A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

‘Idol’ Capital of the South: Taylor Hicks continued Birmingham’s dominance in the world’s most popular TV show, “American Idol.” The 29-year-old city native bested Katharine McPhee to win the fifth title.

Not only did Hicks’ victory in the singing competition cement Birmingham’s reputation as an Idol factory, but helped draw newfound attention to its other attractions. The New York Times gushed about the fine cuisine in a recent story, while the Washington Post focused on the music scene in a travel feature.
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Cool Yule vid. Worst. Present. Ever.

A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

For the children, part 1: The state, along with more than 200 cities and counties, gave families a tax-free weekend for back-to-school shopping. Retailers pronounced it a success, seeing a spike in end-of-summer sales rivaling only end-of-year holiday shopping.

The sales also provided yet another electoral feather in Gov. Riley’s already crowded cap during his successful bid for re-election. Plus, extra-cheap pencils.

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A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

Less taxing: Alabama doled out tax cuts … for the poor. Rep. John Knight had proposed reform bills for years, but this year — coincidentally an election year — brought some relief. Before, the state taxed working families making as little as $4,600 annually (the only state to tax families making below $10,000). The approved bill raised the threshold to $12,500.

For 2007, Gov. Riley wants to up the minimum to $15,000, while passing tax cuts for families earning up to $100,000. Meanwhile, the state’s regressive food tax remains intact.

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A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

Locally disowned: Birmingham-based Parisian goes up for sale, as does NBC 13. Saks sold Parisian to Belk for $285 million in August. Parisian started out in 1887 as Parisian Dry Goods and Millinery Company.

NBC sold its affiliate to Media General in August as part of a four-station $600 million deal. NBC 13 is the oldest TV station in Alabama and after launching its redesigned site in January, ended up launching a new, new redesign this week which no one will ever see.

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To all of our Jewish friends out there, Happy Hanukkah!

Without Hanukkah, Chrismukkah would just be Christmas …

Thirty days hath November, with some posts to remember. All the rest are OK, too, but these are ones worth review.
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Have a great holiday! Shop, gorge, watch parades and/or football, snack and give thanks.

Shameless plug: my weeklong adventures volunteering for Hands on New Orleans. For example, meet Peggy, a native who faced losing her home and family in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Please join me as I return to explore one of my favorite cities as it struggles to keep going.

October ruled! It was busy month for Wade on Birmingham, and a memorable one at that. Let’s look at the latest harvest …
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We’ll see you at the pumpkin patch with our bag of rocks …

As part of our ongoing Vote 2006 coverage, Wade on Birmingham will offer a live blog of tonight’s gubernatorial debate between Republican incumbent Bob Riley and Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley.

So while you’re watching something more entertaining, say “Prison Break,” we’ll be bringing you the blow-by-PAC-funded-blow action. (Now if only someone would live-blog the adventures of T-Bag and company for us …)

Will Bob somehow blow a 25 percentage point lead? Will Lucy finally declare her candidacy for governor? Will T-Bag escape with the $5 million? (Sorry, still focused on “Prison Break.”)

And what questions do you have for the two candidates?

(Spoiler alert: Jeff at Politics in Alabama has already named the winner.)

Join us at 7 tonight for all the political haymaking fun. It airs live on Alabama Public Television stations statewide (WBIQ-10 in Birmingham), with reruns at 9 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday.

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Vote 2006: more coverage of Alabama’s elections

Your first words.

Your first kiss.

Your first blog.

Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Wade on Birmingham. (Had I checked the calendar more closely, I would’ve realized that sooner, and marked this momentous occasion appropriately. Instead, it’s one year plus three days.)

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Ah, September. The weather turned cooler, as did all things Birmingham. We’re happy to take one last look at the best that 30 days hath, um, hath.
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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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