People, Places, and Things by Gwen DeRu

COOL WEATHER FOR FOOTBALL, AND TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY!  IT’S FALL AND TAILGATING TIME!!

Here are a few things to do….and ‘not to miss’ coming soon!

DON’T MISS….

**JASMINE GUY AND THE AVERY SHARPE TRIO – RAISIN’CANE: A HARLEM RENAISSANCE ODYSSEY is starring award winning Jasmine Guy and the acclaimed Avery Sharpe Trio, tomorrow, in the Wright Center at Samford University , 7 p.m.as they celebrate the legendary voices of the Harlem Renaissance through text, song, music, movement and imagery.  Guy transports the audience back to New York’s 1920s Harlem and explores the rise of artists like Langston Hughes and Fats Waller.

FOR GREAT FOOD….

**MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL – Saint George will celebrate its 34^th Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival today through Saturday.  Amin Sultan, of New York, an internationally recognized Arabic artist, and his band will perform and embraces the opportunity to introduce the beauty and richness of Middle Eastern music to Americans.  Along with the band, parish dance troupes clad in colorful costume will perform.  Food will be served all day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. A drive through service will operate until 7 p.m. Informative church tours will be conducted during festival hours of operation.  Homemade foods include Kibbee, rolled grape leaves, Mediterranean style chicken. A tasty selection of vegetarian foods include spinach pies, falafel, and hummus. A wide variety of pastries and cakes will be available at the “mile long” sweet booth.  Proceeds will benefit local charities, diocesan charities and major maintenance projects of the church.  Saint George Melkite Catholic Church is located in the heart of Birmingham’s Southside, at 425 16^th Avenue South.  Call 492-9621 for more.

**WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS – The USA will play Haiti Sunday, 1:30 p.m. at Legion Field.  TODAY, there is a Detroit Watch Party, 6 p.m. of USA vs Haiti at the Good People Brewery, FRIDAY, Trophy Display, 2 p.m. – FIFA World Cup Trophy Display, 6 p.m. at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, SATURDAY, there is Open Practice 12:30 p.m. with parking lots open 2:30 p.m.  Gates Open at Gate 10 and 11 FREE ADMISSION.  SUNDAY starting at 9 Legion Field Parking Lots Open, 10 a.m. Round Trip Shuttle begins and runs until 90 minutes after the game with pickup at corner of 23^rd Street North and Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North in front of Uptown and Ticket Windows Open, 12 p.m. Noon – Legion Field Gates Open, 12:30 – Official American Outlaws March begins in Lot K with a 1:30 p.m. Kick-Off

FOR MUSIC LOVERS….

**SOUND OF MOTOWN – ALL THE HITS IN ONE NIGHT – See the WHISPERS, THE SPINNERS, and THE MANHATTANS with the Sounds of Motown, next Friday, September 25^th at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

FOR GOLF LOVERS….

**STILLMAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT – Join the fun at the 15^th Annual Stillman College Scholarship Golf Tournament, September 25.  Registration is 7 a.m. and Tee-Time is 8 a.m.  The tournament will be held at the Roebuck Golf Course and will feature some of Birmingham’s finest golfers including NFL football celebrities, local community public officials and top female golfers.  There will be door prizes, raffle prizes, awards and delicious lunch.  Proceeds will go to the deserving Birmingham students to attend Stillman College.  For more information (205) 925-9373, gdennard2@aol.com, (205) 247-8145 or ascott@stillman.edu.

**SRMSDC GOLF TOURNAMENT – FORE IN THE FALL is Friday, October 2 at the Oxmoor Valley Golf Course in Birmingham, Alabama.  Registration is 7:30 a.m. with Shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.  There is a Southern Hospitality Networking BBQ immediately following golf.  Go to Southern Region MSDC for more.

**HOMEWOOD CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC – The Annual Homewood Chamber Golf Classic will be held on Thursday, October 8 at Robert Trent Jones – Oxmoor Valley Golf Course. Registration and the Putting Contest will be held at 8 a.m., and the Tournament will officially begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The Golf Classic supports economic development efforts in the City of Homewood. Participants will enjoy a light breakfast, full round of golf, the chance to win fantastic door prizes from area businesses, a locally sourced lunch from Urban Cookhouse and so much more.  Call (205) 871-5631 for more.

**2016 AMPUTEE GOLF TOURNAMENT – The 67th National Amputee Golf Championship and International Cup is back in Sweet Home Alabama after more than 20 years! At this 67th annual event, the U.S. and International players will compete for the titles hosted by Birmingham’s own Chris Osborne, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.  The public can meet PGA pro Chad Pfeifer aka “Captain Clutch” from the Golf Channel’s Big Break and Dancing With the Star’s Noah Galloway. Both of these athletes are also military veterans and will be taking pictures on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.  Admission is free to watch. The public can play too in the scramble on Monday September 14th at Bent Brook Golf Club. For more information visit nagagolfbham.org.

**FOOTBALL …..AND…. RACING AT ITS FINEST AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY…..

If golf is not your cup of tea, football season kicked off recently so check out the games now until the first of the year.  AND, if you love cars, then the Talladega Superspeedway races October 23-25 are right around the corner.

….There are always plenty of things to do around the southeast.  Here are a few things going on in town…

TODAY…, Check out PLUM and LEGENDS LOUNGE, downtown Birmingham.

FRIDAY…, Laughter… at the StarDome Comedy Club!

SATURDAY…FACE 2 FACE, a Worship and Deliverance Ministries present At His Feet, 10 a.m. – Noon with panel guests Pastor Jonathan L. Woods, Sr. , Monique Henry, Overseer Freddie Washington, Valerie T. Smith, Curtiss Glenn, Demetrius Hicks, Jaquise Harville-Speight, Pastor Jonathan Fox, and Charmayne Wilson-Mayowa at 711 22nd Street, in Ensley, Birmingham, 35218.

FOR ART LOVERS…

IN TUSCALOOSA….

**THE LIFE OF A COSTUME: FROM PAGE TO STAGE – This exhibition is at The University of Alabama Gallery in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center September 4 through the 25^th. The gallery is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL. 35401.

**ROOTS AND ALL – P.H. POLK and GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER – This exhibition now through September 25 is at the Paul R. Jones Gallery, 2308 Sixth Street in Tuscaloosa. Call (205) 345-3038 for more.

FOR EXERCISE….

**2015 COUCH TO 5K FITNESS – The cool weather is the right time to get your exercise in at the Couch to 5K Fitness Sessions every Thursday, 5-6 p.m. at the Norwood Community Center, located at 1330 28^th Street North.

**SISTAH STRUT – Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies will run, walk, stroll or strut next Saturday at Legion Field, 7 – 11 a.m.

NOW…on to the rest of the happenings…. THIS WEEKEND….A FEW THINGS IN BIRMINGHAM!

CHECK OUT….the TIDE AND TIGER every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Graymont Avenue.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…THIS WEEKEND…

TODAY….

**Ona’s Music Room is relocating…. look for more soon.

**JORDAN HULL and GABRIEL TAJEU at The Nick.

FRIDAY…

**TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field.  Open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

*FRIDAY AFTER WORK – For those that want ‘a break’ before the weekend ‘Friday after Work’ has food and more, 5 – 10 p.m. Call (205) 572-1295 for more.  Get your palates ready!

**DEAD FLOWERS, THE SUN, THE MOON and DANIMAL PLANET at The Nick on southside.

SATURDAY…

**TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field.  Open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

**OH MY LOVE, CORNBRED and THE RUNTS at The Nick.

SUNDAY…

**SKATE PARTY 7 – 11 p.m. at the Roller Motions Skate Center located at 2474 Morgan Road, in Bessemer with DJ CJ “Tha Sticman” in the mix.

**MIDNIGHT MOB and MONSTERS OF THE WEEK 8 p.m. at the Nick.  No cover.

**LEA’ AND ANTHONY performing at the #ShinDigSundays every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday at the M North located at 2215 First Avenue North Downtown Birmingham.  Tell them Gwen sent you.

TUESDAY…

**MATTHEW McNEAL and HUNNICUTT WILLIS at The Nick on southside..

**TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field.  Open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

WEDNESDAY…

BILLY STRINGS and DON JUAN at the Nick.

FOR COMEDY LOVERS…

DON’T MISS….

**AT THE STARDOME… this weekend… TOMORROW…MIKE EPPS…. You’ve seen this mega movie and comedic star in The Honeymooners, Next Friday, Friday After Next, How High and All About the Benjamins to name a few. This show will sell out so make your plans now.

COMING SOON…, STEVE WILSON & GUY TORRY – September 25-27, BRUCE BRUCE – October 2-4, ETTA MAY – October 9-11, TOM SEGURA – November 2 (ONE NIGHT ONLY).  Call (205) 444-0008 for more.

COMING SOON….

**OCTOBER 10 – UNITY BALL– The second Annual Unity Ball by the Lovely Ladies of Stewart Success is Saturday, October 10, 7 p.m. to midnight at the Boutwell Auditorium.  For more call 223-1160.

**OCTOBER 10-11 – LIFE ISN’T FAIR – NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST, a stage play by Award Winning Film-Maker/Play-Writer DERRELL LAWRENCE featuring Grammy Award Winner REGINA BELLE, Emmy Nominated SEAN BLAKEMORE, International Actor JOHN TERRELL, Lawrence (himself) and more at the BJCC.  The performances are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

**OCTOBER 15-16 – DON’T MISS… CLEARWATER JAZZ FESTIVAL, with Gladys Knight, the O’Jays, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, The Averett Brothers and more.

**OCTOBER 18 – BIG DADDY’S NEW BAND will perform at Daniel Day Gallery Dream Meccas Studio, 3025 Sixth Avenue South, 2- 6 p.m.  Call (205) 223-9882 for more.

**OCTOBER 31 – MAGIC CITY CLASSIC is the largest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football game in the country. Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University play in the game annually at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and the winner could potentially earn a spot in the SWAC Championship.  Festivities surrounding the event include the Magic City Classic Alumni Pep Rally, Magic City Classic Parade, Coors Light Pre-Game Tailgate Party and the famed halftime show performed by the Marching Hornets and the Marching Maroon and White.   For more information, visit www.themagiccityclassic.com.

NOW…. BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU… AND TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU BIRTHDAY BALLERS…MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!  ENJOY!!  Celebrate ‘your’ month…I do…all 30 days ‘and’ some!

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 or gwenderu@yahoo.com