The opening of Dea Mitchell’s exhibit was a magnificent gala showing off his work to good effect. We met old friends and made new ones. My lime green hat is magical at bringing new connections into my life. Scamper on down to Portfolio Gallery & Education Center to see their newest exhibit of Dean Mitchell’s…
Not my usual Saturday night, oh no! It was as if I’d crossed the border into another country. I was so clueless that I’d never even heard of Steve Harvey before, one of the Kings of Comedy. In 2000 Spike Lee filmed the comedy routines of Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie…
I’ve been a woman about town these last few days. The dictionary defines this phrase as: A sophisticated and socially active woman who frequents fashionable places. Well, I can dream, can’t I? FREE–Thursday night I attended the Missouri History Museum’s Community Cinema Series to view “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Naathai.” (See post) FREE–Friday?…
I’ve spoken before about the marked cultural segregation of blacks and whites in St. Louis–at least on the cultural and social scene. At first it shocked me. Now, I know it’s just how things are. It’s a too-long hold over from the Civil War era. Whenever I speak of this to black friends here, they…
AUTHOR SHOUT OUT AT SCHLAFLY BRANCH LIBRARY, ST. LOUIS, CORNER OF LINDEL/EUCLID, SATURDAY MARCH 7, 3-5 PM I join many of my sister St. Louis writer-friends as we each present our books for a 5-minute reading. I’ll be reading an essay called, “The Book Just Loved Me.” The full length of this essay is around…
Linda Jones Hawkins is no stranger to Riehlife as a contributor. See yesterday’s “A Special Valentine Note of Love” dedicated to her mother and sister, Karen and Dorothy. Later in the week you’ll see a Love Bird profile of Linda and her husband Charles. –JGR ________________________________________ 20 SECOND LOVING by Linda Jones Hawkins Not just…
Ron Gregory organized a marvelous evening. I, as usual in polarized racial St. Louis (goodness!), was pretty much the only white folk there. But, luckily, I feel comfortable. After five years in Africa surrounded by Africans, this is no novelty. Came with a friend. Sat at mostly an all-woman table…really nice woman. Mostly boomers. For…
It was like a rock concert this week when David Sedaris (pronounced as in “dare”) came to town to speak at Left Bank Books. Folk who couldn’t find seats stood up inside. Folks who couldn’t get in the room stood up outside or lounged in those great portable camp chairs. I sat next to a…
I became a lady who lunches today as the Women’s Committee of Forest Park Forever celebrated their annual “hat luncheon,” to raise money for park maintenance and education programs….held at the World’s Fair Pavilion in St. Louis’ Forest Park. The World’s Fair Pavillion turned 100 today. I wore my frog-lotus puppet on the brim of…
Ruth-Miriam Garnett and I have great “bumping into each other” luck. I first met Ruth at the St. Louis Poetry Center gala last fall. Subsequently, we’ve magically bumped into each other 1) on the metro platform at the Central West End; 2) at Wole Soyinka’s talk at the Black Rep with her friend Lavelle Wilkins-Chin;…