Pä SHRed

Chef’s Workshop

Photographer using natural talent behind the lens

www.southernpash.com complimentaryJANUARY 2014

Spotlight

Birmingham musician

earns Emmy success

Music

Music

Casey Marie Bly turns natural talent for the lens into a photography business

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Highland Park after the storm

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10Local musician and Emmy winner Casey Jones shares his musical journey

Music

Table of Contents

Spotlight

Birmingham’s altruism shined during the recent snow storm, turning to help those in need

Chef’s Workshop

12Neighborhood Brew in Hoover creating a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of their time up North

Lifestyle

22Good People Brewery’s Ugly Sweater Contest and Ronald McDonald’s 5k

Spotted

Snowpocalypse ‘14

Casey Jones, musician

Good People Ugly Sweater Contest

Featured Chef Ivory LeShore III

301 Beacon Parkway WestSuite 120

Birmingham AL 35209

WH

O W

E A

RE

Sims Blackwood

Muir-Taylor

Taylor

Ebert

Green

Snowpocalypse ‘14

Staff PhotographerKristofer Pruitt

Kaneshia SimsEditor-in-Chief

southernpashmag@gmail.com

Amanda BlackwoodLayout/Creative Editor

editor.redpashmag@gmail.com

Casey Muir-TaylorCopy Editor

editor.redpashmag@gmail.com

Staff Writers

Kirsten EbertCiara Green

Valerie Taylor

Warren Hudson

info.redpashmag@gmail.com

Shaneice SimsMedia Manager

shaneice.redpashmag@gmail.com

Snowpocalypse’14

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Tuesday, Jan. 28, around 10 a.m., Birmingham was at the brink of an event she, nor her occupants were ready to face. A blanket of snow covered our mountains and caused a chain of events that I am sure will be written down in history. Children were released from school, while parents desperately fought traffic to make it home. Sure the snow and all its beauty was pleasing to the eye, but as night fell the hundreds of stranded people no longer felt returning home was a possibility for them.

Birmingham’s altruism shined while ice, snow shuttered the Magic City

Truck driver Bradley Alexander snapped this photo while delivering and then spending hours making it back home to Jasper.

Conditions became increasingly difficult with Mother Nature dumping ice and then snow across the Birmingham area.

by KANESHIA SIMS

Christine Barrett

Christine Barrett

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The Morning AfterThe novelty quickly wore off as parents came to the stark realization that their children would be spending the night away from home. Many fled to service stations for gas, food and water to help them survive as they slept in their cars. In all this chaos, the beauty was watching this display of community and helping the human hand. With not a police officer, national guard or law enforcement officer in sight, citizens offered each other shelter, warmth, aid in pushing their vehicles, and words of inspiration. Students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham were seen walking from campus. I asked a few where they were headed and where they came from. One kind young man stated, “I am coming from campus, I am walking to Hoover. I am just happy to help push some cars out of the way in the process." With all the fears of not returning home, the two-hour waits for gas, and freezing temperatures, I am proud to say I live in the city of Birmingham and she has

some amazing people. For all the individuals who spent hours in traffic only to abandon their vehicle a mile or so from the beginning of their journey, for all the people who had to walk back to work just for a place to sleep, for all the people who were still trying to make it home the morning after, lets try to make it through today and pray for our city, county and state officials to develop future plans for crisis situations. Until then, thank the lord for all the amazing people who opened their doors, hearts, wallets and offered a hand when Birmingham was in need.

Beaupre captured this beautiful scene of Highland Park Thursday morning.

Some businesses stayed open throughout the blistery weather.

Dana Beaupre

by CIARA GREEN

The Stroke of a Pleasant Chord

Award-winning composer, Birmingham native Corey Jones, picked up a guitar when he was eleven years old and hasn’t put it down. He loved his guitar so much, he practiced into the wee hours of the morning—only stopping upon hearing his parent's stomps on the ceiling above. Corey's interest in music began with

a lesson from his dad. He began teaching himself Dave Matthew's Band songs shortly after his father taught him a few chords. He was drawn to the band's uncommon style of blending percussive style with irregular strumming patterns. His practice turned into success in 2009 when he won an Emmy for musical composition and arrangement for a self-produced commercial. Corey's other musical projects include Homemade Crazy and Big Town Run. He was performing with Homemade Crazy for the first time on stage when he felt the nerves rising from the stage. “I got super nervous and couldn’t remember how the first song started, so we played an intro for about four minutes before I mumbled some junk and started the song,” Corey said. After their drummer left, he continued to play with band member, Justin Moon and made it to the last year of City Stages on the Miller Lite stage.

Music

One simple chord lesson as a child sparked a life-long passion for music, earned Emmy success

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“I enjoy getting to sing and play and I hope everyone joins in on the fun.” -Corey Jones

Corey Jones, musician

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After their duo came to an end, Corey became a pub entertainer on a cruise ship that sailed throughout Hawaii and the Caribbean. That experience gave him a broad spectrum on the types of music he wanted to play. He began writing every song he ever played. Over time, he has collected five notebooks with about 500 entries each. Before becoming a permanent solo artist, Corey was involved with one last two-man band, Big Town Run. His friend, Daniel Strandlund, accompanied him as they covered many Avett Brothers songs and primarily

played fast songs containing two-part harmonies. Throughout all this change the musician's life brings, his wife, Crystal and two boys, McKeand and Thompson, are his support system, he said. Corey's passion for music has lead him on many travels. He's seen parts of the world and it enhanced his desire to expand musically. He is now a solo artist who plays bars, parties and other events. Corey's next goal is to tackle some unfinished songs and record this summer in North Carolina.

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The Neighborhood Brew

Craig and Michelle Grossmann made Birmingham their home in 2010, and since then, they have been making locals of Birmingham feel at home at their business, The Neighborhood Brew. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin natives consider The Neighborhood Brew to be a “third place” for people, the first place being their homes and the second place being their work. “We want people to come in and feel at home. We want neighbors to relax and reconnect with their friends, old and new, after a busy day,” said Craig. The beer, wine and coffee shop is located in Hoover and it’s warm and inviting atmosphere is appreciated by customers. “We have many families come in and the parents will enjoy a craft beer or a glass of wine and the kids get to enjoy a smoothie or some hot chocolate,” says Michelle. “People come to our business to enjoy a warm atmosphere and good people.” The couple also said The Neighborhood Brew is affordable for all and its coffee

rivals Starbucks. “We have many avid Starbucks drinkers come in and they all say that our prices are better than Starbucks but more than that our coffee is better,” said Craig. Owning their own business has been a long-time dream of the Grossmanns. “We have always talked about opening a wine bar with family up North; and after recently moving into the neighborhood, we realized there wasn’t a coffee shop close by or a bar that we could quickly go for a date night or to grab a drink with friends while our kids were at their practices,” said Michelle. The couple eventually decided not to limit themselves to wine, so they added coffee and beer to the business plan. The couple has made a great team since the inception of the business. “We have been blessed in that Michelle and I really enjoy each other and we work well together,” says Craig. “We seem to know who is going to handle each aspect of the business without saying anything to each other.”

While the couple has been able to lean on each other for the success of the business, they both agree that seeking outside advice is important for starting and running your own business. “My advice would be to surround yourself with wise counsel,” says Michelle. “We have been extremely blessed to have been surrounded and supported by good counsel to guide us, protect us and lift us daily in prayer.” The couple commented on the genuine kindness they feel from people in Birmingham, and they try to exhibit this same intimate atmosphere in their business. “Up North there is a tavern at every corner where neighbors would gather and share stories about their families. We want that to be the same for our business,” said Craig. A northern tavern atmosphere blended with southern hospitality makes for a great drink with great company which can be expected from The Neighborhood Brew.

by KRISTEN EBERT

Lifestyle

Northern-style tavern mixed with Southern hospitality makes for a neighborly experience at The Neighborhood Brew

Starting a business from scratch is a huge task to undertake, and Casey Marie Bly has overcome obstacles, as many self-employed artists do. With so many hobbyists picking up a camera these days, the influx has saturated the market. But for Casey, she’s always had a natural talent with the lens. Showing people that her work is much more than a learned skill or a hobby can be a challenge, but she allows her photography to speak for itself.

As with most artists, she has used her talent since childhood, enjoyed snapping photos from the time she could hold a camera. She decided to make it a career three years ago. She’s always the one at every event snapping photos from the second she walks in the door. She believes she was given this talent for a purpose, and she is truly thankful for it. Casey has known all along that she would have a photography business. Her first clients were family and friends who

kept her practicing every day. She loved shooting her cousins and best friends. She learned through this experience, and her loved ones were happy to be her muse. Casey approach is to get to know her clients and take an interest in them personally. This way, she is able to understand what they are looking for in their shoot. She invests in her clients’ lives and this is what sets her apart, she said. “I love what I do, and I do what I love. I couldn’t ask for more,” she said. Newborns are her favorite subjects, but she loves to shoot anything from engagements to weddings. This flexibility is hard to find in a photographer, but Casey is up for the challenge. She has a studio located in McCalla, which she uses to shoot newborns and children up to three years old. She enjoys shooting indoors, but also loves to shoot outdoors when the weather permits. Her favorite outdoor locations are Tannehill State Park and her family’s farm located in McCalla. She has an incredible support system including her husband Ryan, her mom. To check out some of Casey’s work, visit her website at caseymariephotography.weebly.com.

Spotlight

Casey and her camera

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Local artist turns natural talent into photography business

“I love what I do, and I do what I love. I couldn’t ask for more.” -Casey Marie Bly

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For the love of coffeeComing soon...

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Chef Ivory LeShore III has turned his passion for cooking into a business with the help of Birmingham’s Chef’s Workshop. Located at 3439 Lorna Lane, Chef’s Workshop is a shared commercial kitchen provider where local chefs can lease kitchen space at an hourly rate. LeShore uses Chef’s Workshop to cook his gourmet desserts and prepare for large catering events. Chef’s Workshop is a 5,000 square foot facility with four professionally-equipped, certified kitchens. The facility is unique to the Birmingham area and has catalyzed business for a large number of local chefs. “Chef’s Workshop has opened a lot of doors for me to grow my business,” says LeShore. “It’s a great opportunity for new business owners who are trying to get their business started to have a place to prepare their food without the expense of leasing a building right away.” In addition to expanding business, LeShore comments on the connections he has made at Chef’s Workshop. “My favorite part of the Chef’s Workshop is socializing with other cooks and new business owners in order to network and bounce ideas off of one another.” When LeShore moved to Birmingham in 1990 to attend Miles College, he had plans to become a school teacher and coach basketball or football. The Mobile native soon realized that cooking was his true passion.

He first discovered his love for cooking at a cooking class he took at the local Boys Club, and has since taken advantage of the diverse culinary scene in Birmingham. “The opportunities in Birmingham have proven to be endless in food and catering. There are lots of opportunities to network and expand your business,” says LeShore. While he has never enrolled in culinary school, LeShore was trained for several years by local gourmet chef, Franklin Biggs. Biggs has opened three different restaurants in the Birmingham area including Homewood Gourmet. Whether it be cooking or any other hobby, the Magic City is a place to cultivate passions into successful businesses. Ivory LeShore showcases how Birmingham is filled with opportunities. His desserts are not sold in several convenience stores in the Birmingham area, so be on the look out for Ivory LeShore’s gourmet bread pudding and cheesecakes!

by KRISTEN EBERT

Chef’s Workshop

“[Chef’s Workshop is] a great opportunity for new business owners who are trying to get their business started to have a place to prepare their food without the expense of leasing a building right away.” -Chef Ivory LeShore III

Local chef offers up special treats such as gourmet bread pudding and cheesecake

Featured Chef: Ivory LeShore III

Getting married requires talk about insurance

Soon you and your fiancé will promise to have and to hold each other, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do you part. Before or shortly after saying these vows, you need to discuss your finances, including your insurance coverage, or you might end up testing the strength of those vows. To help, here is a checklist of insurance needs to talk about:

> auto insurance > home or renters insurance > life insurance > health insurance. Spend some time talking together about insurance. Then talk with a financial representative to determine what insurance coverages are best for you.

Auto Insurance Married couples pay less than singles for car insurance. If you and your finance do not have the same insurance company, you should combine your policies under one company. Many companies give a multiple vehicle discount that can save money. Couples can also save money on their auto insurance by buying cars with safety features, keeping a clean driving record and staying with one company for an extended period of time.

Talk to your financial representative for specific details.

Home or Renter’s Insurance

Whether you own a home or rent, make sure you have adequate coverage for your home‘s structure and your possessions. Check with the company that insures your car to see if they offer home/renter’s insurance, too. Companies often offer multiple policy discounts if they insure both your car and home. Life Insurance Life insurance is another coverage you may want to buy or increase the amount of insurance you own.

Life insurance is especially important if one or both of you have a number of debts, such as student loans, you have bought a house or plan to have children soon. It provides money for the surviving spouse to pay for funeral expenses, as well as the mortgage and daily experiences.

Even if you don‘t have children, you don’t want to leave your spouse in a difficult financial situation. When talking about life insurance you will need to decide between term and whole life insurance.

Term life insurance only covers someone for a set amount of time, such as 15 years. Whole

life insurance accrues value and can eventually earn a return. Talk to your financial representative to determine which type is right for you. Health Insurance

If you both have jobs with health insurance coverage, then you will need to figure out how best to maximize your benefits. One of the most important issues to look at is if your doctor is covered in each plan. If you switch to your partner’s health care plan, your favorite doctors may not be included under it. If this is important to you, then consider keeping your own plan or having your partner join yours.

Also, see what each plan has to offer. If your plan has excellent dental coverage but no vision coverage,and your partners has a great vision plan, you may consider switching if you have poor eyesight but rarely have dental problems. Compare the out-of-pockets expenses you incur through the year with the cost of your plan. One more aspect of health insurance to consider is disability income. If you or your spouse becomes disabled and cannot perform your job duties, you may lose an income, while daily living expenses may rise. If you cannot afford to live on one person’s salary, you should evaluate your health coverage plans to see how and if disability income insurance is available.

5530 Hwy 280 SSte 101 and 102 Joyner BuildingBirmingham, AL 35242-0000 TEL: 205. 408.5683

FAX: 205.408.5978

JOHN WIMBERLY

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

CALL

FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVE

www.countryfinancial.com/john.wimberly

Spotted

Ronald McDonald of Birmingham celebrated it's 20th annual Red Shoe Run on Jan. 11, 2014. Guests participated in a 10 mile, 5k, or one-mile fun run for charity.

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Ugly Sweater Contest @Good People Brewery Good People Brewery celebrated Christmas in Dixie on Dec. 20, 2013, with a fun Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest.