Gwen DeRu

People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is your Weekend planner for events, nightlife, wining and dining, and plenty of what’s happening in and around the Southeast of the country.  Don’t miss getting and keeping up with all the latest, right here.

Here is ‘The Weekender’!  PLAN your weekend with good health in mind!!  Promote nature’s perfect drink – WATER!  AND, promote seasonal eating!!

WELCOME TO BIRMINGHAM - ALL VISITORS!!

First, COMING SOON...
FOR ART LOVERS.....ARTISTS WANTED - Artists interested in a future event (in December), whether you make candles, draw wildlife, make jewelry, from seashells, fruit arrangements, leather, wood, paper, draw on coffee cups, paint on chairs, or you just love to see, take in the art work, or purchase some....whatever you do, this is for you.  Coming soon.  Look for more right here in People, Places and Things by Gwen.  (Sounds interesting doesn’t it?  We will see!!  Check it out! Email me if you are interested in getting more details.)

AND, FOR TSU TIGERS......TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING is in Nashville, next week. I will see you there.  GO TIGERS!!

WELL, IT’S HERE, Y’all..., the weekend we ‘all’ have waited for....TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY AMP ENERGY 500 and MAGIC CITY CLASSIC, right here in Alabama and in the Magic City.

Talladega Superspeedway has been on the minds of many for 40 years - the most competitive, fastest motorsports track in the world.  Magic City Classic has been on the minds of many for  years - the largest football game in the country, that happens to be between two schools in Alabama - Alabama State University or Alabama A & M University.

Fans and family are in town to check out what ‘the happenings’ are in the ‘Ham.  There is plenty to do, all over the place.  Besides, there may not be enough time to do them all...unless you were two people or went from one to the other..so GET BUSY!! Get your groove on and check out some of the things we have planned ‘for you’ and ‘for us’ to share while you catch up on all the latest happenings in the State between Alabama A &M University and Alabama State University.  So make yourselves at home while you are here...., And come again, often.

Now, here are ‘some’ of the happenings...pick up some of the guides around town for more.  Holla’ when you see me and let me know that you are in the house.  I will be there, somewhere.  When you finish partying on Saturday night, save some energy for Sunday, to head up to Talladega to watch some of the best drivers in the world as they race for the winnings at the fastest most competitive track - Talladega Superspeedway. If you have not been, you ought to check it out and see just what you have been missing.  Let me know.  I ‘will’ see you there.  The spot to be on Friday and Saturday will be the TRIPLE SET ON FIRST AVENUE.  SEE YOU THERE, all over the place. GROOVE, PARTY AND CHILL at the Triple Set.

So...TODAY.....check out, **SKOOL DAZE: Classic Style, 5 p.m. until, at Steel, downtown on First Avenue, All Night Long.  See you there.
**DOUG E. FRESH, 9 p.m. at Platinum on Second Avenue near Interstate 65. Free before 9 p.m.

Friday.....THIRTY SOMETHIN’ CLASSIC, 9 p.m. at Suite 204.  They will have something going on every day.  Don’t miss this spot!! Saturday, there is the SOCIAL CLIMAX BLOCK PARTY, 9 p.m.  Tell them Gwen sent you.
**The Classic Jam starring  the O’JAYS AND SWV, 8 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium.
**SKY WEEKEND 7 p.m. at Sky on Third Avenue wth Melissa Ford on Friday, Myammee and Ray J on  Saturday.
** TOM JOYNER ALL STAR AFFAIR, 8 p.m. with Isis Jones and Ebony and DJ Doughboy at M on 1st, First Avenue, downtown, across from Steel. Ladies free before10 p.m.
** SUNSHINE & WINE, at EDT LOFT on Third Avenue (Third Floor) across from McWane, 2 - 7 p.m. Free Wine for the ladies.

**FEVER, THE TRIPLE SET, Friday and Saturday, is three parties in one block at the Wine Loft, 2210 Building and Steel Urban Lounge with a Bonus at the Big Top at First and 23rd and the Furnace with the Triple Set Stamp.  There will be  Neo-Soul, Jona Crooner, DJ Rahdu, Just a Few Cats, Logan, Eric Essix and plenty more, all in walking distance of each other.  Call (205) 253-0259 for more.

Saturday....A MAGIC CITY CLASSIC AFTER PARTY with GINUWINE at Old Car Heaven, 10 p.m.
**ARETTA AND THE REVUE, 9 p.m. at Club Quincy at the Birmingham Race Course.
**FOR BLUES LOVERS - LITTLE G. WEEVIL , at Moe’s Original Bar B Que in Lakeview.  

Sunday... AMP ENERGY 500 at TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY for all motorsports fans.  I will see you there. Holla!

This weekend........FOR CHILDREN......HALLOWEEN- BOO at the ZOO, Friday and Saturday, 5 - 9 p.m. at the Birmingham Zoo......Nights of Haunted Rides, Fun & Games!  New Things are:  Ride every ride with our “All-You-Can-Ride” $10 wristband- BEST VALUE, Trick or Treat Ghost Town, Freaky Fun House, The Mad Scientist’s Loco Laboratory, Featured entertainment and Animal Shows nightly in the event yard, The Misadventures of Sheriff Shortstuff* interactive theatrical production, Alien Reptile Experience in the Reptile House*still around are:  Grave Yard Express* (two trains operating to make sure lines move fast!), Ghastly Carousel*, The Not-So-Scary Hallows Hayride*, Ghost Roller Ride*, Ghoul Skool, and Animals nightly in the barn.  Call (205) 397-3855 for more.

NEAR....in Talladega at the Historic Ritz Theatre...FREDDIE HART, an Alabama native and one of country music legends, Friday, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 2:30 p.m.  For more call (256) 315-0000, student tickets are $5.

NOW.... For those of you that might be interested.....Here are some of ‘my’ special things happening ‘this’ weekend....In Birmingham, ....Check out what’s happening at The Old Car Heaven this weekend, starting today - Shar Baby’s Blues Party with ‘Special Guest’ from New Orleans, Rockin’Jake, Friday - Erin Mitchell and on Saturday - Midnight Train.  Call (205) 324-4545 for more and tell them Gwen sent you.  

NOW,.....on to the rest of the happenings around town.......but, first, Birmingham......Get your laugh on, so,....Check out, today, HUGGY LOWDOWN AND FRIENDS, Friday and Saturday is NEPHEW TOMMY , at the StarDome Comedy Club.  Get your laugh on!!  Call (205) 444-0008 for more.

AND......JACK AND JAZZ every Tuesday and Thursday (today), 5 - 7 p.m. at the ‘H’ Bar in the Hotel Highland.

AND.......CLEVE EATON and THE ALL STARS 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. at the Open Door Cafe every Wednesday.  This coming Wednesday features Cleve Eaton, Ray Reach, Cheryl Simonetti, John Nackels and Bo Berry with guest musician, Kameron Dickerson, Cleve’s grandson.....,Watch out for him!!

Today.....
**GET CONNECTED.... with POWER-MOVE, this and every Thursday, 5:30 p.m. at Wellington’s Bistro, presented by M-Set.  There is a Special Guest every Thursday.  See you there!
**BOB MARSTON at Marty’s.
**JEFFERSON  JACKSON DINNER is hosted by the Alabama Democractic Party, reception 5:30 p.m. and dinner, 6:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Sheraton Ballroom.  Call (334) 262-2221 for more.

Friday.....
**THE LEGENDARY PINEAPPLE SKINNERS (early) with CHAD FISHER GROUP (later) at Marty’s on Southside.

Saturday....
**PEPPER PLACE SATURDAY MARKET, 7 a.m. - noon with food and music at the Pepper Place on Second Avenue.
**DAN FARMER & Friends (early) with EARTHBOUND (later) at Marty’s on Southside.

**Sunday Brunch every Sunday with CLEVE EATON and THE ALL STARS, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Open Door Cafe.  This Sunday features Cleve Eaton, Jeff Lopez, Joe Carnaggio and John Nackels.  

Hey...the Birmingham Zoo always has something for the children during the holidays. Take the kids out!!

Now, on to the rest of the happenings around town.....TODAY.....in the ‘HAM’.....some of our favorite places and people......as always....Check out.......
**ONYX near Birmingham-Southern College and across from the Fire Station on Eighth Avenue.
**JEFF LOPEZ AND KEN TALLEY at Michael’s Steak and Seafood today and tomorrow.  

FRIDAY....
**Every Friday Night...VEGAS NIGHTS at Mahogany, 8 p.m. with Open Bar at 9 p.m.  Call (205) 478-1911 for more.

SATURDAY.....
**Club Onyx is where the happenings are until 5 a.m.  Call (205) 441-0694 for more.
**SMOOTH SATURDAYS, 9:30 p.m. at Martinis Ultra Lounge and Nightclub in Hoover.

SUNDAY.....
**JAZZ BRUNCH w/the ERIN MITCHELL BAND at Billy’s on Overton Road.  Call (205) 956-2323.
**JAZZ BRUNCH w/live jazz at Billy’s on Cahaba Road.  Call (205) 879-2238.
**LIVE MUSIC BRUNCH at Crestwood Coffee Company.  Call (205) 595-0300.

AROUND AND ABOUT TOWN....If you are grown, sexy, love music, play cards (some nights) love lunch and dinner, head to Charlotte’s place – Wellington’s Bistro, the place to be these days....or Ona’s Music Room....then, there is always Marty’s on the Southside.  There is Tasty Tuesday and Old School Friday at Platinum of Birmingham.  Open Door Cafe has Jazz Brunch every Sunday and Jam Sessions every Wednesday with jazz great Cleve Eaton, Tommy Stewart, John Nackels and others.  Tell them Gwen sent you.  (Hey, send all your live music/entertainment calendars to Gwen DeRu at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

MOVIES....Starting tomorrow...., The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, Gentlemen Broncos and The House of the Devil.  COMING - November 6 - A Christmas Carol, The Fourth Kind, and The Men Who Stare at Goats.

FOR LAUGHTER - Laughing is what I love to do and hopefully, you love to laugh, too,  so check out what is happening at the StarDome Comedy Club in November.....  COMING in November ....,Scotty K on November 3-4, Keith Alberstadt on Nov, 10-15, James Gregory on Nov. 5-14, Mickey Dean on Nov. 17 - 25, JOY, The Queen of Clean on Nov. 21, John Pinette on Nov. 20-21, TP Hearn on Nov. 27-29 and Sinbad on December 3 - 6  So get your rest in time to laugh at the StarDome Comedy Club this month because November is right around the corner.  See you there!

DESTINATIONS is your guide to some of the best spots to visit.  A few of the TOP EVENTS
IN ALABAMA IN NOVEMBER......IN WETUMPKA - November 4-8 the Alabama Frontier Days, IN ORANGE BEACH - November 5-15 the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival, IN MOBILE - November 6-8 the Alabama Pecan Festival, IN BIRMINGHAM - November 11 the National Veterans Day Parade, IN MOBILE - November 21 the Mobile International Festival, IN MONTGOMERY - NOvember 25, 27 and December 31 the Christmas Light Festival,  IN HUNTSVILLE - November 26-December 31 the Galaxy of Lights Holiday Light Show, IN MONTGOMERY - November 26 the Turkey Day Classic, IN MOBILE - November 27- December 31 the Magic Christmas in Lights, and IN DEMOPOLIS - November 29 - December 5 the Christmas on the River.   Some are day trips and others you should stay over night to see it all.  WELCOME TO ALABAMA, stay a while.

TIPS FOR YOU!!
Each week, I would like to give you useful tips. (If you should have any, please pass them on to me. Thanks). TIPS ON ‘ANY AND EVERYTHING’....(and they are not for everyone) ...so...Tip: Water Rings on Hardwood Furniture?  To remove them, make a paste of non-gel toothpaste and baking soda. Rub it into the white stains until warm. It takes a bit of time for the marks to go away. When they are gone, wax the wood, if okay for the surface.  (Taken from Heloise Hints)

RECIPE/FOOD -  SPEEDY CHICKEN STIR-FRY - Prep Time: 10 min. Total Time:  25 min
Makes: 4 servings, 2 cups each.  What You Need:  1/2 lb. angel hair pasta (capellini), uncooked, 2 cups  small broccoli florets, 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips, 1/2 cup  KRAFT Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1/4 tsp.  each: ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, 1/3 cup chopped PLANTERS Dry Roasted Peanuts.  Make It!
COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 min.  MEANWHILE, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 to 8 min. or until done, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper; cook 1 min., stirring occasionally.  DRAIN pasta mixture; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Spoon evenly into 4 serving bowls; sprinkle with peanuts.  Kraft Kitchens Tips - Substitute whatever vegetables you have on hand, such as snow peas, sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots or chopped red onions, for the broccoli. (Taken from Kraft Foods)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all celebrating..., This means YOU!!   Many, many more Happy Birthdays!!   Here’s wishing ‘you’ all the best!!

Well, that’s it....don’t forget to listen to 900 GOLD WATV, Bringing Back the Memories and the Good Times, Birmingham’s Only Old School Station, where you can hear People, Places and Things with Gwen DeRu each Thursday at 10:20 a.m. and 6:50 p.m.  This will help keep you up on the latest happenings in and around town.  Check it out.  And, don’t forget to inform and invite me to your latest.

Until next time.....We at The Birmingham Times are very excited to bring you People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu.  Look for more next time.....until then......People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu will run weekly.  Charitable events, parties, restaurants and clubs make news that your friends, neighbors in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama and the southeast want to read.  Future, just completed social events, and happenings should be emailed to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or mail to Gwen DeRu, P.O. Box 10503, Birmingham, AL  35202-0503.