20 things to do in Tuscaloosa

[2003TIDE]

Walk down sorority row on homecoming gameday to see decorations. Well, and maybe see a few of UA's finest too

 

[ElephanTideis]

I actually took 4.5. My FIRST senior fall semester was 1992. I was hoping to follow up that success with an encore semester in fall 1993, but no such luck

And while I'm kinda on the subject... For those who don't think they can't afford to go to UA or afford to send their kids to UA, I beg you to find a way if you / they are academically eligible to go. I'm absolutely not one of those who thinks you have to be an alum to be a fan. That's asinine. HOWEVER, the experience of being in Tuscaloosa for 3 or 4 years will be unforgettable for you / your kids. And NEVER, EVER, EVER under any condition send your kids to Awburn!

The plan right now is for me to go JUCO for 2 years, then transfer. I am academically eligible to go now, but with tuition, housing, books, etc., my parents just can't handle that for 4 years and they are adamant about staying away from student loans. And I'm flat broke.

 

[CrimsonProf]

- Eat lunch on Friday at a downtown joint like Subs-n-You the day before a big home game. Listen for gossip.

- Go buy some music at Oz.

- Blow $70 bucks on a Lacoste polo at the Shirt Shop just because you want one.

- Get some Bama themed goodies at Mary's Cakes and Pastries in Northport.

- Get a haircut at Gene's on University.

- Run or ride the trails at Sokol.

- Frisbee on the quad in the springtime.

- Nick's in the Sticks.

- Big Bad Wolves on the Strip.

- Egan's

- Manage to eat lunch at a sorority house on GameDay.

 

[MalletMan]

Bloody Marys at Egan's on Saturday mornings.

 

[theBIGyowski]

I have never been to Egan's. I was more of a Houndstooth kind of guy. Loved me some Catch 22 though.

 

[uaintn]

Hey, good job Commander. I like this one. I will add a few.

A photo of yourself with the band in the background on the steps of the library just before they head to the stadium.

Get a picture with a Crimsonette on the Quad.

All of the buildings around Woods Quad are beautiful and we have some photos of them from across the street that look like post cards.

Pictures in front of the Presidents Mansion, Jasons Shrine and Gorgas house for the three antebellum buildings remaining is a good trifecta.

The fountain at Ferguson is a good place for a photo as is the outdoor seating area at Lakeside.

The Bama Theater is a cool piece of history.

Also, we have found a couple of times where the gates of Bryce are open and you can drive down the road. There is a magnolia tree in there that has got to be over 100 years old. That's a great piece of property, though a little darn spooky towards twilight.

There are some great views of campus from the spiral ramps if you take time to look.

Oh, and make pictures of the RV Squadron parked around Coleman.

Did anyone say with Coach Bryant's statue?

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

I have never been to Egan's. I was more of a Houndstooth kind of guy. Loved me some Catch 22 though.

I never went to Egan's as a student, but have frequented it on return trips, since I've graduated. It's a nice bar. I'm still not used to the new Houndstooth, or the changes to the The Booth and 4th and 23rd. I hate that Cheap Shots is gone too.

 

[CrimsonProf]

In no particular order.......things i do when going back to T-town for games,, living 10 hours away I only get to do it a few times a year, then think about it the rest of year:

Wings for cheese fries and beer
BBQ nachos outside Houndstooth on game weekends
Yellow hammer at Galettes
Pitcher of beer outside Phil's(great people watching)
Beers outside Houndstooth(see above)
park at coleman, take a quick look inside and check out baseball field
Bryant museum
Quad on gamedays, just walk around and take it all in
Listen to mdb at the mound and library steps
Catch 22 for infusion shots and best bloody mary i've ever had
Team arriving at champions walk

just a few things that come to mind, IS IT GAMEDAY YET!!!!

The Woodford Reserve and peaches at Catch is something special.

 

[MalletMan]

I almost forgot-there's a relatively new bar downtown (where the old Innisfree used to be) called The Gray Lady. It's a Legion Field themed place with memorabilia from the stadium and whatnot. It's kind of a cramped space, but it's certainly worth a look.

 

[CrimsonDollar]

From my older brother (2000 alum):

Give someone from out-of-town directions from the strip to the Rec center, without realizing that every road between the two locations has been torn up/re-routed/renamed. :biggrin:

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

I almost forgot-there's a relatively new bar downtown (where the old Innisfree used to be) called The Gray Lady. It's a Legion Field themed place with memorabilia from the stadium and whatnot. It's kind of a cramped space, but it's certainly worth a look.

Where is that at exactly? I'll have to check it out in September.

 

[bamatex82]

Go to the headquarters of Gulf States Paper Corporation on Jack Warner Parkway after closing. They give a free guided tour of the place - at least it used to be free. Beautiful oriental architecture inside and out & they have an incredible art collection.

 

[Probius]

Have y'all seen what they have done to the Houndstooth? That was my favorite bar when I was a student and they have ruined it. What a shame. :frown:

 

[MalletMan]

Where is that at exactly? I'll have to check it out in September.

It's on greensboro a block off of university. Last bar on the left before you hit 6th.

 

[BamaNation]

Thanks and keep'em coming. I'll announce what this is about the week of the first home game!

Brett

 

[DiamondDust]

Have y'all seen what they have done to the Houndstooth? That was my favorite bar when I was a student and they have ruined it. What a shame. :frown:

Agreed. It looks like a train station... totally devoid and stripped of the character the original building had.

 

[FAYETTE4BAMA]

The "new" Gray Lady is having it's one year anniversary this Friday. The bar in downtown Tuscaloosa that boasts the LF goal line under glass for a bartop and the 50 hanging over the bar along with other interesting pieces such as a red #14 stadium seat from Cincinatti, "the Pete Rose seat" is quite a cool spot! Great Bama feel. Cmon out! Next to The Shirt Shop/Epiphany Cafe/Mugshots and across from Bama Theater/Chuck's.

 

[Hamilton]

I wouldn't recommend Bryce to anyone now...it's very heavily patrolled and very much off limits. The police know the cars that normally visit that area and they'll pull you over just for driving down the road where the Bryce entrance is located if they don't recognize you. The neighbors also call the police out and report trespassers.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Have y'all seen what they have done to the Houndstooth? That was my favorite bar when I was a student and they have ruined it. What a shame. :frown:

I tend to agree, the houndstooth has lost its mystique since the renovation and the collapse of the strip.

Depending on the time of year, I recoment attending Hilaritas. For those who don't know, its a christmas program put on by the UA School of Music. Many of the arrangements performed were done by UA faculty and the concert is performed by several different University Ensembles. It is a wonderful holiday tradition in Tuscaloosa for those who know about it.

 

[Boo Radley]

Go to the headquarters of Gulf States Paper Corporation on Jack Warner Parkway after closing. They give a free guided tour of the place - at least it used to be free. Beautiful oriental architecture inside and out & they have an incredible art collection.

I was just scanning through the pages to see if anyone had mentioned the old GS HQ (now The Westervelt Company." Truly a unique and beautiful place. At one time, Jack Warner had his private collection of Remington sculptures and Audubon prints there on display. I remember Warner's desk was handcrafted from a huge cross section slab of cypress wood.