Gwen DeRu
TODAY…
**NETWORK AFTER WORK, TODAY, 3-5 p.m.
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Get all the latest news!
**COMEDIAN RENO COLLIER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FRIDAY…
**COMEDIAN RENO COLLIER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**MOVIE NIGHT: Check out some old, but good flicks/movies and show on a sheet in the backyard for the young and young at heart. Fun in the outdoors…any day!
SATURDAY…
**SATURDAYS IN THE GARDENS – ARRANGE FLOWERS EASILY with Florist DOROTHY McDANIEL, 10-11 a.m. at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
**WINE DOWN HAPPY HOUR, 4-9 p.m. at Saferoom Lounge Bar
**COMEDIAN RENO COLLIER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**FUN, GAMES, YARD AND HOUSE WORK including Uno, Monopoly, Solitaire. Weeding the pretty flowers in the beds, cutting the grass, cleaning the grill or just sitting outside if the weather permits. Things are changing soon.
SUNDAY…
**FAMILY TIME AND GOOD FOOD. Grilling in the backyard, movies in the backyard, and small family parties in the backyard.
**COMEDIAN KERWIN CLAIBORNE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
MONDAY…
**PLANNING AND MORE CATCH UP. Pull out that long to-do list and see what can be done during the week or weekend ahead. Making plans for the future and getting back to normal as best as you can.
TUESDAY…
**READ A GOOD BOOK…, ‘A Voice From the South’ is a good one and ‘As We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box’ or ‘Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote and Insisted on Equality for All’. There are a few on the bookshelves, just lying around …or you can get an e-book.
WEDNESDAY…
**INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICES – Join Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) and the Alabama Episcopal Church every Wednesday at Noon for Noonday Prayer at Linn Park in Downtown Birmingham.
**COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**WEATHER WATCHING FOR THE WEEK AND WEEKEND. Looking for the weekend and thinking of what to do that depends on good weather outdoors. Getting out of the house even if going nowhere…. Take a walk if the weather is good.
NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT FRIDAY…
**MOVIE NIGHT: Rent and Watch movies at Sidewalkfest.com. Check out Sidewalk Film Fest coming soon.
**COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FOR OUTDOORS’ LOVERS…
…AT BOTANICAL GARDENS…AROUND THE GARDENS: STREAMS AND WATERFALLS…
**SATURDAYS IN THE GARDENS – ARRANGE FLOWERS EASILY with Florist DOROTHY McDANIEL, Saturday, 10-11 a.m. Learn how to create elegant arrangements. Preregistration required.
**GET OUTSIDE ACTIVITY BOXES for ages 5-10. Designed to help children connect with nature. Learn more and purchase.
**LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES – GROWING FRUITS MADE EASY, AUGUST 26, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
**FALL PLANT SALE 2020, SEPTEMBER 12, Saturday, 8 a.m. – Noon.
Get more information at the website – bbgardens.org
**VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES for Bruno Vegetable Garden and Greenhouse Assistant. Email volunteer@bbgardens.org.
FOR TRAVELERS OF ALL KIND…
**VIRTUAL TRIPS – Travel online – A virtual trip can be a great way to explore destinations you might consider for a future vacation, or it may be a chance to see remarkable sights around the world that you wouldn’t get to experience otherwise.
**BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDEN VIRTUAL TOUR – Explore the Japanese Gardens at www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRC3m1AsMig&feature=youtu.be. For more, go to www.bbgardens.org.
**THE ONE AND ONLY YOU – Join Vocabby and ArtPlay, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. for a Free and Virtual event to learn more about the One and Only YOU. Register at https://www.alysstephens.org/events/vocabby-the-one-and-only-you/
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS…
**NETWORK AFTER WORK – DIGITAL MARKETING SUMMIT: LINKEDIN is a 3-day event, through TODAY, 3-5 p.m., register at networkafterwork.com.
**GOUDY ENTERTAINMENT OPENS IN FAIRFIELD – The Goudy Entertainment Center, located at 4501 Gary Ave., is a project of Goudy Construction, a woman-owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zone certified full-service construction company. The 2,200-square-foot center can host corporate gatherings, wedding receptions, educational programs, concerts, rehearsal dinners, parties and other events, and accommodate live music, with catering, bar and VIP parking. The Goudy Center building will also serve as the home office of Goudy Construction, and upscale lofts.
FOR FOOD LOVERS…
**ENJOY BIRMINGHAM RESTAURANT WEEK, August 14 – 31!! (Support your restaurants and small businesses.)
**NEW MICHAEL’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT – Michael’s Steak and Seafood opened recently (during this time) with limited space. Last Sunday SEBASTIAN KOLE was the guest vocalist who recently released his EP “NUMB” on all streaming platforms. Sign up as an email subscriber to be in the know about wine dinners, bourbon tastings, pop-up concerts and much more. Check it out.
*LUNCH/CARRY OUT/CURBSIDE PICKUP – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., M-F (Place order online at www.michaelssteakandseafood.com. Call (205) 871-9525 upon arrival.
*SUNDAY BRUNCH – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Reservations ONLY!
*ROOF TOP DINING – Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, 6- 9 p.m. Reservations ONLY! For more: www.michaelssteakandseafood.com.
FOR LOVERS OF MUSEUMS…
**VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM…Vulcan Park and Museum has joined Museums for All, to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. This program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting Vulcan Park and Museum at no charge, for up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 500 museums across the country including McWane Science Center, Imagination Place Children’s Museum, Huntsville Botanical Gardens and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. More than 500 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing 48 states. For more information of participating museums visit museumsforall.org.
**McWANE SCIENCE CENTER CELEBRATES 22ND BIRTHDAY … ITTY BITTY MAGIC CITY REOPENED. Preschoolers are welcome. Bring Masks to explore the McWane Center. For more, mcwane.org/welcomeback.
FOR LOVERS OF ART AND MORE …
**CULTURAL ART & RACIAL HEALING – Virtual Mental Health Monday with ASHLEY M. JONES, SALAAM GREEN and RYNEA SOUL, 6 p.m. Monday. The topic will be about healing through cultural art, poetry, music and beat making.
The two poets and a dope DJ will discuss their art in the context of racial healing and their relationship with cultural art as a mode for personal well-being. Register at https://www.alysstephens.org/events/mental-health-monday/. FREE
…FOR EDUCATORS/TEACHERS…
**FREE VIRTUAL ARTPLAY – This Virtual Classroom Engagement is a one-hour Workshop: LESSONS LEARNED FROM ONLINE SUMMER CAMP will include advice on how to keep students engaged and focused on a virtual platform/how to talk to and keep the student focused. The first workshop was Tuesday and the second workshop is Monday August 17, 4 p.m. Teachers can learn how to:
• Set up a workspace in advance.
• Create a timeline for each day, even if you do not always stick to it, and add more breaks.
• Set ground rules for using technology correctly and respectfully.
• Address fears and worries and get to know students.
• Lead students through activities and make sure they are responding to instruction.
• Use dual screens so students can see you and your work.
• Brainstorm ideas for engagement; for camps, these included low-stakes activities such as theme days, pet sharing time, decorate your workspace, bingo cards and “closet cosplay,” for which students created a costume at home.
• Use movement when possible.
Virtual classes are not geographically limited; there is no need to factor in travel time or costs. This means collaboration is easier than ever. ArtPlay K-12 education administrator Mollie Schaefer-Thompson, teaching artists Caroline Trewhella, Rodney Porterfield and Jennifer Salvant, and education manager Christina McClellan will teach the workshop. Participants must register for the workshop. Register at www.alysstephens.org/events/virtual-classroom-engagement-lessons-learned-from-online-summer-camp-2/.
AT THE PAUL R. JONES MUSEUM…
**WHEN THEY SEE US, WHAT DO THEY SEE?: PERSPECTIVES ON BLACK ART, TOMORROW through September 24, at The Paul R. Jones Museum, 2308 Sixth Street, in Tuscaloosa. This exhibition is born out of cognition research that, in part, examines white people’s perceptions and responses to Black art. Curated by BARBARA-SHAE JACKSON, Doctoral Student in Cognitive Psychology. (205) 345-3038 for more.
FOR PRAYER SERVICES…
**INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICES – Join Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) every Wednesday at Noon for Interfaith Prayer Service. People of faith and goodwill are invited to join GBM and the Alabama Episcopal Church for Noonday Prayer at Linn Park in Downtown Birmingham. Clergy are invited to wear clericals. Masks and social distancing will be observed. For more go to, www.gbm.org.
FOR THE COMMUNITY…
**COVID-19 TESTING SITES…Here is an update on the testing sites in Birmingham…
…ONGOING – *LEGION FIELD: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 205-92-COVID (205-922-6843) …*UAB Downtown Testing Site: TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL (205) 975-1881 (2117 University Blvd South, Birmingham, AL 35205) …*Cahaba Medical Care, West End Clinic: TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL (205) 679-6325 or visit cahabamedicalcare.com (1308 Tuscaloosa Avenue, Birmingham). www.gofundme.com/f/monumentalbhm.”
THINGS TO DO…
…VACATIONS WITH BOOKS AND VIRTUAL TRIPS…. When you need to get away from ‘whatever’, the best way is with a good book. Well, maybe the next thing to being there in person. Many families are eager to get out of the house and hit the road for a summer trip. Make your summer travel plans safe and successful.
FOR BOOK LOVERS…
Here are a couple of books to read anytime, after washing your hands, before the news reports, during your down time or just to keep boredom away (with so much going on). CELEBRATING 100 YEARS – Women’s heroes are everyone’s heroes! In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote, we read books that are by, for, and about powerful women of all ages.
The rights of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. —Amendment XIX, August 26, 1920. The 19th amendment, ensuring the rights of American women to the vote, was the result of over 70 years of challenging a political and economic system that marginalized women. Black women suffragists faced a unique battle in their fight for equality, as their identity was often split between sex and race. White women who were involved in the suffrage movement still made Black women protest separately from them. Oftentimes the topic of race was ignored by white suffragists even though Black women were organizing for the same rights as them. Eventually, Black women started strategically organizing by working in churches, education, and even newspapers so they would be able to get their message across and build a larger platform. Black women also had their issues amongst themselves. While some Black women were able to put themselves through school and work in education, poor Black women started to feel a disconnect from the middle-class Black women. Despite those issues, Black women collectively came together to fight sexism and racism, which later became the framework for future movements like the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. (Some taken from Book Riot)
**BOOK: A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH – The book ‘ A Voice from the South is written by ANNA JULIA COOPER who was born enslaved, but she had an extraordinary life. As a Black liberation activist, Cooper strove for equality for all Americans, especially Black women. She was the fourth Black American woman to receive a PhD, and she helped found the Colored Women’s League, which was instrumental in organizing Black women to fight for the right to vote. Her writings have been used in philosophical, political, and sociological contexts as she articulated racism, sexism, and democracy as it related to Black women.
**BOOK: LIFTING AS WE CLIMB: BLACK WOMEN’S BATTLE FOR THE BALLOT BOX – The book ‘Lifting As We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box’ was written by EVERETTE DIONNE who gives a critical look at how Black women not only wanted the right to vote but the right to live as equals in the country they helped build. Dionne examines the number of ways Black women enhanced and molded their communities by using what little resources they had to see that everyone, including themselves, had the opportunity to be liberated.
**BOOK: VANGUARD: HOW BLACK WOMEN BROKE BARRIERS, WON THE VOTE AND INSISTED ON EQUALITY FOR ALL – The Book ‘Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote and Insisted on Equality for All’ was written by MARTHA S. JONES who set out to challenge what people think the woman’s suffrage movement is about by shedding light on how Black women were often forgotten but still expected by both Black men and white women to support their agendas. Jones boldly uses history to remind readers that Black women were the first American feminists. Jones also makes a great case on how Black women in the women’s suffrage movement laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS…
TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY…
**COMEDIAN RENO COLLIER… at the StarDome Comedy Club. Reno’s past TV credits include NBC’s “Late Friday”, “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher”, “The Martin Short Show”, VH-1’s “The List”, and Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend”. He has performed at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO and the Montreal Comedy Festival, and in 2005, taped his own “Comedy Central Presents” half-hour special. He can currently be heard during his weekly call-ins to the Blue Collar Comedy Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.
SUNDAY…
**COMEDIAN KERWIN CLAIBORNE…at the StarDome Comedy Club. Kerwin Claiborne has just begun his own comedy production called “Don’t You Do This To Me” which has sold out every venue thus far. Some of the venues that have sold out are The Joke Joint Comedy Club (Houston), Heyenas Comedy Club (Dallas), The Comedy Zone (Charlotte), Looney Bin (Little Rock), Uptown Comedy Club (Atlanta) Chuckles House of Comedy (Memphis) and The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, just to name a few. Kerwin’s hard work and eager approach to his craft have successfully launched him to stardom. His internet personalities, such as Ms. Mary, Uncle Leroy and Miss Keisha have made it easy for everyday people to relate. Kerwin Claiborne is ready to introduce himself and his many internet characters to the world.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY…
**COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN…at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FOR ART LOVERS AND YOUTH…
**SOUTH ARTS EMERGING LEADERS OF COLOR PROGRAM – With the goal of fostering representative leadership, diversity, and equity in the arts, South Arts’ new Emerging Leaders of Color Development Professional Development Program has created a professional development opportunity for arts and culture professionals to establish networks that support their careers. Focused on the southeastern United States, this program aims to engage diverse emerging leaders and build a cohort of cultural torchbearers who are committed to the advancement of arts. Selected individuals will participate in a 3-day, 2-night executive-level professional development and team-building workshop at no cost to themselves. The deadline for application is September 15, 2020. Learn more at www.southarts.org/programs-conferences/emerging-leaders-color.
FOR MOVIE LOVERS…
**22ND ANNUAL SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL – Birmingham’s annual film festival historically held in the downtown Theatre District will transition to the outdoor location of The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard in Leeds due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 event transition will provide this year’s attendees with a safe option to view the more than 150 features and short films set to screen during the Aug. 24-30 festival. The festival will screen films each evening on all four screens with some nights offering second films on each screen. Gates will tentatively open each day at 6:30 p.m. with the start of the first films of the night scheduled for 8 p.m. daily.
COMING SOON…
**AUGUST 24-30 – 22ND ANNUAL SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL
**AUGUST 29 – FAIRY TALE BALL with Childcare Resources.
**SEPTEMBER 6 – IPUSH FOODIE & MUSIC FEST at Ensley.
**OCTOBER 9-11 – BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL at Barber Motorsports Park.
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.
