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Business Journals
01-06-2025
- General
- Business Journals
The rise of the outdoor kitchen: From backyard grills to full-fledged family living spaces
It wasn't long ago that outdoor cooking meant a grill, a bag of charcoal, and a cooler full of drinks. But today's homeowners are transforming their outdoor areas into full-fledged extensions of the home with all the appliances, layout, and comfort of an indoor kitchen. According to Joe Redden of Appliance Gallery in Dayton, this shift is more than a design trend, it's a lifestyle movement. 'We've seen outdoor kitchens become the heart of the home, especially during spring through fall,' says Redden. 'Families aren't just cooking outside — they're spending time, entertaining, and making memories in their backyards.' A new kind of family room Gone are the days when one person was stuck at the grill while everyone else stayed indoors. Outdoor kitchens now serve as a shared hub for meals, conversation, and connection. 'Instead of Dad at the grill and everyone else inside, now you'll see three generations out there together — kids making pizzas, grandparents sitting by the fire, everyone gathered in the same space,' Redden explains. According to an Outdoor Trends Report, 71% of homeowners say they use their outdoor space at least once a week, with nearly 40% using it several times a week. That frequency has made the backyard one of the most reliable gathering places for families. expand Design that brings people together The design itself plays a major role in promoting connection. Redden notes that bar seating, fire features, and built-in drink stations keep people engaged whether they're cooking or not. 'If you build it right, it naturally becomes the hangout zone,' he says. 'You don't even need an official occasion. People just gravitate to the space.' Add in smart lighting, audio systems, and heaters, and many homeowners find themselves outside well into fall or even winter. Outdoor kitchens also encourage more frequent home-cooked meals, with some families reporting a 40% increase in cooking at home during warmer months.* The space is more casual, more inviting, and often easier to clean up — making spontaneous meals more likely. From DIY to designer Whether a homeowner is working with a landscaper or starting from scratch, Appliance Gallery helps guide every step of the process. The showroom features fully outfitted displays of grills, islands, kegerators, refrigeration drawers, pizza ovens, pergolas, and more. 'We provide layout support and appliance planning,' Redden says. 'Some people come in with blueprints, others just have a photo on their phone. Either way, we help them see what's possible.' Real life: One family's story Redden recalls a customer who built a custom outdoor kitchen after moving into their 'forever home.' 'They wanted a space where their adult kids would want to come back and spend time,' he says. 'We built a layout with a pizza oven, full sink, grill, refrigeration, and a fire table. Now it's their go-to spot for birthdays and game days. It changed how they use their home.' Features that matter most While the grill is still a centerpiece, Redden says the most loved features are the ones that create conversation. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), outdoor kitchens make multi-generational entertaining easier by removing the limits of indoor space and providing flexible seating and serving areas. expand Bridging generations, boosting wellness What may surprise people is how outdoor kitchens help bridge generational gaps. Grandparents hosting pizza nights. Parents relaxing while kids play. Everyone shares the same space without needing to split off into different rooms or screens. 'It's an excuse to get together,' says Redden. 'And when people are eating together, they're making memories.' Studies even show that outdoor dining boosts mood, encourages longer conversations, and leads to higher overall homeowner satisfaction.* Families with outdoor kitchens often feel more connected and centered at home. Start with inspiration At Appliance Gallery, the showroom is updated every year to reflect new trends and technologies in outdoor living. Redden and his team take pride in offering not just products, but inspiration. 'Whether you're looking for a modular solution or a fully customized setup, we're here to help people envision the best use of their space,' Redden says. Outdoor kitchens have made the leap from seasonal luxury to daily lifestyle upgrade. With thoughtful planning and the right appliances, backyards are becoming the most lived-in and loved spaces in the home.
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Alabama lawmakers end legislative session with jest: handing out the 'deadest bill' award
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama legislators honored a long-standing tradition on Wednesday with their annual award for the 'deadest bill' of the session, bringing levity to an otherwise politically polarized Statehouse. The winner was a bill that would require a booster seat for children who weigh less than 65 pounds, up from 40 pounds, introduced by Republican Rep. Ron Bolton. 'One size fits all, rarely, if ever, applies to children, much less House members,' the House of Representatives public information officer, Clay Redden, said on Wednesday. 'This bill would have made it nearly impossible' for some legislators 'to drive themselves to work,' Redden continued. Legislators laughed and cheered at Redden's remarks. The award, known as the 'Shroud,' has been given out since 1979 as a 'high-profile public burial' for one piece of legislation. Winners are given an empty suit framed in a cardboard box. Bolton's bill read more like 'chapters from a pediatrician's anatomy book or an instruction manual and manual of how to operate a nuclear reactor,' Redden said. Bolton smiled and posed on the House floor to accept his award. The legislation won the award over a bill that would have created a sales tax exemption for firearms and ammunition on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, among other runners-up. 'The fiscal note on the bill suggested there would be little, if any, impact on state revenue, since most gun owners in Alabama already have enough weapons and ammunition to fight World Wars three, four and five,' Redden said. Some previous winners of the 'Shroud' award have been reintroduced in later years and passed into law.
Axios
02-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Chicago transit leaders say $1.5 billion could avoid "drastic service cuts"
Commercials urging residents to take action to prevent a major fiscal crisis for mass transit are flooding airwaves in Chicago, but it might not be enough to persuade state lawmakers to take action. Why it matters: The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is sounding the alarm about possible service cuts to the CTA, Metra and Pace if state lawmakers don't chip in on the $1.5 billion RTA says it needs. The agency predicts a $770 million shortfall as ridership and revenues have declined in the last decade and COVID-era recovery funds have expired. The $1.5 billion was determined by independent experts, including the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Threat level: The RTA in March warned of "unprecedented cuts," including one in five Chicagoans not having transit for their daily commute, no weekend service for Pace riders, cuts to Metra schedules and the loss of nearly 3,000 transit-related jobs. The latest: RTA executive director Leanne Redden tells Axios she was in Springfield this week and is "cautiously optimistic" about funding help from the state. "I am committed to investing in a public transit system that will serve our region for decades — not just meet next year's needs or temporarily fill a budget gap," state Sen. Ram Villivalam, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, told Axios in a statement. "Every day I am working alongside stakeholders, advocates and everyday riders about how to address the issues that face our current system." State of play: RTA launched a campaign last month called "Save Transit Now," which includes ads urging commuters to call and write their lawmakers asking them to give the agency money. The commercials promise shorter wait times and cleaner trains and buses if the funding comes through. More than 5,000 letters have been sent to legislators, according to Redden. Friction point: That campaign has been criticized by some, including the Tribune's editorial board and state Rep. Kam Buckner, who argued that a public agency in financial trouble shouldn't be spending $750,000 on ads. Buckner, a transit advocate who has been vocal about the CTA's problems in particular, wrote in an op-ed: "[T]o cry broke with one hand and drop three-quarters of a million dollars on a PR campaign with the other is wrong, and frankly, it's irresponsible." The other side: "We can't afford not to raise awareness at this moment," Redden said. "Our research, through input from the region's riders and taxpayers, showed that nearly half of residents weren't even aware of the fiscal cliff and it is our obligation to inform them." Reality check: Buckner agrees that Chicago transit is underfunded compared to some of its peers. Zoom out: Illinois funds 17% of Chicago's public transportation system, WTTW reported, compared to Philadelphia's transit system receiving 50% from the state and New York City receiving 28%. Randy Clarke, head of Washington, D.C., transit, said they had to raise fares 12.5% last year — a change riders often balk at but something the RTA may be considering. Between the lines: Service problems continue to plague transit, especially the CTA, but acting director Nora Leerhsen promises she's bringing fresh eyes and ears to rider complaints. CTA launched a chatbot last year, and an issue continues to dominate: smoking on the trains. "Not all rule violations are created equal, and I think smoking really has an ability to really set a tone for a rider that is not indicative of what we want them to see," Leerhsen told WTTW. The bottom line: "Without funding certainty, we'll be forced to prepare for drastic service cuts, thousands of layoffs, route eliminations, and steep fare increases," RTA's Redden warns.
Associated Press
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
NEW THRILLER EXPLORES THE DARK SIDE OF JUSTICE IN ADVERSE REACTION
CARLSBAD, CA, UNITED STATES, February 9, 2025 / / -- Acclaimed author Terence Mix is back with Adverse Reaction, a gripping new legal thriller that delves into ambition, betrayal, and the quest for justice. Meet Mitchell Redden, a once-great trial lawyer who has spent four years away from the courtroom, haunted by his past. Just when he thinks he's out for good, he encounters a desperate single mother fighting for justice for her son. Drawn into a dangerous lawsuit against a powerful pharmaceutical company, Redden finds his passion for law reignited. As he digs deeper, Redden uncovers a chilling web of deceit, realizing that people connected to the case are dying under mysterious circumstances. With his complicated feelings for his client and the threat of his ruthless former partner, Redden must confront the dark reasons behind his past departure from the legal world—truths that could endanger everyone involved. Adverse Reaction promises an exciting ride filled with unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. To celebrate the launch, Terence Mix is entering the novel into several prestigious competitions, including the CIPA Book Awards and the Independent Publisher IPPY Book Awards. Having previously won a Gold IPPY Award for his nonfiction book, The Price of Ovulation, he's excited to make his mark in fiction. Adverse Reaction is now available on platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in bookstores nationwide. For more on the book, the author, and upcoming events, visit . Terence Mix is a celebrated author and former trial attorney known for his thought-provoking stories and complex characters. He has a unique talent for exploring the intersection of law and morality, charming readers long after they finish his books. Terence Mix Other Legal Disclaimer:
