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Birmingham Events Calendar: November 3rd – November 10th

Posted on by Angie

Daylight Savings Time! Whether you like it or not it’s time to “fall back.”

Disney on Ice is skating into Birmingham this week with it’s Princesses and Heroes. Lots of options for show times.

If your family is a fan of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you’ll want to check out the book release party happening at Barnes and Noble at the Summit.

Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival is happening this weekend and you can catch Kids in Nature at the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center.

Have a Great Week!

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

Sunday November 3rd:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.

Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!

For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.

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Monday November 4th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Library
Join us for hot movie popcorn and a cool movie.
3:30

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday November 5th:

Book Release Party – Barnes and Noble Summit
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Join us for a special release party for the new ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ book, Hard Luck. Enjoy Wimpy Kid games, activities and trivia.
6pm

Rangers Apprentice – Hoover Public Library
Araluen needs your help.  We have a shortage of Rangers and we are accepting new recruits.  You will be trained in archery and camouflage as you learn to defend the kingdom.  Grades 4-6
Registration required.
6:30 – 7:30

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

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

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Wednesday November 6th:

Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Price Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and loveable Disney friends are just a wish away! There’s even a special appearance by Disney’s newest princess, Rapunzel.
7pm

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime and activities as we join Pete the Cat on his newest adventure, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
11am

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Thursday November 7th:

Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Price Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and loveable Disney friends are just a wish away! There’s even a special appearance by Disney’s newest princess, Rapunzel.
10:30am and 7pm

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

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Friday November 8th:

Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Price Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and loveable Disney friends are just a wish away! There’s even a special appearance by Disney’s newest princess, Rapunzel.
10:30 and 7pm

Special LEGO Event – Build It Here
If you love Lego, then this is the event for you! Adults, teens, older children, will have the opportunity to try out the new Lego Architecture Studio line of kits. Learn about scale, models, and other aspects of design — with Lego!
7pm

Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival –
Homestead Hollow festivals feature fine arts, unique – one of a kind – hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days. See wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, and tour original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.

Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride or jump in the moon walk. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Adults – $7
Ages 3 to 12 – $3
Ages 2 and under – Free.
Groups of 20 or more – $6 each.
Free Parking. NO PETS ALLOWED. NO COOLERS ALLOWED.
9am – 4pm

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Saturday November 9th:

Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Price Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and loveable Disney friends are just a wish away! There’s even a special appearance by Disney’s newest princess, Rapunzel.
11am

Kids in Nature – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let’s go outside and explore! KIN programs focus on a different topic each month and includes a naturalist-led hike and a craft. We will be building fairy houses!
$5/ $7 (non-members) per child. Chaperones are free.
1pm

Magic of Model Train Preview Party – Mcwane Science Center
Be the first to experience both the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and Rocky Mountain Express IMAX film.
Event Includes:
Admission to the museum and a screening of Rocky Mountain Express
Hot chocolate and cookies in the museum
Train rides
Small popcorn
Free train whistle following the film screening for all kids 12 and under
$15 Adults, $10 Kids (Members: $12.50 Adults, $7.50 Kids)
5pm – 8pm
5 PM – 8 PM, Film Screenings at 5 PM & 7 PM

Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival –
Homestead Hollow festivals feature fine arts, unique – one of a kind – hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days. See wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, and tour original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.

Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride or jump in the moon walk. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Adults – $7
Ages 3 to 12 – $3
Ages 2 and under – Free.
Groups of 20 or more – $6 each.
Free Parking. NO PETS ALLOWED. NO COOLERS ALLOWED.
9am – 4pm

Cereal and Cartoons – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal only, available until 10:45 am.
10am – Noon

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart! Portrait Project // Look at the people around you. Who do you see?
11am – 1pm

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

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
It’s bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Join us as we find out where all the bedtime stories have gone.
11am

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Sunday November 10th:

Disney on Ice – Princesses and Heroes
Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Price Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and loveable Disney friends are just a wish away! There’s even a special appearance by Disney’s newest princess, Rapunzel.
1pm and 5pm

Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival –
Homestead Hollow festivals feature fine arts, unique – one of a kind – hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days. See wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, and tour original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.

Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride or jump in the moon walk. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Adults – $7
Ages 3 to 12 – $3
Ages 2 and under – Free.
Groups of 20 or more – $6 each.
Free Parking. NO PETS ALLOWED. NO COOLERS ALLOWED.
9am – 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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titans of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Fall Crock Pot: Clean Eating Southwestern Chicken

Posted on by Angie

We found a great recipe for the crock pot, and it’s perfect for fall!  Clean Eating Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken will be a hit with the whole family- muchas gracias to thegraciouspantry.com for the recipe!

Image from TheGraciousPantry.com

 

Clean Eating Slow Cooker Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken
(Makes approximately 10 cups)

Ingredients
4 raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 oz. each)
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained) or 1 1/3 cup home cooked beans
1 (15 oz.) can black beans (rinsed and drained) or 1 1/3 cup home cooked beans
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes in juice, low sodium is best
1 lb. frozen and thawed organic corn (organic to avoid GMO corn)
1 (12 oz.) jar of your favorite salsa, no sugar added

Directions

Step 1 – Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the tomatoes and salsa over that and then layer on the beans and corn.

Step 2 – Cook on low for 5-7 hours, or until the chicken easily falls apart when the pot is stirred.

Eat and Enjoy!

Dia de los Muertos, Birmingham

Posted on by Angie

This November 2nd falls on Saturday!  It is sure to be an energetic All Soul’s Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Alabama’s Day of the Dead Festival.  This year is the eleventh celebration!  It will take place in the same great spot on 1st Avenue South in Birmingham, AL.  If you’re looking for some family fun this weekend this is your event. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Gates open at 4:00

Food & Beverages on 1st Avenue: 
Cantina, Mi Pueblo, Cosmos, Shindigs, Spoonfed Grill, Beverages by Event Concessions

Food & Beverages in the Alley: 
Greg’s Hotdogs, Beverages by Event Concessions

4:00-7:30           Day of the Dead Crafts in the Alley Parking Lot – priority given to children

                            (Milk Jug Mask Decorating & Hand-Made Marigold Mourning Paper)
                            Free

4:00 – 10:00        Day of the Dead Face Painting in the Alley by Magic City Face Art

                            Various prices

4:00-11:00           Art Mercado in the Fenced Lot

                            (T-shirts, Masks & Art by Local Artists)

                            Various prices

4:00-4:50             INTERNACIONAL MARIACHI RIOVERDE

                             Strolling through the Festival

DANCE PERFORMANCE STAGE in the Fenced Lot

DJ – JAVIER FLORES throughout the evening

8:15-8:20              CREATIVE MINDZ DANCE CREW

8:35-8:45              BURNING DESIRE directed by Spider Kilgore

8:55-9:20              BALLET FOLKÓRICO CORAZÓN AZTECA

BAND CONCERT STAGE on 1st Ave at the Viaduct

5:00-6:00              INTERNACIONAL MARIACHI RIOVERDE

6:00-6:15              MATT LAYNE, RACHEL REINHART & Memorial Roll Call

6:15-6:40              Parade – leaves from the side of the band stage

6:40-6:45              Frida Ceremony w/ Susan & Clemencia

6:45-8:00              SUSAN TORRES y CONJUNTO CLEMENCIA – facebook Susan-Torres-y-Conjunto-Clemencia

9:30-11:00            PAVLO – www.pavlo.net

The Lazy Moms Guide to Pumpkin Decorating

Posted on by Angie

So, you’ve waited to the last minute to carve or decorate your pumpkin.. Now what? Never fear, here at BirminghamMommy.com we are no strangers to procrastination or “Holy Crap, I forgot to carve the pumpkin” moments.

Here are a few ideas we pulled together for our friends over at Daytime Alabama.

The Mumpkin:

1 pumpkin, a sharpie and some toilet paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 pumpkin, a glue gun and a bunch of buttons – BOO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Pumpkin and a mask: Done

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use your imagination when it comes to decorating your pumpkin. Pull out the paints or raid the the dress up box, you never know what you can create when you’re in a time crunch!

 

Indoor Options for Trick or Treating in Birmingham

Posted on by Angie

It looks like the weather may not cooperate for Trick or Treating this year. If you’re looking for a place to keep your ghosts and goblins dry, check out some of these alternatives.

Harvest Festival – Boutwell Auditorium

On Thursday, October 31st, the City of Birmingham’s Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services will host its 2013 Harvest Festival at the Boutwell Auditorium.  Harvest Festival is a safe and fun alternative to Halloween for all youth ages 2 to 10.

From 5:30pm to 8:00pm, youth of the city can visit Birmingham’s own Minion Nation!  Join Gru and the minions as we have a DYSpicably good time. There will be snacks, games, face painting, rides, prizes and much more at this fall frenzy!

This event is FREE! Youth are encouraged to wear costumes and bring candy pales or bags.  Boutwell Auditorium concession stands will be open.

Trunk or Treat Shades Mountain Independent Church
Family Friendly night of costumes, candy and carnival fun. Thursday, October 31st 4pm – 5:30pm

Crossroads Baptist Church
6p-8p inflatables, candy, chilli, etc!!! All FREE!

Emmet O’ Neal Library
Trick or Treat Around the Library – October 31st, 9am -9pm

Halloween Tricks and Treats Homewood Library
October 31st, 1pm – 7:00pm
Stop by in your costume and perform a trick for a treat!

Trick or Treat – Hoover Library
Trick or treat throughout the library on Halloween!
Thursday, October 31, 2012
9am-6 p.m.

Riverchase Galleria

More than 20 stores will have candy for kids, plus guest services and staff at the carousel will hand out candy. Kids – encouraged to wear their costumes but nothing that covers the face
10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Publix – Indoor Trick or Treating
If you know of another in-door event we can add to our list, let us know!
Happy Halloween!

 

Giveaway: Disney on Ice Princesses and Heroes

Posted on by Angie

Disney on Ice Princesses and Heroes are skating into Birmingham and BirminghamMommy.com has a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway.

Through artistic skating and graceful acrobatics, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes beautifully recreates the defining moments when eight Disney Princesses’ wishes are fulfilled with help from their devoted Princes.  Tinker Bell guides guests through the inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White as their wishes are being granted and their dreams coming true.

Performance Schedule:

Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 7 at 7 p.m.

Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 9 at 11 a.m.

Sunday, November 10 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Our tickets are for your choice of the November 6th, 7th, or 8th show. Here’s how to enter.

1. Leave a comment here on this post.

2. Follow us on twitter and/or tweet the following: “@BirminghamMommy is giving away tickets to Disney on Ice http://ow.ly/qk88w ”

3. Share this link on your Facebook page – http://ow.ly/qk88w  (come back here and let us know that you did)

Giveaway will end on Thursday at 6pm. Winner will be notified via email and on our Facebook Page.

Keep Teeth Free of Sugar Bugs This Halloween.

Posted on by Angie

Candy, Candy and more Candy. While dressing up is part of the fun, we all know that the ultimate goal of Halloween is to collect as much candy as humanly possible. While kids wait all year for this holiday of endless sugar, it can often be a nightmare for parents concerned about what the excessive amount of sugar is doing to their kids teeth.

We reached out to local Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Michael Vann, DMD of Vann Pediatric Dental for some tips on keeping those sugar bugs to a minimum while still allowing the kids to enjoy themselves this Halloween.

Dr. Vann says that in addition to brushing Morning and Night and flossing at least once each day, to make sure you never eat or drink anything other than water after you brush your teeth at night. (Hide the Halloween candy if you must.)

He also suggests avoiding sticky candy such as taffy, gummy’s, caramel, etc.  Sticky Candy adheres to teeth and can lead to decay.

Try to consume the candy with a meal. Increased saliva production while eating will help wash the sugar off of teeth.

Drink water to rinse sugar from teeth. Chewing sugar free gum containing xylitol. As with eating a meal, the increased saliva from chewing will help wash the sugar off the teeth and the xylitol in gum will help control the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

“We know you’ll be eating candy on Halloween, just try not to eat too much! And brush and floss your teeth as soon as possible after eating all that candy!”

We hope you all have a very Happy and Safe Halloween.

 

About Dr. Vann: Dr. Michael Vann is a native of Trussville, Alabama.  After graduating college with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and graduated in 2003 with a D.M.D degree.  After finishing dental school, he chose to spend a couple of years treating children in an under-served area, which he really enjoyed and gained a lot of experience.  He returned to The Children’s Hospital of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham to complete his education with a residency in pediatric dentistry and received his certificate.  While at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Dr. Vann gained a lot of experience with trauma, dental treatment in the operating room, treatment of special needs, treatment of children who were extremely fearful and full mouth pediatric dental rehabilitation.  He is proud to be associated and have graduated from a world-renowned pediatric dental program. In March of 2011, Dr. Vann finally completed his lifelong professional dreams and returned home to Trussville to begin his own private practice.
1808 Hwy. 11 Ste. 134  Trussville, AL 35235     (205)508-3399     vannpediatricdental@gmail.com

Birmingham Events Calendar October 27th – November 3rd

Posted on by Angie

Only a few more days until Halloween! Lots of fun to be had this week and lots of opportunities to score some free candy!

Take advantage of this beautiful weather and hit some of the festivals we have listed here or on our big Fall Happenings list, here. Make sure to check with your local Library, many will be offering Trick or Treating all day on Halloween. It’s always a great safe option for the little bitty’s.

Dia de los Muertos and Moss Sock Festival will be happening this weekend and should have plenty to keep your whole family busy!

Have a great week!

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

Sunday October 27th

Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for its 9th season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with friends and family (of all ages) while listening to some of the area’s best music.

Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and general admission. Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. All shows rain or shine. For additional concert details and up-to-date artist information, log onto www.visitvulcan.com.

Bring the kids to enjoy fun games and activities.
Music by: Leon Redbone (with Supporting Dead Fingers)

General Admission – $15 (Includes concert, admission to Vulcan Center Museum and Observation Tower and tax)
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Vulcan Members – $7.50
VIP Ticket Packages are available for $75

Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade – Fultondale Bark Park
The Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade is a family-oriented event held in conjunction with the Fultondale Arts Council. The event includes vendors, a dog parade, dog pageant, Guess your Dog’s Weight, dog games, Photos with your Dog, and other family activities.  The Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Dog Show will be our featured entertainment.
12pm – 5pm

Pumpkin Carving Party – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let your creativity run wild as you create your very own Jack-O-Lantern. Ruffner will provide the carving tools. You may bring your own pumpkin, or buy one from Ruffner. Take your pumpkin home, or leave it to be displayed at Faces in the Forest. The Pumpkin Carving Party will take place on the Back Porch.

Oktoberfest – Our Savior Lutheran Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. This event will be fun for the whole family. Offering entertainment such as a Corn Hole tournament, inflatables, and music. Please join us and enjoy Bratwursts, hot dogs, German dishes, and homemade desserts.
Noon – 4pm

Trussville Fall Carnival  – Magnolia Park
Featuring rides, activities and food.
$14 for wristbands and $1 for individual tickets. Coupons will be available at the Chamber of Commerce and online.
1 pm to 5 pm

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

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Monday October 28th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday October 29th:

Booktacular Family Fun Night – Avondale Library
Join us for a family fun night filled with stories, songs, and games guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. No scary costumes please.
Free but registration and 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
6:30pm

Pumpkin Painting – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Bring the family and paint a pumpkin. All ages. No registration required.
6:00-6:45pm

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

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

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Wednesday October 30th:

Halloween Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Halloween Story Time and Treats. All Ages
10:30am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come dressed up in your Halloween costume as we celebrate Halloween.
11am

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Thursday October 31st:

Happy Halloween!

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade– Emmet O’ Neal Library
A Halloween parade with the feel of Mardi Gras. Parade participants throw Mystics of Mountain Brook t-shirts, beads, stuffed animals and footballs to the huge crowd that lines the streets of Crestline Village. The parade has over 23 floats, the high school cheerleaders, a roller derby, and Mayor Terry Oden driving his antique fire truck. The parade route starts by the Emmet O’Neal Library, goes to the Tot Lot, turns left on Church Street and then left on Euclid and ends back at the Library.
4pm

Monster Walk – Downtown Columbiana
Kids are welcome to come and Trick or Treat at Columbiana Merchants from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm.

Mummy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

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Friday November 1st:

Holiday Book Drive – Barnes and Noble Summit
Help us give the gift of literacy this season by participating in our Holiday Book Drive. Our goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of children nationwide. Our store’s book drive will benefit Birmingham Reads/Better Basics.
Noon

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Saturday November 2nd:

Dia de los Muertos – 2115 First Ave South
It is sure to be an energetic All Soul’s Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Alabama’s Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos numero once). This year is our eleventh celebration! It will take place in our same great spot on 1st Avenue South in Birmingham, AL.

We look forward to seeing you at the festival. Please do NOT bring your pets or cooler or picnic baskets. Please do bring yourselves and friends and a small altar or memento of remembrance. Dress in bones, as a sugar skull or for a fiesta! Join in the procession!
$10 (13yrs & up), $3 (12 to 7yrs), free (under 7yrs)
4pm – 11pm

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.

Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!

For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.

Home Depot Kids Workshop
Come build The Home Depot’s spectacular Tabletop Ship! All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Click here to register online

Cereal and Cartoons – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal only, available until 10:45 am.
10am – Noon

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart! Portrait Project // Look at the people around you. Who do you see?
11am – 1pm

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

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
Join us for Storytime and activities as we join Pete the Cat on his newest adventure, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
11am

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Sunday November 3rd:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.

Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!

For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.

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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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titans of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Parenting with a PhD: Social Skills

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Dear Parenting with a Ph.D.

I have a 10-year-old sweet daughter who has been experiencing difficulties with girls since kindergarten. We live in a neighborhood with four other girls her age and for the longest time she has been left out by the group. No one is outwardly “mean” but they don’t play with her and if they are invited over they are often “bored.” The parents are always very kind and invite my daughter to birthday parties, etc. but then when she gets there she is left out and feels they are talking about her behind her back. I have witnessed the behavior myself – not wanting to sit next to her, looking at her like she has two heads if she suggests something, always having her ideas over-ruled, etc. Initially, I tried to arrange lots of playdates but it made no difference. Then she joined a Girl Scout troop and made new friends outside of the neighborhood. Similarly, these are very sweet girls, but there are cliques within the troop. My daughter always has fun at the outings and is well-liked by half the troop. At school, however, many of these girls are already in “groups” and she feels alone and excluded. One of her closer friends is now making new friends and is less inclined to play with my daughter. She tells me at recess she asks to join games but is told they don’t need any more players so she plays alone until the boys kick her off the equipment. While she remains very positive on the outside I know this is breaking her inside. She really never talks to me but today opened up for the first time in a long time. I have contacted the school counselor but would love any advice on how I can help her to break this negative cycle and form some peer relationships she is confident with.

Thank you,
A very sad mom.

Dear Very Sad Mom,

I’m so sorry for what your daughter has been going through for, it sounds like, a very long while. I know this is hard to see and it can be pretty perplexing for parents. After all, you know your daughter is an awesome person – why can’t everybody see that? Often when we hear about kids having social problems, we assume they are being rejected or bullied.  But, there are also kids who just get ignored and this seems to be happening to your daughter, at least in a couple of situations.

I think talking with the counselor was a great plan. The school may have interventions set up to help with this kind of thing; for example, some schools hold social skills or “Lunch Bunch” groups or have peer mentoring opportunities. Find out what options your school offers and, if they don’t have anything set up currently, ask how to get something started.  It can also help to have teachers and administrators aware of the issue so they can pair your daughter with appropriate partners for group work and activities, and encourage her inclusion during less structured times.

It will be important to have a talk with your daughter about what friendship is and what makes a good friend. Books like A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by Patti Kelley Criswell and Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them by Stacy Peterson might be good jumping off points for this discussion. In particular, focus on the reciprocal nature of friendship and help her understand that not everyone her age is going to be a good match for her. Sometimes, different personalities and interests can make for one-sided, unhealthy friendships that are unlikely to be fulfilling to her. Be sure that she doesn’t feel like it’s her fault these particular girls don’t seem interested in hanging out – just that they may not have much in common. Encourage her to focus on activities that she really enjoys and get her involved doing these things with others. Does she love to swim? Join Swim Team. Does she enjoy reading? Find her a Book Club. Although she hasn’t clicked with everyone in Girl Scouts – it sounds like she has several friends there and it helps that they have interests and activities in common. Help her to understand that it’s O.K. if some kids aren’t interested in being close and that she doesn’t have to please everyone. We all have different interests and preferences in our friendships.

You may have to assist your daughter in fostering promising friendships. Invite a girl from Scouts over for a play date so that your daughter can interact one-on-one. But, rather than just letting the girls play, stay close so you can observe the interaction and intervene with any problems. If your daughter seems at a loss for coming up with fun activities, consider having a couple of structured games or crafts handy that she can suggest to her friend. If you notice your daughter lacking in some skill – for example, asking her friend if she’d like a snack, letting her have equal turns, expressing empathy if she gets hurt – pull her aside unobtrusively and suggest the appropriate behavior. See yourself as the play date coach.

After the visit is over, talk with your daughter about what went well – be sure to give her lots of encouragement about the positive skills she exhibited and efforts she made. Also, discuss what she might want to do differently next time. Role-playing the interactions would also be helpful. How should your daughter greet her friend? How can she show her friend that she is open to suggestions for fun activities? How should she act when it’s time for her friend to leave?

If you notice that your daughter has consistent difficulties knowing the right thing to say or do in social situations or if she seems to be doing something that often annoys other kids, there may be a social skills issue that needs to be addressed. If the school doesn’t have a social skills group, you may want to seek one in the community.  I’ve included a list of potential options at the end of this article. Look for a group that includes a small number of kids and that focuses on specific skills like having conversations, understanding others’ perspective, cooperating, complaining appropriately, joining activities that are on-going, and social problem-solving. Groups will often meet weekly and can last a planned number of weeks or be ongoing. If you can’t find a social skills group in your area, talk to your child’s pediatrician about a referral for a cognitive-behavioral therapist who can help your child work on social skills.

Thank you for writing and I hope that very soon your daughter finds friends who love her for exactly who she is!

Resources for Social Skills Groups in the Community: Grayson & Associates, P.C. (led by me) – 205-871-6926; Child’s Play Therapy Center 205-978-9939; Autism Asperger Syndrome Consulting Group, LLC (led by Kerry Mataya and primarily for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders) – 205-572-1143.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

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 six-year-old and newborn daughters and three-year-old son.

Halloween. It's Not Just For the Kids!

Posted on by Angie

Halloween isn’t just for the kids! Mark your calendars now for these fun events happening for you Moms and Dads!

Magic City Zombie Fest

Classic “Night of the Living Dead” with a spooktacular party on McWane Science Center’s plaza – the first annual Magic City Zombie Fest. Get into your best zombie costume and creep to downtown Birmingham for a night of food, fun and flesh-eaters. The festivities begin at 7 pm with a screening of “Night of the Living Dead” at the Alabama Theatre, followed immediately by a party on McWane’s plaza with music, food, drinks, costume contest and other
undead activities.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE PARTY:
– Zombie costume contest
– Zombie Walk from theater
– Finger foods and bar
– D.J.
– Zombie photo booth
– Zombie makeup station

DATE:  Friday, October 25
MOVIE SCREENING: 7 pm  BlOCK PARTY:  8:30 pm
COST: $20 (Ticket inlcudes admission to Night of the Living Dead, McWane’s
Zombie Block Party and one drink ticket)
FOR TICKETS: Visit www.alabamatheatre.com. Advance reservations required.
Must be 18 and over to purchase tickets.

CLICK HERE for tickets

Trunk or Treat at Avondale Brewery

Join the Alabama Theatre Junior Board at Avondale Brewery on Halloween for a costume party fundraiser benefiting the Alabama and Lyric Theatres.  There will be a costume contest.  First prize is a $500 gift certificate to Diamonds Direct.

To purchase tickets, visit: http://altheatrejrboard.eventbrite.com/

Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

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