By Gwen DeRu
COMING SOON…UNCF MASKED GALA – MARCH 8th!!
Take care of your Body, Mind and Spirit! This is the time to think of renewing many things that may have been on your list of things to do.
KEEP THE FAITH!! FOCUS!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LeBOISE DeRU, JR.!!!
DON’T MISS …HAPPY HOUR – Fourth Sunday Baptism, Sunday, 11 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. FREE! Rev. John Cantelow is Pastor and hosted by Uncle Iva. Tune into Halo Radio at www.HaloRadio.us.
2014 LADIES OF ROYALTY – IMPACT is the Women’s Business & Empowerment Conference scheduled for February 28th – March 1st at the BJCC, East Ballroom A. This conference will empower women for business and equip women for life. Dr. Michael Moore is one of the speakers. Call (205) 563-6344 for more.
FOR CHILDREN…..
Today, at the library…CLASSES FOR MANAGING ‘YOUR’ MONEY – MAKE SMART MONEY MOVES – The Birmingham Public Library is offering free classes on money in the LAST. The last CLASS is Jan. 23 – FOR CHILDREN, 3:30 p.m. at Avondale Library, 509 – 40th St. South. The programs will end in May 2014. Other BPL locations include Avondale, Five Points West, North Birmingham and Springville Road. All classes are free and open to the public. For more information, call Jim Murray at (205) 226-3690 or visit www.making-cents.org.
Friday…CELEBRATE NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK, – Celebrate an opportunity in education with parents, students, teachers and community leaders in Birmingham, Noon at the Woodrow Hall, 5504 First Avenue. FREE RSVP at schoolchoicetrain.com.
FOR THE POLITICS EFFORTS… in and around Alabama…
Political times are in the air. If you are interested in getting something in the Birmingham Times, call me at (205) 251-1666. Qualifying is January 13 – February 7th for candidates with the local and state Democratic parties.
**NEW VOTER ID LAW – The League of Women Voters will hold a public discussion Monday, January 27, 6 p.m. at the Homewood Library regarding the New Voter ID Law. Learn about the unnecessary requirements imposed by the Republican Legislature to solve the non-existent problem of voter fraud and how to make sure you and others can still cast your vote.
**JEFFERSON/JACKSON DINNER is January 31 at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery.
**CAMPAIGN AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING, February 1, Saturday, 10 a.m. in Montgomery at the State Democratic Executive Committee meeting.
**DON’T MISS…. BILL MAHER, February 23 at the BJCC Concert Hall.
YOU ARE INVITED!!!! The Annual Stillman College Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian Church will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 9 at Westminster, 20 Sixth Avenue, S.W. All Stillmanites, friends, and supporters are encouraged to attend this wonderful evening of outstanding musical entertainment by the internationally-acclaimed Stillman College Concert Choir, directed by Bruce Thompson. Special guests seats will be accorded to Stillman alumni. Alumni will be asked to close the program out by singing Stillman’s alma mater song with the choir. You are encouraged to invite your family and friends to attend this event with you…the more, the merrier! For more call Gloria Dennard at (H)205-925-9373 or (C)205-305-3858.
FOR ART LOVERS…
COMING SOON – ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART BY DR. ART BACON – Heritage Hall in Talladega, Alabama will present “Subjects of Choice”, Original Works of Art by Dr. Art Bacon. The opening date is February 2 with a reception 2 – 3:30 p.m. and a closing date of February 28. Jemison Carnegie Heritage Hall is located at 200 South Street, East, Talladega, Alabama. Tell them Gwen sent you.
TODAY…RECEPTION at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) , 3 – 5 p.m. FREE. The BMA is celebrating the Google’s Art Project. There are 195 objects from their collection that have been added to the Art Project powered by Google. Senator Jeff Sessions and other representatives from Google will speak.
HIDDEN LECTURE, TODAY, 6 p.m. FREE with a lecture by Dr. Kristina Wilson, of Clark University who will discuss American Modern Design From Great Depression to Postwar: Contrast, Continuity and Conformity. These trends in American modern design spanned the years before and after World War II.
AND, CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, Saturday 10 – 3 p.m. FREE. – Celebrate the Year of the Horse through art and culture with family tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. There will be an extended Bart’s Art Cart from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with scavenger hunts all day. Then visit BCFA’s Chinese New Year Celebration next door at the Boutwell Auditorium to learn more about Chinese culture.
SCOTTSBORO BOYS – The Fred Hiroshige Photographs, with Robin D. G. Kelley, a Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA, on February 6, 7 p.m. at the Gorgas Library 205 and a RECEPTION, February 7, 5 – 7 p.m. with a talk by Dan T. Carter, author of “Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South with special guest: Sheila Washington, Director of the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center. The exhibit ends on February 21 at the Paul R. Jones Gallery, 2308 Sixth Street Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401. Call (205) 345-3038 for more.
VULCAN SCRAMBLE COMPETITION – Sidewalk Film Festival will present the first Documentary Scramble in partnership with Vulcan Park and Museum, TODAY, 6 p.m. at the Vulcan Park. The filmmaking window is 96 hours not your usual 48 hours. You don’t have to use that many hours if you do not want to. Film Turn In is 5 – 7 p.m., January 27 at the Sidewalk Office, 310 18th Street North. The Vulcan Scramble Screening is Thursday, February 13 as a part of the Vulcan Park’s Birmingham Revealed Series. You can register at www.sidewalkfest.com.
AND, E-SERIES – ECONOMICS MY BROOKLYN “What is Gentrification?” January 28, is the first film of the 2014 E-Series, a documentary by Kelly Anderson and Allison Lirish Dean of Kelly’s personal journey as a Brooklyn “gentrifier” trying to understand the forces reshaping her neighborhood along lines of race and class. So…head to Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret in the Kress Building, 301 19th Street North (free parking in the ParkRite Deck.) Doors open at 5 p.m. with complimentary snacks from Rojo and the My Brooklyn Film Screening at 6 p.m. with a panel discussion moderated by Mark Kelly, publisher of WELD and featuring Robert Gilmore (Norwood Neighborhood Association), David Fleming (REV Birmingham), Carole Clark (Regions Bank) and one more panelist (TBA).
SAVE THE DATE FOR SIDEWALK 2014 – AUGUST 22- 24 in the Downtown Birmingham’s Historic Theater District.
FOR BUSINESS….
COFFEE AND CONTRACTS – An Introduction to Doing Business with the Government, 9 a.m. at the BBRC, 1500 First Avenue North. Register at infro@bbrc.biz today!
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…. With music, good food and fun times. You can even play cards on some nights and get Dance Classes by PASQUALES every Thursday and Saturday at 6 p.m. Check out the ‘new’ Tide and Tiger Lounge. For more call (205) 503-3880. Don’t say that I did not tell you when you hear about this ’best kept secret’ around. Tell them Gwen sent you.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…THIS WEEKEND….
**COWBOY BILL MARTIN at the STARDOME COMEDY CLUB. Cowboy Bill Martin is one of the most talented performers seen on stage today. The Texas native, who has toured with some of the biggest names in country music including George Jones, George Strait, Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts and has headlined clubs and theaters across the U.S. and Canada, delivers an electrifying performance which uniquely combines real stories of do-it-yourself mishaps, plus hilarious stories of love, life and hope.
THEN, AT THE STARDOME… DON’T MISS… next week, weekend, HENRY CHO on January 30-February 2, JOHN CAPARULO on February 6-9, WENDY LIEBMAN on February 13-16, CHRIS TUCKER on February 21-23, KILLER BEAZ on February 25-26, TIM WILSON on February 28 – March 1, KILLER BEAZ on March 4-5, DONNELL RAWLINGS on March 6 – 9, SHERRI SHEPARD on March 21-22, BOBBY SLAYTON on March 28 – 29 and JON REEP on April 4 – 5. Tell Bruce that Gwen sent you. Enjoy some good laughter and fun times while you eat some great food with your friends. See you there! For more, call (205) 444-0008.
TODAY…
**STEVE ROBERTS QUARTET with ASHLEY ROBERTS, 8 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**MUSIC with DJ BATMAN…at the New Tide and Tiger!!
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.
**BONUS ROUND, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room. Call (205) 320-7006 for more.
**MUSIC with DJ BATMAN…at the New Tide and Tiger!!
SATURDAY…
**BIG TASTIES, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**MUSIC with DJ MIKE THE ENTERTAINMENT…at the New Tide and Tiger!!
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.
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!
TUESDAY…
**MUSIC with DJ LARRY LOVE…at the New Tide and Tiger!!
WEDNESDAY…
**BAMA presents UAB Brass Quintet in a free concert – The Birmingham Art Music Alliance will present the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Music’s Brass Quintet in a free concert of newly composed music by BAMA members at 7:30 p.m., in the Samford University Brock Recital Hall, 800 Lakeshore Drive.
COMING SOON…
FEBRUARY 1 – SICKLE CELL GALA at the Sheraton Hotel.
FEBRUARY 14 – “THE BEST CHEAP DATE EVER” – Bennie Mac & DA UNDERGROUND ALLSTARS® present: Comedy Series 15 “It’s Valentine Day, I Got A Cheap Gift, & I Gots To Take Dis $hit Back Edition featuring some of the funniest comics in the South! Comedienne Vanessa, Marlan Ballard, J-Shipp, & Jacques 2 Loose West. Hosted by Bennie Mac the doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 in the DK’s Event Center at 801 Fourth Avenue North. Free Scrumptious Buffet & Drinks. Call (205) 585-7273 for more with shows in your neighborhood: January 27 – Hattiesburg, MS at the Keg and Barrel, January 28 in Jackson, MS at the Fenian’s Pub, February 2 in Mobile, AL at The Crescent Theater and February 4 in Auburn, AL at the Stir Auburn.
FEBRUARY 15 – C-SERIES LUNCH AND LEARN with music, art and discussion to the movie MANDELA – Long Walk to Freedom, noon – 4 p.m. at the 16th Street Baptist Church.
FEBRUARY 16-18 – THE A.G. GASTON CONFERENCE at the BJCC.
MARCH 8 – UNCF MASKED BALL GALA, 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Ballroom.
MARCH 29 – THIRD ANNUAL NATURAL HAIR AND HEATLTH EXPO. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the BJCC North Exhibition Hall.
NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT FOR JANUARY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU DR. JESSE J. LEWIS, SR., LeBOISE DeRU, JR., SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN, BETTINA BYRD-GILES, RENEE KEMP-ROTAN, DRU HARRIS EALONS, CHUCK GEISS, JAMES WILLIAMS, KYLE WHITMIRE, WILLIAM BARNES, HAROLD COX, PHYLLIS CONNELL, AUDREY PERRINE, LOUISE WASHINGTON and CYNTHIA WILLIAMS…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)
