Looking for something FUN and EXCITING to do this weekend? Here is a little of what is happening:
TODAY
ALLSTARS COMEDY, MUSIC and POETRY with comedy by COMEDIAN HOLLYWOOD and COMEDIAN SAMMIE, poetry by VOICE PORTER, music by DOUGOUT AND THE PITCH HITTERS featuring MICHAEL YOUNG, Open Mic and more, at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont. Doors open at 7. Show starts at 8 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.
COMEDIAN JAMES DAVIS at the StarDome Comedy Club at 7:30 p.m.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL with members of Black Lives Matter Birmingham, an official affiliate chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, will host a Candlelight Vigil, Balloon Release, & Prayer at Kelly Ingram Park, 6:30 p.m. to honor the life of Terrence Crutcher, an unarmed father of four who was killed by Tulsa, Oklahoma police on September 16th.
TGTG, JUDGE LANE and NO RADIO at The Nick.
FRIDAY
COMEDIAN JAMES DAVIS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JOSH RITTER AND BAND at the Alabama Theatre.
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.
BAD COLOGNE, SDX (SWEET DOG EXPERIENCE) and THE PIX at The Nick.
DARRYL EVAN JONES at the Perfect Note.
SATURDAY
BOULEVARD BLAST 5K. 7:30 a.m. starting at the Norwood Elementary School.
CREATING COMMUNITY CHANGE: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 101, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at United Way of Central Alabama, 3600 8th Avenue South.
PRESERVING CHURCH DOCUMENTS AN ARCHIVES WORKSHOP, 10 a.m. until Noon at the BCRI Woods Community Meeting Room.
SLIDERS SECOND ANNIVERSARY, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
TUXEDO JUNCTION JAZZ FESTIVAL, 11:40 – 9 p.m. at the Erskine Hawkins Park at 19th Street and Ensley Avenue.
RAIL ROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
COMEDIAN JAMES DAVIS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
TORY LANEZ at Zydeco. Check out his I Told You Tour.
DARRYL EVAN JONES, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
FUTURE PRIMITIVES CHEW and THE INSCAPE at The Nick.
TORY LANEZ joined by JACQUEES and KRANIUM, at Zydeco,
SUNDAY
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
DYLAND LeBLANC & DUQUETTE JOHNSTON will perform at the Vulcan Aftertunes at Vulcan Park and Museum.
BREAKIN’ BREAD 2016 1– 5 p.m. at Sloss Furnace.
COMEDIAN JAMES DAVIS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
BLIND BREAD, THIRD SEASON and PEOPLE at the Nick.
SARAH JAROSZ and PARKER LIKKSAP perform at Saturn.
MONDAY
MICHALE GRAVES AND BAND and ECONOMY CARTEL at The Nick.
TUESDAY
TIDE AND TIGER ON THE PATIO, 4 p.m. until on Graymont across from Legion Field.
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.
PALOMINO SHAKEDOWN, ZACH and CHEYLOE and HUNNICUTT WILLIS at The Nick.
WEDNESDAY
MASTER PASQUALE with dance classes and music at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue.
MOTH FACE at The Nick.
FOR BOOK LOVERS
2016 EAT DRINK READ WRITE FESTIVAL – The Birmingham Public Library is hosting the annual event October 1- 7 at the Central Library 2100 Park Place, downtown.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
DOUGOUT AND THE PITCH HITTERS at the Tide and Tiger, 8 p.m., today. DougOut and the Pitch Hitters have performed with groups from South America, Israel, Europe, and in America. You can see them performing every Saturday at the Avondale Market.
JAZZ FLUTIST DARRYL EVAN JONES at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night.
TUXEDO JAZZ FESTIVAL – The 31st Annual Function at the Tuxedo Junction is 11:40 a.m. to 9 p.m. Featuring THEODIS, ALVIN GARRETT, DONALD “BILLY OCEAN” WITHERSPOON, THE BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE BAND AND OTHERS, J.O. High School Band and more in the Erskine Hawkins Park, 19th Street and Ensley Avenue (Birmingham) Call (205) 788-3672 or 382-6754 for more.
JAZZ IN THE PARK, HUNTSVILLE in the Big Spring Park, Sunday, 6 – 9 p.m. COMMITTED and VINCENT INGALA.
JJ GREY and MOFRO are performing their world renowned music at Avondale Brewing Friday at 9:15 p.m. The music is a soulful blend of blues, Southern rock, folk, gospel, gritty R&B, personal and funk with lyrics and storytelling.
TORY LANEZ is bringing his I TOLD YOU TOUR to Zydeco in Birmingham. Lanez is joined by JACQUEES and KRANIUM and is scheduled to play 76 dates across North America and they are in Birmingham, Saturday.
FOR BOOK LOVERS
LEARN TO PLAY CHESS – West End Library is hosting Learn to Play Chess classes today and Sept. 29, next Thursday. If you are a child with a desire to learn how to play chess, the West End Branch Library is hosting free classes during
the month of September. “Learn to Play Chess” is 3:30 p.m. both days. West End Library is located at 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave. SW, Birmingham, AL 35211. The classes are free and open to the public. Chess teaches a higher level of thinking skills such as the ability to visualize, analyze, and think critically. For more information, call (205) 226-4089.
*EAT DRINK READ WRITE 2016 – This year’s festival will have a nationally known chef, Bryant Terry. Chef Bryant Terry is a 2015 James Beard Foundation Leadership award-winning chef, author, and food-justice activist as well as the Chef-In-Residence at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora. There will also be a Children’s Food Art, Bards & Brews Poetry Slam, Fermented & Foraged Food Panel and Literary Cocktails. Terry will present a dynamic program in which he will discuss the need for a healthy, just, and sustainable food system as well as his passion for good food. There will be stories of how jazz, reggae, and soul music have influenced Chef Terry’s cooking. This year’s Eat Drink Read Write festival is dedicated to the idea that taking a risk and seeking out adventurous foods can result in great culinary experiences. Whether it is trying a Thai restaurant located in a gas station, buying ribs that have been cooked in a 55 gallon steel drum smoker in a parking lot, or foraging for wild blackberries along an old fence line, there are countless opportunities for culinary adventure in our daily lives.
RECOVERING THE CLASSICS CONTEST AND EXHIBITION – The Birmingham Public Library Recovering the Classics contest ‘A New Look for an Old Book’ starts today at the Central Library, 2100 Park Place downtown. The goal is to bring an exhibit of redesigned cover posters to each of the 50 states, and Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is representing the state of Alabama. To enter the contest, visit www.bplonline.org/classics. Both the exhibit and contest will run through September 30, 2016. The winners will be announced by Oct. 15, 2016.
FOR WOMEN
WOMEN’S DAY – The president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Alabama State Convention will be the featured speaker when Broad Street Missionary Baptist Church hosts its annual Women’s Day on Sunday. Maxine Abrams will speak during the 3:30 p.m. program. She is also the vice president of the National Baptist Convention Women’s Auxiliary and a member of Morning Star Baptist Church in Holt, Ala., Women’s Day at Broad Street, located at 121 Morris Avenue North in Birmingham, begins with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and continues with morning worship at 11 a.m. Sister Annette Harris is general chairperson, Sister Nancy Crenshaw is program chairperson and the Rev. Truitt Evans Sr. is pastor.
THIRSTY WOMEN’S CONFERENCE – DON’T LET THE STILETTOS FOOL YOU, a three-day women’s conference is dedicated to equipping and empowering women of all ages in Montgomery starting next Thursday, 7 p.m. Pastor Yvonne Jones is Host Pastor. For more information, call (334) 356-7660.
NO MORE VICTIMS CONFERENCE, October 7-8 at the Empowerment City Church.
FOR SPORTS AND OUTDOOR LOVERS
‘CHASE UNIVERSITY‘ COLLEGE STUDENT PROGRAM – ‘Chase University’ College Student Program is set for Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday October 23. College students will be able to be a part of Chase University and experience some fun, incredible perks for the much anticipated weekend.
Elliott, a second-generation driver, is scheduled to take a stroll through Talladega Superspeedway’s special “Chase U College Zone” in the North Park Campground to mix and mingle (and hand out special TSS & Chase U goodies) with college students prior to the start of the Alabama 500. Log on to talladegasyperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA for more information.
FOR LOVERS OF ART AND HISTORY
ART AFTER 5 – The Birmingham Museum of Art First Thursdays has been reformatted into a new event series called Art After 5, which will take place on the first Friday of each month, beginning in October.
#BLACKGIRLS$CHANGE: THE HOBSON CITY 9, Cultivating Community and Creating Change exhibition through September 30 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 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro Avenue in Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Call (205) 342-2060 for more.
“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 CHILDREN
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 COMMUNITY LEADERS
NAACP BIENNIAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS – The Metro Birmingham NAACP Biennial Election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee meetings will be held at the Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place downtown, SEPTEMBER 17, 2 p.m. – Election of the Nominating Committee, OCTOBER 15, 2 p.m. – Report of Nominating Committee, petitions and Elections of Election Supervisory Committee and NOVEMBER 5, Noon – 4 p.m. – Election. For more, call Secretary at (205) 714-5860.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
AT THE TIDE AND TIGER: Every Thursday is ALLSTARS NIGHT.Check out COMEDIAN HOLLYWOOD. Hollywood is one of the best comedians around, whether performing in Hollywood or in Birmingham. He is a comedian with characters that you may have seen but are definitely very funny. He has performed with other comedians, at various venues around the country, writes short films and so much more.
AT THE STARDOME: Every Thursday is Positively Funny Improv. Check out JAMES DAVIS. James has appeared on shows such as Real Husbands of Hollywood, Hell Date, and Bill Bellamy’s Who Got Jokes. He has written for the past three BET Awards and the past two BET Hip Hop Awards. James has hosted rap/comedy concerts for Drake, Big Sean, J. Cole, and Ryan Leslie. James often performs for stand-up comedy troops, colleges and all major comedy clubs in southern California. Davis also releases numerous sketches and is a regular on Funny or Die. James is also a recurring member of Wild ‘N Out, E! Channel’s Chelsea Lately, and was also working on his own television show for the E! Network.
MORE DATES: September 30 – October 2 – BRUCE BRUCE, October 5 – CHRIS D’ELIA and November 9 – DREW LYNCH. See you there!
FOR ALABAMA LOVERS
ALABAMA NATIVE NAMED U.S. CUSTOMS NEW PORT DIRECTOR – U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) selected RODERICK W. HUDSON to a leadership position as Area Port Director for the Houston Galveston Area Ports of entry. Hudson is a 1984 graduate of Carver High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduation and then received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He recently transferred to Houston from Miami where he worked at the Miami International Airport as th Assistant Port Director, Tactical operations for CBP. Hudson served briefly as the Assistant Port Director, before his promotion to Port Director. Hudson has over 26 years of combined federal service with CBP the U. S. Customs Service and the United States Air Force. He began his CBP career at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport in Dallas,Texas and has worked at a variety of locations to include CBP Headquarters. Hudson took over as port director for the area seaports on September 18.
COMING SOON…
SEPTEMBER 28 – JOSH RITTER AND BAND at the Alabama Theatre
SEPTEMBER 29 – SOUTHERN WOMEN’S SHOW 2016.
OCTOBER 1 – JAZZ@MILES, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Ross Bridge Renaissance Golf and Spa Resort Hotel.
OCTOBER 1 – FIESTA 2016- CELEBRATE YOUR FIESTA, 710 20th Street North, 12 – 8 p.m.
OCTOBER 7-8 – WEALTH BUSINESS SUMMIT, 5 p.m., at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.
OCTOBER 8 – WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES, 9 a.m. at Alex Bradford Park located at First Avenue and 19th Street in Bessemer.
OCTOBER 10 – FEED 500, 5 p.m. at 509 19th Street North, Bessemer, Al 35020.
OCTOBER 21 – LYDIA LOVELESS at the Saturn.
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.)
