The Local Birmingham

BY MAGGIE RICHARDS Al Gilmer starts her day with the flip of a light switch inside Stone Hollow Farmstand. She walks the floor, checking every crevice and corner, making sure the store looks just right, the way it should. Before the day officially starts, she checks her emails and replies to texts from clients or the team. She performs the small tasks that start the day off on the right foot.

BY CHLOE WILLIAMS One moment, I’m surrounded by the hum of Birmingham’s traffic. Next, I’m driving beneatha canopy of longleaf pines. Skyline shrinking, nature taking over. Oak Mountain State park isn’t just a park to me; it’s a part of my family’s story. Throughout my story, my father has taught me to love the woods just as much as he does. Just 20 miles from the center of The Magic City, Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park spanning over 11,000 acres.

BY EMMY YANTIS I PHOTOS BY CHLOE WILLIAMS How Birmingham Nutrition became a local hub On any given afternoon in Homewood, the doors of Birmingham Nutrition swing open to the hum of blenders, friendly conversations and the scent of many different drinks. Inside, the atmosphere buzzes with more than caffeine: it’s connection. College students pop in between classes, parents stop by after school pick-up and regulars wave hello to the team members who greet them by name.

BY ZOE SCONTRAS I PHOTOS BY BRENNAN REESE-WILLIAMS Capturing timelessness and meaning in her business It was not too long ago when Estelle Straate went down a vintage rabbit hole. In high school, she began thrifting and selling her finds and traveling to vintage markets across the southeast in search of one-of-a-kind pieces. Her dream of owning a vintage fashion business was slowly developing. Then one afternoon, while browsing a thrift shop, Straate stumbled over a vintage gown.

BY JORDYN DAVIS I PHOTOS BY JACOB BLANKENSHIP A new scene for the BOLD Sabrina Palmer took the last gulp of her extremely carbonated Mountain Dew and set it neatly on the tabletop. The neon lights and electric music made the table vibrate and the laughter of over 100 people filled the chaotic yet familiar atmosphere. She focused her attention on her last game of Skeeball, a local favorite at the newly-opened UpDown Bar in Downtown Birmingham.

BY AUDREY SIMONS I PHOTOS BY CHLOE WILLIAMS A taste of the Bayou Have you ever had authentic Cajun food? The type of food that has so much flavor that you want to sing the chef’s praises? Food with spices that linger for days? Crawfish that makes it worth the work of peeling? Jambalaya that heals the soul? Or Boudin that makes you feel like you’re in your Nonna’s house in Louisiana? That’s what Louisiana native, Matt Coltrin, was missing while he served in the military.

BY MADISON FREY I PHOTOS BY CHLOE WILLIAMS How Tuesday night jazz continues Birmingham’s longtime jazz history The room is full. Conversations fade the purple lights. Hours pass as the steady rhythm of the drum, keys, bass and guitar complement the trumpet, saxophone and trombone solos. Between sets, Daniel José Carr stands up and walks towards the microphone. His slacks and dress shoes give him an air of elegance where he takes the stage at True Story Brewing Company.

BY HANNA ALLEN I PHOTOS BY CHLOE WILLIAMS A look inside the Mountain Brook bakery that built a loyal following with its simple, signature style Daughters Baking sits tucked among the coffee shops and boutiques in the center of Mountain Brook Village. The storefront is bright but simple, with clean lines and a steady flow of visitors stopping in for cake, cookies, candy crunch, or all of the above.

Rickwood embodies baseball’s past, present and future By Meg Robinson H ow can a building transform a town without changing its appearance? Although it was built over a century ago, the oldest functioning baseball field in America is filled with a rich history that refuses to stop building upon itself. Rickwood Field serves as a gathering place for people to allow themselves to get lost in the beautiful game of baseball.

By Anne Elise Cairns T hree generations of mothers and daughters, Merida Smith Brooks 70, Lydia Brooks Andrews 48, and Brooks Marie Andrews 21, lead their lives to better themselves, put the Word of God first, and pave the way for the future generations in their family. “To listen to women’s voices and to listen to women’s stories, it’s why daughters are important, it’s why mothers are important and it’s why grandmothers are important.