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 […]

I was in college when our pastor took two or three of us fledgling ministers to the church sanctuary and showed us how to sit up straight on the platform without slouching. “Wear a crisp white shirt and be sure your socks are long enough,” he said. “Don’t forget you speak for God.” I’ve often […]

The Hartford Nationals, the largest and longest-running sport championships for athletes with a physical, visual and/or intellectual disability, is descending on Hoover, beginning Saturday.  Now in its 66th year, more than 400 athletes and coaches are slated to participate in the weeklong series of events. The Hartford Nationals is coordinated by Move United, a national nonprofit and affiliate […]

Wells is a dot on the map, located in the northeast corner of the state of Nevada. Wells is one of those towns that was bypassed when the new interstate system was build. That bypass left mom and pop cafes and motels mostly without customers. At the exit were a couple of chain hotels; those […]

Fourth of July and barbecue are soul mates. For many Alabamians, smoke-kissed ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, or beef brisket are as crucial to the celebration as family, fireworks, and flags. Traditionally, each region in Alabama and other Southern states had its own special approach to barbecue. It wasn’t so much the type or cut of […]

Charmin Bates believes her calling is to help girls, like those in Alabama’s Black Belt region, learn to tap into their creativity and discover their self-worth. “We understand that there’s a need to help these girls … build their self-esteem and confidence,” Bates said. “It’s important for them to know as a young girl and […]

Restaurants in Auburn, Birmingham, Fairhope, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Orange Beach are among the world’s best places to enjoy wine, the experts at Wine Spectator say in the publication’s 2023 Restaurant Awards. The awards “recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers,” […]

It was May 8, and the radio DJ announced, “Today is Ricky Nelson’s birthday,” as he prepped Nelson’s song, “Travelin’ Man.” Nelson was a TV star and a pop singer of the golden oldies era who had 54 hits on Billboard’s “Hot 100.” He, sadly, left us at age 45. He flew from Guntersville after […]

James Hansel recently surprised his wife, Joy, with a glamping trip to Wind Creek State Park on Lake Martin to celebrate the couple’s 47th wedding anniversary. Joy didn’t know anything about the trip until the night before the couple’s departure from their home in Theodore, just outside Mobile, but her first glamping experience left such a positive […]

Alabama is home to cities and counties that utilize their resources to support and uplift their communities, and Decatur Morgan County is no different. They are known for their ability to put together exciting events like the annual Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, but they also are home to a wide variety of sporting […]

This morning I am writing from a picnic table, sheltered by towering Ponderosa pines, from one of my favorite towns, Flagstaff, Ariz. You might want to know that it is 46 degrees and the last day of June. That is why I love this place. It is about 7,000 feet above sea level. The day […]

And Bang! Bang! Just like that, Huntsville is one of seven additional dates World Wrestling Entertainment is adding to its 2023 touring schedule. Coming Aug. 27 to the Von Braun Center, WWE “Supershow” tickets are now on sale. The WWE “Supershow” is a mixture of fan favorites from “Monday Night Raw” and “Friday Night Smackdown.”  […]

Are your children already bored during their summer vacation from school? Want to find a fun way to exercise both their bodies and minds? Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County has the solution for you and your kids – a farm field trip to learn about how the milk they drink is produced, plus ice […]

It’s been a season of hard-charging faith documentaries, including “The Secrets of Hillsong” and “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets.” Both saddened me. I never watched any of the Duggar series on TLC, though I was aware of the basic plot through word-of-mouth. The “Shiny” documentary intertwines with the ministry of Bill Gothard, the Duggars’ […]

Be sure to order the Gulf seafood next time you dine at Voyagers restaurant at Perdido Beach Resort. Its executive chef, Brody Olive, is the 2023 champion of the 8th Annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off that showcases the bounty from the Gulf of Mexico. Olive, who also won the contest in 2017, bested three other chefs […]

Alabama is home to incredible architectural talent. With amazing residential architects throughout the state, many of Alabama’s neighborhoods are full of marvels of taste and style. While it is difficult to narrow down such a notable list of industry experts, we have created a list of five commercial and residential Alabama architecture firms that you need […]

The summer of 1963 was pivotal in the development of my psyche. That summer my grandfather, Henry, purchased a new Ford station wagon. It was white with red interior. His sister and her family lived in San Diego and for reasons that still evade me, they thought it would be a good idea to load […]

The successful integration of The University of Alabama that began on June 11, 1963, opened doors not only to two Black students, but for decades of progress toward becoming an inclusive campus. This past academic year, UA saw record enrollment of students of ethnic and racial minorities including an all-time high of 4,344 Black students. […]

Fifty years is a mighty long time in the restaurant business. But 50 years in a single building for an even older establishment is an extraordinary achievement. The folks at Ted’s Restaurant have been serving lunch cafeteria-style at 328 12th Street South since then-owners Ted and Litsa Sarris first opened the doors to their newly-built […]

The recent Netflix series on the 30th anniversary of the Waco, Texas, tragedy spurred my interest, and I found some new books at our local library chronicling this event. I remembered some of the details from 1993 but these recent volumes supplied greater detail. Both President Clinton and Attorney General Reno admitted in their autobiographies […]

Mid-June normally is high time for blueberries in the Yellowhammer State, peaking with the annual Alabama Blueberry Festival in Brewton, set this year for Saturday, June 17. The rabbiteye variety—native to south Alabama, south Georgia and the Florida panhandle—is one of three types grown commercially here. Blueberry season is relatively short, starting in late May […]

Beer was a common part of Father’s Day celebrations with my late dad. I wrote a beer newsletter at the time and brewed myself, so we loved enjoying my latest and greatest discoveries. If beer is on tap for this Father’s Day, microbrewery taprooms are a great choice – fun emporiums serving a wide range […]

The building is about 15 feet wide and maybe twice as long. Mirrors line the side walls almost from front to back, with a dozen chairs on the right side and four on the left. The front wall is a full window beside an aging door made of a wooden frame and a single large […]

There is an open secret among tattoo artists, dermatologists and the small group of researchers studying the effects of tattoo ink: Red ink causes the most problems. Problems include rashes — itchy, sometimes painful and occasionally disfiguring — and pseudolymphomas — benign swellings around lymph nodes that resemble cancers of the lymph system. Both rashes […]