By Gwen DeRu
RACES AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY!! OBAMACARE!! MAGIC CITY CLASSIC!! BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!! FOOTBALL!! ….WITH MORE TO SEE AND DO….ALL AROUND THE STATE!!
ENJOY THE COOL DAYS AND TAILGATING FUN!!
Birmingham is still commemorating the 50th Anniversary of 1963 – a pivotal year in the city’s history and the civil rights movement. The eyes of the world are ‘still’ on the city.
Visitors are here taking in the old, but more the new. And, people are still exploring the history of the city, the state and the world.
Here are a few more things going on…
SAVE THE DATE –
MAGIC CITY CLASSIC SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST – The Magic City Classic Scholarship Breakfast is October 26, 7:15 a.m. at the Harbert Center. WSK LLC (Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick) is now hosting the Magic City Classic Breakfast that will take place at the Harbert Center on Friday, October 25th at 7:30 a.m. The African American Business Council has hosted this breakfast since its inception but cancelled it this year and deciding that they could no longer underwrite it in the years to come. Attorney Kelvin Howard took the iniatitive to converse with the firm to support the cause. Attorney Charlie Waldrep agreed. Now, the Magic City Classic Scholarship Breakfast has a new sponsor and WSK’s generosity is truly appreciated by all. Thanks WSK, LLC. Thanks Kelvin on your upfront support and good thinking on a worthy cause. On behalf of all of Birmingham, the two schools, the alums and our visitors, we do appreciate you and all of your efforts. Keep up the good work! See you there! Call (205) 327-8333 or 266-0304 for more.
IT IS RACING AT IT’S BEST – Racing fans don’t have to wait long now with the races just one week away. This is something that we all have been waiting on – CAMPING WORLD RV SALES 500 WEEKEND at Talladega Superspeedway. See you at the races.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – Bowyer Ready for the Party at Talladega Superspeedway – NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase driver Clint Bowyer knows firsthand where “Party Capital” of NASCAR is located – the infamous Talladega Superspeedway and the world famous Talladega Blvd. in its infield. On Oct. 18-20, Clint will be ready when Dega’s “Party Central” starts rocking during the Camping World RV Sales 500 weekend. Bowyer knows the importance of having a good time, and there’s no place on the NASCAR circuit that hosts a party like Talladega and Talladega Blvd. – complete with thousands of fans, the Miller Lite Infield Track Bar, the Saturday Night Infield Concert, and a Mardi-Gras-like atmosphere. The most competitive racing in NASCAR combined with a mix of southern hospitality returns to Talladega Superspeedway October 18-20, 2013 for the Camping World RV Sales 500 Weekend. For tickets and information visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. This is more than a race…This is Talladega!
NASCAR Drivers Denny Hamlin and Darrell Wallace, Jr. Launched NASCAR College Programs at University of Alabama and Auburn University – Talladega Superspeedway launched two NASCAR College Programs at the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Prizes were given out at the event, and both drivers gave students rides to class throughout the day. The first 100 students will win exclusive party passes to a hospitality area in the infield at Talladega for the Camping World RV Sales 500 and a seat on a charter bus to bring them to ‘Dega on race day! Also, one lucky student will challenge each driver in a game of “coke” pong to win a BIG prize. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin (a 22-time Sprint Cup race winner) will be at the University of Alabama. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr., a Mobile, Alabama native, who ranks ninth in the championship point standings will be at Auburn University. Both drivers compete for Joe Gibbs Racing.
MORE ABOUT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – Talladega Superspeedway had three of NASCAR’s “Young Guns” – Jeb Burton, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Timothy Peters from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – in Birmingham recently to visit with students at Avondale Elementary School. They, also, joined Birmingham Mayor William A. Bell and Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch across the street for a ceremonial tree planting at Avondale Park. The tree planting is in conjunction with NASCAR’s Green Initiative and the Arbor Day Foundation. The ceremony will anticipate the track’s plan to plant 90 trees across Birmingham’s parks following the Oct 18-20 Camping World RV Sales 500 weekend that will feature the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. (Keep up the good work Talladega Superspeedway. We do appreciate your efforts and bringing your support and the fans’ dollars into our city and surrounding area. I look forward to the races next week.)
OBAMACARE – OBAMACARE is RULED CONSTITUTIONAL – We’ve heard about it in bits and pieces over the past three years – the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it will benefit all Americans. But, the specific details can be confusing, even overwhelming. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the ACA will provide 6.8 million uninsured African Americans an opportunity to get affordable health insurance coverage. The bottom line is if you are not insured, low-cost or free plans will soon be available. If you already have insurance, you may be able to find an even more affordable plan.
Millions of uninsured Americans will be able to sign up for affordable health care. They can now start enrolling in affordable, quality health coverage. Since you are required to have health insurance, make sure that you get informed as much as you can over the next few months. Make sure that everyone is informed about Obamacare by sharing the information with them. Go to www.Healthcare.gov for more.
White Sox Set to Open 2014 Season Against Barons at Regions Field
White Sox return to the Magic City for exhibition game for first time since 2007- Birmingham Barons will open the 2014 season by hosting their parent club, the Chicago White Sox, in an exhibition game at Regions Field on Friday, March 28th. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT. The contest will be the first exhibition to take place in Birmingham between the two clubs since 2007 and the seventh overall in the 28 seasons of their player development partnership. In its inaugural season, Regions Field was named the Ballpark of the Year by Baseballparks.com while hosting 410,186 fans, the 4th-highest total in franchise history and the 4th-highest attendance total in Southern League history since 1964. Following the season, the Barons were named Southern League Organization of the Year and have been nominated for Minor League Organization of the Year. The Barons and White Sox first played in Birmingham at Rickwood Field in 1986. The two teams would play five more times at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in 1991, 1998, 2000, 2003 and most recently in 2007. The Barons are the longest tenured of the White Sox six affiliates. “After I visited Mr. Reinsdorf and the Logans about an exhibition game in a new world class stadium, we delivered a stadium and a championship team,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “We are grateful and I am excited about the White Sox coming to Birmingham and look forward to an exciting second season championship team.”
THIS WEEKEND…..
**Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo – Boo at the Zoo – Wear your favorite family-friendly costume and watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions, trick-or-treating, themed rides and games at Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. See your favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America* for a special meet and greet, autograph signing and personal photograph opportunity. The Zoo will also host a Creepy Carnival Tent with themed games, a hayride search for Sasquatch and a candy village, organized by local nonprofit organizations and child-centered businesses. The Zoo will close at 4 p.m. There will be: Scarousel, Eerie Express, Sasquatch Safari Hayride, Grusesom Golf, Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure, Creepy Carnival Tent, Monster Nash Dance Party, Themed Wildlife Show and more. DATES are October 11-13, 20, 23-24, 27 and 31 (5-9 p.m.) and October 18, 19, 25, and 26 (5 – 10 p.m.) Character appearances dates are 4 -5 Captain American, 11-12 Thor, 18-19 Iron Man and 25-26 5- 10 p.m. Go to www.birminghamzoo.com for more.
TODAY….
**MARTINI THURSDAY w/MOLLY BENNETT, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**TIT FOR TAT- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS – Check out Tit For Tat with the girls for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Isis Jones is hosting a jam session – Ladies edition with special performances by some of the best ladies in the business….. dani, Candy West, Sharron, De’Nina Parker, Aretta, Neta Young, Nadia Tellis, Jill Gray, Christinay, Marquita Anthony, Ashley Sankey, and Kibibi Jones PLUS DJ Willie in the Mix. NO COVER, but please donate. See you at the Jazz Underground. Call (205) 202-3640 for more. SUPPORT BREAST CANCER!!
FRIDAY…..
**FESTIVAL EXPRESSIONS, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**SOULED OUT LIVE, 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
SATURDAY…..
**CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT – The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will present a teacher workshop,” Children’s Literature and the Civil Rights Movement” 9 a.m. -1 p.m. in BCRI’s Woods Community Meeting Room. The workshop is free, open to the public, and will provide tools and resources to assist teachers in incorporating children’s literature in the teaching of the civil rights movement. Registration is required. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited. Contact Sam Pugh at 205-328-9696 x 246 to register.
**SASSY BROWN AND SASSY BROWN BAND w/TIM BOYKINS, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**THE REVIEW BAND LIVE, 8 p.m. – 2 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with CHRIS COLEMAN and a LIVE BAND, 10 p.m. at Merienda Lounge.
**DANI AND SHARRON LIVE, 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**SATURDAY NIGHTLIVE at Merienda Lounge. Call (204) 422-9849 for more or (205) 282-9057. See you there during Magic City Classic Weekend.
SUNDAY…..
**SALSA SUNDAYS, 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
COMING SOON….
**OCTOBER 16 – ESCONDIDO AT WORKPLAY THEATRE – Escondido is Nashville, TN-based artists Jessica Maros and Tyler James who met while James was recording their mutual friend at his home studio. The two spent a couple months together crafting song, bonding over a shared love of spaghetti westerns and ‘70s music and then made, “…a splendid gem of a debut album…” (The Huffington Post) titled The Ghost of Escondido. The10-song album was recorded live in a day and released earlier this year. Escondido toured with the Staves in May, and spent June and July on tour with Lord Huron. This fall, in-between headlining dates and Canadian support dates with Said the Whale, Escondido will head back into the studio to track their follow-up.
OCTOBER 24 – THE THREE KINGS AT CRESENDO – The Three Kings will kick off the classic concert at Crescendo. MIKE HAM, BERNARD BUGGS and MOSE STOVALL will be rocking the house with all kinds of good tunes. I have seen them and will be in the house. See you there!
OCTOBER 25 – CALVIN RICHARDSON at CRESCENDO – Calvin Richardson better known as the Prince of Soul, will perform at the Crescendo Classic Jam, 9 p.m. at Crescendo. Other performers include Dani and Sharron. Darryl Johnson will be hosting. Call (250) 337-6999 for more.
OCTOBER 25–27 – SHERYL UNDERWOOD at the STARDOME COMEDY CLUB – One of the funniest female comediennes that I have seen is Sheryl Underwood. Sheryl has appeared on ABC’s “The View”, “Politically Incorrect”… the “Late, Late Show” with Craig Kilborn…”Chelsea Lately” HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, host BET’s Comic View…was a regular on Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd…popped up as a guest on the WB’s sitcom “Nikki.” … Film credits include Bulworth and Master P’s I Got the Hook Up. For more, call (205) 444-0008.
**AND….. DON’T MISS….
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES OCTOBER 18 – 20!! SEE YOU THERE!! (Tell you more next time!!)
NOW….a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT….TAMICA WASHINGTON, CHERYL FAYE ENGLISH, CHARLENA JACKSON, AMBER ENGLISH, RUBY GREENE, HENRIETTA GRAY, DAKARI AVERY, CHRISTINA HENDERSON, CRYSTAL BROOKS, ANITA D. WATKINS, DONNA BAILEY, DEDRICK ENGLISH, SR., TRACEY HOOPER, MOSES WILLIAMS, MARY GUNNERSON, BOBBY CALLENS, and CHERIE FIELDS!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com)
