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.
An Early Mother’s Day Treat
What a wonderful surprise to see BryantsofBham mentioned in Birmingham Magazine‘s article, Mom, Online!
Now, to be fair, BryantsofBham is more Dad than Mom most weeks. But, as Trav will tell you, I’m the personality. Of course, he’ll also tell you he’s the looks. And, well, that’s only true on Mondays, Wednesdays, and some Saturdays (those tend to be my no make-up, greasy hair days).
I can tell you that Birmingham Mag nailed it with the ladies of BirminghamMommy, Boomama, and Grasping for Objectivity, and others. I have even found some new-to-me moms of Birmingham to read.
In a completely shameless maneuver, I’m going to add my own recommendation to the must-read mom bloggers of Birmingham list — Grass Stains. Grass (as I like to call her) has been a long-time occupant of our Bluff Park Blogroll. (I know, right, what an honor in itself!) I got to meet her in person at the Alabama Bloggers Meet Up last week and, in all honesty, I’d like to put her in my pocket. Her blog is thoughtful, witty, and funny. And, if you prefer your hilarity in 140-character doses, follow @grass_stains on Twitter. She’s positively addicting.
You can see pics of some of the featured bloggers over on Birmingham Mag’s site. But I suggest you pick yourself up a copy of their May issue to get the full story!
Thanks, Birmingham Magazine, for mention!
Hoover Life Magazine
Did you guys know that the Hoover Parks and Rec department produce a magazine? I just saw the link, to the January-April 2012 issue, in a newsletter.
They have only have two issues online (the other is Summer 2011), I hope it becomes a regular thing.
Bluff Park Gets a Mention…
over on the MagicCityPost.com! It’s about the new “art stuff” up at the old Bluff Park School. The post has some history in there, that’s new to me and some photos of the new interiors that I had not seen. Go Bluff Park!
Netflix Kills the Value for Customers
Are we the only Netflix subscribers seeing this?
I called Netflix a few weeks ago and apparently, since February, they have been restricting the number of simultaneous streams allowed per account. That wasn’t the case in December when we were still paying $8.99. So we learned to live with paying more (they did already increase the price, of our plan, to $9.99 this year) for less service. But then yesterday’s announcement came and now this is how we see Netflix:
This is what scares me: I am 100% confident they are fully aware of this, but either
- don’t see the need in helping current customers along Netflix’s growth or
- they do care, but the movie folks have Netflix over a barrel and Netflix is looking for a path to survival (i.e. Sony has already pulled all of its movies once)
Either way, more rate increases and cutting of services are bound to happen.
Our house is a cable-free one. We only get our news and entertainment over the internet, so streaming services are very important to us. So now we’re looking at using Hulu Plus (hoping RedBox can make something happen). Maybe we’ll look at iTunes or Amazon OnDemand.
I mean, why wouldn’t you bail on an entertainment expense that increases 77.75% in 8 months, while decreasing the services? Especially one that’s going to be having ongoing contract issues with all of the movie folks.
Perhaps I’d feel differently if I still saw Netflix as struggling against the industry and helping shake it up, as they once pitched themselves. But now they’re acting just like any other big spoke in the entertainment industry. And maybe they have to. Maybe they don’t. It’s a shame, either way.
(h/t s.enriquez for RedBox tip)
Shopping Local
I’ve been reading Carrie Rollwagen’s Shop Small blog for a while. I am by no means a militant localvoare type guy, but I do believe that there are benefits to buying from locally-owned businesses. I’ve always wondered about where Rollwagen falls… is she a militant type? a buy-local snob?
Well, The Magic City Post has posted a quick video interview with Rollwagen and it answered all of these questions and more. She’s entered into the “life experiment” with a very honest and even approach. She seems to be giving both national chains and local shops the same fair consideration as she goes through 2011. She makes create points about Starbucks being able to offer insurance for a 20-hours-a-week employee. That’s a serious point that needs to be addressed, by all businesses.
But, as I have found too, there are many pluses to shopping locally.
So check out the video and think about thinking about shopping local. Maybe next time you are in need of something you can find a place closer to home.