Connect with us

Alabama

Neighborhood To Watch: Uptown Birmingham, Alabama

Published

on

Neighborhood To Watch: Uptown Birmingham, Alabama


Offering an eclectic mix of urban sophistication and leisurely activities, the Uptown Birmingham District is a bustling area known for its entertainment, dining and shopping options, featuring diverse restaurants and boutiques. Uptown is a district that anchors the northern end of downtown. Adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) in downtown Birmingham, Uptown boasts modern architecture, green spaces and attractions like The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Topgolf, Protective Stadium and City Walk.

“These assets are critical to Birmingham’s tourism industry and its ability to attract major concerts and events for our city,” says David Fleming, CEO at REV Birmingham. REV is a place-based revitalization and economic development nonprofit that is working to make the city of Birmingham a more vibrant place.

Advertisement

Uptown is where the fun happens, and Birmingham pride can be seen in full effect. From supporting your favorite team at the new Protective Stadium to watching world-famous musicians at the renovated Legacy Arena, Uptown is known for prime entertainment. In 2015, the Birmingham City Council voted to allow the Uptown district, including the BJCC, to become the city’s first “entertainment district” with visitors allowed to carry drinks outside. These venue investments have helped stimulate new interest in the Birmingham market and aided in bringing high value events to the region. Key successes include the return of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2023 and hosting the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regionals in 2025.

According to the Birmingham Business Alliance, Uptown has been experiencing significant growth. The Alliance was created to enhance job creation, community development, talent recruitment and tourism in the seven central Alabama counties of the Birmingham metro, also known as the Greater Birmingham Region.

Advertisement

As Birmingham focuses on creating Vibrancy Gaps to create congruent vibrancy throughout its nine distinct districts, the city’s Uptown district has experienced over $1 billion in recent investments. “All of this makes Uptown an important part of Birmingham‘s economic vitality and attractiveness,” notes Fleming. “However, the investment that has transformed Uptown in the public’s view is the addition of CityWalk.”

City Walk BHAM transformed the space under the city’s interstate into a vibrant “third space” for residents and visitors. A 31-acre public space developed underneath the reconstructed I-59/20 bridges, City Walk features a dog park, amphitheater, and other performance spaces, pickleball courts, playground area as well as space for fitness and food trucks. It’s also home to a skate park, the largest in the southeast and fifth largest in the U.S.

The Uptown District features eight dining options ranging from fine dining to a unique and modern coffee shop with cocktails in the evening hours. Currently under construction for the Uptown District is a 9,384-seat amphitheater just north of the current campus footprint. Set to open in 2025, the amphitheater will host a full concert line-up in the spring, summer and early fall enhancing the year-round excitement that is Uptown. The amphitheater will anchor The Star at Uptown, a mix-used development valued at around $300 million, featuring residential, retail, office, hotel and entertainment components.

The Uptown district was identified as one of the top six initiative areas to focus on in Birmingham’s most recent City Center Master Plan. This work, alongside development plans from the BJCC, is advancing the economic growth of Uptown. New restaurants in the area, upgrades to beautification and landscaping as well as to meeting facilities are keeping Uptown competitive and an attractive place for arts, entertainment and recreation. The district is intentionally well-planned and managed so the experience is user-friendly and can support many major events and attractions going on at the same time. With 3.3 million visitors to Uptown in 2023, Uptown visitors made up 9.5% of all visits to Downtown Birmingham.

Fleming adds, “The future for Uptown is bright as the landscaping and facilities refresh at the core of the district will make it a more attractive and appealing place. New restaurants coming will also encourage people to linger longer in Uptown and increase the vibrancy of place.”



Source link

Alabama

What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite

Published

on

What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite


play

Every year, Americans devour an estimated 50 million burgers, a sizzling testament to the nation’s enduring passion for beef, buns and bold toppings.

From roadside diners to upscale gastropubs, the hamburger has become a culinary symbol, with each state offering its own unique twist.

Advertisement

The team at Foodie has taken on the delicious challenge of finding the very best burger in every state. By combing through hundreds of customer reviews, spotlighting local award winners and even digging into regional news coverage, they’ve crafted a list that celebrates standout spots from coast to coast. 

And when it comes to Alabama, one burger rises above the rest.

What is the best burger in Alabama?

In Alabama, Vicki’s Lunch Van in Montgomery claims the top spot.

What sets it apart? According to Foodie, the small, no-frills spot is “darn-near flawless,” known for freshly made cheeseburgers that taste exactly how a classic burger should.

If there’s one dish that defines the experience, it’s the Gunter Pile. This decadent creation layers a juicy burger patty with gravy and a mixture of fried and crispy onions, all atop a bed of fries. It’s messy, indulgent and distinctly Southern.

Advertisement

How to grab your burger at Vicki’s Lunch Van

If you want to try Vicki’s Lunch Van, note that this Montgomery favorite typically operates during limited lunch hours. Vicki’s is located at 106 Coliseum Blvd. 

A lasting legacy

According to posts shared on Facebook, the restaurant’s owner, Vicki Lammon, passed away in February 2026.

The news brought an outpouring of support and memories from devoted customers. Many spoke not just of the quality of the food, but also of the welcoming atmosphere and personal touch that made the place special.

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Alabama

No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma

Published

on

No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma


The tone was set on the first pitch of the game.

Bryce Fowler sent a no-doubter over the left field wall, the first of four home runs that No. 16 Alabama would hit in the first two innings, as the Crimson Tide slugged its way to a 10-7 over No. 11 Oklahoma in the series opener.

Justin Lebron flew out immediately after Fowler’s leadoff blast, but Brady Neal then nearly went yard himself. The ball was about an inch from clearing the wall, and instead bounced off it for a triple. Neal would come in to score off a two-out John Lemm single, giving Alabama a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

Advertisement

The Sooners would get one back in the bottom of the inning, but Alabama flipped the game upside down in the second. Justin Osterhouse and Brennan Holt were plunked, bringing Fowler back up with two on and one out. Fowler then demolished a ball to right field for the first multi-home run game of his career.

Advertisement

“He’s just a tough competitor, man. That’s Bryce Fowler in a nutshell,” head coach Rob Vaughn said. “The bigger the moment, the better he is. Not only the swings last weekend, but the defense in center last weekend, and then the unbelievable at-bats really set the tone today.”

Justin Lebron then drew a five-pitch walk and, per usual, stole second. He came about as close as he has all season to getting thrown out, but slid in safely for his 24th stolen base of the season, most in the SEC by a significant margin. The shortstop then came home on a single from Neal, which marked the end of starter LJ Mercurius’ evening.

Mercurius’ season ERA rose from 3.53 to 5.11 as Alabama scored seven off him. He was replaced by his brother, Xander, who did not fare much better in that second, as Jason Torres took his first pitch of the day deep, extending Alabama’s lead to seven runs.

After Lemm recorded another hit, Osterhouse added the exclamation point with the third home run of the inning. As Oklahoma finally left the field after a Luke Vaughn groundout, Alabama held a 10-1 lead.

Advertisement

Tyler Fay settled in on the mound for Alabama, putting together 1-2-3 frames in the second, third and fourth innings. On the flip side, Xander Mercurius put together a very impressive relief appearance, giving up just one more hit and keeping Alabama off the board for the rest of his night as the freshman worked into the eighth.

Advertisement

The Sooners added three runs in the fifth off a pair of home runs, but that was all the offense to speak of. Fay ended up going 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs in a performance that, while obviously not at the level of his last two dominant outings, was more than enough given the run support.

Oklahoma put three more on the board in the ninth, forcing reliever Sam Mitchell out of the game after a leadoff home run and then a two-out, two-RBI triple that cut the deficit to three. Oklahoma had the tying run on deck, but Matthew Heiberger came in and recorded a strikeout to end the game and give Alabama the opener.

Alabama will play for the series win earlier than expected, as Saturday’s game was moved up from 6:30 to 1 p.m. CT due to expected inclement weather. The contest will air on SEC Network+.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter/X, FacebookYouTubeInstagramThreads and Blue Sky for the latest news.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit

Published

on

Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit




Cam Wade earned an Alabama football offer earlier this week and locked in a return visit date for an official.

Wade is a 2027 recruit, and he attends Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Alabama is the latest program to offer the junior, but he holds previous offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Maryland and others.

The Kentucky product said earning an Alabama offer means a lot to him.

Advertisement

“As a kid growing up watching college football, you always dreamed about Alabama,” Wade said. “Just a wonderful experience, and I’m grateful.”

Wade was on campus for a visit when he earned his offer from the Tide, and the visit was a success.

“You can feel the intensity as soon as you walk in the door,” Wade told Touchdown Alabama. “I loved that, also how close the coaching staff was with each other was also great.”

Alabama will get Wade on campus on the weekend of May 29-31 for his official visit.

Wade is an explosive wide receiver with proven speed. He holds a PR of 10.6 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.6 in the 200-meter dash. This speed translates over to the field, and it makes him dangerous in different aspects of the game.

Advertisement

Watch Cam Wade’s Highlights Below:







Source link

Continue Reading

Trending