TODAY
MUSIC AND COMEDY with COMEDIENNE JOY and DOUGOUT AND THE PITCH HITTERS featuring vocals by MICHAEL YOUNG, at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue in front of Legion Field. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more call (205) 503-3880.
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.
VINO & VAN GOGH, 6 p.m. at Iron City, a benefit for UCP of Greater Birmingham.
ESTELLE WITHERSPOON DINNER, 6 p.m. at the Sheraton downtown by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund.
RONNIE JORDAN WITH DAVID WINGFIELD AND CEE-JAY (this weekend) and POSITIVELY FUNNY IMPROV at the StarDome Comedy Club at 7:30 p.m.
NATIVE BLOOD and ASPHAULT CROWN at The Nick.
FRIDAY
BLOCK PARTY Innovation Week Birmingham will kick off with a block party, 4-7 p.m. in front of the Good People Brewing Company.
ART ON THE ROCKS with SWEET CRUDE and Atlanta artist SKYBISON with DJ HOLLY WAXWING at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 5 – 11 p.m.
COMEDIENNE JOY at the Perfect Note.
OPEN MIC at the StarDome Comedy
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.
HEATH GREEN & THE MAKESHIFTERS, BOHANNONS and SYLVIA ROSE NOVAK at The Nick.
SATURDAY
EVO 2016 5K FIT CHALLENGE at Sloss Furnace, 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
SUMMER JAMS ENSLEY ALIVE, 2-7 p.m. in Downtown Ensley, Avenue F & 19th Street.
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
AUTISM SHINES GALA, 6 p.m. Silent Auction , with Dinner and Live Auction at 7:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Marriott 280.
FLUTIST KIM SCOTT RELEASE CONCERT, 7 p.m. at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at ASFA. The new CD is SOUTHERN HEAT.
BLUES FESTIVAL, 7 p.m., at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue.
COMEDIENNE JOY at the Perfect Note.
LAUGH OUT PROUD at the StarDome Comedy Club.
BENNIE MAC’S COMEDY SHOW, 9 p.m.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
RONNIE FEST – LEE BAINS III & THE GLORY FIRES, THE DIRTY LUNGS, KING MAGNUM, THE ORIGINAL SHAKE CHARMERS, DAN SARTAIN and BLACK WILLIS at The Nick.
SUNDAY
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
JAZZ IN THE PARK, 6-9 p.m. at DeBardeleben Park, Bessemer, AL, PJ SPRAGGINS and KENNETH WILLIAMS.
RONNIE JORDAN, DAVID WINGFIELD and CEE JAY at the StarDome Comedy Club.
MONDAY
DJ RELVIS at The Nick.
TUESDAY
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT, 6 – 7 p.m. at Parker High School
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.
WEDNESDAY
PUT YOUR BUSINESS ON THE MAP, 12 – 1:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Public Library – Central on the Linn-Henley Research Building, 4th Floor, Richard Arrington Auditorium for business owners or those interested in gaining knowledge about google. FREE.
BRIAN DOLZANI and RYAN TAYLOR BAND at The Nick.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Jazz SAXOPHONIST ERIC DARIUS at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday night.
FLUTIST KIM SCOTT RELEASE CONCERT, 7 p.m. at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at ASFA. There is an After Party at the Perfect Note.
JAZZ IN THE JUNCTION is Tuesday, September 13, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Goldstein & Cohen Building in Downtown Ensley. This is a benefit for the Bethesda Life Center, Inc. a health facility dedicated to healthy citizens in the community. Enjoy an evening of food, music and fun.
FOR LOVERS OF STYLE AND FASHION
BIRMINGHAM FASHION WEEK! – Birmingham Fashion week is here in two weeks….August 25-27 at the Boutwell Auditorium. See local and national designers, local and national boutiques, rising design stars, emerging designers with models, make-up and hair artists competing as they 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 carpet 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 design 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.
FOR SPORTS AND OUTDOOR LOVERS
SUMMER FUN DAYS AT THE ZOO – Half-Price Summer Fun Days on the weekend are almost over. 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.
LABOR DAY GOLDEN CLASSIC – The Miles College Golden Bears will take on Fort Valley State University, September 4 at Legion Field at 4 p.m.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES – Race Fans scanning for savings to NASCAR’s biggest and baddest track – Talladega Superspeedway – need to look no further. Fans will hear all the uncensored chatter of their favorite teams, from the driver in the cockpit to the crew chief high from the pit box and spotter high above the track. Not only will fans have a great view of the action on the mammoth 33-degree high-banked venue from the Gadsden Grandstand (at the exit of Turn Four), but will also have a spectacular view of one of five large video boards that line the frontstretch. Sunday’s Alabama 500 is the third and final race of the Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup where the field of 12 drivers will be trimmed to eight at the drop of the checkered flag. Talladega Superspeedway’s action-packed weekend kicks off on Friday (Oct. 21) with practice sessions for both the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola and the Alabama 500. Saturday’s schedule includes Foodland/Food Giant qualifying for both NCWTS (9:30 a.m. CDT) and NSCS (3:00 p.m. CDT) while the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola gets the green flag at 12 Noon CDT. It will also be an elimination race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase in which the field of title contenders will be reduced from eight to six at the race’s conclusion. The Alabama 500 race is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. For more, go to to www.talladegasuperspeeday.com.
FOR LOVERS OF ART AND HISTORY
ART ON THE ROCKS, tomorrow, 7- 11 p.m. at the BMA with SWEET CRUDE, Chicago Magician JEANETTE ANDREWS bringing the art of illusion throughout the evening, local artist ROB CLIFTON turning the Sculpture Pit into a live mural installation where participates can help to complete and the AROVA CONTEMPORARY BALLET will have you on your toes.
UA/UAB STUDIO FACULTY EXHIBITION through September 30 at the University of Alabama Gallery. A reception will be held Friday September 2, 5- 8 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro 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 next Fiday, 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.
FOR FOOD LOVERS
RESTAURANT WEEK – This is RESTAURANT WEEK with all kinds of great food in Birmingham.
Saint George Melkite Catholic Church Middle Eastern Food Festival is September 8-10.
BREAKIN’ BREAD 2016 – The 14th Annual Breakin’ Bread is September 25, 1 – 5 p.m. at the Historic Sloss Furnaces. The Birmingham Originals is hosting the Alabama’s premier food festival with the best of Birmingham Culinary talents and celebrating local flavors.
FOR LOVERS OF GROWING GOOD FOOD
FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN COOPERATIVES/LAND ASSISTANCE FUND – The 15th Annual Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner, 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, downtown Birmingham. Honoree Reception starts at 5:30 p.m. at the BCRI with the General Reception starting at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton. The 49th Annual Meeting of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund will be held tomorrow and Saturday, in Epes, Alabama at its Rural Training and Research Center. The meeting will include exhibits, keynote speakers, USDA panel discussions, workshops, agri-tours and an update on the Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers lawsuit settlement. Mrs. Witherspoon was a leader and founder of the Freedom Quilting Bee in Alberta, Alabama who was renowned for service to her community. This year there are three veteran civil rights workers: David “Dave” J. Dennis, Sr., Robert “Bob” Moses, and Hollis Watkins Muhammad. These three played an instrumental role in organizing, guiding and implementing the ‘1964 Freedom Summer Project’ in Mississippi. They also helped to develop local black community leaders who formed some of the cooperatives that played a role in the creation of the Federation in 1967. Call (205) 652-9675 or (404) 765-0273 for more.
FOR BUSINESS
2016 INNOVATION WEEK – The 2016 Innovation Week Birmingham will kick off Friday with a block party, 4, 7 p.m. in front of the Good People Brewing Company. Food trucks, live music and art will be featured to celebrate innovation and the companies that are helping define our city as a great place to do business.
FOR HEALTH AND CARE GIVERS
BETHESDA LIFE CENTER ‘JAZZ IN THE JUNCTION’ – The Bethesda Life Center is hosting’ Jazz in the Junction’, September 13, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. The Jazz event is a benefit to raise funds and health awareness to the community with music, food and fun.
FOR CHILDREN…
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 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, onsite 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 RONNIE JORDAN with DAVID WINGFIELD. No stranger to television, Ronnie has been featured on BET’s Comic View, Martin Lawrence Presents the 1st Amendment Stand-up, P. Diddy Presents Bad Boys of Comedy and host of the successful Atlanta based video show, Oomp Camp Live. Behind the scene, Ronnie is a gifted writer who has collaborated with many of his fellow comedians and also wrote on That Comedy Show that aired on Turner South Network. Ronnie is currently touring the nation’s colleges and universities on his “College Material Tour” through the Auburn Moon Agency.
MORE DATES: 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!
COMING SOON
AUGUST 27 – FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.
AUGUST 31 – RENSHAW DAVIES, the New Orleans folk and roots duo, at The Nick, 10 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 4- LABOR DAY GOLDEN CLASSIC at Legion Field.
SEPTEMBER 8 – SKY IS THE LIMIT FUNDRAISER.
SEPTEMBER 8-10 – SAINT GEORGE MELKITE CATHOLIC CHURCH MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL.
SEPTEMBER 13 – JAZZ AT THE JUNCTION FUNDRAISER, a Bethesda Life Center fundraiser.
SEPTEMBER 24 – TORY LANEZ at Zydeco. Check out his I Told You Tour.
SEPTEMBER 25 – BREAKIN’BREAD 2016
SEPTEMBER 29 – SOUTHERN WOMEN’S SHOW 2016.
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.)
