There's a first time for everything

Happy Friday!

I can’t believe that it’s already June, it seems like May flew by so fast!

We are only a few days in, and there are already a lot of fun events to look forward to, which I’ll cover at the end of the email!

Oh, and our first Premium Subscriber giveaway will be announced next week and we are starting off with a good one. So if you haven’t joined yet, be sure to join in time for the giveaway!

Alright, let’s get to it!

Huntsville Is Getting Its First Del Taco

Del Taco is finally making its way to Huntsville and will open its first location off Cabela Drive in the near future.

At the time of writing an opening date has not been announced.

Last year, the fast-food chain announced that it would expand the franchise by bringing six Del Taco locations to North Alabama.

Del Taco is the second-largest Mexican quick-service chain and currently has two locations in Alabama: Opelika and Phenix City.

At the time of writing, we don’t know where the other five restaurants will be built, but hopefully, we will get an announcement soon.

I-565 Is Getting Widened To 6 Lanes

ALDOT announced that it is taking bids from construction companies to widen I-565 to 6 lanes in the 5-mile stretch between County Line Road and Wall Triana. The project is expected to take two years to complete and cost around $28-$35 million.

2 New Businesses Opened This Week

Southerland Sno Depot is now open in 5 Points. They started with a shaved ice food truck and have just opened their first stationary location!

The new Nautical Bowls off of Winchester Road is having its grand opening this Saturday, June 8. The first 50 guests will receive a free Dinghy Bowl!

Be sure to stop by both of these new businesses and say hi!

Salt Smokehouse Is Coming to Lincoln Mill

A new Asian-inspired smokehouse is coming to Lincoln Mill. Salt Smokehouse will serve dishes like Smoked Bao Brisket Sliders, Bulgolgi Cheesesteak, Brisket Fritters, Pecan smoked pork butt Bánh Mì and more. It’s also owned by former employees of Fusion Barbecue and will be located in the same spot as Fusion.

Friday, June 7

• Southern Fried Film Fest Day 2: The second day of the Southern Fried Film Fest is kicking off with a Northside Square Street Party, followed by a showing of Thelma and 106 Jefferson. More info.

• Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo: The 3rd Annual Huntsvegas Tattoo Expo is back and it's bigger and better than ever from June 7-9 at the South Hall. Get tickets.

• Improv Thunderdome: Two teams enter, and one team leaves. This fun, competitive, format pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an attempt to win your laughs. More info.

• Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch against the Chatanooga Lookouts will be thrown out at 6:35. There will also be free fireworks after the game. Tickets.

Saturday, June 8

• Southern Fried Film Fest Day 3: On the third day of the Southern Fried Film Fest, Tangled Strings will be shown at Lowe Mill. More info.

• Bailey Cove Farmer’s Market: The market is located at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and will be open from 8 AM - 12 PM. More info.

• The Village of Providence Farmer’s Market: The market is located at The Village of Providence Town Center and will be open from 9 AM - 2 PM. More info.

• Lowe Mill Outdoor Market: The perfect market for pickers and art lovers! It will be open from 11 AM- 4 PM at Lowe Mill. More info.

• Merrimack Market at University Pickers: A treasure trove of handmade items, fresh vegetables, unique jewelry pieces, delicious food, Gifts, and so much more. More info.

• Foraging Hike at Wade Mountain Nature Preserve: Join the Land Trust of North Alabama at 9 AM for a foraging hike at Wade Mountain Nature Preserve. The hike is approximately 2 miles and is completely free. Registration is required.

• Guided Hike at Bradford Creek Greenway: Join the Land Trust of North Alabama at 10:30 AM for a guided hike at Bradford Creek Greenway. The hike is approximately 2 miles and is completely free. Registration is required.

• Downtown Art Walks: Head to the Courthouse Square from 11 AM - 3 PM and shop for art, jewelry, decor, treats, and more from over 50 local vendors. More info.

• Live Music at The Camp: John Papa Gros will be performing live at The Camp starting at 7 PM. More info.

• Raised Bed Gardening Class at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens: The class will discuss the reasons for having a raised garden bed, the types of containers that can be used, and the proper set-up so that you have success this season in your gardens. More info.

• Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch against the Chatanooga Lookouts will be thrown out at 6:35. It’s also Negro League Tribute Night and there will be fireworks after the game. Tickets.

• Huntsville City FC Home Game: Huntsville City FC will be taking on Crown Legacy FC at 7 PM. Get tickets.

Sunday, June 9

• Southern Fried Film Fest Day 4: On the fourth day of the Southern Fried Film Fest, there will be another showing of Tangled Strings at Lowe Mill. More info.

• The Market at MidCity: If you like farmer’s markets, you’ll want to check out The Market at MidCity this Sunday from 12-4 PM. It’s one of the biggest in town, with 45 vendors! More info.

• Irish Trad at Mad Malts: Come out to enjoy the traditional Irish folk music or bring your own acoustic instrument to join the jam session! More info.

• Jazz Brunch at AC Hotel: Enjoy a curated brunch menu, handcrafted cocktails, and sophisticated jazz melodies. More info.

• Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch against the Chatanooga Lookouts will be thrown out at 4:05. It’s also Pickleball Night. Tickets.

Monday, June 10

• Concerts in the Park: Head to Big Spring Park at 6:30 PM to enjoy a free concert from the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band. More info.

• War on the Greens: Alabama’s largest veteran golf tournament is back at RTJ in Hampton Cove on June 10. You can still register in person on the day of the event. More info.

Tuesday, June 11

• Summer Concert Series at Ditto Landing: Head to Ditto Landing at 6 PM to enjoy a free concert from The Drive-in Mondays. More info.

• Trivia Night at Urban Cookhouse: It’s Tuesday Night Trivia at Urban Cookhouse. It’s free to play and starts at 6:30. More info.

• Firefly Garden Hike at the Botanical Gardens: A special guided hike featuring the amazing fireflies that call the Garden home. More info.

• Board Game Night at Das Stahl Bierhaus: A fun night of playing board games with fellow Huntsvillians! More info.

Wednesday, June 12

• Cocktails at the View: Watch the sun go down and enjoy a cocktail at the Burritt’s elevated overlook. More info.

• Community Softball Game at Toyota Field: Team Redstone will take on City Leaders in a fun community softball game. It’s completely free, and the first 500 fans will get a free hot dog. More info.

• Live Music at Grimaldi’s: 3WayHandshake Trio will be playing live at Grimaldi’s starting at 6 PM. More info.

Thursday, June 13

• R&B Vibes at The Camp: Musicians, DJs, poets, and more! Starting at 7 PM. More info.

• Live Music at Stovehouse: The Dave Anderson Project and The Crash will be performing live at Stovehouse starting at 7 PM. Get tickets.

• Greene Street Market: Shop local and enjoy produce, snacks, desserts, and more from local vendors. The market will be open from 3-7 PM. More info.

• Rocket to the Tropics: The Space and Rocket Center is hosting a fun night of tropical-themed food, live music, and activities for kids. Get tickets.

• Bingo Night at Straight to Ale: A free bingo night with prizes for the winners! More info.

*Red boxes indicate a sponsored event

I forgot to put a poll in last week’s email, so I don’t have any results to share. Sorry about that.

Here’s This Week’s Poll:

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. It blows my mind that over 2,600 people want to read this thing!

Have a great weekend!

Talk soon,
Andrew Smith