TODAY
OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, every Thursday at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials, 4 p.m. For more call (205) 326-2881.
LIVE AT STEEL, 8 p.m. with SHARRON performing and DJ CDUBB in the Mix at Steel on First Avenue at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.
THIRSTY THURSDAY at the Baron’s game at Regions Field.
BEST OF BIRMINGHAM COMEDY, tonight includes Mike Mitchell, Deno, Henry Coleman and Q Quinney at the StarDome Comedy Club at 7:30 p.m..
WRITING OFF TOMORROW at The Nick.
FRIDAY
COMEDIENNE JOY at the Perfect Note.
BEST OF BIRMINGHAM COMEDY at the StarDome Comedy Club includes Terry Tee, Deno, Jay P, and Joy at 7:30 p.m..
FANCY FRIDAYS, 5 p.m. featuring JILLIAN GRAY with YARBROUGH & COMPANY every Friday at Legends on 18th Street North, Downtown. Birmingham. This is an After Work Experience hosted by Keely and Tiger and catered by Chef Jones. Call (205) 212-4406 for more.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
SLEPTIC?/THE NEW MASTERS OF EVIL and ECONOMY CARTEL at The Nick.
SATURDAY
FISH FRY AND BLUES SATURDAY, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Tide and Tiger, 409 Graymont Avenue West.
COMEDIENNE JOY at the Perfect Note.
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
BEST OF BIRMINGHAM at the StarDome Comedy Club includes at 6:30 p.m. Tim Statum, Ira, Charity Glidewell and Jose Cooke with Sir Walt, Ira, Darry J and Strayham at 8:45 p.m.
ICARUS SYNDROME/MOTH FACE/TACH/TAMILY/HEXXSUS at The Nick.
SUNDAY
SUNDAZE, 5 p.m. at the Blue Monkey. FREE before 6 p.m.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
JAZZ IN THE PARK, 6-9 p.m. at Linn Park, FAYTH HOPE and FOUR80EAST.
BEST OF BIRMINGHAM at the StarDome Comedy Club includes Funny Maine, Eunice Elliott, Charles Winston and Lamar.
ROSELIT BONE and THE STIR at The Nick.
MONDAY
GREYMARKET/BURLEY STARNS/CARLY BLACKK – A TOUCH OF BLACK at The Nick.
TUESDAY
OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m., every Tuesday, at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials. For more call (205) 326-2881.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
TIDE AND TIGER ON THE PATIO, 4 p.m. until on Graymont across from Legion Field.
BACK TO SCHOOL!
ERIC BLEDSOE SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY – The School Supply Giveaway is this Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Regions Field. School supply giveaway while supplies last. Eric Bledsoe & NBA Players Exhibition Game is Sunday, at 4 p.m. at Parker High School. For more information, call (205) 327-3822.
MOTIVATIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY – The School Supply Giveaway is this Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Gunn Christian Academy, 5201 Sugar Ray Drive, Birmingham 35228. School supply giveaway while supplies last. For more info, call 205-218-5011.
FIRST DAY OF CLASS for Birmingham City Schools is Monday – August 8th.
Have you registered yet? On-site registration times differ per school. A list of school registration times and dates may be found online at www.bhamcityschools.org. For questions about registration, please send emails to reghelp@bhm.k12.al.us.
HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS FAIR – Join other children and parents in the Birmingham Area at the Happy Healthy Kids Fair on Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Riverchase Galleria.
TAKE A CHILD TO THE DOCTOR DAY is September 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Center, 2400 7th Avenue North. Call (205) 320-0879 for more.
DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY is taking applications until October 31, for youth ages 13-19 that live in the United States and enrolled in high school grades 9-12. For more go to: disneydreamersacademy.com.
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS
BBA HOST CAREER FAIR – The Birmingham Business Alliance will host a day-long career fair and professional development conference, College-2-Career Intensive (C2Ci), today and tomorrow at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel Ballroom beginning at 9 a.m., featuring over a dozen participating companies.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
JAZZ Guartist NICK COLIONNE is at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Saturday.
JAZZ IN THE PARK BIRMINGHAM – Magic City Smooth Jazz presents JAZZ IN THE PARK at Linn Park, with FAYTH HOPE and FOUR80EAST, 6 – 9 p.m. FREE!!!!
SECRET STAGES is this weekend, Friday and Saturday, with music from all around the country. Join Secret Stages and Sidewalk Film Festival for films during the festival on Saturday. One film is Burn to Shine 6: Atlanta at 2 p.m. and another is The Sade and Beautiful World of Sparklehorse, 3:30 p.m. at the Festival.
LOOK FOR: LANDO CHILL from Tucson, AZ will perform on the Hip Hop Stage at 9 p.m. Chicago born & raised rap artist/songwriter, Lando Chill has been making waves & turning heads in the deep Southwest, calling Tucson, Arizona his current musical home base of operation. Even whilst growing up in a choir & theatre orientated background due to his mother, music wasn’t a prerogative until, by chance, he was cast in a University of Arizona Film School short in 2013 & tasked to lend his voice. Lando has been on an enthralling journey through music, touring the country & developing new records with his band.
LOOK FOR: MONDAY/FRIDAY from Atlanta will perform Friday, 9:45 p.m. on the Hip Hop Stage.
Friends for over 10 years, Illastrate and Yamin decided to join forces and create records that would showcase the best elements of what they enjoy in hip hop rather than showcase themselves as separate artists.
LOOK FOR: NO SUH FOSTER will perform Friday at 11:45 p.m. at M Lounge on First Avenue. Mobile, Alabama has birthed a gem with No Suh Foster, a lyrical talent often unheard in the southern region, No Suh depicts vivid stories and observations with a spoken word-esque flow and production that blends the golden age hip hop sound with both current and abstract influences. No Suh’s sound can be attributed to a somewhat unique background. “I was born in New York, raised in Mobile” he says “That may not seem to be a big deal to some, but the fact that I could never say I was ‘ born and raised’ in any particular place kind of eliminated the idea of regionalism in my train of thought, musically or otherwise”. Quoting Amanda Lucas, The Hood Hippie, “No Suh Foster may be considered another socially aware and political conscious rapper/artist blah blah blah. But if you listen closely you will realize he can only be heard as a modern day prophet, who is preaching past the choir. All I can say is Amen. Hallelujah. And pass the album, please.”
LOOK FOR: LOVE MOOR from Birmingham performing Saturday, 10:45 p.m. on the Hip Hop Stage at M Lounge on First Avenue. Erica Andrew, better known by her stage name Love Moor, is an American singer-songwriter born in Brooklyn, N.Y., grew up in Miami, Fla. , and later relocated to Birmingham, Ala. Love Moor is a neo soul singer whose music can be described as Alternative R&B, with elements of soul, hip hop, minimalist R&B, a little flow, and some island flavor. Love’s lyrics can be described as “revealing”, that revolve around themes of sexuality, nostalgia, abandonment, and self love. To quote Ariel Worthy, an editor at the Birmingham Times, “To call [Love] Moor a starry-eyed singer with big dreams does not suffice; Moor is going to make it.” Moor performs at 10:45 p.m., Saturday on the Hip Hop Stage at M Lounge on First Avenue. For schedule and more information, go to www.secretstages.net.
FOR SPORTS AND OUTDOOR LOVERS
BASEBALL AT REGIONS FIELD – The Birmingham Barons is still strong at the Regions Field today, Thirsty Thursday, with the last of a five game set against the Tennessee Smokies. THIRSTY THURSDAY – Thirsty Thursday rounds out this week’s series with a 7:05 p.m. start at Regions Field. HUNNICUTT WILLIS will take the stage for a pregame concert along the first base concourse as part of the Thursday Night Concert Series presented by Birmingham Mountain Radio. For more information, call (205) 988-3200.
SUMMER FUN DAYS AT THE ZOO – The Birmingham Zoo invites the community to Half-Price Summer Fun Days on the weekend. There will be half-price admission, half-price rides, discounted merchandise and $1 hot dogs in the cafes. The Dino Discovery will have a discounted price of $3 every day before it goes extinct on Labor Day. The zoo hours are 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. for the extended summer hours. Enjoy these days this and next weekend. For more go to www.birminghamzoo.com.
FOR LOVERS OF ART AND HISTORY
UA/UAB STUDIO FACULTY EXHIBITION starts Friday through September 30 at the University of Alabama Gallery. A reception will be held Friday September, 5- 8 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center,,, 620 Greesboroo Avenue in Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Call (205) 342-2060 for more.
TEN ALABAMA ARTISTS EXHIBITION – The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) features the work of 10 Alabama artists, through August 26 in the Fourth Floor Gallery of the Central Library, who are members of the Watercolor Society of Alabama (WSA). The display is in the Fourth Floor Gallery of the Central Library, 2100 Park Place, in downtown Birmingham. FREE. For more call (205) 226-3670.
“DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR & THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY BERNARD J. KILEINA Exhibition” is at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute displaying its collection of rare color photos, through December in the BCRI’s Vann Gallery. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Freedom Movement. These photographs are some of the only known color photographs of Dr. King in Chicago. Bernard Kleina was a priest in Chicago that wanted to get involved in the movement, who removed his collar, picked up his camera and marched.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3- p.m. at the BMA where you can unlock the secret works in the Museum’s collection by cultivating the art of looking slowly.
FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS
FIRST–TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR – The Birmingham Urban League, Inc. is hosting a seminar August 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Birmingham Urban League, 1229 Third Avenue North with topics on mortgage qualifications, legal aspect, insuring your investments, home inspection credit scores, fair housing and selecting a home. Call (205) 326-0162 for more.
FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CREATING AND MANAGING WEALTH – The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is hosting a Financial empowerment conference, Saturday, August 27, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Trinity Baptist Church, 900 Graymont Avenue West, downtown, 35204 including financial guidance, on site credit guidance, creating a business plan, investment property and rental property and building wealth (retirement and multiple sources of income). For more, call (205) 781-8181 or email www.akaomicronomega.org.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
AT THE STARDOME: Every Thursday is Positively Funny Improv. Check out the BEST OF BIRMINGHAM this weekend. LOOK FOR: LADY AND THE TRUMP, September 20-22 – This political season’s comedy blockbuster “Lady and the Trump” is a comedy musical show of political proportions! This politically-themed musical comedy parody show takes no hostages with careful aim at the Left Wing and Right Wing alike. This side-splitting laugh-out-loud comedy musical takes a nostalgic look back at the past year in politics – from the local level to the state level to the national level – it’s all fair game. The talented cast of Lady and the Trump” will keep audiences on the edge of their seats as they belt out such soon-to-be-famous hits like, “Shut Up About Benghazi”, “Hillary’s Got Her Pant’s Suit On,” “Suddenly Sanders,” and a political rap song like no other, “Trumpnotize.” And these are just the beginning! “Lady and the Trump” is the creation of the very talented writing staff of Positively Funny Inc. led by Executive Writer Ty Malugani.
MORE DATES: August 2-3 – COUNTRY COOL, August 12-14 – LESTER BIBBS, August 26-28 – MIKE EPPS, September 1-4 – STEVE W. BROWN, September 8-11 – GARY CONRAD, September 16-18 – JOHN WITHERSPOON, September 21-25 – JAMES DAVIS, September 30 – October 2 – BRUCE BRUCE, October 5 – CHRIS D’ELIA and November 9 – DREW LYNCH. See you there!
FOR HEALTH AND CARE GIVERS
HOSPICE CARE AND HOW IT CAN HELP – The Pratt City Branch Library, 509 Dugan Ave. in Birmingham, is hosting a free workshop. Gentiva Hospice will lead the free workshop “Learn About Hospice Care and How It Can Help You,” providing valuable tips on how to avoid caregiver stress and burnout. Ms. Melanie Johnson will be at Pratt City Tuesday, August 11, 11 – 11:45 a.m. for a seminar giving information on elderly abuse and warning signs to look for. In the workshop, Ms. Johnson will share tips on how to look for changes associated with aging or declining health. The Pratt City Library will also host workshops on women’s self-defense and elderly abuse. Call (205) 226-3746 for more.
FOR FASHIONS! STYLE! SUMMERTIME LOOKS!
BIRMINGHAM FASHION WEEK! – If you are interested in fashion, style and live in the immediate Birmingham Area, Birmingham Fashion week is August 25-27 at the Boutwell Auditorium. The Birmingham Fashion Week was founded on the ideals for bringing unity to our community through fashion. The 6th Annual Birmingham Fashion Week will be bigger and better than ever before. See local and national designers, local and national boutiques, rising design stars, emerging designers with models, make-up and hair artists competing as the showcase their talents on the runway. For more information, go to www.bhamfashionweek.com.
BIRMINGLAM – RED HOT ON THE RUNWAY – The BirminGLAM will be a glamorous night of entertainment at the historic Boutwell Auditorium on Sunday, September 11 beginning at 5 p.m. with red carpets arrivals that include regional press, media, bloggers, athletes, local celebrities, models from the LEEU Talent & RADAR Man agencies including CBS 42 News Anchor SHERRI JACKSON, Hot 107.7 FM Personality DJ CHOCOLATE, Make Up Artist NADIA TELLIS, Celebrity Designer PERRY VARNER and many more. This is a fabulous HIV Awareness Event in Birmingham, Alabama designed to inspire Communities of Color to get tested and features six Birmingham based Black Designers. This event is presented by HIV prevention Network and will raise awareness, advocacy and activism relating to HIV in our local area. For more. call (205) 718-6437 or (205) 369-4032
COMING SOON
AUGUST 11 – ALL WHITE PARTY at the Tide and Tiger Lounge.
AUGUST 17 – NETWORK ATER WORK, 6-9 p.m. at 2901 Second Avenue South.
AUGUST 18 – ESTELLE WITHERSPOON DINNER by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund
AUGUST 20 – AUTISM SHINES GALA, 6 p.m. Silent Auction , with Dinner and Live Auction at 7:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Marriott 280.
AUGUST 20 – EVO 2016 5K FIT CHALLENGE at Sloss Furnace, 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
AUGUST 27 – FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.
AUGUST 31 – RENSHAW DAVIES, the New Orleans folk and roots duo is at The Nick, 10 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 8-10 – SAINT GEORGE MELKITE CATHOLIC CHIRCH MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 22-23 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY’S Alabama 500 and fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, the most anticipated NASCAR Chase Elimination races of 2016.
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.)
