Birmingham
Episcopal Place Gumbo Gala
June 23, 11 a.m.
Sloss Furnaces
Forty teams of professional and backyard cooks will cook and serve gumbo and compete for 10 gumbo awards, including Birmingham’s Best Gumbo. The gala also includes live music by the Pineapple Skinners, children’s entertainment and vendors’ booths. The event raises funds to provide supportive services to the seniors and disabled adults who live on limited incomes at Episcopal Place. Tickets are $10; children under 13 are admitted free. Buy tickets at www.gumbogala.com or at the gate. For information, call 939-0085.
Birmingham
Relax by the Tracks
June 14, 5 p.m.
Railroad Park
Bring a picnic or buy food and drinks at George’s Boxcar Café at this event sponsored by the Railroad Park Foundation Junior Board and the Five Points Neighborhood Association. Free music will be provided by Sanyasi and Step Pepper Records’ DJ Omari. For more information, visit www.railroadpark.org.
Shelby County
Story Time with the Arc of Shelby
June 15, 10 a.m.
The Arc
Story Time with The Arc of Shelby will be at The Arc’s new office at 203 Amphitheater Road, Pelham. Join The Arc for a reading of “Goodnight Moon”, fun crafts, a small snack and family fun. The event is open to all children birth to age 4. Space is limited, so make sure to reserve your child’s seat. Bring a donation of wipes, glue, stickers or paper towels as your admission. For more info call 664-9313 or visit www.thearcofshelby.org.
Birmingham
Harry Potter at The Alabama Theatre
June 15, 6 p.m.
The Alabama Theatre
The Alabama Theatre will be showing each of the Harry Potter Films this summer starting June 15 with “Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” There will be a costume contest before each movie, as well as themed
concession items and Harry Potter Series T-shirts. Guests will hear a performance by the original 1927 Mighty Wurlitzer organ before each movie begins. Tickets are available at the door for $8. Movie passes for all eight films are available for $40. The doors will open at 6 .p.m., the movie starts at 7p.m.
Birmingham
Trunkstock
June 16, 3 p.m.
Avondale Brewing Co.
Alabama Forever and Birmingham’s Avondale Brewing Co. are teaming up to raise money for communities in need. Music from Matthew Mayfield and the Ray Johnston Band begins at 7:15 p.m.. All proceeds will benefit Alabama Forever and future projects to help communities that need support. For more information on Alabama Forever, call Alex Sokol, 243-9539.
North Shelby County
Signature Health Father’s Day 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run
June 17, 8 a.m.
Oak Mountain State Park
The 5K run, mostly on asphalt, includes rolling hills and flat stretches. The course was laid out by the Birmingham Track Club and runs by beaches and picnic areas of Oak Mountain State Park. The fun run/walk at 8:44 a.m. will utilize a portion of the 5K course. The race starts and ends in the parking lot outside the park’s Magnolia/Sycamore Pavilions. There will be prizes for the top three finishers in each age group. The event benefits Alabama Waldorf School. For more information or to register, visit alabamawaldorf.org.
Birmingham
Funky Monkey
June 21, 6 p.m.
B&A Warehouse
This Camp Smile-A-Mile Junior Board event includes food, beer, wine and a silent auction. A white lab puppy will be auctioned off. Cost is $35 for individuals or $60 for couples. For tickets, call Camp Smile-A-Mile at 323-8427 or visit www.campsam.org.
Homewood
Lost & Saved
June 21, 6:30 p.m.
Homewood Public Library
The Homewood Public Library will host “Historic Birmingham: Lost & Saved,” by historic preservationist Linda Nelson. She will take participants on a PowerPoint tour of historic Birmingham from Vulcan to the Lyric Theatre and much more. The program is free and open to adults.
Hoover
Blue Galaxy String Project
June 22, 8 p.m.
Hoover Public Library
The Blue Galaxy String Project, an instrumental pop group, will perform at the Hoover Public Library’s after hours @ the plaza. The group plays and eclectic mix of originals and arrangements from Radiohead to Flaming Lips and The Police. Bring snacks and beverages. Tickets are $12 and cay be purchased by calling 444-7888 or visit www.TheLibraryTheatre.com.
North Shelby County
Block Party and Health Festival
June 23, 4 p.m.
St. Vincent’s One Nineteen
This family-friendly festival will feature the Rock Candy Band, a demonstration from the Flyball Dogs and free Zumba, hula hoop and spin classes. Children’s activities include a moonwalk, games and face painting, while adults will be offered free chair massages compliments of Spa One Nineteen. The event also includes the opportunity to meet local physicians and to have free health screenings, including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and skin cancer evaluations; colorectal take-home kits; vision and hearing; prescription consultations and foot screenings and analyses. Fasting is not required and health professionals will be onsite to interpret results. The American Diabetes Association, Lupus Foundation and other health-related organizations will be at the event. Food vendors include Spoonfed Grill, Coca-Cola, Doodles Italian Ice and Edible Arrangements. For more information, call 408-6600 or visit www.onenineteen.com.
Hoover
Paws at the Library
June 24, 2:30 p.m.
Hoover Public Library
A Hand in Paw handler will bring one of the organization’s dogs and discuss the group’s Sit, Stay, Read program. Door prizes will be given away. Call 444-7840 for more information. The program is free and open to the public.
Birmingham
“The Weight of the Nation”
June 24, 2 p.m.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
As part of the its ongoing effort to curb the obesity epidemic in Jefferson County, the Health Action Partnership will co-host a free viewing of the groundbreaking HBO documentary, “The Weight of the Nation.” The event, which kicks off Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ documentary film series celebrating Alabama Department of Tourism’s “Year of Alabama Food,” will be in the Linn-Henley Auditorium at The Gardens. Three years in the making, “The Weight of the Nation” examines the facts and myths of this urgent public health issue, showing how obesity affects the health of the nation and the health care system. A comprehensive panel discussion and Q&A session will follow the screening, and attendees will be given tips and materials for managing a healthy lifestyle and for making positive changes in their community. The panel will be moderated by Ashley Obiaka, obesity prevention program manager at United Way of Central Alabama, and will include fitness and nutrition experts Sandra Koulourides and Jerri Haslem, among others.
Birmingham
Art on the Rocks
June 29, 6 p.m.
Birmingham Museum of Art
The Birmingham Museum of Art’s popular summer series Art on the Rocks is back. In its eighth season, Art on the Rocks will be themed around the museum’s summer exhibition, “Warhol and Cars: American Icons.” Enjoy live outdoor music, food and drinks in the newly renovated sculpture garden, graffiti artists’ demonstration, interactive art scavenger hunts, photobooths and much more. visit www.artsbma.org for announcements about the live music line-up and to purchase tickets.
Birmingham
Birmingham Heart Walk
June 30, 7:30 a.m.
Linn Park
The American Heart Association – along with Subway, Jenny Craig and Baptist Health System – is presenting the 2012 Birmingham Heart Walk.
Admission is free for the event and features live entertainment, a family-friendly atmosphere and a 5K walk/run. Thousands annually turn out for this event, which marks its 20th anniversary in the Magic City this year. The goal is to raise both awareness and funding for the AHA’s battle against heart disease and stroke – the No. 1 and No. 4 killers in America, respectively. Those who participate in the 5K can choose to walk or run in honor or memory of a loved one who has fought cardiovascular disease. A memorial will be set up on site to honor those who have lost that fight. The event begins at 7:30 a.m., with live entertainment, games and interactive exhibits. Booths will be set up throughout the park and local vendors will be giving away a variety of items. Welcome ceremonies begin at 8:40 a.m., followed by aerobic warm-ups. The 5K walk/run
will begin at 9 a.m., with the course snaking through downtown Birmingham, primarily down and back 20th Street North. The entire event is free. Individuals can create Heart Walk teams, or join an already established team, by visiting BirminghamHeartWalk.org.
Hoover
Summer Acting Workshops for Seniors
July 9-25, 10 a.m.
Artists on the Bluff
The Seasoned Performers’ Martha Haarbauer will lead these six fun and interactive two-hour acting workshops especially for senior adults. Topics include how to open up and express yourself, what an actor should really be thinking about, talking and listening on stage, conquering stage fright, playing different characters and expanding your imagination. Haarbauer has taught acting for more than 25 years at UAB. Theatre games and scene work will be used in the workshop; no memorization is necessary. The workshop will be July 9-25, Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m.-noon. The fee for senior adults is $150 for all six sessions. For more information or to register, contact the Seasoned Performers office at 978-5095 or [email protected].
Homewood
Soiree@SoHo
July 26, 6:30 p.m.
Rosewood Hall in SoHo
The Girl Scouts Young Professionals Society will host the third annual Soiree@SoHo, formerly Soiree@Saks, from 6:30-9 p.m. Young professionals are invited to join the YP Society for live music, food and drinks, a silent auction and a role model runway fashion show by Belk at Brookwood Village. Proceeds allow girls in north-central Alabama to participate in Girl Scout programs. For sponsor and ticket information, contact Meredith Foster, communications coordinator, at 453-9530 or [email protected].
Birmingham
Dream Showcase
July 28, 6 p.m.
Workplay
This event with more than 40 artists will showcase the talents and culture of young local artists. Visual and performing art will be on display. Admission to is $7. For more information or tickets, contact Aimara Rodriguez at 370-2856 or [email protected]