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Dec 9, 2024 | 
thelocalbham.com | Ashley Armstrong |Alison Williams |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson
By Ashley ArmstrongWhen one thinks of Hollywood Boulevard, the star-studded streets of Southern California come to mind—4.6 miles long, lined with palm trees and pricey boutiques in the heart of Los Angeles. There is another Hollywood Boulevard right here in Homewood, known not for its movie stars and posh shopping, but rather for its distinct architecture. With tile roofing, wrought iron details, and stucco wall arches, this small community is rich with Spanish Colonial Revival-style homes.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
thelocalbham.com | Alison Williams |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Liza Coffin
Sarah West explores the divine through artBy Liza CoffinT he mystery of the digital world is our modern day Renaissance, and it points to our innate human desire for something greater. This is the mentality of Birmingham resident and artist Sarah West. West works primarily in oils, and spends her time working out her observations of the physical, spiritual and digital world and how they relate to perspective and the human condition.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
thelocalbham.com | Ashley Armstrong |Alison Williams |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson
An urban retreatOak Mountain State Park Visitors enjoying new campgroundBy Ashley ArmstrongWhen the city is overwhelming, many return to nature to find solace. Oak Mountain State Park is a retreat where you can step away from the chaos of the industrialized city of Birmingham and breathe in the solitude of nature. As the colorful canvas of leaves change, the park’s trails, forests and lakeside spots take on new life.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
thelocalbham.com | Meg Robinson |Alison Williams |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson
Rhandie Weaver breathes life into a beloved art form. By Meg RobinsonRhandie Weaver is a Birmingham-based stained glass connoisseur. She has been perfecting her craft for over 25 years. Weaver learned the art from a community college class. She continues the legacy of stained glass by continuing to teach it, just as others taught her. “Everything has to be taught, either by self, education, or someone else,” she said.
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Nov 21, 2024 | 
thelocalbham.com | Zoe Scontras |Alison Williams |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson
By Zoe Scontras | Photo by Meg RobinsonCharlie Willams is a senior at Samford University. Williams believes Gen Z has a transactional dating culture because people rather have endless options and open-ended relationships than committing to one person. “That’s why we have ‘just talking’. Dating has become an end to itself.” said Williams. Williams, too, believes Gen Z lost the art of pursuing. “I think part of it has to do with the Gender Divide.
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Dec 12, 2023 | 
thelocalbham.com | Jackson Tate |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Caleb Jones
by Jackson TateA Doss in the LifeAs Chriss Doss walks through his home, he sees the rows of disorganized bookshelves in his personal library and the many historical artifacts he has obtained over the years. He approaches the desk where he has often worked late nights, a beautiful stained glass window looming behind it. He notices the cardboard cutouts of Elvis Presley and George Clooney looking back at him over the banister, and in the mirror, he sees himself.
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Dec 6, 2023 | 
thelocalbham.com | Mackenzee Simms |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Caleb Jones
Underneath the swaying branches of Japanese maples and across a babbling stream, a serene garden is nestled on the slope of Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. It is not visible from the main road, nor is it particularly advertised. Rather, the North Alabama Japanese Garden seemingly materializes out of thin air between one tree trunk and the next, a quiet sliver of the beauty of Japan. The North Alabama Japanese Garden began in the 1980s as a hobby garden between a father and his daughter.
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Dec 5, 2023 | 
thelocalbham.com | Ashleigh Jones |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Caleb Jones
By Ashleigh Jones Rich, beautiful harp notes fill the concert hall. The ethereal, enchanting solo echoes throughout the orchestra as two hands glide and sweep across the 47 strings. The audience, transfixed, holds their breath as the music resonates throughout the space. Then, like a vapor, the music fades—cuing the orchestra’s entrance. Judy Sullivan Hicks has been playing the harp with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra since 1981.
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Dec 2, 2023 | 
thelocalbham.com | Harper Harwell |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Caleb Jones
By Harper Harwell
Lights, camera, drag.
University of Alabama at Birmingham students scurry around the outdoor amphitheater in final attempts to perfect their makeup and costumes as the start of the “Fairies and Fright” drag ball looms just minutes away. The air is frenzied with excitement and nerves; students flit from group to group, laughing and preparing themselves to put on a fabulous show for the campus community.
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Dec 2, 2023 | 
thelocalbham.com | Sophie Higby |Alexis Amann |Andrew Simonson |Caleb Jones
Birmingham, Alabama, 1967. A city steeped in segregation and racial tension that sometimes seemed to seep every corner. Navigating a time of education and preparation for the world that awaited under these circumstances could be daunting for some. For William Bell, the obstacles served as fuel for the life of servant leadership that he was to live. Bell’s legacy began as he walked into John Carroll High School as one of the first African Americans to enroll there.
