Friday, December 31, 2010

Best Post of the Week: Week Eighty-One


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Newest Alabama Blogger.

My baby, Noah James, was born last Sunday, December 19th:

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He has a very thrilled and proud big sister:
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If you'd like to read more about him (and his rather dramatic arrival), you can click here.


I’ll be around, but possibly scarce for the next few weeks as my sleep is diminished and my free time is spent napping. If you’d like to guest post during this time, I’d love to have you!! Just email me at rachel@alabamabloggers.com.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas – I sure did!!!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas / Snow Link-Up!

I know you were all as shocked as I was to get a White Christmas – who ever thought we would see that??

(And for those of you in the very unfortunate areas of the state that missed out, you have my sincerest condolences.)

At any rate, link up your Christmas and Snow posts here, and let’s all visit each other’s holidays!

I hope you all had a wonderfully Merry Christmas!!


Monday, December 27, 2010

January Meet-Up!!!


By Wade



Time to mellow out. Our Alabama Bloggers meet-up in Birmingham will be at Mellow Mushroom in Inverness. (Yes, Inverness, not Five Points South, careful reader.)

We'll meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, for pizza, calzones, salads, drinks and greetings for the New Year. Join us for lunch and for fun.

Mellow Mushroom is located in the Inverness Corners strip mall, at the corner of U.S. 280 and Valleydale Road, (205) 981-9914. [map]

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Wade at wade[at]wadekwon.com.

(Event hashtag, as always, is #AlaBlogMeet.)

Start your new year off right! And please RSVP below by Jan. 14, so we can reserve the right number of tables.

We'll see you Jan. 19!

P.S. If you can help organize meet-ups for February or March, please e-mail Rachel at rachel@alabamabloggers.com.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Best Post of the Week: Week Eighty


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pure Magic: The Bright Star

Originally Published at Grasping for Objectivity on November 22, 2010

With a nickname like The Magic City, you would expect there to be many magical places in the Birmingham area. And there definitely are – the top of Vulcan, The Patio at The Club, Argyle Road overlooking the city at night, and Sloss Furnaces, to name a few.

But my pick for the most magical place in the metro area can be found right outside of Birmingham in the city of Bessemer – The Bright Star.

IMG_1621Owner Jimmy Koikos and niece Stacey Craig

There’s no other way to describe the experience of The Bright Star other than magical, because something transporting happens to me when I walk through the door – I literally feel like I stepped back into time – into a much more glamorous, romantic, and formal era.

The Bright Star has been in the same location since 1915 (and has been open since 1907, making it the oldest restaurant in Alabama), and still has the same murals on the walls that were painted that year by transient European Artists. The many dining rooms are all beautifully antique in gorgeous hardwood paneling, mirrors, and stained glass.

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The amazing setting, plus the music playing softly as I walk into the restaurant immediately takes me somewhere else in my mind – an elegant, cultured, and sophisticated world that only exists in novels and movies.

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But, despite the fact that it is a Greek-owned restaurant and I have family ties to it (My great-grandfather worked at The Bright Star after immigrating from Greece), I almost missed it.

I had always thought of it as too far out of town and “just another old Birmingham restaurant”. It wasn’t until our precious former neighbors, Darrel and Julie, gave us a gift certificate for The Bright Star for Christmas several years ago that we experienced it for ourselves, and learned about the magical place that it was.

And there’s definitely more to it than just the atmosphere – the food can literally be called the best in the state, as it is the only restaurant in Alabama to have won a Prestigious James Beard Award. Their Beef Tenderloin and Greek Style Fresh Snapper (Both of which they cut and prepare themselves) are dreamlike – I almost always get one of the combination platters so that I can have them both. But everything I’ve ever had there has been absolutely shockingly delicious!

I talked to co-owner Jimmy Koikos about his experiences at the restaurant. His Great-Great Uncle opened it in 1907, and then sold it to Jimmy’s Dad in the 1920’s. Jimmy started working at the restaurant when he was 13 years old, because his Father went on a three month trip to Greece and left Jimmy and his brother Nicky in charge. And, except for his time at The University, Jimmy has been working here ever since.

Jimmy and his brother and co-owner, Nicky, can always be seen in the restaurant, and make an amazing effort to know their customers. I asked Jimmy what percentage of their clientele were regulars, and he said that of the 4,000 people they serve a week, he knew 35-40% of them by name.

And besides the amazing way they treat their customers, their employees are just as happy. They have employees that have been working for them for 27, 32, and 45 years!

Many celebrities have frequented the restaurant over the years, including one that got his favorite private booth named after him, Bear Bryant:

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(And yes, if you really want a magical night, you can reserve any of their private booths for your dinner.)

Although our trips to The Bright Star are usually reserved for dates, I went for lunch last week and took my Mom and Ali along. It was Ali’s first visit – and I swear she felt the magic, too.

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Disclosure: I was not compensated nor asked to write this post. I simply wanted to share the most magical place in our city with all of you, and hope that if you live nearby, you will experience the magic for yourself.


p.s. – When you go to The Bright Star, ask to be seated in Darla’s section. She’s the best waitress in town – you won’t regret it!!

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Where do you find to be the most magical place in your city, restaurant or not?

Friday, December 17, 2010

Best Post of the Week: Feature Another Blogger Week!


This week, link in the best post you've read recently by ANOTHER Alabama Blogger. In your link title, include your name or blog and their name or blog, and let us know in the comments why you chose their post!

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading!

Be sure to link in a specific post, not just the general URL of the blog.

Monday, December 13, 2010

New Years Eve, Alabama-Style.

If you want to go to a huge party for New Years Eve this year but don’t want to go all the way to Times Square, there’s a great option right here in Alabama!

Instead of watching a Crystal Ball drop (which is SO last year), Mobile will be dropping a giant Moon Pie at midnight!

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And, of course you can’t drop a Moon Pie without serving RC Cola, which will be on hand in abundance.

The 350 pound, 12 foot Electronic Moon Pie has now been installed over Mobile in preparation for it’s big Debut:

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The celebration is free to attend, and will also feature a Mardi-Gras Style parade in the afternoon and a street party in the evening. The street party will have two stages of live entertainment, headlined by the O’Jays, the singers of the infamous “Love Train”.

There will also be an elaborate laser and fireworks show at midnight to accompany the Moon Pie drop.

Oh, and if you’re wondering “Why a Moon Pie??”, it’s because it is the most favored treat to be thrown at Mobile’s Mardi Gras parade, the oldest in the nation. And, as such, the Moon Pie has become an unofficial symbol for the city.

For more information, head to http://www.mobilenewyear.com/.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Best Post of the Week: Week Seventy-Eight


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Best Post of the Week: Week Seventy-Seven


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!
If you haven't linked up and introduced yourself yet, be sure to go here to do so!