This is an opinion column

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Today’s guest columnist is Debra Des Vignes.

There’s something undeniably magical about the moment Birmingham’s skyline comes into view as I make my way from the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

It reminds me a bit of arriving in Berlin, Germany — another city with a complex past and a resilient spirit. Each visit feels like seeing an old friend, both familiar and freshly intriguing.

In just two short years (2022–2024), I’ve found myself booking nine trips back to the city I once, rather unfairly, dubbed “too sleepy.” My journey with Birmingham first began in 2000 when I landed a position as a TV reporter at WVTM 13. Back then, I was a young journalist, eager to chase stories and explore the world.

Alabama was never supposed to be more than a temporary stop. As a reporter, I knew the streets well — its curves and ridges, even the crime-ridden areas — since that was my beat.

In 2022, my passion-project brought me back to Alabama to expand the creative writing program I founded for the incarcerated. A full-circle moment, really — once reporting on crime, now helping write new chapters for those affected by it.

In those early years, the city’s downtown could easily be summed up in a handful of destinations — Urban Standard restaurant being one of the few standouts, especially for their perfectly crisp, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.

At the time, the idea of Birmingham as a dynamic, thriving urban center seemed distant at best. I expected the city to stand still, unchanged, etched in memory like an old photograph.

But when I returned nearly two decades later, it was anything but static. What I saw was nothing short of a transformation: a comeback town that had traded quiet for vibrant street corners, boutiques, coffeehouses, chef-driven restaurants, and loft apartments lining streets I once knew as vacant or forgotten.

I had my own small part in that story of rebirth. After my reporting days, I worked at The Literacy Council of Central Alabama, a United Way agency, where I helped oversee one of its signature community events: The Loft Tour. Each year, I spent six to eight months planning the walking tour, which offered an insider’s glimpse into downtown loft living. Back then, we showcased just a handful of spaces.

Now, the area is brimming with residents who’ve chosen to make these restored, reimagined spaces their homes.

What I admire most about Birmingham is its ability to embrace the future while preserving its past. There’s a thoughtful, strategic design to the way the city blends its historical roots with modern architecture and fresh cultural experiences.

Like Berlin — history isn’t erased or hidden but woven seamlessly into everyday life. I remember walking Berlin’s streets, its memorials and murals brushing up against the bustle of cafés and city life. In Ingolstadt, I wandered Christmas markets — and now, getting older, I find similar joy in shorter getaways closer to home.

No visit is finished without a little shopping and literary wandering as I’m a hearty reader. The Summit offers familiar retail comforts, while Little Professor Bookshop, Alabama Booksmith, and The Market at Pepper Place offer slices of the city’s creative spirit. Each stop has its own character, each visit adding another layer to my connection with the city. I have my beloved spots: The Fish Market and Bottega.

Old friends, like Steve and Sarah, greet me with the kind of warmth that makes time feel irrelevant — their fireplace glowing softly, as if I never left. There’s comfort in that continuity, freedom in the laughter; in the way familiarity can feel like a hug on a bad day.

After years spent on the move as a reporter, hopping from state to state, the idea of planting roots somewhere as soulful as Birmingham grows more appealing with each visit. Who knows — maybe one day.

Birmingham, to me, is a city of resilience — a place that has endured, evolved, and emerged stronger, richer, and more dynamic. Much like Berlin, it’s a place where old memories coexist with new ones, where community runs deep, and where every return feels like a rediscovery.

Debra Des Vignes is the founder of Indiana Prison Writers Workshop, a creative writing workshop for those incarcerated offered in four states, including Alabama. As a former TV news reporter, Debra got her start at ABC-7 in Los Angeles, California, before embarking on a decade-long career as a journalist. She worked closely with law enforcement covering crime and courts in various TV markets: Pocatello, Idaho; Tallahassee, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected]