GWEN DERU
TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**BRENT HINDS OF MASTODON IN FIEND WITHOUT A FACE & THE BOLEE III at The Nick.
**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.
**MOVIES EVERY THURSDAY at Sidewalk Fest.
**KARAOKE, 5-9 p.m. at Courtyard Alabaster Bar and Grill.
**THIRD THURSDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**TASTEMAKER THURSDAY – Every Thursday at Blaze Ultra Lounge, 228 Roebuck Plaza Drive, 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. with DJ Ace Twon (95.7 JAMZ) in the mix hosted by Audio Life and GMC Promo.
**THIRSTY THURSDAY at Hookah 114 17th Street No.
**TEQUILA THURSDAY at the Vibe Bar & Lounge.
**THROW BACK THURSDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge, 3801 Richard Arrington, Jr., Blvd.
**FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR-Every 3rd Thursday, at Sidewalk Film Fest. Meet with other filmmakers and discuss your newest projects.
FRIDAY…
**THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY presents WHITNEY HOUSTON at the BJCC Concert Hall.
**TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST POP HITS WITH TUFF HUFF BAND at Perfect Note.
**ASHLEY RAY at The Nick.
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY at City Hall, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the short 20th Street North.
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8-11 p.m. EVERY FIRST FRIDAY, at 7611 First Avenue North with YOGI DADA and A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, hosted by TMBUK DA POET.
**RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.
**QUE’S BAR & GRILL GROOVIN’ on 19th Street in Ensley.
**LIT FRIDAYS WITH RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.
**AFRO CARIBBEAN NIGHTS (Every Friday Night) at Ash’s on 2nd, 7 p.m. until with Reggae, Afro Beats, Dancehall and Top 40 Hits.
**FIREBALL FRIDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.
**FRIDAY NIGHT RAP, Every 1st and 3rd Friday at Crescent Cultural Center, 1121 Tuscaloosa Avenue, W.
SATURDAY…
**FAMILY YOGA IN THE GARDENS, 9 – 10 a.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
**WINE DOWN HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Safe room Lounge.
**HITS AND HARMONY with RYAN KEYZ AND FRIENDS at Perfect Note.
**DEAD ON A SUNDAY AND FORREST ISN’T DEAD at The Nick.
**COUNTRY SINGER AND SONGWRITER HARDY, at the Talladega Superspeedway Saturday Night Concert.
SUNDAY…
**WORSHIP AT THE SIXTH, 9:30 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
**SUNDAY FUNDAY for the grown Folks Kickback at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.
**SUNDAY/HAPPY HOUR, 2-5 p.m. at Sidewalk Film Fest.
**GRAND OPENING OF THE AVONDALE GALLERY WEST, October 1, 2-5 p.m. at 589 Bessemer Super Highway, in Midfield.
**CITY WIDE PRAYER MEETING, Every 4th Sunday, 4 p.m. for one hour at Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College. The Lord’s Supper will be served and hosted by the Knights of Pythias & Court of Calanthe.
**SUNDAY FUNDAY with JOE DEVITA at The Nick.
**BRIAN BIELANSKI with DREW YOUNG & K-SEA at The Nick.
**SOULFUL SUNDAY with SAXOPHONIST DELON CHARLEY at Perfect Note.
**RED MOUNTAIN MAKERS 10th YEAR ANNIVERSARY, 4 p.m. at 810 4th Avenue North.
MONDAY…
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND with Special Guest CACTUS LEE at the Nick.
TUESDAY…
**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.
**DIAPER GIVEAWAY every Tuesday, 10 a.m. at the Titusville Library.
**EVERY TUESDAY is SOUL CAFÉ Happy Hours introducing the Soul Café Happy Hour, 5:30-9:30 p.m. with Soul Goodies, Soul Spirits and Soul Music including $5 Titos and Redmont, at The Vault.
**TITO’S TUESDAY at Dirty Ash’s 8 p.m. with DAVID TALLEY IV.
**SLEEP SIGNALS with LOVE THE HATE & OUTLIERS at The Nick.
**CARIBBEAN NIGHTS with Reggae, Caribbean and Island Vibes, 9 p.m. – until… with DJ Serious Mixing and hosted by KJ and MANNY at The Vault, downtown.
**EVERY TUESDAY – TRUE STORY BREWING JAZZ SESSIONS, 7- 10 p.m., 5510 Crestwood Blvd.
**TASTY TUESDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham.
WEDNESDAY…
**INTERFAITH NOONDAY PRAYER SERVICES every Wednesday, Noon at Linn Park in Downtown Birmingham.
**WORKOUT WEDNESDAY at Five Points West Library at 10:30 a.m. for chair yoga and other chair exercises.
**WEDNESDAYS WEEKLY JAZZ JAM, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company, 5510 Crestwood Blvd. Food until 9 p.m., Music until 10 p.m. and Drink until 11 p.m.
**EVERY 4th WEDNESDAY at FACE’S LOUNGE KARAOKE hosted by ARETTA, 6:30 p.m. at 7070 Aaron Aronov Dr. in Fairfield.
**RONNIE AND THE REDWOODS with JOE AUSTIN AND THE TALLAHACHIE’S at The Nick.
**HALF ALIVE – CONDITIONS OF A PUNK at Iron City.
NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
NEXT FRIDAY
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE with SAXOPHONIST DALEN MINNIFIELD at Perfect Note.
**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick.
**MAXWELL with MUSIQ SOULCHILD & LEELA JAMES at Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre.
IT’S 2023! NEWS TO USE…IN ALABAMA…PLUS…
NEWS TO USE…
**GET COVID-19 TESTS FREE – The U.S. government is providing new (free) COVID-19 tests with deliveries starting October 2. FREE! Order the tests at COVIDTests.gov. Each household can order up to (4) FREE TESTS. The tests should last until the end of the year. This is an effort to prevent future shortages as the winter months come and the rise of coronavirus cases – as well as Flu and RSV- are expected. They will be effective in testing for new variants, including the BA.2.86 variant.
FOR MOTORSPORTS LOVERS…around the southeast…
**THIS WEEKEND – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY YELLAWOOD 500 WEEKEND GARAGE EXPERIENCE includes watching crews work inside the NASCAR Garages, close view of Pre-Race Ceremonies, Celebration in Runoff Mortgage Victory Lane and also check out Big Bills Tito’s Lemonade Lounge & Clyde May’s Courtyard at Talladega Superspeedway. Country-Rock Breakout HARDY will perform Saturday Night. Hardy is a five-time ACM winner and reigning AIMP and BMI Country ‘Songwriter of the Year.’ There are plenty of activities going on around the track, but…, The week and weekend’s main action kicks off SATURDAY with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Love’s Stop 250 at NOON, during the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. The sun will set and the party starts with Hardy’s performance for the SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT starting at 7:30 with HARDY at 9 p.m., FREE with a Sunday’s race ticket. SUNDAY’S YELLAWOOD 500 brings the NASCAR’s biggest stars to continue their quest for the Bill France Cup at 1 p.m. THIS IS MORE THAN A RACE! THIS IS TALLADEGA!
**NEXT WEEKEND – 18TH ANNUAL BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL at the Barber Motorsports Park is the largest Vintage Motorcycle festival in the country with activities including historic motorcycle racing, food trucks, entertainment, parade laps, swap meet, stunt shows, Wall of Death, Ball of Steel, merchandise and more.
FOR MUSIC AND EVENTS’ LOVERS…
IN BIRMINGHAM…
**SATURDAY – Opera Birmingham presents THE BILLY GOATS GRUFF, for all ages, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Avondale Amphitheater in Avondale Park. It is an operatic retelling of the classic tale, sung in English of the adventures of three goat friends whose after-school game of hide and seek is disrupted by a big bully blocking a bridge, preventing them from being able to go home. Remembering the wisdom of their parents and teachers about dealing with bullies, two courageous billy goats decide to find an alternative route home and share their challenges with the grown-ups. Meanwhile, the little goat, determined not to abandon her beloved doll that the bully has taken, confronts the situation head-on and in an unexpected turn of events, extends kindness to her would-be adversary. The message of empathy, resilience, and friendship shines through.
**SUNDAY – FIESTA, Alabama’s largest Hispanic Celebration, NOON – 8 p.m., in Linn Park with family-friendly fun for all ages, including workshops, storytelling, wrestling exhibitions, music, dance, performing arts, visual arts, children’s activities, soccer, cultural education, community village, arts, crafts and health and wellness related resources.
**SUNDAY – GRAND OPENING of THE AVONDALE GALLERY WEST, 2-5 p.m. at 589 Bessemer Super Highway in Midfield. Take a tour, mix and mingle and see what is going to be the next place that you schedule your big event whether a wedding, conference or celebration of all kinds. Check it out! (Tell them Gwen sent you!)
**COMING SOON… A GOSPEL SYMPHONY CELEBRATION – GOSPEL LEGEND DONALD LAWRENCE is performing at the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center on November 12 at 7 p.m. Other special guests performing are VOX FORTURA, the ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and CONDUCTOR DR. HENRY PANION, III with MILES COLLEGE CHOIR and UAB GOSPEL CHOIR. There will be a Live Recording for PBS National Broadcast.
AROUND THE SOUTHEST…
IN ATLANTA…
**FRIDAY -YUNG VOKALZ AND THE MOVEMENT, 7:30 p.m., at Perfect Note in Atlanta.
IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA…
(Photo: Guitarist Cashmere Williams) (Photo Credit: )
**NEXT FRIDAY – 2023 GULF COAST JAZZ FESTIVAL with GUITARIST CASHMERE WILLIAMS and VIOLINIST DOMINIQUE HAMMOND at the ALL WHITE AND BLACK KICK OFF PARTY, 7 p.m.
IN GEE’S BEND…
**NEXT SATURDAY – AIRING OF THE QUILTS FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FOR LOVERS OF OUTDOORS…IN ALABAMA…
**THURSDAY DAYHIKE, Meet 9 a.m. with Southeastern Outings for leisurely weekday, approximately 3.2-mile dayhike on the Black Creek Trail in the Gardendale and Brookside Areas, just north of Birmingham – DETAILS: You are invited to participate in an easy and leisurely-paced, fun, dayhike on a short portion of the Black Creek Trail 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. The walking pace for this hike will be moderately easy, stopping often to catch our breath and note views, trees, birdsongs, the trail and the woods. The trail has been extended and will include both a portion of the previously-hiked section and the new section. Total hike distance is about 3.2 miles.No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail! This outing should be lots of fun for everyone. Lunch may be planned immediately after the hike is completed. It is easy and close to Birmingham. Meet at the Wal-Mart Gardendale parking lot at 9:45 a.m. Depart at 10 a.m.Trip Leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730.
**SATURDAY OUTING, Meet 9:45 a.m.with Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Outing, Big Wills Creek near Gadsden, Alabama. DETAILS:This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. This stretch is fairly easy and without classified rapids. See wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches. Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each novice canoeist must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their canoe.You may rent canoes and one or two-person (tandem) sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles from Big Wills Outfitters. Call the outfitter BEFORE Saturday, September 30 at 256/538-3226 to reserve your boat. Tell the outfitter you are boating with Southeastern Outings. For more information about the outfitter and photos of the creek, visit their website www.facebook.com/bigwillsoutfitters. Arrive at the outfitter’s, sign a waiver, pay your shuttle or boat rental fee, use the restroom, and then eat lunch in the picnic area at the outfitter’s. After you finish lunch, the outfitter will transport ALL the boaters and their boats, both rented and owned, to the put in, then paddle down the creek to the take out, stopping as often as we want to. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 10 and over are welcome. After the canoe and kayak trip we are hopefully planning to go to a restaurant in Gadsden for dinner, so bring a change of clothes. A changing room is available at the outfitter’s. Reservations Required: You must contact Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish. Info. and trip leader: If you have questions or would like additional information about this outing, please call Dan Frederick 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.
FOR BOOK LOVERS…
**BOOK RELEASE PARTY – BOOK: MAGIC CITY – HOW THE BIRMINGHAM JAZZ TRADITION SHAPED THE SOUND OF AMERICA by AUTHOR: BURGIN MATHEWS, December 2 at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame with live music by some of Birmingham’s finest …and more.
FOR COMMUNITY LOVERS…
**SPARKLE LEARNING CENTER AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM with academic activities including reading, art, math, science and computers is in downtown Fairfield. Call 205-785-3636 for more.
**BE A READING TUTOR at Stairbirmingham.org.
**WE CAFÉ at URBAN MINISTRY, 1229 Cotton Avenue, SW., every Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Monday – Sausage, Green Beans & Potatoes and Rolls, Thursday – Chef’s Anniversary Cookout, Wednesday – Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Salad and Rolls, Thursday – Apprentice’s Choice and Friday – Turkey Sandwiches and Chips.
FOR ART LOVERS…
IN TUSCALOOSA…
**The PAUL R. JONES MUSEUM presents MAY 1970: GIBBS-GREEN TRAGEDY AT JACKSON STATE COLLEGE, documentary photography by DR. DORIS DERBY, through Friday, at 2308 Sixth Street.
IN FLORIDA…
**THE ART OF EVERETT SPRUILL, through Saturday, at Mills Gallery.
AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART…
**NAPPY ROOTS: A TRANSATLANTIC STORY OF HAIR, STRUGGLE, AND LIBERATION through December 30, 2023.
AT BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE…
**MEN OF CHANGE EXHIBIT: POWER, TRIUMPH, TRUTH, through December 2, at the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. The exhibition from the Smithsonian presents the narrative of a nation through the profiles of significant African- American men who are icons in the country’s historical and cultural landscape.
HAPPENINGS AT SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
…SEE YOU AT THE SIXTH …EVERY SUNDAY!
**EVERY MONDAY MORNING MEDITATION WITH PASTOR CANTELOW, 7:15 a.m. Contact the church at (205) 321-1136 or (205) 321-1137.
**CHILDREN’S CHURCH & COLLISION CHURCH, each First Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for K-5th (Children’s Church), 6-12th (Collision).
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send events, your things of interest and more to my emails: gwenderu@yahoo.com and thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.
