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Industry Briefs
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA: BEAUTY, CHARM, JAMES BEARD, AND THE BJCC


Something we hear time and again from first time visitors to Birmingham is that they never realized the beauty of the area. With the foothills of the Appalachians as a dramatic backdrop, the city is laid out on a series of lush rolling hills.  Birmingham is easily accessible via the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, about 10 minutes from downtown.

Meeting Facilities

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) is the state's largest convention venue, with facilities all on one campus. The BJCC complex campus has 350,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibition space.  The complex includes an 18,000-seat arena and 4,000 seats in two theaters.  Two hotels and a dining and entertainment district are also part of the campus.  Currently being added is a new open-air stadium and renovations to the 18,000-seat Legacy Arena.

Dining


Because of its robust dining scene and welcoming character, Birmingham is widely known as the "Dinner Table of the South."  Chef-owned dining rooms are abundant around the city, with numerous James Beard Foundation award winners and nominees.  Hip bistros and notable international dining join upscale restaurants to create a city of culinary importance.  And no one should leave without a traditional Southern meal of the world's best barbecue, topped off with a hearty slice of lemon icebox pie.

After Hours

When the meetings are over, the fun begins.  Live music is Birmingham's signature entertainment, and visitors find all genres all around the city.  With temperate weather much of the year, rooftop bars are popular for cocktails with associates.  Birmingham breweries have made a name for themselves with inventive and award-winning beers.  Take a taproom tour to sample the local brews.

Recreation & Attractions

Some of the best golf on Earth can be found at public courses in the area, including Birmingham's challenging courses along the state's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Or take the golfing indoors to Topgolf Birmingham, situated on the campus of the BJCC. The Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast, with more than 24,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts. 

Barber Motorsports Park has been hailed around the world as the "Augusta of Racing."  The adjacent Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world's largest collection of vintage and contemporary motorcycles.  The story of Birmingham's role in the long march to civil rights is told at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the focal point of the city's Civil Rights District, now a national monument.

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