Filed under: gospel, Hallelujah FM, people, Photographs, radio, Random shots, Reg's Coffee House, Reg's Coffeehouse, Sidewalk, The Vulcan, The X at 100.5, The Year in Review, urban issues, WBHM, WENN-FM, WRAX
It’s been an eventful year to say the least; it seemed to save it’s most unlikely storyline for the end of the year…
The Radio Carousel continued
After the loss of the alternative radio station for a sports talk station, we lost the area’s gospel station as a conglomerate felt that the best way to answer the hopes and dreams of one listener group was to shun another. When it was all said and done, the main issue here is not race, religion, or doing what could be called morally correct in providing a true local voice for music, no matter what the genre. If that were the case, many of these changes (save maybe the initial loss of the X) would not have happened. Instead, it was largely about money. We’ve already mentioned what could be the immediate future of this situation here. Here are some more links about the issue from December:
Reflections on the fan’s reflections on the radio carousel
The Ticker: The latest on “The Vulcan”…
Lift every voice: FM gospel supporters gather…
The Ticker: Help our youth, “Yea, Reg!”…
The situation at Sidewalk got heated. We shared our thoughts on turning up the fire too much on something that serves as an asset.
The post (to me) of 2006
This post meant more to me this year than any other, and it only occurred this month. I only wish that we all felt the calling to do this more often. It also reminded me how much fun carrying a camera has been this past year as I can save these images for a lifetime.
We’re through (until the next time we post)
I’m sure that many of you are heading out for the New Year, (if you haven’t already celebrated where you are). Sometime in the next 24 hours, we’ll share some thoughts for the coming year. I hope that all of you get to enjoy the end of this year comfortably and safely.
Happy New Year!
Cheers.
See also:
The Year in Review: January and a little December ‘05 too
The Year in Review: February 2006
The Year in Review: March 2006
The Year in Review: April 2006
The Year in Review: May 2006
The Year in Review: June 2006
The Year in Review: July 2006
The Year in Review: August 2006
The Year in Review: September 2006
The Year in Review: October 2006
The Year in Review: November 2006
Filed under: Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Blogging, Bus Rapid Transit, Catalyst, city stages, Civic Engagement, Erik Jambor, Halloween 2006, other cities, parades, people, Sidewalk, The X at 100.5, The Year in Review
Quick looks
November began with a first look at a new rapid transit bus that could be used for the metropolitan area. We took a quick look back at a local Halloween tradition downtown along 2nd Avenue North.
We recognized the changing face of banking as names were replaced in the Birmingham skyline. I made three trips to New York in one year for the first time since my second year of college in Savannah; one of those trips let me see Homewood High enjoy the spotlight in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
For most of the month, I took a break due to the loss of my grandmother. If nothing else, it reminded me to enjoy life in all of its forms whenever you can.
Recognition and advice/opinion for projects
The end of the month led to the rest of the city finally recognizing the existence of the Bham Wiki, a chance to hear from those interested in the future of City Stages, whether it be through the comments section of this post, or through the comments collected from our attendance at the City Stages/Catalyst town hall meeting about what else could be done to aid the struggling festival.
The Radio Carousel begins
The end of the month also led to the beginning of what we’ve been calling “The Radio Carousel” in Birmingham, Alabama. It began simply enough with the loss of The X at 100.5. It continued well into the first part of December, but not before another significant event hit the cultural scene, the sudden resignation of Sidewalk’s founding director Erik Jambor.
We really weren’t sure how the year would end… we’re still not with hours to spare.
We’ll see you later today.
Cheers.
See also:
The Year in Review: January and a little December ‘05 too
The Year in Review: February 2006
The Year in Review: March 2006
The Year in Review: April 2006
The Year in Review: May 2006
The Year in Review: June 2006
The Year in Review: July 2006
The Year in Review: August 2006
The Year in Review: September 2006
The Year in Review: October 2006
Filed under: 2006 Elections, AL, Alabama Politics, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Blogging, britebluedot, Catalyst, Cities, city stages, Civic Engagement, civic/service organizations, Commentary, cultural institutions, The Year in Review
With election time drawing near the blog took an uncharacteristic turn from time to time at the current political climate in Birmingham, Alabama. This meant looking at just how large the blue dot was becoming (if it was) as well as the results of the debates for the 2006 election cycle at the end of the month. One could draw from the votes in November that either everybody watched the debates, or nobody did.
Despite the loss of the Jaycees haunted house before the haunting season even began, the region enjoyed the it’s usual array of spooking and scaring. We did see what many believed to be a specter come to life as a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Railroad Reservation Park downtown.
Some things deserve some fanfare and stay under the radar screen on purpose. This post talking about a Thanksgiving present that truly captures what we’ve turned this holiday into. This one talks of why the pride we should have in our local cultural institutions should be greater than it currently is. And every once in a while it’s nice to know about some of the other festivals that take place around the city, such as this post on the Harambee Festival. One final one was the post that followed the first ever meeting of the Civic Organization Roundtable. I’m hopeful now that most of the personal issues are dealt with, we will see some progress from this group in the beginning of the new year.
Two more months to go.
Cheers.
See also:
The Year in Review: January and a little December ‘05 too
The Year in Review: February 2006
The Year in Review: March 2006
The Year in Review: April 2006
The Year in Review: May 2006
The Year in Review: June 2006
The Year in Review: July 2006
The Year in Review: August 2006
The Year in Review: September 2006
Filed under: 2007 predictions, 2007 resolutions, AL, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Cities, Commentary, The Year in Review, urban issues
The year is almost over. For many, it’s going to be a sigh of relief. For some it is going to be with some enjoyment about the things that are taking place in the area. Ever-rising condo prices are leading some to consider buying homes in areas that many would feel are not quite ready for reinvestment. The future of the city is tied to the reemergence of our residential neighborhoods as well as the reinvention of our downtown as an 21st century urban center, complete with its second wave of loft dwelling pioneers. The pioneering spirit carries over to our commercial districts, as many small businesses prepare to open or expand in the coming year outside of the city center. It has not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination, with needless murder and mayhem in our streets, most notably for us the unfortunate death of a family that seemed to fade from memory for a time. The city must and will move forward, though many may not be happy with the speed of that change, regardless of the results at the polls next November.
I’ve taken in conversations with people to say that “New Yorkers realize that a New York minute is much longer than everyone else thinks it is.” This is to say that to expect problems that developed over time or that have existed for longer than they deserve to disappear overnight here or anywhere else is insane. I wish the city of Birmingham patience as the New Year begins. I have a feeling that the best is yet to come. I also hope that the city gets to live up to the vision that I wrote about earlier this year.
UPDATE: Click here to check out our year in review series
Another favorite line of mine is one that I learned my first year of college, “Leadership is action, not position.” Perhaps people need to stop waiting for the leader and determine how they can help lead. That’s one of my goals for the coming year. Here are some other predictions for 2007 for Birmingham, Alabama.
Generations X & Y will take a bigger stand than they already have for the future of their city. Organizations like Catalyst and a recent addition to the landscape, Enuff, will have a great deal to say in the coming year, and people will begin to listen realizing the passion among these groups.
2007 will be Birmingham’s year of culture. It may be the year of art for the state, but it will spill over and allow all of our cultural institutions to benefit. Stories published in the New York Times and the Washington Post and the recent recognition of the Civil Rights district as a national historic district will lead to an increased interest in the city. There will also be an expanded focus on music from outside as well as a rush on the city due to such incredible events as the Pompeii exhibit to our Museum of Art.
We’ll see that next hip area of Birmingham emerge. There’s too much interest in some of our other areas of city besides our city center for this not to happen. I’m just not daring enough to predict where that area will be, but it will be in the city boundaries.
Speaking of goals…
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