After five years in the heart of downtown Birmingham, Pizitz Food Hall has become a mainstay among the weekday lunch crowd, as well as weekenders enjoying a day of activity in the Magic City. The bustling building hosts an array of businesses, ranging from the state’s only Warby Parker outpost to a full bar and an independent […]

When Delaney and Riley McIntyre were in elementary school, their parents Kellie and Dale set a goal for the family: to visit every continent except Antarctica by the time the girls graduated high school. The adventurous family figured they’d accomplish their goal during winter and summer breaks, but all that changed when they encountered a […]

In 1918, Bonnie and Livingston Paulk moved to Union Springs, Alabama with $50 and a dream to make a living off the land. They planted two pounds of cabbage seeds in their new backyard, then hauled the heads to town for sale. The business took off, and soon they began to diversify their products, planting […]

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra began with a group of volunteer musicians in 1921. Over the last 100 years, a small volunteer ensemble transformed into the state’s only full-time professional orchestra. In addition to the 54 talented musicians—saxophonists, flutists, harpists, trombonists, and more—who bring the Alabama Symphony Orchestra to life, the ensemble is often accompanied by […]

Fourteen miles from the University of Alabama’s bustling college campus lies the site of another thriving community. More than 900 years ago, Moundville, nicknamed The Big Apple of the 14th Century by National Geographic, was once America’s largest city north of Mexico and one of the most powerful prehistoric communities of all time. Today, what remains of […]

When people think of America’s most notable music cities, several Southern cities come to mind. There’s New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz; Memphis, where rock ‘n’ roll got its start; and Nashville, our nation’s country music capital. But there’s one more place that should be added to the list of legendary music towns, and it’s […]

Miller Mobley has been all over the world. As a photographer, he’s met some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Tom Hanks, Robert DeNiro, George Clooney, and Nicole Kidman. He’s taken portraits of icons Dolly Parton, Anthony Bourdain, and Taylor Swift, and he even shot the cover for Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming.” But after years of […]

With new developments popping up all over town, business in Birmingham is booming. Ultra-modern lofts and cozy city condominiums are continuously adding to the skyline. And with the number of restaurants, bars, and retail shops growing by the day, there are more than enough ways to spend the day. One of the latest is Mercantile on […]

When it comes to ringing in the new year, Alabama may not have a giant ball drop or thousands of people crowding into Times Square, but we certainly know how to celebrate. With parties and events happening across the state, from the Magic City to the Rocket City, the shores of the Gulf and beyond, […]

Erica Robbins has always had a heart for people, but it wasn’t until 2013 when she moved to downtown Birmingham that her passion for helping others hit a fever pitch. Robbins’ new home overlooked the highway. Over time, she noticed the same man sitting under the bridge each day. “Something led me to check on […]

A new book from Gritty South, an imprint of Bluewater Publications, aims to remove the rose-tinted lenses and cut the sugar-plum sweetness often associated with holiday stories, and instead replace them with true-life tales of what it means to celebrate the season in the South. “Gritty Southern Christmas Anthology,” out now, is a collection of short […]

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement changed the course of history in America forever. Many of the places that created the environment for such monumental change are right here in our own backyard. Alabama’s role in the Civil Rights Movement is undeniable. All across the state, our cities and towns became the […]

Hoover’s Moss Rock Festival is throwing an extra special Sweet 16 bash for the city’s beloved nature and art festival. This year’s festival, held Nov. 6-7, will continue its tradition of introducing festivalgoers to a bevy of talented local and regional artists. A new venue, the Hoover Met Complex, will host more than 150 artists, as well […]

If you thought you’d have to leave Alabama to get a cozy mountain town experience, think again. Nestled in the woodlands of Lookout Mountain, Mentone is our state’s highest city—and also one of the most fun to visit. Its location in the northeast corner of the state, teetering near the Georgia state line, renders it […]

At first glance, Alabama, New Zealand, and Australia have little in common. They’re separated by thousands of miles and centuries of culture. However, despite their distance and dissimilarities, all three locations are connected by one thing: glow worms. Once darkness descends, a strange and extremely rare phenomenon occurs in North Alabama (as well as in […]

When you think of a weekend getaway in Alabama, what’s the first destination that comes to mind? Maybe Gulf Shores for a weekend soaking up the sand and sea? Or some time relaxing on one of our state’s many beautiful lakes? You may even think of a bustling city like Birmingham, Huntsville, or Mobile for a staycation of sorts. But […]

If you’ve ever visited the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and stared up at the translucent marble ceiling, you’ve witnessed a piece of Alabama history. The ceiling is made of white marble mined in Talladega County’s Sylacauga (appropriately known as the Marble City). In addition to lending its natural treasure to some of the nation’s […]

Kevin Parrish is a craftsman by birthright. At the age of 13, his father took him into the family garage workshop and started relaying the ins and outs of leather working and saddle making. “I remember I was watching Saturday morning cartoons and he came and said, ‘Come on, it’s time to go to work,’ […]

When it comes to lighthouses, Alabama isn’t exactly the Northeast, where around 150 of the country’s 1,000 lighthouses reside. Nor are we Michigan, where 115 lighthouses stand along the Great Lakes. However, what we lack in quantity, we make up for in rich history. Case in point: Middle Bay Lighthouse, located off the eastern shore […]

Treat your sweetheart to the best our state has to offer with one of these unique date ideas for Valentine’s Day. Go for a hike

While many associate Mardi Gras with the revelry and debauchery of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, the holiday actually began right here in Alabama. Mardi Gras was first celebrated in 1703 when Mobile resident Joe Cain led an impromptu parade down the port city’s streets in an attempt to bring joy to post-Civil War misery. Today, […]