OUT 65

Hello everyone! This is Ma’atology on the cyber-tip tryin to give it 2 ya one more time. Some of you probably won’t see this blog until the power is back on in the STL (I will explain later), but for those who have power and can surf on the net, here’s what I have for this week.

Man, it was so much going on here in the STL. From Mary J. Blige doing her hip-hop soul thing at the UMB Bank Pavilion (with two encores from what I heard), India Arie doing her neo-soul thing at Live on the Levee (My journalistic review will follow this intro), LL Cool J giving the ladies love at the Pageant (very brief loving from what I hear due to the bad weather which I will talk about later) and the hotbed that is the St. Louis Public School’s controversial ousting 15 year-stint Superintendent Creg Williams (I will comment on this later). Man, you would think all we needed was to flee to Cypress and it would have called it a week!

But the real star here in the STL has been the weather! Man, on Wednesday, the STL became a scene like on the Wizard of Oz as soon as Dorothy and Toto ran back into their shack and the storm blew them into OZ! It was unexpected for real. The weathermen in the area did not predict this at all which was the trip part about it (The weather even made national news!). There werr gusting winds of up to 90 mph, hurricane like rains and total destruction.

It hit the STL area about 7 p.m. and I was in the middle of it. I was just coming from the STl area from the bally Gym in Clayton, and I called the officer that was waiting to get relieved at the Memorial Park and that I was on my way to relieve them. NOT. By the time, I got across the Casino Queen area (where the Memorial Park area is locate din back of it), he weather began getting circling dusty winds and it was blowing away the construction orange cones around on Highway 64 both East and west (The construction guys were flying away as well). So, I made a detour to the Casino Queen Parking Lot (which is our first precautions with bad weather due to the Water Geyser Fountain where the park is and where our officers are stationed is too much electrical equipment in the pumphouse). So the officer called my celly and said that the weather was getting ominous and , to put it lightly, locked up and hauled ass out of therre (they went to the Casino Queen parking lot too after major turnarounds and street blockages).

Just as I was about to get out my car to go inside Casino Queen, that’s when the rain and wind picked up tremendously, I was like, oh Hell to the Naw. I was better staying in my car than being blown away with the wind. It was incredible to see! The wind made the rain blow upwards and around! It was like a Hurricane for real. I had my radio on KMOX to see how the storm was going. Come to find out it was tornadic activity going on in Southern parts of Illinois and St. Louis County and Jefferson County. I called my family members nearby and checked on them (My sister was caught on Delmar in Midtown St. Louis and could not drive at all) and everyone was OK.

All areas were in danger of this tornadic situation. The highways were shut down, trees were slice din half or uprooted, building roofs of some buildings were off (some of the roof on Lambert Airport flew into Highway 70!). there was also chaos at Busch Stadium, where parts of the plexiglass on the press box blew off and into the fans area, hundreds of people were like sitting geese as the storm hit (they eventually resumed play after the storm finished).

So for about a good hour, the storm was rockin and rollin. I couldn’t even get to the geyser area because after the storm was over, the huge 1 million dollar Casino Queen sign fell down onto some power lines and causing an unsafe area! (ABOVE IS A PIC PROVIDED BY KMOV.COM) . So I did my patrol at the Casino Queen checking every hour and updating the officers and other supervisors. It was definitely a great moment in STL history. I called the Pageant Nightclub to see if the scheduled LL Cool J was still happening and the box office said that they were still having the show and that they had power (They were one of the lucky ones. The STL Post’s Kevin Johnson said that the concert started on time, but it only lasted an hour so it must have ended around 9 p.m.) ).

After the storm, over half of a million people had no lights and no air conditioning! Ameren UE (the main power company in the Metro area) worked all nite and day to get people’s services up (And as of this writing still are). Major blackouts were going on (East St. Louis was really a Black Town for real) While still listening to KMOX afterward, KMOV-TV’s weather guy Ken Ehrhardt called in and said what had happed was what you call, “duratio” where a storm rolls from North to South (which is unusual for STL ers) and the storm turned right and rolled our way (which is odd for STL who usually gets storms coming from the Southwest )He said that the storm on Wednesday was in the Top 5 of the worst storms of all times! (What’s also strange about that storm was, it didn’t even touch Belleville/Shiloh area, where I reside, but it did tree and power outage damage to surrounding towns like Fairview Heights, Cahokia and East St, Louis! We missed it by a hair, LITERALLY! )

As of this writing, the temperature was going to reached the highest so far this summer at 102 degrees (with heat index making it close to 110 degrees!) The Clear Channel radio family in the STL (including Majic 104.9, KLOU,. Hallelujah 1600, 93. 7 The Bull and 100,3 The Beat) got on the radio ( I heard Dee Lee and Chaz Saunders on therre before I started writing this blog) on 100.3 FM signal (The other Clear Channel stations were knocked off from the weather) and banned together to get people cooling station info, checking on the elderly and challenged businesses and gas stations to loan there spots for people to get cool and to mark half off their cold drinks. For more info, go to 100.3the Beat’s website at http://100.3thebeat.com/main.html

THIS JUST END. According to stltoday.com, There was an electrocuted death in East Saint Louis the first death associated with Wednesday’s storms according to stltoday.com. The man, Chester Chapman, 50, was found hanging over drooping power lines in an alley behind a public housing complex at 14th and Missouri Avenues in East St. Louis. He was pronounced dead at 7:24 a.m., said St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone.

OK now some of the lighter stuff.

Last Saturday, I checked out the free concert Live on the Levee below the Archgrounds for soul sista India.Arie (SEEN ABOVE IN THE PIC ON THE KEYS) . Thousands packed the area where people sat on the Arch ground steps and stood in front of the gates stage area to check out the show. But let me backtrack to give you all what went down prior to my going there.

On Friday nite, I had texted Kevin Johnson to see who was the person I needed to contact to get a VIP ticket to be near the front area to take some pics. He texted me back and said Missy Slay, who works in the Mayor of ST. Louis’ office , Francis Slay (I wonder if they are related?). So, you know me, my mission was to get that. With gas being 4,000 bones a gallon, I decided to catch public transpo. The Metro Link.

So I parked my car at the South western Illinois College parking lot to catch the Metro. When I was about to pay for a ticket, this brotha near the area gave me an extra bus transfer to catch the Metro. I said thanks and was on my merry way. A few other people were already up near the waiting area to wait for the Metro. I had my water, towel, shades and sun visor, Sunscreen on my arms to protect myself of the rays of light.

A few minutes passed and the Metro heading west to Lambert Airport came and I sat down. About 30 minutes later, I stopped at the Laclede Landing stop and walked toward the Archgrounds to see what was happening. It was a nice little walk to it (I head to walk down some long steps to get to it which was a good workout for my calves). It was about 5ish when I walked to the gate area where security was checking bags and all. They had this thing where they ask people don’t take pictures of the artists on stage (NOW, YOU KNOW THIS IS A JOKE CAUSE YOU KNOW THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WERE GOING TO DO WAS TAKE PICS THAT’S LIKE SAYING TO SOMEONE, OH THERE IS SOME FOOD HERE, BUT DON’T PLEASE DON’T BUY ANY FOOD EVEN IF YOU GET HUNGRY. PLEASE).

So when walked through, I saw the set up was of a an elongated corridor full of food vendors including Ben and Jerry’s (I got a pic of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream mascot), 100.3 the Beat and 104.9 radio station booths, Joe Bicardi’s At&T, Family Fun Village including Radio Disney (they had a cute little competition with the kids therr where the one who can dance the goofiest will win prizes. I got a couple of shots of them as well). The booth I patronized as STL Rib Company where I got shrimp kabobs and ribs (They ran out of those big turkey legs much to my disappointment).

When I got to the front gate area where the stage was, I signaled a nice white lady who was working backstage and I asked her was Missy Slay around and that I wanted to get a VIP ticket. She asked who I was and who worked with and I did such. She told me to hold on and she walked near the back to call Missy. As I waited, loal funk band Boogie Chyld was turning it out doing covers of such artsist like Rick James, Mnary J Blige, and Tom Browne's “Funkin For Jamaica.” (They also did a funky version of Sheila E’s The Glamorous Life” that was hot.)
SO a couple of minutes later, the nice white lady came back when a sticker that had Stage Access. SO my feat was completed (So I thought. I’ll talk about that later).

Meanwhile, I was taking snaps of Boogie Chyld, I saw St. Louis Argus editor Erci Wilson (thanks for the pic of Coco Soul, man) who was just coming from a three-minute press conference held by the Black Ministers about the ousting of ST. Louis Board Superintendent Creg Williams (He said Fox 2’s Betsey Bruce was having a fit cause of the minister’s not answering questions after the very very brief press conference). Anyway, I hung with him for a bit (even chilled with him at the Cooling Station where they had fans and free water for people. You know that beer and water booths were charging 3 bones for water! What the hell was that about! So if you pass out from the humidity, you werr just ass out if you have 2.99 cents!) Meanwhile, it was going on 6:30 or so and St. Louis singer/actress Coco Soul was about to grace the stage.

I walked to this B &D Security guy who was very helpful when I asked him wheer can my stage pass give me access and he told me near the stage area. So when I walked up to the VIP area, the security guy who was standing therre asked me if I had a VIP pass and I had it in my hand. He told me that I should have it on my person. It had an adhesive back peel and I stuck it on my chest. I walked up to the Vip area which was near the stage (I was the only one therre at the time) and wlaked around for a minute and talked to a nice white lady to was barring the beer and water. We talked a minute and decided to walk around some more.

Meanwhile, Coco Soul was on stage. She sang for about an hour(with local band Level Ground) some cover jams and her originals. This girl did her thing (Her voice reminds me of Cheryl Lynn back in the day). She started off her set with Jill Scott’s “Golden” and did original jams like, “Lazy Day.” Soul also featured her background singers (who she said she has no problems featuring which was a nice touch) Melody Graves (who sang the hell out of Fantasia’s Free Yourself) and jada Avenue (who did some nice reggae stuff). Soul also pubbed her upcoming event café Soul, wherr people who can SANG can be featured in an open mic at Suite 250 this Thursday and she also got on soap about STL artist should support one another and enough of this crabs in the barrel syndrome that plagues STL (Amen, sista). I was also glad that Soul was able to show her comedic timing as well when she said, “If you all are hot out therre, All I can do is pray for you.” CLASSIC

While she was performing, I ran into my boy Christiaan Cofield and local singer and socialite Tiffany B. I was in the thick if the crowd near the front of the stage around this time and I saw all kinds of interesting characters (some I took pics of),. I also saw local earth mother Oneness with her sister dancing African style. I also saw this very flamboyant brotha with tight fatigue pants on with his lady friend trying to get an Electric Slide goin’ (but was unsuccessful. I got a pic of them too).

Also around this time, I walked back in VIP and saw that people also had orange wristbands around their wrists along with the stage pass stickers. Now what was up with this, I said to myself. Come to find out, people had both to be apart of VIP. It’s al ways something. Meanwhile, Kevin Johnson, KSDK’s Jeff Small , and Christiaan (who almost had trouble getting in VIP cause of him not having his stage sticker on his person) were also in VIP, and after Coco performed they decided to go on a food run. I followed them for a moment, but walked the other way in order to find the rib booth cause the lines were just too long elsewherr. So when I tried meeting back up with them, the security guy who was guarding VIP was like, “Wherr is your wristband?” I was dumbfounded for a moment, then he was like, “Weren’t you just up here with Kevin (Johnson)? I said, yes. So he let me in (Your name got power Kev, LOL). So, I got in VIP and stayed therre cause the commotion near the front of eth stage was getting hectic cause it was almost time for India.Arie. Then around 8 ish, the earth neo diva herself came from the backstage area with a bodyguard prancing up toward the stage. Therr were a few screams from the general public area when they saw her.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THE LIVE ON THE LEVEE, GO TO OUT 64

The following is my review of India.Arie’s show:

India.Arie testified to thousands at Live on the Levee
By Ma’at Atkins

Several thousand fans braved the blistering summer heat last Saturday to hear the cool music panache of Grammy-Award winning
singer-songwriter India.Arie at the free summer concert series, Live on the Levee.
Performed underneath the Gateway Arch, the 90-minute concert comprised of a well- mixed variety of songs from Arie’s highly-acclaimed CDs, Acoustic Soul, Voyage to India and her latest, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life and Relationships.
Arie didn’t waste any time when she skipped up to the stage and started right into her latest hit, “I Am Not My Hair.” It was evident that Arie--who sported a bald fade with a white-sheer belled top with matching pants and a red and gold belled shimmy belt—was setting the tone of the show by boldly not performing “Hair” as the finale of her set and focusing more on just being an artist.
Intermittently, Arie—along with two female background singers and a four-piece band—performed several surprise snippets of other artists’ tunes including, Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings,” “Beyonce’s, “ Me Myself And I,” Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us,” Ne-yo’s “So Sick” (her fave song on the radio right now) and the crowd fave, Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” (She even did a vamp of the Sesame Street counting number song!) The only full cover she performed was Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” (a song that according to Arie, “ Made her believe that songs can heal”).
The snippets were welcoming, but they consumed most of her time to perform some surprisingly overlooked songs including, “Little Things” and the very popular radio hit, “Purify Me” from the Diary of a Mad Black Woman Soundtrack (Or even a bit of the Tyra Show theme if she was going to take it there!)
Arie, who was very giddy throughout her set, did not disappoint her fans who either mouthed all the words to her better known songs (e.g. “Video,” “Strength, Courage and Wisdom,” and “Brown Skin”) or sang when they were in the spotlight when Arie positioned her mic and mic stand facing them.
Arie also had several Oprahesque-wit-and-pulpit moments during her set. One was when she said, “Enjoy yourself. Open up your heart and spirit…explore your options…If you don’t know all my songs, just listen to the words and I hope they come out the they way they supposed to do, to touch you …”
She also displayed her child-like personality when she looked up at the Arch and said, “Ooh, I wanna go up there!” She also gave her guitar player, Blue Miller, a birthday cake to celebrate his birthday. After singing “Happy Birthday” to him (as the crowd joined her), she took a piece of the cake frosting and placed it on his cheek and ran back to the front of the stage.
In regards to her new CD, Testimony, she said, “My new album is not about relationships, but learning from relationships. I learned being in a relationship…you have to be able to let them go and enjoy yourself.”
Arie was undoubtedly referring to her breakup of her four-year relationship with her boyfriend (which was inspiration for her song, “The Truth” on Voyage to India) that according to vibe.com, she said, “I was in a relationship that I wrote a lot of songs about. I didn’t write about the relationship but more about the healing process…After that relationship was over, that was the best thing that happened to me in that time period.”
Nevertheless, Arie gave the crowd what they expect from her—a vocally rich and nourishing, wisdom-filled pilgrimage of her multi-talent (she played the guitar, keyboards and flute!). This was more so evident during the finale song, the whimsical ballad, “Ready for Love,” when most of the crowd held up cigarette lighters and cell phones giving her an obvious indication that this was definitely her signature song.
-30-

After India Arie’s show there was a nice firework display that was nice (The “war” marching music was a bit overwrought, but hey—It was what it was). Also at the Levee were local actor/director Joel King with new Woodie Award winner Willena Vaughn, Levee hosts 100.3 The Beat’s Dwight Stone (I was cracking up after you told the humid-drenched crowd, ‘Look at your neighbor and say, “Neighbor….It’s hot out here.”), Majic 104.9’s Chaz Saunders and local actress Lisa May (who was working double time as a B&D Security guard) It was mass hysteria trying to get back on the Metro Link at the Laclede’s Landing Station going back to the East Side. Thousands had the same idea as I as far as taking the Link (The construction on Highway 64 is making traffic just outrageously painstakingly slow). Therre were four long lines leading up the steps to the station. I was able to maneuver through it (some were trying to take the elevator which was out of the question). About 30 minutes, or so, I was on a Link and headed to the eastside.

Besides the weather, the other big thing going on in the STL is the controversial ousting of School Board Super Creg Williams (SEEN ABOVE WITH STL SCHOOL BOARD PREZ VERONICA O’BRIEN) ). Earlier in the week, according to stltoday.com,
According to stltoday.com, speculation that Williams might be fired has swirled, especially after the board fired longtime Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons earlier in the month. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (who almost cursed during his press conference when he first heard the news of Williams ‘ subsequent firing) ) and School Board member Robert Archibald have said they believe the board fired Irons to send a message to Williams.

Williams dismissed rumors that he had applied for vacant superintendent posts in Boston and Baltimore and vowed to stand up for his job, which he has held for 15 months. He signed a four-year contract at that time.

But it came true and after that, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

According to stltoday.com. an angry and caustic crowd last Tuesday night let the St. Louis School Board know exactly what it thought of the board's forced resignation of Superintendent Creg Williams and firing of longtime Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons. According to the website, speakers hurled invectives at the board, directing particular at board President Veronica O'Brien and new interim Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. Nine people addressed the board in a 30-minute public comment period; many others did not get a chance to talk.

The audience chanted "Hey, ho, Veronica's got to go" and "Reinstate, reinstate, reinstate."Boos and jeers drowned out the pledge of allegiance. "We have traded in a Humvee of a superintendent, and we traded it in for a Pinto," said the Rev. Phillip DuVall, the organizer of a Monday night protest outside O'Brien's home. The speakers lambasted the board for dismissing Irons, pushing Williams out the door and replacing him with a superintendent that they contend has little experience working in an urban district.Bourisaw previously served as superintendent in the Fox School District in Jefferson County

In the business session, the board, on a 4-3 vote, approved an $385.3 million operating budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. The approval came over the objections of board member Robert Archibald, who asked that Bourisaw impose an additional $10 million in cuts in anticipation of the $30 million shortfall expected next year when the district must begin to repay a $50 million bailout loan. Bourisaw said the budget needed to be passed in order for schools to open on time, Aug. 28.

Following the meeting, Archibald expressed reservations that the district can finish the academic year without encountering a fiscal crisis.

As far as the emergency School board meeting, closed to the public, last Friday, the vote was 4-3. It came during an emergency session called earlier in the day by the board and closed to the public. Williams came to St. Louis 15 months ago as a reform-minded superintendent after stints as an assistant administrator in Chicago and Philadelphia. Attorneys for the board and the superintendent were working out details of his departure, sources said.

Well here is my take on all this MESS MESS MESS. What is really going on here? Was it politics? Was it the Board not liking Williams radical changes of moving pre-high school kids out of the school district and into pre-college courses at places like UMSL? Was it the that Williams was allegedly cutting programs that would have made the Board lose its accreditation?. Will the Board be state-owned? Talk about drama. This reminds me of when infamous super Joe Clark tried to clean up the schools do in the 80s but with a baseball bat and a megaphone.

On the Freeman Bosley Junior Show on 100.3 The Beat last Sunday after news of Williams’ ousting, host Bosley was as hot as DEVIL’s PISS at the firing of Williams and said that the board members who voted to fire him was all-black. And he said that if the super was white, they wouldn’t have fired him. WHOA NELLY ! Bosley feels like it is a racial thing going on. Well, it’s hard to say, but it does look very obvious when you look at things. But in the end—the kids of St. Louis is going to be the kids who suffer.

MA’AT-IDBITZ. St. Louis Argus Editor Eric Wilson emailed me and said that my review of India.Arie on the Levee as well as a press release of Nick Cannon’s animated flick, Monsters House will be in Thursdays edition of the ST. Louis Argus (www.stlargus.com)
I got a couple of emails from two of my fans. One is former Flipside editor Marquita Parks and she wrote:

“Hey Ma’at, I just wanted to send you an email and tell you that your blog cracks me up. I read it every week. Just in case you don’t remember, it’s me, Marquita (editor from The Flipside). I’ve been reading your blog every since I ran into you at Seven about a year ago. I don’t go out nearly as much as you (playing the good wife good mother role) but I feel like I go out every weekend b/c of your blog.
Keep up the good work!
Marquita Parker Associate Publishing Editor Elsevier :: Mosby's Drug Consult

Thanks Marquita for your kind words. I definitely need that.

My other fan was Inkosi Design Art Director Kevin Bryant. He wrote:

“Marc, please remember to post a link to your blog page every time you send a message. It lets lazy people like myself, just tap the link as soon as I finish reading your message.”

Now now Kev. If you are that lazy dude, why are you trying to get buffed at the gym everytime I see you therr? LOL. Now, but seriously, thanks for your concern and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Movin on...............

I did a YOU TUBE video upload on the popular site. It’s of me taking a small movie of cars and chaos outside at Club Dreams a couple of weeks ago when people were trying to star gaze at the “Three the Hard Way” party where Nelly, Jermaine Dupri and Usher were supposed to make an appearance (as well as Janet and Ashanti and etc-but as you know that didn’t happen). But if you wanna check it out, paste this link and check it out:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ctDUz29keCQ&search=club%20dreams%2C%20st.%20louis

STL-TIDBITZ. Congrats to STL native and former White House Aide to Bill Clinton, Keith Boykin who won a Gold Medal at this year’s Gay Games in Chi-Town. He won a medal in the wrestling competition. On his website (www.keitboykin.com), he gets into detail as far as his regimen (remember that word. Lol) of how he got in shape and that the reason he got into the games was to show that gay people can play sports. A little history on Boykin: He left the White House to write his first book, “One More River to Cross: Black and Gay in America,” published in 1996. His second book, “Respecting the Soul,” was published in 1999. he can currently be seen on BET J’s talk show “My Two Cents.” Good going Keith and much love to you!...........................................................

I heard that STL native rapper Chingy had a fashion show for his new clothing line, Get it Together at the Glass House at Forest Park. Anyone check this out? Spekaing of Chingy, he and fellow STl rapper Nelly are competing on the Billboard ‘s R&B/Hip Hop Charts. Chingy’s song “Pulling Me Back” with Tyrese moves up from 15 to 12 on that chart in its 9th week on the chart and in Chingy’s old spot last week is Janet’s duet with Nelly, “Call On Me” which move up one spot from No. 16 in its fifth week on the chart. Its going to be interesting which song will go the highest. I will keep you posted each week.

EVENT-TIDBITZ.Stray Dog Theatre presents THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES a play with music by John Guare Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. July 13 – 16, 20 – 23, 27 – 30, 2006 Thursday – Saturday at 8 PM / Sunday at 2 PM $18.00 Adults / $15.00 Seniors & Students…………………………………………………………………

Through July 31, The Hershey Company is calling on aspiring filmmakers and movie enthusiasts to submit entries into its Take 5 Taste and Believe filmcontest. Consumers are invited to submit their own original video (up to 60 seconds) showcasing how far they'd go to get a Take 5 candy bar. More details can be found online at www.thegreatestcandybarever.com............................................................

Legacy Books & Cafe will old an anniversary celebration, July 20 -23, 2006, 5249 Delmar, St. Louis, MO. Contact David @ (314) 430-9816 or (314) 995-9570 or email him @ djfreekey_sg@earthlink.net.............................................................................

AUDITIONS for Chrys Yvette’s "THE DATING GAME" will be SATURDAY, JULY 22nd and SATURDAY JULY 29th at UNION STATION (CLUB PLUSH)12:00pm to 5:00pm-. She is looking for actors, b-ball players, salsa dancers, models, rappers and comedians. For an appointment call 877-517-0472 …………………………………..

From stlfilmwire, a feature film, "Ghost Image," is casting in St. Louis for bothextras and speaking roles. All speaking roles are paid under a SAG contract; extras are unpaid. All ages and types welcome. Some roles are being cast out of LA and will include cast members from such television shows as "Nip/Tuck," "The West Wing," and "The Sopranos." If you're interested, send an e-mail to: casting_ghost_image@yahoo.com Attach your photo and resume or include a link to your web site. Alternatively, you can mail your photo/resume, or a snapshot, to:Mike Ketcher, 6614 Clayton Road, #393. St. Louis, MO 63117……………………………………………………….

PORTFOLIO GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION, July 21, at 6 p.m. of 14 Show Me St. Louis Artists. Call 314.533.3323 for more information or visit our website at www.Portfolio-stl.com.....................................................................

Tickets for the 6th edition of the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase –July 23-www.cinemastlouis.org/showcase.cfm are now on sale at theTivoli Theatre box office during regular business hours. The film schedule is in the latest Riverfront Times or go to www.riverfronttimes.com...........................................................

I got an email from Sharee Galvin talking about the All NEW Sunday Sip at the black-owned and operated Central West End Bed and Breakfast (therr rooms are lavish and off the chain!) . The e-mail read that if you mention Sharee Galvin’s email you will receive a free glass of wine and tell them Mocha Latte' sent you (who hosts the event). The show, which features local artist in an outside backyard table setting, starts at 6 p.m., located at 4045 Washington. Contact info is 314-535-7900. 5 bones to enter. 1 bone for their bed and breakfast tour…………………………………………….

Explore Urban Fashion Reality in STL July 23-28. STL’s own fashion Week... Contact GMS Ms. Shay @ 314.578.8238 or http://www.stlgms.com/ for more info……………………

Gifted Productions presents the gospel stageplay “Daddy Come Home” at the Emerson Performance arts center on the Harris Stowe Campus. July 21 at 8pm and July 22 at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets or $20 in advance Tickets will be sold at the Transformation Christian Bookstore (Page and Sarah) and Knowing Books and Cafe (Jamestown Mall) They can also call me at 314-535-5720. $25 at the door……………………………..

I also got an email from my friend Annie M. Burks, of flymusic, who just wrapped production of a short film called "Ra Energy.". Come and check her flick out on Wednesday, August 16 at the Webster University’s Film Series. She said “bring your friends, lovers, partners, family, etc. You must scream and clap loudly when the movie ends so that I can feel great and possibly win an award. But do this only if you mean it...” (I love her for that)She also said that Webster has not yet issued a specific time the shorts will screen, but she will email me with the time .

OK well that will cover it for me right now. In the meantime, if you have anything for me to pub or put the blog on anything, hit me up at maatspear@yahoo.com