By Gwen DeRu
TODAY
BUSINESS IN THE BLACK at the Tutwiler Bar and Grill, 5-9 p.m.
DR. IMANI PERRY, at the Hill Center Alumni Theatre 6 p.m.
BRENT COBB at Saturn.
ZALE, JESS GOGGANS BAND and HEADWIRES at The Nick.
COMEDIAN MO ALEXANDER 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.
WHO’S BAD –ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE at Iron City.
FRIDAY
NTOZAKE SHANGE’S FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE at Encore Theatre with Alicia Johnson Williams.
BARDS AND BREWS OPEN MIC POETRY, 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the downtown public library.
MASQUERADE BALL MASQUERADE COSTUME PARTY, 9 p.m. at Saturn with sounds by DJ OSBETH and DJ JOEL presented by Rumba Latina Birmingham
UGLY BABY BITES BIT, 9:30 p.m., at the Birmingham Improv Theatre.
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.
STRANGELOVE at Saturn.
GOSPEL EXPERIENCE featuring VOCALIST VAL SMITH, 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
STEEL CITY BLUES FEST at the Boutwell Auditorium.
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).
TINDER LIVE at Saturn.
MOTH FACE, THE GODDAMN RIGHTS, AS A NATION DIES and FOREVER BROKEN at The Nick Rocks
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, every Saturday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge, 300 24th Street S with DJ CHOCOLATE.
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 SAMUEL COMROE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JAZZ SAXOPHONIST WILL DONATO at the Perfect Note.
SUNDAY
JAZZ AND FOOD, at Perfect Note.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
BEERWOLF and HEXXASS 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.
SUBTRONICS 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.
THE KBK (FORMERLY KILL BABY…KILL), A MET Z and GRAIN THIEF at The Nick Rocks.
COMEDIAN ERIC DA SILVA at the StarDome Comedy Club.
LE BUTCHERETTES at Saturn.
NEXT THURSDAY
BILLY STRINGS at Saturn.
THE LAST CHANCE RIDERS, NOBODY’S DARLINGS, THE GREAT DYING and NAKD at The Nick.
COMEDIAN ERIC DA SILVA at the StarDome Comedy Club.
46th BROTHERHOOD & SISTERHOOD AWARDS DINNER at the Harbert Center.
NEXT FRIDAY
UGLY BABY BITES BIT, 9:30 p.m., at the Birmingham Improv Theatre.
REPUBLICAN HAIR, TERRY OHMS and RESORT REALISM at The Nick Rocks.
COMEDIAN JUNIOR at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WALKER HAYES at Iron City.
SAVES THE DAY at Saturn.
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 BUSINESS LOVERS
BUSINESS IN THE BLACK, TODAY, 5-9 p.m. at the Tutwiler Bar and Grill. The CAC Junior Board presents Black History Edition: Living the Legacy. “Your Network is your Net Worth.”
FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
NEW VOICES IN RADIO – SYLVIA RODGERS and KHAIA WHEELER are taking the media world by storm while showing no signs of detouring, every Saturday, 6-7 p.m., on WXJC 101.1. SYLVIA RODGERS hosts Social Simplicities at 6 p.m., grabs your attention and holds it with her fact-ridden monologues and thought provoking subject matter. At 6:30, KHAIA WHEELER with ConnectED, hosts her show that brings a more contemporary approach to today’s issues and raises questions to stimulate the mind causing the audience to consider differing opinions. Her topics deliver a practical opinion that is educational and informative. Joe Lockett and the Lockettin Media team are trailblazers in the Birmingham media sector and have placed these two young women on radio while pushing the limit on mainstream media.
GIRL SPRING will host speakers WHITNEY WRIGHT and MILLER GIRVIN March 10, 3 p.m. at Artplay for girls 6th grade and up (and parents) for a FREE program to inspire and empower girls toward career paths.
FOR YOUTH
MAGIC CITY YOUTH ASSEMBLY – The assembly will be held on March 9th, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Student leaders and youth organizers are planning this city-wide youth assembly to (1) create space for young people to connect, build community, have fun, share ideas, (2) identify challenges facing young people in Birmingham, and (3) start building a youth agenda that addresses these challenges. Although this assembly is being planned and facilitated by youth, there will be opportunities for intergenerational learning/sharing through breakout discussions, workshops, and activities! Youth and young adults ages 17-30 are encouraged to participate in the topics of discussion. This fun-filled event will focus on envisioning, growing, and building a better Birmingham for youth! This is a free event, pre-registration is required. To register, contact Meagan@powershift.org or nmorgan@uab.edu.
FOR SPORTS LOVERS
14th ANNUAL AWF WILD GAME COOK-OFF – Talladega Superspeedway is set to host the 14th annual Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Off on Saturday, March 9. Some of the best backyard chefs in the Yellow Hammer State will bring their best recipes to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Garage. Everyone gets to sample the delicious cuisines, some of which includes duck, pheasant, wild boar, venison, shrimp and much more. In addition to the delectable food prepared by some of Alabama’s best wild game chefs, the event will also feature live music, door prizes, raffles and an incredible array of spectacular and unique silent auction items which will be displayed along the center aisle of the garage. Expected auction items include autographed racing memorabilia, outdoor and college-themed art prints and more. Cook-Off teams will compete in three different divisions that include wild game, fish and fowl. Prizes will be presented to the first through third place winners in each division, as well as a “Best Overall Winner,” which will be invited to the state finals held in Millbrook, Ala. on August 10 to compete for the title of AWF 2019 Wild Game Cook-Off State Champion. For more info or to participate as a cook team call Alabama Wildlife Federation at 1-800-822-9453 or visit their website at www.alabamawildlife.org. DO NOT FORGET – NASCAR action returns to Talladega Superspeedway, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year along with Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project presented by Graybar, for its spring tripleheader weekend, April 26-28. The General Tire 200 for the ARCA Menards Series will kick off the action-packed weekend on Friday, April 26. The MoneyLion 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series event is set for Saturday, April 27, with the weekend’s anchor event, the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, April 28.
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
**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 today, at 6 p.m. in the Hill Student Center Alumni Theatre. 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.
BROAD STREET PASTOR’S ANNIVERSARY – Broad Street Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the eighth anniversary of their pastor and first lady – the Rev. and Mrs. Truitt Evans Sr. – during a program at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. The Rev. Charles R. Winston Jr., pastor of New Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Hueytown, will be the speaker. Broad Street is located at 121 Morris Avenue North in Birmingham’s Smithfield Neighborhood. Deacon Solomon Crenshaw Jr. is the general chairman and Deacon Larry Hollings is the program chairman.
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.
OUT SPOKEN WITH JOE LOCKETT TV SHOW, New on Cable TV. Check it out!!!
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 MUSIC LOVERS, SPOKEN WORD AND DANCE
BARDS & BREWS – If you want to hear some of metro Birmingham’s most talented poets, make plans to be at the Central Library downtown Friday, 6:30 – 9 p.m. for Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library’s monthly spoken word poetry-craft beer event. Join us in the Central East Grand Reading Room for light refreshments at 6:30 p.m., and poetry will begin to flow at 7 p.m. Voice Porter will again serve as host and emcee. Both seasoned veterans and novice spoken word artists are invited to share their poetry.
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 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
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. Master Docent MARGARET HARRILL will lead a discussion on RAT by Frank Fleming in the Sculpture Gardens.
EMBODYING FAITH: IMAGINING JESUS THROUGH THE AGES through April 22.
ART AFTER GAME: GAME OF THRONES NIGHT, March 8, 5-9 p.m. FREE.
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…
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 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.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY…COMEDIAN SAMUEL J. COMROE…Samuel J. Comroe, a Los Angeles native, is a stand-up comedian who performs at over 100 clubs and colleges annually. He made his TV debut on TBS’ Conan, appeared on BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart, and was recently featured on All Def Digital’s Comedy Originals. He is also the winner of Ricky Gervais’ comedy competition and The San Francisco Comedy Competition, and he has over 34,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. His comedy is made up of the trials and tribulations of living with Tourette’s syndrome since being diagnosed at age six and observational material based on his life experiences.
MONDAY…KARAOKE NIGHTS WITH RICKEY SMILEY… Birmingham’s own, Rickey Smiley is taking over the StarDome on Monday nights. Come join Rickey, his band and whatever else he has up his sleeve as he brings Karaoke to a whole new level.
NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY… COMEDIAN ERIC DA SILVA…Eric DaSilva is best known for headlining a sold out show at the Backstage Fillmore Theater in Miami Beach, performing in Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festival, The Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival, The Norfolk Comedy Festival, The Latin American Comedy Festival, his one hour comedy album, Adorably Offensive. Equal parts foul mouthed drinking buddy and high functioning comic book nerd, Eric’s been featured on HULU and his comedy album, ADORABLY OFFENSIVE can be heard on PANDORA radio.
COMING SOON
MARCH 8 – JEFF TWEEDY with special guest Buck Meek at the Lyric Theatre.
MARCH 12 – 75th ANNIVERSARY OF UNCF AND THE BIRMINGHAM MAYOR’S MASKED BALL.
MARCH 14 – DAN + SHAY THE TOUR with special guest MORGAN EVANS at the Alabama Theatre.
APRIL 10 – DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE at BJCC Concert Hall.
APRIL 12 – ROB BELL “AN INTRODUCTION TO JOY TOUR” at the Lyric Theatre.
APRIL 13 – KISS “END OF THE ROAD TOUR 2019” at the Legacy Arena.
APRIL 26 – 28 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES– Celebrating the 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
APRIL 26 – SHOVELS & ROPE + FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS with special guest INDIANOLA at Avondale Brewing Company.
MAY 7 – DAVE MATTHEWS BAND at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre.
MAY 14 – INDIA ARIE at the Alys Stephens Center.
MAY 22 – TYLER PERRY’s “MADEA’S FAREWELL PLAY TOUR” at the Legacy Arena.
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.
