Perhaps not the first city you would think about for a weekend break, it’s the sort of place that once you visit, you will want to spend more time there. Easy to reach – it was founded after the Civil War due to not only abundant nearby mineral deposits, but also as it is the junction for major north-south and east-west railroads. With plenty of fine hotels, restaurants and other attractions, ‘The Magic City’ is a place that has something for everyone.

The following is our brief guide to how to get the best out of a weekend in Birmingham.

Image by James Willamor

Where To Stay

The first thing you’ll want to do is find somewhere to stay, and we’ve taken a look at a couple of the best hotels in Birmingham, with budget in mind.

For somewhere with a touch of class in the center of the city – on 1^st Avenue North and close to all the main shopping centres and attractions – check out the Elyton Hotel, one of the Autograph Collection by Marriot. It’s very comfortable, fully equipped with a magnificent rooftop bar that gives you awesome views of the city, and comes highly recommended by clients.

For a hotel on a budget we found the 3-star Hyatt Regency to be highly rated. It is well-placed for access to the city on foot, has excellent rooms and all amenities, and is very popular with both business users and tourists. It’s family-friendly too.

What to See

If you’re spending a weekend in Birmingham, you’ll want to check out the main tourist sights, but also leave time for a look around the shops and a night out! There are a couple of must-see landmarks in Birmingham that reflect its cultural and industrial history.

One is the Statue of Vulcan, which stands high on a plinth on Red Mountain in Vulcan Park. The statue – the largest cast-iron statue in the world – is a magnificent testimony to the industrial heritage of Birmingham. Vulcan, being the Roman God of Fire and the Forge, perfectly reflect the steel industry that caused the city to boom. From an observation platform beside the mighty figure you can look out over the city with unrivalled views. The park and the museum within it are also worth checking out.

When visiting Birmingham, you will see many reminders of the city’s place in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s. Indeed, Birmingham was at the heart of the movement, and this is very well explained and displayed in a very interesting and comprehensive museum – which also includes a research centre – at the Civil Rights Institute. Make a note of the address – 520, 16^th Street North – as this is the best place to learn about the difference the movement made and the struggles that many people underwent during those years.

Shopping and Leisure

You can’t visit a city like Birmingham and not check out the shopping malls! There are some great places to enjoy a little retail therapy, and we recommend you have a look at Pepper Place. A collection of seven buildings that have been repurposed – the name comes from the Dr Pepper Syrup and Bottling Plant that occupied the site – into a fantastic array of shops and entertainment venues, it’s easy to spend a whole day here!

Also worth looking at if you like quirky and odd shops with a mix of top brands is The Summit, a very popular and very much ‘in’ shopping destination that features a range of shops laid out in the open air, in the style of large European city-centre shopping malls. The Summit also offers a 16-screen cinema and some of the best places to eat in Birmingham. That leads us nicely to the next section!

Image by Nicolas Henderson

Where to Eat

Birmingham offers a wide variety of restaurants and cafes, and bars that serve food too, with a choice covering just about every possible area of local and international cuisine. The Summit – mentioned above – offers everything from a Chinese bistro to a traditional steak house. So, it you’re visiting the shops or cinema, it’s a convenient spot for food too!

Among the most popular restaurants in Birmingham is Highlands Bar and Grill, where you can enjoy great traditional American food – plus a range of local dishes and some truly wonderful seafood options – and a drink in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. With vegan and vegetarian dishes on the menu, this is a place popular with locals and visitors alike. Highlands has a well-earned reputation that gets regular 5-star reviews.

For a more formal dining experience, you might want to try the Bottega Restaurant. They offer up a full menu of local and Italian-inspired dishes, and Bottega comes highly recommended for special occasions or a romantic meal for two.

These are – of course – just a couple of options in a city that is home to a great number of cafes and restaurants covering all the options.

Pies and Pints – One of many great dining options downtown.

Nightlife

During your weekend in Birmingham you will want to experience the nightlife, and we strongly recommend you check out the live venue Iron City, which has close to legendary status in the local area. With great live bands and a fantastic, lively atmosphere, it is up there with the best in the city.

For a bar that gives you a great idea of Birmingham nightlife, try The Atomic Lounge at 2113, 1^st Avenue North. Lively and welcoming, this is the place for the best cocktails in town, and one where locals come to wind down after a busy week at work.

Atomic has crazy costumes you can rent and dress up in. It’s a dive-bar themed venue filled with decor right out of the 1970s. Frequent The Atomic enough and you just might earn a spot on the wall where a local artist paints portraits of the bars regulars.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking to have more than just a few drinks, walk a few blocks over to Paramount as well. Their double is more like 4 shots of whiskey if you ask me. Just know your limits and don’t be afraid to call an Uber for a safe ride home.

The simple fact is that ‘Magic City’ – a nickname given to and embraced by Birmingham during the rapid industrial and economic boom years of the iron works – still retains a lot of that magic, so check out the availability of your chosen hotel, and take a weekend in Birmingham – you will want to come back for more!

The post A Weekend Guide to Birmingham, Alabama appeared first on Continental Realty Management Inc. - A Property Management Company serving Birmingham, Alabama.

What did The Pizitz look like in the past?

In the mid-1960s, especially during Christmas time, nothing is more exciting and fun than a trip downtown with friends or relatives through the enchanted forest at Pizitz Department Store. A narrow tunnel is created by snow punctuated with glistening lights and reindeers. Kids back then sure had fun watching little elves preparing goodies in their candy kitchen and stitching and sewing too! What made the trip even more amazing is that at the end of the forest, you will find Santa sitting upon his velvet throne.

The Pizitz had everything from furniture to cute furry slippers, which made it the usual go-to of moms and dads alike for their shopping spree. You would also find a winding hardwood staircase near the 19th street that led to the Mezzanine Restaurant, another favorite go-to place of people with hungry tummies after hours of strolling and shopping inside the department store.

1988 – The Pizitz was closed.

Despite being a well-known landmark in the area, The Pizitz was closed in 1988. Not a lot of people knew exactly why, but like any other businesses, it came to its end. But still, a lot of people hoped for the best – to have The Pizitz brought back to life.

There had always been plans to revive the historic building but those plans always fell through. People had been skeptical over the place’s rebirth, so there were not enough investors for a while.

The Rebirth

After several years of trying and failing to restore Pizitz, fortunately, something good happened just recently. Developers received significant tax credits to make the project much more affordable. On top of it, they came up with an idea that would fit the city’s growth.

The Pizitz now is a dining hall with retail on the lower floors and residences above. The place had been finally revived and it’s better than ever. It has more energy than ever before. 

People visit Pizitz to dine, to chat, to chill out, and to make memories.

If you’re around Birmingham, be sure to pay this amazing and historic building a visit. You wouldn’t regret it. See you around!

The post Birmingham Historical Buildings: The Pizitz – Then and Now appeared first on Continental Realty Management Inc. - A Property Management Company serving Birmingham, Alabama.

1. Birmingham residents love local beer – so much!
2. Thursdays are perfect for a good baseball game at Regions Field.
3. Birmingham is the home of the nation’s oldest baseball stadium, Rickwood Field.
4. James Spann is our beloved weatherman. It’s serious if you spot suspenders!
5. Find Sloss Furnaces creepy? We love watching great shows there!
6. We love football. Better choose your team Alabama Tide or Auburn Tigers. It’s required…
7. We enjoy the best gourmet popsicles around from places like Steel City Pops.
8. We love Vulcan – our unofficial mascot.
9. Our restaurants win national awards for the best food – Highlands Bar & Grill.
10. And oh- we do have God-like chefs in the name of Frank Stitt And Chris Hastings.
11. We have great suburbs – Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia and Hoover that are located “over the mountain”.
12. Never take Highway 280 during rush hour. Just don’t do it. The traffic is insane!
13. We live in humidity. Be ready to do so too. In August, you just swim to work.
14. We love white barbecue sauce. You’ll love it too!
15. We have a lot of barbecue pits! You should try them too.
16. Saturday is market day. So be sure to wake up early and get the chance to shop fresh produce and locally sourced goods at The Market at Pepper Place.
17. We love outdoor activities – biking, hiking, kayaking, name it! We love it! How couldn’t we? We have a great places perfect for some outdoor fun. Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, and Moss Rock Preserve are just a few of them.
18. Rent prices and overall cost of living in Birmingham are cheap, so you’d love to stay here forever.
19. We have The Alabama Theatre and it’s our crowning jewel. It has hosted countless shows since 1927 and every single one had been loved.
20. We have the Light Rails and they are spectacular. They are LED modern art installations that are one of a kind and a must-see.
21. Everyone joins a GoKickball Team which is more of a social scene rather than a game. You need not to be athletic to join, you just need to be fun!
22. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens are free whole year round and they’re perfect for a mini-getaway.
23. You can find the city’s best cliff view at the top of Ruffner Mountain Nature Center – one of the largest urban nature preserves in the US.
24. We have the best half-moon cookies! Made from scratch chocolate chip and pecan delicacies, they’re so good they were even named as one of the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” by the Alabama Tourism Department.

Excited to move in? You better be! See you soon!

The post I Want To Rent a Home In Birmingham AL – What Do I Need To Know? appeared first on Continental Realty Management Inc. - A Property Management Company serving Birmingham, Alabama.