Wade on Birmingham

Heads and tales: Figures and words

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city stages

If they had a million dollars …: We may be short on cash for school, public transportation, economic development, homelessness, etc., but not for the oft-praised, oft-maligned music festival. The Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick City Stages Presented by Lanny Vines & Associates has raised $750,000 toward its goal of $1 million, to pay off old debt and secure a nest egg for the future. Also, the first major acts for this June’s edition will be Earth, Wind and Fire (again), Dr. John (again), Rickie Lee Jones, Poison and the Steve Miller Band. Ticket prices will go up (again).

Still unanswered questions linger: Who’s putting up the $666,000? How much, if any, did Catalyst raise? Is it realistic to expect $300,000 in taxpayer money from city, county and state officials? And can this festival actually make money as a festival, rather than as a begging machine?
• Music fest paying off its debts [Birmingham News]

Epithet debated: Today concludes the four-day “N” Surrection Conference at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. The subject? The n-word. Should it be banned? Should blacks stop using it, even ironically? Does banning it really change anything or give the word more power? We’re guessing that those who use the word regularly won’t be hanging out on campus debating with scholars, activists and attendees.
• Alabama college hosts n-word conference [Associated Press]

‘Thick’ and theatrical: Updating an earlier story, the documentary “It’s a Thick Book” will screen for free at 3 p.m. March 4 at WorkPlay. This 49-minute documentary examines the most overweight lawmaker in Montgomery, otherwise known as the state constitution. Director Lewis Lehe will also be there. The premiere is the first in a series of screenings that week around Alabama. If you see only one documentary about a pile of 743 amendments, make it this one.
• World Premiere of “It’s a Thick Book” [Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform]

Also:

  • Mayoral race to feature diverse array of future losers
  • City schools move from Black History Month to Black Algebra Month
  • Uptown bar’s opening delayed by construction woes, crippling sobriety

• • •

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2 Yips for “Heads and tales: Figures and words”

  1. Jeremy
    Thursday, March 1, 2007, 6:50 am
    1

    FYI, its just “City Stages” now. I think they removed the title sponsorship.

  2. Wade
    Thursday, March 1, 2007, 9:56 am
    2

    Gotcha.

    How much for the Wade on Birmingham City Stages Presented by Cheap Malt Liquor?

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