Health + Wellness

Invest in Yourself

Article by Morgan Cheek We keep what we invest in, period. So, when we choose not to invest in our health, we lose it. Coming from someone who spent almost eight years caregiving for my medically fragile kids and losing myself altogether, I understand the temptation to put others first in the name of selflessness. The truth? Pride causes us not to put on our oxygen masks first to best thrive for ourselves and the people around us. When we don’t know where to start, having some semblance of a...

March 2024

Arts + Culture

Invest in What You Love

Local experts share advice on growing a fine art collection Article by Denise K. James | Photography by Mary Fehr Libby Pantazis, owner and curator of Canary Gallery, confesses that she once let a work of art she loved pass by without snagging it for her collection, and it haunts her. The broader meaning of art, she declares, is whatever brings joy into your life, whether it’s flowers, books or a painting– and the cost of letting joy slip away is greater than anything monetary. “Buy what you...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Understanding Two Popular Topics in Investments: AI and ESG

Article by Mary Meadows Livingston As a financial advisor, I keep up with many topics, from market returns to economic news to investment trends. Two topics have been at the forefront of investors’ minds: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ESG Investing.  First, let’s talk about AI and its impact on investing and the market. I certainly do not proclaim to be an expert on AI, but I will make a few conceptual notes on how it might impact markets. What is Generative AI?  This technology has made...

March 2024

Home + Design

Dressing Room Dreams

Custom solutions make Liz Thuston's space more than just a closet Article by Kali McNutt | Photography by Mary Fehr After raising a family in their Cherokee Bend home of 27 years, Liz Thuston and her husband Bobby were ready for renovations. First came a kitchen refresh, and then it was time to create the highly functional and luxurious custom closet Liz long imagined. After considering other options, Liz tapped Birmingham-based Kelley Lyle with California Closets to design her space. Quickly...

February 2024

Arts + Culture

Music and Movement

The Alabama Ballet to perform works by iconic choreographer Twyla Tharp Photography by Ambre Amari Tickets go on sale March 6 for An Evening of Twyla Tharp, a mixed-repertoire performance presented by the Alabama Ballet. We sat down with artistic director Christopher Stuart to learn more about iconic American choreographer Twyla Tharp and the two ballets included in this special performance. This April's performance features Twyla Tharp's “Baker’s Dozen" and “Nine Sinatra Songs.” How are...

February 2024

Arts + Culture

Concerts at Home

Where music, novelty, and community gather Article by Emilie Maynor | Photography by Jon McLendon One Sunday a month, people from all walks of life gather at a charming 1920s bungalow in Highland Park, towing coolers, chairs, blankets, and an open mind. Melodies from local musicians fill the air: stringed instruments, rap, bluegrass, hip hop, and rock alike. A diverse, multigenerational audience mingles, sipping favorite beverages while kids play freely around the unofficially blocked-off...

February 2024

Home + Design

At Home with Art

Antique dealer Ambrice Miller reflects on her earliest artistic influences Article by Kali McNutt In hindsight, it makes total sense that Ambrice Miller would create a business around art, antiquities, and design. Growing up in Birmingham, she accompanied her mother to thrift stores and estate sales, where treasured finds, including ginger jars, carved busts, and chinoiserie, often found their way home. Paintings by Miller’s father, a hobbyist painter, graced the walls alongside prints by...

February 2024

Life + Culture

At Home in Grandma’s Wingback

Article by Kecia L. Lightner Picture it: a small village dotted with identical little units constructed of brick, mortar, and concrete, named after a man no one knows. Picture further a community maligned as “hood” or “ghetto”—properly referred to as “public housing” but colloquially known by its residents as “the projects.” Regardless of how it’s pictured, for the first 18 years of my life, I simply called it “home.”  I still remember the address: 4519 9th Avenue North, Apt. B. At the center...

February 2024

Home + Design

All in the Details

Paris Déco enchants and inspires Article and Photography by Every year, the design world descends on Paris for Déco Off, where the world’s top fabric and wallcovering companies take over 100-plus showrooms along the Seine to showcase their new collections. We asked local designer Danielle Balanis for her impressions of this year’s event.   From a designer's perspective, what is special about Paris Déco Off?  It’s unlike anything else I have ever attended. Being set in Paris definitely...

February 2024

Food + Beverage

How Sweet It Is

Article by Alexandra Battito | Photography by Elle Marie Roberts I often overlook how uniquely lucky we are to live in arms-reach of culinary artisans in the Magic City, who demonstrate a collaborative and supportive spirit for one another. Case in point: Big Spoon Creamery, located in the Birmingham neighborhoods of Avondale and Edgewood, with a new location in Huntsville. Partners in business and life, co-owners Geri-Martha and Ryan O’Hara continue to surprise and delight us with their...

January 2024