By Gwen DeRu
TODAY
BASS IN YOUR FACE with SEAN MICHAEL RAY, JUSTIN MCKINNEY, ALVIN GARRETT and featuring RALPH “BASS MAN” LEE at Perfect Note.
DELFEAYO MARSALIS & UPTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA, 7 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center.
DEERHOOF, JACQUIE COTILLARD and DEPRESSION BREAKFAST at Saturn.
BECCA RICHARDSON, JANET SIMPSON, REBECCA EGELAND and SUNDAY MORNING at The Nick.
COMEDIAN GARY OWEN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
LIVE BAND OPEN at Perfect Note.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
FRIDAY
UGLY BABY BITES BIT, 9:30 p.m., at the Birmingham Improv Theatre.
J RODDY WALSTON AND THE BUSINESS, MURDER BY DEATH and JONNY FRITZ at Saturn.
GEORGIA DISH BOYS, PHANTOM LIMB and TOGURO at The Nick.
COMEDIAN GARY OWEN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
THE CLUTCH BAND, 9 p.m. at Perfect Note..
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.
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
END HEROIN BHAM WALK at Railroad Park.
EVERY SATURDAY AFTER HOURS AT ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL
BAR AND GRILL, 9 p.m., 2024 Green Springs Highway with Caribbean, African, Latino music, Signature Dish Suya and Drink Specials.
KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE, every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on V94.9 FM with Curtis Bell. Request Line (205) 994-8949 (V949).
RIPE at Saturn.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, every Saturday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge, 300 24th Street S with DJ CHOCOLATE.
NIGHTLY and PHANGS at The Nick.
EAT DRINK AND RIDE NIGHT FOOD TOUR WITH COMEDIENNE JOY, at 6 – 10 p.m., meet in Brookwood Mall, at Grille 29. For more, www.diningoutwithcomediennejoy.com.
SNV – SATURDAY NIGHT VIBES, 10 p.m. at Platinum.
COMEDIAN GARY OWEN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
GUITARIST KEITH “CASHMERE” WILLIAMS at the Perfect Note.
BELIEVE! A NIGHT OF HOPE with YOLANDA ADAMS at the Lyric Fine Arts Theatre.
SUNDAY
OPERA SHOTS, 2-4 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.
JAZZ AND FOOD, at Perfect Note.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
ALFRED BANKS w/ RAPPER DA RAPPER, BENJAMIN JONEZ and KC
HUSSLE at The Nick Rocks.
MONDAY
MO MONEY MONDAYS at the Eastside Lounge.
BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick Rocks.
KARAOKE NIGHTS WITH RICKEY SMILEY at the StarDome Comedy Club.
TUESDAY
TASTY TUESDAY, 5 p.m. doors open, (30+ before 9 p.m.) (21+ after 9 p.m.) at Platinum of Birmingham, every Tuesday. Free Dinner buffet for Birmingham’s Best Happy Hour.
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.
AMERICAN DREAM FACTORY, CHEER UP, GOOD LOOKING FRIENDS and BLEAKER at The Nick Rocks.
COMEDIAN DAN CUMMIN: THE HAPPY MURDER TOUR at the StarDome Comedy Club.
RON GALLO at Saturn.
WEDNESDAY
LIVE JAZZ, at The Marble Ring, every Wednesday, 430 41st Street South, Suite B.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY, every Wednesday at 30/40 Hookah Lounge.
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
SWEET LIZZY PROJECT at The Nick.
COMEDIAN MO ALEXANDER at the StarDome Comedy Club
NEXT THURSDAY
DR. IMANI PERRY, at the Hill Center Alumni Theater, 6 p.m.
BRENT COBB at Saturn.
ZALE, JESS GOGGANS BAND and HEADWIRES at The Nick.
COMEDIAN MO ALEXANDER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT FRIDAY
B.B. PALMER, ZACH AUSTIN & THE LONESOME and HAM BAGBY at The Nick.
COMEDIAN SAMUEL COMROE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WHO’S BAD – ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE at Iron City.
FOR FOOD LOVERS
ZANZIBAR BAR AND GRILL – If you love good ethnic food, then Zanzibar Bar and Grill is the place to go every Saturday night. Get your groove on with all kinds of favorite foods from Africa, Caribbean, and more. Enjoy music of all kinds including Caribbean, Soca, African, and Reggae.
FOR SPORTS LOVERS
INAUGURAL BIRMINGHAM HAMMERFEST – Alabama Sports Council, Chairman Nick Sellers, recently announced that Gatorade Zero has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Birmingham Hammerfest, a two-day USA CRITS cycling event held March 16th and 17th over St. Patrick’s Day weekend in downtown Birmingham. Saturday will feature criterium racing on a short, closed course for all ages and skill levels in the Lakeview district. The event is free to the public and racing begins at 8:30 a.m. with the D1 racing starting at 4 p.m. Kids can decorate their bikes and participate in the Lil’ Shamrock ride during the Regions Bank community hour beginning at 3 p.m. The Hammer Ride presented by Brannon Honda held on Sunday is a 64-mile supported training ride led by USA CRITS D1 teams and former world tour pro, Frankie Andreu. Train with the pros and enjoy lunch and social hour at Avondale Brewery following the ride. Registration is now open for all Saturday amateur races and the Sunday Hammer Ride. David Miller, Vice President Customer Strategy, Marketing & Brand Development said that he is pleased to support and looking forward to introducing Gatorade Zero to both the local community and USA Crits at this family-friendly event. For additional race and weekend details, visit www.birminghamhammerfest.com or follow social media accounts @AlabamaSportsCouncil on Instagram and @ALSportsCouncil on Facebook and Twitter.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
REP. SEWELL HOSTS JEFFERSON COUNTY TOWN HALL, TODAY, 6 p.m. at the Bessemer Recreation Center, 100 14th Street South, Hwy 150, Bessemer, AL 35020.
SECOND ANNUAL RESCUE INNOCENCE PROJECT GALA – The Second Annual Rescue Innocence Project Gala will be held TODAY, 6 p.m. at The Club, Inc. in Birmingham. The event will highlight national and local issues related to sexual exploitation and progress being made to solve the growing epidemic. The gala will also highlight the opening of the first-of-its-kind UAB inpatient program for minors rescued from trafficking. This program will meet a critical need, allow for improved community and agency networking, and set a new precedent for other hospitals to follow. Speakers for the event include Vice President of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Dawn Hawkins, physicians with the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital, and there will be a welcome message from Mayor Randall Woodfin and Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.
2019 AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS GALA, FRIDAY, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Events at Haven, 2515 Sixth Avenue South, Birmingham, 35223. The American Advertising Awards is one of the advertising industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries across the nation each year. The award recognizes the spirit of great advertising in all types of media, created by all sizes and types of entrants, for advertisers from every industry, from all around the country.
BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM – Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church (PHMBC) invites you to its 2019 Black History Program at 12 p.m., SATURDAY. The church itself has direct ties to black history in Alabama. Pleasant Hill was established in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves in 1863. A group of previously owned slaves would go on to build the church from the ground up, making it one of the oldest churches in the state of Alabama. Special Guest Master of Ceremony is PASTOR EMORY EDWARDS, The Core Church, (Birmingham). Attend the program for a look back on the church history, as well as a dedication to other notable African American leaders that have come before us through song, dance, art and poetry. The event will feature art pieces by up-and-coming, Birmingham-based artist, Larry Silver. For more, (205) 643-0930 or (205) 937-9992.
OPERA SHOTS – Opera Shots, SUNDAY, 2-4 p.m., at Cahaba Brewing Company is the annual series of pop-up concerts throughout the community, held in unexpected places and designed to break down the stereotypes of opera. This Opera Shots concert will feature cast members of Opera Birmingham’s upcoming “Tosca” and members of the Opera Birmingham Chorus presenting an open-mic-style concert of the greatest hits of opera and musical theatre. Maggie’s Farm food truck will be on site. Admission is free. As part of the festivities, there will be ticket giveaways, social media contests, and more. Also among the perks of attending Opera Shots, guests will receive a discount code to use in purchasing tickets for specific future Opera Birmingham performances. For more, www.operabirmingham.org.
A LECTURE FROM DR. IMANI PERRY – Imani Perry, Ph.D., a
scholar of cultural studies, critical theory, legal history and African-American studies, will lecture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on next Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. in the Hill Student Center Alumni Theater. Perry will discuss the history of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” from her book “May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem.” A Hugh-Rogers professor of African-American studies at Princeton University, Perry also holds affiliations with the programs in law and public affairs, jazz studies, and gender and sexuality studies. She is a prolific speaker and the author of five single-authored books, including “Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry,” which was published in 2018 and named one of the notable books of 2018 by the New York Times.
BOTANICAL GARDENS SUMMER CAMP – Children’s Summer Camps will return to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens June 3 – August 2, and will feature half- and full-day camps that explore gardening, cooking, art, and more for age 4 through rising 9th graders. An educational initiative of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, these camps are designed to promote creativity and the joy of discovery in the unmatched natural setting of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Registration has opened to the public. Visit bbgardens.org/summercamps or call 205.414.3950 for more information and to register.
DREAM BIG – Visions Board Master Class, SUNDAY, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the Miracles Hair Design, 3010 Jefferson Avenue, S.W. Dream, Plan, Execute & Achieve an event to attend.
OUT SPOKEN WITH JOE LOCKETT TV SHOW, New on Cable TV. Check it out!!!
SCHAEFFER EYE CENTER VILLAGE 2 VILLAGE 10K and 1.5K on March 9.
ANOTHER CARING EXAMPLE MENTORING PROGRAM – The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) relaunches Another Caring Example for Birmingham boys and girls 8 -17 years of age and focuses on developing adolescents socially and emotionally. The program is designed to provide and equip Birmingham’s youth with another caring example to inspire them to become leaders of tomorrow. Another Caring Example participants take part in gender and age specific sessions that cover topics relevant to the issues they face today. The program’s curriculum includes monthly group meetings and activities with topics centered around 21st century skills. Sessions will begin in March and end in December of 2019. Interested in having your child participate in Another Caring Example? For more information about the Another Caring Example Mentoring Program contact: Ms. Ash at (205) 320-0879.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE – THIS IS A HIKE YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS! Southeastern Outings River Ramble, meet 9:45 a.m. – HIKE at Barton’s Beach and Perry Lakes Park near Marion in Perry County, Alabama – DETAILS: Barton’s Beach. The area is an extensive sand and gravel beach on the Lower Cahaba River in Perry County near Marion, Alabama. The river floodplain broadens and creates areas of bottomland hardwood forests, oxbow lakes and extensive sand and gravel bars there. The Perry Lakes Park and Wildlife Sanctuary contains about 600 acres available to the public for outdoor recreation, education, scientific research, and other activities. Interpretive nature trails (fire lanes and primitive paths) make walking through the woods fairly easy and fun. Several trees in the park have been designated as Alabama State Champion Trees. The park lakes support a large heron rookery along with an abundance of songbirds. A 100-foot tall canopy birding tower allows for an exciting view of the forest and oxbow swamps. Hikes at Barton’s Beach and Perry Lakes Park are easy since the terrain is level and the walks are all on trails. The two properties adjoin each other so we can walk readily back and forth between them. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and older welcome. Optional dinner will begin at 5 p.m. It will be the LOW COUNTRY SHRIMP BOIL SUPPER, an annual event in Marion that is perfect following our day of hiking. The dinner will be held at the historic Marion Female Seminary Building in Marion. The function will be very informal. The menu is boiled shrimp (which you peel & eat), sausage, potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw, bread, and your choice of a multitude of homemade desserts. Musical entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment after the hike. Price for the meal is $20 flat charge to benefit the Perry County Historical and Preservation Society. Only cash and checks are accepted forms of payment for the dinner. NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED! For more information concerning the dinner, please call Kay Becket, president of the Perry County Historical Society, at 334-683-8250 or 334-292-0319. Meet 9:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria. Plan to depart from there at 10 a.m. For info. on the hike: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net.
SUNDAY DAYHIKE, 1:45 p.m. Southeastern Outings Easy Walk at the Vulcan Trail inside the City Limits of Birmingham – DETAILS: Enjoy an easy walk in the woodlands overlooking Birmingham. The trail is level, as it is on an old mining railroad right of way just below the crest of Red Mountain. Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the Vulcan Park and Museum Parking Lot where you would normally park to visit the statue and Vulcan Park. We plan to depart from there at 2 p.m. Note that there is no charge to park in the Vulcan Park parking lot! Walk from the big parking lot a short distance down some new stairs to the trail head and then on the trail to Green Springs Highway and back. The formerly undeveloped section of the Vulcan Trail has recently been widened and resurfaced. After the walk is completed, there will be an optional dinner at Jim ‘N Nick’s 11th Avenue Grill at Five Points South. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk four miles are welcome. Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS, SPOKEN WORD AND DANCE
2019 OPERA GALA – Opera Birmingham invites you to the 2019 Opera Gala, honoring DR. JULIUS E. LINN, JR. This elegant evening in celebration of Opera Birmingham’s 2018-19 season will take place on March 8 at 6 p.m. at the historic Florentine, where guests will mix, mingle and dine with the cast of Tosca. The evening will begin with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction featuring artwork, jewelry, wines and dinners at top Birmingham restaurants. Guests will then be treated to a seated dinner prepared by Corretti Catering with wine donated by United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama. The highlight of the evening will be entertainment by the cast of Tosca in the form of a live auction, where guests will be invited to bid on some of opera’s greatest arias and have them sung at their table by the outstanding cast of singers. Call 205-322-6737 for reservations by February 28. Black tie attire is optional. Complimentary valet parking will be available. Opera Birmingham’s 2019 season continues with Tosca on March 15 & 17 and the 41st Annual Vocal Competition on May 18 & 19.
OPERA BIRMINGHAM PRESENTS TOSCA -Tosca, Giacomo Puccini’s dramatic and beloved masterpiece will sweep the Opera Birmingham mainstage in a tale of love, lust, deceit, and murder. Performances will be Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Samford University Wright Center. Treat yourself to magnificent melodies, dramatic music, and nonstop action that will take you on a journey to a tragic ending! A tour de force of opera, Tosca is a must-see and has long been one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire. Set in Rome, this tragic and political story features a quintessential love triangle, as Tosca is forced to give her love to the lustful police chief, Scarpia, to save the life of her lover, the artist Cavaradossi. Tosca will be sung in the original Italian, but presented with English supertitles, so you’ll understand every 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 ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS
AT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART
DROP IN TOURS: EMBODYING FAITH, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. February 21 and 22.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. with THE SORCERESS.
CRAFT TUESDAY, 6-8 p.m.
EMBODYING FAITH: IMAGINING JESUS THROUGH THE AGES through April 22.
HOLI FESTIVAL – A FESTIVAL OF COLOR – March 9, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., is the ninth annual Holi Festival, the Indian celebration of color. Enjoy classical Indian and Bollywood-style dancing, food from local Indian restaurants, henna artists, art making, and more! The day ends with a huge celebration where everyone heads outside to play Holi, which involves the traditional throwing of powdered colors. FREE.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
UGLY BABY BITES BIT, 9:30 p.m. Friday, at the Birmingham Improv Theatre.
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
THIS WEEKEND… COMEDIAN GARY OWEN…Gary Owen has been entertaining American audiences for more than a decade with his side-splitting comedy. Having performed to sold-out audiences in all the major comedy clubs and theatres across the country, Owen is one of America’s most beloved comedians, having been proclaimed by Ebony magazine as Black America’s “Favorite White Comedian”.
NEXT TUESDAY…COMEDIAN DAN CUMMINS: THE MURDER TOUR…Dan Cummins is a professional stand-up comedian and the host of the Timesuck Podcast. His first comedy album, Revenge is Near, distributed by Warner Bros. Records, was ranked as one of the top 10 comedy CDs of 2009 by Punchline Magazine.
NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY… COMEDIAN MO ALEXANDER…Mo Alexander is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Alexander was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He began his full-time professional comedy career in July 1996 and was headlining on stages throughout the U.S. within three years.
COMING SOON
NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY!
MARCH 2 –STEEL CITY BLUES FEST at the Boutwell Auditorium.
MARCH 5 – 1918 CATERING OPEN HOUSE.
MARCH 7 – 46th BROTHERHOOD & SISTERHOOD AWARDS DINNER at the Harbert Center.
MARCH 8 – JEFF TWEEDY at the Historic Lyric Theatre.
MARCH 12 – 75th ANNIVERSARY OF UNCF AND THE BIRMINGHAM MAYOR’S MASKED BALL.
APRIL 26 – 28 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES– Celebrating the 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
MAY 14 – INDIA ARIE at the 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. and gwenderu@yahoo.com.
