Issuu

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CALL O R VI S IT US O N L IN E TO DAY TO SCHE DU L E YO U R CO MPL IMENTARY VI RT UA L O R IN - H O M E D ES IGN CO N SU LTATI O N 8 0 0 . 2 74 . 6 7 5 4 LO CAL DESIG N ER AVA IL A B L E CA L I FO R N I AC LO S E TS . C O M

MAKE ROOM FO R A L L O F YO U

November 2022 PUBLISHER

Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Denise K. James | denise.james@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Matthew Endersbe

A gratitude journal for Birmingham

LAYOUT DESIGNER

Four and a half years ago, as a transplant from South Carolina, I moved to Birmingham without so much as a clue. Within just a few months, the city had enveloped me — I had a new best friend, a cherished neighbor to spend meals and conversations with, and a love interest who did not last but still opened my heart. In fact, Birmingham as a whole opened my heart, and this issue, our annual gratitude issue, illustrates how many people feel the same way. Giving back is a familiar theme when kicking off the holiday season, and our city gives back 12 months out of the year. Numerous individuals and families benefit from the work of the eight incredible organizations featured on page 16 — and, of course, many other organizations exist as well, plus the compassionate people behind them. If you’re inspired to give back this season, turn to page 26 for tips from two financial experts. I assure you, you'll be glad you did. Besides serving the broader community with our time and our funds to create a better life for all, this is the season we do the same for our homes and loved ones. This issue has that covered, too — turn to page 30 for an article about Afghan saffron, a spice that gives back; page 42 for the perfect bottle of wine to serve at your next gathering; and page 34 for seasonal tablescape inspiration to wow your holiday guests. From our table to yours, we wish you a November filled with gratitude. As always, Kali and I are thankful for our readers and our partners — and for Birmingham. Yours,

Antanette Ray CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Kali McNutt, Denise K. James CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

T. Scott Carlisle, David Smith, Ashley Kickliter

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

DENISE K. JAMES,EDITOR @BIRMINGHAM.LIFESTYLE

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Birmingham Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Birmingham area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Birmingham Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

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the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Give thanks for home.

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inside the issue The Thankful Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 Checking off the ‘Nice List’

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Hometown Hero

Local Limelight

Giving Back

Chef ’s Selection

How To

Events

Local’s Choice

Home Instead Senior Care’s gift donations brighten the season

16 Extraordinary Organizations 8 in the Magic City to know

26 Giving Back This Season? Year-end tips for a smoother process

34 Natural Setting

Outdoor inspiration for your holiday tablescape

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: T. Scott Carlisle Holly Carlisle’s fall centerpiece incorporates flowers from Blue Rooster Farms as well as her own garden cuttings.

HO ME S ERV IC E S LI FE + C U LT U R E

FI NA NC E + LEGA L SE RV IC E S FO O D + B EV E R AG E

EV ENT PLA NNI NG + S ERV IC E S

FO O D + B EV ER AG E

Love the Smile You’re With RAEGAN NICHOLS PAT I E N T, H O M E W O O D FA M I LY & C O S M E T I C D E N T I S T RY

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v@ H O M E W O O D _ D E N T A L _ A E S T H E T I C S

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city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

7 5

1-10: This year’s Gala in the Gardens, chaired by Jeremy Clark and Sarah Stewart and sponsored by Cooper Construction, featured fabulous frocks and fun times. Vintage dresses sourced by MK Quinlan stole the show. Photography by Ashley Kickliter

C I T Y SC E N E

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business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Camp Bow Wow to Open in Hoover Two paws up! Lifestyle Partner Camp Bow Wow is ready to open in Hoover, a spot your pooch is sure to love. Featuring day care, boarding and grooming, Camp Bow Wow is what its name sounds like — tons of fun for four-legged family. Benefits include: day camp included in overnights; all-day play in play yards; individual cabins and nightly treats for overnighters; no charge for medication; and lots of love! Visit campbowwow.com/hoover.

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HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE’S GIFT DONATIONS BRIGHTEN THE SEASON

As humans, we need more than just the basics — we need connection and community, a sense that someone cares. Fortunately, Home Instead Senior Care has much more than the basics covered. In business for 25 years as of February 2022, Home Instead is known throughout Birmingham for taking excellent non-medical care of seniors. According to Andrea Martin, director of operations, non-medical care can include almost anything from housekeeping and transportation assistance to meal preparation and providing friendship. While they cannot administer IV medications or draw blood, Home Instead staff also suggests medical care when necessary. As the festive season approaches, Home Instead is preparing one of their most popular and most heartfelt programs — Be a Santa to a Senior. The history of this holiday gifting program started right here in Alabama and was soon adopted by Home Instead’s corporate office, according to Martin – though each franchise gives the program their own unique touch. For Home Instead of Birmingham, instead of each donor choosing one senior to “adopt,” donor gifts are delivered to many seniors who might otherwise not have a merry holiday. “This program isn’t for our clients; they tend to have financial means,” Martin notes. “These gifts go to seniors who are isolated and under-served in our area.” To help them locate seniors who would benefit from good cheer, Home Instead partners with Meals on Wheels for the program. Gift bags are stuffed with thoughtful

H OM E TOWN H E R O | HOME S E RVI CE S

items such as cozy blankets, warm socks, gentle soaps, sugar-free candies and entertaining games or puzzles. Prior to the pandemic, donors generously purchased and decorated gift bags for the items themselves, but Martin and staff have simplified the process further by having gift bags already on hand. Donors are reminded it’s time to buy Santa gifts through social media, email blasts, flyers and other marketing materials, and those who are stumped for ideas can refer to the Amazon Wish Lists. The group Stitching for Jesus — which meets each Monday and consists of 30 women from various churches in the area — is happy to participate in the program each year with knitted, crocheted and sewn contributions.. “We are always looking for new places to share the things we make,” says Rhonda Whaley. “All of our items are given to people or organizations for free. We welcome new members and always appreciate donations of material, thread and yarn.” Whaley said the positive feedback and knowing these items uplift those “who need special encouragement in their lives” is what inspires the group members. “We love how this program helps seniors,” she says. Martin revealed that about 475 seniors who might otherwise have nothing to unwrap in December received gifts last year. Inspired to give? Visit beasantatoasenior.com.

“WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES TO SHARE THE THINGS WE MAKE,” SAYS RHONDA WHALEY. “ALL OF OUR ITEMS ARE GIVEN TO PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS FOR FREE. WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE DONATIONS OF MATERIAL, THREAD AND YARN.”

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Lynlee strongly believes in and supports residential growth in Birmingham. Since obtaining her license in 2014, Lynlee has completed over 400 transactions totaling over $155 million dollars of real estate sold in the area. "I have made a huge effort to be intimately engaged in the central city and surrounding "city suburbs" from Forest Park to Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia, so that I can provide the greatest benefit to my clients, which I strongly believe is market knowledge". Her greatest motivation is her clients: She says, "Success to me is doing what I love every day and knowing that my contributions positively impact my clients, my company, and my city and that I have produced the highest quality work."

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Extraordinary Organizations

8 IN THE MAGIC CITY TO KNOW

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

When people talk about life in Birmingham, inevitably someone mentions how close-knit and caring we are as a city. Our Southern hospitality is not just for show; we do our best to ensure that family, friends and neighbors are well cared for and thriving. For the annual giving back issue, we’ve rounded up several organizations, covering everything from natural disasters to food insecurity to vocational enrichment, which are all counted on daily to enhance Birmingham’s quality of life. We’re thankful for all of them, and for the community individuals who keep them going.

MAGIC MOMENTS MAGICMOMENTS.ORG Magic Moments was dreamed up in 1984 by a 10-year-old named Angela Weathers. While watching TV one day, Weathers saw firefighters visiting a child’s hospital room and, noting the child’s obvious delight at the visit, asked her mother if something similar was a possibility for Birmingham. Her mother, Shelley Clark, gathered a group of community members, and together, they approached what is now Children’s of Alabama with the idea. According to Sandy Naramore, executive director, Clark and Buffie Marks, both Junior League of Birmingham members, approached the League at the time and were given a $500 grant as a seed fund. For children ages 4 to 18 who have a chronic illness, childhood is often a series of doctor’s appointments, hospital stays and treatments. Magic Moments’ mission is to “bring magic and happiness to those children, even if only a moment, by fulfilling their dreams,” Naramore explains. Those dreams include everything from traveling to Disney World to meeting celebrities to adopting a cuddly puppy. Since its inception, the organization has improved the lives of more than 5,000 children.

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

Magic Moments Magicmoments.org

Grace Klein Community

gracekleincommunity.com

“The stark difference exposed a James 4:17 moment: ‘If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” - Jenny Waltman

Events throughout the year connect families and staff and volunteers, says Naramore. One popular local event is Family Camp at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin on Memorial Day weekend — but plenty of sporting events and holiday gatherings are hosted as well. For more information, visit the website and click on “Get Involved.”

GRACE KLEIN COMMUNITY GRACEKLEINCOMMUNITY.COM Grace Klein Community began when Founders Jenny and Jason Waltman realized they were not answering the call to give to the less fortunate as much as they could — especially after attending two very different birthday celebrations for families in different economic situations. “The stark difference CONTINUED > NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

United Ability

unitedability.org

exposed a James 4:17 moment: ‘If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them,’” Jenny Waltman says. Through their food rescue initiative known as FEEDBHM, Grace Klein Community volunteers have obtained food from more than 200 donors as of August 2022. The FEEDBHM initiative provides nutritional support to 277,125 unique individuals in 39 Alabama counties through drive-thrus, home deliveries and distribution partners. Grace Klein Community also provides bible studies, networking events, a “vibrant” internship program and other relational opportunities. If you’d like to become a food donor, a “food rescue hero” or a volunteer at any of the FEEDBHM locations, simply visit feedbhm. org, and you will be welcomed with open arms. “One in four people in Alabama is food insecure, while our country is wasting 40% of the food we produce,” Waltman notes. “A national problem can be the solution. We have a place for everyone at our table, whether a young child, a seasoned senior or anyone in between. Stopping food waste and feeding the hungry takes all of us.”

UNITED ABILITY UNITEDABILITY.ORG Turning an impressive 75 years old next year, United Ability was started by a group of Birmingham residents who wanted to give back to individuals with cerebral palsy. Originally called Spastic Aid of Alabama, United Ability has grown by leaps and bounds since the earliest days thanks to the devotion of its founders – including Dorothy Levy and Rabbi Milton Grafman, along with other citizens. In 1972, the organization joined the United Cerebral Palsy Network, becoming United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham. “We rebranded five years ago to United Ability to reflect the fact that we serve individuals with all types of disabilities; not only cerebral palsy,” says David Barry, director of communications. “We’ve seen a lot of growth since then.” Today, United Ability serves over 5,500 individuals annually through its 10 programs serving people from birth until end of life, says Barry, who points out that some people have

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

“We rebranded five years ago to United Ability to reflect the fact that we serve individuals with all types of disabilities; not only cerebral palsy,” says David Barry, director of communications. “We’ve seen a lot of growth since then.”

been served by the organization for decades. From the Hand In Hand Early Learning Program — an inclusive preschool for young children with and without disabilities — to the Ability Clinic, offering comprehensive medical care, rehabilitative medicine and outpatient therapy, to the LINCPoint Adult Program, providing individualized services connecting adults with disabilities to their community in a variety of ways, the organization is there every step of the way with practical and emotional encouragement. United Ability’s biggest event, Journey of HOPE, is what Barry calls an “un-gala” because it’s relaxed and fun while raising money for organization programs. Volunteers are also the key to everything running smoothly, with many local companies such as Protective Life and Alabama Power serving throughout the year. Students from local colleges, too, are always welcome to participate and make a difference. “We’re part of the fabric of this city,” Barry says with a smile, “and we have been for decades.”

COMMUNITY ON THE RISE COMMUNITYONTHERISE.COM Community on the Rise Founder Avery Rhodes had been volunteering with the homeless community for more than a decade when she realized that escaping poverty was more complex than people thought — and stereotypes “are false and harmful,” she says. After doing what she calls a “deep academic dive” on poverty in the region, Rhodes made a decision to help more homeless people regain their confidence and find a way. With the help of Pastor Adam Burns and Pastor Sarah Smoot from Church of the Reconciler — the church also offers the space — and Board President Mollie Erickson, Community on the Rise is making a difference to both individuals and to the environment. It all started when Rhodes and her team thought about how number five plastics — a common material for butter tubs, sour cream containers and other “disposable” items — aren’t easily recycled. “We thought, what if we could build a program to help people work and recycle number five plastics into other things,” says Rhodes. With grant-supplied equipment and an abundance of plastics (which are shredded and sorted), workers melt and mold and create new items, including

Community on the Rise communityontherise.com

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WE Made with WE Inc.

weincal.org

jewelry, pottery, coasters and more. (To buy products, visit Community on the Rise online). Then there’s the “WHOLE” program, developed in 2021: Wellness and Housing Opportunity Linked to Employment. “We bought a safe house in 2021, and three women can live there at a time,” says Rhodes. “Those women are our employees. They have two years to earn a check from us, live without rent, build their finances and reimagine their lives.” Rhodes is looking forward to the future – especially seeing how passionate the workers are about their craft. Her hope is to “build a whole ecosystem” of the organization, responsibility reusing plastics and giving people hope.

WE MADE WITH WE INC. WEINCAL.ORG Workshop Empowerment Inc., also known as WE Inc., was founded in 1900, when people who were blind and deaf couldn’t attend regular school, and a family member was inspired to provide more for their child. WE Inc. was developed so these individuals could learn skills such as sewing, making brooms by hand and other crafts — and, although the world has changed, the mission to enrich lives with work is still at the forefront. “We help employers find people with different abilities and help employees find work,” explains Madeline Oliff, social enterprise program manager. “We’ve expanded to assist people with other barriers, such as homelessness or justice system involvement.” The latest venture is WE Made, a social enterprise program conceived to address the need for in-house workforce development, explains Oliff. At the time, one of the organization’s partners offered an abundance of sawdust, which workers combined with wax and placed inside silicone molds. The result was the aptly-named Fire Starter, one of WE Made’s most popular products. Soon, WE Made expanded to include more products such as insect repellent, room and linen fragrance, the beloved “Stinky Dog”

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

Oliff said she hopes to create more opportunities for volunteers to “see the people served by the organization and witness their passion for the work.”

spray and baking mixes for cornbread, biscuits and cakes. “We now have an industrial kitchen and are selling products in 20 states and over 70 retail stores,” Oliff beams. “Our baking mix sales started in June 2021 and are already spanning the country! And we’re helping people reach their highest vocational potential by making something, start to finish. It’s a point of pride for them; all participants get to sign their name on the products they put together.” “Oliff said she hopes to create more opportunities for volunteers to “see the people served by the organization and witness their passion for the work.” In March 2023, WE Inc. will host a BakeOff as an exciting fundraiser for the organization, inviting Magic City locals to form teams and create delicious recipes with WE Made mixes. “Last year, we had a team do mocha pound cake, for example,” she says. “It’s really fun to see everyone get creative with our products.”

DOWN SYNDROME ALABAMA DOWNSYNDROMEALABAMA.ORG In 1987, a group of parents decided they wanted to advocate for their children with Down syndrome, so they formed a group called Parent Advocates Down Syndrome, or PADS. This organization would grow and gain traction in the community until 2012, when the Board of Directors motioned to rename the group Down Syndrome Alabama. In April 2013, an amendment was filed and the name was officially changed. Today, Down Syndrome Alabama, or DSA, has new board members, a new strategic plan and a vision for the future. “[We share] hopes of moving our organization forward to become a leading champion in our state for those living with Down syndrome,” says Katherine Gorham, board vice president. The mission of the organization is straightforward: to provide individuals with Down syndrome and their families with unwavering support and connectivity with others, as well as advocate for them in education and the workforce. DSA has several satellites around the state of Alabama, including Auburn, Cullman, Gadsden, Jasper and others. “We are always happy to welcome new families to our organization and have them become more involved,” Gorham says.

Down Syndrome Alabama downsyndromealabama.org

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Maranathan Academy

maranathanacademy.com

One way that DSA reaches a broader audience is through Down syndrome awareness month, which takes place each October. The organization hosts three walks, known as STEP UP for DOWN SYNDROME, on October 23 in Birmingham, Auburn and Tuscaloosa. Gorham encourages anyone who wants to learn more about these and other events – or learn more about Down syndrome — to visit the organization website. “We envision and strive for an Alabama where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and included for who they are,” she says. “We provide hope and support with educational resources and networking opportunities … empowering individuals with Down syndrome to live meaningful lives as contributing members of their communities.”

MARANATHAN ACADEMY MARANATHANACADEMY.COM While volunteering at the Jefferson Youth Detention Center in Birmingham, Donna Dukes, a senior in college at the time, was inspired to begin Maranathan Academy. Many of the kids she worked with at the detention center were, in her words, “amazing kids who had done not-so-amazing things and had therefore been expelled from the Birmingham school system." Dukes knew in her heart she needed to provide these kids a second chance. So, she shelved her dreams of attending law school, and, with the partnership and support of her late mother, Jacquelyn Bates Dukes, and her father, Reverend Frank Dukes, she founded Maranathan Academy on September 3, 1991. For the last 31 years, Maranathan Academy has been “saving the lives of critically at-risk youth and adults in Birmingham and surrounding municipalities,” says Dukes. The nonprofit, private and alternative school remains the only one to work exclusively with critically at-risk students and the only one willing to accept students expelled for weapon-related and other violent offenses. Maranathan Academy offers middle, high and even adult education and is a safe space for victims of bullying as well.

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

“Maranathan

Academy

provides

the

opportunity for critically at-risk students to become productive, contributing members of society — assets to the economies of Birmingham and other municipalities.”

“Maranathan Academy provides the opportunity for critically at-risk students to become productive, contributing members of society — assets to the economies of Birmingham and other municipalities,” Dukes says. To illustrate her point, she shares a few stats. Maranathan Academy has an 85% graduation rate, and, of those graduates, 53% enter college and 47% enter the military or become certified in a trade to secure gainful employment. The school welcomes community involvement in a variety of areas, such as tutoring, and anyone who feels called to serve can explore the opportunities on the Maranathan Academy website.

HATCHING HOPE HATCHINGHOPECARES.ORG After Keli Lynch-Wright and her son Ashton Wright lost their home to a fire in 2016, they turned their loss into a community gain when they founded Hatching Hope. The organization serves multiple families who have suffered disasters with “immediate recovery essentials” and also serves the community as a whole after larger-scale disasters. Wright continues to serve as the organization’s executive director, “pouring her heart and soul into serving those in need,” according to Jessica Siniard Trahan, Wright's executive assistant. Though the headquarters of Hatching Hope is in the Magic City, the organization includes other volunteer-based chapters in other parts of Alabama as well as Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Supplies offered to individuals and families who have faced disaster include personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and other essentials. Immediate recovery kits contain an air mattress, sheets, toiletries, pillow, wash linens and a portable charger — and all products are brand-new, says Trahan. “Hatching Hope is proud to have served 125,000 people since launching in 2016,” she notes. “We hope to continue to grow and serve.” She adds that without “amazing” volunteers, donors and customers at the organization’s thrift store in Pelham, Hatching Hope would not be a success. To donate or shop, visit the thrift store at 2758 Pelham Parkway in Pelham. Or, go online to find out other ways to help.

Hatching Hope

hatchinghopecares.org

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Giving Back This Season? ILLUSTRATIONS BY GABRIELLE SAIFI

Year-End Tips for a Smoother Process

Giving back to the community is a great way to spread good cheer further than just your family’s holiday table, not to mention teach the kids and grandkids about how to manage money. We spoke to a couple of experts – Mary Meadows Livingston, President and Founder at Abeona Wealth, and Lora Blalock, Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Community Foundation – to learn more about end-of-year giving. The advice is clear: Get started now (rather than waiting until December 31st!) to benefit both your neighbors and your tax bill. If you are in Requirement Minimum Distribution (RMD) mode, 72 or older, you can give all or a portion of your RMD amount directly to a charity and it will be excluded from income. If you have a retirement account, such as an IRA or 401K, you have to withdraw a portion each year after age

G IV IN G BAC K | FINAN CE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

72, potentially impacting income and your tax bracket. However, if you don’t need those funds to support your lifestyle, you can have the money sent to a charity so it doesn’t count as income or bump you up a bracket, explains Livingston. Keep in mind the QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) limit is $100K.

Give appreciated securities, rather than cash, to charities. This gives you doubled tax savings with a charitable deduction and no capital gains tax. If you have stocks, mutual funds or other holdings, instead of writing a check to your favorite charity from your bank account, you can give the gains to the charity and avoid having to pay capital gains taxes, says Livingston.

Giving back to the community is a great way to spread good cheer further than just your family’s holiday table, not to mention teach the kids and grandkids about how to manage money.

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Donor advised funds can be a great vehicle for managing charitable distributions. Want to simplify your giving? Create a fund exclusively for charitable giving. The Community Foundation offers donor advised funds, for example. From there, you can simply say how much you’d like to send and to which organization. “It allows someone else to manage the account, instead of you keeping up with multiple tax receipts,” Livingston explains. “With one charitable gift to the Community Foundation, families can establish a donor advised fund. This fund can, in turn, make distributions – or grants – to any nonprofit organization of the family’s choosing,” says Blalock. “As a nonprofit institution itself, the Community Foundation provides a tax receipt to the donor for their gift, and then manages the back-office processes of deploying grants, performing compliance, and investing the fund to grow over time.” Remember, giving back is one way to transfer family values about money. Having a conversation around charitable giving can help younger family members learn how the family makes financial decisions and is an easier way to start some tough discussions about money, Livingston points out. “You can talk about asset growth and how it relates to lifestyle and strategic spending on charities,” she says. “Grandparents or parents can offer children a set amount of money, then let them research and choose a charity to give it to. This provides an opportunity to have discussions about being good stewards of the family resources and about what the family has done in the past.” “Donors can also use our legacy platform to involve their family in philanthropy after they are gone. A Family Legacy Fund creates a

G IV IN G BAC K | FINAN CE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

way for family values to be passed from generation to generation,” Blalock adds. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives or friends can consider giving funds to a child’s 529 education savings account as a holiday gift, rather than adding to the stack of toys. Much like an IRA, a 529 is an account reserved for education. The money in it can grow and then, if withdrawn for the purpose of education, never be taxed, explains Livingston. Families in Alabama can enroll in the CollegeCounts 529 fund. Out-of-state funds, as well, can be rolled into these accounts. Keep in mind the annual gift giving limit without having to file a gift tax return is $16,000 per recipient or $32,000 if the gift comes from a married couple. Families often give younger members gifts of money for education, a home, a wedding and more. According to Livingston, family members who want to give a financial gift can give up to $16,000 per person for it to be considered a tax-free gift. Talk to your accountant or financial advisor about a strategy well in advance of the year’s end. Make sure to consult your financial advisor or accountant about these strategies well ahead of the end of December. “This advice is individualized, so find out which strategy might be a fit for you. And keep in mind there are different deadlines,” Livingston points out. “Our team can work with you and your advisor to help identify giving strategies that provide both a tax benefit and utilize philanthropy to create community impact,” Blalock adds.

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T H R O U G H O U T H E R A RT I ST I C C A R E E R H AS C H A M P I O N E D C H A R I T I E S A N D O R G A N I Z AT I O N S P R O M OT I N G W O M E N A N D C H I L D R E N

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We’re Just Mad About

Saffron ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT

C HE F ’S SE LE CT ION | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU A SINGULAR FOOD PRODUCT COULD: • Provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits • Aid eyesight and memory • Impress dinner guests • Be used in a variety of dishes from breads, pastries, and ice cream to rice, tea, mussels, and paella • Empower Afghan women • Combat the opioid epidemic Well, this is just a sampling of the power held within the delicate red, strands of Afghan saffron. A couple of years ago, a former D.C. colleague and friend, Hamid Arsalan, approached me with a business idea: importing and marketing Afghan saffron to the U.S. market. Originally from Herat, Afghanistan, his family was already involved in saffron cultivation and export to Asian and European markets. I quickly learned that saffron is the world’s most expensive spice due to its time and labor-intensive cultivation. It takes around 80,000 Crocus sativus flowers to produce one pound of saffron. For a few weeks every autumn, women pluck the flowers in the pre-dawn hours before carefully removing the three reddish-orange stigmas from each flower. Saffron cultivated in Afghanistan’s western Herat province is grown almost solely by women—providing a lifeline to work and economic opportunity—and has been named the world’s highest quality saffron for more than a decade. Best of all, saffron provides Afghan farmers an alternative—and a more lucrative alternative, at that—to growing poppies for opium. Afghanistan is the world’s largest opium producer. Creating more markets for saffron export—and educating people on its many culinary and health uses—will continue to incentivize more Afghans to make the switch from growing poppies to growing saffron.

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“Recurring bulk orders from James Beard Award winning chefs and in-the-know foodies is proof that you can eat exceptionally well and do good.”

The notion that a premium, healthy and delicious spice could check so many boxes made embarking on this business a no-brainer. Perhaps it sounds a bit immature, but I believe saffron can change the world. Having Iranian, Moroccan, and Indian friends confide that “yes, this Afghan saffron is the best I’ve ever had,” has made me extremely confident in our product. Recurring bulk orders from James Beard Award winning chefs and in-the-know foodies is proof that you can eat exceptionally well and do good.

WITH THE CURRENT DIRE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN, OUR EFFORTS TAKE ON NEW MEANING AND URGENCY. Our brand recognizes the centrality of women to our business and mission—our

C HE F ’S SE LE CT ION | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

logo, which was created by Birminghambased branding guru Clay Morrison, features the image of an Afghan woman walking while holding a tray of saffron. She is confidently taking a step up—which symbolizes the economic empowerment saffron provides. Today, we see women across Afghanistan stepping up for human rights—the right to work, to speak, and to be educated—as they courageously face down brutal, violent oppressors. Since the Taliban takeover last August, we have had to scale down our processing labs and take a lower profile. Home-based labs have allowed the sorting and drying of saffron to continue while women work from home. Joblessness, hunger, and extreme poverty have reached a crescendo across Afghanistan.

The wages earned by women in the saffron industry have been lifesaving, allowing them to provide for their families. Working directly with these women, we can eliminate the middleman and provide good wages. Often it seems there is nothing we can do when terrible things happen in faraway lands—by purchasing Elysian Fields Afghan saffron you can directly impact Afghan women and their families while elevating your everyday. To learn more and to purchase, visit buyelysian.com. A portion of all Elysian Fields profit goes toward Afghan resettlement organizations. Elysian Fields is based in Birmingham, Alabama.

We help navigate the mental health system for teens and children. Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC)

205- 638-PIRC (7472 )

PIRC is a FREE confidential phone response center linking adult callers to mental health resources for children and teens. Service is provided by licensed mental health professionals who educate callers and recommend the most appropriate treatment options. PIRC hours are 8:00 am — 11:00 pm, 7 days a week.

PIRC is NOT a crisis or suicide hotline. Call for mental health resources.

The PIRC is generously supported by funding from the Anne B. LaRussa Foundation of Hope, United Way of Central Alabama, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama and the Walker Area Community Foundation. NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

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ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY T. SCOTT CARLISLE

Holly Carlisle’s Seasonal Table

Natural Setting

H OW TO | EVENT PL AN N I NG + S E RVI CE S

We tasked event designer, florist and consummate creative Holly Carlisle of ROSEGOLDEN for her take on a seasonal tablescape—and came away inspired. With five varieties of dahlias from Blue Rooster Farms, tablewares from Decor to Adore and cuttings from her own garden, Holly has us in the mood to savor the season. "I found the leaves used on the plates blowing around an abandoned parking lot in Woodlawn," Holly laughs. She wanted to create a "seasonal and spur of the moment arrangement where foliage gives a sense of time and place and mid-tone neutral grasses tie the arrangement together."

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If you’d rather leave the foraging and fine-tuning to Holly, she will be offering tablescape kits this holiday season. These gorgeous turnkey solutions to your dinner party will cost $350 and include the following: • One big or two small arrangements • Votives and tapers with votive holders and candlesticks • Botanical styling elements • Bud vase arrangements to pepper around the table

Anchored by Blue Rooster Farms’ dahlias, Holly’s floral concoction also includes: Helianthus (sunflowers) Solidago (aka Goldenrod) Bunny Tail Grass Scotch Broom Mums Zinnia Queen Anne’s Lace (dried) Pineapple Sage Begonia Rudbeckia Pansy Johnsongrass (from the side of the road)

H OW TO | EVENT PL AN N I NG + S E RVI CE S

Stay up to date on Holly’s events, classes and seasonal offerings by following her on Instagram, @hollymcarlisle, and on her website rosegolden.com. See how her seasonal practice of creating an arrangement solely from her current environment and season has inspired others by following #ourseasonalsketches on Instagram. You may also read more about Holly's inspired work within Rizzoli's In Full Flower: Inspired Designs by Floral's New Creatives.

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HOLLY’S TIPS • Choose a palette and prioritize one color • Find something you like and take that item shopping around to see how it marries with other design and floral elements • Think seasonally and appreciate what the season offers • Try not to rank flowers—they are all special and have a unique character • Get creative. “Maybe the only way you can get an orange-red tone in your arrangement is by adding a fresh tomato!”

HOLLY’S LOCAL SOURCES • Blue Rooster Farms “They have a flower subscription service and have an excellent selection of hard-to-find dried flowers. They can also help you source flowers.” blueroosterfarms.com • Decor to Adore decortoadore.com • Davis Wholesale “One stop shop and they are good at helping people select flowers.” • Oak Street Garden Shop • Leaf N Petal • Petals from the Past

PRO TIPS Your local hardware store is a good source for flowers in a pinch. Always buy pansies as a whole plant, and clip the flowers for arrangements. “They like being cut. That is what encourages them to bloom. If you don’t cut the flowers, the plant goes to seed,” Holly notes. Buy a plant, cut the flowers and plant the plant for a gift that keeps on giving. Also, your local train tracks receive direct sunlight and are a great place to find local grasses and wildflowers.

H OW TO | EVENT PL AN N I NG + S E RVI CE S

dri v en by t rus t dri v en by t rus t

OUR FIRST PRIORITY OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY IS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY On the jobsite, there’s no standing still. There’s rarely an

On the jobsite, there’s no standing still. There’s rarely an

extra pair of hands to help you get ahead. So, call us. Our first

extra pair of hands to help you get ahead. So, call us. Our fi

priority is to provide solutions that help keep you on track.

BIRMINGHAM | 101 DISTRIBUTION DR | 205-259-1960

IN A QUEST FOR TRUTH, WE WILL LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

AC H I E V I N G T H E B E S T P O S S I B L E R E S U LT S F O R O U R C L I E N T S T H RO U G H E X C E L L E N C E I N A DVO C AC Y.

GLE N DA CO CHR A N A SSO C I ATE S AT TO R N E YS AT L AW G L E N DAC O C H R A N . C O M

205.328.5050

NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

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events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

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Chenoweth Lecture

BIRMIN G HAM MUS EUM OF ART | 6 :0 0 P M The Chenoweth Lectures were established in 1985 by Dr. Arthur I. Chenoweth as a memorial to his brother and parents. The purpose of these lectures is to encourage international understanding through the presentation of a variety of subjects by specialists in their fields. This year’s speakers are James Beard award-winning chefs Frank Stitt and Bryant Terry.

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TumTum Tree Foundation's Wine Auction Weekend

VA RIOUS TumTum Tree Foundation's Wine Auction Weekend is here! Dine at Birmingham restaurants, pop-up locations and private homes on November 3 for Vintner Dinners. Enjoy world-class wines and cuisine at the Grand Tasting and Live Auction Dinner, November 4. And don't miss the Tailgate Party on November 5, at Back Forty Beer Co! For tickets and info, visit tumtumtreefoundation.org.

Night Market Pepper Place

PEPPER PLACE | 5:00 PM Don't miss the last night market of the year at Pepper Place, presented by Yellowhammer Creative and Left Hand Soap Company. This popular market is a great way to conclude the week and features more than 50 local vendors in celebration of Birmingham’s talented artists, makers, vintage sellers and more.

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First Annual Gingerbread Jam

VESTAVIA CITY HALL | 2:00 P M Make your own spicy and sweet gingerbread house for the holidays while supporting the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund. Founded by Susann Clark in honor of her daughter, the fund gives back to area schools and community centers to educate others about domestic violence.

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Wreath-making with Holly Carlisle at the Botanical Gardens

BIRMIN G HAM BOTAN ICAL GARDE NS Learn to make your best holiday season wreath with master stylist Holly Carlisle of ROSEGOLDEN. Featuring fresh and dried offerings and with lessons on techniques and mechanics, this workshop will ensure you have the best door on the block. Register online with Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

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Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Birmingham

EVE N TS

You and your pet can create smiles when they're needed the most! Become a Hand in Paw Therapy Team Find out how by visiting

handinpaw.org/volunteer

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‘CRUSHING’ ON THIS SEASONAL SIPPER November’s wine of the month from Classic Wine Company ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID SMITH

Need an easy drinking wine for your fall festivities, from tailgating to weekend BBQs to sipping on the porch at twilight? We have just the suggestion: Dandi 2018 Syrah. Available at Classic Wine Company in Homewood for $23.79 per bottle, this wine is a popular pick from the Dandi collection, created by the team at Liquid Farm in California. Famous for their chardonnays and pinot noirs, Liquid Farm created the Dandi collection to have a lower price point for unique varieties. The 2018 Syrah is sourced from the Lieff Ranch vineyard in beautiful Santa Ynez, California, then barrel fermented inside of neutral and French oak. The result, according to Josh Terrell, owner of Classic Wine, is a variety imbued with elegance and a bit of refreshing acidity. You’ll taste blue and red fruits with the tell-tale Syrah white pepper, all blended for a lightweight and lively finish. Terrell suggests chilling the 2018 Syrah in the fridge for about 30 minutes — or simply placing it at the top of your game day cooler. “The Dandi Syrah is perfect for tailgate season,” he says. “This wine goes great with burgers, hot dogs, chips and dip. It goes down so smoothly, you’ll be going through bottles left and right. Fortunately, we offer a case discount of 10% on 12 bottles!”

LOCA L’S CH OICE | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

Visit Trails End – An AR Homes® Community MOSS CREEK CIRCLE, MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL 35223

Monday – Saturday

Sunday

10am to 5pm

1pm to 5pm

Call 205-876-3677 to schedule your visit. Mary Kathryn Bonamy • MKBonamy@ARHomes.com