Birmingham is in the midst of an era of progress and growth. The positive energy felt during the Opening Ceremony of the World Games brought to a peak a feeling that has been slowly building up in many of us for quite some time now: the feeling that our city is on to something special. Something to be proud of. A history of violence, hatred, overcoming, and national attention for our ugliness has been slowly morphed into one of the most exciting cities when it comes to art, music, food, technology, beverage, and poetry. New businesses are joining longtime favorites to keep us entertained and fed, alongside with the endless stream of concerts and events. This change has been decades in the making and took a lot of caring people doing a lot of hard work, and Birminghamians of today have the responsibility of carrying the growth forward (while enjoying all the perks of the Magic City in 2022)!
The Arts
Any given night in Birmingham will have a local poet or musician doing a set on a Magic City stage that would draw a standing ovation from audiences around the world. Alabama’s state poet laureate Ashley Jones, Yogi Dada, Shaunteka LaTrese, Fayth Hope, Alina Stefanescu, Laura Secord, David The-Gr8, Joi Miner, Poetic Gawdess, Spex Da Great, Shy Jenkins, Lori Lasseter Hamilton, and Dikerius Blevins are just a few names that might expand your worldview with their words in the span of a couple minutes. The Magic City hip-hop scene is another gem that is not yet appreciated around the nation for the greatness that it is. Local legends like ChriStyle, YouGene Write, G.I. Magus, K1NG ELJAY, Black Plastique, Mel. Crozby, LINNIL, Phrasure, Akil Pratt, Rocki, Troy Massive, Brint Story, Suaze, K.L.U.B. MONSTA, Tia Raye, 3.A.M., Asherr Cole, Nerves Baddington, Gap Toof, ChikN Jorge, Dolo Fibonacci, Hemp the Artist, 10 Stackz, Bimbo, Carey Fountain, and many others spend their energy perfecting their craft and uplifting their fellow Magic City musicians. The spirit is comradery, and it’s encouraging to see.
The same can be said for Birmingham’s singer-songwriter, R&B, indie, punk, metal, and similar scenes. The Blips are one example of Magic City greats coming together to create something timeless. DIY Birmingham is another shining example of the beauty that can be found in a local night of music. Laugh Garden, Luke Crowder, Mom’s Basement, Electra, Sweet Wreath, Yellowhammer Creative, and all sorts of other Birmingham entities have been showcasing some wonderful Magic City area creatives. Members of The Little Raine Band, Dree Leer, and other famous bands host music or BINGO-centered nights that bring the community together. Local stations like Substrate and Birmingham Mountain Radio do a great job of bringing us the latest great tunes.
Birmingham has also been bringing in some incredible shows. Avondale Brewery continues to one-up themselves with each new concert announcement. The venue just finished two sold out nights with Rainbow Kitten Surprise after hosting a Verzuz rematch between Bun B of UGK and 8Ball & MJG. The BJCC recently had Machine Gun Kelly flying to stage on a fake helicopter, and has hosted the legendary Bob Dylan, WWE matches, the Alabama Comic Convention, and many other exciting moments in the months prior. Not to mention comedians like Gabriel Iglesias and John Mulaney, with Kevin Hart coming up next. Iron City, Saturn, The Nick, Firehouse, and Oak Mountain Amphitheater haven’t been slacking either bringing legends of all sorts to our city on a routine basis.
When talking about the arts, you can’t forget our visual artists and museums. Space One Eleven, Stephen Smith Fine Art, AEIVA, Birmingham Museum of Art, Scott Miller Projects, and so many others do a fantastic job of highlighting local and national artists. Birmingham’s murals have also risen to new heights. The great Voice Porter ensured that multiple jaw-dropping displays were painted in Ensley. Blank Space Bham’s Magic City Mural Festival put 6 new masterpieces up in Woodlawn. 5 Points South, 3rd Avenue North, the Historic 4th Avenue Business District, and random buildings all over town showcase the talent of Birmingham artists. The theater can’t be understated either, especially with the new Red Mountain Theatre campus and companies like Glenda’s Baby Productions investing in the city. Sidewalk Cinema and the Sidewalk Film Festival also ensure that the visual arts are well appreciated in the city with a world-class experience.
Food
The Magic City has been slowly building its reputation as a food lover’s paradise for years. James Beard Award winners like Frank Stitt, Dolester Miles, Chris Hastings, and Adam Evans command attention to their beloved dishes. Other Birmingham favorites like Yo Mama’s, Little London, Granny’s Fish ‘N Grits, Eugene’s, Lady E’s, Helen, and Red Pearl are bringing in constant media attention and praise. Food hubs like Green Springs, 41st Street, 5 Points South, Lakeview, and Lorna Road highlight a wide variety of amazing dishes.
You can’t mention Birmingham food now without talking about the food truck scene, which now includes tasty meetups each week at different sides of town to help the whole city have access to their favorite local businesses. Fat Charles, Not Ya Average Leaf, Sahani, O’ My Turkey Leg, Tacos Toluca, Encore Rouge, Backyard Tacos, and La Quetzalteca Xela are just a few samples of the amazing flavors that can be found on wheels in the Magic City. The new City Walk park also has a section dedicated to food trucks which will provide another central location for these great eats.
Sports
The Birmingham Barons, along with teams like the Magic City Surge and Alabama Fire, were the pillars of Magic City sports for a while. Then the Birmingham Legion brought a hoard of die-hard soccer fans with them to ensure we had another sport covered. The recent additions of the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions and the Birmingham Squadron amplified the sports enthusiasm to levels that we thought were unmatched until the World Games came into town. With this global event and hosting the country’s newest football league, Birmingham has shown itself to be a solid sports city.
Leisure and Hobby
Birmingham has become a disc golf haven. A yoga-centric city (just ask BLK Yogi). A hiker’s favorite destination, and so much more. Our new skatepark is one of the longest in the nation, and has already brought out hundreds of excited skaters from around the nation. We had people like Pete at Faith Skate fighting for it for decades. East Lake Park now has exercise equipment across the street from one of the city’s finest walking tracks. Pickleball has also taken over, with multiple courts now found throughout the city. The new Good Dog now gives Birminghamians the perfect spot to drink a beer and socialize while letting their dog make some new friends. Life is good in the Magic City, and things seem to be on the rise. We feel confident letting the creatives and the cooks lead the way!
Cover image from The World Games
