🌱 Uptown Jazz + Two Birmingham Officers Honored + Starbucks Closed

Hello again, Birmingham! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Birmingham Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Birmingham Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Birmingham long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 74 Low: 49.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. A new upscale jazz lounge is coming to Birmingham this summer. The new lounge, located at 2250 B 9th Avenue North next to K&J’s Elegant Pastries, is owned by longtime Birminghamians Rod Conwell and Patrick Chatman. Meet the owners of Uptown Jazz and learn more about the venue at the link. (Bham Now)
2. Two Birmingham police officers were honored for rescuing a woman trapped in a car during rising floodwaters. The two men, Officer Michael Burnett and Officer Anthony Evans, received a medal of honor award for the heroic act on Oct. 7, 2021. Elizabeth Smith, 87, was not breathing when she was rescued from inside the vehicle in six-seven feet of water and is alive today because of their efforts. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
3. One day after workers announced plans to unionize, a Birmingham Starbucks closed three hours early. On Tuesday, an employee at Store No. 23642, located on Third Avenue South and 20th Street South, told a reporter at 5:00 p.m. that the Starbucks location was closed — three hours earlier than its usual 8:00 p.m. closing time. The Birmingham chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America said the store was closing “for a union-busting meeting;” Starbucks could not be immediately reached for comment. (AL.com)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Springville Road Library Tiny Art Show!, At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Advanced Word, At Five Points West Regional Branch Library (9:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The University of Alabama has announced Dr. Clifford L. Henderson as the next dean of The University of Alabama College of Engineering! Henderson comes to UA from the University of South Florida after spending five years as a professor and chair of the department of chemical, biological and materials engineering. (Facebook)
• Meet the 25 Black-owned businesses selected for the Magic City Match. (Birmingham Times)
• Tackle your to-do list with help from the top-rated home professionals in the Birmingham area. (Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.