Filed under: AL, B'ham social events, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Cities, Civic Engagement, civic/service organizations, COOL Community Task Force, urban issues, yp events
I was wondering when I’d find an excuse to stumble on over here and say hello. It’s not like I’ve been wanting to ignore the site, it’s just been a little hectic, that’s all. More about life in general later on today…
Anyway, I received an email from Alison Howell at the Chamber that made a hectic day a little bit easier to enjoy. I already knew that the YP roundtable expo was going to happen this year; the main issue was the location and the time of year. We got approval last week for use of the Innovation Depot for the event on June 21. The Terminal of course has a brief post about the event 
Those that have followed the efforts on this site probably know how excited I am personally to see just how the event takes shape. My interest in this effort started late 2005 when I suggested that we should heed the words of those calling for leaders in the community to work together. This page on the site gives some references to how it happened. TechBirmingham took the idea and ran with it when no one believed it could work and made an instant impact with TechMixer and TechCouncil.
It morphed into what became a proposal to meet, talk, and help each other as civic organizations (and eventually junior boards) to make Birmingham, Alabama a better place. While there are those that would say that one person deserves credit, everyone that has worked to move this project forward, from the COOL Community Task Force to the leaders of our 20+ organizations that have made contact with our roundtable so far, needs to be applauded. They will be the same ones who will continue to push for candid conversations among our region’s leadership as time goes by. So far it’s led to a better grasp for our community overall in understanding just what we have and communications tools such as a new website and an email list. The sky’s the limit in terms of what can be accomplished.
The next step is to make sure that as many people know about the event as possible. So, let’s do it. It lands in the midst of a busy time for the city; let’s show them just how powerful this movement is becoming. I got told yesterday that I am too nice and positive on this site. I’d rather be positive and push for some changes than settle for things remaining the same, though it’s going to change regardless. We just have a chance to make it do what we want it to do, and I’m going to do my part in any way that I can.
Oh yeah, it’s nice to be back too
I’ll catch you later on today.
Cheers.
Filed under: 35211, AL, B'ham social events, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, AL, Cities, library, Photographs, The Ticker, urban issues
Today’s dreary start will hopefully not keep attendees from enjoying the Birmingham Public Library’s new West End branch opening ceremony scheduled for 10:30 a.m. this morning. Located at the intersection of 14th Street SW and Tuscaloosa Avenue (1348 Tuscaloosa Avenue, SW), this new structure replaces one located two blocks away, providing additional space and operating hours for patrons. The original blog entry also contains links to a Birmingham News article and images taken during the long construction process. Clicking on the image of the building will take you to the order of ceremonies and a history of the library in the West End section of Birmingham, Alabama.
It will serve as an anchor into the Tuscaloosa Avenue commercial revitalization district and the surrounding West End community, already beginning to see a sea of change with recent projects taking place on the campus of Princeton Baptist Medical Center, including their new parking garage and planned addition to their main building.
For more information about the opening and other events going on with the library, I’d suggest visiting their blog. They’ve been keeping really busy over there based on what I’ve been reading.
One more question…
So let’s see what kind of responses I get… My mother’s coming to Birmingham for the first time today (and unless she’s running around finishing getting ready, she’s a regular reader of this site). What should she not miss during her first trip into town? I’m interested in seeing what (or if) anyone responds.
Enjoy the day,
Cheers.
Filed under: AL, art, B'ham social events, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL, Catalyst, Cities, Civic Engagement, civic/service organizations, cultural institutions, Junior Patrons, News Media (as source & subject), TechBirmingham, urban issues, Year of Alabama Art, yp events
Or rather there are some really cool benefits. An e-mail that arrived in the inbox yesterday evening announced that the ONB Magic City Art Connection is presenting an e-Art Loan program. Similar programs have become quite popular in other cities, where people are able to enjoy art in new and creative ways.
Entry into the contest is limited to members of Catalyst, TechBirmingham and the Junior Patrons at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
A new piece of art will be featured bi-monthly according to the contest site on al.com, with the drawing for this current piece, Petition Series: In the Morning… by Peter Whitting of Pikesville, MD, (pictured to your left) being “loaned” on February 23 with the feature announced on March 1.
Other organizations interested in participating in the art loan program are invited to contact ONB Magic City Art Connection director Eileen Kunzman at 595.6306 or via e-mail at findart@bham.rr.com.
It’s definitely an interesting way to get the word out about this year’s festival, scheduled for April 27-29 in Linn Park. It was also a great way to remind people about this year’s Art Bash on March 31.
This would also be a good place to mention that if you’re not planning to attend Cool School this evening, or if you’re just not quite ready for Mardi Gras/Carnival to end, that there’s a little party going on at the Museum’s new Alabama Folk Art Gallery at the Young & Vann building downtown this evening beginning at 5:30 p.m.
More later,
Cheers.
Filed under: B'ham social events, bhamterminal.com/citystages/, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, city stages, City Stages 2007, City Stages Flickr Group, Commentary, Magic City Flickr Group, music, Photographs, street festivals, The Terminal
A little rain (actually, a lot of rain) didn’t seem to keep festival goers away from Birmingham, Alabama’s City Stages festival. Yours truly figured that he’d wait out the storm and then go, and it turned out to be a good thing. Festival organizers delayed the start of performances but that didn’t seem to keep steady, decent sized crowds from showing up.
I’ve been trying to update the online guide I created for The Terminal, so I’ve been a little groggy for most of the day.
But I didn’t want to get too far into the second day without sharing a couple of shots from last night. (more…)