By Donna Cornelius Most basketball fans would feel right at home in Martin Newton’s house – especially in the pool room. Framed jerseys signed by the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman fill one wall. Opposite them are jerseys from championship college basketball teams.At one end of the mantel is the basketball presented to Newton’s father, … [Read more...]
Southern Hospitality: From Coach to AD to VP of Advancement, Joe Dean Jr. Keeps Coming Home to BSC
By Emily WilliamsJoe Dean Jr. may not have been born in Birmingham, but home is where the heart is, and his lies with Birmingham-Southern College. The senior vice president of advancement for BSC Athletics is the namesake of his father, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Famer and former LSU Athletic Director Joe Dean. Born and raised in Baton Rouge while his … [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...]
Marrying the Past and Present: Tuscaloosa’s Drish House Finds New Life as Event Venue
By Donna Cornelius Tuscaloosa’s historic Drish House has been a home, a church, a school and even an auto parts garage. Recently, it was the setting for an event that hadn’t been held there in many years: a wedding. The house, built in 1837, has new life and a new purpose thanks to Nika McCool of Mountain Brook. When she bought the empty building in May 2014, she wasn’t sure … [Read more...]
A Market on the Corner: Iz Neighborhood Grocery Opens in English Village
By Donna Cornelius Many longtime residents of English Village have fond memories of Park Lane Supermarket, a grocery store that operated in the Mountain Brook neighborhood for more than 40 years. “The freshest vegetables in town and hand-cut meat were trademarks of the store, which also carried commodities considered exotic such as imported fruits and coffees,” writes Cathy … [Read more...]