GWEN DERU
HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!
TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.
**DEADSENATE, SKOAL, BLOOD MOON RIOT & FAULEN at The Nick.
**KIKSTART at WaterMark in Bessemer with Free Food Boxes, 9 a.m.
**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.
**EACH AND EVERY THURSDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.
**MOVIES EVERY THURSDAY at Sidewalk Fest.
**THIRSTY THURSDAYS at D’ZIRE Bar and Lounge.
**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.
**EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT KARAOKE, 6:30 at Ruth’s Place hosted by LADY WOO and with DJ SHAY.
FRIDAY…
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8-11 p.m. EVERY FIRST FRIDAY, at 7611 First Avenue North, hosted by TMBUK DA POET.
**FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH SHARRON COLLINS at Perfect Note.
**DISINCENTIVE, TOWERING ABOVE & THE GODDAMN RIGHTS at The Nick.
**LATE NIGHT SHOW with KIRKOS at The Nick.
**EVERY FRIDAY – R&B FRIDAY, at The Chandlier, 212 Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham with DJ MANISH mixing live. FREE Entry.
**EACH AND EVERY FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY at City Hall, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the short 20th Street North.
**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.
**FISH FRY AFTER DARK FRIDAY, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Lil Mama’s with music, spades dominoes and more. BYOB.
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.
**PARTY FOR PRESENTS featuring LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER, SHERRI BROWN and THE PARTY ROCKERS at Uptown Jazz with Commissioner Sheila Tyson and Comedian Funnymaine, DJ Bo Slim and Chris Coleman on the One and Two.
**EVERY SATURDAY SOLD OUT -THE SATURDAYS JUMP OFF, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 8th Avenue West.
**EACH AND EVERY SATURDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.
**JAZZY CHRISTMAS featuring JAZZ MCKENZIE at Perfect Note.
**ZYX, UFO & THE WEEKEND LOVERS at The Nick.
SUNDAY…
**WORSHIP AT THE SIXTH, 9:30 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
**SUNDAY FUN DAY at DZIRE BAR AND LOUNGE, 4120 3rd Avenue South. Call 205-266-2594 for more.
**SUNDAY FUNDAY for the grown Folks Kickback at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.
**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 TUNES with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.
**SUNDAY FUNDAY with TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH, Every 4th Sunday at The Nick.
**SAMANTHA FISH – SHAKE EM’ ON DOWN TOUR at Iron City.
**SOULFUL SUNDAY with SAXOPHONIST DELON CHARLEY at Perfect Note.
MONDAY…
**RNB MONDAYS, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 Eighth Avenue West.
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.
TUESDAY…
**KIKSTART at Water Mark in Bessemer, 9 a.m. with Free Food Boxes…until all gone.
**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.
**DIAPER GIVEAWAY every Tuesday, 10 a.m. at the Titusville Library.
**TERRIFIC TUESDAY – EVERY TUESDAY, 5-10 p.m. at Lil Mama’s Meeting and Event Place featuring BIG DADDY’S Taco Bowls, nachos and ultimate fries with a side of Adult Game Night including music cards, dominoes, chess, tabletop football, UNO and more.
**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.
**THE WILSON SPRINGS HOTEL with CODY BOLDEN at The Nick.
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.
**EVERY WEDNESDAY, YOU, ME & RNB, 6 p.m. at 2206 Bar & Lounge, 2206 31st Street, with DJ You, Me & Playlist.
**D’ZIRE WEDNESDAYS, EACH AND EVERY WEDNESDAY with Free Mimosas, 8- 10 p.m. with DJ GORGEOUS in the Mix at 4120 Third Avenue South.
**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.
**MOJOHAND, MID EVIL TIMES & BARD at The Nick.
**THE WOOD BROTHERS at Iron City.
NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.
**JAZZ IS DEAD at Iron City.
NEXT FRIDAY…
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH SHARRON COLLINS at Perfect Note.
**JAMIE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY with PARRIS at The Nick.
**MUSCADINE BLOODLINE at Iron City.
IT’S 2023! NEWS TO USE…IN ALABAMA…PLUS…
NEWS TO USE…
GWEN’S SPOTLIGHT
**HISTORY IN THE MAKING BY ‘POWER GRID PROFESSIONALS’ IN FAIRFIELD, ALABAMA – Historians, history books and newspapers are all products of history. They all share stories that are products born at a certain time, bind time, express time and ‘their’ time. More to the point, they participate in the calling and responses for succeeding generations…what some consider the ‘essence of history’, itself. With that being said…in comes POWER GRID PROFESSIONALS (PGP) who has introduced to the nation, in Fairfield, Alabama, a ‘revolutionary technology company’ that will help usher in a new era regarding how we use energy. PGP is a product and service oriented company that will provide a full range of services and solutions to major utilities, cooperatives, municipalities and power distribution networks. The mission is to help clients keep energy flowing and provide solutions to a variety of problems that interfere with the distribution of electrical power to commercial and residential customers. PGP, recently unveiled, in Fairfield, the first of several game changing products patently designed to save lives, protect wildlife and help sustain our national power grid system. Each of the products has global applications. The CRITTER OUTAGE PREVENTER (COP) transformer is the new product that reduces power outages, stops wildlife outages, aids in ice shedding, slow rusting and deters nesting. LARRY McHENRY, co-founder and co-founding partner DEON WRIGHT are subject matter experts in the power restoration industry. Their mission in part is to save utility companies in repair expenses while creating jobs in the Fairfield and Birmingham area. Also, equally as important, is rebuilding our local communities.
NOW…HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO DO AROUND THE SOUTHEAST…
FOR TRAVEL LOVERS …THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND MORE…
**THROUGH APRIL 2024 – YWCA GIRLS MENTORING, in partnership with 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, call 205-594-4475.
IN BIRMINGHAM…
**TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY – MARC RABY’S SOUL FOOD – TIS THE SEASON, AGAIN, A STAGE PLAY at Encore Theatre and Gallery, 213 Gadsden Highway, Suite 108.
**TODAY THROUGH JANUARY 15, 2024 – GLOW WILD 2023: AN ANIMAL LANTERN, 5 p.m. at the Birmingham Zoo.
**TODAY THROUGH APRIL 2024 – YWCA GIRLS MENTORING, in partnership with 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, call 205-594-4475.
**TODAY – ALABAMA LAUNCHPAD, 5 -7 p.m. at Innovation Depot. This program is the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and has fueled the state’s startup ecosystem for the last 16 years. Join others in Birmingham to meet its next competitors, 10 of Alabama’s best and brightest entrepreneurs vying for $75,000 in funding. CYCLE 3 2023 Finalists include: The Concept Stage for $25,000 – DevClarity (Birmingham), OD Revive (Birmingham), OMNIS, Inc. DBA LucidTrade (Auburn) and Pharma, Inc. (Huntsville). The Early Seed State finalists competing for $50,000 include: Autonoma, Inc. (Auburn), Circool (Birmingham), Datus Henry Industries, LLC (DHI) (Birmingham), Dryft Coffee (Birmingham), GutChek, Inc. (Madison) and VirtuOwl (Birmingham). Tickets are required.
**FRIDAY AND SATURDAY – DECEMBER SHOPPING SHINDIG is Friday, Noon – 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 1218 Second Avenue North at the once-a-month warehouse sale of curated collections of things.
**SUNDAY – TREE OF LIGHTS, Sunday, 3:30 -5:30 p.m. at Homewood Central Park by Community Grief Support. This is the Third Annual family and pet friendly event that will have festivities, including Santa & Mrs. Claus, holiday music, refreshments and a bounce house. People can bring their own ornament or make one to place on the tree. There will be a memorial dedication and tree lighting at 5 p.m. Sponsor a light on the Tree of Light by making a donation at different levels and receive gifts to commemorate lost loved ones including $35 DONATION to receive a memorial card sent up to three addresses of your choice in honor of a lost loved one and a sponsorship of a light on the memorial tree. $40 Donation same as $35 Donation PLUS a personalized memorial candle to be lit throughout the holiday season to honor your lost loved one. $75 Donation is same as $35 donation PLUS receives a beautiful, antique-gold memorial ornament strung with velvet ribbon and calligraphed with your loved one’s name. The orders must be placed before December 12, at www.communitygriefsupport.org/tree-of-lights.
**DECEMBER 17 – CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY – THE BLACK EDITION, 6 p.m. at Iron City featuring SHERRI BROWN, ARETTA WOODRUFF, LOGAN THE ENTERTAINER, YUNG VOKALZ, DOMINIQUE and SHARRON COLLINS with Isis Jones and DJ Chris Coleman.
**DECEMBER 26 – A NIGHT OF UMOJA, 6 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium with MALEK YOSEF, Owner of Soul Vegetarian Chicago, Son of Prince Asiel Ben Israel, hosted by Clarence Muhammad.
**DECEMBER 30 – LONDON LIVE IN CONCERT AND CASE performing Live with Jermaine Funnymaine Johnson and Special Guest SHARRON COLLINS at the Boutwell Auditorium.
FOR ART LOVERS…
AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART…
**NAPPY ROOTS: A TRANSATLANTIC STORY OF HAIR, STRUGGLE, AND LIBERATION through December 30, 2023.
AT SIDEWALK…
**GIDEON’S ARMY- Today.
**DREAM SCENARIO with Nicolas Cage, Machael Cera and Tim Meadows- TODAY, Saturday, and Sunday.
**THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL with Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, and Steve Whitmire- Today, Friday and Saturday.
** RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCE starring Beyonce, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter – Today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
**HOLIDAY SCRAMBLE KICK-OFF – Saturday.
**BAD MOVIE NIGHT (FREE) – Friday.
**ALMOST CHRISTMAS starring Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps and Danny Glover – Saturday and Sunday.
**THE PINK SNAKE PIT with Filmmaker Q+A – Saturday.
**HOLIDAY CARTOONS (FREE) – Sunday.
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 YOUTH AND EDUCATION…
TIPS TO USE…
**TIPS BY TUTOR NATION – Tutor Nation is sharing tips that can be used during holiday breaks, school days, as needed or whenever. They help students and families with college and career readiness through tutoring and ACT Prep. Here is ANOTHER TIP: ACTIVE LEARNING: Engage with the material actively, e.g., by summarizing, questioning, or teaching it to someone else.
(Look for more tips, right here, each week for advice or assistance from Tutor Nation. If you are a parent and your kids need tutoring or if you need more information, contact Tutor Nation at: tutor-nation.com/Home/)
FOR COMMUNITY LOVERS…
**MONTHLY POP-UP – BE KIND BIRMINGHAM (with you name it), EVERY First Wednesday, 10 a.m. at Titusville Library; Second Wednesday 10 a.m. at West End Library; Third Wednesday, 10 a.m. at Smithfield Library; Fourth Wednesday, 10 a.m. OR 3 p.m. at Five Points Library, and Fourth Wednesday, 4 p.m. at Harrison Park Rec Center.
AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS –
**TODAY – Connecting to What’s Next: A Design Vision for the Future of the Red Rock Trail System, 5- 8 p.m.
**DECEMBER 13 and 20- TAIJIQUAN INTERMEDIATE – Explore the art of the well-being through the Chinese martial art of Taijiquan (Tai Chi)
**DECEMBER 16 – EN PLEIN AIR in the Japanese Gardens, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Learn the basics of en plein air painting with local landscape artist, CAROLINE GRAY.
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.
