Good morning, Birmingham.

Residents visited the Hoover Recreation Center at 600 Municipal Drive during an open house that featured a pickleball clinic and free gym time for pickleball and basketball.

The center underwent over $300,000 in renovations—upgrading its gymnasium, Cardio Room treadmills, and Cycling Room bicycles—to provide a refreshed space for local fitness.

On Sept. 11, Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its new Roebuck YMCA Neighborhood at 628 Red Lane Road.

The 22-lot project will offer affordable homeownership and provide walking access to healthcare, counseling, and fitness services — key support for local families.

Big Whiskey's will open its new location in Alabaster on Sept.

29 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — the eatery, located in the former O’Charley’s on Colonial Drive, is part of a chain with over 20 locations.

Developer David Silverstein said the popular Pizitz Food Hall in downtown Birmingham needs rebranding and renovation as several restaurants have closed and the space now must mix dining with retail; the city council approved extending a $3.2 million loan for two more years—no additional funds being allocated—to help pay for the improvements. He stated that the changes will bring in new tenants and events to strengthen the historic building's role downtown.

Cast members Nicolas Garza and Jada Temple — who star in Wicked — said they love Birmingham’s warm audience and local spots like El Barrio and the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Wicked will run at the BJCC through Sunday, September 21.

The Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir advanced from the quarterfinals on America's Got Talent and will compete against 11 acts on Sept.

16 at 7 p.m. on NBC on channel 13; local viewers can vote after the show and donate to help cover their travel costs—support may boost their chance to reach the finals.

A South Alabama family found a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle fossil nearly four feet long by three feet wide along a riverbank and scientists named it Ueloca colemanorum—now on display at McWane Science Center.

Subcarrier, a long-running music program in Birmingham, will air its final episodes this fall as Alabama Public Television makes budget cuts—three new episodes are scheduled for October at 10 p.m. on Thursdays while its sister show Monograph also ends its run.

A historical marker on Morris Avenue near 20th Street North explains the area’s early importance, and locals once assumed its cobblestones were original.

Research shows the stones are Belgian blocks installed in 1975 by the City Council—imported from Savannah to evoke a look similar to Underground Atlanta.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine donated 800 Guardian Caps to the Birmingham Youth Sports League to help reduce concussions as young players get ready for their inaugural football season—an effort that boosts safety measures in youth sports.

The donation supports UAB's commitment to protecting athletes and informing coaches and parents about concussion prevention.

UAB and Purdue University are partnering to design a smart pacifier that uses sound-sensing technology and artificial intelligence — a device that will monitor infant breathing in real time.

The project is funded by a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and will address respiratory monitoring gaps for hospitalized newborns over the next four years.

A study by researchers at UAB and UNC Chapel Hill finds that COVID-19 can cause lung foam cells that lead to long-term lung damage & problems like scarring and clots.

Early treatment with molnupiravir may help lower the risk of these effects in patients.

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved a $14.6 million Stage III renovation at Bartow Arena—this project will add an expanded lobby, club-level lounge, and new seating along with improved concourses.

Construction will begin after UAB's Spring Commencement ceremonies once fundraising goals and further approvals are met.

Wicked: The Musical

7:30-9 p.m. — BJCC East Exhibition Hall — Ticketed event — Experience the magical tale of friendship and rivalry in the Land of Oz with unforgettable songs.

Wicked Musical

7:30-9:00 p.m. — BJCC East Exhibition Hall — Ticketed event — Experience the untold story of the witches of Oz in this acclaimed musical.

Evening with Steve Brown

7:30-9 p.m. — The StarDome — $36.50 — Enjoy a night of laughter with the unique and hilarious Steve Brown.

Wicked Musical

7:30-10:30 p.m. — BJCC East Exhibition Hall — Tickets available — Experience the magical tale of friendship and rivalry in the Land of Oz.

Bingo Loco

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Iron City Bham — $54+ — Enjoy a lively night of bingo with a twist at Birmingham's Iron City.

Vampire Weekend Concert

7-10 p.m. — Coca-Cola Amphitheater — Last-minute tickets available — Experience the energetic sounds of Vampire Weekend live in Birmingham.

Pottery Night at Back Forty

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Back Forty Beer Company Birmingham — $65 — Craft spooky clay creations while enjoying local brews and bites.

Zoso - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

8:00-9:30 p.m. — Iron City Bham — Tickets available — Experience the power of Led Zeppelin's music live with Zoso.

Abbey Road Live

6-7:30 p.m. — Avondale Brewing Company — Tickets from $44 — Experience a remarkable performance by Abbey Road Live in Birmingham.

Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour

8-9:30 p.m. — BJCC East Exhibition Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of hilarious stand-up from the acclaimed comedian Jo Koy, blending humor with his Filipino heritage.