A taste of Miami in Huntsville: Discovering Havanabama’s Cuban hospitality

“Cuban coffee is very powerful, very sweet, and a little dangerous — just like the people who drink it.” — Gloria Estefan.  So reads a quotation on the menu of Havanabama, an oasis of joy and hospitality — tucked into an inconspicuous strip mall on South Parkway.  It’s a Friday in late August, and I […]

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken to open first Huntsville location at Stadium Commons

Huntsville’s culinary scene is set to explode with yet another regional favorite added to the growing pantheon. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken announced that the Nashville-based franchise will be opening its first Huntsville location at Stadium Commons. The new restaurant, which will occupy a 2,800 square foot standalone building, is expected to open in late 2025. […]

16 must-see summer events coming to Huntsville this month

Markets, concerts, and other fun events abound in and around Huntsville during the warmer months. See what’s coming up in July!  Click on the event title for more information about a particular event.  Events are free and family-friendly unless otherwise noted. Leashed pets are usually welcome. 2024 City of Madison Star Spangled Celebration July 3 […]

Small Biz Spotlight: Talking local business and good brews with Straight to Ale Brewery

The Huntsville craft beer scene wouldn’t be what it is today without Straight to Ale brewery and the group of friends who started it. As the second oldest craft brewery in Alabama, Straight to Ale’s origins are tied to Free the Hops, a grassroots lobbying organization that led the charge for changing Alabama’s beer laws. […]

A look inside the newest BBQ joint bringing New Orleans flavor to Rocket City

Blue Oak BBQ is now open in Huntsville’s MidCity District at 1000 Mid City Drive.  Blue Oak BBQ co-owners, Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley, opened the original Blue Oak in 2012 in their hometown of New Orleans when they began smoking meats in a small pop-up inside of the Uptown dive bar, Grits.  Four years […]

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United to invest $330M in new Alabama facility

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (UNITED) has announced a significant investment of $330 million in a new state-of-the-art facility in Birmingham’s Kingston community. This development is expected to create up to 50 new jobs and retain over 750 positions in the city. The new facility will be constructed on the former Stockham Valves and Fittings […]

Community celebrates as latest development breaks ground in North Huntsville

Food City representatives and City of Huntsville officials broke ground for a new grocery store in North Huntsville on Wednesday, May 8. The groundbreaking marked the third of six planned grocery stores the chain committed to building in Huntsville. Food City will be “creating growth, success, and opportunity for this community,” said Crystal Baker of […]

Small Business Spotlight: A Conversation with the Church Street Family

What began as a single wine shop, born out of a desire to recreate the ambiance of a California wine bar, has grown into a collection of nine distinctive restaurants and bars. Husband and wife team Matt Mell and Stephanie Kennedy-Mell are the creative culinary geniuses behind the Church Street Family restaurants and bars, which […]

Need something to do with the family this weekend? Check out the return of the Battle of the Buffalo!

If the mere mention of ‘chicken wings’ makes your mouth water, you’ll want to mark “Battle of the Buffalo” on your calendar for Saturday, April 13. The public is invited to attend the fifteenth anniversary of the largest philanthropic chicken wing festival in the southeast, with all proceeds going to cancer research. Battle of the Buffalo will take […]

Mark your calendar! Downtown Huntsville releases full slate of events for 2024

Downtown Huntsville, Inc. has announced the schedule for the 2024 event season, which promises a series of unforgettable experiences in the Heart of Huntsville.  Kicking off the season is the Downtown Open, a free mini-golf experience set up around Courthouse Square. From April 18 through April 30, participants can enjoy creatively designed holes, courtesy of […]