By: Gwen DeRu
THANKS TO ALL VETERANS!
This is the weekend for a few great things
BANKSTON BASH 2015 AT GOOD PEOPLE BREWING COMPANY! –
David Bankston (Photo Credit: Bankstonbash.com)
BANKSTON BASH is this Saturday, 1 – 7:30 p.m., at the Good People Brewing Compayn. The Autism Society of Alabama Junior Board will present the inaugural Bankston Bash from 1-7 p.m. on Saturday at Good People Brewing Company in Birmingham. The event will honor and celebrate the life of the Autism Society’s late friend and former Junior Board President David Bankston. The event will raise awareness and money for Autism Spectrum Disorders. There is no entry fee for the event but there is a $20 fee to enter the cornhole tournament. The event will be immediately followed by a live performance by Belle Adair at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.autism-alabama.org.
SPORTS SAFETY – The National Center for Sports Safety will be launching a new “Sports Safety Pledge” aimed at curbing the number of sports related injuries throughout the US by engaging coaches at all levels of play. The launch will be on Thursday, November 6th at 11 a.m. at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Larry Lemak, Founder of NCSS, along with a number of local youth, high school and college coaches, will join together to launch the pledge, show their support and join other coaches in signing “The Pledge”. A video presentation unveiling several renowned college coaches’ support to “Signing the Pledge” will also be highlighted. For more call (205) 910-0007 for Lauren Peoples.
BOOKS TO READ…
THE A.G. GASTON MOTEL IN BIRMINGHAM: A HISTORIC LANDMARK – The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham: A Historic Landmark by Marie Sutton is hitting shelves this week. The book chronicles the story of how Birmingham Black entrepreneur and eventual millionaire A.G. Gaston created a first-class motel and lounge for African Americans. The motel became a symbol of pride of the community and served as the headquarters for Birmingham’s civil rights movement. The Gaston Motel was a revolving door for famous entertainers, activists, politicians and other pillars of the national Black community, and was a refuge during a time when African Americans could find none. Book signings are: Saturday, 4-6 p.m. at the Little Professor Bookstore, 2717 18th Street, South in Homewood, November 15 2-4 p.m. at Books-A-Million, Brookwood Village and November 22, 5-7 p.m. at Barnes & Nobles at The Summit.
IT AIN’T OVER by Joyce E. Brooks (Author of Self-Inflicted Overload) is hosting a celebration and official release, November 15, 3-5 p.m. at Vulcan Park and Museum. The book title It Ain’t Over! are three little words that lead to personal and professional fulfillment. For more to www.joyceebrooks.com or call (205) 529-6471.
GIRL SCOUTS HISTORY MYSTERIES – Mysteries will be shared Saturday, 1-3 p.m. at the Vulcan Park and Museum for Daisies, and Brownies, 10 a.m. – Noon and Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors at 1 – 3 p.m. For Vulcan’s History Mysteries patch, participants encounter Vulcan’s history by using clues to solve a History Mystery. Part scavenger hunt, part artifact-based research, History Mysteries is an ideal way for participants to explore the story of Alabama’s largest city. This program will help each Girl Scout develop her power of observation and deductive reasoning. For more, go to www.visitvulcan.com.
THANK A VET DAY – Vulcan Park and Museum, along with Bright House Networks will present “Thank-A-Vet” on November 17. Take a Veteran to School Day is a national program developed by “HISTORY” to link veterans with students nationwide. Schools and communities invite veterans of all branches to share their stories and receive thanks for their service. This year, students from Bush Hills Academy and Green Acres Middle School will take an educational tour of Vulcan Park and Museum then assemble for a special presentation to honor veterans. The keynote speaker will be Jefferson County Commissioner General George Bowman. For more, go to www.visitvulcan.com.
ASU MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY – Saturday is Hornet Football Game Military Appreciation Day! – Free tickets for active and retired military with up to four free tickets per member in uniform or with valid military identification. If extra tickets are needed, they can be purchased from $30 to $50 for the Jackson State North Side, Section 131-133. The free military tickets can be picked up only on game day at Gate I. Military Appreciation Day will include a number of pregame and halftime festivities to honor all of the men and women who serve our country, past and present. All Hornets fans are encouraged to wear camouflage with their ASU gear on this day. For any questions concerning Military Appreciation Day, contact the ASU Athletics Department at 229-4507 or the ASU Ticket Office at 334-229-4551.
NEW ORLEANS LEGENDS – Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Allen Toussaint will perform at the Samford Wright Fine Arts Center, Monday, 8 – 10p.m.
SIDEWALK $10K PARTY – The Sidewalk 10K Party is next Thursday, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Kress Building Rooftop (301) 19th Street North) with catering by ROJO and Beer and Wine with entertainment by DJ Slade and Comedian/Emcee Christopher Davis.
COFFEE AND CONTRACTS – The Do’s and Don’ts: What you need to do to prepare and stay incompliance, November 13, 9 – 10:30 a.m. at 1500 First Avenue North, 35203. This session will discuss year-end activities, audits, reporting and compliance in the areas of Payroll/Salary Administration, Benefits/ACA, Human Resources, and Workers’ Compensation. Register at info@bbrc.biz. Registration deadline is November 11.
FOR LOVE OF LAUGHTER…
COMEDIANS INTERESTED IN BEING DISCOVERED… AND SEEN….Email me at thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com and also gwenderu@yahoo.com.
THIS WEEKEND… Or coming soon….Don’t miss any of the LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME COMEDY CLUB… Check out TIM STATUM…. Entertaining audiences wherever he goes, Tim is a Birmingham native who will keep you in stitches with his southern style humor and storytelling. Tim incorporates real-life stories of growing up in the country with classic stand up comedy to provide a hilarious evening.
FOR MORE LAUGHTER… October 28-30 and also, November 1-2 – RONNIE JORDAN, November 4-5 – BRUHHMAN & KOL BUBBA ICE, November 7-8 and November 14-15 – JAMES GREGORY, November 11-16 – SHUAN JONES, November 20-21 – DUSTIN YBARRA, November 21-23 – LAVELL CRAWFORD, November 25-26 and 28-30 – JONATHAN SLOCUMB, January 2-4 – GARY OWEN, and February 7 – MIRANDA SINGS. Tell Bruce that Gwen sent you!! Call (205) 444-0008 for more.
ENJOY THE WEEKEND!! I WILL!!
NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT FOR NOVEMBER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLOTTA SHEARER, TAMICA WASHINGTON and CYNTHIA MARZETTE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! THIS MEANS YOU… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU BIRTHDAY BALLERS…MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Get outdoors, laugh and enjoy the time with family and friends! Check out our ‘What’s Happening Travel and Tourism Guide’… whenever you can.
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)
