ALMetro360

8 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com The Premier Lifestyle Magazine for the Heart of Alabama HOLIDAY ISSUE 2018 DEPARTMENTS 10 FROM THE EDITOR 12 THE DISH A Taste of the Holidays 16 INSIDE OUT Holiday Blooms 18 SPOTLIGHT 360 Fur Baby Love 22 CULTURE Artist Profile: Ken Lever 36 DESTINATIONS A Quiet Piece of the North Georgia Mountains 40 SEEN The Heart of Alabama’s Social Scene 58 CITY BUZZ The Latest Happenings in the Business World of the Heart of Alabama 62 HERE & THERE Community Events Calendar in the Heart of Alabama 22 SPECIAL SECTIONS 24 Holiday Gift Guide Shopping for Christmas can quickly turn into a scramble when trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Whether they are hard to buy for or already have everything you could think of, this is when having a few unique gift ideas up your sleeve is useful. Our Annual Holiday Gift Guide is full of inspiration for anyone on your list. 44 Private School Review One of the many important decisions you will make as a parent relates to your child’s education. His/her learning environment from early childhood through adolescence and young adulthood provides a crucial foundation for future learning and career success. Therefore, identifying the best fit for a student can set him/her on the right course in life. Academics, athletics, faculty, class size, extracurricular activities, dual-enrollment, honors classes, technology — so many important elements to consider. And if you are armed with the right answers to these questions, you will be off to a good start. FEATURES 20 Hosting for the Holidays The holidays are a stressful time, especially for those who are planning to throw a holiday party. Providing food for all of your guests and ensuring that all courses are served in a timely fashion are difficult tasks, which is why so many people turn to event/catering services for their holiday parties. 30 Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree Confused about how to choose the best Christmas tree for your family? The experts at Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm can help! They offer a few tips for choosing the perfect one this season. 32 United Way Changemaker: Donna Cooper River Region United Way (RRUW) Board of Directors Chair and Senior Vice President at BBVA Compass, Donna Cooper, talks about her love for helping others and her desire to pass that same desire on to her grandchildren. ON THE COVER: Best-selling author, Stacy Lyn Harris shares a few of her favorite holiday recipes. Cover photo by Stacy Lyn Harris