out 53

Hello to all once and more gain. This is your boy Ma'atology promising to give you what you hope to have seen or missed since the last time I e-conversed with you all.
OK as the Staple Singers procliamed 30 years ago, "Let' s Do it Again!"

First off I would like to congratulate my nephew, Jerome "Tweezle" Stewart III, (shown on the left) for winning second place in a One on One B-Ball Tourney at his junior high school, Whiteside in Belleville. He is becoming a pretty good b-ball player (stay away ladies, he's only 14. LOL) and is making a name for himself (Now if he can o the same thing with academics he will be OK. But you know how that goes).

Last Friday I did a two-fer. I attended Hipster Magazine's Issue Party at R Sole, a swanky new shoe store in the University Loop (across from Blockbusters for those who need landmarks). This event was RSVP, but when I got tehre around 10 ish, it was no holds barred from the 50 or so that was supposed to RSVP to attend the free sips event.

I was there with my ammunition (my digital cam) and I knew everything was all good when I saw Keith Harris and Guest List keeper Brian Stemmons who told me to come on in. But my ego was lifted when this sista named Big Steph grabbed my hand right before I was to enter the place and said that I made her day with what I had on. I dont know what came over me, but I started to blush. I didnt know I was looking that hot cause I didnt really put much into what I as wearing which was a black Fat Albert hat, a white linen open chest long sleeve shirt, faded baggy blue jeans with slits on the sides and some black heeled shoes. Man, I should dress more casual more often.

When I entered the spot, it was well packed in the teeny space (a pic of the party people are above. There were all kinds of custom made snakers on teh displays for thsoe who wanted to purchase. They even had a brotha on spot, Sam Robinson (Pedigree Custom Painting--renegade-slr@hotmail.com is his contact) who was painting some sneakes for those to watch and idolize. DJ Nappy Needles were on the 1s and 2s and in the back were Jammelle and Tricia, two tall sexy models who were purrrring Champagne and energy drinks in champagne glasses all night (and it was FREEEEEEEEEE).

In the house were local socialites Jamie Spencer and Robert Kirk, Freeman Bosley Junior Show personality Nicci Roach (Happy 21st B-Day AHEM! LOL), and Jacob of stlouis-online.com (You can check his pics on his website as well). Good job Keenan Harris (who is the EIC of Hipster ) for a cool event.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE PICS OF THIS EVENT, GO TO MY BLOG POST, OUT 52.

I left the Champagne and Sneakers soiree around 11ish so I can hit the Jazz Loft to take some pics of its house DJ, DJ Soundz (I hope to do a feature on this brotha who is doin his thing here in the STL). I got there about 11:30 and showed the sista who was sitting at the door my media pass and camera and asked if I can take some snaps for my blog. She proceeded to check me in with no problem and I walked through the packed crowd to take some shots.

As I walked around, taking shots, meeting DJ SOundz at the DJ Booth, SOundz made an announcment that rapper Chingy was in the building. He and two buff guys (who go to Ballys in Clayton BTW), grabbed a VIP booth as the groupies and onlookers walked over to greet him. Meanwhile Soundz began playing his tunes like "RIght THurr" and his latest" Pulling Me Back" (which is a nice jam BTW). Chingy was dressed casual with cap and sneaks as his two bodyguards (also dressed casual)were on both sides of him awaiting for something to happen. I guess Chingy is back in town to see what he's going to do after getting sued by a local record produicer (as reported last week in my blog). I'm sure I'll get the scoop when he and his bodyguards go to Ballys this week.

Also a trip was the SIUE Alumni reunion up in there. Many guys who I graduated with at SIUE who was up in there (all Greek coincidentally). They were Mark Adams (who is an Alpha and sportin dreads), Brian Stemmons (Alpha), Al Wade (Alpha), and Gerald McClellan (Q-Dog). It was another guy who was an Alpha there too but I couldnt recall his name (but he was staring at me as though he knew me). Other peeps in the house were Michael Jackson (no not the singer), Demond Tucker (I saw you with that Apple Martini. LOL), Brandon, Trent Mitchell, and Harry Colbert.

TO SEE SOME PARTY PICS FROM THE JAZZ LOFT, GO TO MY POST OUT 52.

THIS JUST IN-BITZ. The St. Louis Black Rep will be presneting its annual Woodie Awards this year and they have a Broadway star with ST. Louis roots who is going to host.

The Black Rep will host its 13th Annual Woodie King, Jr. Awards Ceremony on Sunday, June 25, at 3:30 p.m. at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. The star-studded gala will be emceed by Kingsley Leggs (seen in the pic above) who currently stars as Mister in the Broadway hit THE COLOR PURPLE (Although he wasn't nominated, but the Color Purple was almost shut out of its 11 nods at the Tony Awards last Sunday luckily Lachanze who plays Celie won for Best Actress in a Musical) .

“Having Kingsley join us for the Woodie Awards is so fitting considering his St. Louis roots and ties to DREAMGIRLS, our final production of a wonderful season. We are looking forward to a really special night of celebration that will energize us for the 30th year,” said Ron Himes, founder and producing director.

Kingsley Leggs who currently plays the role of Mister in THE COLOR PURPLE on Broadway worked at The Black Rep for nearly 10 years appearing in numerous shows, working with the touring company and as a member of the administrative staff.

His Black Rep credits include AIN’T MISBEHAVIN, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, and FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. Leggs also appeared in the Broadway production of MISS SAIGON and the national tours of MISS SAIGON, RAGTIME, IT AIN’T NOTHING BUT THE BLUES, and FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD.

He received L.A. Ovation Award nominations for his performance in DREAMGIRLS and RAGTIME. Leggs has appeared on the stages of many regional theatres including THE FULL MONTY (Gateway Playhouse), TWO GENTLEMAN OF VERONA (Baltimore Cornerstage), CHASING NICOLETTE (Prince Music Theatre), VIOLET (Laguna Playhouse) and ALMOST HEAVEN (Denver Center Theatre). He also appeared in the CBS TV drama CITY OF ANGELS.
Proceeds from the star-studded gala will benefit the Company’s Education and Community Programs that serve more than 65,000 people each year. Tickets are $150. To reserve your seats, contact The Black Rep at 314/534-3807.

In addition to presenting awards for the outstanding artistic work from its mainstage season, The Black Rep will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to the one of the industry’s most acclaimed orchestrator, conductor and musical arranger, and St. Lousian Harold Wheeler.
The company will also present an award for Outstanding Education to Janet Bonner of East St. Louis Public School District #189 and St. Louis Mary Institute and Country Day School (MICDS). MICDS will be honored for their continued partnership with The Black Rep.

In addition to the award’s namesake, Woodie King Jr., national celebrities participating in the festivities included actress, producer, director, and Broadway veteran, Hattie Winston, who was most recently seen on the primetime series, BECKER, stage and screen veteran Ernie Hudson (GHOSTBUSTERS, OZ) as well as Susan Fadem, Editor St. Louis Woman Magazine, and Bonita Cornute, reporter KTVI FOX2.

The evening will follow last year’s successful format and will begin with a champagne reception and silent auction at 3:30 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the theatre.
Immediately following the ceremony all guests are invited to join the award-recipients and celebrity guests in the Grand Hall for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and continued musical entertainment. The gala evening promises something for everyone to enjoy, so mark your calendars and reserve your seat!

MA'ATIDBITZ. My assignment at AG Edwards in downtown St. Louis has ended. I will give y'all the skinny of this "peculiar insitution" next week.....For thsoe who saw Last Comic Standing this past Tuesday, I was on there again in the audience. Surprisingly, they used some of last week's footage of the audience particpants in this week's show as well (They had two audiences and edited them together). Again, the top of my head and my eeys were the only thing seen (I was sitting behind TV veteran Gary Marshall)....I will have a story on the JAzz Festival in Shaw Park coming up June 23 and 24. It will be published in the West End Word Newspaper (http://www.westendword.com/). I will let you know when it will be published....PR consultant Renee Thomas Woods (and now Communications instructor at Flo Valley) will be giving me some feature storuies to do for the upcoming Black Who's Who program for this fall. I'll keep you posted on who I will be interveiwing.................................

STL-TIDBITZ.CDCA Perfect Play Date, Sun. June 25, 2006 @ The Magic House, 516 S. Kirkwood, 5:30-8:30pm. 314.531.1412 x 63 or http://www.childcarestl.org/ for more info. and tickets...............................
WEBSTER UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES PRESENTS Thursday Night Docs: "Little Man," June 15 at 8PM as a Part of Thursday Night Docs. Panel discussion with NICU specialists following the screening.Special admission $5.00 For more information go to: http://www.webster.edu/filmseries.html...............
The Black Rep will offer a six-week Summer Performing Arts Program for children ages 8 – 17, July 10 – August 18, 2006 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Black Rep Monsanto Center for the Performing Arts, 1717 Olive Street, 4th Floor. Enrollment can include all six week or a limited number of weeks. Tuition is $40.00 per week plus a $35 registration fee. To register or for more information, please call 314/534-3807, ext. 235 or ritaw@theblackrep.org.

OH AND BIG UPS TO DJ SIR THURL FOR BECOMING MY MYSPACE FREIND THIS WEEK AND CONGRATS TO MY GIRL TAVIA EVANS FOR HER NUPTIALS AND MOVE TO WASHINGTON DC....HAPPY 40th BDAY TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUE KEITH UNDERWOOD (YOU DONT LOOK A DAY OVER 41. LOL) That will do it for this week. If ya'll got anything for me to pub or report on, hit me up at maatspear@yahoo.com