The Soulstylz had the downstairs on lock with Beautiful inside of Sleek – which should be changed to squeeze for their event.
Fred and Harry were on the upper level with 1st Fridays in the Lumiere theatre. The crowd upstairs was significantly more soulful than usual, but the guests – including me – didn’t seem to mind.
It was like an HBCU indoor homecoming or something, the way folks were walking back and forth through the casino. I ran into Darius Miles, City Spud and so many V.I.P.regulars that it would take up the whole page if I mentioned them all.
Fashion Don’ts for May Day. Speaking of soulful, I was out shopping for my May Day Parade outfit (please don’t act like I’m the only one) and was overwhelmed with the intuition to do one of my community service initiatives. In the name of helping the ladies in particular, who are “too hood for their own good,” I’ve decided to do some offense and keep my cast of “When Bad Fashion Happens to Hood People” May Day special to a small ensemble.
Some people just don’t know…and I truly believe that the Heavens opened and sent me down with the appointed duty to hip y’all to the game.
First and foremost, bold colors like orange, blue and fire red are great for blouses, dresses and sometimes sandals. But quick weaves and ponytails…not so much. If you feel compelled to mix platinum blond and royal blue for a hair-game concoction that is certain to rep for the STL on hotghettomess.com, please just let go and let God. And if your processes for your so fresh so clean May Day include Kool-Aid and vinegar, go ahead and give Jesus the wheel!
Also, if anyone is callin’ you “Nana” (for Grandmother, you are not foolin’ anybody) or “Granny” please leave the metallic spandex leggings right on the Simply Fashions counter and simply walk away.
I want us to be looking our best – not a mess – downtown next Sunday.
May Day of Music. Since I was already talkin’ about May Day weekend, I might as well hip the five of y’all who don’t know to the fact that St. Lunatics (yes Nelly too) will be headlining the 100.3 The Beat’s 2nd Annual Big Beat May Day Music Fest at the Pageant next Saturday night. Huey, Ludy, Unladylike, Stevie Stone, Gorilla Zoe, Yung Joc, and A.C.E. Hood are also scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Beene’s big 3-0. Listen, I don’t know how old he really is, but I’m givin’ him the benefit of the doubt as I show him some birthday love. Bill Beene will be kickin’ it hard at the Starlight Room (inside the Lights on Broadway and is asking all of the Taurus folks to come out and kick it grown folks style. It’s going down next Saturday (May 16) and doors open at 7 p.m. You have to be at least Bill’s age (30) to get in, so all of the “Thundercats” will have to keep it movin.’
Soul Searchin’. The McDonald’s R&B Soul Search is poppin’ off at the Loft (3112 Olive) this Saturday with the first round of auditions. I’ve decided to put an apb out to the folks that I think could have a chance at the top prize. Chereese Lewis is vocally untouchable. I would also like to see LeAndra and C.J. Conrod. The oh-so-fine B.J., should give it another shot with some new song selections. Nikky – who tore the house down last year when she sang my song – should also try for the crown again as well. I would audition, but I want to give someone else a chance to shine. Real talk, the minute I hit that “woo-woo” in “And I am Telling You” I promise no one else would stand a chance and folks would be like “Jennifer Who?” But enough about me, the first round starts this Saturday at noon. Bring a valid I.D. when you come.
Keep celebrating, don’t stop now. I was proud that brothers and sisters were celebrating Cinco De Mayo with our Mexican and Chicano brothers and sisters. Dap, dap for kicking it with them in celebration of their stance against the French back in the day. That’s all good, but if I don’t see y’all celebrating Juneteenth (June 19th, which celebrates the freedom of slavery), I’m gonna be identifying you personally, with photo, in Partyline the following week. So, we got to plan. Come on promoters, y’all had your Cinco de Mayo parties and stuff. My girl Stacy Mingo even had one at her crib. I expect the same for Juneteenth. If they celebrate a good fight that they lost against an invasion we can celebrate our winning fight to end slavery. And if we can celebrate the 4th of July as our white brothers and sisters here celebrate their independence from Great Britain – then certainly we can celebrate our own freedom as slaves. And now we have our first black president – what better way to really start celebrating Our Day like we should?
All about the Ballers. I stopped through the Exo for Koncepts and 1st Fridays NFL Mini-Camp party Saturday night and there were some big names in the building. Steven Jackson (who has personality game for days) was in the V.I.P. alongside James Butler, James Hall and a whole host of other swole brothers who had to be on somebody’s team. I was looking for my soulmate Derek Stanley, but I haven’t seen him in a while. Maybe somebody snatched him up and he’s been somewhere cupcakin’ instead of on the scene. I ain’t mad at him if he did..but his new love interest (if he’s got one) is a whole ‘notha story. Miss Ma’am, I’ve got my ‘roots’ box out just for you…whoever you are.
Ambassadors to grown folks good music. In case you have been under a rock or on nighttime jury duty (I know it doesn’t exist. Just laugh and keep it movin’), I wanted to hip y’all (over)grown and sexies to the fact that the all-new Ambassador (9800 Halls Ferry) has had something for you to do every doggone weekend since they reopened some weeks back. And this weekend will be no different. The Foxy 95.5 FM concert series continues tomorrow night with Sherelle. She almost stole the show from Maze last time she was in town when Gary Boyd took the stage and did an impromptu freakdown on her. If anybody recorded this on their cell phone I will cut their grass for three months if they give it to us to post on stlamerican.com. Okay, back to the Ambassador. They will also have a special Mother’s Day show featuring Enchantment. Just an FYI.
Saturday is Friday at the Fox. Mike Epps a.k.a Da-Da from Friday, one of my favorite funnymen, will be having the folks bustin’ a gut (including me) this Saturday night at the Fox Theatre. I’m even more excited to see him after watching him in Next Day Air, which to my surprise, I actually liked! The show starts at 8 p.m.
Summer Shindig. Get your babysitter game on lock for Mother’s Day because this Sunday Mocha Latte is relaunching the Sunday Night Shindig “Summertime Edition” in the Lush’s Moon Lounge and Rooftop. But wait, the best is yet to be told. It will be FREE for everyone all night for the whole dang summer long! And if that isn’t enough, there will be a FREE soulfood buffet at 9pm and 2 for 1 drinks until 11pm. Call and book your birthday party today at (314) 646-9917.
Countdown to SuperJam. Hot 104.1 FM’s Super Jam 2 is coming and the buzz has already begun. Last year was one of the highlights of my summer. It disproved all of the rumors by show that we can come out (in droves) come together and have a good time without there being ANY problems. This year Young Jeezy will be the headliner along with Ciar-Rhi-eyonce (Keri Hilson) and Soulja Boy. Lil Boosie, Plies (who some are already saying will steal the show), Trey Songz and Joka (who will be making his debut as a DTP artist) are also on deck to name a few. It’s going down on Sat., Jun. 13 at the Verizon Wireless Center. The folks at the HotFoxy are saying that it will be bigger and better for the 2K9.