Hipster’s Guide to Birmingham, AL
Yes, I know… nobody likes that word… “hipster.” But I’m trying to create a guide for people like me and it’s a word that I would find myself wanting to Google if I was new to a town or about to move there. That is why I’m creating this guide. I want people new to the Birmingham area or having to move here (god bless you) to have an easy way of finding out where to hang, drink, meet people, whatever. And let’s face it: “hipster” culture–or whatever name you want to give our slightly alternative lifestyle–isn’t something that’s just on the forefront of Birmingham; you have to dig a little to find it, and trust me: you don’t want to waste your time doing that. I’m hoping that this guide will make it a little easier for people like me to integrate into the Birmingham area. Let’s get started…
Where to Live
The only place where you can live and be around other people like yourself is Southside, particularly around the UAB/Highlands/5-Points South area. If you’re more of a young professional or “executive” hipster, you could try living around the loft areas of 1st-2nd Avenues North (especially the Phoenix Building). Of course, you could live anywhere you want, but these are places where you could walk the dog or hang-out outside and actual bump into some like-minded people. And let’s face it: it’s all about the Bump-In.
Where to See Live Music
If you want to catch some good bands around town, your best bet would be the Bottletree Cafe. Almost all the bigger “indie” acts come through here and it’s a really great venue/bar. For more DIY shows where you can experience the cutting-edge of local music talent, ask around about venues called Magic City Wholesale and the Firehouse.
Where to Booze
If you want to have bump-ins with people who aren’t just ex-frat guys, you’re not going to have much selection in this town. As I’ve previously mentioned, Bottletree is a really cool bar even on nights when there isn’t a show. It is smoke-free inside and they have a large covered outside porch where you can sit at picnic tables and check out all the goofy shit on the walls. A new bar, also in the Avondale area, with a similar vibe is Parkside Cafe. This place is also smoke-free inside with a large outdoor courtyard.
The Garage is a really cool place to check out on Summer nights. They have a giant courtyard with concrete tables and statues everywhere. You should have some decent bump-ins here. They only accept cash, though, so keep that in mind.
Another place that could be hit or miss as far as hipsterdom is concerned, but is probably good to check out in the pre-midnight hours of the night is Speakeasy. They have some pool-tables, darts and usually play some decent music. By “decent” I mean 80’s metal, early hardcore and classic punk, but not in an ironic way, the owner is just from that era. Make sure to check out their killer $1 well-drink special on Wednesdays. Every hipster in town shows up for this.
After you’ve scoped out Bottletree, Parkside and Speakeasy and it’s getting to be midnight, you’ll definitely want to head to the Plaza (or Upside Down Plaza) around 5-Points. This will be your true Birmingham grime-ball, hipster-meets-circus-freak, windowless, get fucked-up and feel at home experience. Everyone’s smoking. Everyone’s playing pool/foosball/darts and everyone’s pumping the jukebox full of their favorite ironic late-night jams. Learn to love the Plaza.
After that, if you’re still craving a little super late-night/early-morn action, you’ll just have to go to the Nick, I suppose. This is where dignity goes to die or as Billy Joel would say “they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it’s better than drinkin’ alone.”
Where to Eat
One of the standards for the alternative Birmingham crowd is Al’s Mediterranean on 10th Ave. S and 16th St. You can sit inside at the booths if you want to smell like body odor all night, but I would suggest sitting outside in their large patio area. This is a good place to go during the day-light hours or very late at night. Right across the street is a fairly decent dive Italian place called Formaggio’s where you can hide in a dark booth and enjoy some good week-night drink specials. Also, New Chinatown in 5 Points is a favorite.
For a little-bit less grimy, mid-day lunch type feel, you’ll want to go to Urban Standard, ZaZa (now called Trattoria Centrale) and, as always, Bottletree. Urban Standard has some good soups and sandwiches (including vegan selections) but we’ll discuss them more in the “Where to Get Coffee” section. ZaZa has some delicious pizzas by the slice and cool outdoor seating in the middle of the Downtown Business District. Bottletree is another great place to eat when you need a lunch out of the house and want some good vegetarian food along with some good music .
If you’re looking to have a nice dinner, or take a friend/date “out on the town,” you should check out Surin West Thai Cuisine, Rojo or Taj India. These aren’t strictly hipster-driven businesses–you’ll get more of a local bougie intelligentsia vibe here–but very fun and very delicious.
Where to Shop
Unfortunately, if you want to clothes shop with the counter-culture (read consumer-culture) in Birmingham, you’ll just have to drive out to the ‘burbs and go to Urban Outfitters. But really, where else are you gonna get all your hipster essentials? There’s no American Apparel here. Urban Outfitters allows you to look like you shop at American Apparel… assuming the sweat and tears of Chinese children didn’t stain your clothes. You could also try Zoe Consignment Boutique in Forest Park, though I’ve never been there.
If you’re looking for weird gifts, arts, crafts, jewelry and accessories, skate by Nomad Supply, 5-pts South shops, or What’s On 2nd? and Charm (both on 2nd Ave. N). I guess I don’t really shop much so I’m sorry this section isn’t very helpful.
Where to Get Groceries
If you’re Downtown and just need to load up on munchies, Western Market on Highland and the Piggly Wiggly (where University Blvd turns into Clairemont Ave) should do just fine. If you’re looking for more organic and locally-grown stuff, V. Richards is in the Forest Park neighborhood just past the aforementioned Piggly Wiggly (aka The Pig).
To get to Whole Foods, you’d have to drive on Hwy 280 for about 5 minutes but it’s not a bad drive and it’s actually one of the first stops on the Hwy 280 buses’ route.
If you’re wanting fresh-off-the-farm veggies, you’re actually in luck. You can buy produce or get your own community garden plot to grow your own at Jones Valley Urban Farm. There’s also the seasonal Saturday Pepper Place Farmer’s Market and the Grow Alabama CSA.
Where to Get Coffee
If you want some good coffee, and, of course, by coffee, I mean a place to look cool on your Mac while tweeting and looking over the rim of your latte for hipster babes, hang out in Urban Standard and the newly-opened Forest Perk. They both serve locally-roasted and fair-trade coffee.
Where to Get Your Hair Did
Pretty much every girl I know gets their hair styled by Courtney at DL Salon. It’s been like this for years. She’s always on the cutting-edge (I typed that before I noticed the pun) of whatever style is currently in fashion. Guys who are going for the “my hair’s really messy because I spent a lot of money on it” look also go to her. She’s pretty pricy but everyone will tell you that she’s well worth it.
Where to Get Tatted
If you want some really fucking solid tattoos, Non Stop Art Tattoo is pretty much the only place you’ll want to go. They’re all really cool dudes but may not be the best at setting up appointments for you unless you actually go down there and talk to them. Sometimes, myspace-messaging works also. Everyone I know gets Chad or Shane to do their tattoos. I would recommend Chad but only if you’re not trying to dictate how the entire tattoo will look. Just give him a basic idea and then trust him enough to take your shitty idea and elevate it to god-status.
How to Have Fun
Eating and drinking are about the only fun things you can do Downtown. There are no movie theaters or bowling alleys. The best you could do is take your dog to the George Ward Dog Park or walk them around the parks on Highland. You’ll have plenty of bump-ins with interesting characters and some bad-ass mutts. You could also cruise your bike (see Bici Bike Cooperative for any and all bicycle needs) around Highlands or the 2nd Ave. N area to see and be seen.
To kill an afternoon, I highly recommend getting stoned and walking around the Birmingham Zoo or Botanical Gardens. They’re located about 5 minutes outside of Downtown, in the Mountain Brook area and the Gardens are completely free! Also free, is the Birmingham Museum of Art, or if you have a couple of bucks lying around, you definitely should hit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, periodically.
If you have the means to and don’t mind driving into the ‘burbs you can watch a movie at the Dollar Carmike Theater in Hoover or bike/hike/paddle boat in the Oak Mt. State Park. If you have a weekend to blow, I highly recommend checking out my beginner’s guide to a weekend backpacking trip to the Sipsey Wilderness.
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Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now. Of course, this is all just my opinion so if you think anything else should be added, comment below and give your favorite hipster haunt a shout-out.
I’ll add some addenda section by section.
Places to Live: What about Crestwood and Avondale? I know a lot of people living there that seem to like it a lot. A bit more out of the way, yes, but you can get a house for reasonable rent if that’s your style. My dog would love to be able to hang out in a backyard sometimes that’s for sure.
Live Music: What about Workplay? Yeah, it books a lot of shit, but bands whose following outgrows Bottletree make it there pretty well. Mogwai, EitS, etc. It can get a bit upperclass douchey, but it’s easy to get there walking or driving.
Booze: I can’t argue with those suggestions. Rojo is just a bit too crowded 90% of the time, although I’ll like it more when the walls come down in a few months.
Eat: I’ll stick to places that have vegetarian options I like. Kohinoor in Five Points South is a solid alternative to Taj if you don’t wanna walk up Highland. Camp Taco, hopefully it survive, is goddamned delicious. For hipster vibe but a bit of class, it’s sort of hard to beat Chez Lulu in this town. And there’s always the new mecca for tight jeans and american apparel, Za Za. The News told me it changed its name this morning.
Shop: Come on, there a lot more fun shopping options around here. At the very least Reed Books and What’s on 2nd are options. Clothes are a different story I guess. Happi was nice was hella expensive. Charlemagne and Renaissance records for the people that still buy physical media.
Food: It’s worth mentioning Grow Alabama here. I split a Gold Box with 3 other people and we haven’t had any complaints. The dude that runs it is sort of a loon, but the produce is good and all of it is from Alabama or the near southeast.
Coffee: I don’t think you can get by without mentioning Lucy’s for weekday coffee and Crestwood Coffee/O’Henry’s in SoHo square for weekend/evening coffee here.
Hairz Didz: I go to Lisa at Orbit. She’s super nice and does a great job. Plus, you can get a beer/glass of wine with your haircut. If I had known this was an option I would have stopped cutting my own hair years ago. Don’t wanna mention a specific price in case she changes it, but it’s affordable to my grad student salary and well worth it.
Tattoos: I got my Maryland flag back piece done at Aerochild next to Nomad Supply by Aaron, the dude who used to run Cave 9 in some way. I’m itching for another.
Shit to Do: Birmingham Zoo, Botanical Gardens, BMA, Barber, UAB sports (I’m one of those hipsters that likes sports,) walking around the chi chi houses in Mountain Brook, Highland Park Golf Course.
Did you really forget Naked Art and Zoe’s under your Where to Shop section?
Thanks for the suggestions! I incorporated some of the bigger ones I forgot into the post. Hopefully, between the post and comments we can really help out-of-towners get a feel for Bham… so keep the comments coming!
Do hipsters not shop at thrift stores any more? Ah well.
I second the notion that Crestwood/Avondale is a good ‘hood for hipsters. I’d add Marty’s to the bar list, What’s on 2nd? to the shopping list (retro irony by the truckload), and for things to do, an afternoon helping out at Jones Valley Urban Farm might be good for the soul.
Please add the Bicicoop to the list, DIY bike shops are totally Hipster.
I second that about Naked Art and Zoe’s for shopping.
Also, what about art shows in general in Forest Park or at Barehands. Not to mention art festivals like Magic City Art Connection, Art Walk and the art festival in Bluff Park. ALSO, Sidewalk film festival and all of the events that Sidewalk puts on.
Charm boutique would be good to mention! Don’t forget Bad News Bearons softball games, Kids Got the Disco, The Garage, Parkside, and Faith Skate Supply.
How could you leave off the Garage?
I second The Garage.
Enjoyed your article. I would like to add that O’Kafe’s Coffee across from the Dr. Pepper building is a TERRIFIC coffee shop, with homemade fresh peach muffins, free wireless, and smart-ass t-shirts for sale (what more could you ask for, right?)
Phyllis Neill
http://www.wementorsmm.com
You need to mention Kids Got the Disco somewhere in this. It’s the true Birmingham hipster event.
Great post! A lot of these places thrive not just because of the hipsters there, but the non-hipsters who feel cool when they’re mixing with hipsters. From my perch on 2nd Ave North, we’re working to bring more activity/shops/housing so hopefully you can add to this list sometime soon. Cheers.
Hey some hipsters go to church too! what about giving a little shout out to shades valley community church (http://www.shadesvalley.org/)… i know it’s not big with most people but finding a good church in a new city can be difficult. and at least at this church you’re going to run into a lot of the same people you’ll see at rojo, bottletree, nomad supply, workplay, etc.
The Parkside Cafe just opened across the street from Avondale Park. Nice bar, nice atmosphere, very close to The Firehouse and Bottletree.
As a resident of Avondale I have to agree with adding Crestwood/Avondale to the list of Where to Live. And you also have to check out Parkside Cafe. Great smokefree interior with great outside vibe for the good weather nights.
Gotta add Avondale for spots to live and Parkside for places to booze it up.
I second Hayley’s mention of Kids Got The Disco. KGTD are fucking hot right now.
I agree with the Crestwood/Avondale mentions. Crestwood Coffee is definitely worth a mention!
As a hipster new to Birmingham these are the places that I’ve found and grown to love in the past few months.
Living: Crestwood/Avondale. Can’t beat the price and its pretty close to a lot of cool places.
Coffee: O’kafes takes first, great coffee, good environment, free wifi and friendly peeps. But a close second is Crestwood Coffee Co, same great environment, free wifi, open later (and open on sundays). I wouldn’t suggest going to Urban Standard, coffee’s so so and the service is a bit cold.
Food: Bottletree hands down, and I know its a little ways off but Mudtown in cahaba heights is also amazing. Great food and $1 PBR’s.
Music: I’ve really only been to Bottletree for any shows, but I’ve noticed that on weekend nights theres usually a line of peeps outside a gray building on 41st St. right near parkside and Avondale park. Is this a venue? I’d be sick if it were, its like 2 blocks from my Apt. If theres any other good venues I need to know about Im all ears. Thanks
my dad visited us the other weekend and said Homewood reminded him of the Cooper-Young (hipster) area of Memphis. i had to correct him and let him know HW was not hipster (neither am i). Southside/Highlands/Crestwood is more hipster.
Are there not great places to eat in a court yard anymore? Besides the garage of course. I’ve been living in New Orleans for the past couple of years due to work and I miss the Birmingham landscape. Don’t get me wrong. New Orleans is ruling me. I remember a place that i would meet up with some “hipster” friends and we would eat some awesome stuff on a patio surrounded by pretty foliage and flowers. Was that Cobb Lane? Sometimes you have to get out of the grunge and smell the fresh air. I guess that’s a “hipster” thing too now. Being “green” and using quotations marks on things. I’m not a hipster! hahaha!
@Jesse The place by the Avondale park that you’re seeing is the Firehouse that I talked about in the post. You should definitely check it out!
And don’t worry, everyone, after finally visiting Parkside Cafe, I’m definitely adding it to the list. A great vibe if you’re just kind-of looking to chill and have a few drinks. Music’s too quiet to get wild, though. haha
@admin
Thanks. Does Parkside serve food as well?
Ok, I’m confident that I’m not cool enough to be able to fully get inside the hipster psyche, but what about the Alabama Theatre?
I think all sorts of people enjoy catching a show there, particularly when they play old movies like Casablanca. It’s gorgeous inside, and viva la downtown.
What about theatre? Birmingham Festival Theatre (above Golden Temple) has great, edgy live theatre.
Railroad Park is also going to be nice – it’ll be finished by summer.
Is Pepper Place in the running for attractiveness to hipsters? The farmer’s market is wunderbar, and there are some great food/drink spots: Cantina, Bettola, O’Kafes (they have food and coffee and live music).
Other suggestions: Silvetron in Forest Park, J Clyde (I know lots of frat boys go, but so do other types, and really the beer selection can’t be beat), and Cosmos Pizza brunch (don’t they have a bloody mary bar?).
In the events category, don’t forget about Dia de Los Muertos at Bare Hands Gallery each fall – it is flat out awesome.
Thank you for posting this. I just came back to B’ham after 13 years in NYC and I have been BORED TO FREAKING TEARS. Don’t know anyone here anymore, none of the places I used to hang out are still here. Maybe I’ll run into some decent people at Bottletree or the Plaza (I kind of remember some hazy nights at the Plaza back in the day).
Now if only I could find a decent poker game somewhere on Southside…
Yo! Thanks for sharing some cool places to see and things to do here! I just moved here from Oxford, MS and I really like Bham a lot. I have been to Bottletree and Rojo a bunch but most of the other places mentioned I have not been too.
I don’t have a lot of friends here (pretty much barely 3 or 4) and I was looking for places to meet cool peeps that may have similar interests as me. Most young people I have met here are very much your typical SEC college grads but not very diverse. I don’t have anything against these fine folks and I get along with them, I just don’t have a whole lot in common with them other then working.
Also, I live in Homewood now in the Edgewood area and I really like it although as someone stated above, it’s not really like Cooper Young in Memphis or very ‘alt’ at all.
From a dude new to the city: Thanks!
@NYCprodigal and @AARON Glad you found the site! You’re who this post is for so I hope it helps. If you ever see someone with a fro and a red beard out at any of these places, that’s me, so come say hey.
Lets not gorget about SPR on five points. Best sushi place in Birmingham.
Hipsters eat food? I thought they sustained themselves on a strict diet of unoriginality and self-generating angst at the fact that no matter what cool thing they do, wear, say, or listen to, they can never escape the fact that they are lame. They are always full.
What I don’t understand about hipster culture is why you have to conform to certain clothing and aesthetic standards in order to fit in. I mean, wasn’t the whole point (originally) to protest the banality of mainstream conformity and consumerism? So why is it so important that I have an asymmetrical haircut, tattoos and ironic eye glasses if I want to fit in at the Bottletree or Parkside? The bartenders there are so rude to me simply because I don’t look or behave like their other patrons. But I have my own style and I like to dress originally, even a bit eccentrically at times… just not eccentric in the way that is approved by Vice magazine. If hipsters are sooo much more creative than the bourgeois masses, then why are they so afraid to be truly original, and dress or act in a way that is truly their own, and not copied from indie cliches? Maybe it is because they are perpetually paranoid of being perceived as uncool, which is a cultural disease originating from the narcicisstic materialism and corporate advertising of the mainstream. To me, hipsters are just those people who never grew out of the high school clique mentality, who feel a need to conform in order to be cool and accepted by their peers, and who are too uncomfortable in their own skin to step out and do something truly worthwhile and original.
@m. w.
BAM!
Right on. I’ve never lived in Birmingham, but in other AL cities and similarly sized metro areas within a couple hundred miles. This is kinda BS. True hipsters only shop at American Apparel? Maybe if you’re a “daddy pays for my alternative lifestyle even though I openly hate on him” hipster…but I’ve never met anyone worth knowing who insisted on such strict cliches as espoused in this article.
I get called a “hipster” on a regular basis, as do some of my friends, based on rough indicators that are irrelevant to a person’s character. Unfortunately, I can’t help but feel insulted, even when I know someone doesn’t know better. This is basically why.
@m. w. and @LiberalEliteMedia
I appreciate a self-aggrandizing, unsolicited tirade as much as the next guy, but did you guys even read the post? At no point was it trying to insinuate that this is how one HAS to act or look in order to be a hipster in Birmingham. In fact, the post specifically states in the beginning that no one likes or self-referentially uses the term. It’s just a name that currently refers loosely to a certain subculture. All of your judgements are aimed at a strawman based on stereotypes.
The post is simply for people new to Bham–who might not be catered to by Birmingham’s surface -level culture (yourselves included)–to have an easy way of integrating in with their own kind. Nothing more. The judgmental attitudes and negativity you guys are bringing isn’t doing any good. If someone wants to dress a certain way, that doesn’t necessarily say anything about their personality, just like looking “eccentric” doesn’t mean that someone’s interesting. Quit pretending to be outsiders and lets all just get along.