Got Guides?
When I say last week was a week for the people, I ain’t lying. We published lots of guides to Birmingham, so let me sum them up all nice and pretty:

• Guide to Birmingham statues – the “symbolic” edition by Pat Byington.
  • The 2nd installment in our guide to Birmingham statues. Features favs like Vulcan, Lady Liberty and The Storyteller—aka the Five Points South fountain staple. See the “people” edition here.
• Guide to the best views of Birmingham by Madeline Ingram.
  • Find the new hot spot to impress all of your out-of-town visitors. You familiar with Norwood or Tip Top Grill?
• Guide to downtown Birmingham retail by Madeline Ingram.
  • Because this is often overlooked, unfortunately. Visit the quirky, the fine and the all of them. Your suburban friends will beg you to tag along.
• A Birmingham guide getting your ‘poodle do’ – doggie groomers by Vicky Lewis.
  • Research can be overwhelming when it comes to your fur-children. There are plenty of places that will pamper your pup with a wash, trim and even add a new bandanna to the collection. The grins don’t lie.
• Get childish in Birmingham by Liz Brody.
  • The kids get Chuck E. Cheese. So lucky. But where can the adults go to let loose like a 4 year-old on pixie stix? Find your new playground.
• Bham Now’s ultimate voter’s guide by JH Daniel.
  • Because knowing how to vote in local elections should be common knowledge. The only thing we won’t tell you is who to vote for.

Bright and Shiny
The Bright Star, in the heart of Bessemer, is the state’s oldest restaurant and is also known by their James Beard recognition, and maybe even their murals. The murals, painted over 100 years ago by transient European artists, make up large art pieces inside the restaurant. The Bright Star restored the murals of German landscapes to their original beauty, and Bham Now took a little tour. See the century-old art.

To Cherish is to Volunteer

Alabama is home to some of the most beautiful State Parks in all the land. Want to cherish them even more than you already do? Volunteer. There can never be too many volunteers or donations for our beloved Parks. At Oak Mountain, the Back Country Horsemen are building horse stalls at the equestrian campground so camper’s horses can see the stars at night. At Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, a Boy Scout troop helped build and install 15 bluebird nesting boxes. The possibilities are endless. Pick your Park, and get out there.