Birmingham Public Library Blog

🥂  Classic Cocktails 2025: Where the Vibes Are Classy and the Cause Is Community  🥂   Where Classic Week Meets Libraries Transforming Communities 🥂 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Magic City Classic is Birmingham’s biggest annual celebration of HBCU pride, tradition, and community. And it all begins with the 4th Annual Classic Cocktails, happening Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the downtown Birmingham Public Library (2100 Park Place). If you’re looking for a safe, stylish alternative to the nightclub scene as you kick off Classic Week, Classic Cocktails is the perfect choice, a festive evening where good vibes meet a great cause. Every ticket sold helps fund free programs and services at all 18 Birmingham Public Library locations. 🎉 A Safe, Stylish Way to Kick Off Classic Week Classic Cocktails combines the excitement of Classic Week with the warmth of community. Enjoy an elegant, secure environment surrounded by friends, alumni, and supporters, witho...

A ll Eyes on You: Classic Cocktails VIP Tables Bring Extra Perks + Prestige Classic Cocktails VIP Experience Makes the Night Even More Special Exclusive. Elevated. Unforgettable.  Upgrade your Magic City Classic Week with the Classic Cocktails VIP Experience Table on Tuesday, October 21, at the Birmingham Public Library downtown, the perfect way to kick off the city’s biggest celebration in style. For just $400, you and seven guests will enjoy premium seating, comfort, and perks that guarantee your night stands out. Tables are limited; secure yours today before they’re gone. Why Go VIP? While general and group tickets are great, the VIP Table takes the celebration to the next level. The Classic Cocktails VIP Experience Table is perfect for family reunions, alumni meetups, or a night out with friends. It ensures your crew enjoys the night with ease, comfort, and prestige. VIP Experience Table Includes: Reserved VIP table for 8 in the main event area Two drink tickets per gu...

Family Photos and Pets in 3D: Highlights from North Birmingham Library's Lithophane Workshop North Birmingham Regional Library's September craft program was a shining success! This month, our 3D printed lithophane class delighted attendees of all ages. Patrons brought in family photos, snapshots of beloved pets, and even handwritten messages to transform into beautiful 3D-lit art pieces. A fun fact about lithophane art: it originally was made exclusively from porcelain. Thanks to modern technology, we can now create lithophanes using 3D printers, making it more accessible and customizable than ever. Have you ever created a lithophane, either the classic porcelain kind or a modern 3D-printed version? We’d love to hear your stories! See some highlights in the collage above from North Birmingham Library's 3D lithophane workshop.  For inspiration, some more detailed lithophane lamps from around the internet are included with the 3D lithophane art pieces created by the class. ...

More Than Ectoplasm: A Study of Civil War Memory and Southern Ghostlore Saturday, October 11 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Central Library, 1st Floor  2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Many Southern ghost stories are rooted in the American Civil War. This talk will examine these tales alongside historical sources, exploring how they have shaped public perceptions of the conflict and its lasting aftermath. The presenter, Kayla Jordan , is a PhD student in History at the University of Alabama, researching 19th- and 20th-century Southern ghostlore and its connections to social, cultural, and ideological trends in the region. Her work often focuses on identity formation, Civil War memory, and cultural rituals surrounding death and mourning. Jordan earned her B.A. (2020) and M.A. (2022) in History from Mississippi State University. She brings nearly a decade of experience in Alabama museums and archives as a docent, intern, and volunteer archivist and conservator. She is also a participant in...

  Squad Up & Save: Classic Cocktails Group Tickets Going Fast Bring the Crew: Save $10 Each at Classic Cocktails if You Buy in Groups of 10 or More BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  The countdown is on. Time is running out to secure discounted group tickets for Classic Cocktails, the ultimate Magic City Classic kickoff party happening Tuesday, October 21 at the Birmingham Public   Library downtown. General admission tickets are $40, but if you rally your crew, you’ll save big. Groups of 10 or more pay just $30 per person. That’s $10 off each ticket and the peace of mind that your entire crew - family, fellow alumni or friends - will be celebrating together. Whether you’re planning a family reunion, alumni meet-up, or night out with friends, group tickets guarantee your squad will enjoy the night side by side, with extra perks and fewer lines thanks to dedicated group check-in. Group Ticket Benefits ($30 each, minimum 10 tickets) ✓ Access to the main event & cigar lo...

  Sip, Celebrate, Support: Classic Cocktails Brings Party with a Purpose to the Library Classic Cocktails Kicks Off Magic City Classic Week Celebration of Alumni, Culture & Community BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Want to start your Magic City Classic week in style? Look no further than the 2025 Classic Cocktails at the Birmingham Public Library. 📅 When: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. 📍 Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 🎟️ Event Details : www.cobpl.org/programs/ClassicCocktails 🎟️ Buy Tickets Now: Eventbrite This one-of-a-kind event transforms the library into the ultimate celebration space, one of the few times you can get loud in a library. It’s also a safer, more welcoming alternative to crowded nightclubs, making it the perfect place to reconnect with friends, classmates, and fellow alumni. Most importantly, Classic Cocktails is a Party with a Purpose. Proceeds fuel vital library programs that benefit Birmingh...

💰 Money and Me: A Self-Care Mastermind Workshop 📅 Tuesday, October 7, 2025 🕠 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. 📍 Central Library, 1st Floor Do money worries keep you up at night? You’re not alone. For many adults, financial stress is one of the leading causes of anxiety and can even impact physical health. But true financial wellness isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about understanding your emotional and psychological relationship with money. Join us at the Birmingham Public Library for Self-Care Mastermind: Money and Me , part of the Community Edition 2025 series led by Christina (C. J.) Wade, licensed massage therapist and certified health coach. This free one-hour workshop will help you: Recognize how financial stress affects your overall well-being. Explore your personal relationship with money. Discover practical steps toward creating balance between financial stability and emotional health. By looking beyond budgets and debt, this session will empower you to develop a he...