By Gwen DeRu
MAX DIVERSE BUSINESS EXPO at the Doubletree Hilton.
MAT KEARNEY CRAZYTALK TOUR at Iron City.
GREYHOUNDS and THE MAGIC MATH at the Nick.
COMEDIAN BURPIE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
BANNERS, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
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.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
FRIDAY
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ANGELIQUE KIDJO (from Benin, Africa), 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center. Kidjo is an activist for women and girls in Africa and the world.
COMEDIAN D. L. HUGHLEY at the StarDome Comedy Club.
THE POLLIES, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
SHADOW HORSE, FIREWATER REVIVAL, TIME TRAP and SINEMA at The Nick.
MONTGOMERY GENTRY presented by 102.5 The Bull with HALFWAY TO HAZARD at Iron City.
SAXOPHONIST JESSY J at Perfect Note.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
TIM SPINOSI’S COLOSSAL COMEDY SIDE SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
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.
SATURDAY
TEDXBIRMINGHAM 2018, 10 a.m. at Alys Stephens Center.
EARLY JAMES & THE LATEST at the Iron City Monthly Bottomless Brunch.
JOKES FOR HOPE at WorkPlay.
SAXOPHONIST KIMBERLYE MCKINNEY at Perfect Note.
COMEDIAN D.L. HUGHLEY 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.
KYLE KIMBRELL BAND, YOUNG VALLEY, THE BLACK MARIAH THEATER and GOD BLESS RELATIVE at The Nick.
SUNDAY
GALLERY TALK: MAGIC CITY REALISM 3-4 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
ROMEO AND JULIET at Samford University Wright Center.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m., at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
MIPSO at Saturn.
THE LIVING DEADS, V-8 DEATH CAR, and THE MCRYATTS 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
SOPPIN’ WET CINEMA PRESENTS:PUNK CINEMA! DOUBLE FEATURE 9 p.m. at Saturn.
THE HAPPY FITS, KINZIE, THE POLLEN and MATCHI at the Nick.
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.
WEDNESDAY
PALLBEARER at Saturn
LIVE JAZZ, every Wednesday, at The Marble Ring, 430 41st Street South, Suite B.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY, every Wednesday at 30/40 Hookah Lounge
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
MONOGOLD and THE LOOKDOWNS at The Nick.
COMEDIAN THE MIDNIGHT SWINGER at the StarDome Comedy Club
NEXT THURSDAY
MEET AND GREET THE CANDIDATES at the Boutwell Auditorium.
HAM BAGBY & THE SEIGE, PONY LEAGUE, UNCLE SON + CHRIS IVEY (GOULASH COMEDY) at the Nick.
COMEDIAN THE MIDNIGHT SWINGER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WILL HOGE, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
NEXT FRIDAY
COMEDIAN THE MIDNIGHT SWINGER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
LOOSE LIPS LIP SYNC COMPETITION, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
DEAD AFFECT and LAGOONS at The Nick.
FOR WOMEN
WOMEN POWER LUNCH 2018 – Join Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the B & A Warehouse, 1531 First Avenue South, for the 7th Annual Ultimate Ladies Power Lunch with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson of Miami, Florida as guest speaker. Congresswoman Wilson is known for wearing her cowboy hats and gained national attention in standing up to President Trump and his Chief of Staff John Kelly who falsely accused her of lying about her long-time relationship with her constituent Sgt. LaDavid Johnson who was tragically killed in an attack in Niger on October 4, 2017. Congresswoman Sewell hosts the annual Women’s Power Lunch as a campaign fundraiser to celebrate Women’s History Month and inspire women of all ages to get involved in the political process.
ANGELIQUE KIDJO – A DAUGHTER OF AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE – INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ANGELIQUE KIDJO (born in Benin, Africa), will perform, 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center. Kidjo is an activist of women and girls in Africa and the world. She has won a Grammy and sang at Carnegie Hall. She has said that it is not easy to judge the 50 years of independence of her small country (Dahomey), now called Benin. She feels that her life has been shaped in many ways by the political tribulations of West Africa and considers herself a true daughter of her country’s independence. As a French colony, Dahomey provided lots of civil servants for much of the West African region. It had been called the “Latin Quarter” of Africa because of its number of intellectuals and doctors. As a singer, the only thing she could do was to praise the revolution and sing at political gatherings. She said that she felt she could no longer express herself, and one day in 1983, without telling anyone, she escaped the country. She realized on that day that the dream of a proud independent Africa had been broken. Since that day, even though she has lived and worked in exile, she says that she has drawn almost all of her inspiration from the incredible richness of her culture. Most people don’t know that the pantheon of the “Vudun” Gods from Benin is as rich and complex as the Greeks’. The rhythms spread throughout Brazil, Cuba and New Orleans during the period of the slave trade. She has been to Salvador de Bahia and Havana and heard people sing songs from her village, all kept alive for centuries by the African diaspora. Her dream is to see every little girl in Benin have the chance she had right after independence: access to a great and sustained education. It has allowed her to accomplish all of her aspirations: sharing with the world the beauty of her culture and her people. She says that today’s Beninese girls should be given the same opportunity. The rate of women dying in childbirth, for instance, is so high. She says they also have achieved a lot: Benin has been a democracy for 20 years now. But to escape the cycle of poverty they need more, so much more. (Some taken from africaarepresent.com)
MOVIE SCREENING – Film Screening of UNCOMMON GRACE: THE LIFE OF FLANNERY O’CONNOR followed by a Q&A with filmmaker BRIDGET KURT, Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. at the downtown library, Linn-Henley Research Building on the 4th Floor Arrington Aud.
FOR FASHION LOVERS
STYLE SEX EXPERIENCE BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 15, 6 p.m. at Haven, 2515 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, Al. The Hottest Fashion Show & Largest Urban Networking Event In The Country. The Style Experience brand by Celebrity Designer & Author Perry Varner has been presented in Montgomery (Alabama), Charleston (South Carolina), Detroit (Michigan) and Atlanta (Georgia) to sold-out crowds and has attracted an audience of more than 15,000 fashion enthusiasts worldwide. The Style Experience Birmingham presented by Intentional Entertainment, LLC will feature more than 100 Birmingham area models. It will showcase the works of Birmingham Designers Kenya Buchanan the 2017 Magic City Fashion Week Designer of the year and Designer Garland Jackson 2017 BiminGLAM Designer of the year. Style Experience will also feature Birmingham Designers Nichole Stallworth, Sam Jay, Jeremy Agee and Stephon Kelly with guest models from the WonderFULL World of Fashion, Ebony Fashion Fair and Team Hard Body Male Fitness Models.
Hosted by the beautiful ladies Birmingham Urban Radio Isis Jones of 98.7 KISS, DJ Chocolate 107.7FM and Nu York of 95.7 JAMZ. A themed Kentucky Derby style pink carpet kicks off the evening at 5pm and pre-show VIP cocktail mixer followed by the fashion featuring the collection of these 8 designers. America’s Next Top Model Eva Marcelle, Actor Brad James of Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, Birmingham Designer & Project Runway All-star Designer Ken Laurence, VH1 & Bravo Reality Star Designer Reco Chapple, Celebrity Designers Nicci Hou and Leon Parham have all found a home at The Style Experience over the years.
FOR THE TEENS AND STUDENTS
TEENS ENGINEERS BHM WORKSHOPS CONTINUE – Free workshops at 11 locations across the City of Birmingham continue through May 3. Young teens will listen as mentors from the UAB School of Engineering teach them computer coding and other engineering skills. The remaining schedule of Teens Engineer BHM workshops by library location:
Today, March 22, 4-5:30 p.m., Ensley Branch Library
Tuesday, April 3, 4-5:30 p.m., Inglenook Branch Library
Thursday, April 5, 4-5:30 p.m., North Avondale Branch Library
Tuesday, April 10, 4-5:30 p.m., Powderly Branch Library
Thursday, April 12, 4-5:30 p.m., Smithfield Branch Library
Tuesday, April 17, 4-5:30 p.m., West End Branch Library
Thursday, April 19, 4-5:30 p.m., North Birmingham Regional Branch Library
Tuesday, May 1, 4-5:30 p.m., Southside Branch Library
Thursday, May 3, 4-5:30 p.m., Powderly Branch Library More spring/summer dates will be added later, so check the BPL events calendar at www.bplonline.org for updates.
2018 MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM ending TODAY, in the Central Library’s Teen Zone, from 4-5:30 p.m. Students have learned how to conduct a mock trial at the Jefferson County Courthouse. March 27, the Mock Trial will be held at the Jefferson County Courtroom.
FOR MOVIE LOVERS
BLACK PANTHER is still showing at theaters around town.
FOR ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS
AT THE LIBRARY
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 through March 31.
AT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GALLERY
MECCA, ATLANTA, HARLEM, MIAMI AND BEYOND, an exhibition with Selections from the Paul R. Jones Collection, through April 17, at the Paul R. Jones Museum, 2308 Sixth Street, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
A HARDER TASK THAN MAKING BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW, an exhibition of artworks from the DOUG McCRAW COLLECTION, through April 30 at the University of Alabama Gallery, 620 Greensboro Avenue.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM OF ART
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE, 10 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Dayhike at Lake Guntersville State Park – DETAILS: The hiking trails in Lake Guntersville State Park traverse moderate to difficult terrain and cover over 36 miles of park property. They are multi-use trails, serving as hiking, biking and horse trails. The trails are varied with some following alongside the banks of the Tennessee River, others leading to seasonal waterfalls and wildflowers, and some piquing your interest just by their name alone such as the Old Still Path and the Moonshine Trail. Our hike will be moderate. The trails differ in length from .5 miles to 3.5 miles yet connect with one another to form a loop of trails that add up to about six miles. Pack a picnic lunch and head out for a day exploring the ridges, waterfalls and river in beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park. Bring a friend or two. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 8 and up welcome. Optional dinner afterwards. No charge for park admission. Depart 10 a.m. from the Floor and Décor Store on Green Springs Highway. Info: Randall Adkins, (205) 317-6969. DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE – Floor and Décor Store on Green Springs Highway-230 Green Springs Highway, Homewood, AL 35209. In front of the left side (as you face the front of the store) of the Floor and Décor Store building between I-65 and Green Springs Highway just off Oxmoor Road in Homewood. Next to the Burger King on Oxmoor Road.
SUNDAY DAY HIKE, 2 p.m. – Southeastern Outings moderately easy four-mile dayhike on the Black Creek Trail in Fultondale, just north of Birmingham. DETAILS: Walk on a rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide and level. No hills! This finely-crushed rock surface trail goes through mostly wooded terrain. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail! This outing should be lots of fun for everyone.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and up able to walk four miles without complaining are welcome on this walk. Depart 2 p.m. from Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama. Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or (205) 631-4680. DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE: Black Creek Park, Fultondale, Alabama, Yarbrough Road, Fultondale, Alabama 35068. From interchange of I-20/I-59 and I-65 in downtown Birmingham (also known as malfunction junction) take I-65 North towards Huntsville 6.6 miles to exit 267 Walker Chapel Road in Fultondale. Exit I-65 at this exit #267. At end of ramp turn right on Walker Chapel Road and drive 6/10 miles to fourth traffic light at U.S. 31. Drive straight across U.S. 31. Road becomes Carson Road North. Continue on Carson Road North for 8/10 more miles after traffic light at U.S. 31 intersection, through one traffic light on Carson Road and turn left on Yarbrough Road immediately before you would pass under an old railroad overpass. Drive 3/10 miles. See Black Creek Park on your left. Meet your hike leader in the parking lot.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
BIRMINGHAM’S BRIGHTEST COMPANY CHARITABLE TRIVIA COMPETITION, April 18, 6-8 p.m., Events at Haven, 2515 6th Avenue South. Companies from the Birmingham regions participate in an evening of team trivia to raise money for both Impact Alabama and the winning team’s selected nonprofit. Deadline is March 19.
ASK A LAWYER WORKSHOPS – NAACP will host a series of FREE “Ask A Lawyer” workshops, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Peace Missionary Baptist Church, 1300 10th Street Pratt City. Contact Marshell Jackson Hatcher at (205) 972-8401 for more.
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 MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD
SUNDAY JAZZ, 5 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
SPOKEN WORD OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Third Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.
SAXOPHONIST JESSY J, Friday, at Perfect Note.
SAXOPHONIST KIMBERLYE MCKINNEY, Saturday, at Perfect Note.
CASHMERE WILLIAMS CD RELEASE PARTY, at the Perfect Note, March 31st.
16th ANNUAL ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME (AJHofF) STUDENT JAZZ BAND FESTIVAL – The AJHofF annual festival will be held at Birmingham-Southern in Munger Hall Auditorium on April 5-7. FREE. There will be performances from college, high school and middle school jazz bands that will highlight both vocalists and players. The goal is to provide a wider variety of entry points for attendees to understand and appreciate jazz and its heritage. There will a Workshop for Jazz Students on April 7th at 1:15 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM MUSIC CLUB 2018 Season
THE PARLOR CONCERT featuring THE DANIEL SZASZ & FRIENDS STRNING QUARTET, April 29, 2:30 p.m. at The Club House on Highland, 2908 Highland Avenue.
OPERETTA SPECTACULAR! GREAT MOMENTS OF LIGHT OPERA OVER THE CENTURIES, June 8-7:30 p.m., June 9-7:30 p.m. and June 10-2:20 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center’s Sirote Theatre.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
JOKES FOR HOPE at WorkPlay, Saturday.
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:
TODAY: COMEDIAN BURPIE. Since starting comedy just a mere two years ago he has been granted the opportunity to work with comedians such as Nick Lewis, Nephew Tommy, Reginald “Bruh Man” Ballard, Barbara Carlisle, Lil Duval, Double D, Red Bone, Drew Frazier, Dee Ellis, and many more. His knowledge and hunger to learn about comedy is the motivation that drives him to be the funniest he can be, and of course the laughs.
THIS WEEKEND: COMEDIAN D.L. HUGHLEY. D.L. Hughley spent four successful years as the co-creator, star and executive producer of his own sitcom “THE HUGHLEYS.” Hughley’s success continued from there. With his quick wit and affable personality, he has now become a favorite guest on such shows as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Politically Incorrect” and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” D.L. is also one of the original “Kings Of Comedy”
COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY ‘EVERY MONDAY NIGHT’ at the StarDome Comedy Club for Karaoke Nights.
COMING SOON
MARCH 31 – CASHMERE WILLIAMS CD PARTY RELEASE at Perfect Note.
APRIL 5 – ARTSTRAVAGANZA, at Birmingham Art Crawl.
TJ POP UP MARKET at Thomas Jefferson.
APRIL 11 – GIVING VOICE TO THE VOICELESS
APRIL 12 – SOCIALSPOTLIGHT FILM FSTIVAL at Hill Student Center Alumni Theater at Alys Stephens Center.
APRIL 14 VIOLINS OF HOPE IN CONCERT with ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at Alys Stephens Center.
APRIL 14 – ARTSPACE UNDERGROUND SPRING MARKET at Birmingham Oddities
APRIL 15 – STYLE SEX EXPERIENCE BIRMINGHAM at Haven.
APRIL 15 – GEMSTONES TRUCK SHOW at 309 86th St. South.
APRIL 22 – BIRMINGHAM PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET at TrimTab Brewing Company.
APRIL 28 – THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS at Zydeco.
MAY 5 – A-LIST TALK DERBY TO ME BRUNCH and NETWORKING MIXER at Michael’s Restaurant.
MAY 5-6 – YO-YO MA at Alys Stephens Center.
JUNE 16 – LOCAL 2018 CELEBRATE EVERYTHING ALABAMA at Alys Stephens 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 or gwenderu@yahoo.com.)
