No’Ala Huntsville November/December 2015 by No’Ala Studios

HOMEGROWN HUNTSVILLE | ENCOURAGING ENDEAVORS | HOLIDAY GIFTS! | CHEF WILL

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER $4.95

noalastudios.com

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Holiday Luncheons | Catering | Shopping + Holiday Gifts Monday – Wednesday: 10am – 5pm · Thursday + Friday: 10am – 7pm · Saturday: 10am – 4pm Weekday Lunch: 11am – 2pm · Saturday Brunch: 10am – 2pm 462 Lane Drive · Florence, AL 35630 · 256.760.1090 · www.alabamachanin.com

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2030 Cecil Ashburne Drive | Huntsville, Alabama

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the magic of comes to life

featuring

Nov. 20, 2015 - Jan. 2, 2016 • More than 2 million lights and 9 acres of stunning décor • ICE! featuring The Nutcracker - 2 million pounds of colorful, hand-carved ice sculptures and slides • NEW - Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical • NEW - Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Christmas Dinner Show • NEW - The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt • Gingerbread Decorating Corner sponsored by PEEPS® • Carriage rides, snow tubing, outdoor ice skating and more

ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com

| (888) 677-9872

Pepsi and Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. TM & © 1957, 2015 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. The Elf on the Shelf® and © 2015 CCA and B, LLC. All Rights Reserved. PEEPS ® trademark Just Born, Inc. © 2015. All rights reserved.

The Holiday Tradition

NASHVILLE, TN

ICE! PRESENTED BY

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November/December

features

Of Deft and Dirty Hands

16 Will Power Chef Will spreads the good news of healthy, tasty food one skillet at a time.

Turning life into art: the pottery of Guadalupe Robinson by jennifer crossley howard photos by patrick hood

by sarah gaede photos by patrick hood

22 The Perfect Holiday Dinner Area foodies make entertaining easy! by roy hall photos by olivia reed

Huntsville’s Homegrown Hostess For hometown herald Ashley hley ville Ryals, trumpeting Huntsville eurial hot spots is an entrepreneurial labor of love. by sara wright covington on photos by olivia reed and jeff white

#shoptilyuledrop And shop local! produced by aissa castillo and lauren mccaul photos by lauren tomasella carney

70 En Encouraging Endeavors En Enc Encourage Hu Huntsville’s ma maker-teachers gen generously share the their talent and insp inspiration with the community. by ssara wright covington cov photos by pho jacki gil, patrick jac hood, erin hoo lindsey and michelle odom

Photo by Olivia Reed

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editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson

no’ala huntsville advisory board Osie Adelfang ARC Design-Build, Inc. Lynne Berry HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Sarah Brewer Click Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer Kimberly Casey Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Donna Castellano Historic Huntsville Foundation Aissa Castillo aislerchic.com Dan Halcomb Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Lauren McCaul deptofagraculture.com Guy McClure, Jr. Athens State University Tom Patterson knowhuntsville.com Dr. Holly Powe Calhoun Community College Olivia Reed Olivia Reed Photography

Shop ’Til Yule Drop! Wait, what? It’s that time already? If you’re like us, the fact that the holidays are almost upon us seems almost unbelievable. Where has this year gone? We need more time—we’re not ready yet! But ready or not, here they come. So, to help you find gifts for all of the people on your holiday list, we’ve compiled our annual Shop ‘Til Yule Drop Buying Guide. Our secret shoppers went all over the Valley, finding the most wonderful, unique, and appealing gifts for every person on the list, and we’ve neatly organized them so you can easily find just what you’re looking for. One thing it reminded us is how great the shopping is here in this part of the world—we honestly can’t think of a single thing we would need to go online to get. Another thing we learned? There’s no way we can put all of the neat things from around here in one magazine—you’ll just have to go shopping for yourself. Have fun! This time of year isn’t just about shopping and celebration, of course, unless you are celebrating local talent. Check out our profile of Chef Will, well known to the visitors to Lowe Mill and Green Street Market, and Guadalupe Robinson, a talented ceramics artist. We’ve put together some sample meals from area chefs, and we’ll introduce you to Homegrown Huntsville. It’s all enough to make your mouth water!

Patrick Robbins Huntsville Hospital Lauren Tomasella Carney Lauren Tomasella Photography Ashley Vaughn White Rabbit Studios/Vertical House Records Charles Vaughn Vaughn Lumber Company Andrew Wilmon Broadway Theatre League

As hectic as this time of year can be, remember to take some time to relax and enjoy it. This is truly a special season, full of family and friends, food and gifts, camaraderie and reverence. Sometimes the most memorable events are small, not elaborate; sometimes the best gifts are the thoughtful ones, not the most expensive. Be safe, stay warm, and enjoy—and remember to Shop the Valley, y’all. Merry Christmas!

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contents

Guadalupe Robinson: Turning life into art

everything else 10 12

Calendar

No’Ala Huntsville is published six times annually by No’Ala Studios PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: (800) 779-4222 | Fax: (256) 766-4106 Web: noalastudios.com

Selected Events for November/December 2015

Cryin’ Out Loud “Home”

Standard postage paid at Huntsville, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles reﬂect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the editors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements.

by sara wright covington

Bless Their Hearts “The Comforts of Blossomwood” by guy mcclure, jr.

The Vine

“Bordeaux Power”

Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to allen@noalastudios.com. Letters may be edited for space and style.

by amy c. collins

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 Volume 4: Issue 6 ••• Editor-in-Chief C. Allen Tomlinson Chief Operating Oﬃcer Matthew Liles Creative Director David Sims Advertising Directors Heidi King and Jamie Noles Advertising Sales Kevin McDonald Features Manager Roy Hall Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan Web Designer Justin Hall Editorial Assistant Tara Bullington Proofreader Carole Maynard Distribution Johnson Trent ••• Contributing Writers Amy C. Collins, Sara Wright Covington, Sarah Gaede, Roy Hall, Jennifer Crossley Howard, Guy McClure, Jr., Allen Tomlinson ••• Contributing Photographers Jacki Gil, Patrick Hood, Erin Lindsey, Danny Mitchell, Michelle Odom, Olivia Reed, Lauren Tomasella Carney, Jeﬀ White •••

Parting Shot by patrick hood

To advertise, contact us at (256) 766-4222, or sales@noalastudios.com.

On the cover: Liliana Castillo, Maddox Acker, Ilan Castillo, Rowan Jackson, and Liam Acker get into the holiday spirit. (1) Light of Mine Pullover ($25) (2) Free Range Baseball Tee ($23) (3) Young Buck Baseball Tee ($23) (4) Hey Y’all Tee ($20) (5) Hey Y’all Pullover ($25) Tiny Vines tinyvinesshop.com Photo by Lauren Tomasella Carney

The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor ﬁrst. No’Ala Huntsville is printed with vegetable-based inks. Please recycle.

Connect with us on Facebook: No’Ala Huntsville Twitter: @NoAla_Magazine and Pinterest: NoAlaStudios

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calendar

Friday, November 13 Lights Up: Holiday Tree Lighting Bridge Street Town Centre lights up like a winter wonderland to welcome Santa, with school choirs, local musicians, and strolling Victorian carolers, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. 7:00pm; Free; Bridge Street Town Centre; bridgestreethuntsville.com Sunday, November 15 Beethoven Conversations Select Beethoven piano solos and Quintet, op. 16, B-flat major, featuring guest artist, pianist Kirill Gerstein. 3:30pm; Admission charged; Roberts Hall, UAH; (256) 539-4818; hso.org Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22 Bullets Over Broadway A young playwright, in desperate need of financial backing for his next show, accepts an offer he can’t refuse from a mobster looking to please his showgirl girlfriend. Don’t miss what the New Yorker exclaims as “a Fun Machine from Start to Finish!” Fri 2:00pm, Sat 2:00 and 8:00pm, Sun 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Admission charged; Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St; (256) 518-6155; broadwaytheatreleague.org Sunday, November 22 A Vignette from The Nutcracker Enjoy a vignette from the Huntsville Ballet Company’s 47th annual production of The Nutcracker set in antebellum Huntsville with a nod to local legends and traditions, and accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s delightful score. 2:00pm; Free, fee for museum exhibitions; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, December 1 – Wednesday, December 23 Santa’s Village All ages will delight in visiting the Claus’ house, meeting Santa’s reindeer, the North Pole elves, and Santa! Snow shows, craft projects, and musical entertainment all add to the fun at the Village Santa Calls Home! 5:00pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; Alabama Constitution Village, 109 Gates Ave; earlyworks.com Wednesday, December 2 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Every Light a Prayer for Peace This year’s program includes local dignitaries, elementary-age students, clergy, and Federated Garden Club members who will light the Botanical Garden’s Christmas Tree. 9:30am; Free; Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave; (256) 830-444; hsvbg.org g g Friday, y, December 4 Peace on Earth: A Holiday Music Extravaganza The Symphonic Chorus, Children’s Chorale, and Youth Chorale join the UAH Music Departmen Department, Huntsville een nt, t, tthe hee H h unts un tsvviilllle Sy SSymphony ympho mphony mp ho h ony ny Orchestra, charged; Von Braun Concert Hall, chestra, and Huntsville Ballet for this seasonal performance. 7:30pm; Admission n cch h har arggeed ar d;; V on B on rau ra un nC oncceert on rt H alll,, 7700 all al 0000 Monroe onroe St; (256) 533-6606; thechorus.org

Friday, December 4 – Saturday, December 5 Kris Kringle’s Candlelight Christmas Two spectacular evenings of cozy fires, holiday music, figgy pudding, homemade cookies, kids crafts, designer décor, and much more. It’s holiday fun for the whole family with the most magical view in town. 4:30pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Friday, December 4 – Sunday, December 6 A Christmas Carol Travel with Scrooge as he visits his past, present, and future on Christmas Eve, in this musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Fri and Sat 7:00pm and Sun 2:00pm; Admission charged; Von Braun Playhouse, 700 Monroe St; (256) 539-6829; fantasyplayhouse.com Friday, December 4 – Sunday, December 6 The Nutcracker: A Yuletide Ballet Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre opens its 10th season to holiday audiences with this beloved Christmas ballet. Fri 7:00pm, Sat 2:00pm and 7:30pm, Sun 2:00pm; Admission charged; Lee HS Auditorium, 2500 Meridian St; (256) 881-5930; alabamayouthballet.org Saturday, December 12 Madison Christmas Parade Music, floats, and fun for the whole family. Afterwards, gather for an old-fashioned celebration on the Village Green. Listen to carolers and instrumental music around the Roundhouse and sip hot chocolate at the Gazebo. 5:30pm; Free; Downtown Madison; (256) 772-9300; ci.madison.al.us Saturday, December 12 Mooresville Holiday Home Tour and Progressive Dinner The 50 residents of historic Mooresville, incorporated in 1818, invite you to celebrate the season with a tour of the 1839 Brick Church, 1820 Stagecoach Tavern, 1840 Post Office, and five private homes, all decorated in the tradition of Christmas past. Homes open and shopping available from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. Dinner seating at 3:30pm to 4:30pm and at 5:00pm to 6:00 pm in town square. Reservations required. $70; Mooresville; (256) 355-2683; mooresvilleal.com. Saturday, December 12 Spirit of Christmas Past: Homes Tour and Luminaries Tour five private residences on Randolph Street, the Weeden House Museum on Gates Avenue, and other historic buildings ornately decorated for the holidays. 5:00pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; Twickenham Historic District; (256) 536-7718; twickenhamhomestour.com Thursday, December 17 Huntsville Christmas Parade Welcome Santa Claus to Huntsville as he ushers in the Christmas season at the annual Christmas parade. Enjoy the excitement and music with many entries and bands from across North Alabama. 6:00pm; Free; Downtown Huntsville; (256) 885-9797 Saturday, December 19 Holiday Artists Market America’s largest private artist complex invites the public to its annual Holiday Artists Market. 11:00am-6:00pm; Free; Flying Monkey Arts Theater, Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr; (256) 489-7000; flyingmonkeyarts.org Saturday, December 31 Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents “What A Wonderful World” - a tribute to Louis Armstrong Bring in the New Year with the Byron Stripling Quartet and the music of Louis Armstrong, a presentation of the HSO. 7:30 p.m., Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, VBC; call (256) 539-4818 for tickets or visit www.hso.org.

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cryin’ out loud » Sara Wright Covington So we carry our boxes and baggage from place to place, carving out a new niche for them wherever we ﬁnd ourselves. And I ﬁnd that long after I have left a place, that place has not left me.

HOME According to a government survey conducted in , the average person moves around 11 times in a lifetime. My husband, never one to conform to the norm, had moved nine times by the time he was 18. He, just like his father and his father’s father, is a builder, and that’s just what builders do. They build and they move, and then they build and they move again. I knew when I married him that he would follow in those family footsteps and that I was signing up for a lifetime of constant moving. Frequent moves do seem to be much more of the norm where we live in Huntsville, a super transient place, full of military and government men and women who are accustomed to shifting their families from spot to spot. But having only lived in two houses by the time I was 18, it was still hard for me to imagine packing my entire life into boxes every couple of years. Now on our third move together, I’ve started taking inventory of my things each time I prepare to repack them into boxes, and I’ve definitely begun to see a trend—most everything I own has been in my life for a very long time. I’ve carried my grandmother’s hat boxes, full of fur and feathered millinery, from place to place with me since I was 22. I still have the antique four poster bed I slept in as a child. My many bookshelves are filled with every book I have likely ever owned—from the Norton Anthology of English Literature to Frommer’s Las Vegas guide book. There are even a few items of clothing in my closet that are 20 or more years old, including a rain jacket monogrammed with my high school letters and a sequined tube top I think I wore at some point during college, although I hope that I’m wrong. It has been scientifically proven that most people fear change, as the outcome of that change is often unknown. With each and every move that we make, it has become increasingly evident that I am no different. We find faith in the familiar, which for me seems to include everything from my footwear to my friends. So we carry our boxes and baggage from place to place, carving out a new niche for them wherever we find ourselves. And I find that long after I have left a place, that place has not left me. I recently went to visit the house where I grew up, which

is sadly empty now. The front door was exactly the same, and the concrete steps where I skinned my knee as a child are still there, as is the scar I still bear from those steps 30 years later. I peeked through the glass backdoor to see that the kitchen cabinets were still exactly the same, an unpainted knotty wood with brass knobs, and the pocket door adjacent to the stove was still there also, half open to the sitting room. I wondered if that door still bore the carved notches of my height chart, an expanse of inches that widened over the years as I grew, each notch labeled in pen with a date. I strained my eyes to look, but could not see. The seasons are changing now and once again we are moving. The boxes are being collected now, and I’ve already begun a mental timeline of how long I can procrastinate until actually beginning to pack them. This summer in particular has been one of many changes for us—ups and downs, joys and sorrows—and the walls of this house have witnessed them all. And I have to admit that it does seem right that as the seasons change, we, too, should also move on. As someone recently put it to me when facing the fear of the unknown, we have to learn to just manage and adjust—having faith at the threshold of change that life will continue to be full of beauty and fun, love and loss. We are not forced to edge any one of these out to make room for the other, but rather we must learn to make room for them all. There is no doubt that this house will stick with me, as all of the memories within it are engraved into my mind. But this time around, I know that home will always be where my family and friends are, and the walls around us are just a shelter through the sun and storms of our lives. I choose to believe that old habits are not necessarily bad habits, but traditions we choose to bring with us into the future as a form of comfort in the midst of the fear of the future. My husband and I have celebrated one of those old traditions in this house, as we have made our own growth chart for our children here, carving and marking their tiny heights onto one of our downstairs doors. And although I will likely fret and shed some tears through this entire moving process as I attempt to detach myself from these walls, a little compromise can be comforting, and being married to a builder does have its perks—we are unhinging that door and taking it with us when we go.

for information visit www.athens.edu/athenianplayers november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

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scene

George and Lee Anne Smith and Steve and Patti Thornton Ernie Rivard, Ann Rivard, Anne Compton Burke, and Kim and John Johnson Suzanne O’Connor, Karen Kiss, and Sallie Ennis Jay and Dana Town

Front Row L-R: Patrick Robbins, Ed Rush, Nancy Colin, George Smith, and Steve Thornton, Back Row L-R: John Johnson, Richard Van Valkenburgh, Ronald Reed, and Skipper Colin

Linda Akenhead, Donna Rush, Ivy Albert, and Amelia Summerville

Richard and Nancy Van Valkenburgh

Debbie Overcash, Brenda Millberger, and Theresa Taylor

2015 Symphony Ball Advisors’ Cocktail Party august ,  · home of jay and dana town, huntsville

Tom and Pennie Keene, Sharon and Ed Gartrell, and Janet and David Skidmore Joyce Griﬃn, Betsy Lowe, Peter Lowe, Debbie Washburn, and Ben Washburn

Bobsy and Bill Ingram Chris Wesley, Suzanne O’Connor, and Patrick Robbins

Sharon Gartrell, Paige Prozan, Amelia Summerville, and Susan Todd

Ronald and Daphne Reed and Nancy and Skipper Colin

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Kendall Black and Lee Anne Bostick

Matt Taylor, Bruce Summerville, Eric Milberger, and Tommy Overcash © Photos by Mark Jaeger

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text by sarah gaede » photos by patrick hood

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With his backto-basics approach, Chef Will is like a nineteenth century cook with a twenty-first century vibe.

Some restaurants have food trucks for off-premise special events. Chef Will, proprietor of The Palate at Lowe Mill, has a folding table. Equipped with coolers, kettles, a butane burner, and his trusty cast iron skillet, he turns out amazing vegetarian and vegan dishes for his loyal following every Thursday at Greene Street Market in Huntsville. Although he grew up in Groton, Connecticut, helping his mother in the kitchen, and was always interested in food, Chef Will, then known as Forest Wilson, felt he couldn’t compete with his older brother, who was an executive chef. So he received vocational training in welding and visual arts (skills which he still uses in creating his Afro-centric art). After a brief stint in California working in the shipbuilding industry, he decided to follow his ﬁrst love and go to culinary school. When Chef Will visited his mother in Huntsville, he realized how much he missed being close to the land. So he moved to Alabama. After he saw what his family was eating, and how many health problems they had, he began an intensive study of nutrition and the healing properties of natural foods. He had already been turned on to the health beneﬁts of a vegetarian diet by the surfers he hung out with in California,

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

like a nineteenth century cook with a twentyfirst century vibe. While most of Chef Will’s dishes are vegan, he does use real cheese, because it melts better. He also uses free-range eggs. Portobello mushrooms are his go-to meat substitute. The day I visited, he was serving portobello pepper “steak” over quinoa and brown rice, with a liberal dash of his secret Bee Sting sauce, which his son Khaliq is working on marketing to the public. It was scrumptious. His food is so densely flavored you don’t miss the meat. He especially loves the spices and ingredients of Indian, Asian, and Chinese cuisines, all of which offer a great variety of tasty vegetarian dishes. Chef Will is a passionate evangelist for the healing properties of pure, natural foods, and he preaches this gospel in a way that is so inviting, those who try his food cannot help but be much more open-minded about trying new, healthy, creative ways of eating.

who seemed to have much more energy than he did. He became intentional about every step of the cooking process, from ingredient sourcing to cookware—hence the cast iron skillet, which is naturally non-stick, and adds iron to whatever is cooked in it. Chef Will sources his ingredients locally whenever possible. He makes his vegetable stock with spring water. His tasty beans are soaked and simmered in that ﬂavorful stock, not poured from a can. His collards are sublime, without a hint of pork fat. With his back-to-basics approach, Chef Will is

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

Start a New

Holiday Tradition at Burritt on the Mountain! limited seating available.

make your reservations today!

“Holiday Magic” A Magical Dining Experience December 10th, 11th & 12th

It’s a magically fun evening dining in a historic cabin or the mansion with friends, while enjoying delectable food and wine. It is unlike any other holiday dinner and it’s perfect for a festive family occasion, yet intimate enough for a romantic dinner for two. It’s rustic AND upscale! Holiday Magic reservations are being taken now by calling Butch Damson at 256-534-4361. Hurry! Space is limted! $90 per dinner seat. Visit the website for menus and more.

Kris Kringle’s Candlelight Christmas December 4th & 5th

We’re decking the walls, halls and stalls to get you in the holiday spirit! More than 600 candles illuminate the sidewalks and Historic Park and music fills the air adding to the nostalgic feel of the holidays. String cranberries, make paper punch ornaments, roast chesnuts & taste figgy pudding! Fun for the whole family, it’s Christmas the way it’s supposed to be!

A much anticipated musical favorite will be back at Burritt in the Old Country Church!

Performances: December 16th through 20th Tickets ON SALE NOW! Purchase tickets at Josie’s, online 256-536-2882. or by calling 256-536-2

burrittonthemountain.com

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The

In our modern world of far-flung families, Thanksgiving and Christmas are those rare occasions so filled with nostalgia and meaning, we press the pause button on our busy lives to prioritize time together. Because family time is so rare these days, No’Ala asked some of Huntsville’s finest chefs to suggest dishes that will inspire you as you plan your family’s menu this holiday season. Any time we spend with our loved ones is precious; here’s hoping these meal ideas help make this year’s holidays perfect.

D H O L I D AY

text by roy hall » photos by olivia reed

Grilled Pear Salad with Cambozola and Walnuts Mezza Luna (256) 650-2514

The Gingerman Mezza Luna

“With all the ﬂavors we associate with the holidays, the gingerbread man is always near the top of the list. So let the kids enjoy the traditional cookies, while you sip this sophisticated cocktail!” —Parker

“The holidays are so fun-filled, it seems appropriate that a holiday salad should reflect that with lots of different things going on: fruits, nuts, cheeses, and always a little hint of sweetness in the dressing. No matter what main dishes and sides are served, this salad will complement them all.” —Andrew

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Snow Pea Salad with Crispy Pancetta Lyn’s Gracious Goodness (256) 533-2607

“I love this dish because it’s crisp and clean and adds a touch of light color to a typically heavy meal—the bright green asparagus and red pancetta even look Christmassy!” —Owner LeeLee Wiginton

Butternut Squash Wild Mushroom and Roasted Asparagus Risotto The Eaves (256) 489-1752

“This isn’t super difficult to make. It echoes the flavors of the season. And it’s also something a little unexpected. It has a great flavor profile and complements other proteins really well. Guests will love it.” —Chef Merle Phillip

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ThePERFECT HOLIDAY DINNER

Fried Brussels Sprouts with Coriander Greek Yogurt Sauce Mezza Luna

“Brussels sprouts have had a bad rap. The ﬁrst time most people encounter them, they’re overcooked, mushy, and served plain. That’s a shame because they’re nutritional powerhouses, and because they’re a fall crop, at their best during the holiday season.” —John

Roast Turkey Breast and Dark Meat Roulade, Served with Pecan Pesto 1892 East (256) 489-1242

“I chose to do the turkey this way because it’s a diﬀerent approach. The challenge of roasting a whole turkey is that the white and dark meat cook at diﬀerent speeds. By separating the two, you can cook each for its own proper cooking time.” —Chef Steven Bunner

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Between now and the end of the year, take advantage of cost reductions on three popular procedures—and begin 2016 with new conﬁdence! • SAVE BIG on breast augmentation! Our saline price is $700 off, and our silicone price is $900 off; cash price only. Schedule your initial consultation by December 31, 2015, to lock in your price, and the procedure must take place by March 31, 2016.

• FULL-FACIAL LASER is $1,500. Cash price only. Initial consultation must occur before December 31, 2015, and the procedure must be done by March 31, 2016.

Dr. Russell Jennings 203 Avalon Ave, Suite 300 Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone:(256) 386-1450 jenningsplasticsurgery.com

• WEEKEND Eribium Laser PEEL is Buy Three/Get One Free! Save $400 on our regular $1,600 cash price by scheduling your initial consultation by December 31, 2015.

Look better - feel better - and save money. It’s time to get more for less!

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

ThePERFECT HOLIDAY DINNER

Nutella Cheesecake Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro (256) 213-7545

“This is one of our favorite desserts for a holiday, and for every day. The rich and creamy cake melts like ice cream in your mouth; the smoothness of the ﬁlling balances perfectly with the crunchiness of the crust, and the delicate hints of the swirled Nutella are divine.” —Co-owners Chef Ashley and Taylor Ramirez

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I can help you

GROW

your own way.

Emily Taylor 5510 Promenade Point Pkwy, Suite 160 Madison, AL 35757 256-430-2781

1114-519HO

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produced by aissa castillo and lauren mccaul photos by lauren tomasella carney clothing modeled by aaron petersen, rachel smith, anne harbarger, and kait barinaga (for finery)

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Meet the Shop Girls! (1) Amanda Uprichard Jacket ($248) (2) BCBG Dress ($228) (3) Zoa Dress ($128) Personal Couture Boutique (256) 508-5632 (4) Dress ($168) Anthropologie (256) 327-8470

The mission: To search Valley shops and boutiques for the ﬁnest in Yuletide treasures. Accepting the challenge: three of Huntsville’s most original and creative taste-makers Say hello to No’Ala Shop Girls: Aissa Castillo, Lauren McCaul, and Lauren Tomasella Carney. During the day, these mild-mannered professionals tend to demanding careers in design, retail management, and photography. But evenings and weekends, they’re out saving the world from uninspiring fashion and decor as style superheroes! Their picks for the very best gift ideas follow. For ideas and inspiration year-round, stay in-the-know by following our Shop Girls on social media.

(5) Olive + Oak Oatmeal Shawl ($72) (10) Simply Noelle Zipper Gusset Bag ($59.99) House of Holland (256) 206-8989

Lauren McCaul: deptofagraculture.com; Instagram: dept_of_agra_culture Aissa Castillo: aislerchic.com; Instagram: aislerchic Lauren Tomasella Carney: laurentomasella.com; Instagram: laurentomasella And as you shop for your own Christmas treasures this season, please remember to spread your cheer—and your dollars—at home!

(6) One-of-a-kind Eva Ziegler Agate and Pyrite Necklace ($397) (8) Eva Ziegler Freshwater Pearl Strand ($501) Eva Ziegler Jewelry evaziegler.com (9) Gift Set ($59.95) Piper & Leaf Piperandleaf.com (7) Long Horn Necklace ($68) Personal Couture Boutique (256) 508-5632

Left to right: Lauren Tomasella Carney, Lauren McCaul, and Aissa Castillo

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On him: Filson Shirt ($98) Filson Jacket ($320) Yeti Cooler ($349.99) Alabama Outdoors (256)-885-3561 On her: PPLA Vest ($79.99) PPLA Dress ($74.99) Bedstu Boots ($295) Indigo’s Boutique (256) 345-6348

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Woolly Mammoth Tooth 4” Damascus Linerlock Knife ($150) (2) Cardboard Safari Bucky Cardboard Deer Head ($30) (3) Curt Benzle Porcelain Compass ($15) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (4) Hunting Journal ($32) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (5) Yeti Colster ($29.99) Alabama Outdoors (256)-885-3561

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

(1) Yellow House Handcrafted Beard Oils ($18 ea) Yellow House Beard Oils yellowhousebeards. com (2) Mustache & Beard Comb ($16) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (3) Latika Body Essentials Charcoal Liquid Soap ($18) (4) Latika Body Essentials Charcoal Bar Soap ($6) (5) Rustico Leather Key Chain ($18) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Wood Thumb Tie ($44) (2) Slightly Alabama iPad Case ($250) (3) DockSmith Driftwood iPhone Docking Station ($68) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (4) Loyal Stricklin Aviator Mug ($35) Domaine South (256) 808-8860 (5) Would You Be a Deer Notepad ($9) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (6) Filson Satchel ($265) Alabama Outdoors (256)-885-3561

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

Here is where Henry learned he’d be getting his own room. When it’s time to move into a bigger house house, get a home loan from the bank that’s had a home right here for generations. You might say we know a thing about location, location, location. synovus.com/mortgage

SERVING YOU LOC ALLY A S

256.551.3300 | fcb-hsv.com Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Loans products subject to credit approval.

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Spiritual Gangster Tank ($36) (2) Luquido Yoga Pants ($90) (3) MZ Wallace Metro Tote ($245) (4) Vimmia V back Sweatshirt ($96) (5) Onzie Sports Bra ($48) (6) Olympia Yoga Pants ($96) (7) bkr Water Bottle ($30) The Fitzgerald Pilates & Barre (256) 603-1886

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(1) Gypsy Pant Warm Tribal ($72) (2) Berry High Waist Legging ($88) (3) Long Legging Mathematics ($65) (4) Long Legging Peacock ($65) The Fitzgerald Pilates & Barre (256) 603-1886

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Jane Tran Hair Clips ($15) (2) bkr Water Bottle ($30) (3) well-kept Tech Wipes ($6) (4) Made with Love Bracelets ($25) (5) Pointe Studio Socks ($12) (6) Ban.do Too Cold to Hold Coozie ($5) The Fitzgerald Pilates & Barre (256) 603-1886

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(1) Shop Ban.do Coﬀee Cup ($14) (2) Shop Ban.do Pens ($14) (3) Shop Ban.do Pouch ($26) (4) Shop Ban.do Coin Purse ($20) The Fitzgerald Pilates & Barre (256) 603-1886 (5) Check Things Oﬀ Notepad ($16) (6) Hello From Huntsville Stamp ($12) Salt + Paperie (256) 655-5550

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Muzzle Loaders Chocolate Bourbon Balls ($19.99) (2) Vintage Crystal Decanter ($20) (3) Quench Glassware ($13.99) Domaine South (256) 808-8860 (4) The Hella Bitters Old Fashioned Kit ($65) (5) American Bar by Charles Schumann ($24.95) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (6) Julep Cups ($50) Willowbrook Shoppe (256) 270-7181

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november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) DECCO Umbrella in a Bottle ($19.95) (2) Alexa Pulitzer Stationery Set ($14 ea) (3) Ikat Scarf ($62.50) Huntsville Museum of Art (256) 535-4350 (4) Emily Ley Grace Journal ($32) (5) Sugar Boo Designs Clutch ($18) (6) Emily Ley Daily Planner ($58) (7) Latika Milk & Honey Bar ($6) (8) Farm House Fresh Shea Butter Hand Cream ($14) (9) Christen Maxwell Zippy ($42) (10) Green Tea Bubble Bath ($32) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (11) Goal Getter Cuﬀ ($32) Indigo’s Boutique (256) 345-6348

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(1) Kilim Pillow ($58) (2) Bejeweled Silver Plate Vase ($144) (3) Bone Clad Box ($375) Willowbrook Shoppe (256) 270-7181 (4) Cowhide Rug ($550) (5) Lucy’s Locket ($95) (Original piece—selection may vary) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (6) Clutch ($65) Department of Agra Culture deptofagraculture.com

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Above The Bar Antler on Chain 28” ($39.99) (2) Above The Bar Deer w/Antler Head 18” ($29.99) Indigo’s Boutique (256) 345-6348 (3) Margaret Solow Labradorite/18KT Bezel ($290) (4) Margaret Solow Diamond Crest Moon/Silver ($460) (5) Margaret Solow Black Spinel + Diamond/ Silver ($560) (6) Margaret Solow Double Black Spinel/18KT ($260) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699

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(1) Margaret Solow Grey Moonstoon/18KT Necklace ($240) (2) Margaret Solow Opal/Diamond Mosaic Necklace ($610) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (3) One-of-a-kind Eva Ziegler Smokey Quartz and Pyrite Necklace. ($406) Eva Ziegler Jewelry evaziegler.com

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Jennifer Behr Turban ($625) (2) Cotton Day Dress ($64) (3) Norma Ishak Cardigan ($375) Finery (256) 429-3429

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november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) The Lion Sleeps Tonight Bath Bomb ($6) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (2) Tiger Jelly Cat ($22.50) (3) Dog Tag Teether ($15.50) (4) Dinosaur Footie ($35.95) Honey B Boutique (256) 503-2853 (5) Young Buck ($25) Tiny Vines tinyvinesshop.com (6) Bib Set ($13) Huntsville Museum of Art (256) 535-4350

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(1) Tiny Dancer Bath Bomb ($6) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (2) Kickee Mammoth Footie ($35.95) (3) Noodle & Boo Essential Care Kit ($18) (4) Elephant Jelly Cat ($22.50) Honey B Boutique (256) 503-2853 (5) ArtFolio Pink Elephant Coloring Tote ($17) Huntsville Museum of Art (256) 535-4350

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Bib Set ($13) Huntsville Museum of Art (256) 535-4350 (2) Little Light ($25) Tiny Vines tinyvinesshop.com (3) Micro Leon Cardboard Lion ($30) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (4) I Love You Like Biscuits & Gravy ($23) Domaine South (256) 808-8860 (5) Kickee Kimono ($42.95) Honey B Boutique (256) 503-2853

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

SURPRISE A LOVED ONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

WITH A FOREVER GIFT!

HobbsJewelers.com Parkway Place Mall Huntsville

877.233.1347

Hwy. 72 West Athens

Main Street Ardmore, TN

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

Caftan ($75) Sarah Richey Necklace ($350) Finery (256) 429-3429

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(1) Chewbead Necklace ($34.95) (2) Mayoral Baby Bag ($79.95) (3) Mayoral Diaper Changing Pad ($24.95) (4) Nursing Scarf ($26.95) (5) Kickee Swaddling Blanket ($22) Honey B Boutique (256) 503-2853 (6) Lucy Darling Months Sticker ($25) (7) The Story of You Baby Book by Emily Ley ($62) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Alwand Vahan 14K Gold and Onyx Ring w/ Diamond Accent ($2,595) (2) Alwand Vanan 14K Gold and Onyx Bracelet w/ Diamond Accent ($2,695) Hobbs Jewelers (877) 233-1347 (3) Britt Ryan Dress ($288) Personal Couture Boutique (256) 508-5632

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november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Rocket Cosmos Mug ($13) Huntsville Museum of Art (256) 535-4350 (2) Loose Leaf Tea ($3.99) Piper & Leaf piperandleaf.com (3) Judy Jackson Tea Pot ($56) (4) Gary Watson Cherry Cutting Board ($48-$68) (5) Susan Coe Birthday Cake Plate ($33) Little Green Store and Gallery (256) 539-9699 (6) Macarons ($11/6 pcs; $22/1 dozen) Whisk: Small Treats Bakery (256) 656-1027 (7) Truﬄes ($1.85 each) Pizelle’s Confections (256) 513-9745 (8) Olive & Sinclair Chocolate ($7.99) Domaine South (256) 808-8860

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(1) Whisk Note Pad ($8) (2) In the Forest Mixing Bowl ($36) (3) Twig Serving Set ($18) (8) Southern Fireﬂy Candle ($12) Sweet Pineapple (256) 964-7563 (4) Urchin Bowl ($10) (5) Foodie Dice ($38) (6) 1Canoe2 Wood Recipe Box w/ Recipe Cards ($69.99) Domaine South (256) 808-8860 (7) Growlers ($75 small, $95 large) Southern Growler southerngrowler.com

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

(1) Tacori 18K Barbados Blue Bold Gem Ring ($660) (2) Tacori 18K Barbados Blue Bold Gem Necklace ($630) (3) Tacori 18K Barbados Blue Bold Gem Bracelet ($990) Hobbs Jewelers (877) 233-1347 (4) BCBG Dress ($328) Personal Couture Boutique (256) 508-5632

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november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

Guadalupe Robinson

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Of Deft and Dirty Hands text by jennifer crossley howard » photos by patrick hood

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

Huntsville potter Guadalupe Lanning Robinson has spent more than 36 years mastering the marriage of clay, texture, and geometric design into her pottery, yet time has done little to temper the plight of waiting. “It is hard for me to let a pot just dry,” she says, motioning toward five small, wet pots sitting near her pottery wheel. “I’m as excited to do this as I was 30 years ago.” To observe her studio at Lowe Mill, that is easy to believe. Located on the corridor outside the textile mill-turned-art center’s main building, the loft-like space with a corrugated tin roof feels like a place a Gabriel Garcia Marquez character would enjoy daydreaming. Sienna-hued pottery sits in various stages to be fired, layered, and etched. Argentinian tango music streams from Robinson’s iPhone, and two cockatiels, a parrot, and a parakeet chirp from their cages. All except the parrot fly freely when Robinson is working. Robinson, who is 61, made her first pot in 1979 in her native Mexico City. Almost four decades later, her work is part of permanent museum collections in Auburn, Huntsville, Tuscumbia, and Tupelo, Mississippi. She regularly enters her work in respected juried shows such as the Monte Sano Arts Festival and the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport and has received two Alabama State Council on the Arts individual artist fellowships. Her inspiration draws from the villages around her native Mexico City, such as the black pottery of the northwest, as well as her acquired Southern culture. White lilies, corn, grids, and round female figures—“really strong women who are in charge,” Robinson says—reappear on her stoneware. She uses natural dyes indigo for color and mixes sand into clay for texture. Nothing is wasted. “I don’t waste any clay,” Robinson says. “Everything is recycled.” Robinson finds solace in the 40-50 hours a week she puts in at the studio, and the often tedious process of making pots, which can take from three weeks to six weeks, for larger pots. She usually works on two or three pots at a time, tending to groups at different stages. After a pot is thrown on a wheel, a piece can take days to dry before its first bisque fire, in which temperatures rise to 1,800 F. After baking for nine hours, the kiln must cool. The second firing rises to 2,150 F and matures the clay and melts the glazes to strengthen the piece. “I am an efficient person by nature,” Robinson says. “Waiting for the kiln to cool down enough to open can be nerve wracking, and this is when my patience is usually put to the test.”

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Robinson makes most of her pots on a wheel, using oxides to change the color of clay she gets from Nashville and Pittsburgh. Her pottery takes several weeks from start to ﬁnish depending on how large a pot is and how many she makes at a time.

“It is hard for me to let a pot just dry. I’m as excited to do this as I was 30 years ago.”

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

“Attend to your children’s needs ﬁrst, keep focus on what you want to do, use the happiness, joy, and little breaks you get to make your art. They grow real fast and they will keep inspiring you all your life.”

Robinson imagined this bat-like design as she was working. She usually begins a piece with a design in mind, but that often evolves.

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

Robinson uses an overlay of liquid clay called engobe—that includes three to four layers—to create a base on which to design. There is high risk in making pottery, and hours of work can be wasted on a pot that has not dried entirely before it enters the kiln. Air pockets or the wrong mixture of chemicals can ruin a piece. “Art is involved, but science is too,” says Laura Smith, director of education at the Huntsville Museum of Art, where Robinson has taught pottery classes. “It’s more labor intensive in terms of working with the medium whether you’re building by hand or with a wheel until you fire with the final layer of glaze.” The result is sturdy pottery. “I want my pots to look like something that is lasting a long time,” Robinson says. Though she works solitarily in her studio, she says she does not get lonely. Her birds and music keep her company, and each stage of pottery making has a soundtrack. She uses needlepoint tools to draw onto clay to Jose Feliciano and other Latin American musicians. “If I’m at the wheel, Bruno Mars,” she says. “If I’m unloading the kiln and something is really awesome, then I need something moving, and I have on Motown.” Robinson’s years of experience minimize the risk of damaged pots, but she says her greatest challenge as a potter was balancing her work while raising her two children. Now adults, their candid childhood pictures and those of her grandchildren cover the warm green walls of her studio. She met her husband, the poet James Robinson, in 1977 on a Greyhound bus when she returned to Mexico City from visiting a friend at the University of Southern Mississippi. He was heading to Mexico to study at a university. They married six months later. After giving birth to her daughter, Annie Jane, in Mexico City in 1982, the family moved to Huntsville in 1985. That is when Robinson got more serious about her pottery. “From the very beginning, when I moved to Alabama, I knew I was going to have to do this,” she said. “In some ways, it was a way for me to keep connected to my heritage.” She took even 15 minutes of free time to work in the studio behind her home, and worked late into the night while her daughter and son, Isidoro, born in 1987, slept. Having a home studio allowed her to wash clothes, tend to her home, and drop off lunches at school while maintaining her art. “There was something for me when I first became a mother that fueled my creativity,” Robinson says. “They are such a social inspiration, too. It fills your life.”

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

Robinson advises fellow artists who are mothers to seize both roles, but to prioritize motherhood. “Attend to your children’s needs ﬁrst, keep focus on what you want to do, use the happiness, joy, and little breaks you get to make your art,” she says. “They grow real fast and they will keep inspiring you all your life.” Anna Sue Courtney, director of the Flying Monkey Arts Center at Lowe Mill, has known Robinson for more than 10 years. She says she admires how mothers and artists like Robinson seamlessly embrace both roles. “It seems there’s not a separation between creating and raising children,” Courtney says. “They seem to pull from the same place.” Part of Robinson’s motivation at Lowe Mill comes from working privately in a studio alongside other artists that fosters a community of feedback and ideas. “It’s nice to be here because you can take a break and walk around and get inspiration,” Courtney says. “It’s refreshing.” Above: This daisy design is characteristic of Robinson’s work. Nature, food, and strong females from her native Mexico City and the South are strong creative inﬂuences.

When she needs a break from the studio, Robinson stays home to sketch designs for a day or two, then she is back in the studio. Trips twice a year to Mexico City keep her plugged in to her native culture, which in turn shows up in her pottery. “I have to recharge myself,” Robinson says. “I love Huntsville and loved raising my kids here, but I still have the need of going back to be recharged, and smell all the smells, and see all the colors, and get on the subway, and be pushed around.” Details from her trips that inﬂuence her work include the ever-present red that covers the city during the celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The pyramids of Teotihuacan conjure warm earth tones, and ﬂoating gardens around the city yield sweet, pungent calla lilies and carnations. Celebration of food, tough women, and nature reappear in her pottery, qualities that both Southern and Mexican cultures treasure.

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Clockwise from top left: Robinson often glazes only the inside of her pots so they can hold water and food; She began quilting in 2002, and her quilts, like her pottery, contain earth tones and natural inﬂuences in their design; Four birds keep Robinson company in what can be the isolating medium of pottery making; Geometry and symmetry are two signature elements in Robinson’s work, according to Laura Smith, director of education at the Huntsville Museum of Art

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

Just as she keeps her home country close to her heart, Robinson is loyal to her first love of pottery, though she began making quilts in 2002. “I’m a potter who likes to quilt,” she says. Like her pottery, her quilting follows designs of organic nature such as flowers and crops on rich, jewel tone cotton. “When I first saw one of her quilts, I didn’t realize it was hers, and I thought that looks like it should be Guadalupe’s quilt,” Courtney says. Robinson prefers the immediate gratification of clay. “It’s a very responsive medium,” she says. “You can manipulate it. The fact of making something out of dirt, out of nothing and making it durable, making it permanent, that after going through the heat and maturing is something very exciting.” She gently dings a pot covered with white dresses titled “Tehuana Dress” to make her point.

 | noalastudios.com | november/december 

News, classical music and more 88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsville www.apr.org november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

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text by sara wright covington » photos by jacki gil, patrick hood, erin lindsey, and michelle odom

november/december  | noalastudios.com | 

“A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN ASKING ME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I GOT MY BUSINESS STARTED. I WANTED TO GATHER SOME PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO WERE GOING THROUGH THOSE STRUGGLES AND TO BUILD ENTREPRENEURIAL COURAGE.” JACKI GIL, SALT+PAPERIE

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untsville-born Jacki Gil began her paper design business, Salt+Paperie, in 2014, with an expansive vision in mind, one that extended beyond creating beautiful, custom designed paper goods. “I love my design job, but when I’m 50 years old, I don’t see myself still designing wedding invitations,” the master stationer says. “I really have a passion for teaching and helping people; I want to be a mentor.” In 2015, Gil set out on her mentoring mission sooner than expected with a series of workshops called Encourage Huntsville. “A lot of people had been asking me questions about how I got my business started,” Gil says about the early days of Salt+Paperie. Even though most of those questions from entrepreneurial-hopefuls were technical—like how to apply for a business license—they served as inspiration for Gil. “I wanted to gather some people around me who were going through those struggles and to build entrepreneurial courage. I deﬁnitely saw that there was a need for helping people to take that next step toward owning their own businesses.” Encourage Huntsville was modeled on the image of a growing small business movement called the Rising Tide Society, a national community of creative small business owners who encourage “community over competition.” That spirit off openness is at the heart of Encourage Huntsville. “Community over competition is a huge part of what we are doing,” says Gil. “Small business owners sharing how w they earn their money is a big deal.”

Previous page: Encourage Huntsville’s founder and instructor Jacki Gil teaches a class in hand lettering; Facing page: A participant studies her supply list.

As a first step, Gil gathered others around her who were using their skills and abilities to make their own small businesses work. With talents ranging from cooking and cake decorating to hand lettering and artwork, these small business owners all embraced Gil’s vision for imparting to others the knowledge of their craft, unimpeded by a fear of losing their competitive edge. The first lesson Gil wanted to impart to Encourage Huntsville’s students wasn’t necessarily a particular craft or skill, but a spirt of creative confidence. “We wanted to bridge the gap between the very artsy community and the ultimate engineer community,” many of whom, Gil observes, had been told since childhood theyy weren’t artistic. “When you are little and someone tells you that you don’t have a talent, it sticks with you. I found that a lot of people had that experience, so that was the workshop part—to build some creative courage in this community.” Gil conducted the first workshop herself, testing the waters to see how the concept would be received. The admission price to that first workshop included supplies, a take-home “goody bag” to help students continue their work extracurricularly, and refreshments—as well as Gil’s tips of her trade. “We went in blindly, not knowing if we had a market or not,” says Gil. The popularity of that first class proved undeniably that a market did in fact exist; the workshop sold out in one day. “So we did back-to-back workshops,” Gil says. “After that,

november/december november/decembe er  | no n noalastudios.com oal oa alast studioss.com m | 

“JACKI AND I ARE A GOOD TEAM BECAUSE OUR HEARTS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO ENCOURAGING OTHERS.” ERIN LINDSEY, ERIN LINDSEY IMAGES

Above: A participant in Erin Lindsey’s photo class frames a still life.

we realized people really want to do this stuff. So we said ‘let’s jump on the boat and make this happen.’” Gil’s longtime friend photographer Erin Lindsey, of Erin Lindsey Images, agreed to contribute to Encourage Huntsville’s curriculum by teaching a photography class. “Jacki and I are a good team because our hearts are in the same place when it comes to encouraging others,” Lindsey says. Still, she admits, saying yes to teaching wasn’t without some initial hesitation. “When Jacki asked if I would teach a class, it was kind of scary. I thought I had to be perfect before I could teach others,” Lindsey says of her initial hesitancy. “But after talking to Jacki, I realized none of us are perfect!” But perfection isn’t the goal; encouragement is the goal. “And I thought, ‘I can definitely line up with that vision.’” Michelle Odom, another Huntsville native and owner of custom cake bakery Just Crumbs, was also on board with Gil’s vision. In fact, Odom had been contemplating teaching a class when she was approached by Gil to teach a fondant basics class. “Huntsville is such an engineer town and everyone is so mathematical and scientific,” Odom says, echoing the dichotomy between the arts and sciences expressed by Gil. “These workshops are just a very cool way for structured people to have a creative outlet.”

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“HUNTSVILLE IS SUCH AN ENGINEER TOWN AND EVERYONE IS SO MATHEMATICAL AND SCIENTIFIC. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE JUST A VERY COOL WAY FOR STRUCTURED PEOPLE TO HAVE A CREATIVE OUTLET.” MICHELLE ODOM, JUST CRUMBS

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Facing page: Michelle Odom’s fondant basics class begins with a styrofoam cake form; Above: Newbie photographers familiarize themselves with their cameras in Erin Lindsey’s photography class.

“And yes,” Odom acknowledges, “you are in theory teaching your competition. But at the same time you are helping the community be more creative.” With its roster of popular creative workshops under its belt, Encourage Huntsville has added business classes to its community-over-competition curriculum, with classes designed to provide speciﬁc guidance for small business owners. “All of our events that don’t require hands-on work, we call seminars,” says Gil. “We had about 15 people at our ﬁrst one. It was pretty much just an open discussion to ask us questions and get answers from the perspective of a small business owner.” The seminars enjoyed the same success and enthusiasm as the workshops. “We had two hours for people to ask questions,” Gil says. Topics covered ran the gamut from scheduling daily tasks, self-hosting a website or using an Etsy store, managing client expectations, and being realistic about how much time you need to complete jobs. “The time went quickly and people wanted more,” says Gil, who envisions an allday seminar in 2016. Margaret Baggett, owner and executive chef of the Chef Next Door, is another small business owner who has shared Gil’s vision from the very beginning, teach-

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ing knife skills workshops and helping host the business seminars. “I am so proud to get to be a part of this project and help nurture other small business owners who may just be starting out on their journey, or are deep in it and looking for some encouragement from other business owners,” Baggett says of what motivates her participation in Encourage Huntsville. “Even being on the advice-giving side of things, I am still learning and have taken tips and tricks and lessons from each event we have had so far. We never stop learning from each other and never stop improving upon our crafts.” The mutual growth among students and teachers is the source of the encouragement—and the joy—of Encourage Huntsville. “It’s so much fun to see the light bulbs go oﬀ with people and see them encouraged right before your eyes,” Lindsey says of her experience with the program. “Plus, it’s a pleasure to contribute to a sense of community over competition. That whole concept is so rare.”

If you’re looking for creative or entrepreneurial encouragement, visit encouragehuntsville.com for seminar and workshop schedules and information.

As Encourage Huntsville’s following continues to grow, the diversity of the workshops will expand as well. Whether you are looking to spend a fun afternoon learning a new craft, or are a budding small business owner hoping to launch your brand, Encourage Huntsville has something valuable to oﬀer. “We encourage those left-brain folks to take up a new hobby or skill,” Baggett says, “or just encourage the people of Huntsville to get together and fan their creative ﬂames.”

“I AM SO PROUD TO GET TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT AND HELP NURTURE OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY JUST BE STARTING OUT ON THEIR JOURNEY, OR ARE DEEP IN IT AND LOOKING FOR SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS.” MARGARET BAGGETT, CHEF NEXT DOOR © Jacki Gil

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Participants in Margaret Baggett’s knife skills workshop learn to perfect their “mise en place.”

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HUNTSVILLE’S

HOMEGROWN HOSTESS text by sara wright covington ton on » photos phot phot hotos os by os by olivia reed and jeff white

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Any host will tell you that delicious food and quality libations, while important to a party’s success, are secondary to the most important ingredient of all: the guest list. That’s why many of downtown Huntsville’s most popular restaurants, breweries, and wine shops are turning to event planner Ashley Ryals and her uncanny knack for attracting loyal patrons—and creating unforgettable events in the process. When Huntsville born-and-bred Ashley Ryals left for college at the University of Alabama in 2001, she thought her exit from the Valley was permanent. “I never thought I would end up back here,” the founder of event planning company Homegrown Huntsville says with a knowing laugh. But after a few post-graduate years working for world-renowned public relations powerhouse Weber Shandwick in New York City, Ryals started to second guess her freshman declaration. “I started to get homesick,” she admits. “All of my friends were getting married, and meeting for football games, and I was missing it.” So, when a friend from home set up an interview at EarlyWorks for a job doing event planning, Ryals jumped at the chance to come home. Ashley spent the next few years planning EarlyWorks, Whistle Stop, and Santa’s Village events. A brief stint in sales followed, along with a seat on the board of Huntsville Young Professionals, where she had an idea for a downtown pub crawl. “We expected 20 or 30 people,” Ryals says of their modest expectations. “But 200 people showed up!” That initial success convinced Ryals to embark on her dream of establishing an event planning company. But it wasn’t just any event planning company Ryals had in mind; she envisioned one that would collaborate with local businesses, cultivate signature events for the community to enjoy, and support small businesses in the process. Inspired, Ryals left her sales job and, for the second time in her life, came home again, to event planning, and Homegrown Huntsville. To help bring her vision to life, Ryals collaborated with designer Adrianne Van Kirk of Fave Creative. “Adrianne has been a part of the visual and branding of Homegrown from the beginning. We come up with the event ideas, then I get the ticketing and sales together, and she comes back with a logo and the marketing for the event. And that’s how it all comes together,” Ryals says of their creative process. ASHLEY RYALS

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“MOST WINE FESTIVALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PROVEN RECORDS OF BEING ABLE TO STAY AROUND 15 OR 20 YEARS OR EVEN LONGER. AND THE ECONOMIES OF THOSE CITIES HAVE REALLY GROWN AS A RESULT. I WANT BIG SPRING CRUSH TO EVENTUALLY BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST WINE FESTIVAL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.” ASHLEY RYALS

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Homegrown launched in 2011 with what would become its signature event, Dine & Dash. Every second Wednesday, April through October, a trolley shuttles patrons between downtown establishments, where they are served a drink and appetizer, before moving on to the next stop. Owner and executive chef Merle Phillips of The Eaves was one of the first restaurants to sign on for Dine & Dash’s debut. “Ashley came to me and said she was starting a trolley tasting concept,” says Chef Merle. “I didn’t really know her, so I was taking a chance on the concept she was selling.” Merle tried it, and has been a loyal participant of Dine & Dash ever since. “It was a risk in the beginning, but it definitely paid off,” Chef Merle says of the experience. Pivotal to that experience, according to Phillips, is Ryals’ demonstration to the community just what the term “homegrown” really means. “Ashley shines a spotlight on independent businesses in a marketplace that has for so long focused on chains,” Phillips says.

“Dine & Dash has really brought into sharp focus the interesting culinary diversity that Huntsville has to oﬀer.” For the next two years, Homegrown Huntsville focused almost exclusively on Dine & Dash, which, by the end of its ﬁrst year, included every single downtown restaurant. But when big changes began to appear on the downtown horizon— new restaurants, breweries, and residential developments— Ryals’ instincts told her the time had come to introduce a new event to the downtown calendar. “Beer Hop follows the concept of Dine & Dash,” Ryals says of Homegrown’s second venture, which began in 2013. Each month, a trolley visits three dif-

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ferent breweries, where patrons sample beers and enjoy food from a variety of food trucks parked at each location. Bill Fowler, managing partner of Old Town Beer Exchange, agreed to participate in Beer Hop on his very ﬁrst day of business and credits Ryals with an overwhelmingly successful opening night. “Ashley said, ‘I can guarantee that you are going to have wave after wave of people coming through,’” Fowler says, recalling that ﬁrst jittery occasion. Once again, Ryals proved true to her word, with 60-plus patrons arriving in an hour-and-a-half. “It was awesome and such a great experience for us,” Fowler raves. “Ashley is a hard worker, and you can see that in what she does.” Fowler believes that in addition to bringing new customers to OTBX, Ryals is also cultivating beer education, consistently bringing in people who are new to beer and want to learn. And, with Huntsville’s recent brewery boom, that level of education and interest is crucial for the brewing community to thrive. “We have a very small window of opportunity,” says Fowler. “I think Huntsville in particular is becoming a

craft brewing community. People are making money at this, and once Tennessee sees that, we need to already have had a pretty huge head start.” By the end of 2013, and with standing events Beer Hop and Dine & Dash well established, Ryals took time to reﬂect on her original goal for Homegrown Huntsville. “In the back of my head, from day one, I knew I wanted to do a wine festival; I just didn’t think Huntsville was ready for it in 2011.” Emboldened by the success of Beer Hop, Ryals decided to make the leap, with Big Spring Crush wine festival later the same year. Once again, Ryals delivered the perfect audience for the event, and in the process discovered a surprising fact about North Alabama’s contribution to the wine-making industry. “In doing the wine festival, I learned that we have a huge wine community in Huntsville,” Ryals says. “There are only about 47 certiﬁed wine judges in the entire United States, and we have four of them right here in North Alabama. Two

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“I STARTED TO GET HOMESICK. ALL OF MY FRIENDS WERE GETTING MARRIED, AND MEETING FOR FOOTBALL GAMES, AND I WAS MISSING IT.” ASHLEY RYALS

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“IT WAS AWESOME AND SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US.” BILL FOWLER, OLD TOWN BEER EXCHANGE

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of those four certiﬁed wine judges sit on the committee for Big Spring Crush.” Matthew and Stephanie Mell had just opened Church Street Wine Shop when they decided to participate in the ﬁrst Big Spring Crush. Like OTBX’s Robert Fowler, the Mells credit Ryals and Homegrown Huntsville for helping to introduce their new enterprise to the community. “Ashley has been instrumental in helping to bring us people who love and appreciate wine,” Stephanie Mell says. “She was homegrown here in Huntsville, and she really gets the downtown area and small businesses and that is so important to us.” Big Spring Crush began with a bang, featuring over 150 wines and attracting patrons from across the country. “Most wine festivals across the country have proven records of being able to stay around 15 or 20 years or even longer,” Ryals says. “And the economies of those cities have really grown as a result. I want Big Spring Crush to eventually be the biggest and best wine festival in the state of Alabama.”

How does Ryals intend to make that dream come true? “By always keeping it fresh. I want to have new marketing and new things happening each year.” Ryals’ formula of reinvention and expansion has successfully led Homegrown Huntsville through ﬁve years of success and helped its events become community staples along the way. In the process, Ryals is broadening more than just our image of downtown Huntsville; she’s joining a class of creative entrepreneurs committed to expanding Huntsville’s reputation as more than just a hub for the brightest scientiﬁc minds in America. “We have a big city of engineers and lawyers, and it’s wonderful,” Ryals say. “But there is a whole artist and food culture here and there is so much growth. I want us to have a vibrant, cool downtown area, and I want for people to tell their friends to come and visit and to see Huntsville for what it is, a city I love.” If you’d like to participate in Homegrown Huntsville, either as a guest or a participating business, visit homegrownhuntsville.com.

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bless their hearts » Guy McClure, Jr. Huntsville was a magical place for us tail-end baby boomers to grow up—beyond the miracles of the escalator at Pizitz, the smiling little lady on the tall stool at the register at Britlings. There was a comfort level there that I’m not sure is in the minds of the 5-year-olds of today.

THE COMFORTS OF BLOSSOMWOOD I was  years old and the year was . At that time, the city of Huntsville was inching toward the mountain to the east. California Street was once the continental divide between the small town metropolis and the uncharted territories gingerly crossed by the real estate pioneers four score and some odd years prior. This area became the new suburb as the city kept pushing onward toward Fagan Springs, as if the reverberating booms of rocket testings were vibrating Hunstvillians away from its epicenter. From the front yard of our house on Owens Drive, I could look to the right—up the hill to the bend beyond which the big houses stood on their rocky ledge pedestals, and to the left where all the other houses that looked just like ours—fresh and new—rambled for what seemed like miles. Those clean, well-lit abodes all seemed the same, and granted, at my age I knew more about the pets that lived there than I did about the people who owned those manageable mortgages; I came to realize that each was different in a way that was permeated by voices, smells, and furnishings. It is a cliché to say that our lives were simpler then, because that is just how the current era will be fondly referred to in the future, but to a 5-year-old it is the simplicity that brought the joy. The sixties will always be, to me, the beginning of the age of manufactured happiness. Cheap, clean, and simple was what was strived for and what was easily obtained. Plastic items were plentiful, and pretty things could be bought with S&H Green Stamps. A few coins in our pocket would transfer us into the most master of manipulators, with us giving our all to convince our parents for a jaunt to Murdock’s for a holiday of wonderment, joy, and impatience as we would scour the shelves, trying to get the most from our meager budget. Owens Drive was the fairly new thoroughfare from which the avenues of three-bedroom-ranchers fingered away at planned intervals. This was the place where newlyweds started their lives, homes, and families. Where girls with last names that had been in the town for generations would change them to those strange and exotic last names of the clean cut newcomers brought here for military purposes. Where the housewives would preheat their pristine electric ovens, trying to make cheese straws and biscuits that were just like their mother’s, only to be frustrated as they were never quite the same, and where the husbands would follow in their father’s footsteps by joining the Acme Club and hunting doves on the weekends. There was a swimming pool. Certainly not at our house. The only private pool I remember as a child was one that my grandmother would take me to, nestled between huge trees at someone’s house on Adams Street. I would swim with other children my age while our grandmothers chatted, smoking cigarettes in cat-eyed aanonymity, whispering most of their stories so we wouldn’t be able to hear. But between their gasps and laughter, we would listen, hear, and learn. The Blossomwood pool was a place of designated rules and the sound of bright whistles—with straight lines and distinctive colors of blue and green. I can still feel the Coppertoned oiliness on s the skin of the tanned lifeguard as she carried me from the deep end, frightened, after my first attempt at solo-swimming. She knew my name. I had no idea who she was. On the other side of the pool was the school my older sister attended. It had a style that mimicked the pool—straight lines, clean—a temple to orderliness and good manners. It was with awe that I once watched the young adults there, some as old as eleven, wind and dance their way around a sky-high flagpole—each with a different color ribbon until the first (and only) May Pole a I was w privy to was completely dressed in its woven, bright colors.

In our world of red-bricked, carported castles, there was a definite division of generations. The children ate separately from the parents, went to school as our dads went to work, entertained our neighborhood friends as quietly as possible, and felt safe between our boundaries of Big Cove Road and Hermitage Street. While we dined on our Chef Boy-Ar-Dee boxed pizza, our parents busied themselves dressing in their dark colors getting ready for a late dinner at Boots, having the scent of perfume and face powder trail my mother as she came into the kitchen looking for something with an intense purpose. My father would smell of British Sterling and look just as he did when he went to work, only happier. These nights meant something fun would happen—we would have a babysitter. Babysitters were my introduction into what was, and still seems, cool. They were usually Huntsville High School teenagers who would put on a show without even knowing it. I would drink in their every move, word, and essence of style. To me they were supermodels—movie stars—even more famous in my eyes than a television weatherman and almost as glamorous as the waitresses at the Waffle House. Before they would tire of me and my sister and put us to bed, they would include us in their world of music and knowledge, which I thought was all-encompassing. Suddenly, our world of The Benny Carl Show and Fantasy Playhouse would seem trite and passé and we would catch a fleeting glimpse into what would be in store for us when we too could stay up past 8 p.m. Huntsville was a magical place for us tail-end baby boomers to grow up—beyond the miracles of the escalator at Pizitz, the smiling little lady on the tall stool at the register at Britlings, and that bright colorful Maypole. There was a comfort level there that I’m not sure is in the minds of the 5-year-olds of today—the soothing sheltered lack of knowledge of why we were so lucky, yet we didn’t even know that we were. In the other areas of our Huntsville there was poverty and racial unrest—as there was, and is, in every city. I was unaware. People of color were always a part of my world—mostly because they had my attention and respect. At our house there was Annie, my grandmother’s house was filled with the joys of Lula, and out on the family farm there was strong and smiling Homer and large and huggable Rosa—all just as much a part of my life as everyone else. My life was good, and they were instrumental in making it that way. What will the 5-year-olds of today who are lucky enough to be raised on those well-planned streets remember when they surpass their own 50 year mark? It is a much more complex world now and there are different concerns with daily changes of fear. Youthful innocence is a prize that is encased without a lock. Premature maturity is a viable threat, and a constant fear. But each night, tucked in tight in a simple room, sleeps tomorrow’s adults who are having sweet dreams—blanketed by the comforts of Blossomwood.

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the vine » Amy C. Collins Where Burgundy’s vineyards were established by Benedictine monks patiently growing wine vines with spiritual hearts, Bordeaux’s vineyards were raised by entrepreneurial laymen who recognized the massive monetary opportunity when the English began drinking down their peasant wine.

BORDEAUX POWER The city of Bordeaux is France’s primary port town on the Atlantic ocean, a harbor that has for centuries served as the country’s most important dock. The region’s history is long and storied, with the first written reference to the area dated 379 A.D. by the Latin poet Ausonius, who was also a wine-grower. Jump ahead to the year 1152 when Eleanor of Aquitaine married England’s soon-to-be king Henry Plantagenet, and the port and surrounding vineyard land became the source of wine for the English, a connection that remains strong even today. Bordeaux produces the world’s most expensive and sought after collector wines, the top tier of which make up less than five percent of the region’s total production. These names are quickly learned by neophyte wine drinkers wanting to make an impression: Chateau Haut-Brion, Lafite, Latour and Margaux, for example. Grown in gravelly soils only a few meters above sea level—in contrast, vineyards elsewhere in Europe typically sit between 300 and 900 meters—these wines are some of the most powerful, austere, and pawed over. When young, the tannins in these cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot blends coat the tongue and mouth with a chalky dry sensation akin to sucking on an Earl Grey tea bag, and are perhaps best suited to well-fatted rare steak and cigars. These are wines built to live for decades. Personally, I prefer a Bordeaux at least 20 years aged, when the tannins have had ample time to calm d down, and mellow out, and more nuanced flavors come forward. Sounds fancy, and it is. Only in some ve very lucky circumstances over the past year have I been guest to a bottle of 1990 Clos de Menuts Saint-Ém Saint-Émilion and a 1970 Chateau Haut-Brion. About once every 10 years I’ve had the good fortune to taste a wine older than myself. Nice work if you can get it. Where Burgundy’s vineyards (France’s other classified, sought-after region) were established by Benedictine monks patiently growing wine vines with spiritual hearts, es Bordeaux’s vineyards were raised by entrepreneurial laymen who recognized the massive monetary opportunity when the English began drinking down their peasant wine. This underscores the second half of my theory as to why Americans, more often American males, are so drawn to the wines of Bordeaux. There’s an a inherent capitalist connection, something in the soil. That the wines are so unmistakable, so distinctively grand and pronounced elixirs exemplifies the first half un of m my theory: we Americans are not known for our subtlety. (To be fair, the Chinese are significant Bordeaux collectors as well.) Philosophy aside, Bordeaux is quite a large region that produces beautiful white and red values as well as the rare finds out of the populace’s price range. Here’s the skinny: Blending is the game; single varietal wines are rare. White Bordeaux is typically made from a blend of sauvignon blanc and sémillon, and sometimes a drop or two of muscadelle, ugni blanc, or colombard. Reds are made primarily from the two cabernets plus merlot with small quantities of petit verdot, malbec, and carmenère occasionally in the mix. The region is also home to the golden nectar of late ripened sémillon, sauvignon blanc, and muscadelle grapes that have successfully attracted the noble rot, a fungus that covers the fruit and drains moisture from inside, leaving behind rich, sweet grapes without moldy flavors. Chateau d’Yquem is the most famous of these unfortified dessert wines, though there are better bargains from the region. Bordeaux is split by the Gironde river, which divides the region into three general areas. The left bank, also known as the Haut-Médoc, is where the classified top growths are situated. These prestigious estates were named for their exceptional vineyard sites in 1855, a decision nearly unchanged since. Today, serious collectors invest in Bordeaux futures, theoretically locking down lower prices of top

growth estates while the wine is still aging in the cellar. It’s the wine trade’s equivalent to the NASDAQ. On the right bank, Saint-Émilion and Pommerol are the prized vineyard areas known for their merlot heavy cuvées. To the south west we find Graves, where there are many great values to be had in both white and red bottlings. Entre-Deux-Mers, which translates to “between two seas,” sits between the Dordogne and Garonne tributaries off the Gironde and is an excellent source for crisp whites. Get started on your Bordeaux experience with these values. Chateau Graville-Lacoste 2014, Graves 75% sémillon, 20% sauvignon blanc, and 5% muscadelle make up this beauty that’s consistently delicious every vintage. Crisp and refreshing, great with seafood. Chateau Mirambeau 2014, Graves Another classic blend of 40% sauvignon blanc, 40% sémillon, and 20% muscadelle, this lovely white is a bit more floral than the Graville-Lacoste. Easy drinking and great value. Chateau de Parenchère Bordeaux Rouge 2011 55% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, and 15% cabernet franc grown in clay heavy soils, similar to the right bank of the region. Fleshy with good structure and abundant red fruit. Chateau Arnaud Bordeaux Supérieur 2011 Supérieur on a Bordeaux label isn’t egotistical marketing— by law it indicates a wine with up to one degree more alcohol than its AC Bordeaux brethren. What it really means is one more degree of body, structure, and, in this case, quality. Approachable, delicious, and easy on the wallet. Chateau de Bernadotte Haut-Médoc 2005 The 2005 vintage in Bordeaux is in the history books with double asterisks. Owned by the eminent Pichon Lalande family and made from vineyards in Paulliac, one of the more choice growing areas in the region, this is an incredible value, a top tier Bordeaux for a fraction of the cost. Chateau de Suduiraut Sauternes 2011 Ripe cantaloupe, apricot, and honey, and an interesting smoky note with a solid sweet attack followed by great acidity. A dessert wine that won’t overpower the dessert.

Follow Amy at pigandvine.com for more stories and wine suggestions.

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parting shot » Patrick Hood

Meet Solvar. Solvar belongs to one of the world’s oldest and purest equine lineages, the Norwegian Fjord horse, a breed that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 2,000 years—long before we became acquainted with his animated cousins in the movie Frozen. These national symbols of Norway are characterized by primitive zebra striping on their legs and a dorsal stripe running from forelock to tail, resulting in a striking two-tone mane that sticks up like a Mohawk. Their athleticism, agility, and dependability make them valuable both as sport horses, as well as therapy horses for emotionally and physically challenged adults and children. Catie Wells of Huntsville is the proud owner of Solvar, who resides at Monte Sano Stables.

Bring In the New Year With Us!

presents

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD A tribute to Louis Armstrong, featuring the Byron Stripling Quartet Thursday, December 31, 7:30 p.m. • Pops Series • Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, VBC

For tickets or information: 256-539-4818 or hso.org

BRIDGESTREETHUNTSVILLE.COM

REEDS JEWELERS

PA N D O R A

C O M I N G S O O N : V E R S O N A – near Belk

B R I D G E S T R E E T T O W N C E N T R E I S L O C AT E D AT E X I T 1 4 O F F I - 5 6 5 AT O L D M A D I S O N P I K E  | noalastudios.com | november/december 