By Gwen DeRu
TODAY
SOUND SESSIONS IN THE GRILL at Iron City.
META FITNESS NEW YEAR NEW YOU REVEAL at Iron City.
THE GODDAMN RIGHTS, YOU VANDAL, SEAGULLLS and DREW BROOKS at the Nick.
COMEDIAN MARVIN HUNTER at StarDome Comedy Club.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
FRIDAY
SAXOPHONIST VANN BURCHFIELD at Perfect Note.
ART ON THE ROCKS at the BMA, 7- 11 p.m.
COMEDIAN ETTA MAY at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NOWHERE SQUARES, THE SWITCHBLADE KID,and PROPERTY at The Nick.
WYE OAK at Saturn.
FACEBOOK FRIDAYS, every Friday, at the Legion in Fairfield, 5 p.m. Happy Hour, 7 p.m. Line Dance, 9 p.m., DJ Vick Goes Live and Ladies are free until 10 p.m.
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.
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
GUITARIST NICK COLIONNE at Perfect Note.
THE MOLLY RINGWALDS, and SOUND SESSIONS in The Grill with G.W. HENDERSON at Iron City.
STONED COBRA, SOUL DESERT and JOHN ELROD at The Nick.
COMEDIAN ETTA MAY 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.
PLEASEROCK AND YACHT ROCK SCHOONER present AN EVENING OF STEELY DAN with BROADWAY DUCHESS, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
SUNDAY
KYLE WALZ, JACQUIE and COTILLARD at The Nick.
COMEDIAN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JAZZ AND FOOD at Perfect Note.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
MONDAY
KARAOKE NIGHTS WITH 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
FREE! SUBSTRATE BINGO AT SATURN at Saturn.
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.
SONS OF VENGEANCE and THE DRYVERS at The Nick.
COMEDIAN JAMES JOHNSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WEDNESDAY
SOUND SESSIONS IN THE GRILL at Iron City.
ENHAILER and NUCLEAR TOURISM at The Nick.
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.
COMEDIAN JAMES JOHNSON at StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT THURSDAY
SOUND SESSIONS IN THE GRILL at Iron City.
STATES & CAPITALS and RIVEBEND at the Nick.
COMEDIAN JAMES JOHNSON at StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT FRIDAY
COMEDIAN NEPHEW TOMMY at the StarDome Comedy Club. 
AN EVENING w/ THE DRENNEN BROTHERS BAND at The Nick.
SECRET STAGES at Saturn.
CAHABA BLUES BAND at Iron City.
FOR THE COMMUNITY LOVERS
PARENT UNIVERSITY AND HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR, Saturday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Robinson Elementary School. First 100 families earn two backpacks filled with school supplies, voucher for school uniform. Snacks and Lunch is provided. For more, call (205) 836-0085.
COMING SEPTEMBER – NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH. 8th ANNUAL RECOVERY LUNCHEON – Celebrate National Recovery Month on September 15, 11 a.m. at the Harbert Center for the 8th Annual Recovery Luncheon. Join Pearson Hall, Olivia’s House, Zukoski Center and Fellowship House as they celebrate the successes of the programs. Enjoy a lunch and Silent Auction. Call (205) 923-6552 for more or visit www.adatc.org.
FOR ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS
AT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART:
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m.
ART ON THE ROCKS, Friday, 7-11 p.m. with musical guests SERATONES, whose sounds are a combination of Southern musicality, garage rock ferocity and general badassery.
FOR FOOD LOVERS
THE MARKET AT PEPPER PLACE – 7 a.m.
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.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE, 9 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip on the Elk River near Elkmont, Alabama – DETAILS: The section to paddle is easy with no obstructions with a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their boat. To rent a kayak, call Fort Hampton Outfitters (256)431-8988. Identify yourself as coming with Southeastern Outings on July 28. Once all their kayaks are reserved for July 28, there will be no more kayaks available to rent from that outfitter! The outfitter will take you and your rented boat to the put in and meet you at the take out, so you will never need to transport your rented boat at all. If you bring your own canoe or kayak on this trip, you must pay the outfitter to shuttle your privately-owned boat. Shuttle fee and life jacket are included in rental boat fee for those who rent kayaks from the outfitter. Note that this outfitter does not rent canoes at all. Children age 10 and over welcome. If you would like to have dinner with us at a restaurant in Athens, Alabama afterwards, bring your things to clean up with and a change of clothes. Depart 9 a.m. from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. Reservations Required: You must call Dan Frederick, (205)631-4680 or email seoutings@bellsouth.net if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail with names, contact info, renting or bringing your kayak or canoe and skill level. YOU HAVE TO RESERVE. RESERVATIONS ONLY!!
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
TODAY: COMEDIAN MARVIN HUNTER. Marvin Hunter was born and reared in Vicksburg, Miss., a city known as “The Red Carpet City of the South”, where Southern Hospitality is still alive and well. As an extremely curious and observant child who was an early opponent of political correctness his young opinions were given freely to adults (and almost anyone else who would listen), but were mostly returned to him just as freely at the end of a belt or switch! Butt whippings may have silenced him temporarily but they only reinforced his crusade to investigate and uncover hidden foolishness regardless of where it existed. He soon became widely known for exposing any and all forms of absurdities related to or involving family, friends, and all other facets of life.
FRIDAY and SATURDAY: COMEDIAN ETTA MAY. Box Wine and Gas Station Chicken Tour coming to the StarDome. What’s the best way to describe Etta May? “Minnie Pearl with a migraine.” To put it simply, when Etta May takes the stage, she is the reigning Queen of Southern Sass and Your Woman for the 21st Century! This colorful comedienne, known for her trademark floral blouse, polyester pants, horn-rimmed glasses, and print bandana, used to tip the scale at an impressive 250 pounds. Having dropped over a hundred pounds she reflects, saying “You know you’re getting fat when you sit in the bathtub and the water in the toilet rises!”
SUNDAY: VIVA LA DIVA. Viva la Diva is an extravaganza of glitz and glamour! The Magic City’s finest Drag Queens bring a splash of Vegas to the StarDome for this high energy spectacular. Have dinner and drinks while you enjoy the Divas’ dazzling, jaw-dropping performances. Don’t forget to honor the drag show tradition and bring cash to tip your showgirls for a raucous good time. Starring: Reese Eve Cocx, Victoria Taylor, Kharris, Omni Cocx, Dominique Divine, and Sharon Cocx.
MONDAY: COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY ‘EVERY MONDAY NIGHT’ at the StarDome Comedy Club for Karaoke Nights.
COMING SOON
AUGUST 3-4 – SECRET STAGES, a musical discovery festival.
SEPTEMBER 2 – SOUTHERN SOUL & BLUES LOVERS FESTIVAL.
SEPTEMBER 15 – 8th ANNUAL RECOVERY LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER 27-29 – SAINT GEORGE’S MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL
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., gwenderu@yahoo.com.
