By Gwen DeRu
Here are the TOP THREE THINGS on my list…for this week and coming soon!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LeBOISE DeRU, JR.!!
UNCF MASKED GALA – MARCH 8th!!
TERRI J. VAUGHN in Birmingham, this weekend…DON’T MISS…Terri J. Vaughn as Celebrity host of the 2014 SICKLE CELL GALA at the Sheraton Hotel, this Saturday, at the Sheraton Hotel, downtown. Terri J. Vaughn is an actress and prodeucer, performing in guest starring and co-starring roles is such projects as “Living Single”, “Friday”, “ER”, “Girlfriends,” “Soul Food”, “Meet the Browns” and high school secretary, Lovita Alixe Jenkins-Robinson on the “Steve Harvey Show”. See you there!
DON”T MISS…. NEXT THURSDAY….STAND! UNTOLD STORIES FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT – The definitive documentary chronicling the key events that led to the demonstrations in Birmingham in 1963. STAND! Spotlights the pivotal roles played by the students of Miles College in the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement, namely the creation and execution of The Selective Buying Campaign of 1962. ‘STAND! Untold Stories From the Civil Rights Movements’ airs next Thursday at 9 p.m. on Alabama Public Television (APT-WBIQ).
PRATT CITY LIBRARY REOPENS – The Pratt City Branch Library, which was severely damaged in an April 27, 2011 tornado, has been rebuilt and will reopen on Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. with a grand reopening ceremony and reception. A new library feature is a storm shelter with reinforced concrete walls. During the Jan. 30 reopening ceremony, Mayor William A. Bell, Sr., U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, city council members are scheduled to speak. The public is invited to attend. Other features include a terrazzo floor marked with major Pratt City landmarks, new study rooms, a business center and youth and teen areas accented with bright and inviting colors. The branch’s collection has more than 7, 000 items. The library is at Dugan Avenue and Hibernian Street.
FOR ART LOVERS…
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, Sunday, 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.
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.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…THIS WEEKEND….
**HENRY CHO at the STARDOME COMEDY CLUB. Comedy Central Special “What’s That Clickin Noise” Making the most of who Henry is has not been a problem. “I’m an Asian with a southern accent,” remarks Cho. “To a lot of people, that right there is funny!” Cho’s many other comedy credits include NBC’s “Bob Hope’s Young Comedians Special,” MTV’s “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour” and VH-1’s “Stand-up Spotlight.”
THEN, AT THE STARDOME… DON’T MISS… next week, weekend, on 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!!
FEBRUARY 8 – The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter presents a Mardi Gras Brunch, Saturday, the 8th of February, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at Boutwell Municipal Auditorium, Exhibition Hall, 1930 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. This event will include eating, a short program, honoring a number of individuals of the community, participating in the New Orleans Second Line with continued dancing until you get tired. The NCBW 100, Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Call (205) 980-0714 or (205) 515-0791 (cell).
FEBRUARY 9 – The Annual Stillman College Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian Church will be held at 3 p.m., at Westminster, 20 Sixth Avenue, S.W. Call (205) 925-9373 or 305-3858 for more.
FEBRUARY 13 – VULCAN SCRAMBLE COMPETITION –The Vulcan Scramble Screening is a part of the Vulcan Park’s Birmingham Revealed Series. You can register at www.sidewalkfest.com.
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.
FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 1 – 2014 LADIES OF ROYALTY – Women’s Business & Empowerment Conference at the BJCC, East Ballroom A will empower women for business and equip women for life. Call (205) 563-6344 for more.
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)
