Birmingham is one of the leading success stories in the Southern renaissance taking place all over Dixie. It’s regularly featured in regional culture magazines like Southern Living and Garden and Gun for its restaurants, bars, film scene, shopping, and more. Whether it’s low brow (like Mexican-Southern crossover food with barbecue tortas at the Little Donkey) or high brow (Like James Beard award-winning Hot and Hot Fish Club) , Birmingham has a lot of quality offerings for all interests and budgets.
The city’s burgeoning film scene not only boasts the local Sidewalk Film Festival, but also film makers creating a splash around the country with flicks like Eating Alabama. It’s also a big enough town that its mainstream theaters don’t miss out on hits that don’t come to smaller cities.
When it comes to food, not only is the restaurant seen inventive and vibrant, so is the local food culture in general. Farmers markets and local food are as big a hit in Birmingham as anywhere, even more so when you consider festivals like FreshWorks that celebrate the Farm to Table movement. For those seeking a traditional grocery store experience, Birmingham has a full complement of supermarket chains from Walmart to Fresh Market, from Win Dixie to Whole Foods.
There’s plenty of shopping to do, as well, with some of the best selections in the South. Major shopping center The Summit features top brands including Saks Fifth Avenue , lululemon athletica, Belk, Williams – Sonoma, Restoration Hardware , Henig Furs, Joseph A Bank, Remon’s Men’s Clothier, Brighton, Coldwater Creek, Merrell. There are also numerous other shops and boutiques that range from the chic to the funky.
The city isn’t all modern trends, however. It’s rich in tradition and heritage as well. Birmingham has long been rich hub of African American culture. Today the Taste of Fourth Avenue Jazz Festival, Carver Theater, and Civil Rights Institute are important to documenting and celebrating the city’s history and its importance in the long march to equality. Birmingham is has also brought the world author Fannie Flag, musicians Emmylou Harris and Bo Jackson, and actress Courtney Cox.
With a low cost of living and so much to see and do, Birmingham is an ideal city to retire to. It’s stimulating, interesting, and affordable for seniors, and offers plenty of vibrant options for visits with relatives and grandchildren. Let Regency be your Birmingham home, and your community within a community!