Tag Archives: photo

Almost time to visit the P.U.B.

Posted on February 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

TEPUBsignTraffic driving by the new Westin Birmingham nearing completion next to Southeastern Conference headquarters in downtown Birmingham noticed a new addition to the city’s collection of neon signs on Monday.

The sign over the entrance to Todd English P.U.B. (short for Public Urban Bar) now lights a portion of the base of the anchor to the city’s newest entertainment district, Uptown. Workers were inside the space last night making sure it’ll be ready for when the hotel is scheduled to open – February 14.

UpTown’s Twitter account and the BJCC’s Facebook account have announced a way for you to score access to an invite-only preview of the restaurant on February 12. Considering the only way to try the food before then is a trip to the other location is in Las Vegas (it opened in March 2010), it sounds like a pretty interesting contest to enter.

Now you’ve got to wonder if the seven-second beer slam mentioned in the Twitter profile for the Las Vegas location will apply here too…

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Posted in 35203, food

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Riley signs film incentives into law

Posted on March 25, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Alabama Theater during Sidewalk Film FestivalThe Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Governor Riley had finally signed HB69 into law, creating tax incentives for the entertainment industry in Alabama. It was drafted and introduced to the Legislature by Rep. Richard Lindsey back in February, going through several revisions.

The bill was pushed along with the help of local supporters like Lindley Praytor, a local makeup artist and actress who prompted supporters into action and updated them via Facebook, and Alabama State Representative for District 60, Earl Hilliard. Hilliard serves on the Birmingham/Jefferson County Film Advisory Board and is a local film maker.

The law gives discounts on sales, income and lodging taxes to production companies spending at least $500,000 to film any type of commercial film or commercial in the state or spending at least $50,000 to make soundtracks. This will give Alabama the same chance as other states like Georgia and North Carolina to attract movie and TV production projects. Prior to this bill, film projects like Sweet Home Alabama (a movie with Alabama in its name!) were shot in neighboring Georgia because of the poor to non-existent tax incentives in the state.

Some recent film projects in Alabama include Honeydripper (directed by John Sayles) and Sony Pictures’ Talledega Nights.

Read HB69 here.

Photo: The Alabama. joshself/Flickr.

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Posted in film

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Bomb Shelter’s last blast

Posted on March 19, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Bomb Shelter image - Bob Farley/f8photo

Bob Farley/f8photo

Last night the Bomb Shelter held its last public event. About 40 people showed up for the send off. Local folk rock group Menewa started the night off with an hour or so long set followed by New York based Spottiswoode.

Members of both bands have been friends for years so Spottiswoode and his Enemies had no problem driving 11 hours from a Monday night gig in Houston (on the way back from SXSW) to be there for the send off.

Click on the image above or here to view images from the performance.

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Posted in 35203, music

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Salvador films music video along Morris Ave. downtown

Posted on February 13, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Salvador video crew

André Natta/Flickr

Wind chills in the upper teens did not stop Austin, TX-based Latin-funk band Salvador from taking to the streets of Birmingham, Alabama to film their new music video this morning. The crews were still setting up late this morning as members of the Christian funk band began to tape segments near Zen, housed in the former location of The Station while looking just a little cold. There was no word as to how long the band would be filming today along Morris Avenue.

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Posted in 35203, music

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