Birmingham Council OKs Al Fresco Dining as ‘Hail Mary’ for Restaurants

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/08/outdoor-dining.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:429;s:4:"file";s:26:"2020/08/outdoor-dining.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-336x225.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:225;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"outdoor-dining-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-600x429.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:429;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-464x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:464;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-395x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:395;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-600x429.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:429;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"outdoor-dining-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

)
1649291563 
1597161257

Birmingham restaurants will now be able to use sidewalks and parking spaces for outdoor dining, the City Council decided Tuesday. The decision, described by District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams as a “Hail Mary from the mayor’s staff,” is intended to give restaurants greater seating capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ordinance will allow food and beverage venues to apply for a shared-space permit, which would allow them to serve food and alcohol in certain outdoor spaces adjacent to their businesses. These permits would last through Sept. 30, but District 5 Councilor Darrell O’Quinn suggested that the city might extend that deadline “if this works out well.”

“I think it’s something that we should consider for a permanent permitting process,” O’Quinn said.

Williams agreed: “If all our restaurants and bars had tables out on the sidewalks, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Restaurants across the country have experienced financial hardships due to COVID-19. Reduced indoor seating mandated by social distancing policies — as well as increased public reluctance to dine out — has caused many restaurants to scale back their staff or shut down entirely.

Birmingham previously had tested an outdoor dining strategy with last month’s “Eat in the Streets” event in Avondale, which closed off portions of 41st Street South to use as outdoor seating for nearby restaurants.

 

UConn takes 12th NCAA women’s basketball title with dominant win over South Carolina

UConn is back on top of women's basketball, winning its 12th NCAA national championship by routing defending champion South Carolina 82-59 on Sunday.

Alex Ovechkin scores goal #895 to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record

The Washington Capitals star made history with a power play goal from the left faceoff circle — as Gretzky, who last set the record more than 25 years ago, looked on.

Severe storms and floods batter South and Midwest, as death toll rises to at least 18

Severe storms continued to pound parts of the South and Midwest, as a punishing and slow-moving storm system unleashed life-threatening flash floods and powerful tornadoes from Mississippi to Kentucky.

Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 32, mostly women and children

Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 32 people, including over a dozen women and children, local health officials said Sunday, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu headed to meet President Trump.

Second child dies from measles-related causes in West Texas, where cases near 500

A second school-aged child in West Texas has died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell.

Yemen Houthi rebels say latest US strikes killed 2, day after Trump posted bomb video

Suspected U.S. airstrikes killed at least two people in a stronghold of Yemen's Houthi rebels, the group said Sunday.

More BirminghamWatch Coverage