By Rubin E. Grant The Mountain Brook girls’ winning state tennis championships has become one of the annual rites of spring, right alongside April showers, daylight saving time, proms and graduations. The Spartans won their second consecutive Class 7A title and their 28th Alabama High School Athletic Association crown last week at the Mobile Tennis Center. “It was so much … [Read more...]
Football Legend Taking on Cancer: Pat Sullivan Ready to Tee It Up Fore Life
By Rubin E. Grant Just about every weekday afternoon, Pat Sullivan goes to his office on the third floor of the Samford football building that bears his name, the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House.His personal assistant, Darryl DuBose, is right by his side, providing whatever help Sullivan needs. “He’s my brother,” Sullivan said fondly. Sullivan is a special adviser … [Read more...]
Not Just Another Pretty Place: Decorators for ShowHouse Told to Come Up With Something Different
By Donna Cornelius Interior designer Perry Umphrey has been a part of the Decorators’ ShowHouse for almost two decades. “I participated for two years as a student and then did my own room for the first time in 2001,” Umphrey said. This year, he has a new role in the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s annual fundraiser. He’s co-chairing the event with Molly Bee Bloetscher. The … [Read more...]
Not A Chance
By Sue MurphyI was picking up Easter goodies for my grandchildren and came across basket-sized boxes of teeny tiny fairies and action figures. The problem was, the teeny tiny question mark on each box indicated that you couldn’t be sure of which figure you would get.This kind of uncertainty isn’t good for a 4-year-old. It isn’t good for their grandma, either. “Here you … [Read more...]
Gathering Place: Birmingham Wholesale Furniture Creates ShowHouse Keeping Room
By Donna Cornelius Keeping rooms can be traced back to 18th century America. But they’re almost as popular today as they were in Colonial times. Originally, keeping rooms – spaces built as part of or adjacent to the kitchen – took advantage of the heat created by wood stoves and provided a warm place to eat, do chores and even sleep. Today, these rooms are still hot spots. … [Read more...]