By Gwen DeRu
HISTORY! WOMENS HISTORY!
FIRST…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TISANNE WILLIAMS AND COLLIE WILLIAMS!
Don’t Miss…Earth Day at The Gardens, April 26th.
THE WOMEN GATHER: AN EVENING OF POETRY AND 
MUSIC – The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will honor Women’s History Month with its program, 6 p.m. in the Rev. Abraham L. Woods Community Meeting Room. The program will feature talented women who will sing, dance and perform original poetry and dramatic excerpts from acclaimed literary work. The event is free and open to the public. Local poets and singers featured in ‘The Women Gather,” include Kimberly Billingsley, Delores “Dee” Byrd-Smith, Shaunteka Latrese Curry, Evelyn Dilworth-William, DJ Coz, Wafiyyah El-Amin, Shirley Ferrill, Mimi Latoine, Laquita Middleton-Holmes, Sanovia Muhammad, Kimberly Phillips, Thelma Scott Nance, Ph.D., Illyshia Parker, Latrisha ‘Fee Fee” Redmon, Laura Secord, and Ama Shambulia Priscilla Hancock Cooper, poet and BCRI Vice President of Institutional Programs, will host the event. For more information, call 205-328-9696 x 233 or www.bcri.org.
JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE SPEAKS AT A.G. GASTON 47th LUNCHEON – The A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club will host the RACE TO THE FINISH in celebration of the 47th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon, April 10, 11:30 a.m. at the Club. Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee is keynote speaker. Let’s support the Race to the Finish Luncheon as we support the young boys and girls of the community. For more call (205) 923-3377. (I will see you there.)
THIRD ANNUAL NATURAL HAIR AND HEALTH EXPO – This will be a showcase of natural style and fashion like none other. The Expo will include a day of natural hair education, professional hairstyling services, FREE health screenings , entertainment and Meet and Greets with some of the favorite celebrities including actor Lamman Rucker noted from Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?” film series, author, Demetria Lucas from Bravo-TV’s Blood, Sweat and Heels and Tanya Wright form HBO’s hit TV-series True Blood, just to name a few. The Visions Beauty Distribution and others want you to be BOLD, RARE AND NATURAL, March 29, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the BJCC North Exhibition Hall. There will be plenty to learn and make a part of your lifestyle. Call (678) 884-4008 ext 706 for more or visit www.naturalhairandhealthexpo.com. Tell them Gwen sent you.
EARTH DAY AT THE GARDENS – Earth Day at The Gardens returns on April 26. Alabama’s longest-running Earth Day celebration to be held at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 11 – 4 p.m. in the Formal Garden in front of the Conservatory. The annual celebration will again partner with Community Garden Coalition of Birmingham to focus on the growing local and national interest in community gardening. Displays and demonstrations will feature topics such as: vegetable garden design, raised bed construction, vermiculture, composting, trellising, rainwater irrigation and beekeeping. Focus will be maintained on health and wellness and the benefits of good nutrition. The event is free to the public. This year’s musical entertainment will be provided by the Oxymorons.
BARON’S GAMES NEW FOOD ITEMS – Barons Tap Into Local Flavor With New Regions Field Concession Items – FIRST…, MILES COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAM PLAYS MONDAY AGAINST THE BARONS – Miles College Baseball team will play the Barons team in a special exhibition game at Regions Field Monday. March 31 at 5:30 p.m. NOW….Fans can enjoy three new signature food items and updated craft beer selections all season long at Regions Field. The Barons have introduced a new trio of signature menu items with fan favorites and unique items that will delight fans all season long. Steel City Burger – 1/3lb grilled hamburger served on a toasted ciabatta roll and topped with three slices of bacon, two slices of pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, a fried egg and sriracha mayo. Boneless Wings – A generous portion of boneless breaded chicken wings tossed with your choice of spicy buffalo, tangy garlic parmesan, or Dreamland BBQ sauce. Served with celery stick and ranch dressing. Philly Cheese Steak Nachos – Tender thin slices of beef sirloin grilled with diced green peppers and onions, piled high on a bed of crispy tortilla chips and topped with a hot melted cheddar cheese sauce. Big Daddy’s Dreamland Barbecue Shack in centerfield will continue to feature fan favorites including ½ slabs of ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, smoked sausage plates and last year’s fan favorite, The Magic City Dog which debuted in 2013 and features a Dreamland Smoked Sausage covered with Dreamland BBQ Sauce, Cole Slaw and Spicy Brown Mustard. Regions Field will again serve as one of the area’s melting pots for Birmingham’s best local craft beers including Good People Brown Ale and IPA, Avondale Vanillaphant and Spring Street Saison while adding the Avondale Pachyderm Pale Wheat to its roster in 2014. Fans will enjoy a host of national recognized beers including New Belgian Fat Tire from Fort Colins Colorado. Other beer offerings will include Abita Strawberry Harvest, Sam Adams Boston Lager and Summer Ale, Magic Hat #9, Terrapin Hopsecutioner. Sam Adams Rebel IPA, Abita Andygator, Shiner Bock and Ruby Red Bird, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Blue Moon, Pacifico, and Miller Fortune. Local food trucks Melt, Cajun Steamer and Cantina! will be available inside the ballpark on select dates and an assortment of healthy food options with the American Family Care Healthy Hits Menu which includes grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken caesar wraps, garden salads, fresh fruits and vegetables and more! The 2014 regular season home schedule begins on Wednesday, April 9th against the Jacksonville Suns, Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. For more call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.
Here are a few things going on this weekend and soon. (Look around for other things that you may want to enjoy and share with the others. See you around. Say Hi!)
LAUGHTER at the STARDOME COMEDY CLUB with this weekend.
THIS WEEKEND….Don’t Miss… BOBBY SLAYTON… A true comic’s comic, Bobby Slayton is best known for his title as the Pit Bull of Comedy. He has been performing his own intense style of standup comedy for 25 years, becoming one of the best known, and most energetic, comedians on the road. Slayton was recently seen on the HBO series “THE MIND OF THE MARRIED MAN”. The show followed a trio of reporters at a Chicago newspaper who try to remain faithful to their wives. Slayton played a married friend of one of the reporter’s who is also struggling to remain faithful to his wife. Call (205) 444-0008 for more. Tell them Gwen sent you. See you there.
FOR LAUGHTER…… The STARDOME COMEDY CLUB… JON REEP (April 4-5), ERIK GRIFFIN (April 10-13), JUNIOR (April 18-19), ARNEZ J (April 25-27), SINBAD (May 2-4), JAMES GREGORY (May 9-10 and 16-17) and LUENELL (May 23-25) all at the StarDome Comedy Club. See you around.
TODAY….
**STEVE ROBERTS QUARTET WITH ASHLEY ROBERTS, 8:30 p.m. at Ona’ Music Room. One of the Top 10 best Jazz spots in the country. Call (205) 320-7006 for more. Tell them Gwen sent you.
**ARTIFAS/LOVES IT at the Nick, 2514 10th Avenue South. Call (205) 252-3831 for more.
FRIDAY…
**BOBBY RUSH at Wellington’s Bistro, 9 p.m. showtime. Call (205)223-4432 for more.
**SARAH GREEN & SUNDAY LOVERS WITH SAM GUNDERSON, 9:30 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**ANDY LEES/MOCKINGBIRD SUN at The Nick.
SATURDAY…
**BOBBY RUSH at Wellington’s Bistro, 9 p.m. showtime. Call (205)223-4432 for more.
**AILEY II, 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center,
**ONA WATSON AND CHAMPAGNE, 9:30 p.m. at Ona’s Music room.
**NICK LUTSKO/SPIRITS AND THE MELCHIZEDEK CHILDREN/ABBY GOGO at The Nick.
**GRAND OPENING OF OMNY BAR AND LOUNGE – Check out the new lounge at 1575 Bessemer Road in Five Points West.
ENJOY THE WEEKEND!!
COMING….SOON….
Don’t miss…
APRIL 3 – THIRD ANNUAL GIRLFRIEND GALA – The Literacy Council will present BROADWAY BABES, April 3, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Old Car Heaven. Call (205) 326-1925 for more.
April 6 – WORD UP 2014 – TOP TEEN POETS COMPETE – Students from high school in Jefferson County will compete in a poetry slam on Sunday, 3 p.m. at the Birmingham Public Library’s Arrington Auditorium. Free event. Call (205) 225-3670.
APRIL 9 – The ANNUAL BLUEPRINT SUMMIT – The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) invites you to the 2014 Blueprint Summit, 7:30 a.m. at the Harbert Center. The summit will feature the release of the 2014 Economic Growth Report, which provides details about the region’s performance during the past year. There is no charge but registration is strongly encouraged. Space is limited.
APRIL 19 – MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO, 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center.
APRIL 22- 26 – FASHION WEEK – Birmingham Fashion Week 2014 Runway shows start with local, regional and nationally recognized designers showcasing their latest fashions and hottest trends. (Look for more right here.)
NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT FOR MARCH! 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)
