Huntsville Restaurant Week & News

Just a heads up to everyone that Huntsville Restaurant Week starts this Friday 8/15/14 and runs through 8/24/14. Amanda Conger at Our Valley Events and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau have both done a wonderful job of putting out information on the what's, who's, where's and how much. Our team looks forward to experience all the dishes that these restaurants will be showcasing to the city.

A few of the Huntsville Restaurant Week Participants

Also coming across the news, specifically WHNT. It looks like there are plans in the works for Stone Middle School to be converted. Part Straight to Ale brewery, part Yellowhammer brewery, part ampitheater, and even Bandito Burrito seems to be interested in taking part. Currently Bandito Burrito has a small location across the road and this certainly would allow them an upgrade in space inside but also parking.

Site Plan by Matheny Goldmon Architecture & Interiors

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Updates to City of Huntsville and Chamber of Commerce Websites

As Huntsville continues to be the 2nd largest metro area in Alabama, the city has started a more proactive approach towards putting information online.  Now not many have noticed recently, but the City of Huntsville has now put city laws on an online database for everyone to see.  On the City of Huntsville's main front page, the JavaScript link is located at the bottom left.  Also included in their eGov links are forms, taxes, court and police records, etc.

Also the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce website has updated their maps section to show schools, parks, recreation, dining areas, industrial parks, arts, and more.  If you get a chance check it out!  One can only expect the chamber to add more to these maps.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Huntsville on 2 More Best Cities List

Huntsville is right near the top of two more lists that have come out recently.

One is Best Places in the South for Computer Programmers.  Huntsville ended up at #2 on that list right behind Melbourne-Palm Bay, Florida.  Also above both Atlanta and Dallas.

The other list came out earlier is the Top Metro Areas for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates.  In this one, Huntsville came in at #3 under San Jose, CA, & Washington DC/Arlington/Alexandria Metro, but still above San Francisco, Boulder, Seattle, and Boston.

As more of these lists come out, we will continue to publish these to show what an excellent place the Huntsville Metro Ares is to live!

Today Tidbit:  Next week is Alabama Restaurant Week, check in and see what great deals are at our own great restaurants!

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Of Conventions and Expanding Economy aka Jams & Jobs

A possible new convention could be headed to Huntsville if the stars align.  This time around the convention will be the 2013 Social Media Tourism Symposium.  The event planners currently have a facebook competition to determine where the event will be held.  Huntsville currently had the lead in the preliminary voting, but now they have pit city against city in a tournament style.  Huntsville will be put up against flatland's own Indianapolis.  Didn't even know they had a major tech center there?

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Judy Ryals says an estimated $180,000 could come into the local economy.  While this is not a big number, it does provide more exposure and evidence for Huntsville to be one of the leading tech centers in the nation.

To Vote for Huntsville in the Social Media Tourism Symposium Event on Facebook!!

The economy of Madison County is continuing to expand as 6 new companies opened: Alphaport Inc,
Genocent, IDAir, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Transomic Technologies, and Usfalcon.  Combining these with the expanding counties the total employment growth of new and expanding companies are 1,346 jobs and $236,077,749 worth of investment.

The REPORT for all counties in Alabama including new and expanding companies.

Today's Tidbit:  Growth occurs when employees create new companies because they can believe they can do better.  It occurs when conventions come into the city and visitors realize what a great place they're coming to.  It happens when word of mouth spreads from visitors and our own local populace when they visit other places in the nation.  Growth in the Huntsville Alabama Metro Area doesn't just happen.  It happens because we have great quality of life, people willing to take a chance and start new businesses, and local people who have a vision to create, imagine, and build.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

A Few Events for Spring 2013 in Huntsville, Alabama

With the city waking up from the Winter doldrums, there are many events on tap for the Spring.  Our team usually hits the field with so many events to visit.  Some below are charged admission and some are free.  If you do not see something you know of that is happening during Spring be sure to add it to the comments section below for others to see!

Huntsville Museum of Art: Rock and Roll Photography
3/01/2013 - 03/31/2013
Phone for information: (256) 535-4350

The Heart of Dixie Orchid Society's annual show & sale
Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 from 9 AM - 5 PM in the Huntsville Botanical Garden's Boeing Education Room.
More information at 256-230-5932

Easter Egg Hunt at Fleet Feet Sports:
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Fleet Feet 2722 Carl T Jones Dr SE Huntsville, AL 35802

American Freedom Festival Concert
At VBC Arena
March 22, 7.30PM
Phone: (256) 533-1953

Local Artist Market:
Local Artists will be selling their creations to the public.
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt:
Registration is required by March 19. Check in at Shuttle Park (the gate near the Space Shuttle; not the Davidson Center)
AGE GROUPS:    
2-3 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10 a.m.          
4-6 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10:30 a.m.        
7-8 years old/ CHECK IN AT 11 a.m.                              
ADMISSION: Admission to Egg and Meteorite Hunt is $5 per child.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt Page


An Evening w/ Garrison Keeler
At Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Broadway Theater League

Huntsville Botanical Gardens - Spring Festival of Flowers
Sunday March 31, 2013 - Tuesday April 30, 2013
Spring Plant Sale:

Members sale: April 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Public Sale: April 19 & 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; April 21. 12-5 p.m.



FREE Walking Tour of Historic Huntsville
4/06/2013, 10:00 AM
Address: Depart from Alabama Constitution Village on Gates Street Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 533-5723


Panoply Arts Festival
4/26/2013 - 04/28/2013
Fri. 5-9 PM, Sat. 10 AM-9 PM & Sun. Noon-8
Address: Big Spring Park, Downtown Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 519-2787

Today's Tidbit:  If you don't see any event that interests you here, you can go online, talk to friends and family or just walk around the neighborhood to find new activities or events, somewhere along the line something will peak your interest and remember to enjoy the new season!

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Relocating to Huntsville Alabama and how to navigate the real estate market

Relocation is never an easy process.  There is so much to think about and so much to do.  There's finding a new home, selling the current home, packing up the family, moving the family, unpacking, finding schools & universities, finding entertainment areas, other recreation & fitness areas, grocery stores, etc...

These can be a real stressful headache if not planned out in advance or taken a step at a time.

Relocating to the Huntsville Metro Area has some benefits.  The people are friendly and willing to help newcomers, good schools and universities are plentiful, many shopping districts large and small, and a wide variety of recreation space in terms of parks, sports, and other entertainment recreation.  Almost every person can find their individual niche within the community.

In-depth information can be found with the wonderful services of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce who always do a great job of putting together booklets such as 2012 Guide to Huntsville/Madison County:  A Smart Place to Live, to Work and to Play.

Today's Tidbit:
Relocating to the Huntsville Metro Area is common, as seen in the multiple Base Re-Alignment and Closure movements which had people moving from both St. Louis and Washington D.C. Metro Areas in the past two BRAC movements.  It is also seen in the corporate moves of major tech and aerospace companies like Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grummon. 

Huntsville Metro Area Homes