Down town What’s Brewing
WHERE’S OUR SKYLINE?
INVESTIGATING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS AND THE CHANGING FACE OF TUSCALOOSA WORD ON THE STREET: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK DOWNTOWN SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY TUSCALOOSA’S BAMA THEATRE
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES! Onsite or online, University Libraries can help you have a successful academic life at the Capstone. Our services include: • Electronic resources available 24/7, on or off campus • Rodgers Library, open 24 hours/5 days a week • Course related software on all computers • Research and reference help: in person or via phone, email, text or Twitter • Sanford Media Center, a multimedia lab open to all students (Gorgas Library, second floor)
for more information visit www.lib.ua.edu “Here at The Capstone our libraries are the fundamental tool for creativity and knowledge. I can recall numerous times when I have gone to the library and discovered the tools to help nurture my academic career. It is often said that the library serves as the delivery room to the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life. Notably through our libraries you will uncover a wealth of knowledge and understanding of not only the past but also a hidden imagination inside yourself. From the quiet spaces to study during an "all-nighter", to the variety of other resources they offer, our libraries are the foundation of the Capstone community. I urge you to become familiar with them and never hesitate to utilize the amazing resources they offer.” Elliot Spillers, Student Government Association President The University of Alabama
Gorgas Library • Bruno Business Library Hoole Special Collections Library McLure Education Library Rodgers Library for Science & Engineering
CONTENTS
PAGE 1
FEATURES
Craft Brewing How breweries are impacting Tuscaloosa
Where’s Our Skyline?
12
28
Bama Art House Series
18
Downtown is growing, and maintaining the The Bama Theatre blends its old-fashioned area’s existing historic character may pre- charm with the newest independent films vent that growth from extending skyward. to add a thrice-yearly series to its calendar.
PAGE 2
FALL 2015
CONTENTS SECTIONS
LIVING 4 10 Downtown Churches
SHOPPING 14 15 Tuscaloosa’s New Hotels
SEEING 18 20 Start with Art on First Friday
Photo by Corey Rives Visual Art
from Letter the Editor
My last name is a great one for jokes. And despite that, my stubborn Italian nature — even if it is scientifically only one-sixteenth of my genetic makeup — wants to claim that pasta-loving, gelatoeating culture every second of every day. The lifestyle fascinates me, and frankly, seems quite delicious. But Italy is also the heart of the European Renaissance, the impetus for hoisting the continent out of the Dark-Ages drudgery and into a period of an intense focus on the arts. People were writing and painting, discovering, building, composing — Italy was bursting with the manifestations of its people’s passions. Eventually, Europe was born again. And since 2013, when I moved to Tuscaloosa, declarations of my last name and eruptions of “Roll Tide” are each defended with the same resolve and grit, no matter where in the world
I am. Tuscaloosa is a wonderful place to call home for reasons beyond (but still including) the magic that goes on in Bryant-Denny. The city is currently going through a rebirth of its own, with downtown at the heart of it all. This edition of Bama Life examines that rebirth. (And a special thanks goes to the students in Dr. Chris Robert’s newswriting and reporting summer course for contributing to this reporting adventure.) We take a look at the historic and still-thriving Bama Theatre (whose interior design was inspired by Renaissanceperiod architecture), downtown’s newest delicious and artistic additions, as well as the potential image of its future. My Italian-ish blood runs crimson — I definitively want to be a Tuscaloosan.
Laura D. Testino
Magazine Editor
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
Peyton Shepard editor@cw.ua.edu
managing editor
Kelly Ward
magazine editor
Laura Testino
visuals editor
Noah Huguley
photo editor
Layton Dudley
lead designer staff reporters contributing writers
Sarah Huff Moore Matthew Wilson Mary Catherine Hodges Aaron Bonner Jeremy Connor Katherine Metcalf Sam West
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ON THE COVER As the primary source for student news on The University of Alabama campus, The Crimson White supports the fair and accurate reporting of all facets of student life. The Crimson White does not endorse underage drinking or the purchase of alcohol by those under the drinking age and urges all readers to drink responsibly.
PAGE 3
FALL 2015
SEP. 1995: DePalma’s Italian Café
1990s
SEP. 2003: Epiphany JUL. 2007: Edelweiss
2000s
JAN. 2011: Five Bar APR. 2011: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater NOV. 2013: Black Warrior Brewing Company JUL. 2014: Sweet Home Food Bar DEC. 2014: Loosa Brews MAR. 2015: Embassy Suites APR. 2015: Home2 Suites
2010s
THE GROWTH OF
TUSCALOOSA’S DOWNTOWN
Blast Blast from from the the Past Past Examining the history of downtown
Most online history about Tuscaloosa dates back to hundreds of years ago, talking about the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa’s Civil War-era involvement, old houses and, of course, The University of Alabama. When searching for the history of Tuscaloosa’s downtown – particularly the changes the area has seen over the past few decades – less information is available. “Back in the late 80s and early 90s, downtown was dead,” Katherine Richter, a member of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society said. “Nothing was here except a few businesses; students generally didn’t go past the Strip.” Before downtown gained its plethora of restaurants, shops and bars, there wasn’t much reason for students to go unless they were going to the Bama Theatre, which opened its doors in 1938. Most student activity was on the Strip with the area’s bars and restaurants. “Places like DePalma’s, Mellow Mushroom and Jalapeño’s came in the late mid-90s to the early 2000s, and
stayed,” said Richter. “But the massive increase in activity downtown didn’t start until the building boom five years ago.” With bars and restaurants popping up in downtown and the consistent increase of student enrollment at the University, people started looking to downtown as a place to live. “It’s grown tremendously since I was a kid,” said Heather Banks, a 23-year-old Tuscaloosa native. “The University is bigger with significantly more students, and that growth has gone hand-in-hand with the growth in the downtown area.” One of the new additions to the downtown area are the two hotels: Embassy Suites and Home2 Suites. With new businesses bringing in more customers — whether they are students, tourists or even locals — the boom of economic prosperity shows no signs of stopping, and only further increases during the University of Alabama’s school year with orientations, visitors from other schools and students coming into town for classes.
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POPS & TOPS & GROCERY SHOPS As Tuscaloosa’s downtown area continues to grow, students are finding their own roles in the market. Bama Life visited a few to catch up on their perspective of the area, their specific workplaces, and how they also balance their roles as students at the University. BY AARON BONNER
Crawford Rogers, Senior Majoring in Marketing Working at Steel City Pops
Q: A:
Being in a close community with a lot of businesses down there, I think, helps all of the businesses, and we try to interact with everyone via Twitter and other social media. I like it. I like the atmosphere; I think it’s a fun place to be. You get to see a lot of interesting things and people, so I enjoy it.
Q: A:
Bethany Triplett, Senior Majoring in Communicative Disorders Working at The Shirt Shop
Q: A:
What’s it like working downtown?
I like working downtown. I work for Charles Spurlin, and the shop basically grew to what it is, so I feel really privileged to work for someone who grew downtown. But I like it; it’s close and local to everything that I need.
PHotos by Danielle Parker
What’s it like working downtown?
Q: A:
How do you juggle school and work?
You definitely have to have time management skills and discipline. For me it’s about scheduling and making sure that I can get stuff at the store done, get my work done, and do it all well. If I’m lacking in one of the two, I have to tweak some things around and maybe not work so much here and study more.
How do you juggle school and work?
It varies based on the week. There are weeks when I can prioritize Steel City Pops, and there are other weeks where I feel like Steel City has to be on the backburner. Of course, my employer does know that I’m a student first, so if there’s a time where it’s like “Hey, my grades depend on this,” then that of course takes precedence. It varies though, because it can be busy at work, or busy at school. Sometimes both at the same time even! (laughs) Ultimately, it’s something we’ve learned to work through, though.
Q: A:
Are there any customer stories that have stuck with you, either good or bad?
Q: A:
What’s your favorite thing to get?
Overall, our customers are great. You always have those few bad apples, but one of my favorite parts of the job is seeing little kids come in. With us being a Popsicle shop, it’s so fun to see kids come in like, ‘Oh, I want chocolate! I want strawberry!’ and I feel like seeing the joy on kids’ faces balances out the people who come in with a bad mood. Screaming kids, that’s a little tougher, but you know, you take what you can get. (laughs)
I’m gonna be honest, my favorite varies like 10 times a day just based on where I’m working. By and large though, buttermilk is fantastic. It sounds nasty, but man… It has that cheesecake taste and it’s delicious. Strawberry also sounds boring, but shoot, I probably eat two of those a week and I’ve worked at Steel City for two and a half years. It is just absolutely fantastic.
Conner Vlerebome, Senior Majoring in History Working at Cravings
Q: A:
What’s it like working downtown?
Q: A:
How do you juggle school and work?
Q: A:
Are there any customer stories that have stuck with you, either good or bad?
Q: A:
What’s your favorite thing to get?
You kind of get to know the character of Tuscaloosa much more outside the University and the football crowd. There’s a local feel to it, you get to know the town is, and the people here. It’s great.
It’s continuous preparation. I treat school like another job, so whenever I’m not working or days off, it’s constant studying. I rewrite notes so that when it comes to test time, I’m pretty much well prepared. Though sometimes, it’s either a smaller review time or no review time at all.
Nothing directly right now. Everyone’s been pretty even-keel. Everybody who has been here typically knows what they are looking for, and if they haven’t been here before, they’re just so enamored with everything around them and just taking it all in. For the most part though, mostly everyone has been pretty good.
Oh, that’s a tough one! I like the beer selection. There’s way too many to try and it gives you different styles and certain types to try. We have plenty of IPAs here. There are different styles, different percentages, different flavors, so kind of getting that blend of all of them is just really nice to have it at your fingertips. There’s plenty of trial-and-error, and that’s just fun.
DUDE PAGE 5
LIVING
Where’s Your Car?
may towed by the time she returns. She said she has friends whose cars have been towed. “Parking is horrible,” Turpin said. “The lack of parking discourages me from shopping and partaking in any downtown activities. It saddens me that I cannot enjoy main attractions without worrying if my car will be towed.” While Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox said the city plans to add more limited parking downtown, there’s already a solution: Use the parking deck. “Our impetus for the next 12 to 24 months is to strongly encourage people to utilize the parking deck,” Maddox said. Parking is free in the city’s four-level, 400-spot Intermodal Facility parking deck behind City Hall on Seventh Street, which opened in 2009. Heiomy Beltran, a junior majoring in social work major at Alabama, said she agrees that parking is an issue but did not know about the parking deck. “The City of Tuscaloosa should make it more
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apparent that the public parking deck exists,” Beltran said. “More people would use it if they were informed.” Other students know about the deck but do not use it. “It is in a horrible location,” Turpin said. “I don’t want to walk that far, especially at night.” More vehicles will be coming downtown, as at least three major projects are currently in development. The next major project downtown is the Hotel Indigo, which will be anchored on the riverfront near the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater at the end of Greensboro Avenue, Maddox said. He also said at least two major projects expect to break ground in 2016 between Fourth Street and 23rd Avenue. The additions may cause even more parking woes. “If Tuscaloosa would put another parking deck on Fourth [near Temerson Square], that would fix a lot problems,” Goldsberry said. “This will make parking downtown much easier.”
BY ELIZABETH MALMEN
Photo by Layton Dudley
Jordin Goldsberry usually cannot find a parking spot when she goes to work downtown. She parks in a dirt field, far from her job near Temerson Square. When her late-night shift is over, she is uneasy while walking to her car. The next day, the hunt starts over. Students, whether coming to work or to have fun, have a major issue with the parking in downtown Tuscaloosa. Most parking downtown, especially along University Boulevard, has a two-hour time limit. Some say there’s not enough light for parking, too. “There’s not a lot of parking for the amount of volume and traffic downtown attracts,” said Goldsberry, a junior majoring in nursing at the University, who also works at Wilhagans downtown. “The lack of lighting throughout downtown makes walking seem unsafe.” Students such as Jenia Turpin, a sophomore majoring in public relations, said she is concerned her car
PAGE 6
FALL 2015
PAGE 7
LIVING
InstaBama
Downtown Tuscaloosa now has its own unified social media presence me in pictures or use hashtags,” Terry said. “I love BY getting stuff sent to me. We post those pictures all MICHELLE the time.” KAUFMAN Soulgrown Tuscaloosa has helped downtown businesses, Terry said. After seeing pictures on Instagram, restaurants and other venues immediately gain social media followers, he said. Friends tag each other in SoulGrown’s pictures and make plans to try new Tu s c a l o o s a restaurants, Terry said. • TUSCALOOSA: soulgrown_tuscaloosa “I’m really trying to sup• BIRMINGHAM: soulgrown_birmingham port this local • MONTGOMERY: soulgrown_montgomery trend and encourage • ALABAMA: soulgrown_alabama small busiEmail soulgrowntuscaloosa@gmail.com to ness owners submit photos. to come in and make Tu s c a l o o s a unique,” Terry said. “I think Tuscaloosa has a lot of character in the downtown area and we love sharing it with people and helping local business.” Terry has also started SoulGrown accounts for Birmingham, Montgomery and the state of Alabama.
WHAT TO KNOW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
Photo by Danielle Parker
As downtown Tuscaloosa continued to add restaurants, bars and places for performing arts, Ellis Terry realized something was missing – a social media outlet to tell people what’s going on. Terry, a former University student now working in real estate, introduced SoulGrown Tuscaloosa to fill the gap. His year-old Instagram account with artisticstyle posts of events, food, scenery and art has more than 4,100 followers. “Tuscaloosa is getting a lot of really cool restaurants and cultural things downtown,” Terry said. “Before, there was not as much to do. I was in support of that, and I wanted to give residents a social media page with cultural things going on, specials and new places.” SoulGrown Tuscaloosa aims to gain followers between 20 and 40 years old, he said. Terry said he wants both Tuscaloosa residents and students to find and enjoy the city’s hidden gems. Shelbi Lawson, a senior majoring in communications at the University of Alabama, said the Instagram account is genius. “Before finding SoulGrown, I never even knew we had a farmer’s market at the river,” Lawson said. “Now I try to go there once a week to buy fresh vegetables.” Terry said he takes about 85 percent of the pictures posted on the Instagram account, but he posts other people’s images as well. “People send me direct messages, chat me, tag
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Down town
Photos by Layton Dudley
BY MATTHEW WILSON
F
or almost 200 years, the churches of downtown Tuscaloosa have provided fellowship, worship and missionary work opportunities for local residents and students. Cornerstones of the community, the buildings stand out against the crop of new shops and business in the revitalization of the downtown area. Steeped in tradition while embracing contemporary influences, many of the churches offer a blend of two worlds – modern missionary work and a reminder of Tuscaloosa’s history. Senior pastor Kenneth Dunivant at First United Methodist said it’s been fascinating to watch religious life continue as downtown grows. “It’s been very fun because Tuscaloosa has a very active and dynamic downtown,” he said. “People drive from all directions to be a part of the downtown churches, and it keeps it nice and healthy and alive. In fact, if you come around our block, you’d be competing for parking with First Baptist, First Presbyterian and First [United] Methodist. That’s kind of neat to be a part of an active, growing area.” First United Methodist was founded in 1818 by circuit rider Ebenezer Hearn.The church bell is the only one in the state of Alabama made by Paul Revere and Sons Company. Former Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was also a member of
the church, and his funeral was held there. Dunivant said the church has always had a strong sense of social action and partners with other churches in downtown on a community soup bowl, Counseling Ministry Professionals center, and volunteers at the food bank. Each day, the community soup bowl gives 300 people a warm meal to eat. Tim Simpson, the college minister at First Baptist, said the downtown churches have stepped forward to help the homeless since the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter was destroyed in tornadoes on April 27, 2011. “It’s been pretty hard because we’re going on four years since we’ve had a homeless shelter,” he said. “I think that’s a long, long time. A lot of them come to downtown churches seeking help.” Reflecting on the tornadoes, Simpson said the disaster helped bring the downtown churches together in ways they might not normally interact to provide relief. For the next two years, First Baptist housed volunteers helping with the recovery effort. “The tornado was a good time and a hard time. The hard time was so much devastation and loss, but the good time was that it really united a lot of the Christians,” Simpson said. “The churches came together to work alongside each other in areas we might not have if the tornado had not crossed our
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LIVING
path. It was a beautiful time and a difficult time at the same time.” James Goodlet, an associate pastor at First Presbyterian, said he was in the church’s student center when he saw the tornadoes. Since then, the church has been very involved with Habitat for Humanity, rebuilding people’s homes. Founded in 1820, Goodlet said, First Presbyterian is currently going through a transition period due to their head of staff retiring after 20 years. Goodlet said one of the things the church excels at is wrestling with faith and serious world topics. “We had some issues that come up that some people agree with and some people disagree with, but what I really appreciate about our church and congregation is that while we may have differing opinions on a lot of different things, at the end of the day, we are sitting down and worshipping God together,” Goodlet said. Founded in 1818, First Baptist has seen both the highs and lows of downtown. Simpson said the revitalization of downtown helped increase the traffic flow of students that used to not come there before. To combat that problem, First Baptist had a college center on 15th Street for seven
years before moving into their new student center near the main church building. Over the years, Simpson said, he’s met a lot of college students and tries to maintain contact with them even after they leave Tuscaloosa. He doesn’t want them to feel like the church has abandoned them just because they graduated. “I do some of their weddings, and I have done some of their funerals also,” he said. “To hear how they’re doing and that they’re continuing to walk with the Lord is good.” Goodlet runs First Presbyterian’s campus ministry, Bama UKirk. The church hosts First Week Frenzy, a series of events including barbecue and a lake party for college students coming back to class. In the last 10 years, Dunivant said First United Methodist started contemporary worship services called the Bridge known for their contemporary Christian music. He said people have said they have the best live worship music in Tuscaloosa. All the churches put strong value in their missionary work. Goodlet — Kenneth Dunivant said First Presbyterian is planning to go to Haiti in 2016. First Baptist plans a missionary trip to East Asia every other year while also making Stateside trips to places like Arlington, Texas, Simpson said. Dunivant said First United Methodist is supportive of a school in India, an orphanage in Kenya and a hospital in Honduras. “It’s an extreme pleasure to be a part of a church that makes a difference in people’s lives, to give them hope and encouragement,” Dunivant said. “We try to encourage them and help them along their way emotionally and physically.”
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People drive from all directions to be a part of the downtown churches, and it keeps it nice and healthy and alive.”
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PAGE 12
FALL 2015
Where’s Photo by Layton Dudley
Tuscaloosa is a city with a wide base for its fame: The University of Alabama and the diverse student body; the large manufacturing corporations located on the outskirts of the city; the historic and antebellum buildings; the friendly residents; and the passionate football fans. But for some, something seems to be missing in its growing metropolitan downtown. Although Tuscaloosa has some buildings of height, many wonder if Tuscaloosa will ever have a skyline. According to John McConnell, Director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa zoning breaks the city into several different areas, both business and residential, each represented by a different color on a map. Each zone has its own individual set of rules, pertaining to dimensional requirements, such as height; building set back; lockcoverage ratios; and so on. This makes building
codes and height restrictions dependent upon the zone location. “Say for instance you’re in a BN zone, which is a business neighborhood zone, you’ve got a different height limit there than you do in a different business zone, or certainly a residential zone,” McConnell said. The heart of downtown Tuscaloosa is zoned in the city’s Central Business District. The Central
Business District has no height restrictions on buildings. However, there is a Riverfront overlay district that intersects into the downtown area that adds specific design standards, guidelines and rules that requires legislative approval of building plans from the City Council, meaning that the council decides what height is appropriate for buildings. McConnell describes the “master plan” of Tuscaloosa as one that caters simultaneously to older residents, families and students. “The Greater Downtown plan suggests that the city preserves it’s heritage and character, while also create and enhance a 24-hour population with a mixture of uses,” he said. McConnell said that preserving the character of Tuscaloosa’s historic buildings is one of the primary considerations for determining height allowance, as many citizens don’t want the historic buildings downtown to be out of scale in comparison to newer and taller buildings. “In a sense, there are height restrictions, but they are applied through that process,” McConnell said. “Zoning regulations are a tool for implementing a city’s master plan.” McConnell describes this “master plan” as the vision of the citizens; for many residents of Tuscaloosa, preserving historic downtown
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our skyline? BY MARY CATHERINE HODGES
Tuscaloosa is a priority. Clayton Hudson, president of Allied Realty and Development in Tuscaloosa, described Tuscaloosa as an All-American city — a historic city with a small-town feel that intermingles with urban growth. But, this is where the dispute of urban growth versus historic conservation begins, and where many wonder if Tuscaloosa is stuck in a clash of generational preferences. The Tuscaloosa City area encompasses 66.72 square miles. Within those city limits are around 95,000 residents and over 36,000 UA students. In the 2010 Tuscaloosa City census, the median age in Tuscaloosa was 25.4 years old, and citizens 21 and over accounted for 66.7 percent of the population with citizens 62 and over accounting for 12.0 percent. In addition, there was a 24.39 percent increase in the number of Tuscaloosa citizens between the ages of 18-64 from the 2000 census to the 2010 census, thus indicating that the number of young people moving to Tuscaloosa has increased. An increase of young people — students and graduates — is a factor in urban growth downtown. McConnell says that the common misconception among many is that taller buildings,
or skyscrapers, house primarily businesses and large corporations. While this may be true in some cases, many buildings do not exceed office use after the third or fourth floors, leaving the rest as residential. Therefore, there is less demand for taller buildings in smaller cities. McConnell concludes that the need for skyscrapers in Tuscaloosa will depend largely on expressed desire for more downtown living. Additionally, the construction of taller and more plentiful buildings will come with the increase of business in Tuscaloosa. Although Tuscaloosa is the fifth largest metropolitan area in the state of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa population count could be an inhibitor to the expansion of business diversity in Tuscaloosa. “I would say population may inhibit certain industries from coming here,” said Brendan Moore, development ombudsman for the City of Tuscaloosa. “A lot of different retailers and restaurants require certain demographics and certain population counts, and we don’t necessarily meet that threshold, that’s why you see a lot of business, when they expand into the state, target Huntsville or Birmingham.” But many like Hudson, Moore and McConnell think the future is bright for growth
WHAT TO KNOW BUILDING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN TUSCALOOSA BUSINESS DISTRICTS Type of business district
Maximum height
Central Business District
None prescribed
General Business-Office District
80
Neighborhood Commerical District
60
Special Neighborhood Commerical District
35
Highway-Related Commercial District
60
* Heights measured in feet. The board of adjustment may allow special exceptions in certain instances. For more information, view the Code of Ordinances for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at municode.com. and development in Tuscaloosa. “There’s a tremendous amount of support for growth in the community,” Moore said. “I think when you have the fifth largest metro in the state, growth is going to come with that.”
SHOPPING
PAGE 14
Downtown’s Roots ... and Stems and Blossoms BY JILLIAN OXENDINE
Tuscaloosa Flower Shoppe, a mainstay in downtown Tuscaloosa, just finished its busiest day of the year – delivering thousands of arrangements on Sorority Bid Day. It’s a tradition for both the University and for the shop, whose roots date back to 1921, making it the oldest still-operating florist in town, owner Sarah Morrison said. “Bid Day is equivalent to a holiday for us, more so than even Mother’s Day,” said Morrison, who has owned the store for eight years. Walking into the University Boulevard store brings an aroma of spring, as the store is filled with rooms of fresh cut flowers that arrive daily. It also handles special orders, Morrison said. For larger orders such as University events or Bid Day, Morrison calls upon her entire staff of five full-time employees and four freelance designers. The storefront has been in the same location since the late 1950s. Before then, it was just across the street. In addition to regular customers and typical work for weddings and funerals, the flower shop receives much of its business from the University. “The University had just opened the South
Zone in Bryant-Denny Stadium and was having a huge kick-off party for it,” she said. This was one of the first orders Morrison ever filled after buying the business after working at Tuscaloosa Flower Shoppe and then becoming its owner. “I had worked with the previous owner,” she said, “and when she got ready to sell I just thought it was a great opportunity, so I decided to take over the business.” Then, in 2011, Morrison was named Alabama Designer of the Year by the Mid-America Florists Association. Jason Pell, a florist of four years who joined the staff four months ago, said every day is different. “A regular day depends how busy you are, how many orders you have,” he said. “Usually a lot of funeral work means you’re going to have a really large day.” But, Pell said, the shop’s busiest season overall kicked off with Bid Day and will continue throughout the fall with each home kickoff at BryantDenny Stadium. “Fall is definitely the hardest and busiest time of the year, with football season,” he said. “Sometimes people come in wanting something for their tent, or even a wreath for a centerpiece.”
IN OLD with the
Downtown’s Olive Tree is bursting with both antique and vintage items
Photos by Layton Dudley
BY SUMMER MAHAND AND LAURA TESTINO
Chris Roycroft beamed as he walked toward the front of his shop to show off a large, round table with intricate designs of colorful Italian marble. The marble table, his favorite piece, is one of the many wonders at the Olive Tree Interiors antique shop in downtown Tuscaloosa. Roycroft owns the downtown store, where it is easy to be overwhelmed by rows of antique furniture, light fixtures and well-preserved trinkets stacked from floor to ceiling. “I was born with this God-given talent of collecting junk,” Roycroft said. The storeowner was 6 years old when he begin collecting small antique pieces in his hometown of Winfield, New Jersey. By his teenage years, Roycroft’s travels across the Northeast meant he could look at an antique and tell its age, composition and origin. Roycroft is the soul and mind behind the Olive Tree which opened 12 years ago. He was motivated to combine antiques with Southern culture making, he said. Roycroft’s 30 years of experience is evident in the pieces he has handpicked to sell – from $5
tea cups to $5,000 mahogany chests. So, customers can find something in their price range, Roycroft said. People who buy antiques are looking for quality in materials and workmanship, he said. Every piece in the store was hand-created, not factorymade or mass-produced, which gives them durability throughout the years. Alaina Boukedes, a senior majoring in theatre and journalism, found herself in the antique shop earlier this summer. As a production assistant on the film, “Service to Man,” which was filmed in the Tuscaloosa area, Boukedes was an aid to the co-directors and the actors on the film. One of the actors was Keith David, who voiced Dr. Facilier in “The Princess and the Frog,” among other work on television shows and movies. “In terms of Mr. David’s time working on ‘Service to Man,’ nothing will top when he browsed through the Olive Tree,” Boukedes said, “looking for lion collectables and picked up a sword to recite the infamous sword fight from Romeo and Juliet.” The Olive Tree includes both antiques and
vintage pieces, which are distinguished by the item’s age. Antiques are generally at least 60 years old, while vintage pieces are younger, Roycroft said. “Most young people are discouraged by antiques,” Roycroft said. “They only want modern.” But, that is not always a good idea, he said. Often, an antique piece is already depreciated in value, making it affordable. Because it is better made, it may be more likely to withstand damage. Plus, the originality cannot be found in WalMart, Roycroft said. The antique business has declined, he said, because people are less familiar with antiques. Antiques offer more than history, but also resale value, uniqueness and affordability, he said. As a collector of pieces from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean, Roycroft said potential customers should shop everywhere. Yard sales, state auctions and flea markets are all great venues for new collectors or first-time buyers to learn more about antiques. “Stick to traditional,” Roycroft said.
PAGE 15
SHOPPING
BY KATHERINE METCALF
Over the past year, two new hotels, Embassy Suites and Home2 Suites by Hilton, opened in downtown Tuscaloosa. Together, these two hotels added 250 rooms for travelers coming to visit Tuscaloosa. A third hotel, Hotel Indigo, is planned to open in roughly a year, at a location at the end of Greensboro Avenue where the street meets the Black Warrior River, according to the Tuscaloosa News. This hotel would add an additional 91 rooms in its five-story building, with a rooftop lounge and veranda for its guests, and restaurant and market for guests and the public. Tuscaloosa has other hotel options for visitors, such as the Hampton Inn off Harper Lee Drive or the Comfort Suites on McFarland Boulevard. The hotels downtown do offer the opportunity to be closer to the action on gamedays in the fall — but if staying nearby is important, it’s imperative to book a room early. Many home football weekends are already sold out.
Embassy Suites 2410 University Boulevard (205) 561-2500 embassysuites3.hilton.com 1 king bed, 2-room suite 1 king bed, 2-room premium suite 2 queen beds, 2-room suite 2-room suites • Complementary drinks • Free made-to-order breakfast • Free Wi-Fi • No pets • Indoor pool • Fitness center • Business center • On-site restaurant, Side by Side
$229 $249 $249
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Home2 Suites 2610 University Boulevard (205) 349-2002 home2suites3.hilton.com 1 king bed studio suite non-smoking 2 queen beds studio suite non-smoking In-suite kitchen • Free breakfast • Pet-friendly • Non-smoking rooms • Full kitchens available • Fitness center • Business center • Pool
$169 $169
ADDRESS PHONE WEBSITE PRICES* AMENITIES
Happy Hour 2 PM-6 PM Bulk Orders for pick up or $25 delivery Large party accommodations Tailgating Trays
1 BRIDGE AVE NORTHPORT, AL 35476 (205) 632-3136 WWW.LEVEEBARANDGRILL.COM @Thelevee_ The-levee-bar-grill
Locally owned & operated by: Chris Bradshaw & Gary McGee
Football season availability* EMBASSY SUITES
HOME2 SUITES
Yes No No Yes No No Yes
Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
GAME
DATE
vs. Middle Tennessee State vs. Ole Miss vs. Louisiana Monroe (Family Weekend) vs. Arkansas vs. Tennessee vs. LSU vs. Charleston Southern
Sep. 12 Sep. 19 Sep. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Nov. 7 Nov. 21
* Prices are per-night rates. Prices and availability as of August 7, 2015. Photos by Layton Dudley
If a Significant Emergency or Dangerous Situation Impacts UA … HERE IS WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: • The safety and well-being of our students is one of our highest priorities at The University of Alabama. • While we hope that our emergency plans will not have to be put into action, The University of Alabama has a comprehensive emergency plan in place to deal with any crisis that may occur on campus. • The UA Police Department (UAPD) is a fully accredited law enforcement agency with highly trained professional officers who are prepared to respond to emergencies of all types. • Other law enforcement agencies and fire departments are prepared to assist UAPD in an emergency if needed. Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 as quickly as you can if the situation directly affects you. Stay calm, and provide information about your location, the suspect and any injuries. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. Once the threat is confirmed and until it is resolved, we will communicate with you using one or more of these methods: • UA Alerts, which can simultaneously deploy text messages, emails and phone calls to your cell phone, office phone and home phone. • The campus PA system, which is located in academic buildings and residence halls, and outdoors around the campus. • Emails sent via UA Student News and Dialog Extra. • Media alerts through TV and radio stations and newspapers. • The UA home page. • Digital signage across campus. • Marquees on the Crimson Ride buses. • Campus cable network. • Social media, including Facebook and Twitter. You will be notified that the emergency or dangerous situation has been resolved using some of these same methods to send the all-clear message. Remember: • Keep your contact information updated! Go to http://prepare.ua.edu/?page_id=1848 for students and http://prepare.ua.edu/?page_id=3813 for faculty and staff. • Please refrain from using your cell phone during an emergency unless you are communicating with UAPD. Sending or receiving other calls, text messages or emails can hinder UA’s ability to quickly communicate critical information to you during an emergency. If you receive notification of a significant emergency or dangerous situation: Immediately take safety precautions based on your personal situation. • Immediately move to a safe location. • Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 as quickly as you can. Stay calm, and provide information about your location and any injuries. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. • Alert others, if you can do so safely. • Stay in a safe place until you are notified that the emergency is over.
If a tornado strikes the campus or the community: • Stay in a safe place until you are notified that the emergency is over. • Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 as quickly as you can if the situation directly affects you. Stay calm, and provide information about your location and any injuries. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. • UA Alerts will provide additional information about the situation and resources available to you.
Hide: If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should: • Be out of the active shooter’s view. • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (e.g. an office with a closed and locked door). • If possible, try not to trap yourself or restrict your options for movement.
IF THERE IS A FIRE OR EXPLOSION ON CAMPUS:
To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place: • Lock the door. • Blockade the door with heavy furniture.
• You are required to evacuate a building when the fire alarm is activated or when ordered to do so by University or public safety personnel. • Remain calm. Exits are located on each building’s evacuation maps, which are mounted on the interior walls of each building. Leave through the nearest exit. • Quickly shut down any hazardous operations if possible. • Close windows and doors. • Walk, do not run. • Do not use elevators. • Alert others as you leave. • Do not re-enter the building until authorized to do so. • Move away from the building, and keep sidewalks, streets and fire lanes clear for responders. If you are unable to leave the building: • Keep the door to the room closed. • Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 and provide your location. • Hang an object or cloth on a window to let others know your location. • Seal door cracks and ventilation with wet towels or clothes. • If smoke enters the room, open an exterior window. • If smoke enters from the outside, close exterior windows. • Stay close to the floor for clean air. • Place a cloth around your nose and mouth to filter smoke. IF THERE IS AN ARMED INDIVIDUAL ON CAMPUS: The University of Alabama Police Department is trained to deal with this incident and will respond immediately upon notification. • Immediately move to a safe location. • Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 as quickly as you can. Stay calm, and provide information about your location, the suspect and any injuries. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. • Alert others, if you can do so safely. • Stay in a safe place until you are notified that the emergency is over. Give the dispatcher the following information: • Building/site name and location. • Your name and phone number. • Exact location and number of shooters. • Description of shooter, type of weapon, number of hostages, if any. • Number and location of injured persons.
The University will provide ongoing, detailed information on the UA home page (www.ua.edu). IF THERE IS A TORNADO WARNING: • Immediately move to the best available refuge area (BARA) in the nearest building. • Stay tuned to radio or television for further weather statements. UA has placed weather radios in many academic buildings and residence halls. • Remain inside until you are notified that severe weather has left the Tuscaloosa area. • If a tornado warning is activated, all University activities, classes, laboratories and events are automatically suspended until the all-clear notification has been sent. Remember: • Technology allows the weather service to be more accurate in identifying the geographic areas to be included in a tornado warning. If you receive notification of a tornado warning, move to safety immediately. • Building-specific BARA locations for severe weather are located on each building’s evacuation maps, which are mounted on the interior walls of each building. • Follow guidelines posted in each building.
Remember: The following suggestions are general in nature and may not apply in all circumstances. Always be aware of your surroundings as you determine how best to protect yourself. Run: If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to leave the premises. Be sure to: • Have an escape route and plan in mind. • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow. • Leave your belongings behind. • Help others escape, if possible. • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be. • Keep your hands visible. • Follow the instructions of any police officer. • Do not attempt to move wounded people. • Call 911 or 205-348-5454 (UAPD) when you are safe.
• Seek an interior room without windows. • In a hazardous substance situation, turn off all ventilation systems such as air conditioners/heating units, bathroom/exhaust fans or air handlers. • Close all windows and doors. • Make laboratories safe. • Monitor the event through the UA home page (www.ua.edu) or UA Alerts. • Remain in the shelter until you are advised that it is safe to leave. • Do not use elevators. • Avoid areas with glass or windows. • Avoid shelter in automobiles. IF THE CAMPUS NEEDS TO BE EVACUATED:
If the active shooter is nearby: • Lock the door. • Silence your cell phone and/or pager. • Turn off any source of noise (e.g. radios, televisions). • Hide behind large items (e.g. cabinets, desks). • Remain quiet. If leaving the premises and hiding are not possible: • Remain calm. • Dial 911 or 205-348-5454 (UAPD) if possible to alert police of the active shooter’s location. • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen.
• A campus evacuation requires everyone to leave the property immediately. • To facilitate a speedy departure, motorists and pedestrians will follow instructions from law enforcement that are designed to minimize congestion. • Motorists and pedestrians will be asked to leave campus using specific routes that are based on where the individual is located on campus when the evacuation is ordered. • Motorists and pedestrians should leave campus using these specified routes, even if it is not the direction they would prefer to travel. • Motorists and pedestrians should avoid University Boulevard during the evacuation process so that first responders, law enforcement and others can respond quickly to the emergency. TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by: • Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her. • Throwing items and improvising weapons. • Yelling. • Committing to your actions. When the police arrive, they may not know who the shooters are. Since perpetrators may attempt to hide in the crowd, it is imperative to obey all law enforcement commands. Officers may order everyone to raise their hands or even place handcuffs on them. This is done for safety reasons to prevent further injury and possible escape by the perpetrator(s). IF THERE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: If someone on campus needs emergency medical care, call UAPD at 205-348-5454. When you call for help, remember: • The victim should not be moved, except to be removed from life-threatening conditions. • Someone should stay with the victim until help arrives. • Give the dispatcher complete directions to the victim’s location. • Accurately describe what happened. • Stay on the line until dispatch tells you to hang up. • Guide emergency officials to the victim. • Stay back and keep others out of the way of emergency officials. Before you leave the scene, check with a police officer to see if further information is needed.
Lockdown A term used to describe an emergency procedure that controls or restricts access to buildings for safety reasons. Because The University of Alabama has more than 300 buildings, an open campus and a state highway that bisects the property, it is not possible to lockdown the entire campus. However, it is possible to lockdown specific buildings. Suspend Normal Operations A term used when the University temporarily suspends normal operations and activities. The suspension occurs if there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation (e.g. severe weather). The suspension generally includes academic classes/ instruction, business operations, sporting events, conferences, socials and outdoor activities. During a suspension of normal operations and activities, essential personnel (as determined by the circumstances) continue to provide needed services until the significant emergency or dangerous situation has been resolved. Best Available Refuge Area (BARA) Areas within existing buildings that are likely to provide the best option for safety during a tornado. Mobility Impairment Guide An emergency planning guide developed to help persons with mobility impairment. The guide can be found at beready.ua.edu or this link: http://prepare.ua.edu/?page_ id=4086
CONTACT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Remember: For medical emergencies, go to DCH Regional Medical Center, located on University Boulevard near the eastern perimeter of campus. DCH has a 24-hour emergency department. The UA Student Health Center, which provides non-emergency care, closes after its normal hours of operation.
UAPD 205-348-5454
IF YOU ARE ASKED TO SHELTER IN PLACE:
Emergency Preparedness Website: www.beready.ua.edu
Shelter in place is the opposite of evacuation. Instead of leaving a building, you should remain inside; persons outside should seek shelter within a structure for safety. Typically, this strategy is used during severe weather; however, it may also be used during a shooting incident or a hazardous chemical release, where the hazard of breathing outside air is greater than remaining inside a building.
UA Home Page www.ua.edu
Additional information is available in UAPD’s Safer Living Guide and online at www.beready.ua.edu.
PAGE 18
Photo by Danielle Parker
Sit back, relax & enjoy the
SEEING
Located in the heart of downtown, the Bama Theatre opened in Tuscaloosa in 1938. Although it has screened films for many years, the theatre has recently launched the Bama Art House film series. This event, occurring in the fall, winter and summer, showcases artistic films with lower budgets compared to typical blockbusters. Bama Life gets a peek behind the curtain at how the historic Bama Theatre operates. BY SAM WEST
PAGE 19
SEEING
“
To me, theatres are vitally important for the community. They’re a place where people can meet one another, and see that they have shared interests, and feel like there is someone else who feels the way they do.”
The projection room of the Bama Theatre is dominated by a massive object — a great metallic spool, the theatre’s 35 mm projector. The hulking, still-functional piece of technology is a holdover from the Bama’s past. It is now rarely used. Most of the time, the theatre uses two synchronized digital projectors and a touch screen computer interface to show its films. Movies are now streamed through a satellite uplink rather than run through a mechanical behemoth. In many ways the venue’s projection booth embodies the contradictions that make the theatre a Tuscaloosa icon. Situated in the heart of the downtown area, the Bama Theatre is a movie palace built in the 1930s that now showcases the best in contemporary cinema through its Bama Art House film series. The venue blends old school charm and a modern sensibility, and that’s what makes it such a vital part of our town’s culture. The Bama Art House series runs in the spring, summer and fall, and shows recently released independent movies, foreign films and documentaries in one-night-only events. In the past, the Bama has shown features like Zach Braff ’s “Garden State,” Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” and Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” alongside more challenging art films such as Shane Carruth’s “Primer” or pictures from overseas, like “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” a documentary about a Chinese artist. The model of showing a film for only one night a week evolved as a way to maximize the audience for more obscure movies. This idea was conceived by filmmaker and current UA faculty member Andy Grace. “If you can create the kind of buzz among the people who are interested in those kind of movies, and get them to sort of put it on their
— Andy Grace calendars… then you’re more likely to generate an audience and get them kind of loyal to your programming,” Grace said. Showing films from famous auteurs alongside those from lesser-known directors also helps introduce the Bama’s loyal audience to new films. “When you have an independent-type movie that people come see, it has a residual effect of them coming back to see something that they might not have,” said David Allgood, manager of the venue. Originally constructed under President Roosevelt’s Public Works Administration, the Bama Theatre first opened for business in 1938. One of the biggest draws to the theatre was the fact that it was the only air conditioned building in town. The theatre struggled during the 1970s, and was, at one point, almost purchased by a Bible college. The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County was formed specifically to save the theatre, and they still operate the venue today. When it comes to cinema, the Bama Theatre has a specific role in the community: an alternative to the commercial multiplex. A widening divide in contemporary filmmaking exists between entertaining, big-budget blockbusters and smarter, more artistic, but less financially viable movies. The Bama Theatre is a place for the latter. “Hollywood movies cost such an enormous amount of money, and then they are designed by committee to essentially appeal to a broad swath of audience worldwide now,” Grace said. “And that ends up meaning that the narratives and the stories they tell are, in a lot of ways, very narrow.” For the Tuscaloosan who wants more out of
a film than robots, dinosaurs, or robot dinosaurs, the Bama Art House series is essential. “To me, theatres are vitally important for the community. They’re a place where people can meet one another, and see that they have shared interests, and feel like there is someone else who feels the way they do,” Grace said. “That’s part of what’s great about art, one of the things that’s so important about public support of art.” The venue’s support of the arts extends beyond • AUG. 25: “Amy” cinema. The • SEP. 1: “Love and Mercy” Bama Theatre has also hosted live • SEP. 8: “Court” music since its • SEP. 15: “The Look of Silence” inception. Several esteemed acts • SEP. 29: “Irrational Man” have played the • OCT. 6: “A Borrowed Identity” theatre, including The Police, Admission is $7 for students. the Drive-By The movies start at 7:30 p.m., Truckers, and but the doors and bar open both indie singersongwriter Ryan at 6:45 p.m. Adams and 80s rocker Br yan Adams. Today, several local theatre troupes and dance groups perform shows at the Bama. Another, perhaps vital, service that the venue provides: It’s the only cinema in the Tuscaloosa area that serves alcoholic beverages, including a variety of craft beers.
PLAN TO GO BAMA ART HOUSE FALL SCHEDULE
Photo: CW File
PAGE 20 Photos by Layton Dudley
FALL 2015
START with ART BY KATHERINE METCALF
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PAGE 21
SEEING
First Friday brings nationwide art to downtown galleries Since 2013, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa has hosted monthly First Friday celebrations to showcase artists’ collections from around the country and attempt to drive traffic to the many local galleries. There are a number of art galleries open on First Friday, such as Grace Aberdean Habitat Alchemy, Harrison Galleries, O’Connor Art Studios, Paul Jones Gallery, and the two galleries located in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center: The Arts Council and The University of Alabama Gallery. Sharron Rudowski, education director of The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, said the First Friday events are important because it makes people come out and support the arts community. “Everyone should take an active role in supporting the arts whether their interests lie in visual arts, music, theatre or dance,” Rudowski said. “The arts contribute greatly to the economic impact in a community.” Many different people attend First Friday, including fellow artists, friends and family of the artists, people visiting Tuscaloosa and art collectors. Many First Friday events include live music, activities and free food and drinks. Kevin Ledgewood, who works in the public relations department at The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, said many of the people who come to First Fridays are not only artists, but people who enjoy art overall. “We have a lot of patrons from art departments and students [who come to the exhibits],” Ledgewood said. “The majority of people who come are artists and people who love to look at art.”
r t ou e u o iv ab Ask -inclusay all amed ts! G tmen r Apa
PLAN TO GO UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY SHOWS • AUG. 7-28: Jim Harrison III • SEP. 4-25: Tom Wegrzynowski • OCT. 2-30: Roger Jones • NOV. 6-27: Kevin Ledgewood • DEC. 4-31: Paul Looney All are from 5-8 p.m. Most of the events will take place at the Art Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Sandra Wolfe, the executive director of The Arts and Humanities Council, said people would like the event because it gives them a chance to enjoy visual art and other kinds of arts as well, such as music. “[First Friday] gives people a chance to connect with artists [and] a chance to connect the business and the art together,” she said. “We have a lot of fun and the music in the government park is nice to have going on.” The purpose of the First Friday event is not only to showcase artists’ work, but for people to come out and appreciate the arts aspect of Tuscaloosa, Wolfe said. “Our mission is to promote the arts of Tuscaloosa,” she said, “[It is also a time] to celebrate what we have going on in Tuscaloosa.”
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PAGE 22
FALL 2015
ARRIVE TO SEE IT
LIVE BY LAURA TESTINO
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Although Tuscaloosa’s downtown area houses art galleries and venues with regular hours and series, special live events throughout the fall provide the community with the chance to see performances that will never again be repeated — crafted particularly in that moment for that specific audience. Attending these live performances serves as the perfect excuse to hop out of bed, change into something fancier than sweatpants, and kick the Netflix binge (at least for a few hours).
WHAT: Heritage Celebration Decorators Break-Out Showcase WHEN: Aug. 29-30 WHERE: Historic Old Jail, 2803 Sixth St. WEBSITE: historictuscaloosa.org Tuscaloosa’s Historic Old Jail, on the edge of Capitol Park, will be open to the public for an art showcase, where local artists, decorators and florists will transform the rooms of the site to the fit the likes of their own visions. The Tuscaloosa City School Board donated the location to the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society for three days, two of which are open to the public to browse the rooms and see the old architectural renderings of the building. Music in the garden will begin at 2p.m. and a tearoom will be on the lawn for refreshments.
Tide 4 Christ Student Ministry Welcome! Glad you are here!
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
WHAT: Mary Poppins WHEN: Sep. 25-28 WHERE: Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. WEBSITE: bamatheatre.org This supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical will go down with a spoonful of sugar when the Actor’s Charitable Theatre performs the show at the Bama Theatre this fall. Mary Poppins, based on the book series by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney Film saw its first on-stage production in the fall of 2004 in Bristol, England. The show’s music (Sherman Brothers, George Stiles), lyrics (Sherman Brothers, Anthony Drewe) and book (Julian Fellowes) crossed the seas and entered the Broadway stage in 2006.
Photo by Byan Ledgard via Wikimedia Commons
WHAT: Jason Isbell WHERE: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, 2710 Jack Warner Pkwy. NE WHEN: Oct. 15 WEBSITE: tuscaloosaamphitheater.com Special guests Sturgill Simpson and Brandy Clark will accompany Alabamanative Jason Isbell when the singer-songwriter and guitarist’s tour makes a stop in Tuscaloosa. Isbell, a six-year member of Drive-By Truckers, left the band and released his first solo album in 2007. Since then, he has released four additional studio albums. The most recent of which, “Something More Than Free,” placed sixth on the Billboard 200 for the week of August 8, three weeks after its release on July 17.
play harder.
Who we are: We’re an active group of Christians who want to help each other get to heaven! We spend time together so that we can all find spiritual strength and encouragement to stay faithful to the loving God who saved us from so much! Together, we’ll reach out to other students and the community with the love that we receive from Jesus. Growing and building faith while here at Bama can be a challenge, but we’ll all be here to help one another overcome!
Ways to get involved:
Free Meal—Wednesdays 6pm Bible Class—Wednesdays 7pm Sunday morning class—9am Sunday worship: 10am & 6pm Monday devos—7:30 pm Intramural Sports Get Tide In Week
Adopt-A-Student Program Tail-gating Retreats Mission Work Monthly Fun Events Weekend Trips
More Info: Website: Facebook Page: Facebook Group: Email: Campus Minister Email:
tide4christ.ua.edu facebook.com/tide4christ facebook.com/groups/tide4christ tide4christ.ua@gmail.com will-ccc@att.net
Tide4christ.ua.edu Central Church of Christ 304 Hargrove Road Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Every day we help people play harder through our sport-specific performance enhancement, injury prevention and injury rehabilitation programs. Call today to schedule an injury consultation at no cost.
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Student Recreation Center: 401 5th Avenue East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 T: 205.348.3904 | myphysio.com *Not a clinical service and not available for persons with Medicare or other federal health insurance plans. As always, please consult your physician to see if a specific medical condition is appropriate for Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy.
DINING
PAGE 23
Brunch HAVEN BY CAROLINE PETREY
Sweet Home Food Bar 2218 University Blvd., Suite A Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sun., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. sweethomefoodbaral.com (205) 764-9346 The newest restaurant on this list prides itself on its one-of-a-kind dining experience, which owners George Harsch and Debra Rubino refer to as “New York flair meets Southern charm.” Chefs at Sweet Home Food Bar work with local farmers to make healthier food, as well as to give back to the Tuscaloosa community. Popular menu choices at Sweet Home Food Bar include Reese’s pancakes, which are buttermilk pancakes made with Reese’s Pieces and chocolate chips, and the black bean breakfast burrito, a burrito filled with black beans, salsa, avocado, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese.
Brunch, a meal with 19th century roots, is becoming a downtown Tuscaloosa staple, including some restaurants whose buildings are as old as brunch itself. “Brunch started back in the 1800s because people that would work, like maids and servants, would actually have off on Sunday,” said Kimberly Severt, program director for the Restaurant, Hotel and Meetings Management Program at the University. “On Saturday, they would put out food for the next day because they were going to be off.” Over time, brunch evolved into a
treat for late sleepers. “People don’t traditionally start the day as early on Sundays as they do during the week because it’s their day off,” she said. Severt identified five restaurants in and near downtown that stand out in the brunch crowd – Five, Sweet Home Food Bar, Tin Top, The Avenue Pub and Another Broken Egg. It’s the experience that sets them apart, she said. “So much of the food is similar,” Severt said of the restaurants that serve brunch. “A restaurant really needs to differentiate itself through its service and quality of food.”
Another Broken Egg
The Avenue Pub
Five Bar
1650 Jack Warner Pkwy. NE Mon.-Sun., 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. anotherbrokenegg.com (205) 750-2120
405 23rd Ave. Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. avepub.com (205) 759-4900
2324 6th St. Sun., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. five-bar.com (205) 345-6089
It’s not just for Sunday. Another Broken Egg serves brunch daily. “Our founders strived to make our guests feel as if they were eating breakfast at grandma’s house,” said Nick Waugh, the restaurant’s general manager. Waugh said popular menu choices include Cajun-style Shrimp ’n Grits and Cinnamon Roll French Toast, which is a cinnamon rolls grilled French toast batter served with Bananas Foster sauce. “Another Broken Egg uniquely offers exceptional full service, a full liquor bar including our vodka infused Bloody Mary’s, and upscale, unique and ever changing menu with a wonderful view of the Black Warrior River,” Waugh said.
Serving brunch until 4p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, The Avenue Pub focuses its menu on classic American pub food. Megan Hennesy, a senior majoring in psychology at the University and server at the Avenue Pub, said the atmosphere at the restaurant is very laid-back and relaxed, which makes customers’ experiences more enjoyable. Hennesy said The Avenue Pub, on Fourth Street, also has local musicians play live. “We have a variety of menu options to accommodate everyone, and we use fresh, house-made ingredients,” Hennesy said. “We also have great drink specials, like $5 double mimosas.”
Located off Sixth Street near Greensboro Avenue, Five Bar has become one of the more popular places to grab a bite to eat on Sunday mornings. Five’s Jazz Brunch, which features a local band every week, starts at 10a.m. and lasts until 3p.m. Alana Guarino, a server at Five and a senior majoring in music, said Five is set apart by its menu. “We serve five items to go with the theme of our restaurant,” Guarino said. “The most popular choices are the crab cake benedict and the chicken and waffles.” The restaurant also has a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, as well as an in-house coffee shop.
Tin Top Sports Bar and Grill 2330 4th St. Sun., 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. tintopsportsbarandgrill.com (205) 462-3399 Tin Top Sports Bar and Grill on the corner of Greensboro Avenue and Fourth Street, also serves brunch on Sundays. General Manager Dick Turpin said Tin Top’s classic style separates the restaurant from its more specialized competition. “We have a great classic brunch,” Turpin said. “The restaurant has a nice, quiet atmosphere with a great view.” The most popular items on the menu are the classic eggs benedict, steak and eggs and blueberry pancakes, Turpin said. Tin Top’s brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Photo by Layton Dudley
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Tuscaloosa’s BY SARAH WOOD
Archibald’s 4215 Greensboro Ave. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (205) 331-4858 5600 McFarland Blvd. E. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. (205) 248-2358 1211 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Northport Tue.-Thu., 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. (205) 345-6861
Dreamland 101 Bridge Ave., Northport Mon.-Thu., 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (205) 343-6677 5535 15th Ave. E. Mon.-Sat, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (205) 758-8135
Full Moon 1383 McFarland Blvd. E. Mon.-Thu., 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (205) 366-3555
Jim ‘N Nicks 305 21st Ave. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (205) 469-2060
Moe’s BBQ 2101 University Blvd. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m (205) 752-3616 Photos by Danielle Parker
FALL 2015
6
It’s not necessary to travel over the river or under the interstate bridge to find fine barbecue in Tuscaloosa. Moe’s Original BBQ and Jim ‘N Nick’s reside downtown, providing the South’s sixth food group for people who don’t want to venture off the beaten track. But, they also compete with the other, older restaurants and rib joints in other parts of the area.
Moe’s Original BBQ Primarily known for its daily drink and side specials, Moe’s prides itself in its method of cooking and preparing barbecue. Kitchen manager Blake Parker said Moe’s uses only high-quality barbecue by removing all the fat from the pork and preparing it with a traditional style cooking, mixed with a home-style twist. It makes fresh sides that change daily, Parker said. The restaurant’s student focus inspires the offers for daily drink specials, 50-cent wings and bingo on Mondays, its Thanksgiving sandwich on Thursdays, and local bands that play on Fridays and Saturdays. Moe’s caters big events, rents a room for parties, and delivers on campus using Crimson2Go, a delivery service which provides takeout from different restaurants in Tuscaloosa. Bartender Erica Lepore, a senior majoring in consumer sciences at the University, said she loves working at Moe’s so much that she “didn’t even buy football tickets.”
th Food Group “
Dreamland Bar-B-Que
It’s in our blood. Once you taste what we do, you’ll see why we do it.” — Woodrow Washington
Among the most famous in Tuscaloosa is Dreamland, which began selling its ribs in 1958. The original Dreamland is off McFarland Boulevard in a tiny shack. “People see the shack after hearing how good we are, and they have no idea what to expect,” said Will Gardner, Dreamland’s restaurant manager. “The best part is blowing away their expectations after seeing the outside.” Extending from its Tuscaloosa roots, Dreamland now has a location in Northport selling more than ribs, as well as locations throughout Alabama and metro Atlanta. Dreamland bottles and retails its barbecue sauces and rubs. It also offers catering and sells food at BryantDenny Stadium.
Full Moon Bar-B-Que At the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street is Full Moon Barbecue. The Birmingham-based chain offers Tuscaloosa a barbecue service with a drivethrough. Full Moon also caters and sells on the Quad on game days. “We cook with love,” assistant manager Carly Rutley said, noting the store’s family-like atmosphere and fresh ingredients served with a true Southern hospitality. Full Moon bottles its sauces and packages its cookies dipped in chocolate.
Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q Newer to downtown is Jim ‘N Nick’s, which opened in 2012 after its Birmingham beginnings in 1985. It has multiple locations, primarily throughout the Southeast. Jim ‘N Nick’s prides itself in its willingness to partner locally to provide customers with a sustainable quality of freshness, marketing manager Lindsay Moore said. “There are no freezers in any store locations,” Moore said. “Everything is made fresh daily from local sources such as the Tuscaloosa River Market, and all meat is provided by hog farms which are specifically run for or by Jim ‘N Nick’s.” The restaurant offers catering, and on game days has a food truck on the Quad. It sells bottled sauces for customers to take home. In Tuscaloosa, Jim ‘N Nick’s has daily drink and dinner specials, such as Taco Tuesday, and offers its smoked prime rib, steak sandwiches and fried chicken plates on weekends.
Archibald’s Originating in Northport in 1960, Archibald’s – and its family offshoot, Archibald’s & Woodrow’s – prides itself for consistency in cooking and for preparing its own spicy sauce and batters. The rib joint is in its third generation of barbecue as a family-owned restaurant. Woodrow Washington, manager of the Archibald & Woodrow’s on McFarland Boulevard south of Interstate 20/59, said there’s nothing quite like it. “It’s in our blood,” he said. “Once you taste what we do, you’ll see why we do it.” The restaurants are best known for barbecue and wings, and Archibald’s hopes to start bottling its sauces for retail sales. In addition to its original location along Martin Luther King Boulevard in Northport, the family has locations on Greensboro Avenue near Cobb Theatres and along McFarland. Students can order Archibald’s barbecue using Crimson2Go.
Military Strong
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs serves all veterans, service members, and dependents on campus, regardless if you receive the GI Bill. Come visit us at our new location on the 3rd floor of Houser Hall or go to vets.ua.edu.
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Holy
Mackerel! Although the menu may include a photograph of an impressive catch – a 30-pound king mackerel fish to be exact – there’s much more to Chuck’s Fish than the picture and dishes featuring the scaly swimmers.
The downtown Tuscaloosa restaurant, opened by Chuck Morgan BY III in August 2006, received its name from the man standing next to DANIELLE the mackerel: Morgan’s father, Charles “Chuck” Morgan Jr. “The restaurant is basically named for that photograph,” younger PACHECO Morgan said. “That’s ‘Chuck’s fish.’ That’s about his only fish, but it was a good one.” Morgan Jr., wasn’t much of a fisherman. “I don’t like humorous names for a restaurant, so we thought about it and decided, ‘My daddy was a part of this town and a part of this state; we will name it after my dad,’” younger Morgan said. Chuck Morgan Jr. was better known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement. The day after four young black girls were killed during the 16th Avenue Baptist Church bombing on Sept. 15, 1963, elder Morgan, a white man and prominent civil rights lawyer, rallied with African Americans for equal civil rights. His speech about race and prejudice structured his life ideals. “Four little girls were killed in Birmingham yesterday,” elder Morgan told a crowd of white Alabamians in Birmingham, the town where he grew up. “We ask, ‘Who did it? Was it a Negro or a White?’ The answer should be, 508 Greensboro Ave. ‘We all did it.’ Every last one of us is condemned for that Mon.-Thurs., 5-10 p.m. crime and the bombing before it. We all did it.” Fri.-Sat., 5-11 p.m. Elder Morgan’s parents were always courteous to the “black help,” Andrew Cohen, a contributing editor at chucksfish.com The Atlantic, wrote in a 2013 article about the speech. (205) 248-9370 Born in Ohio in 1930, Morgan moved to Alabama when he was 15, and eventually graduated from the University of Alabama’s Law School. He was a civil rights attorney during the turbulence of the 1960s. After his speech in 1963, threats forced Morgan to leave Alabama. He settled in Atlanta, where he worked for the American Civil Liberties Union. Cohen said elder Morgan would be disappointed with the lack of progress made in ending institutional racism in America. People who downplay its effect point to the fact that our institutions are no longer segregated, he said. “From schools to prison, we are in many ways still as segregated as ever,” Cohen said. “We also have seen a resurfacing of racist fears about the nation’s changing demographics. Unfortunately today, it may be more subtle than it use to be.” Morgan Jr. died in 2009, but his memory and act of courage lives on in the restaurant. The atmosphere has charm along with a welcoming spirit, but can be filled with hustle and bustle. General manager Erin Barfield said the restaurant, which includes fish, chicken, pizza, pasta and sushi on its menu, has high expectations and standards, such as hand-rolling all sushi orders. “Our fish is the freshest you will get in town,” Barfield said, “because it comes straight from Harbor Docks,” a wholesale seafood market and restaurant in Destin, Florida. “Literally, the fish we serve today was swimming in the Gulf yesterday.” The sushi has been the biggest change to the originl Harbor Dock’s menu, but the restaurant still offers the chef ’s features, which change twice a year, Barfield said. Through it all, Chuck Morgan Jr.’s picture still welcomes the customers at Chuck’s Fish. “He led a life on behalf of the poor and accused,” Morgan III said. “He was part of this town and this state.”
Chuck’s Fish
Photos by Layton Dudley
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downtown
BY JEREMY CONNOR
international
If you are looking for delicious international food, Tuscaloosa has a few options from which to choose. Heading away from campus on University Boulevard, you will run into a variety of countries represented on the Strip and in downtown Tuscaloosa. These restaurants offer cuisine inspired from places around the world, beyond the typical Italian-inspired restaurants, which serve pizza or more authentic Italian fare.
Surin of Thailand
Ruan Thai
Edelweiss
Tacogi
1402 University Blvd.
1407 University Blvd.
2324 Fourth St.
500 Greensboro Ave.
This Thai restaurant features noodle dishes, salads, curries and other Asian fare. The real attraction for UA students is its farfamed, “Midnight Sushi.” Midnight Sushi begins at 11 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays each week, ending at 1 a.m. On these celebrated nights, sushi prices are less expensive, so it attracts a large crowd. If you plan to go, arrive early, or expect to wait in a long line.
Ruan Thai also offers Thai cuisine, but has different deals than Surin. The “Curry Special” changes daily, for instance. Lunch specials come with tea and soup or salad. A distinct aspect to Ruan Thai is that the chef grows her own herbs and peppers, which is sure to add freshness in either lunch or dinner.
Open for breakfast and lunch, this German bakery and café has fresh-baked bread and pastries daily. With a morning coffee, customers may also enjoy a croissant, Danish muffin or a savory bacon, egg and cheese bagel. At lunch, the café offers German foods. Sandwiches, wursts and soups pair well with one of many drink options. Slices of homemade cake are available for dessert.
This Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant will make you ask, “Why not put that in a burrito?” After closing down briefly, Tacogi has recently re-opened for business for lunch and dinner. Chicken Teriyaki burritos and Korean barbecue tacos are some of the options on the small, but exciting menu. Some sides include edamame, beef gzoya and, of course, french fries.
Photo by Laura Testino
Photo by Laura Testino
Photo by Layton Dudley
Photo by Layton Dudley
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DINING Whether studying late at night, going out for dinner with friends, or just grabbing a quick lunch, pizza is a college student’s go-to meal for any occasion. Downtown Tuscaloosa is growing, with many well-established restaurants that serve pizza and more coming in the fall. Downtown currently offers Mellow Mushroom and DePalma’s Italian Café. Two more restaurants will be hand-tossed into the mix soon: Heat Restaurants and Post Office Pies of Birmingham. Here’s a look at what’s here and what’s coming for pizza lovers.
DePalma’s Italian Café 2300 University Blvd. If classic is what you want, DePalma’s gives its customers a New York style pizza with a traditional, Italian flavor. DePalma’s menu offers customizable 16or 18 inch pizzas with 27 toppings, ranging from pepperoni to broccoli. It also offers combination pizzas like the chicken pesto, the vegetarian and the DePalma’s Deluxe. All of their pizzas are made fresh to order. But, it is not a pizza joint. The restaurant also offers a full selection of Italian dishes and daily specials, including stuffed mushrooms, calzones, pastas, salads and a “Lasagna of the Day.” Photo by Layton Dudley
down town
BY CAITLIN ROBERTS AND LAURA TESTINO
Mellow Mushroom
Heat Pizza Bar
Post Office Pies
2230 University Blvd.
100 Sixth St.
1920 Sixth St.
Just down the street from DePalma’s is Tuscaloosa’s site for this national chain. James Draper, a manager at Mellow Mushroom, said the restaurant prides itself on service and baked-to-order pizzas made with fresh, local ingredients. “We like to take care of our guests,” Draper said. “We treat them the same as we would treat one of our own.” The most popular pizza is the House Special, Draper said. It has a red sauce base, mozzarella cheese, a variety of meats, black olives, Roma tomatoes, green peppers, onions and extra cheese. “We also offer white sauce based pizzas and pizzas that give a little kick,” Draper said. Mellow Mushroom builds every pizza individually and all dough is hand- tossed and baked to order, he said.
Heat Pizza Bar will be the first business to open in downtown Tuscaloosa’s Intermodal Facility behind City Hall, in either October or early November. Co-owner and co-founder, Will Fleming, is thankful for the support and assistance he has had from the City Council while leasing the space at the Intermodal Facilty, he said. “Like most Americans, we love pizza and felt like we could give our customers a high quality product, a wonderful dining experience and keep everything very affordable,” Fleming said. “That’s the main idea behind Heat Pizza Bar; speed, efficiency, affordability and service.” The restaurant will serve artisanal pizzas and salads, and is hoping to keep menu prices for each item under $10. Heat Pizza Bar will also include a bar with beer, wine and signature cocktails.
Another addition downtown will be Post Office Pies, which will open its Tuscaloosa location behind Innisfree on Sixth Street as early as September. The original Birmingham location opened in March 2014. “Tuscaloosa is a great college town,” said Caitlin Justice, the event and catering manager for Post Office Pies. “We are so excited to be down there.” Charlie Knight, a manager in the Birmingham branch, said the restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas made in house with fresh, local ingredients. Its most popular pizza is the Swine Pie, which includes red sauce, pepperoni, bacon and sausage. Among others, it also offers a white pizza, margherita pizza, and pizza with roasted chicken and a pesto sauce. Building your own pie is also an option.
TUSCALOOSA’S GAMEDAY & TRADITIONAL CLOTHIER
CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
Est. 1964
LOCKER-ROOM.BIZ • 205.752.2990 • 1218 UNIVERSITY BLVD • ON THE STRIP
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THELOCKERROOM64
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A Tas What
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DINING
F
ive hundred and sixty-three years ago, forty years before Europeans discovered America, an Italian notary and peasant woman gave birth to a son in Vinci, Italy. Despite the boy’s broad interests in both science and the arts, Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci did not live unaware of their connections. “Study the science of art,” he said. “Study the art of science. Develop your senses — especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” That philosophy informed da Vinci’s practice of engineering, astronomy, painting, sculpting, botany, geology and a dozen other professions. Five hundred years later, across the Atlantic Ocean, that same collision of art and science is inspiring another craft, itself inspiring a downtown renaissance thousands of miles from da Vinci’s home: Beer. “Imagine it’s like a coloring book,” said Jeremiah Donald, the master brewer at Band of Brothers Brewing Company. “So each brewery gets a coloring book, but you get to choose the different crayons, and ways you want to color the pictures. And no one’s going to color it the same way.” Although Jeremiah Donald is part of the newest brewery in Tuscaloosa — Band of Brothers is scheduled for an opening date coinciding with the start of football season in early September — he is no rookie to the machinery and recipe creation of craft beer. He and brother Jeremy Donald were exposed to craft beer by their grandfather, who grew up in a dry county in southern Alabama. Driving two hours to get beer didn’t make sense, so he made his own, they said. Third business partner and friend Quintin Brown recently discovered that his grandfather was also into home brewing. Now, Band of Brothers has decided to advance the home brew process to a business, adding its own twists. “The new material isn’t a thing that’s frightening,” Jeremy Donald said of the brewery’s equipment, which patrons will be able to view from their seats. “You get so familiar with the process, you know what you’re doing. If you’re brewing on a five-gallon batch or a 15-gallon batch or 300 gallons, the steps are the
same. You kind of just scale up. It’s like riding a miniature bike or riding a mountain bike. The concepts are the same.” All three collaborate and build the recipes for the beer together. As the master brewer, Jeremiah Donald fine-tunes these recipes. Band of Brothers will add a few more beers after opening, but will feature four mainstays: a saison, brown ale, sessions ale, and — “You gonna have an IPA?” asked Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox at the 6 p.m. City Council meeting on May 5, 2015, when Jeremy Donald stood before the council. He attended to have the Band of Brothers manufacturing license approved for their location at 1605 23rd Ave. After Jeremy Donald replied with “Yes we will, definitely,” Maddox had another question: “You have any with you?” Maddox’s support of the craft beer scene in Tuscaloosa is no secret kept within the walls of the City Council meetings, either. “Small businesses like our breweries add many benefits to our great city,” Maddox said in an emailed statement to Bama Life. “Along with their economic impact, they add to the overall culture of the City. I hope every business in Tuscaloosa, big or small, thrives in our community.” Since assuming office in 2005, Maddox has witnessed several changes to Alabama’s legislation regarding alcohol and, more specifically, craft beer, which have in turn sparked the changing scene in Tuscaloosa. In 2009, then-Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed the Gourmet Beer Bill, which raised the limit on alcohol by volume from 6 to 13.9 percent. This bill was supported by Free the Hops, a non-profit organization and advocacy group in Alabama that promotes bringing “the highest quality beers to Alabama,” according to their website. They work with Alabama Brewers Guild to continue passing brewer-friendly legislation. The guild also promotes a favorable market for brewers, and Band of Brothers Brewing Company, Druid City Brewing Company and Black Warrior Brewing Company — the three craft breweries in Tuscaloosa — are all members. In 2011, current Governor Robert Bentley signed the Brewery Modernization Act, allowing tap rooms
and on-site tastings in breweries, as well as the opportunity to have a brewpub on the premises; followed in 2012 by the Gourmet Bottle Bill, allowing the sale of bottled beers to increase in size from 16 ounces to 25.4 ounces (750 mL); and in 2013, Alabama became the 49th state to legalize home brewing. Tuscaloosa has also become one of 13 other cities to allow city-wide Sunday sales. Twelve other Alabama counties allow county-wide Sunday sales. “The decision by our voters to have Sunday sales has provided opportunities to attract more conferences and events, which makes a strong impact on our hospitality industry,” Maddox said. Legislation in Alabama also delineates a three-tier system, in which business owners can obtain a manufacturer, distributor or retail license. While one person may hold multiple licenses, he or she can only hold one type of license. This three-tier system deterred Chad Smith, owner of the Alcove International Tavern — one retail license — from opening his own brewery — one manufacturer license — and leading him instead to become a co-owner of Loosa Brews — a second retail license. “This coming September will be the sixth anniversary of Alcove,” Smith said. “And when I started that, it was the first really craft-beer-focused bar, or we call it tavern, in town. So over the last five years, the craft beer scene has just exploded, and Alcove has been at the forefront of that.” The Alcove has won several “bests,” including one of America’s Best College Beer Bars by Men’s Health Magazine, as well as Best Beer Selection and Best Bar for Adults by Tuscaloosa Magazine. Transitioning from a bar setting to opening Loosa with co-owner Brad Lee was a natural transition that the two often discussed while at the Alcove, Smith said. The retail location just off of University Boulevard at 412 20th Ave. opened in December of 2014, and boasts a selection of 63 beers on tap at their growler bar, 30 of which are from Alabama, including brews by Druid City and Black Warrior. Loosa has plans to add Band of Brothers to the selection. The growler bar (a growler is a 64-ounce container for beer) is distinct to retail locations, such as Loosa Brews. Currently, the sale of growlers by a brewery with a manufacturer
te of ’s Brewing The science of brewing and the art of recipe-making collide to yield craft beer. This fall, Tuscaloosa will become home to its third craft brewery in three years. BY LAURA TESTINO
Photo by Layton Dudley
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Photo by Layton Dudley
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FALL 2015
license is prohibited in Alabama. Loosa Brews resembles a coffee shop much more than a typical alcohol convenience store, a look inspired by locations in the Midwest, Carolinas and overseas, in countries like Belgium: Repurposed wood and other antiquities compose the shelving for the shop, which has seating at the front; a pipe organ and piano, both from the 19th century, sit on either ends of the bar, and can be reached after meandering through the shelves of beer from both the United States and beyond. Selections also include wine and home brews. Smith, who attended the University and obtained both an undergraduate degree in international management and a graduate degree in international marketing, has always had an interest in craft beers. He has been impressed with the number of 21-year-old students who come into Loosa knowing their craft beers, he said. “To me, that was impressive that the palate of the students is changing. When I was 21, I was always with some of the few that were drinking craftier beers that weren’t just your regular domestic lights, I guess you’d call them imports,” Smith said. “We were drinking Sammy Smiths [sic] and Newcastle and Guinness, and back then, those were the exotic beers, and now, those are all— I won’t even drink those anymore. There’s so much more flavor in these other craft beers.” To obtain craft beer in Alabama’s three-tier system, retailers use distributors, who obtain the beer from manufacturers. Smith said he pressured the
beer, and 52 percent of craft beer drinkers share that preference. Compare the numbers to the 21-34 age demographic: that’s 53 percent of beer drinkers, and 55 percent of craft beer drinkers. The report also stated that the craft beer sales as a percentage of total beer volume grew in Birmingham by 63.1 percent, the most of any city in the nation. McWhirter said that while this phenomenon may not be possible in the nearby college town of Tuscaloosa — the Tuscaloosa market is entirely dif-
Small businesses like our breweries add many benefits to our great city. Along with their economic impact, they add to the overall culture of the City.” — Mayor Walter Maddox suppliers for the beers for Alcove, and has been able to use those already established connections at Loosa Brews. Greene Beverage Company is a Tuscaloosabased distributor, and is one of seven distributors that Loosa uses. “Both of the existing brewers that have beer out right now, Druid City and Black Warrior, have done exceptionally well, and we’re very pleased with the reception they’ve gotten in Tuscaloosa and some surrounding areas, too,” said Mike McWhirter, the craft beer manager at Greene Beverage for the past two years. “So, likely, all of the other tremendous growth of the craft beer markets, those guys have kind of ridden the wave as well. And we feel confident that the guys at Band of Brothers will have a similar path.” In addition to distributing beer from the three Tuscaloosa breweries, Greene Beverage manages 20 to 25 other breweries, who at any given time have between two and a dozen different beers. These include breweries in Alabama, as well breweries from places such as North Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana. The company delivers to about 10 counties in west-central Alabama, McWhirter said. According to a report published in July by Nielsen, using data collected from June 2014 to June 2015, 45 percent of beer drinkers prefer local
ferent from Birmingham, which has more disposable income, for example — the city is making strides in its craft beer market. Places like Loosa allow customers to try beers they’re unfamiliar with without having to buy an entire six pack, he said. “Everything here is so University-of-Alabamadriven with the student population, and our business goes up pretty well during football season when we’ve got a lot of people in town,” McWhirter said. “Tuscaloosa is maybe a little behind overall as far as their appreciation for craft beer, but breweries like Black Warrior and Druid City and soon-to-be Band of Brothers are introducing the craft beer options to a lot more people, and as a result, we are seeing craft beer sales increase here.” Although all three breweries are working to sell to the same craft beer market, they collaborate and support one another, as evidenced from statements in interviews from each brewery. “There’s a saying that a rising tide floats all boats. And I believe that it’s true,” said Bo Hicks, a coowner of Druid City Brewing Company with Elliott Roberts. Hicks said he met the guys at Band of Brothers at a concert, and developed a good relationship. The founders of Druid City and Black Warrior were in a home brew club together before starting their separate breweries, Hicks said.
“There is a lot of camaraderie. It’s great to have somebody here to help,” Hicks said. “At some point, the field might get too crowded, but I think we’re a little bit before it becomes really dog-eat-dog. I think there’s room for definitely the three of us in town.” Druid City opened in November 2012, the year after the law was passed allowing tap rooms in breweries and the same year that bottling beers in 25.4 ounce bottles was legalized. As the legislation become available to categorize a craft brewery, Druid City became the first to open its doors in Tuscaloosa, at 607 14th St., with the help of Maddox. “So luckily, through the help of the mayor, Mayor Maddox, he really worked hand-in-hand with us, had a couple of meetings, helping us. We are really big fans of Mayor Maddox, and I think that he’s trying to improve Tuscaloosa and make it better,” Hicks said. “Something like the Sunday sales law, what that does, is it allows the City to make so much more revenue, not just on the fact that people can sell alcohol, but people can stay in town for a brunch, or we can attract some convention business that we might not otherwise, and that goes for us too.” Black Warrior Brewing Company followed, becoming the second craft brewery in town in November 2013, located at 2216 University Blvd., which used to be the home of Oak City Barbershop. Co-owners Joe Fuller, Jason Spikes and Eric Hull renovated the store, but left some of the brick exposed. They used wood reclaimed from a 1903 farmhouse in Alabama, and the front doors were used from a house that was destroyed in the 2011 tornado, Hull said. During the school year, about 30 to 40 percent of the people walking through the brewery’s front door are students, Hull said. The other percentages can be attributed to businesspeople, families and travelers. “That’s one of the neat things about breweries — it’s a neat tourist destination,” Hull said. “So we meet people in here every weekend from all over the United States.” The reasons for visiting are varied. “We’ve had [visitors] that have been doing crosscountry tours, they’re trying to hit breweries at every stop. We’ve got people coming here just for the University, for their kids playing soccer or something,” Hull said. While the breweries inspire visiting customers to the City, beer festivals in Tuscaloosa have brought representatives of breweries from out of town, as well
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WHAT TO KNOW CRAFT BREWING IN ALABAMA
19 0.6 breweries per capita* barrels of craft beer 39,452 produced per year 0.4 gallons per 21+ adult craft breweries
ranks 39th ranks 47th ranks 39th ranks 45th
* Per 100,000 21+ adults. Information obtained from Brewers Association as of 2014
as some new faces. Festival-goers don’t buy beer from the brewers themselves, but the owners often take the time to catch up with friends in the field. Hicks, of Druid City Brewing, hosted Suds of the South in Tuscaloosa for five years. The festival focused on Southeastern breweries and had one from somewhere else in the nation, referred to as “the sympathizer.” America on Tap was in Tuscaloosa last May, and on August 29,
all three Tuscaloosa breweries, as well as Loosa Brews, will be involved with the second annual Bacon & Brewfest. The festival includes around 20 brewers from Greene Beverage and will take place at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport. “The recent festivals we’ve had in Tuscaloosa have increased exposure and attention to the City of Tuscaloosa. Visitors to these festivals get to experience Tuscaloosa and learn about some of the great resources we offer, which I hope
leads them to come back for another visit,” Maddox said. “We want to continue to encourage our residents and visitors to experience all Tuscaloosa has to offer, and we hope that attracting new businesses and events like these encourages them to do so.” Jeremy Donald of Band of Brothers, the third brewery coming to Tuscaloosa this year, said that talking with the other breweries has helped their own business get going. The brewery hopes to eventually collaborate with other businesses in the area for dinners, where a craft beer will be paired with the meal, rather than the traditional wine pairing. “The great thing about beer is that people are a little bit relaxed about it,” Donald said of his experience with obtaining his license from the City Council. “And I think that everybody knows — I think that they’ve seen it with Druid City and with Black Warrior — that to bring this type of business to Tuscaloosa and to be able to make a good product takes a lot of hard work.” Like Druid City and Black Warrior, Band of Brothers has put in more than a year of planning and labor into their brand and location. “It takes a lot to go out there that far and to believe in what you do,” Donald said. “And I think that’s one thing that’s consistent with all the breweries. No matter what, they believe in what they do; they believe in the product they produce. And that’s what you have to do.”
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