Monthly Archives: November 2007

Got plans this weekend? 11.30 – 12.2

Posted on November 30, 2007 by | Leave a comment

Wow! December 1 might be the most over-scheduled day of the year – everyone wants to kick off their holiday season Saturday. Makes me wonder what we’re going to do the rest of the month besides fight the crowds at the mall.

If you like a parade, there’s four to choose from:

Homewood: 9 a.m.
Starts at Homewood Library, through downtown Homewood and ends on Central Avenue at Homewood Park. Downtown Homewood is said to be the best location to view the parade.

Center Point: 11 a.m.
Starts at Cathedral of the Cross church near the Birmingham city limits and ends at the Post Office Shopping Center.

Vestavia Hills: 10 a.m.
Parade travels down Highway 31 South from Shades Crest Road to Canyon Road.

Mountain Brook: 3 p.m.
Starts at Crestline Elementary, heads through Crestline Village to end at Dan Watkins Drive. The shops of Crestline Village will have their annual Home for the Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Craft fairs and movies on the other side of the jump…

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Posted in alabama, art, events, holiday, homewood, mountain brook, Vestavia Hills

Bob Dylan plays APTV this weekend

Posted on November 29, 2007 by | Leave a comment

Dylan fans will be able to enjoy their man during APTV’s December pledge drive (yes, it’s already time). Bob Dylan: Live in Newport 1963-1965 will begin its engagement on APTV beginning this Saturday. The special is based on a DVD released by Legacy Recordings: The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival, who announced the special’s PBS schedule on their Soundboard blog.

Here’s a taste of what to expect on December 1 @ 10 p.m. or on the DVD (released back on October 30).

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/S1TKUk9nXjk" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

You can also check out this review of the DVD courtesy of The New Yorker.

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Posted in alabama, film

What to do when you’re in town waiting for a bowl game

Posted on November 29, 2007 by | 4 comments

As promised, we’ve started a list of things for folks visiting during this year’s PapaJohns.com Bowl to do when they’re not out tailgating and cheering on their respective teams.

Feel free to add on (we’re hoping that you do):

There’s also some great food options too (especially since you love barbecue) – Full Moon, Dreamland, Golden Rule and Jim n Nick’s are the “big names” but there are others. You can head on over to Bhamdining.com to get some more information about what options exist.

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Posted in alabama, birmingham, citywide, events, sports

Got plans this weekend? 11.16 – 11.18

Posted on November 16, 2007 by | 1 comment

I suggest you start the weekend off at The Nick (Rocks). Should be a good show tonight. I caught Dead Confederate at last year’s City Stages and though I hadn’t heard of them before, I liked what a heard. Reg of Reg’s Coffeehouse likes them so much, he stepped out of the booth to support the guys. Show is on paper to start at 10 p.m. but we know how that goes. Just plan on staying up really, really late. The Nick didn’t share a cost on their Web site so I can’t tell you either.

If you read this every Friday, you’re the best. Besides that, you’re starting to figure out that I really like telling you about The Bottletree. Them nice folks have been in business a year and have a great party planned Saturday to celebrate. The best part for me and the folks at my house, is that the first half of the party is a kid-friendly fall carnival with games. Second half will have some great music by The Hold Steady and Art Brut starting around 8.

Just like in years past here in the South, it has just now gotten cold. Right when I suggest you spend all night outdoors staring at the sky. Not because I’ve lost my mind, but because now is the best time to catch the Leonid meteor shower. So before you head home from your Saturday night activities, I suggest you head to Krispy Kreme, pick up some nice hot donuts and coffee, and find a nice SAFE dark spot to watch this free entertainment from the heavens.

P.S. Makes a great date, trust me. Here’s more info from the folks at Earth & Sky.

The Magic City is a big place so there’s lots happening around here. What are your plans? Tell us.

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Posted in alabama, birmingham, events, music

BCRI earns national award for community service

Posted on November 15, 2007 by | 1 comment

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute was recently recognized as a recipient of the 2007 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for the extraordinary public service among libraries and museums, awarded by federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The award, formerly known as the National Award, it includes a $10,000 award and a shiny new medal to recognize “their extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.”

BCRI was one of ten institutions to receive the 2007 award; nominations for the 2008 are already being accepted (they’re due in February).

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Posted in 35203, alabama, birmingham, culture, museums

Blue’s Reviews: Megan Kimber/Dia de los Muertos

Posted on November 13, 2007 by | Leave a comment

In one night earlier this month, art reviewer M. Blue Horn visited two very different art exhibits. Listen as she introduces you to the work of Megan Kimber, a new-to-Birmingham painter of fantastical images, at Nordys Gallery, then journeys a few blocks over to explore the Mexican fantasyland of Dia de los Muertos at Bare Hands Gallery.

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Posted in alabama, art, birmingham, reviews

Got plans this weekend? 11.09 – 11.12

Posted on November 9, 2007 by | 1 comment

If you haven’t been to Bottletree yet, what are you waiting for?! While I loved Moonlight Music Cafe and I think The Nick does indeed rock, this is my new favorite place to hang out and hear music. Because it’s providing a venue for acts that aren’t on the radio. And if you do happen to hear them on the radio, you only heard it because you’re listening to Reg on Sunday (Thanks Reg!).

This Saturday the main act is Rogue Wave. This band happens to be building some great momentum right now – Starbucks free song of the day, late night TV appearance, TV drama soundtracks. Catch them now and in a few years you could be saying, “… I remember those guys. I saw them play at this great venue in Birmingham and I only paid $10. Geez, their tickets now are outrageous.”

FYI, waiting to buy tickets is going to cost you 2 more bucks at the door.

The bar, cafe and venue is located at 3719 Third Ave. South.

Veterans Day is Sunday but there’s no mail or money on Monday. I’m of the opinion that regardless how I feel about the current situation in Iraq, anyone that was and is willing to take a bullet for me deserves my respect and thanks. World War II may not have been the same war as Vietnam, and Vietnam may not have been the same war as Iraq, but war is war. I’m not saying you need to change how you vote or give up all of your day off, but one way to show your support for the troops old and new is to cheer from the sidelines of the annual Veterans Day parade downtown Monday. It just happens to be the nation’s oldest and largest.

The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. Here’s the route. And I was surprised to learn that this is not the only event organized by the non-profit National Veterans Day organization. They have a whole bunch of events planned for Sunday and Monday.

So what are you doing this weekend? Please share. I may want to join you.

P.S. Ha Ha. I was just looking around on the Bottletree Web site and I see that Reg’s Coffeehouse is actually presenting the Rogue Wave show. Keep up the good work Reg!

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Posted in alabama, birmingham, entertainment, events, music

Got plans this weekend? 11.2 – 11.4

Posted on November 2, 2007 by | Leave a comment

If you’re like me, you’re ready to get on with the weekend. So this will be short and brief with lots of links.

Tonight, it’s all about the art, or at least art galleries. Bare Hands Gallery is celebrating its 5th Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival tonight. On their website, scroll down to see the festival lineup that includes children’s craft time and live music. The event is free but they’d like to see a donation of $10. You can find the gallery at 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South.

And we’ve heard from very reliable sources that there’s some impressive art hanging at Nordys Gallery. The opening reception for SCAD alum Megan Kimber is tonight from 6 – 9 p.m. Great thing about art is – if you’re just looking – it doesn’t cost anything to expand your mind. You can also learn some more about the plans that the gallery has in M. Blue Horn’s most recent review.

“Celebrating nature, open spaces and eco-ideas through art and design” is the theme of the Moss Rock Festival. It’s two days of food, music, art and kid’s activities at that groovy new Hoover subdivision you’ve been curious about. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event at The Preserve in Hoover is free and even has a free shuttle from Regions Park (formerly the Hoover Met).

I know I don’t have everything listed, so if there’s something else, comment down below.

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Posted in 35205, 35233, alabama, art, birmingham, hoover, reviews

Blue’s Reviews: Bruce Holwerda

Posted on November 2, 2007 by | Leave a comment

Ten shows spotlighting nine artists in ten weeks?

Nordys Gallery is taking up that challenge this fall, and art reviewer M. Blue Horn stopped by to check out the creations of one of the featured artists, painter Bruce Holwerda. What did she think of his work and the gallery? Find out in her latest podcast.

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Posted in 35233, alabama, art, birmingham, reviews