Mountain Brook Inn being demolished today. leadingzero/twitpic

The wrecking ball (or crane as the case may be) appears to be providing evening rush hour drivers along U.S. Highway 280 with a show - in the form of the demolition of the Mountain Brook Inn. According to this story published on April 10 in The Birmingham News, the demolition is scheduled to take approximately eight weeks.

Thanks to @leadingzero for the use of the image; you can also check out this post on BirminghamDome to learn more about the known plans for the property (as well as that author’s thoughts about it’s place in Birmingham’s current development scheme).

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-69.htm

More to follow

It’s not like our hip to be civic friends ever really left; they’ve just been quietly preparing for this relaunch. Tonight you can join them over at The Wine Loft in the city center and find out what plans are for the future. It’s also a great excuse to enjoy a wine-tasting (and some pretty nice weather).

If you’ve got Facebook, head on over to the invite page and let them know you’re showing up.

1940:

Attorney Pat Moore was born in Pinson.

2005:

The Rev. Harold D. Long, former pastor of First Congregational Christian Church, died.

Courtesy:

We figured we’d try this again.

Here’s how it’ll happen; we’ll show up at The Bottletree and hang out on the patio starting around 5 p.m. You’ll come on out and join us on said patio as we really hope it’s warm and not raining (although the patio is covered). We’ll have some crazy conversations going on and we’ll all be able to enjoy happy hour drink specials, Magic City Manhattans and chips and salsa.

What more do you need to enjoy a lazy Wednesday evening before the official start of summer? We thought so…

Let us know if you’re coming either through Facebook or Upcoming.org.

Cost: It’s happy hour, come on…

Location:
The Bottletree
3917 3^rd Avenue South (directions)

Bob Farley/f8Photo

The 3-ton, smoke-breathing statue of UAB’s mascot, Blaze, was unveiled Tuesday afternoon in front of the Bartow Arena. The 9 foot tall by 16 foot long, 7,000 pound smoke spewing statue created by artist T.J. Neil of Homosassa, FL. It cost approximately $30,000 was commissioned by the UAB National Alumni Society. UAB president Carol Garrison said the statue will breath smoke on special occasions, the first of which will be this weekend’s commencement (it starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday).

UPDATE: 5.1.2008; Click on the image above to view a few other images from the unveiling.

So you’ve just finished seeing the unveiling of a 9′ tall Blaze the Dragon (if you haven’t, we think we’ll have photos shortly) and you’re feeling like an ice cream cone. Yes, we know it’s in the high 50s but it is springtime…

and since we’ve been on this food kick since yesterday, we figured you needed to be reminded that today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s locations across the country, including our three area locations.