By Susan Matlock & Michael Calvert
When my wife, Susan Matlock, and I moved downtown to the John Hand Building, we began to eat out every day.
We try to limit ourselves to just one meal out each day, but don’t always succeed. Continue reading Living in downtown Birmingham is amazing!
Today’s guest columnist is Charlie Beavers.
We are a nation which is divided in just about every respect and institution.
This has been evidenced by the recent elections and the many months of rhetoric and discord leading up to the elections. Continue reading Four men of different races, 2 black/2 white, find inspiration at Fish Market Restaurant
By David Sher
I’ve been publishing ComebackTown for 13 years and I’ve never asked you to do anything.
But this time is different.
It’s time for all of us to take action. Continue reading UAB and Birmingham are in trouble! Get off your fanny and do something!
Today’s guest columnist is Jay Taylor.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about which Alabama city is the largest in our state.
Population wise, that debate’s laughable. The truth is, more than 21 percent of Alabama’s 5.1 million residents live in metro Birmingham. Continue reading A new skyline for Birmingham
Today’s guest columnist is Blake Patterson.
As an Ole Miss alum and avid football fan living in Birmingham, I kept hearing then-Alabama football Head Coach Nick Saban lament a recurring problem: fans, especially students, weren’t staying in the stadium for the full game. As Saban pled to students, “We play for four, so stay for four,” I just couldn’t shake the idea that there had to be a way to get fans more engaged at the games. Continue reading Nick Saban’s dilemma creates million dollar idea for Birmingham entrepreneur
By David Sher
You probably won’t appreciate what I’m going to say unless you lived in Birmingham before 2010.
Prior to 2010, Birmingham had literally given up.
Nothing seemed to work and we were wrapped in a never-ending downward spiral. Continue reading Let’s make Birmingham great again
Today’s guest columnist is Tom Luckie.
When people ask me what Birmingham’s brand should be, I often remind them that a brand isn’t just a logo or a tagline – it’s all the memories and associations people have with our city. Continue reading Birmingham in line to be South’s next major success story: What’s our brand?
By James L. Baggett
The story of the 1963 Birmingham civil rights demonstrations, and the brutal response from Birmingham officials has been told many times and often told well.
But missing from these accounts is an explanation for why and how Birmingham acquired police dogs, armored cars, and firefighters trained in riot control. Continue reading Birmingham prepared for battle
Today’s guest columnist is Maury Shevin.
The City Council of Birmingham appears to be wrestling with the issue of permitting Short Term Rentals (think VRBO and Airbnb) within residential neighborhoods of the City zoned for single families. Why this “no brainer” issue has so tied up the Council in knots is beyond reason. Continue reading Birmingham throwing its homeowners under the bus?
Today’s columnist is Michael Sznajderman.
It’s a new year, a time when folks reflect on the past and ponder what’s ahead.
2025 marks 25 years I’ve lived in the Birmingham area. So much has happened in our region over the past quarter-century – some good, some not so much.
With this in mind, I present – in no particular order – 25 thoughts for 2025 about our greater Birmingham community, and beyond. Let the constructive criticism and commentary begin! Continue reading The future of Highlands Bar and Grill and 24 other things for Birmingham to ponder in 2025