#14

So ever since I was about 13 and really started getting into my shopping obsession, I have loved local businesses. Coming from a descently sized city, small shops, restaurants, and other businesses give a sense of community and a small town feel. The service is usually fantastic and many have much more to offer than the large chain stores. Also, it is comforting to me to know that my money is going toward a local citizen and his or her business and not some large, multi-million corporation.
Although I did my best to support local businesses before this English class, I especially do now. I was familiar with many of the businesses of Montgomery, but not so many in Tuscaloosa. Keeping this blog nearly forced me to get out and explore this town. The more I did, the more I realized how much Tuscaloosa really has to offer, from the arts to restaurants. I feel Tuscaloosa is more a part of me now that I am much more familiar with it and have found favorite places. I also have realized how many spots I love in Montgomery. Actually writing about somewhere I like, such as Old Cloverdale, really got me to think and increased my liking of it even more!
I am now much more aware of where I am going and what I am doing in my community, and will definitely continue to do my best to support it and become a part of it.

Westervelt Warner Museum

Early in the semester, I had to go to the Westervelt Warner Museum for a class paper. I did not know much about the museum at all and had no idea how to get to the place which is about a fifteen minute drive from campus. However, once I finally found it, I was pleasantly surprised.

The museum is located deep in a beautiful Tuscaloosa neighborhood, Northriver, near the Northriver Yacht Club and looks over Lake Tuscaloosa. The outside of the museum is not what you would expecct, it looks much like a house. The inside resembles a home as well with numerous rooms, each filled with pieces of American art and devoted to a different time period. The museum has a very cozy, relaxed feel which I really liked, for I felt as though I could take my time and not have a security guard standing over me every second. Not only does the Warner Museum contan paintings and sculpure, but it also has furniture from different time periods, another aspect that sold me on the place for I love antique furniture.

I did not catch Mr. Warner when I visited, but I have been told that if you introduce yourself he will guide you through the museum and inform you of each piece's history. Also, I have been told it has one of the most impressive collections of art of any museum in the United States.

Shakespeare Festival

Montgomery, AL is lucky to be home to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The area is beautiful with numerous ponds and walking trails. On one side there is a large art gallery with a great cafe inside that looks over a large pond always full of ducks and swans. Just last year, the gallery hosted a tour of French impressionists paintings. Pieces of art included works from the Louvre and artists such as Manet (not to be mistaken with the famous Monet) and Renoir. On the other side is the theatre. It constantly hosts well-known plays, now Romeo and Juliet and the production of one my favorite books, The Count of Monte Cristo. The plays are held in a very small theatre called the octagon, similar to the university's Galloway Theatre.

I love to go on picknicks there or walk my dog Baxter when the weather is nice. It is definitely somewhere everyone should visit, if not for a play or tour of the gallery's art, at least for the beauty of grounds.

Old Cloverdale

(My Church)

(Sinclair's)

My favorite area of Montgomery is a historic neighborhood near downtown, Old Cloverdale. It is filled with old beautiful homes, parks, churches, numerous independently owned shops and restaurants and even Huntington College. I live in the eastern side of town where everything is very new and a lot of "big name" department stores are migrating. I live very close to a brand new outdoor mall, Eastchase, similar to Birmingham's Summit. Although all of these new shops and businesses are very convenient and some are exciting additions, I still love and prefer Old Cloverdale.


The area is very near a small town inside a city. It is a community. where everyone seems to know everyone else. One of my favorite areas is Mulberry Steet, a long road filled with old homes that have been conserved and turned into boutiques. Another is East Fairveiw Avenue. Part of Huntington College is found there along with some of my favorite restaurants: Cafe Louisa, Tomatino's Pizza, El Rey's Burrito Lounge, and Sinclair's. Aside from businesses, the homes themselves are stunning. Old Oak trees line the wide roads filled with homes from starter houses to mansions. The old churches are just as beautiful. The church that I grew up in is here. I always look foward to going to the area on Sundays and stopping for a homemade cheese biscuit and coffee at Cafe Louisa after the service.


Although some claim that the area is going downhill due to the city's move to the east, many citizens contribute to conserving the historic area and keeping the local entrepeuners in business. The area is truly an asset to Montgomery and I think it is very important to support local areas such as this one.

Dance and Theatre Not Just at UA

The University of Alabama has a lot to offer in both the theatre and dance departments, for it puts on about eight theatre shows and four dance performances each academic year. I think a lot of students think this is all the city of Tuscaloosa has to offer in these two areas, for they are advertised all over campus. This is what I thought also until my Arts of Tuscaloosa class recently taught me other wise.
I learned that outside of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa is home to the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, Inc., a company of dancers from all area schools. It includes both a professional company and apprentices and puts on several productions each year at Tuscaloosa’s downtown Bama Theatre such as the holiday favorite, the Nutcracker. This is a great opportunity to see dancers from outside the university and compare their style to the dance department's.
Tuscaloosa also offers Theatre Tuscaloosa, one of the largest community theater companies in the state of Alabama. Theatre Tuscaloosa is a non-profit organization that works with Shelton State Community College to provide opportunities for locals to partake in live performances. The company not only puts on several public performances of their own, but also supports children’s theatre and the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers. All of the company’s performances are held at the Bean-Brown Theatre located on Shelton State Community College’s campus.
It is great to support the university's art programs, but can also be fun to go see other community dancers and actors. I think Tuscaloosa has much more to offer in the arts than most people think.

Walk of Life

The weekend of April 18th-20th, I decided to go home for the long weekend which happened to be the weekend that Montgomery was hosting its 7th annual Walk of Life sponsored by the Joy to Life Foundation. My dad was running in the 5k and my mom was walking it, so I signed up at the last minute to walk with her. I have participated in several runs around town, all of which normally consist of one to two hundred people. So, I was very surprised when we drove up to see over 3,000 men and women participating in the event held in the heart of downtown. The race turned out to be a huge success raising over $125,000 to provide medical care, including free mammograms, to under-priveleged women. It was also very touching to see teams come together to honor or remember a previous breast-cancer patient.

Not only was the race for a great cause, it was a lot of fun as well. The race ended at Crampton Bowl, a large football stadium that had a great band and lots of vendors that gave away fresh pretzels, sports drinks, Starbucks coffee, and even snowcones.

Short local runs/walks such as this one are always lots of fun to do and nearly all contribute to a good cause. Also, they are a great way to get out and exercise and enjoy the nice weather.

Red-light Cameras Up in Montgomery

At the very beginning of April, the city of Montgomery put seven red-light cameras in place at various busy intersections. Anyone who runs a red-light in one of these places may be sent a $50 ticket in the mail for the first two offenses in a twelve-month period and will double after any additional violations. Throughout the month of April, violators will solely be issued a warning, but beginning May 1, actual tickets will be given. All camera images are to be reveiwed by the city and a police officer will then issue the tickets.

I think that this is a smart move for the city of Montgomery, for people run red lights constantly and accidents occur as a result. If more tickets are given for this violation, people will be more careful , including myself, and fewer fatalities will result.

Olympic Trials in Tuscaloosa!

The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Triathlon Trials are going to be right here in Tuscaloosa! The weekend of the 19th-20th, some of the country's best athletes are going to compete for a spot in Beijing. To kick off the activities, a parade, pep rally, opening ceremonies, and evening entertainment are being held April 17th, the Thursday before the trials at 6:00 PM at the corner of University St. and Greensboro Ave. Preceding the trials on Saturday, the Collegiate National Championship is being held at 7:00 AM which follows the same course as the olympians'. At 12:00 PM, the women's trials begin, at 2:30 PM, the men's. The Awards Ceremony is taking place right after at approximately 4:45 PM.

The race is being held at the River Road Park East, along Jack Warner Parkway. The 1500 meter (.9 mile) swim course is similar to the Beijing Olympic course forming a figure nine. The triathloners then jump on to their bikes to begin the 40 k (24.8 miles) ride which starts with a climb up Hackberry Lane and back down, a left onto Jack Warner, a 1/4 mile climb up steep Queen City Avenue, and back to Jack Warner to Hackberry Lane. The ride will conclude after 8 laps are finished. Finally, the run will consists of 4 laps by the Riverwalk to complete a 10 k (6.2 miles) sprint to the finish. Twelve women and ten men will be competing in the trials.

To finish up the weekend's events, two more triathlons are being held on Sunday. The city's annual Tuscaloosa Triathlon will be at 8:00 AM and the Twenty 12 at 11:30 AM, both 750 meter swim/ 20 k bike/ 5 k run. The Twenty 12 triathlon is specifically for upcoming athletes interested in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

I think Tuscaloosa is priveleged to be chosen to host these trials. I attended the marathon olympic trials in Birmingham a few years ago and had a lot of fun. It was really neat to see such talented athletes in person and then see them on TV competing against the best in the world in the Olympics.

If you are interested in volunteering, there are numerous opportunities:http://team-magic.rd20.com/Volunteers/RegistertoHelp/tabid/144/Default.aspx

Tour de Tuscaloosa

Saturday morning, Trent and I made another trip to Edelweiss. This time, however, we had an extremely hard time getting there. Numerous roads were blocked off, including the entire right side of University Boulevard past the Tuscaloosa Club. We had to take a detour to Jack Warner and ended up by Capitol Park. Although we grew a little frustrated, we decided to just park and walk. As our destination grew closer, we began to hear a large group of people yelling and whistling...why we had no clue. We soon realized, however, that it was a bike race. Right as we walked up to the strip of road right in front of Edelweiss, scores of neon colored helmets and jerseys came whizzing by. It turned out to be a really neat experience. We ate outside with a lot of other people and dogs, most of whom were enjoying the music and atmosphere, cheering on the bikers. My dad has done some triathalons and he got me into biking a bit a few years ago.

I did a little research on the race and found out it was the Tour de Tuscaloosa put on by bike shop Velo City, located right next to Edelweiss. It turns out there were about 190 participants in seven different races. This was the second annual Tour de Tuscaloosa, the Saturday downtown and Sunday in Druid City. For anyone that enjoys outdoor recreation, this is a fun event to go to and enjoy the spring weather.

Velo City's Website: http://velocityprocycle.com/

Tuscaloosa News' Article on Tour de Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080330/NEWS/605388051/1015/NEWS

Edelweiss German Bakery and Cafe

My boyfriend Trent and I discovered Edelweiss German Bakery and Cafe behind Mellow Mushroom in Temerson Square a few weeks ago after my roommate told me about it. I don't know if it is a well kept secret, but I had never heard of it. Everyone needs to go there... the little place is run by a German family who knows how to bake and cook. They have delicious homemade breads, pastries, pretzels, and excellent coffee. The bakery is also open for lunch serving German sandwiches, bratwursts, and soups. Better yet, the bakers do not add any preservatives to their treats, so one is assured that they are fresh. Although I have only been there three times, the first day my boyfriend like it so much, we went there for breakfast and lunch! Also, the prices are very reasonable; Two can easily eat there for lunch for $10-$15. I have had the German breakfast that includes two pieces of your choice of bread and cream cheese, butter, and jelly. Also, I have tried the bratwurst (not something I would normally order for I'm not a big hot dog fan, but Trent talked me into it) that turned out to be delicious. I think Edelweiss is a great asset to Tuscaloosa, for it gives locals a taste of Germany!
Here is a good article about the cafe in the Tuscaloosa News: http://http//www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20071010/NEWS/71009026/1005/SPORTS0106

Historic Curb Market Has Much to Offer

For years, my mom has cooked vegetables that come straight out of a can. We have had canned green beans, black-eyed peas, and yellow squash for as long as I can remember. Growing up, it took a lot of persuading to get me to put any vegetable near my mouth; I hated all of them. They tasted so blan. The only way I would eat them is drenched in butter or ranch dressing. However, she would make the trip on Saturday mornings to Montgomery's Curb Market which made all the difference. Filled with shoppers three mornings a week, the market has so much to offer. Numerous vendors bring their fresh, right out of the ground produce, the place bursting with color from the array of fruits and vegetables. The curb market's vegetables were the only ones I would actually eat, and now I realize why. The difference is remarkable. Curb market vendors also offer homemade jams, soups, baked goods, and lush flowers. Also, the service is fantastic. All of the vedor workers are so nice, waiting on each customer hand and foot. Montgomery's curb market supports local farmers and business, offers fresh delicious produce and goods, and delivers excellent service.

Lake Martin

(my friend Taylor) (Sinclair's on the lake) (famous Chimney Rock)

Lake Martin is a great aspect to the state of Alabama. Only about two hours from my hometown of Montgomery and nearly the same from Tuscaloosa, Lake Martin is perfect for water sports, fishing, or just relaxing by the peaceful water. To those near Montgomery, summer just would not be the same without it. A great amount at least have a boat or sea dew strictly for the lake, if not a home as well. It is the perfect getaway from the city, a much nearer replacement for the Florida beach line. Lake goers simply refer to the location of their homes to their accompanying marina such as "Kowliaga" or "Parker Creek." Although it is a fairly large lake, for the most part you can maneuver from one place to another in about 45 minutes by boat. Numerous excellent local restaurants surround it such as Sinclair's, my favorite, originally out of Montgomery. There is also an amphitheater right on the lake that accomodates many jazz and blues artists as well as others, most recently Willie Nelson,Sister Hazel, and one of my favorites, the Derek Trucks Band. Unfortunately, last summer, the water never rose above 16 feet below normal. Due to lack of rain and some deal made with the state of Georgia, many were only able to get their boat out a few times the whole summer. It was in the paper consistantly, all people talked about. It was terrible. However, this year the lake is already nearly full, I've been five times in the past week and a half.

It is just one of those places I never get tired of, something to look foward to each trip.Sometimes it's quiet and relaxing, yet fun and crazy at others, someplace everyone should visit.

The Gorgas House, an antebellum attraction

Although the University of Alabama's campus has many scenic sites, the Gorgas House is my favorite by far. Even though I have never seen the inside, but plan on it soon, the outside is just beautiful. With a rod-iron wrap around staircase and two large front porches, one with tall columns and the other with three brick arches on the ground floor, it is easy to see why a lover of old architecture would be attracted to the historical site. Sitting across from the university's immense quad, the charming house is one of the campus's only buildings to have survived the Civil War. Once a dining hall for both students and faculty, the Gorgas House now serves as a museum. Designed by acclaimed architect William Nichols, the house only adds to the beauty of the University of Alabama's campus. Although once on the edge of campus, the Gorgas House now sits near the center in a very busy spot where it is admired by numerous passers-by everyday.

Tuscaloosa: Not Just Football

(Trent's first AL football game)

Although I have considered Montgomery, AL to be my local city for my entire life, Tuscaloosa is beginning to have a spot in my idea of locality as well. As a child of two die-hard Alabama fans, I have experienced the famous Alabama football gameday since I was about eleven years old. I still remember the first time I came...the Homecoming parade, the insane amount fans decked out in crimson and white, the overwhelming excitement as the Tide scored a touchdown (EVERY one...even when we were killing the opposing team). Basically, I fell in love with Tuscaloosa the first time I stepped on campus. I remember thinking it was one of the most beautiful places I had every seen...there's nothing like it. However, despite the numerous visits I made to the town, the quad and the area remotely surrounding the stadium were really all I associated with Tuscaloosa. Not until I moved here last semester did I realize that there is so much more to it.
As one who likes to support the "little guy" I am not a very big fan of chain stores and restaurants. So, within the first few weeks of moving here, two of my friends and I attempted to explore the city. With very busy schedules, we did not get too far. However, along the way, we did discover some pretty neat shops and restaurants. Effie's, Solo, Twice As Nice Consignment shop, and numerous antique stores are just a few favorite boutiques. The Globe, Cozy's (strongly recommended for any special occasions), and the Capture Studio Cafe are just a few of some great local restaurants... not to mention my absolute love....Hooligan's. As one obsessed with Meditteranean cuisine, I make a trip there at least one time a week to pick up some of their fantastic hummus and pita bread. The prices are phenomenal (perfect for any college student) and the hole-in-the-wall's food is excellent, from the lentil soup to the numerous wraps, to the vegetable omelet.
I have also recently discovered Tuscaloosa's support of the arts through a class here at UA. Just this week I paid a visit to Capitol Park downtown, the site of ruins of what was once the Capitol Building. The class also led me to the remarkable Bama Theatre, by far one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever stepped foot in.
Although many think of Tuscaloosa as just simply a grungy college town, I am quickly learning that it has so much more to offer.