Wade on Birmingham

Archive for 'B’ham'

Sidewalk 2006: Who’s responsible

Monday, September 18th, 2006

guide dog

One of the treats of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival is the shorts block. Perfect for stunted attention spans. Wide variety for those unsure of what to see.

They pack a punch in a tiny time period.

Those looking for a block spanning the globe should check out Shorts Block No. 3 — loosely themed around responsibility — with nary a clunker in the bunch.

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Simply Amazing: Chinese takeouts

Sunday, September 17th, 2006

And they’re off! Twelve teams, including single moms Karlyn Harris and Lyn Turk of Birmingham, took off for China in tonight’s supersize premiere of “The Amazing Race.”

The CBS reality competition snuck in at least a couple of surprises, as the pairs ate, ran, climbed, flew and tiled their way through Beijing. Did the Alabama gang speed ahead or hit the wall?

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Sidewalk 2006: More human than human

Sunday, September 17th, 2006

puzzlehead

“Puzzlehead” isn’t much of a puzzle. This sci-fi drama focuses on an unusual triangle of lonely (but horny) scientist, his robot creation and the shy, forlorn shopgirl across the way.

The beautifully shot 81-minute feature attempts to probe whether man or machine (or both) are capable of love, cruelty and growth. But its distant tone saps it of humanity.

The film screens as part of this weekend’s Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

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Travel safe

Saturday, September 16th, 2006

lyn and karlyn

Ten reasons to watch “The Amazing Race,” which returns Sunday for its 10th edition …

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Wednesday Night Lights: All in

Thursday, September 14th, 2006

Hell week is here.

After their national championship hopes were dashed after losing to Tuscaloosa County, the Hoover Bucs are in for some three-or-four-a-days and some black-and-blue-a-days.

It’s back to basics on “Two-a-Days” as the guys dig in.
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Give back, give hope

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

A public service announcement: Gimme five. Five minutes of your time.

One of my favorite organizations is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham. The volunteers and staff there work hard to see that each child in the Birmingham area who needs a friend has a friend. But it hardly seems like work when children succeed and thrive, when otherwise they may have been cast aside.

I’ve spent three years serving on the Young Advisory Board. Our meeting today reminded me that we need people like you to lend a hand.

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Wednesday Night Lights: Tuscalosers

Saturday, September 9th, 2006

It’s not just a 27-game winning streak on the line. For the Hoover Bucs, hopes and dreams of playing in college are resting on their young shoulders.

This week’s “Two-a-Days” is a battle of the ages … until next week’s battle of the ages.
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An Artwalk to remember

Friday, September 8th, 2006

More than 100 artists will have works on display across the City Center at Artwalk 2006, taking place tonight and Saturday.

Details and treasure map after the jump.

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Wednesday Night Lights: Breaking up is hard to do

Thursday, August 31st, 2006

Beat hated rival Spain Park? Easy. Broker peace between split celebrity couple Alex and Kristin? Awkward.

In the land of “Two-a-Days,” the only thing that can stop the Hoover Bucs is … juicy breakup gossip.
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The upside of Katrina

Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

Hurricane Katrina caused more than $80 billion in damage and killed nearly 2,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of refugees swarmed the surrounding states, many never to return home.

While Mississippi and Louisiana suffered tremendous losses, Alabama was spared the worst of the destruction.

Is it possible that this Category 5 hurricane had an upside for the state?

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Wednesday Night Lights: Kickoff

Saturday, August 26th, 2006

The hourlong premiere of “Two-a-Days” introduced a ragtag squad playing its heart out to prove itself on the field and off in a game that makes boys into men.

Unfortunately, that ragtag squad was crushed 50-29 by the show’s stars, the Hoover Bucs. The new teen reality series followed several players as they prepared for their biggest game ever, a season opener on ESPN, the first high school game televised by the cable channel.

But on MTV, endless drills and cussing coaches aren’t enough. You need pizzazz, you need oomph. You need … pimply melodrama.

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The Magic Citation

Monday, August 21st, 2006

Birmingham is known by many names. The Magic City. Pittsburgh of the South. Football Capital of the South. Bombingham. The ’Ham.

While the hand-wringing continues over the city’s image, we welcome thousands of “American Idol” hopefuls to a place they’ve heard about since Ruben Studdard put three defining digits on the map: 2-0-5.

So why can’t we get “Birmingham” out there in our other most visible institutions?

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Taylor Hicks: An Idol preview

Tuesday, August 8th, 2006

hicks-workplay.jpgWhat can the Soul Patrol expect tonight at the American Idols concert? Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks is back with nine “also-rans” (provided Katharine McPhee doesn’t bug out, again) to perform before a sold-out show at the BJCC Arena.

If you missed out on tickets, or just want to see what you’re getting for your $36.50 to $66.50, we have a sneak peek …

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Music Television and the Magic City

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006

When MTV hit the air 25 years ago today, the brash young network would change the world. Eventually.

alan hunter

On Aug. 1, 1981, you couldn’t even watch it in New York, its corporate headquarters, because the city couldn’t watch the yet-to-be-picked-up-there cable network. Hard to imagine.

Nowadays, its stamp is everywhere, from fast-cut musically driven movie sequences (and entire movies) to reality television to the relentless pursuit of free-spending teenagers.

Birmingham native Alan Hunter was there at the birth of Music Television, one of five VJs who introduced videos (a promotional tool and an emerging artform), interviewed bands and became the early face of the network. He has gone on to promote the film industry in Birmingham, opened WorkPlay with brothers Blake, Hugh and Randy, founded Hunter Films with brother Hugh and co-founded activist organization Catalyst.

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Top five scorching sites

Friday, July 28th, 2006

hottest sites

Baby, it’s hot outside. A sizzling summer is the perfect excuse to stay inside and away from the fickle fusion-powered reactor I call the sun.

While you’re cozy in your air-conditioned sanctuary, check out these five Birmingham Web sites that will change how you look at the city, its culture and its future.

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