Hope you’ve got your festival hats ready. It’s gonna be a big week around here.

July 12th.

Bham Now G I V E A W A Y S
We’re in the home stretch of two event ticket giveaways.

Win 2 free Sloss Tech tickets (ends TODAY @ 5PM)
Win 4 free Newsies tickets (ends Friday, July 14th @ 5PM)

Click those links and follow the instructions like the good winner that you (definitely) are.

Fire in Our Eyes & Fero in Our Bellies
Y’all said, “There are too many delicious options at Pizitz Food Hall!” And then Pizitz said, “Sorry, not sorry. We’re throwin’ another at ya.” Say hello to Fero, a full-service Italian restaurant with Southern and Mediterranean inspirations. Reclaimed wood and cold rolled steel make up the industrial, yet warm, interior. As for the food, think local produce, bold flavors, and spices to die for. Now open. Welcome to the famiglia, Fero.

Hits and Giggles
Hey all you tennis fans, have we got just the guide for you. We’ve gathered a few of the best public tennis courts to try out for your next practice sesh. Ensley, Homewood, and Glen Iris show up and show out with their fantastic facilities. TBH, I’ve only ever been on a tennis court to watch friends play and have a pizza date, but this guide makes me want to branch out. Deuces.

Qan You Pronounce Quinoa?
Bham Now put out another guide on where to pick up healthy produce. Check out healthy grocery stores in Birmingham. We’ve got Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and Organic Harvest all on deck. And we trust the source (Kayleigh). She’s our resident expert on all things healthy. There seems to be a perception that healthy/organic groceries are always more expensive than big box. I took a note from the guide and visited Sprouts in Vestavia. Spent very little monies and came out with lots of fresh goods. I promptly fell in love.

Empire -> Elyton
The “Heaviest Corner on Earth” recently had a member receive a major renovation and *gasp* a new name. Goodbye Empire Building, hello Elyton Hotel. The luxury hotel is opening its doors for biz TODAY. But in case you don’t want to stay a night in a hotel down the street from your house, you are still more than welcome to stop in and grab lunch or dinner at The Yard, or enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop bar—Moon Shine. The restaurant and bar open on July 19th. Still probably gonna slip in conversation and call it the Empire Building, though. Whoops.

Stay #Spoke
This week’s #SmallBizSpotlight shines on Spokesman Cycle Ads, a mobile marketing and advertising service. The concept is simple. Owner Shawn Fitzwater hops on his bike with a small billboard hitched behind him, and he rides through Downtown Birmingham and all of Homewood. Fitzwater and his father built the ad carrier from scratch, and its handy storage compartment holds extra ad panels, spare parts, a bike pump, and lunch, of course. You’ll be able to see the Cycle Ads out and about on weekends, as of right now. If your business is being advertised, there’s a special live GPS feature where you can watch and control the route in real time. Also, can we talk about the incredible pun of Spokesman as a bicycling advertiser? Read more about this cool business here.

The Candy Man Can
You might know him as The Candy Man, or Donnie, or the bright light on your lunchtime trek. Donnie Goodin is the most popular travelling salesman in Birmingham. You’ve seen him in front of Chick-Fil-A on 5th Ave N, at Western Market on Highland Ave, or The Fish Market near UAB. For 40 years he’s been selling candy, and for only a dollar a piece. One of the first things you’ll notice about Donnie (other than his bright smile) is that he is in a motorized wheelchair. Last year, his specially-equipped, highly relied-on van was on its last legs. A GoFundMe was set up for him to purchase a used handicap van, and the campaign earned over $19,000. The still-running campaign is now dedicated to funding his 24/7 living and caregiver expenses. See the campaign here.

Natural Treasure
Last week, our Director, Pat Byington, made a special trip to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson. Just a little bit about Turkey Creek: It’s a Forever Wild Property that was made possible through a partnership among a local grassroots group called START, the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, Freshwater Land Trust, the city of Pinson’s Forever Wild Land Trust and countless local citizens. There are seven federally protected species at Turkey Creek including three species of darters, two kinds of bats, a flattened musk turtle, and the eared cone flower. The water at Turkey Creek is also some of the cleanest in the state, which is reassuring to have so close to home. Read the full interview with Preserve Manager Charles Yeager about this natural treasure. Also, check out the Float Your Boat Festival this Saturday at the Preserve.

Keep it Magical
City Council recently announced that it *may* be making 20th Street N a pedestrian way. You know, the beautiful, tree-lined brick drive with your favorite arcade bar (Paramount) and fancy eatin’ (Bistro Two Eighteen and Cafe Dupont). If closed to make way for pedestrians, the Magic City Connector would still be allowed on 20th but would run for free. Personally, I think this street is too pretty to just drive through. It must be walked. This would also be a must-see for tourists. If it happens, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the trees to stay and some twinkling lights up above.

Taking the “pain” out of campaign
Election is getting closer, y’all. We’re aiming to make it a little easier for you.

Top 4 Events This Week

Sloss Tech 2017 @ The Lyric Theatre. July 14th. 8:30AM-6PM. Lookin’ like it’s sold out. Last chance to win tickets!
Birmingbrawl! @ Good People Brewing. Because I know you’re loving GLOW on Netflix. July 14th. 8PM. $10.
Boxwars @ UAB Green. Cardboard armor war. Warriors must forfeit suits to children post-battle. July 15th. 10:30AM-3PM. FREE.
Sloss Music & Arts Festival @ Sloss Furnaces. Shout out to my RME fam. July 15th & 16th. Single-day passes at $95 +fees. Weekend GA passes start at $135. Upgraded tickets available.

PLUS: Check out Producer James’ top 10 picks for the week. So much fun is going to be had.

Want more? We’ve been busy adding over 3,300 events to the Bham Now calendar.

Bite-sized
Guide: Bham Now’s guide to viewing the eclipse – from Birmingham. More on that closer to August 21st.
Weather: Hot and muggy. (surprise!) Looks like some possible rain throughout the week. Highs in the high 80s and lows in the low 70s.
Eat: Danish Kijafa Cherry Crepes from The Original Pancake House.
Job: Business Intelligence Analyst @ EBSCO. Apply.
Adorable and Adoptable: Meet senior kit-izens Max (left) and Sassy (right). They’ve got as many lives as they have years, and they would love to call you their parent.