DIXIE DESIGN COLLECTIVE • OLLIE IRENE BACK ON THE SCENE • ANNA GRACE ON BROADWAY
2018
WEDDIN GS 10 REAL WEDDINGS LOCAL REGISTRY IDEAS STYLE GUIDE FOR GUESTS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 MountainBrookMagazine.com Volume Two | Issue One $4.95
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M O D E R N N E W B O R N + C H I L D + FA M I LY P O R T R A I T U R E INFOAPEPPERMINTPHOTO.COM | 205.807.6431 H E I R LO O M A L B U M S | A R C H I VA L Q UA L I T Y P O R T R A I T S
W W W . A P E P P E R M I N T P H O T O . C O M 2 MountainBrookMagazine.com
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WEDDINGS 54
COLLIER & HARRINGTON 56
THOMPSON & MCCOLLISTER 58
PITTS & FORSTER 60
ERNSTBERGER & HILTZ 62
DRAKE & MAPOLES 64
RIVES & LLOYD GALLOWAY & RECTOR 68
MEELHEIM & HEATH 70
CLIFTON & GEIGER 72
GIVEN & PECK 6 MountainBrookMagazine.com
PHOTO BY SWEET JULEP PHOTOGRAPHY
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68
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PHOTO BY MARY FEHR
arts & culture
17 From Bama to Broadway: Anna Grace Barlow on Stage 22 Read This Book: Page Turners from Stephen Russell
food & drink
23 They’re Back: A Chat with Ollie Irene’s Anna and Chris Newsome 30 Cocktail: Brick & Tin’s Jemison Old Fashioned
weddings 33 Art on Paper: Dixie Design Collective 40 Top Picks for Your Registry 45 Couture Cuts: Bridal Fashion Trends
in every issue 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 8 MountainBrookMagazine.com 9 #MountainBrookMag 10 The Question 11 The Guide 74 Chamber Connection 76 Out & About 85 Marketplace 88 My Mountain Brook
48 What Not to Wear: A Style Guide for Wedding Guests
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MOUNTAIN BROOK
contributors
MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL
Graham Brooks Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Harris Amalia Kortright Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino Neal Wagner
Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Writer
Stephanie is a freelance writer and editor who has worked for Southern Living, Coastal Living, Country Living and Williams-Sonoma. Her passions include UGA football, grammatically correct text messages, Chick-fil-A and Gilmore Girls (Team Logan!). She is married to Matthew, a realtor, and together they have a one-year-old daughter, Harper. They are on a never-ending family quest to find the best tamales in Birmingham.
CONTRIBUTORS
Mary Fehr Eleanor Kerr Stephanie Gibson Lepore Alice Lucas Tracey Rector Jackson Ross Christiana Roussel Emma Simmons Lauren Ustad
Lauren Ustad, Photographer
Lauren lives in Birmingham with her husband, Joe, their two daughters Pepper and Joie, and their 2-pound Yorkie they refer to as “Boobie.” She spends her professional time posing itty bitties and chasing little munchkins, and as a result having baby fever (number 3 is on the way!). In her free time you can probably find her slaving away at their most current renovation project or building Legos with her self-proclaimed super heroes.
DESIGN
Connor Bucy Jamie Dawkins Katie Krouse Kate Sullivan
MARKETING
Kristy Brown Kari George Rachel Henderson Daniel Holmes Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Ashley Petrus Kerrie Thompson
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Katie McDowell Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
Tracey Rector, Writer
Tracey is a freelance writer and blogger who has called Mountain Brook home since 2001. She and her husband of 28 years are the parents of three adult children. A fan of paper and the smell of ink, she loved reflecting back on her high school summer vacations helping out in her father’s printing shop as she worked on this issue’s article about beautiful and stylish wedding stationery.
Christiana Roussel, Writer
Once upon a time, Christiana’s bio would have said something about staying busy between writing assignments with four chickens, three dogs, two kids and one husband but a recent move within Mountain Brook jettisoned the poultry farming operation. Her husband couldn’t be happier but she’ll only admit to being “in-between flocks.” The hens will be back. Until then, there are teenagers to contend with and a serious love of travel. Recent trips have included Asheville, Boston and Barcelona.
Mountain Brook Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Mountain Brook Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Mountain Brook, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit MountainBookMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting MountainBrookMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@mountainbrookmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
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from the editor
To the mountains we went for my friend Megan’s wedding.
ON THE COVER
Brennan & Caroline
Mountain Brook High School sweethearts Brennan Peck and Caroline Given married on the shores of Lake Martin last May. Photo by Holland Williams Photography Design by Connor Bucy
I
I turn 32 this year, wrapping up what will likely be the weddingest (yes, I made that word up) decade of my life. I’ve been to the beach and to the mountains, to the backyard and to the country club, to East Coast and West, and I have a giant file folder of invitations and programs to remember them by, because wedding paper is just the loveliest. Speaking of lovely, when we started collecting weddings to feature in this issue, I found myself lost in a sea of pretty. Dresses, flowers, cakes, invitations (did I mention I like paper?)—the photos seem to say it all. But then I had to edit down all the fun details the bride or groom sent to fit the space on page, which in the end made those most meaningful details and moments pop out the most. Saying “I do” in the space your parents did years before, the surprise moment the you pie your groom and his friends go wild, looking out over florals from your parents’ gardens and sipping custom cocktails mixed by your brothers, departing your reception on your family’s boat under a full moon, soaking in the moment as you process down the aisle post-ceremony, tearing up with your mom when you realize the first dress you tried on was “the one.” Wow, talk about poignant! Which reminded me how my file folder really takes the back seat to those golden moments I have witnessed. The Elton John-style song about the couple’s story a friend surprised them with at the reception. Watching a usually not-emotional bride ugly cry her way down the aisle. The Latin American-style “crazy hour” on the dance floor that had my grandmother dancing to pop music. The bride hopping into a canoe, wedding dress and all, and paddling her way down river with her groom. When the garter got stuck on the ceiling beam. Voices filling the chapel with an acapella round song many of us learned on the spot. And always, always the groom’s face as his bride approaches. A decade of weddingness means something else for me too, though— walking with friends as life’s ups and downs ebb and flow, as marriage’s joys and sorrows ebb and flow. And it’s not all flowers and paper and dresses pretty. When their anniversaries come, it’s not so much the paper we harken back to as the moments burned in their minds, the joy they invoke, and the love and commitment it reminds them of. And that is what seems to truly be the weddingest of all. Clearly I’m a bit excited about our wedding features, but also be sure to check out our interview with the visionaries of Ollie Irene (its return might be the best gift of 2017, right?) and more as you flip through the pages that follow. And I always welcome your ideas for stories, so please do send them my way. Cheers!
madoline.markham@mountainbrookmagazine.com MountainBrookMagazine.com 9
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Ollie Irene’s Roasted Red Pepper Agrodolce
Find the recipe for this delightfully versatile accompaniment for breads, cheeses and meats from Chef Chris Newsome at the newly reopened Ollie Irene in Crestline Village. mountainbrookmagazine.com/ollie-irene facebook.com/mountainbrookmagazine
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@mountainbrookmag
@mountainbrookmag
Totally gorgeous!! I’m really in love with your bathroom vanity cabinets! -Elizabeth Pilgreen Mazyck on “Just in Time” via Facebook
#MountainBrookMag
Tag us in your @mountainbrookmag photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
@mtnbrookvball_
SENIOR NIGHT and last home game for the one and only @ libbygracegann!!!! We LOVE you!!!! Everyone come out at support us against Vestavia Hills!
@rebeccawisephotography Had so much fun today taking all these tiny ballerinas photos for #steeplearts! My old stomping grounds. So dear to my heart. #balletphotography #capturethemoment #steepleartsacademyofdance
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“ ” THE QUESTION
What’s the one sentence version of how you and your spouse met? We met in Mrs. Cotton’s class at Highlands Day School in first grade. Years later we actually were engaged in her classroom, with a candlelight dinner.
We met on an awful blind date, neither of us had fun. He called the next day to apologize. That was 19 years ago.
Because of a snow storm, I ended up being the only guest to make it to his Super Bowl Party.
The Blizzard of ‘93! And I give him a snowman for Christmas every year.
- Heather Allen Brown
- Mary Katherine Luckie Cabaniss
- Claire M Tynes
- Faith Couvillon
I met him at my first job at a bank, and called my best friend to say I met the hottest “man” that looks like my dentist. (He was 14 years older than me and was my dentist’s brother!)
We met underneath Cinderella’s Castle, literally.
- Katie Hampton Crago
- Susan Matthews
He was the first boy I saw at BSC helping freshmen find their dorms wearing canary yellow pants and a white button down. My roommate and I referred to him as YP “Yellow Pants” all week until we were finally introduced. -Maria Adlercreutz Alexander
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He was the cute bag/stock boy at the Winn Dixie in Mt. Brook Village and I saw him! We have been married 46 years. - Sharon Dobbins Graham
THE GUIDE
VILLAGE 2 VILLAGE RUN MARCH 10 Run through your favorite villages and neighborhoods with around 1,000 of your neighbors and friends. A new USATF Certified Course earned lots of points with runners last year and will be back again, and along the course you’ll find iHeartRadio music vans and local families competing to see which home can provide the loudest and largest cheer station. Plus, there will be chocolate-dipped strawberries, mimosas and more on the other side of the finish line at the after party in Lake Parke. Not feeling the 10K? You can also choose the 7.5K option (4.6 miles). Register at runsignup.com. PHOTO BY HARRY LONG/81 SHOP
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THE GUIDE
JAN. 23
Chamber Annual Luncheon Grand Bohemian Hotel Ballroom 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dr. Neal Berte served as president of BirminghamSouthern College for 28 years, co-chaired the campaign to restore Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and was the founding chairman of Leadership Birmingham. Those are only a few of the lines from his bio, so it’s no surprise he’s deserving of this year’s Jemison Visionary Award to be given at the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon. Other recent winners have included Hatton Smith, Miller Gorrie, Wilmer Poynor, Katherine McTyeire and Rele Evans. The Emmet O’Neal Library’s Tynes Award will go to Sue DeBrecht, who served as its director until her recent retirement, and the City of Mountain Brook will also present its annual Employee of the Year Award. Register to attend at mtnbrookchamber.org.
FEB. 17
Birmingham Camellia Show Birmingham Botanical Gardens Brighten your wintry days, and come out and see some of Birmingham’s best camellia blooms. The species originated in Asia, but today we have more than 200 species in North America. To learn more about the flower visit americancamellias.com.
FEB. 23-25
Friends of the Emmet O’Neal Library Book Sale Emmet O’Neal Library Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday 1-4 p.m.
Find some new reads for 2018 at this annual sale to benefit our favorite library. Friends of the Emmet O’Neal Library accepts book donations throughout the year to sell at this event, and you can drop them off at the back door of the library.
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WHAT TO DO IN MOUNTAIN BROOK JAN. 1 New Year’s Day Emmet O’Neal Library Closed JAN. 4 Mountain Brook Schools Return After Break JAN. 4 Teen Trivia Challenge Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30-8 p.m. JAN. 6 Game On! Emmet O’Neal Library Teens 1-4 p.m. JAN. 8 STEAM Powered: Science of Cold Registration Required Emmet O’Neal Library 4 p.m. JAN. 9 Family Night Emmet O’Neal Library 5:30 p.m. JAN. 15 MLK Holiday Mountain Brook Schools Closed Emmet O’Neal Library Closed JAN. 18 Holocaust In Film Series “Remember” Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30 p.m. JAN. 18 Bookmania, Harry Potter Edition: HP & the Goblet of Fire Registration Required Emmet O’Neal Library 6 p.m. JAN. 19 Lender: A Literacy Mixer Ages 21 and Up Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30 p.m. JAN. 22 Holocaust In Film Series “Line 41” Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30 p.m.
JAN. 23 Hot Off the Press Registration Required Emmet O’Neal Library Kids 6 p.m. JAN. 25 Holocaust In Film Series “Last Laugh” Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30 p.m. JAN. 26 Teen Gaming Night Emmet O’Neal Library 6-10 p.m. FEB. 3 Game On! Emmet O’Neal Library Teens 1-4 p.m. FEB. 6 Family Night Emmet O’Neal Library 5:30 p.m. FEB. 8 Bookmania, Harry Potter Edition: HP & the Goblet of Fire Registration Required Emmet O’Neal Library 6 p.m. FEB. 8 Teen Trivia Challenge Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30-8 p.m. FEB. 16 E-Day Mountain Brook Schools FEB. 19 President’s Day Mountain Brook Schools Closed FEB. 20 Hot Off the Press Registration Required Emmet O’Neal Library Kids 6 p.m.
FEB. 9-10
Sweet Repeats Consignment Sale Mountain Brook Community Church Gym Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-noon
Stock up on your kids’ wardrobes for spring and summer at reasonable prices at this sale held every February and September. Plus, proceeds support the church’s short-term mission trips to places such as San Diego, Peru, Hungary, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Consignors receive 75 percent of the selling price, and 25 percent goes to MBCC Missions. Many items will be half price on Saturday. Volunteer and consignor registration will open on Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.
JAN. 13 & FEB. 10
Zoo Special Saturdays Birmingham Zoo 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Children and adolescents with cognitive or physical disabilities can engage with zoo programs in a special way with evidencebased teaching and sensory strategies. These free classes, held in partnership with KultureCity, are for ages 8 and up, and caregivers must attend all classes with participants to provide behavioral support and meet child-specific needs. To apply to participate, register at birminghamzoo.com. MountainBrookMagazine.com 15
THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN
MBHS
Mountain Brook High School Varsity Basketball
JAN. 5-6
Bach & Mozart for the New Year Alabama Symphony Orchestra Alys Stephens Center JAN. 11
Come out and cheer on the Spartans. Girls play at 6 p.m. and boys at 7:30 p.m.
Jerry Seinfeld BJCC
Jan. 4: vs. Hoover Jan. 5: vs. Vestavia Jan. 9: vs. Huffman Jan. 12: at Oak Mountain Jan. 16: at Spain Park Jan. 19: at Huffman Jan. 23: vs. Oak Mountain Jan. 26: vs. Spain Park Feb. 1: at Vestavia Feb. 2: vs. Wenonah
Sleeping Beauty Presented by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia Lyric Theatre
JAN. 14
JAN. 18-21
Birmingham Boat Show BJCC PHOTO BY IMAGES ARTS
MBHS
And the Winner Is
Lucie Christian took home the crown in the annual Miss Olympian pageant at Mountain Brook High School. PHOTO BY CAROLANNE BERTE
JAN. 18-20
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Alabama Theatre JAN. 20
Alabama Dance Festival Featuring Ballet Memphis Alys Stephens Center 8 p.m. JAN. 25
Hard Travelin’ with Woody Samford University Wright Center 7 p.m. JAN. 25-FEB. 11
Chicago Virginia Samford Theatre Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30 p.m. Sundays 2 p.m. JAN. 26-27
NONPROFITS
For the Kids
Two of Mountain Brook’s own are now working for a preschool program for at-risk families in Fairfield. Kathleen Drake is now serving as head of school at Foundations Early Learning & Catherine PittmanKathleen Drake Family Center and Catherine Pittman Smith Smith as director of communications and development. Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience serving children and families, particularly for the needs of at-risk children and under-served communities. Most recently she served with Better Basics as director of volunteers and Birmingham Reads program. Catherine is a published author and photographer with experience in the corporate, nonprofit and creative sectors. To learn more, visit foundationsearlylearning.org. 16 MountainBrookMagazine.com
Carlos Conducts Ravel’s Bolero Alabama Symphony Orchestra Alys Stephens Center FEB. 9-10
O’Reilly Auto Parts Wold of Wheels Custom Auto Show BJCC FEB. 10
Regions Superhero 5K Linn Park FEB. 11
Mercedes Marathon FEB. 15-18
Birmingham Home Show BJCC
THE GUIDE FEB. 15-16
The Jungle Book Virginia Samford Theatre FEB. 17
Widespread Panic BJCC FEB. 17
Birmingham Does Broadway Alabama Symphony Orchestra Samford University Wright Center FEB. 23-25
RV Super Show BJCC FEB. 23-25
The Illusionists—Live on Broadway BJCC FEB. 23
Dvorak’s New World Alabama Symphony Orchestra Alys Stephens Center
AROUND THE VILLAGES
Humans of Mountain Brook
Familiar with Humans of New York? Now there is a Humans of Mountain Brook account featuring our own community members thanks to the Leadership Mountain Brook class. So far we’ve learned some fun facts about some of our favorite faces from City Hall and more including City Manager Sam Gaston, School Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow, Suzan Doidge and Molly Wallace of the chamber, Library Director Lindsy Gardner, Mayor Stewart Welch and Police Chief Ted Cook (pictured). Follow them on Instagram @humansofmb to read the profiles they post, and even if you don’t have an Instagram account, you can see them at instagram.com/humansofmb.
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&CULTURE
ARTS
FROM BAMA TO BROADWAY
Traversing from Birmingham to New York to LA, Anna Grace Barlow brings grace & enthusiasm to every role. BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
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31st Annual Magic City Heart Ball EPICUREAN HEARTS HONORING
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond & Kathryn Harbert HOSTED BY THE HEART GUILD OF BIRMINGHAM LEGAC Y S PON S OR
S IGNAT U R E S PON S OR
Reserve your seat today at: BirminghamHeartBall.heart.org
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H
How does a girl from the suburbs of Birmingham wind up living her best life in LA after a detour through New York? Well, in true southern fashion, that’s a bit of a long story. “It all started with music,” Anna Grace Barlow explains. “My dad is an incredible singer and pianist, so I grew up hearing him sing pretty much every day. (He’s actually in a band called The Underhills. Locals. Check them out!) Because of his influence, I got into violin in kindergarten and went on to play for nine years. [“I was NOT GOOD!” she insists.] About that time, I started singing nonstop after developing an obsession with the Nat King Cole song ‘L-O-V-E,’ which was the credits song for The Parent Trap [the 1998 version with Lindsay Lohan]. My parents put me in voice lessons, and I very quickly fell in love with performing. I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of this world.” After moving to Mountain Brook from Mississippi at age 11, Anna Grace spent a solid
BAMA VS. CALI You can take the girl out of the South, but… you know how it goes. Below, Anna Grace shares her southern favs and more.
What’s the status of your southern accent? I think doing theater so much while growing up caused my accent to neutralize really early. So I rarely have one—but I always say “y’all!” What is one thing you miss about Mountain Brook? I miss Gilchrist. I honestly have dreams about their BLTs and limeade. Alabama cuisine or Californian? Mexican food is my favorite, but I have yet to find a restaurant in California that is as good as La Paz.
portion of her preteen and teenage years honing her acting chops at Red Mountain Theatre Company, with the unwavering support of her parents, Polly Anna and Mike, and three sisters. “My family plays the biggest role in my dream. My parents are doctors, but they’ve made it their business to educate themselves on my world. They were so supportive of whatever I wanted to do in high school, and I wanted to do shows. I did so much community theater between Magic City Actor’s Theatre, the Starz program and RMTC,” she says. The acting bug bit sister Abigail, too, who boasts a healthy following on YouTube and has joined Anna Grace in California. “My little sister is the single most talented person I have ever met,” gushes Anna Grace. “She is an incredible vocalist and song writer, as well as an unbelievable actress and dancer. She’s like J-Lo. I am so proud of her. The coolest thing about her wanting to
pursue the industry is that I’ve been through it,” says Anna Grace. “And, together with my parents, we are able to help her avoid hurdles I had to unnecessarily jump.” Anna Grace acknowledges that her parents did whatever they could to prepare her for a move to New York or LA, and—as it turns out—she tried both. After a year of musical theater studies at NYC’s Pace University, at the behest of RMTC teacher and now-manager Lynne Marks, Anna Grace flew to California for headshots. She never went back to New York. “At that point, I had my heart set on being in LA because I completely fell in love with it. The palm trees, the weather, the people. It feels very much like the South to me. Of course, I didn’t feel completely alone because I had [fellow Birmingham thespian and Disney star] Jordan Fisher and his wonderful family. They really took me in. Sure, I had lonely moments, but I just focused on
What is something you didn’t know you couldn’t live without until you found it on the West Coast? My husband! Haha! He’s actually from Knoxville, though, so don’t worry. He’s a southern boy. What do you miss most about your family home? My parents got a golden retriever, and I’m completely obsessed with her. I miss her. I’m really lucky because my parents come to visit all the time. We FaceTime, too. It keeps me from feeling homesick. Favorite expression? “Bless your heart” is my all-time favorite expression from anywhere, ever. If your parents sent a care package from Alabama, what would be in it? My mom would send her poppyseed chicken—my favorite dish. Hopefully they’d send some Milo’s cheese fries, a big bowl of Urban Cookhouse veggies, and some Bojangle’s Bo-Berry Biscuits.
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working and knew I’d make friends that way.” She did make friends, and she made a few callbacks— okay, more than a few—too. With appearances in Scream Queens, Summer Forever and The Fosters, as well as theater parts and more, Anna Grace didn’t go long between jobs. Her biggest news of late, however, is originating “Alyssa” in headed-to-pre-Broadway musical The Prom. “It was such a crazy thing that fell into my lap,” she explains. “I was living here [in LA], and I got this self-tape request from my agent in New York. She said, ‘The team looks amazing, you should really tape for this.’ So I did. My now-husband and I had just met, and we were doing a musical. So I had one of my castmates read with me, and our music director accompanied me on piano for a song I had to learn. I filmed it all on an iPad.” The quickly
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produced piece struck a note with casting directors, and a few months later the role was hers. “It began with a one-week reading, and people really loved it. The next year, we did a month-long lab/workshop in NYC, where we added set pieces and props. A year after that, there was an out-of-town tryout at The Alliance in Atlanta. They kept bringing me back, for which I am so thankful. It’s been an incredibly long journey,” she says. The end goal, of course, is pre-Broadway to Broadway. “Fingers crossed,” says Anna Grace of one of the “most difficult” characters she’s played thus far. “Alyssa is a cheerleader, part of the ‘it’ crowd, but she’s harboring this huge secret: She’s a lesbian, and she’s in love with Emma, an outcast played by the incredible Caitlin Kinnunen. It all sort of comes to a head because Alyssa is
HEALTHY EATING
“
DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD
Acting for camera is such a different muscle than theater acting, and it really allows me to stretch myself. - Anna Grace Barlow
”
planning to come out at prom, though she might chicken out over fear of what her friends and parents will think. There’s lots of conflict and drama and so many layers and emotions. Exploring that and creating Alyssa has been the best acting experience of my life—I’ve had to learn how to harness it all and make the character reproducible but also healthy for me. I’m grateful the team has trusted me with her.” And though Broadway is her first love, Anna Grace draws some parallels between theater and TV/film roles and also recognizes her desire to try new things. “I think the biggest difference is the immediate gratification, the applause,” says Anna Grace. “I love theater so much— Broadway will always be one of my biggest dreams. Maybe that’s why I love sitcom work, because there’s a live audience and it feels a lot like theater. But I also love single-camera drama, like Bones or Castle. Acting for camera is such a different muscle than theater acting, and it really allows me to stretch myself.” When it comes to obstacles, Anna Grace is straightforward: “I constantly challenge myself to be more relaxed in audition settings. When I go a few weeks without auditioning, the first one back always gives me butterflies” she says. “Teaching myself to unwind and connect is a long-term challenge. It’s something I’ll always have to work on, I think.” Despite the butterflies, her bucket-list dreams are big. Anna Grace quickly lists the trio that will help her check off her list. “I want one blockbuster movie (in theaters), one regular role on a television show and a Broadway debut,” she says. “I love multicam (sitcoms), so it would be amazing to be on one for a long run—or a soap opera! I would love that stability. But Broadway is the ceiling. If I originate a role on Broadway, I will have reached the pinnacle of my theater dreams.”
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READ THIS BOOK
Page Turners Recommendations from
Stephen Russell Author The Cooper McKay Series
Most authors spend untold hours honing the first chapter, hoping to grab the attention of their readers and pull them into the story. But just as resolutions fade in February, many writers can’t sustain the energy—or the interest—of a well written first chapter. For me, the following books stand out as glittering examples of books with blistering beginnings and stories that sustain the reader’s interest—all the way to the end.
Eligible
By Curtis Sittenfeld | Fiction With an impeccable sense of timing, an eye for modern-culture and a raucous sense of humor, Curtis Sittenfeld’s modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is an unexpected pleasure. This story is stuffed with laugh-out-loud scenes and is paced in pitch-perfect fashion. Clear your calendar when you start it.
Unbroken
By Laura Hillenbrand | Nonfiction The best books tend to tell the best stories, whether fiction or non-fiction. Laura Hillenbrand’s natural storytelling abilities surpass any cinematic re-telling of the Louis Zamperini story. She has a way of making your pulse race as she retells the life of the Olympic athlete who survived the horror of being a World War II victim of a plane crash, a castaway and a prisoner of war.
The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follett | Fiction-Historical What Margaret Mitchell did for the antebellum South and Larry McMurtry did for the Wild West, Ken Follett does for Medieval Europe by putting a memorable face on that period and then wrapping that face in an unforgettable narrative. This epic story of intrigue, love and deception in the shadows of cathedral construction is a journey worth taking.
West with the Night
By Beryl Markham | Memoir My Mountain Brook High School classmate-turned-English teacher, Childs Smith, mailed me Markham’s memoir, which remains a master-class in writing. Ernest Hemingway said Markham “has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer.” For my own part, I read the first chapter standing in my hallway, packing envelope still in hand. I sat down for the second chapter—and didn’t get up for an hour. An absolute delight.
Before the Fall
By Noah Hawley | Fiction-Suspense Noah Hawley turns conventional storytelling on its head. By the end of the first five pages, all of the characters on the plane are dead except for a man and a boy. The magic of the book comes in the author’s ability, using ordinary prose in an extraordinary story, to pull the reader through the story to find out how the two survived. This book will steal your sleep and occupy your mind.
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&DRINK
FOOD
THEY’RE BACK Intimate and familiar with ever something new to discover, Ollie Irene is just what we remembered and yet more. BY CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR
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Ollie Irene’s Chris and Anna Newsome (in brown and purple, respectively) with some of their staff in their Crestline restaurant.
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Not since the Piggly Wiggly location on Euclid Avenue shuttered has there been such a public hue and cry over a village staple closing. From the moment the initial design plans for the Lane Parke development of Mountain Brook Village were released, fans of Anna & Chris Newsome’s restaurant, Ollie Irene, became fixated on when the local gem would decamp, where they would put down new roots and most importantly, when they could get their hands on that Korean barbecue. Opening in the fall of 2011, the sophisticated but approachable cuisine of Ollie Irene found an immediate home with Birmingham diners of all stripes—not just Mountain Brook denizens. It was not unusual to scan the dining room and see country club patrons seated next to a pair of tattooed visitors to the Magic City seated next to a cluster of young Homewood couples on a group date night. Everyone loved the food and the vibe of Ollie Irene and mourned the closing in the fall of 2016.
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Fortunately, the Ollie Irene fan club had to only wait about 365 days before they could get back to the table with their friends. Almost to the day—September 30th to be exact—Anna and Chris Newsome were able to reveal to all what they had been planning and working so hard to achieve. Located a mere 2 miles from the original location (less, as the crow flies), this second iteration in Crestline Village feels fresh but familiar, intimate but replete with new things to discover. Sitting down with Anna and Chris to discuss this next chapter, it becomes immediately apparent that this has been a labor of love. So, it has been about a year since you closed the original location and reopened Ollie Irene here, in Crestline Village. Did you take any time for yourselves before diving into this new project? Anna: When we closed Ollie Irene, we didn’t have a space to go to (yet), and there was some concern. I wanted
This photo: Sticky Toffee Pudding Below: Roasted Red Pepper Agrodolce
to go to Italy and just ponder what we wanted to do next. But then this space came open, and it is such a great location. Chris: I had this idea that we’d go to Montana and I’d get to go fishing, but our youngest child was only 8 months old. We did have great weather and just spent time together as a family, sitting in hammocks and taking it all in. But it sounds like you did not get too much time to kick back and relax. You had people clamoring to know when and where you’d reopen! Chris: We had a lot of questions—usually the same questions—but we did not have any answers for a long time! For the first five years (we were open), it was like, “Where are you moving?” and then it was like, “When are you opening?” And now it is like, “When is the Korean barbecue coming back?” Anna: Well, they were dying for these dishes! We were
stopped in the street and asked about the Sticky Toffee Pudding or the chicken or the stew or the catfish. Chris: So we listened. Tell us about this particular space and the challenges you faced in getting it open and getting it right. Chris: Every single part of this transition has been challenging! Anna: What we kept and what we left—we really didn’t discuss much. We really were focused on getting the space ready to open and it has been a really organic process. What will work in this space? How do we want it to feel? Chris: It is the same as it was with the other place—we didn’t plan all of that but it came about through working with Edee Youngblood, the designer who was able to capture what we wanted to do as Ollie Irene. MountainBrookMagazine.com 27
It sounds like Edee was instrumental in capturing that vibe. Anna: We discussed feelings with her, but really the point we started off with, which was just like at the other location, (is) you walk in and you were just transported. We wanted that same element for this place. We did not feel like it (the décor) had to be the exact same here, but we wanted guests to feel transported, while still fitting with the neighborhood and this community—we wanted it to be this kind of escape. We really wanted to achieve a glow and capture that bustling atmosphere. Edee is really good at figuring out what elements will make that happen and then editing those things to get to it. We wanted this place to feel like it was filled with things from a lifetime of travel—European travel, Old World travel. We have had people say it feels like Brooklyn or Paris or New Orleans or London. It is nothing in particular, but it is all of those things. 28 MountainBrookMagazine.com
Design-wise, what did you keep from the original location? Anna: We kept a few things from the old location— some mirrors and some heads that travel with Chris everywhere he goes. Chris: Almost everything in here is custom. One of my cooks back there is also a great welder. There were so many opportunities for innovative solutions here. For example, we kept the bar from the old location. (Moving it) was like Everest in terms of challenges. These table tops were sitting in our backyard for a while. Anna and I sanded them and poured coffee on them (to age them). The front doors came from North Carolina, but I stripped them and sanded them and lacquered them myself. That long shelf behind the bar was handmade. Josh (our bartender) took about two days and welded L-beams to fit underneath the bar. Then we had to drill into the concrete wall to anchor the bar, and then to make sure it was level to put the 100+ pound shelf on it. Turns out, the wall was
not level, so we had to shave off part of the shelf to make it sit flush with the wall. Anna: This feels more like the place that we always wanted. We always wanted to be a neighborhood restaurant. People can walk here, which I love. In terms of the menu here, what did you keep, and what’s new for diners? Chris: If I had my way, I would not even have a set menu. I would just make what I am in the mood for that particular day. I want to create food that people crave. There are definitely some familiar things on the menu, but those will always be changing. Ultimately, everyone can find something they like, something they miss and then something that will bring them back. How did the Mozza Bar portion of the new come about? Chris: We’ve always done homemade burrata or mozzarella or fresh ricotta—something we can make ourselves. But the idea came from watching Nancy Silverton who does it at one of her places in Los Angeles. I started searching on Instagram and seeing other people in Europe doing it. We can really showcase our craft and our skill with it, which is important to me. Our food is different because of how we approach it and the technique we teach each person in the back of the house. That is the standard we set. Knowing how Mountain Brook is, and being on such a prominent corner in Crestline, the buzz prior to your re-opening was palpable. How did you manage that process and keep everyone happy? Anna: We knew we wanted to have a friends-and-family soft opening but how could we draw the line at who would be invited? We were finally at the point where we knew we needed to open but thought, if we pull down this paper (construction paper in the windows), it is going to be a complete and total madhouse. We got really worried about that. We wanted to do really well and train new people and evaluate every single detail but had no idea how all of that would go (being on display). We did not want to disappoint customers who had been patiently waiting and were so eager to come back. How do we slow this down and make sure we get acclimated and ensure people can come in and not be rushed or overcrowded? Lillian on our staff came up with the idea of “Behind the Paper, Ahead of the Crowd,” and we were like “YES! That’s it!” So you took reservations for spots during that twoweek Behind the Paper soft opening, but do you plan to do that moving forward? Anna: No, we just can’t. In a little place like this, it is just too hard. It is just more egalitarian this way. Come as you are, we will seat you as soon as we can, but in the meantime, have a MountainBrookMagazine.com 29
l
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www.ChildrensAL.org
“
Our food is different because of how we approach it and the technique we teach each person in the back of the house. That is the standard we set. - Chris Newsome
”
cocktail, sit on the bench, talk to people. And in all honesty, fewer people can get in if we took reservations. As far as seating goes, is this new location bigger or smaller than the original? Anna: With the outside seating, it is the exact same number of seats as the old location. We will be adding space heaters outside so that we can utilize that space year-round. Having the right staff is crucial to any restaurant’s success. Given the lag time between the two locations being open, how did you approach that? Chris: Trying to close a restaurant the way we did it took thought. You have to do some negotiating. It was a really weird time to close a truly successful restaurant in midstream, but we were fortunate in that we have most of the same staff here. People might have been working somewhere else, but they waited and waited and then came back with us. We got almost everyone we wanted—almost the whole back of the house. Chris Vaughn, who helped open the old place, is back, which is awesome. Anna: One of our first servers, Jess, came back to be here and manage that first week when I had to be away at a wedding. We work really hard to make this a great place to work not just for us but for other people. The people who get it, get it. They have an institutional memory that is invaluable. We can hit the ground running with people who know not just our customers but our systems. Chris: It truly boils down to our staff. It is difficult to find good people, but I think I can recognize good talent. The staff is the most important thing here. It almost goes without saying that this has been an incredibly daunting project. Any regrets? Anna: The one thing we missed was that we should have had everyone who dined here those first two weeks of the soft opening sign the construction paper. It would have been such a great memento. We missed out on the best graffiti ever! MountainBrookMagazine.com 31
Jemison Old Fashioned BRICK & TIN PHOTO BY EMMA SIMMONS
Widely known for its seasonal offerings, Brick & Tin’s penchant for farm-to-table doesn’t stop short of the cocktail menu. Local kumquats sourced from Jemison’s Petals from the Past impart the focal floral flavor in this wintry citrus sipper. In keeping with the cocktail’s traditional complex richness, the Jemison Old Fashioned boasts a delicate, herbal acidity—and just the right amount of sweet.
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WHAT’S IN IT
• 1 1/2 ounces Bulleit Rye • 1/2 ounce Lairds Apple Brandy • 1/2 ounce Jemison County Citrus Syrup • 2 dashes house cinnamon bitters • 2 dashes orange bitters • Candied kumquats, for garnish
weddings Mountain Brook
A GUIDE TO ALL THINGS WHITE, BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL PHOTO BY REBECCA LONG PHOTOGRAPHY
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Art on Paper
Brides hunting for high-style paper designs can look no further than the internet to connect with local artists, and it comes in the form of Dixie Design Collective. BY TRACEY RECTOR PHOTOS BY ROBIN VERRIER & ALISHA CROSSLEY Few occasions lend themselves to the seamless melding of art and personality as well as a wedding. The ceremony might take place in a house of worship that is in itself an architectural marvel or it might occur outside against a dramatic backdrop of nature such as soaring mountains or a sun-kissed meadow, a scene that is worthy to be the subject of a fine oil landscape painting. Music might range
from the regal strains of a pipe organ playing Handel to the exuberant dance music at the reception. Gorgeous flowers, ancient readings and modern poetry provide more opportunities to personalize the artistic elements of the big day. But this idea can extend to paper as well—as a new art-driven stationery line is showing. With their boutique online retail offerings, Dixie Design
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Dixie Designs Creative Director Holly Hollon (left) and Owner Jennifer Hunt (right) with etiquette expert Myka Meier at a luncheon to kick off their wedding stationery line.
process of seeking out artists whose work she felt would satisfy the lofty standards Jennifer had set for Dixie Design Collective. The company currently works with more than NECESSITY: THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION 20 designers from as close as Birmingham to as far away as Seattle and South Africa. Jennifer offers high praise for Jennifer Hunt, a Russellville native who has called Holly’s eye for talent. “Holly has her thumb on that creative Mountain Brook home for 11 years, founded Dixie Design world,” she says. As a result, the two women have been Collective in 2015 after she became frustrated in her search able to attract many sought-after artists to create exclusive for the perfect Christmas card. Although Jennifer’s degree artwork for stationery products from holiday cards to birth said “accounting,” her heart said “art,” which resulted in announcements to invitations. her running her own art gallery that specialized in GOING TO THE CHAPEL photography before venturing into the world of paper. When Jennifer couldn’t find a card that reflected the Once the company launched and orders for Christmas artistic aesthetic she had in mind, she drew on that experience in the art world and took matters into her own cards started pouring in, the move to offer wedding hands. Dixie Design Collective, named after her beloved invitations and other bridal stationery seemed like a natural progression. Jennifer says that after the second childhood pet Boston Terrier, was born. One of Jennifer’s first moves was to approach Holly year of holiday sales, she realized, “Okay, we have all of Hollon, a local calligrapher and graphic designer whose these wonderful everyday items, we have our holiday work Jennifer had long admired, about joining her new products, but when you think of paper, you think of venture. Holly recalls their first meeting with a laugh. “I weddings. We loved what we offered in all those other wasn’t even sure why she wanted to meet with me, and I categories, but wedding was missing.” Launching the wedding collection was a huge certainly wasn’t looking to take on more responsibility, but undertaking to identify designers who could bring their she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer!” When Holly signed on as creative director, she began the strengths to invitations that were frame-worthy for a Collective connects style-conscious brides with designs by well-known artists.
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Photo by Mary Margaret Smith
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bride’s special day. After working for months, the line was officially introduced in August 2017 with a two-day event that included an evening launch party featuring wedding stationerythemed tablescapes and then an Etiquette and Entrepreneurship luncheon the next day for the creative career woman. Both events featured Myka Meier, etiquette director at the Plaza Hotel in New York and founder of Beaumont Etiquette, a top etiquette consulting firm. Jennifer and Holly, firm believers in the importance of proper etiquette, are happy to help direct a bride who’s uncertain with questions that may arise concerning wedding invitations. “Etiquette can seem so stuffy and unapproachable, but it doesn’t have to be,” Jennifer says. Both ladies believe that social rules don’t have to be intimidating, and they welcome opportunities to lessen the stress that already nervous brides might be feeling. ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL WEDDING STATIONERY Dixie Design Collective offers couples the opportunity to “brand” their special day with a seamless, unified theme throughout all their wedding stationery. Each wedding suite is composed of just about every piece of wedding paper imaginable. Holly notes that their typical bride is one with “high style expectations but also wants to work within a budget.” The quick turnaround on orders is a bonus, too. Jennifer and Holly both agree that one of the most exciting things about Dixie Design Collective’s wedding stationery is the opportunity for brides to have an artist’s exclusive designs at 38 MountainBrookMagazine.com
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TRENDS AND TRADITIONS Tips from Dixie Design Collective’s Creative Director Holly Hollon
Couples today are feeling more confident in their decisions to break free from many long-held wedding traditions, but Holly cautions against getting too carried away when it comes to wedding stationery. Nothing worse for a bride, she says, than “looking back on her wedding five or 10 years from now and thinking, ‘Gosh, I hate that I did that.’” With that in mind, Holly recommends: • Keeping the actual invitation fairly classic. Traditional wording will stand the test of time. Be sure to use both inner and outer envelopes, which help keep the invitation looking fresh. • Adding a fun pattern to your envelope liner. Here is where it’s okay to express yourself a little more. • Experimenting with wedding suites that contain watercolor elements. This is a current trend that feels both timeless and contemporary. • Allowing a bit more personality to shine through other wedding papers. Save-thedates, menus, programs and wedding weekend details are all areas where it’s easier to use less formal language and fun details that might not be suitable for an invitation.
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non-custom prices. All of the designers are artists who already have an impressive portfolio in graphic design and art, and they are carefully selected to bring something new and fresh to a typically traditional market. Jennifer is adamant: “It has to look hand-made. We want ours to have a custom and unique feel to it, even though it’s semi-custom.” Jennifer admits that she prefers the freedom of online retail to the traditional brick-and-mortar stores. With an appealingly clean and easy-to-navigate website, the products are simple to find, and advertising comes through the
testimonials and recommendations of satisfied customers. For online retail, she says, social media, bloggers and influencers are the best form of advertisement. For Jennifer, Dixie Design Collective combines two passions, art and paper, into a product sure to please the discerning customer. For brides overwhelmed at the sheer number of choices for wedding invitations, Dixie Design Collective provides one-stop shopping for their paper needs—and all the more so for their desire for artist expression.
WEDDINGS
PRODUCED BY MADOLINE MARKHAM & EMILY SPARACINO | PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD
1. SUSAN GORDON POTTERY ABSTRACT BOWL
Edged in 22-karat gold, this handmade bowl is crafted in Birmingham and can be used for serving food or styling on a bookcase, or all of the above. The line of serving pieces and china is available in 25 colors, including this dark grey. $182 Chickadee, Cahaba Heights
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2. GOLDEN AGNATE PITCHER
Beautiful but not breakable, this brass pitcher boats a stunning stone on its handle to serve up beverages with on-trend style. $110 Lamb’s Ears, Crestline Village
3. INTERTWINED HEART ENGRAVED SERVER SET
Make not just your wedding cake cutting special but also future cake-worthy celebrations with this elegant personalized set. $130 plus engraving fee Things Remembered, Riverchase Galleria
4. WHITE HYDRANGEA CREAM AND SUGAR SET
More and more brides are registering for this everyday pattern by MudPie. They love its versatility. After all, white goes with anything. $42 Davis Drug Gift Shop, Columbiana
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WEDDINGS 5. JCHARLES CRYSTALWORKS MONOGRAMMED GLASSES
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Pick your glasses of choice and make them your own with an etched monogram with a font of your choosing. The most popular are the old fashioned, beer mugs, whiskey decanter and wine decanter. Highball Glass $31.96-$52.95, Whiskey Glass $35.95-65.95 The Blue Willow, Cahaba Heights
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6. MUDPIE MONOGRAMMED INITIAL BLANKET
Test out your new last initial with this cozy blanket. The neutral pattern goes with just about any color scheme you might have in your new home. $40 Gifted, Pelham
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7. TINA FREY ICE BUCKET AND SCOOP
Not your typical ice bucket, this one is handmade of resin in San Francisco and has a modern flair. You can also put a champagne or wine bottle in it, or buy a larger champagne or double champagne size with the same look. $127 bucket, $44 scoop A’Mano, Mountain Brook Village
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8. COOL GREY GOURD LAMP
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In addition to more traditional items, brides often like to register for several lamps to furnish their homes. This neutral-colored model, also available in sandstone, comes with an affordable price tag. $128 The Dande Lion, Mountain Brook Village
9. CALLISTO CREAM DECORATIVE PILLOW
Brides like to mix and match bedding ensembles for their registries and tie together the look with a fun accent pillow to go front and center. $372 Three Sheets, Homewood
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10. ROUND BREAD BOARD
This oversized piece makes a statement on your table and gives you an excuse to fill it with breads and cheese—or lots of other entertaining ideas you can find inspiration for in the book Bites on a Board ($24.99). $35 At Home, Homewood
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WEDDINGS 11. OVAL POTTERY TRAY
This serving piece by potter Jessie Schroeder Voss is like having a piece of art in your home that you can also serve chips and dips or cheese balls on. Plus, it’s safe for the microwave, dishwasher and oven. $45 The Cook Store, Mountain Brook Village
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12. EST. 2017 PICTURE FRAME
When those beautiful wedding day photos come in, you’ll have a piece of art ready for your wall with this shiplap-style frame. Bonus: You won’t forget your anniversary year. $54 Magnolias, Chelsea
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13. SILVER WINE AND CHAMPAGNE COASTER
This antique English piece will never go out of style. Setting your wine bottle in it adds elegance to any table or party. $285 Henhouse Antiques, English Village
As you prepare for your wedding day, don't forget to consider where you will live to start your new life together! If buying your first home is in your near future, check out my tips for a smooth transaction: Decide what you can afford. It’s no secret that one of the first steps in the home-buying process is deciding what exactly you can afford in a home. Don’t consider what you may be able to afford in the future. Research the neighborhood. If possible, drive or walk through the neighborhood you’re considering to determine if you can see yourself living in this area. Remember that photos will always show a neighborhood in its best light, so don’t blindly trust what you see on the screen. Get a home inspection. Evaluating needed repairs and renovations raises the need for a professional inspection. While you may be able to determine surface issues, an inspection can get down to the root of any potential problems
Cindy is without a doubt the best realtor we could have worked with. She helped us every step of the way and we would have been lost with out her help. She's a fantastic communicator, and truly put our needs and desires at the forefront of our home search!
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Cell: 205-229-2774 cedmunds@arcrealtyco.com www.cindyedmunds.com
WEDDINGS 14. BEATRIZ BALL ANTLER PLATTER
Make a statement on with this wood-andsilver design. After all, antlers are not just trending wedding decor but also in home décor. $129 Busy Hands, Columbiana
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15. PHILIPPE DESHOIULDIERS ARCADES GREEN PLATES
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Brides often select a white china set with a patterned salad plate like this French porcelain design as an accent for their table settings. $95 dinner plate, $85 salad plate Bromberg’s, Mountain Brook Village & The Summit
16. ALICE AND EVANS OYSTER NESTING BOWL AND SERVING PLATE
Made in Maine, these unique entertaining pieces add flair to pair with your everyday white. Pictured are the small bowl in the Abelone and Tortoise pattern and the large plate in Mint and Charcoal. $80 bowl, $98 plate Table Matters, Mountain Brook Village
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Couture
CUTS
What’s Trending in Bridal Fashion BY EMILY SPARACINO & MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
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Rivini Classy
3D Floral Embellishments
Cathy Kelley says she saw a lot of cut fabric, embroidery and other florals in a 3D format while at market in New York City in October. Trends she sees at market typically take a couple of years to trickle down to Birmingham, but she’s ordered some dresses in this style for 2018. She also sees light applique beading coming back on trend but that it’s distinct of the other 3D florals. Cathy Kelley The White Room, Mountain Brook Village
Anne Barge Camelot
Off-the-Shoulder Silhouettes
This feminine neckline creates a minimally sexy look and gives a more open style than V-neck or strapless. Interest at the neckline helps make a dress feel distinctly bridal on styles with clean lines. Sloane Jones Ivory & White, Crestline Village
No Lace, Please
Instead of lace, brides are favoring bead work or plain crepe chiffon and satins, with sleeker clean lines and materials that hug a bride’s body nicely. Many still have more traditional long trains and pretty buttons. Danielle Spiller Bridal Bliss, Homewood
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Pronovias Palencia
Ti Adora Spring 2017
Boho Beautiful
Brides are often drawn to the carefree and simplistic feel of the style with their signature sleeves.Often they boast interesting back details and soft, lightweight fabrics perfect for brides wantinga casual yet elegant outdoor wedding. Colleen Hopwood Bella Couture, Mt Laurel
Heidi Elnora Keeley
Horsehair
Okay, it’s not really horsehair—it’s a braid of synthetic fibers woven together that gives more body and shape to the hem. At Heidi Elnora’s shop, they say it gives the skirt a “whoosh whoosh” effect. Elizabeth Singleton Heidi Elnora, Downtown
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Heidi Elnora Mary Jane Darling
Heidi Elnora Shelby Rae
Nude Underlining
Lining a dress with a nude color adds interest to a traditional white or ivory dress, with the extra layer of dimension making the details of the lace/beading overlay pop. Heidi Elnora’s Shelby Rae similarly shows off its Swiss dot overlay and lace applique details, and Mary Jane Darling’s nude base underlay showcases the intricate details of its corded lace. Elizabeth Singleton Heidi Elnora, Downtown
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What Not to Wear
A Style Guide for Wedding Guests BY MADOLINE MARKHAM
Style coach Megan LaRussa Chenoweth frequently gets asked for advice on what to wear—and not wear— to weddings.
Follow the Dress Code
What do I wear to a barn wedding? How do I dress up for a black tie affair when it’s cold outside? We’re always asking friends and Google what we should wear to weddings, so we turned to style coach Megan LaRussa Chenoweth for some answers and style inspiration for our 2018 weddings. We like her perspective: “The whole point of fashion is to have fun so when you are getting ready for that event, you are excited to go and feel festive and enjoy yourself more.” Read on for more tips and ideas from Megan on how to dress to feel comfortable and confident.
One of the biggest things I see is clients is wondering how dressy they should be for a cocktail or a black tie wedding because things have gotten so much more casual. I know it’s so easy to wear something that’s not quite black tie, but stick to the dress code.
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Style Rules Leave White for the Bride
Forget the Pantyhose
I think the rule not to wear white still applies. I still don’t think it’s ever appropriate unless the bride requests everyone to wear white because it’s her special day to do so. If your dress has white in the print or texture, that’s okay.
Hose are dated, and unless you are Kate Middleton, it’s not necessarily your friend. A lot of my clients say, “But my legs are pale or have spider veins,” so I recommend using a sunless tanner or a spray tan if that makes you feel better.
But what do I wear to THIS wedding? Time of Day Afternoon
I think a nice church kind of dress is typically appropriate, unless the invitation states otherwise. A great nude pump is always good, or a sleek wedge.
Venue
Early Evening
This is typically cocktail attire. You don’t have to go full bedazzled and sequined, but definitely wear a nice cocktail dress and a strappier sandal heel.
Barn or Farm
Go with a dress that’s more relaxed looking, maybe it’s a floral or flowy. A block heel sandal or sleek wedge works well because it won’t sink into the ground.
Modern Venue
Wear something that’s sleek and chic, fits that vibe and is a nod to the venue. It will help you feel more confident when you get there because you will fit in more.
Country Club or Similar Venue
Black Tie
I really encourage people to go long. But you can also choose a really dressy cocktail dress, maybe one that’s tea length to elevate it.
Do something that suits your personal style. You can think outside the box so it’s not just your same black lace dress.
Essentials for Your Wardrobe Keep these dressy staples on hand so even if you wait until the last minute to pick out a dress, getting dressed for an event is so much easier.
Evening Shoes
I love to get my clients one evening shoe they can wear with everything, typically a strappy muted metallic because it will really go with every color. If you have basics like a nude pump on hand, when a wedding or special event arises, you aren’t asking, “What shoe am I going to wear?” You already have one.
Pashmina Wrap
One of my favorite tricks for colder weather is a black cashmere pashmina. It’s something great to have on hand to keep you warm, and it’s also good for travel.
Clutch
It’s important to leave our everyday bags at home and invest in one clutch or small shoulder bag. It pulls your whole look together and can really elevate it. A black or muted metallic color and a clean and minimal design are typically the most versatile. MountainBrookMagazine.com 53
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1. How do I keep from freezing when it’s cold outside? If it’s an afternoon wedding or outdoors, black opaque tights can be totally fine if it’s the right dress. Pair it with a closed-toe black shoe to continue that vertical visual line. For cocktail and black tie unless it’s an outdoor wedding, I think it’s best to wear a coat and go from the car to the venue and grin and bear it. A lot of my clients have really loved doing a cape, maybe with a fur trim.
2. What are some ideas to try a different look? A jumpsuit can be a really fun wedding alternative. Maybe it’s sequined or velvet,
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FAQs That Keep Us Wondering maybe it’s a thicker silk. Rent the Runway, an online fashion rental company, is a great opportunity for experimenting because you can do something you wouldn’t necessarily buy or want to wear one time.
accessories and dress it up or dress it down. Maybe you can put a great pendant necklace with it, maybe a statement earring and cuff, maybe fun shoe—things that will make it feel fresh so you are not wearing the same thing to every wedding.
3. If I’m going to try to only buy one or two dresses, what should I look for?
4. Can I re-wear a dress around a similar crowd?
I have a lot of clients who will go with a black cocktail dress that is a medium/ all-season fabric so they can wear it all year round. Or it could be navy or a beautiful fuchsia. Picking a seasonless color and material can give you that one-and-done dress if you don’t go to that many weddings. You can change up the entire look with
It depends on how long it’s been and how big of an event it is. If it’s a memorable dress and the same group of people a month apart, it’s nice to have two options, or to have one and rent the other. If you are going to a wedding in November and another one in May and it’s an all-season dress, then by all means wear it again.
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Collier Harrington March 4, 2017 PHOTOS BY MANDY BUSBY
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How We Met: Cooper and I (Caroline) became friends at Briarwood High School. He asked me to prom and we dated for a few months before he went off to college and we parted as friends. My dad’s nowfamous words were, “He’ll be back!” And he was. We reconnected my freshman year of college while I was at Auburn and Cooper was playing football at Southern Miss. The Wedding Dress: I studied abroad in Europe the summer before my senior year of college. Cooper and I were seriously dating, but there was no talk of a
ring in the near future. On a weekend trip to London, my friends and I happened upon a pretty vintage shop. I reached for the only white dress in the whole store, and the owner said it was a custom dress from the 1950s. Because it was designed for a specific person, I was amazed that it fit me perfectly! I swore the friends I was with to secrecy and snuck it home in a suit bag under the guise that it was bedding. I didn’t find out it was Balmain until I was having it bustled for our wedding. Favorite Detail: I wanted to go for something different for the bridesmaids
WEDDINGS dresses, and having majored in apparel design at Auburn, I designed them myself! I chose to make a relaxed fit jumpsuit that had a similar look to a traditional bridesmaids dress but would let my bridesmaids dance the night away. Favorite Moment: When Cooper and I walked out of the chapel together in our first moments as husband and wife! When I look back at the pictures now, I see the relief and sheer joy we felt so perfectly captured. After so much anticipation for the months leading up to the wedding and nervous energy the day of, we finally shared a name.
Wedding Venues: Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Mountain Brook Club Wedding Planner: Kalee Baker Florist: Kathy Miller Caterer: Mountain Brook Club Cake: Pen and Pastry Videographer: Connor King Invitations: Holly Hollon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Caroline Harrington Hair and Makeup: Holly Craft, Mark Hyde Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Mr Burch Formal Wear Music: Azz Izz Band Transportation: Rare Transportation
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Thompson McCollister May 13, 2017 PHOTOS BY M FEHR PHOTOGRAPHY
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How We Met: We met at Furman University and dated for a year, and we reconnected three years ago and dated across three states (Colorado, Georgia and Montana). Early on we both knew the other was the one we wanted to marry, but it took countless hours of phone conversations, miles upon miles of driving and expensive plane tickets before admitting it. The Proposal: Matthew proposed to me (Brittany) with the same ring his grandpa had asked his grandma to marry him with when they were 16 and 18. I got
to surprise Matthew with his grandpa’s matching wedding band on our wedding day. Favorite Moment: We wanted to spend part of our wedding celebration doing what we love the most, playing outdoors, so we planned a picnic on the Cahaba River with our guests before the wedding. The river is one of the few areas in the world where you can see the Cahaba lily, and the river shoals were covered in its delicate white blooms. Favorite Details: Matthew’s mom provided us a dream setting with her
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home and garden for a small, elegant and romantic ceremony surrounded by our very nearest and dearest friends and family, including our squirrel dog, Hoke. From the delicious wedding cake designed by Matthew’s stepmom to the stunning flowers by our family friend that included foliage from both of Matthew’s parents’ gardens to the custom cocktails mixed by our brothers, we felt very loved with a wedding more beautiful and personal than we could have imagined.
Venue: Garden and Home of Ed and Mary Finch (mother of the groom) Décor: Interior Designer Mary Finch Flowers: Jan Miller Caterer: Shindigs Catering Cake: Gia McCollister
Invitations: Red Bird Paper Co. Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero Meryl Hair: Harbuck Salon Music: Birmingham String Quartet Rings: Custom design from family heirlooms by Rosaria Varra, Miami
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Pitts Forster May 13, 2017
PHOTOS BY CATHRINE TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
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How We Met: Brennan was at Dawg House Saloon in Nashville giving the “thumbs up/down” on a guy her friend was starting to date. Matthew was there grabbing drinks with his roommates after a local concert. They were introduced but Brennan quickly turned her attention to interrogating her friend’s date. The next day Brennan started to hear that “this cute guy at the bar” was asking her friend a lot of questions about her. Going against her own rule of waiting until the guy asked you to be friends on Facebook, she sent Matthew a friend request. The two had
their first date soon after. The Proposal: Matthew began coordinating with his brother and friends leading up to the proposal so they could take pictures at Red Pony in Franklin. That night as he and Brennan started approaching the planned spot, Matthew noticed a couple walking right where he would be kneeling. Realizing he was going to miss the opportunity for pictures, he grabbed Brennan’s arm and got down on one knee. Brennan was shocked and speechless. After coming down from cloud nine, she finally said yes!
WEDDINGS The Wedding Dress: Brennan’s favorite part of the Kate McDonald McCants gown was it had POCKETS! Favorite Details: Brennan’s bouquet featured an antique pin given to her by Matthew’s mother, Helen, during the first Christmas she spent with the Forster family. It was the first pin Helen’s mother had given her when she was a girl, and it meant so much to both families because Helen’s mother had passed away a month before the wedding. The bouquet also featured lace from Brennan’s mother’s wedding dress hand-beaded by her late grandmother.
Venues: First United Methodist Church, B&A Warehouse Florist/Designer: Van and Michelle Johnson Caterer: B&A Warehouse Cake: Barb’s Cakes Videographer: Openview Weddings Invitations: Designed by mother
of the bride Wedding Dress: Ivory & White Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup: Katina Carter Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A Bank Music: East Cost Entertainment, We Got The Beat
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Ernstberger Hiltz
September 16, 2017 PHOTOS BY LEAH GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY
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The Proposal: Our proposal story was (unbeknownst to me (Lizzie)) almost a year in the making by the time it actually happened. Tommy booked our flights and mentioned the possibility of an “international work trip,” but I didn’t think anything about it. In the end, I was not expecting that the work conference would be anywhere exciting, and then he pulled out a flier with a giant Eiffel Tower on the front. He schemed with a colleague to make several pages of fake fliers and even had a female colleague email me about the dress code for a big company
dinner scheduled for our first night in Paris. We arrived in Paris and spent a few hours sightseeing near our hotel before it was time to get ready for our “company dinner.” I remember thinking it was so bizarre that he wanted to look at Notre Dame from the river right before the company dinner when we were already running late. The next thing I knew, he was down on one knee! There was a passenger barge on the river right behind us that was cheering and shouting their congratulations. I was so excited to learn that it was actually a trip for just the two of
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us and we’d have a week in Paris to spend as a newly engaged couple. Favorite Moments: I was so nervous walking in at the beginning of the service that I could barely tell who was in the church, but at the end walking down the aisle, it was so exciting and humbling to see so many of our family and friends celebrating with us. The entire day is such a blur, and walking down that long aisle forces you to be in the moment and really soak in one of the happiest times of your entire life.
Venues: First United Methodist Church, Gadsden Country Club Florist: Attalla Florist, Benny Campbell Caterer: Gadsden Country Club Cake: Cakes by Lorraine Videographer: Fractal Image Invitations: Peppermint Pony
Calligraphy: Robin Wilson Wedding Dress: Vera Wang Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang Hair and Makeup: Kaitlin Nixon Ceremony Music: Benny McNair Reception Band: Trotline Draping and Linens: Top Notch
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Drake Mapoles April 1, 2017
PHOTOS BY REBECCA LONG PHOTOGRAPHY
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How We Met: My (Elizabeth) best friend growing up from Mountain Brook, Libby, attended Texas Christian University, where she was roommates with Eric’s good friend from Snellville, Georgia. While we were away at school, Libby and I still talked all the time, so she would occasionally mention how similar she thought Eric and I were. I didn’t think much of it! After our junior years in college, Libby and our closest friends from home took a beach trip. The whole week Libby talked about how Eric and I had to meet! So when we headed back to
Birmingham, we decided to pass through Atlanta and Eric met us in the city. He came to Birmingham the next weekend, when Libby and I were being presented at the Ball of Roses. After that, we had definitely hit it off! He called the next week to ask if he could drive to Auburn to take me on a date. The Wedding Dress: Carriage House was my first appointment. I described my ideal dress to the consultant, but she knew better. With my petite figure, she selected the exact opposite dress to try. It was strapless, slightly fitted and all lace. As
WEDDINGS soon as I put it on, I fell in love. As the consultant placed a veil in my hair, my mom and I teared up. I can’t believe it was the very first dress I had put on that day. Favorite Moment: Our ceremony at sunset was my favorite. Not only was it so sweet to say our vows while looking out at all of the precious people in our lives, but the setting was SO gorgeous. God blessed us with the most beautiful weather that day. The Sonnet House team captured my vision flawlessly with blush and white peonies, roses and hydrangeas that created such a sweet, romantic feel.
Venue: The Sonnet House Florist: The Sonnet House Caterer: The Sonnet House Cake:Â Pastry Art Invitations: The Scribbler Wedding Dress: Carriage House Weddings Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Hair and Makeup: Irrelephant Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank Music: Z and the Party Faktory Flower Girl and Junior Bridesmaids Dresses: The Smocking Bird Beverages: The Western Accommodations: The Redmont Hotel
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Rives
Lloyd
August 5, 2017 PHOTOS BY MEREDITH TEASLEY
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How We Met: JD and I (Keaton) had mutual friends within the same friend group at Redeemer Community Church. One Sunday after church, we all went to El Cazador Mexican restaurant, where we ended up meeting. But our first date happened more than two years later. The Proposal: JD proposed on the one-year anniversary of our first date. I wasn’t expecting it because my best friend got engaged the very night before. We spent the day doing all sorts of fun stuff from our first year of dating. He proposed at my house while we were dancing to
“our” song that would later be our first dance. I love to be twirled, so he spun me around a couple of times. When I came around the last time, he was down on one knee! We headed to dinner at GianMarco’s, and when we arrived, all our family was there. Favorite Moment: When I pied JD in the face with a mini-pie at the urging of one of his groomsmen. Getting pied is an inside joke with JD and his friends, and they went wild when I did it during the cake cutting. It caught him totally off guard, but he couldn’t help but laugh.
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Favorite Details: My sweet sister designed the invitations and addressed all the envelopes in her amazing calligraphy. Her elegant work and selfless effort perfectly encapsulate how beautiful everything was and how loved we felt during this amazing season. And we thought we had a cute hashtag, #OhLloydGettinMarried. The Dress: The Martina Liana gown was fit-and-flare style with hand-cut lace over dolce satin. JD stepped on it a lot during the reception. The veil was worn by my mother in her wedding 37 years ago.
Venues: Forest Hills Baptist Church, Hillwood Country Club, Nashville Wedding Planner: Marsha Husband Florist: Jennifer Solesby Caterer: Hillwood Country Club Cake: Dessert Designs by Leland of Nashville
Invitation Design & Calligraphy: Lauren Rives (bride’s sister) Wedding Dress: Ivory & White Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup: Cindy Wood Music: Eric Blue Band Transportation: Matchless Transportation
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Galloway Rector September 10, 2016 PHOTOS BY DEE MOORE
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How We Met: It all goes back to the third grade when Mark and I (Anne) were in the same class at Cherokee Bend Elementary School. At Mountain Brook High School, we had the same group of friends, and after countless study sessions, free periods spent together and being his “jersey girl,” we finally started dating at the end of our senior year. The Proposal: Mark proposed in the spring of our senior year of college at Furman University, after an afternoon hike up in Cloudland Canyon where we were celebrating four years of dating.
Favorite Details: Our wedding party consisted many friends from high school and college, 28 to be exact. I was also attended by a cloud of junior bridesmaids and flower girls, all cousins of Mark and mine. What made this wedding so special were the personal touches by family and friends. We had several showers and dinner parties during our five-month engagement period. I wore a family veil of Brussels lace that was worn by my mother and aunt, and my friend Ivy Israel sang “You Have Called Me Higher” by All Sons and Daughters during the ceremony.
WEDDINGS Favorite Moments: Special to me was the bridesmaids’ luncheon hosted by my mother’s friends (who were all bridesmaids in my parents’ wedding) at the home of my maternal grandparents. The groom’s family hosted a lovely after rehearsal dinner at Vulcan, giving out-of-town guests a beautiful view of the city. The morning of the wedding, the groom, along with all our out-of-town guests, enjoyed breakfast at Demetri’s BBQ, a favorite restaurant of ours.
Venues: Mountain Brook Community Church, Mountain Brook Club Florist: Friends of the bride’s mother Bride’s Cake: Olexa’s Groom’s Cake: Edgar’s Bakery Invitations: The Scribbler Bridesmaids Dresses: Bridesmaid’s Inc. Hair: Lynze Bandy Makeup: Brooke Warren,
cousin of the groom Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Mr Burch Formal Wear Ceremony Music: Sarah and Will Mason, Ivy Israel Reception Band: Live Exchange Party Band Registries: Bromberg’s, The Cook Store of Mountain Brook, Table Matters
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Meelheim Heath March 4, 2017 PHOTOS BY SWEET JULEP PHOTOGRAPHY
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How We Met: Meredith and Jonathan met at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo the summer they were 14. They lost touch when Meredith left for college in 2010, and Jonathan moved to South Alabama to pursue his career in forestry. In 2014 they reconnected via social media, and Jonathan drove up to Birmingham to take Meredith on a date. The Proposal: Meredith and Jonathan were attending a New Year’s Eve party at a friend’s lake house when he asked if she wanted to go down to the water and spend some time on the dock,
away from the crowd. They did just that and talked about how beautiful the lake and the starry night sky were. Jonathan told Meredith how the lake had been custom built to be in the shape of an elephant’s head (Roll Tide!). Finally, Jonathan put down his drink and pulled Meredith close, saying he had wanted to wait until midnight, but just could not wait any longer. He pulled a pretty white box, got down on one knee and asked Meredith to marry him. She said yes! They kissed and returned to the party to show off the ring and began sharing the news
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with friends and family. Favorite Moment: Meredith and Jonathan rode away on a large 1960 Seagrave aerial ladder fire truck. Meredith surprised Jonathan with the firetruck because he is a wild land firefighter. Favorite Details: Meredith wore her mother’s veil and was married in the same sanctuary where her mother and father married 30 years ago. The cake topper was the same one first used on her maternal grandmother and grandfather’s wedding cake, and has been used in many family weddings since.
Venues: Canterbury United Methodist Church, Avon Theater Florist: Cece Designs Caterer: Savoie Catering Cake: Magic Muffins Invitations: Minted Wedding Dress: Bella’s Bridal & Formal Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup: Rawwbeauty Groom/Groomsmen Attire:
Mr Burch Formal Wear Ceremony Organist: Lester Seigel Reception DJ: On-Site Productions Transportation: Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association Day-Of Coordination: GoPro Event Solutions Lighting and Drapery: On-Site Productions
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Clifton Geiger April 1, 2017 PHOTOS BY ALISHA CROSSLEY
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How We Met: Will and I (Leigh Ann) met through my best friend Casey who worked with Will in 2007. We dated for a few months, but then amicably went our separate ways. I spent some time as a travel nurse, and then Will moved to Winston Salem, North Carolina, for work. When Will moved back to Birmingham in 2015, I decided to reach out to him on Facebook (or as Will puts it, stalk him on Facebook) and ask him to dinner. We’ve been together ever since. The Proposal: We were at Will’s house about to go eat dinner when he
came into the room, and handed me a box and said, “I’ve got something for you.” I opened it to find a beautiful new Bible that had what would be my new name, Leigh Ann Geiger, engraved on the front. I knew immediately what that meant, and I burst into tears while Will pulled out the ring, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were so excited to tell our family and friends we immediately got in the car to go tell everyone we could. Favorite Details: Will’s favorite detail was his groom’s cake. He loves books and picked out some of his favorites
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to look like a stack of books. My favorite detail was my bouquet—I cried when I saw it. Favorite Moments: Will’s favorite moment of the day was getting announced as Mr. and Mrs. William Price Geiger at the end of the ceremony. My favorite moment of the day was our first look. It was so great to see him and show him my dress. It helped me relax a lot to be able to be with him.
Venues: Chapel at Children’s Harbor, Willow Point Country Club Wedding Planner: Meghan Cease, M. Elizabeth Events Florist: Evan Cooper, Evan and Co. Caterer: Willow Point Country Club Cake: Barb’s Cakes Videographer: Lance Holloway, Holloway Productions Invitations: Anabelle’s Calligraphy: Grace Calligraphy Wedding Dress: Bridals by Lori, Atlanta
Bridesmaid Dresses: Fit for a Queen, Atlanta Hair and Makeup: Ashley Vines Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A Bank, Brooks Brothers Ceremony Music: Hunter Goff, Viktor Dulguerov Reception: Trotline, booked through The Music Garden Rentals: Brendle Rentals Lighting: AG Lighting
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Given Peck
April 1, 2017 PHOTOS BY HOLLAND WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
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The Proposal: Caroline met Brennan for a “photoshoot” for his custom men’s clothing company, Hartbrook Clothier. He was modeling a white dinner jacket for Hartbrook’s wedding packaging promotion. When the photographer asked her to straighten Brennan’s bow tie, he got down on one knee and proposed. He gave her his great-grandmother’s 100- year-old engagement ring before heading to a surprise celebration at his house with their family and friends. Favorite Moments: Caroline’s favorite part of the ceremony was just
after she and Brennan said their vows, their wedding party and parents laid hands over them and prayed for their marriage and future, as their vocalists sang “God Be in my Head.” Her favorite part of their reception was when the band led all guests to serenade the couple with Neil Diamond’s, “Sweet Caroline,” while she and Brennan sang along on stage. They toasted each other and their new marriage and sipped champagne from a sterling wedding cup that has been used in other family members’ weddings with their wedding dates engraved in it. At the
WEDDINGS end of the night, they left the reception under a canopy of rose petals in Caroline’s family boat under a full moon. Favorite Details: Caroline was the fourth bride to wear her heirloom wedding gown, a runway dress made in Como, Italy. Her grandmother’s best friend wore it in 1952, and then her grandmother in 1954 and her mom in 1986. The wedding cake had six different flavors, and the icing resembled the lace in the bride’s dress and veil. Brennan requested three favorite pies that were his grandmother’s recipes in lieu of a traditional groom’s cake.
Venues: Church in the Pines, Willow Point Golf & Country Club, Lake Martin. Rehearsal Dinner: Springhouse Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Groom & Groomsman Attire: Hartbrook Clothier Hair & Makeup: Kaitlin Nixon & Team Florist: Sarah Peinhardt Videographer: By Chance Productions Cake: Magic Muffin Tents: PreEvents Lighting: Design Productions
Cocktail Hour Music: Skipper Stradtman and John Canada Reception Band: Musical Fantasy Invitations: Of the Earth, Village Press Calligraphy: Melinda Sapp Save the Date Design: Emily Bailey Save the Date Printing: The Scribbler Ceremony Music: Shades Creek Chamber Players Flower Girl Dresses: The Lily Pad Transportation: Mathan Holt
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Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce C O N N E C T I O N S
Photo by Major Colbert
Congrats
to our 2017 Alabama Retailers of the Year Please Reply, Villager Yoga & Western Supermar​kets Not pictured: Ousler’s, Centennial Award Winner
New Member Spotlight -
Galleria Woods Retirement Community beaute therapie Sain Associates, Inc. ALL IN Mountain Brook
Welcome New Gold Member American Family Care
2018 Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon Tuesday, January 23rd 11:00-1:00 Grand Bohemian Hotel
Presented by American Family Care Sponsored by Realty South - Mountain Brook Village and Regions Bank Dr. Neal Berte - Jemison Visionary Award Winner Dr. Sue DeBrecht - William Tynes Award Winner Purchase your tickets now at mtnbrookchamber.org.
Welcome, Dr. Cal Dodson! 2018 Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Board President
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Happenings Around Town Snapshots from Recent Chamber Events October 19 Root to Tail Ribbon Cutting
Around the Villages Holiday Open Houses
November 8 Chamber Luncheon Featuring Dan Starnes
Cahaba Village
November 16
November 17
Dr. Mark Maldia Ribbon Cutting
Fair Haven Ribbon Cutting
Crestline Village
November 30
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English Village
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OUT & ABOUT
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MBHS HOMECOMING PARADE
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PHOTOS BY ELEANOR KERR
Floats flooded Crestline leading up to the big football game. 1. Lucy Kerr, Sims Kilgore, Caroline Gillis and Rosemary Cooper 2. Christopher Cutshall and Henson Estes 3. Rosemary Lee and Liz Lee 4. Ann Griswold and Amanda Jones
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5. Mae Dapkus, Sophie Smith, Murrey Dean, Anna Claire Davis and Jenna Flowers 6. Homecoming King Brian Barr 7. Nealy Wyatt, Madison Fagan and Macey Miller 8. Caroline Goings and Mary Allison Anderson 9. Homecoming Queen Mary Alison Turner
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OUT & ABOUT
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MYSTICS OF MOUNTAIN BROOK PARADE
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PHOTOS BY ALICE LUCAS
Steve Shea’s “Glitter Rain” float took home the Grand Champion award at this Halloween tradition in Crestline Village. 1. MBJH Cheerleaders 2. Kelly Torich, Quinn Torich and Tori Applewhite 3. Virginia and Lulu Eady 4. The Disco Amigos 5. The Birmingham Belles 6. Girl Scout Truck 7. Mountain Brook Fire Department 8. Krewe of Que Truck 9. Mountain Brook Sporting Goods
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OUT & ABOUT
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SAM LAPIDUS MONTCLAIR RUN
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PHOTOS BY JACKSON ROSS
This Thanksgiving tradition continued with an early morning run to remember the life of Sam Lapidus at the Levite Jewish Community Center. 1.
Tangmo Techarukpong, Temsup Techarukpong, Surina Techarukpong, Norma Techarukpong and Pichya Nimit
2. Molly and Doug Dunbar with Taylor, Mattox and Eloise
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3. Travis Gibson 4. Jeffrey Musser 5. Richard Brockman, Cissy Brockman, Poug Tilt and Sandy Tilt 6. Christopher Bulka and Andrew Hebboler 7. Kyle Peterson 8. Caitlin and Mark Foley 9. Gaorang and Anil Chadha 10. Scott, Sherri, Callie, Harrison, Bowman and Hader Hill. 11. Kylan and Greg Cook
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What does Excellence in daycare look like?
Clean and Safe facilities
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SEE WHY PARENTS ARE CHOOSING Crestline Village 81 Church Street Suite 102 Mon.-Thurs. 10a.m. - 10p.m. Fri. & Sat. 10a.m. - 11p.m. Mountain Brook Sunday 12p.m. - 8p.m. 205.848.2080
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OUT & ABOUT
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HOLIDAY PARADE WITH SANTA
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PHOTOS BY ALICE LUCAS
Santa stayed after the Holiday Parade in Mountain Brook Village for a photo opp. 1. Henry Hemrick, Gates and Whit Wallace, and Carlisle Hemrick 2. Chase and Hank Cullum 3. Brody Breaden 4. Annie Norton 5. John Clark and Ford Newman 6. Ada, Fletcher and Parks Bennett 7. Courtney Carr 8. Macon Epps and McKay Smith 9. Anne Collie with Santa 10. Murray Claire 11. Tanya Cooper, Suzan Doidge, Dr. Lori Smith and Molly Wallace
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Tickets Start at $15! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Tickets at market pricing.
LEGACY ARENA AT BJCC
JAN 24 – 28 DisneyOnIce.com MountainBrookMagazine.com 85
MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
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PHOTOS BY ALICE LUCAS
Businesses stayed open late for a merry evening of shopping and refreshments. Cahaba Village, Crestline Village and English Village also held similar events. 1. Adam Vaughn and Rebecca Williamson of Holmsted Fines 2. Lee Sewell and Leslie Naff at Marguerite’s Conceits 3. Natalie Wright and Susie McCullough 4. Elizabeth Read, Allison Morgan and Carrie Pittman
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INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $17.68 hour + production & safety $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. PART-TIME TRUCK DRIVER- CLASS A Average $0.53 per mile deliver palletized loads to grocery stores within 300 mile radius. Work available 7 days/week. Can lead to full-time employment. Clean MVR and 2 years minimum tractor-trailer experience required. Paid vacation & holidays. Blue Cross health & dental insurance. Matching 401k plan. Apply online at AGSOUTH.COM or call Charlie Seagle at (205) 808-4833 Preemployment drug test required. Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walkin applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774. B&J_Metal_Fabricators Starting November 1st! Metal roofing and Portable metal buildings Custom sizes available Customize your own!! Montevallo (205)665-4687 (205)296-9988
NOW HIRING DRIVERS •Dump Truck Driver needed for utility contractor. Also needed: •Fuel Truck Driver, HAZMAT required. Apply in person: 276 Snow Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 Call: (205)942-1095 Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007
Bent Creek Apartments. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager. On-site Maintenance. 3001 7th Street. North Canton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) 800-548-2546(T/A) bentcreek@morrowapts. com Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer Birmingham Hide & Tallow Immediate position for CLASS-B ROUTE DRIVERS FOR LOCAL ROUTE. WELLESTABLISHED 100+ YEAR COMPANY NOW HIRING ROUTE DRIVERS. HOME NIGHTS/ WEEKENDS. LOOKING FOR HARD WORKING DRIVERS TO JOIN OUR TEAM. CLEAN MVR/ BG CHECK REQUIRED. COMPETITIVE PAY & BENEFITS: BCBC, 401K, PAID HOLIDAYS/ VACATION, COMPANY FURNISHED UNIFORMS.
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CALL 205-425-1711 OR EMAIL: adria.lupien@ bhtonline.com Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $13/hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com Borden Dairy of Alabama, LLC NOW HIRING for Class B CDL Delivery Drivers at our Irondale, AL Branch. Six Months verifiable experience driving a Commercial Vehicle. Experience in customer service preferred. Go to www.bordendairy.com to apply. (Careers, select location) Borden Dairy of Alabama, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BRIARWOOD APARTMENTS Now Leasing! Beautiful 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments. Mon & Wed 8:30am4pm. 535-A Hicks St. Montevallo • 205-665-2257 • TDD #’s: (V)1-800-548-2547 • (T/A)1-800-548-2546. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Chandler Health & Rehab in Alabaster Alabama Now accepting applications for CNA’s, RN’s, LPN’s, and RN House Supervisor Call Linda White 205-663-3859 Carroll Fulmer Now Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers. Over-the-road positions available. Dry
vans. No hazmat. Must have one year over-theroad. Experience and a clean MVR. Competitive pay and bonus package. Good home time. Call 800-633-9710 ext. 2
Chase Learning Center & Day Care is Pelham is Now Hiring • PT Nursery • PT After-school. $8/hr. 5 days/week. Great for college students! 205-620-1616
Comfort Caregivers • Now Hiring Caregivers New Positions Available Full-time & Part-time •Non-medical Care •Companion/Sitter Services •Personal Care •Homemaker Services View jobs and apply online: www. comfortcarehomehealth. com 205.730.2358
Homewood Area Package Store. Day Shift (10am-6pm) Clerk/Stocker. Must be 21, have retail experience, be able to multi-task, able to work any shift. Good pay. Call (205)585-8900
Coosa Valley Medical Center NOW HIRING! • RN Med/Surg, 7am7pm • RN Labor & Delivery, 11pm-7am 7-on/7-off • LPN CVMC Nursing Home, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7am • RN ICU, 7am-7pm Email resume to: Blaine.Green@cvhealth. net or to apply, go to www.cvhealth.net DCH Health System Caring. For Life. $5,000 *Sign-on Bonus for full time RNs *For More Info Contact Annie.Miller@ dchsystem.com. Apply online at: www.dchsystem.com Full Time and Part Time RN’s Needed for home health in Bibb, Shelby and Chilton counties. Excellent Salary and Benefits. Please send resumes to jobs@rubic.com or call 866-273-3984
Heavy Construction Equipment Dealership In need of an experienced service technician to troubleshoot, test, and repair equipment. Preferred ability to read electrical and hydraulic schematics, must own tools, drug free, valid drivers license, CDL preferred. Offer competitive wages and benefits. Email resume to info@ditchwitchal.com D & G Plumbing Service 2003 4th Ave South Irondale, AL 35210 • Plumbing • Drain Cleaning • Gas Lines 10% Senior Citizen Discount 10% off any service call Call Us Now!! • 205-603-7768 • 205-503-6000 • 205-531-8519 Welder Training. Short Term Licensing . Call for Details . 866-432-0430 ESDschool.com Edgar’s Bakery Interviewing candidates for cake decorators,
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MARKETPLACE front counter associates, bakery production workers, packagers, and drivers. Apply online: edgarsbakery.com or at your nearest Edgar’s location. Job Posting: Human Resource Manager Full-Time File Clerk/Data Entry Clerk Part-Time Please email resume: Oacinc5@yahoo.com Or mail to: Post Office Drawer 559 Clanton, Alabama 35045 EnviroCare Homewood. Lawn, Termite & Pest Techs. Dependable, motivated hardworkers needed. Experience not necessary. Clean MVR, drug screen & background check required. Call 205-940-6361 for Cindy. $2000 SIGN ON BONUS NEW PAY SCALE TO QUALIFYING DRIVERS EVERGREEN TRANSPORT, is accepting applications for local drivers in the Calera and Leeds, AL, area. Must have Class A CDL, good driving record, 1 yr verifiable tractor trailer experience. Good pay and benefits. Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Calera, AL, or call for info 205-668-3316. First Heritage Credit of Alabama, LLC has come to town! Come meet your local agents, Leigh Warren, Ashley Traywick, and Karly Reinhardt for loans of all types; •Personal Loans - Consolidation Loans •Auto Loans - Consumer Retail Loans “Excellence is our Standard” Located at 8919 Hwy 119, Suite 109, Alabaster AL 35007 Call or Apply Online @ 205-620-0664
1stheritagecredit.com •All loans are subject to our normal credit criteria
Please call 205-870-7154 -Equal Opportunity Employer-
NOW HIRING Local Class A & B, CDL Drivers Please call for more information at: 205-352-0524
Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com
ONLINE AUCTIONS www GTAOnlineAuctions.com 205-326-0833 Granger, Thagard & Assoc. Jack F. Granger #873
Now Hiring- CDL Drivers Class A or B. Full & Part-time. Tri-axle dump truck experience helpful. Must pass background check/drug screen. Lake Mitchell Construction 205-755-7264
LPN’s, RN’s, CNA’s Full-time & part-time • 2nd & 3rd Shift Apply in person: Hatley Health Care 300 Medical Ctr Dr Clanton, AL 35045 Looking for a wonderful place to live? NEW Meadow View Village Apartments. Columbiana, AL. Now Pre-leasing 2&3 Bedrooms. Great Amenities Provided. Call 256-560-0821. 99 Eagle Lane. info@hollyhand. com. Equal Housing Opportunity. DRIVERS NEEDED J & M Tank Lines, Inc. Sign On Bonus, Full time. Local & Regional. Consistent Home Time. 18 mo Tractor Trailer Experience. jmtankjobs.com or call Carlos Coleman @ 205-769-3536 CDL TRUCK DRIVER For Tree Service. Also hiring for other full-time and part-time jobs. Drug Test Required. 205-836-2038 or 205-229-7144 Kelly Educational Staffing® We’re hiring! •Substitute teachers •Aides •Cafeteria •Clerical •Custodial positions Shelby County School District & Alabaster City Schools.
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QUICK LUBE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATE OPENINGS- Fulltime or Part-time opportunity to work at theoldest & largest Ford/LincolnDealership in Alabama! LongLewis Ford Lincoln is seeking qualified oil/tire technicians to join our busy Quick Lane! Join our team of technicians and earn top dollar for production! We offer the best training in the area, state of art facility, fast paced shop, team building, support from the top, great pay and benefits. Job duties: oil change, brakes, tires, rotation, alignment and coolants. Job experience is helpful, but some automotive work would be acceptable. We can train! Call 205-989-3710 to schedule an appointment- no walk ins please. WE ARE HIRING NOW! EOE NOW HIRING Haul Truck Drivers with 3-5 years experience in medium to heavy duty diesel trucks, 50 hour work week, Competitive bonus structure, Plus benefits Email or Call Nick at: 607-972-3205 ngregg@ stny.rr.com
Service Technician. Top Pay, Benefits & Commission! Mainline Heating & Air. 400 Hillwood Park S, Alabaster, AL. Or email resume to: ashley@mainlineheating. com (205)664-4751 Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256-245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer MedHelp Clinics Now Hiring FT Certified X-Ray Tech for our 280 location Experience Necessary Email your resume to: deanna. booth@medhelpclinics. com We have 4 locations in the Birmingham area and we’re always looking to hire qualified personnel for each of our busy practices. We’re open 7 days a week 8am8pm Monday thru Friday 8am-6pm Saturdays and 1pm-6pm Sunday Qualified applicants should apply at: www.medhelpclinics.com Hiring CDL-A Drivers! Sign-on Bonus, Great Benefits, Local Domicile Work. Apply online at: MerchantsFoodService. com/Careers Shake up your career!!! Are you looking for something new and FUN? Milo’s is always looking for great managers to come join our growing and dynamic team. Apply online at miloshamburgers.com
Are you a motivated professional? Are you looking for a dynamic career? Are you ready to control your own level of success? See why McKinnons’ is an exciting place to work and grow. Now accepting applications for Sales, Service, and Detail Shop. Apply with the receptionist. 205-755-3430 280 Location Opening Now Hiring 3 shift Managers. Pay Rate $9-$11. 20-25 Employees. Pay Rate $7.75-$8.50. Must have own transportation and flexible schedule. Apply at recruiting.talentreef. com/momma-goldbergsdeli (205)503-6190 Montgomery Stockyard Drop Station at Gray & Son’s in Clanton. Call Lane at 205-389-4530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205-965-8657 NOW HIRING Diesel Truck Mechanics with 3-5 years experience in medium to heavy duty diesel trucks, 40/hr work week guaranteed, competitive bonus structure plus benefits Call Jeff to Apply at: 205-564-8660 Production Jobs. Willing to Train. AAM in Columbiana is HIRING for multiple shifts. Email resume to dcurtis@grede. com or apply in person: 130 Industrial Pkwy, Columbiana, AL 35051 INDUSTRIAL CLEANING IN VANCE Requirements: •18 Years Old •HS Diploma/GED •Able to work variable shifts/weekends/holidays •Able to lift up to 50lbs constantly,
MARKETPLACE stand on your feet for 8hrs •Able to pass drug screen/background check Complete your application on line at www.naonsite.com Production / Manufacturing Vance, Alabama Starting pay: $12.00 – $14.50 /hr. • Have 2 years+ Production/ Manufacturing experience. • Have Recently Lived in Alabama at least 2 years. • Have A High School Diploma or GED. • Are at least 18 years old. Complete your application on line at www.naonsite.com Odyssey Early Schools. Birmingham’s Best Daycare/Preschool is Seeking Experienced Teachers. 4 Year Degree Preferred. Full-Time. BEST Pay. FULL Benefits (Insurance, Leave, Holidays). Call Annie Fine 205-991-0039. Oxford Healthcare in Montgomery currently hiring certified CNA’s and/or Home Health aides in the Clanton, Marbury and Maplesville areas. Must be able to pass complete background check, have reliable transportation and have a strong work ethic. Serious inquires only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www. Oxfordhealthcare.com TRACTOR & AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS Needed Immediately! Peach Automotive is currently seeking technicians with a minimum of 5 years experience. We offer BC/BS Health Insurance, paid vacation and excellent pay. Please apply in person to: Peach Automotive, 2037 Christian
Street, Clanton or email resume to: peachautomotivemail@ gmail.com Class A CDL Drivers Needed Immediately for Dump Trailer Hauling • $2000 Retention Bonus • Local Hauling • Home Nights APPLY ONLINE: www.perdidotrucking. com Perdido Trucking Service, LLC 251-470-0355 Private preschool in Helena, Alabama has full time and part time positions available, Experience a plus, dependable, individuals needed. Send resume to: kwilson@ primroseriverwoods.com Move in Special! 3/2 Garden Home w/ garage. Dishwasher, Fenced backyard, Great Room w/vaulted Ceiling. Calera Schools. Rent $1150. FLAT SCREEN TV!! (205)433-9811 ROSS NEELY TRUCK LINES •NOW HIRING• TRUCK DRIVERS-OTR If you are a professional CDL A Driver, have two years experience, a good safety recrod, and want to GET HOME ON THE WEEKENDS apply online at www.rossneely. com or apply by email at jeff@rossneely.com The Salvation Army, Alabaster, is hiring (Seasonal) Angel Tree Coordinator • Kettle Coordinator • Required Skills: Driver, databases, computer, physical abilities. Email resumes to: Rufus.McDowell@uss. salvationarmy.org 205-663-7105 Order Selectors Food Dist. Center in Pelham Day-Shift: Mon-Fri. 40+ hours/week 10:00AM until finished (varies).
Salary: $16-20/hr after training. Benefits: Medical, vision, dental, vacation & 401k. Requirements: •Reading & math skills •Lift 40 lbs. repetitively •Work in -10 Temperature Apply in person: 8:30AM-5:00PM Southeastern Food 201 Parker Drive Pelham, Alabama 35124 resume@ southeasternfood.com Immediate Positions!!!! Positions needed: Warehouse • Sales Reps • Assistant Manager • Delivery Drivers • Customer Service. Laid back atmosphere, good pay, plenty of hours available! Company vehicles to qualified individuals! Call Andrew 9am-7pm • Mon-Sat at (205)490-1003 or (205)243-6337 CLOCK REPAIR SVS. * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can fix your Mother’s clock. Alabaster/Pelham. Call Stephen (205)663-2822 Electrician - FT Supreme Electric, local-based company in Pelham. Must be willing to learn & work hard. Go to: supremeelectric-al. com Print employment application under Contact Us. Mail to: Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327. TARGET AUCTION Advanced Real Estate Marketing 800-476-3939 www.targetauction.com TaylorMade Transportation Hiring CDL Drivers for Flatbed Regional Division! BCBS Insurance After 30 Days. To apply call: (334)3662269 or email: s.smith@ taylormadeinc.com
Learn a Skill & Begin your Career! Earn $50,000 & More First Year. Hiring Hard Working Insulation & Afterpaint Installers! •Immediate Openings •We Train you to Succeed. Requirements: •Valid DL •Drug Test •MVR •Background Check. www.truteam. com/careers or 205.428.9381 The Painting Company of Birmingham Immediate openings for professional residential and commercial painters. Must be able to speak English. Call 205-995-5559 NOW HIRING The Restaurant at Fox Valley • All Positions • Kitchen • Waitstaff • Bardenders Experience a plus, but will train Call Nasser: 205-5206350 or stop by: 6745 Hwy 17, Maylene Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started! WCA • Roll Off Drivers needed for our Alpine, AL location. Class A or B CDL is required along with one (1) year of verifiable equivalent commercial truck driving experience. Must have a valid and safe driving record. We offer competitive wages & a comprehensive benefits package which includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Paid Holidays and PTO. Please apply through our website at www.wcawaste.com EOE M/F/D/V
WARRIOR MET COAL NOW HIRING Located in Brookwood, AL. Immediate need for experienced: •Underground Miners •Electricians •Maintenance Foreman •Supervisors Apply online: www.warriormetcoal.com Tree Nursery Worker Needed Responsible w/mechanical skills, to operate forklift/farm tractors/equipment/ welding/ ground maintenance/service equipment/check fluid levels/clean after use. Maintain safe/clean area. Requires valid-DL/reliable transportation. 334-365-2488 Wiley Sanders Truck Lines Inc $1,000 SIGNON-BONUS DRIVER PAY RAISE EFFECTIVE JUNE 2017! Longevity-Bonus. Quarterly Safe-Driving AWARD. Competitive Pay Package. PAID Orientation. NEW Fleet of Trucks. Call 1-855-777-9785 & ask for Dale or Brandy. Nights/weekends, call Jeffrey: 334-372-5049 Ron: 1-850-454-4276 Richard: 334-492-0803 Wiregrass Construction Company is seeking experienced asphalt CDL TRUCK DRIVERS. Must be dependable. Excellent benefits. Interested applicants may apply: 951 Dow Street. Pelham, AL 35124. (205)620-4132 or 151 Piper Lane. Alabaster, AL 35007 (205)605-0753. 8AM to 5PM, M-F. WCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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MY MOUNTAIN BROOK Tonya Jones
Tonya Jones SalonSpa Owner
PHOTO BY MARY FEHR
Get Outside
True Farm to Table
My Walking Route I love to walk my dogs, so you can usually find me early morning or late evening around the sidewalks of Brookwood Road or at Overton Park. Being outside is a joy to me, especially on a beautiful sunny day. While being inside all day for work making people beautiful, in any downtime that I do have, you can find me outside or in my backyard.
Root to Tail After growing up on a farm, I crave food that is legit farm-to-table. Everything from Chef Ben Vaughn’s friendly staff to the impeccable taste and presentation is spot-on.
Al Fresco Dining
Vino/Gallery Bar I love to be outside and drink wine, so this is my go-to. I look forward to seeing Chris, the bartender, when I go because he is so pleasant and I don’t even have to ask for a menu.
Sipping, Shopping, Strolling
Jazz with Civitas I love that the name Civitas brings such meaning to English Village, and when you add jazz, what’s not to love? The Civitas statue was dreamed up by Philip Morris to portray Carolyn Cortner Smith, a self-taught architect who designed homes around English Village in the 1910s and 1920s.
Fashion + Friendships Bearden Design et Boutique The owner Debbie and I have so much energy and so many great ideas that we could just talk for hours. She has such unique taste for fashion and home décor, and I love that she knows my style and picks out my clothes and shoes for me and drops things off for me to try on.
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