By: Gwen DeRu
AUTUMN! FOOTBALL GAMES! TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY 500! FIFTY: THE DOCUMENTARY! LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME! RESTAURANT WEEK!!…AND MORE!!!!
Autumn is falling into place. September is full of things all over the place. There will be good food, great entertainment, and plenty of people everywhere.
CONGRATULATIONS BIRMINGHAM!….AGAIN!
BaseballParks.com Names Regions Field ‘Ballpark of the Year’ – Regions Field has been named the Ballpark of the Year for the 2013 season by BaseBallparks.com. Regions Field is the 16th ballpark to earn this award since 2000, joining previous winners AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park In Pittsburgh, PETCO Park in San Diego and Minor League ballparks including AutoZone Park in Memphis and Pensacola BayFront Stadium in Pensacola. The honor is awarded annually to the new baseball stadium with the best combination of superior design, attractive site selection and fan amenities. “The 2013 season and the opening of Regions Field has been an incredible moment for the Barons organization and the Birmingham community,” the Logan family said in a statement. “To receive this national recognition is quite an honor. There are so many people and organizations that have contributed to the development, design and construction of this ballpark and this award along with the local support and reaction definitively proves that Regions Field is a one of a kind ballpark that offers something for everybody.”
“We are so proud of the success of Regions Field,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “To see the diverse crowds, the excitement and the good old fashioned fun at the stadium has really generated a sense of community. We look forward to many years of success for this field.” Regions Field is the second straight Southern League ballpark to win this honor, with Pensacola Bayfront Stadium having earned the award in 2012.
“Regions is proud to have been a part of the team that brought Regions Field downtown,” said Regions North Central Alabama Area President Bill Horton. “Its development and the growth we’re seeing around it has been great for this community. We applaud the citizens and fans of the Barons for coming out and making this great venue a success.”
“Regions Field, an extension of Railroad Park, embraces the City and community with its many views into and out of the ballpark,” said Creig Hoskins, Owner of the Birmingham-based Hoskins Architecture. “This award will bring great recognition to the ballpark and the surrounding community.”
The plaque representing the award will be presented by Joe Mock, site webmaster of Baseballparks.com, at a Birmingham Barons home game in April of next season.
Football is in the air……. all over the place!!
TSU FOOTBALL 2013 COACH JOHN MERRITT CLASSIC – The Tennessee State Athletic Department 2013 John Merritt Press Conference is today, LP Field, 11 a.m. and will feature the Athletic Directors from both TSU and Bethune-Cookman as well as the Tigers’ head coach Rod Reed. The 15th John Merritt Classic is Sept. 1 and will allow both sides to give an update to their team’s progress during spring and fall practices. TSU’s opener will be the first test on the road to building off of last year’s 8-3 record that included a road victory over BCU on Sept. 22. The Tigers return 18 starters from 2012 including all 11 from the Ohio Valley Conference’s top-ranked defense. TSU also brings back Preseason All-American tight end A.C. Leonard and cornerback Stephen Godbolt III. In last season’s John Merritt Classic, the Tigers defeated the Rattlers of Florida A&M, 17-14, thanks to a pair of goal-line stands made by the Big Blue defense. TSU is 10-4 all-time in John Merritt Classic games.
AND, Don’t Miss….. TIM STATUM at the StarDome Comedy Club, this weekend. AND IN SEPTEMBER…….COMING SOON – NEPHEW TOMMY August 30 – September 1, MIDNIGHT SWINGER – September 3 – 15, APRIL MACIE – September 19-22, (my girl) SOMMORE – September 27-29. Look for more right here! (Tell Bruce and Che-Che that I sent you.)
NOW…,
Here are a ‘few’ things to do…. (and…, Don’t Forget to Vote August 27th!)
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS…. There are lots of NEW THINGS going on this year… all over the place. We have made the New York Times a few times… Civil and Human Rights Celebrations are taking over the month of September and it really is all year long but the month will bring many more special events. We have a new documentary on the City of Birmingham and its last fifty years!! (WOW!!! Oh My! Oh My! I have so many things to do…what will they be. There are only 24 hours in each day and I am trying to add more on the full schedule as we speak. I will see you somewhere.)
THIS WEEKEND…
TODAY…,
**PREMIERE OF FIFTY: THE DOCUMENTARY – “Fifty: The Documentary” presented by the Birmingham City Council will premiere today, 6:30 p.m., at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, 1530 6th Avenue N. The event is open to the public and will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Civil Rights Institute. “Fifty: The Documentary” is a unique discussion and conversation about the change of government in Birmingham from a commission form to the current mayor-council form of government. This documentary will be shown at many of the local churches. Please check with the city and churches in the community for more.
**MARTINI THURSDAY at Ona’s Music Room.
**LIVE JAZZ, 7:30 p.m. with PJ SPRAGGINS AND FRIENDS at Jazz Underground.
FRIDAY….
**SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, this weekend, all over town. Check all the great films being played somewhere in town.
** THE BLACKJACKET SYMPHONY, 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center in the Jemison Concert Hall.
**RESTAURANT WEEK still going until Sunday.
**FRANK JORDAN, 5 p.m. and BIRMINGHAM MOUNTAINA RADIO’S ON BROTHER RADIO, 7 p.m. at IRON CITY, 8 p.m.
**KELLY ONEAL with the “KAYOBAND,” 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**VIP FRIDAYS, 9 p.m. (ladies FREE until 11 p.m.) at Merienda’s Lounge, with Happy Hour 5-9 p.m. with drink specials and free food while it lasts.
SATURDAY…
**FOR JAZZ LOVERS – FOURTH AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL, in downtown Birmingham on Fourth Avenue, 1-9 p.m. with NORMAN BROWN and others.
**GREEK MIXER AT CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge, 8 p.m.
**ONA WATSON WITH CHAMPAGNE, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**HEELS AND CHUCKS with D.J. Willie 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**MARK KIMBRELL, 5 p.m. at Iron City.
SUNDAY….
**FOR JAZZ LOVERS – FOURTH AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL, in downtown Birmingham on Fourth Avenue, 2-6 p.m. with JAZZ IN PINK and others.
**DOCUMENTARY – THE GIRLS IN THE BAND, 6 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame the Carver Theatre.
**FANTASIA, 8 p.m. at the BJCC.
**FOR MOVIE LOVERS … SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, last day.
**NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPORTS SAFETY ANNUAL WINE TASTING AND DINNER, 6 p.m. Cocktail Hour and 7 p.m. Dinner with a silent and live auction featuring Wines by Jordan Vineyard and Winery. Call 1(866) 508-6277 for more.
COMING SOON…
**SEPTEMBER 1 – JOHN MERRITT FOOTBALL CLASSIC – The Tennessee State football team would like to invite all fans and Big Blue supporters to Fan Day on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. in the Indoor Football Facility. The event will be the first chance to pick up the 2013 football poster featuring all of the seniors and members of this year’s Tiger team will be in attendance to sign autographs and take pictures.
There will also be a D.J. to entertain fans and supporters are encouraged to stick around following the autographs to see the team scrimmage at 4 p.m. at Hale Stadium. Last season, hundreds of fans showed up and most received signatures from the entire 2012 team. Admission to the 2013 Tennessee State Football Fan Day is free and will occur eight days before Big Blue squares off against Bethune-Cookman in the 15th annual John Merritt Classic on Sept. 1.
**LABOR DAY WEEKEND – GLENN JONES at CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge Labor Day Weekend.
**SEPTEMBER 14 – BBVA COMPASS CONCERT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – Academy-Award winning superstar JAMIE FOXX will be hosting with JILL SCOTT, songwriter and Grammy Award winning singer and CHARLIE WILSON the 2013 BET Lifetime Achievement Honoree and R& R Singer-songwriter.
**SEPTEMBER 15 – FOUR LITTLE GIRLS: BIRMINGHAM 1963 – You are invited to a very special event in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights, the stage play – Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 at 3 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center. Call 1 (877) 278-8457 more information.
**SEPTEMBER 19-21 – SAINT GEORGE MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL – There will be a great blend of food, music, desserts and people at the Saint George Melkite Catholic Church. There is always great Middle Eastern food in Birmingham at that time. You should never miss this. Food will be served 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. with delivery on Thursday and Friday. There will be booths with all kinds of things. AMIN AND THE SULTANS BAND from New York will provide the entertainment. For more information call (205) 252-5788. (Look for more right here in People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu.)
**OCTOBER 25 – CALVIN RICHARDSON at CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge, 8 p.m. Look for more right there.
For you… Birthday Ballers…..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…MOSE STOVALL, LISA WALLS, LEON FOSTER, DOUG FORD, RUSS McCLINTON, NOELLE PETTIES, CHERYL ELDRIDGE….. MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it for now. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com
