🌱 Big Spoon Creamery Grand Opening + 'Summer Brain Grain' For Kids

Hi all! I'm here with your Saturday edition of the Huntsville Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on locally.

But first, today's weather:

Very warm with periods of sun. High: 92 Low: 63.

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Here are the top three stories in Huntsville today:

1. Big Spoon Creamery, known for its small-batch ice cream highlighting Alabama's agricultural produce, is expanding to Huntsville with a new location opening today (Jun. 3). Situated in downtown Huntsville at The Avenue apartment building, the ice cream parlor offers a variety of unconventional flavors like goat cheese strawberry basil and sweet corn blackberry, alongside vegan options. The preview event allowed the shop's employees to rehearse for the grand opening by distributing scoops and samples of their delicious ice cream. (Huntsville Business Journal)
2. Local news outlet WAAY-TV has been featuring a special series called "Summer Brain Gain," showcasing fun and educational activities for kids during the summer. One highlighted program is the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library's "All Together Now" reading program, encouraging students to read for 15 to 20 minutes daily. The program also includes visits from animals brought by the North Alabama Zoological Society on select days. The program runs until Jul. 20 and is open to students of all ages. You can learn more here. (WAAY 31 News)
3. A recent analysis by Agent Advice using data from Zillow indicated that Huntsville lags behind the rest of the state in terms of rental property investments. The study compares home values and rent prices to identify locations with the highest potential returns for investors. While Dothan in Southern Alabama shows promise with a short payback period of 21.5 months, Huntsville's payback period is a little over 38 months, suggesting slower returns. However, the rental market in Huntsville has seen a moderate increase of 4.74 percent in rent over the year. (Huntsville Business Journal)

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Today in Huntsville:

• 19th Anniversary Cigar Box Guitar Festival At Lowe Mill (11:30 AM)
• Jeff Ross At Stand Up Live Huntsville (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The first round of speakers for this year's Music Cities event has been named! The Huntsville Music Cities Convention will run from Oct. 18-20. You can learn more here. (Music Cities Events via Facebook)
• Green Team and Leadership Greater Huntsville are collaborating to organize a #CommunityCleanupDay, which will take place in two weeks. The event will be held at the Kiwanis Soccer Park on Friday, Jun. 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants of all ages are encouraged to attend, and all necessary supplies will be provided for the cleanup activities. (City of Huntsville via Facebook)
• Adrian Gilstrap's 4-year-old daughter, Niyah, believes she's the boss of her dad's food trailer in Huntsville — Niyah's Southern Cuisine — which is named after her. Gilstrap takes pride in honoring her name through his righteous soul food, particularly the must-try fried chicken, which boasts a crispy exterior, tender interior, and perfect seasoning. The side items at Niyah's, such as fried okra and queso mac and cheese, are equally delectable, with a homemade touch and flavorful twists. (AL.com)

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Featured events:

• REFLECTIONS FROM MOZART TO GOSPEL - Huntsville Choral Festival Concert (June 3)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Joyce Nash

About me: Joyce is a freelance writer and poet whose work has appeared in the Hello Gloria newsletter and Nine Cloud Journal. Her background ranges from journalism to fitness instruction and spans the east coast to the West. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two cats.