IN OUR BRIEFS:

High End Hamburger

A burger by any other name than Hamburger Fonfon just doesn’t smell as sweet. So says the food and travel website Thrillist.com that chose Chez Fonfon’s burger as Alabama’s star in their recent list of “The Best Burger in Every State in America.” Thrillist says Birmingham chef Frank Stitt loses any pretense and serves up “a simple, half-pound burger that’s consistently our favorite to come out of Dixie. A buttery bun nestles the holy trinity of burger toppings—red onion, lettuce, and tomato—into oozing Comte….” So forego the roasted pheasant breast with homemade chicken sausage and lentils and head straight for the burger. www.fonfonbham.com

The Insider Scoop

What in the world do Frank and Pardis Stitt do with all their spare time?! Not only do they have to serve the state’s best hamburger, but they also must have the best restaurant in Alabama. Business Insider recently selected another Stitt restaurant, Highlands Bar and Grill, as the state’s representative in their “The Best Restaurant in Every State” list. The business and technology news website goes on to say, “Though they use French techniques, chefs Frank and Pardis Stitt still infuse southern comfort into every meal at Highlands….” www.highlandsbarandgrill.com

Now Dig This

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex has booked an impressive line-up of performances for March and April. John Mellencamp takes to the Concert Hall March 12, fronted by Carlene Carter, daughter of country music legends June Carter and Carl Smith, stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, and the real reason some of us might attend. On March 15, Santana rocks the hall, followed by Miranda Lambert in the BJCC’s Legacy Arena on March 19. March concerts wrap up in the Concert Hall with Sarah McLacklan on March 31, and April kicks off with Kenny Chesney on the 9^th. Spit polish your credit card and log on to https://www.bjcc.org/events.php.

Another Reason to Go

You don’t need a performance to thoroughly enjoy a visit to the historic Alabama Theatre. This 1920s movie palace, saved from the wrecking ball, is restored and fully operational, including the Mighty Wurlitzer organ used during the heyday of the silent motion picture. But the Alabama is silent no more. No doubt it will be filled with howls of laughter when comedian Dave Chappelle takes the stage there April 20. Rumor has it the Alabama has even added a second show. See if there’s any truth to that at www.alabamatheatre.com. Hit us back….

Why We Come to Work: Activities at the Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Convention Sales Department’s Steve Pierson is on the road to D.C. later this month for Destination Showcase. Sponsored by Destination Marketing Association International, this one-day event draws conference, convention and tradeshow professionals from the U.S. and beyond to meet with destination reps. This show has proven to be a generous source of new meeting business for the Birmingham area. At the end of the month, Chianti Cleggett takes off to Indianapolis to meet with clients for dinner and a basketball game. Chianti will be in the good company of Velda Walker-Johnson, who will be there to represent the Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey Hotel.

The Tourism Department has just unveiled its 2015 “Reunion to Remember” contest on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. This CVB-sponsored giveaway, valued at $10,000, gives the lucky winner 20 rooms for two nights at the Embassy Suites-Birmingham, a barbecue feast catered by Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q, beverages provided by Birmingham Coca-Cola, and t-shirts for the whole gang from the CVB. The contest runs through May 8, so listen to Rickey and register. (Of course, certain of those pesky restrictions apply—but not many.) Birmingham will be well represented in Shreveport at the upcoming Travel South Showcase this month. Also on the agenda is a Destination Birmingham Tour, giving frontline personnel a first-hand look at area attractions.

The Marketing & Communications Department has been working closely with two upcoming major festivals. The new Sloss Music & Arts Festival, recently announced, is set for July 18-19 and will bring 32 bands to three stages at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Listen up for much more information about this sexy new event. Marketing plans are also underway for the Sidewalk Film Festival in August. USA TODAY called Sidewalk one the “Ten Great Places for a Fabulous Film Festival.” So there. In other marketing news, the CVB recently ran a successful Instagram contest with the winner walking off with a dinner for two at tony Bottega Café. The CVB website continues to evolve with enhanced social media and other bells and whistles. See what you think about it at www.inbirmingham.com.

Company’s Coming: Conventions, Meetings and Events for March and April