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Birmingham Events Calendar: July 6th – July 13th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

If you’re into characters, Birmingham will have several making an appearance this week. Check out Scooby and Shaggy at the McWance Science Center and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the Hoover Library. If you’re a Zoo Member, make plans to attend the Barons game on Monday night, Zoo Members get Free Admission!

Have a Great Week!

Sunday July 6th:

ETC Presents Vulcan’s Underpants
Come get some fresh air and fresh comedy! Join ETC for our special brand of comedy – made up on the spot with your suggestions. Fun for your kids or your grandparents. Heck, we love the whole family! In case of inclement weather, we will update Facebook, Twitter and voicemail at (205) 687-5233.
6pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
3pm

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Monday July 7th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Come relax and watch a movie with family and friends at Homewood Public Library!
3pm

Story Laboratory: Robots – Hoover Public Library
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30 and 10:30

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve. Dinomania – Avondale Library
Join us as we share stories, songs, and experiments to engage the backyard scientist in all of us! Stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver.  24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
7:05pm
PLEASE NOTE: Zoo Members: As a membership benefit, on Monday, July 7  you’re invited to enjoy FREE admission to watch the Birmingham Barons play at Regions Field! Just bring your valid Member ID card and cheer on the hometown team during Zoo Member Nights at the Barons

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Tuesday July 8th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
7:05pm

Planet Earth – Emmet O’Neal Library
Lee Bryan and his stupendous one-man puppet show return with Planet Earth, Inc. All ages. No registration required.
10:30am

Marvels of Magnets – Avondale Library
Kids will be mesmerized with this exciting and educational exploration of science. They will learn about atoms, molecules, and matter. The show is full of experiments to impress and everyone is guaranteed a hair-raising good time. This program is truly booming with explosions, crazy chemistry, and volts and jolts. It will be a blast!
6pm

Reptiles Scales and Tails – Hoover Public Library
Reptiles Scales & Tails features live animals, audience participation and “hands-on” interaction.
10:30, 2pm and 6pm

Super Science Show with the McWane Science Center – Homewood Public Library
Join McWane Center and Homewood Public Library for some super science experiments and fun!
10:30am

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Grumpy days don’t have to stay that way. Find out how Elephant’s grumpy day changed and helped his friends, too!
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday July 9th:

Shifty Shenanigans – Avondale Library
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck then…hey wait a minute, that’s not a duck. Join Ms. Cas for an afternoon full of shifty shenanigan storytime fun. 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
2pm

May the Force Be With You – Springville Road Library
Did you know that centrifugal force is a part of hula hooping? Be a member of the Centrifugal Force Club (CFC) as you listen to some tunes and learn how to move and groove with your hoop. The library is a circle of fun when the hoops start turning.
10am

Reptiles Scales and Tails – Hoover Public Library
Reptiles Scales & Tails features live animals, audience participation and “hands-on” interaction.
10:30 and 2pm

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday July 10th:

Magic City Lego Mini Build – Homewood Public Library
Join us for a day of lego building!
REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Ages 5-12 welcome, please call (205) 332-6619 to register, or visit the Homewood Public Library Children’s Department.

Legos are provided for you, PLEASE, DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN LEGOS!
6:15pm

Reptiles Scales and Tails – Hoover Public Library
Reptiles Scales & Tails features live animals, audience participation and “hands-on” interaction.
10:30 and 2pm

Bubble and Squeak Balloons – Leeds Library
Colorful Balloons! Squeaky sounds and airfilled fun can all be yours this day!
2pm

Miss Kit’s Bubble School – Irondale Library
Join us as we enjoy “Miss Kit’s Bubble School,” a fun, interactive science and comedy event with audience participation. All Summer Reading events are free. Groups are asked to call ahead.
10:30

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Friday July 11th:

Scooby and Shaggy at McWane Science Center
Don’t miss your chance to meet two of the world’s most famous super sleuths, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy at McWane. Come for the fun and enjoy some Scooby snacks. Bring your camera to capture all your adventures.
Adults: $15/Kids: $12
Members: Adults: $12/Kids: $10
Advance reservations required. Call 714-8414 or visit www.mcwane.org.
6:30pm – 8:30pm

 Science Gone Mad – Springville Road Library
Join us for crazy chemistry experiments! This program is intended for elementary school age children.
4pm

Music on Main – Downtown Columbiana
Music on Main 2014 is a free concert in Main Street in Columbiana. Bring your own lawn chair.
Music By: Randy Glenn Band- Shelby County’s local favorite with a great following.
6:30 – 9:30pm

Zumba – Homewood Public Library
Get up and moving with friends and family at Homewood Public Library!
10:30am

City of Pelham Golden Jubilee – Pelham Civic Complex
The City of Pelham and the Pelham Beautification Board invite you to be a part of celebrating the City of Pelham’s Golden Jubilee  We expect a fun evening and a great day of shopping, children’s activites, food and music. Our event offers free admission; ice skating, music and children’s activities. We hope you are able to join us as we mark the 50th year in our city’s history.
5pm – 9pm

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Saturday July 12th

City of Pelham Golden Jubilee – Pelham Civic Complex
The City of Pelham and the Pelham Beautification Board invite you to be a part of celebrating the City of Pelham’s Golden Jubilee  We expect a fun evening and a great day of shopping, children’s activites, food and music. Our event offers free admission; ice skating, music and children’s activities. We hope you are able to join us as we mark the 50th year in our city’s history.
9am – 10pm

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Hoover Public Library
Hereos in a halfshell are here for an awesome adventure. Cowabunga!  All ages
10:30am

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
The Numberlys Storytime, featuring reading and activities for children ages 3 to 7.
11am

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Sunday July 13th:

Summer Film Series: To Kill a Mockingbird – Alabama Theatre
Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice. 129 min. NR.
There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film.
Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door or in advance through Ticketmaster.
2pm – 4pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 26

Posted on by Angie

Here’s what we did that was new over the 4th of July Holiday!

Angie-
I made a Tomato Pie. Which is funny because I don’t actually like tomatoes. But my friend swore it didn’t taste like tomatoes and it really didn’t. It was actually very tasty! It was a huge hit at our 4th of July Cookout and has now been deemed my “thing” to bring to all gatherings.

Kristen-
My New Thing is going on an impromptu 4th of July photo scavenger hunt with friends. A mannequin wearing and American Flag Bikini may have been involved. (Does that sound dirty? Nothing was done to the mannequin, just a picture.)

Shirley-
We went to Noccalula Falls and hiked under the falls. It’s a really cool spot for a photo op!

 

Share your new thing with us! We would love to know what you did!

Tips for Boat Safety

Posted on by Angie

Holiday Weekends mean lots of people will be headed to the lake and beach. While many parents worry about their children’s safety around swimming pools, as they should and need to do, drowning incidents can also occur in natural bodies of water.

Safety precautions need to be taken around all water environments. According to the Center for Disease Control, about half of all drowning incidents occur in natural water settings such as lakes, rivers, or oceans. And, almost 75% of people killed in boating
accidents die as a result of drowning. There are steps parents can be taking to keep their children safer in the water. The United States Swim School Association has put together the following guidelines to help keep children safe while boating this summer.

• Make sure your children know how to properly wear a lifejacket. And always have children under 12 wear a life jacket at all times when boating or using personal watercraft.

• Personal floatation devices (PFDs) should always be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Never substitute water wings or other recreational type floating toys for an approved PFD.

• Create a water safety plan for your family and have water emergency drills with your kids covering how to recognize the signs of someone struggling in water and what to do in this type of emergency.

• Teach your children the “throw don’t go” rescue method. Instead of entering the water to help a struggling person, teach your child to throw in a rope, reach with a stick, paddle or other object to pull the person in.

• If you take your kids on a shore excursion while boating, be aware of tides and currents and other risks the ocean or beach may have.

• Non-motorized boats can also pose a risk. If your family is canoeing or kayaking be sure your child is wearing a life jacket and knows what to do if the boat flips.

• If your child is playing near a natural body of water and accidentally falls in, teach your child to roll over on his or her back and float until help arrives if exiting the water is not an option.

• Never use floatation devices or water wings to keep your child safe in the water. Rely on your direct supervision.

Swimming lessons are a great addition to help keep your child safer while boating and around open water. For more information about swimming lessons and water safety and to find a Unites States Swim School Association member swim school near you,

visit: www.usswimschools.org.

About US Swim School Association:

US Swim School Association (USSSA) began in 1988 to fill a gap in the swim school industry. USSSA has become the largest and preeminent swim school association in the country with over 400 members providing swim and water safety instruction to over 500,000 students each year. Swim schools receive invaluable benefits as USSSA members, receiving the latest training in water safety, swim instruction methods and tools, invitations to annual conferences, and many other benefits that help establish and build each individual business. Through USSSA, parents and students are provided with a reliable and trustworthy resource when searching for a swim school and can rest assured they have chosen a top school when they choose a USSSA affiliated location. For
more information, visit www.usswimschools.org

 

Photo Credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpier/3831632675/”>Jason Pier in DC</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>

Throwback Thursday Kids Club: Alabama Theatre

Posted on by Angie

2 of our favorite places in Birmingham and they’re on the same block! Check out this special programming happening Thursdays in July!

Throwback Thursday Kids Club wants to help the now generation make modern memories at The Alabama Theatre! Each Thursday in July, you’re invited to treat your kids to a classic throwback family film including fun activities and live entertainment before the feature presentation. You’ll enjoy free parking, McWane Adventure Hall discounts and much more! Don’t let your kids miss the grandeur of the Alabama Theatre, the Showplace of the South!

Tickets are $2 for kids and $5 for adults. Kids MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Doors open at 9 am to start activities, and the movie begins at 10.

July 10: The Original Muppet Movie
July 17: Return to Witch Mountain
July 24: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
July 31: Bedknobs & Broomsticks

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 29th – July 6th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

It’s 4th of July week which means there are lots of special events happening around Birmingham. Libraries are still busy and don’t forget to take advantage of the Free and Discounted Summer Movies. Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Sunday June 29th:

Jazz in the Park – Avondale Park
Jose Carr and Julian Vaughn –
6pm – 9pm
Free Event

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Monday June 30th:

Story Laboratory – Bugs Hoover Public Libary
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30am and 10:30am

The Fizz Boom Zap and Wow Super Science Show – Bessemer Library
Kids get to see some amazing explosive reactions at this show. Please join us for some fizz boom wow action!
Ages: 5-11 yrs old
2pm

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve. Rhythm and Rhyme Science Storytime – Avondale Library
We’ve got rhythm, we’ve got science, the science of rhythm, who could ask for anything more? Stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 1st:

Madcap Puppets presents Twain’s Twisted Tales – Hoover Public Library
Madcap is proud to introduce the life and stories of one of America’s greatest literary figures and humorists with giant puppets and audience participation.
10:30am, 2pm and 6pm

Animal Tales – Emmet O Neal Library
Get up close and personal with a whole host of scaly, prickly, and fuzzy animals. All ages. No registration required.
10:30am

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday July 2nd:

33rd Annual I Love America Day Celebration – Wald Park
The 33rd Annual I Love America Summer Celebration will include, Free Swimming, Expo Fair, Children’s Activities by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Pops in the Park by Shades Mountain Baptist Church Orchestra and the movie Frozen will be shown at 8:15 pm. Presented by Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and Vestavia Hills Public Services. *Please note: NO pets allowed.
6pm – 10pm

Madcap Puppets presents Twain’s Twisted Tales – Hoover Public Library
Madcap is proud to introduce the life and stories of one of America’s greatest literary figures and humorists with giant puppets and audience participation.
10:30 and 2pm

Lights, Camera, Action Reaction – Avondale Library
The popcorn is popping and the film is rolling. It’s an afternoon of movie mania madness at the Avondale Public Library. Please inquire in the Youth Department for movie title. 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
2pm

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday July 3rd:

Madcap Puppets presents Twain’s Twisted Tales – Hoover Public Library
Madcap is proud to introduce the life and stories of one of America’s greatest literary figures and humorists with giant puppets and audience participation.
10:30a and 2pm

Fireworks at Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain State Park, as part of Alabama State Parks 75th Anniversary, along with the City of Pelham are hosting food, fun, and fireworks. Food and music begins at 6:00 p.m. Johnny Rays and McAlister’s will be here.
A wakeboarding demonstration by Flip Side Watersports, Oak Mountain’s newest attraction, will take place at 7:00 p.m.
Fireworks will shoot off at 9:00 p.m. Prime viewing will be on the beach. Plan to be in the park by 8:00 p.m. to see the show.

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Friday July 4th:

Check our list of July 4th Celebrations happening around Birmingham

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Saturday July 5th

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Grumpy days don’t have to stay that way. Find out how Elephant’s grumpy day changed and helped his friends, too!
11am

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Sunday July 6th:

ETC Presents Vulcan’s Underpants
Come get some fresh air and fresh comedy! Join ETC for our special brand of comedy – made up on the spot with your suggestions. Fun for your kids or your grandparents. Heck, we love the whole family! In case of inclement weather, we will update Facebook, Twitter and voicemail at (205) 687-5233.
6pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 25

Posted on by Angie

What did we do that was new?

Angie –
On our way to catch a Barons game Friday night,  we decided to try out one of the newer-ish restaurants in Avondale. We chose POPS – Post Office Pies (look out MELT, you’re next.) Post Office Pies is a collaboration between Saw’s Soul Kitchen owners Mike Wilson and Brandon Cain and expert chef John Hall. They serve up some Tasty Pies that were devoured by the entire family. When 5 out of 5 agree, we consider that a serious win and add those places to our regular dining out rotation.

Kristen –
I let my four year old swim with no floaties because he’s been taking lessons and wanted to show me his “skills.” Don’t worry, I watched him like a hawk. He did great!

Have something new you want to share or want us to try, let us know!

4th of July Celebrations in Birmingham

Posted on by Angie

Independence Day Celebrations are happening all week long, which is great if you’re looking for an excuse to see as many fireworks as possible.

Take a look at what’s happening around Birmingham to celebrate July 4th!

I Love America Summer Celebration – Wald Park
The 33rd Annual I Love America Summer Celebration will include, Free Swimming, Expo Fair, Children’s Activities by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Pops in the Park by Shades Mountain Baptist Church Orchestra and the movie Frozen will be shown at 8:15 pm. Presented by Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and Vestavia Hills Public Services. *Please note: NO pets allowed.
July 2nd
6pm – 10pm

Fireworks at Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain State Park, as part of Alabama State Parks 75th Anniversary, along with the City of Pelham are hosting food, fun, and fireworks. Food and music begins at 6:00 p.m. Johnny Rays and McAlister’s will be here.
A wakeboarding demonstration by Flip Side Watersports, Oak Mountain’s newest attraction, will take place at 7:00 p.m.
Fireworks will shoot off at 9:00 p.m. Prime viewing will be on the beach. Plan to be in the park by 8:00 p.m. to see the show.
July 3rd

Helena
The Helena First Friday events happen once a month in Old Town Helena where local merchants stay open late and vendors set up booths in the downtown area. There will be food vendors, live music and more.
It concludes with a fireworks show around 8:30 or 9 p.m.
July 3rd

The Big Kaboom – City of Chelsea
The event will officially begin at 8:00 PM in Chelsea Park, but people tend to arrive early and bring folding chairs and blankets. Fireworks will kick off at 9:00 PM  and will last about 20 minutes. Food vendors will be available. If the water tower at Chelsea Park is in sight, the fireworks should be visible. There’s a big field at U.S. Highway 280 and Highway 440 for spectators
July 3rd

Thunder on the Mountain from Vulcan
A Birmingham tradition for decades, Thunder on the Mountain is the city’s annual fireworks display and the biggest in the state of Alabama! Not only does Vulcan Park and Museum organize this magnificent show, but Vulcan is the centerpiece of the program. Make sure you make Vulcan a part of your Independence Day tradition!
Friday, July 4 at 9 p.m.

Some FAQ’s about Thunder on the Mountain:

  • Can I watch the fireworks from Vulcan Park and Museum?
    No. The fireworks are launched from the park grounds of Vulcan Park and Museum. For safety purposes, Vulcan Park and Museum and its surrounding 10-acre park will close to the public at 6:00 pm on July 4. At this time, the entire park grounds and parking lots will be cleared out and closed.
  • Where is the best place to view the fireworks?
    For the best viewing experience, make sure you have a clear view of Vulcan! Prime viewing locations include Five Points South, Homewood, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, UAB campus, among others. Based on growing crowds in recent years, organizers are advising spectators to stake out a viewing point well in advance of the 9:00 pm show.
  • Will the show be cancelled in the event of rain?
    No. Thunder on the Mountain 2014 will continue rain or shine! However, the show may be cancelled in the event of severe weather conditions.
Independence Day Fireworks – Birmingham Barons, Regions Park
Celebrate Independence Day with The Birmingham Barons taking on the Smokies.
July 4th

Independence Day at American Village
Events happening at the institution along Highway 119 in Montevallo from noon until the fireworks erupt after dark.
Admission is $5 per person. Veterans and active members of the military, as well as children ages 4 and younger are free.
Events include 18th century games, an Independence Ball, Revolutionary Army drills and entertainment from costumed historical interpreters. There will be plenty to eat thanks to Full Moon BBQ and other tasty treats available.
Gates open at 11 a.m. on July 4

 

4th of July Recipes from "MasterChefs"

Posted on by Angie

The 4th of July is less than a week away, if you’re looking for some fun ideas to incorporate into this year’s celebration, try some of these recipes submitted to us from “MasterChef” Contestants.

Healthy dessert from “MasterChef” Season 3 Semi-finalist and fan-favorite Becky Reams:

As summer gets closer, I get antsy pantsy for some good ol’ grillin’ recipes! Grilling does not have to be an all day endeavor, in fact, in my opinion, its all about a few well chosen quality ingredients, treated quite simply. With these recipes, it will take you longer to decide on what sassy grill-master distinguished outfit to wear, than to make dinner.

Rosemary Pineapple Spears

Ingredients

1 whole fresh pineapple (not canned, trust me)

1 package fresh rosemary (7-8 stems)

2-3 T honey

Directions

1.   Heat your grill (or grill pan, if you’re backyard BBQ challenged, like me) over high heat

2.   Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple. Then starting at the top, using a sharp knife, cut the exterior rind off. Working in sections cutting top to bottom all the way around the pineapple.

3.   Cut the pineapple in half top to bottom, then cut each half in half again (I know it’s confusing, stay with me, it sounds harder than it is)

4.   Now cut the core out, and slice each spear in half width-wise. You should now have a bunch of 2-3” pieces of pineapple.

5.   Use a wooden skewer and pierce a hole all the way through each piece, and remove the wooden skewer (the skewer was just to make the hole for the rosemary).

6.   Now take a rosemary stem and remove the leaves from the bottom of the stem. Then stick the rosemary stem through the pineapple

7.   Brush each piece lightly with oil, and place on the grill. Cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until you get some nice grill marks.

8.   Drizzle each piece with a little honey and serve warm.

9.   Enjoy!

From  “MasterChef” fan –favorite Bri Kozior

Banana Boats

Ingredients

1 banana

Any toppings you want: peanut butter, chocolate chips, cereal, marshmallows, coconut…anything that sounds yummy!

Aluminum foil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. After peeling your banana, make a small slice lengthwise in your banana using your fingers to open it more so you can fit all your toppings inside, and place it on a flat sheet of aluminum foil.

Fill the banana with whatever toppings sound delicious to you! I personally love chocolate chips, marshmallow, peanut butter, and graham cracker crumbs. (Then it’ll taste like a peanut butter s’mores!)

Wrap your banana up with the seam (where the two ends meet) of the aluminum at the top so that no fillings come out.

Bake at 350 for about 10 mins and let cool before eating. You can eat it with graham crackers, on ice cream, or just with a spoon!

Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!

You can catch Becky and Bri on the upcoming “MasterChef” cruise.  Recipes reprinted with permission by Becky Reams and with permission from Bri Kozior.

Make sure to tune in and catch the newest episode of “MasterChef” Mondays on FOX 8/7C!

Is Preventing School Violence Possible? How You Can Help.

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

More bad news in the news: a shooting at a Portland high school, another on the campus of Seattle Pacific University, the murder of two police officers and one civilian in Las Vegas, and then gun violence right here in Birmingham at Glenwood – all in the span of six days. Several media outlets are reporting 74 school shootings (including isolated altercations in addition to larger scale violence) in the 77 weeks since the Sandy Hook tragedy in December of 2012. Staggering numbers and statistics that make some of us want to lock our children in the house and never let them out. We’ve discussed ideas for talking to your kids about tragedies like these in the past here and here. The epidemic of gun violence in our country is not subject to an easy fix and attention must be paid to several elements. There are issues that need to be addressed about who can access guns, how mental health problems are identified and treated, and what factors have led our culture to become increasingly desensitized toward violence and death. But rather than stick our heads in the sand at the sheer enormity of the problem, there are things that we, as parents, can be do on a local level to help prevent these tragedies in our own schools and communities.

One of the most concerning commonalities of these tragedies was that they represented escalations of behavior and didn’t come out of nowhere. These perpetrators generally had some history of bullying or violence and almost all of them made warnings and threats in the time leading up to the attacks – out loud, in journals or stories they showed to others, or on internet and Facebook pages. Friends, family members, and acquaintances were often party to those warnings but, in many cases, didn’t take them seriously or weren’t sure how to handle them. The fact that even one of these horrific events could have been prevented if someone had told is heartbreaking. But, this trend of perpetrators making their plans known ahead of time may ultimately be the key to reducing large-scale tragedies in the future. As we become more educated about the warning signs and whom to notify of threats, we may greatly reduce the number of attacks that are actually carried out. And, since this is, sadly, an issue that disproportionately affects children and adolescents, they are the ones who are most in need of this information. We parents can and must teach our kids what to do if they hear threats or see behavior that’s dangerous.

It’s important to note that in most cases, the perpetrators were dealing with a combination of mental health issues and significant social problems. Specifically, many of them were the victims of abuse in the home or bullying at school or in the workplace, and frequently showed signs of mental illness. I don’t point this out to draw sympathy or to excuse their behavior in any way – being mistreated does not give you the right to hurt someone else. Instead, I bring this up because it helps us see how intervention at an early stage may prevent later catastrophes.

Our society is becoming increasingly aware of the harmful effects of bullying and abuse and numerous prevention programs have been put into place. Recently, anti-bullying curricula are focusing more and more on the role of bystanders. Just as we adults were asked,”If you see something, say something” in the wake of 9/11, this is a mantra schools repeat to students to help improve the likelihood that problematic behavior will be reported – peers are often in a much better position than teachers or administrators to know what a student is thinking or planning. Sit down with your child and ask him if he’s heard something like this from his teachers or counselor. Discuss what it means to him. Talk about the kinds of things that he might hear or see at school that he needs to tell an adult. Some examples would be another kid:

-Bringing or talking about about bringing a gun or knife to school
-Threatening to harm someone in his family or at school
-Writing a story, poem, or note about harming someone
-Physically harming someone at school or telling about hurting an
animal or younger child
-Talking about being physically hurt (i.e., being beaten, punched,
kicked, etc.) at home or physically bullied by a peer
-Showing frequent, unexplained, and significant anger or outbursts
-Threatening to hurt herself or talking about cutting her skin
-Warning that something terrible is going to happen at school
-Making jokes about hurting other people
-Talking about or being seen bullying someone else or teasing
someone who obviously cannot stand up for himself

Explain the difference between “tattling” to get someone in trouble and telling on someone to keep people safe. This is a harder sell with adolescents but helping them feel empathy for violence victims will make them more likely to speak up. Help your child to identify one or two trusted adults whom she could tell about something immediately -a favorite teacher from a past grade, the counselor, a librarian. Stress that he needs to find and tell one of those adults right away rather than waiting for the end of the day. Explain that, even if your child tells and there was nothing really going on, he is helping to keep everyone safe by showing that threats and dangerous behavior will be taken seriously. It’s important to explain to your child that, often, his classmates will think the kid making the threat is just kidding or blowing off steam, or they’ll expect that someone else will do something so they don’t need to (a phenomenon called “diffusion of responsibility”). That’s why it’s so important for your child to tell an adult – it’s very likely that no one else will. Tell your child that there’s no way for him to know for sure whether someone is serious when making a threat, which is why he needs to get adults involved. Encourage your child to also talk to you about anything concerning from the day so you can follow up with the school, if needed. In some cases, you may suggest that your child intervene directly in a situation when it’s happening; for example, telling a friend to stop when he is picking on a smaller student. Discuss scenarios where your child can safely say or do something to protect someone else and times where she needs to get an adult instead. Stress that if she sees a weapon or if a weapon is mentioned, she needs to get out of the situation immediately and seek help.

After you’ve had this discussion, follow up periodically. Ask your child if he has seen someone behave in a way that hurt someone else – physically or emotionally. Talk about how the victim may have felt and whether this is the kind of thing the perpetrator has done in the past. Determine if there is a threat of serious violence in the situation and whether something does or doesn’t need to be reported. Help your child make a report if he seems hesitant. Not only are you helping to create a culture at your child’s school that doesn’t tolerate violence or abuse, you’re also showing your child that he has the power to make his community safer by speaking up and holding others accountable for what they say and do.

About Kristen:
Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

Run Or Dye Birmingham Discount Code!

Posted on by Angie

What happens when you combine thousands of runners and walkers with more than five tons of color dye powder, music, and dancing? Say hello to Run or Dye, the world’s most colorful 5k! We’ve partnered together and we’re excited to bring Run or Dye to Birmingham. To celebrate, we are offering an exclusive $10 discount with the code: “MUMSWORD”. Sign up at www.runordye.com, and let’s see you there!”

Saturday, July 19th
Barber Motorsports

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