Birmingham Trip Report!
Jan 24th, 2008, 07:10 AM
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Birmingham Trip Report!
On Friday, my sister and I threw some panties in a bag and headed for Birmingham. We'd set our sights on some food, fun, a few martinis, and the Pompeii exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. A brief trip report:
Headed east on I-20 Friday night, we decided to stop in Meridian, MS, for a bite of dinner. I'd passed through Meridian several times before, and I'd always wanted to eat at Weidmann's, a local place in old downtown. Unfortunately, it was always closed when I'd had the occasion to be in Meridian. Not this time, I am happy to say. We found the restaurant easily and began to enjoy fried calimari with cilantro aioli as our appetizer. (DIVINE.) We moved on to crabcakes and tilapia as our entrees. (OMG.) Weidmann's is upscale, but the food is amazing. I believe there's a bar above the restaurant, and they may serve more reasonably-priced fare there. (However, the bar is clearly not non-smoking, as we could see hazy drifts emanating from it. Just an FYI.) Too full for more, we trundled back into the car for the rest of the drive.
Once we arrived in Birmingham, we checked into the Highland Hotel in the Five Points area. I'd wanted to stay at Five Points because there are many restaurants and bars within walking distance. Plus, it's just a quick hop to Vulcan Park and not too far from the museum. We loved the hotel - Brazilian linens, contemporary design, flat-screen TV, and even a little martini bar off the lobby.
Once we were checked in, we headed out for a bit of a walk and some drinks. We ran into a news crew out to film "man-on-the-street" reactions to the incoming "crippling snow" (about 2 inches!), chatted a bit, and slipped into a bar for some fruity, girly martinis. Delish.
We went to bed at a fairly reasonable hour, but we awoke at 3:30 a.m. to the sounds of patrons leaving the bars below. (And we were on the EIGHTH floor. No, I'm not kidding.) Somebody must have called the police (and no, it wasn't me), because they showed up to get people to quiet down and go on home.
The next morning, we walked in a delightful shower of snow to The Original Pancake House, where we feasted on pecan waffles and peach pancakes with turkey sausage. Portion sizes were insane, and the place was PACKED. Service was speedy, and our accomplished waiter made everything look effortless. Prices were very reasonable. The coffee was goooooood, and it was made even better by the scenery outside. TV crews were back for more "man-on-the-street" footage. Yes, snow is a big deal in the south.
To scope out views of Birmingham in the snow, we tripped up to Vulcan Park, where the park director held off shutting the place down to let us explore a bit. (I kid you not. The South is a friendly place. He even gave us a little personalized info about the statue.) We gazed at the view, ambled around, and threw snowballs at each other, then got back in the car.
After that, we headed to the exhibit. It was wonderful, and sad, too. There were alot of casts of the volcano's victims on display, and some of them were kids. It was hard to see. They also showed what alot of the victims had with them when they died - coins, jewelry, silver, any portable wealth they could lay hands on. Tiny statues of the gods they thought would protect them. There were also these cool life-sized pictures of excavated streets on the walls, almost making you feel like you were there. They had put up pieces of frescoes from the homes there, with a nice audio tour that explained what you were seeing and its significance. It was a marvelous exhibit; so glad we went.
After the museum, we hit the road back to Jackson, only stopping briefly in Tuscaloosa for HUGE burritos at Chipotle's (which we don't have in the metro area). FUN!
Headed east on I-20 Friday night, we decided to stop in Meridian, MS, for a bite of dinner. I'd passed through Meridian several times before, and I'd always wanted to eat at Weidmann's, a local place in old downtown. Unfortunately, it was always closed when I'd had the occasion to be in Meridian. Not this time, I am happy to say. We found the restaurant easily and began to enjoy fried calimari with cilantro aioli as our appetizer. (DIVINE.) We moved on to crabcakes and tilapia as our entrees. (OMG.) Weidmann's is upscale, but the food is amazing. I believe there's a bar above the restaurant, and they may serve more reasonably-priced fare there. (However, the bar is clearly not non-smoking, as we could see hazy drifts emanating from it. Just an FYI.) Too full for more, we trundled back into the car for the rest of the drive.
Once we arrived in Birmingham, we checked into the Highland Hotel in the Five Points area. I'd wanted to stay at Five Points because there are many restaurants and bars within walking distance. Plus, it's just a quick hop to Vulcan Park and not too far from the museum. We loved the hotel - Brazilian linens, contemporary design, flat-screen TV, and even a little martini bar off the lobby.
Once we were checked in, we headed out for a bit of a walk and some drinks. We ran into a news crew out to film "man-on-the-street" reactions to the incoming "crippling snow" (about 2 inches!), chatted a bit, and slipped into a bar for some fruity, girly martinis. Delish.
We went to bed at a fairly reasonable hour, but we awoke at 3:30 a.m. to the sounds of patrons leaving the bars below. (And we were on the EIGHTH floor. No, I'm not kidding.) Somebody must have called the police (and no, it wasn't me), because they showed up to get people to quiet down and go on home.
The next morning, we walked in a delightful shower of snow to The Original Pancake House, where we feasted on pecan waffles and peach pancakes with turkey sausage. Portion sizes were insane, and the place was PACKED. Service was speedy, and our accomplished waiter made everything look effortless. Prices were very reasonable. The coffee was goooooood, and it was made even better by the scenery outside. TV crews were back for more "man-on-the-street" footage. Yes, snow is a big deal in the south.
To scope out views of Birmingham in the snow, we tripped up to Vulcan Park, where the park director held off shutting the place down to let us explore a bit. (I kid you not. The South is a friendly place. He even gave us a little personalized info about the statue.) We gazed at the view, ambled around, and threw snowballs at each other, then got back in the car.
After that, we headed to the exhibit. It was wonderful, and sad, too. There were alot of casts of the volcano's victims on display, and some of them were kids. It was hard to see. They also showed what alot of the victims had with them when they died - coins, jewelry, silver, any portable wealth they could lay hands on. Tiny statues of the gods they thought would protect them. There were also these cool life-sized pictures of excavated streets on the walls, almost making you feel like you were there. They had put up pieces of frescoes from the homes there, with a nice audio tour that explained what you were seeing and its significance. It was a marvelous exhibit; so glad we went.
After the museum, we hit the road back to Jackson, only stopping briefly in Tuscaloosa for HUGE burritos at Chipotle's (which we don't have in the metro area). FUN!
Jan 24th, 2008, 09:36 AM
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And here's another one from a previous weekend in Birmingham in the spring. . .
I spent the past weekend in Birmingham, doing major retail damage in honor of my 30th birthday. To clarify - I turned 30 in January, and one of my closest friends will turn 30 in May. We decided to split the difference and choose March as the month for our 30th Birthday Throwdown.
First of all, we got a room at the Birmingham Mariott. Why, you ask? Frankly, it's one of the closest hotels to The Summit, and huge shopping complex with oodles of stores that we don't have in Jackson - Saks, Swoozie's, Private Gallery, Anthropologie, the list goes on (and on and on). We spent about a day and a half combing the place, snapping up deals and splurging on to-die-for clothing and acessories. I shopped until my feet ached, until I began wandering the parking lot in a credit card-induced coma, wondering where I'd parked my car or even if I'd driven myself there at all. It was pure bliss.
And how did we fuel such shopping frenzy? We ate at The Highlands, of course. A fabulous restaurant owned by award-winning chef Frank Stitts, The Highlands can sometimes be a difficult place to get into. On previous trips to Brimingham, I'd been unable to secure a reservation. However, by calling about a month in advance, I scored us a cozy table for Friday night. We started with the frito misto, a gorgeous plate of fried assorted seafood and vegetables. Most of the items were fried in a light tempura batter, which kept the dish from being too heavy. In addition, several inventive items, such as fennel, red bell pepper and even sliced lemon, were fried as part of the mix, providing interesting little surprises throughout the dish. (The fennel was divine.) The remoulade sauce served with this dish is almost worth killing for.
I followed the appetizer with a perfectly cooked lamb loin, served on a bed of amazing and original asparagus, sugar snap, and sweet pea farro "risotto." What was even better was that there was almost EXACTLY enough of the "risotto" to have a bit accompany each bite of lamb. Attention to detail, no?
To finish, I ordered the almond dacquoise, a creamy concoction of buttercream, almonds, and cake. What a wonderful end to a wonderful meal.
Service was unsurpassed, with our friendly server providing guidance and recommendations from the menu as well as prompt attention to all of our needs. The restaurant itself is cozy and warm-feeling, although I don't advise a trip to the bathroom (located at the top of some rather steep stairs) after a few drinks.
Lest you think we did nothing more redeeming than shopping and eating, we also hiked in Oak Mountain State Park, which is very well maintained and just plain gorgeous. We tried out the Treetops Trail, where you can see all manner of birds, then took the trail the rest of the way to the Wildlife Center. One of the functions of the center is to serve as a "hospital" for injured and baby animals that have been abandoned or had their habitats destroyed. We loved looking at the baby squirrels, the teeny baby chipmunk, the little bunnies, and all of the other temporary residents. The next time I'm in Birmingham, I will definitely return. The park offers horseback riding and paddleboating as well, and we didn't even scratch the surface of the trails available.
I spent the past weekend in Birmingham, doing major retail damage in honor of my 30th birthday. To clarify - I turned 30 in January, and one of my closest friends will turn 30 in May. We decided to split the difference and choose March as the month for our 30th Birthday Throwdown.
First of all, we got a room at the Birmingham Mariott. Why, you ask? Frankly, it's one of the closest hotels to The Summit, and huge shopping complex with oodles of stores that we don't have in Jackson - Saks, Swoozie's, Private Gallery, Anthropologie, the list goes on (and on and on). We spent about a day and a half combing the place, snapping up deals and splurging on to-die-for clothing and acessories. I shopped until my feet ached, until I began wandering the parking lot in a credit card-induced coma, wondering where I'd parked my car or even if I'd driven myself there at all. It was pure bliss.
And how did we fuel such shopping frenzy? We ate at The Highlands, of course. A fabulous restaurant owned by award-winning chef Frank Stitts, The Highlands can sometimes be a difficult place to get into. On previous trips to Brimingham, I'd been unable to secure a reservation. However, by calling about a month in advance, I scored us a cozy table for Friday night. We started with the frito misto, a gorgeous plate of fried assorted seafood and vegetables. Most of the items were fried in a light tempura batter, which kept the dish from being too heavy. In addition, several inventive items, such as fennel, red bell pepper and even sliced lemon, were fried as part of the mix, providing interesting little surprises throughout the dish. (The fennel was divine.) The remoulade sauce served with this dish is almost worth killing for.
I followed the appetizer with a perfectly cooked lamb loin, served on a bed of amazing and original asparagus, sugar snap, and sweet pea farro "risotto." What was even better was that there was almost EXACTLY enough of the "risotto" to have a bit accompany each bite of lamb. Attention to detail, no?
To finish, I ordered the almond dacquoise, a creamy concoction of buttercream, almonds, and cake. What a wonderful end to a wonderful meal.
Service was unsurpassed, with our friendly server providing guidance and recommendations from the menu as well as prompt attention to all of our needs. The restaurant itself is cozy and warm-feeling, although I don't advise a trip to the bathroom (located at the top of some rather steep stairs) after a few drinks.
Lest you think we did nothing more redeeming than shopping and eating, we also hiked in Oak Mountain State Park, which is very well maintained and just plain gorgeous. We tried out the Treetops Trail, where you can see all manner of birds, then took the trail the rest of the way to the Wildlife Center. One of the functions of the center is to serve as a "hospital" for injured and baby animals that have been abandoned or had their habitats destroyed. We loved looking at the baby squirrels, the teeny baby chipmunk, the little bunnies, and all of the other temporary residents. The next time I'm in Birmingham, I will definitely return. The park offers horseback riding and paddleboating as well, and we didn't even scratch the surface of the trails available.
Jan 26th, 2008, 09:56 AM
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Birmingham gets such a bad rap. It's nice to see some postings here. I live here bradshawgirl, and I love it. I'm glad to see somebody visit and post a report.
The Original Pancake House has been there for years, and to my knowledge it is always packed. The portions sizes have not changed. They have always been huge. If they still have the omelet on the menu, try it next time you're here. It's more like a souffle. Huge, so share it with someone.
I agree Highlands Bar and Grill is fantastic. On your next trip you should try Frank's other restaurants. Bottega is my favorite. Like Highlands (with Chez Fonfon next door), Bottega has two side by side sister restaurants. "Big Bottega" as we call it is the formal restaurant. Bottega Cafe (known as "little Bottega" by the locals) is the casual restaurant and perhaps my favorite restaurant in the city. If you visit during the spring or fall it's a great place to eat outdoors.
Glad you got to see the views from Vulcan, particularly when it was snowing. If you like the outdoors, during your next trip check out Moss Rock Preserve.
Thanks for the report.
Dana
The Original Pancake House has been there for years, and to my knowledge it is always packed. The portions sizes have not changed. They have always been huge. If they still have the omelet on the menu, try it next time you're here. It's more like a souffle. Huge, so share it with someone.
I agree Highlands Bar and Grill is fantastic. On your next trip you should try Frank's other restaurants. Bottega is my favorite. Like Highlands (with Chez Fonfon next door), Bottega has two side by side sister restaurants. "Big Bottega" as we call it is the formal restaurant. Bottega Cafe (known as "little Bottega" by the locals) is the casual restaurant and perhaps my favorite restaurant in the city. If you visit during the spring or fall it's a great place to eat outdoors.
Glad you got to see the views from Vulcan, particularly when it was snowing. If you like the outdoors, during your next trip check out Moss Rock Preserve.
Thanks for the report.
Dana
Jan 29th, 2008, 04:37 PM
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I am not actually a big fan of Gulf Shores. This is not meant to be critical of Gulf Shores. I think Gulf Shores beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. However, I like the Florida beaches along 30A even better. Traveling from Birmingham it doesn't add much to my trip time to get to the Seagrove or Grayton Beach areas. The beaches are just as pretty, the restaurants are better, and there's a lot more to do.
I haven't been to Gulf Shores since before all the condos went up, but my favorite area used to be around Ft. Morgan. If you play golf, try out Peninsula, Kiva Dunes, or if you're brave, Lost Key (near Perdido). If it's still there, there is a great seafood steamer restaurant at the NE corner of the "T" when you get to the beach. Can't remember the name, but great cold beer and a bucket of steemed seafood for a reasonable price. Of course we all used to go to Florabama, but for me that was many years ago
I haven't been to Gulf Shores since before all the condos went up, but my favorite area used to be around Ft. Morgan. If you play golf, try out Peninsula, Kiva Dunes, or if you're brave, Lost Key (near Perdido). If it's still there, there is a great seafood steamer restaurant at the NE corner of the "T" when you get to the beach. Can't remember the name, but great cold beer and a bucket of steemed seafood for a reasonable price. Of course we all used to go to Florabama, but for me that was many years ago
Jan 30th, 2008, 07:41 AM
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bradshawgirl another vote for Chez FonFon, next door to Highland. They serve wonderful french bistro food and also have a boules court out back. It is a great gathering spot. You might also want to try Ocean and Hot and Hot. Not Stitt restaurants, but equally as good. Chris Hastings, the chef at Hot and Hot was one of Stitts sous chefs before he went out on his own.
Glad you had a good time. It is nice to see some positive posts about Birmingham for a change.
Glad you had a good time. It is nice to see some positive posts about Birmingham for a change.
Jan 31st, 2008, 06:01 AM
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Totally agree about Chris Hastings. I love Hot and Hot. Also Ocean.
Oak Mountain also has some nice hiking trails. If you're there in spring hike up to the waterfalls. You can also drive up and take a short walk to the falls. The rest of the year the falls are usually dry, particularly with the drought this past summer. I've never stayed in the cabins but have heard it's alot of fun.
Oak Mountain also has some nice hiking trails. If you're there in spring hike up to the waterfalls. You can also drive up and take a short walk to the falls. The rest of the year the falls are usually dry, particularly with the drought this past summer. I've never stayed in the cabins but have heard it's alot of fun.
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