BIRMINGHAM,BIRMINGHAM, ALAL LISTEN TO THE MARK YOUR TAKE A SIP PACK YOUR Fresh and fizzy LOCALS CALENDAR with cucumber bitters BAG Insider advice on What to do and where to from El Guapo Bitters Summer style essentials for where to eat, drink, shop, do it from Memorial Day in NOLA Southern ladies and gents and relax to Labor Day BIRMINGHAM, AL LISTEN TO THE LOCALS snapper, and the jerk chicken, oxtail, and curry goat are unbelievable. WE WOULDN’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT Cheri: my rattlesnake-fang HARRIS earrings, which are made by Alabama Funk art collective (alabamafunk.etsy.com). Harris: a Huckstrap AND CHERI (huckstraps.com). A local company makes these recycled-plastic belts that STEWART you can customize. It’s like a Choose Your Own Adventure OWNERS OF TRIM TAB BREWING COMPANY, @TRIMTABBREWING story for your belt. WE’D BEAR A BRAIN FREEZE FOR a bushwacker from Moe’s THE BEST PLACE TO MEET STRANGERS BBQ.. moesoriginalbbq.com IS Gips Place. It’s an all-night, BYOB, blues juke joint located FOR THE PERFECT SUMMER SUNDAY in the middle of nowhere. we go to Veranda on Highland gipsplace.org (verandaonhighland.com) for brunch (duck confit French WE ALREADY HAVE TICKETS TO toast will make your toes Magic City Brewfest (June curl)then stop by Lou’s Pub 6-7). It’s a celebration of (louspub.com) for artisan how far Alabama craft beer cocktails mixed by bartender culture has come. It’s held Angel Negrín. outdoors at the historic Sloss Furnaces, and sells out every OUR GO-TO SUMMER DRINK IS a basil year. If you’re a lover of craft smash. We get our basil from beer, this is an essential event Jones Valley Teaching Farm. for a Birmingham summer. jonesvalleyteachingfarm.org magiccitybrewfest.com OUR FAVORITE WAY TO EXPLORE THE CITY is the running routes IF WE HAD TO EAT ONE DISH IN THE that connect Birmingham’s CITY BEFORE WE DIED we’d have a neighborhoods—with rolling martini, chicken liver mousse, hills and old-growth trees, and frites from Chez Fonfon. they’re the most beautiful It’s a staple in Birmingham, we’ve ever seen. The Trak so it would be our last stop. Shak is an awesome local fonfonbham.com running store; they even provide water stations along BEST HIDDEN GEM IS Yeh Man! It’s the way. trakshak.com a small Caribbean restaurant on 4th Avenue North. If you call ahead, the owner will run to market and cook a whole CHRIS ELLENBOGEN BIRMINGHAM, AL MARK YOUR CALENDAR JUNE 11 BRUNO MARS The hit-maker will bring his tour to the Birmingham- Jefferson Convention WHAT TO DO Complex. $49.50 and up; bjcc.org & WHERE TO DO IT JUNE 11-15 FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS Regions Field. $7 and up; barons.com The Birmingham Civil Rights MAY 26-30 JUNE 5-7 Institute’s annual celebration BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. THE STEEL CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL of the ending of slavery at JUNE 13 MIKE EPPS CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS Enjoy a weekend’s worth of Kelly Ingram Park. Free; Regions Field. $7 and up; jazz performances by artists bcri.org Comedic performance at barons.com such as Ken Ford, Bobby the Birmingham-Jefferson Caldwell, and Euge Groove Convention Complex. in the sunshine at Linn Park. JUNE 8 $37.75; bjcc.org MAY 30-31 $35 and up; steelcityjazzfest.org THE 2014 VIVA HEALTH STARLIGHT TCHAIKOVSKY’S VIOLIN CONCERTO GALA: STEVE MARTIN Violinist Tai Murray performs The legendary comedian JUNE 13-15 at the University of Alabama JUNE 5-9 will show his musical side RICK & BUBBA OUTDOOR EXPO at Birmingham. $19 and up; BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. with his band, the Steep An exhibition of hunting, alabamasymphony.org JACKSON GENERALS Canyon Rangers, and Edie fishing, and the great outdoors Regions Field. $7 and up; Brickell at the Alys Stephens at the Birmingham-Jefferson JUNE 1 barons.com Performing Arts Center. Convention Complex. $10; VULCAN 110TH BIRTHDAY BASH alysstephens.org rickandbubbaoutdoorexpo.com Celebrate a Birmingham JUNE 6-7 landmark at Vulcan Park MAGIC CITY BREWFEST and Museum. $5; visit A craft beer festival with beer vulcan.com tastings from more than 70 breweries and 200-plus JUNE 3-7, 10-14 varieties of brews at Sloss ART ON THE ROCKS THREE LITTLE KITTENS Furnaces. magiccitybrewfest.com A family-friendly perfor- JUNE 13, JULY 11, AUGUST 15 mance at Birmingham JUNE 7 Children’s Theatre. 2ND ANNUAL BIG GREEN EGG A favorite among locals, the summer $9 and up; bct123.org COOK-OFF series features music, food, drinks, Grill masters compete for performances, and art at the JUNE 5-15 glory at Ross Bridge Welcome Birmingham Museum of Art. TICK, TICK…BOOM Center. $15 and up; facebook .com/EasterSealsBirmingham artsbma.org A musical by the creator of RENT, at Virginia Samford Theatre. $10 and up; JUNE 7 virginiasamfordtheatre.org JUNETEENTH CULTURE FEST All events are subject to change. Check the website listed for up-to-date information. BIRMINGHAM, AL JUNE 21 JULY 7 BRAD PAISLEY LINDSEY STIRLING The country superstar will This young, eclectic violinist perform alongside Randy and performance artist will LUKE BRYAN Houser, Leah Turner, and perform at Iron City. $27.50; Charlie Worsham at Oak ironcitybham.com JULY 24 Mountain Amphitheatre. See the country chart topper perform $34 and up; stubhub.com JULY 8-AUGUST 3 at the largest outdoor music venue LES MISÉRABLES in the state of Alabama, the Oak JUNE 21 Red Mountain Theatre ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Company. $30 and up; Mountain Amphitheatre. $71 and up; Bring your treasures and redmountaintheatre.org ticketnetwork.com questions for a chance to appear on the PBS series at JULY 10-27 the Birmingham-Jefferson ANNIE Convention Complex. Virginia Samford Theatre. 8 a.m.; pbs.org $30 and up; virginiasamford theatre.org AUGUST 6-10 AUGUST 23 JUNE 24-28 BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. KEITH URBAN BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. JULY 16-20 HUNTSVILLE STARS The country favorite will MISSISSIPPI BRAVES BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. Regions Field. $7 and up; make a tour stop with Regions Field. $7 and up; MISSISSIPPI BRAVES barons.com Jerrod Niemann and Brett barons.com Regions Field. $7 and up; Eldredge at Oak Mountain barons.com Amphitheatre. $26 and up; AUGUST 17-21 vividseats.com JUNE 28 BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. TOMMY EMMANUEL WITH JULY 18-20 CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS ANTSY MCCLAIN 31ST WORLD DEER EXPO SEPTEMBER 1 Regions Field. $7 and up; 23RD ANNUAL LABOR DAY The Australian guitar Gear up for deer-hunting barons.com CELEBRATION AND MOONPIE virtuoso will play at the season with seminars and EATIN’ CONTEST Birmingham-Jefferson exhibits at the Birmingham- Celebrate the day off and Convention Complex. Jefferson Convention AUGUST 20-23 see who can down the most $39.50; bjcc.org Complex. $11 and up; NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH gooey goodness at Tannehill worlddeerexpo.com CHAMPIONSHIP Ironworks Historical State JULY 4 Pitches at this softball Park. tannehill.org THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN JULY 18-20 gathering at Hoover FIREWORKS DISPLAY THE MUSIC MAN JR. Metropolitan Stadium clock SEPTEMBER 1 Unfold your lawn chair A kid-friendly performance in at more than 72 m.p.h. BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. for a fireworks show under of a beloved musical at Red $55; npfchampionship.com PENSACOLA BLUE WAHOOS the stars at Vulcan Park Mountain Theatre Company. Regions Field. $7 and up; and Museum. Free; $10 and up; redmountain barons.com visitvulcan.com theatre.org AUGUST 22-24 16TH ANNUAL SIDEWALK JULY 4-8 JULY 26-30 FILM FESTIVAL BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. BIRMINGHAM BARONS VS. The popular indie film TENNESSEE SMOKIES TENNESSEE SMOKIES festival returns to Birming- Regions Field. $7 and up; Regions Field. $7 and up; ham’s Theatre District. barons.com barons.com sidewalkfest.com All events are subject to change. Check the website listed for up-to-date information. BIRMINGHAM, AL THE DRINK THE COOL DOWN NOLA’S EL GUAPO CUCUMBER BITTERS ADD BOTANICAL NOTES TO THIS FRESH AND FIZZY GIN-BASED DRINK MAKE IT YOURSELF Bruise or crumple 1 fresh mint sprig in a cocktail shaker to release flavor. Add 3 Tbsp. gin (such as Bristow); let stand 2 minutes. Discard mint. Add 4 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice, 4 1/2 tsp. simple syrup, and 6 dashes of cucumber bitters (such as El Guapo). Fill shaker with ice cubes. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 sec- onds). Strain into a 10-oz. glass, and top with dry Champagne. Garnish with a mint sprig or cucumber slices. 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