Good morning, Birmingham.

The Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood celebrated its 100th anniversary Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of a history wall that shows its change from a tuberculosis sanatorium to a facility for adaptive athletes—Mo Gardner, who began playing basketball there in 1975, said the venue helped him make lasting friendships—while CEO John Kemp said the foundation will serve the community for another 100 years.

UAB will host its first ever Next Step Job and Resource Fair on Dec 10 at its Tower Building in Birmingham with free job opportunities + expungement workshops for adults seeking a second chance.

Running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event partners the UAB Educational Opportunity Center and Community Corrections to offer career, housing and reentry resources.

Five Birmingham nonprofits are asking for community help this holiday season—Jimmie Hale Mission aids men facing homelessness; Grace House Ministries supports foster care girls; Operation Homefront provides for military families; Community Food Bank of Central Alabama helps feed local residents; and Grace Klein Community donates food and supplies. Readers can volunteer by serving meals, donating items or joining local drives to help keep these services running.

Mayor James Stewart Jr. said construction work for the new Irondale Costco store will begin in January 2026 and is expected to open in April 2028, creating 200 to 300 jobs and generating $6 million to $8 million in annual sales tax revenue – a project that includes extensive site blasting and scheduled meetings with nearby Bainbridge residents. The project will span nearly 160,000 square feet and requires major site preparation, including rock removal.

Magic City Fabric, a locally-owned fabric store designed as a maker space, will hold its soft opening this weekend, December 6 and 7 from 12PM to 6PM at 4830 5th Ave S near Cahaba Brewing Company.

Guests can shop for high-quality fabrics, join workshops and receive a 15% discount for the first ten customers each day — owner Bea Cross launched the shop to replace JOANN's location — as it serves Birmingham’s creative community.

Birmingham native Jazz Mckenzie advanced to the finals of The Voice after a stirring gospel performance on Monday—she will perform in NBC's live finale on December 15 with voting open until early Tuesday morning on December 16.

Katherine Sweeney, who once worked as a 911 dispatcher, will graduate from UAB with her Ph.D. on Dec.

10 at the Alys Stephens Center — her research, which surveyed 550 dispatchers, shows they need more mental health support.

Oak Mountain State Park expanded its mountain biking trail system yesterday with 10 miles of new trails and a renovated pump track, funded by Innovate Alabama and local partners (Shelby County officials and Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers).

The park hopes to earn national recognition from the National Mountain Bikers Association within the next year.

The Birmingham City Council approved $885,000 in incentives on Tuesday to attract Carver Jones Market to address a food desert at Heritage Park Town Center.

The market, led by veteran James Harris, will open by spring next year at 833 Dennison Ave SW — offering fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables.

The Birmingham Parking Authority is asking residents, businesses and visitors for their opinions on how to improve the parking lots off Morris Avenue—planned upgrades include entrance improvements and landscaping.

The survey is open through Dec. 19 and will help guide long-term decisions for the area.

Barrett Brasfield, born at 26 weeks, is now home with his family after spending 403 days in the hospital at Children's of Alabama—his life-saving tracheostomy helped his lungs heal and improved his recovery.

Birmingham City Council voted to change the rules on the old Carraway hospital site so it can host 64 rental homes as part of Star Uptown's plan.

Demolition will finish so construction can begin early in 2026 and residents may move in by 2027 + the project spans 50+ acres meant to bring new life to the area.

Alabama earned its spot in the SEC title game after defeating Auburn in the Iron Bowl and will face the Georgia Bulldogs next.

Analyst Paul Finebaum said if the Tide are left out of the College Football Playoff, he will call for a federal investigation — a stance that has raised concerns among fans.

Support Group for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

6:30 p.m. — Levite Jewish Community Center — Free entry — Gather for emotional and informational support for patients and families dealing with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

ACT Trumbauer High School Festival 2025

December 5-6 — University of Alabama at Birmingham — $10 – $100 — Experience a celebration of high school theater with one-act plays and group events at this storied festival.

Missionfest Birmingham

12-8 p.m. — Downtown Birmingham — Entry details not specified — Celebrate community and faith through various missions and activities.

Killer Whale Concert

8-10:30 p.m. — The Nick — $7 Membership required — Experience the fusion of contemporary dream pop and '70s soul sounds with Killer Whale.

General Membership Meeting & Hall of Fame Banquet

09:00 AM-06:00 PM — Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa — Cost Info TBA — Celebrate achievements and honor Hall of Fame recipients with inspiring speeches and networking.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve

11 AM - 5 PM — Legacy Arena — Special ticket pricing available — Experience the holiday rock tradition with TSO's spectacular live performance blending music and theatrics.

Jeff Dunham Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Legacy Arena — Ticketed event — Experience the hilarious ventriloquism of Jeff Dunham and his unforgettable characters.

Marvin Hunter Comedy Show

7-8:30 p.m. — StarDome Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughs with the award-winning comedian Marvin Hunter.

Alabama Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®

1:30 PM & 6 PM — BJCC Concert Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet with live music from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

A Christmas Story Screening

2:00 – 3:30 PM — Alabama Theatre — Ticketed event — Enjoy a classic family comedy as Ralphie Parker tries to convince everyone he needs a BB gun for Christmas.