Weekly newsletter: Cheers to Dad (June 14th, 2017)
Reading time: 7 minutes
Join every other cool person in the ‘ham who already subscribes to our newsletter.
Catch up this week on some Bham Now stories you might have missed.
It’s been an eventful June so far, and it ain’t over yet. Check out what’s up:
June 14th.
Sloss Tech 2017
Last year, Sloss Tech was the inaugural tech event for entrepreneurs and tech-junkies alike. With an even stronger lineup this year at the intimate Lyric Theatre, you’ll likely be able to literally smell the startup company ideas churning. Catch NFL Hall-of-Famer and entrepreneur, Tiki Barber, and YouTube star Casey Neistat as they headline the event in addition to local speakers:
- Bill Smith, CEO and Founder of Shipt
- Will Pearson, Co-Founder of Mental Floss
- Dr. Julian Maha, Founder of KultureCity
Bham Now BOLD Speaker Series
Hear Dave Gray, CEO of Daxko, speak on how he’s moving Birmingham forward in a BOLD way. Be sure to join us upstairs at Avondale Brewery, June 29th at 5:30PM. The event is FREE, so we know you’ll be there. RSVP and more info here.
As a special surprise at our event, we will be giving away a pair of passes to Sloss Tech 2017. Quick math: that’s over $400 worth of tickets! You’ll have no chance for FOMO.
Cheers to Dad
This Father’s Day (Sunday!), get your nature-loving pop something he’ll enjoy – a book about our state’s natural and accessible lands. Stop by Books-A-Million this week after work and grab a copy of Exploring Wild Alabama by Ken Willis and Larry Davenport. The book was actually inspired by the authors’ fathers, so there’s no better day to gift this novel. Exploring provides readers with descriptions of around 150 natural wonders that can be visited. Dad might be asking for a road trip in the near future.
Patio Prettiness
The weather is less erratic these days, with less random rain showers throughout the day and more bearable temperatures at night. With this glorious peak of the year comes patio dining, and Bham is not skimping on that. We posted a guide last week to some amazing patio dining spots, and because of the great reception from our fab readers, we’ve posted a follow up with even more patio dining options. Do you fancy seafood, tapas, Italian, Mexican, or straight up alcohol? Yeah, we know you do.
Craft Beer + The J. Clyde = *heart eyes emoji*
The J. Clyde got some national recognition last week when a CraftBeer.com article named them as one of the “6 Craft Beer Bars That Changed Their City’s Beer Scene”. Whoa. Also, agreed. Pretty proud that my first ever bar was a pioneer for the city. Birmingham was the smallest city listed among the others in the article. We call it Magic.
Best-Kept Breakfast Secret?
This week’s #SmallBizSpotlight is on Bayle’s Catering Services in Woodlawn. In case you didn’t know, you can get a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, grits and toast for only $4. Is this heaven? Bayle’s also serves up a gorgeous catering spread from light hors d’oeuvres to full meals like lasagna (which also happens to be owner Tony Bayle’s proudest dish). Bayle believes in giving customers a great experience in food and service, while also ensuring that customers feel like they’re spending their money in the right place. We have no doubt about that!
Drop the Puck
Hockey is back in Birmingham and that ain’t no bull. The Birmingham Bulls’ official 2017-2018 sched’ was posted this past week with a total of 56 games, half being at home (the Pelham Civic Complex). Most home games will be played on Friday or Saturday nights, so most of you won’t have to call into work the next day. The Bulls’ season kicks off on November 3rd against the Knoxville Bears.
Florists FTW
What’s pretty, fun, and sure your brighten your day? Well, probably your cat, but also FLOWERS. Let’s talk about one of my favorite things in the world in one of my favorite places in the world. We’ve put together a guide to local florists to steer you through your flower pickin’ days. Whether you just need a nice pick-me-up in your cubicle or a gorgeous centerpiece for that wedding in the fall, we know who you need to call.
Kiddos Hammin’ it Up
With the kids out of school for the summer, the likelihood of playful accidents go up. We spoke to Debbie Coshatt of Children’s Patient Health and Safety for some tips on home safety. Not only did we get some helpful insight on physical injuries like falling or biking, but also some disaster protocol tips through communication with sitters and older siblings. Read more on that here.
Soon-to-be parents, we like you too, so this one is for you. Still not sure about where in Birmingham to bring your baby into this world? It can be a hard decision, but you’re sure to be in great care anywhere you choose. Both of my sisters chose different hospitals in the city and they received excellent care in regular and NICUnits at both hospitals. It’s all a matter of preference. We have a guide for that. Sending butterfly kisses so those precious babes.
Let’s Go to the Beach, Each
Remember last November when we voted on all those Alabama amendments? Because voters approved Amendment 2, state parks are now able to begin making delayed maintenance improvements and budget for long-term projects. ICYMI, voting “yes” on the Amendment prevented AL State Parks System money from being transferred to the General Fund. Our backyard state park, Oak Mountain, is one of the biggest beneficiaries since it is the largest in the state. Expect a re-worked beach area, new fishing piers, bike lanes, a volleyball court, and ADA compliant sidewalks. The Alabama Wildlife Center is also on board with their plans to construct enclosures for a Eurasion eagle-owl and two bald eagles. Let’s do our part by taking nothing but pictures and leaving nothing but footprints 🙂
Taking the “pain” out of “campaign”
Top 3 Events This Week
- Mean Girls @ the Alabama Theatre. Friday, June 16th. 7PM. $8.
- Straight Outta Zydeco Vol. VI @ Zydeco. Old school hip hop night. Saturday, June 17th. 10PM. $5. 18+
- 2017 Birmingham Taco Fest @ Avondale Brewery. Saturday, June 17th. 1PM. $5 in advance / $10 at the door.
PLUS: Check out Producer James’ top 10 picks for the week. It’s a week for networking.
Want more? We’ve been busy adding over 3,000 events to the Bham Now calendar.
Guide: NEW! Guide to the best Birmingham Bakeries.
Weather: Starting tomorrow, expect rain through the beginning of next week. Highs in the high 80s and lows in the low 70s. Can’t complain too much with that kind of consistency.
Eat: Shish tawook and spinach salad from Makario’s Grill.
Job: Account Manager/Customer Service Representative @ S.S. Nesbitt. Apply.
Adorable and Adoptable: Double dogs this week. Meet Dex (left) and Hazel (right). Dex is a 4-year-old hound and collie mix and Hazel is Belgian Shepherd Malinois Mix. Meet, love, and adopt them at the GBHS.
I went on a social mixer Birmingham Pedal Tour on Monday and let me tell y’all… It was SO much fun. I knew 0% of the people in the beginning and ended up with a few new Instagram followers. I recommend doing this with a small group of your friends or even alone like I did (and I’m an introvert).
I hope your weekend plans consist of tons of fun. You deserve it. As always, thanks for reading Bham Now!
Hunter Holland, Producer
Let me know what’s up – hunter@bhamnow.com
Did a nice person share this with you? Sign up for this newsletter.
