Whether you are a BSC alum living in Huntsville, planning on attending the Huntsville Alumni & Friends Reception on October 21, or just looking for fun spots in Huntsville for the next time you’re passing through, 12 year resident Olivia Hooper Reed ’05 has answered 10 questions about the city that are sure to help you with your weekend plans.

Reed graduated from BSC with a bachelor of fine arts degree in photography, which she is putting to use in her successful business, Olivia Reed Photography. Continue reading to learn about some of her favorite things about Huntsville, Alabama:

1. What makes your city so special?
   Huntsville is a smart, clean and thriving city that is growing every single day with new and exciting opportunities for everyone!
2. What is your favorite local dish?
   The Green Goddess Sandwich at Domaine South
3. How do you spend a day off?
   I love a good stroll through Big Spring Park, shopping on Clinton Row, and grabbing a glass of wine on the Courthouse Square
4. Does your city have a hidden gem?
   Lowe Mill, it is an eclectic repurposed mill full of artists, shops, and bites
5. What is the staple hole-in-the-wall restaurant?
   Bandido Burrito, hands down
6. What would you suggest to a tourist looking for something to do in town?
   Visiting Campus 805
7. Where is the best place to grab local coffee?
   Gold Sprint Coffee
8. What is your favorite organization to volunteer with?
   I volunteer with the Historic Huntsville Foundation, we promote the preservation of historic sites, buildings, houses, and neighborhoods in Huntsville and Madison County.
9. What is something in your city that you couldn’t live without?
   The festivals in Huntsville are really unique. A few of my favorites are Crush Wine & Food Festival, Whistle Stop BBQ Festival, and Panoply Arts Festival.
10. How have you been able to stay connected with BSC, while living outside of Birmingham and developing professionally?
    I still stay in touch with my art department professors – I visit with them when I’m in town, on campus and off. I keep in touch with a lot of alumni both here in Huntsville and around the state. Through my contacts with current students, I have been able to speak with some current students about running a successful business without a business degree.

Join Reed and other alumni in Huntsville on Monday, October 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Huntsville Alumni & Friends Reception. You can enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and get the chance to meet with BSC’s 16th president, Daniel B. Coleman. Please RSVP here.