TODAY
PikaZOO – A Pokémon Go event, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Zoo.
FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.
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.
POSITIVELY FUNNY IMPROV at the StarDome Comedy Club at 7:30 p.m..
THE KILLER HEARTS and HAPPY LEMMY at The Nick.
FRIDAY
SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. around town at various venues throughout the weekend.
FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.
ISAAC BYRD, JR., 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
MIKE EPPS at the StarDome Comedy Club
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.
STEVIE TOMBSTONE, 8 p.m. and THE VIDRINES and THE PRO-WRESTLERS at 10 p.m. at The Nick.
SATURDAY
SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. around town at various venues throughout the weekend.
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Trinity Baptist Church, 900 Graymont Avenue West, downtown, 35204.
FAIRYTALES AND FROG DAY AT THE ZOO, 10 a.m. -1p.m.
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.
MIKE EPPS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
’90S GLOW IN THE DARK DANCE PARTY, 9 p.m. in the Historic Theatre District. Go to www.sidewalkfest.com for more.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
ISAAC BYRD, JR., 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
THE LADIES featuring JAMES HALL, JOELL REGAL with TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH Country Western The Nick.
SUNDAY
SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. around town at various venues throughout the weekend.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
MARCH FOR BIRMINGHAM, 6 p.m. at the Historic A.G. Gaston Motel on Fifth Avenue with music in Kelly Ingram Park after the march.
MIKE EPPS at the StarDome Comedy.
LIVINGDON and KYLE KIMBRELL at the Nick.
MONDAY
DJ RELVIS 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.
SUNGHOSTS, CLOUDSHIP and RYAN SOBB at The Nick.
WEDNESDAY
MASTER PASQUALE with dance classes and music at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue.
NATHAN ANGELO, 8 p.m. at The Nick.
FOR ZOO LOVERS
The Birmingham Zoo is hosting a PikaZOO – A Pokémon Go event, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to enjoy 2 hours of non-stop lures at the Zoo’s 25 Pokéstops, and battle one another at the Zoo’s 2 gyms.
FAIRYTALES AND FROG DAY AT THE ZOO – The Birmingham Zoo is inviting all princes, princesses and fairytale characters to join the celebration of Fairytales and Frog Day, 10 a.m.-1p.m. (The event will be held behind the Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Stage at the Zoo.) Children are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume for the magical day where fairytales come alive. All royal subjects attending will receive a crown and have a chance to get their face painted. Several costumed characters will be present to entertain the attendees. Fairytales and Frog Day will also feature special keeper chats and animal demonstrations, a DJ providing dance music, a Toad Abode (frog house) craft project, and a “Toad”ally awesome sampling booth. Festivities are free for members or with paid admission to the Zoo.
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.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
ISSAC BYRD, JR. at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. Byrd brings a rich and dynamic history as a jazz performer to his emergence in the contemporary urban jazz world. While he was influenced by trumpet greats like Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, he draws his rhythmic flair from the pianists and saxophonists he grew up admiring, from John Coltrane and Charlie Parker to Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau. While attending Florida State College at Jacksonville, he started a band called Project Funk, for which he was the drummer. The group, which toured regionally, had a unique funk-fusion spin on jazz standards. When this ensemble evolved into the more crowd pleasing, pop/R&B oriented Tribe Judah, Byrd chose his other instrument, the trumpet, as his lead voice.
RENSHAW DAVIES w/The Old Paints out of New Orleans performs August 31, 10 p.m. at The Nick. Renshaw Davies is a folk/new roots duo driven by the rich harmonies of John Renshaw (vocals/guitar) and Emily Davies (vocals/light percussion).
JAZZ IN THE PARK, HUNTSVILLE in the Big Spring Park, September 4, 6 – 9 p.m. ALEX BANKS and LIN ROUNTREE.
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 today through Saturday 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 BOOK LOVERS
Want to learn how to do genealogical research?
Beyond the Basics of Genealogy programs at the Birmingham Public Library, Central Library, Southern History Department, 1st floor Linn-Henley Bldg.
Saturday, at 10 a.m. – “Jump Into the Gene Pool: Genetics and Your Family History” – Discover how genetic research can help you explore your family history. Find out what a gene sample can tell you about what parts of the world your ancestors came from and more.
Saturday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. – “Genetic Genealogy Strategies for African-American and Native American Research” – There is no magic in genetic genealogy and no special tests for African American and Native American research, but there are choices you can make that may enable you to confirm and to go beyond the evidence of the paper trail.
FOR SPORTS AND OUTDOOR LOVERS
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.
LAPS FOR LIFE AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – The 11th annual American Red Cross – Talladega Superspeedway “Laps for Life” blood drive returns on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the FOX Sports 1 Dome at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and there is plenty of incentive to donate.
Every person who attempts to donate blood will receive an incredible array of items which include: a high-speed ride around the high banks of the biggest and baddest race track in NASCAR; a commemorative T-shirt (limited to the first 200 who attempt to donate); two complimentary grandstand tickets to the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Oct. 22; a self-guided tour of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame; and a delicious BBQ sandwich provided by “Smoke N Hot BBQ,” located in Anniston, Ala. The fall 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 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 www.talladegasuperspeeday.com.
FOR LOVERS OF ART AND HISTORY
#BLACKGIRLS$CHANGE: THE HOBSON CITY 9, Cultivating Community and Creating Change exhibition has started and goes through September 30 with an Opening Reception on September 2, 5 -8 p.m. at the Paul R. Jones Gallery, 2308 Sixth Street in Tuscaloosa.
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. KLEINA 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
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 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 MIKE EPPS. You’ve seen this mega movie and comedic star in The Honeymooners, Next Friday, Friday After Next, How High and All About the Benjamins to name a few. This show will sell out so make your plans soon.
MORE DATES: 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 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.)
