FRESH GEORGIAN HOME INTERIORS • THE ARTWORK OF MIRIAM MCCLUNG • WORLD PEACE GAME AT MBJH
Shock & Awe
TOUR THE WADES’ MUSEUM OF A HOME
BIG SCREEN INSIDE THE MIND OF ACTOR MICHAEL O’NEILL March/April 2020 MountainBrookMagazine.com Volume Four | Issue two $4.95
THE REAL DEAL NOURISH FOODS IN THE PIG & BEYOND
IN AN EMERGENCY,
A COMMUNITY BUILT ON RESPONSIVENESS In an emergency, you have the power to choose where to receive expert care. Insist on going to Brookwood Baptist Medical Center. As your community of care, take comfort in knowing we’ll always be here when you need it the most.
For more information, visit BrookwoodBaptistMedicalCenter.com For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1
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M
“ TAKE ME TO BROOKWOOD BAPTIST.”
A PL AL IC ED
DR ZA
BROOKWOOD BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER: EMERGENCY ROOM
O WO OK BRO
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DR ER NT CE AL C I ED
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209 PENDENCE CT INDE
FEATURES
56
SHOCK & AWE When you enter the Wades’ museum of a home, look left, look right and certainly look up. It’s filled with an ever-evolving collection of modern art and memories alike.
66
ON THE BIG SCREEN Actor Michael O’Neill talks about his most memorable roles and how he came to commute to LA from Mountain Brook.
73
BUILDERS & BUYERS With spring comes spring cleaning and more. Here’s your guide to home décor, organizing and other resources.
PHOTO BY LAUREN USTAD
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
56
33 arts & culture
15 A Landscape Eye: The Artwork of Miriam McClung 24 Read This Book: Historical Fiction for Ages 9 and Up
schools & sports
25 Mission World Peace: A MBJH Geopolitical Simulation
food
& drink
33 The Real Deal: Nourish Foods in The Pig & Beyond 42 Five Questions For: BlueRoot Co.’s Founder
home
& style
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
in every issue 4 Contributors 5 From the Editor 7 #MountainBrookMag 8 The Question 9 The Guide 78 Chamber Connections 80 Out & About 86 Marketplace 88 My Mountain Brook
43 That Southern Charm: Inside the Andersons’ Georgian Home 53 At Home: Bookcase Styling 101 54 In Style: Spring is Coming!
MountainBrookMagazine.com 3
MOUNTAIN BROOK
contributors
MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL
Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Wilson Madoline Markham Scott Mims Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino
CONTRIBUTORS
Jessica Clement Mary Fehr Madison Freeman Kathleen Kimbrough EK Parker Christiana Roussel Elizabeth Sturgeon Lauren Ustad Rebecca Wise
DESIGN
Angela Caver Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green Connor Martin-Lively
MARKETING
Darniqua Bowen Kristy Brown Kari George Caroline Hairston Nicholas Heady Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Briana Sanders Jessica Steelman Kerrie Thompson
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
Jessica Clement, Stylist
Jessica Clement has been passionate about interior design and decorating since childhood. She graduated with a degree in interior design from the University of Alabama and now has her own locally based design company, JMC Studio. As an interior designer, she believes that welldesigned interiors should tell the story about the people who live there and takes pride in creating aesthetically beautiful and functional spaces.
Madison Freeman, Stylist
Madison, who calls Crestline home now, works as a clinical recruiter for Encompass Health and on the side is a fashion, home decor, travel and lifestyle blogger. To see all of her blog posts, visit insidemyopendoor.com or follow her on Instagram @mbbfreeman. In Madison’s free time, she loves to travel with her husband and spend time with their golden retriever, Luna.
Elizabeth Sturgeon, Writer
Elizabeth was born and raised in Birmingham and has stayed close to home ever since. You might find her searching for a thrift store gem or ordering a meal she’s never tried before. A recent Samford University graduate, Elizabeth works as a writer in Birmingham-Southern College’s communications department, covering stories about students, alumni and campus culture. She is always down for a meal she’s never eaten before or a movie she’s never seen.
Rebecca Wise, Photographer
Rebecca is a photographer living in Mountain Brook with her husband, Chase, their three sons, Raughley, Liam and Marshall, and their two dogs. She specializes in family and children’s photography as well as sports and movement photography such as yoga, pilates and ballet. When she doesn’t have a camera in hand, she loves to read and spend time with her family.
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.
4 March/April 2020
Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@mountainbrookmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
from the editor
S
ON THE COVER
The Wade Home Museum
Carolyn Wade is known for her fashion as well as her art collection in her Cherokee Road home she is pictured outside. Photo by Lauren Ustad Design by Connor Martin-Lively
Spring is my second favorite time of year, after fall, to wind through the vibrant green canopy that covers Mountain Brook. In fact, one of my favorite responses we got to this issue’s “The Question” about what you can only find in Mountain Brook was a photo of a tree-lined roadway we know all well with the simple caption “This! Definitely this!” Matt Wilson, you couldn’t be more right. But while you are basking the glory of all that driving through greenery this time of year, I also invite you to take a different kind of tour around our area of town. It would take you several days and a lot of coordination to do in real life, but in the pages that lie ahead you can do it as quickly as you like. We’ll start by turning onto Cherokee Road off U.S. 280 and making our way up to its only vibrant purple house and the even more vibrant art gallery of a home inside curated by Carolyn and Robin Wade and their granddaughter Margot Wade Cooney. The Wades were gracious to tour us around their ever-evolving collection and share their passion for the story behind each piece of art and each detail on a ceiling. From there we can drive on to the studio of Miriam McClung and see how she has captured the streets around her over the course of her artistic career. While we are making a tour of homes, we can stop by the Anderson family’s Georgian home, ever so thoughtfully decorated when Ashley Anderson teamed up with designer Allene Neighbors. From there, we’ll make our way just a bit further down Montevallo to the junior high library just in time for a geopolitical simulation ninth grade history students are engaged in. But wait, how have we gotten this far without food? We can swing back into Crestline to pick up sides for dinner from Nourish at The Pig, prepared by a team spearheaded by longtime Cooking Light veterans Mary Drennen and Tiffany Vickers. Speaking of food, soon you can make your next stop a new walk-up pick-up window next to Patina in Mountain Brook Village serving up BlueRoot Co’s super fresh, colorpacked salads, superfood snacks and more. Our last stop is coffee with actor Michael O’Neill, who stopped me mid-interview to note that I was asking him questions he’d never been asked and that I was really getting at the underpinnings of what he does. Hopefully that’s what came across in my attempts to capture him in words starting on page 66, and in every other stop of this tour because I’m all about using this magazine to reach for depths we can only find in the best kind of long conversation. Where should our future issues’ “tours” stop? I always love to hear your ideas for stories anytime. But either way, enjoy this bliss of spring out there and the stories that lie ahead!
madoline.markham@mountainbrookmagazine.com MountainBrookMagazine.com 5
6 March/April 2020
#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.
@colette1greene @christyglidewell Twighlight Ball
@eli_goldendoodle It really is Alabama the Beautiful! How lucky are we that this awesome trail is just one block from our grandpawrents house?! #getoutside #goexplore #mountainbrook #alabamathebeautiful #lovewhereyoulive #bhamdoodles #dogsofbham
The moment I held my son’s hand after his freshman season of college football and told him how incredibly proud I was of his hard work and dedication! Hamp Greene, you gave it your all, worked super hard, served your teammates with commitment and dedication... you are “all in” and we are so proud of you!
@gacmarbleslabcahabavillage Who needs a cookie? Can you taste it yet? We are just weeks away!
MountainBrookMagazine.com 7
“ ” THE QUESTION
What’s your favorite thing that you can only find in Mountain Brook?
Ouslers, Davenport’s, Gilchrist limeade... -Mimi Warnock
Breakup cookies from Church Street Coffee! -Tyler-Davis Pilz
Villages! Crestline Pharmacy, Rodney at Crestline Pig, Emmet O’Neal Library, MB Creamery, Bobby Carl’s Table. The list could go on... -Heather Jayne Stuckey
The winding roads, the spectacular homes, the green, the boutique/local shops and restaurants in the villages... -Laura Fine Fereres
8 March/April 2020
Otey’s and anything Rodney cooks! -Liz Perry Knecht
Our wonderful, often overlooked city workers who walk up hilly driveways in the pouring rain, snow/ ice, summer heat, to retrieve our trash cans so we don’t have to. -Christy Currier Trotter
Aurelia at the Pig in Crestline.
-Sylvia Spruiell Spencer
Full service gas station...the Shell in Crestline -Sue Dorsky
THE GUIDE
COLOR4FRIENDSHIP COLOR RUN MARCH 15 Levite Jewish Community Center 1:30 p.m. Can running get more fun than getting doused from head to toe in different colors? There are just two rules for this event: One, wear white at the starting line, and two, finish plastered in color. Children must be age 6 or older to participate. Plus, Team Friendship plans the run to raise awareness for individuals with special needs. Register at eventbrite.com.
Photo by Ben Breland
MountainBrookMagazine.com 9
THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN MOUNTAIN BROOK MARCH 3 Children’s Arts Guild Fashion Show Luncheon Country Club of Birmingham MARCH 7 Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off Brookwood Village 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. MARCH 10 Family Night: Birmingham Children’s Theatre – Rapunzel & the Rabbit Emmet O’Neal Library 5:30 p.m.
MARCH 15
Three Choirs United in Song Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church 7 P.M. The Birmingham Boys Choir and Birmingham Girls Choir are joining with the Sozo Children’s Choir, combining Ugandan singing and dancing with selections from the Birmingham-based choirs. Find tickets at birminghamboyschoir.org.
APRIL 25
Shades Creek Fest Jemison Park 11 A.M.-2 P.M.
Come out to celebrate the natural beauty of one of our favorite creeks with fly-fishing lessons, wildlife exhibits, conservation demonstrations, musical entertainment from local bands and food trucks. And since Mountain Brook has a Tree City USA designation and all, the City’s Board of Landscape Design and students from Leadership Mountain Brook will hand out Sassafras seedlings to each first grader at school presentations during the week leading up to the event. 10 March/April 2020
MARCH 11+APRIL 8 Electra Light Ukulele Workshop Bring Your Own Instrument Emmet O’Neal Library 5-6 p.m. MARCH 13 Grades 5-8 Crossover: Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag Emmet O’Neal Library Register Online 6-8 p.m. MARCH 14 Winecraft: Furoshiki Wine Bottle Wraps Ages 21+/Register Online Emmet O’Neal Library 5:30-8 p.m. MARCH 15 Afternoon with the Author: Glenn Wills, “200 Years of Forgotten Alabama” Emmet O’Neal Library 2 p.m. MARCH 19 Mountain Brook Chamber Luncheon Featuring Britney Summerville Birmingham Botanical Gardens 11 a.m. MARCH 20 Standing Room Only Presents Alcohol Inks Ages 21+/Register Online Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30-8 p.m.
THE GUIDE MARCH 23-27 Spring Break Mountain Brook City Schools APRIL 1 Talk and Book Signing with Marvin Clemons, Author of “Great Temple of Travel: A Pictorial History of Birmingham Terminal Station” Emmet O’Neal Library Noon Doors, 12:30 p.m. Program APRIL 5 Recycle Smart!: A Talk with Leigh Shaffer of Birmingham Recycling & Recovery Emmet O’Neal Library 3-4 p.m. APRIL 7 An Evening with YA author Randi Pink Emmet O’Neal Library 6-8 p.m. APRIL 10 Grades 5-8 Crossover: Quidditch Match Emmet O’Neal Library Register Online 6-8 p.m. APRIL 11 Find Your Way College Readiness Series: Tea Tasting Party Emmet O’Neal Library 1-3 p.m. APRIL 14 Family Night: Arthur Atsma’s Atsmagic Emmet O’Neal Library 5:30 p.m. APRIL 16 The History of Poetry in Birmingham with the Magic City Poetry Festival Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30-8 p.m. APRIL 20 Mountain Brook Schools Student Showcase Mountain Brook City Hall APRIL 29 Art House Film Series Presents “The Juniper Tree” Emmet O’Neal Library 6:30 p.m.
APRIL 25
Pink Up the Pace 5K Crestline Elementary Field 3:30 P.M. 5K, 4 P.M. DOLLY DASH Pink in the air! Last year this run raised $20,000 to support breast cancer research through the Junior Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, and once again the run will end in a family-friendly after party. Register at bcrfa.org.
APRIL 4
Overton Park Easter Egg Hunt Overton Park NOON It’s not just about the egg hunt (although, what’s Easter without a hunt?). Come for face painting, photo booths, a cake walk, the Easter Bunny and more too. The event is hosted by Off Shoots Garden Club.
APRIL 11
Easter Egg Roll Field in front of the Emmet O’Neal Library 10 A.M. It’s not Easter without eggs. Bring your kids for this annual event of fun and hunting. BYOB…bring your own basket, that is. MountainBrookMagazine.com 11
THE GUIDE
AROUND TOWN MARCH 5-8 STARS Presents: Macbeth Virginia Samford Theatre MARCH 7-8 Red Mountain Theatre Company Conservatory Showcase RMTC Cabaret Theatre MARCH 11-15 Tartuffe Virginia Samford Theatre MARCH 13-15 Romeo & Juliet Alabama Ballet BJCC Concert Hall
SAVE THE DATE
Arts in the Village Everyone’s favorite spring arts show will return the first Saturday in May on the Crestline Elementary Field, so be sure to mark your calendar. The annual Mountain Brook Art Association event will feature work by your favorite local artists and other fun family festivities.
MARCH 14
Village 2 Village Run Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church 7 P.M. Run through your favorite villages and neighborhoods with around 1,000 of your neighbors and friends. Plus, there will be chocolatedipped strawberries, mimosas and more on the other side of the finish line at the after party in Lane Parke. Not feeling the 10K? You can also choose the 7.5K option (4.6 miles). Register at runsignup.com.
12 March/April 2020
MARCH 20+22 Opera Birmingham Presents Cinderella Samford University Wright Center MARCH 20-22 Waitress Presented by Broadway in Birmingham BJCC Concert Hall MARCH 26-APRIL 5 The Fantasticks Virginia Samford Theatre MARCH 28 Rumpshaker 5K Regions Field MARCH 31 Patti Callahan Henry: 2020 Tom and Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series Samford University Wright Center APRIL 3-5 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Barber Motorsports Park APRIL 9-14 Birmingham Barons vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas Regions Field APRIL 10-19 You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre APRIL 16-26 Love, Linda
THE GUIDE Virginia Samford Theatre APRIL 18 & 19 Alabama Symphony Orchestra Presents Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert Samford University Wright Center APRIL 19 BHM26.2 Marathon, HalfMarathon, Team Relay and Fun Run Railroad Park APRIL 20-24 Birmingham Barons vs. Tennessee Smokies Regions Field APRIL 17-18 Lebanese Food and Culture Festival St. Elias Maronite Church APRIL 24-26 Magic City Art Connection Linn Park
BUSINESSES
Now Open Here’s the scoop in new places to eat and drink in our favorite villages: Sol Y Luna is back with margaritas, lobster tacos and more in Lane Parke across from the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Watkins Branch Bourbon & Brasserie is serving elk burgers and more in the former Icehouse spot next to Sneaky Pete’s in Mountain Brook Village, and a joint Great American Cookie CompanyMarble Slab Creamery is now open in Cahaba Village.
APRIL 16-19
Spring Plant Sale Brookwood Village Macy’s Upper Parking Lot FRIDAY 9 A.M.-6 P.M., SATURDAY 9 A.M.-4 P.M., SUNDAY 11 A.M.-3 P.M. Get your green thumb on and choose from more than 100,000 plants, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Plant experts will be on-site and proceeds benefit The Gardens’ educational goals.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 13
THE GUIDE CHAMBER
A Reunion to Remember As Mike Mouron received the Jemison Visionary Award on Jan. 30, he was recognized for his philanthropic work with Preschool Partners and with scholarships for children of Mountain Brook first responders. But his humble heart of generosity was most evident in the story of a 19-year-old waitress Mike and his wife, Kathy, who met 12 Mouron and Mork years ago at Village Tavern. In the words of chamber luncheon emcee Jack Royer, “As you know if you talk to them, Mike and Kathy want to know about you. They asked (their waitress that night) how old she was and where she was going to school. This waitress said that she had to drop out of University of Alabama with three semesters left because her dad had just died and her family didn’t have any life insurance. She couldn’t continue going to school, so she was working instead. Her mother lost the house and her family lost everything. “(The waitress) would come back to the able throughout the meal, and Mike and Kathy kept asking her questions. By the end of the meal, Mike and Kathy asked this 19-year-old
14 March/April 2020
waitress to sit down and told her they wanted to give her a scholarship to finish her schooling at the University of Alabama, and not only that but they wanted her to take their game day apartment so she could have a safe convenient place to live while she finished school. “She asked Mike and Kathy, ‘What do I have to do to earn this?’ He said, ‘Pay it forward and have a servant’s heart. That’s all you have to do. This is a gift for you.’” Fast forward 12 years to the week before the chamber luncheon when that then-19-year-old Whitney Mork walked into the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce office to join with her State Farm Insurance business on Montclair Road. She shared with the chamber how she got to be where she is—and just how key the Mourons are to her story. That led to the sweetest retelling of that story, and her reuniting with the Mourons for the first time in years. And that taught the ballroom full of people more about Mike Mouron and his servant heart than any other words that could be said.
&CULTURE
ARTS
A LANDSCAPE EYE Miriam McClung reflects on how the scenes around her have shaped her artwork. BY ELIZABETH STURGEON PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR & CONTRIBUTED MountainBrookMagazine.com 15
16 March/April 2020
L
Like many lifelong artists, Miriam McClung’s work separates into periods. The painting in her entry hallway is part of her “New York period” from the post-grad year she spent living in the city. It’s also the painting she carried across nearly 15 blocks to show a New York University professor since the canvas wouldn’t fit in a taxi. But even though she’s learned from great artists across the country such as renowned abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and portrait painter Jerry Farnsworth, her most significant periods and personal styles are tied to Mountain Brook. “We have the prettiest city in the world. We’ve got so many wonderful places here, and nothing is more fun than to just go out and paint,” she says. One theme she paints in is a spiritual one, yet her works still tie to her hometown. While you don’t see many people set biblical stories in Birmingham, Miriam paints in a tradition that artists have been doing for centuries – tying timeless and meaningful stories to the landmarks they call home. And her home is one that Miriam has known for more than 80 years, having grown up in Mountain Brook while the city was growing up itself. “The Birmingham in her mind spans decades of roads, buildings, churches, events and people, and those places are still alive to her,” says her son, Frank McClung, who also manages Miriam’s art business. “She sees this city as a painting.” Although Mountain Brook Elementary did not offer art classes when Miriam attended, her mother enrolled her in lessons at Louise Cone’s Highland Avenue studio, one that Miriam remembers being MountainBrookMagazine.com 17
MIRIAM’S LIFE TIMELINE
“Waiting,” 1969
1953 – 1956: University Years
After painting throughout her childhood, Miriam explored abstraction at the University of Alabama. Many of her classmates, like Bill Christenberry and Dale Kensington, went on to become well-known Alabama artists. In school she took an extended art tour in Europe and studied for a summer at the University of Colorado, where she took a course from Mark Rothko (and didn’t realize he was famous until she got back home). 1957 – 1958: New York City
Miriam moved to New York City with a few college friends shortly after graduating. Here, she studied at the Art Students League, worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and made her way around some of the art circles. Fellow Alabama artist Doris Wainwright Kennedy even introduced her to Salvador Dali at a party. Miriam’s New York period includes more experimentation with an abstract style. 1959 – 1984: Returning Home
Miriam’s home in Birmingham inspired decades of painting. Even when she was a full-time mother and caretaker, she continued to draw and paint in the time she could find. Miriam also took classes from artists throughout the city and around the Southeast to gain new technical skills in painting and portraiture. 1985 – Now: Biblical Birmingham
“4 - Stations of the Cross Series - Jesus Meets Mary His Mother,” 1997
Her 50th birthday brought Miriam to a new artistic realization. “It seemed like I’d been doing all this for me all these years, but it was time for me to do something for the Lord,” she says. Her spiritual art includes a 20-year project capturing the Stations of the Cross in different Birmingham locations, a project that St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Mountain Brook displayed for Easter. 18 March/April 2020
decked in exquisite portraits that peaked her interest in painting. She was later introduced to abstract styles at Shades Valley High School and would continue building her skills at the University of Alabama and in New York. Miriam comes from “a family of doers,” including her grandfather, who helped get Vulcan cast and exhibited at
the 1904 World’s Fair, and her father and uncle, who developed Eastwood Mall and Office Park. However, her family always supported her talent and passion for drawing and painting. “My mother always loved beauty,” Miriam says, remembering her childhood home on Canterbury Road and its beautiful garden. Among stacks of large canvases in her
Miriam McClung grew up in Mountain Brook and much of her work reflects the area.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 19
“Day Nurse for My Grandmother,” 1962
“Christ Enters Jerusalem (English Village),”1996. “Blue Studio,” 1975
studio, you will find paintings of the Mountain Brook villages as well as sites across the area. Some depict stories like Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem or Jesus entering Jerusalem, set in Birmingham and Crestline, respectively. Near these works, you will also find abstracts from her college days, experimental drawings from New York, and portraits of the people and moments in her life that have inspired her. That’s how all of Miriam’s pieces across 75 years weave into one body of work—each one tells a narrative that has struck a chord with her. One painting in her studio captures a nurse who took care of her grandmother at the end of her life. The day and night nurses often sat for Miriam, who 20 March/April 2020
was so interested by these strangers and their grit. Outside of her studio, Miriam’s home too becomes a gallery, with walls filled with large canvases from all periods of her life. Her hallway and bedroom display the works that mean the most to her—paintings of her grandson “with the spiky hair,” her crib for Frank before he was born, and her old Montclair Road apartment with blue walls and avocado green carpet. Miriam has recently turned to working in pastels as painting becomes more physically difficult for her over time. Her lines, however, bring the same movement and color that define the rest of her work. “I’ve noticed that other artists like Degas and Corot also turned to pastels when they were
MountainBrookMagazine.com 21
“Canterbury Road,” 1976
“The Birmingham in her mind spans decades of roads, buildings, churches, events and people, and those places are still alive to her. She sees this city as a painting.” -Frank McClung
older,” she says. For the last couple of years, Frank has been cataloguing Miriam’s works, recording the history of her career, and running her website and social media accounts to help share her work and talent with others. “I want people to appreciate the contribution her generation has made to Birmingham’s art scene,” he says. Both Frank and Miriam hope to see historians, universities and museums recognize and collect 22 March/April 2020
“Each to His Own City,” 1995
local art as well as spiritual art. The more Frank records her pieces, the more he confirms that his mother’s beautiful pieces and her endless creative drive are so valuable. Miriam has never stopped drawing or painting throughout the stages of her life, even though her style has grown and shifted. She hopes to soon explore sculpture, which she thinks, like pastel, will be easier to see and control. And, with that, begins a new period of her art career.
4th Annual
NOW OPEN!
• Visit the only pick-your-own tulip field in the Southeast • 100,000 tulips to purchase and take home • A great Spring outing for your family, club, or oice
The Festival runs through March (depending on bloom time)* Open Monday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4*
*Weather permitting. Check our website or Facebook page for field conditions before your trip.
Visit us online at www.americanvillage.org/TulipWatch MountainBrookMagazine.com 23
ARTS & CULTURE
READ THIS BOOK
Historical Fiction Recommendations from
Margaret Hudson
Mountain Brook Elementary School Librarian
It’s ironic to me that I have chosen to share historical fiction books for young readers because most of my life this was my least favorite genre. But in recent years I have become addicted to historical fiction! There is something about allowing yourself to experience the life of another in a different place or time period that provides the gift of empathy and appreciation for human diversity. These books are quite varied in format and setting but each touched my heart and piqued my interest in some special way. I believe they can help foster empathy and hope in young people and enhance our understanding of history.
Some Kind of Courage
By Dan Gemeinhart Set in Washington state in 1890, this story is a timeless tale of adventure, moral courage and strength of character. A 12-year-old orphaned boy finds himself on a desperate search for his beloved horse that was sold without his knowledge to a traveling horse trader. His journey to find his special horse is full of adventure, intensity, hard fought struggles, and new friendships. I want to read it again!
Al Capone Does My Shirts
By Gennifer Choldenko Surprisingly set on the island of Alcatraz in 1935, this is the story of Moose Flanagan and his family’s life on the island where his father works at Alcatraz Prison as an electrician and guard. Other families live on the island, and obviously, there are prisoners too, infamous prisoners like gangster Al Capone. On such a small island their lives can’t help but intertwine. Therein lies the adventure!
Echo
By Pam Munoz Ryan This novel follows the stories of three individuals whose lives are connected over time by one harmonica. Their journeys span through the Great Depression, the Holocaust and life in America during World War II. The harmonica is introduced at the beginning of the book through a fantastical tale that eventually elevates the characters to their triumphant destinies via the harmonica. I listened to this book on audio, and I highly recommend it!
Inside Out and Back Again
By Thanhha Lai Written in verse, this book reveals the personal journey of a young Vietnamese girl, Kim, whose family moves to Alabama in 1975 to escape the dangers of the Vietnam War as it encroaches their home in Saigon. Full of emotions, surmounting family struggles and cultural diversity, not to mention just dealing with being the new girl at school, Kim’s story is poignant and precious—and based on the author’s own experiences.
The Matchbox Diary
By Paul Fleischman This is a picture book, but that doesn’t mean it is simple or only for the young. It invites us to join a little girl and her great-grandfather as they explore a cigar box full of memories from the elder’s life. The young girl learns of his journey from Italy to America as a young boy and his trials and triumphs growing up as an immigrant in America. There is so much in this small book; you will want to experience each page thoroughly.
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SCHOOL
&SPORTS
MISSION WORLD PEACE
Mountain Brook Junior High students are solving one crisis at a time in this geopolitical simulation. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY REBECCA WISE MountainBrookMagazine.com 25
A
A bell rings, and with that it’s time. “Divinia, you are up. Declarations please,” Mountain Brook Junior High teacher Paul Hnizdil says. “If you are solving crises, please help us with what crises you are dealing with so we can all look.” With that, one of his ninth-grade advanced world history students stands up, only in this moment her title is not student. “I am Prime Minister Bryant of Divinia,” she states. “We are declaring war against the mercenaries of the island.” War? In history class? Yes, in fact. It’s all a part of a geopolitical simulation called the World Peace Game that is underway. Divinia has purchased an island from neighboring country Kapistan, but they are not allowed to claim complete ownership of the island until the mercenaries are gone. Hence, the
26 March/April 2020
war. “Are you prepared to write letters to the letters of the families of the fallen?” Hnizdil asks Prime Minister Bryant. They are. “Are you going to kill or capture?” Hnizdil asks. “At some point you have to decide. It costs $1 million a day for POWs. Do the battle first and then decide.” With that the weather god, another student’s role, tosses a coin. It lands on tails, so the first battle was lost. Next it lands on heads, so the second battle was won. “This is it, you have a 50/50 chance here,” the weather god says. Again it’s tails, and the battle was lost and the war too. The Divinia officials select icons representing 12,000 of their own mercenaries and a tank
MBJH teacher Paul Hnizdil leads his students in the World Peace Game in the school’s library, and the game’s weather god moves pieces of its four-tiered game board.
battalion wiped out by island’s mercenaries off a four-story plexi-glass playing board in the center of the library where the game is taking place. Because they are hired soldiers, not volunteer soldiers, do the national leaders write letters to their families too? “Mercenaries are still people,” the weather god says. So yes, they need letters, due two game days from now. Next up it’s time to spin the wheel. For a moment this Risk-like game shifts to look more like Wheel of Fortune. The verdict? Heat wave. But it could have been a blizzard, sand storm, hurricane, tsunami or simply cloud cover. And then it’s time to draw a card. “Drones accidentally fire on the village of a tribal chieftain,” it reads. “No one is hurt, but the entire village is
destroyed.” The weather god grabs a drone off the board and moves it over to Divinia’s space. With that, Divinia’s turn is over. Further around the circle sit officials from three other countries plus those from three agencies: World Court, World Bank and an Arms Dealer. And once each of those entities has taken a turn, one game day ends. This is part of the third time Hnizdil—his students often call him “Niz”—and MBJH librarian Tami Genry have led students through the World Peace Game simulations since going through a weeklong training for it funded by the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation in spring of 2019, and following this session they are planning to scale it to other classes in the school too. Each game starts with four days of instruction and preparations before the 11 MountainBrookMagazine.com 27
class periods it takes to solve the 23 crises the students start with to complete the entire game. Not long after Divinia’s war ends another crisis is solved when an investigation is launched to decide if an island is a burial ground. Two coin tosses later, the investigation is complete. There are no bones, and with that Crisis No. 8 can be checked off their list. The next order of business today is a little more controversial. A treasure of undersea artifacts has been found, and all ownership is going to the country of Snowlandia, who then is giving 15 hydrogen cell plants to each other country. “You realize all the species will die?” Hnizdil asks the country’s officials. “Yes, but it’s for the greater good because if not the whole world is going to die,” their prime minister responds.
“And your undersecretary for environmental affairs agrees with that?” Hnizdil retorts. The response is yes, and he turns to another country. “Divinia, you are our ecologically minded nation. Did you sign that agreement?” Hnizdil asks. Everyone has signed it. “Legal counsel, do you agree to that?” he asks turning to another spot in the circle. They do. The last decision is with the weather god. “I’m just saying a lot of terrible acts have been for the greater good,” the weather god reasons. “Do you accept?” Hnizdil asks. “Regretfully, yes,” the weather god says. “I’m between a rock and a hard place.” With that Crises No. 19 is solved, and all the world officials applaud before another round of negotiations begins. “The conversations are incredible,” Genry notes
A FOUNDATION FOR THE GAME The World Peace Game came to Mountain Brook Junior High thanks to funding for training from the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation. The foundation provides grants for professional development, technology and library enhancements in Mountain Brook City Schools. Learn more or give at mbgives.org. 28 March/April 2020
FIND ART
The second level of the plexi-glass game board represents land; below it is the sea and above it air and space.
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In each round of the game each of the four countries spins wheel to determine their weather.
as the students work on their own. “They always start off playing for themselves and their country, but (eventually) they realize they can’t achieve world peace that way and they eventually start helping each other solve crises. ‘Oh no your prime minister got overthrown, let me help you,’ they’ll say. The game is designed so that the biggest outcome in every game is understanding.” And that understanding sinks in further as the students go home and work on reflections each night after a game day. Following training last year, Genry and Hnizdil were tasked with developing their own playing board. Each level of the plexi-glass represents a 30 March/April 2020
different element: sea, land, sky and space. Each country has designated air space above and sea below, and they share international air space and waters. On the top layer, you’ll find space stations and one black hole a crisis has to solve. Further down are missile launchers and boats, medical facilities and university towns—some icons made by the school’s robotics department on a 3D printer and others purchased online. “It involves a lot of details, and you never know which direction the game is going to go,” Genry notes, explaining that what you won’t see is an oil spill on the board. That crisis has already been solved.
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“The game is designed so that the biggest outcome in every game is understanding.” -Tami Genry Speaking of crises, before long the game bell rings again, and declarations begin again before the 48-minute class period ends. It’s time to read a letter to fallen soldiers. “To the families of the fallen soldiers,” the weather god reads. “The nation of Kapistan has to inform you with great regret that you have lost a loved one in battle. Know your family’s loss was not in vain as the battle was won. Thank you, Secretary of States of Kapistan.” Even in these short 48 minutes, it’s obvious the aims of the game’s creator John Hunter, who trained Genry and Hnizdil, are at work. There’s chaos, there are pressures and a sense of urgency, there’s competition, and yet there’s collaboration, there’s empathy and compassion and perspective is gained. In the end, problems are solved, and world peace will arrive. And it won’t be too many years before these ninth-graders are applying those same principles not to Divinia and Kapistan but to the world around them, with peace in mind. MountainBrookMagazine.com 31
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&DRINK
FOOD
THE REAL DEAL
Years of magazine recipe development are fueling Nourish Foods’ deliveries and selections at The Pig. BY CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR AND CONTRIBUTED MountainBrookMagazine.com 33
Y
Years ago when Mary Drennan and Tiffany Vickers Davis were colleagues at the now-shuttered Cooking Light, they used to roll their office chairs over to one another’s desk, planning and daydreaming of what they might like to do in their next careers. Would they be private chefs to movie stars? Could they achieve world-domination creating one spectacular recipe at a time? Would it be possible to edit cookbooks from beach chairs on a remote Greek island? Fortunately for healthy eaters everywhere, those
34 March/April 2020
tete-a-tete conversations eventually evolved into Nourish, a health-conscious meal-delivery service started in 2014. Headquartered here in Birmingham, Nourish meals have heretofore been mostly available as part of a subscription service. Regular customers—located anywhere from Mountain Brook to San Francisco—have fresh meals arrive weekly, direct to their front doors. Years of recipe development at Cooking Light gave the duo a powerful knowledge base of what Nourish customers would actually order and enjoy.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 35
Tiffany Vickers and Mary Drennen hold Nourish Foods sides now available at The Pig in Crestline.
36 March/April 2020
“That is where we operate at our most efficient—when we are pushed to the very edge of our capacities—that’s where we shine.” -Mary Drennan “What we realized over the last five years— which is what we built—was a direct-tocustomer model, only sold online, in a subscription format,” Mary notes. “That client is planning ahead—they are going to have six Nourish meals in their fridge and they are covered—this is only about 1 percent of the population.” Through those early years, they were able to test theories and ideas. After all, many people say they want to eat healthier, but when faced with say, a vending machine full of honeybuns and cheese crackers, consumers might not always make the wisest food choices. Five years of production and data collection led Mary and Tiffany to the conclusion that their subscription-based
WHAT’S NEXT The response to Nourish sides arriving into three local locations of The Piggly Wiggly has been beyond the expectations of Mary and Tiffany. Instagram photos of the first deliveries
service, while very successful, could only touch a fraction of their potential customers. “The 99 percent of people we are missing are the people who are going to the grocery store two or three times a week, or maybe even every afternoon to figure out what they are going to have for dinner,” Mary says. “They are non-planners—Tiffany is one! She goes to the store every single day! So, we have been working on our model to see how we can adjust our delivery and reach them.” Enter The Pig. Beginning in January of this year, Nourish began selling fully cooked side dishes in three local Piggly Wiggly locations: Crestline, River Run and Mt Laurel. For
had their account blowing up with requests from other Piggly Wiggly stores across the state, wanting to know when they could start selling their sides. Right now, they are committed to fine-tuning their presence in these three stores but will add the Clairmont and Homewood locations within the year. Tiffany, a Homewood resident and loyal shopper at that location notes, “We have brand recognition there so it makes sense to be there sooner rather than later.”
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Mountain Brook native Mary Drennan, this is something of a dream-come-true. “We know Nourish meals will add value to people’s lives,” she says. “We wanted to start with a small product line that we could get into the store that would already be approved to sell, that would be the vegetables we produce in this FDA-approved production facility.” Piggly Wiggly shoppers can find a rotating variety of perfectly proportioned sides like dairy-free creamed spinach and toasted pecan greens beans to round out their dinner plans, or augment that rotisserie chicken already in their grocery cart. The response to these products has already been such a success, causing the duo to amp up delivery 38 March/April 2020
more frequently. They laugh with one another explaining that it is not uncommon to have friends text them from the grab-and-go section of the store, alerting them to empty shelves. While both women are very involved in every aspect of the business, they joke that they can’t always stop what they are doing to deliver a cart full of mashed cauliflower. Moving into a new facility in the recently rebranded entrepreneurial and innovation hub of downtown called The Switch will officially propel Nourish into the next chapter of their successful operation too. “The new facility will be USDAcertified, meaning we can sell meat-based products produced in that facility,” Mary says. “So, we already
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THE MENU Nourish’s menu is ever changing, but here’s what was on tap as this article was in production. uAlmond Fried Chicken
and Parsnips
Fingers with Honey
uPork Cassoulet with
Mustard Sauce, Broccoli &
Green Beans
Sweet Potato Wedges
uSteak with Blue Cheese
uMexican Beef Sweet
Sauce, Braised Kale and
Potato Bowl with Pico and
Garlic-Cheddar Mashed
Ranch
Potatoes
uSpicy Beef Noodle
uSmoked Pork Tenderloin
Bowl
with White BBQ Sauce
uTraditional Chicken
and Collard Greens
Salad with Asparagus
uChicken with 40 Cloves
Prosciutto Salad
of Garlic Sauce, White
uBlackened Chicken
Bean Puree and Wilted
Salad with Blue Cheese
Greens
and Blistered Tomatoes
uBuffalo Chicken Salad
uBraised Beef with
Sweet Potato Curry
Bearnaise Sauce and
Bisque
Thyme Roasted Carrots
uPotato Leek Soup MountainBrookMagazine.com 39
Nourish sides including Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Shallots and Creamed Spinach are now sold in select local Piggly Wigglys.
205-447-3275 • cezelle@realtysouth.com
40 March/April 2020
know that our chicken salad will be the first item we produce that will be in stores.” Tiffany is quick to add, “We know our chicken salad is the best in the market. (It’s) very fresh. We cook the chicken right here. We make our own mayonnaise—grapeseed oil, lemon juice, mustard, egg yolks—that’s why we feel like it is the best on the market because it is not incorporating anything else into it that isn’t produced right here. In fact, we make seven varieties of chicken salad, and they are all incredible.” Production capacity in the new facility also means that they can move toward producing a wider variety of entrees for consumers. In regard to the retail landscape, Tiffany adds, “All grocery stores are reworking the way their stores are laid out. Grab-and-Go is now the largest section in some stores, and that is where you will find Nourish sides. You will also be able to find these sides in the cold case, under the fresh cut meat by the butcher. Think about it: you might select some great steaks for the grill, and pick up some Nourish sides there too. They are super fresh, still just five ingredients. They are what you would have made but you did not want to take or did not have the time to make it yourself.” Make no mistake about these women, and certainly don’t underestimate their business acumen. It is well-honed and fine-tuned to where they operate seamlessly together. Sitting down to be interviewed together, they easily finish one another’s thoughts and rein each other in when one starts to head down a rabbit hole of conversation, recognizing the beauty in this ebb-and-flow of work life. They just simply work well together. As Mary adds, “Last year, on the subscription side, was a really hard year for us. We built a brand-new website that didn’t go nearly as well as we wanted it to and then it took us ten months to get that launched and it is still not where we want it to be.” Tiffany continues, “So we pulled back on our marketing until the new website was ready to go. That was a hard year but we were putting all the pieces into place to go into the Piggly Wiggly. And then we got the call about the new production facility space. Bam bam bam.” Mary finishes, “The website launched on the 17th of December, we signed the lease for the new space the first week of January, and then our first Nourish products hit the shelves at The Pig January 3rd. Everything snowballed all at once.” Mary looks over at Tiffany and then says, “That is where we operate at our most efficient—when we are pushed to the very edge of our capacities—that’s where we shine. It is an entrepreneurial mindset. You can just run all cylinders and really thrive with that mindset. It is when you start to slow down that you get nervous and second-guess yourself.” Tiffany just nods and you know that they really are doing just that, running on all cylinders and poised for even more success. MountainBrookMagazine.com 41
FOOD & DRINK
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Jen Ryan
BlueRoot Co. Founder PHOTO BY JAMIE VESPA
Jen Ryan wants people to know that healthy food doesn’t to be scary or expensive or inaccessible. Instead, it can be simple and delicious—and come right from your backyard. That’s why she started Blue Root Co.’s set of colorful, nutrient-dense foods and is now opening a pick-up window for their salads and grain bowls, coffee, snacks and more in Mountain Brook Village next to Patina. The pick-up window is on track to open in early March, but here’s some of Jen’s story from California to the Alabama chef and farmers behind Blue Root to tide you over until then. Where did the idea for Blue Root start? I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I had lived in New York City for almost 10 years. When I moved to Crestline a couple of years ago with my husband for his job, we were both excited about what the city had to offer, but we were both quite sad that there weren’t any easy options for easy healthy food that fit into our schedules working full-time. My first inclination was to try to get some big brands that I loved from LA and New York to come here, but they were only looking to expand to coastal cities. So I decided to build a concept where I saw gap here. My background is in finance, commercial real estate and cyber security, but I knew I could hire people on the culinary side because this city is so full of culinary talent and farmers. What came first? We started at the Pepper Place Farmers Market and brought on Robin Bashinsky, who has worked at Hot & Hot Fish Club and Cooking Light, to develop the menu a little over a year ago. We started really, really small in fitness studios, starting with 42 March/April 2020
favorite continues to be the Farm Stand. It’s a highlight reel of what the farmers have seasonally, so right now the fall/ winter one is organic spinach with Brussels How did the walk-up window come sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes with a creamy dill dressing, spiced pecans and about? Melanie Pounds who runs Patina in Swiss cheese. The Green God is a nice nod Mountain Brook Village had this wild idea to my California roots with every green that there could be an opportunity for us to thing you can possibly imagine with a utilize this little box of space that connected delightful avocado-Greek yogurt dressing. People also love the snacks. Our Collagen to her beautiful store. She asked me if I would ever think about opening a pick-up Bites have no refined sugar: oats, cacao window, and the idea has gained nibs, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, a momentum. We have a central location little bit of honey, some sea salt and a where we do all the food prep, and then we sprinkle of dark chocolate. For our Rice will stock the fridges in Mountain Brook to Krispy Treats, we put in almond butter, goji allow community members to come get berries, pumpkin seeds and unsweetened salads and grain bowls and breakfast and coconut for a really unique flavor profile. coffee and snacks and kombucha on a regular basis. We’ll have another similar Where did the name come from? Getting back to our roots and concept at 20th and 3rd Avenue North downtown next to Fed Ex Office opening unadulterated food was part of our brand, in February, and we’re announcing a so “root” needed to be there somewhere. There is a lot of West Coast influence in the location for our flagship store soon. menu and experience, and “blue” gives an What are some of your most popular homage to California where I grew up on the coast with the blue Pacific Ocean menu items? People are loving the salads. People’s everywhere. M-Power on Canterbury Road where I teach spin classes. We were embraced almost immediately.
&STYLE
HOME
THAT SOUTHERN CHARM How the Anderson family brought a fresh yet classic look to their Georgian home. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY REBECCA WISE MountainBrookMagazine.com 43
A
Ashley and Chase Anderson had lived in a midcentury modern home in Dallas, but when they moved to Birmingham they had a different style in mind—a “charming Southern style home,” Ashley says. What they found was just that on Surrey Road, a 1933 Georgian style home that had been on the market for six months at the time despite the fact that it had been recently renovated inside. “It was perfect for what we were looking for, and it was our only option,” Ashley recalls. “It was like a golden sign.” Although the couple met in Dallas, Ashley grew up in Arkansas and Chase, an Auburn grad, in Knoxville, Tennessee, so they always wanted to move back to the Southeast. And when their family business acquired Birmingham-based fishing company Bassmaster, the opportunity came in the form of a dream job for Chase, an avid fisherman. Two years later, Ashley says they are loving raising their two daughters in a community that moves at a slower pace and has the most beautiful spring seasons—and the “sweetest street” too. But when the Andersons first moved from Texas, they’d sold all of their midcentury style furniture with their house there and started fresh on Surrey Road with seemingly infinite white walls and only one headboard they planned to keep. That’s when Ashley connected with designer Allene Neighbors
44 March/April 2020
through one of her neighbors, and as it turns out it was perfect timing for Allene, who was getting back into the workforce after taking a few years off to spend time with her children. The Andersons did, however, move into a freshly renovated kitchen and bathrooms and all the 1933 home’s original hardwoods, windows and crown molding. “It’s classic and stands the test of time, so it doesn’t need a lot of changing,” Ashley says. Ashley likes a light, fresh look, and Allene worked with her to mix these styles with more traditional elements characteristic to the style of the home for an overall bright aesthetic. Ashley, a former dentist, brought her attention to detail to the design project to collaborate with Allene’s “impeccable taste” and connections to local shops, artists and craftsman from both growing up here and having a mother, Allene Parnell, who is also an interior designer. “She helped with the layering, the warmth, helped us find things we love,” Ashley says. “Every piece I have I want to stand the test of time.” Today the Andersons’s home is warm and cozy— stately on the outside but approachable inside with kid-friendly fabrics and soft furniture for their daughters, now ages 3 ½ and 18 months, to grow up with. It has all the character and charm of a home its age but with far more windows—and natural light—than often found in homes from that era.
Reading Room The Andersons call this bright space their Gulf Coast Room with its blue and white accents. On one wall, commissioned botanical drawings by Emily Farish depicting Ashley’s favorite flower, the peony, and Chase’s, the magnolia, flank a window dressed in soft blue damask drapery. The adjacent wall has a mounted Restoration Hardware bookshelf that brings a more modern element to the space. The club chairs from Circa Interiors provide a comfortable spot for quiet time and adult conversation. MountainBrookMagazine.com 45
Dining Room The dining space, inspired by Estee Lauder style director Aerin Lauder, has lavender walls and blue and white décor accents. A butterfly installation by Dallas artist Claire Crowe brings a modern element to the traditional fireplace, and a triptych by Wellon Bridgers on the opposite wall adds the fresh greens of spring that Ashley loves and was inspired by one of her favorite hymns, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” The custom made drapery are a pale shade of the wall color, and the navy band along the drapery edges compliments the navy velvet dining chairs. The oak table made through The Nest seats six but can accommodate 12 when both leaves are inserted to accommodate the Andersons’ extended family for holiday meals. 46 March/April 2020
Entry Way Allene found a more traditional English bow front chest when on an antique road trip, and Ashley likes mixing it with an abstract piece of art commissioned by Amanda Norman and a vintage rug. MountainBrookMagazine.com 47
Den Ashley wanted this family space to be calm and comfortable for their family, with a large sectional covered in child-proof fabric and a custom made mohair ottoman both through Circa Interiors. Like the other rooms on the main floor, sisal rugs add to the beachy, earthy vibe Ashley likes in combination with traditional elements. This room was part of an addition to the house from the 1980s in addition to a powder room and a master bedroom upstairs.Â
48 March/April 2020
Girl’s Room A funky piece of aviary art by Jen Ramos that Ashley commissioned for her now 3-year-old daughter Scarlett anchors the design of this youthful room with soft pink accents. The ceiling is wallpapered in a starburst paper and kid-proof linens, draperies and a custom-made three-sided daybed allows everything in the room to be enjoyed by the hands of a child. MountainBrookMagazine.com 49
Nursery When Ashley contacted Allene about designing a nursery prior to the arrival of their second child, the sex of the baby was unknown. Ashley wanted the room to have a bluebird theme, and Allene ran with the idea, incorporating pale blues and soft creams. Allene intentionally left a few details untouched until they found out if the baby was a boy or girl at the birth. Indeed it was another girl, so Allene then added pops of pale pink to the crib skirt and through an upholstered chair custom made with pink cording and band through MCJ Co.
50 March/April 2020
Sun Room It was Ashley’s idea to add a large, cozy window seat to this space off their dining room and do away with a pair of French doors leading to the back patio. The room is full of natural light with windows on three sides. The window seat is the perfect space to curl up with a good book in addition to offering storage space in the drawers underneath.
BEHIND THE SCENES Interior Design: Allene Neighors, Allene Designs
Reading Room and Den Upholstery and Ottomans: Circa Interiors
Select Area Rugs: Billy Brown Flooring
Cabinet and Door Hardware: Brandino Brass Select Lighting Fixtures: Circa Lighting Dining Table: The Nest
Nursery Chair: MCJ Co.
Master Bedroom Pillow Monogram: B. Bayer & Co. Landscaping: Peter Falkner
Sunroom Contractor: Franks Building Company
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Master Bedroom An uplifting piece of art by Carrie Pittman paired with more traditional bedding—including a monogrammed satin and velvet lumbar pillow on the bed – offers a peaceful retreat for Ashley and Chase. One of Ashley’s favorite parts of the space is the view of a Japanese maple tree from the bathroom when it’s in bloom.
52 March/April 2020
AT HOME
BOOKCASE STYLING 101
Photo & Text by Jessica Clement of JMC Studio Styling bookcase shelves is all about balance, layering and editing. Begin by stacking and placing coffee table books. Next, layer in accessories like boxes, textured vases and modern sculptures. The more unique and interesting the pieces, the more the shelves will reflect your personal style. Lastly, a low bookcase is the perfect place to display art and showcase oversized table lamps.
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MountainBrookMagazine.com 53
SPRING IS COMING! IN STYLE
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Shock & Awe When you enter the Wades’ museum of a home, look left, look right and certainly look up. It’s filled with an ever-evolving collection of modern art and memories alike. By Madoline Markham | Photos by Lauren Ustad 56 March/April 2020
When they were children, Margot and Caroline Wade liked to hide under a table in the entry way of their grandparents’ home during parties to listen for guests’ reactions when they walked in to find a montage of the girls’ grandmother Carolyn’s oversized mannequins sculptures and their grandfather Robin’s hunting prizes— all after noticing a “crime scene” with mannequins on the house’s roof lit by spotlights before entering. Likewise, Margot, now Margot Wade Cooney, vividly remembers the day she and Caroline came over to their grandparents’ house to discover its country white exterior had been painted vibrant purple. But what she always noticed the most in the home was her grandmother’s artwork that engaged all five of her senses. Everyone else’s work always came second. “I thought it was so cool my grandmother made it,” she recalls. “My grandmother never did small art. It’s massive—her tapestries, her statues, everything—it’s a massive labor of love.” The animal heads have since migrated from the entry way of the home to the former garage space and the roof no longer bears a crime scene, but more than two decades later the house still has as much of a shock and awe factor as when Margot and Caroline, now 32, were children, if not more. Today what you see in the Wades’ museum of a home is the result of 44 years of metamorphosis, redoing each space in the home room by room to share the art they have discovered on their worldwide travels and that they have invited local artist and others to create. Because it’s an art house, it’s constantly changing. Pieces are always being added but none are ever removed. Not a wall or ceiling is untouched, and each piece has a MountainBrookMagazine.com 57
From this view of the attic, in the back center you can see a 13-foot tall elephant Margot sculpted out of objects she found in her grandparents’ attic—night gowns, pillows, bed sheets, a gun case, medicine cabinet, you name it—that is now installed with its base on the second floor beneath it. To the right is a cardboard chair by architect Frank Gehry—one of many pieces added after an artist was featured at Space One Eleven and that artist visited the Wade home, and above it is an imagination of Manet’s “Olympia” featuring Birmingham relics by Ann Arrasmith.
purpose. What stays constant is Carolyn’s preference largely for work by female artists and in particular etchings by Kiki Smith, a contemporary artist known for visceral depictions of the human body in detail. In each room, you’d be remiss not to look up. It starts in the dog trot entry way with a set of chairs in all shapes and colors above your head, and upon closer observation, snakes sprinkled throughout them to add to the shock factor. In the dining room you’ll see a gold leaf ceiling with chrome water drains interspersed. In the kitchen, it’s pots and pans and car pieces, and in the breakfast room it’s an email correspondence in response to Margot’s artwork interlaced with one her grandmother’s old dresses. In the living room branches and birds line 58 March/April 2020
the ceiling, and the master bedroom white rocks signifying Robin’s work in quarries and heavy things that are also light do. Also throughout the home guests see pieces commissioned for Birmingham artists Peter Prinz and Ann Arrasmith. In the dining room alone, they created an interpretation of a buffet bearing depictions of the Vulcan and each Wade family member’s home sitting between African mud cloths that act as curtains with spears used as curtain rods. Even the seat cushions in the dining room were custom by Anne Arrasmith. But the Wade house looked quite different when the family moved to Cherokee Road with their children on the first day of 1975. At first the décor of the home was traditional just like its architecture,
Much of the pieces in the living room are a fun take on what a grandparents’ house should look like, with plastic and drop cloths covering pieces, and features a mix of art, antiques and artifacts. Like all rooms in the home, it bears its own unique ceiling dÊcor, here birds and branches alike.
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Carolyn Wade is known for wearing clothing as eccentric as her art collection by designers like Comme des Garcons (France) and Rei Kawakubo (Japan), often in her favorite colors in her home too: red and purple. “When she travels she’s always the person people talk to because she is wearing these outrageous outfits,” her granddaughter Margot says.
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Artwork by Robert Rauschenberg and Gerhard Richter as well as Dani Tribe artifacts line the stairway from the first floor to the second, and a needlepoint jacket by Carolyn Wade hangs over the rail on the right.
with antiques sitting amongst paisley wallpaper. That started to change after Carolyn’s children went off to college and she studied studio art and art history at UAB. She’ll tell you it changed her life— and it certainly changed many others’ too. “Her art has helped teach people in Birmingham about modern art and art in general,” Margot says. “It’s a space you walk into and just get to see art instead of looking at slides.” Travels crystalized this change for the Wades and their home too. Over the years Robin and Carolyn would go on trips that curators from the Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art led over the world to see private collections and art that was local to the area. Today their walls bear memories from each of those trips and artists they discovered. In other ways, art was nothing new to Carolyn even before taking up her studies though. She’d always been a talented needle pointer, but her repertoire expanded to experimental art that engages the whole person, crafting mannequins
and extra large abstract needlepoints that could take up to two years to complete—Margot’s favorite of her grandmother’s works. Once each of their four grandchildren turned 10, Carolyn and Robin started taking them on trips too. “They wanted us to see what was outside Alabama and what London and Rome look like, what cannibals in Indonesia look like,” Margot recalls. Just like their grandparents’ journey from general to specific travels, they began to see curated art as they got older, looking closer at the inner workings of the city instead of just the framework in Africa, India, Indonesia and all over Europe. Today Margot’s three children, ages 5, 3, and 2, love to go to their great-grandparents’ house just like Margot did. “People ask if they are amazed, but it’s so normal to them,” Margot says. “They want to play with the trains. They know it’s a gem, but they want to spend time with their great-grandparents.” Their memories are not unlike Margot’s own from childhood. Growing up she and her sisters never watched TV there—except for the high fashion MountainBrookMagazine.com 61
Margot Wade remembers seeing a giant stuffed polar bear right when she walked into Salvador Dali’s home in Spain and immediately thinking that her grandparents’ house is just is cool, also with a stuffed polar bear to greet you upon entering.
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The research we’re doing is making it possible for kids like Allie to survive, grow up and make things happen. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS. University of Montevallo art professor and photographer Karen Graffeo took a series of photos of Carolyn Wade and her granddaughter Liz when Liz was in high school. Today these are installed in the dining room.
shows Carolyn recorded. Instead they learned to knit from Carolyn, and their granddad Robin—whom Margot calls an “amazingly inquisitive man” who is “always learning, always excited to do something new”—would get an 80 foot-rope, tie knots into it and have his grandchildren figure out how to undo them. Margot went on to study art at Mount Holyoke College and work in sculpture, but her studies would just build on what she’d learned growing up. “My grandparents always talked about art as a lifestyle,” she says. “It’s how you approach any situation. My grandfather is a scientist and a businessman, but the reason he is so good at those is because he’s creative and because he’s curious. My grandmother has this amazing attention to detail and this endurance. Somewhere it was in my bones that I too can build something big.” While earning her master’s degree in art, Margot was learning about how a big issue with personal art collections is that owners don’t know what they have. So when she graduated she went in every room of her grandparents’ home to catalogue what art was in it and where it was from. Later she’d sculpt a 13-foot tall elephant out of objects she found in her grandparents’ attic—night gowns, pillows, bed sheets, a gun case, medicine cabinet, you name it—for an installation at Space One Eleven downtown. “Why go to an art store and get art supplies when you have something way more meaningful here?” Margot notes. “We are very sentimental
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When the Wades started to transform their house in the 1980s, neon was really popular, so you see it throughout the house. Several artists collaborated in this stairwell leading up to the attic.
A blue Franz West chair displayed in front of two works by David Sandlin
A colorful chandelier in the dining room.
people. If you make it into art you don’t have to throw it away.” Today the elephant is installed half in the second floor of the Wade home and half in the now cleaned-out attic that Peter Prinz and Ann Arrasmith transformed into a bright white cube gallery featuring other works and capsules of other material from the attic storage space too. Touring around the house, Margot and Carolyn pause over and over again to tell you not just about their own work but all the more so about the artists behind the other works you are seeing here. How Birmingham isn’t the same without Ann Arrasmith (she passed away in 2017), who made art about AIDS when no one was talking about it. How Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons found her voice in post-revolutionary Cuba. How Kara Walker reimagined depictions of the 64 March/April 2020
Southern tradition allow you to dialogue about race relations in the region. How they made phone calls over days to Robert Rauschenberg to make sure his work was installed just as he would have wanted. And how Carolyn herself got war shields from New Guinea. It’s a tour they started giving Altamont School art history classes when Margot and her siblings were students there, and seemingly any time an artist or Birmingham Museum of Art guest speaker, where Carolyn serves on the board, came to town, the Wades would throw a party, opening their home for various tours too. Because of the parties, word travelled fast about the purple house on top of the hill with this spider out front. And all who have visited or call can agree that it’s equally eccentric, artful and life-changing.
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66 March/April 2020
On the Big Screen Actor Michael O’Neill talks about his most memorable roles and how he came to commute to LA from Mountain Brook. By Madoline Markham | Photos Contributed Strangers often greet Michael O’Neill with a confused look. They know they know him, but how? He’s been told he’s the cop that put a woman into jail, that he landed a plane on the Hudson River, and that he refereed a kid’s basketball game. But he never corrects them. If, however someone asks what he does, he’ll tell them he’s a character actor. “Depending on their age, I can usually tell whether (they know me from) Seabiscuit or The West Wing or NCIS or The Unit or Jack Ryan,” O’Neill told us. “I’d say about 80 percent of the time I’m right about what they know me from.” Right now you can catch O’Neill, who calls Mountain Brook home, on Season 2 of Jack Ryan, an Amazon Prime series based on Tom Clancy’s character. O’Neill had met John Krasinski, who
plays Ryan, on the set of a screenplay called Promised Land that Krasinski and Matt Damon were working on, and Krasinski had asked for O’Neill to play Senator Mitchell Chapin. So play it he did. “Krasinski’s relationships with Wendell Pierce, who plays his CIA boss, is one the most fascinating relationships on television right now,” O’Neill says. Also of recent, he is particularly proud to have been in Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner Clemency, a 2019 release. “It’s a compelling look at the cost of the death penalty, and it’s not laying a claim to (being) for or against,” O’Neill says. “It’s showing what’s happening when people have to do it—the guards, the executioner, the chaplain, the lawyer, the family of the victim and the perpetrator’s family. I played the chaplain, so I MountainBrookMagazine.com 67
MICHAEL O’NEILL’S MOST RECOGNIZABLE ROLES TV
Larry Mills
Michael O’Neill is currently playing Larry Mills in the new show Council of Dads. Photo by Quantrell Colbert/NBC
Council of Dads (2020) Senator Mitchell Chapin Jack Ryan (2019) Lonnie Mencken Scandal (2018) Nick Ford Bates Motel (2014) Senator Roland Foulkes Rectify (2013-2016) Gary Clark Grey’s Anatomy (2010) Special Agent Ron Butterfield The West Wing (1999-2006) FILM
Chaplain Kendricks Clemency (2019) Richard Barkley Dallas Buyers Club (2013) Senator McKellar J. Edgar (2011) Tom Banacheck Transformers (2007) Ralph Secondhand Lions (2003) Mr. Pollard Seabiscuit (2003) O.B. Keeler The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) Raymond Brown Sea of Love (1989) 68 March/April 2020
am the last man to sit with the condemned and try to bring comfort and understanding and some hope for redemption.” That kind of acting job, he says, takes a toll on him. “It took a while to get that film off of me. We shot at a prison. The environment does something to you. It’s the only film I’ve ever worked on where they had a therapist on set. It was hard.” So coming out of that, he was looking for a job “with a moral compass with something that is closer to my own”
when last February he got a cast for a show filmed in Savannah called Council of Dads, which premiers March 10 at 9 p.m. on NBC. According to NBC’s website, it’s about a set of men who “discover that there’s more to being a father than anyone could do alone—and more to being a family than they ever thought possible.” “I have been waiting on this character for 25 years since it’s close to me—flawed but trying to do the right thing, imparting a certain Southern wisdom from life experience,” O’Neill
O’Neill acts alongside John Krasinski as Senator Mitchell Chapin on Jack Ryan Season 2. Photo by Sarah Shatz/Amazon Video
man 50 years his junior. “Come to California and I’ll work with you.” Conflicted, O’Neill sought out his mentor, Ed Lee AN UNEXPECTED START Spencer, who owned a labor yard in Auburn and But when O’Neill graduated from Auburn in 1974, told home about the opportunity. “I thought Ed Lee he had no idea what career was to come. The only would say, ‘Get a job instead.’ But he leaned back in acting credit to the Montgomery native’s name at his chair and said, ‘You know you have to go, don’t the time was that of a leaf in his first-grade play. He you?’” You could have knocked me over with a had majored in economics and never given a feather. I said, ‘Excuse me?’ He said, ‘You probably thought to theatre, until he got an unexpected won’t make it, but you don’t want to look back on your life and wonder what it would be like if you phone call just after his last exam his senior year. Earlier that semester, he’d won an award from his hadn’t gone.’” Six days later O’Neill got in his car and drove to fraternity and delivered an address connected to it in Muncie, Indiana. Somehow a recording from that California. “You won’t make it,” person after person speech found its way to Will Geer—who played in the industry told him. But the more they said it, “Grandpa” Zebulon Tyler Walton on The Waltons— the angrier he got, and the more he started studying in Los Angeles when an editor was interviewing him acting. He landed his first role on the Shirley Jones Show for O’Neill’s fraternity’s magazine. In that moment, Geer asked the editor, “Do you know how to get in in 1979 and his first movie, a supernatural horror film called Ghost Story with actor Fred Astaire, in touch with this fellow?” Before long Geer was on the phone with O’Neill in 1981. “In every given moment there was about 280 Auburn. “Son, I think you should try acting before years of experience on the set,” he recalls of that the corporate structure snaps you up,” he told the first movie experience. “I knew I didn’t know what I says. “It’s recharged my batteries.”
MountainBrookMagazine.com 69
TASTE. SIP. REPEAT.
O’Neill with Hal Halbrook backstage at Mark Twain Tonight in Nashville
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was doing, but I would watch them and try to learn from their experience.” But in some ways acting was more natural than O’Neill thought having grown up with the Southern tradition of storytelling, and his Aunt Nez the great raconteur in particular. “She had a steel trap of memory about the family,” O’Neill says. “She’d be telling you a story in a rocking chair, and when she stopped, you leaned forward because something good was about to talk about. We have such a richness in our language and turn of phrase.” At some point O’Neill got cast for how he held authority in a room and started to play law enforcement roles—which he says might have something to do with his mustache so true to his identity that when he shaved it for his role in The Legend of Bagger Vance and then came home his young daughters didn’t know who he was. More than anything though he’s always wanted his acting to be honest. If he could act in a way where people would think, “I have thought that, or I have felt that, or wow I have had that experience,” then he was in. Never did that ring more true than when he landed a role in Seabiscuit that he says a lot of actors “higher on the food chain” wanted. In the script, the character he auditioned for had to abandon his son. O’Neill had taken a pillowcase full of books to the audition because the father gives his son his books when he
Clemency, a film that examines the death penalty, won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize. O’Neill plays a chaplain in it. Photo courtesy of NEON
leaves him. Just thinking back to the audition almost 20 years later stirs up emotion in him. “In the audition I couldn’t let go of the pillowcase, and I lost it (emotionally),” he says. “And the room lost it. And I got the role. I had three small kids at the time, and the idea of having to let a child go because you couldn’t physically support them was devastating to me.” O’Neill connected particularly strongly with the sense of duty and responsibility of playing Ron Butterfield on The West Wing too. “I love the fact that a Southerner was protecting a New England president and literally took a bullet for him,” O’Neill says. “We would go to Washington, and the Secret Service taught me a lot about the job. So I felt the responsibility to play them with as much authenticity and dignity as I possibly could. I am
still taken by the fact that they are a shield and know one of them will take the bullet.” A NEW SOUTHERN CHAPTER Through most of his career O’Neill lived in the Los Angeles area, technically with four years there, then 15 in New York before returning to California and starting to date his now-wife Mary. Fast forward to eight years ago. The couple had been homeschooling their three daughters when Mary approached her husband one day. “We’re moving to Birmingham,” she told him. “Well how about New Zealand? It’s the same distance, just the opposite direction,” he kiddingly responded. “I’m serious,” she retorted. “We’re moving to MountainBrookMagazine.com 71
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“I tell young actors somebody can define how much they pay you but they cannot decide your self worth. You get to do that.” -Michael O’Neill Birmingham.” Mary had her mind set on finding a good education and community for their family, and since they’d spent two weeks every summer on Lake Martin at Michael’s friend Michael Murray’s home, the area was already familiar. Her husband eventually got on board with commuting for filming since he was always on the road anyway, and Ella, Annie and Molly started at Mountain Brook Junior High. “I had a huge resistance to it because I fled the South when I left mostly over race relations,” O’Neill explains. “I had an antiquated idea of what it was like because I hadn’t been here in 40 years. I was shocked and so happy to see the progress that had been made.” From a home base in Birmingham, he’s added more and more recognizable roles to his reel. For all of his 130 credits though, he says there were probably 13,000 no’s from auditions. “Somebody had to put something in you to withstand that. It takes a long time to learn that’s not personal,” he says. And that person for him was Aunt Nez. “She valued me in a way that said they can tell you no, they don’t define who you are. She let me know I had worth and it was my job how to define that. I tell young actors somebody can define how much they pay you but they cannot decide your self worth. You get to do that. Otherwise it will beat you up in such a way that you won’t know who you are.” Even today at the height of his career he says his roles don’t define his worth. His wife does that. His kids do that. He does that. And Aunt Nez has always done that. Still, nerves are part of the job. “They say auditioning is tantamount to a moderate automobile accident,” he explains. “There’s a lot of adrenaline that drops and stress that goes on, and I feel that every time I audition. So I grab the guitar or a shovel and dig something up in the backyard or wash dishes.” And those were just the lessons he imbued on the December 2019 graduates of Auburn University—including his oldest daughter Ella—when he delivered a commencement speech at his alma mater. “The biggest thing I hope I left them with is that my greatest two teachers when I want to Los Angeles were ‘no’ and my mistakes,” he summarizes. “They create a certain grit in you that if you can address it you will move forward. And the great surprise to us all is that it’s likely the strength of your kindness not the strength of your opinion that’s going to make repairs.”
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OUT & ABOUT
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MBHS VS. RAMSAY BASKETBALL GAME
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PHOTOS BY EK PARKER
Mountain Brook High School Varsity Boys Basketball defeated Ramsay High School 54-53 on Jan. 31. 1. Kyra Burger, Anna Kate Yeager, Janie Greene, Marguerite Sprain, Anna Withers Wellingham, Lindsey Jane Drummond, Hadley Bryant and Lucy Bowling 2. Eleanor Lassiter, Meryl Hyme and Reese Gardner
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3. Teddy Kent 4. May Daphnis and Lay Melvin 5. Garrett Huddleston, Hagen Stevens and Jack Alexander 6. Parker Jones and Henry Tynes 7. Riley Orr and Paige Benton 8. George Cain and Parker Bell 9. Anna Vincent, Sally Cooper and Jane Gresham 10. Jason Smith and Lenny Passink
Please Reply Stationery ~ Gifts ~ Invitations
42B Church Street ~ Mountain Brook, AL 35213 (205) 870-4773 or please_reply@bellsouth.net www.pleasereplyllc.com 80 March/April 2020
I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. Animal Hospital, Veterinary Care, Boarding & Grooming 2810 19th Place South, Homewood, AL 35209 StandiferAnimalClinic.com
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OUT & ABOUT
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LIBRARY FAMILY NIGHT
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PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN KIMBROUGH
Jungle adventure critters came to the Emmet O’Neal Library for a night of fun for all ages on Feb. 4. 1. Kerry and Patrick Reid 2. Elise Young, Camille Young and Lucy Arndt 3. Everson and Mary Browne 4. Katie Rogers and Ava Baggarly 5. Collin Patterson and Conner Patterson, and Seth, Meritt and Jessica Cannon
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6. Laighton and Win Williams 7. Poppy and Soren Cunningham 8. Oliver and Rymer McClung 9. Virginia, Elizabeth and Coleman McCoin 10. Adeline, Bennett and Peyton Rowan 11. Linsey, Lily, Tim and Elliott Williams
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OUT & ABOUT
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CHAMBER ANNUAL LUNCHEON
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PHOTOS BY MADOLINE MARKHAM
At the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon, Mike Mouron was given the Jemison Visionary Award, Officer Josh Brown the City Employee of the Year Award and Tom Carruthers the Emmet O’Neal Library Tynes Award. The event was held Jan. 30 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel. 1. Mike Mouron and Whitney Mork
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2. Leadership Mountain Brook Class 3. Lauren Nichols and Anne Schilleci 4. Suzanne Moore, Allison Fowlkes and Jeannie Dodson 5. Mountain Brook Chamber Board of Directors 6. Ann Sanders, Millie Rudder and Joseph Braswell 7. JT Smallwood and Parker Stringfellow 8. Carl Sosnin, and John and Brenda Lipscomb 9. Chad Parks, David Huddleston and Joe Meads 10. Jennifer Joffrion, Rebecca Nunley and Dawn Hirn 11. Mason Morris and Meredith Nelson 12. Lee Mallette, Callan Sherrod and Kirby Whitehead 13. Audrey Easterwood and Heather Anthony
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MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Mountain Brook Magazine • 205.669.3131
Need appliance or air conditioner parts? How about a water filter for your refrigerator? We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A1Appliance.com
Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007
Mechanic needed. Must have own tools and five years experience. Apply in person: 1105 7th St N, Clanton. Or call for appointment 205-7554570
Bent Creek Apartments. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager. On-site Maintenance. 3001 7th Street. North Clanton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800548-2547(V) 800-5482546(T/A) bentcreek@ morrowapts.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/Employer
INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $18.38+/ hour + production & safety $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. 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. Avanti Polar Lipids is looking for full and part time employees. Submit resume to jobs@ avantilipids.com •Highly proficient math skills required. •High school diploma required.
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Immediate need for LPN's. Full time LPN Position with sign on bonus. BMC Nursing Home. Responsible for patient care and supervision of CNA staff. Will also provide treatment and meds for residents. Apply online or call Human Resources at 205-926-3363 bibbmedicalcenter.com Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $13.66/hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com Core Focus Personnel 205-826-3088 • Now Hiring Production Mill Worker, Jemison. 12hrs (days/nights), ability to pass drug test, background check, physical. Positions working in outside temperature conditions. Previous manufacturing experience required. $11.75/hr to start.
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ETS RESTORATIONS •Retaining Walls •Concrete Work •Demolition •Landscaping •Construction •Tree Removal •Tree Trimming •Bobcat Work •Hardscapes •Hauling Residential & Commercial FREE ESTIMATES!!! CALL NOW (205)209-7787 $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. Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers Competitive pay and benefits. Pre-employment drug test required Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Call: 205298-6799 or email us at: jtate@forestryenv.com Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is hiring experienced -Sandblasters -Industrial Painters - Helpers. Must be able to pass drug test and e-verify check. Must be willing to travel. Professional references required. Please send resume to: icgsecretary@ hotmail.com or call (205)688-9004
Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com
Lancaster Place Apartments. Location, community & quality living in Calera, AL. 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments available. Call today for specials!! 205-668-6871. Or visit hpilancasterplace. com
Medical Assistants with at least 2yrs of experience We are looking to fill fulltime & part-time positions at our Pelham and Birmingham locations. We’re always looking to hire qualified personnel Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm Monday-Friday 8am-6pm Saturdays 1pm6pm Sunday Qualified Applicants should apply at: www.medhelpclinics. com
Now Hiring!! •Caregivers-ADL’s, assist with medications and some lifting 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7pm •Activity Director PartTime •Cooks-some 12/ hr shifts Call Shay McNeal 205-620-2905
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
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) •800548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/Employer
Montgomery Stockyard Drop Station at Gray & Son's in Clanton. Call Lane at 205-3894530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205965-8657
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. 205-7553430 MedHelp Clinics Now Hiring •Front Desk Receptionists with billing experience •Certified
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 inquiries only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www. Oxfordhealthcare.com
MARKETPLACE Specializing in all your hair care needs SERENITY SALON Barber/Stylist Chairs Available for Rent 2 Convenient Locations •2005 Valleydale Rd. •Pelham •3000 Meadow Lake Dr. Suite 107 Call Nichole 205-240-5428 Nursing assistant to care for high functioning quadriplegic home health patient in Jemison. Must have valid drivers license. Part-time. Call Mr. Wilbanks 205-908-3333 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. Wilton Water and Gas Board HIRING WATER TECHNICIAN •Fulltime position available •We offer BCBS health insurance & state retirement •Starting pay $12/hr depending on exp. Duties include but not limited to: •Reading Meters •Repair Leaks •Installing Water Lines •Repair & Replace Flush Plugs •Replace Gas/Water Meters •General Maintenance of Gas System •Cutting Grass •Maintain Town Properties and Main Buildings •Generally Available to Respond Within 30/min to Emergency Call-Outs, at Anytime of Day/Night Year Round •Skilled Operation of Backhoe & Variety of Hand Tools Requirements: •Valid AL DL
•HS Diploma/GED Apply In Person or Contact Melissa with questions:205-665-2021 Email resumes: melissa@ wilton-al.org
Acceptance Loan Company, Inc. Personal loans! Let us pay off your title loans! 224 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham 205663-5821
Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205)5618118 and get your career started!
NOW HIRING Part-Time Bookkeeper Position in Alabaster, AL 9am-1pm with flexibility Send Resume to: Human Resource Dept. PO Box 947 Columbiana, AL 35051
White Oak Transportation is hiring CDL-A drivers in your area. Great Pay! Excellent Benefits! Visit our website www.whiteoaktrans.com for more information EOE-M/F/D/V
Pharmaceutical Grade Pharmaceutical Grade CBD Oil, a unique concept for sublingual absorption. Helps pain, anxiety, energy & more. Order from home 205-276-7778. www.CiliByDesign.com/ BrendaGlaze
KELLY Educational Staffing WE'RE HIRING! •Substitute Teahers •Aides •Cafeteria •Clerical •Custodial Positions Shelby County School District, Pelham City Schools & Alabaster City Schools. Call 205-682-7082 for more information. -Equal Opportunity EmployerPopeyes Seeking friendly, motivated, dependable Crew Members. OPEN INTERVIEWS DAILY 2:00pm-5:00pm 3300 Pelham Parkway. Immediate Openings! Start work this week! Apply online: work4popeyeskitchen. com GENERAL LAWN CARE Specialist in large yards 2+ acres. Serving Chilton, Coosa & many more areas. Bi-weekly, weekly or one-time services available. SPRING CLEANUP SPECIALS FOR FEBRUARY! Call Alex today for details: 205-955-3439 ~Military & Senior Discounts~
$Cash Paid For Used RV's!$ Motor Homes, Travel/Enclosed trailers, consignment welcome, Cars and Trucks, Pick up available, Mccluskey Auto and RV Sales, LLC 205833-4575 Construction Workers Needed for Local Construction Company. Must be experienced and dependable. Job is five days a week. Salary based on skills. Must have remodeling experience. Call Adam 205-863-9059 Pop & Sons Demolition & Junk Removal (205)948-8494 junkguys2014@gmail.com •Junk Removal Services •Demolition•More!! FREE QUOTES!! ALSO WITH THE MENTION OF THIS AD GET $20 OFF!!! Service Tech, Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning AL Cert# 89282 Now Hiring Full-Time Certified Technician •Minimum 5 years experience •Residential, Commercial and Refrigeration •Ipad Experience •On-Call Rotation Apply at: www. servicetechhvac.com
Sitting Angels Home Care, LLC NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Doctor Appointments, Bathing/Dressing Meal Preparation, Errands, Laundry,Light House Keeping and More. Lenette Walls, Owner 205-405-6991
Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc Sign-On-Bonus! Hiring SOLO & TEAM CDL Drivers •2yrs Exp•Pass D.O.T Physical/ Background Check •Hazmat Endorsement Apply Online: www. drive4western.com EOE
Shelby County Openings: Loaders: •1st shift 7am-4pm, MondayFriday •2nd Shift- 4:30pm Finish, Sunday–Thursday $11.00/hr Packers-1st shift 7am-4pm, Monday-Friday $11.00/hr Replenisher1st Shift 6am-3:30pm $12.00/hr Standup Forklift Operators 1st Shift-6am3:30pm $12.00/hr Apply online: www.mystaffmark. com The Harvest Place Christian Church Join us for worship every SUNDAY The Harvest Place Christian Church 14 Westside Ln, Columbiana, AL 35051 Bishop Wales Williams, Jr Chief Apostle •Morning Worship Sunday 11am •Life Enrichment Classes Sunday 10:15am •Join Us Every Tuesday Night at JOYFEST •Midweek WorshipBegins at 6:30pm www. getyourharvest.org The Salvation Army Birmingham is hiring Part-time and Full-time •Housing Monitors •Kitchen Assistants •Cooks Apply in Person The Salvation Army Center of Hope 2015 26th Avenue Birmingham, AL 35234 Land For Sale 51acres +/- Helena located on South Shades Crest Rd. Great development/ investment potential or private estate location $17,500/per acre Includes old farm house good frontage 205-587-3090 revcoltom@gmail.com
Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in routeservice work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/ pass background/drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@charter.net Brian's Tree Service Trees cut from the top down! Safe tree removal in confined areas. Stump grinding! General liability and wokers comp. 205-281-2427" SHELBY WOODS APARTMENTS Columbiana's Finest Affordable Senior Living Community •Great Location •Peaceful Setting •Comfortable Living -Spacious One Bedroom Homes Now Available- Rent based on income, 62 years or older, or under 62 who are mobility impaired. Call us today to find out more about Columbiana's best kept secret! Call 205-6690066. 100 Collins Street, Columbiana AL 35051. Office Hours Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Closed Sat & Sun. Roof Repairs Years of Experience with all types of roofs. Dependable. I WILL fix your leak! Call Don (205) 266-5178
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MY MOUNTAIN BROOK SIM S.W. JOHNSON
Mountain Brook Board of Landscape Design Chair + Friends of Jemison Park President
Village Green
Jazz in the Park Each fall the state’s Jazz in the Park concert series culminates on the lawn across from the library in Crestline. It’s a great night for a picnic with all our neighbors.
Communal Contemplation
Natural Preserve
The Meadow at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church The Meadow at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church is a hidden gem open to the public. A brook runs through the property, and our girls love the playground nearby.
Jemison Park As president of the Friends of Jemison Park, I may be a little biased, but there are few spots more beautiful than our historic Warren Manning-designed park. It’s so cool to walk the old bridle path and see the smaller opening for horses beneath the Overbrook Road bridge.
Native Canopy
Mountain Brook Village Few weeks go by for us without a trip to Mountain Brook Creamery and a walk around the village, cone in hand, beneath its mature, native oaks. No walk is complete without strolling along Petticoat Lane beside the Watkins Branch of Shades Creek, where the initial land was deeded for Jemison Park.
Beechwood Beauty
Louise Wrinkle’s Garden Our neighbor and gardening buddy Louise Agee Wrinkle generously allows visitors to wander her nationally recognized naturalistic garden. If the gate is open, take a peek!
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