Musings on Birmingham

Site moved.. please point at our new RSS feed

2006-06-22T00:39:00.000-05:00

I've moved my blog to WordPress...

correct feed is http://curtispalmer.wordpress.com/feed/ - please update your reader accordingly.

Cingular Southern Slant Tipped American Idol?

2006-06-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

Odd that many of us discussed this here in Birmingham the day or so after Taylor Hicks' took the title of American Idol... the mere thought that Text Messaging voting limited to the Cingular network tipped the vote in favor of Taylor over the Los Angeles-based runner-up, McPhee. Sadly, Colin Gibbs in Port Washington, NY has chosen to write now (what, a month or so later?) about this flawed conspiracy theory.

He quotes an "analyst" saying:

“Cingular has partnered with the show’s producers to provide text-message voting solely from Cingular phones, so it’s certainly possible that Southern subscribers might have more a voting edge than those in other regions in the U.S.,” said Drew Hull, wireless industry research director for NPD [Group]. “Had ‘American Idol’ partnered with another carrier with a higher percentage of their subscriber base in another region, the results might have been different.”

Mike Masnick's contribution on the Techdirt Wireless blog pokes all sorts of holes in the argument. Not the least of which is that Cingular is simply the combined brand of the AT&T Wireless and Cingular merger from over a year ago. While the argument might hold water IF Cingular had been the sponsor before the merger, it falls apart once you consider that AT&T had the sponsorship and that THEIR text messaging should have given the northwest contestants the advantage in the early years of the contest.

Face it Colin... Taylor, Ruben, and every other idol (who all happen to hail from the South) won the whole thing each year because of their talent! Soul Patrol!!

Taylor Hicks slips into Birmingham

2006-06-18T17:57:00.000-05:00

18JUN06_CityStages_TaylorHicks 004
Originally uploaded by ▐►cp◄▌.

After playing an unlikely pairing with Snoop Dogg last night at City Stages, Taylor Hicks took the stage with his pre-Idol band this afternoon at the AL.com locals stage. I brought my daughters to see it and had a great time. He is an electric performer in person... not sure how he'll play out of the studio though. It will be interesting to see if Clive can capture this man's spunk and excitement in front of a live crowd. I have a panoramic to upload later tonight to show the crowd... a large one for a non-headliner (this year).

"Websites as Graphs" rendering of this blog

2006-06-04T23:06:00.000-05:00

"Websites as Graphs" rendering of CurtisPalmer.com Blog
Originally uploaded by ▐►cp◄▌.

Came across a great tool tonight and decided to "map" my own blog. Pretty cool way to view the HTML tags.

What do the colors mean?

blue: for links (the A tag)
red: for tables (TABLE, TR and TD tags)
green: for the DIV tag
violet: for images (the IMG tag)
yellow: for forms (FORM, INPUT, TEXTAREA, SELECT and OPTION tags)
orange: for linebreaks and blockquotes (BR, P, and BLOCKQUOTE tags)
black: the HTML tag, the root node
gray: all other tags

Taylor Hicks Parade this Friday

2006-05-10T13:19:00.000-05:00

UPDATE -- Taylor made the cut... the parade is a GO. See the Catalyst blog and Wade's blog for more details! See you there.

================================================

Word is out... if (when?) Taylor makes it into the TOP 3 of the American Idol 2006, there will be a parade in the city streets of Birmingham. The parade-ready Unimog apparently won't be allowed to enter, but look for it to be parked nearby to Linn Park where the celebration will wrap up around 12:30pm. Come one, come all!

Accuweather is predicting "mostly sunny" and 69-72°F in the Noon to 1pm hour on Friday . WagerWeb is predicting Taylor as the #1 vote getter tonight although AOL Television's poll predicts Taylor as #3 .

Heading Back in Time - Living in the Present

2006-02-28T00:59:00.000-06:00

Heading Home
Originally uploaded by ▐►cp◄▌.

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon... just like in yesteryear Birmingham 'cept the crowd was as integrated as you could imagine. While I attended the game with Andre and ran into loads of other people, it was dang cold! Andre and I started behind the Black Barons' dugout, but gave in to the the desire to be in the sun by the 4th inning or so... even then, the lights soon came on and the sun disappeared behind the roof (which provides ample shade in the summertime).

Moving over to the sunny side (3rd base line) I was in a better position to take this shot... almost by accident. I was tracking the runner taking home from 3rd on a wild pitch and couldn't aim/pan and pull back on the zoom fast enough at the same time. Still, a fun shot, TYVM.

Be sure to check out all of the other photos I took at the game.

It was fun when I got home (and warmed up) to watch it all over again on my MOXI system. Unfortunately, as Andre noted in his blog, the game was quite long. ESPN Classic broadcasted the game (see here for their press announcement about the game), but scheduled only THREE hours (seems long enough by most standards) in the "TV guide" schedule. The only problem is that 3 hours was only long enough for SIX innings. I had to wait for the morning paper to see the final score (I gave in to the cold temperatures at the top of the 6th inning) since my PVR system stopped recording at the 3 hour mark and I didn't get home in time to catch the end of the game "live." It was awesome, however, to watch the interviews with Willie Mays and hear the commentary about the field, etc. on the recording.

My favorite line from the broadcasters booth was in an interview. Birmingham historian Shelley Stewart was asked "have you seen a change from [1940's Birmingham]", he responded "Oh, Birmingham has changed... tremendously. Birmingham is not what people think of yesteryear [...] Birmingham has changed just as other parts of the country has changed."

The game was exciting enough that I'd love to buy the DVD if they ever put one out. I'll be watching for a rebroadcast of the "live throwback" game!

City recognized for BEACON program with National Award

2006-02-22T10:49:00.000-06:00

This is "old news" (having been announced in mid-January), but I just came across an email with the following press release. Congratulations to the team at BEACON (with a extra shout out to Andre who works so tirelessly to make the Mayor's dream a reality).

National Community Development Association Bestows Annual Award to the City of Birmingham for the BEACON Program

NCDA Recognizes City’s Achievements through Main Street Based Program

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Jan. 10, 2006 – The achievements of the City of Birmingham’s BEACON Program are being recognized by the National Community Development Association (NCDA) with an Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award.

The BEACON Program, an initiative of Mayor Bernard Kincaid, was created by an act of the Birmingham City Council in February 2004. A new nonprofit organization, Main Street Birmingham, Inc. (MSB), was incorporated to be the managers of the BEACON Program and implement strategies to meet its mission. The BEACON program targets nine neighborhood commercial districts seeking to stabilize and revitalize them and increase the quality of life for the surrounding residential area.

“The Mayor saw the need to create an organization focused on neighborhood commercial districts.” said Jim Fenstermaker, Director of the Department of Community Development for the City. “To be given an Audrey Nelson Award by the National Community Development Association is a big honor and it means that you must be doing something right.”

NCDA is an association of more than 550 local governments across the country that administers federally-supported community and economic development programs. The Audrey Nelson Achievement Award is given to communities that demonstrate creative uses of federal funds to accomplish community development goals.

“BEACON has been around for only a short time, and they have a challenging task. We are proud of the achievements of BEACON thus far,” said Mayor Kincaid.

“The BEACON Program is a blend of traditional community development activities and the approach of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program,” according to David Fleming, Executive Director for MSB. The City of Birmingham has utilized a portion of its annual Community Development Block Grant allocation to support the BEACON program. Fleming says that for every dollar of public funding that has been spent through the BEACON program, since its inception, the result has been nine dollars of private sector investment in the targeted districts. Activities have ranged from marketing the commercial districts through merchant associations to facilitating development of projects that result in new businesses and jobs. The targeted districts are the commercial sections of Avondale, East Lake, Woodlawn, Ensley, North Birmingham, West End, Titusville and Parkway East.

The award will be presented on Wednesday, January 25; 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. during the National Community Development Association Opening General Session and Audrey Nelson Awards Breakfast. It will be held at the Hart Senate Office Building, 2nd Street and Constitution Avenue, NE; Room 902, Washington D.C. The City of Birmingham will be recognized as the Project Sponsor and the award will be presented to David Fleming as Project Director.

Orb of wonder

2006-02-06T10:53:00.000-06:00

Orb of wonder
Originally uploaded by ▐►cp◄▌.

This is a dormant smokestack in the former Metropolitan Gardens section of downtown... saw the moon low in the sky and lined this shot up standing atop a parkbench. The workers building new apartments/condos in the "Park Place" development must've thought I was out of my mind trying to balance and get this uncropped shot.

ALL ABOARD! Next Stop: Railroad Reservation Park

2006-02-01T08:58:00.000-06:00

Come hear the latest about the Railroad Reservation Park. BirminghamCREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) has opened up their February 16th lunch meeting to the public:

Guest Speakers: Renee Kemp-Rotan, Director of Capital Projects, Mayor's Office - City of Birmingham / Meredith Ray, Corporate Realty, Project: Standard Condo
Topics: Will the Railroad Reservation Park be to Birmingham what Central Park is to New York? Hear from Renee Kemp-Rotan from the Mayor's Office about the latest plans and developments for the Railroad Reservation Park district. Meredith Ray with Corporate Realty will share about the Standard Condo project and others in the area around the park and address how this area is becoming a real hot spot.
Date/Time: Thursday, February 16, 2006 / 11:30am until 1:00pm
Location: The Event Center at McWane Center, 200 19th Street North, downtown Birmingham
Cost: $20 for members of BirminghamCREW / $25 for non-members / PRICE INCLUDES LUNCH
RSVP: Please make your reservations by noon, Monday, February 13, 2005 / Call 205.298.1273 / Email info@birminghamCREW.org
Parking: Free parking is provided in the McWane Center parking deck accessible from 2nd Avenue North / Direct access to the Event Center is available from Level C of the parking deck

BirminghamCREW is focused on advancing the success of women in c ommercial real estate. Thanks to this organization for hosting the discussion and opening their meeting to the public!

Railroad Park back on Track

2006-01-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

It lives! So says the Mayor, according to a news report in yesterday's paper. After the panic over the future of the park prior to the Christmas holidays, it's nice to hear that Mayor Kincaid and Giles Perkins are working together to bring such an important project to fruition.

Railroad park backers assure mayor
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
JOSEPH D. BRYANT
News staff writer

The city of Birmingham and supporters of a proposed downtown park have settled their differences, and the project can move forward, Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid said Tuesday. Kincaid and the Friends of the Railroad Reservation District had differences over control of the fund-raising and operation of the 70-acre park proposed to be built between downtown and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Kincaid announced during Tuesday's City Council meeting that FoRRD, a nonprofit organization, had withdrawn its original proposal to manage the park's construction and fund-raising. Instead, the group will work toward a more agreeable document, he said. "The impediment to our moving forward has moved to the side," he said. Kincaid had objected to the 12-page contract, saying it gave the private organization too much control of the project.

Kincaid received a one paragraph letter Tuesday saying that a FoRRD member had withdrawn the contentious proposal. In the contract, FoRRD would have managed the park's fund-raising and construction and would have submitted a budget to a three-member oversight committee appointed by the mayor's office, City Council and FoRRD.

FoRRD President Giles Perkins had said private dollars would come easier with a private group heading the effort rather than the city. That comment angered Kincaid who called it condescending and insulting.

"It was not intended to offend, and we apologize for the effect it had," the letter from FoRRD read. "We look forward to working with you towards a document that is best for our community and this project."

Kincaid said the city and the organization can find an appropriate role for FoRRD now that the contentious proposal had been rescinded. "We certainly will be working to partner with FoRRD in terms of the fund-raising aspect," he said. "To be sure, your fund-raising partner has a say in what's happening. FoRRD will have its say in this project's success."

Perkins said he appreciated Kincaid's comments. "We look to moving this city forward and we're eager to sit down and negotiate," Perkins said.

The first phase of the park, 14 acres between 14th and 18th streets south, will cost about $10 million. More than $7 million in city, county and federal money has been pledged. When complete, the park will be 70-acres stretching along First Avenue South from part of Titusville to Sloss Furnaces and is expected to stimulate further commercial and residential growth in the area. The entire project is estimated at $30 million.

Kincaid said he will set up meetings with the City Council and Perkins in the coming weeks to outline participation in the project. "It is a project that's going to be built," he said. "It is on track."

Confederate Motorcycles is Moving to Birmingham, Alabama

2005-12-19T08:52:00.000-06:00

This is pretty exciting news for our fair region... it was announced last Thursday but I'm just now getting around to posting this to my "musings" blog. Read more about it from an announcement on the Birmingham Business Journal website. See more photos from the press conference here.

The story has received national attention in a variety of articles. For instance, see the following:

AP Wire Story: High-end motorcycle maker leaving New Orleans for Birmingham
Road Racing World: Hurricane Katrina Damage Leads Motorcycle Company To Relocate To Birmingham, Alabama

I've never seriously considered owning a motorcycle, but if only I had the spare change... these cycles are enough to sway me into considering an ownership position!

What if the Railroad Park had a Trestle?

2005-10-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

As I wrote about in the past, the Railroad Reservation Park is fast becoming a likely reality... but the current design is firmly planted on the southside of the railroad tracks that bisect the center of the Birmingham city center. As noted in the posting from this Wednesday, I just returned from a chamber trip to Nashville. While there, when we drove through the Bicentennial Park in downtown, my eyes came to rest on the railroad trestle (shown at the right courtesy of another website) allowing the park to flow from the steps on the capitol building to many blocks north of the railroad. This bright white trestle instantly caused me to pine for such a structure in downtown Birmingham.

I did some research and learned that the railroad tracks through this section of town were raised up in a "grade separation" project begun in 1928. Grade crossings now include viaducts to the east of 20th Street and underpasses or "subways" to the west. At the point where the proposed Railroad Reservation Park exists, both ends of the park are bounded by streets that pass THROUGH the railroad berm with little grade change at the base. In fact, access to the Amtrak passenger platforms is through a set of "ground level" tunnels from the north side of the tracks in the main station.

The UDA design team behind the City Center Master Plan wants to somehow logically link the south and north sides of the track. Wouldn't it be great to have a visual connection between the two sides by taking a portion of the berm away and replacing it with a large bright white trestle such as shown above from Nashville?!? The structure would span where 15th and 17th Streets would otherwise intersect the tracks. This would be created by punching a hole through the retaining walls built 75 years ago and replacing the dirt berm with a load-bearing steel structure.

Here's a quick and dirty mockup, blending a satellite image with a cropped version of the photograph above:

I starting my lobbying effort with Renee Kemp-Rotan in the Mayor's office to consider this idea within an hour of seeing the Nashville trestle. This blog entry is yet another salvo in my effort. Please consider making this an issue every time you attend a meeting about the development of this park!

Looking south at Birmingham from Nashville

2005-10-19T08:13:00.000-05:00

MORE photos...

I just got back from a 50-hour trip to Nashville as one of 100+ participants in the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce's "BIG Trip" (Birmingham Innovation Group)... the 4th such inter-city trip in as many years where the chamber takes this community's business and political leaders to another peer city to learn about what works (and doesn't). Here are some random thoughts and observations typed into my Blackberry during some of the meetings:

Sitting in meeting after meeting here in Nashville, one begins to start sipping at the KoolAid cup. I haven't seen anything "better" here than Birmingham. Yet, there's something about this place. Nashville's Mayor Bill Purcell recited success after success in a very engaging way to the participants from the Birmingham chamber's "BIG Trip". Sitting rapt in attention, leadership from the Birmingham region marveled at the fact that a city's mayor could be so engaging.
Mayor Purcell says his main focus is on education and improving it. Second, safety is critical. It's no longer acceptable to be from a safe neighborhood, because everyone deserves safe places. Quality of life is a close third. Green spaces, bike trails, and other important amenities are critical. All of the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) monies raised in the downtown area has gone towards housing in the urban core.
The Mayor has performed an audit for schools and police and published it on their website for public accountability... at www.Nashville.gov.
One key difference between our two cities is that everywhere we went in Nashville, certain key elements were repeated with regularity. Everyone reminds you that it's the "Music City", they are building building building, and they have an undefeated ice hockey team. Without exception, the speakers are more interested in sharing information with us rather than touting their own self importance.
Race is an issue in Nashville just as it remains in Birmingham, but blacks make up only 20% of the population. 40 years ago the leadership was driven by the thought "we don't want to be Birmingham." Leaders such as Francis Guess of The Danner Company just made changes and didn't grandstand about those changes. Oh, by the way, he was an impressive business man who just happened to be African-American.
A leadership challenge recognized as an issue was how to pass the baton to the next generation. I don't see our leadership in Birmingham thinking about that... but that's why groups such as Catalyst are so important!
Nashville is a joint city/county government, complete with a mayor and 40 councilpersons! Many of the great things they are accomplishing are only possible because of this setup. I heard one person suggest that while it'd be tough for us to follow suit (that might be an understatement!), perhaps we could learn from their combined school systems and merge the Birmingham City Schools with Jefferson County Schools - it makes so much sense that it's bound never to happen .
Live the plan... Nashville has spent the last four years educating the public about urban design principles. The master plan has been bound as a hard copy coffee table book... making it have relevance and stay on top of mind, rather than be thrown onto a shelf.
The physical environment sets the stage for the citizenry... driving social interaction. Nashville recognizes this and is taking massive (!!!!) steps forward in this regard.
The local paper has chosen to celebrate the positives AND expose the pitfalls of Nashville. The main paper plans to coordinate with the region's community papers on regional news discussion. The lead editors have been tasked to develop a strategy for covering the region better as the region grows. Topics will include transportation, quality of life, education, and leadership as they deal with regionalism. Wouldn't it be AWESOME to get the same engagement from OUR paper?!?

I don't think it was as impactful as the Charlotte trip last year (which I missed) and didn't have the thought provoking effect as the Baltimore visit the year before, but all in all it was a successful trip. Time will tell how the new knowledge gained will lead to different changes in the community and what it will inspire in our elected officials. Last year, Commission President Langford and Commissioner Smoot came back from Charlotte talking about digging up the old trolley lines and bringing this form of transportation back to Birmingham. I didn't hear any comparable buzz from this trip.

Perhaps the best thing that will come from our Nashville trip is that it validated SO much of what is currently good about Birmingham. It might not result in many NEW initiatives, but rather reaffirm the efforts currently underway to make Birmingham even greater than it already is!

Columbus Day Parade

2005-10-10T14:45:00.000-05:00

Downtown Birmingham hosted a small Columbus Day Parade today... leading the way was a high school marching band, followed by a Christopher Columbus look-a-like and the Knights of Columbus floats. A flotilla of motorcycles followed with two Bamma Belles (wearing more makeup than Phyllis Diller on a bad day). Next in line were about six fire engines promoting Fire Prevention Week. Taking up the rear were a small troop of police horses and their riders. Small, sweet, and a good distraction in the lunch hour for the city workers.

One Cheeky Indigo Girl

2005-10-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

Indigo Girl, Amy Ray, is coming to Birmingham this coming Sunday (10/9) afternoon to play songs from her new solo album under the cheeks of Vulcan. She'll play with her band, the Volunteers.

Show begins at 2 pm, gates open 1 pm. Admission is only $6 (VPF Members FREE - join at the door). Ticket price includes live music and admission to Vulcan Outdoor Observation Balcony and Vulcan Center Museum.

Lawn chairs & blankets strongly encouraged. Cash bar. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. Limited parking, shuttle provided.

Don't forget that there's free Wi-Fi throughout the park! I'm hoping to get up there and live-blog during the concert.

Large-scale Urban Gaming arrives in Birmingham!!!

2005-09-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

In the midst of the Sidewalk festival this past weekend, 27 people played in Birmingham's first large-scale urban game. If you asked any of them they'd tell you that it was a great time and they want to play it again soon. Be sure to check out the details on the TechWalk blog about the game. Maybe next time YOU will join a team?

CTS Geek Week Warriors score an intersection with a photo of "Yellow, deny, frail"

Auburn Architecture students win the "MOST OUTRAGIOUS" award for this challenge photo: sanctuary, forgive, horrible

A successful challenge photo taken with the T-Mobile Sidekick: Parisian, dislike, many -- UAB GameDev gives their fearless leader the finger

A picture of this scene being staged by the Oompaloompas appeared in the Birmingham News on the Sunday after the event

Each instersection on the game grid had a unique code to prove that the team was at a particular location

3 Teams got together afterwards and staged "Crazy, Pyramid, Flee" at the request of a media photographer from UAB

Drinks Under the Cheeks

2005-09-16T14:35:00.000-05:00

I just got a cool postcard from the Vulcan Park Foundation. It announced the "Vulcan AfterTunes," a four-part concert series premeiring this fall featuring acts heard on Reg's Coffee House. Tune in to the X at 100.5, FOX6 WBRC-TV, or pick up a copy of Black & White for up-to-date artist information.

DETAILS: Admission is $6 (VPF members free). Cash Bar. Shows begin at 2pm on four Sundays this fall...

September 25
October 9
October 23
November 6

FINE PRINT: Gates open at 1pm. Lawn chairs and blankets are strongly encouraged. No pets or outside alchohol allowed. Vulcan Park is a smoke free environment. Prices and artists are subject to change. All shows rain or shine.

Lover's Leap

2005-08-28T22:30:00.000-05:00

No, I wasn't feeling lonely or depressed last Friday... I just had a few moments to kill on my way to a meeting south of town. I figured it'd be worth a stop to take a few photographs of Lover's Leap in the Bluff Park area of Hoover, Alabama.

To find it, first head to Tip Top Grill (see photo above) along Shades Crest in the Bluff Park area of Hoover.

The poetic lines inscribed on the boulder below is a replica of those carved in 1827 by Thomas W Farrar. Thomas W. Farrar was the Founder and first Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in Alabama 1821-22-24. This historical site donated to the public by Jonas W. Schwab in 1935. The work was done and fence provided by Thomas W. Martin and George B. Ward.

To the left of the sign is a stacked-stone series of steps leading down to the area. As you work your way down the steps, you'll see a wroght-iron fence proteting the area with the etched poem. I didn't get the text written down and it wasn't easily photographed, sorry.

Here's a 360 (well, close) degree view of the area at the bottom of the stairs.

I thought it'd be fun to see what a bird sitting in the trees would see if they were looking back at the fenced-off area. Here's the picture:

No one is known to have ever actually jumped, but here's a vertical panaromic picture of the drop-off just to get the proper perspective:

It's possible to climb down below the drop. No, repelling is explicitly not allowed. I didn't have time to properly explore, but here's a picture of what I did see. If I were only a bit more adventurous (and didn't have to work for a living) I'd find out what that ledge was all about.

Drive far?

2005-08-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

I moved here over 2-1/2 years ago from Atlanta and marveled on how close everything was. Atlanta used to be a "30 minute town" - you could get anywhere you needed to go and only have to allow yourself thirty minutes to get there. Sometime after the turn of the millennium, it moved into the 45 minute to and hour town right in line with Los Angeles and other big cities.

Birmingham, on the other hand is in the "15-20 minute town" category. There are certainly areas that are further spread apart and at times it takes an extra five or ten minutes to get somewhere... say, if you leave exactly at 5pm from downtown with all the hourly employees at the banks and law firms OR if a heavy downpour dumps on traffic at the beginning of the commute half-hour (Atlanta, on the other hand could experience an extra 30 minutes due to rain).

What has me confused, however, is the propensity of long-term residents of this great metropolis who find the distance between Hoover and downtown to be daunting. Or, my friend who lives in Mountain Brook who feels that his in-laws in Hoover to live too far away (less than 10 miles!) to drop in for dinner. Then there was the time that I invited a group of techies from around Shelby County to the TechFriday breakfast we hold once a month along 280. One person felt that it was "too far" to travel from Alabaster/Pelham to the intersection of I-459 and Hwy 280 (less than 4 miles). What's up with that?!?

I'm looking for some good research papers/articles to read that will help me understand this mental block. Any ideas or other stories that illustrate this phenomenon?

Birmingham's Rickwood Field

2005-08-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

I was just thumbing through the September 2005 issue of Men's Journal and my eye came to rest on a cigar ad from Macanudo (p.65). It wasn't the cigar that caught my eye, but the ballfield beyond the two men on the bench. The text of the advertisement reads:

The timeless rhythms of the game of baseball never change. Neither do the uncompromising steps that make every Mascanudo the last word in smooth, mellow taste. And that's how Macanudo inspires the passion that makes it America's best-selling premium cigar.

I was struck that a cigar imported from the Dominican Republic was using an image of America's oldest ballpark, Rickwood Field, to give that old-timey feel to their product. I'll have to check with my friend Tom Cosby to see if the Friends of Rickwood at least generated revenue from the use of the image.

Odd that they "moved" the flag for the photo, but I think they wanted to make it appear in the center. You can clearly see the scoreboard matches Rickwood in this picture found on flickr. Notice the flagpole isn't there - in this picture you'll see it's in center field. They ad agency has also taken out a light standard that should appear on the right hand side of the photograph - see this panoramic photograph to compare!

Wonder how many other photographs from Birmingham appear in advertisements without attribution to our great City?!?

Emissions Test Your Vehicle & You Could Win a Car!

2005-08-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

FREE EMISSIONS TESTING, AUGUST 12, UAB CAMPUS, 10 AM UNTIL 2 PM

Turning the tables on the traditional tailpipe pollution clouding parking lots, voluntary auto emissions testing will be offered August 12th on UAB’s Campus just across the street from the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts.

The free and quick procedure will be available from 10 AM until 2 PM in Parking Lot 15D (SW corner of the intersection of 13th Street and 10th Avenue South) and is open to the general public. Participants will also have the opportunity to enter their name in a contest to possibly win a 2005 Toyota Prius.

Automobiles, trucks, SUVs and other motor vehicles are significant contributors to the air quality problem facing Jefferson and Shelby Counties. The region has been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a nonattainment area for a pair of air pollutants – ground level ozone and particulate matter – which prevents certain kinds of industries from locating in either county. More importantly, research has suggested that prolonged exposure to both ozone and particulate matter, or PM, can lead to serious health impacts, including reduced lung function.

Auto emissions testing can help owners better understand the amount of pollution their vehicles produce. Certain test results can also point to problems with the car or truck itself, and lets participants know they might need to follow-up on the findings with their family mechanic.

The Toyota Prius, one of an increasing number of hybrid vehicles being manufactured worldwide, has been shown to produce far less air pollution than other midsize cars and has been judged by the EPA as having a fuel economy rating of 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 miles per gallon on the highway.

August 12th is the last day to enter the Prius giveaway.

Please feel free to share this information with friends, family, and coworkers. For more information, call 325-8712.

Hope to see you there,
Mike Higginbotham
Jefferson County - Environmental Protection Division

Birmingham: Invisible City "Top 10"

2005-07-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

There's an interesting quote I read this evening:

"When you arrive in [the city], you rejoice in observing... At every point the city offers surprises to your view... But it so happens that you must stay in [the city] and spend the rest of your days there. Soon the city fades before your eyes..."

(Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities, p. 90)

This made me think about the fact that I've been here 2-1/2 years and already things are starting to "disappear." Luckily, through engaging new arrivals to the Birmingham region I'm constantly reminding myself to (re)explore our great backyard. During the time I've lived here I have had an opportunity to introduce many long-time Birmingham'ians to places they've never experienced, simply because I've stumbled around and explored. My favorites, in a somewhat arbitrary order, include:

The "Boulders" at Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover
Hidden in the middle of a forest north of the Galleria Mall is a rock climber's paradise... big and small boulders. This is an area for everyone from the fit climber to kids who can scramble over the bus-sized rocks. See this PDF file for an online booklet containing a location map and diagrams of the climbing paths up the boulders.
Tip Top Grill + Lover's Leap
A burger joint with a view, this (mostly outdoor) restaurant in Bluff Park (Hoover) has a breathless view of the Oxmoor Valley below including the Robert Trent Jones Trail golf course... PLUS, the food is great! Almost hidden just to the left is a short trail to a large rock outcropping with a sign identifying it as "Lover's Leap" (no one is known to actually have jumped).
Rickwood Field
The nation's oldest standing ball field, this "stadium" remains largely invisible in the west end of Birmingham. While used for various games year-round, it is best know for holding one Baron's game a season known as the Rickwood Classic. Such famous players as Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Willie Mays, and one my favorite pitchers (Vida Blue) played at Rickwood Field during their career.
Jones Valley Urban Farm
Right around the corner from The Garage is a great little farm with great organic vegetables, sold regularly at Pepper Place Market on Saturday mornings.
Statue of Liberty + Alabama Veterans Memorial
Well, not "the" Statue of Liberty but an almost-exact replica at one-fifth the size of the one in NYC and made of bronze rather than copper. Ours has a burning flame in her hand. It's plainly visible from I-459 just north of Highway 280 near the entrance to the "Liberty Park" development in Vestavia. Interestingly, Birmingham is home to Vulcan, the next largest statue in the world after the original Statue of Liberty.
Nearby are a "regiment of columns" worth visiting in the Alabama Veterans Memorial park.
BTW, there's a human-scale version of the Statue of Liberty near the western entrance of the Jefferson County Courthouse in downtown Birmingham.
Dirigible Mooring Station
Almost hidden behind the "C" of the Cabana Hotel (formerly the Thomas Jefferson Hotel) downtown is an apparatus meant for mooring derigibles (see this old photo showing the original height of the mooring station). The hotel was built in the era when this was thought to be the future in transportation. Some have claimed that it was the only hotel in the South that had such an amenity. Now the former hotel is being converted to lofts. A roof-top pool is planned where a water tower once stood on the roof. I wonder if the mooring station will remain?
Ruffner Mountain
With 1,011 acres and 11+ miles of hiking trails, it is larger than NYC's Central Park and is the 2nd largest urban nature preserve in the nation (Second only to Portland, Oregon's 4,000 acre city park).
Walk of Fame
These "Hollywood Stars" on the sidewalk outside the Alabama Theatre in downtown Birmingham contain such recognizable names as Fannie Flagg, Courtney Cox Arquette, Kate Jackson, and Nell Carter.
The Club's dance floor
The Club's multi-colored dance floor was Director John BadhamÂs inspiration for a key icon in the definitive movie of the 70's, Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta.
The Narrows
Highway 280 was relocated to a new four-lane routing about 25 years ago, but parts of the original winding two-lane route are intact south of Double Oak Mountain, including the very beautiful stretch where the roadway and a stream both wind between two mountainsides. It's called "The Narrows" and it's marked on some road maps.

Perhaps the following quote captures it all:

"Yep, I said it before and I’ll say it again
Life moves pretty fast
If you don’t stop to look around once in awhile
You could miss it."

(The final line of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

Are there others that come to your mind? Help me capture them here for others to see. Post your comments below.

Hogwarts in Birmingham

2005-07-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

Liveblogging with my Blackberry 7250...

1400 people was the staff estimate tonight for the attendance at the McWane Center's celebration of the new Harry Potter book. One comment I heard while on the parking deck elevator during our way IN was that none of us had ever had to park so high in the deck. I lost count of how many I saw who came in costume.

Upon arrival, everyone received their own professionally produced "Marauder's Map" on parchment-colored paper, folded up like the 'real thing' from the movie. The map was a work of art in its own right and must've taken someone a huge amount of time. I predict it'll be a cherished bookmark for those who purchased their new books at midnight.

After crossing through Platform 9 3/4, my kids and I found the crowds large but cordial. There wasn't an event that wasn't standing room only, often 6 deep or worse. The staff who dressed as characters from the books (including a foreboding Hagrid and the somewhat 'homely' Miss Weasely) stayed in character as they led such explorations as the "Care of Magical Animals". The "Meet a Basilisk" program was so popular that the staff/performers ran room-fulls of visitors in fifteen minute cycles, giving most everyone a chance at the experience.

What a fun family event! Kudos to Tim Ritchie, their CEO. What's next in your bag of spells? :-)

Railroading a new park into Birmingham

2005-07-08T14:05:00.000-05:00

Don't be deceived by the title of this posting. I'm not suggesting that the new Railroad Reservation Park is being railroaded past anyone. Quite the contrary.

I attended a public hearing last night held by the City of Birmingham with the design team behind Birmingham's new "central park." Renowned landscape architect, Tom Leader (check out his website), presented his latest design for this landmark space in Birmingham's central city. Needless to say, I was VERY IMPRESSED. One comment made by another attendee last night was that he seems to have addressed everyone's needs and that, my friends, is no small feat in this town. Another friend Vickii lamented the lack of a tennis courts in the 14 acre park space, but that's the only shortcoming I heard uttered. She's posted her thoughts about the park over on the Catalyst Blog.

To me, the most exciting (and intriguing) new aspect of the plan is an elevated bike/walk-way along the railroad's edge. Suspended about 12' in the air along the length of the park, the bikeway will allow riders to literally "rise above" the city streets and will eventually extend all the way to the Sloss Furnaces. Tom Leader's design includes stairway access at each north/south street and intermittent "at grade" access points where mounds will be built up allowing cyclists (and stroller-pushing parents, among others) to access the trail without dismounting.

Oddly enough, the land to the NORTH of the railroad is where the most action was at one time, complete with a roundhouse and switching yard. For a nice history of the area, see http://www.bhamrails.info/railroad_reservation.htm and the 2nd page (high-res images may load slowly depending on the speed of your connection). The second webpage shows the 4 city block space targeted for the park clearly vacant, but comparing it to the map of yesteryear shows a limited amount of activity at the location.

Perhaps the only discouraging comment made last night was the feeling that this is a two to five year project. I agree with one attendee that it'd be great to somehow start today! I, for one, expect that my family will be regular users of the parkspace.

Why not "Villages of Birmingham" ???

2005-06-29T13:03:00.000-05:00

Hey! Mountain Brook has got the village theme for their centers of commerce:

Mountain Brook Village
English Village
Crestline Village
Cahaba Village is under development in the former "dirt pile" along 280

The City of Birmingham has a "mainstreet" program, Main Street Birmingham, Inc., working to reinstate nine locations across the city to their former glory as centers of commerce outside of downtown. Why not brand these locations as the "Villages of Birmingham" to correspond with the City's 99 "neighborhoods"?? Imagine the following...

Ensley Village
Woodlawn Village
The Villages of East Lake and Roebuck
Spring Street Village
Old Avondale Village
The Villages of West End

How 'bout it? Wouldn't that tell the world what these locations really are?? They're commercial districts that cater to the local residents and destinations for the rest of the region. Why not capitalize on the branding of this concept?!?

Birmingham City Center as a Dining Destination

2005-06-27T15:23:00.000-05:00

Live blogging from Operation New Birmingham's *** What's Cooking' Downtown *** luncheon, "Cooking With Gas Luncheon," sponsored by Alagasco , at The Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham, Alabama:

Frank Stitt, renowned restaurateur said, "It used to be that residents of Birmingham would have to venture down to New Orleans for a great meal. It's not required any more." Two guests from New Orleans were featured speakers, imported to share their view of establishing downtown dining as a destination.

Ti Adelaide Martin, co-owner of Commander's Palace:

"You've got it all going on" - in regards to Birmingham's restaurant scene
Commander's Palace is 125 years old, we're just not sure what date in 1880 it was started
restaurants are low-margin businesses, but if you can get one going it's like a license to steal
In Dallas, [our sister restaurant] stayed in downtown so long it's cool again.
Cafe Adelaide is at the edge of the warehouse which was a bad location but now a year later is starting to be the place
restaurants make things happen - they're the catalyst for renovation of a district
To the Mayor... "you can't make it hard on us... make parking free at night... make it easy to get a permit... put on LOTS of lighting"
To the audience... "we were raised to be ambassadors for our city, you can do the same"
To the landlords... "don't be so greedy... building the success of the restaurant will raise property values"
To the restaurateurs... "play nice... support each other... [in New Orleans] we have a very friendly, yet competitive environment"
The view is always better from the high road

Melvin Rodrigue, GM and COO of Galatoire's:

Frank Stitt is a wonderful ambassador, he's the guy you see in New York, he's the one who's put you on the map
Birmingham, believe it or not, is a city that has very close ties to Galatoire's -- before moving on to Chicago and ultimately New Orleans, the founder ran a Galatoire's Bar and Inn here in Birmingham (circa 1880's)
Galatoire's is now 100 years old
We have a great following from here in Birmingham - some will fly in on Friday afternoon, eat dinner and show up again for lunch and dinner on Saturday -- they'll do it two or three times a year
"Regular customers" are a big part of destination dining... tourism is wonderful but locals need to be supported
Our 5-page menu never changes... in fact, one waiter doesn't even bring it to the table - he just says "let me tell you what you want to eat today"
When you can get other people to talk about you, you've created a grassroots campaign of advertising (aka "PR" and "word of mouth"), because you're making people want to make the pilgrimage to where you are
The private dining experience in the 2nd floor was originally discontinued in WWII, but after a $3M renovation reservations and private parties are commonplace
The restaurant industry is the second largest private employment base next to the government -- 8 out of 10 salaried employees were once paid by the hour
"Restaurants are a barometer for whether or not an economy in the entire city is on track" - as heard from a NY senator
The restaurateur is the pioneer... everything else that happens around there is a given

P.S. ---> This is my first effort at live-blogging, a concept of which I became aware when I recently gave a presentation to <ipsa>... so please be kind. :^o

What I do...

2005-06-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've been asked what I do. You can see what I've done in the "about me" page. Basically, my elevator pitch is as follows:

I'm the one that the board and CEO comes to when they have a project that must be done but no one knows how to get it done.

That said, if you need someone to do the following, I'm the one to contact:

Coaching the CEO and his/her staff
Performing pre-merger due diligence for either company or the investors
Setting a strategy and plan for launching a new product (line)
Writing a business plan that correctly captures what your company is all about
Developing a "look and feel" for the company. This includes logo evalution and adaptation in PowerPoint and on your website
Developing strategic partnerships for your company
Create a PowerPoint presentation and coaching the person(s) who must give the presentation
Evaluating your company's market defensibility
Providing quality assurance review of a new product
Developing a marketing plan for a new product
Evaluating and designing the Information Architecture of a web-based product

About me...

2005-06-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Profile

I'm the one that board of directors seek to take on a project that has utmost importance to the success of the organization and often when no one else has ever accomplished the new intent. I am an innovative, versatile, and take-charge individual with broad abilities in corporate development, partnerships, product management/marketing, and business strategy. I am always seeking an opportunity to improve a group’s effectiveness and its strategic importance to the industry in which it participates.

Pursuing a culture change in the Birmingham region, evangelizing the technology economy for the benefit of all of its participants. Recognized for success in leadership and the building of cross-functional teams in multi-mission organizations such as Atlanta’s Summer Olympic Games and WebMD, achieving results with extremely low churn. A "player/coach" who can multiplex between managerial and hands-on activities. Exhibited competency in navigation of complex corporate, local government, and academic organizations. Excels at working in ambiguous and rapid-change environments, guided by an organization’s mission and board leadership.

See also my post about "what I do" here on this BLOG.

Recent Education

Emory University, Goizueta Business School, Atlanta, GA
Master of Business (MBA) - Executive MBA, May 2002

Executive Program / Ranked in the "Top 10" worldwide by Financial Times

Experience

TechBirmingham, Birmingham, AL
January 2003 - Present
President / CEO

CEO of a "leadership alliance" for growing the technology economy across the Birmingham region
Organized annual venture capital forum (Southeast Venture Capital Forum), annual regional electronics recycling event (TechBirmingham Ecycling Day), annual "Entreprenuer Accelerator Program", and a summer job shadowing effort
Driving the adoption of wireless networks in the Birmingham region, both hotspots and a muni-wifi effort
See www.TechBirmingham.com for more details

GreenSpring Ventures, Atlanta, GA
August 2000 - December 2002
Associate & Founding Member

Guided and advised all aspects of portfolio companies with focus on corporate strategy, product development/commercialization, and market messaging
Identified attractive industry sectors (historically the fund has chosen technology and business services) and specific companies for investment
Perform market, company, and financial due diligence prior to investment
Worked directly with C-levels and boards at portfolio companies
Wrote and improved business plans and marketing/sales strategy presentations
Advised proprietary optical technology COO in evaluation/research of potential product extension markets, participated in presentation of material to BOD
Conducted change management analysis for business services company leading to hiring of new CEO and new focus on alternate market strategies
Promoted the venture fund and driving new deal flow via technology forums, conferences, and fund’s Website; creating investment opportunities with local entrepreneurs

WebMD, Atlanta, GA
March 1999 - July 2000
Director of Strategic Business Group

Functioned as corporate-wide partner contract manager leading an experienced team of Business Managers (6 direct reports) driving e-commerce/partner revenue
Reported to an Executive Vice President, alongside several VPs, after being promoted to align partner management roles
Experienced virtually no loss in key relationships despite consolidating nearly 100 disparate contracts from over a dozen combined companies during rapid growth phase
Always focused on the bottom-line, renegotiated $7.5M contract with A.D.A.M., Inc. (Nasdaq:ADAM), significantly reducing WebMD’s cash obligations
Increased revenue 15% over targets in two consecutive quarters with full P&L responsibility

WebMD, Atlanta, GA
August 1998 - March 1999
Director of Product Management and Marketing

Led a team of 16 product managers and developers, plus over 20 remote contract staff, in the creation, UI design, information architecture, content, and delivery of the original webmd.com Website based on direct interaction with CEO and executive team
Tasked by CFO to reduce dependency on outside IT vendors; moved ±90% in-house
Routinely evaluated adequacy of product based on competitive research and field responses from Sales, Technical Support, and Business Development departments

America Online (formerly NetChannel), Norcross, GA
December 1996 - July 1998
Director of Product Management

Rescued set-top box product design severely behind schedule. Re-specified the software component to meet requirements, re-established good relations with overseas (Cambridge, UK) development team, and conducted competitiveness study
Before transition to AOL headquarters as “AOL-TV,” represented acquired company for M&A due diligence, then invented and implemented a process for shuttering the RCA NetChannel online service

Atlanta Olympic Committee (ACOG), Atlanta, GA
March 1993 - November 1996
Program Director, Facilities Planning / Design Technologies

Commissioned to start up self-sustaining physical planning function that designed the use of over 30 geographically dispersed venues for the 1996 Olympic Games
Chosen by COO to create, staff, and deliver an Executive Information System in the Central Command Center which operated 24 hours a day for 6 weeks before and during the Games; played a crucial role working with Committee executives, the FBI, and other agencies in the analysis and dissemination of spatial information surrounding key threats and incidents
Directed highly visible and diverse team of approximately 75 planners, project managers, and architects (15 direct reports)
Managed 3-year $5.5M direct budget, including $3M of Value-In-Kind
Delivered keynote speeches, wrote articles, interviewed by multiple media outlets, orchestrated events casting ACOG in a positive light with the international media

Board Governance & Advisory Roles

University of Alabama at Birmingham Engineering Foundation Council member ~ 6/2003 - Present
Virginia College's Board of Advisors ~ 8/2003 - Present
American Sentinel University (pka American College of Computer & Information Sciences) Board of Advisors ~ 1/2005 - Present
Center for Workforce Development/WIB's Board of Directors / Youth Council Chairman ~ 4/2004 - 10/2005
Biotech Association of Alabama Board of Directors (ex oficio) ~ 6/2004 - Present
Birmingham City Council Economic Development Committee ~ 1/2004 - Present
OGETA Forum Board of Directors ~ 1/1999 - Present
Vestavia Hills UMC Church Council / Long Range Building Committee Chairman ~ 1/2006 - Present

Prior Experience

Launched new graphics/imaging market segment and sales distribution channel for Dickens Data Systems. Owned and operated CAD software VAR company, annual sales ranked in top 20 nationally, for four years. Wrote the CAD drafting manual, developed CAD curriculum, and taught CADAM/CATIA software at Lockheed. Designed architecture of laboratories and set CAD standards at IBM’s Almaden Research Center.

Received a Bachelor degree from Georgia State University and a small business program certificate from University of Georgia.

Technical Skills

Demonstrated proficiency in emerging technologies, HTML, JavaScript, user-interface design, Canvas illustration software, and all Microsoft office applications. Familiar with XML, LANs, UNIX, and several programming languages.