When blues legend Taj Mahal sings the song Sweet Birmingham, you can almost hear the wind rustling trees ablaze with fall color. The sweetness of the city is carried over in a wonderful assortment of events throughout the year. For October through December, these are picks for Birmingham's "sweet six" fall events.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit - October-December (and on into April 2004) McWane Center - 205/714-8300 - www.mcwane.org

This historic exhibit immerses visitors in the experience of being on board the ill-fated ship, from recreated first and third class cabins to a large simulated iceberg. More than 200 artifacts recovered from the wreckage tell the human side of the story. The exhibit also displays the delicate technology needed to raise the artifacts and the huge effort of finding and reaching the ship, 2.5 miles under the sea.

Perspectives 8 - October-December Birmingham Museum of Art - 205/254-2565 - www.artsbma.org

Renowned "found object" artist Lonnie Holley creates a new environment in the lower plaza of the Museum's Sculpture Garden. Holley's only art materials are no-longer-functioning machines, office equipment, found wire and metal parts. It is one of Holley's most ambitious projects. His pieces will show alongside the work of other "outsider" artists.

Samuel Mockbee and the Rural Studio: Community Architecture - October - December Birmingham Museum of Art - 205/254-2565 - www.artsbma.org

Known around the world for his stunning concepts, Samuel Mockbee, architect, beloved teacher, generous human being, died last year at the young age of 57. During his time as founder of Auburn's University's Rural Studio, Mockbee brought his lessons and astounding architecture to dozens of devoted students and to the residents of one of Alabama's poorest counties. He and his students designed and built churches, houses, porches and barns of materials such as bales of hay and discarded building supplies. This is the first comprehensive traveling exhibition to survey the work of Samuel Mockbee, much of it through re-creations of the architect's work.

Alabama State Fairgrounds Flea Market - First weekend of every month Alabama State Fairgrounds -1-800-362-7538

Forget mall shopping for the very hard to please. Give them something from a time and place that sparks memories, treasures from the Flea Market. Antique furniture and toys, chic and kitschy jewelry, collectible pottery, postcards, glassware, campaign buttons and so much more fill this great hall. Still two weekends left to buy something no one else will give them.

Southwest Athletic Conference Football Championship - December 13 Legion Field - 205/254-2391 - www.swac.org

The top two contenders for the SWAC Championship face off at Birmingham's Legion Field for the annual rivalry. Action, music and entertainment accompany one of Birmingham's premiere sports events.

Urinetown- November 4-9 Birmingham Broadway Series at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Concert Hall - 205/328-8222

A terrible draught has crippled the Gotham-like town where a corrupt corporation owns all the toilets. The citizenry must pay to use the public facilities. It's expensive, draining and dangerous. New York Times says: Extraordinary, hilarious and entirely original....

For information on these and other sweet fall events in the Birmingham area, call the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-888-SO-SWEET or visit their Web site at www.sweetbirmingham.com. ###

Media Contact: Vickie Ashford +1 205-458-8000 vashford@birminghamal.org