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People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu

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Comedian Darrell Hammond.

By Gwen DeRu

TODAY

GREYHOUNDS, BUNKO SQUAD and J WILLOUGHBY, at The Nick.

COMEDIAN TONY TONE at the StarDome Comedy Club.

PYLON REENACTMENT SOCIETY AND LOLLY AND THE POPS at Saturn.

LIVE BAND KARAOKE, 7:30 p.m. at 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.

JOSE’ 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.

AFTER WORK AFFAIR every Thursday, 4 p.m. at 1st and 23rd.

FRIDAY


BIG POKEY BEAR & J WONN at R&B & BLUES STREET FEST at Chasers Bar and Grill.

UNWIND FRIDAY, 8 p.m. at Jazzy’s on 3rd with great jazz.

COMEDIAN DARRELL HAMMOND 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.

BEN MILLBURN & SUNGLASS MOUSTACHE, LONG BONY ARMS and KYLE KIMBRELL BAND 9 p.m. at the Nick.
SAXOPHONIST CHRIS GODBER, 7 p.m., at the Perfect Note.

SATURDAY

J MILKSHAKE QUINTET featuring vocalist CHRISTINE MAYFIELD at Jazzi’s on 3rd.

HOMEWOOD SIDEWALK SALE, 9 a.m. in downtown Homewood.

RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.

TRUMPETER EXTRAORDINAIRE MILKHAKE QUINTET featuring the Jazz vocalist CHRISTINE MAYFIELD, 6 and 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd with great jazz.

STONED COBRA, LADY LEGS, STARTLE THE HEAVENS and THE GODDAMN RIGHTS at the Nick

RUMBA LATINA BIRMINGHAM: LATIN NIGHT at Saturn.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, every Saturday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge, 300 24th Street S with DJ CHOCOLATE.

COMEDIAN DARRELL HAMMOND at the StarDome Comedy Club.

SAXOPHONIST CHRIS GODBER, 8 p.m. at Perfect Note

Chris Godber will be at the Perfect Note in Hoover on Saturday.

SUNDAY

SUNDAY BRUNCH at 1st and 23rd.

SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

AARON JAMES, CODY MARLOWE at The Nick.

JAZZ IN THE PARK IN BIRMINGHAM featuring BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE BAND AND ERIC DARIUS at McAlpine Park.

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.

AVANTIST, THE SUNSETS and GALLANTHORN at the Nick

PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.

JOSE’ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

TALL TALL TREES, 9 p.m. at the Nick.

WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.

NEXT THURSDAY

OCEAN DISCO and GIANT SUNBEAM AND THE NOISE, at The Nick.

COMEDIAN SINBAD at the StarDome Comedy Club.

NEXT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

COMEDIAN SINBAD at the StarDome Comedy.

FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

BUSINESS OWNER’S SUMMIT – The Seminar that you have been waiting for is Saturday, 9 a.m. There will be topics on staffing, marketing, strategic pricing, developing a business plan and so much more at Rebirth Christian Fellowship in Birmingham.

FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY:

2017 Summer Movie Series – The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS), in partnership with Phoenix Theaters The Edge 12, encourages summer enrichment with the 2017 Summer Movie Series. This week’s special screening of SPIDER MAN HOMECOMING will be held at The Edge 12, on Friday. Spider-Man Homecoming is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments Birmingham youth, who meet at least one of the criteria below, can earn a FREE ticket for themselves and a guest. Participation criteria for Individuals: Must participate in a summer enrichment program in the city of Birmingham this summer (must show proof of enrollment) *Present a book report on one book that you have read this summer (use attached Book Form).*Book reports must be in the child’s handwriting. For children 6 and under, parents may fill out the Book Form on the book they read to their child this summer. One book report provides FREE tickets for only one movie. (Only two submissions per household during the movie series (Get submission form from the DYS Office).

HOMEWOOD SIDEWALK SALE is and annual event in downtown Homewood. Join merchants for the sidewalk sale Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and throughout the day. Merchants will line the sidewalks in front of their stores with merchandise discounted up to 75%.

L’CHAIM HONORS CATHY O. FRIEDMAN – Join the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s (BHEC) Annual L’Chaim event that will honor CATHY O. FRIEDMAN, Sunday, August 20, 2:30 – 4 p.m. at the Jemison Concert Hall in the Alys Stephens Center. The event will feature the STEEL MEN’S CHORUS with musical entertainment arranged by KEITH CROMWELL, Executive Director of the Red Mountain Theatre Company, including the cast of the RMTC’s Fiddler on the Roof and RMTC Favorites ABJIJAH CUNNINGHAM, AMY JOHNSON and KRISTEN SHARP. Dessert will follow the program. CAROLE PIZITZ and JOEL ROTENSTREICH are this year’s L’Chaim Co-Chairs. Call (205) 795-4176 for more.

 

 

Cathy O. Friedman.

FOR THOSE THAT LOVE TO LAUGH

AT THE STARDOME:

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: DARRELL HAMMOND. Darrell Hammond is an American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He was a regular on Saturday Night Live (SNL) 1995 until 2009, and holds the record for longest tenure as an SNL cast member, having earned the distinction in 2004-2005. At his departure in 2009, Hammond was 53 years of age, making him the oldest active cast member in the show’s history. Hammond has made more SNL appearances, by far, than any other cast member in its entire 35-year run, and by 2009 had impersonated more than 107 celebrities (with former President Bill Clinton as his most frequent impression).

FOR MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD

UNWIND FRIDAY, 6 p.m. to midnight at Jazzi’s on 3rd. (Friday Unwind every Friday.)

LIVE BAND and KARAOKE, 8-11 p.m., tonight, at the Perfect Note.

SAXOPHONIST CHRIS GODBER at Perfect Note, Friday and Saturday.

SUNDAY JAZZ, 5 p.m. at the Perfect Note.

JAZZ IN THE PARK IN BIRMINGHAM featuring BIRMINGHAM HERITAGE BAND and ERIC DARIUS at McAlpine Park, 6- 9 p.m..

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.

BISHOP MARVIN SAPP AT THE MEN 2 WOMEN CONFERENCE, August 5, 9 a.m. at the Daniel Payne Plaza.

SECRET STAGES is AUGUST 4 and 5. Secret Stages is a two-day music discovery festival that takes place in downtown Birmingham, on the first weekend of August. This event features over 60 up-and-coming or under-the-radar acts drawn from the nation, the region and our own back yard performing on the stages of Birmingham’s downtown Loft District. The 7th annual festival will take place in downtown Birmingham, Alabama’s Historic Loft District in and on six different venues or stages. This is the festival to hear all of the best unheard sound for young, southern musicians. This year all venues have been consolidated to 2nd Avenue North. There will be lots and lots of artists. A few more that have been added include LIGUA FRANCA from Athens Georgia, EARTH GANG from Atlanta and CUTT DOGG from Birmingham, Alabama. For more information go to www.secretstages.net.

FOR BOOK LOVERS

BOOK SIGNING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUMMIT – Author YAKINEA MARIE will be signing her book ‘I SAID YES’ on August 12, Saturday with businesses of all kinds on hand. FREE. Go to www.isaidyes.biz for more.

FOR THE COMMUNITY

TOP 50 OVER 50– The fourth Annual Top 50 Over 50 is today, 6 p.m. at The Club and awards some of the finest people around over 50 years of age. Some Top 50 include FANNIE FLAGG, an actress, comedian and author, TONY NATHAN, a football legend and REVEREND FRANK DUKES, a civil rights leader
from Fairfield who will be recognized for having made a difference in their communities and touched the lives of others. Top 50 Over 50 is sponsored by the Positive Maturity, Inc., a United Way partner agency whose mission is to enhance the lives of older adults through civic engagement and social services.

INNOVATION WEEK BIRMINGHAM – The 2017 Innovation Week Birmingham is set for August 18 through August 25 to celebrate innovation in Birmingham by highlighting exciting new technologies and the inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and supporters that drive innovation in the Magic City. On
tap so far for 2017 Innovation Week:

· A solar eclipse party hosted by Southern Research, which will also host a panel on solar energy technology and a Business@Sunset networking reception at Quinlan Castle

· A panel on virtual reality hosted by the Sidewalk Film Festival

· EDPA’s Alabama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference, with 
Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, as the keynote speaker

· A hackathon hosted by Women Who Code Birmingham.

The week will kick off with a ribbon cutting at Innovation Depot on August 18 with regional business leaders and elected officials, followed by a Block Party in downtown Birmingham between The Pizitz and the McWane Science Center.

IN MONTGOMERY

LIVE @ 5 MUSIC at the Tipping Point, 7 p.m. at Hampstead, this Friday.

FOOD TRUCK TAKE OVER is every Friday, through August 2, 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Hampstead Town Center.

FOR FOOD LOVERS

WE GARDENS MARKET – The West End Gardens Market and Farm Stands will be at Princeton (Professional Office Building 1) on Wednesdays through October 25 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and at PEPPER PLACE on Saturdays through September 30, 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.

WINE DINNER SERIES – MICHAEL’S STEAKS AND SEAFOODS is hosting a monthly Michael’s Wine Dinner Series on Mondays. AUGUST 7th, 7 pm. -WINES FROM FRANCE VS CALIFORNIA. You do not want to miss this classic heavyweight battle as you pit old world wines vs. new world wines, in a matchup where
everyone wins Contact 205.871.9525 or marketing@michaelssteakandseafood.com for more.

FOR ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS

AT BCRI: ALABAMA AND BEYOND: AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATORS AND THEIR ART, through October 22 from the CARNETTA AND NORM DAVIS COLLECTION at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

AT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART

SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. FREE!

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

COLLECTED MEMORIES at the PAUL R. JONES GALLERY, through August 25th.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START is presented by the University Gallery, now through August 18 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in
Tuscaloosa. It is an art exhibit by students of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

INTERESTED IN ART

AFFIRM FOUNDATION is a nonprofit 501(3-)C) Arts Education Organization designed to educate, entertain, empower, inspire and affirm young people of color by showing them the greatest example of successful Alabama natives of the African Diaspora who achieved national and international fame. The exclusive modern exhibition entitled the Roots & Wings Collection ® will be presented by The Affirm Foundation under the trust of Designer Perry Varner as Creative Director and showcased at museums and universities throughout Alabama beginning in 2018. Submissions are needed by October 1, 2017. Types of Artwork Needed: Paintings, Sketches, Sculptures, Photography, Glass Work, Wood Work, Fashion Illustrations, Graphic Design Images, Fashion Design or any medium you choose. Be creative.

AT MAUS COMTEMPORARY

BIENNALE ARTE 2017, VIVA ARTE VIVA will open to the public now to Sunday November 26 at the Biennale di Venezia, titled Viva Arte Viva, curated by Christine Macel. JELILI ATIKU is a Nigerian visual artist, whose body of works strictly focuses on commitment to social, humanism and the crimes being committed against human life. Through series of performances, Installation Sculpture, drawings, photography and video art he has been relating to life and freedom; and ultimately direct attention to the importance of human values of life, freedom and human rights. Through his art forms he has taken viewers into a realization of the consequences of crises, human rights abuse, conflicts and wars, direct and involve them in “active participation in the improvement of our collective existence.” He holds a belief that viewers will upon viewing his works “participate through visual education and persuasion in the development of popular attitudes which can lead eventually to a better society.” He feels his performance will have influenced the mind, feelings, nerves and soul of the viewers for positive thinking and actions.

ALABAMA AND BEYOND: AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATORS AND THEIR ART, July 18- October 22 from the CARNETTA AND NORM DAVIS COLLECTION at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. (Look for more, right here.)

AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

VOCATIONAL READINESS WORKSHOP SERIES – The old days of applying for jobs by sending resumes in the mail are falling by the wayside as companies focus on posting job openings online. If you need to become more knowledgeable about the new online job application process, make plans to take advantage of a free workshop at the Central Library in downtown Birmingham this Friday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The workshop will be held in the Linn-Henley Research Building, 4th Floor Regional Library Computer Center. SERIES includes: VOCATIONAL INTRODUCTION READINESS WORKSHOP – Vocational Introduction Readiness Workshop provides an individual assessment of personal and professional goals, aspirations, and skills to help determine your best job fit. 1st Friday of each month (Aug. 4, Sept. 1).

RESUME BUILDER – Resume Builder is designed to assist individuals with creating an effective resume that will function as a powerful tool in achieving gainful employment. 2nd Friday of each month (Aug. 11, Sept. 8).

NEW AGE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS – New Age Online Application Process offers tips and suggestions to guide all job seekers in successfully completing online employment applications. 3rd Friday of each month (July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15).

INTERVIEW BOOTCAMP – Interview Bootcamp teaches techniques to help you emphasize your skills, overcome objections, and build rapport with your job interviewer. 4th Friday of each month (July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 22).

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.

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)

FOR FOOD LOVERS: You don’t want to miss this year’s

SAINT GEORGE MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL – Saint George Melkite Catholic Church prepares tons of food for its annual Middle Eastern Food Festival set for September 14, 15 & 16. There will be music, food and so much more. For 36 years Saint George parishioners have prepared and served homemade Middle Eastern food to thousands of visitors from Birmingham and its surrounding areas. Each week for weeks leading into the food festival Saint George’s kitchen and hall is bustling with people prepping food. Food will include falafel, kaak, mamoul, spinach pies, s cookies, meat pies, grape leaves, kibbee and much more. Church tours are conducted throughout day until 8 p.m.; Live Entertainment on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening; Shopping which includes a variety of handmade crafts, Byzantine icons, olive wood artifacts from the Holy Land, and a church cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes”. Proceeds will benefit local charities including, Three Hots and A Cot, Pathways of Birmingham, and Habitat for Humanity. The Food Festival also enables the parish to feed the homeless, prepare hot meals for women in shelters, provide diapers and other paper products to local charities, and sponsor an “Angel Tree” at Christmas. The Saint George 36th Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival will take place September 14-16 at Saint George Melkite Catholic Church, near UAB at 425 16th Avenue South. The hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The festival offers a convenient drive through service between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7p.m. Lunch orders of $75 or more can be delivered to the downtown area on Thursday and Friday. For takeout and delivery orders call 492-9621 or visit foodorders@saintgeorgeonline.org. Delivery orders must be placed the day before by 5 p.m. For further information visit www.saintgeorgeonline.org and join the Festival Event on Facebook: The 2017 St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival.

COMING SOON

EarthGang will be at Secret Stages.

AUGUST 4-5 – SECRET STAGES in Birmingham.

AUGUST 5 – HIP HOP MUSIC FEST at Sloss Furnace.

AUGUST 10 – A. G. GASTON BOYS AND GIRLS 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

AUGUST 11 – Y’ALL CONNECT at Rosewood Hall.

SEPTEMBER 24 – RIP THE HAM – A Fashion Competition.

SEPTEMBER 29 – STILLMAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT.

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