See 'The Lion King,' 'The Lorax' and More During 2013's Birmingham Movie Nights

The dates are set for the 2013 summer season of movies in Booth Park.

It's still cold outside and the last thing you may be thinking of is laying down a blanket to watch a movie under the stars. However get ready, because the dates are set and the films selected for 2013's movie nights in Booth Park. Now in its eighth year, the movie nights are sponsored by the Birmingham Principal Shopping District and the Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition.  Each summer, Booth Park has welcomed more than 3,000 residents and families to enjoy classic, family-friendly movies from Disney and Pixar. This year's films are sure to please movie-goers, no matter what their age: But movies aren't the only attraction during these family events. Before the show, catch performances from local bands or other groups around town. …

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Are There Beavers Living in Booth Park?

A reader sent in this picture, asking: is this a collection of sticks and mud in Birmingham's Booth Park a beaver dam?

Could there be a beavers living along the Rouge River in Birmingham? One reader was wondering that very thing, tweeting a picture of what appears to be a beaver dam along the wood chip trail in Birmingham's Booth Park. According to the photographer, resident Mary Ellen Johnson, the photo was snapped this weekend during a walk along the trail. Her dog, she said, even used the collection of sticks, leaves and mud to cross the Rouge River as it runs through that section of Booth Park. Beavers in the Rouge River have been top of mind for many area naturalists recently. In the spring newsletter for the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretative Center (EIC), the EIC's Rich Simek writes that he snapped a picture of a beaver …

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Resident Says: It's Dangerous to Sled at Booth Park

One Patch blogger says the city needs to set up hay bales for the young sledders at Booth Park.

Feature Photo: Birmingham Enjoys Weekend Snowfall

Anyone with Birmingham photos to share can post their favorite snapshots to the Birmingham Patch Neighborhood Gallery.

The snow fell heavy and fast Sunday afternoon, creating perfect sledding conditions for Birmingham kids (and kids at heart) at Booth Park. Luckily, Birmingham Patch reader Moses Fridman was there to catch this idyllic snapshot of the sledding action. Do you have a photo of Birmingham you'd like to share? Upload it to our Neighborhood Gallery! Here's how:

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Graffiti Discovered at Booth Park, Peabody Parking Garage

The following information was supplied by the Birmingham Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following is a roundup of recent Birmingham Police reports: Police are investigating graffiti was discovered in Booth Park on Monday afternoon. According to police reports, an unknown number of people had spray- painted various messages on the north side of the tower bordering the entrance of Booth Park. The graffiti referred to the police and included the initials "RAB" and "GHS." Police say they aren't sure when the incident occured. Broken windows were discovered in the Peabody Parking Structure, as well as graffiti. According to police reports, parking structure employees said the windows were broken sometimes between noon Dec. 30 and 7 a.m. Dec. 31. The windows were broken on the fourth and fifth level in the northeast stairwell, …

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Viewfinder: Five Years Ago, Residents Built City's Biggest Playground

Patch looks back on Birmingham's Booth Park project, which drew hundreds of volunteers for 'an amazing experience.'

This week marks the fifth anniversary of a hands-on project that turned hundreds of amateurs into construction workers. In Birmingham's version of a communal barn raising, donated labor turned lumber, paint and bolts into the award-winning Booth Park playground.   For six days during Labor Day week, volunteers of all ages — elementary youngsters to senior citizens — worked alongside experienced builders to follow a professionally designed plan for land donated by the Booth publishing family during the 1940s. In a similar spirit of giving back to the community, families and businesses loaned tools, gave money and invested labor to supplement a portion of city revenue from a 2001 recreation bond issue. The three-acre site now draws a crowd …

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Clinton Baller

7:59 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ross Kaplan would be the first to acknowledge that Tim Page was the primary force behind the playground. Too many people contributed to name them all, but also worthy of note was the contribution of Jim Page (no relation), who designed the playground, and Michael Dul & Associates, which donated his time.   more ›

Man Arrested in Detergent Theft; Driver Hits Parked Car

The following information was supplied by the Birmingham Police Department. Arrests or charges do not indicate a conviction.

Following is a roundup of recent Birmingham Police reports: Police apprehended a man accused of stealing two containers of Tide laundry detergent from Kroger on Aug. 5. According to police reports, store employees saw a man place the detergent into a green bag around 10 a.m. He then left the store, but reports said store employees followed him outside and called police. While officers were on their way, the dispatcher on duty was able to locate the man around Woodward Avenue and Maple. Reports said officers found the man, found the stolen merchandise and took him into custody. Police said the man was charged with retail fraud, then was turned over to the Michigan Department of Corrections for a parole violation warrant. A man was arrested …

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Alan Stamm

5:49 pm on Friday, August 12, 2011

I assume this suspect came clean after police put him through the wringer: "... officers found the man, found the stolen [detergent] and took him into custody." I know, I know . . . but sometimes one just can't resist.   more ›