PRIDELY ~ BIRMINGHAM AL

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TOP 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next International Trip

OVERPACKING OVERSPENDING

NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH CARRYING VALUABLES

NOT NOTIFYING THE BANK

Whether it’s your first international trip or your fifth, traveling is all about discovering the unknown. It’s no surprise that there can be problems along the way. Extra planning and learning from these common travel mistakes can help you focus on enjoying your trip without worrying.

Mistake #1 is overpacking - too many packed items can be hard to organize and be uncomfortable to travel with. Mistake #2 is overspending - sticking to a realistic budget and leaving room for unexpected expenses is always best.

Mistake #3 is not doing enough research - it’s always safe to do extra research when traveling abroad including weather, laws, and international costs. Mistake #4 is carrying valuables with you while exploring - pick pocketers are notorious for targeting tourists, so keep your valuables locked away safe in your hotel if possible. Most importantly, mistake #5 is not notifying your bank of your international travel plans - unfortunately, your debit or credit card may be blocked due to “unusual activity” if you don’t do this ahead of time.

Restaurants

The Southern Kitchen And Bar

Lively, rustic-chic haunt offering elevated Southern dishes, cocktails & TVs tuned to sports.

2301 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N #300, Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 278-7270 | Web: thesouthernbirmingham.com

Half Shell Oyster House Birmingham

Upscale-casual Southern seafood restaurant/bar serving oysters & po’ boys, plus steak & cocktails.

616 29th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233

Phone: (205) 882-8080 | Web: halfshelloysterhouse.com

Gianmarco’s Restaurant

Fine Italian cuisine in a sophisticated dining room with white tablecloths & romantic lighting.

721 Broadway St, Birmingham, AL 35209

Phone: (205) 871-9622 | Web: gianmarcosbhm.com

Have a restaurant you’d like us to feature?

Send in a recommendation for your favorite restaurant to be added to our list. Be sure to mention why you think they are worthy of being featured and include a link to their website.

Chez Fonfon

Classic French bistro outfitted with antique furnishings & a court for playing a game of boules.

2007 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205

Bistro Two Eighteen

French-inspired bistro fare such as duck confit in a brick-walled space with a warm & intimate vibe.

218 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

The Essential Trendy contemporary American cafe offering lunch, dinner & weekend brunch, plus specialty cocktails.

2018 Morris Ave, Birmingham, AL 35203

Yo’ Mama’s

Counter-serve spot making chicken & waffles along with other Southern eats for breakfast & lunch.

2328 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

SAW’s Soul Kitchen

Humble BBQ spot with pig decor specializing in Southern soul food like pulled pork & banana pudding.

215 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222

The Rougaroux

Popular spot offering po’ boys, gumbo & other Cajun classics in a quaint house with patio seating.

817 39th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222

Lé Fresca

Familiar Italian trattoria offering pizza, pasta & other traditional fare, plus a robust wine list.

2218 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

Surin West

Sushi & curry specialist known for its coconut soup & curries in a colorful spot with a full bar.

1918 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205

FEB 26

Mom’s Basement Mardi Gras Chicken Parade

It’s Mardi Gras time! We are going to be participating in Mom’s Basement’s Mardi Gras Chicken Parade and we want you all to join us. Enjoy live entertainment, food trucks drinks, and more! Learn more at momsbham. com.

MAR 19

Spring Fling Market

Join us on Saturday, March 19th (1-5) for the Spring Fling Market at Ross Bridge! Enjoy a free community event that supports local farmers, artisans, live musicians, food trucks and more! Learn more at rossbridgefarmersmarket.squarespace.com

APR 9

Spring Wine Festival

Our annual Spring Wine Festival is officially planned for Saturday, April 9th from 11-8PM packed with loads of fun!! We will have local vendors, food trucks, live music, grape stomping, great food and wine from CFW, and some great gear to help kick off spring in the South! Learn more at eventbrite.com.

MAY 14

Do Dah Day

Since 1980, Do Dah Day is the south’s number one Dog and Animal Festival and,one of Birmingham’s best-loved events! Join the fun at Cahaba Brewing for face painting, hair weaving, craft making, live music, bungee jumping and more! Learn more at dodahday.org.

May 28

The Magic City Smoke and Boil

Join us for the next edition of the Magic City Smoke & Boil featuring a variety of smoked and grilled food plus crawfish and other great seafood options from the area! Learn more at magiccitysmokeandboil.com.

FOUR TIPS to help you boost your retirement savings

1. CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR 401(K)

If you happen to have the benefit of a traditional 401(k) plan through your employer, you may be able to contribute pretax money. This can be a huge advantage to your retirement savings plan.

2. OPEN AN IRA

It is a good idea to establish an individual retirement account (IRA) to help invest in your future. You can do either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Take some time to research both options and see what’s best for you.

3. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS

A good idea to help you increase your savings even more is to set automatic payments each month. This will help you grow your money without even having to think about it.

4. SET A GOAL

Understanding and planning ahead of time how much you may need in the future not only can help you better understand why you’re saving, but it also can make the process more rewarding.

6 Most Profitable Blog Niches

Making money online with a blog has never been easier.

There are so many areas you can explore when developing content for a blog. Making a profit from doing this is definitely possible, but it is essential to make sure you are creating high-quality content to help you monetize. Here are some quick tips and ideas to help you get started.

1

Don’t overestimate the value of digital marketing in today’s businesses.

SEO, email campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing are just some of the broad range of strategies used in digital marketing.

2

Digital Marketing Blogging for Profit

There are many valuable ways to write and help people make money online.

Some of these blog topics include freelance writing, working as a virtual assistant, and even starting your own online business.

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JUN 4

African Heritage Festival

Join us to celebrate the vibrant traditions of African cultures and the Museum’s African art galleries with the return of the African Heritage Festival sponsored by Medical Properties Trust. This family-oriented festival will feature food, games, dance, and music! Learn more at artsbma.org.Enjoy delectable foods of all types cooked fresh onsite. Learn more at treasurecoast.com.

JUL 4

Thunder on the Mountain

For decades, Thunder on the Mountain has been hailed as one of the largest and most extravagant Independence Day traditions in the state of Alabama—and this year will be no exception. Free to the public, this year’s show will last approximately 20 minutes and will feature a variety of firework shells that will brighten the sky with new colors and patterns. Learn more at visitvulcan.com.

AUG 27

Birmingham Folk Festival

The goal of the Birmingham Folk Festival, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is to celebrate our rich local diversity through the presentation of its many musical traditions and styles. Enjoy music all day and support our local vendors. Learn more at birminghamfolkfest.org.

SEP 24

Birmingham Pride Parade

The Birmingham Pride Parade march is one of the most important aspects of the entire festival weekend, enjoyed by tens of thousands of participants, walking, marching or aboard creatively decorated floats, and viewed by in excess of 75,000 spectators lining the streets of Birmingham. Learn more at birminghampride.com.

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM + LGBTQ AFFAIRS

Mayor Woodfin and the City of Birmingham are committed to the fair treatment of all Birmingham residents including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) residents, workers and visitors. We work hard to best serve all LGBTQ individuals who live, work, and play in Birmingham. BIRMINGHAMAL.GOV | (205) 254-2608

BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH

The mission of BAO is to enhance the quality of life for people living with HIV / AIDS, at-risk, affected individuals, and the LGBTQ community through outreach, age-appropriate prevention education, and supportive services.

BIRMINGHAMAIDSOUTREACH.ORG | (205) 322-4197

MAGIC CITY WELLNESS CENTER

The Mission of The Magic City Wellness Center is to provide wellness and medical care for the LGBTQ community and their allies in a safe, welcoming and affirming environment. Services for LGBTQ individuals and their allies include primary care, PrEP, Hormone Replacement Therapy, and STD/STI testing and treatment. Most major insurance plans are accepted.

MAGICCITYWELLNESSCENTER.ORG | (205) 877-8677

TAKE BIRMINGHAM

TAKE focus on issues such as discrimination in the workplace, housing advocacy, support for sex workers, providing trans-friendly services, and working to alleviate the many other barriers that TPOC face that no one else was talking about.

TAKEBHM.ORG | (205) 848-5849

PFLAG BIRMINGHAM

PFLAG Birmingham advocates full equality and civil rights for all people. Our monthly peer-to-peer support group meetings help families in crisis to dispel myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender identity. We strive to promote the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons, their families and their friends.

PFLAGBHAM.ORG

3

Health

& Fitness

Online fitness classes have become more and more popular over time.

There are many areas of fitness content to include such as workout videos, fitness courses, and one-on-one training sessions.

4

Finance & Investing

People are constantly seeking ways to manage their money better.

You can help people manage their money wisely in ways like saving for retirement or making the right investments.

5

Food Recipes

People love to learn about quick and easy meals and diets.

Getting creative with this is the fun part as you can put own twist on popular dishes or share innovative recipes.

6

Self Care

There are so many beneficial topics to create content on inlcuding routines, stress management, mindfulness, and journaling.

Now more than ever, people are tapped in to their mental wellness.