As Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival gears up for its ninth outing later this month, you have a chance to see what’s on the lineup tonight.

As part of its monthly Salon, Sidewalk organizers will show trailers and discuss programming. See what goes into putting on a festival and what you can expect as a film fan.

The Salon takes place at 7 tonight at Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave S. [map]. Doors open at 6 for networking and drinks, plus free snacks.

Also, be sure to check out the festival site, which includes new features allowing users to create custom schedules and blogs related to the festival (such as this handsome one).

Look to Wade on Birmingham for more preview coverage of the film festival, including reviews and giveaways.

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Action! Complete Sidewalk 2007 coverage.

Artwalk, downtown’s annual two-day event, takes place Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. If you haven’t been before, maybe you need a reason to attend.

We have 10 …

1. Someday our prints will come … Our pal and friendly printmaker Charles Buchanan will be back at Artwalk, in the tiniest space available. We helped carry his display boards to his car this one time, which kinda makes us like co-printmakers. Or not. You could stop by, just to praise his freshly revamped Web site. Or gush over his My Birmingham essay in August’s Birmingham Magazine. Or buy a print. Or 12.
• James Morgan, esq., 2314A First Ave. N. [map]

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The problem: You’re going to Art on the Rocks tonight, but you don’t have a thing to wear.

The solution: Toga. Toga. Toga.

Sorry, we meant … To-ga! To-ga! To-GA!

The summerlong series continues tonight at the Birmingham Museum of Art with a costumed theme, Vulcanalia, in honor of the upcoming Pompeii (caution: sound) exhibit. Those in togas will be in a drawing for … a Vespa. Isn’t it worth reliving your “Animal House” days for a new Italian scooter?

In case you need help with your outfit, watch this 1-minute instructional video:

And a tribute to the movie (caution: sound) that started the craze nearly 30(!) years ago.

Love Artwalk but can’t stand the walking part? Show your support tonight at the Artwalk Preamble, from 6 to 10 at the Finaei Building, 2209 First Ave. N. [map].

The annual fund-raiser keeps the fall downtown art event admission free. Bid on art, dine on selections from Cobb Lane Restaurant and John’s City Diner, and enjoy free wine and beer. Also, jazz by Triad. Cost is $25 at the door.

Artwalk will take place Sept. 7 and 8 between Second Avenue North and First Avenue South between 22nd and 25th Streets.

Find this year’s latest flicks
with our Summer Movie Guide.

The summer’s barely begun, but perhaps you’ve had your fill of pirates, webslingers and crazed killers.

Have we got a deal for you? Check out more than 50 movies coming to a neighborhood near you, and more than half of them for free. Free! FREE!! They’re all in our Summer Movie Guide 2007.

Kick back and enjoy classics and family films, cutting edge and in concert. Whether it’s in the park or in the air-conditioned comfort of the indoors, you’ll find it here. No megaplexes, no inattentive ushers — just the best movies outside of the chains from “The Ant Bully” to “Zoom.”

Updated with Israeli Cann’d Film Festival …

Updated with Movies on the Mall …

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The latest photos from City Stages Flickr group … Check back often for more images from the festival.

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Complete City Stages 2007 coverage.

The 19th edition of City Stages kicks off today. Choosing from all those acts can be a challenge, so we again present our multimedia guide to the festival, including a playlist of 12 tracks representing the best of the fest.

Three are freebies, the rest will run you about $10 on iTunes. Plus, videos of performances and more.

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I’ve been a faithful City Stages fan for years, at least 15 or so. Most of the last 10 years, I’ve paid for my tickets and happily headed downtown for three days of music and fellowship.

I dare say I’ve spent more supporting the festival than most people I know. I consider that a point of pride, almost to the point of foolishness.

After all, even if the lineup was weak — and many a year, the lineup was weak — I could count on seeing old friends and discovering worthy up-and-coming acts.

Not this year. Not with my money.

Updated with Preserve Jazz Festival attendance, plus additional links.

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Montgomery contestant finishes in final four on ‘Top Model’

Shoe seller. Dental student. Mom. And now, TV model.

For two months, Dionne Walters of Montgomery lived the fantasy of flashy clothes, international travel and celebrity encounters. But on last week’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” the 21-year-old hopeful went home in fourth place.

The CW reality show ends its eighth season Wednesday with one of three contestants winning a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl.

Walters spoke by phone today to talk about facing the panel, being away from family and keeping it real.

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The mean girls may love Sydney but hate Natasha. The fab four turn ugly on “America’s Next Top Model.”

The contestants learn the art of aboriginal storytelling, but the real story ends up being poor, sick Natasha vs. Renee, Jaslene and Montgomery’s Dionne Walters. Go native, go overboard or go home.

All the photos, after the jump …
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The Football Capital of the South has taken up a different kind of foot-ball.

Birmingham Kickball has assembled dozens of players for monthly matches in the sport of (schoolyard) kings. The group’s most recent match pitted two semi-randomly selected teams in an 18-17 extra-inning blowout at Crestwood Park.

And while the trash talk ran high — including a mooning — it was all for fun, if not charity.

The good-natured rivalry always leads to the same results: a post-game celebration at Rojo on Southside.

We interviewed Sam Frazier Jr., indie filmmaker and self-described kickball lackey, about this retro-hip game.

• Who started kickball in Birmingham?

As far as I’m concerned, kickball for adults started with Arik Sokol when he organized a charity game day three years ago. With the exception of a very painful and unpleasant personal incident I experienced at the hands of one of the “charities,” it was considered a smashing success and the most fun any of the participants had had with his or her clothes on.

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Surf’s up as “America’s Next Top Model” heads to the beach.

The final five, including Montgomery’s Dionne Walters, take in Sydney’s sands while working with boy toys and Tyra, who’s not only judging the pics but snapping them, too. But before that, the contestants race to see who can book the most gigs.

Plus, Brittany cries. A lot.

All the photos, after the jump …
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Even supermodels-in-training need a break. And thus, the “America’s Next Top Model” clip show.

Whee.

At least Tyra gave us some new clips of our current and departed contestants, including Top Five finalist Dionne Walters of Montgomery and long-long-lost Samantha Francis of Pinson.

All the photos, after the jump …
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Models at work head to a land down under. Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the blunders?

Yes, our gang of six head to Australia for the latest episode of “America’s Next Top Model.” Can they handle the jetlag, the slang and the work on camera? Also, can Montgomery’s Dionne Walters speak Aussie Aussie Aussie?

Oi oi oi.

All the photos, after the jump …
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It’s not enough to be pretty, or make good pictures. It’s about (hand flourish) acting!

And so, our contestants become double threats as models and thespians on last week’s (sorry so late!) “America’s Next Top Model.” Hey, Dionne Walters of Montgomery, we said thespians, not lesbia– never mind.

All the photos, after the jump … (more…)