Bustle's Christmas Gathering at Juniper Bham

“The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.”

— W. C. Jones

After another year of swooning over our bride’s in their perfect dresses, we love getting together as a team to reflect on all the joy that the past year has brought us. This Christmas season, we decided to gather around Juniper’s glorious table. This eclectic wonderland is the kind of back drop that makes any party feel special. Between the flittering candles and lush botanicals, it’s easy to sink into this space and share a toast with loved ones.

We dawned the night by ordering several rounds of Duck Fat Fries and Edamame Hummus for the table. No evening at Juniper should ever be complete without trying their signature “Buzzword” cocktail. This infectious beverage was the talk of the table and for good reason. Earlier in the year, we spent Galentines Day at Juniper and wrote about the whole experience. You can get all the details on that cocktail from our previous blog post here.

The culinary highlights of the night were the crab cakes and mushroom sandwich. Truly not one small plate left us hoping for something more. Juniper has this way of surprising you in all the right ways. We ended our evening craving something sweet and we were not disappointed. The desserts were indulgent, mirroring the same comfort that can only be found in the holidays. We tried the Blueberry Creme Brulee and the Chocolate Bread Pudding - stunning!

We found ourselves passing around the bread pudding and taking a moment to appreciate the past as we gushed about growing up in the early 2000s. Laughing over who had which flip phone and the perils that were AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Fast forward nearly 20 years and the same girls that shared bedazzled razor phones are now bonding over espresso martinis. Same laughter. Different moments. Time is wonderful thing. So simple in theory, yet beautiful.

It’s our hope that this season treats you well. We are sending you our love and best wishes. Take some time this holiday to reflect on good memories and also understand that memories are being made now. Sometimes the memories that didn’t seem momentous at the time, end up meaning the most. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Date Night Done Right's Guide to the BEST Date in Birmingham

This week we are thrilled to introduce Joseph and Alex Bowker, the couple that is masterfully behind Date Night Done Right. Even though Joseph and Alex are from the same hometown, their paths didn’t cross until they met at The University of Alabama eight years ago. From the beginning, dating has been a significant cornerstone in their relationship and helped keep the ever-cherished spark alive.

“We love coming up with new, fun, and exciting ways to spend time together.”

— Joseph and Alex: Date Night Done Right

Most of us cut our teeth on the hope that we could find a lover that helps us ignite that giddy excitement time and time again - thanks Disney. We admire Date Night Done Right because they understand that the beauty of romance is in the intentionality. From cozy date nights at home to fun escapades around town, Date Night Done Right has a curated feed of date nights for all. Today, Alex and Joseph are taking us on their personal favorite kind of couples excursion, a progressive dinner around our favorite city. Join us as we take a romantic culinary tour around some of the most coveted spots in Birmingham!

DRINKS

The Bowkers suggest dawning off date night at Juniper for drinks. Our Bustle team also has a big crush on Juniper. (If you would like to see our full review, you can visit that blog post here.) The duo recommends the Buzz Word cocktail - truly one of the best gin drinks in Bham! Juniper also has a beautiful menu of mocktails for anyone who wants to go sans alcohol. Almost as essential as the bubbly, you can’t leave the restaurant without a quick photo sesh on the gold patterned swing in front of their gorgeous botanical wall.

Images by Mary Fehr and Juniper

APPETIZERS

Next, head to Ovenbird for appetizers. Their small plates are easily shareable and make for the perfect starter. Just as the Beef Fat Candle and Snapper Throat are Chris Hastings’ favorites on the menu, they are the Bowker’s favorites too! There is something for every culinary palate at Ovenbird. The small plate selection feels special every time.

Photos by Ovenbird Birmingham.

ENTREES

Photos by Helen Birmingham

Then, enjoy the main course at Helen, one of Esquire’s “best new restaurants in the U.S.” Pick from a variety of beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and seafood options. The Bowker’s go-tos are always the Coulotte and Seafood A La Plancha. Helen is a refreshed take on classic dining that pays homage to the restaurant owner’s memories cooking over the hardwood coals and smoke of his grandmother’s indoor grill. A sentimental taste to savor.

DESSERTS

End this cinematic evening with dessert at Bottega. Anyone with a love for sweets has not had a complete meal until they’ve eaten the coconut-pecan cake. The interior and exterior at Bottega is what all our date night dreams are made of. The lighting and decor is an open invitation for romance. All you need is a little dose of sugar to spark some coquettish conversation.

Photos by Bottega Birmingham

Visit Date Night Done Right on instagram to view their endless showcase of dating ideas. They also offer personalized date planning services tailored to each couple based on their needs and preferences. These services can be found on their website. The Bowkers love inspiring couples to never stop dating and live their best life together! 

Galentines Date at Juniper

Most of us grew up captivated by Disney films. In these movies, we were able to place ourselves in the front and center of a fairytale. It’s impossible to forget the feeling of wonder that came when Alice stumbled upon the enchanted garden in Alice in Wonderland. The excitement of being immersed in a valley of life-sized blooms felt indescribable. Birmingham’s new dream girl, Juniper, feels like that.

Juniper is an awe-inspiring cocktail bar and restaurant nestled in the heart of the beautiful Forest Park historic district. The lush outdoor garden courtyard and whimsical botanical interior are reminiscent of ornate gin palaces popular during the Victorian era. This is your neighborhood bar, reimagined.

Upon entering Juniper, you immediately feel like you’ve left Birmingham and have fallen down the rabbit hole to enchantment. If the immersive decor wasn’t enough, Juniper sets the scene with their mood lighting and ambient nature. Although gin focused, their inventive craft cocktail menu features a wide array of spirits, in addition to aperitifs, wine and beer. Let’s talk our favorite cocktails….

Trying the gin based cocktails at Juniper was genuinely unlike any other drink experience we’ve ever had. Birmingham is known for its innovative bar scene, but Juniper has exponentially raised the beverage bar.

Juniper’s phenomenal team didn’t skip a beat when giving us the best recommendations. We love a team that is well-read on the menu. Every person we met on staff was so incredibly warm and inviting. Allison gave us the full run-down of her favorite cocktails and what made them special, which made ordering easy and intentional.

Jillian ordered the Bengal Merchant. This cocktail was rich and exotic. It was a gorgeous blend of matcha, orgeat, and lime. This beverage was delicious with beautiful depth and the soothing light green color makes for the perfect photo op.

Laine ordered the house specialty, The Buzzword. This cocktail lives up to its name in a very real way. This beverage comes with a deceivingly innocent szechuan flower bud (also known as a Buzz Button) on top. Once you take a bite of the flower bud, your mouth immediately starts to tingle and you feel a sensation that neither of us had ever experienced before - truly REMARKABLE. This sensation goes beyond taste. The effervescent, Champagne-like zing takes over slowly, dancing around the top of the tongue before giving way to a surprisingly welcome numbing, cooling effect. This sensation paired with the cocktail is true magic. We highly recommend trying the cocktail before and after biting the szechuan flower so you can fully experience the difference.

The small plates at Juniper need praises of their own. We devoured the Duck Fat Fries and Crab Cakes. Next time we decided to bring more friends so that we can try MORE of this brilliant menu. The flavors and textures in these small plates are a harmonious work of art. If you are craving something sweet, they have a bread pudding that looks to be a creation of the gods.

Go ahead and give yourself bragging rights if you recommend Juniper for your next date night or hangout. This little sanctuary is something that demands to be experienced and we cannot wait to hear about your favorites. Visit their website here to check out their hours so you can plan your next visit.

If you would like to see Juniper in action, you can watch our latest Instagram Reel HERE.