🪄 Who has the best Fourth of July Fireworks? 🇺🇸

Good morning, Birmingham!

Hard to believe July 4th is already here, which means we are already halfway through 2025! With so many great fireworks shows in town, it’s hard to decide which is the best. Multiple shows will compete for the best view in town, and one of them is literally the largest display of fireworks in the state.

Let’s get to it.

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The Perfect After Dinner Treat

🍰 🍸️ Ampersand
It’s perfect timing for the opening of this new spot - Birmingham is about to get a whole lot sweeter with the opening of Ampersand Cocktails & Desserts this Friday, July 4th!

This fun new spot is the city's first dessert bar, where you can sip fancy cocktails while indulging in boozy treats that sound almost too good to be true. Think pineapple upside down cake with a rum twist and brownie sundaes that come wrapped in chocolate shells - because why not make dessert even more dramatic?

It's the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth and your need for a good drink at the same time. Open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 4PM, Ampersand is ready to become Birmingham's new go-to spot for anyone who believes life's too short to skip dessert.

🥖 Alco Baking

I have a soft spot for small businesses. I work with them every day and admire the passion that comes with turning a passion into a business. Look no further than Alco Baking. My wife picked up some bread and cinnamon rolls this week, and I knew I had to mention them here. The best sourdough bread in town by far.

Get ready to fall in love with bread that looks so good you'll wish you could smell it through your screen! Geoff Luke traded his corporate spreadsheets at Shipt for sourdough starters and baguette scoring when he launched ALCO Baking from his home.

This passionate baker is completely enchanted by the "mysterious and elemental" process of turning simple flour, water, salt, and yeast into something magical and alive. He calls bread-making pure alchemy, which inspired his company's name - transforming basic ingredients into something truly special.

🧘‍♂️ New Lululemon Store, But Maybe Shop Elsewhere?

As a Birmingham native, I naturally under appreciate the architectural marvel that is The Summit. And I love that more big name brands continue to show up and/or expand in our great city. The Summit is so impressive that it continues to attract more big name brands for retail stores. So come check out the new space to scope out some grand opening sales and some surprises they’ve promised for opening day.

But also, Lululemon just filed a lawsuit against Costco for selling the same version of their pants (link). So doesn’t that mean Lulu just admitted you can get the same thing at Costco? 🤔 I’m not saying you shouldn’t shop at Lulu, but for all those who’d prefer to get 6 pairs of pants for the price of 1, maybe check out Costco too since apparently it’s the same thing 😆 

🏙️ Birmingham: The Comeback Town

I speak with many business owners across the country, and I’m constantly preaching that Birmingham is such an underrated city. So I love to see articles such as this where people discover the hidden gem of Birmingham after being away for many years.

Former TV reporter Debra Des Vignes, who once dismissed Birmingham as "too sleepy" during her time at WVTM 13 from 2000-2004, has returned nine times since 2022 and found a dramatically transformed city. She compares Birmingham's renaissance to Berlin, praising how the city has evolved from having just a handful of downtown destinations to a vibrant urban center filled with restaurants, boutiques, and loft living.

Des Vignes, who now runs a creative writing program for incarcerated individuals, admires Birmingham's ability to blend its historical roots with modern development while maintaining a strong sense of community and resilience. (link)

🌟 UAB Expert Stresses Fire Safety

You know we had to mention safety on this particular holiday. Clearly, public safety officials and organizations are on edge and want to share a few safety tips for Independence Day.

The UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, Alabama's only dedicated eye emergency room, sees increased eye injuries during the holiday and strongly recommends attending public displays instead of using fireworks at home (These public displays are listed below). Key safety advice includes supervising children, never relighting duds, keeping water nearby, and crucially - never rubbing or rinsing an injured eye before seeking emergency care. (link)

Now, on to the fun stuff - Firework shows!

⚾️ July 4th with the Birmingham Barons | Regions Field | Downtown | 07/03 | More 
Enjoy some baseball and one of the biggest fireworks shows of the year!

🔥 Fire on the Water | Oak Mountain State Park | 07/03 | More
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🎆 Thunder on the Mountain | Vulcan Park | Homewood | 07/04 | More
For the first time even, enjoy fireworks from the best vantage point in the state!

🧸 Pell City Extravaganza | Lake Side Park / Pell City Sports Complex | 07/04 | More 
Doesn’t get much better than a spectacular fireworks show over the lake!

🧸 Trussville Freedom Celebration | | 07/04 | | Historic Trussville Mall | More 
Doesn’t get much better than a spectacular fireworks show over the lake!

🍸️ Free Cocktail Thursday | Rojo Birmingham | Town | 07/03 | More
Free cocktail on the first Thursday of every month!

🏨 Fireworks at the Elyton | Elyton Hotel | Downtown | 07/04 | More
Cocktails and fireworks from arguably the best view of downtown!

🧘‍♀️ Stand Up Comedy with a Brew | TrimTab Brewing | 07/03 | More
Every Thursday, share laughs and local beer at this comedy show!

👜 Suds, Seafood, and Blues | Magnolia Point | 07/04 | More
Soulful music with fresh catch for an authentic American holiday celebration!

Let us all take a moment to appreciate the greatest 4th of July video of all time 🫡