Alabama Guide and Deals

The BCRI, founded to promote civil and human rights through education, will host masses of masked mortals at its 10th annual Mardi Gras celebration, themed this year as Social+Social Media, to raise funds for its educational programs. Partygoers can polish off Cajun-inspired fare and drinks while polishing their dance moves to live music by Jazz Safari or various tunes from the DJs. Attendees anxious about public speaking or thumb-muscle atrophy can participate in a text-to-win auction, which allows for digital silent bidding on autographed sports memorabilia, spa packages, weekend getaways, and electronics. Feel free to slap on a mysterious mask, don a funky hat, or switch jumpsuits with Danny DeVito to ruthlessly compete for a cash prize for most creative costume. Detective Chris Anderson, Birmingham Police Department veteran and current star of A&E’s The First 48, will serve as the night’s honorary host.

Inside their blue-walled studio, staffers at Do It Yourself Crafts help visitors wield glass, tie-dye, silver clay, and pottery paints to create colorful, one-of-a-kind artwork. Glass-fusion classes teach patrons the skills they need to meld glass shards into funky tiles, and parties bring friends together to bond while they work on various art projects; patrons 21 or older can tote along libations to fuel the festivities. During pottery-painting sessions, patrons select a piece of raw ceramic bisque to adorn with provided pigments, choosing from forms such as plates, mugs, and plaques.

In 1981, the first B&B Pet Stop paired pet owners with furry friends and items to care for them from a 600-square-foot location. Since then, the store has expanded to 24 times its original size—B&B now fills every nook and cranny of a massive 14,400-square-foot store. But one thing hasn’t changed; it’s still run by Bill Trufant and his family members Sally and Mary. The trio’s pet emporium stocks everything from Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals cat and dog food and Nylabone chew toys to cages and vitamins for birds.

The Trufants and their dedicated staff don’t just equip pet owners with supplies; they also supply the pets themselves, hosting so many critters that children take field trips to the shop the way they might visit a zoo. More than 2,600 gallons of salt water aquariums include a live coral system and a reef display, creating a home for saltwater swimmers, such as pygmy angelfish and crabs. Nearby, red-tail sharks, firemouth cichlids, and other creatures frolic in more than 6,000 gallons of fresh water. The shop also sells more than 800 reptiles and more than 12,000 small animals each year, as well as a fleet of birds. For particularly dedicated caregivers, a selection of rarer, more high-maintenance animals is available, including hedgehogs, which demand a homemade cake thrice a day.

B&B Pet Stop’s dedication to animals extends to community-outreach initiatives. For instance, you have the option to round up your purchase price, donating the change to monthly rotating charities, including Animal Rescue Foundation and the Mobile Arts Council. This idea has raised nearly $100,000 in just five years.

At four locations across Alabama, Phone Restore’s technologically savvy team keeps all manner of smartphones and tablets running smoothly. Customers can stop in with a variety of devices: iPhones; HTC, LG, and Motorola smartphones; or telegraphs implanted with tiny brains. Regardless of the machine, Phone Restore’s technicians can replace or repair an arsenal of parts, including speakers, power buttons, LCD screens, and touchscreens. The crew also services first-, second-, and third-generation iPads, as well as iPod touches. All repairs are performed onsite and typically take less than two hours. Phone Restore further puts customers at ease by confidently backing its work with a 90-day warranty.

Led by certified fitness trainer Rachel Hunt, boot-camp sessions combine core-conditioning exercises with cardio and weight training to mold muscles and burn calories. Each day, your instructors will throw down a fresh guerilla ambush's worth of challenges for your muscles and your brain, fueling constant gains and keeping you engaged. Because the group setting promotes a team mentality, students motivate each other to take on new challenges and strive for their physical best. Class sizes are small (no more than 15 attendees), ensuring each student receives individualized attention and that there's enough oxygen available to prevent gasping. Click here to see Extreme's boot camp in action.

Time for Three mixes classical, country-western, gypsy, bluegrass, and jazz music to create a unique hybrid sound. Violinists Zachary De Pue and Nicholas Kendall and double bassist Ranaan Mayer met while studying music in college. The three-piece bonded over a shared love of musical improvisation and went on to play more than 200 shows. Conductor Christopher Confessore leads the trio with a skillful eye and even more skillful conductor’s wand. Though the concert begins at 8 p.m., it’s preceded by a cocktail hour that begins at 7 p.m., where guests can impress each other by playing octave-jumping leapfrog.