For people who recently came to Birmingham (Decatur, Homewood: house, travel)

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by mp33

Well, my mom, dad, 2 sisters, brother-in-law, and precious niece are a comin' next week. For some reason, my sister will call and say "I just bought a new fall sweater for my trip ... I'm all ready!" Yes, Alabama hasn't proved itself to be a land of four seasons, YET anyway. I wish with all my heart I could offer that to them -- BUT, they are not coming for the weather...good thing! I have no idea what they're going to think ... they know (as does the entire forum) how it's taking a wee while for me to adjust. But, I'll show them all the hot spots and pretty areas -- who knows, they MAY just leave thinking how nuts I am for wondering this whole time if I'll ever be able to feel at home.

Ditto to the "Why on earth did you move from So Cal to Alabama" comments. If I had a dime for everytime...

So true:
California is made fun of and looked down upon, so why are you asking and looking all surprised that I moved here?
-OR-
If you think this is a lame place to live, why not move? Some people don't have a choice??

Many people think it's a glamorous and romantic place to live ... like it's the center of the universe. I know what they should do, try moving there and raising a family ... they'll change their mind about glamorous and romantic real quick.

So sorry about this Indian Summer. I am missing my October so much...maybe the Global Warming thing is for real....this is usually my favorite month of all...

[Keeper]

Have you checked out Publix they have a good speciality deli area. They will also order you anything you want. I have been trying to find 'dried' chorrizo I use in cuban food but they don't sell it here but they are going to order it for me.

I can ask for TJ's but I have no idea what it is.. do I have to use my address?

[wallstreet1986]

Originally Posted by mp33

I've been here going on 2 months (from California). The following lists might sound corny or simple-minded or whatever (and I'm in Trussville, so my observations might be JUST ME) -- Nevertheless, my knee-jerk thoughts, nothing fancy or political or statistical-filled...

What I love:
-- We're in half country/half city, a little bit of both "styles" going on over here with that quick 20 minute drive into downtown B'ham
-- All the hills covered with lots of trees ... a great variety of trees ... with a creek or pond here and there
-- Fried okra
-- Pretty country lanes
-- Botanical gardens
-- Homewood Village (coffee, bakeries, etc...)
-- The cobblestoned little streets near downtown (what are the street names?)
-- My back porch
-- The area is more boutique-y than I thought (not that I shop that way ... but adds to the charm)
-- Enjoyed hearing that my neighbor asked Keanu Reeves for a cigarette in a downtown restaurant last Thursday night (celebrity sightings don't make my world turn 'round, just thought it a cool story to hear all the way over in Alabama)
-- People are not AS image focused compared to where I'm from (but STILL just a tad)
-- The anticipation of fall
-- All the medical smarty-pant activity that makes B'ham so popular (very on-the-cutting-edge-of-medicine-and-health-ish)
-- Fox News 6 Weatherman, Mickey
-- Everyone has a dog
-- People like me (I think) and I like them -- meeting lots of sweet people ... I say all this because I was warned that I'd be an outcast because I wasn't born and raised in the south

What I don't like:
-- Sweet tea
-- No frozen yogurt stores ANYWHERE
-- Can't just "run to the market" ... takes 5 minutes just to get out of my subdivision
-- No sidewalks
-- Churches are so Bible-belty and membership-focused (not all, though)
-- No non-crispy-cream donut shops nearby
-- Too many people ONLY from the south (at least where I'm at)
-- Alabama-only football that I just can't seem to get into
-- No entertainment or main places "to go"
-- Could not find corn tortillas or green enchilada sauce ... and not energized or talented enough to make my own
-- Taking the bus route into account, my kids are at school way too long and their school is WAY too big (17 first grade teachers alone? Yikes!)
-- No run-of-the-mill healthy and/or fresh-tasting fast food chains (El Pollo Loco, Baja Fresh, Daphne's, In-n-Out, La Salsa??? Anywhere? That Mo's place is no good)
-- Fitness isn't "in" enough around here

So there you have it -- things are getting better, though ... it's just a simple matter of loving where I came from and all the people I left ... but having to relocate for my husband's job. I know God is up to something!

Hmm I'd have to say I was a bit surprised how built up it is and analogous to other metro areas. I underestimated the size of Birmingham a bit which has its positives and negatives. The positives are that there a lot more companies and job opportunities here than would be in a smaller city, the negatives are the extensive sprawl, corporate/chain restaurants, and the myriad housing developments that stretch as far as the eye can see.

I currently live in the South suburbs and there are a lot of different complexes and housing options that are certainly affordable from where I come from. I generally find these areas kind of boring though and I think that the houses don't have that much land with them (most people only have a half-acre or less.) The Hoover/Pelham area is way too crowded for my tastes as is the 280 corridor. The exception to the rule is perhaps Mountain Brook, and I like the historic areas and the villages which do have character.

I like the country and authentic Southern flavor more than anything else. I've enjoyed finding Cajun restaurants here, good barbecue (Jim n Nicks and Dreamland), and a variety of places to hike.

I do not like the continuing sprawl into places like Trussville with an oversupply of boring, cheaply-made homes, and chain restaurants that everyone already knows about. Sprawl is continuing as far south as Calera and will probably continue to worsen in that corridor into the future. The one area I've seen that I really like is the north of Birmingham - Warrior, Morris, Gardendale. I also like Pinson. Up there you have country and very limited development. I hope the people there will vote or have voted to block it out.

The outdoors here is really beautiful and helps provide for a high quality of life. Lot of things to do on the weekend within a decent radius of the city. The combination of pines, hills, rocks, oak trees and magnolias? (the trees with flowers on them) makes Birmingham a beautiful place to live in. The architecture and pleasing layout also helps.

[NicoleC]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Have you checked out Publix they have a good speciality deli area.

Same stuff everyone else has. (If that have any of that kind of stuff at all.) It's funny how you become very used to particular brands or items or flavors.

I can ask for TJ's but I have no idea what it is.. do I have to use my address?

They ask for an email address, but you can use a fake one. They probably just use it to try and weed out duplicates.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Have you checked out Publix they have a good speciality deli area. They will also order you anything you want. I have been trying to find 'dried' chorrizo I use in cuban food but they don't sell it here but they are going to order it for me.

I can ask for TJ's but I have no idea what it is.. do I have to use my address?

Try Fresh Market.

[Bravo35223]

In Birmingham there are several hispanic mercados that are owned and operated by Mexicans. I would think they would have what you are looking for...

[Socal2Bham]

Speaking of hispanic foods, you know what I had a hell of a time finding, well didn't end up finding at all actually, cayenne peppers. I had a Cajun boiled shrimp recipe that called for fresh cayenne peppers. I tried Publix, Brunos, Fresh Market, Tria Market, Target and the Piggly Wiggly in Forrest Park which seems to have a larger hispanic food dept. I couldn't even find dried cayenne peppers! Tria told me they have such a short shelf life that most places don't bother to stock them.
I drove all over the place looking for lemon thyme as well. Only to find out later a friend of mine grows it in her herb garden!

I should probaby find a food forum and start a "foods I can't find" thread.

[Keeper]

I can find the fresh chorrizo but not the dried which is kind of like pepperoni. The people at Publix said the fresh is what people ask for here, which I guess makes sense as there aren't a lot of cubans here and their food is different than mexican food.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Threestep

The same here. You moved to where????? Yes, we have a well, dirt driveway, washer in the front yard (actually we had for the last two days) and still use confederate money. It takes some people a second or two to realize they have been made fun of.

Did you explain to your friends and family that there are some rather tough immigration restrictions for Alabama? Once the quota for Californians has been met for the year they will have to reapply. Duck and run.

..............LOL, Threestep!!!

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Socal2Bham

Speaking of hispanic foods, you know what I had a hell of a time finding, well didn't end up finding at all actually, cayenne peppers. I had a Cajun boiled shrimp recipe that called for fresh cayenne peppers. I tried Publix, Brunos, Fresh Market, Tria Market, Target and the Piggly Wiggly in Forrest Park which seems to have a larger hispanic food dept. I couldn't even find dried cayenne peppers! Tria told me they have such a short shelf life that most places don't bother to stock them.
I drove all over the place looking for lemon thyme as well. Only to find out later a friend of mine grows it in her herb garden!

I should probaby find a food forum and start a "foods I can't find" thread.

Give me a break! Even Wallmart on 280 carries them. Had you asked - you could have picked them:>)