Looking for food and sightseeing in Birmingham, AL for an upcoming weekend trip?

beach dessert table image

xylem

Where to eat, what to do, places to have fun in and around Birmingham, AL on an upcoming weekend trip? I can find all the highly publicized places in guidebooks; I'm looking for a few insider's tips, sights and restaurants. Thanks!

Answer
Here are the newest user reviews about locations in Alabama. To read even more reviews, search for a specific city, hotel or attraction at the top of the left column on this page.
Orange Beach: Calypso Joe's: "Joe's was so-so"
Jul 22, 2007 BananaSouth, South
The atmosphere was really neat. The food was pretty good. The only problem was the service. We expected to wait for a table, that was alright. However, once we were seated, we didn't see a waitress for 15 minutes. We were pretty much forgotten about! The alcoholic drinks were $7 each. Our meals were $20 each. The whole tab came...


Huntsville: Best Western Rocket City Inn & Suites: "Overcharged"
Jul 22, 2007 suzyq6315, Florida
I was charged an additional $545.72. They charged me for another room. They did credit my card, but as you know these things do not show up for days and because of this my account was overdrawn and I had to sleep in my car for 3 nights and was unable to get to work until my boss put money...




Mobile: Cuisine of India: "Favorite Indian Restaurant in Florida Panhandle"
Jul 22, 2007 PensacolaRider, Pensacola
Modest little Indian restaurant in shopping center; minimial atmosphere, place could be cleaner, but very tasty Indian cuisine. We routinely travel 50+ miles from Pensacola to enjoy Sunday lunch here. Buffet for two, with nan, dessert and chai tea for about $20, excluding tip - it's well worth the trip. Food even better with recent new cook.


Birmingham: TownePlace Suites Birmingham Homewood: "Worst service ever!!!!!!"
Jul 22, 2007 rboz82, rboz82
Picture on Website is not fitting of this establishment. As soon as I walked in to the loobby to check-in I was unimpressed. The table and the floor were dirty, nobody was at the front desk to check me in( I waited 10 mins b4 anyone came) and there were no rooms ready(which wasnt a problem because I was early)....


Orange Beach: Tacky Jack's Tavern & Grill: "tacky jacks"
Jul 22, 2007 BigEdBirmingham, Birmingham,Alabama
Tacky Jacks is tacky,what else would you expect.But the breakfast is great and I've always had good,friendly service.The farmers omelet and a bloody mary are a great start to the day.


Gulf Shores: "family vacation"
Jul 22, 2007 GeorgiaNanabug, georgia
just got back from GS yesterday,had a very good time. we stayed at crystal shores west, very nice condo, very clean but had a very small pool much too small for a condo of this size.the beach was verry clean. the food was not as good as we usually have on vacation. please do not eat at shrimp basket it...


Orange Beach: Perdido Beach Resort: "Nice Stay"
Jul 22, 2007 brit_travel_fan, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I attended a conference at the PBR last week (the 10th time I've stayed at the hotel in the past 15 years). The staff was friendly, as always. The food was generally outstanding, both at the catered conference events and in the cafes and Voyagers restaurant, and the prices weren't bad, especially for a beachside resort ($7 for a huge...


Decatur: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Decatur: "Good Hotel"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Stayed here two separate nights last week, I just walked in and they had a room, and even gave me a gift bag for being a priority club member the first night.I was surprised at how clean the rooms were, good water pressure in the shower and I received my wake up call on time, and they had a...


Huntsville: Hampton Inn Huntsville: "ood hotel good rates"
Jul 21, 2007 Andrew73, Tennessee
Me and a co-worker just walked in on a Sat night, 21:30 covered in coal dust from working on the RR all day and they had rooms for us. And it was only 80 per room. They

Thinking about going on a cruise for the first time. What are the best and worst parts of the experience?

Philip G

Also, which Cruise Line would you recommend? And why.

Answer
I have been on 2 cruises both with Carnival. I went of Carnival Valor and Carnival Glory...I absolutely love cruising, it is so interesting to go to new and exciting places. The worst part is probably having to participate in the life boat drill before you leave, but it is not that bad (safety first right) but then once that is over get ready for a week (or how ever long your cruise is) of FUN! The best parts are the destinations, the food, drinks, clubs, shows, everything pretty much! On Carnival you sit at the same dinner table each night at a specified time which you choose while booking, and you have a the same waiter and assistant each night, so you get to know them. The food at dinner is delcious and you can order whatever and how ever much you want, plus the desserts are really good. Each night during dinner the waiters, sing and dance and the cruisers can sing and dance along, it is a lot of fun.

I have been to the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas (once there we took a water taxi over to the near by island of St. John and then went to the beach at Trunk Bay (it is the most gorgoeus beach you could ever image like from a post card, here is a link to a picture of it http://dustincwillis.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/st-john-trunk-bay-usvi-national-park-hz.jpg ) so if you decide to go on a cruise where one of your stops is St. Thomas head over to St. John and go to Trunk Bay you won't regret it....anyways on my other cruise we went to the Cayaman Island, Costa Maya, Isla Roatan, and Beleize..we swam, held, and fed giant sting rays in Cayman Islands, in Costa Maya we relaxed on the beach alll day, on Isla Roatan (off the coast of Honduras) we went zip lining in the jungle (the funniest thing I have EVER done in my life, it was amazing) and in Beleize we went cave tubing...we did all this great stuff because my aunt is a travel agent and set up all this before we went so when we got to each port we had a driver with our name on a sign and he took us to our activity.

Sorry that was really long, but I wanted to tell you what I have done, you should defiantly go on a cruise, you will have memories that will last forever and you meet great people!!

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How can I make a wedding elopement picnic for two on the beach unique?

beach dessert table image

Autumn

Think how a caterer sets up food for a perfect display but picnic style. Any ideas about the perfect setup to make it more comfortable. I love seafood and its on the beach but want something unique. Its for a 10/10/10 beach elopement.

Answer
For two...right?

I would bring a body board to use for the table and a nice beach towel for a tablecloth. I would have food with dips and have the dip in a small bowl in the center of the plate with the food to be dipped all around the plate.
1. a meat platter..I would have shrimp coctail, crab legs and salmon cakes with a seafood dip in the center. Maybe a few slices of rye party bread. Garnish with bunches of chives.
2. a vegetable platter...I would have carrots, radishes, cucumbers and avocado with a ranch type dip in the center. Maybe a few deli crackers. Garnish with parsley.
3. a dessert platter...I would have grapes, strawberries, melon balls and pineapple chunks with a nice fruit dip in the center. Maybe a few wafer type cookies. Garnish with Mint leaves.
4. Wine coolers to drink. You can do the champagne later.

This is a recipe I have for a fresh fruit dip...it is excellent!
FRESH FRUIT DIP OR DRESSING
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp enriched flour
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 TBS lemon juice
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Combine sugar, flour and egg yolk. Add fruit juice.
Cook in double boiler till thick. Cool. Fold in whipped cream.

What are some good ideas for a sweet sixteen party during the summer for a budget?

sarahim91

My birthday is in October but PSAT tests are during my birthday. My parents and I decided to have my sweet sixteen during the summer. We are on a tight budget because we moved to Texas from Alaska last July. What are some good ideas for [here's the description of kids that are coming]: band nerds, some jocks, theatre kings and queens, emos, and nerdy Asians. I was thinking maybe a beach or Hawaiian theme, but I want some MORE ideas! Please help! Email me if you have any ideas!

Answer
Have something in your backyard or apartment, or at a park with picnic tables. If you have it in your backyard, do a simple chicken or hamburger barbecue with all the fixings. If in an apartment, you can order out or make barbecue chicken. If in a park, make the stuff at home and bring it out with your car. Bring music that you like or a couple/three movies to spend with your friends. Even on a tight budget, having hamburgers/hotdogs will fill everyone up. Make potato salad with some kind of fruity dessert. Don't forget green salad for the vegans. The main thing is: getting together with people who enjoy each other and will just have fun. Make it worth their while. Be on a budget, but do spend on the food.

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What are fun date ideas in Southern California for a couple in their 20's?

beach dessert table image

soul patro

I've lived here so long sometimes I forget how much there is to do around here. Anything from San Diego to LA works. Or, just any date ideas for dates in general (besides dinner and a movie). I'll take any ideas - fun, romantic, creative, wild, cheap, expensive, whatever.

Answer
I lived inRedondo Beach and Torrance until two years ago, and often on a tight budget, so my ideas will tend toward the lower cost option for that area. Summer is a good time because there are free concerts at lunch time over by the community center in Torrance (next to the Plunge). It's open air, and sometime people get up and start dancing. There's food available at reasonable cost. There are also free concerts at some of the local colleges. Just google it. There's also Shakespeare in the Park in San Pedro during the summer. It's free and you can take a picnic dinner There are free concerts in Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach. You can sit on the grass or bring your beach chairs and enjoy a picnic. Then go for a walk or dessert on the pier.There's also the Hollywood Bowl, a fun outdoor venue which is perfect for picnics. You can also visit Chinatown. You can visit the missions from the early days in California. Many of them are well preserved, and in some areas, there are several close together.Of course you can go for big ticket concerts, plays and theatre in Los Angeles. Just check the Friday papers for the upcoming events. There are also concerts in South Bay Pavillion Mall in the food court in the evenings. I'm sure you can verify times and dates on the internet for all the above. If you don't mind a little drive, Long Beach has lots of fun. You can visit the Queen Mary, the Aquarium, take a dinner and show cruise in the evening, walk or cycle along the waterfront down in that same area. If you like gardens, there is the Botanical Gardens in Rolling Hills and another beautiful one in Santa Monica. San Pedro offers the shops along the water and some real good dining from eat-with-your-fingers around a picnic table to nice restaurants. If you like history, you can tour some old ships in the harbor area, including one victory ship, the SS Lane Victory and also a museum showing the history of ships. Along the beach in San Pedro there are some protected areas/tidepools that make for lovely exploring and beach hiking. There is also the Cabrillo Aquarium and Museum to explore. And the walk at the base of the cliffs is nice. Downtown Long Beach has been revitalized in recent years and offers some fine theater/music venues.If you like boats, you can take a tour out of Long Beach or Redondo Beach. Some are as short as 45 minutes, others longer. You can take an all-day fishing package out of Redondo if you're into that. There's often beach volleyball in Redondo Beach north of Knob Hill, and you can join that. Or if you prefer to watch, there are often tournaments in Hermosa Beach. You can take an early morning or early evening bike ride along the strand all the way into Marina Del Rey, stop for dinner and ride back or have someone pick you up. A stroll along the beach in Redondo was always one of my favorite. You can seranade your sweetie from the top of one of the unoccupied (only at night) lifeguard stands. There's a great hiking path through Palos Verdes but I can't think of the name. I'm sure you can find it on the internet. Host a block party if you live in a good neighborhood and have everyone heat up their grills. If you live in an apartment, have a patio dinner with some neighbors or another couple you like.Or host a theme dinner, or grab a picnic table in the park, invite some friends, have everyone bring something, and play some volleyball. You can visit Alvera Street (little Mexico) in downtown Los Angeles and/or the museums. If you like to shop, go into the downtown of Pasadena and shop to your heart's content at all the little shops there, have a meal, and then drive around the older neighborhood and admire the architechture. While you're there, visit the Huntington Library and the botanical gardens.Host a game night at your place and invite other couples or some singles who might enjoy meeting each other. You can learn a lot about each other playing games together! There are various street fairs throughout the summer where you can just look or do your shopping for Christmas/birthdays, etc. Check out the Rennaisance Fair if it's still going. Go to the circus. Well, that's about all I can think of right now. Hope this gives you some good ideas. Check the internet, check the various city cites for a list of things to do and see, check the Friday and weekend newspapers for lists of upcoming things to do. Have fun and keep safe.

Not to be cheap but does anyone know of inexpensive ways of entertainment for a wedding?

theedge

Like food items (without everyone thinking you are just a cheap jerk) or music. Does anyone have any creative ideas for entertainment for a wedding other than traditional things. This would be a traditional church wedding but I would like the reception to be happy and fun and with a little creativity but I don't have the biggest budget in the world. Maybe 150 guests. Taking place in the US most likely LA area in California. Thank you very much for your help!!!!

Answer
I did a theme wedding, also did research in college did a paper on it. I did a Renaissance theme and had all foods eaten by hand-no forks like Medieval Times, and put this on the invitations so people knew ahead of time, made out a menu, the only thing I ordered out (source) was the bread. I had all wooden bowls and fruit, bread baskets, and cooked hens. set the table up like a Kings feast! I used the Christmas beads (wrap around the tree) and placed them in wooden boxes (dollar general stores) and gathered tons of pennies and placed them like offerings all around the table. I hired a DJ to play Celtic music during dinner than dance music after that ($350.00 for DJ) the hens I cooked myself but placed them in foil pans wrapped in foil, made 3 days ahead, froze, then took out the day of the wedding, kept them hot on the grill and served them as needed. I hired two teenagers, a boy and a girl, bought their costumes, she was a wench served around to where people sat, and the boy was dressed as a jester, he rode a unicycle and juggled for entertainment. The desserts were made in eatable cups and placed on trays, again -no silver ware- they didn't have it in the 14 century! so I got off cheap-cheap- and everyone thought it was so neat! Our parting gifts were things I got at the dollar store and made copies of our picture together and placed inside and wrapped in ribbons from the craft store, again less than wedding parting gifts and it was personalized and done by the bride. we have a pool, so I used Styrofoam and placed candles on them, wrapped plastic ivy around them, tied fishing line and sinker, to keep them in place and turn off the pump, so water wasn't circulating. used tree lights to make a dance floor hopping/happening on pool deck, and tiki torches all over for lighting, candles on all the tables, along with disposable cameras (buy on line) comes with a tent saying please take photos for the couple, and etc.. and leave on tables. I bought cloths from Walmarts to cover all the patio tables and chairs, really had the atmosphere going, tents set up for the food to be placed in,served beer in a keg disguised as Honey mead, and served wine out of pitchers bought at Walmarts, looked aged, and lots of plants, that I could keep after the wedding. I may have left something out-you can always email me for more details, another option is a luau reception, very popular near the beaches, and do a Hawaiian theme! It is so much fun doing it yourself, I am so glad I didn't hire anyone, I was creative and got all the credit! The newspaper wanted to do an article on it, it was pretty amazing and I spent less than 800.00, that was my budget to work with! Congratulations BTW! Tash

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How can I make a wedding elopement picnic for two on the beach unique?

beach dessert table image

Autumn

Think how a caterer sets up food for a perfect display but picnic style. Any ideas about the perfect setup to make it more comfortable. I love seafood and its on the beach but want something unique. Its for a 10/10/10 beach elopement.

Answer
For two...right?

I would bring a body board to use for the table and a nice beach towel for a tablecloth. I would have food with dips and have the dip in a small bowl in the center of the plate with the food to be dipped all around the plate.
1. a meat platter..I would have shrimp coctail, crab legs and salmon cakes with a seafood dip in the center. Maybe a few slices of rye party bread. Garnish with bunches of chives.
2. a vegetable platter...I would have carrots, radishes, cucumbers and avocado with a ranch type dip in the center. Maybe a few deli crackers. Garnish with parsley.
3. a dessert platter...I would have grapes, strawberries, melon balls and pineapple chunks with a nice fruit dip in the center. Maybe a few wafer type cookies. Garnish with Mint leaves.
4. Wine coolers to drink. You can do the champagne later.

This is a recipe I have for a fresh fruit dip...it is excellent!
FRESH FRUIT DIP OR DRESSING
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp enriched flour
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 TBS lemon juice
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Combine sugar, flour and egg yolk. Add fruit juice.
Cook in double boiler till thick. Cool. Fold in whipped cream.

What are some good ideas for a sweet sixteen party during the summer for a budget?

sarahim91

My birthday is in October but PSAT tests are during my birthday. My parents and I decided to have my sweet sixteen during the summer. We are on a tight budget because we moved to Texas from Alaska last July. What are some good ideas for [here's the description of kids that are coming]: band nerds, some jocks, theatre kings and queens, emos, and nerdy Asians. I was thinking maybe a beach or Hawaiian theme, but I want some MORE ideas! Please help! Email me if you have any ideas!

Answer
Have something in your backyard or apartment, or at a park with picnic tables. If you have it in your backyard, do a simple chicken or hamburger barbecue with all the fixings. If in an apartment, you can order out or make barbecue chicken. If in a park, make the stuff at home and bring it out with your car. Bring music that you like or a couple/three movies to spend with your friends. Even on a tight budget, having hamburgers/hotdogs will fill everyone up. Make potato salad with some kind of fruity dessert. Don't forget green salad for the vegans. The main thing is: getting together with people who enjoy each other and will just have fun. Make it worth their while. Be on a budget, but do spend on the food.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers