What's going on around Madison this week: breakfast hotspot, church options and pumpkin picking

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The Madison Memo

Oct 11, 2026

October 11, 2026

Trivia Question❓

After carving a jack-o'-lantern, what is one of the easiest ways to use the leftover pumpkin seeds?

A) Roast them for a snack
B) Freeze them inside ice cubes
C) Boil them with the pumpkin stem
D) Throw them away with the pulp

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

This Weeks Newsletter Presented By...

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WhistleStop BBQ Festival Returns to MidCity District Later This Week

WhistleStop BBQ Festival is returning to North Alabama's MidCity District on October 16th and 17th, 2026... and this smoke-filled tradition just keeps getting better.

Presented by the Apollo Coalition, the weekend features live music across two days, a People's Choice tasting where attendees sample and judge wings (Friday evening) and pulled pork (Saturday afternoon), and a Saturday awards ceremony with over $6,000 in cash prizes up for grabs.

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Alabama Voter Registration Deadline Is October 19

Alabama residents have until Monday, October 19, to register to vote in the November 3 general election. The Secretary of State is also encouraging voters to verify their registration information before Election Day.

For Madison residents who recently moved, changed their name, or turned 18, this is an important deadline. Online registration and voter status checks are available through the state's official election website. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. [Read More]

Madison Receives Grant to Improve Safety at 77 Pedestrian Crossings

The City of Madison received a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant to replace 77 damaged accessibility warning mats at busy street crossings. The project is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, wheelchair users, people with visual impairments, and families using strollers.

The city previously announced that replacement work was expected to begin later in 2026. This is an ongoing community improvement rather than a newly announced grant, and the current installation status has not been confirmed. [Read More]

Alabama Property Taxes Are Now Due

Alabama's annual property tax payment period began October 1. Property taxes become delinquent after December 31, so Madison homeowners should check their current bill and confirm whether their mortgage company handles the payment through escrow.

This is especially useful for new homeowners and residents who recently paid off a mortgage. Checking now can help avoid late-payment problems. [Read More]

Here’s a look at the 7-day weather forecast for Madison, AL:

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Because they are hill areas.

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Get your "Foodie Fix" from Big Bad Breakfast

Big Bad Breakfast, Madison

Big Bad Breakfast sits on Highway 72 in Madison and comes from chef John Currence, who opened the original location in Oxford, Mississippi in 2008. His idea was to give breakfast the same attention chefs usually reserve for dinner, with biscuits, sausage, bacon, gravies and jams made from scratch. The name itself came from Big Bad Love, a book by Currence's late friend and Southern writer Larry Brown.

The Madison location carries that same Southern diner approach into breakfast, brunch and lunch seven days a week. They make their biscuits, gravies, jams, hollandaise, sauces and even Bloody Mary mix in-house. The kitchen also uses local honey and McEwen & Sons grits, so there are a few Alabama touches worked into the menu.

The Biscuit Crumble is one of the dishes that gives you the best idea of what Big Bad Breakfast is about. It starts with a crumbled buttermilk biscuit, cheese grits and tomato gravy then adds bacon, eggs and green onions. The Big Bad Skillet goes heavier with eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, onions, potatoes and cheddar.

Biscuits and gravy are an obvious choice here because so much of the menu is made around those scratch-made basics. Their peppery bacon is another signature item, originally developed using pepper mash from Tabasco mixed with dark brown sugar before smoking.

If you are not looking for a heavy Southern breakfast, there are still avocado toast, steel-cut oatmeal, house-made granola and yogurt, egg-white omelets, wraps and salads. Lunch adds burgers, sandwiches and fried chicken. Fresh-squeezed orange juice plus espresso drinks and cold brew round out the morning side.

This is a sit-down breakfast that can get busy, especially on weekends. They do not take reservations, although the Madison location offers a waitlist when available and asks larger groups to call ahead. You can also order pickup or get it delivered to your door.

Prices fall around the normal brunch range rather than diner-cheap, roughly $$. Portions run hearty on the skillets, biscuit dishes and traditional breakfast plates. If you are going for the first time, I would start with one of the biscuit dishes or the Big Bad Skillet so you get the food the restaurant built its reputation around. BTW, the Shrimp and Grits doesn't disappoint. Just sayin'.

Daily 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM

🌐 Website

102 Gates Ave SW

Huntsville, AL 35801

📍Google Maps

(256) 870-0113

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