100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die, 2nd Edition

by Verna Gates

Overview

They called it the Magic City. Birmingham sprang up fast, as if a magician’s wand pulled skyscrapers out of a valley surrounded by mountains. The combination of beauty made by man and nature, compliments a vibrant city pulsing with activity—on the sidewalk or the trail. Some come for the fine dining at restaurants such as one named America’s Best Restaurant by James Beard. Others for the challenging mountain biking trails. Historic theaters house nationally-recognized film festivals. Music throbs from bars, restaurants and even churches, where ancient Sacred Harp dirges are sung by visitors from around the world. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Trail trace the struggle that changed a nation. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame will have you bowing before the “Roll Tide” in a state where football is crowned king. In 100 Things to Do in Birmingham, you will discover the famous places along with hidden treasures of a city pulsing with character, charm and striking natural beauty. Named America’s greenest city, Birmingham is surrounded by Red Mountain, Ruffner Mountain, Oak Mountain and Moss Rock, all offering trails for hiking, biking, bouldering and orienteering. The Cahaba River, the most biodiverse river in America, offers canoeing, swimming, fishing and large, rare flowers blooming in its shoals. In the tree-lined buildings, you will find one of the regions’ finest art museums or perhaps a quirky museum celebrating an obscure poet revered by Japanese visitors.
Whether it’s the best barbecue or martini, a picture-perfect round of golf, or where to find clothes by famed local designers, Birmingham-native Verna Gates is ready to be your personal guide to the best the Magic City has to offer.Great food, sports, entertainment and nature make Birmingham a great place to find 100 things to do.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681063751
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	06/01/2022
Series:	100 Things to Do Before You Die Series
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	436,281
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.10(d)

About the Author

Verna Gates was born in Birmingham and can trace her local heritage back four generations to a land grant farm. She began her career as one of the original crew that launched CNN. After moving back to her beloved home, she spent 25 years covering the state for TIME magazine and Reuters International. She has received a lifetime achievement award from the National Federation of Presswomen.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Food and Drink

1 Pass the James Beard Awards at Highlands Bar and Grill 2

2 Heat Up at One of the Hottest Restaurants, Hot and Hot Fish Club 4

3 Make It Automatic for Seafood 6

4 Get a Taste of the Gulf at the Fish Market 7

5 Red Light Means Go to Chez Lulu 8

6 Coddle Your Egg at Satterfield's 9

7 You'll Be Over the Moon at the Bright Star 10

8 Join a Family Affair at Gianmarco's 11

9 Ride the Blimp to Roots and Revelry 12

10 Yo' Mama Knows Her Fried Chicken 13

11 Carve Steaks That Hang off the Plate at Lloyd's Restaurant 14

12 Soar with Soul Food from the Heart at Eagle's Restaurant 15

13 Indulge in a Vegetarian's Dream at a Steak and Seafood Restaurant 16

14 Brake for Lunch at the Original Whistle Stop Café 17

15 No Need to Go to Philly for a Great Cheesesteak 18

16 Comfort Food Found a New Comfort Zone at Johnny's Restaurant 19

17 A Lot of Shaking Going On at Green Valley Drugs 20

18 Pop Goes the Summer Heat with Popsicles and Ice Cream 21

19 You Won't Find Your Average Junkyard Dog at Gus's 22

20 Milo's Is Known for Its Hamburger, Famous for Its Tea 24

21 Black-Eyed Peas and Turnip Greens Make Pizza Southern Style 26

22 Pit Masters Rule in Alabama Barbecue 28

Music and Entertainment

23 Soar as High Culture Dances, Sings, and Plays 34

24 Drink in an Opera Shot 35

25 LOL in Real Time at the Comedy Club 36

26 Periodically, You Need a Drink at the Collins Bar 37

27 Unfold a Jazzed-Up Paper Doll 38

28 Bow Before the Queen 39

29 Rise as the Moon Shines on the Sleeping Lady 40

30 Blast Off to Saturn-Out of This World 41

31 Park Yourself in the Garage for a Great Time 42

32 Steel Away to Iron City 43

33 Remember Mom's Basement? 44

34 Kiss the Marble Ring 45

35 Join the Quest for an Alternative 46

36 Feel Foxy at the Fennec 47

37 Take the Brews Cruise, It's Pretty Crafty 48

38 Find the Best Music and Dancing, Bar None 50

39 At 2 a.m., Where Do You Go? To the Nick 51

40 Make Moorish Fun at the Alabama Theater 52

41 Return to the Golden Era at the Lyric Theater 53

42 Encounter Reel Fun at the Sidewalk Film Fest 54

43 Tune to Colonial with the National Sacred Harp Singing Convention 55

44 Salute Birmingham for Starting Veterans Day Parades 56

45 Going to the Dogs on Do Dah Day 57

46 Make the Magic City Art Connection, Bridging People to Art 58

47 Shhhh … Find the Secret Stages 59

48 Party with Gusto at the Greek Festival 60

49 Embrace Your Inner Tacky at the Wacky Tacky Light Tours 61

Sports and Recreation

50 Accelerate to Talladega Superspeedway 64

51 Get Your Motor Running at Barber Motorsports 65

52 Play Ball at Regions Field/Classic at Rickwood 66

53 Be Bullish on Birmingham 67

54 Walk Where Legends Live On 68

55 Honor the Greats at the Negro Southern League Museum 70

56 Feast on Football, Food, and Fun at the Magic City Classic 71

57 Tee Off at Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses 72

58 Set Your Compass for Oak Mountain State Park 73

59 Canoe the Cahaba, Swim in a Swimming Hole 74

60 Get Rolling at Railroad Park 76

61 Trunks Are Up at Avondale Park 77

62 Spring for Snowflakes in Aldridge Gardens 78

63 Follow the Iron Road at Red Mountain Park 79

64 Learn a Boulder Way to Live at Moss Rock Preserve 80

65 Have a Blooming Good Time at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens 81

66 Horn In on a Roaring Good Time at the Birmingham Zoo 82

67 Amp the Amphibians at the Salamander Festival 83

Culture and History

68 Vulcan, the God of the Forge, Watches over Us 86

69 Experiment at the McWane Science Center 87

70 Dig the Time before Dinosaurs Roamed 88

71 Enter Birmingham's Antebellum Past at Arlington 89

72 Meet the Spirits Who Haunt Us 90

73 Hear Stories Come Alive at Oak Hill Cemetery 91

74 Picture Centuries of Beauty at the Birmingham Museum of Art 92

75 Prepare for a Sensory Overload at Joe Minter's Yard 93

76 Trace the Road to Freedom on the Civil Rights Trail 94

77 Have a Blast at Sloss Furnaces 96

78 Take Off at the Southern Museum of Flight 97

79 Feel Young Again at the Samuel Ullman Museum 98

80 No Tuxedo Required at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 99

81 Watch Perfection Made Perfect at Virginia Samford Theatre 100

82 Grasp the Edge of Your Seat at Birmingham Festival Theatre 101

83 Put a Song in Your Heart at Red Mountain Theatre 102

84 Act Right for the Children 103

Shopping and Fashion

85 Local Is Great at Alabama Goods 106

86 Sip the Spirits of the First Lady of Liquor 107

87 Seek Southern-Style Glam at Gus Mayer 108

88 Flash Fashion-Forward at Etc.… 109

89 Get Back to the basic 110

90 Go Where Comfort Is in Style 111

91 Put the Man Back in Men's Fashions 112

92 Step Back into Old-World Elegance at Shaia's of Homewood 114

93 Sprinkle Your World with Fairy Dust and White Flowers 115

94 Get Dolled Up for Barbie's Dreamhonse 116

95 Take the Dr. Pepper Cure 117

96 Every Book Is Signed at the Alabama Booksmith 118

97 Purchase the Past on the Alabama Antique Trail 120

98 Shop a City Store Older than the City, Bromberg's 122

99 Get Your Peanuts at the Peanut Depot 123

100 Reed Books and Museum of Fond Memories 124

Activities by Season 127

Suggested Itineraries 130

Index 139