By Tyler Waldrep Growing up, former Oak Mountain standout Heath Quinn dreamed of playing basketball professionally. Whenever his dad asked him what his backup plan was, Quinn would always repeat that he wanted to play in the NBA. On June 10, Quinn got the call that he had been drafted by a San Francisco Bay-area team, but it wasn’t the Golden State Warriors on the phone, it … [Read more...]
August Run: Football Is Closer Than We Think
By Lee Davis For those people who think that summer seems to be shorter every year, here’s some evidence that proves your theory: High school football practice in Alabama starts in less than three weeks. As incredible as that sounds, it’s true. The Alabama High School Athletic Association designates Aug. 1 as the first day teams can practice for the 2016 season. So if you’ve … [Read more...]
Jam Session: Food Network Crew Visits Blackwell’s Pub
By Donna Cornelius It’s not uncommon for Blackwell’s Pub and Eatery to draw a crowd – but not in the kitchen. Last month, a Food Network crew joined chef and owner Tyler DeStefano in the Cahaba Heights hot spot’s cooking area. They were in town to film a segment of “Local Flavor,” a digital series that highlights chefs and ingredients from across the United States. Each … [Read more...]
Bringing the Heat: BBQ Masters Will Battle It Out at Iron City Chef Competition
By Donna Cornelius A Birmingham cooking competition that’s traditionally a hot ticket is turning up the temperature this year. Iron City Chef: BBQ Edition will pit Birmingham-based grill-centric teams against each other. The event, hosted by the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club, is set for 6 p.m. July 23 at Jefferson State Community College’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute, at … [Read more...]
Olympic Calling: Trinity Pastor to Counsel U.S. Athletes in Rio
By Lee Davis In his many years as a youth pastor, David Thompson has counseled countless young people about virtually every question imaginable. Later this month, Thompson, who works at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, will take his counseling skills to a new world. He will be serving as an athlete service coordinator for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio … [Read more...]