By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  This Friday, Feb. 9, American folk duo Shovels & Rope will return to Alabama to play Iron City Birmingham. The band is on tour playing cozier venues like Iron City,...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  At seven years old, a young Amy Smoot pieced together scraps of fabric and spare buttons, proudly presenting her grandmother with a makeshift sock monkey. Now, as...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  The first weekend of each month in Tuscaloosa is permeated with traditions like art nights, festivals and screenings, with this weekend in particular playing host...

With classes wrapping up, the peak of holiday season is almost here. Across town, several holiday events are on the calendar or already taking place to help residents get into the holiday spirit. Here’s...

Coming back to a show is a new experience for Tina Turley. Never, as a director, has she put on the same show two years in a row, until now. Turley is the director of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s upcoming production...

I was cold this week. I was cold, and in need of some comfort food. Weeks like this, I always think back to my mom’s go-to comfort dish for cold nights - her jambalaya. Now, fair warning, this is not...

As great as ebooks are, holding a physical book in your hands has a certain charm, especially when that book was bought local. Across Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, there are a handful of independent bookstores...

With three weeks remaining in the semester, Secret Santa parties and friend group gift exchanges are sure to be a plenty. With all that shopping to do, your holiday receipts could start to pile up. Thankfully,...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Reporter The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra will perform their annual chamber orchestra concert tonight at First Presbyterian Church on Greensboro Avenue. This year’s performance,...

You’ve been studying for hours on end at the same coffee shop, sipping the same latte that’s been powering you through hundreds of Quizlets and Blackboard assignments. In attempting to take a break...

Thanksgiving is almost here which means it’s almost time for my family to bust out their best homecooked foods. My grandmother’s kitchen is rarely as busy as when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around....

I can admit without hesitation that my world for the past 20 years or so was relatively small, as was my awareness of it. This past weekend, however, I found myself overlooking the city skyline of New...

In 1985, Margaret Atwood was teaching at the University of Alabama as the Honorary Chair of the Masters of Fine Arts program. During her time here, she finished one of her most famous novels, "The Handmaid’s...

It’s my firm belief that there are certain dishes everyone should know how to make. I’m not talking about grilled cheese or scrambled eggs or anything like that – those are "Cooking 101: How to Not...

This weekend, early Christmas enthusiasts can shop for books and other gifts alike while benefiting a cause today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  In a festive 2017 Christmas Market, the old Books-a-Million...

"Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock," will be screened tonight in Gorgas Library to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. The documentary chronicles the the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their peaceful...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  It's easy to imagine the scene of a typical elementary or middle school spelling bee: A lone spotlight shines on the smartest kid in the class. She quickly notices...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Reporter Even though McKenzie Sherman has worked with Dance Alabama! on and off since her freshman year, this week will mark her first time choreographing for the organization....

The recent shift in the weather has sent my allergies all in a tizzy. Ever since I woke up on Tuesday with a sore throat because of it, I knew only thing would help me out – a good bowl of soup.  Cream...

Television's fall calendar is pretty much in full swing, with most old shows back on the air and most new shows having already premiered. But with so many new shows this season, it can be hard to narrow...

As the weather turns colder and the leaves begin to change, local farms and farmers markets see their business increase in the month of October. This is the time of year they call “pumpkin season.” ...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Reporter Nisha Singh has been celebrating Diwali on campus since she was a little girl. Growing up, she would come and enjoy the lights, the food and perform with her mother, a...

I’ve worn pants every day this week and I’ve turned the heat on in my apartment twice, so I think fall, or what passes for fall in Alabama, might finally be here. I'm very excited, because that means...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  500 years ago this month, Martin Luther boldly slipped into the foggy cobblestone streets of Wittenberg. He walked up to the daunting black double doors of the All...

Tucked into the intimate Greensboro Room, indie rock band Motel Radio will go acoustic at their next appearance at the Bama Theatre this Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. College roommates Ian Wellman and...

Do you find yourself wanting a food you haven’t had in months?  I’m talking about a food that you almost forgot existed, but then for some reason find yourself craving. Because I found myself doing...

One organization stands out on campus by using creative thinking to help others. Design for America, a national non-profit, has chapters, or "studios" at campuses all over the country. The organization...

Tonight at 7 p.m., musician, author, poet, actor and activist Willie Nelson will take the stage of the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.  As a musician at heart, Nelson will bring his “outlaw country” style...

Only one woman on campus will be crowned Homecoming queen, but Maggie Holmes wants to help ensure that senior women across campus are recognized for their hard work, whether or not they were nominated...

Retro red booths and white subway tile meet the hustle and bustle of downtown Tuscaloosa in a new restaurant hotspot called Dotson's – a family-owned burger and shake shop. It’s not all typical cheeseburgers...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter  In early May of this year, junior aerospace engineering and mechanics major Zack Andrews set out in search of a 3D printer for one of his models.  He ran into Doug...

I’m conflicted. On one hand, it’s 85 degrees outside. On the other hand, it’s October. The logical side of me says it’s still time for shorts, sunglasses and cold iced drinks. Meanwhile, my heart...

Tucked into Tuscaloosa lies a place for UA students and staff to socialize — a place to decompress, yet a place for a taste of risk. Wheels whirl, spin and roll while handlebars twist and turn. The scent...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Reporter  When Eric Courchesne moved from Austin, Texas to Tuscaloosa four years ago, he scoured the local non-profit scene to find the most compelling organization doing what...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Reporter The baristas at Monarch Espresso Bar went head-to-head, putting their original drink ideas to the test in the coffee shop’s second Barista Throwdown.  Around 50 customers...

I like making food that I have to shape with my hands. I find that it’s a calming experience.  Whether it's making meatballs or shaping dough, the repetitious movement gives me time to think through...

If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard “communication is key,” maybe then I’d finally be able to afford one of the souvenir cups from Bryant Denny on a game day without cringing as I pass over...

The demand for coffee, being a consistent staple of collegehood, has risen in Tuscaloosa in the last few years.  I recently walked into the Ferguson Center Starbucks to grab my usual order before heading...

Fewer Americans went to the movies this summer than any year in the since 1992.  The box office started off ahead of last year, but now it’s down 6 percent from where it was this time last year, according...

As a young Drew Holcomb sat on the floor of his Memphis home, pushing cherry red toy firetrucks back and forth, he dreamed of becoming a firefighter.  Years later, this Thursday, although not a firefighter,...

In an eclectic combination of rock 'n' roll, country, blues and punk rock, American folk duo Shovels & Rope will make their Tuscaloosa debut tonight under the smoky lights of Druid City Music Hall.  Composed...

College students have tight budgets and sometimes hanging out with friends can seem like an unaffordable luxury. While there’s rarely a completely free way to spend some time out of the library or dorm,...

My dad believes in three square meals a day. My mom believes in eating when you're hungry. As is usual in my life, I take after my mother. And when it's 10 p.m. and you're finally hungry, that's too late...

As hundreds of eager Alabama fans rush toward Vanderbilt stadium this weekend, it’s no surprise the hottest spots in Nashville actively tune every string and restock on plenty of barbecue sauce in preparation...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter From personalized bowls of rainbow fruit, acai and oatmeal to customized rolls of sushi right down to the sauce on the side, Tuscaloosa welcomes a variety of new businesses...

When Dylan Davis was in high school, he went and saw a friend of his perform in a production of “The 39 Steps.” While he watched his friend, he said, that wasn’t the main person he was focused on....

From Kenny Chesney’s island vibes to Dierks Bentley’s southern twang, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater continuously packs its seats with eager country music fans year-round. This Friday night, country artist...

For many birthdays, when my mom would ask me what kind of cake I wanted, I would tell her I wanted a cookie cake. I’ve always had a thing for cookie cakes. It’s a little weird considering most large...

On an ordinary weekday, junior biology major Bobby Rodgers grabs his goggles and lab coat. He walks outside toward Shelby Hall while flipping through a stack of chemistry flashcards. He pours kaleidoscopic...

Impossible. Incapable. Anxious. Failure. All of these words and more seem to oftentimes infect and manipulate the minds of many students throughout their college experience. Freshman year especially poses...

Joe Pilleteri used to make beer in his kitchen, until his wife banished his hobby to the garage. His passion for brewing beer kept growing as did his fascination with the science behind it. After a while,...

The 97th Miss America pageant will air live Sunday night at 8 p.m. on ABC. Two University of Alabama students will compete in the pageant. Jessica Procter, an interdisciplinary studies and psychology student...

“You can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can.”  As goes this quip from "The Great Gatsby," this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 5th Street Vintage market returns with entirely handcrafted...

A few years ago, my grandmother wanted to get all her children together for Christmas, as it's hard to get my mom’s brothers and sister all in the same place. There's five kids in total, scattered along...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter The recent popularity of Tuscaloosa farmer’s markets, home-grown foods and hand-made products has spurred a variety of weekly and weekend markets throughout the community....

Two college roommates at the University of Texas Austin once fumbled around with a handful of guitar strings and a variety of vocal covers in an effort to blow off steam after classes. Now, they confidently...

By Serena Bailey  | Staff Writer Sometimes life doesn't go according to plan, in ways both big and small. For example, this column was originally supposed to be about cake mix doughnuts. I had everything...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Reporter The University of Alabama's student population is now 53 percent out-of-state, so it is no surprise a handful of students may become a tad anxious or homesick at some...

By Christina Ausley | Staff Writer Four years ago Caroline Ruder sat on the floor of her sorority house bedroom dreaming of becoming a designer. She was armed with nothing more than a needle, some thread...

By Serena Bailey | Staff Writer Long live snacking – that’s the motto many college students must live by. With busy schedules and projects constantly looming, it’s often easier to snack throughout...

“Alice in Wonderland” was one of the many books Janet Mego’s mother read her when she was young. The original John Tenniel drawings in the novel stuck with her in her subconscious, she said, and...

Preparing for Food Truck Friday takes Laurie Hubbard anywhere from eight to twelve hours of baking. Her truck doesn’t have an oven, so all of her cookies, gingerbread, yeast rolls and other bakery confections...

It’s summertime, which means it’s blockbuster season. But even if you're not in the mood for another superhero flick, this summer has got something for you as well. Here are four new films this summer...

Country musician Dwight Yoakam will perform at Druid City Music Hall tonight at 8:30 p.m.  Yoakam, best known for songs like “Fast As You” and “Streets of Bakersfield” made his debut in 1986...

Some days it’s just too hot to stay outside for long, but if you still want to get out of the house and hang out with your friends, there are plenty of things to do here and in Birmingham. Here’s four...

It’s weird to think I’m just slightly older than Harry Potter. It’s always been there for me, a sort of omnipresent thing in the background of my life, but I didn’t realize I was only a year and...

Tuscaloosa will host it’s annual Fourth of July “Celebration on the River” on Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.  As in past years, the free event will kick off by opening...

Tuscaloosa will host it’s annual Fourth of July “Celebration on the River” on Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.  As in past years, the free event will kick off by opening...

As Greg Drowning Bear attaches the turkey feather to the rivercane stick, he tells a small group surrounding a table how he got the feather. It came from a turkey he hunted with the same kind of arrow...

When Lindsay Madison went out west in 2009, she took a disposable camera with her. She was “astounded,” she said by the beautiful sights she saw. But when she came back and starting sharing the photos...

It’s the end of the play, Macduff and Macbeth circle each other on stage, swords in hand ready to duel. Their swords clash, clash again and then they break apart. They raise their blades and collide...

During Bama Bound, incoming students hear about the history of the University and places on-campus that are popular amongst students. But there's plenty of places off-campus that students love that you...

During one of his early days working at the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, Ian Crawford decided he was going to take advantage of the house’s circulation system. Built between 1859 and 1862, the mansion...

The rain might be coming down but that’s not stopping the music over the next few days in Tuscaloosa. Here’s your weekend band scene.   Them Dirty Roses at Rhythm and Brews - Southern rock band Them...

When Adora Hicks, a Career Advisor with the Career Center, first heard that the center would be building a closet of professional clothes for UA students, she thought it was a cool idea, but didn’t realize...

If you’re like me, then at this halfway point of the summer, you’re starting to run out of things to do. You’ve caught up on those TV episodes you missed because of school. You’ve cleaned your...

Wherever Tracy Sides travels, she goes to the local breweries. She attends festivals, looks for new beers when she’s grocery shopping and knows the process of how each of her favorite drinks is made....

William MacGavin has been woodworking since he was 11 years old. Over the years he's salvaged wood from Christmas trees left on the curb, trees downed in storms or trees cut down by a city to make didgeridoos...

Five years ago the Birmingham-based nonprofit Black Warrior Riverkeeper was celebrating its 10th anniversary on the Bama Belle when one of the boat’s engines broke. The boat would be out of commission...

Debbie Puckett gets to the market at 6:30 a.m. They don’t open until 7 but she makes sure everything’s set up and ready for the day. She leaves at 10 a.m., but in those three hours, she watches as...

After being cancelled last week due to bad weather, the skies look all clear for this Friday's Live at the Plaza show featuring The LaGoons. But that's not the only music in town in the upcoming days....

There are people waiting on a smoky platform, just a handful of them. There’s a train that’s pulled up and a conductor near one of the cabin doors. It’s a scene from a past time and place, 1964 in...

There are a few concerts coming to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater this summer, but if you’re looking to broaden your music experience, more shows are coming to Atlanta and Birmingham. Here’s a rundown...

The Bama Theatre will begin its Bama Art House summer film series on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. The weekly event features independent dramas, comedies and documentaries. The first film in the series is...

It’s the first week of the summer term but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun. Here’s a look at what artists are bringing their musical talents to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Handshake...

Once a month, Kentuck studio artist Lorrie Lane goes through her studio. She takes down some old paintings, puts up new ones and gets it ready for the crowd of people who are about to come by to meet her...

When Liam Adkison stood in the Gorgas House and saw people walking through the first exhibit he’d helped work on, it felt like watching a child take their first steps. “People are coming up to me to...

Before I get started with what might be the most sugar laden recipe I’ve done this semester, let me just say: eating healthy during high stress weeks is important. Eating foods that help you focus and...

Graduation is drawing near, but chances are there's still much of Tuscaloosa many seniors haven't seen. Tuscaloosa has grown a lot in the last four years, and with so many new spots, it can be hard to...

New College artists at the University are a varied bunch, dabbling in different kinds of art and mediums. Some shape a clay mold using nothing but their potter’s wheels and bare hands. Some hold their breaths...

It still doesn’t feel real for Alma Atassi. It probably won’t feel real, she said, until it actually happens – until she’s walking on stage, finally graduating after four years at The University...

In their fifth annual Food & Wine Festival this Thursday evening, the Tuscaloosa River Market will once again host hundreds of guests for an evening full of local vendors and a variety of wine.With the...

Across from Evergreen Cemetery and nestled in the shadow of Bryant-Denny stadium, is an always-talked-about but sometimes-forgotten restaurant. On any given game day, the neon red letters beckon fans to...