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LOCAL VOLUME ONE | NUMBER TWO
APARTMENT HOMES
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From I-65 take exit 255 onto Lakeshore Pkw1t. Go W past Wildwood Shopping Ctr. to W Oxmoor Rd. Toke left onto W Oxmoor Rd. Continue straight onto Shannon Oxmoor Rd. Apartments located on the left.
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Publisher Clay Carey Editor-in-Chief Grace Miserocchi Managing Print Editor Hannah Jones
EDITOR’S NOTE
E
ach story in this issue was originally an idea, something that each writer thought was interesting about the Magic City. It was delightful to see all these stories come together. In each section we highlight new places but also revisit old favorites. You will find compelling and interesting stories about how the passionate residents of Birmingham live, create, eat and work together to enrich the city. Creating this magazine has once again forced the staff out of our typical routines. We tried the PB&J burger from Mugshots. We heard new stories, like those of how local artisans are impacting the community and students who are telling their peers that they are not alone in their struggles with depression. Ultimately, we hope that with each issue the readers will learn something new about Birmingham. As this issue came together, I was once again pleasantly surprised by Birmingham and I hope you will be too. ● Grace Miserocchi Editor-in-Chief
Managing Online Editor Macey Sims Art Director Eden Kay Long Photo Editor Bonnie Grace Tillman Social Media Specialist Sam Chandler Copy Specialists Tyler Brooks Caroline Carmichael Chris Griesedieck Katie Menosky
The Local is a biannual magazine published by students at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The stories and photographs that appear in The Local are produced by students in Samford University’s print and online journalism practicum program. The views expressed in The Local do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or of Samford University. Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Institution and welcomes application for employment regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability or national or ethnic origin.
EATS FOOD ADVENTURE 6 From gourmet popsicles to a re-imagined burger, we present foodie finds in Birmingham for 2016.
FEAST & FOREST 10 Take a look at this new specialty bakery and cafe in Birmingham.
BODY & MIND YOU ARE NOT ALONE 20
PAVING THE TRAIL 16 Golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the Trail 23 years ago. It continues to thrive today.
Check out the unique, niched programs and resources for mental health service available to the Birmingham community.
BIRMINGHAM HAMMER TIME 24 See the inception, growth and mission of Birmingham’s flagship soccer team.
DISCOVER BIRMINGHAM CREATIVES 31 Meet a handful of creatives in Birmingham who are making and sharing their artwork.
A DAY OUT FOR ANY PERSONA 43 See a new side of Birmingham based on your personality.
WISHING ON A STAR 38 A guide to experiencing the night sky in Birmingham.
TO SEE MORE, VISIT THE LOCAL ONLINE www.thelocalbham.com
On Twitter: @TheLocal_bham On Instagram @thelocal_bham On Facebook The Local
See our online edition for photos, videos and additional content, including sport recaps, local event calendar, movie reviews and more things to do in the greater Birmingham area.
EATS
Food Adventure STORY BY KATIE MENOSKY
PHOTOS BY EDEN KAY LONG
Teeming with great restaurants,
Birmingham is a foodie haven, and we had the fun task of finding food that is unique to the Magic City. Here are our picks for interesting eats in Birmingham. Bon appĂŠtit.
Breakfast Peach Pancakes, $8.95 The South is known for it’s peaches, so the Original Pancake House has put this delicacy on top of their pancakes. Add whipped cream to the top and you have yourself a delicious breakfast. The Original Pancake House 1931 11th Avenue S, Birmingham
Lunch Tipsy Chick Panini, $10 This out-of-the-box panini contains roasted freerange chicken, bacon-whiskey marmalade, provolone and collards on focaccia. Brick & Tin 2901 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook Alabama Redneck, $8 Taco Mama has put a spin on traditional Mexican food. The Alabama Redneck taco includes roasted pulled pork, ancho chile slaw, pickles and Mama’s Chipotle BBQ Sauce. Taco Mama 63 Church Street, Mountain Brook
8 | Spring 2016
Dinner
Peanut Butter Burger, $9.29 Add grape jelly for an extra .99 Add bacon for an extra 1.29 Not only is the peanut butter burger delicious, but Mugshots also uses the unique burger for the Reagan’s Peanut Butter Project, which aims to help others shine by providing smiles, laughter and hope. We prefer our peanut butter burger with the addition of grape jelly and bacon. This combination of smoky and sweet is a culinary experience definitely worth trying. Mugshots Grill & Bar 1919 Kentucky Avenue #101, Vestavia Hills
Dessert
Avocado and Pineapple Jalapeño Popsicles, $3 per Popsicle Steel City Pops has done a great job of taking the traditional Popsicle and creating unique flavors. We ended up choosing two flavors that could not be more different from each other. The Avocado Popsicle is creamy and fresh while the Pineapple Jalapeño Popsicle will make your taste buds explode with flavor. Steel City Pops 2821 Central Avenue #109, Homewood 5449 Highway 280, Birmingham 329 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham ●
www.thelocalbham.com | 9
FEAST
&
FOREST
STORY AND PHOTOS BY EDEN KAY LONG
O
pening just before Thanksgiving 2015, Feast and Forest is a cafe and specialty bakery in the heart of downtown Birmingham. The restaurant is full of Birmingham culture with an industrial feel, old brick and aesthetically pleasing decor. Buildings around this area have been bought with intention to open other businesses. This will allow Feast and Forest to grow on it’s own and with the community. Co-owners Victor King and Kristen Hall, both Samford University graduates, cultivated an idea that would create a place where the Birmingham food scene could become a part of Birmingham residents’ everyday lives. Hall not only runs and operates the building, but she also owns The Baking Bandits, where she makes homemade baked goods that can be purchased at the Feast and Forest bakery. She also owns an event venue, The Nest Birmingham. King was previously a chef at another local restaurant and from there brought his love for cooking to Feast and Forest. Feast and Forest owners are confident that everything they have, from baked goods and specialty sodas to seasonal sandwiches, is the best you can get in town. “Everything is really thoughtful, seasonal and locally grown. The combination of those three things makes Feast and Forest what it is. It’s because we care what we are putting out,” Hall said.
Another great thing about Feast and Forest is that with each new season, the menu changes - you will never get bored with the options. It is difficult to know where to begin with all that Feast and Forest has to stimulate your taste buds. The two most popular handmade sodas are Rosemary Lemon and House-made Ginger Ale. The handmade sodas are crafted specially with syrups. Brioche cinnamon rolls, brown butter snickerdoodles and the waffles are just a few of the delicacies offered on the spring menu. Their cakes have recently taken off as well. They sell them by the slice in the shop, or you can order a whole cake online for take out. An exciting upcoming addition to Feast and Forest is an espresso bar. This will add more of a coffee shop feel. The owners are very excited about this addition. “We will be able to incorporate syrups from our handmade sodas into the espressos,” King said. Another addition to the cafe in the near future is extended hours for dinner service. The restaurant will serve family style meal one or two nights a week. “Last week someone was picking up cakes for a birthday party and she said that her 90-year-old mother absolutely loved the pound cake. Old school is the best school,” Hall said. The special thing about Feast and Forest is that it caters to everyone and every generation. ●
www.thelocalbham.com | 11
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12 | Spring 2016
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thelocalbham.com | 13
BODY & MIN
Y D
Paving the Trail How the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail came to fruition
STORY BY CHRIS GRIESEDIECK PHOTOS BY GRACE MISEROCCHI
T
he Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama is the largest construction project to ever be attempted in golfing history. The trail currently includes 11 sites throughout the state, with a total of 26 courses and 468 holes. Birmingham offers four of those courses. Three are at the Oxmoor Valley site and the fourth is Ross Bridge in Hoover. It all started in the late 1980’s. Dr. David Bronner, the then CEO of Retirement Systems of Alabama, had a grand vision. The essential mission was to assist the state of Alabama economically. Bronner’s plan involved expanding the benefits of the state’s pension fund by creating world-class golf facilities. These facilities would attract seniors and increase tourism. “The project was a huge undertaking,” said Neil Thompson, director of instruction at RTJ at Oxmoor Valley. “Alabama didn’t have a very good public image. The idea was to build facilities close to the interstate so that as people drive through, they can stop by and play golf,” Thompson said.
To put his plan into action, Bronner hired Bobby Vaughan, a former golf director in North Carolina. Vaughan arranged a team for the massive project. He founded the SunBelt Golf Corporation, which would develop, operate, construct and manage all 18 golf courses. But before development could commence, the 18 courses were in need of a designer. Golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. was the perfect man for the job. In his career, Jones had designed more than 500 golf courses around the world. Because of his exceptional work in Alabama, it was only fitting to name the trail after him. Jones Sr. wanted to make the courses difficult because nobody remembers or talks about the easy courses, Thompson said. “Robert Trent Jones Sr. - he was old at the time. Land was given to him. That was huge for golf in Alabama. He said to make these courses difficult, and they’re still hard,” Thompson said. “They’re still difficult courses to this day. Three more facilities have been added since the seven original ones were there,” he added.
Above: The view from hole 18 at Oxmoor Valley. A golfer lines up his shot. 17 | thelocalbham.com
The trail’s development concluded in 2005. From a playing surface standpoint, the greens are what set the trail apart from other courses. “The greens are like clovers, with different levels and segments,” Thompson said. “If you don’t get it in the right one, you’re three putting all day, every day.” In 1992, Alabama introduced the world to the trail when seven original courses opened. Since those early years, the trail has added four more sites and covers the state in all directions. While the golf industry has experienced good years and bad years in the last two decades, the trail remains a favorite among local residents and tourists. According to an article on golfincmagazine.com, the industry had seen a slow decline in rounds in recent years due to demographic and economic trends. That was in 2012. Golfcourseindustry.com stated in a 2015 special report that private courses have encountered the highest increase in their average budget over the last three years. Golf is steadily growing in the U.S., and this progress can be attributed to private courses in Alabama such as the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It is no wonder why golfers, whether local or from out-oftown, are attracted to the trail. Gail and Tom Karys are avid golfers from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They had just visited friends who live in Orlando and were on their way back up north when they stopped to play a round of golf at Oxmoor Valley. Tom had played on the trail before and Gail had always wanted to. She got her wish on a nice spring day in March. Gail spoke highly of the golf trail’s reputation. “We’d play more if we didn’t have to leave for Nashville today,” she said. “I know that it has helped the state, and why not? It’s beautiful,” she added. “I love that they’ve got a short course at many places. It’s wonderful for the game if you can’t fit in a whole 18,” she said. Each course on the trail offers multiple tees for golfers of all skill levels. Thousands of golfers are drawn to the series of courses each year. Serious golfers who wish to complete the trail can obtain an Alabama Trail Card, which gives you priority when setting tee times and other reservations. For more details about the trail, the courses, resort hotels and directions, visit www.rtjgolf.com. RTJ at Oxmoor Valley is located at 100 SunBelt Parkway, 35211. For tee times, course tours and more info, go to rtjgolf. com/oxmoorvalley or call 942-1177.●
Top: The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail was founded in 1992. Middle: Golfers hit on the driving range before beginning their rounds. Bottom: The hilly distance shown from the range tees to each hole, and beyond. Spring 2016 | 18
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www.thelocalbham.com | 19
you are not
Alone Anxiety. Depression. Disorders and phobias. These are all very common issues that people struggle with in our community and in our society as a whole. Fortunately, there are many resources in the Birmingham community and people who want you to know that you are not alone. STORY BY CAROLINE CARMICHAEL PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY FEATHERSTON
20 | Spring 2016
T
here is a sea out there. It is a quiet sea, yet raging from within. It is comprised of many seafaring souls who beat the waves and drift along with solitary strokes — alone, they think. Sound familiar? Anxiety. Depression. Mental disorders and phobias. These are all very common issues that “By providing individual, marriage and family people struggle with in our community and in our society as a whole. They are the underlying counseling, Covenant Counseling seeks to bring hope, help and healing to people of all ages.” currents of the vast sea in which so many individuals find themselves immersed. covenantcounsel.com Just how vast is this sea? 2204 Lakeshore Drive #212, According to the 2015 data collected by the Birmingham, AL 35209 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), (205) 879-7500 one in five American adults experience a mental illness. Among the most common are anxiety disorders and major depression. How strange it is that these illnesses, which incur such feelings of isolation and loneliness, are the same illnesses most commonly shared in our society—familiar waters, one might say, that one only perceives to have discovered on one’s own. But you are not alone.
Covenant Counseling and Education Center
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lise Summers is a 21-year-old Chelsea resident who has courageously been sharing her story of her current six-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. In order to draw awareness “to the many people who are struggling in silence,” she unfolds her battle strategies, nudging them toward an ultimate victory as she strives toward the same. Summers said two years passed before anyone knew of her struggle—a secret so well hidden that only her admittance to the hospital unveiled its presence. “I did not look ‘sick’ or like what many people think someone with an eating disorder looks like,” Summers wrote in a Facebook post. “But inside, I was miserable.” Her thoughts, she shared, were consumed by the obsessive demands of weight gain fears, food, exercise and purging. “I hated myself and didn’t think that I deserved any help,” she said. “However,” she continued, “looking back on those days, I wish so badly that I had reached out for help in the beginning, as I think getting help sooner could have prevented me from spiraling as deep into the disorder as I did.” And that’s where the water treading gets tricky for most people. Kent Michael, a marriage and family therapy associate at Covenant Counseling, explained that the healing of mental illnesses depends greatly on the individual experiencing them. “Offering hope to those in need of spiritual and While the person needs to know that he or relational restoration” she is not the only person struggling with such restore-ministries.org issues, there is a vital need for the individual to 200 Office Park Cir #115B be willing first to accept the struggle for what it is, and then second, to “fight it and battle it.” Mountain Brook, AL 35223 “They’re the ones doing the work,” Michael (205) 440-2909 said. “We’re just kind of helping them process through it.” Covenant Counseling is one of many counseling centers available in the Birmingham community.
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www.thelocalbham.com | 21
S
amford University sophomore William Ashley receives much of his help from Grayson and Associates. For several years Ashley has been “Dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing combating a more mental disorders and achieving victory over rare, intricate mental mental illness...” illness. graysonmentalhealth.com “I most likely have Locations in Homewood, Meadowbrook, Trussville, something called schizo-affective Riverchase and Montgomery disorder,” he said, (205) 871-6926 (Homewood Office) “which basically manifests as both a mood disorder and psychotic symptoms like schizophrenia.” Besides dramatically manipulating his mind’s processing and interpretation of information, Ashley’s disorder wrought a loss of control of “almost everything,” ultimately forcing Ashley to leave school to give his mental healing and adjustments the proper time and attention they require. “The nature of a schizoid disorder,” Ashley explained, “is that you are, sadly, very alone in some ways.” But regardless of how others may respond to your condition, he said, “don’t be afraid to talk to people about what you’re going through.”
Grayson and Associates
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here is a definite courage that must be mustered here. But this courage need not stand alone—and according to Samford University junior biology major Jane Edwards, it need not speak alone. Edwards is the president and founder of a recently organized student organization called You’re Not Alone—or YNA—which provides a safe, dependable community at Samford for students struggling with mental and emotional problems. She believes from her own past experience with depression that there is power in voicing one’s struggles— particularly to those “Treating the whole person. Emotionally, Physically, who share in them. Spiritually.” Summers agreed wellspringchristian.com in her post. “So 3104 Blue Lake Dr, Suite #100 whether it’s an Birmingham, AL 35243 eating disorder or (205) 977-3003 something else,” she urged, “don’t suffer in silence. And if you notice a loved one suffering, please don’t ignore it. No struggle is too small or too unimportant to deserve help, and no person is the exception to that rule.” ●
Wellspring Christian Clinic
22 | Spring 2016
Mental Health 1 in 5
American adults experience a
mental illness
42 million
(18.1%) American adults live with anxiety disorders
16 million
(6.9%) American adults live with major depression
6.1 million
(2.6%) American adults live with bipolar disorder
10.2 million
American adults have co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders Source: NAMI.org
Greek Life
Leadership. Scholarship. Service.
BIRMINGHAM HAMMER TIME
Coach Joel Person is flanked by Co-Founders John Killian, left, and Morgan Copes, right
Two soccer diehards have successfully launched a semi-pro team—and they’re just getting started STORY AND PHOTOS BY SAM CHANDLER
A
banker and a salesman walk into a bar. They sit down, quench their thirst, and after a series of informal focus groups with fellow patrons, decide to launch a semi-professional sports organization. What’s the kick? Although it may resemble the opening of a casual joke, there is no punchline. Sitting at a local brewery in February 2013, Morgan Copes, an assistant branch manager at Regions Bank, and John Killian, an account executive for 365 Incorporated, conceived the idea to start a soccer team. Now, after three years of nailing down the details, their concept has become reality. Driven by the co-founders’ tireless dedication, the Vestavia Hills-based Birmingham Hammers are primed for their first full season in the National Premier Soccer League. “We’re giving the city of Birmingham and the surrounding metropolitan area something else to be proud of,” Copes said. 24 | Spring 2016
“There are a lot of proud sports fans here in Birmingham, so we’re excited to be a part of that.” Their enthusiasm is evident. Both Copes and Killian are devout soccer fans and proud members of the American Outlaws—the exuberant support group of the U.S. Men and Women’s National Teams. Killian, a 29-year-old Birmingham native, has followed the sport for as long as he can remember. “I’ve just always been into it ... really not much more to it than that,” Killian said. Copes, a 30-year-old who has lived in many cities but calls Birmingham his adopted home, has been equally involved. Dribbling by age 2, his playing career extended through his college years at the University of Mobile. “I’ve been around it pretty much my whole life,” Copes said. “I’ve always loved it.” As undergraduates at the private university of rough 1,600 students, the two first met.
Members of the coaching staff address Hammers hopefuls at the club’s open tryout on March 13. Killian, an avid supporter of the Rams’ soccer team, coincidentally lived on the same dorm hall as Copes. But, after Killian graduated with a degree in humanities and philosophy in 2010, their paths diverged. Following commencement Killian moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he worked with non-profit groups and assisted inner city youth. Copes, meanwhile, graduated in 2011 with his master’s degree in business administration and went to work in retail management for Walgreens. The duo didn’t reconnect until they moved to the Birmingham area in 2012, after Killian’s visa expired in Northern Ireland and Copes earned a spot in the management associate program at Regions. Their reunion resulted in the Hammers’ whimsical inception. Prior to the watershed day in 2013, however, Copes and Killian had been told about the Brickyard Battalion, a fan group whose activism led to the formation of the semi-pro Indy 11 soccer team in Indianapolis. “The fans don’t actually own any of that club, but they just kind of started the momentum that helped get it going,” Killian said, “so that sort of inspired us that maybe we could do something similar here.” They saw Birmingham as an ideal market. In addition to its geographic location and growing population, the area has shown signs of soccer fever. “Consistently when the U.S. Men’s National Team plays, as far as TV ratings go, Birmingham’s near the top,” Copes said. Plus, with the local prevalence of youth soccer, Copes said he wanted to give developing players a team to look up to.
“They’ve got some local colleges to go watch like UAB, Birmingham Southern,” Copes said, “but other than that, it’s really, ‘what are they going to do after that?’ We kind of feel like we’re offering an option.” After two years of planning, organizing and spreading the word, the Hammers took the field for the first time in 2015, competing in an exhibition season. Guided by Joel Person—one of Copes’ former coaches at Mobile—the Hammers gained valuable experience during their trial schedule. In addition to playing other exhibition squads, they matched up against teams from the NPSL and Premier Development League. The season also gave their fans, particularly those of the Magic City Brigade, their first taste of semi-pro action. “They’re loud, they’re fun. They have drums and kazoos, flags. It’s just a lot of fun,” Killian said. Founded a year before the team started playing, the Brigade is the Hammers’ official support group. “They’ve been a huge reason for our success,” Copes said. “We had to lay that foundation and that foundation has always been our fans, our supporters group.” Copes estimates the team drew 1,200-1,300 attendants at its 2015 home opener, averaging around 750 per game toward the end of the season. This year, he expects those numbers to surge. As of mid-February, Copes said online ticket sales had already eclipsed the previous season’s total. “We definitely see a huge uptick in average attendance,” Copes said. After making the jump to the NPSL in the offseason, the Hammers are scheduled to play 13 matches in 2016, including seven home games at Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. Their regular season runs from late April through www.thelocalbham.com | 25
Sights from the Hammers’ open tryout on March 13 included corner kicks, juggling tricks and visible support from members of the Magic City Brigade. early July, with the potential for postseason play. A member of the league’s Southeast Conference, the Hammers will face teams from Tennessee, Louisiana and Georgia. The squad—primarily composed of college players and recent graduates—solidified its roster in the spring after a pair of open tryouts. Additionally, Copes and Killian recently secured a presenting sponsor, St. Vincent’s Health System, and a title sponsor, BBVA Compass. “This is pretty big stuff for us,” Killian said. “It wasn’t that long ago that it was just me and Morgan sitting in an apartment scheming how to make this happen.” They don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. The pair has dreams of boosting their club, currently the 26 | Spring 2016
state’s only semi-pro team, to the country’s top tier. “I mean, the ultimate goal is to bring a professional team, hopefully one day Major League Soccer,” Copes said. “I think Birmingham’s a perfect market for it, but it’s not something that’s ever going to happen overnight. You’ve got to take baby steps, so we’re getting to the point now where we’re kind of starting to walk on our own.” For more information on the club, visit www.birmingham hammmers.com or check out their social media: facebook. com/BhamHammers and @BhamHammers on Twitter. ●
See video of head coach Joel Person previewing the Hammers upcoming season at thelocalbham.com.
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THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER RECOGNIZES AND SUPPORTS THE LOCAL AND ITS STUDENT STAFF thelocalbham.com | 27
DI
SCOVER
tri delta Coming Fall 2016!
samford.tridelta.org
Birmingham
A look into local art
Creatives
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MACEY SIMS AND BONNIE GRACE TILLMAN
The concept of living locally is one of the driving forces behind Birmingham’s boom. It can be seen in the new and unique food, coffee and music scenes that have developed across the city. An underrated and lesser-known part of this growing city is its community of creatives. From painters and print designers to jewelry makers and wood workers, these artists are taking the city by storm. We sat down with a few and heard a little bit about their stories. www.thelocalbham.com | 31
AK Hall jewelry
The rain was lightly falling outside the window as A.K. Hall opened the door to her studio loft apartment. Located in Highlands, the room was minimalistic with a few prints hanging on the sand-colored walls with cacti placed about. The studio makes you feel like you stepped over a few states into the Arizona desert, especially when she pulls out her blow torch and begins welding jewelry. Hall is a Birmingham jewelry maker who went to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. During her days there, she became heavily interested in jewelry making. “I went out to New Mexico for two weeks and did an apprenticeship under a woman and I learned how to make jewelry,” Hall said. Upon her return, she began the New College program, an interdisciplinary liberal arts program where highly motivated undergraduates design their own curricula leading to bachelor’s degrees. Students pursue research
Staple necklaces that can be found on A.K’s website.
32 | Spring 2016
activities, community-based learning and self-directed study. Hall then attended Revere Academy in San Francisco, where she learned original hand goldsmithing techniques, an alternative to using a machine. Hall has done a few pop-up shops and festivals, but her most popular avenue of sales are custom orders, like her recent order of an engagement ring. Hall can work with whatever stone the customer chooses and picks the metals that will fit in their price range. The metals she works with include silver, gold, copper and brass. “Custom orders are typically very sentimental and I feel like that is such a cool thing to do for somebody and to be a part of that process,” said Hall. Hall’s favorite pieces of jewelry to make are rings because it feels as if they are tiny sculptures in the palm of her hand, she said.
A recent custom engagement ring design.
A.K. uses her propane torch to weld every piece of metal she touches.
“That is one of my favorite things about jewelry — that almost every piece we have has a memory associated with it as we pass it down."- AK Hall “I love the metal forming process of it all,” she said. “I also feel like rings are more sentimental to people and that is one of my favorite things about jewelry – that almost every piece we have has a memory associated with it as we pass it down.” Depending on the piece of jewelry, it can take 30 minutes to three hours to create. “Some days things don’t work and I think that it is important on those days not to push it – but rather take a break and polish finished things or walk away completely and come back later,” Hall said. Hall said that she gets a lot of her inspiration from nature
Above: Jewlery maker, A.K. Hall. Below: A.K.’s work space.
and often it is the stone that inspires her. “A lot of people tend to do an intense sketch before they begin making, but I like to stare at the stone and then I will be like, ‘Okay this is what I should do.’” she said. “It is very inspiring to see what would look good around this stone or what this has the potential to be. Most of my jewelry is shaped around the stone. I purposefully order stones that are unusually shaped.” Learn more about Hall & her work at: http://www.madebyak.com
Above: Tools used to manipulate metal. Below: Recent earrings A.K. has made.
www.thelocalbham.com | 33
Emily Wells
stationary | prints | phone cases
Emily Wells, creator of the popular “Birmingham is always a good idea” print, has built a strong following with her iPhone cases, stationery and brand designs. Based out of a loft apartment downtown, Wells works with two other designers and enjoys the day-to-day freedom of filling the world with creativity and beauty. Wells was born and raised in Birmingham, where she grew up around creative role models. “My dad was a drummer,” she said. “And my mom would always do creative things on the side.” Uncertain of where to begin in college, she took some time off before starting school and worked as a receptionist. It was during this time that she found her creative niche for stationary. She began selling her stationary all over the U.S. and after a year and a half decided that was what she wanted to be doing full time. “I studied graphic design at UAB and then began freelancing,” she said. “It was nice going right into school knowing exactly what I wanted to do.” Wells expresses her freedom with her art. Along with phone cases and stationery, she also creates branding
for businesses. Wells has worked with Heidi Elnora, Birmingham Fashion Week and Madewell to UAB, Tuscaloosa food trucks, PR firms in Pepper Place and several other Birmingham businesses. “I design exactly what I want to design, instead of what other people are telling me to design” Wells said. Wells said that in the future she is going to offer all the services under her umbrella to individual clients. Her favorite part of her job is designing brands. “I am launching a new logo element, a quick and easy logo, for companies to purchase,” Wells said. “I will be keeping my old products as well. I am transitioning my phone cases to Casetify so that the colored phones will now be seen with the clear case that is offered there.” Birmingham has a large creative community and Wells is an active member. She leads a creative small group called The Orchard that was started in February 2015. This group is made up of many different local artists, that gather to support and encourage each other. “Community is everything and it is so cool to see how much of it there is here in Birmingham.” Wells said.
Above: Emily’s inspiration board. Below: Graphic designer, Emily Wells. Above left: Designed pieces by Emily. Above right: Emily’s office.
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ETSY: EmilyWellsDesign Website: Emilywellsdesign.com IPhone cases – emilywells. com@Casetify.com
Amy Stone calligrapher | artist
Above: Inspiration bowl. Below: Artist, Amy Stone.
It’s funny how some people open their door to you and they immediately feel like old friends. Stone invited us into her home studio and showed us her creative space. Natural lighting fills a studio that contains paintings drying on tables and watercolor designs across her walls. Anyone could feel at peace and right at home. Stone was born and raised in Birmingham and went to school at Auburn, where she studied English and Spanish. She had plans to be an English teacher but changed her mind after graduation and decided on taking a job as an editorial assistant at a Birmingham local magazine. Stone’s love of creativity and language shifted into an art form. She takes words and turns them into art with her calligraphy. “I have always had the element of art in my life. At the magazine, I began helping out in the styling department and with photo shoots,” Stone said. Working in the style department developed her love for art and showed her how much she loves design. A year and a half ago she picked up calligraphy on the side and now
Above: Calligraphy and watercolor. Below: Amy’s painting space.
does a lot of work in the wedding industry. Stone’s art style isn’t your average calligraphy. Instead of cursive, she has a more organic and modern type that she self-described as “a little bit quirky.” “I do a lot of art journaling because my artwork is personal. My art and my faith are very interwoven,” stated Stone. “Whatever I am going through is represented in my art.” She finds her inspiration from nature and explains how the Lord speaks to her inspiration through nature’s beauty. She also mentioned that challenges of being a working from home as an extrovert. “I love collaborating with people. You get to talk to people and hear what is going on with them and you get to reflect what they are going through with art. I would love to work in a creative space with other people,” Stone said Stone is working on a line of prints that will be sold online. You can find her designs and more information at: Website: amyhstone.com Etsy: AmyHStone www.thelocalbham.com | 35
Evolutia woodworking
Just over the train tracks from Birmingham, in Collegeville, the Evolutia warehouse stands tall and filled to the ceiling with wood waiting to find a new home. Clay Klinner, one of the co-owners of the family business, greeted us outside on the gravel parking lot and welcomed us inside the roughly four football fields-long warehouse. Klinner grew up in Vestavia Hills and attended college at the University of Alabama. His family started Evolutia as a wood recycling business. They acquired large amounts of lumber that they then refurbished and sold. Now they reclaim wood from deconstruction projects and transform those materials into new products like furniture, house accents, flooring and more. Klinner walked us through the company’s warehouse and wood shop while telling us a little bit about Evolutia’s history and mission. Evolutia has reclaimed, re-purposed, and transformed materials for over 15 years, seeking a sustainable path for historic buildings, mills, barns and homes. In Birmingham, they have done woodworking in restaurants and businesses such as Steel City Pops, El
Inside the Evolutia warehouse.
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Barrio, Avondale Brewery, Good People Brewery, Slice Restaurant, Brick & Tin and the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Evolutia does not sell any new cut lumber. All of its products are made from wood that is re-purposed. They are sustaining the environment for future generations through their mission.“We go through historical deconstruction projects and our transformation of reclaimed materials turn into new products like wall coverings, fireplace mantles, ceiling beams, flooring, shelving, cabinetry and much more,” Klinner explained. “At Evolutia, we transform ‘forgotten history’ into a new creation with a new function.” The family has a firm belief to stay rooted in their community and give back. “Whenever we take a building down we try to leave the place better,” stated Klinner. “We have taken buildings down and actually built pavilions and rec centers with the materials that we took down.” Evolutia is partners with the non-profit Magic City Woodworks, a job and life skill organization whose priority is to “teach young men how to work with their hands, minds and hearts.” Evolutia supplies all the reclaimed
One of the woodcutting tools used in the transformation process.
wood for the organization. “They build beautiful things with Evolutia’s material for the greater Birmingham area so that they can build hope in the lives of the young men in the apprenticeship program and the communities they serve,” Klinner said. Evolutia has undertaken several reclamation projects ranging from textile mills in the Carolina’s to a cigar factory in Selma, Alabama, all being built in the late 1800s. They have reclaimed material from mills, factories, warehouses and barns from all over the U.S. Klinner even has wood from a World War II submarine dock that was sunk postwar. “This wood is very unique because of the lack of oxygen in the water actually preserved the wood better than it would have on land and it gives the wood a unique coloring,” Klinner said. Klinner does not take just any wood, though. Product quality influences the decision to accept or reject wood. They also have to consider the size of the structure they are considering tearing down. There needs to be enough wood supplied from the building to make it worthwhile to
destroy. The company must go through a special process to properly deconstruct buildings, allowing them to salvage and reclaim a very high yield of materials. “Our properties of historic buildings and mills have allowed us to acquire and inventory millions of board feet of reclaimed wood, as well as, the sustainable act to help conserve natural resources and reusing resources that account for tons of unique objects, metals, wood and other materials for re-purposing and transforming,” Klinner said. Evolutia is beginning to shift its focus to what they believe is their strong suit– floors and walls. Originally, Klinner also made furniture, but the high price of the furniture placed him in a very selective market. The company is currently working on building a showroom in its warehouse. To learn more about evolutia and see more of their work at: evolutiamade.com or on Instagram @evolutiamade ●
Above: Examples of their work at Brick & Tin. Below: Co-Owner, Clay Klinner.
Reclaimed beams stacked in the Evolutia warehouse.
www.thelocalbham.com | 37
WISHING ON A STAR STORY BY TYLER BROOKS PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAMANTHA NELSON WITH A CONTRIBUTION FROM SARAH FINNEGAN 38 | Spring 2016
A star trail photo showing the movement of stars taken in the Birmingham area. Photo courtesy of Sarah Finnegan)
H
ave you ever found yourself looking up at the dark night sky filled with glistening stars? Stargazing can have many purposes. It can be something you do by yourself to relax, something you do with a group of friends for fun, or even an activity you can do as a date. With a little planning and the right equipment anyone can enjoy the beauty of the night sky.
What are you seeing?
According to NASA, stars are formed within clouds of dust. As the cloud starts to collapse, a core is formed in the middle that collects gas and dust. However, this transformation from cloud to star is not quick. If a star roughly the size of our sun started to form today, it would take approximately 50 million years for it to reach full size. The light that you see from stars comes from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen. www.thelocalbham.com | 39
Where should you go? David Weigel, director of the Boyd E. Christenberry Planetarium at Samford University, said that when you are going to look at the sky the two most important factors are weather and light pollution. “You want good, clear weather. This means low humidity and no clouds,” Weigel said. Stargazers can monitor one resource for checking sky conditions using cleardarksky. com, a website which provides local information for your location such as cloud cover, temperature and transparency, which is how easy it is to see through Earth’s atmosphere. When asked about light pollution, Weigel referred to a definition found on globeatnight.org: “Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial light.” To avoid light pollution in the Birmingham area the two best places to go are Oak Mountain State Park and Red Mountain Park. If you are traveling outside The sky above Red Mountain Park at dusk. (courtesy of Samantha Nelson) of the Birmingham area and want to see where to go to avoid light pollution, you can use lightpollutionmap.info to pull up a light pollution overlay of Bing Maps.
What should you bring?
Stars above Red Mountain Park as can be seen on a dark, spring night. (courtesy of Samantha Nelson)
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If you are planning a trip to stargaze, there are a few things you might want to take with you: · People: Stargazing is always more fun when you can share the experience with your friends. · Planisphere: A chart that shows you which stars are visible based on the time and date. · Laser pointer: Helpful when pointing out stars to a group of people. · Binoculars and Telescope: You will need these if you are trying to see galaxies other than the nearest neighboring galaxies, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Of course, you can enjoy the beauty of the night sky without any of these items; all you really need is good weather and a dark space. If it is your first time looking at stars, you might want to bring someone who knows about the sky so they can tell you what you are seeing. If you don’t know anyone that knows about the sky, you can get a constellation map and a planisphere to help you.
Can I take pictures? Photographing the sky and achieving a quality picture can be a challenge. Sarah Finnegan, a contributing photographer for “Seasons” magazine, has some tips for those wanting to photograph the sky. “For the best results, you want a camera that can handle low lighting situations really well without compromising picture quality,” Finnegan said. If you want to make a star trail photo, you take pictures at different time intervals and combine them to show the movement of the stars, you’ll also need a shutter release cable and some photo editing software to combine the images.
For the best picture results you should take pictures when there is a new moon to avoid light pollution, and you want a night where the weather is clear and dry. Star trail photos can be taken without much expertise, but it can take a few hours to get a quality picture. “I’d suggest allowing the camera to take images for at least three hours to get good movement in your final shot,” Finnegan said. Depending on the weather and amount of light pollution, you might have to adjust the settings on your camera to get the best image. After a few outings, your friends may not be able to tell your pictures apart from NASA’s. ●
For more information about stargazing in the Birmingham area check out our website, www. thelocalbham.com
chi omega est. 1895
www.thelocalbham.com | 41
A DAY OUT FOR ANY PERSONA Birmingham has a variety of places to go and unique people to meet. The Magic City can entertain any person, as long as you know where to look. Whether you are wanting to experience something new or stick with what you know, Birmingham can cater to anyone. Find an adventure that fits you. STORY BY HANNAH JONES AND GRACE MISEROCCHI PHOTOS BY HANNAH JONES, EDEN KAY LONG, KATIE MENOSKY AND GRACE MISEROCCHI
www.thelocalbham.com | 43
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL for the 44 | Spring 2015
You are new to a typical 9 to 5 career and don’t quite know what to do with your lifestyle. You want a relaxed and fun environment where you can hang out with friends.
Birmingham Art Museum The Birmingham Art Museum is perfect for anyone wanting to widen their palette for the arts. The museum showcases art from every period, from ancient pottery to contemporary paintings. And with free admission, the museum fits into any young professionals’ budget.
The Birmingham Art Museum, founded in 1951, has a standing collection of more than 26,000 pieces of art.
Galley and Garden This restaurant, appropriately situated in an older home downtown, features American-French dishes with a Southern twist. The price range is perfect for any young professional’s budget, the food is exquisite and the atmosphere is beyond charming.
Saturn Saturn is the perfect place for any young professional to mix work and play. Enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee while you work, and then transition into a fun night with friends. From playing board games to listening to live music, Saturn offers entertainment for many tastes.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra The symphony provides all the sophistication that a young professional desires with traditional classical performances, such as Beethoven and Bach. They also accompany and cover jazz and pop artists like Boyz II Men and Pink Floyd. The symphony provides an evening full of beautiful and cultured entertainment and plays in many locations across Birmingham.
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TRENDSETTER Arlington Antebellum Home
You desire places with a unique aesthetic and look for the next big thing. You love experiencing all that small local businesses have to offer.
An unexpected gem in the Magic City, Arlington Antebellum Home offers an interesting look at Birmingham’s past. After a miraculous survival of the Civil War, Arlington was made Birmingham city property. You can enjoy a calm walk around the grounds and explore the history behind the home.
Hotbox at Parkside Hotbox combines food-truck and outdoor dining by serving food out of an airstream trailer. It’s a unique, relaxing environment with even more down-to-earth people.
Left: Naked Art fills its gallery with functional art that serves more than an aesthetic purpose.
Naked Art Gallery This gallery focuses on functional but unique art that is accessible to everyone. It features several local artists’ work, ranging from decorative magnets to large metal decor, each piece with its own story to tell.
Woodlawn Cycle Cafe This coffee shop was inspired by bicycle culture and allows cyclists to hang their bikes on a rack while enjoying a cup of coffee, but the cafe appeals to a mcuh broader clientelle than your local biker. The cafe has a minimalist and creative environment that offers a wide range of coffee and food, from biscuits to stew to empanadas.
Right: Woodlawn Cycle Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as coffee. Left: Cyclists can hang up their bikes while enjoying coffee.
Red Mountain Real & Rosemary Theater A recent addition to the Magic City dining scene, Real & Rosemary provides all the comforts of home with a menu that features sandwiches, salads and more. The restaurant’s back-to-basics cooking style and whole ingredients will remind you of home.
One of the places the lifer probably frequented as a kid, Red Mountain Theater is the place to go to see your favorite classics or what’s new in the theater world. Its current season includes improv nights and productions of Sister Act and The Little Mermaid.
Habitat Feed and Social
Originally opened in 1914, Lyric has been given new life through its recent renovation.
Habitat Feed and Social is new to Birmingham and it has created buzz in the city. The eclectic restaurant sits atop the new Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook and features American classics with a modern twist. The restaurant brings a colorful and sophisticated vibe to Birmingham, one that no other restaurant can provide.
The Lyric Theater Many who have lived in Birmingham for a while have heard of the Lyric. But what was once known as a dilapidated old venue now has new life featuring concerts and shows from artists around the world. The Lyric has been transformed into a venue that hosts a range of music and entertainment acts from Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors to The Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
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Habitat Feed and Social offers a unique dining experience with gorgeous rooftop views of Mountain Brook Village.
LIFER 46 | Spring 2016
You have lived in the Magic City for most of your life; maybe you even stayed close to home for school. You’re constantly going back to familiar places, but are also willing to branch out in order to see what is new in Birmingham.
NEW TO TOWN
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You recently moved to Birmingham and want to learn more about the Magic City and its Southern charm. You want to experience what makes the city unique.
Saw’s BBQ Eat award-winning barbecue in Homewood, Crestline and Avondale. Saw’s offers a delicious taste of classic Birmingham barbecue. They also dish out some amazing burgers.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Take a peaceful stroll around the gardens. Be sure to check out the Japanese garden and art gallery while you are there. This is one of the few botanical gardens in the area with free admission. They also host several events and classes throughout the year. Many stores, restaurants and coffee shops also call the Pepper Place area home.
Saw’s BBQ is more than just a restaurant, they’ve built their own brand through selling their famous sauce.
Vulcan The Vulcan is one of the first things you notice when driving through Birmingham, but the stunning view of the city from the top of the iconic statue should not be missed. You can also peruse the museum and learn about the relationship the Vulcan has had with the Steel City throughout the years.
Alabama Theatre This classic Birmingham venue has been around since 1927. The theatre’s sign is unmistakable, but the true beauty of the theatre is in its ornate and decadent interiors. You can attend a concert or even watch one of your favorite films.
Pepper Place Market Every Saturday from April to December the market at Pepper Place hosts local vendors, farmers and small businesses. The market has become a part of many Birmingham residents’ Saturday morning routines. Enjoy this Birmingham staple and walk, eat and shop in Birmingham’s Lakeview district. www.thelocalbham.com | 47
Ovenbird This restaurant, located in Pepper Place, blends Southern and Latin cuisine. Most of their food is cooked using local ingredients over a live fire. The restaurant was designed with an open floor concept with lots of natural light and offers indoor and outdoor dining. Ovenbird only takes reservations for parties of six or more.
Wasabi Juan’s Eat adventurously at this Avondale restaurant. It combines Mexican and Asian cuisine with sushi burritos, tacos and more. Above: In addition to the ropes course, Red Mountain Park has 14 miles of trails, two city overlooks and three tree houses.
Red Mountain Ropes Course Red Mountain Park not only offers hiking trails, but also a treetop ropes course and adventure tower as well. The park is conveniently located within the Birmingham city limits.
Fitness Classes at Railroad Park Railroad Park offers several fitness classes, including jazzercise, yoga and zumba. Some classes are free and most are offered in the early evening. â—?
Above: Railroad Park offers bike rentals and walking trails in the middle of downtown Birmingham.
You are always looking for the next adventure. You live an active and healthy lifestyle and enjoy the natural beauty of Birmingham and its many nature preserves and parks.
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ADVENTURER 48 | Spring 2016
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