran the company. One of my primary objectives was to find an exit plan for the two remaining founders, which culminated with the sale of the business to Regions in 2019. Today I’m working in a real estate development firm we launched called Canvasback Capital. Switching gears, how did the burger thing come about?
Burger King
An interview with Instagram burger reviewer TE Fedneck.
BY LEE HURLEY
Afew months ago, I started seeing something interesting on my Instagram feed. A middleaged guy with reading specs on his nose doing hamburger reviews. The clips were irreverent, honest and even educational, and they began to go viral. Nothing like humor and truth to attract a crowd.
I asked around at the pickleball court, and everyone said, “of course I watch him.” His handle is @the_fedneck—TE, which stands for Trey Echols, Well Fed Redneck though he is neither overweight nor a redneck. I spent an hour talking with him then later got to join him at Carliles BBQ to video his review of their burger.
His live reviews do not attract attention. It’s a cell phone and a bite or two of a burger, and mostly he is not recognized. Echols is a born teacher, as anyone who watches his reviews will quickly learn. He knows a lot about a lot— especially finance and food—but he also listens. One of his passions is Jones Valley Teaching Farm where he sits on the board and whose mission is to deliver food-based education to Birmingham schools. Just setting the table.
Give us some background.
I’m 52, I grew up in Mountain Brook, went to Birmingham-Southern wanting to be in finance, and I still am. My experience started in college when I met John Lacey, who’s still a close friend of mine. He was a young broker and I was working at Gus Mayer in the men’s department. John came in and bought a suit, and I became his intern. I did anything but the actual finance work—odd jobs in addition to being a gopher. I put Azalea’s in a guy’s front yard.
Did you take finance jobs out of college? Absolutely. I graduated in ’96, and that’s when all the bank headquarters were still here, so I took a job at SouthTrust then NBC then Merrill Lynch and loved it. With Merrill, we moved to Atlanta in 2006 then to a management job in Chicago. I was the idiot willing to move in 2008 when the whole world—especially financial services—was melting down. Later we moved to Charlotte, and I went to work for McColl Partners, which was founded by Hugh McColl, the retired CEO of Bank of America. They sold to Deloitte, and I was like, ‘Yeah, here we go again.’ I said to my family, ‘let’s go home.’ I didn’t realize how homesick I was. Back in Birmingham I went to work for Highland
Remember the ice and snow storm in 2013? I was mentoring a group of finance students at Birmingham-Southern that night, and we all got stuck on campus. They were like, ‘come down to Fraternity House.’ I gave them my credit card to go to the Chevron and said ‘buy as much beer as you can carry.’ That night I chronicled my experience in a text chain with my BirminghamSouthern buddies, and they egged me on. Fast forward to the Georgia-Ole Miss game in Oxford that year. I go to this popular burger joint called Handy Andy’s, and I’m sitting at this four-top doing a burger review. I guess the Instagram algorithms worked, because my son walked into his fraternity house later that night, and the guys are like, ‘Hey man, do you know this guy doing a burger review at Handy Andy’s?’”
Why do you think people enjoy your burger reviews?
First I think people love burgers. Second, it’s an independent and uncompromised view. They dang sure know I’m not in cahoots with the chef. There’s no way a restaurant owner would let me talk about their burger like that. And the humor is important.
Was Chez Fon Fon your highest rating for a burger?
Yes, my highest rated burger with a 9.8. I’ve only given out 3 “9’s” in the 40 or so to date. It’s also the review that is my most viewed.
What is a good rating?
I think anything over a 7.5 is a good burger. I reserve the 9’s for very special burgers. What happens when you say something negative about a burger?
I say negative things about burgers all the time, but I want everyone to try for themselves and many do. This is just my opinion, and I realize that people have their own tastes and preferences. Hopefully, even the negative stuff
creates some intrigue for people to try. After all, I am usually going there in the first place because the restaurant already has a good reputation. The smart owners understand that, and they will collaborate or repost the review. What brings a lower rating for a burger?
I have a few hangups that usually get me riled up. First is the beef quality. Second comes bad bread. Third would be what I refer to as “cute crap.” That could be the wrong cheese, tomatoes, wrong lettuce or some kind of exotic condiment. Talking specifically about the lettuce, Chef Biddy at Little Betty and I had a funny exchange about arugula. I think it’s funky and has the wrong texture for a burger and said it resembled monkey grass. All that said, I love even bad burgers, so we are really drawing some fine lines here.
The tomato people are mad at you?
Yeah, we have fun with that. I rip every tomato right off my burger, and it gets to the tomato lovers. Somebody asked me last weekend why I don’t just ask for the burger without it? Well, it’s part of the schtick now. Tomatoes introduce three things to a burger that I don’t think it needs: mushy texture, moisture and acidity. Do French fries matter?
Hell yes, they matter, but the way I look at it is you don’t pick a restaurant just for its fries, but you will pick a restaurant just for its burger. So, I stick to the burger reviews. The best fries I have ever had, and I’ve had a bunch, are at River Café Sports Bar & Grill in Adger, Alabama. Cheese?
Cheese is generally going to help deliver a great texture experience and is not supposed to overpower the beef. The gold standard for me is the Kraft Deli Deluxe American Cheese. This is different from the individually wrapped Kraft Singles. The guys at Alabama Stackers in Jasper do cheese better than anyone.
Where is all this going? Is this a for-fun thing, or do you take it further?
I am not really sure. It gets exciting to think about “doing something” with it, but it has truly been pure joy in its current wacky form. I’ve met interesting people, some of whom have gone with me to be the videographer. I’ve learned a few things along the way. Then, the small business aspect of it has returned me to some of my roots in banking and finance. It hit me while I was standing in line at Tony’s in Pelham. The husband-and-wife team have been doing burgers and dogs together for 23 years. Lines of people gather out the door each day. You have professionals, police, firemen, nurses and people of all stripes in that line. They get up and feed people together, every day, even if they had a spat on the way to work. This is the real America. This kind of melting pot of burger consumption, hard work and zero pretentiousness. I think there is a story somewhere worth telling, because we could use a lot more of it. OTMJ
far left: TE Fedneck at Carliles BBQ. left: Chez Fon Fon burger.
ADVENTURE
From Key West to Alaska
Driving across the continent in our 1986 Isuzu Trooper.
BY DT CARMICHAEL II
When we set out to cross the country, we were anything but unprepared. Trip preparation began a year prior to leaving, though it had always been in the works in some capacity. Grant Blackwell and I have known each other since we were in kindergarten at Mountain Brook Elementary and have been planning adventures together since we were in high school.
Our early days were spent on campouts with the Boy Scouts and exploring up and down the Cahaba River. When we showed up to Auburn University, we had over 150 nights of camping experience, an array of gear and an insatiable appetite to explore. In college we began to crew sail trips, organize mediumsize expeditions and eventually tested our knowledge as a team in South America.
In the first week of our senior year, gathering what we knew and what we loved,
we began to prepare for a transcontinental road trip. We chose to drive an Isuzu Trooper. This car, known only to a few, has been an obsession of ours since high school. We’ve owned five between the two of us (so far) and have used them to mobilize our adventures for years. And though immediately on board with taking a Trooper, we had never driven one out of the state, and neither one of us had a Trooper that we could confidently rely on to get us across an entire continent.
We gathered support from the Trooper community and were able to purchase a 1986 Isuzu Trooper for under $3,000 and $1,000 of spare parts. We overhauled main components during the spring, added accessories such as a roof rack, extra lights and a new stereo. While prepping the car, we pulled together a team that would rendezvous with us in Montana. The plan was that Grant and I would travel for three weeks solo and then meet our support team just south of the Canadian border. We
below: DT Carmichael II and Grant Blackwell with their 40-year-old Izuzu Trooper.
bottom: Explorers DT Carmichael II, Grant Blackwell, Brett Randolph, Colby Blackwell and Parker Balzli.
United States and head west.
Once the team was assembled, it was me, Grant Blackwell, Colby Blackwell, Parker Balzli, Brett Randolph, our ‘86 Trooper named “The Camel” and our support vehicle known as “Waterbuffalo.” While waiting to meet up with the support team, Grant and I would travel with everything to support ourselves, including all the parts to fix the car if necessary. We’d cross forest, desert and mountains and camp next to the car and cook our own meals.
The odd part? Everything went according to plan. After traveling solo across the lower 48, we rendezvoused with the team in Montana. The five of us, all Mountain Brook natives, came together knowing this would be an adventure of a lifetime. We traveled in a convoy at the Trooper’s top speed of 55 miles per hour. To conquer Canada’s massive expanse of land took six days.
the next best fishing spot, Grant and I were watching the passing scenery as if it were TV, and Parker was diligently along for the ride. When we finally came to the Alaskan border, it felt like we’d taken a stroll through a large park.
We drove onwards to Tok, Fairbanks and then to Denali. Along the way we stopped along rivers and lakes to fish and bathe. When we’d make camp, we would lay out our cots and sleeping bags, make dinner and do dishes. There was a strange monotony to it all that kept us occupied. In years past, adventures had presented intense moments of misfortune, leading to a shift in perspective, but Alaska did not do that for us. The sum of all its ordinary parts is what made the journey so extraordinary. We were not young men experiencing a novelty, rather we were young explorers conducting ourselves in the manner in which we had trained.
left: Parker Balzli in a glacial runoff lake in Banff National Park in Canada.
Takeover
Trunk Show and Piercing Event
Friday, Oct 17 - Saturday, Oct 18
Join us for one of a kinds, gifts with purchase, and on-site piercings. Cocktails and bites all day in the newly renovated ETC.
What compels a young man to explore? If he is lucky, he will find himself wrapped up into an adventure by accident.
We fished, we hiked and we mapped our routes and kept ourselves wonderfully fed. The Trooper did not have a working AC, so we wore coats and pants to keep ourselves warm. It’s a fishbowl on wheels, and you felt every bump. The aesthetic of traveling in a 40-yearold car never wears thin. On occasion I flicked the ashtrays open and then flicked them closed. There were six of them in total, but not a single cup holder. Grant made it his second nature to “pre-flight check” oil, air pressure, engine bay inspection and fuel pump. To put it lightly, the car exceeded expectations. By the time we made it to the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, we were conducting life as usual. We rented a raft and floated the famous Kenai River for two days. I took the time on the water to reflect on our journey: What compels a young man to explore? Is it possible that he wakes up one day amidst the monotony of life and resolves to set out on an
impulsive adventure? The idea makes for a fun novel but is seldom found in reality. A young man may contemplate adventure, convincing himself that “one day” he will go for it. He can live it out vicariously through movies or videogames, and if he is lucky, he will find himself wrapped up into an adventure by accident.
But as with most things in life, things that are not actively pursued rarely happen naturally. When we all stood around the sign that welcomed us to Alaska, we knew it was not an accident, happenstance or an impulsive drive that had brought us there. The passion for the pursuit of adventure had also brought us to a place like the Kenai River. In one view, we saw thousands of sockeye salmon swimming, flying eagles and towering mountains. The beauty was self-evident, and the unanimous agreement is that a young man must explore as his life depends on it. OTMJ
top: Colby Blackwell, DT Carmichael II and Grant Blackwell with Athabasca Glacier in the background. above, from back to front: Brett Randolph, Colby Blackwell and Grant Blackwell on the Kenai River in Alaska. left: The Camel.
A Heart of Hospitality
The
former Innova coffee shop owners are sharing about hospitality—and tips
for the holidays—in a new book.
BY MADOLINE MARKHAM KOONCE
To step into Anna and Tyler Nash’s Vestavia Hills home, you must first walk through a cozy carportturned-outdoor living space that beckons you to stop and sit a while. No matter if you stop there or inside in their kitchen or living room, you’re sure to exhale as they offer you a drink and bring you a plate of homemade treats—even if you’ve simply arrived for an interview like I did. Any time spent in the couple’s company speaks volumes to their generous hospitality, through their cooking and conversations, through the Airbnb in the basement of their
home or through their experience owning and running Innova coffee shop for several years. So, it only makes sense that they are now sharing about hospitality through a coffee table-style book coming out in November fittingly entitled Refreshing Hospitality.
After closing Innova in 2023, Tyler and Anna had former customers reach out and ask for recipes for food and drinks they served, and the more they thought about it, the more they wanted to share not just recipes behind favorites like Conecuh Cheddar Biscuits and their soft, buttery Shortbread but also the stories that tie not just to recipes but
“Perspective going into the holidays is important. It’s about people who are here, not about the event.”
–tyler nash
left: Tyler and Anna Nash have written a book entitled Refreshing Hospitality that comes out in November.
below: Refreshing Hospitality features 60 short stories about hospitality along with recipes, how-tos and other tips that can be useful around the holidays and all year long.
their wider experience of hospitality in general.
“As we got into the stories and the recipes, it so closely matched what we do at home, and it so closely matched the reason we are able to do this is because we experience it out in the world,” Anna explains. “It turned into a lot of stories about where we have experienced people caring for us in unique and special ways through hospitality, from the finest of the fine to the most simple.”
The coffee table-style book features 60 short stories about the Nash’s experience with hospitality, and each is paired with a recipe, hospitality idea or how-to or reflective
questions. The first section of the book focuses on vision casting for time around the table, the second focuses on time around the table itself and the third is about how to take a spirit of hospitality with you wherever you go through care packages, delivering meals and more. We chatted with Tyler and Anna to learn more about the book and get their perspective on tips to prepare for being hospitable at the holidays this year.
What is important about hospitality to you? Tyler: What people might think of when they hear hospitality is just the outworking of
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what starts internally. I want to connect with someone, and I want to provide a space for them. We want them to come in and make our home their space, to take a deep breath and relax.
Anna: The motivation is not inward or focused on performing or perfection but it’s outward—refreshing others and making them feel renewed when we are with them by serving them and caring for them.
What are you most excited for readers to glean from the book?
Anna: I really hope that after reading the book or parts of it, that people will take one small step to open up community, conversations and dialogue. Innova opened up our minds to so many other worlds and beliefs, beautiful people and rich conversations blowing our perspective wide open in the best kind of way. I also hope people will take one small step to
connect with people that they might not normally connect with.
Tyler: The way Anna writes is very welcoming and engaging. I think there’s going to be enjoyment in reading stories versus just dos and don’ts. I hope they discover that it doesn’t have to be a huge burden to have people over.
What ways do you recommend being hospitable around the holidays?
Anna: One thing is to encourage not a formal open house but people dropping by during the holidays if someone is coming to deliver a present or to Christmas carol. There’s a number of things in the book about how to be ready. We keep Conecuh Cheddar Biscuits and Shortbreads that we made at Innova frozen, and we pull them out as needed. Having a closet we call the party closet makes setup seamless. The book has ideas of things to have in the pantry that have a long shelf
“I really hope that after reading the book or parts of it, that people will take one small step to open up community, conversations and dialogue.” –anna nash
life. The stash enables you to be spontaneous during the holidays with ease.
Tyler: Perspective going into the holidays is important. The build up can be so much that there’s no way it can meet expectations. There will be disappointment if the whole thing is about everything being perfect. It helps to set your own internal perspective: This is about people who are here, not about the event.
What ways do you suggest making the holidays more meaningful?
Anna: We can’t talk about the meaning of the holidays without talking about traditions. To me personally, our most meaningful moments as a family are the traditions that the kids and now the grandchildren get excited about. It makes you feel like you are part of a club. I think traditions are pretty personal, and we do a lot of ours because we heard about them from someone else.
For one of our traditions when the kids were growing up, Tyler would go by the bank and get a crisp $100 bill. On Christmas Eve, we would go out to eat and would enjoy our meal knowing our server was going to get a $100 bill for their Christmas Eve tip because they were sacrificially giving up time with their families. For a number of years, the servers came back to us and said they were having a hard time or that it was really a message of hope to them. It’s been a sweet tradition.
Tyler: We now have children and grandchildren, and one thing I like thinking about is how we can take some stress away from the parents, helping them with some things or creating moments with the adults after the kids go down. OTMJ
To learn more about Refreshing Hospitality, order a copy or learn about book events, visit refreshinghospitality.com. The book will also be available at local bookstores after it releases in November.
left: Parts of the Nash’s new book were inspired by what they learned about hospitality during the years they were pouring coffee at Innova, a coffee shop they owned near The Shops of the Colonnade. above: Among the recipes in the book is one for Conecuh Cheddar Biscuits that the Nashes served at Innova.
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DECKING the HALLS
Florist Buffy Hargett Miller shares her tips for holiday decorating.
BY MADOLINE MARKHAM KOONCE
Buffy Hargett Miller has been creating Christmas magic as long as she can remember. Her floral designs have been featured on covers of Southern Living, Country Living, VERANDA and other magazines, and she has styled beautiful tablescapes, vignettes and holiday decor for countless magazine images and homes in Birmingham.
After decades running a florist business that did weddings and events, these days she’s stepped back from events but still works as a freelance stylist and florist and lately has been painting abstracts, faces and figures (follow her work at @buffyhargettstudios). Still, without a doubt she’s still a queen of Christmas decorating.
Heading into the 2025 holiday season, Miller recommends keeping your decor simple and focusing on the principle that less is more for busy people with limited time. “You want it to look decorated and beautiful, but you want it to be streamlined and quick,” she says. Of course, trends come and go, and this year vintage items are big along with wood and felt, natural looks and colors like teal that break out of the traditional red and green. But most importantly, Miller also has a lot of
tried-and-true holiday decorating tips. Below she shares some of them with us.
GO WITH FAUX GREENERY FOR EARLY DECORATING.
Whether dried, preserved or artificial, the faux garlands and wreaths available today look better than ever. Plus, greenery wasn’t meant to last from Thanksgiving to Christmas, especially in our warm climate. Fresh garland lasts maybe three weeks, so wait to get it if you are going to decorate with it. You can also add fresh greenery to faux to help give it a natural feel and smell, and you can easily replace it when needed.
Tips: When purchasing faux greenery, look for natural looking branches that vary in color. Faux boxwood and magnolia look very real, and some of the cedar does too. To find fresh greenery to add to the faux, look at Home Depot or nurseries for piles of scraps they take off the bottom of Christmas trees and give away. While you are at it, buy a holiday candle to create the fresh greenery smell in your home too. Balsam and Cedar by Illume or any holiday candle by Nest are good ones.
ACCENT YOUR DECOR WITH RIBBON.
I’m all about some pretty ribbon. Invest in good high quality wired ribbon so it will last, and you can roll it up and reuse it the next year. You don’t have to stick to red and green either. My favorite ribbon color is chartreuse. It adds a good contrast to dark green Christmas greenery and can mix with red or any other color. Also, teals, blushes, copper and gold are trending this year.
Tip: Be sure to replace your ribbon every few years when it starts to look worn.
One of Miller’s decorating tips is to use potted plants that will easily last the entire month of December.
For Miller, personal ornaments are essential to tree decorating.
Miller recommends decorating your mailbox to set the tone for your home at the holidays.
Buffy Hargett Miller has worked as a florist and stylist for years and most recently has been working on paintings.
Heading into the 2025 holiday season, Miller recommends keeping your decor simple and focusing on the principle that less is more for busy people with limited time.
WAIT TO BRING A FRESH TREE INDOORS.
I love a fresh Christmas tree, but I suggest that you purchase it and then keep it outside in a bucket of water until the first or second week in December so that the greenery stays fresh until Christmas. When you bring the tree indoors to decorate it, add accents of ribbons in different widths for a full Christmas tree look. Trees should be full of memories, so be sure to include your personal ornaments that are full of memories.
Tips: I like to purchase coordinating gift wrap to complete the look of the tree. I wrap a few empty, recycled boxes to add structure to the bottom of the tree. Add to your ornament collection each year by shopping the sales after Christmas.
START WITH YOUR MAILBOX.
Decorating your mailbox sets the tone for your home at Christmas. Even if you don’t decorate anything else, people think you have it all together. You can create a festive mailbox early with fresh greenery and then replace it as needed throughout December.
Tips: Soak fresh cut greenery in buckets of deep water for a day or two, and then arrange it with fresh fruit, pinecones and berries for a fresh welcoming look. For stability and a water source, use a floral foam cage and string wire to attach the greenery to your mailbox.
CREATE TABLESCAPES WITH POTTED PLANTS AND FRUIT. I recommend potted plants for a tablescape that lasts the whole month of December and beyond. I love to create potted fresh green topiaries piled with cranberries, tangerines, kumquats and fresh pears make a simple tablescape.
SHOP LOCAL.
Leaf ‘N’ Petal in Cahaba Heights, Shoppe in Forest Park, Oak Street Garden Shop and other local garden shops have great decorations and fresh greenery. At Home in Homewood is my favorite place for decorations, and Smith’s Variety has wonderful gift wrap and great ribbon. OTMJ
Oct. 20
2025 “TASTE OF HOPE” OYSTER & WINE TASTING PRESENTED BY THE HOLLINGSWORTH COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS FUND
“Taste of Hope: Oyster Tasting and Wine Pairings” is an event that brings together the finest flavors and a noble cause. Make a difference and raise awareness for Colorectal Cancer. The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Food Bar with a warm welcome, two complimentary drinks and delectable appetizers. Next, three distinct oyster varieties take center stage, each offering a unique taste of the ocean. As participants explore this trio of oysters, expert sommeliers guide them through perfectly matched wines, elevating the tasting experience. Knight Sauls, our 2025 #HollingsworthHero, shares her story of overcoming Colorectal Cancer.
Sept. 20 - Oct 31
MISS SIMS’ GARDEN PUMPKIN PATCH
6th Annual Pumpkin Patch selling pumpkins and mums and tricks and treats and delicious food! It’s the most sincere lil’ pumpkin patch around!
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 913 Irving Road
Fri., Oct. 17
HAUNT THE HILLS
The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will hold the 4th annual Haunt the Hills Trick-or-Treat Night at Wald Park. Dress in your best family friendly costume for a Costume Contest. Bring your carved or painted pumpkin to enter in the pumpkin contest. Contest Winners will be announced at 6:15 p.m.
Both contests are free to participate in. Don’t forget a chair or blanket to watch Hotel Transylvania at 6:30 p.m.
When: 4:30-6 p.m., with a movie starting at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Grand Lawn, Wald Park
Fri., Oct 17
PUTT FOR PITT HOPKINS
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Help raise awareness of Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and raise funds for the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation at this 4th annual golf tournament. The event is being held in honor of Homewood resident John Wesley Holley and Brody Key. Learn more at pitthopkins.org. When: 9 a.m.
Where: Highland Park Golf Course
Sat., Oct. 18
BARKTOBERFEST
A festive evening is in store at Barktoberfest, a benefit for Hand in Paw, which provides animal-assisted therapy to improve human health and well-being. The fun will include a pet costume contest and a stein hoist competition for those ready to test their strength. When 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Cahaba Brewing Co.
Oct. 16-18
HOMEWOOD LIBRARY BOOK SALE
Fill a bag with books for $7 as the Friends of the Homewood Library hold a book sale. Bags will be provided, and all proceeds will benefit the Homewood Public Library. When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Homewood Library Friends Bookstore
Oct. 15-26
SHOP SAVE AND SHARE FUNDRAISER
The Junior League of Birmingham will host its annual fundraiser, Shop to benefit their 22 community projects and generate more business 400 local retailers. Just one purchase of a $40 Shop Save & Share card can help provide much needed meals and rides to the doctor for those in need. To learn more and buy a card, visit shopsaveandshare.net
Sat., Oct. 18
A NIGHT DARK AND GRIMM
Join the Halloween fun at the O’Neal Library for A Night Dark and Grimm Costume Contest. Wear your costumes for tons of games, costumed characters, prizes, crafts and treats. All ages are welcome with an adult.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: O’Neal Library, Mountain Brook
Sat., Oct. 18
OAK HILL 16TH ANNUAL CEMETERY FALL HISTORY TOUR
Meet colorful characters—the famous and infamous—from Birmingham’s “buried” history with this tour of Oak Hill Cemetery. Proceeds go toward the maintenance and restoration of the historic cemetery.
Sat., Oct 18
HOMEWOOD FIRST RESPONDERS 5K
The Homewood First Responders 5K and Kids’ Fun Run will raise funds for the Homewood Police Foundation and the Homewood Fire Foundation. The race will begin and end in front of the Trak Shak. Officers and firefighters will be there with police vehicles and fire trucks, and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand.
When: 5K starts at 8 a.m., Fun Run at 9 a.m.
Where: The Trak Shak, Homewood
Oct. 11–12, 18–19, and 25–26 HOOTS AND HOWLS AT THE BIRMINGHAM ZOO
Calling all ghouls and goblins, it’s almost time to trick-or-treat around the zoo at the annual Hoots & Howls events! You’ll find 10 candy stations throughout the Zoo, magic
shows featuring Lathan’s Dazzling Magic at 1 and 3 p.m. Interactive animal shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Gigi’s Porch in Alabama Wilds, a high-energy Monster Mash dance party following the popular costume parade and contest at noon. DJs from Feel the Beat will be spinning spooky tunes all day on Henley Lawn.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Birmingham Zoo
Sun., Oct. 19
TRUNK-OR-TREAT AT THE HOMEWOOD LIBRARY
The Homewood Library Foundation Trunk-or-Treat is hosting an afternoon of fun activities at Trunk-or-Treat! The family friendly event is open to all ages. Ghouls, ghosts and goblins—come one, come all!
Local businesses and organizations will have their vehicles decked out for spooky fun!
When: 3-5 p.m.
Where: Homewood Library Parking Lot
Sun., Oct 19
HARVEST ON HOYT
A COMMUNITY SUPPER
Harvest on Hoyt returns for its second year with a signature community supper with neighbors and friends together at one long table to enjoy an evening of food, wine, music and connection. The evening begins with a festive Happy Hour followed by a seasonal four-course dinner prepared by Dyron’s
Lowcountry. Carefully curated dishes are paired with wines from Finch Fine Wines.
When: 4-8 p.m.
Where: Hoyt Lane, Crestline Village
Fri., Oct 24 and Sun., Oct 26
LUCAS PEPKE
THROUGH THE SEASONS
Through the Seasons returns to Homewood Theatre after a sold-out debut in March. Join Birmingham’s own Lucas Pepke for an evening of timeless music, featuring new songs, more musicians, and fresh moments that make this performance a one-of-a-kind experience.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Homewood Theatre
Mon., Oct 27
HEART OF MAGIC GOLF EVENT & SOCIAL
Celebrate the Lord Wedgwood Charity and Magic Moments with a golf event at Greystone Golf Club starting at 11 a.m. followed by The Social at 5 p.m. with open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres. The charity raises funds to place life-saving AEDs in schools, athletic programs, summer camps and nonprofits. Enjoy silent and live auctions. When:. 11 a.m. golf and 5 p.m. social Where: Greystone Golf Club
Sat., Oct. 25
MEGAN MONTGOMERY 5K/FUN RUN
Raise funds for awareness and education in preventing domestic violence by participating in the Megan Montgomery 5K Run/Walk. Fun run starts an hour later. All proceeds from the races benefit the Megan Montgomery Foundation. Learn more at megansfoundation.org.
When: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Where: Homewood Central Park
Sat., Oct 25
HALLOWEEN IN THE HEIGHTS AND WITCHES RIDE
Trick or Treat with the Cahaba Heights Merchants Association! Businesses will be full of treats for the entire family, and then enjoy the after party at Heights Village with Harry Downes on the patio.
When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 3138 Heights Village, Cahaba Heights
Fri., Oct 24
HOMEWOOD CHAMBER’S COMMERCE CUP PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
The Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever pickleball tournament is taking place at the Picklr, and whether you’re competing, learning or cheering from the sidelines, there’s a place for everyone. Highlights include bracketed tournament play for all skill levels, coaching sessions and open court time, sponsor booths and giveaways, food, drinks and networking with all proceeds supporting Homewood Chamber programs and initiatives.
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: The Picklr
Sun., Oct 26
HOMEWOOD FALL FESTIVAL AND WITCHES RIDE
Rides, games, food trucks, music from a DJ, the Homewood High School Drumline, a costume contest and lots of candy await those attending this beloved community party. The Homewood Witches Ride (HWR) benefits the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB and begins after the festival at 5:30 p.m. This event brings together countless riders and members of the community for a great cause.
When: 2-5 p.m.
Where: Homewood Central Park
Sun., Oct 26
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1925 SILENT FILM CLASSIC
Come see The Phantom of the Opera as you’ve never seen it before! The 1925 classic silent film will be played on the big screen featuring Tom Helms playing his original score on Big Bertha, the Alabama Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
When: Doors open at 1 p.m., show begins at 2 p.m.
Where: Alabama Theatre
Mon., Oct. 28
TUNES ON TAP
Tunes on Tap is a unique, free concert at The Fennec bringing together classical music and a casual, laid-back atmosphere for a night of great food, drinks and a live performance by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Fennec
Wed., Oct 30
JAZZ NIGHT WITH FORGED FUSION
An evening of live jazz in one of the city’s most inspiring spaces with Forged Fusion acclaimed local jazz musicians, all set against the backdrop of the Museum’s collections and exhibitions.
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Birmingham Museum of Art
Thurs, Oct. 31
MYSTICS OF MOUNTAIN BROOK HALLOWEEN PARADE
The Mystics of Mountain Brook will stage their annual Mardi Gras-inspired Halloween parade featuring an array of floats, the Mountain Brook High School Marching Band and beads, T-shirts, stuffed animals and moon pies among the goodies tossed to spectators.
When: Starts at 4 p.m.
Where: Begins at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, to Montevallo Road, to Church Street through Crestline Village, to Euclid Avenue and ends at Vine Street.
HOFBAUER’S HOUDINI MOMENT
BY LOYD MCINTOSH PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD
In the early 20th century, illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini made crowds fear the worst as he dangled upside down, locked in a water-filled glass tank with only minutes to survive. Just when it looked like the end was near, Houdini would burst free. The life-or-death suspense made Houdini a global phenomenon.
What Mountain Brook quarterback Cayden Hofbauer pulled off during a late-September game against the Homewood Patriots can only be called a Houdini moment. Down seven points with 59 seconds to play in the game and the ball on their own six-yard line, Mountain Brook needed a miracle—in fact, two miracles—to pull off a win.
Enter stage left, Cayden “Houdini” Hofbauer. Struggling through the air for much of the game, Hofbauer completed five of six passing attempts, including a Hail Mary to Trey Vinson at the Homewood 10-yard line. Then, with just four seconds on the clock, Hofbauer found some space and ran up the middle for a touchdown as time expired, sending the game into overtime. Miracle number one achieved.
In overtime, Homewood scored a touchdown and converted the extra point to take a sevenpoint lead—time for miracle number two.
Needing a touchdown and an extra point to force a second overtime, or a two-point conversion to win, Hofbauer found a wideopen Wallace Hunter in the end zone for six on third down. Mountain Brook Head Coach Chris Yeager decided to go for the win, lining the offense up for a two-point conversion.
Facing the loud and distracting Homewood Patriot band, a miscommunication led to an early snap, and the ball sailed past Hofbauer, rolling to around the 40-yard line.
Hofbauer scooped up the ball mid-sprint, finding multiple red jerseys ready to pounce and end the game. He turned 180 degrees, found some space toward the Homewood sideline, and heaved another Hail Mary across his body, caught by six-four tight end Bennett Jordan in the end zone. The catch sealed the 25-24 win as pandemonium exploded on the Mountain Brook sideline.
Following the game, Hofbauer said he did his best to stay calm and collected as the play—and the team’s hopes of winning—were crumbling all around him. He knew if he could find some open space, he could rely on his
“It felt like 100 yards when I was running back to get the ball, then I had to run a little bit further to get some separation. I just threw it with all my might.”
–cayden hofbauer
teammates to complete this Houdini moment.
“It felt like 100 yards when I was running back to get the ball, then I had to run a little bit further to get some separation,” he added. “I just threw it with all my might.”
Mountain Brook play-by-play announcer
William Galloway, who can be heard shredding his vocal cords describing the play, said the final drive in regulation and the two-point conversion in overtime “will go down in Mountain Brook football lore.”
Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager said beyond the statistics, Hofbauer has a knack for keeping plays alive long after the original plan has broken down. He seems to thrive on chaos, pulling off Houdinis when the game is on the line.
“The best thing he does is extend plays. He’s just got a sixth sense,” said Yeager. “He just put that ball to the tallest guy on the football team.”
“A lot of people talk about having football IQ, but he’s got something that’s sort of outside of that I can’t explain and can’t teach,” added Yeager. “He just makes it happen.” OTMJ
SPORTS
Thursday, October 16, 2025
VESTAVIA HILLS’ JULIA ROSE BUILDING A FLAG FOOTBALL LEGACY
BY LOYD MCINTOSH PHOTOS BY KATHRYN ELLIS
Julia Rose is a trailblazer among trailblazers.
A senior at Vestavia Hills High School, Rose is the quarterback for the Rebels’ flag football team, one of the top squads in the state. Rose is turning heads across Alabama and beyond for her skills, leadership and pioneering spirit in a sport that is just starting to gain traction at the high school level.
Flag football was sanctioned by the AHSAA in 2021 when Rose was an eighth grader, with eyes on playing volleyball at the high school level. After failing to make the volleyball team during her freshman year, Rose decided to attend a flag football clinic, immediately realizing this was the sport for her. “I just fell in love with it,” Rose says. “It’s a lot more competitive than I thought it would be, and it’s super fast-paced, which I like.”
In her four years with the Rebels, Rose has developed into one of the sport’s top quarterbacks, earning many accolades and awards in the process. In September, Rose was honored as National Flag Football Player of the week by USA Football and MaxPreps, and judging by her recent statistics and accomplishments, it’s easy to understand why.
Earlier in the season, Rose led Vestavia Hills to the NFL Flag Tournament in Dothan, an important early-season competition featuring some of the state’s best teams. During the
tournament, Rose completed 77 of 126 passing attempts, amassing 905 yards and 19 touchdowns and zero interceptions to lead the Rebels to four consecutive wins, including a 20-13 win over Prattville in the title game.
As of this writing on October 1, Rose’s statistics are staggering. According to MaxPreps, Rose has completed 399 of 638 passing attempts, thrown for 4,864 yards, and 82 touchdowns, and she is averaging 282 yards per game, numbers that place her among the nation’s elite quarterbacks.
She is ranked first in Alabama and fourth nationally for passing yards, 10t nationally for total yards and passed the 10,000 career passing yards midway through the season as well. Under her leadership, the Rebels are on an 18-game winning streak and are 19-1 (as of October 1), with their lone loss coming to Moody in the second game of the season.
Sporting her No. 10 jersey and exuding the confidence of elite quarterbacks, Rose commands attention on the field with her leadership and skill. Off the field, Rose is humble, soft-spoken and understands that she’s only as good as her teammates around her.
Among Rose’s favorite receivers is junior Alexis Rubin, the leading receiver for the
Rebels and one of Rose’s favorite targets. After 20 games, Rubin has 129 catches, 1,396 yards and 33 touchdowns. Rose says the chemistry with receivers like Rubin, Molly Mac Sharp, Caroline Nintzel and Chloe Leahy is a contributing factor to the team’s success. “I’m just focused on doing my best as the quarterback and helping my team succeed,’ says Rose. “When you have great receivers like I do, it’s really easy to find them open and give them the ball to make plays.”
Rose continues, “I think I have some of the best receivers in the country. We just work really well together and have been able to put together great drives.”
Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Daniel Davis, coaching under head coach Debra Broome, says Rose is a special athlete with many tangible and intangible skills contributing to her success. Davis says she has developed the ability to understand what the defense is going to do before the play begins and makes adjustments in an instant. Also a softball player, Davis says Rose has unusual arm strength for a female athlete.
“I like to tell people she has college-level skills playing at the high school level. Her ability to read a defense and identify coverages
LAST FRIDAY FOOTBALL SCORES
pre-snap and post-snap is as good as anybody I’ve ever been around,” Davis says. “She’s just got a knack for reading coverages and distributing the ball to the right person. Being able to push it 45 yards downfield on the mark and also being able to hit that five-yard hitch route on the mark is something that you don’t really see at this level. Her arm strength, accuracy and being able to diagnose are what set her apart.”
Aside from physical talent, team chemistry and effective leadership are key components to any team, points that the coaching staff emphasizes daily. Davis says that Rose, along with the other seniors who have built the flag football program from the ground up, is setting the standard for the younger players to follow.
“From a team perspective, I would say Julia is one of the many components to our team from a leadership standpoint,” Davis says.
With all of the accolades, awards and winning records, one that has eluded Rose and the Rebels flag football team so far is a state title. Rose’s ultimate goal is to help her team capture a state championship, but more importantly, she hopes to leave a lasting legacy that inspires younger girls to continue building the program.
“I just want to leave it all on the field,” Rose says. “A state championship is obviously what we’re looking for, but I would just like to leave the program on a high note for the younger girls to keep playing.” OTMJ