Tucked into Montgomery’s oldest residential neighborhood, a once-forgotten building is now home to a community hub like no other. Hilltop Public House—an all-day coffee shop, bar, and gathering place in historic Cottage Hill—was the vision of two friends who decided that instead of leaving the city to find community, they would cultivate it.   “In 2019, […]

The South is home to incredible artistic talent that spans across many mediums, techniques, and unique points of view. While there is no lack of beautiful art being created locally, there is a lack of spaces to showcase these pieces and interact with the minds behind them. The Loyola Art Show, Mobile’s premier fine art shopping […]

Alabama is home to many of the most beautiful bodies of water in the region. Alabamians have the privilege of enjoying incredible, fresh catches from the Gulf and the opportunity to retreat to the South’s most stunning beaches. But what happens when these priceless local luxuries are threatened? We had the chance to speak with Jason […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The sixteenth in our series is Roland Cooper State Park. According to Alabama State Parks, Roland […]

For those of us born and raised in Alabama, we share memories from childhood of finding small spaces across the state that seemed to hold a certain magic—a garden in a grandmother’s backyard, a wooded path that wove along the lakeside, or a little hiding spot among the hills. For all of us, there was […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The tenth in our series is Lakepoint State Park. According to Alabama State Parks, “Picturesque Lakepoint […]

Few people in the South would offer a questioning look when asked if they knew of local music legend Hank Williams. Impressively, his music and legacy have lasted throughout the ages and are still known to younger generations of Southerners today. But, where did it all begin and how is he connected to Lake Martin? […]

It seems music magic has been repeatedly made in Alabama’s Muscle Shoals, but there is one nearby story that does not often get told: the story of the man who made Elvis Presley. According to the Encylopedia of Alabama, on January 5, 1923, Samuel Cornelius Phillips was born as one of eight children to two […]

One of Alabama’s most popular local parks holds a history that few of its thousands of visitors may know about. See below from Red Mountain Park about their fascinating history as a former mining hub: While Alabama was achieving statehood, native hunters and travelers encountered a fine dust that stained all with which it came […]

Alabama is home to a surprising number of archaeological sites with deep, rich histories dating back centuries. While many of these locations have been extensively excavated and cataloged, others may go unseen for years to come. Luckily, one archaeological site less than 20 miles south of Tuscaloosa has been a definitive area of interest for […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The seventh in our series is Monte Sano State Park. OVERVIEW According to Alabama State […]

“I won’t be able to be there. My family and I are going to the festival back home,” he said plainly. She paused then began, “I thought you said that you grew up in a town with one red light and less than 1,000 people.” “I did. But this festival is a tradition for us. […]

Mary Pat Lawrence’s incredible career is the result of combining her unique skill set with a passion for making change. From the time she was young, Lawrence knew she wanted to strive to make change on a large scale. Born and raised in a small town in Alabama, she had high hopes of moving to […]

Lora McClendon and her career are a testament to the power of vision, hard work, and dedication.  McClendon had an interest in governmental affairs from a young age. She earned her BA in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and attended Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business where she obtained an MBA. After […]

Ashley Robinett’s appreciation of community and collaboration has led to a career of tangible impact.  When looking to the early moments that shaped her interest in her field, she is drawn to the memory of her late high school calculus teacher, Bev Wilkin. “She saw something in me that I, quite frankly, didn’t see myself,” […]

Caroline Aderholt is a shining example of the incredible impact that can be created from a lifelong dedication to an industry.  From a young age, Aderholt found interest in politics, economic development, and agriculture. She recalls traveling with parents Albert and Shirley McDonald, spending time on the campaign trail, and attending political rallies as young […]

Maeci Walker combines strategy with a strong will to create a meaningful difference in her field.  After she completed grad school, Walker found herself as a volunteer on Luther Strange’s first campaign for Attorney General. It was during this time that she was connected with Martin Christie on the basis that a colleague decided she […]

Freddy is the Federal Affairs Manager at Alabama Power Company. His primary responsibilities are the company’s federal governmental relations efforts in Washington., and throughout the state. Freddy has worked for Alabama Power for over 12 years. He began his career in Western Division, headquartered in Tuscaloosa, where he was responsible for relationships with elected officials, […]

Perfectly situated between Lake Martin and Auburn is a small town with hardly over 100 residents. The entirety of the town is contained in less than three square miles. It is home to a handful of businesses, one of which happens to be the one and only Standard Deluxe. Standard Deluxe is a nationally acclaimed print […]

The evolution of technology has been responsible for solving a myriad of problems across industries. One of these recent developments comes out of Foley, Alabama through the company SoilKit. According to the SoilKit site, SoilKit truly began over 100 years ago through the Woerner Family. The family had an honest interest in becoming successful in […]

It’s a bright Saturday morning in late fall, and I wake up to a call from my sister. Checking the clock and rubbing my eyes, confusion turns to panic as the clock reads 6:45 a.m. Something must have happened. “Hello?” I stutter, trying to maintain composure. “We have to go!” It’s pure excitement on her […]

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama is well-known throughout the state, but few know the story behind the foundation’s co-founder Dolly O’Neal. We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with her son and daughter, Camper O’Neal and Amy Stevens to discuss Dolly’s inspiring legacy. SoulGrown: We would love to know, from your perspective, how it […]

The harvest that Underground Forest displays on its stand at the Tuscaloosa River Market is colorful, with soft blues, golden yellows, bright pinks, bony whites, dusky grays, and mottled browns. But food from the urban farm is neither vegetable nor animal. Business partners Martin Blair and Jose Izaguirre grow mushrooms on their subterranean farm inside […]

Alabama is well known for a number of geographic traits, from the rolling foothills of Appalachia to the lakes winding throughout the state, and, of course, its famous white sand beaches. While tourists and locals alike frequent landmarks and attractions across the state, one incredibly historically rich landmark tends to fly under the radar. Fort […]