Out & About in Alabama - Jul/Aug/Sep 2023

By Jessica Fender

In a matter of moments, Alabama native Janel Hawkins (pictured) fixes a hulking hammerhead’s pointy grin—but those chompers pose no danger. The shark, so large that it dwarfs Hawkins’ small frame, has been created entirely from sand, water, and her own imagination. 

This summer, beachgoers can learn some of the professional sand sculptor’s creative tricks through her Gulf Shores–based Sand Castle University. Participants in the private group classes choose among a rotating menu of subjects, from classic castles to mermaid tails to, yes, hammerhead sharks. Sessions run either 1 or 2 hours and take place beachside in Fort Morgan and Orange Beach. 

While student creations won’t be as massive as Hawkins’ hammerhead, François, instructors teach foundational skills that budding artists can build on all summer long—including lesson 1: location, location, location.

“The biggest mistake people make is where they build their sand sculpture. They naturally want to build where the sand is wet,” Hawkins confides. But dry, fluffy sand absorbs water much better. “The best sculpting sand is mid-beach, just north of the tide line.” Classes are $200 for a group of up to 5.

By Nicole Letts

Meet Ravello Ristorante, an upscale Italian eatery in the heart of Montgomery. Here, authentic Italian dishes are married with local Southern ingredients to create an unforgettable culinary experience. Vintage details such as tall ceilings and Greek key woodwork create a luxe dining environment. Montgomery native Jud Blount co-owns the restaurant with chef Eric Rivera. Dishes include the likes of Calabrian chile–grilled jumbo shrimp, cacio e pepe (pictured), ricotta gnocchi, and veal Milanese.

Blount also oversees MGM Greens, a fully climate-controlled hydroponic farm that grows leafy greens and herbs for the surrounding community. These greens and herbs often make their way into Rivera’s dishes as well as the plates at Blount’s 2 other eateries, Vintage Year in Montgomery and Vintage Café in Old Cloverdale.

Perhaps Ravello’s most unique characteristic is its exchange program in Pietrasanta, Italy—Montgomery’s sister city since 2009 due to their century-long connection as hubs of marble production. Over a few decades, delegations from both cities have made reciprocal visits. In 2019, Blount and Rivera hosted Tuscan chefs and diplomats, and they plan to continue the special friendship through Ravello. Only time will tell what the next group will find to share with Montgomery.

By Jessica Fender

Authentic sips, wild brews, buzzy brekkies, and a lounge with atmosphere for days: Those seeking something new and totally original in Birmingham needn’t look further than these 4 hot spots.

A vintage telephone plays televangelists’ voices on a loop. A patron dressed as Cookie Monster hands out treats. Guests might sit in a private galaxy, dress as Elvis, or grab a seat beneath their own weather system. Welcome to The House of Found Objects.

Bar mastermind Feizal Valli, of late-great Atomic Lounge fame, crams world after world into his new downtown venture. Some Atomic fan faves—bubbles, temporary tattoos, costumes—remain, but Valli’s dialed the experience way up. “I wanted it to be a bit more of an art installation, more immersive,” he says. Oh, and the bar serves high-end cocktails, too.

New cocktail bar Adiõs brings upscale sips to downtown. José Medina Camacho, the former beverage director at the lauded Automatic Seafood and Oysters, and partner Jesús Méndez, of Unos Tacos, distill their Mexican heritage into a menu that stretches far beyond tequila.

Sample raicilla (pictured), a lesser-known agave spirit; sip on a Miel de Maguey, a cocktail garnished with pickled nopal (cactus pad); or opt for a non-boozy spritz crafted with tepache, made in-house from lightly fermented pineapple.

Coffee connoisseurs have likely sampled roaster Jimmy Truong’s work at some of Birmingham’s favorite cafés and bookshops over the years. But his new downtown storefront, June, has some surprises to sip.

“We try to make things people won’t find anywhere else,” says Truong, who’s been dabbling in mocktail-style drinks and house-made syrups, too. “People go bonkers for our pistachio-rose syrup,” he says. “And there’s a black sesame–date syrup that’s amazing, if people are brave enough to branch out.”

The most portable grub of Tex-Mex cuisine—the Austin-style breakfast taco—has officially landed in the upscale Mountain Brook suburb. Ladybird Taco wraps house-made tortillas around genre classics like eggs and bacon or migas (a dish made with scrambled eggs, crispy tortilla strips, and veggies). House-smoked brisket and savory carnitas take center stage for lunch. But don’t fret, late risers: Both menus are available all day.

Be sure to designate a driver if you plan to drink alcohol.

For more places to go and things to see in Alabama, check out our editor-curated list of the best fairs, festivals, events, and more.