What's Trending in Huntsville

Working in media, we know how important it is to cover the latest hot topics. Here's what's trending in the Rocket City:

New hotels, mixed-use dining & entertainment coming to Huntsville

Pourhouse Stovehouse

When we say Huntsville’s growing, we really mean it. With numerous, multi-million dollar mixed-use developments currently underway, there are more options for visitors than ever. MidCity Huntsville is a development that currently features Topgolf, indoor rock climbing at High Point Climbing & Fitness, a Dave & Buster's, REI outdoor store, food trucks and Alchemy coffee house. An adrenaline park and outdoor music amphitheater have also been announced. At CityCentre at Big Spring, the first AC by Marriott hotel in Alabama opened its doors with 120 rooms, with rooftop BarVista offering specialty drinks with panoramic views of Big Spring Park. Town Madison will bring Jimmy Buffet’s famous Margaritaville Resort and minor league baseball to the area with the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Stovehouse makes a nice addition to downtown, featuring a snazzy cocktail bar with rooftop views and food garden.

Making Huntsville a Music City

When you hear "Music City," you probably think Nashville - but Huntsville is well on its way to marking its own place among the Southern music city titans. Additions like the new Mars Music Hall and the announced amphitheater at MidCity Huntsville add to the wealth of live music options the Rocket City offers. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle has created the newly-formed Huntsville Music Commission, which will oversee city-wide efforts to diversify and expand the area's music footprint. Visitors should mark their calendars for annual events like Panoply Arts Festival, Women in Music Weekend, Microwave Dave Day, and many others.

Campus No. 805

Billed as the “coolest middle school in the country,” Campus No. 805 is an adult playground offering two craft breweries, axe-throwing (yes, you read that right!), taprooms, cocktail bars, virtual golf, dining, and outdoor greenspace perfect for a family picnic or catching a summer concert. Once a public high school and then middle school, elements of the old can be found mixed with the new at campus resident Straight to Ale Brewing – the bar tops are repurposed gym floors, and a wall of lockers slides to reveal a hidden, 1920s-themed speakeasy.

STEM to STE(A)M

It’s no secret that Huntsville is the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) capital of the South. However, you may not know that the city is also home to a thriving arts community. Mix and mingle with the artists themselves at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, a historic textile mill turned into a working space for over 200 artists and now the largest, privately-owned arts facility in the country. Venture out on the SPACES Sculpture Trail and find not-so-secret public art through the Purple Cup Secret Art Walk. Peruse the exhibits at Huntsville Museum of Art or catch a performance from a multitude of creative troupes.