By Gwen DeRu
HAPPY BIRTHDAY…TO YOU… LEKAMEREN DERU, KACARYS BRAXTON AND LEKOTA DERU!! …MANY MANY MORE!!
HAVE A MERRY XMAS!
FROM ALL OF US… TO ALL OF YOU!
AND, A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
NOW…
….Here are a few things to consider for the season and coming year.
(Photo: Marcus Anderson
MUSIC SPECIAL AT THE STARDOME – Smooth Jazz on January 22 with JOSH VIETTI AND MARCUS ANDERSON for the StarDome Concert Series…Meet and Greet and Gold Circle Seating… Josh Vietti is a Hip-Hop/Pop violinist from southern California. Although generally billed as a Hip-Hop Violinist, he also incorporates classical, gospel, country, pop and jazz into his performances and is highly interactive with the audience. With appearances on Ellen, and ESPN NFL countdown every week – he will soon be a household name. Marcus Anderson’s performance is akin to no other live experience. The tremendous musicianship Anderson displays in-person is matched only by his energetic, charismatic and passionate showmanship. Heavily influenced by artists such as Michael Jackson, James Brown and PRINCE, Anderson’s magnetic stage persona and tremendous enjoyment of performing is undeniable. Anderson makes the stage his musical playground and the stage becomes the setting for where “style meets substance.” This is a StarDome Concert Series show starting at 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets and give them as a gift… Everyone needs to laugh a little.
CELEBRATE KWANZAA WITH BCRI – The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will host its Kwanzaa event on Tuesday, 5 p.m. with a Hands-on workshop in Woods Community Meeting Room and at 6 p.m. the community celebration is in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery which will highlight the principle NIZ, which means purpose. The celebration will feature music, performances and more. FREE!
(Photo Credit: Birmingham Airport Staff)
TWELVE DAYS OF HOLIDAY MUSIC – There are some days left in the twelve days of holiday music at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, in the airport terminal. Patrons of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport can enjoy live holiday music by local professional and community groups during the lunch and evening periods each day through New Year’s Day. All performances will be in the public, pre-security areas of the terminal so that both passengers and greeters can enjoy. Scheduled entertainment includes the following performers plus many more: The Connection Trio, Harp Instrumentals by Marsha Gunter, Mark Custer, Rob and Brant, Hammered Dulcimer & Guitar, The Red Brick Collective of the Etowah Youth Orchestra, Standard Time Jazz Combo, Good Fellas Smooth Jazz, Maxx Groove Trio, Marian McKay and Her Mood Swings, Cleve Eaton & the Alabama All-Stars, Hewitt Trussville HS Chamber Choir, Ray Reach Music and others.
BRYAN STEVENSON APPOINTED TO PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE – Alabama’s own Bryan Stevenson, director of the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative (a nonprofit), was chosen to serve on the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president recently announced the newly formed 11-person committee by executive order. The Task Force’s goal is to create greater trust between the citizens and the law enforcement and give a report with recommendations that will be given to President Obama. (Some taken from the AP)
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…
THIS WEEKEND… IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT…
Friday…
JINGLE JAM Friday at the Archibald and Woodrows featuring the 69 Boys singing ‘Tootsie Roll’ and Splack Pack singing ‘Scrub Da Ground‘ Live in Concert. If you love to dance then this is where you will be on Friday. Call (205) 331-4858 for more.
**Sensual and Seductive Friday, 6 p.m. until at the LeVi’an Grill and Bar at Magnolia Avenue and 23rd Street South.
**Ona’s Music Room is jumping.
“”The Nick will have music from around the country.
Saturday…
**Christmas party and more is in the Air TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field. Open Tuesday through Sunday through the New Year. FREE.
GIFT OF LAUGHTER….IN THE ‘HAM… AT THE STARDOME AND IN DA HOOD… …LAUGHTER FOR XMAS AND THE NEW YEAR…
**AT THE STARDOME…DON’T MISS… HEATH HYCHE …this weekend and New Year’s Eve! Heath got his start at the Comedy Club in 1993. He now lives in LA where you may have seen him on The Tonight Show or Saturday Night Special. His show is like watching a one man Saturday Night Live Show. He creates some hilarious characters who will have you rolling in the aisles. Heath is now a regular on the hit TV show BLUE COLLAR TV. This PG rated show is fun for everyone. COMING SOON…, GARY OWEN – January 2-4, COWBOY BILL and MEDIUM CINDY KAZA – January 10, DON ‘DC’ CURRY – January 16-19, SMOOTH JAZZ – January 22, STEVE McGREW – January 23-25, TONY ROBERTS – January 30 – February 1, DL HUGHLEY – February 6-8, SHERYL UNDERWOOD – February 20-21, , MIRANDA SINGS – February 7-8 (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.
FOR OUTDOORS LOVERS… AFTER XMAS WALKS…..
SATURDAY, 1 p.m., Southeastern Outings moderately easy four-mile Dayhike on the Black Creek Trail in Fultondale, just north of Birmingham. Walk on a rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide and level. No hills! The finely-crushed rock surface trail goes through mostly wooded terrain. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail! This outing should be lots of fun for everyone. Well-behaved, supervised children nine years and up that are able to walk four miles without complaining are welcome on this walk. Depart 1 p.m. from Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama. Contact Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or (205) 631-4680 for more.
SUNDAY, 1 p.m. is the Dayhike in Red Mountain Park (RMP). Would it excite you to hear that Birmingham has secured a recreational, public park space in excess of 1,100 acres—an area larger than New York’s Central Park? Could you, your friends and family find a use for more than 18 miles of new hiking and biking trails, open fields and picnic areas, all within 15 minutes of downtown? In March, 2012 The Red Mountain Park Commission opened the eastern section of this park to the public, offering folks a chance to walk the property and get a feel for the location and scale of the land. This will be Southeastern Outings’ thirteenth hike in the Park. Come for a tour of a walkable portion of this noteworthy place. Hike rated moderately easy. Although mostly level, be prepared for some uphill walking. This is one of the largest city parks in the United States! For more information about the park, visit the park’s website: http://www.redmountainpark.org. Bring plenty of water and wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and up welcome. Depart 1 p.m. from the cul-de-sac at end of Frankfurt Drive off Lakeshore Parkway. For more contact Joe Myers (205) 988-0741.
Don’t Forget….
BIRMINGHAM TIMES MARTIN LUTHER KING SPECIAL – Deadline for the MARTIN LUTHER KING SPECIAL EDITION is December 30, if you are interested in this Special Tabloid. Publication date is January 15, 2015. It will be a coffee table piece kept all year long. You want to be included. Call (205) 251-5158 Ext 21 for Gwen DeRu or email thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com. This special tabloid is a KEEP SAKE for one full year. If you know anything about Martin Luther King then you know you should get your business in the Birmingham Times MLK Special Edition.
(Photo: Dwayne Tucker)
TSU SCHOLARSHIP BRUNCH – The New Year is right around the corner and so is TSU Scholarship Brunch. Let’s bring the New Year in and help students that attend TSU by attending the TSU brunch. Tennessee State University National Alumni Association, Birmingham Chapter is hosting its Annual Scholarship Brunch January 3, 2015, 11 a.m., at the Harbert Center. Mr. Dwayne H. Tucker is a TSU graduate, the Tennessee State University Foundation Board Chairman, Lead Academy Board Chairman, Dallas County Community College District Foundation member, and Gleneagles County Club Board of Governors among many other affiliations. He is a True Tennessee State University graduate and dedicated alumnus. Join other TSU alumni on the first Saturday of the year and attend the scholarship brunch. Call Angela Day at (205) 601-0801 or email angelalbday@aol.com or Jacquelyn A. Fail (205) 566-3746 or email tsujf8@gmail.com.
NOW…. BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU … LEKAMEREN DERU, KACARYS BRAXTON, LEKOTA DERU, LAJUANA BRADFORD, 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.)
