By June MathewsFor the average kid in 20th-century America, flipping through the pages of the Sears Roebuck catalog inspired holiday wish lists. But for young Dan Bynum, those same pages inspired art.“The economical black and white illustrations were a catalyst for my imagination,” he said. “I have an affinity for combining elements and concepts that do not … [Read more...]

By Madoline Markham KoonceTwenty years ago, what is now Red Mountain Theatre was a timeworn organization on the brink of bankruptcy with one staff member. Today, it has a staff of more than 40 with an annual budget nearing $6 million and a $30 million Arts Campus occupying a whole city block in downtown Birmingham.“That’s nonprofit magic,” said Keith Cromwell, RMT’s … [Read more...]

By Madoline Markham KooneBy the end of August, the white church steeple that’s been on Montevallo Road as you enter Mountain Brook Village since 1953 will no longer be towering into the sky. The upcoming demolition of the Shades Valley Presbyterian Church’s Colonial-style brick building will bring the end of an era, but it’s also paving the way for a new … [Read more...]

By Jim NolesThe United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, is home to approximately 4,400 students – or, as they are known to the Army, cadets.Of those hundreds of cadets, only about four dozen First Class cadets wear the rank of captain on their sleeves.And, of those four dozen, the Corps of Cadet’s first captain stands singularly above them all – the … [Read more...]

By Anne RuisiSporting Auburn University gear, including a white pullover boasting a tiger’s face in bright orange and a dark blue ruffled skirt, 15-year-old Athena Hontzas was ready to hit the runway in front of Troup’s Pizza in Cahaba Heights. The Mountain Brook High School student was among the group of children and young adults with Down syndrome who modeled … [Read more...]