Life in Tuscaloosa comes with so many choices. From where you want to live, down to which road isn’t under construction, we face so many choices. When it comes to choosing where to go out, your options are overwhelming. Your friends may need to squeeze their pennies, while you want to impress your date. Some of you want to explore new tastes, while others can’t be separated from their pizza. It can be tough to decide where to go as college students in town, but we’ve narrowed it down to help guide those who want to explore beyond the dining hall.
It is so hard to go wrong with Moe’s. From the friendly attitude of the workers to the fiendishly delicious sides, you’ll want to keep going back just to try every temptation on their menu. Their BBQ stands out as the main attraction, but their great patio seating, live music, make it a perfect starting point for a great night out on the town.
One of the newest on the Tuscaloosa scene, Heat is spicing up the way we think of pizza. Parking, while a constant struggle for most places, is hardly an issue if you’re going to Heat. It’s located right under the free to park parking garage at Government Plaza. Once inside, the super modern bar greets you as you prepare for some of the best thin crust pizza. Even if you don’t think you want to enjoy Heat for dinner, they stay open as late as the strip with a 2am closing time. Giving you plenty of time to crave their artisan styles and enjoy some late night pizza. They also make the perfect spot enjoy any of the live events happening in the plaza since their outdoor seating directly faces our communal lawn downtown.
Nothing is more collegiate than a good Irish bar and Innisfree wears its shamrock with a fiery honor. Known for its messy chips, over the top fries, wings, burgers and decadently fried food, Innisfree will satisfy. This is where you can go to unwind, relax and enjoy great food with great friends. There’s never a dull moment at Innisfree, from Saturdays in the fall, to any day in the spring they have music, games, and sports ready to keep you entertained
Who doesn’t love an ice-cold mug? When has queso/guac and chips been a bad idea? Taco Mama’s delivers when it comes to Tex-Mex in T-Town. They have every south of the border flavor you desire. Tacos, to burritos with quesadillas in between, they deliver that Mexican taste you’re always ready to delight in.
Five Bar
If you want to grow your likes on Instagrams, go to Five. Easily one of the most photogenic places to eat in town, their ceiling full of eccentric chandeliers, dim lighting, and foodie style menu are a great choice to treat yo self. Their mantra of only offering five choices helps narrow it down for anyone who has to deal with someone who “ is fine with anything”. The limited choices will surprise you in how packed with flavor they can be, and come out looking so photo ready.
One and Only: Alabama Veterans Reunion is coming up on August 26-28! We are thrilled to host Alabama’s finest in the One and Only Tuscaloosa! We are incredibly honored to be hosting the Alabama Veterans Reunion for the 3rd year here in Tuscaloosa. We are humbled to have so many of Alabama’s brave men and women who have served and continue to serve this great country come and unite in our city. This celebration weekend starts August 26th through to Sunday, August 28th. We welcome our featured speaker Major General Janet Cobb at our Veterans Appreciation Dinner on Saturday. Maj. Gen. Cobb is decorated for her service in the United States, overseas, and is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Alabama ROTC.
The commemorative weekend will consist of a MyVA community public forum and reception at the Rivermarket on the 26th. The Veterans Festival at the VA Medical Center Campus with live music, a car show, and more! After the festival the formal dinner at the Northriver Yacht Club on the 27th, this is the only ticketed event at $35 a person & $60 for a couple. The 28th we will have the Veterans tour, a self-guided tour of the military and war history in Tuscaloosa. All events aside from the Formal Dinner are free to attend, and we look forward to seeing everyone here to celebrate this heroic men and women! REGISTER TODAY! at www.alabamaveteransreunion.com
Director of Outreach for Disability Benefits Help Deanna Power kindly wrote a post explaining Veteran’s benefits! Be sure to share it out.
How Someone Could Receive SSDI and VA Disability Benefits at the Same Time
As a disabled worker and a disabled veteran of the U.S. armed forces, you may be entitled to disability benefits from both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Veteran’s Administration (VA). In fact, you can receive monthly compensation from both government entities at the same time and without your benefits through either program being reduced due to monies you receive from the other.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI benefits are available to qualified disabled individuals who worked and paid Social Security taxes to accumulate the work credits necessary to be covered by this “insurance” program. Taxes you pay accumulate as work credits, and work credits are usually earned at the rate of four per year. This means most workers of sufficient age and with a recent work history are eligible for SSDI, provided they also have a qualifying medical condition.
The amount of work credits you need to qualify for SSDI varies on how old you are when you become disabled. A recently enlisted solider wounded in combat will not have been expected to work as much as a 60-year-old applicant.
Veteran’s Administration Disability Benefits
Disability benefits through the VA are available to veterans that have a qualifying disability. This disability may be either an illness or an injury. It can also be something that occurred or developed during military service, or that was exacerbated by or worsened as a result of active military service. In other words, whether your disability was caused by or worsened because of military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits.
Medical Eligibility and Qualification Processes
While the VA and SSDI are both disability programs, there are some major differences between their respective medical qualification processes. The VA has a less stringent definition of disability and has a sliding scale for disability as well. Veterans can be anywhere from 10% to 100% disabled and receive VA disability.
SSDI disability standards are stricter and require your disability has or is expected to last at least 12 months or that you have a terminal condition. A qualifying disability must also prevent you from “substantial gainful activity,” which essentially means gainful employment. In 2016, “gainful employment” Because of these differences in eligibility requirements, some veterans may qualify for VA benefits but not for disability under the Social Security Act.
Expedited SSDI Reviews for Veterans
Veterans that are deemed 100% Permanently and Totally Disabled (100% P&T) by the VA are entitled to special service from the SSA. If you inform the SSA of your 100% P&T status, your SSDI application will be expedited. For expedited service however, you must also provide the SSA copies of your VA disability rating documents along with your application for Social Security Disability.
Applying for SSDI
You can apply online, via the SSA’s website for SSDI benefits, or you can visit the local field office to complete your application. Phone application interviews are sometimes done as well and can be arranged by calling 1-800-772-1213. Just keep in mind that this is the SSA’s main phone line and you may therefore be on hold for some time before speaking with an SSA representative.
No matter how you go about applying for SSDI, you’ll want to review information about the process prior to starting your application. The Adult Disability Starter Kit is a good place to begin your review. You may also wish to consult some of the SSA’s veteran-specific online resources, including the informational pages for Wounded Warriors and Veterans with 100% P&T Ratings.
This article was contributed by Disability Benefits Help. If you need any assistance with your claim, feel free to contact our staff at help@disability-benefits-help.org
Hidden amidst the countryside of Duncanville, Alabama is what could be called water skier heaven, but what skiing aficionado Lyman Hardy named LymanLand USA when he built the lake more than 20 years ago. The glassy, blue-green dyed water of the nearly half mile long lake hosts a variety of water ski events and tournaments each year. After visiting more than 20 ski lakes across the nation, Hardy determined how he wanted his lake built: eight feet deep, as narrow as a football field, and with small islands on each end to prevent wake water from upsetting skiers when the boat makes its turns. LymanLand draws hundreds of skiers from across the nation to compete against other professional and nationally ranked skiers in the perfectly crafted aquatic arena.
This month, LymanLand will host the American Water Ski Association’s 2016 Southern Regional Championships from Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 24. The event is open to the public, persons and their pets (leashed, of course) allowed. Competing skiers will trick ski, slalom, and perform jumps in hopes of breaking both personal and national records.
LymanLand is located at 15865 Waterski Lane, just off Highway 82, southeast of Tuscaloosa.
For more information about the event, call Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission’s Brandt LaPish at (205) 391-9200 or visit usawaterski.org and download the guide for the 2016 championships.
Written By: Karley Fernandez, TTS PR Intern
Black Warrior SUP Championship on Lake Nicol
Serene waters surround the city of Tuscaloosa and its county. Lake Tuscaloosa is the largest in the county, Lake Lurleen is a man made oasis, and then there is Lake Nicol. This Cliffside lake is more secluded, and off the beaten path than its commercialized neighbor. It’s not overflowing with eco-tourists and families trying to beat the Alabama heat; It’s simply calm waters and picturesque cliffs tucked underneath towering pines. Despite being only a short drive from civilization, natures take over of the lake gives it that secluded, and far off feeling found in the outskirts. The cliffs stand tall over blue waters, with winding trails leading to them. The waters gently wave with the blue skies shining above. Lake Nicol even hosts an island near the southern tip, offering a truly disconnected environment to freely row and paddle about.
The Black Warrior SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Championship will be one of those rare times the lake is given the spotlight. These six to three mile courses starts early in the morning, with three races planned, and a one-mile fun race open to anyone. If you’re worried you’ve missed your chance, you can still register to compete in the races, and take in this hidden gem of waters and cliffs. The guests and traveling athletes will convene over its calm water and collectively find the beauty hidden by this lake. People will gather and watch the paddleboards glide over the lake and absorb the tranquility and uninhibited natural wonder of Lake Nicol as the Champions are crowned. The competition benefits the American Heart Association and certainly helps your own. Getting outside and being active over cool waters will bring a benefit only found in the great outdoors. While Lake Tuscaloosa and Lurleen sit pretty as the top bodies of water in the county, by the time the excitement dies down, and the day starts to close, Lake Nicol will be wearing a new crown in the eyes of the people. If you want to get out, explore the natural beauty in town, and take part in this exciting and fun filled race, you can register through PaddleGuru. The one-mile fun race is $20.00, the 3-mile race is $30.00, and the 6-mile race is $40.00. if you feel The American Heart Association deserves more, you’re welcome to add a donation along with the cost. The Race takes place July 16th at Lake Nicol.
Founded in Tuscaloosa, and expanding beyond our city limits, its not hard to see why. Shark’s fried chicken, ranging from tenders to liver and gizzards, you’re bound to have some of the best fried chicken in town. Accompanying the chicken, the sides share the same range of usual suspects to oysters and hush puppies thanks to their seafood faire. They are spreading their fried love in Birmingham, and soon beyond that.
A collegiate classic, this staple of the university atmosphere in town is the proud home of some of the best wings of West Alabama. Served under memorabilia and any sauce you choose, their chicken is hard to beat. No wing could be complete without proper sides, and Buffalo Phil’s certainly delivers. From curly fries to beer battered onion rings, you’re bound to find good company for these iconic wings
Five Bar is known for its simplicity in a decadent environment. This mantra finds its way into their Sunday brunch special of fried chicken and waffles. The crispy, fall off the bone chicken meets the sweet and ample waffle with its golden syrup in a union so pure and star crossed its clear why it’s a favorite. The savory chicken skin with its crispy breading could be a meal all on its own. Bold and well seasoned, it’s the perfect yin to the yang of the sweet and heavenly waffles.
This small industrial style space packs a big game when it comes to our food scene and it’s easy to see why. Their brunch special of fried chicken over oven fresh biscuits, or chicken bites battered in Black Warrior Brewing Company’s Brown Ale proves The Avenue Pub knows southern food. The chicken bites make a great introduction to the explosive flavor found in the pub, with the fried chicken and biscuits being at a level that could pose questioning of your love for your Grandmother’s kitchen.
Rama Jama’s
Every college town has that place that everyone has to eat before they graduate. Luckily for the University of Alabama, that list is nearly never ending with all of the incredible local restaurants surrounding Tuscaloosa. Even with so many options, there’s always been one that stands above the rest and it sits in the shadow of Bryant Denny Stadium. I’ve heard numerous different suggestions on what to try, including their “National Champ Burger” which boasts 16oz of bacon, one ounce for each Alabama Football national title! Regardless, it’s national hot dog month and I’m on a mission. Before you even walk in you can tell the place is special. This is no cookie cutter, brick and mortar restaurant. The white brick building is designed like no other location in town and you would be hard pressed to find similar architecture within 500 miles!
Stepping into Rama Jama’s is like stepping into a museum that just happens to serve incredible food. There is so much Alabama memorabilia packed into the diner, the owner has had to start hanging it from the ceiling! During my 30 minutes there I saw no less than 7 people taking pictures of the awesome things they found on the walls that reminded them of a piece of Alabama history!
I walked up to the counter to read the menu, which is written on three large chalk boards hung from the ceiling behind the register. I knew what I came for, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask the lady, “What are you famous for?” Without skipping a beat, I got back an excited, “What AREN’T we famous for?!” before she dove into her spiel about the National Champ Burger, their milkshakes, and of course their memorabilia! What really caught my attention was the fact that they’ve printed the names of famous visitors to the diner on the table right where they sat!
The place was pretty busy, but I took my order ticket and went to find a table. I wanted a table with a name of one of their famous patrons printed on it; I found just that with the table that Paul Finebaum had his name on! Within minutes my two hotdogs and a fry was sitting in front of me. A man who looked eerily similar to Nick Saban himself brought it out, but I’m not sure if that was real, or just the magic surrounding the café. My food was absolutely incredible and the experience was exactly how I anticipated as I daydreamed leading up to my pilgrimage! As National Hotdog Month rolls on, I highly recommend you put this place on your list! If dogs aren’t your thing, they serve their full menu all day so there’s something for everybody! Now that I’ve experienced Rama Jama’s I understand why it’s part of the Tuscaloosa bucket list and they definitely haven’t seen the last of me.
Wrriten By: Barrett Elder, TTS Public Relations Intern
Voted one of the best college bars in America by Men’s Health, This brick beauty serves as cozy relief from the noise and constant party found on the Strip. It’s a warm and welcoming place where people can break away from over the top bars and enjoy a nice brew under fine artwork and away from clouds of smoke. The owner made strides in declaring the pub smoke free in an effort to give guests a space where they can breathe easy. Guests can come and enjoy the clean air, and cold drinks inside or out on the patio. The charm and comfort of this downtown bar is a welcomed change of pace. Instead of a thousand big screens and music turned up to 11, it’s the perfect spot for friends to enjoy good conversation without leaving deafened by billboards top 10.
You wont be lost in this quaint bar, its just the right size to feel welcomed without being crowded when more than three walk in. sit inside under the exposed break, or out facing the street you’ll bask in the good music, and warmth that can only be found here along 22nd. People who come here always have something wonderful to say about its ambience. that its not too stuffy or divey, that its like a friends living room with an incredible bar. From Students to professionals in town, hardly anyone can leave without enjoying something found in this secluded spot. Its not just Tuscaloosa who enjoy the break away Alcove provides, Garden and Gun declared it one of the best “watering holes” in the secret south. Tuscaloosa Magazine deemed it the best bar for adults, and best beer selection. Its hard not to see why the world has fallen for this cozy tavern, as people are falling in love with it under their sword crossed crest.
Written by: Deven Wilson, TTS Public Relations Intern