Bluff Park Book

Heather J. Skagg’s Bluff Park book ($21.99) is slated to hit bookstore shelves on Monday, February 4th. According to AL.com, the book picks up at the very last of the 1800′s and moves forward. There are hundreds of pics and lots of local history surrounding the neighborhood and the history of some of the Bluff Park churches. The book is part of Arcadia publishing’s Images of America series.

Skaggs has a book signing scheduled at the Alabama Booksmith February 8th at 4 p.m.

Artists on the Bluff

Did you catch the short news bit Fox 6 News did on the Artists on the Bluff? It aired just a couple of days ago and lasts just over three minutes. Here’s a link to the Artists on the Bluff site as well.

Outdoors in Bluff Park

How fortunate to have such two beautiful days back to back like this! Lucky to have such great hiking close to the house.
Hope all y’all have been able to get out and enjoy it too.

Bluff Park is Getting a Coffee Shop

I was checking out the Artists on the Bluff website this week and noticed this:

“Artists on the Bluff will house twenty-two working studios and offices, four teaching studios, two art galleries, an auditorium with stage and the Park Avenue Coffee Shop.”

Since the building was originally a school, I know there is an old auditorium and an old cafeteria in there. I could see where those could be made into a nice space for a Coffe Shop serving sandwiches and such. Anyone have any more information on this? There is nothing on their blog about it, yet. I know they have a pretty solid “long term” plan, but didn’t know where the coffee shop fits in on the schedule.

Could be a really great spot.

Hoover Sun is Up and Running

We got our first issue of the Hoover Sun this week. Very excited. They even had a few Bluff Park specific stories in there. Not sure how the editorial coverage or story count will go, but just glad to have some print focusing on issues and people closer to home.

The Hoover Sun website is up and running too.

Summer Reading

It seems that everyone is doing a Summer reading post. I thought it would be nice to jump on the bandwagon.  Then I remembered that I don’t particularly like to set up lofty goals and then come up short.  And I will come up short.  I especially don’t like to do this for all of the internets to see.  However, I happen to see that Hoover Public Library had a Summer Reading Program for Adults, much like their kids’ program, which my children adore.

Well, nothing motivates me like prizes.

Mama likey a gold star.

So, I have pulled some books that I’ve been collecting (and some newly acquired) and took a picture of them for you made my Summer reading list.

A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller (I’m actually reading this now.  Good stuff, but I’m extremely slow with nonfiction.)
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian (This is a ghost story, which is a big no-no for this scaredy cat.  But his book, Midwives, is in my top 5 all-time favorites.)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins  (I’m the last person to jump on this phenomenon.  It will probably give way to reading the other books in the trilogy.  We’ll see.)
Modern Parents, Vintage Values by Melissa Trevathan & Sissy Goff  (I bought this after hearing these ladies speak at dotMOM last year.  I cannot tell you how beneficial their presentation was.  But again me and non-fiction: oil and water.  Slow, slow oil and water.)
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan  (My affection for Francis is probably unhealthy.  Non-fiction aversion aside, I’d read the phone book if he wrote it.)
Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman  (Lots of positive buzz plus a Lifeway $5 sale equals win.)
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp  (I asked for and received this for Christmas.  But, y’all, I’m just scared of this one.)
Seven by Jen Hatmaker  (Again, scared.  Agonizingly frightened, if I’m being honest.)
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson  (I love a Southern writer and Joshilyn Jackson is one of my favorites.  But, again, ghost story.  **Shiver**)
Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson  (Can’t read her fourth novel until I’ve braved her third.)
The Meaning of Marriage by Tim & Kathy Keller  (Tim Keller has a way with words that has led me to understand Gospel truths that have evaded me for my entire life.  I can’t wait to see what he and his wife have to say about marriage.)

This list isn’t going to get me far past the tote bag prize.  So, I’m going to need some suggestions.  What must-read am I missing?  Any of my list pique your interest?

Restaurant Health Department Scores

Here’s a nifty little page to bookmark: it’s the most up-to-date online listing of Jefferson County Health Department’s inspections. If there was ever a database of information that I wish I could list my favorites and share, it’s this. What’s great is how easily you can search through the list by restaurant name, see the score, click on the score to see all the remarks for the reasons for the score and weigh that against when the inspector was last there. There is even a column telling you if a place is smoke-free or not.

I looked up two of our faves:

• Mr. P’s, in Bluff Park, got a 91 back in December
• The Boot, Hoover, got a 95 back in December as well

So we’re good to go! How handy is this!? If Jefferson County ever wants to do an app, I hope they start with this stuff. How did your favorite fare, fare?

A Little More of Us

It’s probably time that you know a little more about us here at Bryants of Bham.  And what better way to know us than to first see us.

In the spirit of true transparency, there are a few things you should know about this picture:
1.  It was taken over a year ago.
2.  I chose it because my arms look thin.
3.  We don’t typically coordinate our attire.
4.  We don’t typically wear pink. (Ok, the little one does.  Like, a lot.)
5.  We are suckers for a themed birthday party.

Now you’ve seen us.

Or you’ve seen us back in August of 2010.  Trust me, though, my arms really are still that thin, they’re just not very photogenic.

Ahem.

Now for a little bit about us, though I won’t name names in order to protect each member’s privacy/dignity:
1.  At least two of us prefer not to wear pants every chance he/she/we get.
2.  At least two of us, maybe three, are a little too preoccupied with superheroes.  And Legos.  And Lego superheroes.
3.  At least one of us stocks the pantry shelves with labels facing out.
4.  At least four of us like books.  Like, really really like.
5.  At least three of us never put a new roll of toilet paper on the holder when we’ve used up the previous roll.
6.  At least two of us have moves like Jagger.
7.  At least one of us currently has her socks on her hands and is performing some sort of burping puppet show from behind my laptop.

So, you’ve seen more of us.

Feel free to say “hi” in the comments.  And let us know what you’d like to see more of here at Bryants of Bham.

Hoover Police Ticket Talley

There is an article today talking about the number of tickets Hoover PD wrote back in November. Ready for this? During a nine day period (November 14-22) they wrote 400+ tickets between Alford Avenue and Valleydale exits. Amazing! That’s more than 45 tickets a day. Now that section of I-65 is the part in and around all of the crazy construction. It’s a place where lots of commuters get tired and stressed out and start speeding. I think that’s the cause of the massive increase in accidents. A 45% increase from the year before, according to that article.

One good thing about Bluff Park is that you hardly ever have to get on I-65. You can cut through and get to downtown or the Galleria and never have to deal with interstate traffic. But then that is also the downside. That means everyone who knows this will often see our neighborhood streets as nothing more than a cut-through on their commute, causing the speeding and stop-sign-running that is prevalent at certain intersections.

So maybe they key is get some road construction up here so the Hoover PD will be forced to patrol more? Not sure that’s a good idea either. I know there are parts of Hoover that require more police attention. I’m lucky to have my family up here on the Bluff where things aren’t so unsafe. There just has to be a way to get folks to slow down while passing through our neighborhoods. Speed bumps? Cameras? Crossing guards? Toll booths? I’m open to any idea these days. . . maybe I’m just getting to be an old curmudgeon.

Coyote Watch 2012 in Bluff Park

We have one (or maybe more than one?) new furry resident in Bluff Park. According to the Bluff Park Forum, they moved in back just before Christmas. We haven’t seen him yet, though I don’t blame the coyote for hanging out around Mr. P’s. They have some really good food there!

We’re on the lookout!