out 26 (THE BEST OF MAATSPEAR)

THE BEST (AND NOT SO BEST)OF OUT--BY MAAT

Hello cyberfriends. Just wanted to let you all know that I will be back up and running the second week in January for what is going on around the town. With this being the New Years weekend, there is I'm sure all kinds of parties that you and I will be going to. Drop me a line and tell me how your New Years went at maatspear@yahoo.com and I will post it on my blog.
In the meantime, I will give you my opinions of the best and no so best while I was out and about telling you all what's been happening. Ever since I started this blog July 8 (two days after my b-day), I didnt realize how popular this site would be and because of that, it gave me the motivation to continue on with this. OK, here is my take on what I thought was happening in 2005:


Best Party: The Best of the Riverfront Times, Moolah Lounge
Packed house., Free invite through RSVP. Free food. Great ambience. Drag queen Dieta Pepsi hosted. Rapper Vice performed. Over 1500 showed up. Big ups to Charrise Pantella for a great party!

Worst PArty: T-Shirts and Panties, Panama Reds
No one showed up (only eight). There were no T-shirts or panties going on. I left a hot pary at Seven to go to this.

Best Special Event: Regional Emmys, Hyatt Regency, Union Station
I was nominated for an Emmy this year for Best Program Segment for my hotsing duties on Charter's now defunct Reel Entertainment Show on jazz vocalist Rene Marie (thanks to Pete Foggy!)and it was an experience attending an event where big hitters like TV news journalists Mandy Murphey, Dick Ford and Karen Foss were in attendance.
I will treasure this forveer!

Worst Special Event: Webbie Concert at Toxic
The crowd was rowdy. Webbie was drunk. when the concert was over, the cops were waiting for something to happen.

Best Ongoing Event: 5 Spot, Club Dreams/Vault/Hard Rock Cafe
Although the venue changed, 5 Spot returned to its home at Club Dreams, formerly the Kastle. Great venue for local artists. Before I was "banned " from there, I saw Coco Soul and national artist Eric Roberson there. A great neo-soul spot and house band Level Ground is always on point.

Shocking Moment: Charlie Murphy gets booed at the Fox during Mike Epps Live at Fox
It was too unreal to be true. I guess he just wasnt funny to the crowd. He got so pissed that he threw down his mike and gave two fuck you signs to the audience before he left off the stage.

Wildest Moment: Two black guys making a human sandwich with a white girl at Common. De La Soul/ John Legend concert at Pageant

They had to have been drunk. Soon after the show was over, two black guys had a white girl in between them . One guy was behind her. One was in front. One guy wrapped his hands around the other guys butt , while the other guy wrapped his hands around her waist and all of them were hugged all up and grinding each other. That was too much playing for reality's sake, for real!

Honorable mention: Melvin M's kissing rage with a chic in the Pepper Lounge's men's restroom!

Weirdest Moment: Drunk White guy at Drunken Fish
I was doing a pre-celebration of my Emmy nod with Kameron and Christiaan when this white guy got candid with me about his black girlfriend, even showing me a pic of her on his camera celly, while his white wife was sitting next to him! Then asked me why guys cant show their dicks when women can show their panties in public. I would have gotten uncomfortable about all this, but he was buying me drinks, so I just blew it off.


Scariest Moment: Guy throwing a bottle outside Plush
No, I wasnt there when a guy had shot outside of Plush a couple of weeks ago, but earlier this year, me, Kameron and Christiaan were standing outside waiting to get in for Syleens Johnson's mini concert and a guy threw a bottle on the ground around some other guys. I wouldnt have been able to run cause this was when I stubbed my toe earlier on the den table at home.

Best Concert: Common/De LA Soul/John Legend at the Pageant
Great show. Everyone was on point. It lasted about four hours because of the history lesson the dee-jay was giving by playing old school R&B and hip-hop between each act. Common was the highlight. Legend was OK, but as the night started winding down, so were the people to their cars.

Worst concert: Webbie at Toxic
Nuff said about this one.

Best Club: The Formula
Formerly Club Isis, The Thompsons, Kwame, Tony and Sonia Branscomb had a great concept to have a diverse crowd during each night they were open. Who would have thought they could have brought Boy Geoirge (right before he got caught with that coke in hi scrib earlier this year) to open up their club and it being full capacity? Actress Markla Gibbs even showed up for a CD listening party for her jazz CD. Great atmosphere.


Best Dee-Jay in a Club:DJ NAppy Needles
Whether its at Seven, 609, or the new Improv, you know you are going to get your party on when Needles are on the 1s and 2s. Besides, he's from East Boogie and his pop is the legendary radio dee-jay Jim Gates for God sakes!


Club Song of the Year: In YA FAce--Ebony Eyez
I love this song! The hook is crazy and energetic. Although it sounds like the sister to J-Kwon's Tipsy (both produced by the now disbanded Track Boyz), the song got people moving in the clubs. Too bad it didnt do as well nationally, but locally it was definitely a No. 1 jam!


Most Outgoing Person,male: Kameron Hopson
Wherever he was, I was, so no question he was the most outgoing. And the brother can dress! His trademarked dark shades and suit with tie and jeans had the clubs talkin'.


Most Outgoing Person, female: JAmelle

This sister was everywhere in the 2005. Whether it was modeling for someones fashion show, being a hair model for Steve Lacy's Hair Show at the Hyatt, or passing out Halloweeen necklaces at Club Dreams, this chic was the Paris Hilton of the Lou(and is always smiling and cheery). Big ups to your sexy self.

Best Movie I saw: Crash
This film about the goings on in L.A. based upon cultural and racial differences struck a chord with me. Strong performances by Don Cheadle, Ludacris and Oscar worthy Terrence Howard., A must see for real!


Worst Movie I saw: Get Rich or Die Tryin
50 Cent should stick to rapping cause his acting is HORRIBLE. This movie was supposed to be a docudrama about his rise in the rap game, but the only saving grace was Terence Howard who wasnt trying hard in this film. Oh , the shower scene in prison was definitely something for the joke reel!


Missed Event: Kanye West Private PArty at Nectar
I hate I missed this cause I hear Kanye was cool and talked to everyone who was invited there (It was a special invite of 50 plus a guest through Hipster and Synergy). I would have loved to rap to him about his take on the world. The brother is deep anbd has balls to talk what he talks about!

Best Live Theatre Show: I-2195, Touhill
The play was very interesting about a former freedom fighter woman who hides in the woods until the government comes to arrest her. What made it interesting was the cast was all-black with no reference to race. Unity theater's Thomasina Clarke starred in this great play (check out my review on kdhx.org).

Best Local Individual Perfromance: The girls performing as Destinys Child at Steve Lacy's Hair Show at Hyatt Regency
Hot to death! They all did their thing pantomining Destiny's Child's hit, "Lose My Breath." The sista who portraed Beyonce should definitely be applauded, with all her bootyliciousness.

Best Host: Isis Jones
Always gracious. She is exteremly talented (she even can sing releasing her own CD, Woman Child, out now). If it's hosting for Majic 104.9, the former Q95.5, or 5 Spot, she keeps it real and still is a lady with it without shouting or being forced to be ghetto (Even when she was calling for sista's on stage for the Bad Bitch contest at the Webbie concert she was still a lady with it).


Well, that's a little taste of my blog. I could have donw more, but if you all feel yay or nay on my choices, let me know by posting here oir emailing me at maatspear@yahoo.com.
Again, I will return with a new post the second week in January 2006.
Until next time, see ya outside!

out 25

Wassup cyberfriends

I got an email about this hot party going on on Santa day. Peep this out.


Midwest Management presents "The Winter White Slow Jam", December 25,2005 at The Improv Theater @ Union Station featuring 2004 American IdolFinalist DeAndrae Perryman and FriendsDecember 19, 2005 - St. Louis, MO -- It is with the greatest pleasure and excitement that I announce the"Winter White Slow Jam" featuring DeAndrae Perryman and Friends at thepremier venue for live performances -- THE IMPROV THEATER(www.theimprovstl.com) in Union Station!!! Please join me on Christmas night at this "Grown and Sexy Event" wherethis artist will sing about real relationships, real stories and love.Your soul will be infused with desire and your reality will be mixedwith tantalizing grooves. DeAndrae's musical cocktail of rhythm and souland a touch of jazz saturated with a hip hop edge will hit you andcreate an intoxicating brew for your heart and ears.The Winter White Slow JamSunday, December 25, 2005

Doors open @ 8pm, the show starts at 9pmFeaturing American Idol Finalist, DeAndrae Perryman (with a live band),Dem Girlz, Anthony David, DJ Sir Los and a special celebrity guest host- Comedian Darius Bradford.Admission: In Advance - $10/$15 for couples * At the door $15/$20 forcouplesDrink Specials All Night Long!!!

Tickets in advance may be purchased at:The Improve Theater @ Union Station - (314)621-2727Midwest Management and Entertainment Services, Inc. - (618)593-9237

out 24 (revised)

Hello blogfriends, far and wide in the Lou, this is your No. 1 blogger, Ma'at trying to give you my recap of my days since the last recap. Man I tell ya, it has been drama already with my trying to get this post done. First, my computer has fried. It was seven years old and it pretty much was a dinosaur. So, I had to travel to Impakt Gaming Center, a cyber cafe in Belleville just to post this (the cafe dont allow uploading photos so I have to upload my Dwele shot in the near future), but I am here for you all so you all can get my take on what my eyes have saw for the past seven days. (THE SHOT IS NOW UP__TO YOUR RIGHT AS OF DEC. 22)


First off, I want to give the Freeman Bosley Junior Show a shot out for telling their radio audience last Sunday about my blog. Nikki Roach during her Nick At Nine report, told the radio ears about my site. I was busy resting from the weekend rendevous when I turned on the radio and heard it. The last time I talked with Nikki was about a month ago when I saw her at The Best of the Riverfront Times Party at the Moolah and she said that she would give me a shout out--and she did. Much love to the Freeman Bosley Junior Show (Now, maybe I can be a guest on the show and tell y'all aboyut my blog? LOL)


With the X-mas holidays quickly coming near, I just want those to know that X-mas is not really about Jesus' birth or anything like that, lets face it, its all about eating and getting gifts and thirdly, being with family. When churchgoers say, "Jesus is the reason for the season," they must have forgotten the Galleria and St. Clair Square Mall as secondary reasons. But I digress. On to the recap

My weekend started when I attended the Platinum Group's yearly X-mas holiday and networking party. This year, it was at the Casa Lama Ballroom on Iowa and Cherokee on the South Side (previous years it was held at the Sheldon Concert Hall). I got there around 8 p.m. or so , so I can get an early start on all the food and free Anheuser Busch beer products I can drink(I'll chime in on this later on). When I got there, I paid my 25 bones to attend it and called my boy Kameron, so he can get the directions to the event. Oh, BTW, I was wearing a tannish cotton-like sweater that had puffy cotton sleeves and collar that was definitely original (I got it about 10 ago when I went to Chicago--attending that debacle of a Manhattan Model Search--at an under-the-street warehouse). The people up front told me to go upstairs so I can start getting my network on and play there guess what game with the different business reppin at the party. I saw Platinum co-owner Leata Price and gave her a nice hug. She told me to enjoy myself and have a good time and to go upstairs to get my gift bag and networking going. .So before I went upstairs, I ran into Melvin Moore of the St. Louis American (who told me he was still juiced from his American newpsaper office party he attended earlier that day)and rapped with him for a minute about the festivities, then went upstairs. Meanwhile, a pretty sista in aSanta skirt and hat gave me a blue survey that had clues to the businesses who were participating in the game, so I proceeded on to the area. I ran into other local VIPS including the Post's Kevin Johnson (who was weraing a suit and tie! I know the world is ending soon now LOL), local singers Coco Soul and Arron Foster (you was looking pretty dap in teh suit) and Clear Channel's Angie Brown. Now mind you, before I got there, I had some KAMO so I was pretty much on my way of being lit already, but I was able to maintain walking as though I had some balance. So I went up to each organization and pretty much guessed their business from teh clues on teh card. Some of them were Bally Total Fitness (D Anthony and another trainer guy from Clayton were reppin there), Brooke Financial Services, New Day Realty, UPS, Bassett in Farview Heights (I'm getting a gift certificate from them pretty soon just because I'm also on teh east side), Supreme Lending, The Computer Outlet Store, and Vincent's Jewlers, who were giving away free pearls for the ones who arruived at their store the next morning as soon as they opened and say, "I attended the Platinum Group Party." (I thought this marketing tool was very creative and daring, giving away theri profits like that, but hey everybody aint able). So, I answered all of the survey questions and walked back over to the Sista Santa to claim my gifty bag which had a variety of things like a Seagram;s T-shirt, a 2006 calendar. keychains, and two small non-alcohol gin-and juice bottles(what was up with that). As soon as I was going back downstairs, Kameron called and said that he was lost and I had to give him the directions again. I saw that the crowd was swelling up with people who I wanted to see (and didnt want to see), as I headed to the food spread. To me, it seemed as though the food spread wasnt as lavish as last year. They had the prme rib, but the rest of the food was pretty much finger foods like, chicken (fried and spicy) crackers and cold shrimp. I saw that they had the chocolate dipping machine, but I didnt really see all of the desserts that they had like last year. Hmm, I was wonering what was going on with that, but just when I was about to answer my own question, Christiaan called my name and I saw he was about three people down from behind me in the food line. I waited up on him when he got his food as he went to his cousin Cynthia Boone's table so we can eat. As I was at the table, several local VIPS walked passed the table like local music producer James Glasco (whassup with the new number?), and model Lester Robinson, who also works out at Ballys in Clayton (I saw many many people, women and men who go to Ballys up in the party, hmmm, was there a comnnmection there?). Countercorner to out table was the St. Louis American table where I said hello with a handwave to Controller Robin Britt and Editor Melequecia Meadows (Hope I'm spelling your name right). As I was socializing, I got a call from Kam asking where I was. I asked was in and he said yes. So, I told him I was put my hand in air to signal where I was. He said he saw me and when I turned around my boy had a plate of chicken already and I was like, "Man I thought you were still on teh raodm, you already chillin with chicken." While me, Kam and Christian and this sista who sat next to Kam was getting sociable, they had live entertainment on stage. Now I know I missed some of the singing last year and I wanted to attend it because many of the ST. Louis Ameircn Idol contestants were performing like Aloha and Pierre, and that was the reason why I came early to hear the singers, but I didnt know it was going last for nearly three hours! Now, dont get me wrong, the singers were on point like Coco Soul who threw down on Chaka's Through The Fire, Terry Hutchins and tween girl group Sosy, but after 11 p.m., people were ready to get their party on. But when it was about that time when everybody was juiced from the drinks, oh speaking of drinks, we ha dto buy our drinks, there were NO FREE BUSCH PRODUCTS this year. I was crushed like a jellybean under a shoe during an Easter Egg Hunt. I saw my boy Jacque LAnd (who was sharp as a pin in his suit and he said that everybody was asking for it but they couldnt swing it this year). Man, that was a shame and Busch prez Johnny Furr was up in there, too. He couldnt have swiped a few bottles for the party? Mmmm. Guess not. Anyway, bout time it was for partying, jazz sax man Tim Cunningham started blowing Silent Night, What? No! People wanted to party, not sleep. I mean, he was good and all, but it was just time to get on the dance floor. While the live enetertainment was going on, I walked to one of the bars to purchase a Long Island (liek y'all already know), and ran into my high school friend Monica Robinson who is now PR for Fox Theatre. I talked with her for a minute, hugged her and went on my drink hunt. I got to the bar and saw photographer Maurice Meredith who had his ammunition camera in his grasp talking with a guy. i was about to ask if he could take my pic, but I was ansy for my drink. So, I purchased my drink (which was 7 bucks) and walke dback to my seat. My boy Kam staretd rapping to Channel 4 beauty Vickie Newton. He gave her a message thearpy card and who knows what else afterward. LOL. But she was looking OK. Not as "glamorest" as she usually is on TV, but she got people talking (especially after she was seen hugged up on a brotha up in there). The sista that was sitting next to us was drinking and she said, "I dont feel like a lady anymore." Now, you know me, I couldnt resist, the punchline, so I touched her neck to see if she had an Adams Apple. Peopel at the table where I was cracked up laughing. They also had a gift drawing and it was all good until they called Eric Rhone, super manager for Cedric The Entertainer. You can hear grumbling in the audience and I knew what their sentiment was: For someone who got everything and then some as far as dollaz, he had to win a gift where teh rest of us is struggling to pinch a Lincoln penny. But I digress....Then I saw Entertainment Editor Bill beene walking to the St. Louis American table to get comfortable. I assisted him with his long black Superfly coat and then said to him, "Dont say I never done anything for you." I dont know why I said that, but being me, I say whatever comes to me, but it was all in fun. It was close to 11:30 pm when it was time to party, but the dee-jay (his name slips me now), but he was an old schooler dee-jay. The lastest song he played was Kanye's Goldigger." Well, I guess beggers couldnt be choosey and went on and got our party on. I partied with unknown sisters even pretending I was John Travolta and pointing at everybody. I believe I was sauced up good cause I cant believe how I was dancing, but it was all good. When it was over, people started grabbing the flower centrpeieces (I got one too), I talked to a few other people, hugged Leata again, and Kam, Christiaan and I headed out. When I drove off, I called my boy Carlos to see if he still was kicking it at Plush for his birthday (I thought it was Saturday nite, but it was the same nite of the Platinum Party) and he told me that he and his crew was at Nectar getting their groove and told him I was going to be there(he even put his on and off again lady Gina on the phone asking where I was!!!!), but I changed my mind, when I took a wrong turn on 44 and went out of my from downtown (I think it was too many LOng ISlands that was given to me at the party). So, I just went to the crib.

Oh before I forget, the Kanye West after party at Nectar two weeks ago was just OK. He showed up after his opening for U2 and greeted with some of the invited few who was able to email Hipster and Syngery to be apart of the RSVPers. He showed up in a hooded jacket, greeted everybody and was chill. No red caroet stuff or none of that. A source of mine said that many sistas were trying to give him their numbers and that he was definitely was obliging on a pussy hunt. If I hear of any hotel party stuf I will let you all know.

Last Saturday, I attended Virgin recording artist Dwele concert hosted by Club Seven. I enjoyed the concert, but I knew what to expect when it comes to Dwele. Great music, Great singing. Great piano playing, but no stage presence. I remeber when he performed at Jazz at the Bistro in 03 when The Flow Ink brought him and the opening act Coco Soul, who was pregnant at the time and featured her cousin Tina Pate busting the background) was blazin more than him on the performing tip. He was there to promote his latest CD, "Some Kinda." Kam and I jetted up there through access from Cliff Wade of Spin City Recordz who had two of his artists Jzanell and Nick Demio to open up for Dwele. befor eanyoine came up on the makeshift sytage that was set in one of the VIP areas of the club, the crowd was listening to Floetry; latets CD, "Flo'Ology". Meanwhile, some of the STL VIP was up in theer liek Majic's Selena J, who was looking sexy and flyy and who was bringing out the opening act (She spat a poem about being tired of waiting that was deep to match the accidental spit that came from my mouth when I was talking to her prior to her getting up on stage. LOL), The Flow Ink' s Charles Brown and his lovely wife and his brother Daniel, Joe Whitfield(I saw you freaky deakin that chic!), Kevin Johnson I'm not mad about not getting invited to your boy's private party), and Christiaan. I also saw Seven owner Harry Michel and saw that his wife is pregnant. Congrats to both of them. I also saw my former STL American collague and current business reporter for the Post Tavia Evans who is sportin some karats on her finger now that she is engaged to be married. I played it cool on flirtin with her cause her mini-Mack 10 fiance was holding her hand. Anyway, the show started about 10:30 p.m. and Jzanell did her thing as always (she was weraing a hella sexy halter top and skin pants) sinhging tunes from her upcoming CD, like "Get to Know Me," and Dont Be Skurred (that was accompanied by her labelmate Nick Demio) and Cliff was telling me that she will be opening up for Mary J Blige Feb 11 when she blaze through the Lou to promote her latest Cd, "Breakthrough.". Thats all and right! Another Stlousian gettin their exposure on! When she did her 10 mninutes, Foxy 95's Garth Adams brought on Dwele. His fans went bananas for him as he sang tunes from both his debut 2003 CD, "Subject" and his latest "Some Kinda." he had a live five piece band from Detroit and they had it on blast for about 90 minutes. The highlights of his show was when he pretended his show was like a radio cast and he asked for the ladies to walk up to the stage area and request their favorite songs and he sang them AND when he got a real big applauded when he performed the song. "Truth" off his last CD (even sista girl Vanita Applebum had to get happy when she heard that song) During his concert, Cliff introduced me to Nick Demio ( he looks like a little kid who just stole some cookies out the cookie jar!). I dont know if he was nervous to meet me, but whatever Cliff said to him, had him looking skurred, but he was cool. Around 11:30 p.m., people were beginning to talk and get restless during his set. People were ready to get their party on (hmmm, sounds familiar) and Dwele's music is more mellow than Laffy Taffy (My boy Kam even went to the Art bar, the other side of Seven to get his lay down for a minute). After his set was over, Dwele chilled up in VIP for a minute and DJ Napply Needles and guest Dee-jay, Deejay Mark from Chciago took turns on the 1s and 2s. You can really tell the difference in styles cause the dee-jay from chi-town was thumping and housing people like Jill Scott and even playing Kanye's "Heard Them Say." It was a whole different vibe than what STL is used to, but it was cool mix. After aboiut an hour of walking around and seeing what was going on, i was about to hit Club Dreams to Murphy Lee's Birthday Party, but I started to lose steam from partying from last nite and then going to the gym that day, so I drove my car east to the crib.


QUICK BITS. Happy Birthday to Tia Hodges who celebrates on Dec 21. Check out my story on the Big River City Concert featuring Dianne Reeves and Ellis Marsalis at the Sheldon coming up Dec 29 in West End Word Newspaper (you can also peep it out at westendword.com) and I just got a modeling gig with Anheuser Busch to do an outsiude a photo shoot with them on Jan. 18. and Jamie Spencer is going to Chicago in Feb 2006 to audition to be one of John Legend's background singers.

Well that will be all for me. Next week, I will skip a week to recoup from all this blogging in the past six months. I will resume the first week in January with a report on the Roberts Brothers Party and other things happening during the X-mas/New Years party weekFor next week, I decided to do a Best and Worst List of events attended during my blog season.

In the meantime, If you all want anything mentioned or you have a scoop on something happening in the Lou and beyond, just email me at maatspear@yahoo.com and I will post it up on here.Until the next time, be out!

out 23

What's happening all. This is Ma'at about to give you all the outside report on the last 7 days since the last time I blogged you. Well sorta. This week, I'm doing something different. I took a hiatus of sorts and let my V.I.PEEPERS, who were out on the town gave the word on what was happening last week. I trust them and here is what they attended. OK. here we go.

Last weekend was the opening of the new venue, Improv and they had two events to celebrate their grand opneing, a free comedy show showcasing some STL comics last Friday and a dj-dance jam on Saturday. My VIPEEPER, CC, told me that the comdey show was packed like a chitlin bucket (I would think so, if the letters spell F-R-E-E_). The comics who performed were BET comic and Club Dremas co-owner Maurice G (pictured in the black and white photo), who also hosted the event, BET Coming to the Stage star Arvin Micthell (pictured on the right in the color pic)(who host Funny First Sundays at Blue Berry Hill) , former BET This is the Way We Do it star Darius Bradford (who host a Monday Comdey Night at Plush) and a white chick named Bree Johnson. CC said hat each comedian did theri thing. the highlights were when Arvin did an impersonation of a robber getting his gun taken at a store, Darius talking about whyy mammas let their kids go to the store knowing that the neighborhood dog was going to chase them and the white chick saying a line like, "You know, I just want a man to take me out to dinner and give me anal." I think that line is hilarious but CC said that the joke didnt go over well with the crowd (and it was a mixed crowd). Oh well. Anyway, STL comics are doing their thing and STL should recognize that ( I hear Last Comic Standing star Jessie Taylor is getting ready to do his thing at the Funny Bone Dec 21-23; He's also host of his own comedy night at Toxic on Wednesday night doing it like he used to at the Spot on Sundays) . I need to digress here. What was up with 100.3 the Beat Morning SHow host Dee-Lee saying a couple of weeks ago that Maurice G was spotted inside Faces Nightclub? That was FOUL. His co-hosts did not even break a giggle on that joke. I dont think that that is true. And if it was, Dee-Lee shouldnt have said that(And if it is, what does he know about Faces........) Speaking of comedians, we lost a big star of the genre this past weekend, Richard Pryor. He dide dof a heartattack at the age of 65 (Did you know he was born in Peoria, Illinois?). he ha s been battling health problems since the mid 80s with MS and I guess it was too much for him to bare. He was definitely a genius. he taught the book on how to be a comic, showing your true self behind the laughter. My fave movie of his was "Which Way Is Up." That movie showed his comical talent and the different characters he played in one movie (This movie definitely had to influence Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor films). The Grandpa role was the funniest (who couldnt forget that line, "Somebody stole my last piece of CHICKEN"). He will be deeply missed.

Last Saturday, CC attended Matthew Dickey's Boys' and Girls' Club Fashion Show Benefit at Adams Mark Hotel (here we go) at one of the ballrooms upstairs. Now, I have to digress again, why do we still keep having events at this hotel when it is known that this hotel discriminates against people of color!!! Couldnt they have had this function at the WS or the Orpheum that is black owned by the Roberts Brothers. Enough of my soap suds, lets get back to the report.........Over 30 models from agencies West, Talent Plus, Thee Rasberry Company and Samaj (thats James spelled backwards) strutted their stuff on the runway. Some of them were my boy Carlos McClaurin (thanks for the invte to your B-Day celebration at Plush this coming up Saturday), sexy 5 Spot background singer Lynette brown, Lakeisha Halbert and, according to CC, "Two Jasons and a Donald." The event was emceed by KTVI's Bonita Kornute (who, by the way, is the reporter that got worked it out in her work out at Ballys in the Blind Item question from last week). KTVI sports anchor Rob Desir (who was dresseed in a tux) was the escort for the female models. It was definitely a dressy occassion cause teh tickets were 30 bones (even Mayor Francis Slay and his wife were in attendance) and it was a sit down dinner. I asked CC if there were any backstage dirt that was going on and it wasnt too much happening (CC did want me to report that one of the male models needed a lesson in fashion 101 when he put his street clothes on a hangar with the labeled clothes for the show. DUHHHH-DOH)......Later that night CC went to the Improv's second night of grand opening with jazz band Level ground performing and DJ Charlie Chan spinning on the 1s and 2s . CC said that it wasnt as packed (It was 10 bones to get up in there). People were probably nearby at Plush or Toxic. (I was going to say a dee-jay joke here, but I changed my mind)

Last Tuesday, an old friend of mine and I decided to have dinner at Red Lobster on the East Side across from the Fairview 10 Cine to catch up on old times and getting the update on people we knew. While we were there ( I had shrimp, lobster and crawfish pasta with a LOng Island tea), we were sitting by a large family that was seated in the center (It was about 10 of them) of the restaurant. Come to find out, the elderly lady who was sitting at the end of the table was celebrating her 69th birthday, Now, I must add that the olady was one of thos eblack mammas. And I love black mommas cause I have one myself. I add color into this becasue you had to have been there when her family opened her gift at the table: It was a long black mink coat. When they opened it, you would have thought she was on one of thos etalk shows when peopel are reunited with their love ones they havent seen in years. She was screaming and crying, "OH, thank you Jesus, Oh Lord Have Mercy!" It was dra-ma-tic. Over a Fur coat? I joned to my friend and said, "I hate to see if they bought her a car, they might had to get an ambulance." Then my friend said, "I hope there arent any people from PETA up in here." Too much playing. But it was nice to see black love like that-up and personal. Anyway, when she clamed down (she even had our waitress almost in tears), her family brought over her cake and they sang, "Happy B-day" to her (not the Stevie Wonder version but the traditional vesrion). I thought the waiters and waitresses were gonna do their B-Day song clap thing, but I dont think red does that (I Know Joe Crab Shack does, LOL). After that, the mamma got up, withher coat on (with peach, high heel boots , I'm noet mad at her with those) and started talking to peopel around, inclduing us saying, "I am not ashamed that I turned 69. I raised 10 chidlren, 8 boys and two girls, and my oldest is 5." The elder son was looking at us and said, "People think that we are sister and brother." I wanted to say so badly, "More like Husband and wife." he wa slooking older than his mamma! What's up with that? I just thought I share that only outside moment with you all.

Last Wednesday, Kanye West was in town as the opening act for superrock band U2 at the Savvis Center(The pic above is not from the Savvis, but a stock photo). My other VIPEEPER, BK, was there working and gave me the skinny on the concert. Overall BK told me that Kanye was supposed to be on stage at about 7, but the Savvis was half packed. Most of the people there was there to see u2 and most of them were either still getting tickets, t-shirts, or trying to find a parking space (I drove passed there around 6:45 and the crowd was just started to swell around ether). I could just imagine how Kanye was acting when he saw that the Savvis was half full. He is too big of star to perform before a half empty venue. So, BK said Kanye got on stage about a quarter to eight and the crowd was decent, but still not packed. Kanye performed for about a half and hour (wheras u2 performed nearly three hours!) BK did say Kanye was dressed flyy. He had on a t-shirt, a light blue track coat, jeans, tennis and his trademark sunglasses, but the topper was him wearing a huge platinum and gold canary style necklace with a picture of Jesus Christ as a medallion. Now that is si-us, not serious, but si'us. Now suprisingly Kanye did not do any "George Bush hate black people" isms, he just rapped for about a half an hour. He had a live orchestra behind him as he rapped. He did stuff from both College Dropout (Like Through the Wire and Workout SANS the Fitness workout girls) with mild response and Late Registration (Diamonds, the concert opener and Touch the Sky). And he ended on, you guessed it, GOLD DIGGER. BK said when Kanye performed that, the U-2 heads got up from their seats and bopped their heads to it (I would think so, the song spent 10 straight weeks at the top of the charts this year). Afterward, he ran off stage and didnt say goodnight according to BK. It was liek Kanye knew that the U2 crowd was not his crowd and had the attitude of hurrying up and getting his set over and done like a Calculus test. Now that's the Kanye I know. That Fucc you Americatude!!! BK said it took about 15 minutes for U2 hit the stage and they ruled the stage and the lighting for the stage was phenomenal casting images of the band and everything. BK said it was like Woodstock up in there with people passing out, drunk and sick. Now that's what I call a party!

Now here is the killer. Hipster Magazine and Synergy had a private party that Kanye was going to attend to after his performance at the Savvis to celebrate the double platinum release of his Late Registration CD. It was held at Nectar Lounge (near the Pepper Lounge near 19th and Locust ) Hipster had it wher the 1st 50 people to RSVP at their website can get an invite. Well, when I got the e-vite, I got it a day late (talk about LATE REGISTRATION. LOL), and I knew it was tool ate to RSVP and I was not feeling trying to find someone I know to get me so I just sat this one out. When I told my sister about the party, she was running around her house like a chicken with her neck cut off. She LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES some Kanye. (Even got Kanye' s picture as her screen saver). She was trying hard to try and go with her girlfriends, but I told her that the list is tight and I didnt want her to get her feelings hurt if she wasnt able to get in (I heard my sister's friend's boyfriend had tickets but he wasnt feeling trying to take anybody). I had my cell phone taggers who was going to let me know if they were going to open up the list, but I fell asleep waiting. The following day, I called around to those who were going like The Post's Kevin Johnson, Jamie Spencer, Hollabackboi, and former Track Boyz producer Capo (who ended up not going and wasted two tickets!!!!). Oh speaking of Capo, he told me that he split with the Track Boyz and doing his own thing. I will get more scoop on this maybe next week. Anyway, as of Thursday, I am still waiting to get the skinny on how Kanye was with the STLers up in Nectar (I will probably have to give you the scoop hopefully by Monday). But I must say, for Hipster and Synergy to bring in one of the hottest hip- hop artists around is most impressive.

RADIO DAZE. Veteran shock jock Howard Stern is leaving radio, well not really. His last syndicated show will be Friday "retiring" after 25 years on terrestrial radio (due to the constant heavy fines from the FCC, he was forced out of radio). Starting Jan 9 he and his crew will be broadcasting from Sirrius radio sattellite. I must say, I am a closted Sternie. Controversial? Yes. But thats what got people listening to him (as well as local radio guy Onion Horton--love him too)) I have been listening to him since 1998 and I have yet to get my radio to hear him. Oh well. As Sam Cooke sang 40 years ago, "A Change 'Gon Come." ..Bets selling urban author Michael Baisden show is making its debut here in the Lou on 95.5 at 2 p.m. tackling serious issues (how's that for a pun). I heard one topic teh other day,The Lockdown on religion (or something like that) when he was talking about the passivity of the black church and preachers talking loud and saying nothing. OUCH.

Well, That's it for me. I hope you enjoyed my not-so-my-report. I will promise to get back on track. Next week, I will give you the recap on the Platinum group's X-mas Party at Casa Loma, Carlos Maclaurin's B-Day at Plush, possible St. Lunatics' Murphy Lee's Birthday Bash at Club Dreams and anything else that may pop up while I'm outside.

Until next time, see ya outside!

Level Ground

red Lobster

kanye West

out 22

Hello again outsiders, this is your
outside observer Ma'at here trying
to give you the happenings around the Lou and beyond and still be able to walk around for the next go around. Alright, let me be like a hammer to a rusty nail and hit it.


This blog post will be kind of short because I wasnt really feeling going out in that windy hawk last weekend, but I managed to go to a few things that I promised I would tell you about so, here it goes.

Last Friday, I attended this funny one man play called the SantaLand Diaries at the Lemming Armada Theatre in downtown Belleville. This is the same rathskaller that put on the Taffetas last month. This play was way out funny. It is about a down on his luck shopping Macy's shopping mall elf who tells his story about being an elf (I wrote a review of this on kdhx.org and you can hear a live review of this on KDHX-FM 88.1. this Thursday at 10 a.m.).

Here is my written review of Sanataland:

The Santaland Diaries, currently being staged at the Lemming Armada Theatre in downtown Belleville, is a one-man play about a sarcastic, sad sack Macy's store elf named Crumpet, played by Charlie James, who tells his wacky journal stories about his experiences playing a shopping mall elf.
Written by NPR humorist and best selling author David Sedaris and directed by Lemming Armada co-owner Tim Daly, The Santaland Diaries reminds me of the 2002 film Bad Santa as it deals with the anti-Christmas slant of the holiday season, and disgruntled temporary employees who have to be happy and jolly in order to pay their bills.
James does a credible job with Sedaris' piece. His performance is a mixture of Ray Ramano's deadpan wit and Andy Dick's nerdiness. Some of the better journal sketches include his talks on elf training, how children and department store managers treated elves as opposed to Santa, the rude parents of the children and different celebrities who come to see Santaland like Phil Collins and Goldie Hawn.
There is also a Mad Magazine-esque undertone to the play. For instance, when James talks about how two husbands sat on Santa's lap and asked him, " I want a woman with big tits."
The Santaland Diaries has become an anti-holiday cult classic and Daly definitely didn't stray from the original. Although, it would had been nice if Daly had taken poetic license and changed the setting from Macy's to let's say the Galleria or St. Clair Square Mall, it is still enjoyable.
That is my review of The Santaland Diaries. For more ticket information and performance times, call 618-234-5998 or visit the Lemming Armada web site.


If you go to check it out, it is about an hour and a few minutes. What made my viewing of this show interseting was, well, free drinks from the owner of the Lemming (I started off with two Kamos, WHOOOOOOOOOOO) and they had a false fire alarm just when the actor was about to go on stage. The owner of Lemming had the crowd to leave the theater and wait outisde for the firemen to go upstairs where the fire alarm was going off. They had a blowing fan in front of teh thetaer just in case they needed it. Talk about Third Watch, okay? What made things even more interesting, I had to take my glass of wine outside and hide in my leather coat so the cops wouldnt see an open glass of alcohol. Mind you it wa salso pretty cold, so, I walked up and down the street until it was time to go back in the theater which was about 20 minutes later. Two wine glasses later, and half way to my car, I had to urinate. It was too late to turn bakc to the theater, so I had to let nature take its course so I went in an alley between the theater and another building and let Mr Richard set free of his water balloon. One guy was walking near me but stopped and saw what I was doing and said, "You know there are cameras around here. up above the buildings." I turned around, looked at him like he was fly in my ear. I wanted to tell him, "As long as you aint hoolding the camera, mind your damn bizness!" So, I drove off and headed to First Friday which was Formula of all places. I thought that this wa san interseting spot to have FF. There must be a change in the wind becasue I wouldnt even think that FF owners Harry Michel and Fred Finely would even go to another club to hold their popular event, and Formula of all clubs which is their stiff competition. Anyway, I met up with my boy Kameron and we were ready to parlay the crowd. Oh, I had on an outfit that was very Common (as in the rapper): brown kangol hat, light brown collared shirt, with rolled up sleeves, a brown tie with pink , brown and white dots on it, a multipatterened brown vest, brown courduroy pants and brown dress boots. And to top it off I had pink sahdes and a retro light brown coat with dark brown fur collar. I was dressed for coverstion for sure. We got there around 11 ish and my boy Clifford Wade of Spin City Recordz hooked us up in there. I was there to check out his artsist Nick Demio and sexy Jzanell (both are pictured in the pictures above). this was definitely a change of pace cause FF rarely has performers entertain for FF. It is usually people walking around drinking, netwowrking (on all levels) and dancing). Before the entertainment , I peeped out who were there. Up in there were comedian Arvin Mitchell (you have nothin to worry about. LOL) , BET's Timothy Lampley, the-person-who-I-refused-to-talk-about (I did gunslinging signs at them),Kwame thompson, Jamie, Ingrid Sams, Nathan and his lady (who danced background for Jzanell) and Rams tackle Orlando Pace. Now I must talk about him. He showed up there and doing his thing checking out the scene. Let;s fast forward to Saturday when I was checking out KMOX and the sports announcer on theer was saying that Pace may not play in the Redskins game on that Following Sunday becaus eof a hamstring problem. Huh? Now mind you, I know you can walk with a hamstring problem, but dont you think he shouldnt have been walking around in a crowded club like Formula with over 500 people in there and take the chance of stepping on someones foot, tripping over somebody, whatever. Or even walking on it period. Hamstring problem? Okay. I'm sure he didnt have a problem with his leg when he was stepping onto the dance floor. But I digress. I also was tripping off of actor Kelvin Roston who I'm cool with and is a bartender up in Formula. I greeted him and all and Kam was behind me. Kelvin said, "Man you two are always together." I just smiled and laughed it off. I'm sure he didnt mean anything by it, but I must say, if people are talking about you and you are a part of the VIP click in the Lou, then you must be in the in crowd. I love all of my fans. LOL. My thing is if people stopped talking about you, then it is a problem. Around midnite, Jzanell came up on one of the stages in the club and performed. She was fully clothed from head to toe (a black hat, jeans, a coat). I was shocked. She is usually dressed in a sexy, skimpy garb (like the pic above), but I guess the winter hawk got even this sexy siren to put on some clothes. But she did OK. It has hard to hear her. I dont know if the sound system was too loud, or what, but she did her thang. She performed a couple of tracks from her upcoming CD, Private Thoughts, and got the crowd's attention with her club banging joints. I was then expecting Nick Demio, but Cliff told me he wasnt performing (I dont know if he told me what happened or not cause I was little lifted from the drinks I had consumed before getting Formula and the free samples they had up in the club.)

Before I go on, I had the chance to review teh new single by rapper Nick Demio, that was given to me by Clifford Wade, CEO of Spin City Recordz, called, "We (Bout My Hustle)" I promised Wade I would review it and I had a chance to peep it out and the following is my review:

Spin City Recoirdz recording artist Nick Demio definitely has a catchy ditty on his hands with the single, "We (Bout My Hustle)" This club jam, with a haunting, sinister crunk beat, will definitely get the crowd head bobbing moving from side to side. Demio's delivery reminds me of a gangsta LL Cool J with a touch of DMX. He definitely has a rap style that punctual and tight. The catchy hook is also worth mentioning: We creep/we ride/We grind/We Shine/I'm all about the hustle/Lasies call me hustle man..." He also has a self imposed testimony in the song quipping, "If I wasn't rappin,I'll be pistol packin."

Overall, this single will fit right on in with the other gangsta crunkstars like Lil Jon and David Banner. It would not be surprising if this jam starts gettig heavy airplay and requests from the hip-hop stations here in the Lou the same way Ebony Eyez' summer jam "In Yo face" was played in constant rotation.

OK now back to the Formula recap

Afterward, me and Kam went up in one of the VIP areas (I saw darrious from teh Freeman Bosley Show up in VIP there) and spoke to Sonia Brascomb, one of the owners of Formula. I must give it to my girl. Even though she is plus size, she has no problem showing off her body. She had on a sleeveless top and was sexy in it. I tip my hat off to her for reppin the big sexy girls. She was telling about a book signing one of her friends were having the following night at the Formula and the celeb guest was Soul Food (the flick not the tv show) and Living Single star Mel Jackson (the light skinned cat from "Deliver Us From Eva." Around 2 in the morn, it was time to roll out of there and sleep off the alcohol and gear up for the rest of the weekend. NOT!

Last Saturday, I went to the gym at Ballys in Clayton (I saw a couple of fitness trainers who work there up in FF, one of them actually was able to work but was yawning at the front desk--not cute)and was planning on going to BET personality Big Tigga's party at Toxic. I was not feeling that mainly cause money was gettin tight for gas and the cold cold weather. So, I just chilled and watched some Tv like Saturday Night Love (I love the Weekend Update segment--Maya Rudolph must still be on maternity leave).

Last Sunday, I was supposed to go to Arvin Mitchell's Funny First Sunday event at Blueberry Hill and Kam even text messaged me to see if I was going. I wanted to. Then I got a booty call text and wasnt feeling that either. I was just not into partying this past weekend., I just wanted to chill. So, I just watched TV and checked out Desparate Housewives which is actually apretty good show that is a dark comedy spoof on thoise nighttime soaps of the 80's but with a new school twist. Its good that they put some more color on the show with Alfre Woodard and Mehcad Brooks, beside Latin siren Eva Longoria. I also peeped out Michael Ealy's (Halle Berry's new flame) new show on Showtime called Sleeper cell, about an ex-con Muslim who joins an Arab terrorist group that is planning an attack on Los Angeles. talk about interesting. This show is definitely a must watch. All of the dynamics are there (Black Muslims v Moslem; terrorism, racism, Moslem punishment etc.) When you get the chance, check your local lostings and peep this one out.

BLIND ITEM: What female local TV reporter was recently spotted at Ballys gym in Clayton getting worked out until they couldnt sweat anymore and begged for their work out partner to stop torturing them? I'll give you a hint, she works at Fox 2. If you think you know who, post up on my blog or hit me at maatspear@yahoo.com (Aaron you should know this one.LOL).

Well that is it. Again, thanks for those who have been hittin me on my email and in person who say they have been checking out this site (and even those who ask that I dont call them out in my blog. LOL). Until next time, see ya outside---with gloves, hat and winter coat on!