Tag Archives: Birmingham

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Why do we apologize for Birmingham?

March 11, 2014 David Sher 6 Comments

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

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

I moved to Birmingham in 2008, coming from a great job in Maryland where I was building and operating parks and trails. I was lured to Birmingham after receiving a phone call about an opportunity at Red Mountain Park in Birmingham. My knowledge of Birmingham was pitiful so I began to confirm the information provided by the recruiter. First, I was astounded to learn that Birmingham was in the mountains. Then I was delighted to find a city filled with outstanding restaurants, world-class hospitals, six universities, art museums, an excellent orchestra and an overall great quality of life. Continue reading Why do we apologize for Birmingham? →

David Sher posts, Government structure, UAB

What would Birmingham look like without UAB–Anniston?

February 18, 2014 David Sher 8 Comments

To compare Birmingham with no UAB to Anniston is an unfair exaggeration and I apologize to the good citizens of Anniston. I could have selected any mid-sized city, but I Googled “cities in Alabama” and Anniston came to the top alphabetically.

Visualize Birmingham without UAB. Exit the Red Mountain Expressway at University Avenue (without UAB–it would be 8th Avenue South) and drive west.

What would we see in place of the 86 square blocks occupied by UAB? Continue reading What would Birmingham look like without UAB–Anniston? →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Single father sees Birmingham through rose colored glasses

February 11, 2014 David Sher 1 Comment

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

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

I’m not originally from Birmingham. I was born on Long Island, New York, raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, studied at Ealing College in West London, had a brief stay in Atlanta, even lived in Tampa Bay for a while, but when I moved to Birmingham in 2004, I decided to stay. Making Birmingham my new home was motivated by several factors, the most important of which, being a single father to a preternaturally gifted child, was to pursue a course of action that would nurture his talents and provide him, at the very least, a competitive education in a developing community. I use the word developing here, because when I arrived 10 years ago, Birmingham was not the city it is today. Continue reading Single father sees Birmingham through rose colored glasses →

David Sher posts, Government structure, What's great about Birmingham

Atlanta embarrassed–Birmingham soars

February 4, 2014 David Sher 2 Comments

“There was no coordination around school closings, because there are more than two-dozen city and county school systems in “__________.” There was little coordination between highway clearance and service to city streets because “_________” is comprised of dozens of municipalities connected by state and federal highway systems.”

Was this written about Birmingham? Nope, this was written about “Atlanta.” Continue reading Atlanta embarrassed–Birmingham soars →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Population

An idea that would transform Birmingham

January 28, 2014 David Sher 7 Comments

Sam Addy, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama

How about an idea most people think would transform Birmingham–but they will not consider because they think it would be impossible to implement?

You may say we don’t need to do anything different because we’re making progress. We are making progress, but let‘s look at how metro Birmingham compares to our regional rivals in several key areas. (Birmingham Business Journal January 10, 2014).

Comparison of eight peer cities: Birmingham, Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City: Continue reading An idea that would transform Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham represents family, love, strength, diversity

January 21, 2014 David Sher 3 Comments

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

Today’s guest blogger is Avani Patel . We love to hear from young professionals. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Who am I?

People ask themselves this vital question from childhood until old age. What does this question really mean, and why do we continue to ask ourselves this question?

Let us start with our childhood. As a child I was a little Indian girl with an American accent with a twinge of southern slang. I moved to Birmingham, AL at the young age of one and been in love with Birmingham ever since. I attended school with other children who were very similar to me in personality and age group but not so much in appearance. When I asked myself – who am I? Continue reading Birmingham represents family, love, strength, diversity →

David Sher posts

3 Things Charles Barkley said about Birmingham

January 14, 2014 David Sher 5 Comments

Charles Barkley spoke to the Rotary Club of Birmingham in August.

So why did I wait so long to write about his talk?

I invited him to be a guest blogger on ComebackTown, but have had no luck so far. In the meantime I thought it was important for everyone to hear what he had to say…and he did have a lot to say–particularly about Birmingham. Continue reading 3 Things Charles Barkley said about Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Insanity: Couples getting married in downtown underpass

January 7, 2014 David Sher 5 Comments

Wedding 18th Street underpass downtown Birmingham — Jemia & Adrian (Photo by Timothy L. Jones

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

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

Birmingham has many fine wedding venues: Couples and their guests can take in grand views at Vulcan Park or The Club, have a fancy affair at the Historic Tutwiler Hotel – or snap a bridal photo under a downtown underpass. That’s right – an underpass.

If I’d told you a year ago the brides would drag their white dresses through a railroad underpass Continue reading Insanity: Couples getting married in downtown underpass →

Alabama Constitution, David Sher posts, Government structure, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Can Birmingham get over its low self-esteem?

December 31, 2013 David Sher 4 Comments

One hundred years from now, when historians write the history of Birmingham, 2013 will be the year they say changed everything.

Birmingham’s been called the “City of Perpetual Promise.” We’ve been described as the “Magic City” at our zenith and as the “Most segregated city in America” at our low point.

We’ve always been a great place to live, but not a great city. 2013 will be the year Birmingham begins its long-hard journey to become that great city. Continue reading Can Birmingham get over its low self-esteem? →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Before I die I want to…

December 24, 2013 David Sher 2 Comments

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

Today’s guest blogger is Matthew Hamilton. We love to hear from young professionals. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Last month was bittersweet for me. First, the bitter: I had to destroy something I created.

For the last three months, I had supervised an interactive, community art project downtown. It was a 60 foot blackboard wall on the side of a building across the street from Regions Field, with 135 spaces stenciled in white with the prompt “Before I die I want to…” Any passerby was invited to pick up a piece of chalk and share their hopes and aspirations with the community. Continue reading Before I die I want to… →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham