Access205 Magic City Classic Entertainment Guide 2022

The Magic City Classic is the largest historically black college and university (HBCU) football game in the country.

Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University play in the game annually at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and the winner could potentially earn a spot in the SWAC.

It’s not too late to purchase tickets (click on the images) and view the guide below.

Access205 Entertainment Guide:

1.  BBQ and Blues Festival with The Manhattans
Sunday, October 23th from 12 pm – 4 pm

2.  Stop The Violence featuring Master P
Tuesday, October 25th starting at 6 pm

3.  Alumni Block Party
Wednesday, October 26th, 7 pm – 10 pm

4.  2022 IGNITE Empowerment Summit (click on the image)
Tuesday, October 25th from 8 am – 3 pm

5.  Stokley Magic City Classic Tailgate Festival
Thursday, October 27th; Gates Open at 4 pm | Event Starts at 6 pm

6.  Magic City Classic Giveaway Wednesdays
** Online **

7.  The Ultimate King of Pop Experience
Thursday, October 27th Doors Open at 6 pm | Starts at 7 pm

8.  Magic City Classic Afrobeats Party by AfroLuzionz (click on the image)
Saturday, October 29th at 10:30 p.m. – Sunday, October 30th at 4 pm

9.  Magic City Classic Weekend “5th Annual” Friday Night Soiree at The Harbert (click on the image)
Friday, October 28th at 9 pm – Saturday, October 29th at 2:30 am

10.  Rickey Smiley Morning Show Live
Thursday, October 27th from 5 am – 9 am

11.  Welcome to Birmingham The Opening Ceremony (click on the image)
Thursday, October 27th from 8:30 pm to 12 am

12.  Thursday Night Live Karaoke Showcase (click on the image)
Thursday, October 27th from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

13. The Classic Kid Capri Party (click on the image)
Friday, October 28th from 9 pm – 2 am

14.  Sunshine and Wine
Friday, October 28th, 2 pm – 7 pm

15.  11th Annual Battle of The Choirs
Wednesday, 26th Doors Open at 6 pm

16.  Stardome Featuring:  Rod Man (click on the image)
Friday, October 28 – Saturday, October 30 | Doors Open at 5:45 pm, Show Starts at 7 pm

17.  Behind The Mask
Wednesday, October 26th Doors Open at 5 pm | Show Starts at 6 pm

18.  Magic City Classic Post-Game Concert
Saturday, October 29th

19.  McDonald’s MAGIC CITY CLASSIC 2022 (click on the image)
Tailgate starts at 10 am – 2 pm | Game begins at 2:30 pm

Additional Events for The Season:

Music Fest:  Turkey Day Classic 2022
Wednesday, November 23rd
Doors Open at 7 pm | Showtime at 8 pm

Access205, LLC. is a social media advertising and email blast company that specializes in designing and managing e-mail blast campaigns for events and businesses in Bham, AL. With our email blast campaigns and flyer distribution, your business and/ or events will receive great exposure and experience an increase among current customers and potential customers.

Kimberly West Agency™ is a boutique public relations firm specializing in brand design, image consulting, influencer marketing, media relations, social media planning, and special events planning.

Collaborative Post

Le Diner en Blanc Birmingham 2022: The City’s Elegant All-White Picnic

Elegance was the word used to describe Le Diner en Blanc Birmingham 2022.  On September 17th, the magic city was engulfed with several surprises during this exclusive event!

Arrivées

Table Leaders were amazed to arrive with their assigned group at Railroad Park.  For those that don’t know, Railroad Park is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham.  It was the PERFECT location for the elegant, all-white picnic!

Additionally, guests came together underneath the stars and gathered to live music, a 360 photo booth, and an adult moon bounce.  The best surprise was the giant hot air balloon that even captured the attention of the local news station, asking, “What is happening in the city tonight?”

Le Diner En Blanc Birmingham was hosted by the event management company, Destination Birmingham, owned by Jasmine and Lynda Allen.  The dynamic team not only coordinated the entire event but manages a group of dedicated volunteers!

La Conclusion

Above all, Le Diner En Blanc Birmingham was a successful and enchanting evening for those in Alabama.

Le Dîner en Blanc Birmingham

Photo Credit: Le Dîner en Blanc

 

Le Diner en Blanc Pro-Tip (s)!

  • Register with an email account that receives messages.
  • Guests should arrive in comfortable shoes and change for photos.
  • Try not to overcomplicate the packing process; have the DEB essentials.
  • Dress according to the weather in your region.
  • Do not forget to pack your umbrella.
  • Be mindful of the beverage selections but remember that you can bring your own sodas/water.
  • Purchase your cart, chairs, wagon, and table three weeks prior to the event.
  • Do not wear off-white; this is an all-white affair.
Diner en Blanc Traditions Birmingham
Le Dîner en Blanc is an elegant large-scale picnic from Paris

Most importantly, remember that Le Diner en Blanc is what you make of it!  jusqu’à la prochaine fois

If you like this post, click here:  Le Diner en Blanc Birmingham 2021- The Magic City Sparkled #DEBBHAM

The Tonya Jones SalonSpa: HydraFacial Event in Mountain Brook

Experience a free luxury spa event in the heart of Mountain Brook! The Tonya Jones SalonSpa is excited to host a HydraFacial event at its English Village location on October 6th from 5:00-7:00 PM. The event will feature their best-selling HydraFacial service, the Spark Collection Jewelry pop-up, giveaways, and more! Located at 2410 Fairway Dr, Birmingham, AL 35213.

“We are so thankful for the support we receive from Mountain Brook and are excited to host a girls night filled with jewelry, fun, and learning about our best-selling facial. Our goal is to provide women with services that make them feel and look their best.” Tonya Jones, Owner of Tonya Jones SalonSpa.

Tonya Jones is an Aveda salon whose mission is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. Tonya Jones has been a leading salon in Birmingham for over 10 years and has a personal mission to encourage her team and guests to be their best selves while looking and feeling beautiful.

The event will highlight the HydraFacial service, a one-of-a-kind skin treatment that exfoliates, extracts, and purifies your skin. In addition, there will be event specials, giveaways, and an opportunity to get permanent jewelry from The Spark Collection Birmingham. Receive a FREE swag bag when you RSVP at

TJHydraFacialMB.eventbrite.com.

Tonya Jones SalonSpa was founded in 2009 by Tonya Jones, Tonya Jones SalonSpa, an Aveda Lifestyle Salon, with locations in English Village, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Jones Valley in Huntsville. Tonya Jones seeks to empower each guest to rediscover their true beauty and confidence through an experience of transformation and renewal.

Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas: Style + Life + Fashion Featured

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

Whether you’ve outgrown your current decor or your new space doesn’t feel quite like home, it might be time for a refresh. And while there’s no doubt that expanding your art collection or adding new house plants can be a breath of fresh air for your home, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Maybe you've outgrown your current decor, or you’ve just moved into a new house or apartment and it doesn’t feel quite like home yet. Either way, it might be time to refresh your space.
Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas

That’s why Redfin reached out to us and other experts from Vancouver, BC all the way to Boston, for our best advice on making your home feel refreshed and elevated. So if you need a little extra guidance or you’re just looking for interior design inspiration, check out our best recommendations for refreshing your home.

Read the full article here: Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas | Redfin

Rapper Ye, Formerly Known As Kanye West Interview with ABC News Live

In case you missed it, this morning on “Good Morning America,” a portion of ABC News Live Prime Anchor Linsey Davis’ interview with Ye aired. In the clip, Ye discussed his social media use, co-parenting and more.

Watch more on ABC News Live tonight at 7 p.m. ET and tonight on “Nightline.””A Conversation with Ye: Linsey Davis Reporting,” a half-hour special on ABC News Live, airs at 8:30 p.m. ET and streams later on Hulu.

WATCH: https://gma.abc/3LwNkx2

Credit “ABC News//Good Morning America”

Ye opens up in ABC News exclusive interview

By Mark Guarino, Katie Conway

Ye said he has “new respect” for ex-wife Kim Kardashian and felt sorrow for causing stress in the relationship since Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021.

“This is the mother of my children, and I apologize for any stress that I have caused, even in my frustration, because God calls me to be stronger,” Ye, the recording artist and entrepreneur formerly known as Kanye West, said in an exclusive morning interview that aired Thursday on “Good Morning America.” “I need this person to be less stressed and of the best, sound mind and as calm as possible to be able to raise those children at the end of the day.”

In a wide-ranging interview that covered Donda Academy, a school he started in California, to his plans to once again run for president, Ye repeatedly circled back to the responsibility that he has as a celebrity and his insistence that he have a say in the future of the four children he fathered with the global social media and reality TV star.

“As a dad and as a Christian. And I have a right to have a voice on what my kids are wearing, what they’re watching, what they’re eating,” he said. “I have a platform where I get to say what so many dads can’t say out loud.”

Ye said he “absolutely” wants his children to attend Donda Academy, “a gospel school” he created named after Donda West, his late mother who chaired the Department of English, Communications, Media Arts and Theatre at Chicago State University on Chicago’s South Side. She died in 2007.

“I’m their dad. It has to be co-parenting. It’s not up to only the woman. Like, men have a choice also. Men’s voices matter,” he said.

The private school, which Ye said was originally named the Yeezy Christian Academy, is located in Simi Valley, California. According to the school’s website, the academy’s mission is to help students “learn fundamentals, grow in their faith, and experience two enrichment classes.”

Ye said the school gives “kids practical tools that they need in a world post the iPhone being created.” He said the school is in its third year and has an enrollment of 82 students.

“So many schools are made to set kids up for industries that don’t even matter anymore,” he said, pointing out that the focus areas of the school is “on practical skills” such as engineering, computer programming and farming. He added that the school has tutors who focus on specific areas and could “actually turn your kids into, like, geniuses.”

“And if your kids are geniuses … they’re three grade levels ahead,” he added.

Ye told ABC News he hired a female basketball coach to help improve the skills of North, his 9-year-old daughter. He also helps coach North “every morning,” he said. The effort, Ye added, showed dramatic results. “She trained every day and I really stayed on her. And when she came back, she had the confidence,” he said.

Ye, who created the fashion brand Yeezy, also addressed the dissolving of his partnership with the Gap. Last week, Ye sent the Gap a letter terminating the 10-year partnership, saying the clothing retailer breached its contract to sell his Yeezy Gap line of apparel. Ye said he plans to open his own line of stores simply called YZY.

Mark Breitbard, Gap brand president and CEO, said the company and West are “not aligned” in how they work together, according to a memo sent to employees and reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. “Simply put…while we share a vision how we work together to deliver this vision is not aligned,” Breitbard wrote, according to the Journal.

It was all kind of a disregard for the voice of something that I co-created.

In addition to criticizing the Gap, Ye has recently criticized Adidas, a retailer that carries his apparel. Ye has been working with the athletic brand since their partnership was announced in 2016, but lashed out at Adidas when the brand released its Adilette 22 sandals, which resemble Ye’s Yeezy slides. Ye called their footwear “a fake Yeezy.”

“It was all kind of a disregard for the voice of something that I co-created. I co-created the product at Adidas. I co-created the product at Gap,” Ye said.

“That means that I was there for some specific agenda, not for Yeezy Gap to be everything that it could be, or this dream that I had about what the Gap could be,” he said. “It’s time for me to make my own thing.”

Adidas Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted said in August that West was probably the most important partner the company had, according to the Wall Street Journal. Adidas is trying to find a path toward continuing the partnership, the paper reported.

Since his ongoing battle with Adidas, Ye said he’s determined to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of his brand.

“We had to level up,” Ye said. “Really show ’em who’s the new boss in town, that I’m the boss of me. I’m no longer just the man ridin’ atop the polo horse. I’m not just a mascot in the middle of the games, gettin’ the crowd hyped up sayin’, ‘Hey, wear this, do this,’ but you know, just learn financial engineering. Learn how to — learn how to really run a company.”

Ye added that he plans to move forward with an Oct. 3 fashion show in Paris that was initially planned in conjunction with the Gap. He secured a new producer for the event, he said, via Instagram.

Today, YZY Gap engineered by Balenciaga announced a new line of outerwear and knitwear, which will be made available online. YZY Gap engineered by Balenciaga also announced that YZY Gap will be available at stores outside of the U.S. for the first time at Gap’s Tokyo and Shanghai flagship stores.

Potentially, another presidential run

In November 2020, Ye conceded his run for president. He had loaned $6.8 million to his 2020 presidential committee, essentially self-funding his campaign during the first month and a half of his run, according to a Federal Election Commission disclosure filing.

Ye said he “absolutely” plans to run for president again but did not specify when.

“That time wasn’t in God’s time,” he said.

Ye said he is often misunderstood because of his adamancy for his Christian faith, which drives him to perform “Sunday Service” with a gospel choir at different locations around the U.S. He said he’s a “radical” for wanting to promote “the idea of family, the idea of God, the idea of protecting your children’s innocence for as long as possible.”

“When you remove the love and fear of God, you open up the love and fear of everything else. And it’s easier to have sheep when people don’t have God. It’s easier to control the people if people are not controlled by God. Because then they can be controlled by how many likes they have or whatever’s happening on their TikTok or how much money or the perception that people have,” he said.

“But we only have one audience here and that audience is God. And He’s watching us at all times,” Ye said. “He’s got my back.”

GOOD MORNING AMERICA EXCLUSIVE: Frances Tiafoe Talks Amazing US Open

While he didn’t make it to this year’s U.S. Open championship, Frances Tiafoe’s tennis journey still looks very bright.

The 24-year-old American was a breakout star of this year’s tournament after he beat tennis legend Rafael Nadal to advance to the quarterfinals.

Tiafoe spoke in an interview with ABC News on “Good Morning America” Monday about his journey to one of tennis’ biggest stages.

While he said he felt “a ton of different emotions” through his run, he hailed the Grand Slam as “the best two weeks of my life.”

“Probably the best thing [was] seeing the first lady Michelle Obama after the match,” he said of his semifinal match with Carlos Alcaraz. “I was on the one changeover and I looked and she looked at me — and then when they announced her and seeing the crowd erupt, that was pretty impactful.”

He was the first Black American man to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open since 1972. The last player to do so was Arthur Ashe, the namesake of the stadium where Tiafoe and Alcaraz battled.

“It’s truly a blessing. All the work that my parents did over the years and having them see that and be a part of that is crazy. And to be in the same sentence as Arthur Ashe in anything is unbelievable and something no one can ever take from me. So I’m going to remember that forever,” Tiafoe explained.

Tiafoe said he hopes to continue to move the sport forward for others as a role model.  “My whole life I’ve wanted to pave a way so people like me can also play the game of tennis and just be great leaders as well as great individuals,” he said.

Tiafoe lost in five sets against Alcaraz; their match lasted four hours and 19 minutes. The 19-year-old Spanish phenom advanced to the final and won the tournament.

“I feel I let you guys down,” Tiafoe said after the match, addressing the crowd during an on-court interview. “This one hurts. This one really, really hurts — I’m going to be back — and I will win this thing one day.”

Tiafoe credited picking up a racquet to his father, who was the head of maintenance at a tennis center in Maryland.

Tiafoe, whose parents immigrated from Sierra Leone amid war in the 1990s, grew up outside of Washington, D.C., with his brother, Franklin.

“My parents are everything,” Tiafoe told ABC News. “We wouldn’t be doing this interview, all achievements, I wouldn’t have them without them. I’m just so thankful for them, and them instilling in me hard work and understanding — being humble and grateful for everything that comes your way. They shaped me to the person I am today.”

In 2020, Tiafoe won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, the ATP’s award for off-court impact.

Tiafoe added that being an inspiration is “what it’s all about.”

MORE: Serena Williams loses at US Open, likely ends professional career

“We all have a certain gift and to use that gift to inspire so many people to do great things in life,” he said.

As for the fate of the sport, Tiafoe said he thinks “American tennis is in a great place.”

“You’ll see some Grand Slam champions soon,” he said, mentioning Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, who he said is “playing great tennis.”

“I’m super excited to be in that conversation,” Tiafoe said. By Kelly McCarthy, Haley Yamada & Henderson Hewes

Real Housewife of NJ Dolores Catania Inspires RTA Outdoor Living’s Next Outdoor Kitchen

Dolores Catania has made a name for herself as one of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” on Bravo TV.  Now, her vision is coming to backyards across the country, as her unique outdoor kitchen concept was selected by the public as the winner of RTA Outdoor Living’s (RTAOutdoorLiving.com) “Choose Our Next Design” contest.

Catania’s “Cubed Outdoor Kitchen” beat out designs from Mike Pyle, host of HGTV’s Inside Out, and Kevin Lenhart, Design Director at Yardzen, the leading online landscape design and build platform. The new design will be available for purchase at RTAOutdoorLiving.com starting in 2023.

“I am so excited my square design won! It really is perfect,” said Dolores Catania. “I can cook and watch my family enjoy the food at the same time. And now, I’m so happy this design will help more families make beautiful memories together.”

Right off the bat… You’ll notice how unique this layout is. It’s not a straight, L shape, U shape, or even a galley style island. It’s a spacious square! There’s a reason behind this design twist, too. Dolores Catania loves to have Sunday dinners with her family, and the square outdoor kitchen brings the idea of a large, indoor dining room table outside. What better way to host than to have the entire family seated on the island?

As for the appliances in Dolores’ design, first, you’ll find the massive 42” Coyote grill! There’s plenty of space for grilling fish, burgers, or other preferred proteins. Underneath, you’ll see there’s a warming drawer. This feature is excellent if you frequently host large gatherings! However, Dolores’ favorite feature is the Coyote power burner, so she can cook everything outside… most importantly, her “Sunday sauce.”

ABOUT RTA OUTDOOR LIVING
RTA (ready-to-assemble) Outdoor Living was born from a desire to empower homeowners to create ideal outdoor spaces that encourage gathering and human connection. Our outdoor living features, manufactured in the heartland of America—Cambridge City, Indiana—achieve this purpose. At its core, RTA’s product line is a simplified alternative to outdoor masonry. Through this approach, we avoid the high costs associated with building outdoor kitchens from scratch. Our easy-to-install options make the luxury of an outdoor grill island attainable to everyone.  More information is at RTAOutdoorLiving.com

Former First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Book

Former first lady Michelle Obama, whose memoir “Becoming” became a global bestseller, is releasing a new book.

The book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Certain Times,” will include lessons the former first lady says she has learned on “change, challenge and power” and overcoming obstacles in uncertain times.

“Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to ‘become,'” the book’s publisher, Penguin Random House, said Thursday in a statement announcing the book.

“She details her most valuable practices, like ‘starting kind,’ ‘going high,’ and assembling a ‘kitchen table’ of trusted friends and mentors,” the statement continued. “With trademark humor, candor, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.”

Obama’s book will be published on Nov. 15, 2022, in 14 languages and 27 countries around the world, according to Penguin Random House.

In her previous book, “Becoming,” Obama, a mother of two, detailed her journey from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming First Lady of the United States.

The memoir sold more than 17 million copies around the globe, according to Penguin Random House, and its accompanying audiobook won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album.

“Becoming” also turned into not just a bestselling book but a world tour for Obama, whose book tour consisted of stops in major arenas around the globe during which the former first lady was interviewed by high-profile people including Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey.

Credit ABC News//Good Morning America

Ashanti Joined “Good Morning America”

This morning, singer Ashanti joined “Good Morning America” to talk about rerecording her debut album to own her masters and her new children’s book.  In case you missed it, the performances included a special appearance from Ja Rule.

Ashanti performs a medley of hits on ‘GMA’ The Grammy-winning singer performs some of her most popular jams, including “Rock Wit U,” “Happy” and “Mesmerize,” and brings out a special guest.

Ashanti performs ‘Falling for You’ and ‘Foolish’ on ‘GMA’ The hit singer performs her brand-new song live for the first time along with one of her biggest hits.

Ashanti chats about new music and re-recording past hits The singer said she was inspired by Taylor Swift to re-record her debut album, which was released 20 years ago.

Credit: Good Morning America/ABC News

National Women’s Business Council Gains New Insight with a New Member

Selena Rodgers Dickerson secures another seat at the table. Business award-winning founder, President and CEO of SARCOR LLC and Selene LLC, is making her mark nationally through the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC)! Her appointment to this council will allow her to continue prioritizing the advancement of opportunities for women on a national scale as she speaks with Government officials including the President, U.S. Congress, and the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Rodgers Dickerson, a Birmingham native, has been leading discussions and taking control of the narrative by securing her spot on multiple local boards including the city of Birmingham’s Small Business Council, and through being a panel speaker at the Essence Fest in 2022. Her appointment to the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) last month is a huge achievement as it presents an opportunity to make real change across the nation for small, female-owned businesses.

“I am extremely honored to be on the National Women’s Business Council. This new opportunity allows me to take another step forward and continue to be a part of the conversation to make fundamental changes and promote real opportunities for women entrepreneurs and young professionals.” – Selena Rodgers Dickerson, President, SARCOR LLC

Her selection as a council member is based on her achievements through her businesses as well as the mark that she has made on her local community. Rodgers Dickerson started SARCOR with a single employee and grew the business into a team of engineers. The woman-owned business provides innovative solutions to the challenging projects of its private, corporate, and municipal clients. She also made history as the first African American sponsor of an iconic Vulcan statue as part of a community art project in which miniature replicas of Vulcan are displayed throughout the city of Birmingham.

Selena R. Dickerson is the president of SARCOR, LLC, located in Birmingham, Alabama. She strives to educate others on how to become successful business owners. Her mission is to utilize her expertise to leverage strategic solution-based diverse, equitable, and inclusive initiatives through business endeavors, philanthropy, integrity, and spirituality.