Sticking to my resolutions. When we kicked off 2K9, I was determined on making a few things come to pass…be careful what you wish for! Thanks to an overheated steam straightener my bun went to glory, but my Darth Vader mushroom bob was a definite downgrade. I did learn all of the moves to “Single Ladies” – even though it nearly cost me a hip AND a shoulder. Unfortunately by time I was able to do them all at once and in sequence with the song, she had recorded and released “Video Phone.” Yes, I’m referring to the video that came out three weeks ago! Twenty minutes after Diddy told Aubrey’s fassss (not a typo) behind to pack up and keep it moving I thought I was going have my time to shine in Danity Kane. But he kept Dawn and dropped the other ones off at girl group foster care! But I’m still really proud of myself and my ability to stay focused.
Best (and worst) in show. I’m doing things a little differently for the 2K9 edition of my highs and lows for the last 365. I’m adding a few items, but bear with me because they are indeed for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Best “new do” – Meghan O’s radical transition from Rae Dawn Chong to Halle Berry. Now I couldn’t get with it when she mohawked it out, and I never would have recommended her to go short, but it still was one of the cutest and most dramatic “do-overs” I’ve seen in a while.
Unfortunately, as I said earlier, the “not-so-much” award goes to my “Vader.” The cut was cute, but I didn’t bother trying to style it 85percent – okay 95 percent of the time. A special “get your own swag” award goes to any of the women who decided to shave the side of their head a la Cassie and/or Rihanna.
Top party spots. I know a few folks aren’t going to be absolutely miffed with me when I say this…but y’all know it’s true…the throwbacks and extra grown folks really showed out and us up when it came to having a good time! My picks are as follows: The All Class Reunion Party(1st), Nelly’s Black and White Ball (close 2nd) and Free Time’s Glow II (3rd).Others that deserve mention are BOTH of Anthony Robinson’s house parties, Koncepts and SYGU’s BodyRock, the March edition of 1st Friday, Delux Magazine Premiere Party at Sugar and the Halloween Party at the Loft and T. Luv’s b-day kickoff at Lure. I’m sure there are more, so I’ll tell you what…if you feel I missed any and I think they are of note I will give them some play next week if y’all hit me up at dshante@stlamerican.com. Lucky for some of y’all I don’t have room to mention the bad ones, but you know who you are…so step it up or keep it movin’!
STL on screen – The STL was reppin’ extra hard on the big and small screens this year, which filled my heart with joy, to put my feelings mildly! My eternal muse Skylar turned “Split Ends” (including legendary stylist Elgin Charles) all the way out on the Style Network along with the rest of the wonderful folks over at SHI salon. Qristyl Frazier ripped it on “Project Runway” and major networks still have David Conley’s “DNR” in mind for the 2010 after releasing the pilot episode on the web. 314 born and bred film “Streetballers” made it’s big-screen debut in St. Louis and Los Angeles and may be in the running for an OS CAR. Need I say more? I didn’t think so.
Concerts and just plain cons. I will start with Maxwell who really deserves some type of Partyline Performer of the Year prize for puttin’ it down twice in a few months and getting three times the crowd the second time around. Anthony Hamilton is going to always do it for me (and everybody else) whenever he steps to the stage. John Legend, India.Arie and even local group Master’s Touch deserves a nod for having a crowd five times bigger than what came out to see Jamie Foxx at the Chaifetz. Since I’m already on him, I must say that Jamie Foxx gave me one of the most disappointing concert experiences of the 2K9 along with Curl Thomas and that God-awful back to the 90’s show featuring pieces of the groups H-Town, Troop and Next.
Life Changers. What would this year have been without the most memorable characters to enter my life in a long, long…well…ever! May 12, 2009 will never be the same after I was introduced to Ralph Jones a.k.a. Beyonce Houston thanks to the man upstairs and the McDonald’s R&B Soul Search. His audition and subsequent video probably did more for lifting spirits than Zoloft. And the Soul Search was also a gift that kept on giving through Angela’s “Sexy Baby” performance and glitter-filled shoe-less finale seen over and over …and over on City TV 10! Betty Macc let it (and by it I mean her spare tire) hang all the way out with her FoxyFest 2 side show. And if I left out the Dancer of Life and her Twilight Tuesday shows my spirit would never forgive me.
Hard to say goodbye. While we gained our first black president, in 2009 we lost an icon in Michael Jackson.
And locally we lost an entire station dedicated to our music R.I.P. 100.3 The Beat and the KATZ call letters. And although it doesn’t officially happen until 2010 Shorty Da Prince is headed to Detroit on Jan. 2 to do the evening show on the Radio One hip-hop station in the Motor City.
Wait…there’s more! Space got away from me, so visit the online version of Partyline at www.stlamerican.com for the full run down of New Year’s Eve/ Day events. Next week I will wrap up my best of the best and offer some resolutions for that 2K10.
On tap for 2K10. Okay, for those of you who need a spot or two…or three to hit up for the last holiday of 2009, here’s a rewind of the rundown for last week – plus a few more for the road. Free Time/Liquid Assets are teaming up at the Forest Park Golfhouse (Thursday, 9 p.m.); 1st Friday/Koncepts Cufflinks & Stilettos at EXO (Thursday, 9 p.m.); Miracle Kids Black and White Gala (Thurs., 8 p.m. at Eleven- (360 N. Boyle) and Shirley Murdock and Zapp (Fri., Jan 1, 8 p.m.) at the Ambassador. Also, The Chok’Lit City’s Chocolate Ball: A New Year’s Extravaganza at the Airport Crowne Plaza (7 p.m.). The City, Team Topher and Dontuwannaggo.com present A Perfect Ten (X) New Year’s Eve Celebration at City (1917 Washington). Club Karma is presenting a triple scoop of celebs with Bobby V., Tierra Marie and that one dude for the game.