Tag Archives: information

The greenway system formerly known as Our One Mile…

Greenwood Park in progressProgress continues at the site located just between Tallapoosa and Coosa Sts., I-20/59 and Vanderbilt Road soon to be known as Greenwood Park. It’s one of the pieces of what could be described as a ribbon of green running through the metro Birmingham region if citizens push to see plans revealed tonight (Tuesday) realized.

That’s when the Freshwater Land Trust will publicly unveil what’s been referred to until now as the Our One Mile initiative during an event at the Birmingham Museum of Art. It starts at 5:30 p.m. The event will also include the formal announcement of the winner of the FTH’s Name our Greenway System contest – and the $1,000 that goes with it.

This is a possible game-changer in terms of how people live and move through our region. It’s also a good reason to take a look at one part of town where the pieces are already falling into place for this to happen over on Dear Birmingham.

A lot of the web is on strike. Here’s why

sopastrike landing pageUPDATE: It looks like today’s efforts have been effective, if not successful, according to The New York Times‘ website this afternoon.

Some of you may have already attempted to access sites like Wikipedia or Craigslist this morning and noticed it’s not quite business as usual. They are a couple of the major sites that have chosen to participate in today’s Internet Blackout Day to protest the upcoming vote on Senate Bill 968: The Protect IP Act (known online as PIPA). Incidentally, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales happens to be an Alabama native (Huntsville to be exact).

If you’re visiting our site today, you’ll notice a black ribbon in the upper-right hand corner that will take you to a site that helps explain why this is all happening.

UPDATE: The folks at mental_floss did a great job of laying out what’s going on too.

You may want to take a moment and actually read the bills in question for yourself – both PIPA and SOPA (they’re in PDF format).

Take a look at how some of the more prominent voices (including Wales and Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg) in the ongoing debate over the bill said as part of a collection of op-eds published today on the BBC’s website. You may also take a look at ProPublica’s analysis showing where our local delegation stands on this issue.

For the record, in the Senate Sessions is supporting SOPA while Shelby is undecided. None of the members of Alabama’s House delegation have made their intentions known as of this time.

There is an alternative that is supported by many of the folks participating in the blackout today – the OPEN Act.

Local television stations live stream Shuttlesworth funeral

This Monday morning sees large crowds gathering at Faith Chapel Christian Center on Birmingham’s west side for the public funeral service for and celebration of the life of Rev. Fred. L. Shuttlesworth. The civil rights leader died on October 5.

Those unable to get to the service can watch it online via webcasts available from each of the major television network stations in town.

The service is also being broadcast on most of those station’s primary digital stations. The order of service is also available for reference (though some changes have been made due in part to the shoulder injury sustained by Sephira Shuttlesworth on October 23).

Help shape Birmingham’s vision on October 22

Logo for The Birmingham Comprehensive Plan processThis Saturday morning some folks will head to Talladega for Sunday’s race, Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tide’s annual battle with Tennessee, and area households and watering holes to prepare to watch Auburn’s game against LSU.

Organizers hope a large crowd will also be gathered at the Birmingham CrossPlex on the city’s west side between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – ready to help shape the city of Birmingham’s future.

Those in attendance will be participating in the citywide visioning session – kicking off public participation in the city of Birmingham’s first comprehensive plan since 1961 (and announced back in July by Mayor Bell).

This process – The Plan – appears to be shaping up to be a more holistic one than what was carried out then – perhaps with some sections looking at issues similar to the audit conducted at that time (delivered only in draft form) and available as a PDF thanks to The Heaviest Corner.

We could try to explain what a comp plan is ourselves, but figured it made more sense to link to the project website’s about page and share the language included in this overview flyer:

A comprehensive plan (“comp plan”) is a strategic framework for future action to guide the physical and economic development of the city based on the community’s vision and goals. During the planning process, residents get a chance to understand and consider a range of opportunities, constraints, and options in a systematic way. The Plan will help the City of Birmingham actively seek positive change and deflect negative change, rather than simply react to change after it has occurred…

Maybe we’ll see some comments tomorrow about how the session went?

NOTE: Terminal Station Master André Natta is a member of the Comp Plan steering committee (full list as PDF).

UPDATE: Brew B-Q at the “14th St. Entertainment District” tomorrow

UPDATE: We’ve been informed that this is a beer tasting event hosted by Piggly Wiggly in the parking next to Good People Brewing Co. Check out this flyer for more information. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Magic City Harvest and Alabama Tornado Relief.

Good People Brewing logoYou figured with all of the excitement among craft brewers in Alabama about the passage and signing of the Brewery Modernization Act into law that it wouldn’t take long for one of them to announce take part in a their post BMA event.

Well, wait no more – Good People Brewing Co. will be the answer (sort of) to that trivia question here in Birmingham, AL and it’s this Thursday.

It’s already shaping up to be a fairly busy day in the Magic City with the YP Street Fair taking place along 2nd Ave. N. between 23rd and 24th Streets and the Birmingham Museum of Art holding a VIP party for the opening of their Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibit. Craft beer fans can now add a visit to the parking lot next to Good People’s home on 14th Street South to the list for Brew B-Q, an event being hosted by Piggly Wiggly. Tickets are currently available for $25 at all area Piggly Wiggly locations. A beer tasting as well as Full Moon BBQ is included. There will apparently also be a chance to win a private beer dinner for 10 people.

Happy International Tee Day!

White Terminal TYes, today’s the first day of summer! It’s also the fourth annual International T-shirt Day, making it appropriate to write about the It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham t-shirts that we’ve currently got available for sale on the site.

There are several reasons to get the shirt. It’s just a cool-looking t-shirt whether in black or white. It’s a great conversation starter both inside and outside of metro Birmingham.

It’s also a great way to help us raise funds to expand the staff of The Terminal this summer. It’s one of several approaches we’ll be taking in the coming months, including voluntary subscriptions and sponsorships (more info coming soon).

We need to sell at least 250 shirts by this Friday, June 24, for this to work as a first step. The shirts cost $20 ($15 + $5 for shipping via USPS). I’d like to thank those who’ve already purchased t-shirts (18 as of this post). Those of you who used Google Checkout to complete the sale, please be aware that they have not shipped yet; there is a glitch in the system that sends both emails. Those orders that we can fill with existing stock on hand will be sent out no later than Friday evening, June 24. If we are unable to reach the goal and as a result unable to fill your order as of Friday evening, your purchase will be refunded at that time.

We hope you’ll help us spread the word so that we’re able to reach our goal using any and all methods available to you. Thanks in advance for your help and your continued support!

Camp Taco empire expands

Fans of Camp Taco who ventured into Homewood in recent days may have done a double take after seeing the logo hanging over a former Qdoba location.

It appears that the Five Points South-based restaurant is preparing to open a new location on Greensprings Hwy, one that gives them much more space and an outdoor patio so regulars have another option of where to enjoy their meals.

The Qdoba location it replaces was the last one operating in Alabama. The metro area had two locations as late as early last year. The other location, at 18th Street and 5th Ave. S., closed in early 2010 and was replaced that May by a Moe’s Southwest Grill.