Village Living neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
Volume 7 | Issue 9 | December 2016
The window ‘wow factor’ By LEXI COON Mountain Brook is known for its holiday splendor — big trees, bright lights and candlelit windows are common sights throughout the villages. But it isn’t just the homes that go all out for the celebrations; local shops join in on the fun, too. From extensive planning to closing for a few days, these shop owners put their heart, soul and inventory into their festive storefront windows.
LAMB’S EARS
Kirby Whitehead of A’mano helps set up the holiday display, which features painted white ladders. The ladders are reminiscent of when some families were unable to purchase trees, and instead decorated ladders for Christmas. Photo by Lexi Coon.
Every year, just before Thanksgiving, Lamb’s Ears covers their windows and closes their doors to customers. “We put brown paper not the windows, and at that
point, all of Crestline thinks we’re closing,” said co-owner Elizabeth Roberts. But they aren’t closing — they’re transforming. A few years back, Roberts and her sister and business partner, Julie Howell, decided they were going to elaborately decorate their store and windows reminiscent of Loveman’s, a former store located in downtown Birmingham that they frequented when they were younger. “You dressed up, went to dinner and went down there. And that’s what you did,” said Howell. The decorating is mostly up to Howell, and after doing some research, the pair found the perfected animated Santa owned by a couple in Washington. The
See WINDOWS | page A30
SHOOTING STARS FOR THE
Watford establishing himself as one of the top players in country By KYLE PARMLEY
T
en years ago, not many people thought it was possible to win a basketball state championship at Mountain Brook High School. Yet, the Spartans won it all in 2013 and 2014. They were in the conversation each of the last two seasons and will be again this year. Five years ago, no one would have thought it possible that one of the top basketball prospects in the entire nation would come through Mountain Brook High School. Photo by Todd Lester.
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See WATFORD | page A29
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 City ........................ A6
Business ..............A10 Events .................. A13
School House .... A23 Community .......... B4
Sports .................. B16 Opinion ............... B27
Faith .................... B28 Calendar ............. B30 facebook.com/villageliving
Going the Distance
Safe Celebrations
Mountain Brook resident Shannon Diddell bikes hundreds of miles with Pedal for Patriots.
Check out these hot tips for keeping your home safe during the holiday season.
See page B1
See page B14