By Madoline Markham KoonceIf you were to describe the dead of winter in Birmingham in a word, it could easily be “grey.” It’s often dreary, frigid and colorless, which also means it’s all the more glorious when “the hills remember green again” (to borrow singer songwriter Andrew Peterson’s words). Luckily for us, as we prepare to see all the shades of vibrant hues appear … [Read more...]
Heartfelt Celebration: Caldwell and Cathy Marks Lead 2026 Heart Ball with Purpose
By Lee HurleyThe 2026 Birmingham Heart Ball, hosted by the American Heart Association (AHA), promises to be a night of glamour, gratitude and giving back—all for a vital cause: the fight against heart disease. This year’s event, held on February 28, will be steered by co-chairs Caldwell and Cathy Marks, a couple whose personal and professional ties to heart health … [Read more...]
Loyalty in the Portal Era: The Shaws, the Razorbacks and What College Football Forgot
By Andrew CottenEvery morning at Mountain Brook Junior High, Karen Shaw takes her place at the crosswalk. Rain or shine, she shows up all the same, long before most of her colleagues arrive. Karen could do the job quietly, with nothing more than a watchful eye, but she never does. A stranger to none and a mother to all, she offers a quick hug or a kind hello to … [Read more...]
Vestavia Hills Sports Hall of Fame ceremony honors Senator Jabo Waggoner with stadium dedication
By Loyd McIntoshThe Third Annual Leadoff Dinner and Vestavia Hills Sports Hall of Fame ceremony drew a star-studded crowd, including keynote speaker Paul Finebaum, to the Vestavia Hills Civic Center on January 15. The evening culminated with the dedication of the new Vestavia Hills High School baseball complex in honor of longtime Alabama State Senator and Vestavia Hills … [Read more...]
Partners in Health: Virginia Brady and Virginia Wahlheim pull from personal experience to help guide clients on their health journeys.
By Barry Wise SmithPhoto by Erica Dortch PhotographyVirginia Brady received her first autoimmune disorder diagnosis when she was in just fourth grade. In middle school, she got another autoimmune diagnosis, and “it just seemed to cascade from there,” Brady says. “It was a never-ending string of autoimmune diagnoses.” Brady was born and raised in Mountain Brook, … [Read more...]