Pepper Place is Back

Birmingham’s favorite farmers market is back on Saturday, April 9th. It is open from 7 a.m. to noon rain or shine.

Pepper Place began in 2000 in provide a connection between family farmers and the people of Birmingham, Alabama. Since then is has grown from a few tents to over 100 tents spread across parking lots and streets around Pepper Place. The market has hosted around 10,000 people every Saturday at the height of the season.

All of the vendors are based in Alabama and are the actual growers, joined by their family members and friends.

Shoppers can expect bedding plants, herbs, lettuces, asparagus, and strawberries to be in season for the spring and as it gets closer to summer blackberries, blueberries, peaches and mushrooms. Alongside of the fresh produce market goers can find bakers and cooks who serve food to eat and take home, from breakfast food to dessert. As well as food, Pepper Place hosts Alabama artists, artisans and craftspeople with unique items to decorate with or give as a gift.

The address is:
2829 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35233

A list of vendors can be found here:

http://www.pepperplacemarket.com/vendors/

Nitty Gritty Magic City Reading Series

The Nitty Gritty Magic City Reading Series is a reading, writing, and performance event held at The Desert Island Supply Co. in Birmingham, Alabama. They generally feature at least one of Birmingham’s working writers. For the month of April, they are hosting three out-of-towners: Michael Robins, Adam Clay and Ada Limón.

All three are incredible poets. Lion’s latest book, Bright Dead Things, was recently a finalist for the National Book Award.

The event is happening Sunday, April 10th at 3:30 p.m. at Desert Island Supply Co. in Woodlawn. The address is: 5500 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212.

Fore more information:

http://www.desertislandsupplyco.com/

http://www.facebook.com/nittygrittymagiccity/

Cajun Cook-off this Weekend at Railroad Park

Here it comes! The Sixth Annual Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-off is steaming down the tracks to Railroad Park, “Bringing the Big Easy to the Magic City” Saturday April 9 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Hosted by The Committee of 25, which is the Girls Inc.’s Junior Board, and presented by Publix Super Market Charities, the cook-off will feature a family friendly atmosphere spiced with the Cajun aromas of foods such as jambalaya, gumbo, bread pudding, shrimp and grits, po’boys and more.

Twenty to 25 amateur cooks will prepare these dishes for the chance of taking home trophies from the taste-testing contest.

Live zydeco music by the Swamp Poppas will provide additional flavor to the day, accompanied by a silent auction, kids’ activities and a performance by Girls Inc. program participants.

Connie Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer for Girls Inc. said that the Cajun Cook-off, which is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, expands each year in order to create a more “memorable and fun” experience for attenders.

“Through this year’s event participation and fundraising efforts,” Hill said, “Girls Inc. hopes to raise $80,000 to support our efforts to provide vital and innovative educational programs to school-age girls in Central Alabama.”

These programs are dedicated to “inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.”

Tickets can be purchased at bhamcajuncookoff.com, $20 for adults and $5 for kids ages three to ten. Children under three years of age may attend for free.

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Photo courtesy of Connie Hill

 

 

Men’s Golf Competes at Mason Rudolph

The Samford men’s golf team finished 14th in the Mason Rudolph Men’s Golf Championship held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., Saturday and Sunday.

“The Mason Rudolph field was our most competitive this year. Five top 50 teams competed including Vanderbilt, Florida, and Alabama,” said Samford Coach Al DelGreco.

“Conditions were very difficult for rounds 1 and 2,” he added.

Despite those difficult conditions, The Bulldogs responded to the challenge.

Samford had a team score of 911 (301-311-299), to come in 14th. The host team, ninth-ranked Vanderbilt won the event with a score of 847 (275-291-281). The 19th-ranked Florida Gators came in second at 848 (283-286-279), while 17th-ranked Alabama finished third with a score of 861 (282-291-288).

Senior Zach Hughes led the Bulldogs with rounds of 70, 75 and 73 for a T14 finish in the 78-player field. “Zach has played well all year after returning from shoulder surgery last year,” DelGreco said.

Junior Ivan Truss finished with rounds of 70, 79 and 75 for a T42nd finish, what DelGreco said was Truss’ “best tournament to date.”

The group of Samford freshmen was led by Crawford Flach with rounds of 81, 77 and 74 to tie for 62nd, while Jackson Seawell and Ashton Nix tied for 73rd.

Sam Horsfield of Florida, ranked sixth in the GolfStat rankings, won individual medalist honors with a score of 206 (70-70-66).

With a talented core of young players, DelGrecro is pleased by how his team has progressed this season.

“We still have a lot of work to do but I’m happy with our work ethic and improvements we have made this year,” DelGreco said.

Samford will close the 2015-16 season April 24-26 with the Southern Conference tournament in Pinehurst, N.C.

Happy April Fool’s Day

  1. The origins of the holiday are unknown, but England made April Fools’ Day in 1700, as a day for people to play pranks on each other. The tradition quickly gained popularity throughout the UK during the 18th century.
  2. No one knows exactly where, when or why April Fool’s Day began.
  3. April Fool’s Day is not an official holiday.
  4. April Fool’s Day was first known as “All Fool’s Day.”
  5. French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends’ backs.
  6. In Scotland, April Fools’ lasts two days.

 

Famous pranks:

In 1996, Taco Bell Corp rans a full-page ad in several major newspapers claiming it had purchased the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the “Taco Liberty Bell.”

In 2008 the BBC ran a video clip of flying penguins as part of a story for its series “Miracles of Evolution.” The presenter explains that the penguins escaped the cold, harsh Antarctic weather by flying to the tropical rainforests of South America.

And, every year since 1986, press releases for the non-existent, New York City April Fools’ Day Parade.

 

Men’s Tennis Hosts Furman

The men’s tennis team will look to add a fifth game to their four game winning streak as they host
Furman on Sunday, April 3. The team is coming off of a crushing 7-0 win against The Citadel in their last
match, which improved their overall record to 9-4 and SoCon record to 3-1.

Senior finance major Trey Carter, sophomore pre-business major Jake Faundez and engineering physics
major Justin Ghavami are tied for the lead in singles wins for the bulldogs with 9 wins. Carter and
graduate student Leonard Gerch are tied for most doubles wins at 7 with the duo of Faundez and
sophomore pre-business major Eduardo Lourido Sanchez.

The bulldogs have an impressive 7-1 record at home this season.

The paladins have an overall record of 8-7 so far this season. Adam Steryous leads the paladins in singles
wins this season with 10, while Matt Browne and Ben Horst lead the team with 10 doubles wins. Furman
has struggled on the road this reason with an away record of 1-5.

The bulldogs will be looking to improve their SoCon record to 4-1 with a win over Furman before
finishing off the regular season with matches against Mercer and the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga.

This Sunday’s match will be played at the Samford Tennis complex at 1 p.m.

Women’s tennis to host Western Carolina

The Samford University women’s tennis team will host Western Carolina on Friday, April 1, at the Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion.  A victory over the visiting Catamounts would keep the Bulldogs undefeated in Southern Conference play and extend their winning streak to three games.

Samford is currently 7-8 overall and 2-0 in the conference. Collectively, the team has outscored its past two opponents, Mercer and UNC-Greensboro, 13-1.

Playing with momentum, the upcoming match could yield a similar result. In 2015, the Bulldogs stormed to a resounding 7-0 triumph over the Catamounts.

First serve is slated for 11 a.m. (CST).

Spring Break in Birmingham Ideas

If you are staying in Birmingham for Spring Break no need to worry because we have 5 ideas for things you can do on your staycation.

 

Winter Jam 2016

March 19

Doors open at 5:00 pm, Show starts at 5:45 pm

Enjoy listening to some of the most popular Christian artists on the radio right now at Winter Jam 2016. Featured artists include For King and Country, Matthew West, Crowder, Lauren Daigle, Red, Newsong and Sidewalk Prophets.

 

Admission:

$10 at the door

Legacy Arena at the BJCC

2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N

Birmingham, AL 35203

 

For more information visit http://2016.jamtour.com

 

Tannehill Trade Days

March 19 – March 20

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Spend a day searching for clothing, jewelry, furniture and other gems at the Tannehill Trade Days.

Park admission:

$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)

$3.00 Senior’s (Ages 62 and older)

$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

12632 Confederate Parkway

Bessemer, AL 35111

For more information visit www.birmingham360.org

 

Hiking at Oak Mountain

7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Oak Mountain State Park offers great hiking as well as horseback riding, boat rentals, fishing and more.

Admission:

$5 per adult (age 12+)

$2 per child (age 4-11)

$2 per Senior (age 62+)

Free for ages 3 & under

 

Oak Mountain State Park

200 Terrace Dr

Pelham, AL 35124

 

For more information visit http://www.alapark.com/oak-mountain-state-park

 

Color Me Rad 5k

March 19

8 am – 12 pm

 

This 5k has eight color stations, covering you head to toe in gluten free powder and every color in the rainbow.

 

Admission:

$50.00 Last Call

$55.00 Day of Registration

 

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium

100 Ben Chapman Drive

Hoover, AL 35244

 

For more information visit http://www.colormerad.com/location/birmingham/

 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

 

Now that spring has officially arrived it is a great time to spend a day at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Explore the different areas on the gardens and visit the largest public horticulture library in the U.S.

 

Admission:

Free

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2612 Lane Park Road

Birmingham, AL 35223

 

For more information visit http://www.bbgardens.org

 

Allegiant Premier

Divergent fans everywhere are pulling out their cash and costumes for the premier of “Allegiant” on Friday.

The third book in the trilogy by Veronica Roth, follows Tris, Shailene Woodley, and Four, Theo James, as they venture out of Chicago where a battle ensues.

Despite the success of the previous two movies, though, “Allegiant” is expected to bring in low numbers at the box office. Deadline.com reports the opening to only garner $30-32 million and not even reach the number one spot.

Ratings for the movie haven’t been promising, either. IMDb gave the movie 5.9/10, Metacritic rated it just 36 percent and Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a depressing 19 percent.

The poor numbers could be due to trends in young adult series openings. “The Hunger Games” series saw a similar downturn for the release of its third movie.

They could also be due to the series’ fans that are still angry after the ending of the trilogy.

Carmike The Summit 16 will premiere the movie at 7 p.m.