Tag Archives: AL

You are still Beautiful, Birmingham

You Are Beautiful, too. acnatta/FlickrOne of the newest pieces of graffiti in Birmingham, AL is located directly across the street from Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, AL. It is the second major location of the phrase “You Are Beautiful” in the city in recent weeks; the first was placed on the Highland Avenue bridge located over the Elton B. Stephens Expressway on the city’s Southside.

When The Birmingham News first reported about the graffiti in October, it was suggested that it may be part of the Operation Beautiful movement. Other sites have pointed out that it is more likely part of the movement explained and chronicled on you-are-beautiful.com.

No matter what the reason, it’s one good reason to get together on Twitter for a #bhamchat conversation tonight. We’ll be getting started at 7 p.m. CT. There will also be an interesting take posted over on Dear Birmingham tomorrow morning.

Photo: You Are Beautiful, too. acnatta/Flickr

On the agenda: Support for the beltline and parks

Official flag of the City of BirminghamThis morning’s Birmingham City Council agenda is a little smaller than normal – 15 pages to be exact. It’s the stuff covered within those pages that are interesting.

Item 35, if approved, will state that the City Council fully supports the Northern Beltline “in order to address regional transportation needs.” The item was on consent but was removed.

Item 17 will make some changes to the contract between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. It will simply change the name of the agency that the City has the contract with and allow for the first of ten renewals of three years each.

Items 1 & 2 will allow for a new establishment, the Emporium Nightclub, to open in the space most recently occupied by the Continental Ballroom.

The meetings are streamed online and available for review; the agenda is available for review now.

Birmingham to Atlanta high-speed rail study announced

Earlier today, Birmingham Mayor William Bell joined the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham‘s executive director Charles Ball as plans were formally announced for a feasibility study that could lead to the creation of a high-speed rail link between Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA.

Ball stated during prepared remarks that the study would cost $500,000 with half of the funds available due to a portion of the federal stimulus bull. It will be a partnership between the RPCGB, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern. The study is scheduled to begin on July 1 and take one year to complete.

The video includes portions of Ball’s comments and all of Bell’s comments to those gathered.

JeffCo Commission District 1 election tomorrow (& July 13)

election signTomorrow’s runoff election is specifically for residents of Jefferson County living in District 1 and pertains to the commission seat vacated when William Bell became mayor of Birmingham, AL earlier this year. The winner serves the remainder of Bell’s term, set to expire at the end of the year.

The crazy thing is that you’ll be given a choice between Birmingham City Councilman Johnathan Austin and retired General George Bowman tomorrow – and on July 13. The second election will determine the Democratic nominee for November’s general election.

Confused yet?

The Birmingham News‘ editorial board explains the situation as clearly as it can be, but it can still be a little disturbing if you think about it. One scenario, for example, could lead us to have to hold another special election to fill Austin’s unexpired term at City Hall if he’s successful tomorrow.

If you’re a resident of District 1 and you want some help figuring out just who to vote for, the Birmingham Young Democrats are teaming up with Women of Will (WOW) to host a candidates runoff forum this evening at 5:30 p.m. at Cosmos Sports Bar and Grill in Norwood.

Candidates for Alabama’s 7th Congressional District seat in Congress – Terri Sewell and Shelia Smoot – will be there too. You’ll only have to vote for them once (& won’t have to do that until July 13).

BBA talks to young professionals Above Birmingham

Earlier this week, Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) president Dalton Smith talked about the organization’s economic development plan for the seven-county Birmingham region called Blueprint Birmingham with leaders of several young professionals organizations during an event at Above at The Redmont Hotel.

The BBA shared the video of Smith’s remarks to their YouTube channel as well as comments made by Katrina Watson and Michele Amaral about the event and the ongoing planning process.

Incidentally, both women were recently named as recipients of b-metro’s first ever YP Awards.

Blueprint Birmingham was originally scheduled for release in May but is now expected to be unveiled this fall.

Where are you watching World Cup matches?

World Cup 2010 logoThose wanting to get out of the house to enjoy soccer’s World Cup (beginning today in South Africa) will have plenty of options here in metro Birmingham.

BTW – here’s a really cool presentation of the tournament calendar.

RojoCrestwood Coffee CompanyCantina and Urban Standard are among the places that have confirmed that they will be showing matches during the next two weeks. Cantina will open for 9 a.m. matches, while Crestwood will open for 6:30 a.m. matches (Urban Standard will open at 7 a.m. with Rojo keeping regular operating hours).

Café Firenze and Matthew’s Bar and Grill have said that they will be showing the USA vs. England match tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon; it will start at 12:30 p.m. CDT.

The finals will be broadcast live at Sloss Furnaces on Sunday, July 11 at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit  the programs of the Birmingham-Jefferson Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The fun starts today at 9 a.m. CDT when South Africa takes on Mexico in Johannesburg.

If you know of anywhere else that’s showing matches during the tournament, add them to the comments section of this post.

On the agenda: A new use for our old home

Pale Eddie's comes to 2nd Ave. N. acnatta/FlickrWe weren’t there for that long (we haven’t been gone for that long either), but there is already a new use planned for the space once known as Shift Workspace.

2308 2nd Avenue North is currently on this morning’s Birmingham City Council agenda as Item 5 (it’s on consent); the space will see new life later on this year as Pale Eddie’s Pour House.

It was one of three businesses that recently went before the Central City Neighborhood association to ask for support of their liquor license applications. Jeremy Erdreich attended the meeting and describes how each of the applicants will affect the commercial scene on 2nd Avenue North on BhamarchitectUrban Standard‘s application signals their intention to serve dinner while the other application signals new life for the Gypsy Market. Tomorrow’s meeting will have five such applications with only one recommendation for denial among them.

The former Positive Maturity facility in downtown Ensley will also be seeing a new use according to Item 21. Ironically, it is one of the city owned properties that would be considered for sale or auction according to Councilor Smitherman’s submitted Item 28. She has also submitted Item 29, one that would ask the mayor to survey city employees to ask for their suggestions for cutting costs. Their suggestions would be due by May 31.

The fun starts when the live stream begins at 9 a.m.

Photo: Pale Eddie’s comes to 2nd Ave. N. acnatta/Flickr