She’s Behind “One Week in Birmingham”
What began as a spontaneous vlog has become a Magic City hit. Meet Birmingham's BFF, Hattie O’Hara! Image: Hattie O’Hara
For Hattie O’Hara, Birmingham is truly magical. The Decatur, AL, native has been bewitched by the city ever since her days at Birmingham-Southern College, and her One Week in Birmingham Instagram reels have become essential viewing for discovering new and new-to-you spots around town. We chatted with Hattie about all things Birmingham, including her brand-new newsletter. Get to know Hattie and get ready to fall even more in love with the Magic City.
What sparked the idea for One Week in Birmingham?
I was grabbing drinks with a group of people, and someone said, “Can you believe we have to live in Birmingham?” That really stuck with me. This person seemed to be living a similar life, but felt so differently about a city I love living in. I couldn’t imagine it. I stewed on it, and eventually decided that if someone followed me around for a week, I didn’t think they would feel that way.
So on a Wednesday in September, I started recording what I was doing. I didn’t even wait to start on a Monday, and I’m glad I didn’t, because I’m convinced that if I hadn’t started then, I never would have.
Take us back to the beginning. Was it scary to post your first episode? Did you ever consider giving up on the idea?
I think what was scary about my first post was that I called it “Episode One,” implying there would be a second and a third. That made it harder to press “upload,” knowing there was a layer of accountability by making it a series. I recall really considering giving up at episode two.
The episode kept glitching when I tried to upload, and I remember thinking, “Cool, here’s my easy escape from this whole thing!” I can’t imagine how different life would be if I had quit in that moment. I’m so grateful I found the other side of that roadblock!
It did take a while for OWIB to find its audience outside my existing circle. In fact, episode 24 was the first episode to get any sort of traction! That episode started with the summer special plate at Bottega Cafe, and the crowd went wild. It was ultimately good to have so many weeks without notable growth. It gave me time to figure out my voice and structure, and to fall in love with the series for myself, without my love for it being attached to views.
Is OWIB your full-time job?
It’s not my full-time job! I have been working in and with the nonprofit sector since I graduated from BSC. I have had to learn to balance my time, and my Sundays are largely devoted to creating Monday morning’s OWIB episode.
But I have always been very active in exploring the city, so I haven’t necessarily increased the number of fun things I’m doing per week for this series. I’m just putting the content all in one place now. It helps that I really love getting to make this series; it doesn’t feel like work at all.
If you had to choose one place to take a Birmingham newbie, not knowing a thing about them, where would you take them?
I’d grab us an outdoor table for lunch at Trattoria Zaza. Aside from Zaza being a great meal, I love that block of 20th Street North. It’s beautiful and lined with trees. There’s always movement happening around you.
There is a good chance a true newbie is coming in with some preconceived notions about Birmingham, and I want them to have a glorious lunch in the middle of downtown Birmingham and see how beautiful it is on any given day.
What about lifelong Magic City dwellers? Where do you suggest they go to rediscover their hometown?
If you haven’t made it to Reed Books, I’d highly recommend carving out a couple of hours to go treasure hunting. And part of your time there must include a conversation with Jim Reed!
What can you tell us about your new newsletter?
Your Week in Birmingham is a forward-looking, curated guide to the week ahead. I wasn’t expecting OWIB to get the traction it has, and there is one clear issue with the model — it’s only ever looking backward, which isn’t very helpful if people want to plan their own week in Birmingham!
When I started looking for what already existed, the tools I was finding all had flaws. Some lists were made up of paid ads, so the smaller (and usually more interesting) events couldn’t be featured. Some were just scraping the calendars of major venues and automatically compiling them. Some felt like they had been entirely forgotten about.
With every issue, Your Week in Birmingham gives subscribers the best events I can find through my own research and their suggestions, as well as a nonprofit spotlight and a mini “Shop Local Gift Guide.” My hope is that this gives readers an easier path to having weeks in Birmingham that they want to share as well! You can subscribe on my website, hattieohara.com.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love to travel. More specifically, I love the process of planning the trip. I love maps and geography — I love to click around on Google Maps and explore the world. I love going on long walks. I am certain I could walk across the United States if I had someone refilling my water and the right shoes. I love to learn about wine. I love to look at art. I love to find cool clothes at consignment stores. I love sitting on a patio on a really nice day.
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
My husband, Andrew, started his own business a little over a year ago — Oplos Consulting. Y’all know I have to shout him out. It was just a few months later that OWIB started growing, and I started thinking bigger about this brand I was building.
I think I’ve been inspired to think bigger and cast a brave vision because I’m watching Andrew cast his own vision at the same time. We pop into each other’s home offices to share a win or ask for feedback. We go on walks around the neighborhood and dream out loud with each other. We’re both in this really creative, entrepreneurial, building phase of our careers that inspires me to keep going.
What is your best piece of advice?
There’s a lot of power in knowing what you want next, rather than letting chance decide what’s next for you.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Current fave Birmingham neighborhood to explore? There’s always something new to explore in Downtown!
Last delicious local meal? A smoked turkey BBQ sandwich and fries from Burning Tree Smokehouse.
Favorite place to vacation? Getting back to Italy consumes my thoughts on hard days!
Your go-to gift to give? A nod to something someone mentioned once, two years ago, that I never forgot.
Favorite recent TV show binge? All Her Fault with my girl, Sarah Snook!
Book(s) on your bedside table? Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo, my pre-read for an upcoming Mexico City trip!
Three things you can’t live without? Black coffee, The Today Show, and Chance the Rapper’s album Coloring Book.
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Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.