Good morning, Birmingham.

Birmingham faces record food insecurity as roughly 240,000 residents struggle with meal access.

Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered with the Community Food Bank to donate 40,000 lbs—enough for over 25,000 meals—to be delivered to local pantries within a month.

Big John Buffet will open later this spring in West Homewood at 162 Oxmoor Rd — replacing the former Cantina space.

Local restaurateur John Yoon is also recruiting servers to bring Southern comfort foods back to the neighborhood.

Edgar’s Bakery plans a $13.2 million manufacturing facility in Pelham + 40 new jobs at Oak Mountain Commerce Place.

The company purchased five acres on Feb. 12 and secured a tax abatement from the city for the project.

The Birmingham Times review traces key Black history milestones in our city from its founding in 1871 through major civil rights achievements, including the recent death of Claudette Colvin at 86 in 2026.

The timeline shows decades of progress across our community.

Birmingham offers an 80s-inspired day with local guides to retro spots.

Explore Reed Books on 3rd Avenue North, Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Mom’s Basement in Avondale, Hamburger Heaven in Irondale and Vestavia Bowl, where each venue revives a distinct nostalgic vibe + vintage touches that spark memories of the era.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church has been awarded a $300,000 grant to hire a director of development to preserve its historic building and civil rights legacy.

The funding will combine with a community foundation grant to support professional capacity for three years.

Federal officials announced a $26.5 billion loan to help Georgia Power and Alabama Power build new natural gas plants, add transmission lines and upgrade existing facilities for lower energy costs.

The funding is expected to cut long-term bills for customers (thanks to lower interest rates).

Birmingham offers residents a chance to join the Academy of Civic Engagement through ACE.

The 2026 class begins April 9 while CODE ACE sessions start March 5 at Birmingham Public Library (Central Branch) every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

UAB has launched Food is Medicine and Exercise is Medicine to fight chronic diseases in Birmingham neighborhoods — the program brings mobile food markets with SNAP acceptance and a wellness bus for free health checkups, and it is set to expand from 40 communities with $5M from the CEAL grant.

Local residents can freshen up their homes and community by decluttering closets, donating items to food banks + libraries, trying classes and joining cleanups; events at Ruffner Mountain Preserve on Mar.

12, Jefferson County Village on Mar. 14 and Tom Bradford Park on Mar. 15 will support cleanups.

Learnmore Jonasi Stand-Up Comedy

10:00 – 11:30 PM — StarDome Comedy Club — Two-item minimum — Experience the humor of Zimbabwe’s top comedian brought to life through hilarious observations and personal anecdotes.

Jessica Kirson Live in Birmingham

7:30 p.m. — Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex — Tickets available — Enjoy a night of comedy with Jessica Kirson in an entertaining live performance.

AHSAA Basketball State Finals

5 PM — Legacy Arena — Free for ages 5 and under — Witness the excitement of high school basketball championships with teams from seven classifications.

AHSAA Basketball State Finals

6 PM – 3 AM — Legacy Arena — Tickets starting at $22 — Experience the excitement at the AHSAA Basketball State Finals in Birmingham!

SIX FIGURE LINKEDIN MASTERCLASS

10 AM – 3 PM — The Alcove Birmingham — Ticketed Event — Build your six-figure pipeline and win clients on LinkedIn in a hands-on masterclass.

AHSAA Basketball State Finals

3:30-7:30 a.m. — Legacy Arena — Tickets start at $20 — Experience the excitement of high school basketball at the AHSAA State Finals.

Cottontail's Village Festival

10 AM - 7 PM — BJCC North Exhibition Hall — Admission fees may apply — Celebrate spring with over 200 vendors offering gifts, crafts, and delicious food.

Comedy Night with Tommy Davidson

9:30-11 p.m. — StarDome Comedy Club — Price varies — Experience a night of laughter with Tommy Davidson, renowned for his dynamic stand-up and acting talents.

Bingo & Beats

2-10 p.m. — The Alcove Birmingham — Free entry — Enjoy a night of Bingo and RNB/Hip Hop tunes while competing for exciting prizes.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Live

7-8:30 p.m. — WORKPLAY — Tickets starting at $50 — Experience an unforgettable performance by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in Birmingham.