This week I will be off traveling around wearing one of my other hats, South American wine importer. I will travel to Memphis, Nashville, and other grand ole cities with Javier Paredes from the best boutique winery in Chile, Torreon de Paredes--which I hope will soon be properly appreciated in Alabama.

This week the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) released its evaluation of the Northern Beltline highway project, drawing opposition from the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, an environmental watchdog group with a mission for protecting the river.

One thing you usually miss in art galleries and museums is the artist. That can be one of the pleasures of being a good collector, to gain entrée into the homes and studios of creative souls.

The giant canvases of Arthur Price appear to be lost vestiges of another time. That seems fitting when you visit his studio on a small farm with gardens and horses right around the corner from the Galleria.

I have seen a lot of artists studios, but Trés Taylor may have the most amazing space in town. It is next to the Birmingham Weekly on 41st Street in Avondale.

I hope the holidays are finding you well. Try, try, try to only give your therapist fits, if anybody, during the season. Don’t be like the country girl who turns every holiday into a homewrecking opportunity.

On December 6 at Steiner auditorium in the Birmingham Museum of Art, pianist Zhang Haochen played with a very impressive resumé. He won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 19.

Well, it is official, the year is almost over. It seems we should almost give a nod to China since we are leaving the year of the rabbit for the year of the dragon. So how to diagnose this year’s worldwide horoscope?

On December 6 at Steiner auditorium in the Birmingham Museum of Art, pianist Zhang Haochen played with a very impressive resume. He won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 19.

This week let me call your attention to SEEN so you are in the know, though if you are reading this it is practically right under your nose. Sometimes that can be the easiest thing to miss.