Read Local Stories
A collection of stories from Auburn and Opelika
Breaking Bread
Both Foley natives, Matthew and Anna Claire Stinson are Auburn/Opelika’s local bakers. Any given weekend, this dough-namic duo churn out some of the freshest and well-baked bread that anyone can get their hands on. Whether it be at the usual Saturday at Whistle Stop or the occasional pop-up at an event or local business, the trip is sure to be one well worth it.
The Bailey Women
The name Bailey has been passed down in my family for countless generations before it graced upon me as my first name. The significance of Bailey represents the uniquely matriarchal nature of our household and the strength, resilience and perseverance that these women possess…
Reading List: The House In The Cerulean Sea
I chose the book The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This book is so wonderfully wholesome and charming, like wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket. It’s about a man named Linus who is in his 40’s and works a 9 to 5 job at a place that keeps track of magical children — so he is basically a social worker for magical children — and goes to their orphanages to make sure they are being properly taken care of…
Analog Connections
Down on 1st Avenue, fixed between Mama Mocha’s Coffee and Griff Goods, is a record store that many locals have grown to know and love. Whether you poked your head through the always-open door or attended one of their late-night concerts that showcased local talent, 10,000 Hz has become much more than just a place to buy records…
Reading List: Almost American Girl
As a 31-year-old (somewhat) adult, I am drawn to narratives that explore identity, and I love reading coming-of-age stories that are capable of resonating with anybody. Growing up is hard, and learning how to navigate middle and high school is never easy. Even though we all have different experiences, most of us can relate to the feeling of being treated as an outsider and that intense surge of loneliness it incites. I devoured “Almost American Girl” in one sitting…
Reading List: Howl’s Moving Castle
Our story opens on our no-nonsense heroine, Sophie Hatter, a collected young woman with an edge of sass on her tongue who trims hats for her deceased father’s shop and feels as if her future will most likely be stale and unadventurous. But what is Sophie to do? It’s a boring life to be sure, but she’s safe and comfortable, and that’s all she can truly ask for…right?…
The Beauty Of Charcuterie
Charcuterie is the art form of serving meats, mostly pork, through numerous methods of preservation and aging. In my two and a half years working at Acre Restaurant and Bar, I have plated many dishes to serve the community of Auburn the freshest locally sourced produce…
A Songbird’s Alight
There is a cheep, followed by a chirp, that proceeds a trill of tweets. I’m awakened every morning, and most nights, by these series of sounds. Harper Lee could not have titled my early morning and late night internal monologues any better. Mockingbirds are not the only ones perched in our community…
Reading List: From The Desk of Zoe Washington
In the mood for something sweet? Enter Janae Marks’ wonderful middle-grade book “From The Desk of Zoe Washington.” When I want a pick-me-up read that’s equal parts feel-good and socially conscious, this is the book I reach for. Now don’t let its reading level fool you; this book expertly delivers an unforgettable story with complex, lovable characters…
Infinitesimal
Life is full of coincidences, synchronicities and “wow” moments—situations and interactions that catch us off guard, regardless of if they were hoped for or unexpected. The “phenomenons” that result in the rumination of the odds of it all. It’s an interesting speculation that never seems to have an appropriate answer, as it walks the fine line of the possible and impossible…
Reading List: The Blue Castle
My favorite books are comfort reads. They’re like the mashed potatoes of literature–reliable and satisfying, especially in times of trouble. The comfort read I love best is “The Blue Castle” by L. M. Montgomery. When I’m feeling down or overwhelmed, this is the book I return to again and again…
HOME
It’s interesting what you pay attention to when you accept a grander sense of time, like what music we’d listen to that night. We spun a Bill Evans’ record, “Undercurrent,” while we ate. We had it delivered earlier that day to my house for this very occasion. Records on your doorstep is a good feeling—a shooting star feeling…
Seeded In Family, Rooted In Community
Driving on Bufford Road, just off the outskirts of Tuskegee National Forest, is an old farmhouse defined by its black barnwood and tin letters spelling Hornsby Farms. This farmhouse has been passed down by many generations of farmers that have grown food to sustain themselves and their neighbors…
Reading List: My Life In France
As most know, Julia Child was a world-known chef, author of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and television host. “My Life in France” by Alex Prud'homme and Julia Child illustrates her journey through life with poise and thoughtfulness…
New Pages Of An Old Story
Even though you might dive into a new book on your own, reading is anything but solitary. At Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, you’re just as likely to find your new favorite book as you are to find a place to connect. Located near Toomer’s Corner near favorite restaurants like Taco Mama and Little Italy, Auburn Oil Co. opened in fall 2019…
Leaning Into Community
A friend of mine takes me to see the wisteria near my apartment. He walks me through a path I know so well, past the baseball field, parking lot, and playground, where we would normally be having picnics to celebrate the arrival of spring. For now, we make due with the laggy FaceTime signal, filling 222 miles of distance with talk of muscadines, my eventual return to Auburn, everything but the coronavirus…
Making an Impact in a Socially Distant World
When the hard, unexpected and just plain bad comes, there’s almost always some good to be found in the midst of it all. We talked with three people from our community that, when faced with a worldwide outbreak of an unexpected disease that has affected millions, decided to not wait to find that good but be the ones who create it…
The Freddie Mercury
Inspired by the late, great frontman of the band Queen, this “swizzle" is over the top and extravagant in every sense. Crafted by Casper Obrzut, the cocktail manager at Sneak and Dawdle, he describes the drink as “frivolous”—imagining that the late singer would be pleased with everything from its complexity to its drinkability…
From Purpose to Impact: I Am My Brother’s Keeper
She was a magnet. Her weekends and afternoons were spent differently than most of her college-age peers. She’d return to her hometown just a few miles from Auburn University to reunite with the young people who followed her everywhere. At a young age, she took on the role of youth pastor at her father’s church. And she loved those kids…
You Are Enough
We so often find that our self-worth is unfairly tied up in our actions, our commitments, our desires. These temptations to wrap ourselves in our successes come in many different forms: the grade-point-average tells our family and professors how smart we are, the awards that sit on our desks remind visitors of the good things we have done…