Trivial Pursuits

What’s in a name? The city’s entire history: Pittsburgh of the South • The Magic City • The ‘Ham • Bombingham • Smoke City • B-Ham • The Diverse City

Good luck finding it outside of Alabama.

A sampling of Southern delicacies you won’t find on just any grocery shelf

1. Alecia’s Tomato Chutney
2. Dean’s Seven-Layer Caramel Cakes
3. Sneaky Pete’s Hot Dog Sauce
4. Mook’s Mill Cheese Straws
5. McEwen and Sons stoneground grits
6. Costa’s Rib Sauce
7. Wright’s Dairy Ice Cream
8. Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale
9. Milo’s Tea

Five Points South people watching

Spotted crossing the city’s famed people-watching nexus on a random Wednesday afternoon

1. A girl in platform sneakers holding the hand of a bearded guy with wooden plugs
2. A guy in a tan shirt jogging across the street and hopping into a DJ-2-Go SUV
3. A girl in a backpack double-fi sting an ice cream and a coffee
4. A young man with a shaved head in waiter’s attire (white shirt and black pants)
5. A mustached man with red sunglasses and a matching red shirt and coffee cup
6. An old woman carrying a huge purple blanket
7. Two young couples wandering aimlessly from point to point, pausing to window shop and make out
8. A pudgy man riding a black Vespa on the sidewalk
9. A petite, tan girl with a huge brown bag the size of her torso
10. A rainbow of sweatshirts: red, hot pink, heather gray, turquoise and Crimson Tide, on five young people
11. A man in a brown leather bomber carrying two Ziplocs full of water bottles and plastic spoons
12. A hunched-over businessman in khakis and a blue plaid shirt
13. A short Indian man smoking in a white golf vest
14. A college student with frizzy hair down to her hips and slouchy jeans, carrying a Cosmo’s pizza
15. Two short middle-aged men in sweatshirts and jackets passing by multiple times

Eat your way around the world

Take your tastebuds on an authentic trip without leaving the metropolitan area.

1. Chinese: Mr. Chen’s (1917 Hoover Court, 824-8283)
2. Mexican: La Perla Mexican Grocery (1516 Ninth Ave. N., Bessemer, 426-3907)
3. Vietnam: Pho Que Hong (430 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, 942-5400)
4. Korean: Ginza (5291 Valleydale Rd., Inverness, 981-1616; ginzasushibham.com)
5. Indian: Silver Coin Indian Grill (3321 Lorna Rd. Ste. 13, Hoover, 823-9070; businesssilvercoinusa.com)
6. German: Klingler’s European Bakery (621 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, 823- 4560; klinglers.com)
7. Italian: Bettola (2901 Second Ave. S., 731-6499; bettolarestaurant.com)
8. French: Chez Lulu (1911 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 870-7011; chezlulu.us)
9. Lebanese: George’s (44 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, 942-1962; georges.themadis.net)
10. Peruvian: Machu Picchu (700-C Valley Ave., 945-9321) 11. Jewish: Max’s Delicatessen (3431 Colonnade Parkway, 968-7600; maxsdelionline.com)

More than a dinner date: Hot spots for food and play

1. Chez Fonfon for bocce ball (2007 11th Ave. S., Five Points South, 939-3221)
2. Taipei 101 for Asian karaoke (471 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, 912-7037)
3. Chez Lulu for belly dancing and accordion music (1911 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 870-7011; chezlulu.us)
4. On Tap Sports Café for trivia (Locations at Riverchase, the Riverchase Galleria, Inverness and Lakeview; ontapsportscafe.com for details)
5. The J. Clyde for live music (1312 Cobb Lane, Five Points South, 939-1312; jclyde.com)
6. Martini’s for DJ and dancing (2132 Lorna Ridge Ln., Hoover, 823-7300)
7. Little Savannah for cooking classes (3811 Clairmont Ave. S., Forest Park, 591-1119; littlesavannah.com)
8. Birmingham Museum of Art for Art on the Rocks (2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., downtown, 254-2565; artsbma.org)

Under-the-radar dives

The bars you’ve never been to that deserve a try

1. Red Lion Lounge (1926 29th Ave. S., Homewood, 871-8552)
2. Oysters & Stuff (1419 Stouts Rd., Fultondale, 841-3474)
3. McDuff’s Pub & Grill (201 Canyon Park Dr., Pelham, 663-0185)
4. Bourbon Street (1568 Cooper Hill Rd., 957-1006)
5. Stir Crazy (430 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, 941-3343; myspace.com/stircrazy)
6. Tipsy’s (1800 Tin Valley Circle, Trussville, 655-8184; myspace.com/tipsyts)
7. Crazy Eights (817 19th St. N., Bessemer, 424-9122)
8. Gabriel’s Café (3706 Lorna Rd., Hoover, 985-0983; gabrielscafe.net)
9. Central Club (8310 Side Trak, Leeds, 699-3015; myspace.com/thecentralclub)
10. High Note/Rock n Horse (414 21st St. S., 251-7625; myspace.com/samshighnote)

A year of festivals

Activities to brighten each month

• JANUARY: Papa John’s Bowl Street Festival, Five Points South (papajohnsbowl.com)
• FEBRUARY: Shelby County Cattlemen’s Rodeo, Columbiana (bamabeef.org/shelby_county.htm)
• MARCH: Jewish Food Fair, Temple Emanu-El (ourtemple.org)
• APRIL: Magic City Art Connection, Linn Park (magiccityart.com)
• MAY: Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Festival, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park (southernappalachiandulcimerassociation.org)
• JUNE: Chilton County Peach Festival, Clanton (chiltoncountychamber.com)
• JULY: Function in the Junction, Ensley’s Tuxedo Junction
• AUGUST: Fairfi eld Music Festival (Fairfi eld Chamber of Commerce, 788-3079)
• SEPTEMBER: Alabama Butterbean Festival, Pinson (butterbeanfestival.com)
• OCTOBER: Thorsby Swedish Fest, Downtown Thorsby (townofthorsby.com)
• NOVEMBER: Moss Rock Festival, Moss Rock Preserve (mossrockfestival.com)
• DECEMBER: Zoolight Safari, Birmingham Zoo (birminghamzoo.com)

Downtown real estate

How far the dollar stretches in our city

1. $2,999 for a three-bedroom foreclosure in Ensley
2. $5,900 for a three-bedroom 1920’s home in West End
3. $36,000 for a quarter-acre lot near George Ward Park
4. $91,000 for a three-bedroom Southside cottage
5. $139,900 for a one-bedroom City Federal loft condo
6. $399,000 for a fi ve-bedroom, turn-of-the-century house near Vulcan Park and Museum
7. $1.2 million for a 21,000-sq.-ft. building around the corner from the Alabama Theatre
8. $7 million for a 150,000-sq.-ft. warehouse on First Avenue South

The other champions

We know Alabama football won the 2009 BCS National Championship—and we’re proud of ‘em. But let’s not forget teams that have brought Birmingham glory over the years.

1. Birmingham-Southern College basketball: 1990 and 1995 NAIA national champions
2. BSC baseball: 2001 NAIA national champions
3. Samford University football: 1971 national champions
4. UAB Mock Trial Team: 2006 National Mock Trial Tournament champions
5. Samford’s Cumberland School of Law: 1981 and 1984 National Trial Competition champions
6. Cumberland School of Law: 1984, 1987, 2000 and 2008 American Association for Justice National Trial Advocacy Competition champions
7. Cumberland School of Law: 2005 Representation in Mediation Competition national champions

What’s for dinner?

A random survey of what’s on Whole Foods shoppers’ plates.

1. Chicken and rice soup
2. Salmon with a lime-chipotle sauce and wild rice
3. Roast beef, new potatoes, and a mixed green salad
4. Kashi frozen meal
5. Spinach-artichoke dip with pita bread
6. Beef soup
7. Grilled fi sh with asparagus, potatoes and fresh coleslaw
8. Chicken and shrimp fajitas
9. Stir-fry
10. Halibut with vegetable couscous

Class of 2026, meet your classmates.

The most common baby names in Alabama in 2008, according to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics.

Boys

1. William
2. John
3. James
4. Jacob
5. Christopher
6. Joshua
7. Michael
8. Jackson
9. Jayden
10. Ethan

Girls

1. Emma
2. Madison
3. Ava
4. Addison
5. Emily
6. Anna
7. Hannah
8. Chloe
9. Olivia

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure

A sampling of items recently off ered on Birmingham’s Freecycle site, at freecycle.org • Old, ugly couch and loveseat • Eight place setting Stoneware everyday china • Shower rod • 40 National Geographic magazines • Cereal and Korean batter, opened once • Bag of fabric • Set of four Hannah Montana books • electric church organ • Cases of Vitaminwater • Jeff Gordon Drive sign • Brand-new, in-box Cabbage Patch kid • Gameboy Advance • Small, broken Christmas train • Expired coupons • Huge Coca-Cola bear

Sometimes the city makes us sing, too

1. “Paint Me a Birmingham” by Tracy Lawrence “Paint me a Birmingham, make it look just the way I planned: a little house on the edge of town, porch going all the way around.”
2. “When Jesus Left Birmingham” by John Mellencamp; “When Jesus left Birmingham, he left it there for you and me.”
3. “Sure Don’t Feel Like Love” by Paul Simon; “I remember once in a load-out, down in Birmingham. Yeah, but that didn’t feel like love.”
4. “Swordfi shtrombones” by Tom Waits; “Some say they saw him down in Birmingham, sleeping in a boxcar going by.”
5. “Sparrows Over Birmingham” by Josh Rouse; “Lived in a house in Birmingham. A preacher’s son. The Lord’s plan.”
6. “I Can’t Love You Anymore” by Lyle Lovett; “It’s Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, or Baton Rouge. Hell, I don’t know just where I’m at.”
7. “Tuxedo Junction” by Erskine Hawkins; “Way down South, in Birmingham, I mean South, in Alabam’, there’s a place where people go to dance the night away.”
8. “Boulder to Birmingham” by Emmylou Harris; “I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham if I thought I could see, I could see your face.”
9. “One of These Days” by Drive-By Truckers; “It’s no wonder everybody’s scared of downtown Bi
10. “Rip This Joint” by the Rolling Stones; “Wham, bam, Birmingham, Alabama don’t give a damn.”
11. “Cities” by Talking Heads; “There are a lot of rich people in Birmingham, a lot of ghosts in a lot of houses.”
12. “Hello Birmingham” by Ani DiFranco; “Hello Birmingham, it’s Buff alo. I heard you had some trouble down there again, and I’m just calling to let to you know that someone understands.”
13. “Promised Land” by Chuck Berry; “We had motor trouble, it turned into a struggle halfway ‘cross Alabam’, and that ‘hound broke down and left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham.”
14. “Birmingham Breakdown” (instrumental) by Duke Ellington
15. “State of Grace” by Pierce Pettis; “Well I always know right where I am, from Muscle Shoals down to Birmingham.”
16. “Atlanta and Birmingham” by Deana Carter; “Somewhere between Atlanta and Birmingham, we fell in love with just one touch. It was out of our hands.”
17. “Birmingham 1982” by Maria Taylor; “We don’t know where we’re going. We’ll get nowhere if we’ve forgotten where we’ve been.”
18. “Sweet Birmingham” by Robert Moore; “Glad to say that I am headed down to sunny Alabam’, to sweet Birmingham.”
19. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynrd; “In Birmingham they love the governor.”
20. “Birmingham” by The Bittersweets; “I can’t even decide who I am on my side in Birmingham.”
21. “Amtrak Crescent” by Scott Miller; “Well there ain’t no ham like the Birmingham to make a fella wanna stay in Alabam’.”
22. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam; “Whoa, Black Betty, bam-ba-lam. She’s from Birmingham, bam-ba-lam, way down in Alabam’, bam-ba-lam.”
23. “Birmingham” by Randy Newman; “You can travel ‘cross this entire land, but there’s no place like Birmingham.”
24. “Jacob’s Ladder” by Huey Lewis and the News; “Met a fan dancer down in Southside Birmingham. She was running from a fat man selling salvation in his hand. Now he’s trying to save me.”
25. “Breakfast in Birmingham” by David Lee Murphy; “There ain’t nothing like a cold cup of coff ee and a stale apology. I’m having breakfast in Birmingham. She’s in Tennessee.”

Kids eat free

Remember how your parents planned dinners out around the kids eat free schedule? Now it’s your turn.

1. Chappy’s Deli: Kids younger than 6 eat free with the purchase of an adult meal every day. Meals for kids younger than 12 are only $2.50. (2737 U.S. 280 South, 871-0887)
2. Moe’s Southwest Grill: Kids meal free with purchase of adult entree costing more than $5, from 5-9 p.m. Dine-in only. (Mountain Brook, Lee Branch, Vestavia Hills, Riverchase, Inverness and Wildwood; moes.com for details)
3. Qdoba: Free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal, dine-in only, on Wednesdays after 5 p.m. (437 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, 941- 1492)
4. Salsarita’s: Kids (12 and younger) eat free on Sundays with the purchase of an adult meal. (1831 28th Ave. S. Ste. 160, Homewood, 870-9373) (Brook Highland, Homewood and Center Point; cicispizza.com for details)
5. Baumhower’s Wings: One free kids meal (for children 10 and younger) for every $10 spent on an adult entrée on Wednesdays. (Patton Creek and Lee Branch; baumhowers.com for details)
6. Lone Star Steakhouse: Kids eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal. (180 State Farm Parkway, 942-1902)
7. CiCi’s Pizza: Kids younger than 3 eat free with the purchase of a drink; kids age 4-10 get the buffet for only $3.99.
8. Applebee’s: Kids 10 and younger eat for only $1.99 with purchase of adult entrée on Wednesdays and Thursdays. (Bessemer, Brookwood Village, Center Point, Pelham and Trussville; applebees.com for details)
9. Piccadilly Cafeteria: Kids 6 and younger eat free every day with the purchase of an adult meal. Dine-in only. (1851 Montgomery Highway S. Ste. 121, Hoover, 987-1660)

Where the Wild Things Are

Five of the Birmingham Zoo’s more curious creatures

1. Bali Mynah, a white, critically endangered bird native to Indonesia
2. Cotton-top Tamarin, a tiny monkey named for the white hair that tops its head and fl ows to its shoulders
3. Kori Bustard is one of the heaviest birds capable of fl ight. Plus, it barks.
4. Laughing Kookaburra is common in its native Australia, but perhaps best known in America for its call, which sounds like a laugh. Sing with us now. “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree. Merry, merry king of the bush is he …
5. Gila monsters are one of only two species of venomous lizards in North America.

A Month at Oak Mountain

Birmingham’s green space is on the rise with the addition of Railroad Reservation Park and Red Mountain Park expected to make the Magic City one of the nation’s greenest. Embrace the beauty with 31 activities at an old favorite, Oak Mountain State Park.

1. Grab your bike and hit the road.
2. Go camping at one of 60 tent sites
3. … or camp at one of several primitive sites.
4. Spend the night in a cabin.
5. Catch some fish.
6. Practice your golf swing.
7. Hike on 51 miles of trails.
8. Take your GPS and go geocaching.
9. Hit the trails on your bike.
10. Take the kids horseback riding.
11. Have a picnic.
12. Go swimming.
13. Sunbathe on the beach.
14. Toss a Frisbee.
15. Rent a pedal boat.
16. Rent a fishing boat.
17. Spend a day backpacking.
18. Visit the petting farm.
19. Visit the Alabama Wildlife Center.
20. Take a walk on the elevated Treetop Nature Trail.
21. Watch ducks on the lake at sunset.
22. Relax in a canoe.
23. See how many bird species you can spot.
24. Try out the BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) Track.
25. Take a scenic drive to the top of Double Oak Mountain.
26. Watch the butterfl ies at the Monarch butterfl y garden.
27. Read a book on the beach.
28. Bring your RV.
29. Throw a party in a pavilion.
30. Fly a kite. 31. Go on a hayride.

We love James Patterson

The most popular books checked out from the Jefferson County Library Cooperative in December 2009.

1. Rainwater by Sandra Brown
2. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
3. Ford County: Stories by John Grisham
4. The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell
5. True Blue by David Baldacci
6. Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo
7. Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods
8. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
9. Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
10. Ice: A Novel by Linda Howard

Culture in the Community

Local colleges expand not only our intellectual but also our cultural horizons. Even better, the price tags on these events bear our favorite word: Free.

1. University of Montevallo choral concerts
2. Birmingham-Southern’s student-directed one act plays
3. Samford and UAB’s student recital concerts
4. Lawson State’s annual Rip the Runway
5. UAB Foreign Film Festival
6. BSC Carol Service
7. UAB, Samford and BSC Art Gallery openings
8. BSC’s Biennial Southeastern Art Competition
9. Samford musical theatre ensemble plays
10. UAB monthly Book Talks
11. Southeastern Bible College apologetics debates

After all these years, we’re still hungry.

Most popular titles checked out by Netfl ix members in Homewood

1. Stay Hungry
2. Janky Promoters
3. Jingle All the Way
4. Highlander
5. The Natalee Holloway Story
6. Sense and Sensibility
7. Flywheel
8. Invincible (the Disney version)
9. End Game
10. The Marriage Counselor

Business History

33 companies headquartered in the Birmingham metropolitan area that have 100-plus year histories

1. Bromberg’s, jeweler, 1836
2. Alabama Gas Corporation, 1853
3. Alabama Industries for the Blind, Talladega, 1858
4. Don Drennen Buick-Chrysler-Jeep, (1869) 1908
5. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, law fi rm, 1871
6. Dunn Construction Co., Inc., 1878
7. Southern Progress Corporation, publishers, 1886
8. Cobbs, Allen & Hall, Inc., insurance, 1887
9. Long-Lewis Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Hoover, 1887
10. Alex Kontos Fruit Co., Inc., wholesale produce, 1888
11. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, law fi rm, 1888
12. Birmingham News Company, publishing, 1888
13. Woman’s Missionary Union, 1888
14. Robinson-Adams Insurance, Inc., 1889
15. Gateway, social and community services, 1891
16. Kirkpatrick Concrete, 1892
17. Royal Cup Coff ee, 1896
18. 18. St. Vincent’s Health System, 1898
19. United States Pipe and Foundry Co., 1899
20. J. Reiss Custom Clothier, founded in Mobile in 1899 and relocated to Birmingham
21. Liberty National Life Insurance Co., 1900
22. Buff alo Rock Company, soft drink distribution and vending, 1901
23. Sterne Agee, brokerage fi rm, 1901
24. Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 1902
25. American Cast Iron Pipe Company, 1905
26. Burr & Forman LLP, law fi rm, 1905
27. First National Bank of Jasper, 1905
28. Alabama Power Company, 1906
29. Red Diamond, food service distribution, 1906
30. The Bright Star, restaurant, Bessemer, 1907
31. Protective Life Corporation, life insurance, 1907
32. Peanut Depot, 1907
33. Birmingham Beverage Company, 1907

From the outside looking in

The New York Times. Time Out New York. Elle Décor. American Airways. Esquire. In the past two years, they’ve all directed their readers to Birmingham. Here’s what they’ve recommended.

What to see:

1. Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (1530 Sixth Ave. N., downtown, 251-9402; 16thstreetbaptist.org)
2. Barber Motorsports (6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, 298-9040; barbermotorsports.com)
3. Naked Art (3815 Clairmont Ave., Forest Park, 595-3553; nakedartusa.com)
4. Vulcan Park (1701 Valley View Drive, Southside, 933-1409; visitvulcan.com)
5. Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (1631 Fourth Ave. N., downtown, 254-2731; jazzhall.com)
6. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (520 16th St. N., downtown, 328-9696; bcri.org)
7. Sloss Furnaces (20 32nd St. N., downtown, 324-1911; slossfurnaces.com)
8. Alabama Ballet (2726 First Ave. S., downtown, 322-4300; alabamaballet.org)
9. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center (1200 10th Ave. S., Southside, 975-2787; alysstephens.org)
10. Birmingham Botanical Gardens (2612 Lane Park Rd., Mountain Brook, 414-3950; bbgardens.org)
11. Birmingham Museum of Art (2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., downtown, 254-2565; artsbma.org)
12. Jones Valley Urban Farm (701 25th St. N., downtown, 322-0542; jvuf.org)

Where to stay:

1. Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa (2101 Grand Ave., Hoover, 433-4663; rossbridge.com)
2. The Tutwiler Hotel (2021 Park Place, downtown, 322-2100; thetutwilerhotel.com)
3. Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast (1309 19th St. S., Southside, 918-9090; cobblanebandb.com)
4. The Redmont Hotel (2101 Fifth Ave. N., downtown, 324-2101; theredmont.com)
5. Aloft (1903 29th Ave. S., Homewood, 874-8055; alofthotels.com)

Where to eat:

1. Highlands Bar & Grill (2011 11th Ave. S., Five Points South, 939-1400; highlandsbarandgrill.com)
2. Continental Bakery (1909 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 870-5584)
3. Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q (3278 Cahaba Heights Rd., Cahaba Heights, 967-6004; missmyrasbbq.com)
4. Hot and Hot Fish Club (2180 11th Ct. S., Southside, 933-5474; hotandhotfishclub.com)
5. Little Savannah (3811 Clairmont Ave., Forest Park, 591-1119; littlesavannah.com)
6. Chez Fonfon (2007 11th Ave. S., 939-3221)
7. Bottletree (3719 Third Ave. S., 533-6288; thebottletree.com)
8. Garage Café (2304 10th Terrace S., 322-3220; garagecafe.us)
9. O’Carr’s (Locations in Homewood, Cahaba Heights and Hoover; ocarrs.com for details)
10. Niki’s West (233 Finley Ave. W., 252-5751; nikiswest.com)
11. Urban Standard (2320 Second Ave. N., downtown, 250-8200; Lurbanstandard.net)
12. Jinsei (1830 29th Ave. S., Homewood, 802-1440; jinseisushi.com)
13. Bottega Restaurant and Café (2240 Highland Ave. S., Southside, 939-1000; bottegarestaurant.com)
14. Café Dupont (113 20th St. N., downtown, 322-1282; cafedupont.net)
15. GianMarco’s (721 Broadway St., Homewood, 871-9622)
16. Gilchrist Drug (2805 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 871-2181)
17. Rojo (2921 Highland Ave. S., Highland Park, 328-4733; rojobirmingham.com)

Where to shop:

1. Reed Books (2021 Third Ave. N., downtown, 326-4460; jimreedbooks.com)
2. Peanut Depot (2016 Morris Ave., downtown, 251-3314; peanutdepot.com)
3. What’s on 2nd? (2306 Second Ave. N., downtown, 322-2688)
4. Alabama Booksmith (2626 19th Place S., Homewood, 870- 4242; alabamabooksmith.com)
5. A’Mano (2707 Culver Rd., Mountain Brook, 871-9093; amanogifts.com)
6. AMW (1829 29th Ave. S., Homewood, 870-3588)
7. Ashford Hill for Henhouse Antiques (1900 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook, 918-0505; shophenhouseantiques.com)
8. Circa Interiors and Antiques (2831 Culver Rd., Mountain Brook, 868-9199; circaonline.net)
9. Mary Evelyn (2815A 18th St. S., Homewood, 879-7544; maryevelyn.com)
10. Pepper Place (29th Street South at Second Avenue South, 802-2100; pepperplace.com)
11. Robert Hill Antiques (3029 Third Ave. S., downtown, 326-0088; roberthillantiques.com) 12. Theodora (2821 18th St. S., Homewood, 879-0335; theadora.com)
12. Tricia’s Treasures (2700 19th Pl. S., Homewood, 871-9779)

Where to find nightlife:

1. Ona’s Music Room (423 20th St. S., Southside, 322-4662; onasmusicroom.com)
2. Steel Urban Lounge (2300 First Ave. N., downtown, 324-0666; steel1stand23rd.com)
3. Barking Kudu (2929 Seventh Ave. S., Lakeview, 328-1748; barkingkudu.com)
4. Lou’s Pub and Package (726 29th St. S., Lakeview, 322-7005)
5. WorkPlay (500 23rd St. S., Southside, 879-4773; workplay.com)

Names to Know

Birmingham’s infl uence reaches into all realms, with artists, musicians, scientists, politicians and more who were born here, raised here or worked here rising to national prominence. A sampling:

1. Vonetta Flowers, 2002 Olympic gold medalist in bobsledding
2. Bobby, Davey and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer, legendary NASCAR drivers
3. Mary Badham, Scout in the 1962 fi lm To Kill A Mockingbird
4. Nell Carter, Tony award-winning Broadway actress
5. Bobby Bowden, recently retired head football coach of the Florida State Seminoles
6. Erskine Hawkins, composer of “Tuxedo Junction”
7. Kate Jackson, Sabrina Duncan in TV’s Charlie’s Angels
8. Odetta Holmes, a singer and activist dubbed “the voice of the Civil Rights Movement”
9. Sonia Sanchez, poet and PEN Award winner
10. Sun Ra, jazz composer
11. Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State
12. E.O. Wilson, biologist, naturalist and two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for general non-fi ction
13. Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, two founding members of the Temptations
14. Tobias Wolff, author of This Boy’s Life and a number of other short stories and novels
15. Emmylou Harris, country singer