Monthly Archives: March 2014

Is the sixth time the charm for Highlands?

Posted on March 19, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Frank StittThe finalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards were announced this morning in Chicago, IL and posted to the organization’s website. Among the nominees for outstanding restaurant is Birmingham’s Highlands Bar and Grill. It is the sixth year in a row it has been a finalist for the prestigious award.

Business Insider posted about the announcement yesterday on their own website (it was syndicated on several others) and were apparently not aware of the restaurant’s current streak, writing it was a “somewhat surprisingly” inclusion. It is co-owned by 2001 winner of the James Beard award for Best Chef – Southeast, and 2011 Who’s Who of Food & Beverage inductee Frank Stitt. The restaurateur, based on this AL.com piece shared today, is treating the nomination as old-hat.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony in early May in New York City.

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Birminghamlet? Yes. Other cities doing it? Check.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

birminghamletcoverIt was only a matter of time. When Carrie Brownstein of Portlandia partially name-checked Birmingham during an interview with Salon in late 2012, it got a little buzz. The full acknowledgement of being Portland-like in an interview with Splitsider in early 2013 caused a wild sensation locally online.

Now, local Ian Cunningham has shown us what the opening to a similar show based in Birmingham would look like. Behold, Birminghamlet:

For reference, here’s the Portlandia opening:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qzsEzRPgO4?w=625]

Now, it’s not the only alternate version of the opening getting attention in recent weeks. Besides the one created for Asheville, NC included in yesterday’s AL.com post, there’s this one from Homewood, IL (just outside of Chicago):

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfRrOXFnGkk?w=625]

This could take off like Tebowing – or Spanning. It’s got to be only expanding the reach of the creator of the show’s intro theme, Washed Out.

 

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Courteney Cox to make feature film directorial debut at Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on March 7, 2014 by | Leave a comment

courteney_cox_0214_more_us_02The Tribeca Film Festival announced its 2014 lineup yesterday. Birmingham native Courteney Cox’s first cinematic directorial effort, Just Before I Go, will make its debut as one of the 31 films included in the festival’s Spotlight section.

Cox has previously directed nine episodes to date of of her television series Cougar Town, in addition to a 2012 Lifetime movie, Tall Hot Blonde. She’s also not the only one to take a turn behind the camera, as this post on Hollywood.com from last June when we first learned about it. The festival runs April 16 – 27.

The New Artists Alliance film is a comedy-drama based on a screenplay by producer/writer David Flebotte and starring Seann William Scott (American Pie), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), and Missi Pyle (The Artist).

Photo: via alien_artifact/Flickr.

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