Ron Himes, director & founder of St. Louis’ Black Repertory Company, at Missouri History Museum’s African-American History Series—continues exploration of need for support & recognition of African-American Cultural Institutions in this, one of America’s great black cities

Byriehlifegrace

What is the future of African American Arts in St. Louis? “One of the strongest purveyors of African American culture is African American theater. It’s a place where we can strongly control the images portrayed,” said Himes. Ron Himes, director & founder, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, which makes its home at the Grandell Theater…

Seeing “The Great Debaters” Like Going to Church in St. Louis’ Chase Park Theater

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Click here to read about Denzel Washington’s creative marketing strategies to get “The Great Debaters” made. “Melvin Beaunorus Tolson (February 6, 1898–August 29, 1966) was an American Modernist poet, educator, columnist, and politician. His work concentrated on the experience of African Americans and includes several poetic histories. He was a contemporary of the Harlem Renaissance…

Connecting Art and Good Times at Freida L. Wheaton’s Salon 53—Home for the Holidays in St. Louis—Savoring a Holiday Party—“Home is where the art is”…Freida’s is a place where old friends meet…and everybody knows your name.

Byriehlifegrace

In September, my first private party in St. Louis was at Freida L. Wheaton’s Salon 53 opening for her private residential art gallery. Now, in December, my second private party in St. Louis—and my only Holiday Party this season—is at Freida’s Salon 53, whose slogan is “Home is where the art is.” In September I…

Snowbound in St. Louis, a Writer Reads—Jo-Brew’s novels of the family farm, and tools of the writing and reflective life

Byriehlifegrace

Eight inches of snow fell in St. Louis over the weekend, chasing this Northern California girl inside to catch up on her stack of reading. Hey, my snow boots are in the closet of my upstairs room at my father’s house and I don’t even own an ice-scraper for the car yet…but, I can turn…

Slushy Saturday in St. Louis Saved by Spirited Worship, Fellowship, Food, and Poetry

Byriehlifegrace

“Don’t come over here to see me,” my father’s voice boomed out from my telephone answering machine. “The roads are horrible and getting worse. Stay where you are. Don’t risk it.” I did what he bade, and stayed in my neck of the woods on this slushy-sleety Saturday, temperature at that tricky freeze/no-freeze point. My…

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Missouri History Museum evening “Journey of African-American Cultural Institutions: Where do we go from here?” generates thirst for continued Kgotla gatherings to pull together and package African-American Cultural Institutions to attract Heritage Tourism Dollars to St. Louis

Byriehlifegrace

During my years of community development in Gabane, Botswana (just outside of Gaborone, home of the fictional Precious Ramotswe) working to set up and stabilize Tswaragano Craft Center there, I sat in many a Kgotla meeting or community and tribal council (see Wikipedia note at end of post). Last week in the cave of the…

Join Friends of Left Bank Books Literary Society & support great programs and a great community bookstore

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Left Bank Books is St. Louis’ full-service independent bookstore. “We offer friendly, experienced service and value our customers as part of our family. In May 1996, we launched the Friends of Left Bank Books Literary Society, a membership organization to which patrons subscribe. The Friends program provides booklovers with another way to support independent bookstores.”…

Left Bank Books names “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz as next reading group choice

Byriehlifegrace

If you are in St. Louis on November 13th at 7:30 p.m. and want to know about Oscar, the newest victim of the Fuku, the curse that has haunted his family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and above all, ill-starred love…and (dare we hope?) how to avoid it…come over to Left…