Where to find TIM...
I guess another name for this page would be "Tim's Fav's" because when I find a place where I am treated with respect as a customer, I go back, over and over again. At least until a point in time when I am no longer treated with the respect due a customer (and it happens more frequently than it should, trust me...). So, call this list what you will, but if I have a hankering for whatever it is that they sell, do, or serve, you'll probably see me there, and please, use ALL of your fingers when you wave!
COFFEE: Free always makes things taste better, right? Well, even if it wasn't free (usually) to me, I'd still go here and often do even when I know I gotta plunk down my hard earned cash ("Honey... I need some coffee money..."). STARBUCKS makes my life giving elixir like no other place can. I'll either pop in at the Crestline Starbucks to see the old gang that works there and pop my happy little ass right on back out of Mountain Brook before they even knew I was there (evil, evil, EVIL city and even worse excuse for a Police Department). If it's dark and I can sneak in with the setting sun, I might stay for an hour or two if all the little yuppie larvae haven't taken over the place. There are some good folks that work there, long time friends. Otherwise, you'll find me quietly sipping a relaxing french Vanilla Latte at the Eastwood Starbucks, on the patio if the weather permits watching all the people hurry by on Montclair Road as they too go about this thing called life. SO... How do I get my SB fix for free? Easy, my daughter works there and has for going on 5 years so I am well know at many of the local SB's but particularly, the Crestline and Eastwood locations. My other Fav Coffee Hangout is Forrest Perk Coffee on Clairmont and I've actually seen an Angel there once. I don't go much just because of some minor personal dislikes, but hey, free IS free and that's gonna be hard to beat anywhere else.
BREAKFAST FAV'S: When I have the time, and don't mind hunting for a parking place on the weekends, the Original Pancake House at 5pts South is my first choice locally. Their coffee is delivered by God I'm sure and is the best straight up cup of coffee in this Tragic City. I usually get their corned beef hash plate with 3 poached eggs and toast with real fruit preserves. I'm really a simple Bacon-Eggs-Grits kinda guy, but damn, it gets harder and harder to find every time I go a looking. I have known several of their excellent servers (Hi Mark) for years and years and am even neighbors with one of them. If you go there, BEWARE of the BUMS and DON'T GIVE THEM ANY DAMN MONEY! If you give them money, it's like feeding a stray dog and you'll never get them to go where they need to go which is the shelters and social services so they can be identified and get the help they need. Second choice locally (and most frequently) is Jacks in Irondale (a miserable little shitdrip of a city...). Now I am a firm believer that fast food places should be required to hire people whose IQ EXCEEDS that of the food they serve, but this would not usually be the case of Jacks in Irondale. They get it right usually more often than not so I keep coming back, but I resent every penny I give to Irondale in taxes for my purchase there if it helps keep that inbreed cesspool of political thieves and idiots operating another day longer. Otherwise, I buy NOTHING in Irondale, PERIOD! And when it comes to ANY road trip that finds my front bumper pointed South to the gulf, we HAVE to ALWAYS stop at Shoney's in Clanton exit 208 for some of the best breakfast buffet food and servers in the State of Alabama (and most of them are Redheads too, THANK YOU LORD!). Just found me a new FAV for Breakfast. The Patriot Cafe at the VA Hospital. Good food, decent prices and really nice folks too.
PLACES I PASS ON FOR BREAKFAST: Grumps, Bogues,
LUNCH: Due to my problems with a wheat allergy that makes it mucho more difficult to find a place where I can eat without looking like a freak, I find that I have gravitated to the Steam Bars at any of the local grocery stores. They usually have a non-breaded meat that I can and will actually eat and a typically complete offering of veggies to round out my meal. 1st CHOICE is Piggly Wiggly in Crestline, damn good food and damn good people! 2nd CHOICE would be Western on Highland Ave. but the lunchtime parking in their lot really sucks so sometimes I have to limp on down to my 3rd CHOICE which is Piggly Wiggly on Clairmont Ave. but they like to randomly toss the Cayenne pepper in their food so watch it if your sensitive to it like I am. Coutney's and The Burley Earl deserve a mention here although they have both succumbed to the economic times and have closed their doors forever, they both will be missed.
PLACES I DON'T GO: Grumps, Bogues, Newks, The Fish Market,
DINNER: Man, where don't I go? Logan's Roadhouse Crestwood is always a FAV. Cracker Barrel, Sabor Latino, any Chinese Buffet, Chen's, Fronterra Grill, Carraba's, P.F. Changs, CiCi's, Jim-N-Nicks BBQ 5pts South, Dreamland, PJ's Full Moon BBQ, IHOP, Al's, Macaroni Grill, LLoyd's on 280, Taziki's Grill 280 and Southside, any hotdog shop Gus's Sneaky Pete's, etc. Like I said, where don't I go?
BARS: I don't drink, so I don't go to many. I know the owners of Our Place which is a fairly new gay bar next to where The Burly Earl used to be and have been there several times and I really like the design concept and layout of the place but I keep getting hit on every time I go there which gets old real quick. It's been years since I was in Marty's, but I know several of the bouncers there pretty well but that's about it as far as bars go. God I miss Shadyside Bar and Grill on Bush Blvd and The Goal Line Bar across from Legion Field! Those were the days.
ENTERTAINMENT: In this town? Virginia Samford Theater has seen my butt in their seats more times this year than ever before. The Alys Stephens Center, Sloss Furnace, Pepper Place Market, The McWayne Center, Birmingham Zoo, The Alabama Theater, various happenings at Caldwell Park (Doo-Doo Days, Gumbo Gala, ASO, etc) have all seen little ole me one way or another this year. The City of Birmingham has CLOSED The Birmingham International Raceway (BIR) at Fairpark, AND they shutdown our city's annual music festival, City Stages, but I've been seen at both more than once. I've got a neighbor and good friend that wants to get back into horse riding and that's something I've always wanted to learn how to do, properly. He's also relit my interest in ballet, so look for me near horse doodoo and tu-tu's in the near future. Other turn-on's for me... Gun Shows, any type of racing, and I particularly enjoy going to watch the Bubba's race at Sayre Raceway out Highway 78 a ways. Ain't nuthin like Redneck Racin at it's best!
GEOCACHING: If your going GeoWHAT? Then go to http://www.geocaching.com/ and you'll learn more there in 5 minutes than I can disseminate here. In a nutshell, there are over 8500 hidden GeoCaches in the Greater Birmingham Area, everything from a "micro" to car sized caches. Not to mention the "special" caches, like "virtual caches", "trackables" and so on. Throw in USGS Benchmark hunting with your GPS and maybe a Degree Confluence here and there and for about $100.00 worth of GPS and a little driving, you can have a ton of fun.
METAL DETECTING: When the weather is right, I'm all over this one. I own e metal detectors, each one has it's niche application that it excels in. I have a Garrett GTA-1000 which is my favorite for anything from park hunting for coins and jewelry to Civil War artifact hunting. I have a Fisher 1270X which is the commemorative version of the best relic hunter out there, the Fisher 1266. And then I have my BOUNTY HUNTER Sharp Shooter II, which for the money, is one of the best out of the box, turn on and go metal detectors out there. All three have given me a lot of pleasure over the years and I have found many interesting items with them. With metal detecting, the actual "find" is the culmination of many skills and efforts expended in doing the research, mapping the area, obtaining permission to hunt, navigation to the site, site prep, etc. All of that has to take place before you can get the first swing in. Right now, I am putting together a recovery team to hunt down and retrieve two Civil War canon that were captured by Col. Nathan Bedford Forest (CSA) from Gen. William Straight at the Battle of Memphis, and then used to chase his worthless Yankee hide across the South until he was captured, arrested and imprisoned while he was trying to burn Rome, GA to the ground. I am also trying to put together an expedition to retrace the Civil War journeys across Alabama, and document Civil War campgrounds with the use of metal detectors. If anyone is interested, drop me a line at timsuggs@yahoo.com
RACING-RACING-RACING: Not much left around town anymore. They tore down BIR, so that leaves Sayre (short, very short track), Lassiter Mountain (drags), Birmingham Dragway (78W), Steele Raceway (drags) and the Talledega and the couple of small tracks around it. Montgomery still has an assortment of tracks I think. But if you want to find me, it's probably gonna be at Sayre
.
COFFEE: Free always makes things taste better, right? Well, even if it wasn't free (usually) to me, I'd still go here and often do even when I know I gotta plunk down my hard earned cash ("Honey... I need some coffee money..."). STARBUCKS makes my life giving elixir like no other place can. I'll either pop in at the Crestline Starbucks to see the old gang that works there and pop my happy little ass right on back out of Mountain Brook before they even knew I was there (evil, evil, EVIL city and even worse excuse for a Police Department). If it's dark and I can sneak in with the setting sun, I might stay for an hour or two if all the little yuppie larvae haven't taken over the place. There are some good folks that work there, long time friends. Otherwise, you'll find me quietly sipping a relaxing french Vanilla Latte at the Eastwood Starbucks, on the patio if the weather permits watching all the people hurry by on Montclair Road as they too go about this thing called life. SO... How do I get my SB fix for free? Easy, my daughter works there and has for going on 5 years so I am well know at many of the local SB's but particularly, the Crestline and Eastwood locations. My other Fav Coffee Hangout is Forrest Perk Coffee on Clairmont and I've actually seen an Angel there once. I don't go much just because of some minor personal dislikes, but hey, free IS free and that's gonna be hard to beat anywhere else.
BREAKFAST FAV'S: When I have the time, and don't mind hunting for a parking place on the weekends, the Original Pancake House at 5pts South is my first choice locally. Their coffee is delivered by God I'm sure and is the best straight up cup of coffee in this Tragic City. I usually get their corned beef hash plate with 3 poached eggs and toast with real fruit preserves. I'm really a simple Bacon-Eggs-Grits kinda guy, but damn, it gets harder and harder to find every time I go a looking. I have known several of their excellent servers (Hi Mark) for years and years and am even neighbors with one of them. If you go there, BEWARE of the BUMS and DON'T GIVE THEM ANY DAMN MONEY! If you give them money, it's like feeding a stray dog and you'll never get them to go where they need to go which is the shelters and social services so they can be identified and get the help they need. Second choice locally (and most frequently) is Jacks in Irondale (a miserable little shitdrip of a city...). Now I am a firm believer that fast food places should be required to hire people whose IQ EXCEEDS that of the food they serve, but this would not usually be the case of Jacks in Irondale. They get it right usually more often than not so I keep coming back, but I resent every penny I give to Irondale in taxes for my purchase there if it helps keep that inbreed cesspool of political thieves and idiots operating another day longer. Otherwise, I buy NOTHING in Irondale, PERIOD! And when it comes to ANY road trip that finds my front bumper pointed South to the gulf, we HAVE to ALWAYS stop at Shoney's in Clanton exit 208 for some of the best breakfast buffet food and servers in the State of Alabama (and most of them are Redheads too, THANK YOU LORD!). Just found me a new FAV for Breakfast. The Patriot Cafe at the VA Hospital. Good food, decent prices and really nice folks too.
PLACES I PASS ON FOR BREAKFAST: Grumps, Bogues,
LUNCH: Due to my problems with a wheat allergy that makes it mucho more difficult to find a place where I can eat without looking like a freak, I find that I have gravitated to the Steam Bars at any of the local grocery stores. They usually have a non-breaded meat that I can and will actually eat and a typically complete offering of veggies to round out my meal. 1st CHOICE is Piggly Wiggly in Crestline, damn good food and damn good people! 2nd CHOICE would be Western on Highland Ave. but the lunchtime parking in their lot really sucks so sometimes I have to limp on down to my 3rd CHOICE which is Piggly Wiggly on Clairmont Ave. but they like to randomly toss the Cayenne pepper in their food so watch it if your sensitive to it like I am. Coutney's and The Burley Earl deserve a mention here although they have both succumbed to the economic times and have closed their doors forever, they both will be missed.
PLACES I DON'T GO: Grumps, Bogues, Newks, The Fish Market,
DINNER: Man, where don't I go? Logan's Roadhouse Crestwood is always a FAV. Cracker Barrel, Sabor Latino, any Chinese Buffet, Chen's, Fronterra Grill, Carraba's, P.F. Changs, CiCi's, Jim-N-Nicks BBQ 5pts South, Dreamland, PJ's Full Moon BBQ, IHOP, Al's, Macaroni Grill, LLoyd's on 280, Taziki's Grill 280 and Southside, any hotdog shop Gus's Sneaky Pete's, etc. Like I said, where don't I go?
BARS: I don't drink, so I don't go to many. I know the owners of Our Place which is a fairly new gay bar next to where The Burly Earl used to be and have been there several times and I really like the design concept and layout of the place but I keep getting hit on every time I go there which gets old real quick. It's been years since I was in Marty's, but I know several of the bouncers there pretty well but that's about it as far as bars go. God I miss Shadyside Bar and Grill on Bush Blvd and The Goal Line Bar across from Legion Field! Those were the days.
ENTERTAINMENT: In this town? Virginia Samford Theater has seen my butt in their seats more times this year than ever before. The Alys Stephens Center, Sloss Furnace, Pepper Place Market, The McWayne Center, Birmingham Zoo, The Alabama Theater, various happenings at Caldwell Park (Doo-Doo Days, Gumbo Gala, ASO, etc) have all seen little ole me one way or another this year. The City of Birmingham has CLOSED The Birmingham International Raceway (BIR) at Fairpark, AND they shutdown our city's annual music festival, City Stages, but I've been seen at both more than once. I've got a neighbor and good friend that wants to get back into horse riding and that's something I've always wanted to learn how to do, properly. He's also relit my interest in ballet, so look for me near horse doodoo and tu-tu's in the near future. Other turn-on's for me... Gun Shows, any type of racing, and I particularly enjoy going to watch the Bubba's race at Sayre Raceway out Highway 78 a ways. Ain't nuthin like Redneck Racin at it's best!
GEOCACHING: If your going GeoWHAT? Then go to http://www.geocaching.com/ and you'll learn more there in 5 minutes than I can disseminate here. In a nutshell, there are over 8500 hidden GeoCaches in the Greater Birmingham Area, everything from a "micro" to car sized caches. Not to mention the "special" caches, like "virtual caches", "trackables" and so on. Throw in USGS Benchmark hunting with your GPS and maybe a Degree Confluence here and there and for about $100.00 worth of GPS and a little driving, you can have a ton of fun.
METAL DETECTING: When the weather is right, I'm all over this one. I own e metal detectors, each one has it's niche application that it excels in. I have a Garrett GTA-1000 which is my favorite for anything from park hunting for coins and jewelry to Civil War artifact hunting. I have a Fisher 1270X which is the commemorative version of the best relic hunter out there, the Fisher 1266. And then I have my BOUNTY HUNTER Sharp Shooter II, which for the money, is one of the best out of the box, turn on and go metal detectors out there. All three have given me a lot of pleasure over the years and I have found many interesting items with them. With metal detecting, the actual "find" is the culmination of many skills and efforts expended in doing the research, mapping the area, obtaining permission to hunt, navigation to the site, site prep, etc. All of that has to take place before you can get the first swing in. Right now, I am putting together a recovery team to hunt down and retrieve two Civil War canon that were captured by Col. Nathan Bedford Forest (CSA) from Gen. William Straight at the Battle of Memphis, and then used to chase his worthless Yankee hide across the South until he was captured, arrested and imprisoned while he was trying to burn Rome, GA to the ground. I am also trying to put together an expedition to retrace the Civil War journeys across Alabama, and document Civil War campgrounds with the use of metal detectors. If anyone is interested, drop me a line at timsuggs@yahoo.com
RACING-RACING-RACING: Not much left around town anymore. They tore down BIR, so that leaves Sayre (short, very short track), Lassiter Mountain (drags), Birmingham Dragway (78W), Steele Raceway (drags) and the Talledega and the couple of small tracks around it. Montgomery still has an assortment of tracks I think. But if you want to find me, it's probably gonna be at Sayre
.
