Castellano’s Huntsville

Through the Sidewalk Arts Stroll, Donna Castellano  brought art and entertainment to Downtown Huntsville and helped start a new tradition for our city on the third Thursday nights of the summer months. Donna recently stepped in as Chairman of the Historic Huntsville Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates Harrison Brothers Hardware.

We caught up with her at Constitution Village (the new location for the Sidewalk Arts Stroll) where she shared her favorite things to do in our city.

Have a Cocktail

I always feel sophisticated sipping a martini with girlfriends at Cotton Row.  We love to sample the newest offerings from the cocktail menu. My current favorite is “The Cucumber” which features gin, vermouth and a big slice of cucumber.  I’m into health drinks.

Casual Dinner with Friends

Pane e Vino.  Sit outside.  Share bottles of wine.  Doesn’t matter which pizza you order; they are all good.   Big Spring Park on late spring evenings or Saturday afternoons is magical.  Sit back, relax and the conversation will flow.

Listen to Live Music

With the children grown, my husband and I are rediscovering our inner rockers.  Mike and I saw Springsteen in Atlanta last year, which was definitely a bucket list item.  We are regulars at the Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series—great, great music. We now know the words to “Chicken Truck.”

Buy Flowers

Hello.  My name is Donna and I am a fresh floweraholic.  My habit is supported by Sydney and Glenn Tupes, who operate from a little storefront called “Glenn’s Florist.”  They provide everything from intricately designed arrangements to buckets of hydrangeas.  Sigh.  And they deliver.

Entertain Out of Town Guests

Hello??  Do you think anyone ever visits us without getting a tour of Huntsville’s historic downtown and the historic neighborhoods?  Or Harrison Brothers Hardware?  Or taking in a Sidewalk Arts Stroll?

People Watch

On weekends, Mike and I head out to Bridge Street.  We walk, shop, talk, listen to music and pick up a frozen yogurt or coffee and sit back and watch the world go by.  Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Ways to Escape

An easy way to escape is to hop on a plane destined for someplace fun.  In Huntsville, our favorite way to escape has become hiking the trails of Monte Sano Mountain on Sunday mornings.   I am not an outdoorsy-kind of gal, so no one is more surprised than me that I find tromping through the woods so restorative.  But the views from the mountain top looking down to the valley take my breath away.  I think I fall more in love with this city, our home, after every hike.