By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times
Celebrate Global Humanity Day – TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT!!!
CELEBRATE FAIRFIELD AND MILES COLLEGE HOMECOMING!!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**AFTER WORK PROFESSIONAL SOIREE ‘EVERY THURSDAY’ at Majestic ULTRA Lounge. Happy Hour 5 – 9 p.m. Unwind and Connect hosted by Commissioner Sheila Tyson.
**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.
**CHAYSE PORTER & HIS PALACE DOORS with KID FEARS and CAPTAIN KUDZU at Saturn.
**COMEDIAN AARON WEBER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**RnB POETICALLY LIT, 5-7 p.m. at Lit on 8th, 518 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. with HUNCHO ZAVY, KD MCQWEEN, CAROL HOOD, DKMODE, BRIANNE SHARDAW and hosted by HEMP THE ARTIST. Every Thursday.
**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.
**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd Avenue North
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…
**THIS WEEKEND – ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS – GALA IN THE GARDENS with Celebration of Twenty Years of Antiques and Design at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.
**FRIDAY through Sunday HOMESTEAD HOLLOW 2026 ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL (right around the corner in Springville) with Chef Dwayne “BIG DADDY” Thompson with his World Famous Seasonings.
**ALL YOUR FRIENDS: THE INDIE PARTY at Saturn.
**COMEDIAN HANNIBAL BURESS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**STEEL COUNTRY AFTER DARK at Iron City.
**JJ GREY & MOFRO – TOP OF THE WORLD TOUR at Avondale Brewing Co.
**WAKING APRIL at The Nick with SUBHYMNAL, SLIPPERY DISH, CJ FAGAN and TENGEN at The Nick.
**JJ GREY & MOFRO – TOP OF THE WROLD TOUR at Avondale Brewing Co.
**STEEL COUNTRY AFTER DARK at Iron City.
**GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
**SATURDAYS AFTER DARK at Majestic Ultra Lounge.
**AMIGO THE DEVIL at Saturn.
**COMEDIAN HANNIBAL at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights with our own favorite son radio personality D.J. CHRIS COLEMAN. Check it out for Sunday Brunch with food by 1918 Catering, music and more!! For more, call 205-213-9097. 1918 Catering is the best food for lunch, dinner or your special event. (Take my word.)
**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105.
**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.
**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with our favorite TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.
**MOTION SUNDAYS at Platinum, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. with DJ CUZZO X DJ A1 Controlling the Vibes.
**COMEDIAN LANDON BRYANT AND MARY RYAN BROWN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**OPEN MIC NIGHT through November 1 (Every other Sunday) at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**KYLE KINANE at Saturn. FREE.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors, Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.
**WEEKDAYS – LIBRARY AT THE GARDENS, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Weekdays. Present your Jefferson County Card to check out books, audiobooks, DVDs and more for adults and children at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARE RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.
**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.
**MONDAYS – ENVISION RADIO, 12 p.m. ‘Where Praise Meets Talk’ with a Special Guest each Monday. For more: www.envision-radio.com.
**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or
Tuesday, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
**EVERY TUESDAY – L.I.F.T. – LEARNING AND INTERVENTIONS FOR FAMILIES WITH TEENS, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. is a FREE program for families of 7-12 graders who need help addressing mental health and behavioral needs. Dinner is included, but childcare is not provided. For more: 205-201-0060. Location provided after registration.
**MAJESTIC ULTRA LOUNGE HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays with specials. Take your appetite, dancing shoes and your crew. Must be 30 and up to enter.
**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY TUESDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.
**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.
**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.
**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**WHY’D THEY DO THAT?! at Saturn.
**DERMOT KENNEDY: WEIGHT OF THE WOODS TOUR w/JONAH KAGEN at Avondale Brewing Co.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
**BIRMINGHAM FERN SOCIETY, Every Third Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Go to the website and email Louise Billings to reserve a spot.
**LEGENDARY SOULFUL HAPPY HOUR EVERY WEDNESDAY, 5- 9 p.m. at Majestic Ultra Lounge with Classic R&B, Songs and smooth Vibes.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**UNSANE with NULL, DROVES at Saturn.
**FRIENDLY SPECTRES, GALATIC GOTH, HOOP STICK at The Nick.
**LILLY HART – The Upstairs at Avondale Brewing Co.
NEXT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**AFTER WORK PROFESSIONAL SOIREE ‘EVERY THURSDAY’ at Majestic ULTRA Lounge. Happy Hour 5 – 9 p.m. Unwind and Connect hosted by Commissioner Sheila Tyson.
**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.
**SYMPHONY at Saturn.
**COMEDIAN D’LAI at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.
**KYLE KIMBRELL/WORLD RECORD. WILL STEWART with WORLD RECORD at Saturn.
**COMEDIAN KARLOUS MILLER at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**EMO NITE at Iron City.
**FURNACE FEST KICK-OFF SHOW with DANGER HOUSE, RAVEN HILL, and LOWER STILL at The Nick.
NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH
**CELEBRATING GLOBAL HUMANITY DAY WITH TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT – This is the 26th Anniversary of GLOBAL HUMANITY DAY. In and out of town bringing his works for art, music, and book lovers, Birmingham Native DR. LORENZO PACE, world famous author, musician, professor and artist extraordinaire is the sculptor of TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT that stands on top of the African Burial Ground, in Thomas Paine Park, Foley Square, Federal Plaza at Centre Street in New York City. Triumph of the Human Spirit is the world’s largest site-specific outdoor installation dedicated to the discourse of African-American slavery. It is a 50-foot tall (5 stories) 300-ton, black granite sculpture based on a Chiwara (antelope) figure of legend for the Bambara people of Mali- standing in a boat symbolizing the arrival of Africans to New York City and their perseverance through generations of struggle and triumph. (Birmingham native Pace was selected from among hundreds of artists.) Dr. Pace was commissioned to build the monument in 1991 and it was dedicated at the site on October 1, 2000 to honor African Slaves interred in the mid-eighteenth century African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan. The sculpture symbolizes freedom and endurance. It is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America of both free and enslaved Africans. Workers came across the intact remains of more than 400 persons. This sculpture stands on this historic site that was preserved as a National Historic Landmark. Each October, Global Humanity Day and the statue’s anniversary have been celebrated. This year the anniversary of the Global Humanity Day is October 8 and celebrates its 26th Anniversary. The Triumph of the Human Spirit stands as an enduring reflection honoring the resilience of the ancestors while radiating hope, dignity and unity towards the future. It is one of the many pieces of art that Dr. Pace has around the world. Dr. Pace was chosen as the U.S. Representative to the 1976 World Black Arts and Cultural Festival in Nigeria and has been the winner of numerous regional and national art competitions, including VISTA’s Outstanding Creativity Award. His works remind us that culture is not just something to be preserved, but to be shared, spoken, danced and lived together. It should be shared through performance, storytelling, pageantry and rhythm in the community and elsewhere while radiating hope, dignity and unity toward the future. New York City’s MAYOR MAMDANI recognized Dr. Pace on Juneteenth with a short documentary highlighting the life and work of the artist. Dr. Pace has plans to bring some of his newest works to Birmingham in the near future as he has done many times in the past. His work has been exhibited at the Birmingham Museum of Art, in the City of Birmingham and is in the collection of many other art collectors around the world.
FAMILY HISTORY MONTH … AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY –
**OCTOBER 10 – LAST SEEN: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families, with Dr. Judy Giesberg, 10 a.m. at the Central Library, First Floor.
**OCTOBER 10 – DIANE: Five Generations of Separating with Bettina Byrd-Giles, 11:30 a.m. at the Central Library, First Floor.
**CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA HONORS DOLLY PARTON’S LEGACY AS ENROLLMENT PARTNER – Children’s of Alabama will act as an enrollment partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama. The pilot program will provide copies of the Imagination Library’s welcome book ‘The Little Engine That Could’ and enrollment materials to children under five being discharged from the hospital’s 24 inpatient units. This partnership will provide literacy resources directly to children and families while creating an opportunity to connect them with free books and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.
**KIDSXPRESS URGENT CARE GRAND OPENING – The KidsXpress Urgent Care opened recently at 300 Doug Baker Blvd, Suite 200 with a safari-themed, fun, family-focused atmosphere. It will provide pediatric care to families throughout Jefferson and Shelby Counties with treatment for common illnesses, minor injuries, respiratory conditions and other non-emergency medical needs. The center will offer sports physicals to help young athletes get ready for the seasons.
**FAIRFIELD AND MILES COLLEGE will be celebrating Miles College Homecoming and much more this weekend, all over Fairfield. Don’t miss it!!!
**SATURDAY – COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at First United CPCA, 4616 Terrace R, features conversations around domestic violence, infant mortality and breast cancer awareness. This event seeks to cultivate a supportive environment for engaging discussions pertinent to women’s health and holistic wellness. There will be refreshments and Giveaways.
**WEDNESDAY – FAITH CHAPEL STUDENT NIGHT is 6 p.m. at Faith Chapel, 100 Mike Moore Blvd. for ages 6-12. For more info, email: familyministry@faithchapel.net.
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS
**WEDNESDAY – CREDIT SCORES AND REPORTS, a PNC Financial Literacy Workshop, 8-10 a.m. in Hoover, 3000 Galleria Circle, #375. Discover strategies to accelerate your goals: increase your revenue, transform your operations and expand your network.
FOR LOVERS OF GARDENING, FOOD AND MORE
AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…
**OCTOBER 10 – FALL COMMUNITY HARVEST, 11 a.m. – Noon with KATELYN BAHR showing how to harvest okra, tomatoes, bean and peppers. FREE.
**OCTOBER 14 – AUTHOR TALK WITH GARDENER DALE SIEVERT with STUMPERIES – THE AFTERLIFE OF TREES, 10 a.m. in the Hodges Room.
**OCTOBER 24 – FLICKS AMONG THE FLOWERS, 5:30 p.m. in the Formal Lawn, with a costume contest. Bring your blanket, low chair and find a spot. FREE. Donations are suggested.
AT URBAN MINISTRY
**OCTOBER 22 – TABLE OF HOPE – A Dinner to Benefit Urban Ministry, 6 – 8 p.m. This year’s theme is opening doors of hope through compassion, wholeness and community. Support the great things that Urban Ministry do year round. Urban-ministry.org. SAVE THE DATE! LOOK FOR MORE!!
**URBAN MINISTRY connects neighbors with neighbors to serve Birmingham with compassion and wholeness as well as provides assistance for those that need it with qualification. WE CAFÉ is the cafe at Urban Ministry. It is a weekly café open during lunch hours with great food at 1229 Cotton Avenue S.W. Get a great lunch every week-day, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
THE BALLARD HOUSE PROJECTS:
**NOW through November 8 – THREADS OF TRANSFORMATION: Inspiring Milestones in Our Shared American Story exhibition is a collection of historical artifacts and mixed media of iconic reflections of American history from Birmingham’s own local families, artists & The Ballard House Project. Discover intergenerational coalitions pressing for a just and more perfect America. Don’t miss this first-ever exhibition on Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your questions, contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.
