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I didn’t feel smart that day.
It was a Thursday and we’d just had a meeting at work, a meeting at which some of my colleagues made disparaging remarks about a project I’d worked on, disparaging remarks that made me feel, well, stupid.
If you’re a Birmingham babe, kick off your weekend with a performance of Cirque du Soleil: TORUK.
From artsBHAM:
When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, Ralu and Entu, two Omaticaya boys on the brink of adulthood, fearlessly decide to take matters into their own hands…So begins the adventure of Cirque du Soleil’s TORUK – The First Flight. The arena spectacular brings the world of James Cameron’s AVATAR to Birmingham’s Legacy Arena for five performances only: August 19 – August 21, 2016! Tickets are priced beginning at $33.00 (prices subject to change).
Tickets can be purchased at CirqueduSoleil.com/TORUK or by calling 205-458-8400.
Because brunch is bae, start Saturday with Birmingham Restaurant Week’s inaugural brunch festival, set for August 20, at noon. This event will bring together some of the “best of the brunch” restaurants of Birmingham and will feature hot, iced and nitro coffee from Royal Cup, mimosas, wine from United Johnson Brothers, sodas and lemonade from Buffalo Rock. Get more information here.
Then end the evening with jazz flutist Kim Scott. In celebration of the release of her third album “Southern Heat” Kim will give a concert Saturday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Alabama School of Fine Art’s Dorothy Jemison Day Theater. Presented by Magic City Smooth Jazz, she’ll be performing all the music from the album, including her newest Billboard charting single, “Sizzle”, with some of her most talented musician friends. There will be a pre-concert reception for VIP attendees, surprise musical guests and much more. The album will be released for sale immediately following the show. Tickets and info at http://www.djdtheater.org.
What are you doing this weekend?
If you’re looking for things to do in Birmingham this week, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
Food bloggers, it’s time! Birmingham Restaurant Week kicks off tomorrow. This 10-day event gives Birmingham residents and tourists the chance to get a taste of the Magic City food scene and cuisine. From Aug. 12 – 21 participating restaurants will offer a variety of food and drink specials, including two and and/or three course prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus for $5, $10, $15, $20 or $30 per-person. For more details and a list of participating restaurants visit bhamrestaurantweek.com.
In the wake of the killings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, the Dallas police officers, and others, the past week has drained us all emotionally, spiritually, and perhaps even physically. I do believe that as writers we are to use our words to speak out against injustice. We are to use our writing to help bring about change. We are to speak our minds, even if our voices shake.
But I know that as humans, sometimes tragedy leaves us speechless. Sometimes we just can’t find the words. Sometimes we’re left metaphorically paralyzed by the pain we feel from all the madness around us.
This is why I believe that we must not neglect self-care, even in such a time as this.
Where are your eyes?
This was a refrain in the talk that writer Tammy Harper gave at Saturday’s TEDxBirmingham 2016. This was a question she asked as she challenged us to spend less time looking at screens and more time looking into the faces of our loved ones. And this question stuck with me throughout the day.