By Gwen DeRu
Good Times! Gift Giving and More!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY ENGLISH!! (Keep up the good work at PD Jackson Olin High School!)
Here’s wishing you a safe, healthy 2014 holiday season…plus ‘all’ that you wish for you and yours!!! Enjoy….and Share the remainder of the Season!
HAVE A MERRY XMAS!!!!
NOW…
I thought that I would give you some things to consider for the coming year. First, the Birmingham Times is compiling a Special Tabloid….
MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BLACK HISTORY TABLOID – The Birmingham Times is working on the Martin Luther King and Black History Month Tabloid. Deadline is December 30, if you are interested in including advertisement in this Special Tabloid. Publication date is January 15th, 2015. It will be a coffee table piece kept there all year long. You want to be included. Call (205) 251-5158 for Gwen DeRu or email me at thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com.
NEW COFFEE HOUSE IN AVONDALE – The ABBEY will open in February 2015. The Abbey, a new coffee house and church in Avondale is located at 131-A 41st Street South. Abbey partners with Episcopal Diocese of Alabama at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook. The Christian-themed church and coffee house is trying to reach the millennials that do not go to church. The shop will serve coffee, espresso, tea, baked goods, and lunch. It is a way to get in the community with food and religion while bringing some of what is needed to the community. RED BIKE COFFEE, a roaster in Avondale will supply the coffee to the Abbey.
(Photo Credit: 32Advisors.com)
GLOBAL VISION WITH BARRY JOHNSON – The Ballard House will host a holiday fund-raiser “Gratitude, Prosperity & Dreams Realized: Begin It Now!” December 18, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Ballard House, 1420 Seventh Avenue North. Barry Johnson, a Birmingham native, businessman, social entrepreneur and economic diplomat will be guest speaker. Johnson heads BJ Affirms, co-founded Global Act, Inc. served as Senior Advisor with the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama Administration and serves as Board of Directors of the Foreign Direct Investment Association and its World Forum on Foreign Investments. Johnson also worked in management with private sectors Disney, BET Networks, Microsoft Corporation to name a few. Johnson attended Altamont School, Yale University and Harvard Business School. Call (205) 731-2000 for more.
FOR ART LOVERS….at the BMA
SMALL TREASURES: REMBRANDT, VERMEER, HALS, AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) opening January 31. The BMA will welcome the first exhibition to explore small-format, 17th century paintings from the Dutch Golden Age featuring 40 small-scale, highly detailed paintings by the greatest masters of Dutch and Flemish art.
BETWEEN FANTASY AND REALITY: FRANK FLEMING – This exhibition will highlight Alabama artist Frank Fleming’s early work, featuring 19 whimsical, humorous and curious pieces. Submit your story behind Fleming’s pieces and your words could be in the Museum before December 31. This is for all ages. Opening February 27, 2015.
SUMMER CAMP AT THE BMA – Give your child inspiration at the Museum Camp. Register by January 31 and receive an extra $50 off camp fees.
IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT…
FREE PHOTO WITH SANTA AND OPEN HOUSE AT BIRMINGHAM HEALTH CARE – There is an Open House at the Birmingham Health Clinic (BHC) Ensley, Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 417 19th Street in Ensley. There will be Free Screenings – Dental, blood pressure, blood sugar checks, vision screenings, flu shot vouchers for new patients and refreshments. The Birmingham Health Care bus will provide free transportation to and from the Tuxedo Terrace Community and Ensley Park Recreation Centers. The BHC is located next door to the Gilmer Drugstore and can be entered from the rear entrance on 20th Street. You are invited!
BARONS WINTER WARM-UP COAT DRIVE – The Birmingham Barons are partnering with WIAT 42 and the team’s flagship radio station, iHeartMedia’s NewsRadio 105-5 WERC, to bring the Winter Warm-Up Coat Drive to Regions Field. Beginning Thursday, Dec. 11 at 5 a.m., new and lightly-worn coats can be donated at the ball park, along with multiple drop-off stations at the Lakeshore, Montclair and Trussville Wal-Mart locations. The drive will run until 6 p.m., and those interested in donating to the cause are welcome to stop by any of the four convenient locations at any time. All coat sizes are welcome and appreciated, including coats for children and adults. The Birmingham Barons opens the 2015 season Thursday, April 9 as Regions Field hosts the Mobile Bay Bears at 7:05 p.m. For information and the complete 2015 schedule, call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com.
JAMAICA CONSUL GENERAL HONORABLE FRANZ HALL SPEAKS AT THE CENTRAL ALABAMA CARIBBEAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION DINNER AND DANCE – Join the Caribbean community for the Annual Dinner and Dance as they bring in the spirit of giving with Consul General of Jamaica HONORABLE FRANZ HALL, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Perimeter. Birmingham. There will be festivities including Miss Victoria Bailey (Miss Sylacauga 2014). Guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for donations to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.
FOR OUTDOORS LOVERS…
This SATURDAY at 9 a.m., Southeastern Outings Day Hike at the DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls. This is a moderately easy hike. Hike along the beautiful West Fork of Little River, other trails in the park, 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 five miles are welcome. After the outing enjoy an optional restaurant dinner together. Depart from the Applebee’s in Trussville. More info: Havis Johnson, (205) 834-3544.
THIS SUNDAY at 1 p.m. is a Day Hike at Oak Mountain State Park. Enjoy a moderate four-mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on Sunday afternoon. This is an excellent outing for introducing your friends to Southeastern Outings and for making new friends who enjoy the outdoors. Parts of this hike will be off the color-coded trails. There will be some ups and downs. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up, able to walk the distance of about four miles and complete the hike are welcome. Share an adventure! Bring a friend. Depart from the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot. Bring $3/person ($1 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink. More info: Edd Spencer, (205) 317-5868.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…
THIS WEEKEND….
Friday…
**CHINCHOLLA BIRTHDAY BASH featuring a live performance by PUSHA T and hosted by Jacobie at the Merienda Lounge.
**COCKTAILS AND CELEBS at the Vault Bar and Lounge is a benefit for Project Up. Dress as your favorite celeb for a chance to win cash and prizes, hosted by MeMe Williams and Marilyn Monroe, located at 1920 Third Avenue North.
Saturday…
**XMAS PARTY AT TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field. FREE.
THEN, AT THE STARDOME…
CED DELANEY, Wednesday at the StarDome Comedy Club. Birmingham’s Own Ced Delaney has been co-host of several radio morning shows and has appeared on BET’s Comic View”. He’s performed at Improv Comedy Clubs across the country, hosted monthly comedy nights at WorkPlay (Birmingham, AL) called The “Ced Delaney Comedy Nite”, “Tickle Tuesday’s” at The Comedy Club StarDome (Birmingham, AL), and Jokes and Jazz (Desoto, TX). His other TV appearances includes the host of the “UPN Sunday Movie Showcase”, as well as the weekly televised “SWACtacular” which covers all events in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
DON’T MISS… Coming soon, COREY HOLCOMB, January 17-19 and HENRY CHO, 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 friends. For more, call (205) 444-0008.
MORE LAUGHTER….COMEDY IN DA HOOD at the New Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue. Comedians are invited! Call (205) 503-3880 for more.
NOW…. a BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU …ASHLEY ENGLISH 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.)
