Blaze Burgers Returns to The Retreat at Mountain Brook | Food Truck Night in Birmingham, AL
Blaze Burgers is back at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, AL! Stop by from 4:30–7:00 PM for juicy burgers, wings, and crispy fries — all just steps away from your front door! You asked — and we listened! After all the fantastic feedback from their last visit, Blaze Burgers is rolling back into our community THIS EVENING from 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM! What’s on the Menu Get ready to treat yourself to a sizzling dinner lineup, featuring: Juicy, made-to-order burgers Flavor-packed wings Crispy fry combos that hit the spot Whether you missed them last time or can’t wait for seconds, this is your chance to grab dinner without leaving home. Bring your appetite, your friends, and your food-truck enthusiasm! Location: In front of the RMB Community Garden Time: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM A Taste of Community Life in Birmingham At The Retreat at Mountain Brook, our residents enjoy more than beautiful apartments — we enjoy a connected, welcoming lifestyle. From weekly events like Food Truck Tuesday to community gatherings in our lush outdoor spaces, life here is designed for fun, flavor, and friendship. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your Blaze Burgers feast and tag us to show your support for our local food-truck partners! #RMBFTT #FoodTruckTuesday #BlazeBurgers #BirminghamAL #MountainBrookAL #Irondale #RetreatAtMountainBrook #ApartmentLiving #BurgersAndWings
Trick or Treat & Pink—October Means Halloween & Breast Cancer Awareness
Whether you’re planning a party with friends and neighbors at your spacious and pet-friendly Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home in Birmingham, Alabama, or making the scene in the Magic City, Halloween season offers all kinds of opportunities for fun! October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to help heighten local awareness, The Retreat at Mountain Brook is once again turning its fountain pink! It’s estimated that 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop the disease in her lifetime. You can make a difference by supporting efforts to study and combat it by donating to or getting involved with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at UAB. For The Littles The Birmingham Zoo is putting out the call all to all ghouls and goblins, Travis Kelces and Taylor Swifts, KPop Demon Hunters, Wednesdays, and Capybaras!! It’s almost time to trick or treat around the Zoo at its annual Hoots & Howls event, on the calendar for the last three weekends of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each of those Saturdays and Sundays (October 11–12, 18–19, and 25–26, 2025). Your kids can delight in the interactive animal shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Gigi’s Porch in Alabama Wilds, take part in the popular costume parade and contest at noon, and the high-energy Monster Mash dance party after that! DJs from Feel the Beat will be spinning spooky tunes all day on Henley Lawn, and there will be games and PLENTY of photo ops, not to mention the bewitchment of The Latham’s Dazzling Magic at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Event admission without the candy trail is included with Zoo entry fee; there are different pricing options. For The Bigs The Rocky Horror Picture Show turns 50 this year, and what better way to celebrate than at a Masquerade Ball Friday, October 24, at Avondale Brewing Company? Come dressed to impress and ready to join in the fun, because audience participation is a MUST!! (Yes, yes, darlings, you may bring your own props, but of course!) The night will start kicking at 6 p.m. with two cash costume contests—Best Rocky Horror Character Look-A-Like and General Category. Then you’ll enjoy music from DJ Flock of Geno (Neon Electric) spinning ghoulish grooves before the main event. At 8:30 p.m. the contests will lead straight into a screening of everybody’s favorite camp classic, with live shadow cast “Antici…pation” and special guests, The Mystic Society of Rocky Horror . BWAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! For Everybody! Vulcan Park & Museum has an evening filled with spooky fun for all ages planned for Friday, October 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Vulcan Spooktacular will feature food trucks, trick-or-treating stations throughout the museum and photo ops around the Park, along with music, face painting, complimentary popcorn, and refreshments. Adults will be able to purchase beer, wine, and cocktails. Beloved mascot “V” will make a special appearance in his Halloween costume, adding to the fun and excitement! Also, adults 21 and older can purchase tickets to the second annual Halloween Party (hosted by the VPM Junior Board) which will include a costume contest and pumpkin carving. It’s a night sure to packed with treats—and maybe even a few tricks! Scary-Good Party Ideas Brew up some sinister mock- and cocktails, prepare some frightful finger foods, and decorate with seasonal black and orange abandon—it’s time to have your very own howling good Halloween party! Your Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home is the perfect setting both for feting—and frightening!—friends and family. We asked * the Idea Specialists™ * for some tips and tricks to be the hosts with most. They pointed us to HGTV, which has some great ideas for decorating. One of their—and our—favorites is to use your fireplace as a focal point. Use a mix of mums and candles (unlit, for safety!) around it, and fill it full of pumpkins and gourds. So fun! As are these battery-powered holiday candles from Walmart, which come complete with their own remote control. For goodies for gobblin’ (see what we did there? 😎😎), the site comes through again with snack ideas like Hairy Eyeballs (polenta poppers topped with corn silk and a few dribbles of blood marinara sauce), Poisoned Candy Apples (get out the black food coloring!) and more. The Food Network isn’t any slouch, either, when it comes to yikes and yummies. You can make drawing “legs” with chocolate on the Scary Peanut Butter Spider Cookies a family affair, whip up a No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brain in next to no time, and—of course—there’s no forgetting that all-time classic, a Dirt Cake topped with gummy worms! One More—VERY IMPORTANT—Thing! Did you know you can keep up with a lot of the events in our incredible city by signing up for the FREE BHAM Now newsletter? Here’s the link: https://bhamnow.com/newsletter-signup/ Happy Halloween! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the multifamily industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
The Tried & True—And Something New!
One of the great things about calling The Retreat at Mountain Brook luxury apartment community your home is all the tried and true places that make Birmingham, Alabama, such a wonderful place to live—and the many new shops, restaurants, and venues that always seem to be opening! The Tried We asked * The Idea Specialists™ * to give Mountain Brook fave Davenports Pizza Palace (on Cahaba Road) a try and report back in. They said it’s no wonder this family-owned restaurant has been in business for more than 60 years—the pies are worth every penny and then some! (At least we think that’s what they said…..they were talking with their mouths full, LOL.) Hand-tossed dough, salad dressings made in house, and the option of gluten-free crust are just a few of the things that make Davenport’s a must if you’re in the mood for kid-friendly casual dining. The True Nestled in the heart of Crestline Village, Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market has been offering seasonal plants and flowers, garden shrubs, herbs, and vegetables for more than 25 years. No green thumb? No worries! They specialize in container gardening, creativity, and instruction, and would love to work with Retreat at Mountain Brook residents on just the right flowers and plants for their balconies or sunrooms. Plus, the market is full of the freshest fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as fresh eggs, nuts, jams, honey, and more from local farmers and home gardeners. Fun Fact: The shop maintains the Emmet O’Neal Community Garden across the street. They are indeed truly committed to Mountain Brook! The New The Idea Specialists™ are huge fans of StyleBlueprint Birmingham, which recently did a piece on several new retail spots to check out in Birmingham. They had this to say about Odette, a curated furniture boutique that feature new and antique pieces, as well as hand-picked home decor finds. “If you love Design Supply in Pepper Place, you’ll love Odette, the latest offering from acclaimed Birmingham-based designer Laura Vogtle,” they wrote. “The Pepper Place showroom replaces the beloved Richard Tubb Interiors, after the well-known Birmingham designer announced his retirement last year. Odette is committed to honoring Tubb’s legacy and carries many of the brands Tubb was known for.” There’s No Shame In Our Dinner Game! We decided it just wouldn’t be a good blog post if we didn’t say something about food to eat in the comfort of your cozy (and pet-friendly!) Retreat at Mountain Brook home, so we asked the Idea Specialists™ to suggest something fast and simple to get on the table now that school is back in serious swing. They immediately suggested taking advantage of the Little Big Meal at The Fresh Market on Brookwood Village. Options change regularly, but all include a main course and at least one side and are meant to feed four for only $25. Enjoy! One More Thing Are your kids as obsessed as ours with MrBeast? If so, then you probably already know that the dude (aka Jimmy Donaldson) has 423 million subscribers on YouTube and a wildly popular unscripted show on Prime Video (Beast Games). But did you (and they) know that he and popular science YouTuber Mark Rober are now co-leading the new initiative #TeamWater, a crowdfunding campaign to change millions of lives around the world through access to clean water? Powered by the biggest team of content creators on the internet, the campaign has a goal of raising $40 million to provide 2 million people with life-changing access to clean water for decades. Something to talk about at supper for sure! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
It’s Almost Time for Back to School, Book Lovers Day—and Maintenance Appreciation Month!
It’s almost back-to-school time in Birmingham, Alabama, home to the upscale and pet-friendly Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment community (not to mention the new Coca-Cola Amphitheater!). But before we get to that part of the blog, the Retreat at Mountain Brook team wants to give a huge shout-out to some certain special people…. August Is Maintenance Appreciation Month August is indeed Maintenance Appreciation Month at Arlington Properties’ The Retreat at Mountain Brook. That’s right, we want to acknowledge the hard work of everyone who helps keep our apartment home community looking beautiful and operating smoothly. Yes, we know that National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day is March 7 every year, but we figure they deserve an entire month!! Be sure to give these folks an extra smile and wave as they work through the Dog Days of Summer. National Book Lovers Day Is August 9 While there’s no bad day to love a book, you’ll be in good company if you celebrate this particular passion with fellow bibliophiles on National Book Lovers Day Saturday, August 9, 2005. And, yes, all kinds of books count—traditional, audio, manga, ebooks—all of them! The Retreat at Mountain Brook team asked the * Idea Specialists™ * for some of their thoughts on other ways to mark the occasion. Of course their first suggestion was checking out The O’Neal Library on Oak Street, and/or one of the many branches of the Birmingham Public Library. They also reminded us that book clubs are a great way to get to know your neighbors. The clubhouse lounge would be a great place to meet if the group gets big enough, while you might enjoy hosting something smaller in your stylish Retreat at Mountain Brook living room. Or, maybe you prefer to read with a group but not “with” a group. In that case, you can always read something from a national book club, like the ones of Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager, and the reader who started it all—Oprah Winfrey! Back To School: Pimples, Pencils & Patience The Idea Specialists™ asked some of the young people in their lives to tell them the most important things teens and their parents need to have as they get ready to go back to school. First suggestion: A bottle of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, because for most kids, pimples are just a fact of life at some point. A 1-ounce bottle goes a looooooong way! Next, a box of BIC ReVolution Xtra Life Mechanical Pencils. Yep, the members of Generation Z still use pencils at a school! “It’s mainly for math,” says one 16-year-old. Finally? Patience. Patience, patience, patience. Because teens are going through a lot, and it really is hard for them to imagine that the adults in their lives were once young. As Parenting Teens & Tweens puts it, “It’s a tough time for everyone, but it is also a time when your teen really needs you to keep it together. So much of their behavior results from the push and pull they feel between holding onto their childhood while at the same time wanting to move toward adulthood.” Their guidance, in a nutshell? Listen more/talk less. Don’t take things too personally. Identify specific triggers. Set boundaries. Also, the Center for Parent and Tenn Communication has a good article about helping teens develop patience. Hey ChatGPT, Do My Homework! No matter if the kids in your life attend public, private, or parochial school—or if they’re home schooled—chances are they’ve already used some form of what is called “generative AI (artificial intelligence” to help them with an in-class assignment or their homework. In a nutshell, teens and college students are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, as well as Otter.ai for note-taking and Grammarly for writing assistance. (How do we know? We asked Google AI, LOL.) We also asked Google AI to explain “humanizers” to us, because—according to several teenagers we know—it’s best to use something like ChatGPT along with technology that will make, say, the ChatGPT essay on The Constitution of the United States, sound more like it was written by a human being than a machine. Some examples are QuillBot, Writesonic, , Ahrefs, Prepostseo, and Decopy AI. The Center for Digital Thriving has some great questions to ask for starting conversations with your kids about AI, including: What kinds of uses do you think should be allowed in school, and, has your school or any of your teachers set any rules about using it? Communication is key! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
July Means Friends, Family & Fireworks at The Retreat at Mountain Brook
Fantastic fireworks and good food shared with family and friends are two key ingredients for a successful Fourth of July, and the Retreat at Mountain Brook team in Birmingham, Alabama, is here with the recipe! Thunder On The Mountain & Independence Day At American Village For many people, it’s a family tradition to watch the spectacular fireworks display originating atop Red Mountain every Fourth of July—Thunder on the Mountain at Vulcan Park & Museum. This year, you can take things to the next level, because the park is holding a special viewing party, complete with catered dinner and open bar. The skies will light up at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4, 2025, and the pyrotechnics will be synced to music that will air on various radio stations throughout the Birmingham area. But did you know that American Village in Montevallo also has its own annual Independence Day celebration? The Birmingham Mom Collective gives a great rundown of all the family-friendly events that will be taking place at this unique living history educational complex, including cornhole toss, hula hoops, Jenga, sidewalk chalk art, and a farm animal petting area. Kids can enjoy a balloon artist and get their faces painted, and food trucks will be on site. The fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. New this year: A VIP day pass that includes exclusive parking and air-conditioned hospitality building with restrooms. The Perfect Picnic The Retreat at Mountain Brook team asked * the Idea Specialists™ * what they would pack for the perfect picnic to take to a July outing. They said they’re big fans of the Real Simple Picnic Checklist, which includes everything from reminders to take bug spray and a portable speaker to suggestions for food and beverages. The best advice from Real Simple? “Picnic fare is all about food that will taste great whether you eat it now or two hours from now. It should be easy to eat and clean up. And the less utensils needed, the better.” Amen to that! And, the Idea Specialists™ are in agreement that every picnic basket should contain something sweet and something savory. Small portions are better than large—easier to manage on a plate, or, even better on a skewer, like these fun—and patriotic!—peanut butter and jelly skewers from Weelicious. You could do this with just about any kind of sandwich. Heck, you could even do a skewer alternating bites of your favorite brownies and chocolate chip cookies with fruit. (Which of course you should pick up at The Market at Pepper Place.) Now, everybody thinks they’ve got the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the world. We’re not going to argue, because so do we! But we are going to suggest that everyone give Ovenly’s Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies a try. Oh my heavens at the melty goodness! Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Goodness And speaking of recipes and goodness, everybody also has their favorite macaroni and cheese, right? Just like grandma used to make—unless your grandma preferred that box of instant with the powdered orange stuff in it. Not that we’re judging. We listen, and we don’t judge. We’re talking about macaroni and cheese now not because it’s a great picnic food (cold macaroni salad works better for that), but because Monday, July 14, 2025, is…..drum roll, please…..National Mac and Cheese Day! Yep, America’s classic comfort food has its own day. Nobody’s sure quite how or why, but you can read about the history of the dish and its connection to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. And then you can take advantage of your upscale Retreat at Mountain Brook kitchen to make Southern Living’s Best-Ever Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Cheers! You can’t have a picnic, whether at the Fourth of July celebration or on the sun deck by one of our luxury apartment home community’s gorgeous three salt water pools, without something to quench your thirst. If you want more than just a plain Coke and a smile, try the popular Kalimotxo cocktail—a mix of Coca-Cola and red wine. Men’s Journal says the drink got its start in the Basque region of Spain, and now there are multiple variations on the theme. Remember, whatever you drink, don’t bring glass to the pool! And while there’s nothing wrong with a classic red SOLO 18-ounce party cup, why not treat yourself to some fun tumblers like these 24-ounce reusable thick plastic sunflower cups from Amazon? They come complete with straw and lid, perfect for sipping without spilling! Be safe, have fun! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
It’s All About Dad in June at The Retreat at Mountain Brook
No matter what you call your father—baba or tata, papa or pita, daddy or dad—it’s all about him come Father’s Day! So the Retreat at Mountain Brook team in Birmingham, Alabama, asked * the Idea Specialists™ * for some ways to show the father figures in our lives a little extra love on Sunday, June 15, this year. First on the list? An ice cream outing! Fun For The Entire Family Going out for frozen treats is a way the entire gang can celebrate the occasion. And where better than the Mountain Brook Creamery on Cahaba Road? The Idea Specialists™ love that they offer “all your favorite flavors of happy!”—in such scrumptious waffle cones. Oh my goodness at the options! Take your furry friend with you on your ice cream expedition! We insist—because The Retreat at Mountain Brook is a an extremely pet-friendly upscale apartment home community, and we think pups are part of the family, too! Guilt-Free Golf For some dads, the best gift would be time spent with them watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship, the final round of which is traditionally played on the third Sunday in June (always falling on Father’s Day). Pile up on the couch in your comfy Retreat at Mountain Brook living room and turn the TV to NBC or the Golf Channel to see if PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler walks away with another one. In keeping with the golf theme, the Idea Specialists™ can vouch that Golfballs.com does a great job on customized balls, tees, and towels, with excellent customer service and a fast turnaround time. Listen Up Google for Father’s Day gift ideas and one of your first results will be the Oprah Daily list of “50 Best Gifts for Dads Who Say They Don’t Want Anything.” One of everybody’s top picks is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which provide high-quality sound—and mean that the wearer can take calls and play music while staying aware of his surroundings. Safety and convenience! Unlimited Auto Love The Idea Specialists™ are also big fans of practical gifts. That’s why they’re going to take advantage of the Unlimited+Perks Wash Membership offered by Dirty Dog’s Car Wash on Resource Center Parkway—as a treat for both themselves and their dads. Cheers To Dad! Whether your pops prefers bourbon or beer, there’s something on the menu at Little Betty Steak Bar that will quench his thirst (and some tasty treats on the food menu, of course!). Did You Know? According to History.com, the nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. But it wasn’t until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. That’s when then-President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making it so. Economists estimate that Americans now spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts. * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Moms & Memories, Pets & Pampering—It’s the Merry Month of May at the Retreat at Mountain Brook!
It’s the merry, merry month of May at the upscale Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home community in Birmingham, Alabama, which means Mother’s Day, National Pet Month, and more! And by more, of course we mean Star Wars Day Sunday, May 4, 2025: “May the Fourth be with you.” (If you haven’t seen the LEGO Star Wars sets, then maybe this is the year!) Quickly followed by Cinco de Mayo, which isn’t really that big a deal in Mexico. But, hey, who are we to argue about going out for some tacos and tequila this Monday, May 5? A Corsage For Your Mama The Retreat at Mountain Brook team asked *the Idea Specialists™* to fill us in on the background of Mother’s Day, which is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May (May 11 of this year). They turned to the venerable Smithsonian for the goods: “The credit belongs to Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official Mother’s Day services on the morning of May 10, 1908, in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, and later in the afternoon in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia.” U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gave the holiday federal recognition in 1914. It’s also because of Anna Jarvis that one of the gifts we give our mamas this month is flowers. She specifically selected her own late mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation, as the holiday’s official emblem. At many churches, particularly in the South, it became a tradition to give each female in the congregation a corsage on Mother’s Day, and not just of carnations. What mattered was the color—red or pink if your mother was still alive, and white if what remained were memories of her. Let’s Support Our Local Merchants! The Retreat at Mountain Brook loves being a part of the community, and always wants to support our local Magic City merchants when we can. That’s why we loved the idea of finding that perfect arrangement for mom this year at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market on 3rd Avenue South—a Birmingham institution that has some breathtaking designs. They deliver, of course. Or, if you’re in the market for something that will last a little longer, Heezie’s on Church Street has everything from mahjong mats to furniture. (The Idea Specialists™ plan to indulge in a little “Dirty Blonde” laundry detergent for their finer fabrics.) Mummy Yummies! And whose mom wouldn’t want to go out to eat on her special day? You can never, ever go wrong with treating her to the classic Bright Star experience. The iconic Bessemer restaurant—“where turnip greens meet Greek-style beef tenderloin”—has been in business since 1907, and with good reason! Have the fried snapper throats, so good! Of course Birmingham is a foodie destination, so you’ve got your pick of delicious choices! We’re A Pet-Friendly Luxury Apartment Home Community Because we’re such a pet-friendly luxury apartment home community, of course we love celebrating National Pet Month! It was founded by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1981 to recognize the bonds we develop with our beloved pets and promote responsible pet care through education and awareness. And, it’s anchored by National Pet Week the first full week of May. There are an estimated 1 billion pets worldwide, and we want to pet all of them! (Well, OK, maybe not the iguanas so much.) But we do love our fur-babies, so much so that we don’t have a weight restriction, and we do have pet stations throughout the property. The Month’s End Brings Memorial Day Memorial Day honors those who died or suffered injuries in battle, as compared to Veterans Day on November 11, which honors all who served in the military, whether they served in peace or wartime. This year, Monday, May 26, 2025, is the date of this U.S. Federal holiday; government offices will be closed. *The Idea Specialists™* The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
April Appreciations—Easter, National Library Week, The Masters & RPM Careers Week!
It seems like everyone’s calendars get crazier than usual when spring rolls around, and this April at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, is no exception! Easter, the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, National Library Week, and more—there’s something for almost everybody to celebrate and appreciate! Let’s Hop Right Into Easter An “eggcellent” way to celebrate will be to take your little bunnies to one of many area Easter events. Saturday, April 19 at 10 a.m., the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will host its annual community Easter Egg Roll on the grassy field across from the O’Neal Library! Come with your kiddies ready to collect eggs in their own basket and have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny. The Homewood Easter Egg Hunt for toddlers and kids up to 10 is on the calendar for Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at Patriot Park. These activities are taking place before the actual holiday because it’s late this year—Sunday, April 20, 2025 (Passover begins Saturday, April 12). Which gives you plenty of time to lay in supplies and have the fun of making your own charcuterie Easter basket! If you’re not feeling particularly creative, * The Idea Specialists™ * recommend a quick google search for the kind of goodies you want to share with family and friends. They found lots great boxes and baskets at Harry & David, as well as full holiday dinners! Locally, Board in Birmingham is an excellent option, not the least of why is because they also offer BARKuterie and CharCATerie boxes! And you know how pet-friendly we are at The Retreat at Mountain Brook. We love our furry friends so much! Our Local Library And speaking of the O’Neal Library….when you’re making plans to commemorate National Library Week April 6-12, put checking it out first on your list! This year’s theme for National Library Week is “Drawn to the Library,” and that’s because libraries have something that draws everyone in: books, magazines, computer stations, story time for kids, DVDS, online resources, and more. What’s really great about living where we do is that 40 libraries participate in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC), so if you see something you’re drawn to at, say, the Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, you can check it out from there and pick it up at O’Neal! Super-convenient! Teed Up Next—The Masters It just wouldn’t be spring in the South without the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, now would it? If you’re lucky enough to have the chance to attend—even if only for a practice round—take it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of us, though, will get to enjoy the lovely azaleas and admire the prowess of professional athletes like betting favorites Rory McIllroy and Scottie Scheffler from the comfort of our Retreat at Mountain Brook living rooms. Here’s the guide for watching at home. We asked The Idea Specialists™ for some suggestions on how to throw a Masters party, and of course they came through! Egg salad sandwiches, pimento sandwiches, and Mini MoonPies are musts!! Don’t have time to make your own sammies in your custom-appointed kitchen? Not to worry—you can feast on tradition with the Taste of the Masters hosting kit! The world-famous classic concessions items, including pork bar-b-que, are delivered to your door, enabling you to recreate the patron experience. Another way to do that is to make an Azalea Cocktail, the beloved drink of golfers and fans alike. (Pro Tip: This pretty pink concoction goes well with most Easter menus, too!) RPM Careers Week Our final focus for this month’s blog is Residential Property Management (RPM) Careers Week April 14-18, 2025, because where we would be without the people who make it so easy to call our beautiful luxury apartment community home? Support services teams, maintenance/service professionals, suppliers, and leadership—everyone works together, and we’re especially fortunate because they all have a good time at the same time! Residential property management offers career opportunities for passionate, creative, and driven people from all walks of life, professional levels, and skillsets. Check out the National Apartment Association site for more info. Stop in any time to help us celebrate! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
March Madness & ALDI Fun Finds — Both Slam Dunks for The Retreat at Mountain Brook!
Just like everybody’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s got a bracket when March Madness rolls around. That’s why The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, asked *the Idea Specialists™* for some slam-dunk suggestions on how to celebrate both this month. Fellowship, Food & Fun Finds! From shamrocks to the Sweet Sixteen, and whether it’s green beer and corned beef or “Courtside Punch” and chicken wings, the things all good March parties have in common are fellowship and food. The Idea Specialists™ plan to take their shopping lists to the ALDI on Crestwood Boulevard to stock up on staples and sweets. They have learned about so many good frozen foods and specialty items and gotten so many great recipe ideas from being members of the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community on Facebook! And of course there’s nothing “shameful” about it! The name really refers to the area in the center of the store that is packed with what the grocer refers to as “ALDI Finds,” a rotating stock of limited-edition, often seasonally themed items. It’s also a prime spot to score dupes of popular name-brand products, at a fraction of the price. Who wouldn’t cheer for that? Gameday Gatherings When it comes to watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, plan to have a few folks over to enjoy the roundball action in the comfort of your luxury apartment home, or take advantage of the wonderful spaces in The Retreat at Mountain Brook clubhouses to cheer on your faves with your neighbors and friends. Decorate your drinks and spear your appetizers (served in hoop-designed snack cups!) with these fun basketball-themed cocktail picks the Idea Specialists™ found. It always adds an extra level of excitement when you’re competing against friends, so get yourself a bracket going! There doesn’t have to be any money on the line—it can be all about the bragging rights! You can also play around with non-sports brackets to get the non-fans involved—movies, music, and more, the list goes on and on. Check out this post for more ideas. The Wearing Of The Green While once thought of as primarily a day of Catholic religious observance to honor Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in modern times St. Patrick’s Day is more about the wearing of green clothing and celebrating all things Irish! Faith and begorrah! This year the famous Five Points South St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organized by the Five Points Alliance and the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society, is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, beginning at 1:30 p.m. As in years past, it will start on 10th Avenue South along Brother Bryan Park, then turn left and travel up 20th Street South, ending at 2:30 p.m. The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ for sure will be there, looking for gold at the pot of the end o’ the rainbow! And they’ll have their puppies in tow, because the parade is pet-friendly, just like our upscale apartment community! Woof! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Sweets for Your Sweetie this Valentine’s Day
From initial spark to hot flame, brightly burning fire to softly glowing embers, true love and romance is worth celebrating at all of its stages. That’s why The Retreat at Mountain Brook luxury apartment home community in Birmingham, Alabama, asked the *Idea Specialists™* for suggestions on making this Valentine’s Day a memorable one. Vive Le Romance! The first thing they said is that Chez Fonfon in the heart of Five Points South is always a good choice for marking a special occasion. With its upscale casual, bustling bistro style and offerings of classic French fare such as steak frites, sautéed trout with brown butter, and escargots—along with wines from the Loire, Rhône, and Languedoc—it’s as if you’ve been virtually transported to Paris, Lyon, or Nice. Oo-la-la! Fall In Love Under The Stars Next up: Couples are invited to fall in love under the stars atop Red Mountain while enjoying Birmingham’s most iconic view Friday, February 14, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This promises to be a romantic evening like no other with delicious heavy hors d’ouevres, complimentary champagne served in a keepsake Vulcan glass, live acoustic music, and photo opportunities around beautifully lit Vulcan Park & Museum and the observation statue. (Adults only; tickets must be purchased online by 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 12.) It’s OK To Monkey Around This Valentine’s Day! Another way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Magic City is with a Frothy Monkey Frothy Love Dinner. At both the Birmingham and Homewood locations they’re gonna down the lights, change the tunes, and create the perfect ambiance to serve an exclusive three-course menu for two. While everything looks good, the Idea Specialists™ are mainly focused on dessert—a double chocolate flourless cake with tart cherry sauce! You can find out more here, and make your reservation for Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night (February 13-15). Other Ideas For other ideas about how to celebrate in the ‘ham, check out AllEvents. And The Knot has a fun list—95 Romantic, Unique and Spicy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Every Couple. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This And speaking of chocolate….. Oh, my, but did the Idea Specialists™ come through for The Retreat at Mountain Brook with suggestions on this front! They hit the jackpot when they found this Food Network post on best buys for Valentine’s Day. Favorites? First up is the Salts of the World Chocolate Collection; each of these chocolates celebrates a different country and features salt, ingredients, and a wildflower all native to that country. So cool! Then there’s the Belgian Chocolate Covered Mini Doughnut Bouquet. Flowers are nice, but could anything really beat a beautifully packaged bouquet of chocolate-covered mini doughnuts? Then, for the vegan Valentines out there, the Idea Specialists™ recommend that you go with the Berry Bouquet Vegan Chocolate Box from Compartés. It is packed with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries and cherries, all dipped in absurdly good vegan dark chocolate. Kids & Puppies The Idea Specialists™ also gave The Retreat at Mountain Brook team a cute suggestion on how to celebrate the little lovies in your life—a cute mini-waffle maker! You can make kid-sized waffles in a heart shape perfect for Valentine’s Day morning—or as a dessert treat with ice cream and hot fudge! (Pro Tip: Add a little pink or red food coloring to the batter for that extra flair.) And because they know that The Retreat at Mountain Brook is a very pet-friendly apartment community, complete with a dog park, the Idea Specialists™ made it a point to share some info on animal safety. Each year the experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate or lilies. Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans—as long as dangerous items are kept out of paws’ reach! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
