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 DUBB in the Mix at Steel on First Avenue at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.
POSITIVELY FIUNNY IMPROV at the StarDome Comedy Club at 7:30 p.m.
KOMRAD at The Nick.
YUNA at Saturn.
FRIDAY
JAZZNET is ‘the place’ to be, 5:30 p.m. at the Harbert Center, hosted by ALVIN GARRETT, with music by DAVYD HOUSTON TRIO including KEITH WILLIAMS (guitar), CHARLES BROWN (keys), DAVYD HOUSTON (drums) and CLUTCH JAZZ BAND upstairs, food, networking and more on two floors and two bands. Call (205) 873-4572 for more.
COMEDIENNE MONIQUE 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.
AN EVENING WITH STRING THEORY BIRMINGHAM at The Nick.
DIARRHEA PLANET at Saturn.
J HENRY at the Perfect Note.
ON THE PATIO AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont.
SATURDAY
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
ON THE PATIO AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont.
COMEDIAN SHADDY FEEL GOOD with THE BIG DUTE, LIL BITTY HEAD and EYELASHES SHOW featuring BIG LOVE, TYRONE BURSTON AND SHADDY FEEL GOOD, 9 p.m. at Bennie Mac’s on 1st. For more info, call (205) 585-7273.
COMEDIENNE MONIQUE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
CHANDRA CURRELLEY, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
THE STIR, HAPPY LEMMY and MILK JUG at The Nick.
RUMBA LATINA BIRMINGHAM: LATIN NIGHT, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
SUNDAY
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art with Marlean Wallace
COMEDIAN JIM HOLDER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JONNY GRAVE at the Nick.
BLAKE BABIES at Saturn.
MONDAY
DJ REVLIS 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.
JENNIFER WESTWOOD and THE HANDSOME DEVILS at The Nick.
COMEDIAN JOSH JOHNSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WEDNESDAY
MASTER PASQUALE with dance classes and music at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue.
THE HIGH DIVERS, THE MOBROS and MUDDY RUCKUS at the Nick.
COMEDIAN TP HEARN, DIRTY SOUTH and ERIC BLAKE performing on the LAUGH TIL IT HURTS WITH TP HEARN SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FOR ART LOVERS
SLOW ART SUNDAY – This Slow Art Sunday at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) discussion is focused on LILLIAN BLADES MATRILINEAGE: DRESS FORM #1 which might remind you of a game of I Spy. FREE! This work is in the shape of a woman’s dress that references the maternal ancestors of Lillian Blades, an artist born and raised in the Bahamas and currently living in Atlanta. The artist’s late mother, for whom Lillian is named, was a well-known seamstress in Nassau. The tragic passing of her mother, who died in childbirth while in labor with Lillian, has informed much of Blades’ work. This mixed-media sculpture is composed of a wooden base, onto which many objects have been attached. The bright, colorful, African-inspired fabrics create a visual link to the artist’s mother, but they have been stretched over frames, much in the way a painter stretches canvas over a frame, linking her mother’s art with her own practice of painting. The fabric frames are assembled somewhat like the squares of a quilt, again evoking women who stitch both clothing and covers to protect us. With this work, Lillian is recalling a tradition practiced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, who honor their ancestors with a masquerade called egungun. Lillian has also drawn upon the Kongo tradition of nkisi wooden “power figures.” These figures are present when people make solemn promises in return for help from their ancestors. Every promise and petition for help is marked on the object itself with nails or twine. The nails on the upper portion of Lillian’s dress form remind us of this sacred African practice. The dress also evokes the African and African American practice of memory jars, vessels that are embedded with small objects that a person held or used during his or her lifetime. She has attached spools of thread, kitchen trivets, and other things that represent her mother’s life and work. There is a door knocker placed close to where the heart would be located. In many African cultures, there are special ways to call the spirits to be present – sometimes by tapping, sometimes by ringing bells. An open-work box in the center of the dress is filled with calabashes – traditional symbols of a woman’s fertility.
ARTBREAK – Join art lovers at the Artbreak on Tuesday, 12 – 12:30 p.m. at the BMA for a discussion of GUSTAV LAMPRECHT COLLECTIONS OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN CAST IRON. This is the largest collection in the world and the only collection of its kind in the United States. FREE.
19TH ANNUAL LAVONA RUSHTON CONCERT – This year’s Lavona Rushton Concert winner is VADYM KHOLODENKO. He is the winner of the coveted gold medal and all special prizes at the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2013 and will perform, October 26, 7:30 p.m. at the BMA. FREE.
ART AFTER 5 – The BMA’s next Art After 5 is scheduled for November 4, every first Friday of the month. Local songwriters KELLI JOHNSON and JASON BAILEY will perform with a mini studio class, specialty cocktails and more. There will be an exhibition of the photographs of rural Hale County called WHAT’S LOST IS FOUND by LAUREN HENKIN.
FOR ENSLEY COMMUNITY
FINDING AMERICA – A national initiative will tell the story of Ensley and its people. THE JUNCTION, a radio series produced by WBHM as part of Finding American is inviting people who live in Ensley, work or are from Ensley to share their insights by completing a community survey. For a copy of the survey, email producer@junctionstories.com. The deadline is October 24 to submit your comments. Mary Quintas produces The Junction on 90.3 where you can hear the stories and more. Complete the survey to create a fuller portrait of the community other than the Ensley that is portrayed as crime-ridden and impoverished. Share your insights. For more, go to www.wbhm.org, www. junctionstories.com orfacebook.com/junctionstories.
FOR CHILDREN
BART’S BOOKS: MAMA’s SARIS is at the Birmingham Museum of Art, Saturday, 11 a.m.- noon for ages 4-7 with storytelling for this month’s edition of Bart’s Books.
DISNEY ON ICE DREAM BIG is at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC, October 20-23.
FOR FOOD LOVERS
GRILLE 29 – The winner of the Taste of Birmingham 2016 was Grille 29 whose dish that won the TASTER’s CHOICE AWARD was a favorite and included pan seared sea scallops topped with bacon jam served over lobster mashed potatoes and a southern chow chow. This is a favorite dish of many.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
SAXOPHONIST J HENRY JAZZ BIRTHDAY BASH at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Friday night. Go to www.perfectnotelinvecom for more.
SINGER CHANDRA CURRELLEY from Tyler Perry Plays at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Go to www.perfectnotelinvecom for more.
TIM DUGGER and CJ MICHAELS will perform at the Talladega Superspeedway Saturday night Infield Concert on October 22.
JERROD NIEMANN, Nashville country star will perform as the headliner for the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, October 22, as part of the Chase double elimination weekend.
FOR VOTERS
ELECTION DAY – The last day to register for the 2016 Elections in Alabama is October 24. You can register online and get more information at www.alabamavotes.gov.
NASCAR COMES TO TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – October is here! Fans are looking forward to racing at its finest at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s most competitive track. Well-known country music singer-songwriter TIM DUGGER, along with the popular DJ MICHAELS, are set to open Talladega Superspeedway’s traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, Oct. 22, as part of the highly anticipated NASCAR Chase double elimination weekend featuring the Alabama 500 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Oct 21-23. Dugger, a popular mainstay in NASCAR, and Michaelis, who recently jumped into the NASCAR scene bringing his own flare of music, will join headliner and Nashville country star Jerrod Niemann to give fans a triple dose of riveting music at NASCAR’s Party Capital. The traditional concert, which takes place at the intersection of Eastaboga and Talladega Boulevards, will get rocking just hours after the conclusion of the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, the final race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase (NCWTS) in which the field of title contenders will be reduced from eight to six at the race’s conclusion. A past performer at Talladega, Dugger is no stranger to the infamous Infield Concert. The Alabama native has a loyal following of NASCAR enthusiasts, drivers, crews and fans alike. After an epic day of racing, Dugger will kick off the show and treat fans with country songs like “Whiskey Kisses,” “Beer on a Boat,” “Hurts Don’t It” and many more. He is sure to bring the energy and excitement to rock the rowdy infield crowd of the biggest and baddest race track on the planet. The party will continue between sets as Michaelis, who will also be performing at the legendary “The Big One on the BLVD” Friday night event and during pre-race ceremonies for the Alabama 500 on Sunday, will be sure to bring the beats to keep the crowd going until Niemann takes the stage. Michaels has recently joined NASCAR in a collaborative project, producing original music and performing at tracks on the NASCAR circuit. He has performed with popular artists such as Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Skrillex, Ludacris, The Weekend and many more. 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. The Alabama 500 race is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. For more information, go to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.
MAGIC CITY CLASSIC is October 29 in Birmingham Alabama.
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS
DIVERSE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE INTERNSHIP MEETING – If you are interested in diverse meeting options, join the University of Alabama Department of Small Business Inclusion Diverse Business interest meeting on Tuesday, 4 – to 5:30 p.m. and next Friday, 8:30 – 10 a.m., at the UAB Facilities Conference Center, 801 6th Avenue South, 352924. The mission is to select students from UAB’s Collat School of Business and School of Engineering to intern with small businesses to establish a relationship that would allow DBEs to building capacity and students to grow and enhance alliances within the community. For more, call (205) 934-9349 or dpscott@uab.edu. Free Registration.
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.
“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 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, Saturday, 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 STARDOME: Every Thursday is Positively Funny Improv. Check out COMEDIENNE MONIQUE! Mo’Nique is an award-winning comedienne whose career began 16 years ago in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. She took to the stage for the first time on a dare from her brother. The overwhelming response and standing ovation she received gave her the courage to pursue a comedy career professionally. From there, she gained visibility and immense popularity with performances on “Showtime at the Apollo,” HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” “Apollo Comedy Hour,” HBO’s “Snaps,” BET’s “Comic View,” The Montreal Comedy Festival and Uptown Comedy Club. Mo’Nique credits her big break as the day she quit her job at the phone company in Baltimore to pursue her comedy dream wholeheartedly.
LAUGH TIL IT HURTS WITH TP HEARN, Wednesday and Thursday. Many exciting things are in the works for T.P. Hearn, keep your eyes, and ears open for his next performance. Laugh till Hurts Featuring Dirty South & Eric Blake. All Star Comedy Show TP Hearn needs no introduction, “BET” “Comic View” “Comedy Central” “Def Comedy Jam” Hilarious! Outrageous!
FOR BOOK LOVERS
BPL TEENS PROGRAMS – Birmingham Public Library programs for teens and preteens include engineering workshop, knitting, and homework assistance.
Do you want to learn how to make and edit your own movies and podcasts? Have an interest in burning your words into new media formats for the world to see and hear? Join the Central Library Youth Department, 2100 Park Place downtown, for HIGHKEY THURSDAYS, 3:30 -5 p.m. The class is free to all and will take place in the Youth Department on the second floor every Thursday afternoon through Dec. 8. No programs will take place on Oct. 20 or Nov. 24.
The students will work with iMovie, Garageband, and more. HIGHKEY Thursdays is among several free after-school programs the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is offering in many of its 19 locations for kids of all ages, from babies to adults. The workshops include knitting, Teens Engineer Birmingham programs at Woodlawn and Southside Branch, and Central Library, and 1-2-3 Play With Me for babies.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP – The library is offering free homework help for elementary- to high school-age students. Register by calling (205) 324-8428. Check the calendar at www.bplonline..org.
COMING SOON
OCTOBER 21 – LYDIA LOVELESS at the Saturn.
OCTOBER 22-23 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY’S Alabama 500and 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.)
