[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by westga

Phenix City's sordid past is kept lively due largely to the story telling cab drivers.
live for today Smokey Pig is still at corner of Crawford rd and Old Opelika RD. BBQ still great. about 20 other BBQ places around Columbus and Phenix City. Most good or great! Yall, It's about the smokey flavor. No boiled meat here. Columbus' Smokey Pig is just as great and less than 2 miles from my house.
Alas, Pritchett's (all 3 plus the fish camp on Whitesville Rd) are long gone. I believe Will Dockery can fill you in on Playgrounds, the nightlife tabloid. Most of the places are in Uptown Columbus and for the under 30 crowd. old Central High is now a civic activities building and new Central is on top of a hill.
Come back sometime. Bring friends., And tell anyone who doesnt like great BBQ and sweet tea, Its a Southern Thing..they wouldnt understand. Regards, hoochbear

Indeed... a quick look at Playgrounds Magazine can be found in their online archives: Playgrounds Magazine Website and the new television version found on Phenix City's East Alabama Cable, Channel 7. On a good note, Cable TV of East Alabama has some of the most creative programming in the area, and in some ways /anywhere/... tune in to Channel 7 and see some of the best local musical talents in the area being broadcasted and interviewed, including documentary specials on such music festivals as Hogbottom (Fort Mitchell, Alabama) and Doo-Nanny (Seale, Alabama).

Here's a sample of some of this innovative progamming, from the documentary special now showing on Channel 7, Live at Hogbottom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XyRCh0kj5w

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Mt-7

There was a movie made about the crime in the city in the 40's and 50's. It is really worth seeing especially if you are not familar with the past. Look it up on wiki.

Quite a few good clips on YouTube from The Phenix City Story film, now, as well.

[OpelikaMan]

Phenix City does have a rough past history. It has been a huge used car lot for decades. It doesn't really have a downtown area. Most shopping is done on the By-Pass and there's not really much to it. Phenix City also suffers from being next to Columbus, Ga. It's been a real struggle for Phenix City to change and grow because of Columbus. Then, you've go Opelika/auburn area which is growing and has more to offer.