TODAY
LIVE BAND KARAOKE JAM SESSIONS, 7 – 11 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
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, 7-10 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.
COMEDIAN GEORGE WALLACE at the StarDome, 7 p.m.
CRANFORD HOLLOW and JILL KINSEY, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
FRIDAY
DJ CED AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont Avenue.
FRIDAY UNWIND, every Friday, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
COMEDIAN GEORGE WALLACE 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.
CAFETERIA, CHELSEY WHILD and YARDLEY MUSIC, 9 p.m. at the Nick.
JAZZ KEYBOARDIST CORNELL THIGPEN , 8 – 11 p.m., at the Perfect Note.
SATURDAY
Q DOT DAVIS & FRIENDS TOUR, 9 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
DJ CED AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
MARADEEN, C.J. BOYD, and JOELL REGAL, p.m. at The Nick.
COMEDIAN GEORGE WALLACE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SATURDAY NIGHT GET DOWN at Saturn.
SUNDAY
THE DOZENS, DOC HOLIDAY, FOREST FIRE GOSPEL CHOIR and CHRIS SIMMONS BAND, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
MONDAY
BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
CARD PLAYERS SPOT at the TIDE AND TIGER, 6 – 12 p.m.
TUESDAY
TIDE AND TIGER HOT TUESDAY, 3 p.m. until on Graymont across from Legion Field with $.50 wings and drink specials until 9 p.m. For more call (205) 503-3880.
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.
COMEDIAN COWBOY BILL MARTIN, 7:30 p.m. at the StarDome Comedy Club.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
JOSÉ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
GIRLS GUNS AND GLORY, ZACH + CHEYLOE and TAYLOR HUNNICUTT at The Nick.
WEDNESDAY
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
THE SWEET LILLIES and KYLE KIMBRELL BAND, 9 p.m. at the Nick
COMEDIAN COWBOY BILL MARTIN, 7:30 p.m. at the StarDome Comedy Club.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Oak Hill Bar & Grill.
NEXT THURSDAY
ALEX PRESTON, ROOSTER and THE COME ON at The Nick.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD
BO BERRY QUARTET, 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
JAZZ KEYBOARDIST CORNELL THIGPEN, 8-11 p.m., Friday, at the Perfect Note. Thigpen is the Isley Brothers keyboardist, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note, Saturday.
JAZZ JAM SESSIONS, every Fourth Sunday, 6 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (Carver Theatre), except for Christmas.
SPOKEN WORD OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Third Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.
STUDENT JAZZ BAND FESTIVAL, April 20-22 at the Jazz Hall of Fame, Carver Theatre. New Student Roll Call for 2017 Saturday Jazz classes for new
students coming soon.
THIS TRAIN: A SOULFUL ALABAMA MUSICAL AND DANCE CELEBRATION – This celebration will air on the Alabama Public Television, today, at 9 p.m. and Friday, February 24 at 10 p.m. featuring performances by Jazz Guitarist ERIC ESSIX, American Idol Winner REUBEN STUDDARD, vocalists BELINDA GEORGE PEOPLES and VALERIA T. SMITH, THE BIRMINGHAM SUNLIGHTS, Spoken Word Artist SHARIFF SIMMONS and the MAD SKILLZ DANCERS with Conductor DR. HENRY PANION & ORCHESTRA. It was recorded live at the Lyric Theatre during the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Fred L. Shuttlesworth Awards Ceremony.
JAZZ GUITARIST CASHMERE WILLIAMS, Saturday, February 25th at 8 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLUS…
BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE….
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is hosting several events during the month of February….
FEBRUARY: BLACK HISTORY MONTH – Theme: Crisis in Black Education
February 16: 6 p.m. – Black History Month Program: A Town Hall meeting about the state of Black Education in Birmingham City Schools. Community
Meeting Room.
February 17-19 – “The Green Book” produced by Red Mountain Theatre Company. A play based on the Negro Motorist Green Book, “The Green Book” gives
audiences a look back to the era of segregation and the network of people who provided a safe harbor for travelers. BCRI and the Birmingham
Holocaust Education Center are partners with RMTC. Tickets available at http://redmountaintheatre.org.
February 23, 6 p.m. – Annual Black History Month Art Contest Winners. Sponsored by McDonalds, 95.7 Jamz and BCRI. Community Meeting Room.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY….
BIRMINGHAM AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY – The Birmingham Public Library is hosting the Birmingham African American Genealogy Group’s remaining 2017. Here is the class schedule. The group meets monthly on Sundays, 3-5 p.m. at the Central Library.
MARCH 12 – Essentials of Genealogy, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
APRIL 9 – Alabama’s B-centennial Celebration and BAAGG’s 20th Year Anniversary in 2019
MAY 21 – Introduction to Case Studies 1 & 2, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
JUNE 11 – Virtual trip to Alabama Department of Archives and History, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
JULY 9 – Youth in Genealogy, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
AUGUST 13 – Introduction to Railroad Retirement Records, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
SEPTEMBER 10 – BAAGG visit to LDS Center in Vestavia Hills at the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church
OCTOBER 8 – Convict Leasing and Parke Papers, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
NOVEMBER 12 – Introduction to the digital library and digital scanning services at Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library
DECEMBER 10 – BAAGG Holiday Social and Awards (time and place to be determined)
FREE CONCERTS – Two singing performances this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, are among four free Black History Month events taking place over five days as part of the Birmingham Public Library’s observance of Black History Month.
*Saturday – At 2 p.m., Feb. 18, the Five Points West Regional Library, 4812 Ave. W., will host its 10th Annual Black History Month Concert featuring J.D. JACKSON.
(Photo: Joint Receital with Jilliam Rogers and Jeremy McMillan)
*Sunday – At 3 p.m., Feb. 19, a University of Alabama soloist. JILLIAN ROGERS and pianist, JEREMY MCMILLAN will present a musical recital in the Central Library downtown, Linn-Henley Research Building, 4th floor Arrington Auditorium, 2100 Park Place. The concerts are among dozens of programs taking place at many of BPL’s 19 libraries across the city of Birmingham as part of its celebration of Black History Month in February.
Other concerts are as follows:
*Tuesday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m., Powderly Branch Library, 3302 Jefferson Avenue SW
Wenonah High School Choir presents Celebrating African American History Through Music.
*Wednesday, Feb. 22, 12 p.m., Linn-Henley Research Building, 4th floor Arrington Auditorium, the African-American Musical by the Alabama School of Fine Arts Music Department. For more BPL programs, go to www.bplonline.org/calendar.
ADULT LINE DANCE CLASSES – Free Adult Line Dance classes twice weekly during February at the Powderly Branch Library, 3301 Jefferson Avenue SW, at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the month of February. Enjoy the exercise and movements while learning the latest line dances.
- Adult Line Dance Class Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, 12pm
- Adult Line Dance Class Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, 12pm
- Adult Line Dance Class Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, 12pm
- Adult Line Dance Class Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, 12pm
FOR HELPING YOUTH…
CURSIVE WRITING – PENMANSHIP CLASSES – Cursive writing, penmanship classes for students is available at Powderly Branch Library. Tutors are now available at the Powderly Branch Library to assist students in the City of Birmingham in learning basic cursive writing and penmanship. The After School Writing Lab called “Assistance with Cursive Writing and Basic Penmanship” is taught by tutors from Birmingham’s Social Security Administration. The class focuses on teaching second- through fifth-grade students in the Birmingham City School System cursive writing and basic penmanship.
The class schedule, at Powderly Library, for February is as follows:
*Learn Cursive Writing and General Penmanship, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 4 p.m.
*Learn Cursive Writing and General Penmanship, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 4 p.m.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…
WHISKEYS OF THE WORLD, today at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
PHOTO TALK, February 19.
THE LIBRARY AT THE GARDENS present LINDA CHAFIN on February 23.
INTRODUCTIONS TO THE STUDY OF NATIVE PLANTS on February 25
ART GALLERY, open all month long.
UNCF MAYOR’S MASKED BALL – The 2017 UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball wil be held February 25, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. This annual event, hosted by Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. will focus on providing scholarship funds for area students and operating support to UNCF-member institutions. UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax will deliver remarks. Jasmine Sanders, co-host of “The D.L. Hughley Show,” will serve as emcee at the event that will feature elegant dining, testimonials by scholarship recipients and entertainment provided by the electrifying S.O.S. Band. This year’s honorees include 2016 UNCF Birmingham Co-chairs, Drs. Robert and Jarralynne Agee, Dr. Peter Millet, former president of Stillman College, and long-term UNCF partner, American Cast Iron Pipe Company. Al Denson, Birmingham-area UNCF campaign chair and president & CEO of Birmingham Airport Authority, serves as honorary chair and Brian Bucher, PNC Financial Services regional president of Alabama serves as corporate chair for this event. For more, call (205) 322-8623.
CARS 3 – Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage! Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist “Cars,” “Cars 2“) and produced by Kevin Reher (“A Bug’s Life,” “La Luna” short), “Cars 3” cruises into theaters on June 16, 2017.
FOR BASEBALL LOVERS
BARONS HOST NATIONAL ANTHEM AUDITIONS – The Birmingham Barons, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, will be hosting National Anthem tryouts at Regions Field Wednesday, March 1st, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Performers are asked to enter through the executive entrance on 1st Ave. South. All interested performers are invited to give their best anthem rendition for the opportunity to sing prior to a Barons home game this season. The opportunity is at no cost, but candidates will need to fill out a registration form before auditioning. Please do not call or email the front office to set up an audition time. Candidates will have the opportunity to perform on a first-come, first-serve basis with registration being capped at 100 participants. Performers should arrive no later than 6:45 p.m. Limited spots remain available for the 2017 season. If selected, National Anthem singers will receive two complimentary box seats to their selected game.
FOR THE COMMUNITY LOVERS
FREE TAX PREPARATION – SAVEFIRST – The nonprofit’s SaveFirst initiative has started the efforts to provide free income tax preparation services to working families making up to $53,000/year with kids in the home or $20,000/year without kids in the home. Interested individuals should call 1-888-99-TAX-AL for a free appointment. The tax preparation service is aimed at assisting families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is the federal government’s largest and most successful antipoverty program for low-income, working families. Impact Alabama’s annual free tax preparation services for working families will be available at five locations in the Birmingham area – Bessemer, Roebuck, Smithfield, West End, and Woodlawn.
TAX SITE INFORMATION:
BIRMINGHAM – SMITHFIELD LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, Smithfield Branch #1 – 8th Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
BIRMINGHAM – WEST END LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, West End Branch 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211
BIRMINGHAM – WOODLAWN LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, Woodlawn Branch 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212
BIRMINGHAM – ROEBUCK LOCATION
Springville Road Library 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
BESSEMER LOCATION
Bessemer Public Library 400 19th St N, Bessemer, AL 35020
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS
BIZWOMEN MENTORING MONDAY – Meet your mentor, April 3, at Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa.
FOR ART LOVERS
FREEDOM? – An exhibition FREEDOM?, is at the University of Alabama in the Paul Jones Gallery, through April 28.
SLOSS FURNACES: THEN AND NOW – Lawson State College is presenting an exhibition entitled SLOSS FURNACES: THEN AND NOW by Adjunct History Instructor Gregory Wilson. This exhibition is covering the history of Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and the rise of the Birmingham Industrial District. The exhibition is weekdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. until February 28, at the ACATT Building, (Birmingham Campus). For more information, email: gwilson@lawsonstate.edu.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE, 10 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
Details: On 27 March 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson‘s army of 3,300 men attacked Chief Menawa’s 1,000 Red Stick Creek warriors fortified in a horseshoe shaped bend of the Tallapoosa River. Over 800 Red Sticks died that day. The battle ended the Creek War, resulted in a land cession of 23,000,000 acres to the United States and created a national hero of Andrew Jackson. In March 1814, General Jackson’s army left Fort Williams on the Coosa River, cut a 52-mile trail through the forest in three days, and on the 26th made camp six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The next morning, Jackson sent General John Coffee and 700 mounted infantry and 600 Cherokee and Creek allies three miles down-stream to cross the Tallapoosa and surround the bend. He took the rest of the army – about 2000 men, consisting of East and West Tennessee militia and the Thirty-ninth U.S. Infantry – into the peninsula and at 10:30 a.m. began an ineffectual two-hour artillery bombardment of the Red Sticks’ log barricade. At noon, Coffee’s Cherokee allies crossed the river and assaulted the Red Sticks from the rear. Jackson quickly ordered a frontal bayonet charge, which poured over the barricade. Fighting ranged over the south end of the peninsula throughout the afternoon. By dark at least 800 of Chief Menawa’s 1,000 Red Sticks were dead (557 slain on the field and 200-300 in the river). Menawa himself, although severely wounded, managed to escape. Jackson’s losses in the battle were 49 killed and 154 wounded, many mortally. Though the Red Sticks had been crushed at Tohopeka, remnants of the war party held out for several months. In August 1814, a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation was signed at Fort Jackson near the present day city of Wetumpka, Alabama. The Treaty of Fort Jackson ended the conflict and required the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land to the United States. The state of Alabama was carved out of this domain and admitted to the Union in 1819. In 1828, partly as a result of his fame from the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans, Andrew Jackson was elected the seventh President of the United States. We will have the opportunity to watch a short film and view the exhibits before we begin our hike which is rated easy. Hike distance is 5.8 miles. Admission to the park is free. Depart 10:00 a.m. from the parking lot of the Publix Super Market in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age eight and over welcome. Optional restaurant dinner after. Info: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
FEBRUARY 22, WEDNESDAY, 9:00 a.m.
Weekday Hike, Cahaba-Irondale River Walk
Details: Enjoy a Wednesday morning walk on a beautiful, well-maintained trail through the woods alongside the Cahaba River right in Jefferson County. This will be a second time hike for Southeastern Outings. The trail runs from the Grants Mill Bridge canoe landing to near Overton Road. Depart 9:00 a.m. from the Sam’s Club Parking Lot on Kilgore Memorial Drive in Irondale.
Reservations: Not required
Info: Acyenith Alexander, 205/529-2253 (not after 8:30 p.m., please!) or Acyenith@charter.net.
AT THE STARDOME
THIS WEEKEND: GEORGE WALLACE. Talk about a legend. This man has done it all, Vegas, The Tonight Show, Letterman, Oprah, HBO’s One Night Stand, Politically Incorrect, Seinfeld, Moesha, The Parkers, BET and so much more. This is a sell out so get your tickets today.
THE FUNNIEST COMEDIANS YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF YET, on Sunday, 6:30 p.m. at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FOR HELPING YOUTH
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: Corner Middle School – Feb 8 (subject to change), Huffman Middle School – Feb. 28, and Phillips Academy (K-6) – Feb. 28.
AT THE BCRI
Opening of “¡NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South” through May 31. This one-of-a-kind project will explore the surprising ways that Latinos
are shaping the South and the South is shaping Latinos. The heart of the project is a 3,500 sq. ft. bilingual exhibition which explores a topic
that many historians consider to be the biggest story in southern history since the Civil Rights Movement. Woolfolk Gallery.
“!NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South” Community Celebration Exhibition – As part of the Alabama Dance Festival and the opening of the exhibition “!NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South,”CONTRA-TIEMPO will perform for a fun and interactive Latin dance party.
“Helen Keller Student Art Show” January 29 through February 26
The winning entries of art work in various media produced by children of all ages who are visually impaired, blind and deaf/blind in Alabama will be announced and displayed. Milestones Gallery.
COMING SOON
FEBRUARY 25 – UNCF MAYOR’S MASKED BALL.
MARCH 11 – NATURAL HAIR & HEALTH EXPO at the BJCC.
MARCH 24 – CHRIS ROCK at the BJCC.
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.
