A look at Birmingham in videos …

Promo for the Alabama Policy Institute’s annual dinner in October at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex downtown, featuring Justice Don Willett of the Texas Supreme Court. From Alabama Policy Institute.

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Opal Lee, a 90-year-old civil rights activist, marches through Birmingham in October from Ft. Worth to Washington to make Juneteenth a federal holiday (our vertical video of the week). From Brenda Ward.

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Time-lapse footage from Homewood, with Vulcan in the distance. From Saltymoss.

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The 2016 college basketball tip-off party in November at Iron City on Southside. From Knight Eady.

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Birmingham hip-hop artist Walter Duke performs at the Alabama Music Awards in July at the Carver Theatre downtown. From OTTV25.

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From November, the state of Black Lives Matter Birmingham. From Black Lives Matter Birmingham.

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Daxko’s team volunteers in October at YMCA Camp Cosby on Logan Martin Lake as part of Daxko Impact Day. From Daxko.

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A look at the Pizitz building downtown undergoing a $70 million renovation. From Alabama NewsCenter.

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A trip to the Birmingham Zoo (our other vertical video of the week). From Blue Streak Blonde.

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Nashville rock band the Acorn People performs in November at the Nick on Southside. From Jay Dexter.

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“Waiting. For Katie,” a song inspired by waiting for drummer Katie outside WorkPlay in Lakeview. From G. Love and Special Sauce.

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Tom Tompkins on prophetic leadership at Charis Bible College in Glen Iris. From Tom Tompkins.

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ThyssenKrupp Impulse hydraulic elevator at Vulcan Park and Museum. From DieselDucy.

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Blue Cadillac. From the Whip Paparazzi.

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Checking out the American Girl section at Toys “R” Us. From Tevin the Toy Guy.

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Mexican Grupera band Grupo Bronco performs at El Mega Sol nightclub on Valley Avenue. From Carlitos Monterosa.

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A look at Woodlawn. From Lords of Sapelo.

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Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down performs “Here Without You” in September at BJCC Concert Hall downtown. From Michael Doyle.

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Lightning on I-20 (our other other vertical video of the week). From Brian Dominguez.

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Talking with Brett Byars, a salesperson at Limbaugh Toyota in the Ensley Highlands neighborhood. From Brett Byars.

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Drone footage of Marc Steel Mill in North Titusville. From Southern Sky Pix.

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An August Sunday morning in Irondale, catching seven trains. From Carson Bean.

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Promo for “Cryin’ by Tonight” by Birmingham rock band Riverbend. From Jack Serra.

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A 45 for “Jungle Rock (Part 2)” by the Champels, recorded at Boutwell Recording Studios. From Dick Blackburn.

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The 11th annual My Favorite Poem event in September at the Alabama School of Fine Arts downtown. From AWC.

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In town for a funeral. From Valerie Granville TV.

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Celebrating the Hindu festival Durga Puja by singing “Ki Gabo Ami Ki Shonabo.” From Ayondeep Datta.

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British metal band Carcass performs “Carnal Forge” and “No Love Lost” in November at Iron City on Southside. From Official B and B Records.

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Around the city. From Erik Halley.

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A member of Alpharetta (Ga.) First United Methodist Church describes his student mission in Birmingham over the summer. From Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

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Promo for the 2017 Super Summer Alabama seminary camp in July at Samford University. From Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

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The Singletarys of Crestwood North talk about their concerns over air quality. From Gasp.

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A tour of the Freedom, built by Alabama Tiny Homes in Mt. Olive. From Tiny House Listings.

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Kiss performs in 1996 at the BJCC Arena downtown. From SpacemanaceLive.

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Performances by Kamplife, Mz Fame, J. Missy, Joejizzle, Killa a k a Ginger Laflare, Yung Dolo and more. From Hip-Hop B’ham.

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Visiting drought-stricken Lake Purdy in mid-November. From the Weekend Hiker.

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Highlights from the 2016 Joint Leadership Development Conference in October at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. From Alabama Career and Technical Student Organizations.

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Watching a train in Trussville. From Carson Bean.

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Drone footage of Railroad Park in the fall. From Guzziknight.

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A look at the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program. From Victoria Fetner.

• • •

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A look at Birmingham in videos …

Bengali news channel 24 Ghanta visits the Khadi stall to visit with musician Surojit Chatterjee of the band Bhoomi at July’s Bangamela at Shades Valley High School in Irondale. From Sayantan Das Adhikari.

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The return (our vertical video of the week). From Nikko Jackson.

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A report from 24 Ghanta on the Birmingham Museum of Art. From 24 Ghanta.

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Ripcord Bamaboy A-Day Party featuring DJ New Era and Firehouse at Club M in Graymont. From Gregory Charles.

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Promotional video for Weather Guard Metal Roofing in Irondale. From WGRoofs.

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Laura Huckabee-Jennings, CEO of Huntsville consulting firm Transcend, gives the opening keynote at May’s PowHERful Summit at the Sheraton Birmingham downtown. From Transcend.

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Hanging out with the grandparents. From Dallas Georgia.

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Highlight reel from the 2009 National Speech and Debate Awards in Birmingham. From Aftermontana.

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The Pants Store’s 2016 Summer Lifestyle Lookbook, shot on Lake Martin. From Pants Store.

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Career Concept’s Marlene Wallace works with Frankly Speaking Communications’ Donna Francavilla for media training. From Donna Francavilla.

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Jordan Whisenhunt of Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham in Hoover on Independence Day. From Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham.

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Trains from the first half of 2016. From the Suited Cat Productions.

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Saint Louis Theatre on Ice performs at the 9th annual Theatre on Ice National Competition in June at the Pelham Ice Arena. From Nick Neuberger.

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Auburn country singer Charlie Muncaster performs in October at WorkPlay in Lakeview. From Jerry W. Henry.

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Chuck E. Cheese performs “Nothing Like a Walk” at the Inverness restaurant. From Bigmyke0913.

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Busking on Southside. From Gibril Davies.

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Randy and Anna visit the Tip Top Grill in the Bluff Park neighborhood of Hoover. From Randy and Anna.

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Parker Briggs batting at July’s Top 96 baseball clinic at Birmingham-Southern (our other vertical video of the week). From Michael Briggs.

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Outside the Red Mountain water works tunnel. From MrTropics64.

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Watching the train go by. From CSXQ614.

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Highlights from Aviate hat company’s 1-year anniversary party in June at Saturn in Avondale. From Crooked Tree Productions.

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Reporter Lauren Walsh makes a new friend while waiting to report live from a housing community in July. From ABC-33/40.

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Compilation of videos, including driving through downtown. From Alabama Pickers.

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Highlights from the 2016 Barry-Guyton family reunion in July. From Oscar Guyton.

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Driving south on I-65. From FlightStayScanner.com.

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Missouri rock band Shaman’s Harvest performs “In Chains” in June at Iron City on Southside. From Tara Thompson.

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Promo for August fund-raiser Vino and Van Gogh for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham. From UCP Birmingham.

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Chaos at a crime scene in 1997. From Matthew Cipolla.

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A look at Cars and Coffee at Hoover Tactical Firearms. From Hobie’s Concepts.

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Music video for “Double Up” by Tuscaloosa rapper Bama Loc, filmed in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. From Boss Level Entertainment.

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A meeting at Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ Restaurant in Five Points South (our other other vertical video of the week). From Fredred Jones.

• • •

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The following is an excerpt from Birmingham caterer Kathy G. Mezrano’s “Food, Fun and Fabulous.” Kathy G. and Company has been a city fixture for more than 20 years. Mezrano draws on her Lebanese heritage and Southern roots for her first cookbook, which features recipes and ideas for many party themes. 

In this excerpt, she shares her dishes based on fresh produce from farmers’ markets.

• • •

Chapter 6: Farmer’s Table

The farm-to-table movement basically refers to food that is ultra-fresh. Produce is harvested at the perfect moment — as opposed to picked early and then left to ripen in a box while it gets shipped from who knows where — and other products are sourced just as fresh as can be. This concept is near and dear to my heart. I have a special appreciation for local fresh produce, because my dad had a wholesale produce business for 50 years.

When I was growing up, we always had the freshest produce in season. We were doing farm-to-table long before it was chic. But I’m glad it’s popular now, because what better way to get excited about creating and sharing wonderful meals than going straight to the source. When you start with fresh and delicious ingredients, the rest is a breeze.

Yellow Tomato Gazpacho

Golden tomatoes are a new twist on a refreshing summertime favorite. You can also use red or green tomatoes. Or try layering all three in a mini-pilsner for a unique presentation. The soup is thick enough that the layers will stay intact beautifully.

Yield: Six to eight 1/2-cup servings

• 12 ounces fresh ripe yellow tomatoes, cored
• 2 cups mango puree
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons champagne vinegar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, small diced
• 1⁄2 medium red onion, small diced
• 1⁄2 medium white onion, small diced
• 1⁄2 jalapeño, minced
• 1⁄2 small zucchini, small diced
• 1⁄2 small yellow squash, small diced
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• Juice of one lime

In large pot, boil enough water to cover tomatoes. Add tomatoes to boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes to blanch them. Pull them out of the pot, and immediately transfer to ice water. Once cool, peel tomatoes, and cut in half. Gently squeeze over a fine-mesh strainer sitting inside a bowl to remove the seeds. Reserve the juice.

Puree tomatoes and combine with reserved tomato juice and all other ingredients. Season to taste with lime juice and cilantro. Chill and serve.

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Okra Casserole with Tomatoes

This is one of my dad’s specialties. He and my mother both loved to cook but, of course, when he cooked, she was the prep chef! Okra is one of my favorite Southern vegetables. It’s so versatile — you can fry it, pickle it, stew it or bake it. People usually love it or hate it, there’s no meeting in the middle, and that’s just fine. If you’re a fan, this is one delicious way to enjoy it.

Yield: 8-10 servings

• 2 pounds baby okra
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 3-4 ripe tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon organic chicken base

Wash and trim okra. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent and set aside. Sauté whole baby okra in same pan, add salt and pepper. Remove okra and line it up in rows in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Spread onion and garlic mixture on top of okra. Slice tomatoes in 1⁄2-inch rounds. Arrange on top of the okra mixture. Mix teaspoon of organic chicken base (I like Better Than Bouillon brand) with 1 cup warm water. Pour over mixture, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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Corn Pudding

Corn pudding goes with everything. It’s wonderful with grilled meats, chicken or fish. I like to use a sweet corn such as Silver Queen, but bicolor corn works as well. It may be baked in a buttered casserole dish or in individual ramekins. Be sure to use a water bath when baking.

Yield: 8 servings

• 8 ears sweet corn
• 1 Vidalia onion, minced
• 1 quart half and half
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• Nutmeg, dash

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shave corn off the cob and use the back of the knife to scrape all the corn milk. Sauté onions in butter until translucent, add corn and half-and-half, and simmer until tender. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Blend in food processor or blender until smooth and kernels are no longer whole.

Whisk in eggs and pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch buttered casserole dish or ramekins and cover. Place the baking dish into a larger baking dish and add about 1 inch of water to the larger pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until set. Remove cover and bake until crust is golden.

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Farmer’s Market Pizza

Everyone loves pizza, and what a great meal for the whole family. Any combination of summer vegetables may be used. I like to add some fresh pesto and garnish with fresh basil just before serving.

Yield: 1 pie

• Pizza crust (prebaked or dough)
• Fl
our
• 3 tomatoes, variety of heirloom, Roma and globe
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup basil pesto (see below)
• 2-3 heads of sweet corn, roasted
• 8 ounces mozzarella, sliced
• 3 tablespoons basil, chopped
• Handful of arugula
• Handful torn kale
• 1⁄2 cup Parmesan
• 1⁄2 Vidallia onion, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Sprinkle flour onto baking sheet, then lay prebaked pizza crust on top, or roll out pizza dough with a rolling pin before placing on the sheet. Spread pesto over pizza crust.

Cut roasted sweet corn off the cob and spread it over pesto. Cut tomatoes into slices, laying them on top of the pesto and corn. Sprinkle salt and pepper over tomatoes. Add sliced mozzarella and kale leaves to pizza top.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Garnish with arugula and Parmesan.

Basil Pesto

• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 4 cups basil leaves
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 2 cups fresh Parmesan, grated

In food processor, process spinach, basil and garlic, and with processor running, slowly add oil. Pulse in Parmesan, and set aside. Mixture should be thick.

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Hit the Produce Stands

Wherever you are, whatever the local produce and products, you can just feel the excitement in the air when the farmers’ markets open in late spring and run through the summer. Here in Birmingham, markets pop up everywhere — in hospital lobbies, corporate parking decks, downtown parks, community developments and Pepper Place Market, which is a personal favorite.

Our farmers grow everything from heirloom tomatoes, Silver Queen corn and okra to rattlesnake beans, lady peas and Chilton County peaches. In addition to the produce, there are farm-fresh, free-range eggs, pork and beef products, Alabama’s McEwen and Sons’ organic grits and cornmeal and other great offerings.

Our local chefs strive to preserve our Southern heritage and work with farmers to support locally grown food. So, if you want farm-to-table inspiration, you have to go to the farm — or at least the fabulous markets. Make a day of it!

• • •

“Food, Fun and Fabulous” (December 2015, Inspired Intermedia)

• Website | feature in al.com | feature in Over the Mountain Journal

Kathy G. Mezrano

• Website | Facebook | Twitter @KathyGandCo | LinkedIn | Instagram

Instead of pizza,
take the team to celebrate
with lattes and scones.

• • •

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A look at Birmingham in videos, focusing on the holidays …

Santa arrives at the Ronald McDonald House on Southside for the annual Christmas party with the Junior Board and Student Leadership Council. From Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama.

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Deck the Regions Bank building. From Jeffery Foster.

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Driving through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at the Birmingham Race Course. From Michelle Naugher.

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Footmad’s annual Christmas dance on Dec. 12 at the Exceptional Foundation in Homewood. From Tom Gordon.

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Naughty and Nice performs “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” at the Voices of the South “Harmony Through the Year” concert last week at Hoover’s Spain Park High School. From Dennis R. Jones.

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Anonymous gives to the needy downtown as part of #OpSafeWinter. From Mad Anon 91.

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Christmas lights in Crestline from 2014. From Andrewsenterprisesin’s channel.

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The Birmingham Boys Choir performs “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” at the 37th annual Christmas concert earlier this month at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook. From Birmingham Boys Choir.

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Tubas perform “Deck The Halls” in the lobby of the Alys Stephens Center. From Jay Burnham.

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A time-lapse look at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland. From Matt Glasscock.

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Hula hooping with lessons at a stress relief clinic at UAB’s medical school. From Carron Bullard.

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People really love filming Shadrack’s. From Dorvman George.

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Christmas wishes from the Birmingham News. From Lee Conaway.

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The First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir performs “Carol of the Bells.” From SCP 4 MSU.

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Birmingham Dance performs a routine set to “It’s Christmas Time” by Smokey Robinson at Central Park Baptist Church in Ensley. From Birmingham Dance.

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Urban explorers pass out sleeping bags, gloves and hats to people in Atlanta and downtown Birmingham. From Decay is headed your way.

• • •

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Five parties walked in
needing tables, and a tot
just swiped the menus.

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The satisfaction
from a well-cooked gourmet meal,
but mostly fullness.

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First party agrees
to extra cheese, while second
party requests ham.

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The parties fade and
the talk shows take over once
the trophies go home.

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The couple huddled
behind the cocktail table
gnawing at hors d’oeuvres.

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A little bit of
hospitality, plus booze,
tunes, smiles and munchies.

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Along came fall to
the party, early with a
flashy ensemble.

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The hardy few stayed
behind to mix cocktails and
serenade the wind.

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She let the party
and the presents slip by for
time with friends and fam.

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The broken parties
pulled up their chairs to confide
tales of hiding out.

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