By Donna Cornelius Even the most industrious cooks can find it hard to meet the culinary demands of the holiday season. One foolish person has in the past made her own food gifts for friends and neighbors, invited her Friday night supper club to a small party, hosted a Christmas Eve dinner and committed to making an app, three side dishes and a dessert for her family’s main … [Read more...]
Highly Decorated: Crestline’s Auburn House Display Celebrates 20 Years of Holiday Tradition
By Emily Williams Holiday light-lovers who take the Fresh Air Family’s annual Wacky Tacky Christmas Light Tour will witness two decades of tradition as they pass the legendary “Auburn House” on Beech Street in Mountain Brook’s Crestline neighborhood. A crazy Christmas light display has been an undertaking for the Krawczyk family for nearly 20 years, inspired by Meg Krawczyk’s … [Read more...]
All Through the House: Christmas Spirit Fills Delaney Family’s Crestline Home
Story by Donna Cornelius • Photos by Lee Walls Jr. You can’t help catching the holiday spirit at Kalli and Andrew Delaney’s Crestline home. From the candy-filled kitchen island to Christmas trees that range from beautifully appointed to whimsically delightful, this house would make Santa himself feel right at home. This year, the Delaneys not only will enjoy their house … [Read more...]
Holly Jolly Houses: Christmas in Birmingham Wouldn’t Be Complete Without the IPC Tour
By Donna Cornelius Almost every family has a Christmastime custom that, for them, signals the start of the holiday season. Maybe it’s decorating cookies, trimming the tree, watching “Home Alone” for the umpteenth time or hanging up the mistletoe in a strategic place. In these parts, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without one special festive tradition: the Independent … [Read more...]
Santa’s Helpers: Top Toy Picks From Smith’s Variety
Meet Jim How long have you been in business? Smith’s has been in business for 68 years, and I’ve only worked at Smith’s for 42. Smith’s opened up in 1950 in Homewood and then moved to Mountain Brook in 1962. What is the best thing about being a part of the toy biz? It’s being able to be a part of all the families and the kids’ lives in our communities. We’ve seen kids and … [Read more...]