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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 4

Birmingham-area teams open the football playoffs Friday night

Plus, Shrimp Basket closes its Gardendale spot and four other Alabama locations.

The Daily Birmingham team2 stories15 sources5 min read

High School FootballTop story

Birmingham-area football teams open the state playoffs Friday night

Six local first-round games kick off Friday at 7 p.m.

  • Huntsville
    Vestavia Hills
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.Thompson Reynolds Stadium
  • Theodore
    Homewood
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.Waldrop Stadium
  • Hoover
    Bob Jones
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.Madison City Schools Stadium
  • Spain Park
    Buckhorn
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.Tommy Ledbetter Stadium, New Market
  • John Carroll
    Randolph
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.SportsMed Field, Huntsville
  • Austin
    Clay-Chalkville
    Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.Cougar Stadium

Sources: VestaviaVoice.com, 280 Living, HooverSun.com

If you follow Friday night football, the road to the State Championships in Mobile begins this week. Vestavia Hills (7-2) hosts Huntsville (4-6), and the Rebels are the heavy favorite if starting quarterback Charlie Taaffe returns after missing their Oct. 23 finale. Hoover (4-6) is the favorite at Bob Jones (5-5), and the Bucs could get quarterback Kaleb Freeman back.

  • Homewood: eight straight wins, 7-0 in Class 5A, Region 4
  • Spain Park: No. 5 seed in Class 6A, Region 3
  • Clay-Chalkville: won Class 5A, Region 6 at 6-0
  • John Carroll: lost 25-21 to Randolph two weeks ago

Briarwood (10-0) won't play this week. St. John Paul II forfeited, citing not having enough active players and the "health and safety of our young men," so Briarwood advances to the second round.

Wins Friday would send local teams to these second-round games

TeamSecond-round opponent
Vestavia HillsSparkman
HomewoodWinner of Pike Road, Bessemer City
HooverThompson
Spain ParkPrattville
Clay-ChalkvilleWinner of Douglas, Mortimer Jordan
BriarwoodWinner of Randolph, John Carroll

Sources: VestaviaVoice.com, 280 Living, HooverSun.com

Asked

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Will you catch a playoff game Friday night?

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Food & Drink

Shrimp Basket has closed its Gardendale spot and four other Alabama locations

If Gardendale's Shrimp Basket is your fried shrimp stop, you'll need a new one. , the chain's owner, shuttered five Alabama locations: Bay Minette, Gardendale, Cullman, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. The Cullman restaurant closed Sunday, Nov. 1.

“Returning to our roots as a brand, while directing our resources and future investments towards our beach and coastal locations, will best serve our teams and guests.”

Bryan Lockwood, CEO, Artistry Restaurants

12beach and coastal Shrimp Basket locations remain

That's what the chain has left after the closures, according to the company's news release.

Sources: Mobile Bay Now, WVUA 23, The Cullman Times

The closures reach Florida too: WVUA says Pensacola is losing a location as well. Artistry bought the chain in 2020.

  • Closed: Bay Minette, Gardendale, Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Auburn
  • Open on the beach: Foley, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores
  • Also open: Evergreen, about 2 hours from Gulf Shores

Five of nine Alabama Shrimp Basket locations are closed

5 of 9

  • Alabama locations closed
  • 4 Alabama locations staying open

Source: Mobile Bay Now

View as table
CountShare
Alabama locations closed556%
Alabama locations staying open444%

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News Notes

Rêve

Rêve, the Michelin-recognized restaurant at downtown's , closed Fri., Oct. 30. It opened in the spring of 2025 and was Birmingham's only tasting menu restaurant. Bham Now

Hoover school

Hoover's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended Monday night that the City Council approve a K-8 school for Trinity Presbyterian Church, across Alabama 119 from Tattersall Park. The matter now moves to the council. 280 Living

Collier Valley

Collier Valley, a proposed 331-acre mixed-use development in west Hoover, was on the zoning commission's Monday, Nov. 2 agenda. It would include a potential hotel and a possible school site. Shelby County Reporter

Collier Valley would cover 331 acres in west Hoover

331 acres
in the proposed Collier Valley development
331
residential units, at most
150,000 sq ft
of commercial space, at most

Source: Shelby County Reporter

SAW's BBQ

SAW's BBQ opens Nov. 9 at , 1004 Dunnavant Valley Rd., just off U.S. 280 near Chelsea. Bham Now

Papa Jack

The Center for Negro League Baseball Research, the Negro Southern League Museum and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson will honor Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson with the Enduring Legacy Award on Thu., Nov. 5. Jackson, raised in Powderly, played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball. The Birmingham Times

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone.

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Content marked with an * is advertising.

Around Alabama

School spending

Alabama public schools spent an average of $13,629 per K-12 student in 2024-25, about $130 more than the year before. After inflation, spending fell by about $102 per student, and capital spending isn't included. Alabama Daily News

$13,629average spent per K-12 student in 2024-25

That's about $130 more than the year before, but about $102 less after inflation.

Source: Alabama Daily News

Food & Wine

Two Alabama dishes made Food & Wine's best of October list. They're Mom's Sweet Cornbread at Little Bird in Fairhope and the Sea Bar Spoon at SeaBar by Little Betty in Birmingham. The Bama Buzz

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

The Buy

Asked

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Asked

When do you start your holiday shopping?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Birmingham, AL

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Birmingham eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

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Do you know just the job for our readers? Share it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Grandview Medical Center

“I am currently a patient on the eighth floor at Grandview Hospital. I know there have been a lot of negative posts lately in reference to Grandview, but I want to paint a different picture. The care I have received from nurses, techs, housekeeping, respiratory therapy, and many others have been as good as any I have…”

— A neighbor, The Sanctuary

607 likes · 103 comments

View post

The Wrap

Moss Rock Festival is back at the Hoover Met Complex on Saturday, Nov. 7, for its 21st year. It's an outdoor fall festival that brings together nature, art and design, and smart-living exhibitors, plus kids' art studios and food. It runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring a jacket.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Election Day is here, and Alabama tips off at 6:30 tonight

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Every source in this edition15 links · 13 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. VestaviaVoice.comvestaviavoice.com
  3. 280 Living280living.com
  4. HooverSun.comhooversun.com
  5. Mobile Bay Nowmobilebaynow.com
  6. WVUA 23wvua23.com
  7. The Cullman Timescullmantimes.com
  8. Bham Nowbhamnow.com
  9. 280 Living280living.com
  10. Shelby County Reportershelbycountyreporter.com
  11. Bham Nowbhamnow.com
  12. The Birmingham Timesbirminghamtimes.com
  13. Alabama Daily Newsaldailynews.com
  14. The Bama Buzzthebamabuzz.com
  15. Birmingham events calendardailybirmingham.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 3Election Day is here, and Alabama tips off at 6:30 tonight
  2. Mon., Nov. 2Alabama A&M beat Alabama State 31-28 to end a four-game skid
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Daily Birminghamto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Birmingham-area teams open the football playoffs Friday night

Plus, Shrimp Basket closes its Gardendale spot and four other Alabama locations.

The TLDR

  1. Local teams open the football playoffs Friday at 7 p.m.
  2. Briarwood advances after St. John Paul II forfeits
  3. Shrimp Basket closes Gardendale and four more Alabama spots
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Birmingham’s other editions

All the news
SportsAlabama opens its basketball season tonight against Sam Houston at Coleman ColiseumIf you follow the Crimson Tide, tonight's the night. Alabama hosts Sam Houston at Coleman Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. to open the season, ranked No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports preseason Coaches Poll after going undefeated through three October exhibitions. It's one of four Alabama programs opening their men's seasons over three days.Tuesday’s editionRead HealthUAB broke ground Monday on a $5 million dental clinic in DecaturIf you or your kids need lower-cost dental care in north Alabama, help is on the way. The University of Alabama at Birmingham broke ground Monday on a $5 million clinic in Decatur that will serve children and adults while training dental students.Tuesday’s editionRead SportsAlabama A&M beat Alabama State 31-28 in the Magic City Classic to end a four-game losing streakAlabama A&M beat Alabama State 31-28 Saturday at Legion Field in the 85th Magic City Classic. It’s the Bulldogs’ first Classic win since 2021, and it was the 50th victory of coach Sam Shade’s career. Shade, a Wenonah High School graduate, held the trophy high and called winning this rivalry “special.”Monday’s editionRead

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