By Anne RuisiFestivalgoers can rely on the Persian chicken, brisket, falafels, mandelbrot and other foods served at the Levite Jewish Community Center’s Jewish Food and Culture Fest on April 14 being kosher. The center has an expert who ensures that it is.“I am a rabbi. So, I know about kosher. And so, when the JCC needs help with kosher, I help,” said Rabbi Yossi … [Read more...]
Perfect Blend: Parade of Homes’ Ideal Home in Chelsea is a Serene Getaway
By Madoline Markham KoonceNestled below Double Oak Mountain on 2.5 wooded acres, you’ll find the star of this year’s Parade of Homes in its Ideal Home. Located in The Highlands in Chelsea, its 5,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor finished spaces is a blend of modern and traditional design built by B&K Build.The “Noah” house plan by Frusterio Design, a … [Read more...]
Sweets for your Sweeties: Local Sweets Shops Offer Special Preparations for Valentine’s Day
By Susan SwaglerShow some love to those you care about and to local women-owned businesses this Valentine’s Day with artisanal chocolate of all kinds. We spoke to three women, Kathy D’Agostino, above, Geri-Martha O’Hara, above right, and Susan Notter, right, all known for their bespoke sweets about what they’re offering right now.Elizabeth Moore ChocolatesPastry … [Read more...]
Wooded Retreat: Wellon Bridgers Makes a 1960s Home Overlooking the Cahaba River Her Own
By Madoline Markham KoonceWellon Bridgers gasped the first time she walked inside the home on River Bend Road last year. She’d known the Cahaba River was behind it, but when she saw the way the entryway opened up to a wall of windows overlooking the river, she was taken aback by its beauty. Next, she entered the dining room and could envision her family of six … [Read more...]
An American Dream: Ukrainian Couple Opens Wedding Dress Atelier After Relocating to Birmingham
By Madoline Markham KoonceMykola Vyshyvanyuk’s dream to design wedding dresses came true in 2013 in Lviv, Ukraine, but then it came to a sudden halt when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He and his wife, Olena, sent their three children to live with grandparents in Greece and France and started using their atelier’s sewing machines to make vests for … [Read more...]