GWEN DERU
TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**THE DIRTY MC CREW presents 2023 MILES HOMECOMING KICKOFF ROOFTOP GROOVE DAY PARTY, TODAY, 6-10 p.m. at Urban Parc, 1006 20th Street South. You don’t want to miss it!!
**MORTALUS, MECHANYZED, OVER SEASONS & MOTHER OF DEMONS 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…
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE with R&B DIVA DEIRDRE GADDIS at Perfect Note.
**SHELBY LORE with CARLOS TRULY & JACK THE ELBOW 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, 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 Bar.
**BASSIST JACOB WEBB & PHYLICIA RAE at Perfect Note.
**MAGIC CITY BLUES SOCIETY presents SKYLA BURRELL at The Nick.
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.
**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 TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH, Every 4th Sunday at The Nick.
**TRIBUTE TO KIRK FRANKLIN featuring JEREMY HILL AND FRIENDS at Perfect Note.
MONDAY…
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND with Special Guest 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.
**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.
NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**ELI LEV at The Nick.
NEXT FRIDAY…
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**CLASSIC WEEKEND JAZZ WITH SAXOPHONIST MARCUS ANDERSON at Perfect Note.
**NIGHTMARE ON 22ND STREET – Industrial Goth Dance Party
**LAUREN CALVE & CAT RIDGEWAY at The Nick.
IT’S 2023! NEWS TO USE…IN ALABAMA…PLUS…
NEWS TO USE…
MORE… IN OCTOBER…for you…
**FRIDAY – GAZZA – 2020 ARTIST OF THE DECADE IN BIRMINGHAM – ASFA FALL ENSEMBLE CONCERT featuring ASFA Music Department with NAMIBIA’s 2020 Artist of the Decade KWAITO’s LEGEND, GAZZA, 7 p.m. at DJD Theater in the Alabama School of Fine Arts!
**NEXT FRIDAY – MAGIC CITY CLASSIC SOUTHERN SOUL BLUES SHOW, 7 p.m. at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge, 3801 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. with BRUTHA, BIG MONEY and CADILLAC MAN.
** ANITA BAKER scheduled for next Saturday at the BJCC Legacy Arena has been postponed until February 2024.
**NEXT SATURDAY – MAGIC CITY CLASSIC at Legion Field.
**NEXT SATURDAY – CREATING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES-TO ILLUMINATE OUR WORLD, October 21, Noon – 5 p.m. at the Sherman Heights Park, The Pupil of the Eye Cultural, Learning & Visitors Center. Join for a fun filled day of creating, listening, learning & fun for all ages with music, storytelling, arts & crafts, vendors, cultural dance, games, food & fellowship. Call 205-580-5922 for more.
**NEXT SATURDAY – TEEN SUMMIT & CHARITY BASKETBALL GAME, FREE on October 21 at 1500 Daniel Payne Drive with vendors, celebrity basketball games, live performances and more. Contact us @celebritycharitygames.com for more.
**NEXT SUNDAY – TRUMBONE SHORTY, 6 p.m. at Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall.
**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.
FOR LOVERS OF OUTDOORS…IN ALABAMA…
**SATURDAY DAY HIKE, Meet 8:45 a.m. with Southeastern Outings Day hike: Cahaba River Park in Western Shelby County north of Montevallo. – DETAILS: The Cahaba River is among the most scenic and biologically diverse waterways in the United States, and the public now has access to a portion of the river in Shelby County. Work is underway on the Cahaba River Park, a 1,500-acre site near the Bibb County line in western Shelby County. This is a moderately easy three- to five-mile-long hike in this newly created park. Cahaba River Park includes two sectors: a larger sector on the north side of the river and a sector on the south side of the river that allows for motorized access. The river splits the park into two sites with different amenities. The north side, which is called the Helena/Hoover Sector, includes most of the park’s acreage. The sector comprises 1,212 acres of Forever Wild property and 127 acres of county property. The south side of the river, which is called the Boothton/Montevallo Sector, comprises 188 acres of Shelby County property. The hike in the Helena/Hoover Sector may include walking on several trails. The park’s trails offer a nice blend of forest, river and creek views including a good view of the area’s elevation. Bring your picnic lunch and water with you on the hike. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk up to five miles without complaining are welcome to participate in this trip. Meet at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot behind the McDonald’s on U.S. Highway 31 at the Riverchase Galleria. Depart at 9 a.m. Admission to the park is free. Information and Trip Leader: Tim Vann, telephone 205-515-8566, email tvann25@hotmail.com.
FOR MOVIE LOVERS…
**AT SIDEWALK FILM FEST…TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY – 25 Years of Sidewalk/The house is Haunted: The House of the Devil; The house is Haunted: House aka Hausa; TODAY – Networking Night FREE; TODAY AND SATURDAY – The Ice Storm; TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY – Taylor Swift the Eras Tour; Killers of the Flower Moon; SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – Midnight Madness: Donnie Darko Director’s Cut. For more go to: sidewalkfest.com.
FOR FOOD LOVERS…
**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 OUR YOUTH…
**YWCA GIRLS MENTORING, October through April 2024 in partnership wit Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama will provide girls mentoring to equip participants with practical tools for positive personal development. Accepting young ladies in grades 8th- 12th. These in-person sessions will be held on the 2nd Saturday each month from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration is required. For more, 205-594-4475.
AROUND THE SOUTHEAST…
IN NASHVILLE…
**EXPERIENCE AFRICA, through Saturday, in Nashville. This event series historic match-up is celebrating GHANA VS USA Soccer. The Ghana BLACK STARS play at the Geodis Park.
IN NOVEMBER…
**6th ANNUAL MAGIC CITY MAC + CHEESE FESTIVAL, 1 p.m. at Back Forty Beer Company.
**NOVEMBER 4-5 – 2023 MT. LAUREL FALL FESTIVAL.
**NOVEMBER 12 – 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 preforming 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.
FOR ART LOVERS…
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).
FOR COMMUNITY LOVERS…
**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.
**COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP & CAREER EXPO, November 2nd (Boutwell Aud., Birmingham) and November 3rd (Embassy Suites, Montgomery), 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be 60 plus colleges and universities, college admission and scholarships on the spot, waiving of college application fees, free admission, learn of short certificate programs in trades, funding for education information available. Students: (Bring 5 Copies of each) your official transcripts, ACT Scores, recommendation letters, and resumes. For morewww.horusscholars.org/register-here/student-registration/.
**COMMUNITY GRIEF SUPPORT – HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS community education program workshops are scheduled November 5, 9-11:30 a.m. at Southminister Presbyterian Church, November 5, 9-11:30 a.m. Virtual Online Workshop and November 12, 9-11:30 a.m. at Guiding Light Church. If you are facing your first holiday season as a loss survivor and having to deal with stress, anxiety, depression, anger and sadness, then this is for you. Register for these FREE, helpful and encouraging community education programs at: www.communitygriefsupport,org/programs/hope-for-the-holidays, call 205-870-8667 or email: ssweatt@communitygriefsupport.org.
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.
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.
