The blues I could use.

On Saturday I made my way down to the gem of our skyline to show love to the 11^th Annual Blues at the Arch Festival – and just like the other 10 times, I had a ball as I got all my Fitbit steps in at once. I had a ball all weekend long thanks to the Gateway Arch Foundation folks and the talented lineup. But on Saturday, I got as much life from the audience as I did from the musicians. Toronzo Cannon was tearing it up, when all of a sudden I heard a fan pop. I was like, “Oh my, the ‘Boots on the Ground’ aunties are outside. A time is about to be had.” I could not have been more wrong! I turned to see where the popping was coming from. It was somebody’s great unc or grandaddy dressed as a pink Cadillac hunching and flicking that fan like the rent was due. I know you are thinking, “What does it mean to be dressed like a pink Cadillac?” Well, he had a skintight Pepto Bismol colored dress shirt with matching skintight slacks and Cadillac belt buckle that was wider than the grill on my Aunt Eunice’s 1978 Eldorado. It was like he was a living embodiment of the Aretha song. Between him and the woman in the Wrangler jeans and the red crochet top in the wig that looked like she found it on the way to the Arch, I could barely keep my eyes on the stage. And like I said, Toronzo was absolutely killing it. When she flung the thing off and plopped it on the top of a man in an electric wheelchair for safe keeping so that she could get all the way into her Britney Spears style of modern/contemporary dance, I thought, “somebody add Mr. Cadillac and Miss Wig to next year’s mainstage lineup.” 

All that CWE jazz. I’m so glad I was able to clock those 20K steps in on my way back and forth from the Arch. Because thanks to my visit to the 3^rd Annual CWE Jazz and Blues Festival, Operation Education Salute Diet 2026 experienced a major setback. I’m back on track, thank you Lord! Because we only have two months left – October 17 to be exact, go to stlamerican.com to get your tickets. Anyway, I thought I was gonna keep it cute with a little St. Louis Bread Co. salad. I ended up with Brassiere, a frozen boba tea, Vampire Penguin, a partridge and a pear tree! I didn’t even know Vampire Penguin existed until I made my way to see Dhoruba and ‘nem – and as much of the roster of the festival as I could – before I punched it back down to the arch. When I tell you Saturday was a good day to be outside in St. Louis. The vibe, the music and the food at the CWE Jazz and Blues Festival (just like Blues at the Arch) was absolutely everything. Not only did we have a place to perch in our lawn chairs, but the unlimited talent pool of artists had a place to show us what they are made of. Don’t let nobody – and I mean nobody – tell you that you have to book a trip out of town to get your music festival on. 

African fashion royalty. On Sunday I made my way to the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis for Zeeoma’s Dinner, Dress & Dialogue designer showcase pop-up and dinner and wasn’t the only one fascinated by the high African fashion that was being served up by Ejiro Amos Tafiri. As soon as the mall opened Sunday morning, I made my way to the Zeeoma boutique and got my life from the styles on display. But seeing her glorious garments worn in the flesh was next level! Dr. Juliet Ezepue, you did that with the experience you and your team created. If you don’t believe me, ask the attendees of the BMW Championship 2026 who happened to be staying at the Ritz. They were really trying to be inconspicuous in their golf gear as they tried to get to the bottom of all the African queens they saw decked out to the nines making their way to the dinner and conversation hosted by my girl Chelsea Haynes. “Is this some type of wedding or event?” I told him they were members of the royal court of Zamunda. He was satisfied. But seriously, everything everyone had on was turning heads – and most of the looks were Ejiro Amos Tafiri originals. A.K. Brown, if that dress were three inches longer, I would force you to hand it over for the first of my four Education Salute 2026 looks.