Category: Mountain Brook

Mountain Brook

The Red Barn: What Horses Can Teach Us

Photos and story by Cara Clark The phrase accompanying The Red Barn’s charming logo captures both its essence and its history: “Faith, Hope & Love” and, of course, horses. It took each of those in great measure for Joy O’Neal to stride into the unknown with the courage of her convictions. “When students are learning to ride, they learn perseverance and determination,” says O’Neal, executive director and … Continue reading The Red Barn: What Horses Can Teach Us

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Heath & Wellness, Mountain Brook

Why is Health Insurance So Confusing?

Story by Frank Holden A December 2020 New York Times article titled, “It’s Not Just You: Picking a Health Insurance Plan is Really Hard,” took a deep dive into the complexities of choosing healthcare insurance. According to the article, Anya Samek, (Associate Professor of Economics and Strategy at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego), got so “frustrated she gave up, determining the task too complicated.” And she’s smart and young. Paul … Continue reading Why is Health Insurance So Confusing?

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Food & Drink, Mountain Brook

These Distillers Are Putting Birmingham Back On The Distilling Map

By Barry Wise SmithPhotos by Brit Huckabay and Janie Shelswell-White At the beginning of early-era Prohibition in 1915, Alabama put a stop to all legal liquor production in the state. The nationwide ban on sales, production, and importing alcohol followed in 1920. In 2015, after a century, distilling finally returned to the Magic City and has put the city in high spirits. Dread River In 2015, … Continue reading These Distillers Are Putting Birmingham Back On The Distilling Map

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Mountain Brook, Uncategorized

Building Community: The Legacy of Mike Mouron

By Cara Clark Mike Mouron gave retirement a shot in 2012. The Mountain Brook native divided his company, Capstone Development, into four separate businesses, an act intended to mark the end of an era that included developing student housing on and off campuses throughout the nation for decades. Instead, it kicked off a new career with tangible impact on the Birmingham area. When the cosmopolitan Valley Hotel opened its … Continue reading Building Community: The Legacy of Mike Mouron

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Arts & Culture, Eastern Shore, Mountain Brook, Portico Eastern Shore

Trés Taylor: Alabama Folk Artist in a Revolution of Joy

    By Cara D. ClarkPhotos by Cara D. Clark and Marc Bondarenko Trés Taylor is a revolutionary in the finest sense of the word, from overturning his own career path to establishing a sense of harmony and healing in communities in the South. Armed with paint cans, brushes, and a sense of wonder, the Mountain Brook native’s mission now is one of hearts and … Continue reading Trés Taylor: Alabama Folk Artist in a Revolution of Joy

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Eastern Shore, Mountain Brook

Meet Richard Simmons, Author Of “Reflections On The Existence Of God”

Story by Alec Harvey and Photo by Brit Huckabay Richard Simmons doesn’t shy away from the big questions or the big issues. Just take a look at the topics of the faith-based books he’s written – wisdom, life, death, sex, truth. His latest book tackles the biggest question of all. Reflections on the Existence of God is a collection of essays about whether or not … Continue reading Meet Richard Simmons, Author Of “Reflections On The Existence Of God”

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