Today’s guest columnist is Malcolm Carmichael.
My friend, Mike Buchanan, and I, both mature residents of suburbs south of the city, read the hype and wondered: what’s riding the Xpress really like?
Is it different from the existing bus service we’ve tried with limited success?
What will it accomplish? Continue reading Vestavia geezer stunned by Birmingham’s leap into 21st Century
By David Sher
I write this column on Tuesday, September 19th.
Tomorrow I will attend a Celebration of Life service for Albert Fox deFuniak, III, a man you may never have met, but who’s had a major impact on your life in Birmingham.
Fox deFuniak answered a question for me that I’ve always struggled with. Continue reading No more Fox in Birmingham hen house
Today’s guest columnist is Gordon G. Martin.
I love Birmingham!
But I feel we sometimes focus on our failures and forget to celebrate our victories.
How many of you have had an opportunity to visit Charlotte, North Carolina? Continue reading Birmingham may have lost historic Terminal Station, but…
By David Sher
This is the article I always wished to write, but didn’t know if it would ever be possible.
ComebackTown began publishing in February, 2012 with the sole purpose to begin a discussion about how to revitalize a struggling Birmingham. That’s why it was titled ‘ComebackTown.’ Continue reading All bets are off on Birmingham
By David Sher
I’ve written about my favorite restaurant (Joy Young) and the old Terminal Train Station.
Never did I expect that I would have a soft-spot in my heart for a department store. Continue reading Soft-spot in my heart for an old Birmingham department store
Today’s guest columnist is Daniel Coleman.
After returning home full-time in 2017, I began to invest in local companies, where I got to know many of our city’s entrepreneurs.
I also started teaching finance at Birmingham-Southern College. At 53 years old, I realized that I was a little rusty. So I decided that it was time for me to learn to program in Python as well as learn actuarial math. In December 2018, I became the 16th president of Birmingham-Southern. Continue reading Birmingham secret weapon on west side hilltop
By David Sher
I recently wrote a column about my all-time favorite Birmingham restaurant, Joy Young.
Reminiscing is fun so I began my search for my next topic.
Then I drove past the Rotary Trail sign in downtown Birmingham and the idea hit me. Continue reading Overcoming a regrettable Birmingham blunder
Today’s guest columnist is Alan Register.
The first World Games were played in Santa Clara, California in 1981.
They have not been played in America since.
Why then did they choose Birmingham?
And while we’re at it, why did the USFL select Birmingham?
There’s a simple answer, “a crazy idea” and “a winning streak.” Continue reading Why World Games chose Birmingham
By David Sher
Birmingham’s a great place for foodies.
We have fantastic restaurants…like Highland Bar & Grill, El Barrio, Automatic Seafood, and Helen.
There have been other great restaurants past or present, but in my heart and stomach, none compare to an American Chinese Restaurant that opened in 1919 and operated successfully mostly in downtown Birmingham for about 70 years. Continue reading Birmingham’s best restaurant ever
Today’s guest columnist is Michael Calvert.
Predictions are always risky—especially about the future—but here are my predictions for downtown and the larger City Center.
In 1982, when I became CEO of Operation New Birmingham, REV’s predecessor, many people asked if I would bring back department stores and other retailers. I said downtown had evolved beyond its past as a retail center. Continue reading The transformation of downtown Birmingham