No visit to Birmingham would be complete without a tour of the important civil rights sites. But there’s plenty more to do around Alabama’s biggest city. Here are some recommendations from in-the-know locals.
LUNCH WITH THE LOCALS
“THE GARAGE CAFE [5] is attached to these old garages, where they have a lot of old, antique doors from all over the world. It’s a neat, hidden little place … a real local spot. It seems like the beer is a little colder there, but I may be wrong. Another is O’CARR’S [6]. It’s tiny; you can pretty much hear three conversations at the same time. And you seem to see a lot of the who’s who of Birmingham.”
-- Jeff Pierce, co-owner of the Big Sky Bread Company
GET YOUR FILL OF SOUTHERN STAPLES
“HIGHLANDS BAR AND GRILL [7] is the flagship restaurant of Frank Stitt, a chef who is known for doing seasonal local cuisine. One of his signature dishes is stone-ground baked grits. It’s been on the menu for 25 years. It’s grits done gourmet. NIKI’S WEST [8] is [also] a true Southern experience. As you’re standing in line, pay attention: Look over the shoulders of people and see [what’s being served ]. When it’s your turn, they’ll say, ‘May I help you, ma’am?,’ and they will wait approximately 1.5 seconds for you to respond. Then they will say, ‘May I help you?’ And the third time, it’s just, ‘Ma’am?’ [It’s] a lot of pressure, so decide in advance.”
-- Kim Cross, editor of CookingLight.com and former associate travel editor for Southern Living
LISTEN TO LOCAL (AND NATIONAL) LEGENDS JAZZ IT UP
“At ONA’S MUSIC ROOM [9], you feel as if they’re playing in your living room. It’s a nice, mellow, happy atmosphere. It’s always good, but I’m sure the weekend is a little bit better. There’s also STEEL URBAN LOUNGE [10]. They always have a jazz combo playing. It’s a little high-tech [inside], but it’s a nice vibe.”
-- Leah Tucker, executive director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
“I love exploring downtown and its revitalization. My favorite coffeehouse, URBAN STANDARD [1], [is in that area]. It’s known for its strawberry cupcakes. And a couple of doors down is WHAT’S ON SECOND [2], a pop-culture antiques shop [that has] vintage postcards from everywhere in the world.”
-- Charles Buchanan, a block-print artist who focuses on images of Birmingham
RAISE A GLASS OF HOLIDAY CHEER
“There’s a sushi restaurant called JINSEI [4], which is a good place to just go and hang and have cocktails. It has a cool atmosphere and a nice Champagne selection by the glass, as well as lots of seasonal cocktails. And THE BARKING KUDU [3] has a great music scene with lots of live music.”
-- Chris Hastings, chef and co-owner of Hot and Hot Fish Club
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COOL YOUR JETS AMIDST THE FLURRY OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING … “The
SOUTHERN HISTORY DEPARTMENT has murals by Ezra Winters around the walls. They depict all kinds of scenes of fables. If you’re even slightly interested [in genealogy], you can find something in there that will peak your interest, and you’ll want to stay forever.”
-- Barbara Sirmans, library director, Birmingham Public LibraryLIGHT UP THE SEASON … “
ZOOLIGHT SAFARI [at the
BIRMINGHAM ZOO] is an unbelievable light show. … Everything in the zoo is lit up. And little neighborhoods have their own [lighting] deals. In
COLONIAL HILLS, everybody gets a fir tree and puts those big, old lightbulbs on them, not those little teeny decorative lights. The neighborhoods really take ownership in the lighting.”
-- Brian Mackin, athletic director, University of Alabama, BirminghamCORNER THE ART SCENE … “[On basically one corner] there’s William Christenberry’s,
Southern Monument No. 1, a piece by German artist Stephen Balkenhol, and a wonderful painting by Valerie Jaudon. The three pieces are right by
REED BOOKS and
SAFARI CUP. It’s a great corner. [Within the museum,] everybody should see the Albert Bierstadt,
Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California, 1865. It’s one of the most revered Bierstadts in the world.”
-- Gail Andrews, director, Birmingham Museum of ArtIf You Go...
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Carver Theatre
1631 Fourth Avenue North
(205) 254-2731
www.jazzhall.comThe Barking Kudu
2929 Seventh Avenue South
(205) 328-1748
www.barkingkudu.comBig Sky Bread Company
2812 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook
(205) 870-1935
www.bigskybreadcompany.comBirmingham Museum of Art
2000 Eighth Avenue North
(205) 254-2565
www.artsbma.orgBirmingham Public Library Central Library
2100 Park Place
(205) 226-3600
www.bham.lib.al.usBirmingham Zoo
2630 Cahaba Road
(205) 879-0409
www.birminghamzoo.comEast Lake Park
116 84th Street North
(205) 836-5312
Garage Cafe
2304 Tenth Terrace South
(205) 322-3220
www.garagecafe.usHighlands Bar and Grill
2011 11th Avenue South
(205) 939-1400
www.highlandsbarandgrill.comJinsei
1830 29th Avenue South
(205) 802-1440
www.jinseisushi.comNiki’s West
233 Finley Avenue West
(205) 252-5751
O’Carr’s
2909 18th Street South
(205) 879-2196
www.birminghammenus.com/ocarrsOna’s Music Room
423 20th Street South
(205) 322-4662
www.onasmusicroom.comReed Books and the Museum of Fond Memories
2021 Third Avenue North
(205) 326-4460
www.jimreedbooks.comSafari Cup
300 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North
(205) 326-0019
www.safaricup.comSteel Urban Lounge
2300 First Avenue North
(205) 324-0666
www.steelurbanlounge.comUrban Standard
2320 Second Avenue North
(205) 250-8200
www.urbanstandard.netWhat’s On Second
2306 Second Avenue North
(205) 322-2688