By Laura McAlister Journal Editor When Matt Coulter isn't at the station talking sports, he's likely at his Vestavia Hills home watching or maybe even playing them.Matt is host of "Inside the Huddle" on Birmingham's 97.3 the Zone Sports Radio. From 10 a.m. to noon weekdays, he can be heard talking about the latest in sports news. But even after hours, sports are never … [Read more...]

Beyond the Garden Gates:BBG Tour Invites Plant Lovers to Homes, Downtown Park The Birmingham Botanical Gardens' 2012 Glorious Gardens Tour presented by Leaf & Petal will feature seven gardens June 2-3.Event hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2 and noon-5 p.m. June 3. Tickets, which allow access to all the gardens, are $25. The tour will be held rain or … [Read more...]

Story By Laura McAlister - Photos by Lee Walls Jr.The 2012 Decorators' ShowHouse will have lots of firsts this year.In the 36 years the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Council has hosted the event, the 2012 ShowHouse in Vestavia Hills will be the first to have a gymnasium with a regulation half basketball court as well as a rock climbing wall.But perhaps the … [Read more...]

Scroll down to read stories on this year's Parade of Homes, including the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders' video promoting the industry and event, this year's first Ideal House and a look inside one of the 18 villages to be featured in the Parade.By Laura McAlister Journal EditorThe Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders has a message, and … [Read more...]

By Laura McAlister Journal EditorGone are the days when a sign in the front yard and maybe some cookies in the oven are all the prepping homeowners need to sell their house. In this market, Lisa Bond said, it takes much more.Lisa, who lives in Hoover, is a home staging consultant and redesigner and owner of The Stagehand Home Staging and Redesign Services. She works … [Read more...]