Digital City

The word is already getting out. by André Natta “Hello! My name’s André Natta.” “It’s nice to meet you, André. Where are you from?” “I’m based out of Birmingham, AL.” “Really?” The above is almost a guaranteed exchange as part of most conversations I have while on the road. The tone of that last question is… Read More

Tedx this month is a chance to start talking. by André Natta The City of Ideas continues to be buzzing months after the conclusion of the Prize to the Future competition. Many people are willing to share their ideas with each other in hopes that they can gain support for them and see them take… Read More

Football gets “smart” by André Natta I’ve lived in the Southeast long enough to know that fall is no longer punctuated by the number of times that the Yankees play the Red Sox during the pennant race, but by the number of days I’ve learned there is no neutral answer when someone asks which college… Read More

Getting social with online music by André Natta Last month we took a look at the ways surfing the Internet could help you plan for that next trip. It only makes sense this month to figure out how to access the soundtrack for your journey. The emergence of Internet radio as a more common solution… Read More

Digital tools can help with summer travel. by André Natta While we look for ways to escape the heat in central Alabama, many will take to the roads in search of relief. The world of mainstream digital tools may be helpful in terms of figuring out how many friends want to get together at the… Read More

Bringing us together in a time of crisis. by André Natta People throughout Alabama and across the world have continued their outpouring of support for those affected by the tornadoes that moved through the state on April 27, 2011. Countless photos, videos and accounts from citizens shared via mobile phone, tweet or status update have… Read More

Scott Pierce has a couple of questions for the city. By Andre Natta Birmingham is known as a city of perpetual promise, even though people have long hoped that its residents would “dare to dream big dreams…” How it’s perceived by outsiders—and perhaps more importantly by those who choose to call it home—has always been… Read More

Prize 2 The Future is just the start. by André Natta I enjoy thinking of Birmingham as a City of Ideas. Many of these ideas have been acted on over the years with varying results, including the founding of the city itself, and the installation of Vulcan high atop Red Mountain to stand watch over… Read More

A passion for food blogs yields real-world benefits. by André Natta There are times when I sit down to write this column that I feel as though I sound like a broken record. It leads to the worst kind of writer’s block—and it may keep me from making sure folks know about an event or… Read More

United Way’s new online initiative. By Andre Natta While some folks don’t want to admit it, everybody likes to be recognized. We live in a society that loves to pile praise on to everyone and find as many ways as possible to highlight the individual. The online world gives organizations a tool to help announce… Read More

The Freshwater Land Trust’s Our One Mile initiative could make us green and healthy. by André Natta The excitement that metro Birmingham experienced in 2010 with the opening of Railroad Park downtown, the new visitors center at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center to the east and the promise of Red Mountain Park to the west is… Read More