Birmingham, AL January 2026

The HEA LTH Issue

Lynlee strongly believes in and supports residential growth in Birmingham. Since obtaining her license in 2014, Lynlee has completed over 688 transactions totaling over $322 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 my contributions positively impact my clients, my company and my city and that I have produced the highest quality of work.”

Health & Wellness Issue

The start of a new year is often filled with excitement and a sense of renewal. It’s a time to set new goals, embrace fresh opportunities, and dream about the year ahead. For many, though, January can also bring a sense of pressure—a reminder of resolutions left unfulfilled or the weight of expectations. This issue of City Lifestyle Birmingham, AL was crafted with the goal of offering something different: inspiration for long-term, sustainable improvements in physical, emotional, and mental health.

Life isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency. Whether it’s in business, health, or relationships, it’s not what you do occasionally that makes the difference—it’s what you do most of the time. Consider this: you wouldn’t go on vacation every day, but planning a couple of trips each year is a realistic and restorative goal. Similarly, indulging in a rich dessert isn’t an everyday event, but it’s a delicious treat now and then.

This year, focus on small, consistent actions that lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life. Join a fitness class, carve out moments for rest, and don’t forget to savor life’s pleasures. It’s the “most of the time” choices that shape our lives. Here’s to a healthy, happy new year—we’re rooting for you!

KALI MCNUTT, PUBLISHER

January 2026

PUBLISHER

Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Blair Moore | blair.moore@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Blair Moore

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mary Fehr, Ambre Amari, Christina Hontzas, Katherine Mullen

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

city scene

WHERE

NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

Grace House Ministries celebrates the opening of two new homes for girls in the Transitional Living Program. 1: Grace House Executive Director Pamela Reed Phipps, Board Member & Chair of the Growing in Grace Campaign, Ed Christian 2: Board Members (L-R): Mark Hancock, Susan Waldrop, Lisa Burton, Valerie Price, ED Pamela Reed Phipps, Carter McLean, Kathie Weber, Pastor Mike Jones 3: Ryan Harbuck, Pamela Reed Phipps, Mark Hancock 4: Lisa Burton with Grace House staff members Jacquelyn Guhl, Mary Elizebeth Foster, Pamela Reed Phipps, Ashley Jackson, Devin Lewis 5: Pam McNutt, Nanci Sexton 6: Mary Elizebeth Foster, Pamela Reed Phipps 7: Pamela Stanford, Pamela Reed Phipps, Abbie Stanford Photography by Christina Hontzas

FRIENDS OF CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Jefferson County recently hosted the Friends of CASA Luncheon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINA HONTZAS PHOTOGRAPHY

This year’s event featured the introduction of a new award honoring a man whose life was defined by service. Arnold “Pops” Roseman, who died in 2009, spent nearly

two decades volunteering at Jefferson County Family Court. Sixteen years later, CASA created the award as an annual reminder of what steady, faithful advocacy can accomplish.

“I got the idea for The Roseman Award because I am awestruck by how often I hear about Mr. Roseman more than 10 years after

his passing,” says CASA Executive Director Kelly Burke. “‘This is what a legacy looks like. Like all legends, I doubt Mr. Roseman set out to be legendary. He simply showed up every day for twenty years and shared his time. He was consistent and kind. These are values that define compassionate advocacy. We strive to serve our children with volunteers and staff that model these qualities.”

This year’s Roseman Award recipient, Godilean Powell, embodies those same values. A CASA volunteer for nearly two years, she takes on each case with energy and heart. CASA provides abused, neglected, or abandoned children with a highly trained volunteer to advocate for the child’s best interest before family courts in Jefferson County.

To volunteer, donate, or learn more about CASA, visit casaofjeffersoncounty.org.

BIRMINGHAM LIFESTYLE HOME & DESIGN EVENT

Birmingham Lifestyle recently hosted a soirée to celebrate the magazine’s partners, friends in the design community, and Birminghamians featured in the November Giving Back Issue. Attendees mingled among exquisite European antiques at the newly-opened Collected for the Home, while enjoying food by Chef Jon Harrison and tunes curated by Ralph’s Listening Room. A custom “photo booth” featured the “Nantucket” rug from the English Village Lane X Heather Chadduck collaboration, a nod to November’s cover story.

LONGEVITY IS

THE NEW LUXURY

PILATES EXPERT OLIVIA STUART EMPOWERS EVERY GENERATION TO MOVE WITH STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE

ARTICLE BY BLAIR MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBRE AMARI

Say the word "Pilates," and most people picture a row of sleek reformers and a flexible woman in a matching set making impossible movements look effortless. What happens inside The Optimist Pilates feels entirely different. The mix of people—students of every age and ability—tells its own story, and that tone starts with founder Olivia Stuart, a former professional ballerina who teaches with a genuine belief that every body is capable of more than it realizes.

“The only thing I could really do for fitness was Pilates..And after a year, I came back to the stage stronger than ever.”

Her own turning point came during a season that nearly ended her ballet career. In 2013, a serious ankle injury left her unable to train the way she once had. “The only thing I could really do for fitness was Pilates,” she says. “I was basically living at the Pilates studio. And after a year, I came back to the stage stronger than ever.” The physical and emotional benefits turned her into a lifelong champion of the practice. “It gave me optimism at a point in my life when my mental health was plummeting.”

That sense of hope would eventually shape her Birmingham studio. She named it The Optimist because of the feeling her workouts bring. Today, her classes fill with college athletes and retirees, new moms and seasoned professionals, teens learning control and older adults working to maintain their independence.

Olivia arrived in Alabama when her husband, Chris, became the Artistic Director of Alabama Ballet. “I’m loving the smalltown feel,” she says. “For a girl from Philadelphia who never thought she’d end up in Alabama, I have truly fallen in love with this tight-knit community.” The Optimist is also poised to be the first Balanced Body Authorized Training Center in Alabama. Olivia, a Balanced Body Educator since 2020, is thrilled to offer high-quality Pilates education and mentoring to the next generation of movement practitioners.

What sets The Optimist Pilates apart is a mix of community, precision, and respect for every unique body that walks through the door. “We are inclusive, we are joy-filled, and we are resultsdriven,” she says. Her team keeps detailed notes—on injuries, surgeries, mobility, and goals—to ensure each participant thrives.

Smart adaptations make the work accessible, and thoughtful progressions make it challenging.

“We strive to challenge every member,” she says. “Our Reformer 1 class is a great place to start and gauge which class type is best for you. Our Reformer 2 classes move at a faster pace and are more intense. You’re going to get a really good workout either way. Group classes are rarely personalized in the fitness industry, but my team has the education behind them to know how to modify for a client and likewise will adjust a spring or add a variation for the client who’s ready to level up. It’s a beautiful thing watching a multi-generational class move together—and everyone’s getting stronger.”

Still, strength for strength’s sake has never been Olivia’s message. The deeper purpose—especially among her older clients—is lifelong independence. “The goal isn’t washboard abs,” she says (though you may end up with them). “The goal is to stay out of the nursing home as long as possible.” She talks about osteoporosis, osteopenia, balance, and bone density with the clarity of someone who has seen real change. “We have to make smart modifications to reduce the risk of fractures and falls for osteoporosis, but you can absolutely take a group class with us. We’ve even reversed osteoporosis numbers in DEXA scans!”

Pilates, she says, supports the entire arc of a life—how you stand, breathe, and age. The Optimist now serves as “the official Pilates studio of the Alabama Ballet,” training dancers who rely on their anatomical knowledge and keen eye. Olivia also works with people who haven’t stretched since high school gym class.

“It’s a beautiful thing watching a multigenerational class move together—and everyone’s getting stronger.”

Some of her most loyal clients live in Nashville and still log on for weekly Zoom privates—many of whom have been with her since 2015.

“They roll out of bed, take their private lesson, shower, and go live their day,” she says. “Moving to an online platform in the height of a pandemic wasn’t exactly on my bingo card, but continuing to work with clients for over a decade, despite moving out of state, has been an incredible blessing. I’ve seen these clients gain autonomy through the years, and as long as my clients feel stronger and empowered with me, I’ll keep working with them virtually.”

Whether she’s working with longtime clients or welcoming new faces into her studio, her mission remains constant: “I want people to feel capable,” she says. “Strong enough to chase their kids. Strong enough to lift their groceries. Strong enough to live their life without fear of injury.”

For newcomers, she keeps the path simple. “For most people, Reformer 1 is a great entry point. If you’re brand new and have injuries or pain, start with a private lesson,” she says. She’s also seeing more men in the studio as it continues to grow. “People forget that Pilates was created by a man, Joseph Pilates. We hope to create a space that’s just as welcoming to men as it is to women.” They’re even hosting a guys’ night pop-up class for anyone curious about the buzz.

In a world of quick fixes and shortcuts, more people are discovering the value of making wellness a way of life. “If you don’t have your health, then what do you have?” Olivia says. Her work is about helping those in Birmingham live their healthiest, strongest life and creating, as she puts it, “a community of people to be with, laugh with, and get strong with.”

Learn more at theoptimistpilates.com or @theoptimistpilates

SOUTHERN LIVING’S JOSH MILLER IS PROVING A GLUTEN-FREE LIFE CAN STILL BE A DELICIOUS ONE

COMFORT WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Josh Miller knows his way around a kitchen. He’s worked for nearly every major food publication in Birmingham — from Taste of the South and Cooking Light to Food & Wine and The Pioneer Woman — and even helped launch Southern Cast Iron . Now he’s the senior food editor at Southern Living.

When he became close friends with someone who avoids gluten for medical reasons, he took it as a personal mission. She shouldn’t have to give up macaroni and cheese, pie, brownies — the good stuff. The challenge, and eventually the fun, was figuring out how to recreate those classics without sacrificing flavor. To his surprise, a few turned out even better.

It began with small experiments and a moment of revelation. “Once I figured out I could use gluten-free flour in a pie crust application, it opened up to sweet and savory things,” he says. “Savory galettes, sweet ones, tomato pies… it was a big victory.” The crust carried a thin, flaky texture he loved. “It’s a little more crumbly than a traditional gluten crust,” he says, “but it still functions, cuts, and serves — and it’s still delicious.”

Brownies were next — and they became the signature success story. Miller dug into trusted recipes (“You’ve got to love Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, she just never fails,” he says) and started testing. Almond flour gave him great flavor, but it fell apart. Gluten-free all-purpose flour brought structure. “Almond flour is delicious, but it’s crumbly,” he says. “The gluten-free flour ended up making a better brownie.” People’s reactions have been a mixture of shock and delight. “I’m telling you — these brownies make people reconsider their life choices.”

People avoiding gluten often assume their favorite dishes are gone for good. “They think they’ll never have real macaroni and cheese again,” he says. “Then they taste it and say, ‘Wait… this is gluten-free?’”

CONTINUED >

He understands why expectations sink. Gluten-free flours are expensive. Time is short. Most home cooks are feeding families and doing their best. “They deny themselves good food because they’re taking care of everyone else,” he says.

But removing gluten doesn’t have to mean removing pleasure. Miller found that once you stop chasing perfect replicas, you start to see what works beautifully on its own.

Sometimes that means choosing what never needed gluten anyway. “Panna cotta is silky, rich, gorgeous — and there’s not a glutinous thing anywhere near it,” he says. Top it with balsamic strawberries, and it becomes restaurant-level impressive with almost no effort.

Sometimes it means rethinking texture. His now-famous salad crunch — gluten-free panko toasted with butter, spices, and parmesan — has sparked joy around many tables. “It makes this savory, crispy, crumbled-crouton situation,” he says. “People light up when they realize they can still have ‘the crunch.’”

Cooking gluten-free has also given Miller a hosting tool he can rely on. “It’s a nice skill set to have in your repertoire so you can extend another level of hospitality to those who avoid gluten by preference or necessity,” he says. “People feel cared for when they realize you made something they can really enjoy.”

When he’s cooking for mixed groups, he simply stages the workflow to make things easier. Gluten-free

components come first. And when a recipe tastes identical, he serves the gluten-free version to everyone. “The pasta quality has gotten so good that it doesn’t make a difference,” he says. “Honestly, the gluten-free mac and cheese is as good as the regular. Maybe better.”

At home, Miller often hears Ina Garten’s voice in his head: never make something for company you haven’t tried at least once. “I did not ascribe to that for the first 15 years of my adult life, because I always saw entertaining as a chance to flex,” he laughs. “Kind of like how you clean your house better for company than you do for yourself.”

Over time, his thinking shifted. “Entertaining used to be a big thing,” he says. “I think the world is moving away from that and more toward hosting. Hosting feels like family. It feels like friends. It is intimate, it’s casual, it’s forgiving.”

To him, that’s the real goal. “People just want to get together and have a good time,” he says. “A really good lasagna is just as great as a fancy crown roast. If you make good food, it doesn’t matter how fancy or fussy it is. People are just appreciative you’re taking the time to cook for them.”

He recommends starting small, practicing a dish, and then welcoming others into your home to try it.

“You will have a much better time hosting if you take the pressure off yourself,” he says. “When you cook from a place of confidence, you can host from a place of calm.”

And that’s when a simple meal becomes something everyone remembers.

Here are a couple of Miller’s favorite gluten-free dishes to bring to your own table.

CONTINUED >

Shake this savory topping over any salad for a nice savory crunch. Makes about 3 cups

• 1 stick salted butter

• 2 tsp. smoked paprika

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 tsp. garlic powder

• 1 (12-oz.) container gluten-free panko breadcrumbs

• 1 ½ cups grated Parmesan

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add paprika, salt, and garlic powder; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in panko until coated. Cook, stirring often, until panko is lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Parmesan until combined. Let cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Roasted Winter Vegetable Galette

This recipe makes enough for two galettes, but the dough freezes beautifully. I recommend making the dough and freezing one disk for later. If you choose that path, cut the filling recipe below in half.

Makes 2 galettes FOR THE CRUST: INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups gluten-free flour, plus more for dusting

• ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 Tbsp. sugar

• 2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 tsp. garlic powder

• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, cubed

• 7 Tbsp. ice water

FOR THE FILLING:

• 2 (8 oz.) logs goat cheese, softened

• 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish

• 2 tsp. garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

• 6 medium-size red and gold beets, roasted and peeled (see tip)

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

To make the crust: Stir together dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add butter pieces; toss to coat. Transfer flour-butter mixture to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until butter is the size of small peas, about 20 times. With machine running, add water all at once, then pulse until the dough just comes together (it will be very crumbly). Dust a work surface with gluten-free flour; dump out dough and knead briefly until combined. Divide in half and form each half into a disk. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.

To make the filling and assemble the galette: Stir together goat cheese, thyme, garlic powder, and pepper in a bowl until smooth and spreadable; set aside. Remove dough from refrigerator; roll each disk into an 11-inch circle on individual sheets of parchment paper. Spread half of filling on each dough circle, leaving a 1-inch border. Cut

beets into roughly ¼ inch slices; shingle over goat cheese, overlapping slices slightly. Use parchment to fold edges of dough up to encase the filling, letting dough crease and overlap (press together any cracks). Brush edges with beaten egg; sprinkle ¼ cup Parmesan over each. Transfer unbaked pies on their parchment paper to baking sheets; bake at 450°F until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes; garnish with thyme, if desired.

COOKING TIP

To roast beets, wrap tightly in foil; bake at 400°F until barely tender, about 45 minutes.

Sea Salt Caramel Gluten-Free Brownies

I make these regularly—they’re always a big hit. If you don’t need so many, cut the amounts in half and bake the batter in a 9x9-inch pan, increasing the time to 30 to 35 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen INGREDIENTS

• 6 large eggs

• 2 sticks salted butter, melted and cooled slightly

• 3 cups sugar

• ¼ cup hot brewed coffee

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 ½ cups gluten-free flour

• 1 ½ cups Dutch-process cocoa

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• 2 cups dark chocolate chips

• 1 ½ cups dark chocolate-covered sea salt caramels, chopped

• Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, melted butter, sugar, coffee, and vanilla until smooth. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; stir into batter until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Line bottom and sides of a rimmed baking sheet with foil; spray generously with cooking spray. Top with parchment and spray again. Pour batter into pan, spreading in an even layer. Sprinkle chopped caramels over batter. Bake until a pick comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Garnish with flaky sea salt. Let cool 30 minutes before serving for easier slicing.

SERVING TIP

Gluten-free baked goods tend to be more crumbly than their glutinous counterparts. Slice and serve with extra care.

What We’re Really Reaching For

At a moment when the world feels both abundant and unsettled, local author Richard E. Simmons III has written the book many of us didn’t know we were waiting for. Reflections on Happiness: In a Broken and Chaotic World arrives with the turning of the year and offers a message on mental and emotional well-being that outlasts any checklist.

Simmons spent decades in Birmingham’s business community before stepping into work that felt more like a calling: encouraging men through the harder passages of life. He went on to found the Center for Executive Leadership, a Birmingham-based nonprofit where he teaches and counsels men on wisdom, purpose, identity, and faith. His books—now more than a

dozen—have reached hundreds of thousands of readers in Birmingham and beyond.

This newest volume appears at a time when something in our society has shifted. “There’s a real struggle with happiness today,” Simmons says. “People are more prosperous than ever, and yet mental and emotional health are plummeting.”

Depression, he adds, has risen tenfold since the 1960s. The World Health Organization now calls it the most widespread illness in the world. And while it affects everyone, Simmons has seen how often men remain silent. “So many think real men don’t get depressed,” he says. “So they hide it. And whenever you hide it, you suffer alone.”

For anyone struggling to find joy, Simmons suggests beginning with one small action: call a friend, step outside, take a walk through nature. Inertia is powerful, but motion and connection begin to loosen its grip.

Reflections on Happiness: In a Broken and Chaotic World offers insight into why happiness can be harder to find in a world that promises everything. Each chapter reads like a meaningful conversation. Simmons traces what he calls “true happiness,” the kind rooted not in fleeting pleasure but in relationships, character, meaningful work, purpose, and whole-person health. “Pleasure feels good for a moment,” he says, “but it doesn’t last. One of the keys to true happiness is learning to live wisely.”

In his view, living wisely begins with recognizing the God-woven principles that govern life. It asks us to consider how we spend our time and what we allow to shape us. And while modern life pressures us to acquire more—possessions, experiences, accomplishments— Simmons explains that none of those pursuits will ever deliver the satisfaction we expect.

Instead, it grows through purpose and through aligning our lives with biblical wisdom. When we choose what endures over what distracts, we discover that true happiness is closer than we thought.

Reflections on Happiness: In a Broken and Chaotic World is available on Amazon, at richardesimmons3. com, and locally at Seibels, Little Professor, and Church Street Coffee & Books.

Local author Richard E. Simmons III explores why happiness feels more elusive than ever—and how to reclaim it

Rooted in Relationships. Growing Together.

When Birmingham’s work crosses state borders, we’re there to help. And as our city grows, so does our commitment to its people, its progress, and its future.

www.210tutengroup.com

Dear Birmingham,

Five mayors. One region. Leaders throughout the community reflect on why we’re stronger together

ARTICLE

BY BIRMINGHAM LIFESTYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY FEHR

Jefferson County has long been a place where one city’s story folds easily into the next. A morning drive might dip in and out of three municipal boundaries before you’ve finished your first cup of coffee. Parks, neighborhood routes, and familiar storefronts mark the way, reminding us how connected these communities truly are.

Against that backdrop, a new chapter of leadership is taking shape. Some mayors are writing their letters to you from newly held offices, standing at the starting line of work that will define their term. Others were re-elected, carrying forward projects set in motion years ago. Together, they offer a broad, honest view of what it takes to guide a region whose lives and landscapes are so closely linked.

The letters that follow reveal the priorities shaping their cities—work that supports a healthy community, stronger connections, and a county better prepared for the years ahead.

RANDALL L. WOODFIN

MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM

Dear Birmingham,

In moments of challenge, we are reminded of what truly binds us together — our unity, our compassion, and our shared belief that every neighbor deserves to thrive. In November, when cities were confronted with the pause of SNAP benefits, Birmingham showed its heart. With a commitment from the city and a call to action – nonprofits, faith partners, businesses, and volunteers responded in unison, “how can we help?” That’s what community looks like here. That’s the “magic” of our city.

I am overrun with optimism because of the foundation we are building for the future. Through the Birmingham Promise, we continue to guarantee debt-free college for our public high school graduates while expanding workforce development programs that help residents of all ages access new opportunities. And soon, a city-run childcare center for municipal employees will open its doors — ensuring that the people who serve Birmingham can also care for their families.

Our commitment to neighborhood revitalization remains steadfast. We’re focused on affordable housing in Smithfield, College Hills, and Graymont — historic neighborhoods that shaped the city’s identity — while launching projects to reduce flooding, improve air quality, and promote healthier living. This year, through GoBHM, we are asking those who call Birmingham home to let us know their thoughts as we strive for a more walkable, bike-able city with a transportation system that fits our needs and makes sense.

Every one of these efforts speaks to who we are: a city determined to look out for one another, to build bridges across our communities, and to move forward together.

In service to our city, Randall L. Woodfin

Mayor of Birmingham

Dear Birmingham,

You know the saying: If asked where you are from, you answer “Birmingham.” Not one of the other 34 municipalities in Jefferson County, but “Birmingham.”

I wear several hats in Jefferson County, including as a Jefferson County Greenways Commissioner, former Jefferson County Councilor Coalition (JC3) Chair, employee of Freshwater Land Trust, and now Mayor of Homewood. A strong Birmingham means a greater quality of life for all of our citizens.

The Jefferson County Mayors Association and JC3 make regional cooperation a reality. We are all facing similar challenges and welcome regional opportunities; it makes sense to work together.

A real-life example of regional cooperation is our under-engineered bridge at Hollywood Boulevard over Highway 280, which earns an “F” rating at high-traffic times. This bridge is in Birmingham, connecting Homewood and Mountain Brook. We have an incredible team with representatives from each city and Jefferson County, and are moving forward with a solution for improved traffic flow and pedestrian access.

Another example is the Jefferson County Greenways Commission, managing our large greenspaces: Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Homewood represents the second-highest number of visitors to Red Mountain Park, just to Homewood’s west in Birmingham. These parks provide recreational opportunities for improved physical and mental health for our residents and fuel eco-tourism for Jefferson County.

“A strong Birmingham means a greater quality of life for all of our citizens.” “

Freshwater Land Trust’s Red Rock Trail System® is a planned 750-mile network that will bring every Jefferson County resident within one mile of a trail or greenspace. The Red Rock Action Plan connects Red Mountain Park to Railroad Park to Ruffner Mountain through several municipalities. Homewood’s Shades Creek Greenway is the largest east–west connector in the Red Rock Action Plan. These trail projects bring transportation alternatives, health benefits, and economic development opportunities to Jefferson County.

I am honored to represent Homewood at a time when our regional leaders recognize that by working together across city lines, we build a better Birmingham!

Jennifer Andress

Mayor of Homewood

JENNIFER ANDRESS

ASHLEY CURRY

MAYOR OF VESTAVIA

HILLS

Dear Birmingham,

I am honored to share how proud I am of the spirit that defines Vestavia Hills. Unity, prosperity, and family are more than words featured in our city logo, they are the foundation of how we live, serve and care for one another every day.

Whether it’s cheering on our local student-athletes, supporting city beautification projects, or volunteering through civic or faithbased groups, our residents show up for each other. Commitment to education, health, and safety continues to be a cornerstone of life in Vestavia Hills. Our school system is consistently ranked among the state’s best, with a mission to provide a safe, student-centered environment focused on academic excellence and personal growth. Additionally, our Police and Fire Departments remain leaders in community-based public safety, not only through fast, professional emergency response, but through outreach efforts that educate residents and build lasting relationships.

Our parks, library, and other public spaces continue to be places where friendships are formed and strengthened. Community walking trails and green spaces are more than amenities – they are invitations for all of us to slow down, connect with friends and family and enjoy the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere we are known for.

Vestavia Hills stands as a community defined by a deep commitment to building a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and “at home.” I believe that is something worth celebrating and preserving.

As a regional partner, we know that we are stronger when we work together and collaborate with surrounding cities for mutual benefits. Negotiating sanitation services collectively, establishing infrastructure to support pedestrian connectivity, and mobilizing first responders through mutual aid agreements are just a few ways that make our entire region stronger.

We hope you will visit us soon to see all that Vestavia Hills has to offer!

Warm regards,

Ashley Curry Mayor, City of Vestavia Hills

NICK DERZIS

MAYOR OF HOOVER

Dear Birmingham,

When I think about what makes the greater Birmingham metro area so special, it’s not just the skyline, the parks, or the many amenities we all enjoy – it’s the people who connect our cities every day. Someone might wake up in Hoover, commute to work in downtown Birmingham, have lunch in Homewood, go for a run in Mountain Brook, and end the evening cheering on a game in Vestavia Hills. That rhythm of connection is what makes our region thrive.

Our communities are distinct, but our success is shared. When one of us grows, we all benefit. When one of us faces a challenge, the strength of our neighbors helps us rise again. That spirit of cooperation – working together and serving one another beyond city lines – has always defined this region.

As a former police chief, I’ve seen that cooperation in action. When severe weather strikes, emergency response teams from Hoover, Birmingham, Mountain Brook, and other cities come together – clearing roads, providing aid, and helping families get back on their feet. In those moments, no one asks where the city limits end. We simply show up for each other.

That is the Birmingham metro I know – a region built on cooperation, compassion, and community. As we look to the future, let’s continue strengthening these bonds by working together, sharing resources, and investing in one another’s success. Through partnership and goodwill, we won’t just build better cities, we build a region we can all be proud to call home.

Sincerely,

Nick Derzis Mayor of Hoover

GRAHAM SMITH

MAYOR OF MOUNTAIN BROOK

Dear Birmingham,

On behalf of the City of Mountain Brook, I’d like to invite you to come experience all that makes our community special, and sincerely welcome you, our local friends and neighbors.

Mountain Brook offers the best of both worlds — the amenities of a larger city with the friendliness and charm of a small town. Our five walkable villages are full of unique shops, great local dining, and familiar faces. Add in our beautiful tree-lined streets, historic homes, and more than 50 miles of sidewalks and trails, and you’ll see why we love calling this place home.

There’s always something happening — from parades and art shows to village markets, festivals, and community nights hosted by our first responders. Whether attending community events, shopping local, or just enjoying a stroll through one of our neighborhoods, Mountain Brook offers a true sense of connection.

As a community, we stay focused on three things that matter most: strong stewardship of our residents’ tax dollars, support

of our school system, and resident safety. These priorities guide everything we do.

However, we recognize that these endeavors do not happen alone or by accident. Through partnerships with our neighboring cities, we are able to streamline public safety initiatives, negotiate as a collective to ensure efficient waste and trash disposal, build infrastructure that benefits multiple cities, strengthen our park, trail and sidewalk systems, and mobilize our first responders across jurisdictions when needed. This all happens through daily collaboration. We are, have been, and will continue to unite to strengthen our region.

So to our neighbors across the Birmingham metro– come visit us soon! Spend the day exploring our villages, meeting our merchants, and experiencing what makes Mountain Brook such a special place to live, work, and play. We are all stronger when working together, and we look forward to welcoming you!

Graham Smith Mayor of Mountain Brook

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KERRI BUNN

Esthetician, makeup artist, and lover of all things beautiful

ARTICLE BY BIRMINGHAM LIFESTYLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBRE AMARI

You might describe Kerri Bunn as a city girl with a small-town soul. Known in the on-set makeup world as “the queen of glowing skin,” she’s earned a reputation for the luminous looks she creates—but glow just as fittingly describes the joy that shines through her conversations, her art, and the stories she tells. Here, she walks us through a day in her life.

6-7 A.M.

6-7 A.M. MORNING STILLNESS + MANUSCRIPT

Mornings are sacred to me. I love waking up before the world stirs to hear what God is saying and to write. That’s the heart behind everything I do. I’m working on a book right now—a collection of stories from the last twenty years of traveling. A kind of storytelling meant to refresh the soul.

7–8(ISH) A.M. — FRESH AIR + RESET

Growing up in the country gave me an appreciation for the outdoors. A great sunset, crickets and frogs, and seeing the stars at night—that one always gets me. But a walk clears my head in a way that steadies me for the whole day.

7-8(ISH) A.M. 8-9 A.M.

8–9 A.M. — READY, SET, GLOW

A few years ago, I turned my guest room into a closet, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. I love mixing textures and colors. Being able to see everything at once feels like shopping every day.

10 A.M-5 P.M.

ON SET

10 A.M.–5 P.M. — BOMA + BEAUTY

When I opened BOMA, I wanted the same small-town beauty-shop feel that my mom and grandmother shared—almost Steel Magnolias: laughter, stories, and sometimes tears. A space where women can show up exactly as they are. Here, faces are my canvas, and I love the delicate details—helping someone discover the features that make them beautiful. To me, makeup is about balance and color, and I’m not afraid to shop anywhere. I love skincare and treatments just as much. When someone calls me three weeks into a routine and says, “My skin has never looked so good,” that’s the goal.

5-10 P.M.

ON SET

Some days have an entirely different pace. When I’m on a shoot, it feels like an adult version of recess—as if the whole playground grew up and everyone brought their skills. Creatives working together to make something bigger than ourselves. We create, we laugh, and then we stand back and watch the magic come to life.

5–10 P.M. — WHEN THE DAY IS DONE

I’ve always believed life is a collection of stories. At the end of the day, I’m either reading them, writing them, or sharing them. And definitely thanking the Lord, because He’s the one creating them.

Connect with Kerri: @kerribunn • kerribunn.com

WHERE THE SOUL FINDS ITS WAY BACK

INSIDE THE THRESHOLD CENTER’S ARTFUL, HUMAN APPROACH TO WELL-BEING AND COMMUNITY

They say art is good for the soul, but the truth is gentler and more generous: art steadies us. It slows the pulse and draws breath back into the body, reminding the mind it was made for more than just getting through the day.

A single line of ink, a brushstroke, a whispered poem—these small acts have a way of loosening what’s been knotted inside us, allowing us to set down what we’ve been carrying and start to recognize ourselves again.

ARTICLE BY BLAIR MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBRE AMARI

It’s this kind of steadying, this kind of awakening, that lives at the heart of The Threshold Center. An initiative of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, the

Center opens its doors to people of all faiths—or none at all—who feel the tug of self-discovery and need a place to begin. “People are longing for meaningful connection and a deeper experience of well-being,” says director Mary Bea Sullivan. “At The Threshold Center, we look at the places where the heart, the body, and the imagination intersect.”

Some programs rise from sacred traditions; others simply from human experience. All are held with tenderness. And woven throughout The Threshold Center’s offerings is the presence of their artist-in-residence—and Birmingham’s first poet laureate—Salaam Green. As a proponent of healing arts, she has spent years bringing poetry and creative writing into community spaces across Alabama. “I have worked with many nonprofits, social service organizations, and corporations to bring writing as a healing tool to support people in the community,” she says.

Her work often leads to powerful moments of discovery—and in some cases rediscovery. While serving in a nursing home, she met a woman in her eighties who said she hadn’t written poetry “in forever.” As they talked, the woman suddenly remembered a poem she’d written decades earlier. Moments later, she returned with a hatbox carrying the poem and a certificate. “She had written a poem for George Bush and been to the White House,” Green recalls. “It was very interesting to bring that back for her and to support her with memory care.”

Inside The Threshold Center, her creative work takes on another layer— building connections among people who might otherwise feel isolated. “We can use poetry and creative writing as a tool to help support us in building community and resilience around loneliness,” she says. Her recent workshop,

Awakening to Community, invited participants to explore how belonging and resilience can begin with a single honest line on the page.

On any given day, the air inside the Center feels expectant yet unhurried, as if the building itself knows the value of slowing down. A circle of chairs may be set for Mindful Living, sketchbooks may be open for a Zentangle class, or a table waiting for poems to be born. People arrive carrying whatever the day has handed them—grief, curiosity, stress, hope—and find a space where none of it has to be hidden. Soon, breathing steadies, shoulders soften, and strangers begin to feel like companions on the same unfolding path.

For Penn Komisar, Mindful Living has become “a Thursday evening anchor,” a simple, dependable hour that knits him back into himself. “The facilitators and practices have strengthened my sense of belonging within a community committed to well-being,” he says. “To be kind to the community, you first have to be kind to yourself.”

Others come carrying the weight of change. During a difficult season, Tara Wilkinson found a place where she didn’t have to perform a version

of herself. “The Threshold Center provided a welcoming space where I could be my authentic self, explore new experiences, and build meaningful connections,” she says.

In Green’s writing programs, participants explore some of their deepest emotions on the page. “The Threshold Center is an open place for all,” says DeJuana McCary. “It allows different parts of me to emerge. Writing about my shadow side gave me permission to confess fear or anger I had buried to be ‘strong.’ Writing about joy let me name moments of unexpected grace and simple gratitude.”

Pat Bills, who never considered herself artistic, discovered otherwise under the compassionate instruction of artist Elizabeth VanderKamp. “The Zentangle sessions helped me create some of the most beautiful pieces of art,” she says. “Through the meditative practice of focus and mindfulness, I learned to draw, create, and truly enjoy the process.” She now keeps Zentangle materials at home and attends Mindful Yoga for Healing, grateful “for the skilled instructors who have been sharing their practice for many years.”

Community often forms in ways no one anticipates. Cathy Buhring speaks of running into Threshold friends at places like Red Mountain Theatre. “Each gathering strengthens our connection to ourselves and to one another,” she says. “The Threshold Center has deepened my sense of community.”

Sometimes the transformation is as subtle—and as mysterious—as lying on the floor while sound vibrates through the air. Laurel Kuehr arrived at Sound Bathing “somewhat nervously,” unsure what to expect. “Although my experience was solitary as the tones surrounded me,” she says, “it became a shared experience as we compared our thoughts afterwards.”

As Sullivan reflects on the year ahead, she offers an open invitation to the people of Birmingham: “If there’s a part of you that feels stressed, empty, or lonely, cultivate some space to tend to that—and trust that the answers will come.” She returns often to the Center’s name: “We chose it because of the transformation that happens when we cross certain thresholds. We’re the same person who steps across, but somehow new.”

It feels fitting, then, that Green, whose work embodies that transformation, offers this poem to our readers:

Radical Compassion

By Salaam Green, Poet Laureate for the City of Birmingham; Artist in Residence, The Threshold Center

Come as you are, Beloved Community: Bring your weariness, your memory, your tender heart. This is sacred ground, a place to lay down sorrow and let love and mercy gather around your name.

Here, grief is not a burden to fix, but a river that knows where to go. We will sit beside it, listen, and let it teach us.

Let the earth and air bear witness to our healing. Together, we will remember that mourning is holy work, and that joy, too, is an inheritance.

Bring your sorrow wild and free. All grief is welcome. We gather as our ancestors did— to weep, to witness, and to remember we are not alone.

Learn more about her work and her new book The Other Revival: Poems & Reckonings at salaamgreen.com.

The Threshold Center will host an open house on January 11 from 5–7 p.m. For upcoming events, visit thethresholdcenter.org

JANUARY 2026

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

JANUARY 18TH

Tuxedo Junction: The Almost Lost Story

Virginia Samford Theatre | 2:00 PM

The Birmingham Historical Society will host a free screening of this award-winning documentary that captures the musical history of Ensley. Local filmmakers Katie Rogers and Brandon McCray will have a Q&A after the film. Burgin Mathews will be signing and selling his book on the subject. Stay for drinks in the courtyard with live jazz by Jose Carr, Bo Berry, and friends, who are also featured in the film.

JANUARY 30TH

THROUGH MAY 24TH

Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950

Birmingham Museum of Art Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950, presented by PNC Bank, is an exhibition of over one hundred masterworks with more than half from the Brooklyn Museum’s esteemed European collection. Featuring a range of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, visitors will encounter the iconic art of Paul Cézanne, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and many others.

FEBRUARY 6TH

THROUGH MARCH 1ST

The Wiz

Red Mountain Theatre

Come on, ease on down the road! Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion are on their way to the Emerald City, with a nonstop party of rock, gospel, and soul music to carry them on their adventures. Everybody rejoice!

the Di erence.