Welcome to the Weekly Wanderlust List! It features information about exciting, creative, yummy, and innovative happenings in the Greater Birmingham, Alabama community each week. This week’s Weekly Wanderlust in Bham spotlights a multitude of events in Birmingham. Each unique event offers an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the community, support a local cause or business, engage with the fabulous citizens of our City, or enjoy an evening of fun. This week features the following events:
- Magic City Art Connection
- Ruffner Mountain’s Fourth Friday Music Series: Verdure
- Corks & Chefs
- Yoga on the Green
- Birmingham Get Up!
- Magic City Sweet Ice: GRAND OPENING!
- Kreplach & Dim Sum – Yes, There are Jews in China
- 6th Annual Dining Out For Life® Event
Magic City Art Connection
The Magic City Art Connection will be held between April 24-25 from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., April 26 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event spotlights hundreds of artists and offer an opportunity for people to purchase their work. In addition, the following takes place over the course of the event: Corks & Chefs (a food & wine tasting experience), interactive art workshops for children, live music and performances on stage, art installations, pop-up cafes, and much more.
- Where: Linn Park, at the central entrance points – Rev Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd (8th Ave N) or at 6th Ave N & 20th Street
- Cost: Adults $5, Kids 12 & under free (Corks & Chefs requires extra ticket)
- Website: www.magiccityart.com
- Contact: (205) 595-6306
Ruffner Mountain’s Fourth Friday Music Series: Verdure
On Friday, April 24th, Ruffner Mountain’s Fourth Friday Music Series will feature the music of Verdure! Verdure is an eclectic music outfit that the band’s front man, singer-songwriter, Chris K. Davidson describes as , “a layered, harmony-driven collection of songs that combines dashes of Ben Folds, acoustic Guster, and the Head and the Heart while fully maintaining their unique sonic identity.” Check out Verdure on the web at www.verduremusic.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VerdureMusic. The BYOB show will take place at the Tree House and you can also bring food. Tickets are $10.00. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and music begins at 7:00 p.m.
- When: April 24 at 7 p.m.
- Where: Ruffner Mountain Preserve, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham, Alabama
- Cost: $ 10.00
- Website: Ticket Link
- Contact: (205) 833-8264
Corks & Chefs
The 18th annual Corks & Chefs will be presented by Kinetic Communications during the three day Magic City Art Connection. Corks & Chefs is the place where art, food, beer + wine meet. the event features delicious cuisine from many of Birmingham’s favorite restaurants. Over 8 talented chefs, 75 wines, craft beers, coffee, and tea are showcased each day of the event. A new tasting BBVA Compass VIP Lounge for VIP ticket holders will have exclusive offerings including a special food tasting with World’s Best Pastry Chef, Jordi Roca of World Famous El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, additional select wines, craft beer and champagne to taste, lounge seating, and private al fresco dining.
- When: April 25-26, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
- Where: Linn Park, at the central entrance points – Rev Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd (8th Ave N) or at 6th Ave N & 20th Street
- Cost: $35.00 – $125.00 in advance
- Website: www.magiccityart.com/corks-chefs/order-tickets
- Contact: (205) 595-6306
Birmingham Get Up
The second annual Birmingham Get Up will take place on April 25 at 5 p.m.The event will be a festive night of music, food, drink, and plenty of fun to benefit The Red Barn’s programs. There will be food from local vendors and beer from Good People and Druid City. The music line-up includes the following: Dead Fingers at 5 p.m., Trouble the Waters at 6 p.m., The Golden Monica at 7 p.m., and Banditos at 8 p.m.
- When: April 25 at 5 p.m.
- Where: Sloss Furnaces, 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL
- Cost: $15.00, children 12 and younger free
- Website: http://www.birminghamgetup.wordpress.com
- Contact: (205) 699-8204
Yoga on the Green
This is a beginners friendly Railroad Park Yoga Class sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama. The class is free. However, all attendees will need to sign in and complete a wavier with the park staff. The park also has clean yoga mats for you to borrow if you do not own personal gear. The following other free classes are offered each week at Railroad Park as well: Jazzercise® on Mondays at 6:00 p.m., Bootcamp on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m., Zumba on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., and Happy Feet Fridays on Fridays at 6:00 p.m.
- When: April 24 at 6 p.m.
- Where: Railroad Park, 1600 1st Avenue, Birmingham, AL
- Cost: Free
- Website: http://www.railroadpark.org/events-get-healthy.html
- Contact: (205) 521-9933
Magic City Sweet Ice: GRAND OPENING!
Magic City Sweet Ice is inviting the city to celebrate the Grand Opening of their store in West Homewood! The grand opening event will feature food, drinks, and door prizes! Check out the company’s website magiccitysweetice.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcsweetice.
- When: April 25 at 12.00 p.m.
- Where: 715 Oak Grove Rd, Birmingham, AL
- Cost: Free
- Website: RSVP
- Contact: (205) 907-2125
Kreplach & Dim Sum – Yes, There are Jews in China
This event features Robyn Helzner who shares stories, photos, video and music to explore the extraordinary history of the Jewish communities in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Kaifeng; and traces their emergence as the fastest growing Jewish region in the world. This event is open to the public for free, but RSVP is required. Acclaimed for her concerts and recordings of Jewish music, Helzner officiated at the first Bar Mitzvah celebrated in Beijing, China, and served as the Cantor for the United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong. In addition, this event will also feature the Jewish Refugees in Shanghai exhibit. It tells the stories of the difficulties faced by Jewish refugees on their journey to and from Shanghai in the 1930s and 40s, as well as their adaptation to the city and friendship with the Chinese people. This exhibit has been put together by the American Jewish Committee and the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum. Reception featuring Jewish and Kosher Chinese including Kreplach, Dim Sum, Rugalach, Burekas, and Egg Rolls.
- When: April 25-26, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Levite Jewish Community Center of Birmingham, 3960 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL
- Cost: This event is free of charge, but registration is required. Please click here to RSVP.
- Website: www.bic-al.org
- Contact: 205-252-7652
Hope For Autumn Crawfish Boil
The Hope for Autumn Foundation Crawfish Boil is an event that features music, food, and fun. In addition, live music will provided by Rollin in the Hay and Downright. Proceeds from the event benefit area families battling childhood cancer and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorder’s Developmental Therapeutics Program which seeks to find new treatments for children with difficult to treat cancer. The menu will include crawfish cooked by Louisiana native John Hein, hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids, soda, water, and gives you the option to bring your own adult beverages. The children activities features various games, bounce houses, face painting, and balloon artists.
- When: April 25, 3 p.m. – p.m.
- Where: Main Green of Ross Bridge, 4000 Grand Ave, Birmingham, AL
- Cost: $30.00 – $35.00
- Website: www.hopeforautumnfoundation.org
- Contact: (954) 410-8362
6th Annual Dining Out For Life®
On Thursday, April 30th, help support AIDS Alabama’s 6th Annual Dining Out For Life event by simply enjoying a meal at one of your favorite local restaurants in Birmingham. Each of the participating restaurants will donate a minimum of 25% (upwards to 100%) of your bill to help fight against HIV and AIDS. Some of these restaurants include: Bottle & Bone, Post Office Pies, The J. Clyde, Urban Standard, The Grill at Iron City, and many more! To learn more about AIDS Alabama, its mission, and services visit www.aidsalabama.org
- When: April 30
- Where: at participating restaurants in Birmingham, AL
- Cost: Nothing extra, just enjoy a meal at a participating local restaurant
- Website: Find the complete list of participating restaurants at www.diningoutforlife.com/birmingham/restaurants
- Contact: (954) 410-8362
Until the Next Post,
Janece
Eat Drink Savor Life 
