By Gwen DeRu
TODAY
THE DIRTY LUNGS, THE DIRTY DELUSIONS, DREW DIXON and THE JIMJIMS at the Nick.
COMEDIAN QUINN DAHLE featuring KELLYE HOWARD at the StarDome Comedy Club.
OMNI with LADY LEGS and CAPTAIN KUDZU, 8 p.m. at Saturn. FREE!
COCKTAILS & CONVERSATIONS, every Thursday at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
30/40 HOOKAH LOUNGE, every Thursday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge.
EVERY FIRST THURSDAY…BIRMINGHAM ART CRAWL 2018, 5 -9 p.m. in Birmingham downtown. 120 19th Street North.
BIRMINGPRINTS is the featured artist.
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
COMEDIAN QUINN DAHLE featuring KELLYE HOWARD at the StarDome Comedy Club.
TIM SPINOSI’S COLOSSAL COMEDY SIDE SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SAXOPHONIST ERIC DARIUS at the Perfect Note.
BLOODKIN and WILL STEWART at The Nick.
SATURN’S MARDI GRAS BASH & WIDESPREAD PANIC AFTER PARTY! STARRING: NEW ORLEANS SUSPECTS, 9 p.m. at Saturn.
ELECTRIC AVENUE: ULTIMATE 80S MTV EXPERIENCE, 8 p.m. at Iron City.
TIM SPINOSI’S COLOSSAL COMEDY SIDE SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FUNNY FREE FRIDAYS (Comedy Show) at Good People Brewery, 9- 10:30 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT EXPERIENCE at Luxe Ultra Lounge.
JAZZ at FRIDAY UNWIND, 6 p.m. – midnight, at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
LIVE JAZZ at UNWIND FRIDAY, 8 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd with great jazz.
PASSPORTS FRIDAYS, 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. at Legends Sports Lounge with Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Afro-Beats and Top 40. FREE until midnight.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
SATURDAY
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
COMEDIAN QUINN DAHLE featuring KELLYE HOWARD at the StarDome Comedy Club.
EAT DRINK AND RIDE NIGHT FOOD TOUR WITH COMEDIENNE JOY, at 6 – 10 p.m., meet in Brookwood Mall, at Grille 29.
SNV – SATURDAY NIGHT VIBES, 10 p.m. at Platinum.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, every Saturday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge, 300 24th Street S with DJ CHOCOLATE.
SAXOPHONIST ERIC DARIUS, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
BLOODKIN and WILL STEWART at The Nick.
PEDRO THE LION, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
SUNDAY
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
COMEDIAN QUINN DAHLE featuring KELLYE HOWARD at the StarDome Comedy Club.
DOOMSTRESS, BEERWOLF, THE MUNSENS and THE MURDER OF JANE CROW at the Nick.
MONDAY
KARAOKE NIGHTS WITH COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY at the StarDome Comedy Club.
BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
CARD PLAYERS SPOT at the TIDE AND TIGER, 6 – 12 p.m.
TUESDAY
FIESTA TUESDAY at 1st and 23rd, all night.
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.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
JOSE’ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
CHRIS FRANJOLA at the StarDome Comedy Club.
VINTAGE VIDEO GAME NIGHT, 7 p.m. at Saturn.
PROWESS, LETHAL AFFECTION and SKULLS & WHISKEY at the Nick.
WEDNESDAY
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY, every Wednesday at 30/40 Hookah Lounge
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
JD WILKES (THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS), BONNIE MONTGOMERY and TIMBER at The Nick.
COMEDIAN DS SANDERS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
VINTAGE VIDEO GAME NIGHT, 5 p.m. at Saturn.
NEXT THURSDAY
COMEDY FOR A CAUSE with JOSH BLUE at Iron City Birmingham.
GUITARIST NORRIS JONES at the Perfect Note.
TAYLOR KROPP, BATTITO, BURNING VINYL, LATE NIGHT w/ GLOSTIK WILLY at the Nick.
COMEDIAN DS SANDERS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
DRIVIN’N’ CRYIN’, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
NEXT FRIDAY
COMEDIAN TONY ROBERTS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
TIM SPINOSI’S COLOSSAL COMEDY SIDE SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
CLUTCH BAND at the Perfect Note.
FEEDING FINGERS, CAPTAIN KUDZU and WAX FUR at The Nick.
FOR MOVIE LOVERS
BLACK PANTHER PRIVATE SCREENING – There will be a private screening of Black Panther at Patton Creek in Hoover,
TODAY, 6 – 10 p.m. with a panel discussion from 6 – 7 p.m. on Afro-Futurism and the Movement Giving Rise to Black Panther. Tickets are at BPBHAM.com. Proceeds benefit the Daniel Payne Community Plaza Job Training Program. Call (770) 605-9438 for more.
FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
BLACK HISTORY IN THE MAKING – Alabama’s own DARRELL “BUBBA” WALLACE, JR. will become the first African American since 1969 to drive in NASCAR’s most iconic race, the DAYTONA 500. February 18th (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Fans can follow his journey to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in “Behind the Wall: Bubba Wallace,” a new docu-series, with two episodes airing each day starting today through Saturday on FACEBOOK WATCH. The final two episodes will be available next week. The eight-part series will chronicle Wallace’s road to Daytona International Speedway – from his earliest racing days to his debut in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series as the New frontier driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH – Saint Peter Primitive Baptist Church will celebrate Black History Month, this Sunday. In keeping with the national theme, “African Americans in Times of War,” members who served in the military will be recognized during the 11 a.m. services. At the 3 p.m. Black History and Scholarship program, Elder Henry Wyche, an honored veteran, author and minister, will give reflections on behalf of those who served. Three scholarships will be awarded to college students. The keynote speaker for the 3 p.m. program is Jefferson County Commissioner Sandra Little Brown of Birmingham. Commissioner Brown is dedicated to community service, having served on the Birmingham City Council as the representative for District Seven prior to being elected to serve on the Jefferson County Commission in November, 2010. She currently holds the positions of President Pro Tempore and Chairman of Community Development and Human Resource Services Committee. For more info, call (205) 617-9193.
WONDER WOMEN SERIES – SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON will speak at the Wonder Women event, Sunday. The Wonder Women lecture series features some of Birmingham’s most prominent women and is geared for girls in 6th grade and up, and their parents, inform, educate, and inspire girls with short (20-30 minutes) interactive talks focused on careers, civic engagement, and personal growth. Contact Kristen@girlspring.com for more.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
SINGLE, SAVED AND WAITING ON GOD CONFERENCE – Pastor Van Moody, author and Pastor of Worship Center is the featured speaker with worship, panel discussion, vendors and more, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites, 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, AL 35209. For more info, visit www.helloruth.weebly.com.
ENERGIZING CONNECTION – The Southern Minority Supplier Development Council (SRMDC) and SPIRE are hosting the Energizing Connections, February 20, 9 – 11 a.m. at the Center for Energy Technology, 20-20th Street South, Birmingham 35233.
SHARE YOUR DREAM – Share Your Dream, now through Feb. 28 at East Lake Branch Library – Children and adults are invited to share their dream in writing at East Lake Library.
THE RACE CARD – The Race Card (all ages), now through Feb. 28, Pratt City Branch Library – Discussions about race can often be difficult and enlightening. Express your thoughts on race into one sentence using only six words. Your six-word sentence will be on display on the Race Card Wall.
STEP 1-2-3: MENTOR FOR LIFE CONFERENCE – Step 1-2-3: Mentor for Life will host their inaugural conference, #IAMLOST: How to Secure the Bag, for youth and adults on March 2, Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at The District Room. The conference will focus on empowering those who are in their final steps of obtaining their degree or education and are unsure of the next step. The conference will feature a keynote address from Chaucer Barnes, Chief Audience Officer at Translation LLC and United Masters, and testimonials featuring Kezia Williams, Herschell Hamilton, and Jessika Banks. The conference looks to give attendees a chance to learn and connect with other like-minded individuals in the community. Call (612) 701-2947 for more.
TEXTURES OF JAZZ”: THREADS OF CHANGE – A new art exhibit, “Textures of Jazz: Threads of Change,” by Leanna Leithauser Lesley, will debut at the Central Library downtown on run now through March 31. “Textures of Jazz” is a 25-piece jazz portrait exhibition by Birmingham artist Leanna Leithauser Lesley in honor of Black History Month. Her collection of jazz needlepoint portraits are accompanied by bios introducing the role each of these remarkable musicians played in jazz history, American history and civil rights history. The exhibit will feature two workshops by the artist Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., with live music in Central Library’s Atrium. There is an Opening Reception, Feb. 15, noon – 2 p.m. in the Fourth Floor Gallery.
SAVEFIRST INITIATIVE – FREE TAX PREPARATION – 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. The SaveFirst initiative will provide free income tax preparation services to working families making up to $54,000/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.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAY HIKE, 10 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Dayhike Along the Locust Fork River from Swann Covered Bridge to Powell Falls – DETAILS: A moderate three-mile day hike and picnic along the lovely Locust Fork River in Blount County near Cleveland, Alabama. View and drive through the genuine and newly-restored wooden covered bridge. Then, hike along the river from the bridge and have lunch right beside Powell Falls. This waterfall drops about eight feet and carries a substantial amount of water. Also, view sheer cliffs rising over 60 feet right above the water. See a rushing river, covered bridge, high rock bluffs and a large waterfall— all along a one and a half mile stretch of river. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older welcome. Bring a friend or several if you wish. Come early to depart 10 a.m. from the Cleveland Chevron. Info: Dan Frederick, (205) 631-4680.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD
MAGIC CITY SMOOTH JAZZ RECEIVES GRANT – Chamber Music America awarded Magic City Smooth Jazz a 2018 Presenter Consortium for Jazz (PCJ) grant in the amount of $10,000 for programming Theo Croker Quintet and the Carmen Lundy Ensemble to be presented in collaboration with the PCJ partners, Community Reflections, Inc. and Pappy Martin Legacy-Masten Jazz Festival. In addition, the organization receives a Supplemental Grant of $5,000 to be used for general operating support and/or project-specific costs related to jazz presentations at the organization.
CLASS IS IN SESSION – SATURDAY JAZZ GREATS: LEARN HOW TO PLAY JAZZ FROM THE PROS, now through February 24 on Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, downtown. Do you know an aspiring young musician who wants to play jazz? Class is in session. Orientation is ongoing for a limited time.
SUNDAY JAZZ, 5 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
SPOKEN WORD OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Third Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
AT GOOD PEOPLE BREWING:
EVERY FRIDAY
FUNNY FREE FRIDAYS (COMEDY SHOW), 9 – 10:30 p.m., at Good People with Birmingham’s finest comedy show at a brewery. It’s free and features the best comedians from around the country.
AT THE STARDOME:
COMEDIAN QUINN DAHLE featuring KELLYE HOWARD. With appearances on The Tonight Show, Showtime, Comedy Central, Lopez Tonight and Carson Daly, Quinn is a smart and witty stand-up comic with impeccable timing. He has worked with such names as Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, Dane Cook, Dana Carvey, Norm McDonald, Jon Lovitz, Bill Maher, Frank Caliendo, David Alan Grier, John Witherspoon, Tommy Chong, John Pinette and Harland Williams.
COMEDIAN CHRIS FRANJOLA, Tuesday…Chris Franjola is a writer/comedian who began his comedy career on Long Island. Chris was a writer and a regular performer on E!’s hit show “Chelsea Lately” for eight years. Together with the talented writing staff, Chris wrote over 1500 episodes while performing on the show more than anyone else beside Chelsea Handler and Chuy. During his time on the show Chris created some of the shows most memorable characters like Gay Caveman, Bieber Man, Johnny Depp, Seventeen Magazine Players and many more. He also starred on the critically acclaimed scripted comedy series “After Lately,” which aired for three seasons on E!, he was the host of the Sons of Anarchy aftershow Anarchy Afterword, airing live on FX.
COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY ‘EVERY MONDAY NIGHT’ at the StarDome Comedy Club for Karaoke Nights.
FOR ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS
ARTIST TALK WITH JOSE BEDIA – Cuban Artist Jose Bedia will be at the Birmingham Museum of Art, TODAY, 6 p.m. with his large-scale works of art that are inspired by his fascination with indigenous spiritually and cultures from Africa to the Americas. He will discuss his work including the popular installation Mpangui jimagua (Twin Brothers) that serves as the centerpiece of the BMA’s Third Space exhibition.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
DROP-IN DRAWING at the BMA – Under the guidance of teaching artist JAMISON HARPER, spend time sketching in the galleries, Sunday, 2-4 p.m. This session will focus on Vanities Still Life in the Dutch Gallery.
ARTBREAK, February 20 with Mayor Randall Woodfin, Noon. FREE.
THE MEETING: AN AMERICAN PLAY – The Meeting will be performed on February 22nd and 23rd at the Avondale Gallery & Loft. It is a 1987 American play by Jeff Stetson about an imaginary meeting between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X in 1965 in a hotel in Harlem during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The Meeting won a Louis B. Mayer Award and eight 1987 NAACP Theatre Awards. It has been performed throughout Europe and the United States. Fascinating and dramatically compelling, this eloquent play depicts the supposed meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins’ bullets would await them. The Meeting stars JOHN-MARK MCGAHA, JOHNATHAN PERKINS and MARC RABY.
ALL THAT ART! ALL THAT JAZZ! – An exhibition of work by Arcadia Elementary School students, through February 23, at the Paul R. Jones Gallery in Tuscaloosa.
MLK TAPESTRIES BY PETER SIS – Ireland-based Bill Shipsey is a human rights activist, artist event promoter and producer, barrister, and the founder of Art for Amnesty-Amnesty International’s global artist engagement program. Since 2012 he has conceived and commissioned 12 monumental memorial tapestries. These tapestries are on permanent loan at various airport and museum locations around the world. Three new Peter Sis-designed tapestries honoring Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. are on display at the Civil Rights Institute in
Birmingham. These tapestries are at the BCRI through March 16.
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 26 – BLANKET SERIES BEYOND THE SURFACE – The University of Alabama Gallery presents ‘Blanket Series Beyond the Surface’, the artwork of KEVIN COLE at 620 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, 35401. Reception is February 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Gallery. The exhibition is from February 1 – 26.
FOR FOOD LOVERS
A Taste of Black History with Chef E, Saturday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m. at Titusville Branch Library – Join Chef E for a healthy cooking demonstration. This program is free and limited to 25 adults. Call 205-322-1140 to register.
FOR BOOK LOVERS
WHY ARE THEY FOLLOWING ME? – Author DR. JOYCE GILLIE GOSSOM’s book ‘Why Are They Following Me – How to Lead More Effectively’ is an easy read, fun, straightforward, insightful and motivating book. The book is not your typical leadership book, includes personal stories that really bring home the meaning of true leadership. You can relate to it from your personal experiences or know someone that it reminds you of them. Her examples make it an easy read. It can be for anyone whether a leader (or teacher) of any organization including corporate America. It should become a resource for anyone who wants to be a leader or become a better leader. The helpful and practical advice are what one can relate to in life to make a positive difference in their business, institution or company.
COMING SOON
FEBRUARY 22-23 – THE MEETING, at Avondale Gallery & Loft.
MARCH 10 – CHARLIE WILSON, TYRESE and EN VOGUE LIVE IN CONCERT at The Legacy Arena (BJCC)
MARCH 22 – MAX DIVERSE BUSINESS EXPO at the Doubletree Hilton
MARCH 25 – ROMEO AND JULIET at Samford University Wright Center.
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 orgwenderu@yahoo.com.)
