Bards & Brews Women's History Month Open Mic Happening at Birmingham District Brewing Company, Friday, March 1

Bards & Brews is hosting a Women's History Month themed Open Mic at the Birmingham District Brewing Company this Friday, March 1, featuring "America's Next Great Author," Joi Miner.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., join us for an evening of spoken word poetry reflecting on womanhood and women's history paired with craft beers. Birmingham District Brewing Company is releasing a new beer on Friday night—keep reading to learn more. 

• What: Bards & Brews Women's History Month Open Mic
• When: Friday, March 1, 2024 | Starts at 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Birmingham District Brewing Company | 2201 2nd Ave S, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Details: Birmingham metro area's most talented poets will share original spoken word poetry honoring women at the Bards & Brews Women's History Month Open Mic held at the Birmingham District Brewing Company. Hosted by Thed Weller, this March open mic features poet Joi Miner, a local author recently awarded the title of "America's Next Great Author." Attendees are welcome to perform with their choice of spoken word art or take a seat in the audience to support our artists. This program is free and open to the public, but bring payment if you would like to get a drink from our host brewery. Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Bards & Brews is on the road for March!

It is our first time out of the library for 2024 and our first time at Birmingham District Brewing Company. This open mic is specially dedicated to women for Women's History Month in March. The theme for the 2024 Women's History Month is "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion." Bards & Brews is free, open to the public, and everyone is welcome to perform with their preferred form of spoken word art; please try to adhere to the night's theme. Our resident host local poet Thed Weller will introduce our featured guest and set the tone as good beer and spoken word poetry flows through the night. 

March's featured poet is local author Joi Miner!

Joi Miner is local "Author-Preneu" and mother of two who has supported her family through a variety of independent enterprises, including editing, writing, spoken word performances, and advocating and facilitating workshops on domestic violence, sexual assault, and LGBTQ+ rights. She was recently awarded the title of "America's Next Great Author" from the reality TV show of the same name created by New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander. Miner writes in the African American Urban Fiction, Urban Paranormal, and Lesbian Fiction/Paranormal genres. She was one of the keynote speakers at last year's Local Authors Expo.

To keep up with her latest projects, visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Birmingham District Brewing Company is hosting Bards & Brews at their downtown microbrewery located in The Battery, an event space. Their brewery's name hails all the way back from the early 1850s when Alabama's first state geologist Michael Tuomy, an immigrant from Cork, Ireland, documented the mineral resources of the area. His report mapped the rich minerals found in the area between Springville and Vance that make iron and steel, later dubbing this area as the "Birmingham District."

The founders of Birmingham District Brewing Company come from right here in Birmingham and as far as Texas with an eclectic mix of backgrounds including geology. Combining over 20 years of brewing expertise, they strive to craft better and bolder beers. Oceanic Flight 815, their newest beer release, debuts as a part of their Bartenders Series. This tropical Light Lager has notes of pineapple, grapefruit, lime, and allspice (4.4% ABV).

Their brewery offers small snacks for hungry guests, but you can bring over a full meal from one of their Battery neighbors: Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken or Wasabi Juan's. Gus's offers southern sides, like fried okra and greens, homemade pies, and "...serve up some of the world's best fried chicken." Wasabi Juan's fuses your favorite American Latin dishes with fresh sushi ingredients to make the "South's Sushi Burritos." You have your choice of both raw and cooked sushi burritos (including vegetarian options), inventive tacos, soups, and a sweet fruit filled roll for dessert.

Free parking is available in The Battery's parking lot. You can find more parking in the streets around the block, and it is free after 5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday and on the weekends in Birmingham. 

Keep up with the Birmingham District Brewing Company by subscribing to their newsletter on their website and follow them on Instagram,  Facebook, and Untappd to see their latest beer release and other events.

The Birmingham Public Library's newly released t-shirts will also be available at Bards & Brews for a charitable cash donation of $20.00 or more to the library. Local artist Yalldove Prints designed these shirts, drawing inspiration from the library's Ezra Winter murals. The design on the shirt features a motif from the ceiling joist and can be interpreted as a tree of knowledge with the bowl of fire symbolizing the spark of creativity and curiosity. These shirts are available at the Central Library at the Circulation Desk during their hours of operation. Please bring a cash donation to Bards & Brews if you would like to get a shirt at the event; the Circulation Desk can accept cash or card donations. 

Follow Bards & Brews on Facebook and the BPL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more Bards & Brews updates. 

By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations