This week I visited Capri’s Bar and Restaurante in East Liberty, Questions Night Club in the Strip District, Krobar Night Club in the Strip District and the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty. My first stop was the Shadow Lounge where I met with hip-hop artists “The Finest.” They were showing support to “Weapons of Mass Productions” by Boka. Folks came out to this event to show their skills in the studio lab and compete for cash money. Hollywood actor Ving Rhames and friends chilling at Krobar Night Club in the Strip District for Snoop Dogg’s concert.
This week I visited Questions Night Club in the Strip District, Fifth Avenue All Class Reunion at Highland Park, Tim’s Lounge in the Hill District, Dana’s residence in Stanton Heights and Cynthia’s residence in the Hill District. My first stop was at Tim’s Lounge in the Hill District where Satara was kickin’ it at the only place in the Hill District they consider to be called “Cheers.” This is the place where everyone knows your name. Willie Taylor of Day 26 gave the ladies quite a show at Questions Night Club in the Strip District.
This week I visited the Red Lounge II in East Liberty, Matrix Night Club in Station Square, Questions Night Club in the Strip District, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Squirrel Hill and the Ava Lounge in East Liberty. My first stop was at the Red Lounge II where Kiki, formerly “The Midday Chick” of WAMO 106.7FM, celebrated with family and friends the fact that she landed a new gig as an on-air personality at WERQ 92Q FM in Baltimore, Md. She will be leaving us, but her heart and soul will always belong to Pittsburgh. Congratulations on a fresh start—you deserve it. Mike Logan (ESPN and Brotha Ash Productions), Kiki (WERQ 92Q FM of Baltimore, Md.), Anji (WPGC 95.5 FM of Washington, D.C.) and Emmai Alaquiva (Ya Momz House Recording Studio) at the Red Lounge II in East Liberty.
Senator Jim Ferlo was the only local politician to question how and what benefits G-20 brings to Pittsburgh. There is no question that a number of persons echo the same sentiment, but they whisper the question. In my estimation Ferlo has always been a stand- up guy that we could always count on so this week’s column is a salute to a true champion of the people. I went to Ferlo’s Butler Street office hopeful that he would be available and he was. The first question that was asked, “In what part of Pittsburgh were you born?” He replied, “I was born in upstate New York.” I had forgotten he was not a native Pittsburgher.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. For most of my adult life I watched football but didn’t have a real team that I followed consistently. On any given Sunday I’d just root for whatever team had a Black coach or a Black quarterback. So a couple of years ago, when Rush Limbaugh attacked Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, I knew that was going to be my team and I haven’t missed a game on either television or radio in about five years. Two weeks ago, the Eagles shocked the sports world and a lot of mainstream media by signing former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to their roster. Vick had just been released after spending two years in jail for running a dog fighting ring along with some of his relatives. In addition to having lost over $130 million in pay and being suspended from the NFL, he’s become public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of group of Americans who think his crimes are so heinous that he doesn’t deserve to play professional football again.
On Aug. 1 and 2, the Community Empowerment Association, Inc. held its 6th Black Family Reunion Festival at Mellon Park. It is an affair that promotes urban peace, justice and empowerment. I was in attendance with about 5,000 others, and excluding an incident that took place outside, all had a good time.
