IRON CITY
AUGUST 2020
VOLUME 5
ISSUE 3
INK ‘WE’RE IN A WAR’ UAB officials, Dr. Michael Saag implore public not to let up on coronavirus precautions. 14
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INSIDE Actions Across the City A push for COVID-19 testing; city pays fine to state; Century Plaza to be razed. 6
A Modern Twist World chef presents unique Indian concept in Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar. 12
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AUGUST 2020
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14 ‘WE’RE IN A WAR’: UAB officials, Dr. Michael Saag implore public not to let up on coronavirus precautions.
CITY BEAT
SIPS & BITES
NECK OF THE WOODS HIGHLAND PARK: ‘Love is grown locally’ at Unity Birmingham’s new farmers market. 18
ACTIONS ACROSS THE CITY: A push for COVID-19 testing; city pays fine to state; Century Plaza to be razed. 6
BUSINESS ROUNDUP: ‘Sir Charles’ to co-chair the 2022 World Games; BMA announces director of diversity, equity and inclusion. 8
IRON CITY
INK
MODERN TWIST: World chef presents unique Indian concept in Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar in Five Points South. 12
Publisher: Dan Starnes Director of Operations: Mindy Dent Community Editors: Jesse Chambers Jon Anderson Leah Ingram Eagle Neal Embry Ingrid Schnader
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LANE PARKE: Birmingham Botanical Gardens reopens, takes 2020-21 wedding reservations. 19
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ON THE COVER: A woman wears scrubs, personal protective equipment and a face mask while standing in front of a V-PRO Low Temperature Sterilization System by Steris that cleans face masks in the mask reprocessing clean room in the West Pavilion of UAB Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in April. Photo courtesy of UAB Media Relations.
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ABOUT
EDITOR’S NOTE
T
he year 2020 has been, so far, arguably the most turbulent in America since 1968. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States and, as of our press time, continues to spread across the country. The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police in late May inspired a massive new nationwide movement to fight systemic racism. Of course, Birmingham — like every other large American city — has been deeply affected by the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. In this issue, we look at an important local institution that’s been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. That institution is UAB, which has been an important center for patient care, testing and research into possible
treatments or vaccines for the deadly virus. In addition, in our City Beat section, we report on recent local developments connected to COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, and Photo Editor Erin Nelson provides striking images. This month, we also take a look at several local business items in our new Business Roundup feature, which we will publish on an irregular basis. For example, a basketball icon with Alabama roots will come home to help promote the World Games in the Magic City in 2022.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Alabama Power (3) Alliance Wealth Management (13) American Marketing Association (11) Bedzzz Express (20) Clearview Strategy Partners (17) Gaynell Hendricks - Tax Assessor (11) OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (9) Patrick Odum, DMD (2)
Personnel Board of Jefferson County (8) Poarch Band of Creek Indians (3) ROME Study, UAB Division of Preventative Medicine (5) Seasick Records (2) Thomas Jefferson Tower (5) Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology (13) Truitt Insurance & Bonding (1)
FIND US Pick up the latest issue of Iron City Ink at the following locations or scan the QR code for a complete list of our rack locations: ► Birmingham Public Library – Central Branch ► Five Points Market ► Ted’s Restaurant ► Birmingham Public
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BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS Often feel tired? If so and interested in exercising regularly under the supervision of exercise specialists, you may qualify for UAB’s ROME study. Role of Gut Microbe Composition in Psychosocial Symptom Response to Exercise Training in Breast Cancer Survivors. Contact our staff to see if you qualify. 205-934-8821 (8am-5pm M-F) moveforward@uab.edu Funded by the National Cancer Institute
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Push for testing; city pays state fine; Century Plaza to be razed
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By JESSE CHAMBERS
A few hundred people observe the Black Lives Matter street mural on First Avenue South as Celida Soto speaks during the National Million People March for Justice and celebration of Juneteenth on June 19. Photo by Erin Nelson.
he COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, not even close — no matter how much we’d like to wish it away. In response to the recent surge in cases, the Birmingham City Council is seeking to help increase access to testing. Meanwhile, the Black Lives Movement continues to resonate in Birmingham, a long-dead mall is to be torn down in the Eastwood area, and Avondale is now an official entertainment district.
MORE TESTING
The Birmingham City Council has partnered with local health care providers to provide more testing sites in the city. In July, the city held appointment-based, drive-through testing events in several communities, including Roebuck, Collegeville and North Birmingham, according to a council news release. The drive-through site at Legion Field, which opened in May, tested more than 800 people the week of July 6. Birmingham City Council President William Parker believes the need for testing and other COVID-19 services will continue into December. He’s planning to request $7 million in federal CARES Act funding from the county and state, according to the release. On Aug. 5, there will be COVID-19 testing available — for those with or without symptoms — at Macedonia 17th Street Baptist Church at 1405 14th Ave. N. from 9 a.m. to noon. To make an appointment, call 205-407-9696.
PAY THE FINE, MOVE AHEAD
The Birmingham City Council voted June 30 to pay the $25,000 fine levied against the city by the state following the city’s recent removal of a Confederate monument in Linn Park that had stood for 115 years. The Alabama Legislature passed a law in 2017 that protects historical structures, such as monuments or other statues, that have been on public property for 40 or more years. After the city removed the 52-foot obelisk June 1, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit against the city for violating the 2017 law. The June 30 vote settles that lawsuit, and the money goes to the state’s Historic Preservation Fund, according to a council blog post. Mayor Randall Woodfin ordered the monument removed after seeing the passion of the young people who tried to
take it down themselves during protests downtown May 31. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt and their actions were unlawful, Woodfin recently told Iron City Ink. “But the bigger picture was, ‘You know what? If you’re listening to their outcry, not only should I sympathize and empathize, I’m in a position to do something about it, even if there are consequences,’” he said. “I would prefer to pay a civil fine than have more continued civil unrest in our city,” Woodfin said.
BLM INSTALLATION
The city painted a large “Black Lives Matter” street art installation on First Avenue South between 16th Street South and 17th Street South alongside Railroad Park in mid-June. Similar to a piece created in Washington, D.C., in June, the art was completed in time for the celebration of Juneteenth on June 19. Cara McClure of Black Lives Matter Birmingham and local mural artist Shawn Fitzwater independently suggested the idea, according to a city news release, They both worked with the city’s Transportation Department on the project. Joseph C. Baker III of the “I Believe in Birmingham” Facebook group also participated.
A TRUE ICON
A powerful voice since the 1960s, Birmingham native Angela Davis finally received the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human
Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute during a virtual event June 19. The event was hosted by D. Wendy Greene, a professor at Drexel University.. A famed author, teacher and activist, Davis was invited by the BCRI to accept the Shuttlesworth Award in 2019, but the organization rescinded the award due to her support of Palestine. In the blowback from that decision, three BCRI board members resigned. The BCRI said in a statement in June that Davis “has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world” and that her teaching has been about “building communities united in the struggle for economic, racial and gender justice.”
ANOTHER DEAD MALL
The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously July 14 to change the zoning for the long-vacant Century Plaza Mall on Crestwood Boulevard in Eastwood, clearing the way for the construction of a package distribution center. The zoning will change from CB-2, or Contingency General Business District, to “Q” I-1, or Qualified, Light Manufacturing District. The old shopping mall, vacant since 2009, will be demolished and a new single-story building measuring about 200,000 square feet will be constructed. Birmingham Business Journal reported in May that an Atlanta developer had the property under contract and was proposing
a delivery center with Amazon as the tenant. Martin Evans, a local attorney representing the developer, Edwin B. Lumpkin Jr., told the City Council the zoning change is appropriate because the immediate area is “very highly developed.” The developers are also not asking the city for any incentives to complete the project, which should create more than 300 jobs, he said. The Eastwood Neighborhood Association voted 6-5 in May to recommend that the city deny the zoning request. Councilor Hunter Williams, who represents the district, acknowledged that vote but said that his office has “received tremendous support for this project.”
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously in late June to create the Avondale Entertainment District on 41st Street South between Fifth Avenue South and Second Avenue South. Within the boundaries of an entertainment district, patrons are allowed to carry open containers of alcohol outside as they walk between bars and restaurants. The intention of the district is to “make the area safe and walkable and more vibrant,” said Allison Wise of Post Office Pies and the Avondale-Forest Park Merchants Association. This will be the city’s fourth entertainment district, following ones established in Uptown at the BJCC, Pepper Place and Five Points South.
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An aerial view of the Black Lives Matter street mural on First Avenue South between 16th Street South and 17th Street South. Photo courtesy of Ted Putman.
Members of the Birmingham Department of Transportation paint the “Black Lives Matter” mural along First Avenue South adjacent to Railroad Park on June 18. Photos by Erin Nelson.
Shawn Fitzwater of Fitz Signs in Homewood uses a blower to remove debris from the mural, which was organized by Fitzwater with other local muralists.
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Roundup: ‘Sir Charles’ to co-chair The World Games 2022
W
By JESSE CHAMBERS
e take pride in our business coverage at Iron City Ink, including our business profiles and monthly real estate update. In fact, Iron City Ink was recently named the winner for Best Local Economic Coverage in our division for 2019 by the Alabama Press Association. We’re adding another element to our coverage with this month’s business roundup, focusing on important personnel moves and other local items. We will publish this feature on a irregular basis This month we feature a basketball superstar from Alabama who will play a key role in the World Games in Birmingham in 2022, an effort by the Birmingham
Museum of Art to foster diversity and some other recent items.
‘A GLOBAL ICON’
The Birmingham Organizing Committee of The World Games 2022 announced July 8 that Alabama native and former NBA superstar Charles Barkley will serve as an honorary co-chair for the event, to be held in the Magic City July 7-17, 2022. The World Games 2022 will bring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries to Birmingham to compete in 33 unique sports at 20 venues. Barkley will participate in several major events, including the opening ceremony. He’ll also seek to generate community support for the event. “I’ve always told anyone who would listen — and even those who wouldn’t — how great the state of Alabama and the
Exciting civil service career opportunities within the Merit System of Jefferson County.
Alabama native and former basketball superstar Charles Barkley will serve as an honorary co-chair for The World Games 2022. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia user Chensiyuan.
Birmingham community are,” Barkley said in a news release. Representing The World Games 2022 “is another chance to show the world what this community and its people are all about,”
he said. A native of Leeds, Barkley played basketball at Auburn University and spent 16 years in the NBA. He was an NBA All-Star 11 times, won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was named league MVP in 1993. “It’s an honor to have a global icon and one of Alabama’s most beloved sports figures join us for this once- in-a-lifetime event for Birmingham,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The Word Games 2022. The Birmingham Organizing Committee plans to announce some other internationally known people with Alabama as honorary co-chairs in the coming months. For more information, go to TWG2022.com
NEW LEADERSHIP
The Birmingham Museum of Art has named Emily G. Hanna — the facility’s senior curator for
Emily G. Hanna was recently named the museum’s first director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Museum of Art.
art from Africa and the Americas — as director of diversity, equity and inclusion, a new position on the BMA’s executive leadership team. The BMA made the announcement June 24. In this new role, Hanna
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BUSINESS will lead efforts to “create an institutional environment that is welcoming, accessible, diverse, hospitable and respectful to all,” according to a BMA news release. Hanna will be responsible for numerous objectives, such as the integration of diversity into BMA collections, workforce development, supplier diversity and the development of accountability metrics. “At the Birmingham Museum of Art, we now understand the urgency with which we must address systemic racism from an institutional standpoint, even amid the challenges presented by a global pandemic,” BMA Director Graham C. Boettcher said. “The creation of this important position on our leadership team is the first actionable step we have taken since the BMA publicly committed to support the work of social justice and racial equity in early June. Hanna, who received her Ph.D. in African Art from the University of Iowa, has served at the BMA for nearly 18 years. She
has curated over 30 exhibitions ranging from Haitian Vodou flags to contemporary Pueblo ceramics and serves as curator of Native American art. Hanna has also worked with numerous local community organizations and faith groups, including the Ghana Sister City Committee and the Birmingham Islamic Society. She was the founding organizer of the annual Miles College Night at the Museum, now in its sixth year. For more about the BMA, go to artsbma.org.
‘A HUGE HEART’
Peter Curtin, vice president of CRC Group, was named chair of the Board of Directors and Advisors for Glenwood, a Birmingham nonprofit, on June 16. Glenwood provides behavioral health care and educational services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and severe emotional disturbances. Curtin has a long history with Glenwood. He joined the Junior Board in 2005 and has served on
Peter Curtin, vice president of CRC Group, was named chair of the Board of Directors and Advisors for Glenwood, a Birmingham nonprofit, in June. Photo courtesy of Glenwood.
the board since 2008. “Peter brings a great business acumen and a huge heart for our community and our mission,” Glenwood President and CEO Ken Oliver said. For more information about Glenwood, go to glenwood.org.
PROVIDING SUPPORT
Forge Survivorship Center,
a Southside nonprofit, recently named Lauren Roberts its new executive director. Forge partners with local health systems to provide support to breast cancer survivors and their families. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Roberts assumed her duties at Forge on June 1. She most recently served as vice president of strategic communications and development at A+ Education Partnership in Montgomery. Roberts was also president of the Junior League of Birmingham in 2016-17 and currently serves as president of the Members’ Council at Leadership Birmingham. To learn more, go to forgeon. org.
OLLI@UA is a member-led community of lifelong learners. Since 2008, we have grown to more than 300 courses annually in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Gadsden. Are you over age 50 and stuck in Isolation? Stay safe and engage your mind through the technology available to us. Focus on exploring new things and connecting with peers. OLLI at UA brings a wealth of information to you on a variety of topics. Join OLLI’s virtual classroom where our expert faculty share from their years of experience. Learn together with people who share your same interests.
Olli ad 9.25 x 5.5 July 2020.indd 1
WESTERN NEWS
The Western Communities Redevelopment Alliance (WCRA) — along with the Five Points West Business Alliance — announced the launch of the Western Small Business Accelerator in June.
The accelerator is an alliance between the University of Alabama Culverhouse School of Accountancy LIFT program, the Midfield Chamber of Commerce, the Fairfield Business Alliance and the Bessemer Industrial Development Board. Businesses in the program will attend workshops and complete projects and receive certification from the LIFT program upon completion. “In the midst of a global pandemic and the economic crisis that has followed, our relationship with the WCRA has become more vital than ever before,” said Frank Woodson, president of the Five Points West Business Alliance. “Our mission prior to the pandemic was to help businesses grow and thrive. Today we have a new mission, which is to help businesses survive.” The WCRA is presenting a series of small business workshops using Zoom through the summer and fall. For details, go to wcranow. com.
Registration begins August 3 for the fall Semester where a world of interesting courses awaits you. A small annual fee and minimal semester course fee gets you started. OLLI has made it easy with one click to “join” the class. Expand your computer skills in a supportive environment with your peers by attending a Zoom Basic Training.
For more information or to register: Visit olli.ua.edu/bhm or call 1-855-424-0909.
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$9.5 million flood mitigation project, according to on Avenuwill replace the current Education Building on 14th e a news release from the city. The event was held at Street South between University Boulevard and 10th Thompson Tractor on Pinson Valley Parkway. Tarrant Avenue South. A bid opening is scheduled for July, Mayor Loxcil Tuck said the project will address the and the notice to proceed is projected for October, flooding that has occurred for years along Five Mile according to UAB Media Relations. Creek. Findley Frazer of Frazer Environmental is the lead engineer for the project. The city has worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Department of Environmental Work continues on an 18-month expansion 10 and renovation project at Legacy Arena, Management. The Freshwater Land Trust donated 522 acres of property to the city to assist with the according to a BJCC spokesperson. The mitigation, according to the release. In addition to facility was closed for construction beginning April 2. Interior renovations will include structural and mitigating the floods and stormwater issues, the non-structural work and, in some cases, the complete project will also help address such issues as water quality, sedimentation, erosion and aquatic resources replacement of components. Exterior renovations will include modifications and alterations to the restoration. building envelope and loading docks as well as sitework, landscaping and hardscaping. UAB is planning to build a new Science 9 and Engineering Complex costing $78.5 Construction of Phase 1 of the new $60 million. There will be 145,784 square 11 million Residence Hall 2020 at UAB on feet of space for teaching, laboratories and offices, 10th Avenue South between 16th and 17th according to UAB Media Relations. The new complex
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The Birmingham City Council recently approved an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for money to replace the historic 21st Street Viaduct, also called the Rainbow Viaduct, downtown. The cost of the project will be $21,482,670, The city’s match will be 20% of the project cost, or about $4.3 million. The money will come from the federal BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant program. The bridge — a major artery into downtown — was constructed in 1918.
On June 23, the Birmingham City Council authorized Mayor Randall Woodfin to execute a funding agreement with Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission, under which the city will make an appropriation to the commission not exceeding $100,000 to support the operations of Red Mountain Park.
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Foundry Yards, a five-story luxury apart1 ment community with 268 units, is under construction in the Parkside District, one block from Railroad Park and Regions Field. The project also features 20,000 square feet of commercial space in two 10,000-square-foot buildings, according to a news release from the listing agents at Shannon Waltchack. The commercial space features a wideopen shell with high ceilings and exposed bricks and beams. “So many exciting ventures are gravitating to Parkside, and we are thrilled at the chance to welcome more users to this lively district,” said Jackson Parker, a broker at Shannon Waltchack.
The Birmingham City Council voted unani3 mously June 23 to create the Avondale Entertainment District. Within the boundaries of an entertainment district, patrons are allowed to carry open containers of alcohol outside as they walk between bars and restaurants. The district, which will include 8-10 merchants, will be located on 41st Street South between Fifth Avenue South and Second Avenue South, said Taylor Lander of Avondale Brewing Company and the Avondale-Forest Park Merchants Association. “We are really looking forward to increasing the walkability of our area [and] increasing the foot traffic,” Lander told the council. This will be the city’s fourth entertainment district, following Uptown at the BJCC, Pepper Place and Five Points South.
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BUSINESS streets should be completed by the fall, according to UAB Media Relations. The dorm will accommodate 720 undergraduates. A renovation of the old Snoozy’s Bookstore on campus to house the UAB Honors College is nearing completion at press time. The cost to renovate the two-story building, which measures 11,000 square feet, is about $2.7 million.
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Construction continues on the 17-story apartment building Ascend Five Points at the corner of 20th Street and 10th Avenue South in Five Points South. The developer is The Opus Group, based in Minnesota, in a joint venture with The McKinney Fund. Construction, which began in January, is slated for completion prior to the fall semester in 2020, according to an Opus Group spokesperson. The apartment building, which will be marketed primarily to UAB students, will include 199 units accommodating 522 residents, according to the developer’s website. Myefski Architects and Auburn-based Rabren General Contractors are working on the project. Creative License International is the interior designer.
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The renovation of the former Business 14 Engineering Complex at UAB is nearly finished, according to UAB Media Relations. Projected completion is July or August 2020. The facility will house the School of Education. The exterior renovation of floors 8-9 of the McCallum Basic Science Building at UAB, located at 1918 University Blvd., should be complete in August, according to UAB Media Relations. The interior renovation of those floors is complete.
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The new $19.2 million UAB Technology Innovation Center is under construction at 17th Street South and Ninth Avenue South. The center, measuring 40,000 square feet, will house campus internet connectivity and technology infrastructure and is set to open in early 2021, according to UAB Media Relations.
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Work is underway on the new program services campus for United Way of Central Alabama, located at 3600 Eighth Ave. S. in Avondale. The nonprofit is renovating the former Overlook Building at 3620 Eighth Ave. S. adjacent to the UWCA headquarters. The UWCA purchased the 35,000-square-foot building, formerly the offices of Ram Tool, in 2018. Stewart/Perry is the general contractor. Studio 2H Design is the architect.
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Construction continues for a new $25 20 million arts campus for Red Mountain Theatre Company. The campus is located at 1600 Third Ave. S. adjacent to Regions Field. LIVE Design Group are the architects. Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor. Harbert Realty Services will manage the project. Construction should be complete in summer 2021. Renovation work is underway at the historic Carver Theatre, now known as the Carver Performing Arts Center, at 1631 Fourth Ave. N. The former movie house, built in 1935, is also home to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, which manages the facility. Studio 2H Design is the architect and interior designer on the project, and Stone Building is the general contractor. Work is expected to take about 12 months, according to the architects.
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An extensive renovation is underway at the Dewberry Building, located at 3201 Fourth Ave. S. in the Lakeview district. The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 1917 Clinic, the state’s largest HIV health care unit, will occupy 50,664 square feet and expects to move in by late 2020 or early 2021. Birmingham AIDS Outreach will also move into the building. Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor, Farris Properties is the developer and KPS Group is the architect.
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Work continues on the renovation of the historic former New Ideal department store downtown for use as The New Ideal Lofts, consisting of 44 micro, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units and 3,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. H2 Real Estate is the listing company for the project.
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Openings/Closures The McWane Science Center, located at
22 200 19th St N. , reopened to the public
A message from Un mensaje de
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Jefferson County Tax Assessor Jefferson County Asesor Fiscal
HOMEOWNERS 65+ are eligible for
EXEMPTIONS ON PROPERTY TAXES
CALL Teléfono
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July 8 after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic since mid-March, according to a news release from the facility. Masks are required for any attendees ages 8 or older. The center said it has modified its operations and adopted new safety protocols to keep the staff and visitors safe, and that the reopening is based on guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and consultation with medical experts. Interactive exhibits at McWane that could pose an unacceptable risk remain closed, as does Itty Bitty Magic City, a science environment for preschoolers.
10 years, according to a news release from Pepper Place. The Jeni’s pavilion was designed intentionally to invite diners to grab a scoop and explore the walkable entertainment district. “Jeni’s anchors a primary entrance into the district and the pavilion design is intended to activate a corner once held by a parking lot,” said Callan Childs, director of design and development for Sloss Real Estate. Project partners were Locke General Contractors, David Baker Architects and Alabama Sawyer.
The historic Iron Age Building was recently renovated, and the owners hosted a grand opening July 1. The property measures 26,000 square feet and is located at 212-218 20th St. N. The buildings will house nine mostly tech companies, including CoreLinQ Innovations, AMD and Evocare. The developer of the property is Harsha Hatti, who is CEO of CoreLinQ. The building was constructed in 1886 as a newspaper office and is one of the only two cast-iron facades remaining in Birmingham.
Facebook that it was closing after 13 years at 2320 Second Ave. N. The economic effects of COVID-19 were a reason to close, according to the Facebook post.
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Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams recently
24 opened its first Alabama location at Pepper
Place. The 610-square-foot, jewel-box designed scoop shop is the first ground-up building constructed in the Pepper Place District in more than
Popular downtown coffee house Urban
25 Standard announced in mid-June via
Coming Soon The Blueroot Company, which recently
26 opened a pick-up window in Moun-
tain Brook, will open its flagship 1,700-square-foot restaurant at Pepper Place later in 2020, according to a news release. The fast-healthy concept serves nutrient-dense foods, including its salads, grain bowls, breakfast bites and superfood snacks. The Pepper Place flagship will serve as the home of the eatery’s catering and production operations.
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World chef brings unique Indian concept to Five Points
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By INGRID SCHNADER fter opening successful restaurants across the world, chef Pritam Zarapkar has settled down in Birmingham to introduce a brand new Indian restaurant concept. In May, Zarapkar and his team of local investors purchased Bay Leaf Authentic Indian Cuisine, which is a restaurant that opened a U.S. 280 location in 2014 and opened a Five Points South location in 2019. The team plans to build on the restaurant brand’s success and reputation but will give the brand a modern twist, Zarapkar said. “Birmingham currently lacks modern Indian dishes, and we hope to fill this void with the new menu offerings at both Bay Leaf locations,” he said. “There isn’t anything like this in the state, and we believe Birmingham is ready for it.” The rebranded restaurant received a new name, Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar. The menu also received a makeover. One tasty menu option is the Desi Burger and Fries, which is an Indian take on an American burger. Zarapkar uses lamb and vegetables to create a burger patty, and then he uses Indian naan bread for the bun. “You have to taste it to believe it,” said a representative of Bay Leaf. “It’s amazing.” The Masala Quesadilla is another popular dish on the new menu, giving an Indian twist to a Mexican staple. Using Indian spices, Zarapkar recreates the dish, and customers can choose between veggie, chicken or lamb quesadillas. The appetizers menu also includes fun Indian creations. The Crab Lollypops are snow crab claw clusters that are battered, flash-fried and served with a special sauce. “Most of the Indian restaurants, first of all, serve any crab,” the representative said. “He uses Alaskan crabs to create lollipops, basically, which is dipped in a strawberry sauce. And it’s amazing.” The rebranded restaurant has a casual yet upscale atmosphere, the representative said. Although the greater Birmingham area is already home to some traditional Indian restaurants, the representative said he doesn’t know of any with this modern twist on Indian cuisine. “The concept, modern Indian cuisine, doesn’t exist in Alabama,” the representative said. “We’ve traveled all over the world and all over the U.S., and Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Nashville have this modern Indian cuisine concept. … But we’ve never had a culinary expert in Birmingham who was able to do it.”
Above: The interior of Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar, which has one restaurant that opened in 2014 along U.S. 280 and another that opened in 2019 in Five Points South. Below: The restaurant touts its modern twist on Indian cuisine. Photos courtesy of Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar.
The chef received his education from Switzerland and is an expert in Indian, French and American cuisines. With over 15 years of experience as an executive chef, he has launched more than 12 restaurants across Europe and the United States. He came to the area in January with hopes to start a white tablecloth, international restaurant concept called The Spice Library. But because of the outbreak of
COVID-19 across the globe, Zarapkar and his team have had to delay the concept, and the team began working on the Bay Leaf concept instead. Some of the Bay Leaf team members are physicians and helped come up with a coronavirus safety plan, ensuring the dining room is safe for customers. There is an in-house sanitation protocol that takes place three times a day.
Employees are provided with personal protective equipment and wear it at all times. Reservations are highly encouraged. One of Bay Leaf’s novel ideas is the use of QR code menus. Instead of placing a menu at every seat, the customers can use their mobile phones to scan a QR code, which then opens up the online restaurant menu. This eliminates the possibility of cross-contamination from sharing reusable menus. If the customer prefers a physical menu, there will also be disposable paper menus available. Kiran Chavan, a former Bay Leaf owner, is staying on board as the general manager to operate both locations and has over 15 years of experience in running restaurants. “This is an exciting transition for Bay Leaf,” Chavan said, “and we look forward to serving our past customers and attracting new ones with our improved food offerings, drinks, service and brand.” The Five Points location opened its dine in seating early July, but the 280 location will continue operating as take-out only until later in the summer while the team continues to renovate the dining room. For more information, visit bayleafbham.com.
TOTAL SKIN & BEAUT Y DERMATOLOGY CENTER
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GENE STANCUT, MD Dr. Gene Stancut joins the Total Skin & Beauty Dermatology team as a highlytrained Mohs micrographic surgeon and board-certified dermatologist. His Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology fellowship, directed under Dr. Conway C. Huang at UAB (Birmingham, AL), is one of the largest and most reputable programs in the nation. Dr. Stancut’s specialization in Mohs micrographic surgery will provide patients the most advanced method of skin cancer treatment, offering the highest cure rate available and the smallest surgical wound possible. We are pleased and honored to have him on our team! MD: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC INTERNSHIP: General Surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center/UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX RESIDENCY: Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
GENE STANCUT, MD
FELLOWSHIP: Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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TOTALS K INANDB EAU T Y.CO M
ASK THE FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS - ROTH IRA CONVERSIONS IN PANDEMIC TIMES
WHAT IS A ROTH IRA? A Roth IRA is a type of savings account that lets an investor invest money for retirement without paying taxes on the money after funding the account. Investors fund their Roth IRAs with after-tax pay, meaning that they pay taxes on the money prior to putting it into the Roth IRA. There is no tax on a Roth IRA as the money in the IRA grows, and, when the investor reaches retirement assuming that they have had a funded Roth IRA account for at least five years, there is also no tax on the IRA when funds are withdrawn. WHAT IS A ROTH IRA CONVERSION? A Roth IRA Conversion is a reportable movement of assets from a Traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA, which is a taxable event. This can be advantageous for individuals with large Traditional IRA accounts who expect their future tax rates to stay at the same level or grow at the time they plan to start withdrawing from their tax-advantaged account. The owners of Traditional IRAs will be forced to withdraw funds when their Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) start. For those that have not started RMDs yet, their start date will be the year that they turn 72 years old. I THOUGHT THERE WERE LARGE RESTRICTIONS ON THE ABILITY TO FUND A ROTH IRA AND THE AMOUNT THAT YOU COULD PUT IN. IS THIS TRUE? Yes, there are limitations on your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA that depend upon your reportable income and your access to an employer sponsored retirement plan. And, yes, you can only fund a Roth IRA with $6,000 in 2020 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older). But, one of the enticing attributes about a Roth Conversion is that you would have the ability to convert your entire balance. In real practice, we would almost certainly suggest a better strategy consisting of converting a large percentage of your balance over a period of several years. WHY WOULD I BELIEVE THAT MY TAX RATES WOULD INCREASE IN RETIREMENT WHEN I WILL NOT HAVE EARNED INCOME AT THAT TIME? This is one of the great misnomers in financial planning. One of the advantages
of tax planning in retirement is that you will only be taxed on the income that you use. You essentially have control over your taxes. But, the whole thought pattern of “I will only spend a small percentage of what I earned when I was working” has been false in many, many circumstances. Combine this with the growing national debt and there are many professionals in this country that believe that tax rates must increase in the future. In fact, individual tax brackets are scheduled to revert back to the levels that they were at before the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2026. So, essentially, by nothing legislatively changing, tax brackets are already scheduled to increase. WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT IN 2020, THE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC? Assuming our current circumstances continue through the majority of this year, many taxpayers will see two events that are conducive to a Roth IRA Conversion: 1) Lower taxable income and 2) Lower balances in tax qualified accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s. We would enjoy discussing with you why those situations are important when assessing a Roth IRA Conversion. Please call or email and we can help determine if a conversion is advisable or not.
Birmingham Office Huntsville Office (205) 968-3800 (256) 880-0659 One Perimeter Park South Suite 318N 600 Boulevard South Suite 302 info@allianceplanning.net
Investment advisory services offered through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and Alliance Wealth Management Group are not affiliated companies. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can protect against loss in a period of declining values. Our firm is not affiliated with the US government or any governmental agency. A Roth Conversion is a taxable event and may have several tax related consequences. Our firm does not provide and no statement contained in the guide shall constitute tax or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek the guidance of a qualified tax professional regarding their personal situation. 662753 - 7/20
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‘WE’RE IN A WAR’ COVER: UAB officials, Dr. Michael Saag implore public not to let up on coronavirus precautions
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By INGRID SCHNADER
Above: UAB medical professionals — gowned, gloved, and shielded in personal protective equipment (PPE) — treat a COVID-19 patient in the COVID-19 ICU at UAB Hospital in April. Top: Dr. Nitin Arora holds a cellphone while taking a photograph of Dr. Albert Pierce II as he is being fitted with a respirator that was adapted to include a medical-grade filter during a demonstration testing the fit of PPE masks at the UAB Hospital COVID-19 Command Center in the North Pavilion in April. Photos courtesy of UAB Media Relations.
s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge through Alabama and specifically Jefferson County, Dr. Michael Saag in the division of infectious diseases at UAB said he can’t help but feel tired. But just because he and other doctors are tired doesn’t mean they can give up, he said. “We’re in a war,” he said. “Just because I’m tired or because there’s a bad day here and there doesn’t mean I can quit.” He compared it to being a World War II soldier in the trenches somewhere in France. “This is a serious battle,” he said. “I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘Well gosh, I need to go play a round of golf.’” Even before the coronavirus hit Birmingham, Saag focused on efforts to end epidemics. He worked at the Center for AIDS Research at UAB searching for a way to put
an end to the HIV epidemic. “I’ve been involved in the AIDS epidemic almost since its beginning,” he said. “I’ve seen how all of us pulling together and using science Saag in the best way possible has made a huge difference. It took a long time, but we’re light-years better than we were in the 1980s.” When his efforts in the division of infectious diseases shifted to fighting coronavirus, he said he took lessons learned from the AIDS epidemic and applied them to the coronavirus pandemic. “That’s what I’m here to do,” he said. “That’s my mission.” He doesn’t just aid research efforts though — he actively participates. When
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As a scientist and a clinician, I have volunteered to do things that I feel will help. But what I ask in return is for all of us to do our part.
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DR. MICHAEL SAAG, UAB DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Saag visited his son in New York in March, they made it a priority to wipe down surfaces. But this was before the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended wearing masks to contain the spread of the virus, and Saag and his son realized they were sick with coronavirus after the trip was over. From the beginning, even while still sick, Saag began donating his plasma to research. “On day two of illness, I volunteered and said, ‘Here, draw blood from me and store it,’” he said. “And we’ve been drawing that blood every four weeks or so to detect antibodies and see how my cells perform.” In mid-May, he did plasmapheresis, where he donated about 500 milliliters of plasma and about 8 billion cells that doctors can use to further research the coronavirus. “These are extraordinary times, and I think we should all be doing our part,” he said. “As a scientist and a clinician, I have volunteered to do things that I feel will help. But what I ask in return is for all of us to do our part.” Saag also attends an outpatient COVID19 clinic about two-and-a-half days a week. The patients there are sick, but not sick enough to need to be in the hospital. It’s a place that these patients can safely be evaluated without exposing their primary care doctors. “If they have been diagnosed with COVID, or if they have very suggestive symptoms, we’d prefer for them to come see us in this very secure location where we have all the precautions in place, can see them in a controlled way, and hopefully give them whatever interventions we can to help them weather the storm like I did and not have to go to the hospital.” As if all of this life-saving work wasn’t enough for Saag, he and the dean of the UAB School of Medicine, Dr. Selwyn Vickers, have implemented a statewide testing initiative to test every college student in the state — public and private — for coronavirus before they return to class.
Above: Two medical professional wearing PPE face masks, gloves, gowns and shoe covers work in the PPE mask reprocessing dirty room in the West Pavilion of UAB Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in April. Below: Tim Wick with UAB Engineering puts together a prototype face shield. Photos courtesy of UAB Media Relations.
This massive testing won’t cost college students a penny, though. Saag said the funding will come from the CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in March. Most colleges will require the testing be done for
the student to regain entry onto campus. “A dormitory is such an easy place for the transmission of a virus to happen,” Saag said. “So by knowing that the students walking into the dorms, residence halls and fraternity and sorority houses
have tested negative at one moment in time, then we have a better chance of keeping the campus relatively safe at a baseline.” Cases will still be inevitable as students return to campus, he said, but as new cases are identified, contract tracing and quarantine measures can be implemented. When Iron City Ink spoke to Saag in mid-July, he said he was expecting student testing to begin before August. Dr. Jeanne Mazzarro, who directs the infectious diseases department at UAB, said the safety of back-to-school plans for elementary-aged children depends on the school. How much space does each classroom have? How many students will be in each room? Will they be able to social distance? These are the questions each school should consider, she said. “I hate the thought of kids not going back to school,” Mazzarro said. “I feel like for them, developmentally, this is going to be a very challenging year. Parents are already going crazy — they can’t get to work, they’re totally stressed out. It’s just bad all around. “So I’m not one of these people who thinks everything needs to stop until we get this under control. I think we need to think differently.” Similar to Saag, Mazzarro admits she’s tired.
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A health care worker pumps hand sanitizer into the hands of a coworker July 2 as she takes necessary steps to take off PPE at the UAB COVID-19 testing site on 22nd Street South. Photo by Erin Nelson.
“It’s exhausting on many levels — and I’m not even in the intensive care unit taking care of people,” she said. “I’m taking care of my faculty and staff. … It keeps me up at night worrying about how they’re doing and how we’re going to keep it together for them.” She is also fatigued from saying the same things over and over again, she said. “This is not rocket science,” she said. “We should be able to do what so many other countries have done well. To have knowledgeable, evidence-based people who want only the best things for our communities to be disbelieved and sometimes marginalized is really demoralizing.” Everyone has a role to play, which should be people’s number one takeaway, Mazzarro said. “Even if you think you are not at risk for infection, remember that not everyone is as fortunate as you,” she said. “We need
everyone to pull together and understand that in order to get ahead of this thing. “The virus is the most apolitical thing you will ever encounter. It loves it when we don’t agree. It loves it when there’s chaos. It will take advantage of every slip-up we have because that’s just how viruses are. So let’s not let it defeat us.” People need to ask themselves what they have done to join the fight, Saag said. “We are being challenged by a virus that is declaring war on the world, and each country has got to fight this off using all of the knowledge we’ve gained from the Spanish flu epidemic — which is where the concept of masks and social distance came from — as well as our knowledge of science to develop vaccine and treatments,” he said. “Even if you’re not a scientist or a clinician, you’re a member of the public, and we all should be doing what we can to prevent the spread.”
Health care professionals at UAB pose for a group shot. Photo courtesy of UAB Media Relations.
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From left: Patricia Billingsley, Christine McKinnon, Alliyah Gaines and Willie Rivers, staff members of UAB’s Environmental Services team, stand in the Jim Limbaugh Family Park of Hope in front of the Women and Infants Center on Sixth Avenue South on July 3. Photo by Erin Nelson.
UAB Environmental Services staff on the pandemic frontline By JESSE CHAMBERS The doctors, nurses and other health care workers at UAB have been praised — and with good reason — for their heroic efforts at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s another group of UAB workers on the frontline: the 530 employees of Environmental Services (EVS) who clean and sanitize the patient care and public areas at UAB Hospital and related facilities. “You can’t get into this hospital until our team says your bed or room is clean and ready,” EVS senior Director Ed Crump told Iron City Ink. “It starts with us.” The work these employees do is “critical” to patient health, Crump said. Crump and his staff don’t want patients who come to UAB “to become any sicker than they already are,” he said. “Their job is to make sure we don't cause any crosscontamination from one patient to another,” Crump said. This is a massive job. Each day, EVS employees clean 400 beds for new patients and another 700 or 800 beds for patients already in the hospital,
Crump said. EVS cleans a staggering 4.5 million square feet daily, he said. And EVS works shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crump is proud of his team. “We’re a big place, and it’s amazing how they make it happen,” he said. During the pandemic, the people of Birmingham should be glad the city has a large medical facility like UAB with “a lot of people and resources,” Crump said, praising the people who work “behind the scenes” in departments like maintenance, facilities, emergency management and infection prevention to have employees ready to deal with crises before they occur. Emergency management worked with EVS on how to handle a pandemic and infection prevention worked with Crump’s staff regarding how to clean properly. “Those support departments work so well together to the point that COVID-19 really did not catch us by surprise,” Crump said. The sheer number of patients affected by the pandemic was surprising, Crump said. “But we know how to do it.”
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Veteran senior executive Kenneth Coleman is returning to Birmingham, where he lived in the 1990s, to become the leader of the Birmingham Business Alliance. Photo courtesy of BBA.
Executive returns to Magic City to become BBA president, CEO By JESSE CHAMBERS The Birmingham Business Alliance, the region’s leading economic development organization, has a new leader after a six-month search. Kenneth E. Coleman was scheduled to assume the duties of president and CEO of the BBA on July 20, according to a news release from the organization. He will take over from interim president and CEO Fred McCallum, who will help him transition. Coleman — currently interim president and CEO for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in metro Atlanta — has been a senior executive for 25 years.
He spent most of that time with the Southern Company and its subsidiaries Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Mississippi Power and Southern Company Gas. In his new role, Coleman will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the BBA, as well as fostering collaborations between the BBA and its community partners to push economic growth for the seven-county region. “I am excited to lead the Birmingham Business Alliance at such a pivotal time,” Coleman said. “The partnerships we strengthen, the jobs we help create and the support we provide to all businesses moving forward will shape Birmingham’s future as a leading
metropolitan area.” He can also draw on his experiences living in the Magic City in the 1990s. Coleman played professional baseball with the Birmingham Barons and later worked in business development for the Metropolitan Development Board, the predecessor to the BBA. “Kenny will be able to hit the ground running as he is well known to many people in the region and is a proven leader” said Jim Gorrie, CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie LLC and 2020 BBA Chairman. The search for a new CEO was led by Mark Tarr, president and CEO of Encompass Health. “His track record of success, experience in a number of different
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markets, along with a familiarity of Birmingham made him the top pick to lead the BBA at such a critical time,” Tarr said. Coleman points to such accomplishments as positioning Georgia Power as a leader in solar generation; developing a Smart Cities partnership between Georgia
Power and the city of Atlanta; and serving as chairman of a $1 billion community economic development program in Montgomery, He received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of New Haven and an MBA from the University of Alabama.
HIGHLAND PARK
‘Love is grown locally’ at Unity Birmingham’s new farmers market By JESSE CHAMBERS
Bob McKenna is one of the organizers of Unity Market, a new weekly farmers market in Highland Park hosted by Unity of Birmingham. Photo courtesy of Unity of Birmingham.
Driven by a passion for sustainability, Unity of Birmingham is now hosting a farmers market, called Unity Market, in Highland Park each Saturday from 4-7 p.m. The market, which began July 11, features produce from area growers and ready-made food from local cooks. It takes place at the church at 2803 Highland Ave. in a flower garden created by Unity member Griffin Harris. The event features such vendors as Kind Harvest Farms, Ireland Farms, Wild Violet Gardens, Walden Farms, Marble Creek Farmstead, Wild Fox Tea, Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, Sorelle, Houseplant Collective and Ono Ice Food Truck. Items available include vegetables, herbs, eggs, meats and cheeses. There are breads, pastries, cakes and cookies, as well as ready-made
snacks and meals. Other items include tea, salves, body and facial oils and potted plants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers require attendees wear face coverings and practice social distancing. “We’d love for this to become a much more socially engaged event where you can meet your farmers and neighbors, enjoy live music and participate in workshops,” market manager Danielle Dyar told Iron City Ink. But organizers — until the health crisis ends — are asking attendees to limit their time at the market, Dyar said. However, Unity Market will offer picnic baskets featuring fresh baguettes, homemade pickles, preserves, pastries and fruit from multiple vendors. Customers can take their baskets to Rhodes Park across the street for a picnic. At press time, organizers had not set an end date for Unity Market.
“We’re going to keep running unless we get low on products, but we have at least a handful of growers that plan to have products year around,” Dyar said. The vision for the market aligns with the values of acceptance, diversity, compassion and sustainability that are part of Unity of Birmingham, organizers said. “We are so excited to be able to not only provide the community with an opportunity to buy fresh food and meet the people growing and making their food, but to provide these farmers with a much needed outlet to sell their products this season,” Dyar said in a news release. “Love is grown locally,” said Bob McKenna, one of the members of the event’s steering committee. For more information, go to unitybham.org. For market updates, find @unitymarketbham on Instagram or Facebook.
AUGUST 2020
CITY BEAT
BUSINESS
HAPPENINGS
ARTIST
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NECK OF THE WOODS
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Women break through as engineers at water utility
CENTRAL CITY By JESSE CHAMBERS Engineering remains a maledominated field, according to federal data. U.S. Census Bureau data show that more than 85% of civil engineering jobs are filled by men. However, the Birmingham Water Works Board now has three female engineers on staff who hold doctorates in civil engineering, according to a news release from the utility. April Nabors and Jaquice Boyd — along with Ashlyn Manzella, who started work in June — all work in water filtration for the BWWB. “We have talented and experienced engineers across the board, and these ladies are breaking barriers by achieving excellence in their field,” said Derrick Murphy, assistant general manager in the BWWB Engineering and Maintenance Division. Nabors, Boyd and Manzella work in the Engineering Purification Group, also known as the
LANE PARKE
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Research Group. Established 15 years ago, the five-member team evaluates, tests and recommends new instrumentation and analyzers for plant operations. The group works in collaboration with other teams in several other areas, such as treatment, raw water, engineering and distribution. Upon their graduation at UAB on May 1, Boyd and Manzella were among three women earning their doctoral diplomas. This was the largest number of women earning doctorates in a single graduating class in the history of the School of Engineering, according to UAB Media Relations. Nabors obtained her doctorate degree from UAB in December 2019. When she graduated, Boyd, a native of Brighton, said she wants to be a voice for women and minorities seeking engineering careers. “I currently speak at various schools and programs throughout the city,” Boyd told UAB News
in April. “The biggest impact I would like to make is to continue motivating young girls to pursue a STEM field, as there is still a lack of female minority representation in the STEM industries. Currently, only 13% of engineers are women, with 3% being women of color.” Manzella, who is from Hoover, wants to continue to teach courses at UAB and other institutions. “I hope to continue mentoring other individuals interested in engineering,” she said. Nabors and Boyd pursued their degrees through the utility’s Education Assistance Program, according to the BWWB news release. Eligible full-time employees enrolled in accredited degree programs or credit-hour courses can receive financial assistance with tuition, fees and books. The BWWB operates four filtration plants and a testing laboratory, maintains more than 4,000 miles of pipe and is ranked among the top five water systems in the United States.
April Nabors, Ashlyn Manzella and Jaquice Boyd work in the Engineering Purification Group at Birmingham Water Works Board. Photo courtesy of BWWB.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens reopens, takes wedding reservations
By ANN DOUGLAS LOTT Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Birmingham, many brides and grooms in the area have had to postpone their weddings or get married without many of their loved ones present. It seemed as if those were the only options — until recently. After a three-month closure, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens reopened to the public June 15. The event space also announced June 1 it would begin offering wedding reservations for the coming year. Engaged couples looking to have their wedding at the gardens in the next year can now reserve dates between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 31, 2021. The gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for family gatherings, meetings, fundraisers and more, but weddings make up a large portion of reservations at the facility, according to Stanley Robinson, public relations coordinator for the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board. Brides in Birmingham and beyond have been eager to book their wedding dates at the Botanical Gardens, said Cheryl Henderson,
A family of four looks at the array of roses in the Dunn Formal Rose Garden on June 29 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Photo by Erin Nelson.
administrative assistant to the director of the gardens. Saturdays have been filling up quickly in addition to bookings for other types of events. However, there are new health and safety guidelines engaged couples must follow while planning their big day. Typically, engaged couples have been able to walk in and make reservations without calling ahead. Now they must make an appointment. The event staff also advise anyone wishing to hold events at the gardens to ensure that people sitting at the same tables are family, Henderson said.
The Botanical Gardens can only operate at 50% capacity, she said. Even at popular outdoor spaces such as the Japanese Garden and Dunn Formal Rose Garden, visitors must practice social distancing. About half of weddings at the Botanical Gardens take place outside, Henderson said. But while many people may think it’s safer to be in these outdoor spaces during the pandemic, precautions still must be taken to ensure all guests’ safety. Couples must also have a backup plan for bad weather and book a room for the reception in an indoor space where more social distancing is required.
Upon entering the gardens, visitors are met by a sign telling them that they may only use the gate at the main entrance. Different buildings and rooms each have maximum occupancies and hours, which are provided on the Birmingham Botanical Gardens website. “We have had our gates closed since March 16, so we are excited to again welcome happy faces walking through our doors,” said Virgil Mathews, director of the gardens, in a June 1 news release. “So many of the plants are in full bloom, and our visitors are going to have many pleasant surprises.” The gardens attract more than 350,000 guests annually, Robinson said. The staff at the facility put in a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the gardens would be safe for visitors to return. “When we initially closed, we took the opportunity to clean the facility and get the staff accustomed to the new guidelines,” he said. To reserve a space for a special event, call the Birmingham Botanical Gardens at 205-414-3900 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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