By: Gwen DeRu
BABJ MOUNTAINTOP AWARDS!! FOUR LITTLE GOLDEN GIRLS!!! LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME and around town! AND MORE!!!!
HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!
Labor Day Weekend has finally hit the scene bringing in all that September has to offer. Autumn is falling into place. There will be good food, great entertainment, and plenty of people everywhere.
GOOD PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM! HEAR YE! HEAR YE!!
These are just a few of the things going on….
DON LEMON SPEAKS at the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists Mountaintop Awards, September 6, 6 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. dinner. Honorees are Emory O. Jackson, our very own Dr. Jesse J. Lewis, Sr. and Dr. Shelley Stewart.
THREE REASONS TO SEE DON LEMON AT THE MOUNTAINTOP AWARDS –
3. You many not agree with him, but he keeps it real. – Don Lemon is taking the nation by storm with his edgy commentary, progressive positions and independent voice. Maybe he doesn’t speak for you, but he proudly self-identifies himself with the African American community. His recent documentary titled, “The N Word” is an example of the type of conversation he is driving through his contemporary brand of journalism. You don’t want to miss what he has to say about what the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement means to the world!
2. Russell Simmons was gracious about it, can’t you be too? – Don Lemon has ruffled some feathers among African American Gen Xers and Millennials for his tough handling of Hip-Hop Entrepreneur and mogul, Russell Simmons. But, is he wrong? Russell got his point across and Don did too. Whether it is Trayvon Martin, Russell Simmons or the gay and lesbian community, Don Lemon speaks out about issues and people in the African American community.
1. This event is not about Don Lemon – Don Lemon is our event headliner but he is not the reason we are holding the Mountaintop Awards. This event exist for two purposes: 1) to raise scholarship funds for students pursuing careers in communications and 2) to honor and raise awareness for three communications legends that made it possible for the world to see Birmingham for what it was in 1963.
AND… BABJ continues to Honor the 50th Anniversary Year of the Civil Rights Struggle with the STANDING ON THEIR SHOULDERS CONFERENCE, Saturday, September 7 featuring Barnett Wright, Hank Kilbanoff and Doug Jones 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. This FREE conference celebrates the courageous journalists of the past, present and future who put the spotlight on issues of civil and human rights. Contact any media outlet and ask for anyone that is a member of the BABJ to get your tickets for these amazing events. Call me (Gwen) at (205) 251-1666.
FOUR LITTLE GOLDEN GIRLS – The Miles College International Theatre Department presents The Four Little Golden Girls – the Bombing that Galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. This is a new drama by Evelyn Dilworth Williams starring Tony Award Winner and Grammy Nominee MELBA MOORE with music by STU GARDNER and ARTHUR LISI (composers of The Cosby Show, A Different World and In Living Color. The showtimes are: August 30, 7 p.m. September 6 – 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and September 7 – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
THIS WEEKEND…
AND, Don’t Miss….. NEPHEW TOMMY at the StarDome Comedy Club, this weekend. AND….COMING SOON…, 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.)
THIS AND EVERY WEEK AT CRESCONDO BAR AND LOUNGE..
**Every Monday- Margarita Mondays, Margaritas @2, starting at 7pm.
**Every Wednesday- Wine Down Wednesdays, Wine Specials $3 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
**Every Monday & Wednesday- Line Dancing Class, Learn the latest line dances while working up a sweat. Classes start at 5:30-6:30 p.m. For more information call (205) 807-2023.
TODAY…,
**CELEBRITY OPEN MIC with ROSCOE ROBINSON and CLARENCE LEWIS, JR. and more. Happy Birthday Virgos Celebration for all Virgos. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. For more call (205) 488-4705.
**MARTINI THURSDAY at Ona’s Music Room.
**LIVE JAZZ, 7:30 p.m. with PJ SPRAGGINS AND FRIENDS at Jazz Underground.
**FRANK McCOMB, today and Friday, 8 p.m. at the Jazz Underground.
FRIDAY….
**ON PURPOSE w/ DWIGHT HOUSTON 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…
**GLENN JONES LIVE IN CONCERT, 8 p.m. at Crescondo Bar and Lounge. Call 205-337-6999 for more information.
**II DA MAXX w/ JAMES AND MAXINE, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**HEELS AND CHUCKS with D.J. Willie 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**FOOTBALL KICKOFF PARTY at Legends Sports Lounge with the games – UAB vs. Washington State and University of Alabama vs. Virginia Tech.
SUNDAY….
**JOHN MERRITT FOOTBALL CLASSIC – The Tennessee State football team would like to invite all fans and Big Blue supporters as the Big Blue squares off against Bethune-Cookman in the 15th annual John Merritt Classic on Sept. 1. (OK….who is headed to Nashville for the Labor Day Weekend?)
COMING SOON…
**SEPTEMBER 4 – COME LAUGH at the Bennie Mac on 1st – “ALL THE FUNNY YOU NEED IS HERE”at the DA UNDERGROUND ALLSTARS® Comedy Series 11 “Labor Day Was The Other Day” Edition, on Wednesday. Doors open, 7:30 p.m.
**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 for 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.
