Feeling All Holiday Festive at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
The holiday season is in full force, and that has the Idea Specialists™ at luxury apartment community The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, ready for festivities! Gift-Giving Fun Part of being party-ready means having a variety of gifts on hand, both for gracious hosts and games of Dirty Santa. You can pop down to Alabama Goods on 18th Street South in Homewood and check out all their distinctive offerings for something that reflects Alabama’s warm spirit and creative character, from a set of Bee Creek Farm creamed honeys to Alabama cotton tea towels. Want something utterly silly for a down-and-dirty $10 and under gift exchange? How about this tin of bacon-themed bandages from the Accoutrements Store on Amazon? Yummy Goodness When you get home from the party and want to snuggle up by the fire and sample some seasonal goodies, what better way to indulge than with Hot Chocolate Eggnog? The Idea Specialists™ found an easy recipe for it on Food.com. And they found a nice bottle of Hennessy VS on the bar cart, perfect for that little extra kick. Don’t have a favorite non-alcoholic eggnog and aren’t up to making it from scratch this year? You can always rely on Southern Comfort, a New Orleans original. The company puts out two special seasonal products each year: Southern Comfort Egg Nog and Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog. Splash a little in your morning coffee for some extra yum! Ready To Ring In 2023? If you’re looking for a way to ring in the new year, The Magic City once again does not disappoint when it comes to outings and events. You can attend “A Viennese Celebration” and take part in the annual Alys Stephens Center tradition of toasting the end of the year with a nod to the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day performances and a glass of bubbly. Maestro Carlos Izcaray will take the podium to lead the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in a selection of Strauss family favorites and more at UAB’s Jemison Concert Hall Saturday, December 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; tickets start at $39. Or go ahead and make reservations now to enjoy the special New Year’s Eve menu offered by Bistro Two Eighteen. The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ already know they’re going to start with Charred Grilled Baby Artichoke and end with Chocolate Pomegranate Entremet—it’s all the courses in between they’re still thinking about! Cheers!
Bowled Over at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
If you haven’t ever checked out the options for upscale living at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, prepared to be bowled over at the amenities on offer! With sunrooms and balconies with storage closets and an incredibly pet-friendly park on the property, The Retreat at Mountain Brook affords its community members beautifully landscaped homes and luxurious spaces for leisure. And along with that, the Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook are always on hand to provide quality of life suggestions and ideas! In keeping with the bowled over theme, they’ve decided the focus of this month’s blog should be —you guessed it—bowls!! Form & Function From our first cereal bowls to our grandma’s mixing bowls, bowls are part of our memories. They can be pretty, they are certainly functional, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns. Apartment Therapy, always informative, has a great piece on how to use bowls in all manner of ways. The Idea Specialists™ have long been fans of using wooden bowls to hold keys and spare change by the front door, and ceramic ones for lipsticks and the like in the bathroom. They also love the convenience of having a kitchen counter garden with herbs and greens in a large metal bowl—healthy and pretty! And speaking of healthy, they’re all about some all-in-one bowl meals like the ones the Food Network has featured in “24 Wholesome Bowls to Power Your Day.” Chicken quinoa bowl? Yes, please! Bacon and broccoli rice bowl with fried egg? We know what our new go-to breakfast is going to be! Fun & Funky Looking for some fun and funky options? Check out Uncommon Goods for everything from bowls made of record albums to sculptural bowls that could be featured in an art museum. Or, plan an outing with friends to Sips n Strokes Birmingham on Sixth Avenue South to make a bowl of your own—or to Vestavia Bowl or Bowlero Riverview for another kind of bowl entirely. Strike! Tailgate Yummies It’s football season, so of course the Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook have some ideas about tasty treats to share in bowls on game day, whether you’re tailgating onsite or on sofa! This month, they’re linking to What the Fork for some recipes for gluten-free goodies like jalapeno poppers and loaded “totchos.” Yummy! Here are some convenient links to key college football schedules: Alabama Crimson Tide Auburn Tigers Birmingham-Southern Panthers Miles College Golden Bears UAB Blazers Holiday Planning While it might still feel like summer outside a lot of the time, the fall and winter holidays will be here before we know it. The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ have scoped out a couple of possibilities for you to go ahead and put on your calendar, starting with this year’s Christmas Village Festival at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Wednesday, November 2, through Sunday, November 6, 2022. Another community holiday tradition is the Sam Lapidus Montclair Run. It’s the 46th year for this annual Thanksgiving Day race, with the starting gun set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, November 24, 2022. A portion of every runner’s registration fee is donated to the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. Lagniappe It only seems fitting for The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ to share the news about the latest addition to the Birmingham food and dining scene with a little flair of French…..because Bar La Fête on Morris Avenue embraces its owner Kristen Hall’s love all things France, especially Paris! A “first look” at it by The Local Palate describes the Southern wine bar as an evening haunt, complete with 11 on-menu shareable plates and a 130-bottle wine list. It joins The Essential all-day cafe and Bandit Pâtisserie, also owned by Kristen Hall and Victor King, who’s a partner in this latest venture, as well. À votre santé!
Our One-Bedroom Apartment Home – The Kent at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
If it’s large luxury living you’re looking for, look no further than The Retreat at Mountain Brook and “The Kent,” a supersized one-bedroom apartment home near all things Birmingham and available for a very limited time! The Kent is a one-bedroom apartment home starting at $1435 for 1284 sq ft. That’s right – do the math–it’s just $1.12 sq ft! And if that’s not enough, now, for a limited time, you can take $200 off the move-in price on select units. About The Kent: Large Bedroom carpeted, with TWO walk-in closets The primary closet is 5 x 9 x 11, and the second closet is large enough for a desk and chair or more storage En-suite bathroom with linen closet and vanity sink Sunroom heated and cooled with an entire bank of windows and a storage closet Living room with an electric fireplace and plank wood floors Kitchen – fully equipped with stainless appliances and breakfast bar Separate dining room with nickel-plated light fixtures 1/2 guest bath off hallway Full-sized washer and dryer Call us today at (205) 956-9722 for a personal tour of our community and The Kent Apartment Home at The Retreat at Mountain Brook.
Back to School Means Shifting into High Gear — The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ in Birmingham, Alabama, Have Tips on How to Manage
Even if you don’t have kids at home, back-to-school season seems to kick everyone’s schedule into high gear. That’s why the Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, have put together this timely online care package for residents of their upmarket apartment community, complete with tips for getting organized and making the most of your commute. Get Organized Some days it can be hard enough keeping up with yourself, right? That’s why online calendars and organizer apps are so wildly popular, especially the easy-to-use Google Calendar. Whether it’s just you and your partner trying to avoid scheduling conflicts—or you’re figuring out how to get your eldest to soccer practice at the same time the middle child has an orthodontist appointment and the toddler has ballet—having all the info easily accessible from your phone is a modern day-must! Others to check out? Greenlight, a relatively new debit card app for kids, and “electronic corkboard” Trello, a long-time professional project management that can be used for collaborative meal planning and so much more. Plan On It While The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ are all about the mod cons, they are also all about a good solid hard copy planner; sometimes it’s just quicker and easier to jot down notes and times and dates by hand. FindThisBest did the work for us and provides the details on a range of academic year planners ranging in price from $4 to $27. Routine Maintenance Make your mornings go more smoothly by establishing—and sticking to—a set routine. Deciding on the next day’s clothes, setting the coffee to come on automatically, and having easy breakfast options ready to go are a few things you can do to get a jump on the day ahead. Mommy Nearest has more suggestions for those with little ones to manage. Our favorite? “Wake yourself up early.” Make The Most Of Your Commute Living at The Retreat at Mountain Brook just off Montevallo Road means you’re conveniently located to so many things. Ferrying schoolchildren to-and-fro? Public and private are both in easy proximity: Grantswood (K-2), Irondale Community (3-5), Irondale Middle School (6-9), Shades Valley High School (10-12), the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (located at Shades Valley High School), Highlands Day School, The Altamont School, and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. And it’s a quick trip from home to UAB and the city medical and business districts, which makes commuting to work easy most of the time. For those other times? There’s always the radio (commercial, public, subscription), and audio books—Audible offers many of its Top 100 best sellers free with a 30-day trial. You can also spend some quality time with the rave-reviewed Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Dan Harris, who describes himself as “a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier.” Recent shows have covered topics like being present, how a Buddhist monk deals with anxiety, five ways to be less distracted, and what sadness can be good for. Meal Management Made Easy Getting food on the table every night can pose a challenge even when schedules aren’t hectic, no matter how well-appointed your Retreat at Mountain Brook gourmet kitchen. Here are some ideas from the Idea Specialists™ about making mealtime a little easier to manage. Take advantage of Birmingham’s incredible local restaurant scene without ever leaving home by subscribing to GrubHub+ and having dinner delivered at your convenience. com does a good job of breaking down the benefits of paying the monthly fee, and makes this important note: “With a GrubHub+ membership, GrubHub matches donations to No Kid Hungry through Donate the Change to feed food-insecure children around the country.” Go to one of the convenient area Publix locations and pick up some of their tasty Publix Aprons® premades: Meal Kits, Ready to Cook Meals for One, and Ready to Cook Entrées. Try a meal delivery service that offers pre-made and DIY meal kits. There are many options to consider; one that’s very popular is Home Chef. You can read a review of it Sidewalk Film Festival & More Upcoming Events Looking for something fun to do sometime soon? As usual, the Magic City does not disappoint when it comes to offering up a little something for everyone. Of course the biggie this month is the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival, which will run from Monday, August 22, through Sunday, August 28, 2022, with lots of associated festivities to take part in—Opening Night pre- and after-parties on Friday and Saturday Night Roller Disco look especially fun! Because The Retreat at Mountain Brook is such a pet-friendly community, we’re also excited about another event happening earlier in the month: Picasso Pets, a fundraiser to benefit Hand in Paw, which provides animal-assisted therapy for those who need it most. This highly anticipated gala will celebrate its 21st year Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Harbert Center. Plan to enjoy a fabulous cocktail reception featuring a silent auction, diamond drop, wine pull, craft beer, specialty cocktails, and the official debut of this year’s Picasso Pets paintings. Woof! And, plan on making the scene when Luke Bryan hits the stage at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, a major stop on his Raised Up Right Tour. Set for Thursday, August 18, 2022, the show will start at 7 p.m. with Mitchell Tenpenny. For more ideas, check out this roundup of August events by StyleBlueprint.
Retreat at Mountain Brook Residents Can Play Tourist at Home with 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama
From July 7-17, Birmingham, Alabama, will play host to the 2022 World Games, and residents of the upscale Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home community will be able to take easy advantage of all the energy and events the international extravaganza is bringing to the Magic City. The World Games The Games, which will showcase 3,600 of the world’s best athletes in 30-plus unique, multi-disciplinary sports, from Boules to DanceSport with all manner of ball sports, martial arts, and more in between, are also an historic event—the competition hasn’t been in the United States since it was first held in Santa Clara, California, in 1981. Tourist In Your Own Back Yard When you’re not watching competition at an elite level, you can play tourist in your own back yard—check out the Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau suggested itineraries for World Games visitors, and make plans to finally visit gems like the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Can’t make the trip but still want to be a part of things? Merch is of course available to all at Shop World Games. Music & Movies More in the mood for some air-conditioned entertainment? Well, Birmingham doesn’t disappoint—Iron City has an eclectic mix of live music lined up for the summer, and you just can’t get enough popcorn for the Alabama Theatre Summer Movie Series every Friday and Saturday in July. Keep The Party Going If you’re not quite ready to go home after your outings, then drop by Key Circle Commons in English Village. With its lush ambiance and a variety of intimate interiors, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar—which was opened earlier this year by acclaimed Birmingham eatery Brick & Tin founder Chef Mauricio Papapietro—offers patrons full service from the food and drinks menus whether they’re sitting at the bar or a bistro table. The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ are particular fans of the appropriately-named Village Green, which features vodka, lemon, and a house-made basil syrup. Summer Goodness It just wouldn’t be summer in Birmingham if you didn’t make the scene at Pepper Place. Grab a cold-brew coffee, select the perfect floral bouquet, and pick and choose from all of the fresh and healthy produce and other goods local vendors have on offer. Then, bring it all on home to your well-appointed Retreat at Mountain Brook kitchen and whip up something wonderful. The Idea Specialists™ can’t get enough of corn succotash. (Just in case you were looking for an idea.) Say Salud To Mezcal Cocktails Looking for something new to go along with your home-cooked yumminess? Mix up one of this summer’s hottest cool cocktails—the El Chapo, made with mezcal, tequila blanco, ginger liqueur, guava puree, and agave syrup—and enjoy it by one of apartment community’s three sparkling resort-style saltwater pools, or in the air-conditioned comfort of your home. Salud!
WE’RE IN A SUMMERTIME FRAME OF MIND— THE IDEA SPECIALISTS™ AT THE RETREAT AT MOUNTAIN BROOK IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, DISH ON IDEAS & FINDS
The Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, are in a summertime frame of mind—and here to dish on some of their coolest ideas and finds for the hottest time of year! Poolside Must-Haves One of the greatest things about living at The Retreat at Mountain Brook is being able to lounge in luxury on the sundeck by one of the upscale apartment community’s three sparkling resort-style pools. To do so in comfort, you absolutely have to have the right accessories, first and foremost bathing suits and swim trunks. Forbes breaks it down for the ladies; Men’s Health lists some great options for the gentlemen. Idea Specialist™ favorites are the Hurley Men’s Standard Supersuede One and Only Board Shorts for the fellows, and the Lululemon Waterside Chevron One-Piece for women. For The Host & Hostess With The Most & Most-est Even though summer doesn’t technically begin until the Summer Solstice—always on June 21st—most of us here in the Deep South have been attending warm-weather gatherings since late April. Whether you’re visiting friends for a weekend at their beach place, or planning on going to a co-worker’s Fourth of July cookout, you know you don’t want to show up empty-handed. So the Idea Specialists™ did a little research and came up with some fun and functional gifts for your hosts. First, flowers—hard to go wrong with those, right? The Spruce features a festive burlap-wrapped bouquet from Farmgirl Flowers in its post on some of the best gifts to give in 2022, and who wouldn’t enjoy seeing such bright and happy loveliness on their breakfast nook table? Or maybe you want to go the whimsical route, give your college bestie the funny cat hand towels she never realized she wanted, until now…. On the other hand, maybe your college frat brother, as cool as he is with cats, would prefer something a little bit more understated, like this set of monogrammed leather coasters from Food52. Don’t know what might be appropriate? Well, it’s hard to go wrong with an extremely practical and environmentally friendly bundle of sponge cloths in neutral grays and whites–they replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels! Ready To Hit The Road? While the Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook are all about cuddling on the couch and finishing up the final season of Better Call Saul (what are we gonna do without some Mike in our lives?), summer is also the right time for hitting the road, and they’ve scoped out some great day trips. Super-close to home you can take a kayak out for some peaceful time on the Cahaba River. If you want to venture a little farther out into the wilderness, make plans to cool off on a hot summer day at Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville, Alabama. You can explore the stunning underground caves with their unique features, like Goliath, which at 45 feet tall and 243 feet wide is one of the world’s largest stalagmites. The park also offers five miles of hiking trails and, for those who are feeling lucky, gem mining! It’s important to know before you go that cave tour tickets are only available on the same day; call 256-728-8193 to find out about tour availability and make reservations. Also a little farther away is the state’s capital city, Montgomery, Alabama, an international tourism destination for many reasons, not the least of which is the breathtaking National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a somber, 6-acre site with sculpture, art, and an 11,000-square-foot museum with first-person accounts, videography, and other exhibits detailing the experiences of Black Americans. For more road trip ideas, check out what TripSavvy has to say. And visit Bham Now to get an idea of all the fun going on here in the Magic City this month. A Little More Pool-Side Action It just wouldn’t be summer if we didn’t sit by the pool and read a good book. So, get a comfy poolside cushion—perfect for keeping your legs safe from that hot Alabama concrete and your swimsuit from those unfortunate snags—and get going on one of most-talked-about reads of 2022, Night of the Living Rez, a set of 12 modern and incendiary stories set in a Native community in Maine. Cold Libations Then, when you’re ready to put the book down, enjoy a summer cocktail like a Hendrick’s Gin Julep out of your fun new Chill Lemon Takeaway Cooler. Be safe, enjoy!
AT THE RETREAT AT MOUNTAIN BROOK IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MAY MEANS PET MONTH, MOTHER’S DAY & FESTIVAL FUN!
May means fun with moms, pets, and festivals! The residents of the Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, will be doing a little upscale online shopping, marking National Pet Month, and making the local scene. Mother’s Day The most important feminine presence in your life deserves an equally important present this year, and Fieldshop by Garden & Gun has curated some classics for you to peruse. From the 1,000-piece Early Bird Puzzle by Piecework Puzzles to the Deich Crescent Earring by Charleston’s Brackish, there’s something for everyone! While Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8, Fieldshop is an Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook favorite even when it’s not a special occasion—they particularly recommend checking out the Mixers section for fun cocktail ideas. National Pet Month According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 70% of U.S. households own a pet, up from 56% in 1988, the first year the APPA conducted its National Pet Owners survey. And, says the organization, people in the United States spent $123.6 billion on their animal companions in 2021. That’s right – billion with a B! Our love for fuzzy critters means we celebrate our pets every day of the week, especially during National Pet Month, because The Retreat at Mountain Brook is such a pet-friendly community. Maybe you’ll want to mark the occasion by getting together with friends at the clubhouse for a “yappy hour,” or by donating to one of the area’s animal shelters like the Greater Birmingham Humane Society off I-65 South on Snow Drive. They’re always in need of towels and toys, chlorine bleach, wire crates and carriers, and leashes and collars in all sizes. Every little bit helps! Festival Fun One of the Magic City’s most iconic—and most-definitely pet-friendly—festivals is on tap for this month: Do Dah Day! Join your friends, four-legged and otherwise, Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Cahaba Brewing Company on Fifth Avenue South for a great day of fun with live music, dance performances, adorable animals, and more! Proceeds from the event support local animal charities. After the quirky 11:01 a.m. Do Dah Day pet parade concludes the tunes will commence, starting with the Rescue Dog Band at noon, DJRJ at 2 p.m., and the Murph Band at 4 p.m. Then, get ready for more fuzzy-friendly festivities at Puppy Palooza Saturday, May 21, 2022, from noon to 3 p.m. at Cat-n-Bird Winery off Old Highway 280 in Chelsea. The winery folks consider their four-legged friends part of the family, and say they’re excited to partner with Shelby Humane to showcase dogs available for adoption. Plus, they’ll have dog treat vendors Giggle Paws Boutique and Blind Dog Biscuit Co. onsite, a food truck for the humans—Blacktop Bistro, and live music. Enjoy—and be safe!
It’s Spring-Cleaning Time at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
There’s something satisfying about a good spring cleaning, so let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to get your lovely Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home in Birmingham, Alabama, spick and span! Tools of the Trade Get ready to tackle the task by getting your supplies together first. Vacuum, mop, feather duster—check, check, check! Don’t already have a vacuum? The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ are big fans of the Wyze Cordless Vacuum, perfect for pet-friendly apartments like ours because they do a fantastic job on a wide mix of surface types. They’re also huge fans of Method’s naturally derived and planet-friendly cleaning products, all non-toxic, paraben-free and biodegradable. Their latest favorite? Method All-Purpose Wipes in refreshing pink grapefruit—perfect for wiping down kitchen sinks, counters, cabinets, and appliances, and they’re compostable. You can pick some up at the Walgreen’s on Clairmont Avenue. For the bathroom, you’ll want something antibacterial, and Method doesn’t disappoint here, offering up serious options in pleasant mints, as well as a ylang ylang daily shower cleaner. Whistle While You Work Housework always goes a little faster when you’ve got an up-tempo soundtrack to keep you company. Don’t just take our word for it: Research shows that music has positive effects on mental fatigue caused by routine tasks, and there’s a direct connection between improved motor coordination and motivation. Working to the rhythm of music helps your motor skills and increases your self-confidence. So put in your earphones and turn on the tunes! Of course Amazon has a suggested spring cleaning playlist; you also can find more information and other playlists on The Maids website. For Fast Results Maybe you don’t have time for a full-on spring cleaning like the kind the folks at Apartment Therapy and Good Housekeeping recommend, complete with window washing. Not to worry—you can quickly freshen up your comfy Retreat at Mountain Brook home even if you do just one or two things they recommend, starting with de-stinking your garbage can! Then, follow their tips for keeping the smells down, including putting lemon peels between the can and its liner. While you’re in the kitchen, take a few minutes to clean the inside of your microwave—at least once a week, and of course when you’ve had one of those “spaghetti explosions,” LOL. The Idea Specialists™ don’t necessarily think appliance cleaning can be considered fascinating, but they were impressed with the suggestions offered in 8 Fascinating Ways to Clean Your Microwave, especially this one: “The fastest method for cleaning your microwave oven is to place a handful of soaking wet paper towels inside and run it on high power for up to five minutes. The steam from the towels will soften and loosen caked-on grime. Once the towels cool down, you can use them to wipe the interior clean.” Relax & Enjoy Once you’ve completed your cleaning chores, take a moment to treat yourself! From punch to Pimm’s, Southern Kitchen has put together a list of warm-weather cocktails and spring spritzes, all perfect for sipping while relaxing on your private balcony or patio.
THE RETREAT AT MOUNTAIN BROOK IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA—THE MODERN MAGIC CITY—WISHES YOU THE LUCK OF THE IRISH THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Everybody’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, as the old saying goes, so here at the lively Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment community in Birmingham, Alabama, we are already picking out what green to wear Thursday, March 17! If you’re in the mood to go out and have a good time on St. Patrick’s Day this year but can’t quite make it across the pond, the Magic City does not disappoint when it comes to options. The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ have scoped out the scene, and have a few recs for you! Get Out & Have Some Fun First and foremost of those ideas is Birmingham’s 38th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will take place this year on Saturday, March 19, in Five Points South. Organized by the Five Points Alliance and the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society, the parade will be from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you don’t already have plans to attend with family and friends (including your good doggo, you know how pet-friendly this city and The Retreat at Mountain Brook are), then maybe you’ll want to make the scene at The Hive’s Lucky Saturday Party on their roof! Beer Run And of course it wouldn’t be Birmingham without a road race to mark the occasion! If that’s your thing, make plans to take part in the Tour de Brewers XVII St. Patrick’s Day Edition—a roughly 13K’ish informal charity run/ride/brewery crawl supporting The Dannon Project that combines the “fun” of a fun run with the real fun of tasting great Birmingham local brews. (The Dannon Project provides services to promote permanent employment, holistic health, and stable families amongst poor and at-risk communities.) TdB, as it’s known, will take place this year on Saturday, March 12. For A Good Cause Finally, you really can’t go wrong if you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by helping to raise funds for Kid One Transport at the 42nd Annual Birmingham Irish Cultural Society St. Patrick’s Dinner Celebration. It also will take place on Saturday, March 12, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Inverness Country Club. (Founded in 1997, Kid One’s mission is transport children and expectant mothers to necessary health care services.) Comfort Food Prefer to stay in the luxurious and cozy comfort of home? Us, too, sometimes! If that’s what we decide to do this year, we’ll still mark the holiday, just with homemade corned beef sandwiches—there’s a good recipe for them in this Martha Stewart slideshow about St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage recipes. The Man, The Myth, The Legend Just in case you didn’t know, St. Patrick’s Day marks the death of Ireland’s fifth-century patron saint, who, according to folklore, introduced Christianity to the Irish and banished snakes from the island. Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. “Paddy’s Day,” as it’s known there, began as and still is a religious holiday during the Lenten season, but not in the way it once was; beer company campaigns transformed it from a church-going holiday to a pint-raising one in the 1980s. Sláinte!
Be Your Own Valentine — Luxurious Treats for Your Life & Home at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
Valentine’s Day is all about indulging the people we love, and the Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, are here to help the members of our upscale apartment home community with on-trend gift and experience ideas! And, if some of these seem like just the perfect present for yourself? Well, why not be your own Valentine this year? You deserve it! Color & Comfort Add color and comfort to the living room and bedroom by treating yourself to cozy throws and luxurious Valentine-red crushed velvet pillows. The Clara cushion, by designer Joanna Gaines in collaboration with Loloi, is on sale now at Magnolia. As is this Pottery Barn chunky-plush handknit cable pattern throw with a sherpa reverse. Then, bring in a hint of spring while celebrating Cupid with a bromeliad or red anthurium from Bloomscape. Wining & Dining Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, so lots of people are planning an evening out either the weekend before or after February 14th. While some of Birmingham’s most-favorite date-night favorites have yet to reopen from their pandemic-related closings, there are still plenty of excellent establishments where you and your beloved (or your bestie!) can have a wonderful dining experience in celebration of the holiday. 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar in Five Points South is featuring a special Valentine’s Day menu the weekend before the holiday Friday and Saturday nights, and then again Monday, too. Entrée choices, you ask? Pan-seared duck confit rillette, grilled red snapper, and oven-roasted prime rib. Yum! Back Forty Beer Company on First Avenue North is doing its thing on the actual holiday, with a Valentine’s Day Beer Dinner starting at 5 p.m. Chef Russ Bodner and Tosh Brown, Back Forty’s head brewer, say the event will begin with a snack course, then several courses of fabulous food paired with a few bubbles—and, of course, their beers! One romantic favorite of The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ is GianMarco’s, a Homewood neighborhood Italian restaurant owned and operated by father and sons Giovanni, Giani, and Marco Respinto. They’ll be hosting “an evening of food and wine to fall in love with” Sunday, February 20, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m. Intimate Evening Maybe you would prefer to mark the occasion in the comfort of your lovely Retreat at Mountain Brook apartment home. You could get yourself a gorgeous rainbow bouquet from the Sprouts Farmers Market on Highway 280, light a limited edition Diptyque rose-scented candle from Nordstrom, enjoy some champagne, and order in anything from pizza to a five-course meal. Oh, and of course you’ll want some chocolate for dessert, right? Browse the selection of curated bars and shelves full of treats at Honeycreeper Chocolate on First Avenue North for just the right taste delight. Future Fun Experiences often make the best gifts of all, and part of the fun with them is the anticipation leading up to the actual outing. The Idea Specialists™ can’t make up their minds about which musical artists to go see this year, there are so many great live performances coming up, but for sure they’re going to have some fun at the BJCC and Iron City. And, they are treating themselves to tickets to this year’s Magic City Art Connection Corks & Chefs event. And day spa experiences at Spa Cahaba (on Valleydale Road) and The Woodhouse Day Spa (at The Summit). 😎 Clever & Cute While diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, maybe you’re in the market for a little something to give as a gift that’s not jewelry. USA TODAY pulled together a long list of ideas and deals that’s worth checking out. If you don’t have time for that, here are some links to fun finds from the Idea Specialists™: [rl_gallery id=”2733″] A mini retro-inspired Bluetooth speaker This Fujifilm instant camera in flamingo pink Some record album drink coasters A really cool scratch-off map This Baimei jade roller Did You Know? Did you know that the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration? Yep, he did it in his 1375 Parliament of Foules, writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” Often thought to commemorate the marriage of Richard II to Anne of Bohemia in 1382, the poem describes a conference of birds that meet to choose their mates on St. Valentine’s Day. You can read a lot more about the holiday on this History page.
