By Gwen DeRu
HAPPY HOLIDAYS…..TO ALL OF YOU….
….FROM ALL OF US!!!
ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!! Share the Joy of the Season!
Don’t Miss… Langston Hughes “BLACK NATIVITY” at the Carver Theatre presented by the Aldridge Repertory, this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. This is our local (world renowned) Theatre that performs this special play each year at this time. If you did not catch it last year, don’t miss this Saturday’s performance.
This is…..COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION WEEK!
(Learn something, this week!!) QUESTION: Who is known as the Father of the Computer? Read further…..but first….
JOIN NO MORE BULL: IT COULD BE YOU – Join the Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP Youth Ambassadors Anti-Bullying Awareness Walk & Rally, Saturday. Wear Orange, if you can. This special event is to bring attention to bullying and how to respond. The line up starts at Railroad Park, 11 a.m., at the corner of 14th Street and 2nd Avenue South. Departs at 11:30 a.m. The route travels from Railroad Park 14th Street and 2nd Avenue South to 14th Street and 1st Avenue North, from 1st Avenue North to 16th Street North and from 16th Street North to 5th Avenue North (Kelly Ingram Park). The Rally is from 12:25 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Kelly Ingram Park. For more call Angene Coleman at 862-5615, Hezekiah Jackson IV, Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP President at 516-9806 or Kenetria Banks, NAACP Youth Ambassadors President, 541-5435.
TOYS FOR TOTS WINTER WHITE PARTY, Saturday 8 p.m. at Crescendo Bar and Lounge. Bring a toy and get a discount in admission with a complimentary buffet, a live band, DJ D Mack, DJ Stevie C, and DJ O ne. Tell them Gwen sent you.
SUPPORT UCP HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE – This holiday season, give back to a United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) child or adult in need. Help make their holiday a little merrier and brighter! UCP will be accepting new and unused items such as developmental and sensory toys for children birth to age 5, pretend play toys and dress up clothing, children’s books, art science, music items for children and adults, and for adults jewelry, cologne, makeup, wallets, purses, watches, lap blankets/throws, card games, playing cards, dominoes and popular CDs and DVDs for adults until tomorrow, Friday. Call (205) 944-3909 or contact creno@ucpbham.com for more.
MS SANTA “ADOPT-A-FAMILY: – Please consider being a MS Santa and Adopt-A-Family. You will be partnered with a family and you can be the MS Santa by donating a gift or gifts from their Wish List. You would purchase items of your choice from their list and deliver to the Chapter’s Birmingham office. The family‘s name is kept confidential, but the wish list is provided to you. Let’s count you in. Join this movement. Call (205) 879-8546 for more. Tell Jan Bell that Gwen sent you.
BENEFITS OF THE SEASON…….BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS presents Edible and Medicinal Native Plants Course (elective) – This course will explore the traditional uses of native plants with an emphasis on edible and medicinal plants in Southern Appalachian and Native American cultures. Participants will acquire hands-on experience making plant preparations such as tonics, tinctures and medicinal teas, while learning about the science and folklore of edible and medicinal plants on Saturday, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. $40 Members. $45 Non-Members.
Volunteer Workdays: Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator John Manion will lead volunteer sessions in the Kaul Wildflower Garden on December 12, 17 and 19. For more information, write jmanion@bbgardens.org. Tell them Gwen sent you.
PARADE OF LIGHTS AT CHRISTMAS – Check out the Annual Boat Parade to Light Up Wheeler Lake – The annual Parade of Lights will take to the waterway, illuminating Wheeler Lake, on Saturday. The free holiday maritime event features approximately 15 to 20 boats of all types and sizes decorated with lights, holiday themes, and other festive trimmings for the holiday season. The public is invited for a leisurely stroll around the docks beginning at 5 p.m., for an up close look at the brightly lit boats. At 6 p.m. the boat parade will take its usual circular route, making two trips from the entrance of Riverwalk Marina located on Highway 31, west to the Railroad Bridge turning east in front of Rhodes Ferry Park to the Highway 31 bridge, and then back into the Marina. The best viewing will be at Rhodes Ferry Park, the Hard Dock Café or at the Marina. Anyone interested in participating in the parade or for more information, contact Wendy Cook at 256.777.0104 or Kristy Burgreen at 256.527.7246.
FUN IN THE OUTDOORS….SATURDAY, 9 a.m. with Southeastern Outings Dayhike at the DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls. This is a moderately easy hike along the beautiful West Fork of Little River and various other trails in the park and then visit Lost Falls. This is one of the most scenic state parks in Alabama. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over able to walk about 5 miles without complaining welcome. Optional dinner afterwards but bring picnic lunch and drink. Depart at 9 a.m. from Applebee’s in Trussville. For more call, Havis Johnson, 205/834-3544.
MORE OUTDOORS FUN ON SUNDAY, 2 p.m. with Southeastern Outings at the Dayhike in Moss Rock Preserve. Explore the wilder side of Hoover on a moderately strenuous 2-4 mile hike with considerable climbing up and walking down steep hills on Shades Mountain. Experience the preserve’s diverse natural features which include longleaf pine forests, huge boulders, streams, grassy areas, outstanding views and, when it rains, some beautiful waterfalls. Bring water to drink. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 12 and up able to walk the distance and complete the hike without complaining are welcome. The group will depart promptly at 2 p.m. from gravel parking lot just off Preserve Parkway near The Village Green in The Preserve subdivision. Please note this is NOT the place where Southeastern Outings has always met for most of our previous hikes in the Moss Rock Preserve! To get to this meeting place from Hoover proceed to the Crest Cadillac dealership on U.S. 31 in Hoover about ½ mile north of U.S. 31 interchange with I-459 near the Riverchase Galleria. Turn onto Patton Chapel Road at stop light directly across U.S. 31 from the Cadillac dealer. Go about 1.5 miles. See fire station on left at Preserve Parkway and turn left onto Preserve Parkway at the traffic light for Preserve Parkway. Drive to top of the mountain. See Village Green on the left. Drive just past the paved parking spaces on the right of Preserve Parkway and then past the paved parking lot on the right across the Parkway from the restaurant. Turn right off Preserve Parkway into the gravel parking lot just beyond the paved parking lot on the right and immediately before you enter the roundabout or traffic circle. Park in that gravel parking lot and meet the hike leader there. For more information call, David Shepherd, 205/240-4681.
ACTRESSES AND ACTORS OPEN AUDITIONS – Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Open Call Auditions
– There will be auditions on Monday, December 16, 5 – 10 p.m. for:Into the Woods (April 10-13, 2014)
Rehearsal dates: March 3 – April 9
La Cage aux Folles (May 1-18, 2014)
Rehearsal dates: April 8 – April 30
Les Misérables (July 8-August 3, 2014)
Rehearsal dates: June 17 – July 7. Males ages 16 and up and females 14 and up will be seen at this call for Into the Woods.
*No CHILDREN will be seen for La Cage aux Folles or Les Misérables at this call.
RMTC Cabaret Theatre
301 19th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. This is a pre-screening audition for performers who are NEW to RMTC.If you have previously performed in a RMTC production, it is not necessary for you to attend this audition. If you have performed with us in the past and are interested in being cast in any of these productions, email info@redmountaintheatre.org. You will be contacted with information regarding auditions. Those auditioning should arrive at 5 p.m. (with 8×10 headshot and resume if available) to sign-up. Please be prepared to sing 16-24 bars (30 seconds-1 minute) of music that shows off your voice. An accompanist will be provided (no CDs/tapes). You may sing from the show’s score as part of your audition, but please also come prepared with your own material as well. There will not be any dance or movement auditions involved in these shows. Full details will be available online at www.RedMountainTheatre.org.
COMPUTER SCIENCE ANSWER….Charles Babbage. ANOTHER QUESTION: What woman is known as the mother of the modern programming languages? Read on…
DECEMBER AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARIES….around town….
…..CENTRAL LIBRARY, 2100 Park Place, 226-3655
Monday, Dec. 16 – Bring the whole family to enjoy storytelling, crafts and food during Holiday Family Night, 3:30 p.m., Story Castle.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Celebrate the holidays with songs and crafts. Singer Monica Slater to perform. For third to eighth grade. 3:30 p.m. Story Castle.
Monday, Dec. 23 – Get into the spirit of the season with holiday movies, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Story Castle. Snacks provided. For all ages.
….FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY, 4812 Avenue West, 226-4013
Monday, Dec. 16- Friday, Dec. 20 – Relive holiday classics during this movie marathon. Dec. 16, “Home Alone,” 4 p.m.; Dec. 17, “The Preacher’s Wife,’’ 4 p.m.;
Dec. 18, “This Christmas,’’ 3 p.m.; Dec. 19, “ Tyler Perry’s: A Madea Christmas,” 3 p.m.; and Dec. 20, “ It’s A Wonderful Life,’’ 3 p.m.
…..North Avondale Library, 401 – 43rd St. North, 592-2082
Friday, Dec. 13 – Enjoy Family Holiday Night with “The Polar Express,’’ crafts and treats, 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Celebrate the season and good books during the Chapter Chatters Book Club Holiday Party, 10:30 a.m.
…..North Birmingham Library, 2501 – 31st Ave. North, 226-4025
Monday, Dec. 16 – Take time out for a holiday movie in the Adult Department, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Spend an afternoon with Santa and Mrs. Claus, stories,
goodies and fun, 4 p.m.
…..Smithfield Library, 1 Eighth Ave. West, 324-8428
Tuesday, Dec. 17 – Create a holiday memory by making an ornament to take home. For all ages and parents. 4- 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 19 – Come inside for some holiday cheer and hot cocoa. Write letters to Santa, listen to holiday tunes and enjoy Wii games. 4 -5 p.m.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…
THIS WEEKEND….
**FINIS HENDERSON at the STARDOME COMEDY CLUB. What is in a name that makes you unique? What is in a voice that makes an audience beg for more? What is in a performance that tops the most seasoned entertainer? Simply, the Finis. Finis Henderson that is! A show filled with hilarious antics, romantic ballads, high energy and versatility at its best. You will be transported to the future through the voices of Tom Jones, Ricky Martin, Mick Jagger, Alan Jackson, N’Sync, Bee Gee’s, Beatles, James Brown, Willie and Julio, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Prince, Earth, Wind and Fire, OutKast . So many, many voices, so little time.
AND MORE AT THE STARDOME…DON’T MISS…… GREG MORTON, next weekend, with LAVELL on December 27-29, JAY PHAROAH December 31, TWO KINGS ANDA QUEEN, January 3-5, CARLOS MENCIA, January 10-11, COREY HOLCOMB, January 17-19 and HENRY CHO on January 30-February 2. Tell Bruce that Gwen sent you. Enjoy some good laughter and fun times while you eat some great food with your great friends. See you there! For more, call (205) 444-0008.
TODAY… CHRIS MOORE PROJECT, 8 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
FRIDAY…
**FRIDAY AFTER WORK, 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. at 25 West Oxmoor Road, Suite 26 in Homewood. Call (205) 572-1295 for more.
**ALL NIGHT HAPPY HOUR, 5 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**GARY MOTLLEY, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**AFTER MIDNIGHT OLD SCHOOL AFTER PARTY, 11:59 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
SATURDAY….
**CHRISTMAS UNDERGROUND with the ladies….CHRISTINAY, NADIA, SHARRON and DAN I, 8 p.m. at the Jazz Underground. Call (205) 386-0207 for more.
**ONA WATSON AND CHAMPAGNE, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**AFTER MIDNIGHT OLD SCHOOL AFTER PARTY, 11:59 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
SUNDAY….
**PHASE II BAND AND SHOW, 9 p.m. at Tide & Tiger Lounge 409 Graymont Avenue (across from Legion Field.) For more, call (205) 229-4829 or 502-3880.
**SALSA SUNDAYS, 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
MONDAY….
**NAPPY NIGHT – Music at Boujee Lounge, every Monday at 204 Avenue U in Pratt City, 8 p.m. with good jerk food, vendors and music. See you there on Mondays!
WEDNESDAY…
**MEAT AND THREE, 8:30 p.m., at Ona’s Music Room.
COMING SOON…..
AT THE NEW TIDE AND TIGER – In the neighborhood… Around the corner…Down the street…and across from the Legion Field Stadium on Graymont is the ‘new’ TIDE AND TIGER…. Here are a few events that you will enjoy at the ‘new’ Tide and Tiger Lounge….December 21 -XMAS PARTY, Saturday, 8 p.m. until 2 p.m.
DECEMBER 27 – BOBBYE ‘DOLL’ JOHNSON – THE ARTIST, 9 p.m. Showtime. Doors open at 8 p.m. Don’t miss this performance.
December 31 – NEW YEAR’S PARTY, 8 p.m. until the cows come home, meaning it is ‘all night long.’ For more call (205) 503-3880. Don’t say that I did not tell you when you hear about this ’best kept secret’ around. You can even play cards on some nights or get Dance Classes by PASQUALES on Saturdays at 4 p.m. Check out the ‘new’ Tide and Tiger Lounge. Tell them Gwen sent you.
DECEMBER 22 – Birmingham’s Own MAD SKILLZ 10th ANNIVERSARY at WorkPlay. (Look for more, soon.)
IN 2014 –
MARCH 8 – UNCF MASKED BALL at the Sheraton Hotel, Grand Ballroom in downtown Birmingham presented by the Central Alabama Sickle Cell Foundation. Make your reservations now.
LAST…..COMPUTER SCIENCE ANSWER…Grace Murray Hopper an American computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral. A pioneer in the field, she was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, and developed the first compiler for a computer programming language. She conceptualized the idea of machine-independent programming languages, which led to the development of COBOL, one of the first Modern programming languages. She is credited with popularizing the term “debugging’ for fixing computer glitches (inspired by an actual moth removed from the computer.) She is sometimes referred to as ‘Amazing Grace.’ (It is good to know that girls are ‘always’ there somewhere.)
NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU …AND TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU BIRTHDAY BALLERS…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)
