Category Archives: alabama

A sit down with Chance Shirley

Chance Shirley/Crewless.com After knowing local filmmaker (and Crewless Productions co-founder) Chance Shirley for a little over a year now and hanging out with him in a maze of Kevin Bacon-like degrees of separation, I finally decided to give you guys an update on the legend that is his upcoming film: Interplanetary.

Oh, you’re gonna want to read this. There’s talk of blogging, editing trailers and, my personal favorite, Birmingham film parties involved. Thanks again to Chance and Crewless Productions!

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al.com revamps their local entertainment section

Screenshot of new al.com entertainment section

Screenshot of http://www.al.com/entertainment/birmingham/

The folks at al.com decided to revamp their entertainment section. It was officially launched yesterday and combines the resources of The Birmingham News and the al.com community blogs. Click on the image above to take it for a test drive and let us know what you think about it; in general and in relation to the rest of the area’s web presence RE: arts and culture as shared in last week’s newsletter.

Immediate Casting Need at Birmingham Festival Theatre!

bft logo Immediate casting! Birmingham Festival Theatre needs to cast two lead roles in their production of Hiding Behind Comets which is already in rehearsal. These roles must be cast by Monday 1/7.

TROY – 22 – Bartender in a one horse town bar. Twin brother to Honey. Measured and reserved with a healthy dose of smarta**.

HONEY – 22 – Troy’s twin sister. Small-town sexy, brazen, and impulsive. The flip side of Troy.

Contact the director (Stephen French @ 205.307.9272) to schedule a time to read today (Sunday), January 6. The show rehearses Monday – Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. and runs Thursday – Saturday from 1.31 to 2.16 with one matinee performance on 2.10.

So, about that Saban YouTube post…

Yes, we don’t normally just post something because, but it is Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban dancing… so, just because we can (until it comes down again…) NOTE: We’re thinking a lot of people are trying to watch this thing, so it may not play all the way through for now…

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Wild Sweet Orange’s latest

Here’s the latest from Wild Sweet Orange, the song’s called Wrestle with God off of their new EP

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Visit if:mv and find audio and Flash versions of the song.

Malcolm’s Reading Room

Malcolm’s Reading Room books

The newest kid on Birmingham’s book selling block is Malcolm’s Reading Room (404 17th St. North) located in the ground level of the historic Masonic Temple building off of 4th Avenue North. Malcolm’s Reading Room is billed as an African-American bookstore – the banners, t-shirts and colors make obvious after stepping through the door. But after spending a few short minutes with co-owner Simone Snelling, one gets the feeling that the store is about something more… passion.

A passion for all things revolutionary and thought provoking.

“We’re going to focus on books about African-Americans and by African-Americans, ” said Snelling. “But we’re also going to offer books on the women’s rights [movement], the Middle East, Che Guevara, music by independent musicians and art by local independent artists. Really, we’re looking for revolutionary things.”

Snelling says she and her husband, co-owner Courtney Snelling, always had the dream of opening a bookstore when they finally got their big break about a year ago.

“My husband was visiting Chicago, which is where he’s from,” said Snelling. “He ran across a going-out-of-business sale at a bookstore and that’s where our first big section of books came from.” She said that first haul netted the couple nearly 500 books and they haven’t looked back since.

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Here we go a bowling…

We are aware that with college football bowl season upon us, many will see these games as their form of entertainment over the next month.

We figured we’d provide just a little more information for you as you decide just how you’ll spend that time in front of the television at home, at the bar, or at the stadium because you didn’t get us tickets to go along with you. We hope it helps…

The list begins after the jump (NOTE: all times listed are central):

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Got plans this weekend? 11.30 – 12.2

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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Bob Dylan plays APTV this weekend

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).

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

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

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.