going to be in Birmingham for 2 days in June. Any advise on what to see and good places to eat?

I live in Birmingham--hmmm nice place to live but not much of a tourist mecca. The Civil Rights Musuem is very impressive across from 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram park where so much history took place. Definitely walk around 5 Points South..
Best restaurants are Hot & Hot Fish Club and Highlands/Bottega--
Dreamland Bar B Q--
The Summitt for shopping type experience--very nice (Pottery Barn, etc) thought hardly anything too exciting/original..
E mail me for any specifics--
af

Thanks.That gives me a start anyway.What is and Where is "Five points South"?

5 points South is the the restaurant/bar area about 11th avenue and 20th street South--really not far from downtown---Highlands (feature article on the chef Frank Stitt in this months Southern Living magazine--everybody down here gets that publication) and all the other fancy restaurants are nearby--Dave's Pub/Surin West/and all the others mentioned--
I was showing to few other attys in office and we are kinda scratching our head for other "what to see" items---- Great book out on Birmingham now called "Carry Me Home" by Diane McWhorter (cover of New York Times book review section last Sunday) re Civil Rights Struggle--
Summitt is at Hwy 280 and I-459
We have a galleria mall deal too just off I-459 (hey this is like I said not a tourist stop)
Pete's Famous for hot dogs downtown--actually the new McWane center (Children's Museum) is great --if you have kids--
Zoo (and I live about a mile from it) is not so hot (animal torture center some have called it)--thought Botantical Gardens is nice nearby
The city itself not to sell us short is very pretty and hilly which is unlike some imagine it---drive thru villages of Mt. Brook (fancy residential area) and downtown Homewood is nice--
af

I've spent some time in Birmingham as my brother lives there. The previous poster's characterization of the zoo is pretty accurate - its okay - the botanical gardens are nicer. Mt. Brook is a very beautiful town - that's where my brother lives. We spent a good 2 hours driving around and gawking at his much wealthier neighbors. The galleria is a mall and not even a very good one but the store Parisien(sp)was fun. The Summit is nicer. The children's museum is very small but fun.

The previous posters have about summed it up---not much to do, but a nice town to live in. I'd shop at the Summit,and eat at Bottega and/or Highland's Bar and Grill. We do have a art museum, though not very good, will pass the time. Also, you may want to check what's going on at the Alabama Theatre. Cool place to go. Hope you enjoy our fair city!!

OK--one more thing--eat lunch at Nikki's West on Finley--North on I-65 to Finley avenue exit maybe 2 miles north of downtown exit on Finley and go left--at the Farmer's Market--gotta be the quintessential Southern vegetable eating experience--I beleive the food critic at USA Today named it one of 5 best meals he had in 2,000--others included "Mansion on Turtle Creek" Dallas--about 57 great veggies and kinda an experience--but yea I think we have covered Bham --
af

My brother lives in Homewood. When we visit, we like to go to a restaurant in Homewood area called Moneres' or something like that. I guess you would call it middle eastern food. You can eat outside, reasonable prices.
I haven't been in several years, but the botanical gardens were beaautiful. Like the other posters said, Birmingham isn't a tourist destination.

Hey zzz, when I visit my brother in Homewood, we drive over to Mountain Brook too and gawk at the wealthy homes. Well, my brother is too cool to go with us, but my Mom and I go with his wife for the drive.

I live about one hour from Birmingham, and visit frequently. Dittos on 5 points, and there is a great sushi place there, Sakura is the name I believe, if you like Japanese food. The gardens will be very pretty in June, with the roses going full force. The art museum will sponsor traveling exhibits pretty often, you might want to check on that. Have fun!

Try Pappas Greek rest. in Vestavia. Good food at a good price. Near the Red Lobster and Food World in Vestavia on Hwy 31.

Birmingham's my hometown, though now I only get to visit. Let's see, I'd add:

** For a true local experience, eat breakfast (esp. on Sunday) at the diner-like Bogue's on 8th Ave. S. at 32nd. The sweetrolls are mmmm.

** The Japanese Gardens across from the main part of the Botanical Gardens were always my favorite -- haven't seen anyone mention them yet, so maybe they've declined.

** The big attraction that I'm surprised no one has mentioned is Sloss Furnace. Trust me, you can't miss it. It's an old steel mill in the middle of town, now turned into a museum that you can tour. (Back in my day, it was only recently abandoned, and we kids slipped in illicitly (& dangerously) to poke around once or twice. Bad kids, bad kids.) They used to do concerts in the old Cooling Shed, too.

** Finally, the old Carver movie theatre in what was the heart of the historic Black Business District is now the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. This has been on my to-do list for some years.

Of the sights mentioned so far, I'd definitely put the Civil Rights Institute/Kelly Ingram Park/16th St. Baptist at #1, then maybe Sloss or a drive around Mt. Brook depending on your interests.

The only other thing I would add--but you are really about a year too soon--is the Barber Motorcycle collection--sounds wierd I guess but a very wealthy milk/ice cream magnate here has the largest and most valuable collection of motorcycles and some vintage racing cars in world--many were in a recent Guggenheim museum show. Reason I say too early is he is building a palace to hold them--now they are in a cramped museum but still an incredible collection and sight.
Nikki's and Bogues are good suggestions--af

Hey- nobody's mentioned the Vulcan statue! Can you still go up in the statue? Does the torch still glow? It might not be the most sophisticated tourist site, but it's fun for getting a view of the city. Don't knock Birmingham- it has Southwest Airlines service, which I'd love to see in ATL.

Vulcan (2nd largest statute in country next to Statute of Liberty) is in pieces on the ground--he was about to tumble down Red Mountain so he was pulled down while 13 million is raised to renovate and make the pedestal like it was originally in 30's and not the horrible thing it was made in 60's--about 1.3 million in federal budget for this has been widely criticized
af

I lived in Bham from 89-97 and STRONGLY recommend Alan's suggestion of lunch or dinner at Nikki's west on Finlay Blvd.If you enjoy fresh fish,FRESH being the key,It's hard to beat Nikki's.Great offering of veggies too,

Hang in there, Vulcan will be back on his pedestal, with a great new park and museum around him, in a couple of years. My daugher is working on that project team!

As another ex-native (and happens to have a great-great-grandfather as the official ghost of Sloss Furnace), I would highly recommend Golden Rule Bar-B-Que for an authentic taste of the town!

What about the Fish Market near UAB? Best(inexpensive) seafood around.

The Botanical Gardens is one of the best that I've been to if you're into that kind of thing. I've been several times.

Beth,

I have lived in Birmingham for five years and agree with earlier post that it is a great place to live.

In my opinion, the best atmosphere and seafood in Bham (we are 4 1/2 hours from beach but seafood is fresh here) is a new restaurant called Ocean. Entrees range from $18-25, with about 12-15 types of fish/shellfish that can be prepared four different ways. Try the pan seared scallops. This is a gourmet restaurant with good portions. Also, has a good bar area if you are up for drinks before dinner. In the southside area, so alot of options after dinner. Make reservations.

Earlier recommendations of Highlands/Bottega are good. Frank Stitt is a great chef, but these are a little stuffier in my opnion. Also, don't offer a large variety of seafood. Highlands has great polenta (among other things) and Bottega has a great beef tenderloin.

For lunch, try Taziki's - good greek fare on Hwy 280 in Mountain Brook Plaza.

Stay away from the Fish Market.

Things to do - (1) Summitt is nice outdoor shopping mall; (2) If you like the outdoors, Oak Mountain State Park has great running/biking/hiking trails about 20 minutes from Downtown; (3) McWane center downtown has I-max movie; (4) Civil rights museum also good.

Hope you have fun and be happy to answer any specific questions if you want to post.