You just don’t know what to do. There’s this problem you have to deal with, but it’s kind of thorny and you’re at a loss. You can’t ask your Mama because, well, she’s your Mama. Your best friend is always good at advice, but she can talk and with a sensitive issue like yours, that’s the last thing you need. Can’t afford a counselor. Can’t take this to your pastor. So you throw yourself on the mercy of a voice that sounds like its owner knows what she’s saying. And in the new book “The Strawberry Letter” by Shirley Strawberry (with Lyah Beth LeFlore), you’ll see that you’re not alone. It was not cool to be smart back when Shirley Strawberry was growing up in Chicago, but her uncle made her proud of her brains. Every chance he got, he made sure to show her off, and he inspired her to continue her education. But radio called and Strawberry went for air.
(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn: Last year I met a wonderful man and we started dating. I love him and he has asked for my hand in marriage. I have never been married and at times lost all hope in doing so. I am 78 and he is 86. We both reside at a nursing home with assisted living. We each have our separate semi-apartment, but I often find myself late at night tipping to spend the night with him. That is, providing the nurses at the medical station are not being alert on duty. I said all that to say this: He has terrible bad breath. How can I tell him that his breath stinks? I don’t want to lose him. After all, at 78 you don’t get proposals.— Susan
On July 18, local and national viewers tuned in to the Fox network to watch one of Pittsburgh’s own compete on the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen.” 27-year-old chef, Elise Wims will go head to head with other chefs from around the country in the show that began its ninth season this week. ELISE WIMS “I was more determined than ever. To be the only African-American woman on Season 9 and the only one from Pittsburgh, I felt like I had a lot to prove,” said Wims who is one of two African-Americans on the show. Monterray Keys, from Darby, Pa., is the African-American male on the show. “You have to get outside of your own head and you have to continuously rise to the level of achievement. You have to pick yourself up and dust yourself off,” Wims said.
This week I visited the Galaxy Lounge and Entertainment Center in Homewood, CJ’s in the Strip District, the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty (twice) and Savoy Restaurant in the Strip District. My first stop was at the Galaxy Lounge and Entertainment Center in Homewood, where the Smoke Band played hits for their fans and everyone had a great time. Amber, Wadria and Latasha chillin’ at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty at the “Thriller” event.
Friday 22 Blues Festival The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank presents the 2011 Pittsburgh Blues Festival at 4 p.m. at Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh. The 17th annual three-day festival will feature some of the best blues musicians, such as Tommy Castro, Savoy Brown, the Lionel Young Band, the Blues Women of Pittsburgh and more. There will also be a KidZone activity for kids, vendors, raffles and more. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. For more information, call 412-460-BLUE or visit www.pghblues.org.
Kelly Stayhorn Executive Director Janera Solomon hopes that the theater’s summer series “Celebrate East Liberty” will get people to appreciate the diversity of East Liberty and the artists that come out of the town. “The Kelly Strayhorn is proud to be here in East Liberty,” Solomon said. “Summer is typically a quiet time for theaters and we created a residency program for artists to grow and develop ideas during weeklong residencies at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.” JANERA SOLOMON All are open to the public during the residencies and each Friday performance affords the audience the opportunity to experience a work-in-progress showing, which is the culmination of the residency.
by Diane Larche'For New Pittsburgh Courier It’s about music, inspiration and empowerment at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans during the Fourth of July weekend. The annual fest started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Essence Magazine and is now in its 17th year. It is the largest annual African-American cultural event in the country drawing nearly a half million people to the crescent city and Louisiana Superdome and pumping in over 100 million dollars into an economy that could use a boost. NEW EDITION
No money? No worries. Even in a bad economy, you’re a survivor. You got connections, friends, and you got your game on. You won’t starve. A little ingenuity and a few tips, and you can hustle up what you need. It’s all good. But watch your back, even if you have nothing to do with what’s going down. You never know when things might get bad, as you’ll see in the new book “Natural Born Hustler” by Nikki Turner. Desember Day hated when she and Fame fought, but it happened now and then. He was her man, but he sometimes forgot that Desember could hustle snow to a penguin. When he was ignorant enough to tell her where she could and couldn’t sell her merchandise, well, nobody told Desember what to do.
Chicago soul singer Ty Stone has been impersonating his idol, James Brown since he was a child. “When I was a kid I went and saw him in concert and it was an amazing and exciting show,” recalls Stone. “Whenever you’d see him in town it was like an army. The band was tight and organized and it was like going to a circus. It was very exciting and James would suck you in.” TY STONE AS “THE GODFATHER OF SOUL” JAMES BROWN (Photos by Rossano P. Stewart) That excitement and reverence for the Godfather of Soul and his stage presence is why Stone decided to start doing “The Return of James Brown Tribute” show about five years ago. “James Brown is an art form. Everyone is doing the Beetles and Elvis tribute shows but no one is doing James Brown. He is an icon. A lot of the young singers today are sampling his music and a lot of young kids have forgotten that. Someone needs to represent that.”
This week I visited the Galaxy Lounge and Entertainment Center in Homewood, Doc’s in Shadyside, Savoy Restaurant and Lounge in the Strip District, CJ’s in the Strip District, Capri’s in East Liberty and Club Obsessionz in the Strip District My first stop was at Club Obsessionz in the Strip District where Leslie held a birthday celebration with family, friends and great food. Thanks for the invite because I had a great time. Birthday girl Leslie and family had a great time at Club Obsessionz in the Strip District.
