Good morning, Birmingham.

Birmingham was chosen for the national Love Your Block initiative and will receive $70,000 and technical support to refresh vacant lots and public spaces — the program was announced by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation on Sept.

22.

Hotel Wildemont was renamed from Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook on Thursday morning at the Lane Parke property in Mountain Brook.

The change is part of Orlando-based Xenia Hotels and Resorts’ four-hotel rebrand, and the hotel is sold out this weekend for an antiques event (100% occupancy).

Ideal Furniture is closing its doors after 83 years of service and will hold an Everything Must Go sale through Oct.

31. The store has served the community since 1943 and invites residents to shop final deals as it wraps up its long legacy.

Birmingham-based PRADCO Outdoor Brands acquired Kent Outdoors on Oct.

1; the deal adds watersports labels such as BOTE, O’Brien, and HO Sports, and Kent Outdoors will keep its leadership as PRADCO plans further product development and brand growth.

Birmingham is buzzing with 42 events this October featuring festivals, art markets, concerts and family activities.

Community favorites include Furnace Fest, Magic City Classic, Greek Food Festival + a Taylor Swift night at McWane, offering something for every interest around town.

Birmingham’s Lyric Theatre, built in 1914, reopened in January 2016 after a community-backed $11–12 million restoration — including rebuilt opera boxes and restored plasterwork — and now hosts concerts, comedy shows, ballet and community events that honor its vaudeville legacy.

Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Birmingham was named the top spot in Alabama for its cult following by a national ranking using local reviews and media mentions.

The family-owned diner, serving Southern & Greek-inspired meals for nearly 80 years, operates weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

UAB will waive application fees for first-time freshman, transfer and online students during Free Application Week from Oct.

5-9. Prospective Blazers (in-state and out-of-state) can apply online with no special code as part of UAB’s effort to boost access to higher education.

UAB researchers are launching a study to learn why more children are becoming nearsighted using sensor-enabled glasses that log daily visual data & track changes in eye growth.

The study is open to children ages 7 to 13.

Federal Realty Investment Trust acquired The Summit for $508 million* on Thursday.

The 870,000 sqft shopping center at the I-459 and U.S. 280 intersection, home to over 110 retailers, is expected to see renewed leases and improved operations soon.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said on ESPN’s Get Up on Sept.

29 that he retired at 72 after 17 seasons to spend more time with his family and protect the program’s future, not because of NIL issues.