Now that it is wintertime and the blistering Alabama heat is on vacation, it can be tough to find ways to stay warm! Finding a way to stay active and social while staying warm and staying safely distanced is a monumental task, so we decided to help out! Below, we have compiled a list of activities for staying warm around Tuscaloosa while still being safe. While visiting the following locations and businesses, be sure to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing while you keep warm!
No Snow, Just a Cup of Joe
A classic way to get warm throughout wintertime is a nice, warm cup of delicious coffee! A coffee shop is versatile in what you are able to order, from black house coffee for the seasoned veteran to hot chocolate for the kids! A new coffee spot in town that has just recently opened up is Just Love Coffee.
Just Love Coffee’s grand opening is this weekend! After a very successful soft opening, Just Love is ready to open its doors for all of Tuscaloosa to enjoy and is ready to brew up some hot (and cold) coffee. In addition to coffee, Just Love also offers a number of different food items ranging from avocado toast, to sandwiches, to delectable waffle creations! Stop by the coffee shop in Downtown Tuscaloosa to warm up with a delicious cup of coffee!
Get Comfy Between the Book Covers
A perfect activity for sitting around and enjoying the heat of the indoors is curling up and enjoying a good book. In addition to staying warm, a book is a great way to travel to new worlds and exciting places while staying safely within your own home! To find your new favorite book or to rediscover an old favorite, stop by Ernest & Hadley’s near Downtown Tuscaloosa!
Ernest & Hadley’s is Tuscaloosa’s premier local bookstore that is based on sharing the wonderful activity of reading with all its visitors! In addition to providing new and old favorites, this bookstore does Tuscaloosa and West Alabama proud by featuring books written by local and statewide authors and books centered around Alabama culture! Stop by the bookstore this weekend to pick up a set of books to enjoy by the fire or under a cozy blanket!
No Brrrrr’s, Just Brews
An activity that applies well to summertime and wintertime is visiting the incredible breweries around town. The breweries of Tuscaloosa are a great way to enjoy company with friends indoors while staying distanced and safe. Two of the best locations in Tuscaloosa to visit for beer and other drinks are Black Warrior Brewing Company and Druid City Brewing Company!
Black Warrior Brewing Company is a local Tuscaloosa brewery with a wide variety of evergreen and seasonal beers for all to enjoy. There is plenty of space indoors to enjoy a brew with friends and stay out of the harsh winter cold! Druid City Brewing Company is Tuscaloosa’s first brewery and serves up one of the greatest porters in the Southeast. If you’re hoping to stay downtown, Cravings is home to a massive variety of beers, wine, and other beverages (including hot beverages) where almost anyone can find something they will love!
The Alabama football team may be headed to New Orleans, but there is a lot going on in Tuscaloosa this New Year’s weekend. Both Alabama basketball teams begin conference play in Coleman Coliseum against ranked foes, and Holidays on the River gives you a chance to experience Tuscaloosa’s winter wonderland with ice skating and more. Don’t forget to tag @VisitTuscaloosa on Instagram when you post your holiday adventures around Tuscaloosa. We may use your photo and give you a shoutout!
It’s going to be another perfect winter weekend for ice skating and fun at Holidays on the River. If you haven’t tried ice skating before then now is your chance to experience something new and different. The rink will be open from 2 pm -10 pm on Friday and 11 am – 9 pm on Saturday. There will also be a New Year’s Eve celebration on Sunday. Buy your tickets at now at http://www.holidaysontheriver.com/
After an 8-4 start against non-conference opponents, the Alabama men’s basketball team begins SEC play Saturday with a visit from the #5 Texas A&M. The Aggies come into Tuscaloosa with an 11-1 record and looking like the team to beat in the SEC. An Alabama win would be huge for the program and the season, as the Tide have struggled toward the end of their non-conference schedule. This is one of the biggest games in Coleman in a long time. The atmosphere will be electric with the Tide’s 5-star talent trying to knock off a top 5 opponent. You won’t want to miss this one! Get tickets now at RollTide.com for this 5 pm tipoff.
New Year’s Eve is all about fun, and the Children’s Hands-On Museum wants to make sure kids get the full, festive experience. From 10 am – 12 pm on Saturday the 30th CHOM will host the New Year’s Eve for Kids and will pull out all the stops to make sure kids ring in the new year right. This includes hats, horns, tiaras, a balloon drop at 11 am, and a New Year’s toast. Go to CHOMOnline.org for more information, and Happy New Year!
The men’s basketball squad isn’t the only team entering SEC play this weekend. The women’s team will continue their special season against #16 Missouri on Sunday at 2 pm. Alabama is on a five-game winning streak and has posted a 9-3 record on the season thus far. They are a perfect 7-0 at home, so maybe that home cooking will help knock off the 12-1 Tigers. Come be a part of what could be a statement win of the 2017 season. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at RollTide.com.
We have tons more going on so check out our great upcoming events at visittuscaloosa.xyz/events, and follow us on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements.
The big snow last weekend has really gotten into the holiday spirit. There are classic wintery plays being shown, ice skating and more to celebrate this special time of year with your friend and family. Don’t forget to tag @VisitTuscaloosa on Instagram when you post your holiday adventures around Tuscaloosa. We may use your photo and give you a shoutout!
The Actor’s Charitable Theatre presents the classic tale of adventure and magic with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe all weekend long. Come to the Bama Theatre and take a walk through the old wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia this Friday-Sunday. Times are as follows:
Friday- 7:30
Saturday- 2:00
Saturday- 7:30
Sunday- 2:00
Sunday- 7:30
Visit the www.theactonline.com for tickets and enjoy the show!
Alabama’s Women’s Basketball team is back in action this Sunday against out-of-conference foe SMU. The Tide is 4-0 at home this season so come be a part of what could be a special season for this team, who is building something special after wins over Lipscomb and Utah. The game tips at 2:00 in Coleman Coliseum and tickets are only $5.
There is nothing more perfect on wintery weekends than holiday events. Tuscaloosa’s Holidays on the River will be open this weekend with special events like a visit from Santa on Friday and Carriage Rides on Saturday. Plus you will have a blast skating at the outdoor ice rink. The rink schedule this weekend is as follows:
Thursday- 5-9
Friday- 5-10 with Visit from Santa
Sat- 11 am – 9 p.m. with Carriage Rides
Sun- 1-5
Go to holidaysontheriver.com for more information and a complete schedule of events for the season.
Looking to get your kids in on the holiday action this weekend? Look no further than the Children’s Hands-On Museum. This Saturday from 10-4 will be a Holiday Hoopla! Kids of all ages will be able to go through gift creating stations to make something unique and special for a sibling, friend, parent, or other loved one. Don’t let them miss out on this fun holiday event.
The holiday season would be complete without experiencing the Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” Theatre Tuscaloosa will be presenting the Romulus Linney version of this incredible story of a man who learns what Christmas is all about. Shows will run all weekend at the Bean-Brown Theatre at Shelton State:
Thursday- 7:30
Friday- 7:30
Saturday- 2:00
Sunday- 2:00
Visit Theatretusc.com for tickets!
We have tons more going on so check out our great upcoming events below, and follow us on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements