The Brownstone
"Harlem's Greatest Wonder"
one stop shopping emporium:
wearable art/interior designs
facials/massage
2032 Fifth Avenue (bt 125th & 126th)
New York, NY 10035
212.996.7980
great
shoes for women in sizes 10+
Soho Shoe Salon
visit our on-line
store
www.sohoshoe.com
877.838.3220
“An
authentic New Orleans experience”
Restaurant New Orleans
featuring great Creole cooking….Louisiana
Bourbon Nut Cake, Gumbo, Flambe’, etc…
747 Fulton St.
Brooklyn, NY 718.596.6333 - coming mid-September
A
face-lift for Luise…
LUISE is getting plastic surgery….or,
should I say plaster surgery? Many of you have received my
many messages and e-mails about LUISE. I sing there occasionally,
and recently uninstalled a six week exhibit of my jewelry.
Well, if you’ve been there before, you know that it
feels like you’re sitting in somebody’s living
room. That is, in fact, the beauty, the essence of LUISE.
All that is going to change, says proprietor Wayne Anderson.
He is opening up a downstairs lounge, which may retain some
of that living room quality. The upstairs, however, is going
to become quite a different subject. With Wayne’s eye
for comfort and design, I’m sure Luise, (in its revised
state), will continue to be the haven of intimacy and hidden
treasures we have come to know and love. I’ll let you
know when the bandages come off. In the meantime, Luise is
still open for business. Stop by for an Apple Martini ….and
kick up your feet, why don’t cha?! 129 Rivington
Street, NYC 212.475.5447
Get Burnt….!
Greg Tate, the purveyor of many bands, has
finally outdone himself. Burnt Sugar, the
12-20 piece ensemble Tate plays in and conducts is, undoubtedly,
his best work yet. That’s not to say Women in Love wasn’t
the shiznit….and, no offense to Medusa Oblongatta, Mumtez,
and Mack Diva (of which I was a member). But Burnt Sugar -
a primal, groove oriented, energy-rock-jazz orchestra –
is clearly his arrival as both musician and band-leader. Keep
an eye peeled for Burnt Sugar’s upcoming 3 CD release,
available in October on www.othermusic.com
( or visit the store on 4th Street in The Village)
Where in the world is…..Xenobia
Bailey?
New York’s most elusive artist, Xenobia Bailey, has
done it again –disappeared I mean. This time to Africa,
for her first trip ever. (Don’t worry she came back,
this time). As you may or may not know, in addition to her
world renowned fiber arts, Xenobia has recently taken up photography
and videography. And, naturally, her keen sense of color,
balance, and design serve her well in this newly explored
medium. Xenobia has just returned from Senegal, where she
whizzed off, unexpectedly, to document the region’s
cultural experience. From this work, Xenobia – ever
wowing us with her art – is creating a ‘video
collage’ destined to be part of an on-going project
she calls “Utopia.” She explained it to me but,
to be perfectly honest, the concept was so deep, well….I
drowned in it. Something about “….developing a
contemporary African-American esthetic…..and trying
to pick up similarities in the (rural Senegalese) lifestyle
as it relates to the planet….” (Sorry Xenobia
– I’m not an idiot….I just play one on T.V.!)
“Utopia”, however, will give birth to environmental
products, functional pieces, and an amalgamation of home accessories,
according to Ms. Bailey. Although I may not fully grasp this
concept in its ethereal state, anyone who can crochet a structure
that I (and my entire family!) can not only look at and love,
but live in……has my undivided attention in any
medium!
Xenobia’s work was recently part
of ‘Alterations’ a group exhibit at The James
Graham & Son Gallery 1014 Madison Avenue (at 78th). The
show ended August 30th. Sorry if you missed it! (That was
tacky, I know – telling you about the show after it’s
done…) For more information, you can reach Xenobia at
212.971.1032.
One of my faves…..
Kirikou:
A classic, animated tale for children and adults, by Michel
Ocelot. My only complaint: the fight scene at the end - you
know the one where good guy invariably meets bad guy –
too short....the win was too easy. I know he’s cute
but, she should have roughed him up a little more. And, furthermore,
after what she did…I think she should have had a bit
more to say to the sistahs back home. Definitely one for the
collection though. Music by Youssou N’dour (c’mon,
that’s reason enough!) Order it: www.kirikou.net
. Then go see it again at The African Film Festival later
this year- visit www.NYDFF.org
for tickets and dates.
P.S. – Don’t
read the synopses on the website…gives away too much
of the movie. Just look at the pictures, order it, and trust
me on this one……
Since we’re in Africa…..
Check out this site for the latest sounds from The Motherland
: www.africasounds.com
. I thought it was very matter of fact in terms of the 5 W’s
of African music. If you love the music, stay tuned here!
NIGERIAN
FABRICS & FASHIONS
Authentic, traditional, and contemporary clothing
for the upscale African
specializing in bridal, evening, formal, prom….
584 Myrtle Avenue (@ Classon)
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718.260.9416
NFF_1@msn.com
www.melanet.com/NFF
volume II: page
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