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In just over two weeks, THE premier event of St. Louis – the most glamorous party for a purpose you can imagine will get underway. The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39^th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala is going down on Saturday, October 17 at St. Louis Union Station Hotel. When I tell you that it’s going to be an opulence overload situation as we celebrate scholars and the often unsung heroes of education. Because of that Chick-fil-A chicken and waffle sandwich, my outfit options are now narrowed down to two. They really could have waited until the holidays to launch that thing. But this blurb is about the moment where Black excellence meets high fashion, so let’s get back to that. I can wait to be in the room where a new era of the Education Salute gets underway – and by new era, I mean new venue. Same glamour, new space. Visit www.stlamerican.com or call 314.533.8000 for details. 

BJ’s bow. Because I kept on rambling last week, my message to BJ The DJ on a career well-served got dusted. But all would not be well with my soul if I didn’t give BJ flowers for his forty-plus years on the airwaves – and his 50 years as a DJ. Sir, you don’t look like you have been doing anything professionally for 50 years. Give me that wellness routine, ASAP. The Launch Code building was transformed into the cutest gathering. The folks had a time. And the way BJ popped, locked, dropped and hunched his way in for his introduction made me wanna sign up for a Silver Sneakers mall walking session to make sure I stay in shape for my 50^th anniversary of Partyline. But for real, folks enjoyed themselves – and BJ got the party hype like he was on the payroll for his own event. The party’s female security team was so serious that they made Viola Davis and her “The Woman King” squad seem like lightweights. I must give a shout out to Linda Robinson and Sheryl Rogers for always looking out for your girl. 

Ten times the Power (100). Thursday night had me geeked up for one of the other most anticipated gala moments in Black St. Louis. My peeps over at Delux revealed the 2026 class of their Power 100 at a special mixer that also made note that this is the 10^th anniversary of the event. The Angad Arts Hotel set was the perfect preview for what we can expect – and who we can expect to see – when the milestone celebration takes place in December. Congrats to everyone honored from 2016-2026!

Martin is still the man. Okay, I would be lying if I didn’t tell y’all that my first order of business when I made my way to the Stifel Saturday night for Martin Lawrence’s “Y’all Still Know What it Is” tour was a health and wellness check. What? He said it himself on stage that folks had everybody out here thinking all was not well. He all but did the presidential fitness test on that stage to convince us that he had full mobility. I’m so glad that I have good news to report. He is well…and he is funny! He made a few jokes denying the stroke – but made a whole bunch of jokes about another kind of stroke that is NSFP (not safe for Partyline). His set went long, and he was more mannish than I’ve ever seen him – yes even more than the Def Comedy Jam days. Now what I got a kick out of, was his jokes about how his body has betrayed him now that he has become a man of a certain age. And when he threw Bobby Brown under the bus by saying he thought Bobbayye was T.D. Jakes when he showed up at Martin’s 60^th birthday party, it sent me to the upper room. I got a kick out of the new material. It would have been funny even without the blue (i.e. nasty) jokes – which I feel like he went too far with. The folks hollered all the way through those jokes too – and the opening acts. The 8 p.m. show got started at 7:54 with our own Willie Lynch Jr. When he said he was vegan, but don’t care about animals like that while showing off his leather jacket and shoes – and threatened to get a pair of German Shepherd shoes – I was howling like one. Daphnique Springs was funny too. I’m always nervous about the internet famous funny folks, but she did y’all proud. Now I was a wreck about her having those high heels on in her third trimester. Girl, if you don’t get you some Skechers Go Walk Air 3.0’s while you have a pass to wear them on stage…Oh, and Benji Brown got it in too! 

So long Levitt 2026. I closed my weekend by bidding farewell to the 2026 Levitt Vibes St. Louis Concert Music Series presented by Delmar Main Street. I’ve been cooked and I’ve been chilled at various points over the course of the spring and summer while attending these shows. They ended on a literal high note with Brian Owens. Listen, those high notes were noting! I might have to refer to him as Brian Benét after hearing his take on “Tennessee Whiskey” Sunday evening. I hope the series returns for 2027!