By Annie Howard Sweet treats, music, auctions and close encounters of the feathered kind will highlight this year’s Wild About Chocolate gala. The annual Valentine gala, being held Feb. 11 at the Harbert Center, benefits the Alabama Wildlife Center and “has grown into one of Birmingham’s premiere Valentine’s Day events,” said AWC’s director, Doug Adair. This is the 13th year … [Read more...]
Retrofitting a Neighborhood: Families Expand Homewood Houses to Fit Modern Needs or Start From Scratch
By Sarah Kuper Although space is limited, Homewood real estate is growing – in a manner of speaking. “People add on to the back, build up or start from scratch,” said Willow Design Studios’ Allison Hallman. Hallman is an owner and designer at the firm, which operates in tandem with Willow Construction Company in Homewood. She said her firm last year worked on 25 Homewood … [Read more...]
Morning Glory: Tom York Dominated Local Television
By Lee Davis Tom York didn’t start out with a vision for a local morning television show. It just happened. York, a Florence native, was working at a TV station in Memphis when he was hired away by WBRC in Birmingham in 1957. The station, a CBS affiliate at the time, was transitioning ownership to Taft Broadcasting, and major changes were in the works. One of them included … [Read more...]
Cashin’ In: Birmingham Native Ben Hope Brings Johnny Cash Tribute Home
By Emily Williams Before moving to New York and performing on Broadway, Ben Hope nurtured his love of musical theater in his native Birmingham. Now, he’s bringing Broadway back home as he directs and performs in “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.” The production will be at the Virginia Samford Theatre Jan. 26 to Feb. 12. Hope is starring in the show, performing the … [Read more...]
Links for Living: Christian Service Mission Makes Connections for Those in Need
By Donna Cornelius Tracy Hipps, the executive director of Birmingham’s Christian Service Mission, has a pipe in his office. It’s not the kind your grandfather smoked but a piece of conduit – and it’s a symbol of his organization’s purpose and focus. “We’re about making connections,” Hipps said. Christian Service Mission, with headquarters in Avondale, serves those in need by … [Read more...]