Ironically on the anniversary of the Olympic soccer countdown beginning at Legion Field for the 1996 Olympics, it was reported that the U.S. women’s national soccer team will make its return to Birmingham and The Old Gray Lady on May 3. It’s a tune-up for the national squad as they prepare for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the first time that Legion Field has been used by either of our national soccer teams since the installation of an artificial turf playing surface in 2006.

Photo credit: Norway vs United States, WWC Third Place Match,  G romano/Flickr 

Your Birmingham Barons will don replicas of their 1951-52 uniforms (from their time as a Red Sox affiliate) as they take on the Jacksonville Suns at America’s oldest ballpark for a “businessman’s special.”

They have a chance to run their winning streak in the annual retro game to three in a row while honoring former Baron and 17-year major leaguer Jimmy Piersall. The first 1,500 fans that get in will receive a vintage portrait of Piersall from the ‘52 season.

If you want to know more about just what that retro uniform will look like (among other things), click here to view the release courtesy of the Barons (hint, you may also want to check out the team’s new website, just saying).

Cost: We’ll update with a link once single game tickets are available.

Location:
Rickwood Field
1137 2^nd Avenue West (directions)

The crowd at the 2006 Rickwood Classic. Photo credit: André Natta

Not only is America’s oldest ballpark enjoying some visits from minor league officials this week, it’s also enjoying its recently redesigned website. Head on over to http://www.rickwood.com (yeah, we know it’s not finished yet, but check it out anyway) and see what we mean.

And that’s on top of the park having been the cover story in this month’s Southwest Airlines Spirit magazine. Here’s a link to the article as it exists on the website. Here’s a link to a PDF of the article as well. It’s a nice way for the park to get some attention as an unofficial countdown begins towards its 100^th birthday in 2010.

Photo credit: André Natta

You may even run into an American Idol. That’s the word from out at We Love West End Day at Rickwood Field. You’ve got to get out there today and check out the cars. If you happen to see this in time, you may be able to get to Birmingham’s west side to see former American Idol Ruben Studdard (estimated time of arrival - 2:30 p.m.). His grandmother is a neighborhood officer and an organizer of today’s event. Check out our listing for the event for additional information.

Workers make progress on one of several homes in the Fountain Heights neighborhood where construction began on infill housing last year. The homes are being constructed in the Northern Triangle area of the neighborhood as part of a HOPE VI development. The award-winning revitalization plan for Fountain Heights was the focus of last month’s ONB Breakfast Briefing.

The West End Merchants Association, West End Community and Main Street Birmingham, a nonprofit group working to improve our city, are throwing their annual community block party/car show at historic Rickwood Field Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The field is located at 1137 2nd Ave. West. Besides the cars on display, there will be live music, free hot dogs and drinks, rides for the kids, a basketball shoot out and door prizes.

Cost: Free

Some folks forget that we have a farmers market that’s been open daily in town for years. If you’re wide awake and you’re wondering what to do this morning before the heat settles in again today, you may want to head over to the Alabama Farmers Market (344 Finley Avenue) and enjoy their second annual Family & Friends Festival.

If you read this a little later in the morning, you’ve got until 1 p.m. to get over there to enjoy free hot dogs, chips & sodas, live music, food samples, grilling demonstrations, kids activities… (taking breath), and the best tasting tomato & heaviest tomato contests.