"We grow old by deserting our ideals." Sam Ullman

I think I would have liked Sam Ullman if I'd had the opportunity to know him in 19th century Birmingham. His progressive work and independent spirit live on in the spirit of the Southside today. His home, preserved and historically designated through UAB, serves as a reminder of the inspiration the living man gave to Birmingham and the world.

One of my customers is a retired teacher who over several years has told me several stories about the old Ullman High School, named after Sam Ullman. This was one of the few high schools that educated Blacks in Birmingham beginning in 1937 and continuing until 1970. The building still stands on UAB's campus near the football field and track on 6th Avenue South. A few weeks ago I came across the poem that has contributed as much as anything to make Ullman's name known worldwide, "Youth". Reading it I get a sense of the way the man thought and perhaps a window into the unique character that lives on the Southside of Birmingham in particular and perhaps in the new residents and businesses creating Intown in general. I'm including the first two paragraphs of the poem but you can read the full poem here.

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a body of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

New Norwood restaurant and nightspot at vangurard of new businesses betting on Intown.

It's Thursday night, 11:45 pm. You live in the northern part of Intown and you want some good, hot food and maybe a spirited drink and some company and don't want to drive too far to get it.

What to do? What to do?

Until recently there were few if any options. No longer, however. Entering the Intown restaurant and nightclub scene as of October is Cosmos Bar and Grill on 12th Avenue in Norwood. For some of us in the neighborhood it quicker to walk to Cosmos than to drive there, though most folk will probably wait until spring to test that!

The above scenario is a personal one; tonight for the first time since moving to Norwood I was able to quickly indulge a late night desire for savory fish and sweet drink while sitting down in the company of fellow travellers. That's where Steve Tutt, owner of Cosmos, enters the picture.

Steve Tutt is a busy man these days

managing a growing bevy of different businesses, all located in various Intown neighborhoods. He and wife Lelia are the engines behind these enterprises and represent an underlying optimism about opportunities for Intown Birmingham I've seen in my work when calling on many merchants. In the months of September and October several new restaurants have opened throughout various Intown neigborhoods, belying the general economic slowdown. Over the next few weeks I'll scoop the faithful on the details of a few of them (maybe even get some special kind of special UrbanUpscale/Intown Green swag for you, too). Stay tuned by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and subscribing to the blog for new updates! It'll be worth it.

Steve and Lelia began doing the extensive work to open Cosmos about 14 months ago. The result is a multi-purpose gathering place anchored by an extensive bar and a
fairly diverse bar food menu that is open from 11am to when the last person leaves. Always smiling Cosmos promotions guy, bar man and all around cool dude

Lee Vines says "We don't turn nobody away."

The food prices are very affordable and I've enjoyed the Philly Cheese Steak and the Catfish Sandwich with fries. The Talapia has also gotten a favorable report from another Norwood resident for it's taste. One thing: the portion sizes are decent but not as big as at dedicated restaurants; there's a reason Cosmos is named BAR and grill and not vice versa. You will get a nice meal, but you might have to double up if you are an eat-until-full person like me. One can do other things here though: pool, cards, TV watch, dance and hear some good music. Lenny Williams (whose " Cause I Love You" hit is a personal soul favorite) performed last friday night as part of the festivities for the Magic City Classic.

Urban Upscale/Intown Green readers are invited to come to Friday happy hour that includes a free buffet starting at 5pm and going until 9. Or do like me and get something for take out: Cosmos is located at 3200 12th Ave. North and can be reached at 205-214-7111.

6th Avenue Baptist shows up for Yes We Can, Birmingham.

The Titusville neighborhood is one of the under recognized gems of Birmingham. Historically it is an important area in producing many of the city's professionals, business people and leaders. Earlier this week the ever-active Helen Rivas sent me an email listing the YECB meetings this week; two were in the Eastlake area and one was at 6th Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville. Even though I live in Norwood, my first instinct was to go to the 6th Avenue meeting instead of the Eastlake ones. "I know 6th Avenue" I rationalized, the good, well dressed, professional members-of-Birmingham's-Black-backbone would certainly provide a productive meeting. We'll 6th Avenue didn't disappoint. While far from full, this meeting was well attended and had a lot of good ideas. Plus some REALLY good sweet iced tea and rolled sandwiches!

Many ideas were shared by attendees, some unique to this meeting: national certification for teachers, arts emphasis in the curriculum, training in the trades. On things that separated our area very similar concerns from the Opporto-Madrid meeting were voiced: routine and apathy keep people in their respective comfortable life spheres and the age-old Intown vs. the OTM divide. The Birmingham Schools Educational Foundation which is being formed out of this activity has

no official connection with the education foundations that have been in existence for years in Mountain Brook, Hoover and other cities.

That won't be changing anytime soon but the facilitators expressed optimism about how the bottom up approach of Yes We Can will lead to a better more productive Birmingham City Schools.

I will be reporting on more of these meetings in upcoming weeks. You can find out more by visiting the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham website. Even if you weren't at the meeting you can also leave your thoughts here to share your concerns and hopes for out local schools.