The Wells Fargo Classical EDGE // Thursday, February 23, 2012 | 8 p.m.

After two turns on the Masterworks stage, Edgar Meyer will cut loose in this Wells Fargo Classical EDGE concert. Maestro Brown and Mr. Meyer have planned a night to showcase their belief that when you play what you love, music no longer fits into any particular genre. Expect surprises … and a great night out with two amazing musical minds.

Justin Brown, Conductor // Edgar Meyer, Double Bass

Alys Stephens Center // Jemison Concert Hall // Map & Directions

Birmingham Museum of Art

Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection

Arrington Gallery // February 7 – June 10, 2012 // Free

This stunning exhibition explores the little-known subject of “lover’s eyes,” hand-painted miniatures of single human eyes set in jewelry and given as tokens of affection or remembrance. In 1785, when the Prince of Wales secretly proposed to Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert with a miniature of his own eye, he inspired an aristocratic fad for exchanging eye portraits mounted in a wide variety of settings including brooches, rings, lockets, and toothpick cases.

With over 100 examples, the collection of Dr. and Mrs. David A. Skier of Birmingham is the largest in the world. This exhibition offers an unprecedented look at these unusual and intriguing works of art.

The exhibition is accompanied by a full color, hardbound catalogue of the same name, edited by Dr. Graham C. Boettcher, The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art, and published by D Giles Ltd., London. An essay by Elle Shushan sets the historical scene and examines the role of lover’s eyes in the broader context of Georgian and early Victorian portrait miniatures. Boettcher looks at the language and symbolism of these tokens and their jeweled settings. Additionally, novelist and biographer Jo Manning offers five fictional vignettes imagining the circumstances surrounding the creation of these extraordinary objects. >>more

“Once Upon a Bride… A Fairytale Wedding”

Hotel Capstone’s 2nd Annual Bridal Show

Tuscaloosa’s Hotel Capstone will be hosting their 2nd annual bridal show this Sunday, Jan 29th, from 1:00-5:00pm!  Join SEA plus 50 area vendors showcasing the latest bridal trends, including a bridal runway show!  They will also have some amazing door prizes and give aways… You don’t want to miss this event!

Hotel Capstone is offering a special “buy two for the price of one” voucher on their website: www.Hotelcapstone.com

Join us on this Sunday, Jan 15th at the BJCC for the annual “Southern Bridal Show” hosted by Elite Bridal Events LLC.  Since 1990 Elite Bridal Events has strived to bring together the very best local wedding professionals in the Southeast in order to assist brides in planning their dream wedding.  Brides are able to meet face to face with photographers, caterers, florists, wedding planners, travel agents, and entertainment specialists to find everything needed to create the dream wedding!  In addition to getting lots of great ideas and seeing the latest trends, brides will be able to save time and money while also having fun! Registered brides will also be eligible to win an all-inclusive honeymoon trip!

You’re just one click away to Register today!

$10 at door or discounted tickets through website www.eliteevents.com

WHEN:   Jan 15 2012 , 12:00-5:00pm

WHERE:  Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N | Birmingham, AL (map)

Perfect Wedding Guide & Engaged will be hosting Bridal Market, A Runway Event on January 8, 2012 at Rosewood Hall in downtown Homewood from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

Bridal Market is a fresh but familiar approach to the wedding planning process. Adorned with an Engaged reusable shopping tote, brides will be encouraged to “SHOP” for their wedding professionals…a four –letter word that every girl is familiar with!

This year at Bridal Market, brides will be able to catch a glimpse of the hottest trends in wedding fashion with an on-going, New York-style fashion show production. On top of that, brides can meet with more than 50 of Birmingham’s elite wedding professionals and participate in a chance to win thousands of dollars in giveaways.

With everything from cakes to getaway cars, brides will have the opportunity to plan their entire event at Bridal Market. Brides can pre-register at TheBridalMarket.com for their Engaged shopping tote and to receive $5 off tickets. They can also pick up a copy of Perfect Wedding Guide for 1 FREE ticket! Ticket will be $15 at the door.

SEA is providing entertainment from one of Birmingham’s favorite Artists, Matthew DeVine!

Matthew DeVine is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Birmingham, AL.  He has a remarkable talent for fitting into any musical situation comfortably and drawing everyone around him, audience and band members alike, into a great performance.  >>read more