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Comedian Eunice Elliott Opens Up About Her Love for Hosting Open Mic Nights

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Birmingham Times
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Eunice Elliott hosting the monthly Open Mic Night at the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

As a heavy rain pours outside the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama, on a warm July evening, the Broadway Room inside the venue is packed with dozens waiting to enjoy the monthly Open Mic Night, a showcase of comedians, some of whom have traveled from as far as Atlanta, Georgia, to perform. Several in the audience are in attendance not for the comedians but for the host — Eunice Elliott.

For the next two hours, Elliott, herself a popular comedian, is the constant for the show, opening with a monologue, introducing the performers, riffing in between acts, and engaging with the audience.

Rick and Amanda James from Hoover are among those who say they’ve come for Elliott. The couple came to their first open mic in June, came back again in July, and will be there again for the 7 p.m. show on August 29.

“[Elliott] is so funny, she’s beautiful, she’s hilarious. We love to come watch her. This is our second time at the StarDome ,” said Amanda James, speaking about her and her husband. “She just keeps it real, very authentic. She is very relatable. The stories she tells and the jokes she tells are relatable. Her energy is good.”

Her husband Rick said Elliott is easy going, able to reach people where they are: “Even if I’ve had a bad day, she’s going to bring me up with some of her authentic conversation, making people feel like we’re all together.”

The StarDome this summer brought back its Open Mic Night with Elliott as the host for the first time in more than a year. People who come to the show get to hear at least 10 comedians perform. On that rainy Thursday evening, she booked and hosted 13 comedians in the Broadway Room, which holds up to about 75 people.

“A lot of times people don’t like to host, but I really love to host because I’m steering the ship,” Elliott said following the July show. “I would rather be responsible for people’s good time than not.”

Elliott moved the show smoothly across two hours without a break in the comedy.

“Timing is my thing,” she said. “I’m good with timing, and that makes a difference. Timing and flow and giving [comedians] a chance to breathe, … or if energies come down bringing it back up.”

Many Talents

Elliott wears many hats: host/emcee; author; comedian; comedy writer; actress; radio/television personality; podcast host, community activist, speaker to name a few. Before transitioning to stand-up comedy, she was a news anchor for local television station WVTM 13.

“At the time I was still doing the news, when [comedians] would come by the TV station for interviews they would ask, ‘Why don’t you come open for me?’ Then, after they saw me open, they would ask, ‘Can you travel?’ What people don’t realize about the Birmingham comedy scene is that it’s vibrant because of that comedy club, [the StarDome],” said Elliot, who has opened for several big names in comedy who’ve performed in Birmingham — Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, J Anthony Brown, George Wallace, Finesse Mitchell, Guy Torry, Rodman, Mike Epps, Faizon Love, and others.

“That’s how I got connected with some of my comedy mentors, [including Marlon Wayans], because they would come to the StarDome,” she added. “That really afforded me a lot of opportunities, even though Birmingham historically is not thought of as a major comedy scene.”

Lifetime of Laughter

For Elliott, comedy runs in the family. She is the third of four siblings (two brothers and one sister), and they grew up always telling jokes.

“My whole family is funny,” she said. “We used to play a game called, ‘I Bet You Can’t Make Me Laugh.’ We always entertained each other. I would say that everybody in my family thinks they could be a stand-up comedian. I’m just the only one that tried it.”

Born and raised in Bessemer, Alabama, Elliott attended Jess Lainer High School and the University of Alabama (UA), where she studied journalism and theater.

“I graduated in the 1900s, … mind your business,” she laughed. “When I was at [UA], I focused on a communication degree in sports communication. My first job a week after graduation was at [sports broadcasting channel] ESPN in [Bristol], Connecticut. I stayed there a couple of years working on [the station’s flagship program, SportsCenter], as a production assistant on the smaller segments and game highlights that make up the show. Then I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and worked for the Tennessee Titans [football team] in media relations.”

From there, Elliott went to Miami, Florida, where she worked for the Orange Bowl Committee, a nonprofit organization that promotes sporting and entertainment events across South Florida. Then she moved to Atlanta, where she worked for a sports agent, Pat Dye Jr., whose dad coached at Auburn University. She then started her own public relations firm and represented professional athletes for 10 years.

WVTM 13

Eunice Elliott inside the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Elliott returned to Birmingham in 2013. During that year, she started at WVTM 13 as the traffic reporter and then was promoted to morning show anchor. “At that point, I was 38 years old, and I had never done television,” she said. “I had done some comedy bits and a little stand-alone segment for them, though, so they reached out to me when they were looking to move someone to the morning show.”

Elliott stayed at the station until 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

She always wanted to write comedy, and she would often frequent comedy shows and rewrite the comedians’ acts. After a tough breakup, though, she became “sad and depressed,” she recalled.

“I was like, ‘What could I do that nobody could ever take from me?’ That’s when I started going to open mics. … It was one of the most natural things I ever did.”

Since that time, Elliott has performed around the country: “There were several open mics at bars around [Birmingham], especially back when I started. … I also performed at the StarDome’s open mic back then, as well.”

What she likes most about being a comedian is, “saying the quiet parts out loud,” she said.

“Either you’re going to say, ‘I think that, too, and that’s why it’s funny,’ or ‘I’ve never thought about that.’ I skew on either side. If I’m making a joke about plucking chin hairs, there are a lot of women who will say, ‘Oh, dang. That’s not something I have figured out how to laugh about yet.’ Now they can because it’s like they’re not alone. It’s a struggle, but it’s not the end of the world,” said Elliott.

“I take things that most people are going through, whether it’s dating, aging, life, career, family, and I just say the quiet part loud or say the part you didn’t realize you felt,” she added.

Eunice Elliott hosting the monthly Open Mic Night at the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

“Appreciation for Home”

While she doesn’t do it often anymore, Elliott has taught classes at the StarDome to help comedians sharpen their skills.

“If someone is thinking about being a comedian, I usually tell them, ‘Don’t think of what could be funny, just share what is funny.’ That’s my number one thing. I noticed that when people first get on stage, they start making up these fantastical ideas that aren’t realistic and don’t really connect with the audience,” she said.

Elliott’s favorite comedians include some of the greats who changed the game, such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle, and Eddie Murphy.

“Now some of my favorite comedians aren’t the most well-known comedians, but [Jeremiah “JJ” Williamson] is great, [Christopher Powell, also known as] Comedian CP. … And I have to put Marlon Wayans on the list pretty high because he’s my comedy mentor.”

Wayans — the youngest sibling in the Wayans Family of entertainers, which includes multihyphenated artists Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, and Shawn Wayans — is known for his role in the cult classic “White Chicks,” a 2004 film in which he and his brother Marlon are law-enforcement agents who disguise themselves as white women part of an undercover assignment.

“[Marlon Wayans] has supported me for many years, my writing and my comedy. He’s the one who convinced me to move to [Los Angeles, California],” said Elliott, who spent the past year on the West Coast at celebrity news and entertainment outlet TMZ, in addition to doing stand-up comedy, acting, and auditioning.

“I’m a person that enjoys traveling and having good experiences, but I have deep appreciation for home,” she said.

News staff writer Barnett Wright contributed to this report.

Eunice Elliott will host the next Open Mic Thursday at the StarDome on August 29 at 7 p.m., and the club will continue doing the showcase for the foreseeable future on the last Thursday of the month. Individuals who desire to be part of the show are required to submit a video of a previous comedy performance to eunicecomedy@gmail.com in advance; performers are not confirmed to be on the show until they receive a confirmation email.

More Than Just a Host, Eunice Elliott Mentors Those New to Comedy

By
Birmingham Times
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Eunice Elliott inside the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Long before the audience files into the Broadway Room at the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama, on a July evening, a group of comedians gather in the lobby for guidance. They are in the venue for Open Mic Night and for many this is their first time on stage. Some are nervous, but not for long. They are put at ease by Eunice Elliott, herself a comedian, who will host the show.

“She was brilliant, she was nice to us. She told us how it would go … she talked to us before we went out, she talked to us backstage,” said Randall Arrington, 19, aka Showstopper, from Wylam in Birmingham, who performed that evening. “It helps when folks who have done it a longtime still tell you they get nervous.”

“If someone is thinking about being a comedian, I usually tell them don’t think of what could be funny, just share what is funny,” Elliott told the Birmingham Times in an interview the following morning. “That’s my number one thing.  I noticed that when people first get on stage, they start making up these fantastical ideas that aren’t realistic and don’t really connect with the audience.”

The StarDome Comedy Club this summer brought back its Open Mic Night for the first time in more than a year with Elliott as the host. The shows, on the last Thursday of each month, run approximately two hours and Elliott closely monitors each comedian from backstage.

Eunice Elliott hosting the monthly Open Mic Night at the StarDome Comedy Club in Hoover, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

“Any show I’m on I watch,” said the former WVTM 13 morning news anchor. “Most comedians don’t, which is horrible. Let’s say I’m headlining. Or I’m hosting and doing a show like this [open mic] with so many comedians [12]. You need to know what people are saying on stage. You don’t want to go and do similar material and tell the same joke . . . hopefully you can tailor your material to a moment and that comes with time.”

She added, “Also, being a writer and I punch up people’s material for a living, I write with other comedians so I watch everybody’s show, I’m paying attention because it might be something they say … that’s why I enjoy it because it gives me an opportunity to exercise those muscles. I can riff pretty easily, I can do what [comedian] Roy Wood Jr. called ‘get more meat off the bone’ so you might see someone has a great premise or a setup and that either reminds me of something that I can talk about that I do or there is something else I can get off the bone from them.”

With Elliott as host for Open Mic Night at the StarDome people fill the Broadway Room to see more than the comedians who perform. Some in the audience come to see the host as well.

Rick and Amanda James from Hoover are among those who say they’ve come for Elliott. The couple came to their first open mic in June, came back again in July and will be there again for the 7 p.m. show on August 29.

“Eunice is so funny, she’s beautiful. She’s hilarious. We love to come watch her,” said Amanda James, of her and her husband. “She just keeps it real. Very authentic. She is very relatable. The stories she tells and the jokes she tells are relatable. Her energy is good.”

Her husband Rick said Elliott is easy going, able to reach people where they are. “Even if I had a bad day she’s going to bring me up with some of her authentic conversation, making people feel like we’re all together.”

Elliott will host the next Open Mic Thursday, August 29, at 7 p.m., and the club will continue doing it for the foreseeable future on the last Thursday of the month.

People who desire to be a part of the show are required to submit a video of a previous comedy performance to eunicecomedy@gmail.com in advance, and people are not confirmed to be on the show until they receive a confirmation email.

Wally Amos, of ‘Famous Amos’ Cookie Fame, Dies at 88

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Birmingham Times
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Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88. (File)

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER | Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88.

Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name. In his later years, he became a proprietor of a cookie shop called Chip & Cookie in Hawaii, where he moved in 1977.

He died Tuesday at his home in Honolulu, with his wife, Carol, at his side, his children said. He died from complications with dementia, they said.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story, and a source of Black pride,” said a statement from his children, Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.

They said their dad “inspired a generation of entrepreneurs when he founded the world’s first cookie store” on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975.

Wally Amos was also co-founder of Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., whose products are found in stores nationwide. But Amos said the fame never really mattered much to him.

“Being famous is highly overrated anyway,” Amos told The Associated Press in 2007.

His muffin company, based in Shirley, N.Y., was originally founded as Uncle Noname Cookie Co. in 1992, a few years after Amos lost Famous Amos, which still widely uses his name on its products.

Amos had said the Famous Amos cookies sold today are unlike his cookies, which had lots of chocolate, real butter and pure vanilla extract.

“You can’t compare a machine-made cookie with handmade cookie,” he told the AP. “It’s like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Volkswagen.”

Uncle Noname, however, foundered because of debt and problems with its contracted manufacturers.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996, abandoned cookies and went into muffins at the suggestion of Amos’ business partner, Lou Avignone.

Inside his now-shuttered Hawaii cookie shop, he sold bite-sized cookies similar to the ones he first sold at the Famous Amos Hollywood store.

Literacy

Amos also was active in promoting reading. His shop, for example, had a reading room with dozens of donated books, and Amos usually spent Saturdays sitting on a rocking chair, wearing a watermelon hat, reading to children.

The former high school dropout penned eight books, served as spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America for 24 years and gave motivational talks to corporations, universities and other groups.

Amos earned numerous honors for his volunteerism, including the Literacy Award presented by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

“Your greatest contribution to your country is not your signature straw hat in the Smithsonian, but the people you have inspired to learn to read,” Bush said.

In one of his books, “Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade,” Amos explained how he lost Famous Amos even before it was sold for $63 million to a Taiwanese company in 1991. Despite robust sales, by 1985, the business was losing money, so Amos brought in outside investors.

“The new owners gobbled up more of my share until all of a sudden, I found I had lost all ownership in the company I founded,” Amos wrote. Before long, the company had changed ownership four times.

Talent Agent

Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Amos moved to New York City at age 12 because of his parents’ divorce. He lived with an aunt, Della Bryant, who taught him how to make chocolate chip cookies.

He later dropped out of high school to join the Air Force before working as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency, where he became a talent agent, working with The Supremes, Simon & Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye before borrowing $25,000 to launch his cookie business.

He was the first Black agent in the business, his son, Shawn Amos, said.

“Our dad taught us the value of hard work, believing in ourselves, and chasing our dreams,” his children’s statement said. “We also know he would love it if you had a chocolate chip cookie today.”

Boating Safety Practices as The Summer Winds Down

By
Birmingham Times
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As summer begins to wind down and schools reopen, the weather remains conducive to outdoor activities and last-minute short vacations. Many outdoor activities involve boating, and now many vacations involve excursions centered around partying on different types of yachts. It continues to puzzle me how many individuals get caught up in the idea of water excursions without investigating the safety measures which should be practiced.

Last week’s safety article reviewed some boating safety practices. This week’s article will highlight additional ones that are equally important to practice.

First, make sure your communications devices are charged. Charging communication devices onboard can make an enormous difference when unforeseen situations occur. The ability to contact the coast guard when in distress is crucial. The coast guard monitors very high-frequency radios 24 hours a day to handle emergency situations. So, before embarking on a boating excursion, make sure you have a quality communication device with a high-frequency range.

When children are onboard boats, it’s crucial to take extra safety precautions when embarking on boating trips due to their curious and adventurous nature. (Adobe Stock)

Secondly, avoid risky behavior while boating. Just as risky locations for swimming should be avoided, the same is true while boating. In many situations, visible sign boards indicate the level of danger in certain areas to prevent boaters that are new to the area from venturing into such spots. A careful boater should be able to decipher the meaning of these sign boards and steer away from these areas.

Next, when children are onboard it’s crucial to take extra safety precautions when embarking on boating trips due to their curious and adventurous nature. Parents and guardians should communicate certain vital information to prevent accidents and drowning. An example of this is explaining the importance of a life jacket/vest and how to use it. Also talking about the importance of staying in the safest part of the boat, away from the edge, to prevent falling and other dangerous scenarios such as drowning.

Lastly, not being a distracted driver while on the road also applies while boating. It takes a moment’s distraction for a boat to smash into a rock and capsize or a few seconds for children to disappear from view. More than one adult must be on a boating expedition when children are onboard.

Boating is a great way to have fun and bond with family and friends, but it can also be very dangerous if safety is not taken seriously. Safety measures cannot be overemphasized because they are necessary to prevent drowning and other unfortunate circumstances. Therefore, always Keep an Eye on Safety.

Heather Skanes, M.D., Brings an Oasis of Care for Women and Families to This Weekend’s Babypalooza

By
Birmingham Times
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Heather Skanes, M.D., 36, will be a featured participant in this year’s Black Maternal Health Expo (BMHE) at the Babypalooza Baby Expo. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

When Heather Skanes, M.D., an OB-GYN and owner of Oasis Women’s Health and Oasis Family Birthing Center, wanted to open Alabama’s first licensed and nationally accredited freestanding birth center, she knew the perfect location — the heart of Birmingham’s West Side, near the recently closed OB-GYN department at Princeton Baptist Medical Center, formerly the Simon-Williamson Clinic.

Her practice on the city’s West side means “women have a choice in a time when so many choices are being taken away,” said the doctor, who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system.

“The [Birthing Center] is a place where women can express their values and have their cultures honored,” she added. “While we want to empower all birthing people, we do have a specific interest in changing the outcomes for people of color. This area is full of people who greatly benefit from the improved outcomes associated with the midwifery model of care. That is why we are committed to our surrounding community in West End.”

Skanes, 36, will be a featured participant in this year’s Black Maternal Health Expo (BMHE) at the Babypalooza Baby Expo, which returns to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), in the East Ballroom, on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While Babypalooza marks its 18th season, the BMHE is a relatively new addition, returning for its second year. Babypalooza is centered on providing education and self-advocacy tools, and the BMHE complements the event’s mission by focusing on critical maternal health disparities faced by Black birthing women.

Black women experience a maternal mortality rate nearly three times higher than that of white women, and the BMHE is designed to offer a safe and empowering space for Black mothers to access a wide range of resources, offering everything from support groups to connections with culturally competent OB-GYNs, as well as midwives and doulas.

Midwives are health care professionals who provide an array of health care services for women, including gynecological examinations, contraceptive counseling, prescriptions, and labor and delivery care. Doulas are professionals trained in childbirth, who provide emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth.

“Last year, I had a number of expectant women [at Babypalooza] discuss concerns with me about the care that they were currently receiving or had previously received. This was particularly common for the women of color who attended,” Skanes said.

Heather Skanes, M.D., opened her private practice in 2021 and added the Oasis Family Birthing Center in 2022. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Vital Resources

At the expo, Black moms-to-be and new moms will find information on vital resources, such as prenatal and postpartum care, breastfeeding support, and mental health services to help navigate pregnancy and the postpartum period with confidence and peace of mind.

“I will be [at Babypalooza] with my midwives and staff to provide information on our services, and they’ll get to learn more about the birthing center experience. I believe I will also be participating in one of the panels,” said Skanes, who has four midwives, two nurses, and two birth assistants at her practice.

Skanes opened her private practice in 2021 and added the Oasis Family Birthing Center in 2022 to create a collaborative practice among midwives, OB-GYNs, hospitals, and birthing centers.

“I was inspired by midwifery students who needed a place to learn and practice their skills. While this process has certainly been challenging, I do believe that our goal will have a significant and positive impact on Alabama’s maternal health outcomes,” she said.

“We believe that all women and birthing people are entitled to affordable maternal care and that healthy women with low-risk pregnancies should have the option to choose where and with whom they give birth,” Skanes added.

She explained that “birth centers are portals for reproductive healing, and the trust between a midwife and a birthing woman is sacred. The midwifery care model mends emotional wounds, removes barriers, and reinstates autonomy previously lost due to a systemic dedication to obstetric violence and trauma seen in hospital facilities throughout the state.”

The mission of the Oasis Family Birthing Center since its founding has been to transform maternal care in Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Overcoming Obstacles

The mission of the Oasis Family Birthing Center since its founding has been to transform maternal care in Alabama, but Skanes faced a formidable challenge when the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) threatened her with criminal and civil penalties for operating without a license.

Despite the severity of these threats, no clear path was provided on how to obtain the necessary licensure, placing a de facto ban on her birth center’s operations and forcing her to stop accepting patients in June 2023.

Skanes, along with two co-plaintiffs, sought justice with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They contended that their lawsuit against the ADPH was a battle for the rights of midwives, birthing centers, and the women who rely on them.

Skanes won an injunction against the ADPH to continue to operate, reopening her birth center in January 2024 and becoming the first in the state to receive national accreditation in April 2024.

Oasis Women’s Health offers a host of services related to menopause, infertility, fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, pregnancy, birth control, well-women exams, and minimally invasive surgery, while the Oasis Family Birthing Center offers individual and group prenatal care, postpartum care, water birth, circumcision, lactation consultations, and breastfeeding classes.

Asked what distinguishes the services provided at Oasis from those offered at the typical OB-GN practice, Skanes said, “The birthing center is an evidenced-based approach to pregnancy and childbirth, with the biggest difference being an individualized approach to prenatal care and labor.”

At Oasis, she added, “women can have both a safe and an empowering experience.”

For Skanes, the BMHE is not just an event; it’s a lifeline for Black mothers.

“Babypalooza brings awareness to maternal health issues in Alabama. It also highlights some of the positive changes that have come to our state. … [My] participation opens people up to the choices they have regarding their birth,” she said. “I think [the BMHE] makes Black women feel seen and heard. I think it helps women of color to feel that the community is concerned about us and our babies. I believe it also gives women the courage to advocate for themselves.”

The Babypalooza Baby Expo and Black Maternal Health Expo (BMHE) return to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), in the East Ballroom, on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events are free, and registration is available at Babypalooza.com.

Seasons May Change, but Challenges and Temptations Won’t

By
Birmingham Times
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With a solid month away from the turn of a brand-new season, it reminds me to understand the power of the change in seasons because we can become open to some negative things — attacks and challenges — when we’re not aware of that change.

In Alabama, we know that the autumnal equinox really doesn’t start off with cool temperatures. It seems the actual date on the calendar is kind of a placeholder for the temperatures to adjust whenever they’d like.

And as I look out of my window on this sunny morning with gorgeous weather, I have noticed a few mornings where the temperatures were just a little bit lower than normal for this time of year.  Let me tell you why that’s important to me.

As a result of some of these changes in the atmosphere it almost feels like fall in the city while I’ve been conducting my business just like summer is all well and fine. And you know what, I ended up getting caught with some serious sinus stuff and thank God I had no hospital stays or anything like that, but the change caught up with me.

And shout out to all of those of you who have dealt with colds and sinus issues and even COVID as I understand it is back on the scene for some.

Here’s what I’m saying: I believe that I opened myself up because the seasons are changing, and anytime there’s a season change, I must be particularly careful with the way I dress. I have to be particularly careful in terms of the health of my sinuses and all that great stuff, so I wasn’t paying attention.

How often is it that we’re not paying attention in life and the challenge comes? the situation comes? the issue comes? and we open ourselves up to some things that we did not have to experience if only we’d been paying attention?

That’s my simple word for you. Pay attention – the season is changing and by being mindful of that naturally, metaphorically and spiritually, you will save yourself some heartache. You’ll save yourself some challenges and you’ll spare yourself from some temptations.

The young folks say, “Stay woke.”  But for my 50 and over crowd, I say “pay attention.”

As always, I’m cheering for you and reach out if you need me.

Keisa Sharpe is a life coach, author and speaker. Her column appears each month online and in The Birmingham Times. You can contact Keisa at keisasharpe@yahoo.com and visit www.allsheanaturals.com for natural hair and body products.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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DJ Gorgeous (Provided)

BY GWEN DERU | The Birmingham Times

CELEBRATE BLACK BUSINESS MONTH!!! SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES!!!

TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.
**3RD THURSDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**THAT 90’S LOVE: AN OLD SCHOOL R&B PARTY at Saturn.
**BURLESQUE NIGHT at The Nick with Host BELLA DONNA at The Nick.
**LUCKY DAYE at Iron City.
**REAL FUNNY BHM COMEDY OPEN MIC, 7:30 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company
**THIRST TRAP THURSDAY, 5 p.m. at 2400 7th Avenue South.
**KIKSTART at Water Mark 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.
**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…
**EVERY FRIDAY – STORYTIME AT THE GARDENS, Every Friday, 10 – 11 a.m. FREE at BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS.
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**LATE NIGHT WITH DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick.
**PERPETUAL GROOVE at Saturn.
**EVERY FRIDAY – STORYTIME AT THE GARDENS, Every Friday, 10 – 11 a.m. FREE at BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS.
**EVERY FRIDAY, R&B at The Chandelier, 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.
**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, SW.

SATURDAY…
**BESSEMER FARMERS MARKET, 9 a.m., at 100 14th Street Highway 150.
**EVERY SATURDAY at BIRDSONG FARMERS MARKET, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 2824 5th Avenue South, at Automatic Seafood.
**WINE DOWN HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Saferoom Lounge Bar.
**EACH AND EVERY SATURDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.
**EVERY SATURDAY SOLD OUT THE SATURDAYS JUMP OFF, 10 p.m. at Onyx of
Bham, 615 8th Avenue West.
**KIRKOS! at The Nick.
**HIGHWAY NATIVES AND ZACH AUSTIN at the Nick.
**LATE NIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT with R.1.Y.T. at The Nick.
**COLISEUM with DROVES, AND BULGING at Saturn.
**THE 502s GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP with Special Guest MAX MCNOWN at Iron City.

SUNDAY…
**WORSHIP AT THE SIXTH, 9:30 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
**EVERY SUNDAY – SOUL FOOD SUNDAYS, 1-5 p.m. (Every Sunday) at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.
**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.
**EVERY 3rd SUNDAY JAZZ JAM SESSION, 4-8 p.m. at the Ferus on 41st.
**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.
**EVERY 4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.
**AARON LEE TASJAN with RICKI at The Nick.
**KIRKOS PRIMUS AFTER PARTY at The Nick.

MONDAY…
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.
**RNB MONDAYS, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 Eighth Avenue West.

TUESDAY…
**KIKSTART at Water Mark in Bessemer, 9 a.m. with Free Food Boxes…until gone.
**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 SPECIAL TUESDAYS with Food, Drinks Specials at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.
**EVERY TUESDAY – TUESDAY NIGHT TRAILS 5:45 p.m. at Red Mountain Park.
**EVERY TUESDAY is SOUL CAFÉ Happy Hour 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.
**JOSE CARR’S JAZZ JAM, 7:30 p.m. at True Story Brewing Co. 5510 Crestwood Blvd.
**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.
**TASTY TUESDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham.
**BIRMINGHAM SONGWRITER’S ROUND with Host SUSANNAH SEALES at the Nick.
**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY at the Nick.
**CHRIS & CHRIS COMEDY CONNECTION at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY…
**INTERFAITH NOONDAY PRAYER SERVICES, every Wednesday, 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.
**WEDNESDAY NIGHT POOL TOURNAMENT AND KARAOKE NIGHT, 5 p.m. at
Carter’s Hookah Lounge and Grill, hosted by Jo Sweetz with the Pool Tournament, at 7 p.m. and Karaoke at 8 p.m.
**EVERY WEDNESDAY, YOU, ME & RNB, 6 p.m. at 2206 Bar & Lounge, 2206 31stStreet, 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.
**REAL FUNNY BHM COMEDY OPEN MIC, 7:30 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 in Fairfield.
**SUBSTRATE BINGO at Saturn.
**SARIYAH IDAN, GALACTIC ENGINEERS AND JOAN MILLS at The Nick.

NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.
**3RD THURSDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**BEERSIPPERS ALBUM RELEASE Show at Saturn.
**LADY GUN & HILL STREET at The Nick.
**EVERY THURSDAY LATE NIGHT JAM with GRACE & ANANDA at The Nick.

NEXT FRIDAY…
**EVERY FRIDAY – STORYTIME AT THE GARDENS, Every Friday, 10 – 11 a.m. FREE at BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS.
**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.
**MILK AND HONEY at Saturn.
**X5Podcast presents MAGIC CITY MAYHEM Featuring LYNAM, VELCRO PYGMIES & more at Iron City.

FOR GARDEN LOVERS…
AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…
**ART AT THE GARDENS for August will have artwork by WILLIAM DARBY on
display in the gallery outside the library.
**AUGUST 20 – ALABAMA DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPES, 11 a.m. – Noon.
**SEPTEMBER 10 – A SURVEY OF FERNS, 11 a.m. – Noon.
**SEPTEMBER 12 – CREATE YOUR OWN DESERT TERRARIUM, 11 a.m. – Noon.

AT SIDEWALK FILM FEST…
**TRAP showing Today through Sunday
**CATVIDEO FEST 2024 is TODAY ONLY.
**NETWORKING NIGHTS, TODAY, 5-7 p.m. at Sidewalk’s Monthly Movie Trivia.
**SIDEWALK FILM 101: DO THE RIGHT THING, Director Spike Lee, starring Danny Alello, Spike and Ossie Davis, TODAY through Sunday.
**MONTHLY MOVIE TRIVIA, TODAY.
**FILMMAKER FOCUS POWELL & PRESSBURGER- MADE IN ENGAND: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, Director David Hinton, starring Martin Scorsese, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, showing Friday through Sunday.
**FILMMAKER FOCUS POWELL & PRESSBURGER – THE RED SHOE, director Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, starring Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook and Marius Goring. FRIDAY ONLY!
**SATURDAY MORNING MOVIES: The Great Muppet Caper with Director Jim Henson starring Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Saturday.
**FILMAKER FOCUS POWELL & PRESSBURGER – BLACK NARCISSUS, with Director Michael Powell, starring Deborah Kerr, David Farrar and Flora Robinson showing on Saturday.
**FILMMAKER FOCUS POWELL & PRESSBURGER- A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH with Director Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, starring David Niven, Kim Hunter and Roger Livesey. Sunday.

FOR ART LOVERS…
**SEPTEMBER 28 – RHYTHMS OF COLOR Art Festival and Student Art Competition, 5- 9 p.m. at the Harbert Center hosted by ARETTA WOODRUFF with live entertainment, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres with a Bit of Everything including original art, pottery, jewelry, apparel, accessories, purses, eyewear, soap, perfume and books. Special guests are Atlanta Artist BRIAN DAGREAT, Dallas Artist DELORES GEE, St. Croix, Virgin Island CLARITY LEVEL and New Orleans Culinary Artist TONI NORTH.

HAPPENINGS AT SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH…
**WORSHIP SERVICE 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).

AT GIFTED CITY CHURCH… EVERY SUNDAY!
**GIFTED CITY CHURCH, Sunday Worship is 10 a.m. at 228 Second Avenue North in the Downtown, City Center. Join the one-hour service with children’s service and complimentary coffee and tea. For more: info@thegiftpad.org.

COMING SOON…
**SEPTEMBER 13 – ZOO GALA SAFARI SOIREE – A black-tie event that is a Safari Soiree for an unforgettable evening filled with elegance, entertainment, exceptional cuisine and majestic animals. SAVE THE DATE!
**SEPTEMBER 28 – MAXWELL: THE SERENADE TOUR at the Legacy Arena.
**OCTOBER 5 – THE REUNION TOUR 2024 with KIRK FRANKLIN, YOLANDA ADAMS, FRED HAMMOND, MARVIN SAPP & THE CLARK SISTERS with special guest KIERRA SHEARD-KELLY at the Legacy Arena.
**OCTOBER 13 – 85 SOUTH: BIG BUSINESS COMEDY TOUR at the Legacy Arena.

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: gwenderu@yahoo.com and thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

 

“Staying focused, remembering where I come from and thinking on what God has done for me has helped get me through the challenges.”

By
Birmingham Times
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JAMES MOKAYA OMWERI, RECENTLY GRADUATED WITH PH. D. IN CHEMISTRY FROM UAB; UAB NEWS, AUGUST 10.

Area Leaders, Groups Gather at Miles College to Stress the ‘Urgency’ of Voting

By
Birmingham Times
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0
Students, leaders with multiple organizations and collegiate members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) were at Miles on Tuesday for a campus-wide voter activation event. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

With three months remaining until the 2024 Presidential Election, Miles College is not wasting time engaging young voters.

The Fairfield-based Historically Black College and University (HBCU) on Tuesday hosted a campus-wide voter activation event that drew hundreds of students and multiple organizations including WokeVote, the Birmingham Chapter of the NAACP, the Black Women’s Roundtable, civic leaders, and collegiate members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

“There is an urgency nationwide not just for voters to reach the polls, but for us to reach the younger generation who may not have been fully educated on the principles of voting,” said Candice Hardy, Director of Learning Resources and Project Manager for Miles College.

Miles President Bobbie Knight said, “As we embark on the Fall semester of our 126th year, during a presidential election year, it is imperative that we ensure our scholars and the surrounding community are educated, energized, and engaged. Voting is our given right, one that numerous courageous individuals fought for us to have. This is our moment to honor the legacy of those who fought for our right to vote.”

Mehgan Owens, a Miles senior and member of Delta Sigma Theta who is studying biology, said Kamala Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket for President this year is inspiring.

Harris, who has enough delegates to become the Democratic Party nominee at next week’s DNC gathering in Chicago will face Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election.

“As a Black woman, it’s important to see someone like her … not only because she would be the first Black women to become President, but more so because of her character,” said Owens, “… we have a Black woman who cares about education and women’s rights.”

From left: Municipal Court Judge Jameria Moore; Assistant District Attorney Chauntae Brown; and Sultana Godwin, Candidate, Jefferson County School District, District 2 (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Judge Jameria Moore who participated in the event said now is the time to get students involved in the voting process.

“Being the graduate of an HBCU (Alabama A&M) … [we should talk] to our students on a daily basis, not just at rallies … so that they have the right people in [office] to make sure their life is a lot easier than the life before them,” said Moore.

Chauntae Brown, Assistant District Attorney, said voter registration rallies, especially at HBCUs, are needed “… we once did not have this right [to vote],” she said. “This is a right that was fought for through blood, sweat, and tears, and it’s important that we don’t waste that right …”.

Jefferson County School District 2 candidate, Sultana Godwin, said students need to be aware that no matter who they’re voting for “they need to understand what it means to get out there to cast a ballot and do it every time that we have an election.”

Miles plans to conduct monthly engagement voting events through student-led initiatives, and panel discussions open to the community through the Nov. 5 election, said school officials.

300 Businesses Highlighted in Birmingham During Black Business Month

By
Birmingham Times
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Crystal, left, and Denise Peterson, co-owners of Yo' Mama's Restaurant, in downtown Birmingham. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

WVTM / NBC13

There are more than 300 minority-owned businesses operating in Birmingham.

Crystal Peterson’s “Yo Mama’s” is known for its chicken and is a staple in the community. Peterson says Black Business Month is a time to represent for her family and community.

“I’m really happy that we are considered a place of excellence, I wanted to be an example that other people can see that Black people can own things and own it affluently and be excellent at it,” Peterson said.

Alabama customers take pride in celebrating the month by spending their money on Black-owned businesses.

“There’s been a long history of Black-owned businesses that have not flourished, but here’s an example of one that’s doing a great job right in central Birmingham,” said Jeremy Butler, a recent customer at Yo Mama’s, said.

While business owners pride themselves on serving, Torey Amerson owns Marc Dion Clothier, which offers custom-made suits, and says it costs to be the boss.

“Starting a business and running a business is not an easy task. So you may start the business and feel as though it’s not going as it should, but if God has a plan for you, then just continue down that path,” Amerson said.

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) has supported more than 200 projects in the city and says the month allows customers to find hidden gems across the country.

“It amplifies and elevates businesses that many in the broader business community don’t know about. It’s a growing industry, and that’s why Birmingham Business Alliance partners with other Black business development organizations in the city,” Victor Brown, director of small business for the BBA, said.

The BBA plans to create new programs to support even more Black-owned businesses.

For more on this story visit here

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