By Donna CorneliusAlthough you might not realize it right away, David Brush has one of those cool names that fits his profession. He’s an artist – but as a landscape architect, he uses plants instead of paints. “I like to think that I’m creating living pieces of art,” Brush said. One of his latest undertakings is in Mt Laurel at the 2016 Southern Living Idea House, … [Read more...]
Retreating to the Lake: Empty Nesters Build Dream Home at Eagle Point
By Sarah KuperWhen the youngest of Christa and Bert Salter's three children graduated high school in 2015, the couple decided to take their love of lake living to the next level by moving to the shores of Lake Mitchell in Clanton full time. The Salter family called Vestavia Hills home for 23 years and when they put their house on the market, it sold in one hour. After … [Read more...]
College Graduate at 85: Vestavia Hills Woman Finishes What She Started
By Sarah Kuper Lottie Jacks feels like any recent college graduate – glad not to have to study for another final or drag herself to an 8 a.m. class after a long night of studying. But unlike the average Samford University grad, Jacks is 85 years old. The octogenarian walked across the Wright Center stage May 14 to receive her degree in biology nearly 65 years after she began … [Read more...]
Three-Wheeled Calling: Former Spartan Track Coach Leads Local AMBUCS Non-Profit
By Lee Davis After leading Mountain Brook to 68 state championships in track and field over a four-decade career, Greg Echols decided to retire. But at the relatively young age of 60, Echols still needed a path for the rest of his life. Last February, he found it. Echols, now 61, became executive director of the Greater Birmingham chapter of AMBUCS, a non-profit … [Read more...]
Fire Man: Food, Flavor and His Father’s Example Fuel Nick Pihakis
By Donna Cornelius The Cooking Channel show “Man Fire Food” isn’t named after Nick Pihakis, but it could be. Barbecue is still a hot topic for the Birmingham native who started Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q more than 30 years ago. Pihakis opened the first Jim ’N Nick’s in 1985 with his father, Jim. The Birmingham-based barbecue restaurant now has 35 stores in seven states. “We’ve … [Read more...]