Bob Farley/f8photo

Whitney Duncan, a country singer and former contestant on television show Nashville Star produced music videos for three songs - “Right Road Now,” “Open Road” and “When I Said I Would” - in Birmingham this past week. Wednesday night the Bessemer-based production company Erwin Brothers, shot scenes at Sloss Furnaces. About 200 extras were on hand to play adoring fans and concert goers for the video accompanying her song “When I Said I Would.”

Click on the image above to view images from the video shoot last night. In one scene Duncan signs autographs for a crush of her fans. In the other she and her band perform on the Sloss stage. The single and video for “When I Said I Would” is due out this summer. Duncan records on the Warner Bros. label.

Today, the balloons were bought and the were cakes cut in honor of this year’s Big Read. Libraries across Birmingham have activities planned all day to help build awareness and participation in Project Mockingbird, which is the library systems push to get all of Jefferson County reading Harper Lee’s classic To Kill A Mockingbird. Think of it as “one county, one book” kind of a reading plan.

Events and features are planned all the way through this summer. Including a “Read it Forward” program where 1,500 copies of To Kill A Mockingbird will randomly be placed around the county, for people to stumble upon read and pass on.

You can keep up with the project here, and download free gfx, wallpaper and podcasts here. If you are wondering where the nearest launch party is today, check out the JCLC’s calendar page.

{trav blogs regularly at {head}:sub/head, about reading, publishing, books and Birmingham.}

This edition of Got plans really should have a subtitle - what to do with all that family coming in town. With Christmas on a Tuesday this year, many people are starting their celebrations as soon as they get off work tonight. If it’s your turn to host the out-of-towners, don’t fear. There is more to do than look at the naked guy on the mountain.

Idea One: Holiday movies at the Alabama Theatre, located at 1811 Third Ave. North in downtown Birmingham. Friday night (7 p.m.) watch the cat fry in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) see three holiday cartoon favorites — “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.” Saturday night (7 p.m.) dream of “snow, snow, snow” with Bing and Rosemary in “White Christmas.” Tickets are $7 for adults/$6 for senior citizens and children under 12. Available at the box office one hour before showtime.

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):

• Birmingham Museum of Art - we’re the only place in the Southeast (and one of only three places in the country) where you can see the international traveling exhibit from Pompeii this year.
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Birmingham Zoo
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens
• McWane Science Center
• Sloss Furnaces

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.

One thing that many would say is missing from our local art scene is a more divers offering of reviews.

Local artist M. Blue Horn decided that she’d do something about it. She’s started recording podcasts on her personal site reviewing various art shows. The first one that we’ve stumbled across is one about the recent East Atlanta Village Strut two weekends ago. The show was part of a larger running event for the community, entering its 10^th year.

Take a listen (it’s the one on top) and let us, and M. Blue, know what you think…

Art on the Rocks was apparently just the beginning. Have you noticed the current flood of after-hours adults-oriented events at the city’s cultural institutions? It’s a great way to introduce people to some of Birmingham’s gems–and each other.

This Thursday, McWane Science Center unveils Science Uncorked, featuring organic beer, food, music, and the film An Inconvenient Truth.

Next Thursday, the Birmingham Zoo gets in on the act with Wine Down at the Zoo, which also features drinks, food, and music - and the added attractions of twilight zoo tours and animal walkabouts.

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center has the ASC Social Club, which is throwing a pre-party before the Cuban band Tiempo Libre kicks off the new season of performances this Friday.

On Sunday, September 30, Vulcan Park launches its second season of Vulcan AfterTunes fall concerts.

And don’t forget about Sixteenth and Sixth at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Cocktails in the Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Check out all the links for details for each event, including hours, costs, and how to buy tickets (or just keep track of what’s coming up next on the calendar on our front page).