ALMetro360 July 2018

6 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com ON THE COVER: Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s new executive director, Todd Schmidt, breaking down barriers for the arts. The Premier Lifestyle Magazine for the Heart of Alabama JULY 2018 DEPARTMENTS 8 FROM THE TEAM 10 FROM THE EDITOR 12 TRENDING Cool Products for Summer 14 THE DISH A Sip of Southern Perfection 16 LIVINGWELL Body Acceptance 18 CULTURE Tallassee’s Mt. Vernon Theatre Breathes New Life 22 INSIDE OUT Pollinator Friendly Flowers 24 DESTINATIONS Auburn’s Chewacla State Park 66 360 SPOTLIGHT Meet the New ASF Exe cutive Director 78 DE STINATIONS Bea utiful Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores 80 SEEN The Heart of Alabama’s Social Scene 84 THE BUZZ The Latest Happenings in the Business World of the Heart of Alabama 87 HERE & THERE Community Events Calendar in the Heart of Alabama 24 FEATURES 70 Q & A with Montgomery’s new Zoo Director April of this year, longtime zoo staffer, Marcia Woodard took the helm as the Zoo Director. Find out what she’s up to and the many fun things tha t will be taking place at the Montgomery Zoo. SPECIAL SECTIONS 74 Meet the Changemakers of the United Way While the River Region United Way has been around since your grandfather was born, they are no longer your grandfather’s United Way. They can’t be. The world around us is changing, as are the needs in our communities, and the United Way, too, is changing. 26 Best of the Heart of Alabama: Best of Business — pages 26-33 Best of Health — pages 34-45 Best of Education — pages 46-54 Best of Arts & Entertainment — pages 55-64