The Salute countdown begins. That’s right, we are just about a month out from the blueprint for top tier galas of Black St. Louis. The St. Louis American Foundation’s 38th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala will take place Nov. 1st at America’s Center. I’d tell y’all I’ve attended them all, but we know I’m only 31. I’ve been to plenty though, and a time has been had at every.single.one. Now that’s not to say that I haven’t had my wardrobe challenges. There was the time where I fell off my annual Salute diet a week before the gala. My dress was so tight, I had to breathe like the late great Danny Aiello in that safe in “Harlem Nights.” There was also the year that “The Wobble” came out. My gown clearly didn’t have enough wiggle or wobble room. When the song said, “Hey big girl, make ’em back it up,” I absolutely did. Sadly, the back of my dress popped open like a can of Pillsbury Grands. And finally, there was the time when I made the poor life choice of downsizing on my Body Magic. Y’all, this shape of mine was stiffer than a wig in a Tyler Perry movie (yes, that applies to “Ruth and Boaz” too)! Anyway, I started my 30-day body transformation program yesterday. If you catch a stray side eye or a random spicy clapback from me out of nowhere between now and Nov. 1st, blame it on the calorie deficit.
Salute fashionistas. Enough about me, let me take a moment to shout out the folks who faithfully slay with their formal fashions. Dr. Kaci Shahid and Dr. Tonia Collins Smith are reliable. So is this year’s stellar performer honoree Mary Elizabeth Grimes. I already know she will be bringing that heat to the stage if she was wearing what looked to be an Oscar de la Renta suit in the photos for the feature on her in the paper! And Janet Williams popped out and popped off in that black lace Valentino jumpsuit last year! The men aren’t to be slept on either. Vincent Flewellen of Webster University and Dr. James T. Minor of SIUE are prime examples. In related news, I know some folks have expressed concern over ticket costs for this year. In the words of 21st century philosopher and thought leader Fat Joe, “Yesterday’s price ain’t today’s price.” But in all seriousness, pouring into our babies has a 100% return on investment. I know money is tight right now, but the ticket prices for this year’s Salute are less than the median price of a pair of new release Jordans. And you don’t get a plate of good food, surrounded by the best people and the opportunity to praise our region’s educators while supporting scholars. Oh, and did I mention a litty lit afterparty?
Public Enemy’s Picasso. I was Sept. 12th years old when I found out hip hop icon Chuck D was also a visual artist. I stumbled upon his work in Legends Gallery when I was searching for an emergency cooling center during MATI. I am not the least bit mad! He was in town with Public Enemy as a headliner for Evolution Music Festival in Forest Park and was gracious enough to make not one, but two stops to the gallery to meet, greet and discuss his work. Friday night was at capacity to the point where people had to wait until other people came out before they could come in. Carrie and Keith Griffin of Delux, St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson, multihyphenates Cheeraz Gormon and David A.N. Jackson, fellow hip hop legends Charlie Chan Soprano and G Wiz were just a few of the folks who came through. Folks were really impressed by his work — and they should have been — and he was eager to chop it up with people about it. I could tell he felt a type of way when I asked him about his skin care regime and didn’t utter a peep about his paintings. I couldn’t help it. He looked like he hopped right out of 1989. He’s clearly been fighting the power with retinol and collagen!
TLC experience Tish Haynes. Speaking of Evolution Fest headliners, at this point it’s been everywhere — even on the “Today Show,” y’all — but I have to give a shout out to the moment Tish Haynes had with music group TLC over the weekend. Can you imagine minding your business and doing your set at Broadway Oyster Bar and Chilli and T-Boz just pop in as you are singing “Waterfalls?” First of all, had they heard me on the microphone, they would have pulled a Dionne Warwick and walked on by. They were riding in a van with the windows down and pulled up on Tish and ’nem’s set. Then proceeded to get life from her cover. Girl, if this isn’t a clue about your destiny, I don’t know what is! The odds of this happening is astronomical by itself. The fact that this happened to someone who placed in the top 24 on “The Voice” is confirmation from the universe. Tish, miss girl, was that you who hit that Mega Millions at the Quik Trip on Lusher Road? Because this is along those lines as far as favor goes.