“If you’re lucky, you will hear parts of your life
played out on a golden harp.”
– Sharrif Simmons
Saturday, May 10, marks a year to the day since Sharrif Simmons was shot at point-blank range during an armed robbery on University Blvd. On the anniversary of the assault that nearly ended his life, the Birmingham-based spoken-word artist and songwriter performs at Bailey’s Irish Pub.
Popularity: 3% [?]
“.. even after April by God there is no excuse for May,” which is to say, it doesn’t have to be National Poetry month for we Weeklies to be psyched about poems and the people that make them. To wit: we’re as-a-clam happy about the Premiere Open Mic event on Friday, May 9, at Greencup Books. Read the full story
Popularity: 4% [?]
If WBHM’s recent shift away from classical music baroque your heart, then there’s not much we can do for you (except maybe suggest Pandora). In the meantime, Birmingham’s public radio station is taking a greater interest in local news, even bringing newspaper people on the air.
And, they let us sit on the good furniture.
Beginning this week, WBHM will feature Wednesday segments with Birmingham Weekly columnist Kyle Whitmire (I promise I won’t write about myself in the third person again) and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald (booo!!!).
Archibald gets the morning shift, with a segment called “Plugged.” It promises a more heady agenda, focusing on hoity-toity themes. This week’s segment, which you can hear here, focused on trust, whatever that is.
Meanwhile, I get the afternoon shift, talking about who’s backstabbing whom at City Hall and County Commission. The first segment focused on Jefferson County’s last minute attempts to avoid bankruptcy, the mayor’s wrecked plans for free bus fare and his pesky problem of being sued by the SEC.
Not that this is any sort of competition, but in our first week, I totally whipped Archibald at this radio game. However, he does have a better head shot than I do, which through the wonder’s of Photoshop, I’ve now made even better. My photo, which is at least five years old, dates from my first pathetic attempt to grow a full beard.
But neither of us topped the radio professional. Yesterday, WBHM’s Tanya Ott took Mayor Larry Langford to task for his recent unpleasantness with the SEC and on-going Justice Department investigation. According to Langford, the federal investigations into him are the evil machinations of his campaign opponent Patrick Cooper and, of course, the media. It’s all one great conspiracy.
I’m still waiting on my black helicopter.
Popularity: 6% [?]
THE RACE IS ON: And on and on and on, much like the war in Iraq, which Sen. John McCain will doubtless continue into the 22nd century, should he become the next Commander-in-Chief. Let’s just hope that the eventual Democratic nominee fares better than in the presidential race than poor 8 Belles did in the Derby.
Meanwhile, the nice idea of free bus fares in Birmingham seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur, high drop-outs are to blame for the slow-down of economic growth in Alabama and Randall Specific keeps dying.
If you want to get your mind off the races, a walk on Highland Avenue might be just the thing, at least until better beer is available.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Pepper Place Market opens for its ninth season this Saturday, May 3. The market is open 7 a.m.-noon each Saturday through Sept. 27 and features fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, bread and other goods from local and regional producers. The market also features cooking demonstrations by Birmingham-area chefs as well as live music from local musicians.
Check out the cooking demonstration and live music lineups below:
Pepper Place Market 2008 Chef Demonstration Schedule
Demonstrations begin at 9 a.m. each Saturday.
May 3: daniel george - Daniel Briggs & George McMillan
May 10: John’s City Diner - Shannon Gober
May 17: The Homewood Gourmet - Franklin Biggs
May 24: A Social Affair - Jim Cobb
May 31: Grey House Grille - Shelby Adams
June 7: Satterfield’s - Haller Magee
June 14: Terrace Café - Jason Mezrano
June 28: Icon - Ben Leingang
July 5: Little Savannah - Clif Holt
July 12: Bitty’s Back Porch Catering - Kimberly Brock
July 19: Standard Bistro - Alan Martin
July 26: Culinary Institute of Virginia College - Antony Osborne
August 2: Brock’s at Ross Bridge - Joshua Towey
August 9: The Gardens Café - Nichole Keesey & Alan Bullen
August 16: Sol y Luna - Guillermo Castro
August 23: Table - Daniel Lasseter
August 30: Café Iz - Ken Barrett
September 6: Bottletree Café - Thomas Bagby
September 13: Veranda on Highland - Tom Robey
September 20: Ocean - George Reis
September 27: Chef Clayton’s Food Systems - Clayton Sherrod
Pepper Place Market 2008 Entertainment Schedule
Performances take place on both the Richard Tubb Stage and the Interiors Market Stage.
May 3: Fiddlin’ in the Parlor/Grover Sheffield
May 10: TBA/Joel Kauffman
May 17: Debbie Bond and Radiator Rick/Sonny Pritchett
May 24: TBA/TBA
May 31: Christ Episcopal Church/Mike Hipp
June 7: Wayne and Marvin/Ron Dometrovich
June 14: Fiddlin’ in the Parlor/Joel Kauffman
June 28: Debbie Bond and Radiator Rick/Grover Sheffield
July 5: Wayne and Marvin/TBA
July 12: The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame/Mike Hipp
July 19: Fiddlin’ in the Parlor/Sonny Pritchett
July 26: Donny Tomlin/Joel Kauffman
August 2: Debbie Bond and Radiator Rick/TBA
August 9: Wayne and Marvin/Ron Dometrovich
August 16: Fiddlin’ in the Parlor/Joel Kauffman
August 23: Flying Jenny/Iikah
August 30: Donny Tomlin/Sonny Pritchett
September 6: The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys/Grover Sheffield
September 13: Wayne and Marvin/Mike Hipp
September 20: Oxy Morons/Ron Dometrovich
September 27: Fiddlin’ in the Parlor/Sonny Pritchett
Popularity: 6% [?]
Mayor and council president have two interpretations of free transit vote. Read the full story
Popularity: 7% [?]
Last week, the Birmingham City Council approved a plan from Mayor Larry Langford to make bus fares free for the summer, but in a special-called meeting Wednesday night, many of them expressed second thoughts.
Councilors Steven Hoyt, Carole Smitherman, Valerie Abbott and Carol Duncan said that the council passed the mayor’s proposal too quickly, without having real budget numbers or the consent of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority board.
“We rushed to make a decision without the information, and now we have a problem,” said Councilor Valerie Abbott. “I think we may have acted somewhat in haste. I voted for it, and I’m willing to take my knocks for it.”
BJCTA Director David Hill said Wednesday that the BJCTA could not begin the program unless Birmingham provided the transit sysem with at least some of the money up front.
Councilors referred to the Mayor’s plan as the “3 a.m. plan,” because the Mayor said he woke up the morning before the April 22 Council meeting with the idea to give Birmingham bus riders free rides all summer.
“Council, we have erred, this should never have happened,” said Council President Carole Smitherman.
Six councilors were present at the meeting Wednesday(Roderick Royal, Miriam Witherspoon, and William Bell were absent), but open meetings law did not allow a vote on any issue. Mayor Langford was present at the beginning of the meeting and BJCTA Director David Hill attended as well.
The estimated $800,000 needed for the program would come from $9 million raised in business license fees that the BJCTA plans to spend on new buses. As Birmingham Weekly reported, Mayor Langford had initially promised Hill $17 million for transit, but that number was later changed to $9 million, though Hill did not notice until months later.
“What is the highest and best use for the $800,000 — to offer free rides or repair the buses?” Smitherman asked the transit director.
“Well, obviously it’s to repair the buses,” answered Hill.
Most councilors seemed reluctant to support the Mayor’s program, even if communication issues are cleared up. Smitherman said more citizens had called her office in opposition to the Mayor’s plan than in support of it. Councilor Hoyt argued that the $800,000 free summer rides program is the equivalent of giving a bus away.
“We could have a bus with this money, and that’s been the chief complaint-that busses are breaking down-so how can we give something away when we ought to be buying a bus?” he said.
Councilor Joel Montgomery suggested that the Council approve funds for one month of free rides at next week’s City Council meeting, allowing the BJCTA to begin the free ride system on May 10. Montgomery supported the “3 a.m. plan” last week with the provision that the Council be provided with proper documentation from the Mayor’s office and the BJCTA.
It is not clear when the Council will vote on funding the Mayor’s plan or rescinding their resolution in support of it. Smitherman suggested another special meeting to vote on the plan, but action may be delayed until next Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Until then, riders of Birmingham public transit will pay the standard rate.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Birmingham City Councilor Joel Montgomery rode home in a city car Wednesday night, but not before having words with the press.
Popularity: 12% [?]
As expected, the SEC has filed a lawsuit in federal court here against Mayor Larry Langford, Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre. The SEC’s complaint is a civil lawsuit, so nobody is getting arrested or going to jail. That’s the Justice Department’s end of things and they’re still working at it.
In the meantime, the SEC wants Blount, LaPierre and Langford to repay money they received in various bond deals from Langford’s tenure at the Jefferson County Commission. According to the lawsuit, Blount paid off more than $150,000 of Langford’s personal debts, while Langford directed more than $6.7 million in fees to Blount’s investment firm, Blount Parrish.
Popularity: 17% [?]
1 I looked and there in City Hall a door stood open. 2 And I heard a voice say, “It’s time to do something.” 3 At once I was in the chambers, and there stood a podium with the One strutting before it. 4 Behind the podium was a wide dais and on the dais sat nine councilors and in front of the dais sat department heads who had dominion over all the city works. 5 And behind the One stood 12 ministers from the churches of the city. 6 And I heard him say to them: “If we can have a National Day of Prayer and nobody gets upset, don’t get upset about this one here, and even if you get upset, get upset. We’re still going to have it.”
Popularity: 13% [?]
