A house is just a
place to keep your stuff while you
go out, get more stuff.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Mahna mahna (ba
dee bedebe). Mahna mah-
na (ba debe dee).

• • •

Read more haiku.

It is hot and clear
and blue and bright and carefree
and already here.

• • •

Read more haiku.

June 20, 2008

City Stages
1929 Third Ave. N., No. 900
Birmingham, AL 35203

Dear Guy McCullough and George McMillan:

Thank you for your hard work for the past 20 years on City Stages, including this year’s milestone festival. While your dedication and past success have kept the event going, we’ve decided to terminate your services effective immediately.

It should surprise no one that ticket sales didn’t reach stated goals and that the event will again lose money. This follows the pattern of previous years. And though you’ve publicly stated that each year would show an improvement in revenues, even with costs under control, the event bleeds money.

And while attendees and non-attendees can continue to debate the quality of the lineup or the importance of other factors (timing, weather), your track record has been one of continued debt, unresponsive leadership and increased dependence on public funds.

(more…)

Trooper pulls over
trucker. Workers squeeze extra
lane next to old ones.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Birmingham Magazine shows off the pretty, pretty people

Each June, Birmingham Magazine singles out the fairest of them all, the city’s “Beautiful People.” You can find them all in this slideshow, or on the newsstand this month.

Ogle them, rate them, rank them.

At least one blogger has already done so:

“There is hardly any criteria to being birmingham’s most beautiful person. These ppl have normal jobs for the most part, and are semi-attractive according to the pictures. So what? Why is a magazine going to set themselves up for complete criticism by putting the word beautiful on the cover and then not deliver….AT ALL!”

So, are they Birmingham’s prettiest? Or somewhat plainest?

And so, the hip young
fashionista schools the old
salt in basketball.

• • •

Read more haiku.

A tall weed springs forth
amid the elegantly
shorn blades of zoysia.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Are you going to eat that? Really? It’s a question that comes up more and more as the “slow food” / “eat local” movement gains steam. Learn more about the issues surrounding what’s on your dinner plate Saturday at Food Summit ’08, presented by Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners.

Two panels will talk about food security and area efforts to improve the supply. The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Center, 2700 Seventh Ave. N. [map]. Cost is $10, which includes breakfast and lunch. Register by e-mail at bhamfoodsecurity@gmail.com to reserve your spot for lunch, then pay by check (made out to Magic City Harvest for Food Summit ’08) at the door.

At 1 p.m., the action moves over one block to Jones Valley Urban Farm, with a free tour. At 2, the U-Pick Sunflower Celebration offers music and children’s activities. And at 6, Muse of Fire performs Shakespearean garden scenes. Suggested donation is $25, which includes wine and organic seasonal hors d’oeuvres. E-mail events@jvuf.org to reserve a spot.

Our appetite? Whetted.
• Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners site

• • •

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Cryptography pops
up in cereal boxes,
Coke bottles and PINs.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Settings ready, but
no one to use them. A life
as yet incomplete.

• • •

Read more haiku.

City Stages 2008, the historic 20th edition, has wrapped. We’ll know in a week whether or not it lost money, broke even or turned a profit to help erase its persistent debt.

Not having been since 2006, I was glad to check out the familiar sights and sounds. Not much has changed, and for those who like the feel of the downtown event, that should be of great comfort. For those who crave even modest improvement, that news is downright disheartening.

(more…)

The city gathers
to rejoice in song, made whole
by a melody.

• • •

Read more haiku.

I went back in time
to tell myself not to want
too much, grow too fast.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Still don’t know which movies you want to see yet? We can help.

Check out the updated 2008 Ultimate Summer Movie Guide, with dozens of free or cheap flicks throughout the season.

In addition, we’ve added complete lists by

• alphabetical order
• date order

so you can quickly find the right movie at the right time and place.

In addition, you can see video previews of just about every movie listed, along with links to buy or rent them, if you happen to miss them here in town.

See you at the show!