Category Archives: What’s great about Birmingham

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: The city of my youth makes a comeback

December 23, 2014 David Sher 3 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Jerry Carter. It appears it’s not just young folks thrilled with Birmingham’s comeback. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I spent a number of my childhood years in the Norwood section of Birmingham in the ’40’s and early ’50’s. Those years provide the basis for my long-distance passion for the city.

I recall the old street rails for the trolleys, and buying Krystal hamburgers for 12 cents on the downtown corner of 2nd Avenue North. The animated Christmas displays each year in the windows of Pizitz and Loveman’s department stores were awesome. The Alabama Theatre was the absolute mecca for movie viewing. I still recall my amazement when the Wurlitzer organ would rise up to stage level and music would fill the large hall. Continue reading Birmingham: The city of my youth makes a comeback →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: The greatest college football city in America

October 28, 2014 David Sher 1 Comment

Hold onto your seat.

I’m about to give you some numbers that will confound and amuse you.

On October 1^st, Justin Connolly, Senior VP of ESPN Programming over College Networks, spoke to the Rotary Club of Birmingham about the new SEC Network. He said the SEC Network has been the most successful launch of a cable network in the history of television. (Oprah, eat your heart out)

Then he gave some numbers that made the audience break into spontaneous applause. Continue reading Birmingham: The greatest college football city in America →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Our Birmingham spy in New York

September 30, 2014 David Sher 2 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Deborah Layman. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I was an urban kid – born and raised in New York City. And although I’ve lived in the country near Montevallo for almost 25 years, the grid and grit of a city still make my heart beat faster. I love the feel of pavement under my feet and the sensation of being flanked by tall buildings with graceful design elements that only the pigeons can see up close. Continue reading Our Birmingham spy in New York →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Charles Barkley & Bo Jackson make empty promises

September 23, 2014 David Sher 4 Comments

This is Birmingham’s time.

We are on a roll.

Our momentum is accelerating and it’s time for our hometown heroes to put their money with their mouth is.

Bo Jackson was quoted recently by the BBJ in an article titled, Would Bo invest in Birmingham?

“I have always thought about coming home to do something greater, but the timing just hasn’t been right. I have looked at doing things within the city at different times in the past and things just didn’t pan out. It could have been anything, like bringing restaurants and supermarkets to the downtown area. I am all about doing what I can to help people. I’m a firm believer that in order to be successful, you have to employ people. My main goal to come back home was to help employ some of the unemployed.”

Continue reading Charles Barkley & Bo Jackson make empty promises →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

4 Reasons Birmingham may be the Garden of Eden

August 26, 2014 David Sher 7 Comments

My daughter, Melanie, and I finished lunch at Niki’s West and drove onto I-65 from Finley Avenue towards downtown.

Suddenly the car ahead started swerving side to side. Then it veered to the left, hit the concrete barricade, and reversed direction hitting us head on. By the time we made impact both cars were moving slowly and fortunately no one was hurt.

But what happened next was truly remarkable. Continue reading 4 Reasons Birmingham may be the Garden of Eden →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Did I make a mistake by moving back to Birmingham?

August 12, 2014 David Sher 2 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Javacia Harris Bowser. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

“I dwell in Possibility.” – Emily Dickinson

What made you want to come back to Birmingham?

A few months ago someone asked me that question and I realized I didn’t know how to answer it.

I’m a Birmingham native who first left the city just to travel about 45 minutes up the road to Tuscaloosa where I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama. But for graduate school I went nearly 3,000 miles away from home to the University of California at Berkeley. I spent a bit of time in Seattle, Washington, and then I got married and settled down in Louisville, Kentucky for several years.

But Birmingham always brings you back. Continue reading Did I make a mistake by moving back to Birmingham? →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: much richer than you think

July 15, 2014 David Sher 8 Comments

Have you ever heard someone say, “Birmingham’s limited because we don’t have the wealth of other cities?”

That’s just not true.

Many of us think of Birmingham as this impoverished town with low wages and a poor standard of living. But the facts and actions of our citizens tell another story.

I first got a hint of Birmingham’s wealth when the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) hired Market Street Services to prepare its strategic plan. One of the statistics presented was income per capita—a number I expected to be low–but I was wrong. Continue reading Birmingham: much richer than you think →

Corporate community, Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Young professional: How to make it in Birmingham

July 1, 2014 David Sher 4 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Taylor Peake Wyatt . If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

When I recently read the guest blog on ComebackTown, A 4 letter word: Why young professionals leave Birmingham, I had to respond.

I’m eager to give Birmingham’s business community the credit it deserves and to explain why I enjoy growing my career here.

I would like to answer the question how a small but vibrant city is keeping talented young professionals inspired and growing.

Being a young professional has a lot of challenges and being a young female entrepreneur has even more. There’s a lot of pressure in being independent and starting your career – especially if you’re dealing with student loans, a lack of available jobs, and wanting to support a family of your own. It takes balance, passion, and perseverance. Continue reading Young professional: How to make it in Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Mike Slive: Why the SEC and I call Birmingham our home

June 10, 2014 David Sher 1 Comment

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

When I became commissioner of the Southeastern Conference in 2002, I knew little about Birmingham and its surrounding communities. I was drawn to the position by the prestige of the conference, the commitment of the league’s institutions and the passion of its fans. I was aware of its proud history, impressed by its success and intrigued by its future.

But for the city I was going to call home, my knowledge was limited. That soon changed. Continue reading Mike Slive: Why the SEC and I call Birmingham our home →

Corporate community, Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham’s real image

May 27, 2014 David Sher Leave a comment

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Jake McKenzie. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

A little over a decade ago, the head of Nissan North America, Carlos Ghosn, made an announcement that shocked nearly everyone – Nissan was moving their headquarters from southern California to Nashville, Tennessee. When publicly questioned why, he cited savings in operational costs and large tax incentives.

But in private discussions, Ghosn began his answer rather differently. He shared how Nashville is simply Continue reading Birmingham’s real image →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham