When I tell you that I am downright sick about the passing of Mayor Reggie Jones, I don’t think you understand. He was a beacon of light and a change agent – both in the county as the Mayor of Dellwood, and in the city as director of the Herbert Hoover location of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis. I am absolutely not well. Who else remembers when we kicked for his 40th birthday? I feel like it was at The Ambassador for one of those throwback R&B sets, but I could be mistaken. Either way, I really miss him and his taste the rainbow suit game. Dellwood folks, this is not a diss. So do not come for me. One thing the people have learned these past few days is that Dellwood does not play about Mayor Jones. And shouldn’t! We all love him dearly. At this point, I feel like everyone has already said all of the wonderful things that I would have – about his heart for community, his leadership, his love for his people…I could go do a whole Partyline tribute to him for all the ways that he has made this region a better place, but I will go ahead and stop here by sending prayers and condolences to his family and all the lives he touched.
Seven weeks ‘till Salute. Do y’all realize that The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education is less than two months away? When I tell you I cannot wait to be perched and sat up in St. Louis Union Station Hotel on Saturday, October 17. Part of the reason that I’m so excited is because of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Stellar Performer honorees. Now Mary Elizabeth Grimes had me gagged for dear life with her timeless glamour and platinum face card. It was to the point where I was nervous about the looks that would follow her. Until I found out it was Tamiko Armstead and Dr. Paula Knight. Did y’all see the burgundy bliss that Tamiko served at last year’s Cardinal Ritter Gala? You had to see it to believe the slayage? I’m hoping for a head-to-toe hazelnut when she steps to the stage to receive her 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. And Dr. Paula Knight always brings it with her superintendent super boss suit game. And I know she has a gear that we haven’t seen yet because of how her baby sister Pamela used to be out here giving the girls looks on top of looks. She was rocking a Louis Vuitton bucket bag back in the 1900s! She was giving us a nasty Jimmy Choo and Betsey Johnson combo when the rest of us were rocking 5-7-9 (remember them?)! I’m excited to see us bring our opulence to the already glamorous venue. We must show them how we get down. I’ve said this before, y’all better get these tickets before the Cardinal Ritter mafia has y’all with overflow tables up in the aquarium. Visit www.stlamerican.com for tickets and more information.
Kickin’ it with the cowboys. I made my way back to Sauget or Cahokia (I’m still not quite sure) for the 2nd Annual Gateway Trail Ride and Field Party and bay-bae, I didn’t realize what I city girl I am until I trotted over to the Rolling Ranch to take part in this farm culture that has us in a chokehold. And I’m not talking JT and Yung Miami either. Okay, maybe I am. But anyway, If you had told me in 2021 that Beyoncé, Ne-Yo and Ruka Puff would have country records, I would have looked at you like you belonged up in Malcolm Bliss. But here we are. I pet a horse, y’all! I haven’t done that since my folks made us spend our summers on the family farm in Mississippi. When I tell y’all I was square dancing to that KB The Singer’s rendition of H-Town’s “Knockin’ the Boots,” I’m sure somebody has footage. And let me tell y’all how cute Vanessa Townsend looked in her cowgirl gear. Now what the girls found out is that cowboy boot heel time has an expiration date just like the stilettos. They came up in there kickin’ up dust ready to “Boots On The Ground” us to their spurs fell off. By the time the party was over, those boots were everywhere but on the ground. They were in purses, over shoulders and kicked off on the side of the road. And a few of the girls were limping like they had just rode bareback from East St. Louis to the OK Corral. But everybody had a ball, including this urbanista! Cupid did that! Shout out to Phil Assets, Michael B. Whit and all the folks involved for giving us a change of pace from our regular shenanigans. I got a kick out of seeing us go from club hopping to horse trottin’!