Birmingham Real Estate Pros

Birmingham Farmers Markets

Birmingham has a burgeoning and bustling farmer’s market scene! You’d be surprise to find out that there is a farmer’s market just about every day of the week in at least one section of town! Monday - Montevallo, Tuesday - Calera, Friday - Leeds, Saturday - Hoover. Regadless of what part of town you live, one thing is certain, you will find some great fresh produce, friendly people, and healthy dose of community spirit!

The one thing I have noticed is that each market shares common ground in incredible produce and community spirt, yet each market has it’s own personality! For example, the farmers market in Mt. Laurel features fresh vegetables, but also features artisans and craftsman selling their creations too. Another thing I really like about the farmers market is the ability to speak directly with the person growing the crops for sale! There is such a wealth of information there for an amateur like myself, I feel like I am back in school, in a good way, each time!

Calera Farmers Market

The Calera Farmers Market is one of our family favorites! The location is absolutely fantastic! Located next to the Calera Library, there is ample parking with easy access to the market. There is always a great selection of fresh vegetables from the local farmers. We have purchased cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, and squash from the various booths and each vegetable has been incredible. The organizers have a booth set-up as well offering free cold drinks, and sometimes tomato sandwiches. Calera’s farmers market also has live music, face painting, and other activities and entertainment. Yet, the one thing that really stands out is the giant playground. That is what really makes this location stand out! When your kids ask to go to the farmers market, it makes you really appreciate this location that much more!

Valleydale Farmers Market

Saturday mornings this summer means Valleydale Farmers Market! Each week, I rouse the wife and kids from their slumber and drag them to the Valleydale Farmers Market. Just kidding, they actually enjoy going to the market too! The Valleydale market does not have the playground for the kids, but what they do have is incredible fruits and vegetables! We have been to this market more often than the others around town. There is a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, all grown locally by Alabama farmers. One farm in particular has been a favorite of ours, The A&P Farms from Gallant Alabama. They have a great selection of produce including heirloom tomatoes, blackberries, squash, zucchini, onions, and recently the most delicious watermelon I have tasted this summer!

Honorable Mention!

There are other markets that we have visited this summer and would like to mention those as well.

Helena Farmers Market

The Helena Farmers Market is located in Old Town Helena by the amphitheater. It is a great location next to Buck Creek. This market is open on Saturdays throughout the summer.

Leeds Farmers Market

The Leeds Farmers Market is also a nice market with some great produce. This market is open on Fridays and is located downtown on 6th Street.

Montevallo Farmers Market

Monday is the Montevallo Farmers Market. Located behind McDonalds off Main Street, this market features many of the same farmers that make-up the Calera Farmers Market on Tuesday. Although this location is not my favorite, the market has great produce and a friendly atmosphere.

I highly recommend visiting one of Birmingham’s Farmers Markets. Not only will you get some great fresh locally grown produce, you’ll find yourself having a great time too!

Today is July 9, 2008.

Ok since my last post on gas prices, the winner for cheapest gas was Jet-Pep in Pelham @ $3.77/gallon, gas has increased by  $.16/gallon.  Jet-Pep in Pelham is now at $3.93/gallon and creeping higher.  Right now though the cheapest gas, courtesy of BirminghamGasPrices.Com, in Pelham, Alabama is $3.89 at Kangaroo. (The one next to I-65 & Cracker Barrel.) 

It is now official, we have cracked the $4.00/gallon The highest gas price is listed as $4.05/gallon at Shell.  I tend to think we will start to see this more often.  I can only imagine what it must cost to fill up a full size Suburban right now, yikes that has to hurt. Of course it is probably considered “cheap” by our H2 Hummer driving friends.

As gas prices continue to climb throughout the US, many useful websites are coming online to help people find the cheapest gas in town.  One such website is GasBuddy.  If you visit, you can select the area of the country to view local gas prices. 

It looks like over the last 60 hours, the cheapest gas around Birmingham was being sold in Pelham, at Jet-Pep for $3.77/gallon. (Which would explain the long line of cars I saw there yesterday!)  At the other end of the spectrum are various Shells, BPs, Exxons, & Chevrons hovering at the $3.99/gallon range. (Although I did see one website reporting a Shell in Hoover being over $4/gallon!)

I was not able to get a price for Costco Gas, they tend to be cheaper than the rest so if you are in Hoover and a member, check there first.  Also, although gas may be cheaper at the pump, but if you are driving out of your way for cheap gas, remember, the further you drive out of your way, the more expensive the gas becomes.

APPLE STORE!!!!!

Tomorrow 4/14/2007 is Apple Day in Birmingham, Alabama. The new Apple Store officially opens at the Summit Shopping Mall at 10:00AM.

http://www.apple.com/retail/thesummit/map/

This is totally awesome.

I received the notification Tuesday morning. Hoping that on an outside chance the store “might” already be open, I packed up the kid and hit the road. Nothing. I circled the parking lot, but the only possible locations were covered in plywood.

You see, I have been wanting to go test drive a Mac Book Pro for quite some time, but without a local vender that could answer my questions, I was stuck with having to drive to Atlanta. But no more! Tomorrow I will pack up the kid and hit the road again. Maybe this time I will be able to spend her inheritence on a new laptop!

November Home Shopping:

Fall colors are fantastic this year in Birmingham! The hills are dotted with color and make the landscape just a treat to view! Home shoppers in Birmingham looking for that special property with alot of trees or a view are having a hard time choosing this year. Why? Not only do they have to select the right home, but the best views of the trees as well.

I guess it all depends on what it is that you are looking for in a view. Long vistas with views that go on for as long as the eye can see, hills behind your home dotted with color, or right dab in the middle of the woods, it’s a tough choice. Especially when some of the homes are “equal”.

So, what can you do? All these great views and you only need one home… Choose wisely. Keep your focus on your housing needs. Take your time. But don’t take too long. Someone else might snatch up your dream home!

Birmingham Homes for Sale:

The upcoming weekend looks like it is going to be great weather for home shopping here in Birmingham. Don’t get caught inside! Get out and take a look at some of the wonderful new construction homes for sale in the Birmingham area.

For starters, take a drive to Helena. Take in the color of the leaves as you drive through Riverwoods. Check out the Americana style in the area and enjoy the craftmanship of the builders and architects involved in the development of Riverwoods.

Next, take a drive up South Shades Crest Road in Hoover and swing through some of the neighborhoods along the way. Take time out to see Russet Woods, Shades Pointe, and Bluff Park!

Lastly, head out to the Moss Rock Preserve and see the homes decorated for the fall holidays in the Preserve. Oh, and when you see a home you want to know more about, contact us at Birmingham MLS Search, we’ll be glad to get you the information you request.