TODAY
COCKTAILS WITH CHRISTINA, 5:30 p.m at the Wine Loft.
LICENSE TO HEAL (JAMES BOND EDITION), today, 6 – 10 p.m. at the SCENE at Pepper Place Art Gallery 1930, 2801 2nd Avenue South with music by LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER and ALVIN GARRETT.
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.
JOSÉ CARR WITH JAZZ ON FIRST, 6-9 p.m. at Jazzy’s on First Avenue North.
LIVE AT STEEL, 8 p.m. with SHARRON performing and DJ DUBB in the Mix at Steel on First at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.
THE DEXATEENS, BOHANNONS and BLACK WILLIS, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
FRIDAY
HOLIDAY GALA in District 1, 6 p.m. at the Huffman High School, 950 Springville Road, Birmingham, 35215.
TIS THE SEASON, 7:30 p.m. at the Avon Theatre.
ON THE PATIO AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont Avenue.
FRIDAY UNWIND, every Friday, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
COMEDIAN TIM STATUM 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.
THE DEXATEENS, OIL BOOM and VULTURE WHALE at the Nick.
JAZZ AND JOKES, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
SATURDAY
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
ON THE PATIO AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont.
COMEDIAN TIM STATUM at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
THE GHOST OF PAUL REVERE, SYLVIA ROSE NOVAK and HUNNICUTT WILLIS, 10 p.m. at The Nick.
JAZZ TRUMPETER JOEY SOMMERVILLE, 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
SUNDAY
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
COMEDIAN TIM STATUM at the StarDome Comedy Club.
DANIEL JOSÉ CARR WITH JAZZ, 5-8 p.m. at Club M.
MONDAY
LONGRIVER, TRAVIS CHAMP and RYAN SOBB 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.
JOSE’ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
ALEX CULBRETH and ABRAHAM & THE OLD GODS at The Nick.
WEDNESDAY
MASTER PASQUALE with dance classes and music at the Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue.
R at the Nick
COUNTRY COOL at the StarDome Comedy Club.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Oak Hill Bar & Grill.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
LICENSE TO HEAL (JAMES BOND EDITION), today, 6 – 10 p.m. at the SCENE at Pepper Place Art Gallery 1930, 2801 2nd Avenue South, with music by LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER and ALVIN GARRETT. Join the A-List Networking Group ALICIA WEBSTER and GABRIEL HENDERSON as Bond Girls hosting the Second Annual Holiday fundraiser benefiting Children’s of Alabama NICU. There will be door prizes, complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres. For more, go to www.alistbham.com.
BO BERRY QUARTET, 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
JAZZ TRUMPETER JOEY SOMMERVILLE, 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Perfect Note, Saturday. Joey Sommerville: Contemporary Jazz Trumpet soloist draws on soul, jazz, and world beats to connect with audiences worldwide.
NAKED TRUTH – THE STORYTELLER – The show Naked Truth – The Storyteller is Sunday, 5:30 p.m. at Jazzy’s on 1st Avenue North. The show features DanI with special guest Ashley Sankey, G.I., and 7even Rich.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS AND GARDEN LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE, 9 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Moderately Strenuous Dayhike on the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail System at Lake Martin, near Alexander City, Alabama – DETAILS: Located on the banks of Lake Martin, Alabama’s largest and allegedly most beautiful lake, the area offers linked loop trails. Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails are among the most scenic and diverse hiking trails in Alabama. The trails skirt the shoreline of beautiful Lake Martin (a 40,000-acre, 700-mile-shoreline lake) and are routed through a variety of flora and fauna. Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some with vistas of six to eight miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay, Chimney Rock, and others along rocky shoal creeks, and rippling brooks. There are high rocky ridges with mountain long leaf pine, mountain laurel, low and high bush blueberry, and lush hardwood forests that include redbud, sourwood, dogwood, native azalea, umbrella and big leaf magnolia. Large thickets of Catawba Rhododendron are numerous. Deer, turkey and numerous bird species, including bald eagles, can be seen along the trail.
The trails are built to blend into nature, free of bicycles, motorized vehicles, horses or other pack animals. All trails are built on Alabama Power Company land that is set aside as naturally undeveloped and are well-marked and maintained, the terrain is varied, and the scenery on a clear day is spectacular. We will hike about four miles. We will see longleaf pine and mixed hardwood forests, open airy sections, and other trail sections under fuller forest canopy. We also will see pristine lake views, boats, birds, boulders and deer tracks. Wear hiking boots! Depart 8 a.m. from the parking lot of the Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone. Children age 10 and over welcome. Optional restaurant dinner after. Call Dan Frederick, (205)631-4680 for more.
SUNDAY DAYHIKE, 1p.m. – Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Oak Mountain State Park – DETAILS: Enjoy a moderate four mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on a Sunday afternoon for making new friends who enjoy the outdoors. Parts of this hike may be off the color-coded trails. There will be some ups and downs. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up able to walk the distance of about four miles and complete the hike are welcome.
Depart 1 p.m. from the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot. Bring $5 per person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink. Call Edd Spencer, (205)317-5868 cell for more.
FOR THE HOLIDAY LOVERS
KWANAZAA WORKSHOP AT THE BCRI – The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s (BCRI) Community of Readers Literacy program will hold a Kwanzaa Workshop for families on Friday, 6 p.m. in the BCRI’s Odessa Woolfolk Gallery. The program will feature the book, “The Sound of Kwanzaa” by Dimitrea Tokunb. Books will be distributed free to local families at the event and refreshments will be served. The guest reader for the program will be Lyndale “Simba” Smith, founder, instructor and performer of African American Drummers. To participate in the program, families are encouraged to bring objects from home that can be used as a drum, such as cans, plates, pots, etc. The program is FREE and Open to the public. Call (205) 328-9696 ext. 246 for more.
CHRISTMAS IN TALLADEGA – Talladega’s Christmas Village lights will be up and around the square will be ready to go for opening day tomorrow. People selling handcrafted gifts and decorations and at least five food trucks will be set up around the square. There will be a lighting ceremony for the 20-foot-tall Christmas tree Friday, at 6:30 p.m. sponsored by the Talladega Superspeedway. The lighting ceremony will be followed by the weekend’s first appearance of Santa, for a meet and greet, followed by a screening of “The Polar Express” at the Ritz Theater. The village will be open Dec. 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. For more information, please, visit christmasintalladega,com or join the Talladega’s Christmas On The Square Facebook page.
HOLIDAY GALA IN DISTRICT 1 – Councilor Lashunda Scales is inviting all to the Holiday Gala that the entire family can enjoy. The annual holiday gala will take place Friday, 6 p.m. at the Huffman High School located at 950 Springville Road, in Birmingham.
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON – Opera Birmingham’s Sounds of the Season will start your holidays on a good note! This family-friendly concert of holiday favorites will be presented on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. at Samford University’s Brock Recital Hall. The heartwarming concert will feature a variety of solo and ensemble performances by native Birmingham artists, setting the perfect mood for the holiday season. The concert will also showcase the talent of the Opera Birmingham Chamber Choir: Colin Alexander, Brian Denton, Drew Duncan, Abbott Jones, Lauren Marino, Betsy Pate, Leah Pickett and Clay Walls.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH & VIVALDI’S GLORIA – The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is hosting the Christmas event Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria, Friday, December 16, 7:30 p.m. with CARLOS IZCARAY as Conductor at the Alys Stephens Center.
AAFB HOLIDAY PARTY – The American Advertising Federation Birmingham is hosting it Holiday Party on December 16, 6 – 9 p.m. at the Image Hive. The 2017 American Adverting Awards (a.k.a. the Birmingham ADDY’s) will honor the Birmingham area’s best creative work and the great minds that impact the advertising community. The ceremony will be Friday, February 24, 2017 at Events at Haven. Accepting entries for the 2017 ADDY’s! The deadline is midnight January 13th and drop-off is January 14th.
WHAT DO THE LONELY DO AT CHRISTMAS? – The very funny stage play ‘What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas’ is coming to the BJCC on Sunday, December 18. It has a star-studded cast that is bringing the soul of the holiday to the stage including Ann Nesby (Sounds of Blackness), Meelah (702), Willie Taylor (Making the Band 4), Ray Lavender (Tyler Perry and a writer, producer and songwriter) and Jamecia Bennett (Sounds of Blackness).
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CATS – Christmas with the Cats will be at the Carver Theater on December 22 and 23, 8 p.m. featuring LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER, RUBEN and ALVIN GARRETT.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – This captivating performance of the familiar classic will be presented at the Alabama Theatre, Friday, December 23, 8 p.m. at the Alabama Theatre. The Nebraska Theatre Caravan, the professional touring wing of the Omaha Community Playhouse, has been touring Charles Jones’ delightful adaptation of A Christmas Carol since 1979. The Caravan’s Carol, which weaves traditional Christmas carols throughout the narrative, is probably the most widely produced production of Dickens’ in the nation, annually performing for more than 100,000 people in more than 60 cities across the country.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR CHILDREN, GIFTS AND FOOD – Holiday shopping can actually help fund child medical grants for Alabama families in need from United Healthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF), as one option. Holiday gift ideas include:
- Award-winning Oliver & Hope children’s storybooks, along with plush characters
- Children’s joke books
- Digit’y Do — a new numbers game that combines elements of strategy and probability with a high dose of fun.
- Kid-designed holiday cards and 2017 wall calendars
- Grins to Go bags— this nylon draw string backpack is filled to the brim with a dozen toys, games and activities that will inspire and amuse any boy or girl between the ages of 4 and 12. All products are available at smile.Amazon.co(search for UHCCF) and 100% of the proceeds go to fund medical grants for children in Ala. and throughout the U.S. Alabama families in need should go to www.uhccf.org to review criteria and submit an online application.
PIEOLOGY’S HOLIDAY GIFT CARD – If you are a pizza lover, and most of us do love pizza then you should check out the Pieology Pizzeria when in Tuscaloosa. If you are a student and want to get a gift for someone during the next few months then the Pieology has a gift card for $25 and you receive a FREE Pizza Bonus card that can be used January 1 through March 31, 2017.
YOUR PIE NEW PIZZA RESTAURANT IN UPTOWN – YOUR PIE is opening a new pizza restaurant in the Uptown District at the BJCC on Friday next to the Westin Birmingham. The first 50 customers will receive a free entrée, all customers will see $5 entrees and there are giveaways the weekend.
FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE LOVERS –
MAKING A MOMENT A NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENT featuring CHARLES WINSTON on December 31st, 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. with all you can eat and drink while it lasts at 1439 4th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020.
FOR ART LOVERS
SLOSS THEN AND NOW – Lawson State College is presents Sloss Furnace entitled SLOSS THEN AND NOW by Adjunct History Instruction Gregory Wilson. This exhibition is about the Red Mountain ….
OUR VOICE, OUR WORLD – The Paul R. Jones Gallery presents the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art K-12 Fellows, Program Exhibit now through December 21. This is a collaboration between University Place Elementary School, Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle School and the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art. The Opening Reception is December 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (205) 345-3038.
“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 COMEDY LOVERS
AT THE STARDOME:
THIS WEEKEND: TIM STATUM Friday through Sunday. Entertaining audiences wherever he goes, Tim is a Birmingham native who will keep you in stitches with his southern style humor and storytelling. Tim incorporates real-life stories of growing up in the country with classic stand up comedy to provide a hilarious evening.
COUNTRY COOL is a straight-shootin’, no-holds-barred comedy show that laughs at what we’re all dealin’ with the “this can’t really be happening” moments in life that make us feel like we’re losing our minds, one traffic jam at a time. Trish Suhr, Karen Mills and Leanne Morgan, all headlining comedians, have southern roots but are well-traveled, diverse, razor sharp and savvy. Their no-nonsense approach “tells it like it is” but, of course, with charm and style. It’s not redneck; it’s not white trash — these girls are country cool! It’s comedy for the masses, because, let’s face it, everybody’s got a little country in ‘em. These three women have been friends for more than a decade and have stood in it, walked through it and come out the other side laughing. Whether it’s overcoming cancer, the loss of a beloved pet or talking each other down from the hormonal ledge, they continue to find the humor in everything life dishes out.
FOR HELPING YOUTH
HELP IMPACT ALABAMA – Impact will provide over 45,000 children across Alabama with free, high-tech vision care! Please help FOCUS FIRST, the nation’s most successful early vision care initiative, receive a Challenge Grant from EBSCO Industries in order to further expand our work. Send your contribution to Impact Alabama, 1901 6th Avenue North, Suite 2400, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Other programs by Impact Alabama are SPEAK FIRST and COLLEGE FIRST
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BRUNCH – TSU Tigers Birmingham Chapter is hosting its annual Scholarship Brunch, January 7, 10 a.m. in the Harbert Center. The Honorable Harold Love is the Speaker.
FOR CHILDREN
TAKE OUT BULLYING – The Jefferson County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in conjunction with The Alabama School of Fine Arts present “Take Out Bullying.” The Alabama School of Fine Arts Theatre Arts Ensemble uses humor and personal experience to showcase skits which confront teen bullying and other social issues related to teens head on. The event will be hosted by Harmony Mendoza, Meteorologist at WVTM 13. The event is FREE and open to the public. Dates and locations: C. J. Donald Elementary School (K-6) – Jan. 11, Irondale Middle School – Jan. 18, Jonesboro Elementary School (K-6) – Jan. 27, Corner Middle School – Feb 8 (subject to change), Huffman Middle School – Feb. 28, and Phillips Academy (K-6) – Feb. 28.
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 next Thursday. 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 – REMEMBER!!! 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.
FOR EMPOWERMENT
FROM DREAM TO DESTINY WORKSHOP – For mentally and spiritually preparing yourself for the coming year in a fun, positive and encouraging environment with other dreamers, join ASHLEY JOY and Special Guest MEG SAYLOR, Saturday, 1 – 3 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott, Homewood. Learn how to create a vision board that displays your dreams, goals and a clear vision for your future. You will learn how to set daily goals that will help move your dreams into destiny.
Bring personal photos, arts and crafts that you would like to include in your creative efforts.
COMING SOON
DECEMBER 31 – MAGIC CITY SMOOTH JAZZ “NEW YEAR” EVE CELEBRATION at the Dannon Project Building.
JANUARY 7 – TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BRUNCH at the Harbert Center, 10 a.m.
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.)
