Would she like something
sparkly, or silky, or a
present from the heart?

• • •

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I really can’t stay.
— But, baby, it’s cold outside.
Don’t call me “baby.”

• • •

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Sandy Jaffe film shows theatrical collaboration between Birmingham schools

The cast of the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” is featured
in the documentary “Our Mockingbird,” airing on
PBS World in 2015.

A documentary about two Birmingham-area high schools’ production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” will air nationally for Black History Month.

Update Feb. 4:
Watch “Our Mockingbird” online.

Sandra Jaffe’s film “Our Mockingbird” is scheduled to run Feb. 3 on PBS’ World Channel as part of the “America Reframed” series. The director had already set out to do a documentary on Harper Lee’s landmark novel when she discovered that mostly black Fairfield High and her alma mater, mostly white Mountain Brook High, were working on a joint production of the play.

The documentary has screened in various stages since its debut in 2010 in Monroeville, Lee’s hometown. It appeared at the 2012 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival and as a part of Birmingham’s 50 Years Forward in 2013, as well as screenings in Jaffe’s current city, Boston.

This isn’t the first time Jaffe has turned her lens on her hometown. In 1985, she directed the short doc, “Jazz in the Magic City,” about musicians in the 1920s and ’30s who learned to read music in the city’s only black high school from the printing instructor. It aired on PBS and the Discovery Channel.

Jaffe is a screenwriter and script consultant in addition to director, plus a screenwriting instructor at Northeastern University. She has won several awards for her work, including one from the Writers Guild of America.

A specific time for Alabama Public Television has not been announced yet. Update Jan. 28: The film premieres at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 on PBS World, repeating throughout the week. PBS World broadcasts in Birmingham on channel 10.2.

Video: Interview with Sandra Jaffe

“Our Mockingbird”

• Website | Facebook | Kickstarter
• Features in the Washington Post, Village Living, Boston Globe, Alabama Humanities Foundation

Also

• “America ReFramed” 2015 lineup

Sometimes, it’s better
to curse the darkness while you
cuddle up at night.

• • •

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Video: Birmingham Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts
raise $15,730.88 for the KIND fund.

They did it again.

After raising more than $18,000 in 2013, the Scouts based at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church pulled in $15,730.88 this year for the KIND Fund. The money goes to Kids In Need of Desks, a UNICEF campaign providing desks for schoolchildren in Malawi.

That translates into 484 students who no longer have to sit on the ground in school.

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell helped launch the fund in 2009 and has raised $7.6 million to date. The 2013 check from Boy Scout Troop 415 and Cub Scout Pack 415 was the single largest donation to KIND then.

The Scouts hit the streets starting back in October to collect donations in buckets, as they told O’Donnell Monday night on his program, “The Last Word.”

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church
prepare to donate to UNICEF.

KIND provides desks for students in Malawi.

He zipped through her taut
pages, not quite focused on
the words but the scribe.

• • •

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A look at Birmingham in videos …

Yuletide Slide, a new addition to ZooLight Safari. From the Birmingham Zoo.

•

Tarrant police officer delivers donations to woman caught stealing eggs. From Darius Bowie.

•

“Prince Charming” at Tuggle Elementary School in the Smithfield neighborhood. From Growing Kings.

•

Jimmy Swaggart preaches in 1990 at Boutwell Auditorium downtown. From Christian Sermons Online.

•

Press conference for the Jan. 3 Birmingham Bowl at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame downtown. From Birmingham Bowl.

•

“Diptych,” performed by Taryn Packheiser Brown and Catherine Vancak in May 2013 at Children’s Dance Foundation in Homewood. From Taryn Packheiser Brown.

•

Alabaster resident and champion motocross racer Taylor Miller. From Ciara Green.

•

Former Alabama governor John Patterson discusses past vote fraud in Birmingham. From Robert Clem.

•

Profile of Shawna Ross, Birmingham artist and musician in the Glass Jars. From Randy Webb.

•

Scott Hanley, general manager of WBHM (90.3 FM). From UAB Media Studies.

•

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anastasia Lindsay (@anastasialindsay)

Dancing silhouettes. From anastasialindsay.

•

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephen William Haas jr (@skatan_steve)

New trick. From skatan_steve.

•

See Birmingham celebrating Hanukkah.

•

See clips from the 35th annual
“Dean and Company Christmas Special.”

• • •

Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

The passage pulled her
back over and over, words
that tugged at her heart.

• • •

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Photo: Michael Bentley (CC)

My picks for #sundayread for Dec. 14, 2014:

• Eight ways to celebrate Hanukkah 2014
• J.K. Rowling Releasing 12 New Harry Potter Stories for Christmas, by @bfishbfish
• “Access w/o understanding & facts w/o context have become daily diet.” (RT @cloudspark)
• Y’all Connect: If your most important asset is people, invest in them now
• Actor/author @Nick_Offerman answers Reddit questions
• The rise & fall of the Columbia House record club — and how we learned to steal music
• I’m sorry for breaking the Internet
• “I haven’t gone w/ anyone on Tinder, bc I don’t want to be murdered.” -@AmbermRitchie
• Eating Well at the End of the Road, by @julia_omalley
• Flashback: Project Bulk – Day 105: Eat like it’s your job
• @TheAVClub picks 35 best TV shows of 2014: http://avc.lu/1321DCq / http://avc.lu/1soAVjM
• 50 yrs ago today, SCOTUS ruled against Ollie’s BBQ in desegregation: http://bit.ly/1321Ohc / http://n.pr/1soBytS
• Rise of online vigilantism replaces “citizen” journalism, by @cwarzel (RT @ajkeen)
• An Oral History of “Boogie Nights,” by @frenchalexm and @howiekahn_

More posts from Wade this week:

• Birmingham-area Christmas restaurant options 2014
• Snow and Christmas coming Saturday to Railroad Park
• ‘Dean and Company Christmas Special’: 35 years on track
• The Birmingham channel: Keep the Ham weird
• Alabama to face Ohio State in Sugar Bowl

The latest #sundayread tweets

#sundayread Tweets

• More #sundayread recommendations from me

Mystery room, light
bondage, full obedience,
three meals, no “Twilight.”

• • •

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Celebrate the start of Hanukkah with bingo and latkes
at the Knesseth Israel Congregation.

Hanukkah starts next week with events throughout Birmingham, Tuesday evening through Dec. 24.

Sunday: Temple Beth-El holds its Hanukkah Celebration, with morning blood drive, Sisterhood Hanukkah Lunch ($12, $6 for children age 6 and older) and youth group viral video shoot. 2179 Highland Ave. S., Southside [map].

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: Down the block, Temple Emanu-El puts on its annual Family Fun Day, with the Brotherhood’s Hanukkah lunch and raffle at noon. $10, $5 for children. 2100 Highland Ave. S., Southside [map]

Tuesday, noon: The Levite Jewish Community Center holds its Joy Club Hanukkah Luncheon with Cantor Jessica Roskin. $8.50. 3960 Montclair Road [map].

Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.: Knesseth Israel Congregation holds Hanukkah Bingo Night, including latke bar, prizes and a raffle. $18, $10 for children, $36 for raffle tickets. 3100 Overton Road, Mountain Brook [map].

Thursday, 11 a.m.-noon: The LJCC’s Intergenerational Hanukkah Candle Lighting features a musical program with preschool students. Free.

Dec. 20, 5:45 p.m.: Sing and toast marshmallows around the campfire at the Knesseth Israel Congregation’s Hanukkah Kumzitz. Free.

Dec. 21, 8-11 a.m.: The Cycle for Good is a fund-raiser at the LJCC in conjunction with other Jewish community centers across North America. Individuals and teams will be spinning to help the LJCC and Etgarim, an Israeli nonprofit group for disabled people. Registration and sponsorship forms available on the event page.

Dec. 21, 5 p.m.: Chabad of Alabama’s Hanukkah Winter Wonderland includes an ice menorah lighting, crafts and food. $10, $6 for children or $36 for families, tickets available online. 3040 Overton Road, Mountain Brook [map].

Bonus: Larry Brook tells us the Hanukkah lights are up at his house, 913, Rockford Road in Forest Park [map]. [added Dec. 14]

Video: Hanukkah across Birmingham

She would, at times, find
her self pleasantly surprised
and somewhat amiss.

• • •

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By the time you’re done shopping and wrapping and decorating and partying, you might not have the will to be cooking, too. Fortunately, a number of Birmingham restaurants will open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. And several offer catering and takeout service with holiday options.

Open Christmas Eve

Billy’s Sports Grill: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (205) 879-2238, 2012 Cahaba Road, English Village, Mountain Brook; (205) 956-2323, 4520 Overton Road, Ste. 104, Irondale.

•

Bottle and Bone: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (205) 538-7106 or jen@bottleandbone.com. Uptown, 2311 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Ste. 200.

•

The Bright Star: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (205) 426-1861. 304 19th St. N., Bessemer.

•

Cedar’s Grille: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (205) 988-5993. 1870 Chace Drive, Hoover. [added Dec. 16]

•

Century Restaurant and Bar at the Tutwiler: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (205) 458-9611. 2021 Park Place N., downtown.

•

Dixie Fish Company: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (205) 924-3493. 101 Resource Center Pkwy., off U.S. 280, Inverness.

•

Galley and Garden: 4-9 p.m. (205) 939-5551. 2220 Highland Ave. S., Southside.

•

Homewood Gourmet: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (205) 871-1620. 1919 28th Ave. S., Homewood.

•

Irondale Cafe: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Open for lunch, plus takeout options including ham, turkey, side dishes and pie [2013 menu]. (205) 956-5258. 1906 First Ave. N., Irondale.

•

Lone Star Steakhouse: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (205) 661-9339. 4720 Norrell Drive, Trussville.

•

MetroPrime Steakhouse: 5-10 p.m. (205) 623-5288. 1035 20th St. S., Five Points South, Southside.

•

Seasons 52: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Reservations available online. (205) 968-5152. The Summit.

•

Sherry’s Cafe and Catering: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  (205) 655-5260. 5800 Valley Road, Ste. 110, Trussville.

•

Silvertron Cafe: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (205) 591-3707. 3813 Clairmont Ave. S., Forest Park.

•

Slice Pizza and Brew: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (205) 715-9300. 725 29th St. S., Lakeview.

•

Taj India: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-10 p.m. (205) 939-3805. 2226 Highland Ave. S., Southside.

•

V. Richards: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., including cafe. Christmas catering/takeout, available for pickup Dec. 24. (205) 591-7000. 3916 Clairmont Ave. S., Forest Park.

•

Village Tavern: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (205) 970-1640. 101 Summit Blvd., The Summit.

•

Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

China Moon: 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. (205) 324-2332. 3310 Clairmont Ave. S., Piggly Wiggly shopping center, Southside.

•

Crestwood Tavern: 3 p.m.-midnight. (205) 510-0053. 5500 Crestwood Blvd.

•

Hoover Grille: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Christmas Eve, 5-10 p.m. Christmas Day. (205) 985-9994. Inside Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover, 2960 John Hawkins Pkwy. [added Dec. 16]

•

Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Christmas Eve, 5 p.m.- 2 a.m. Christmas Day. (205) 203-4512. 2811 Seventh Ave. S., Lakeview. [added Dec. 23]

•

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m. Christmas Eve, 4:30-10 p.m. Christmas Day. (205) 298-0200. 3501 Grandview Pkwy., off U.S. 280 near the Colonnade. [added Dec. 23]

•

Max’s Delicatessen: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (205) 968-7600 or info@maxsdelionline.com. Colonnade shopping center.

•

Merk’s Tavern and Kitchen: 6 a.m.-midnight. (205) 444-5731. Inside the Wynfrey Hotel/Hyatt, Riverchase Galleria, Hoover.

Also, Shula’s Steak House will be open Christmas Eve only, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. [added Dec. 16]

•

Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Cooking: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (205) 824-8283. 1917 Hoover Ct., Hoover.

•

Mt. Fuji Japanese Sushi and Steak House: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30-10 p.m. both days. (205) 995-0588. Village at Lee Branch, Hoover. [added Dec. 24]

•

Renaissance Ross Bridge: Restaurants open at various hours all day long both days. Reservations available by calling (205) 949-3057. 4000 Grand Ave., Hoover.

•

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Christmas Day. Holiday side dishes to go, $29.95, pick up through Dec. 24. Reservations available online. Embassy Suites Hotel, 2300 Woodcrest Pl., Homewood.

•

Silver Coin Indian Grill: Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.: Christmas Day: 5-9:30 p.m. (205) 823-9070. 3321 Lorna Road, Ste. 13, Hoover.

•

Photo: The Bonnie Bluebird

Tao Asian: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (205) 685-8809. 345 Huntley Pkwy., Pelham. [added Dec. 16]

•

Todd English PUB: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Reservations available by calling (205) 307-3700. 2221 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Uptown, downtown.

•

Two diners remain open 24 hours a day, Denny’s and Waffle House. Also, IHOP will be open both days, hours vary by location.

Also:

• The Levite Jewish Community Center will hold a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Christmas Day. The $5 admission benefits the LJCC Scholarship Fund.
• Chabad of Alabama will hold a kosher Chinese buffet with the chef from Wok Express, 5-8 p.m. Christmas Day. $18, $10 for children; $36, $20 for children at the door.

Let us know in the comments if we missed a restaurant.

They acknowledged their
passion with an intimate
and smoldering nod.

• • •

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Romance was a no-
good, two-timer, and love was
a four-letter word.

• • •

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