The Inimitable Sade

After months of anticipation, the moment of truth came last Thursday when Sade Adu, or simply, Sade came to the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore setting off her North American tour. The air was thick with anticipation. As Frankie Beverly and MAZE boomed throughout the venue between John Legend's set and the main event, I could hear people trading stories back and forth about how much they loved the enigmatic woman with the perfect ponytail. These folks were fanatic. They knew about her childhood, her career, had read every liner note, every interview, seen every video and kept the flame of their fandom alive for the last 14 years: the last time she had performed in the U.S. on tour. My brother, was among them. Having revealed to me on the two-hour bumper-to-bumper drive from D.C. that he had fallen for Sade when his ex had fallen out of love with him. He continued that her voice soothed his wounds and he was able to relate to the lyrics of loss and love in a way he would never have previously imagined. This one more example of the bonding my brother and I had been able to do during his week-long visit. As a bonafide 22-year old adult now, he could accompany to places like the Hookah bar and Patty Boom Boom, etc. and that evening  was no different. We had a BALL. Sade SANG HER FACE OFF! It was an amazing show. As a thespian, the videography on the jumbotrons wasn't just a running display of what those of us in the cheap seats couldn't see from way up in the crow's nest it was a mini-movie. There had to be AT LEAST a thousand lighting cues. The stage raised, lowered, tilted, opened, there were gobos galore, screens that draped down and transported us all to a proper English road in the countryside. From beginning to end it was a COMEBACK of epic proportions. And with that said, I will allow you to enjoy a few shots from the show. 

Soldier of Love

Get em' girl!

Let em' know what love'll do to you!

"No need to ask, he's a SMOOOOOOTH OPERATORRRR..."

"The Moon and the Sky"

"Thanks for coming out, God bless you and goodnight!"

Family, Home, Tulips & Mint Juleps

Home is where the heart is undoubtedly. And although my heart has grown quite fond (perhaps fonder than fond of DC) I still hanker for bits and pieces of home. But as of last week I no longer had a need to hanker, my mother and godmother and a few days later, my father came to visit me in Chocolate City. To say that I was thrilled beyond compare is a SERIOUS understatement. I was ECSTATIC to see my mother for the first time since last May approaching June. I'm not sure if I was more excited to show her my first grown up apartment, introduce her to my friends or to show her where I spend her (I mean MY money) ;-)

There were brunches, happy hours, dinners and lunches to be had, the Harbor to visit and shopping to do. Her visit REALLY reminded me that although we have been apart for 10 approaching 11 months---because we have communicated on a daily basis the distance was no problem, it only made our reunion that much more special. It also reminded me that although I am a Kentuckian born and bred, I am moving forward and striking out on my own, doing things my own way and stretching my wings. Unlike Icarus, I know not to fly too close to the literal sun. But as for the figurative sun, I am still trying to figure that part out.

Before MommyHamilton left town she hatched a brilliant plan for me to host my very first Derby party. Replete with big hats, sundresses and mint julep and betting pools :-) Since that time I have been scouring blogs in search of bourbon ball and mint julep-like recipes, floral arrangements, party favors and activities for this party. I am SOOOO #SICED about it.

Bourbon Ball Recipe

Mint Julep Cupcakes, How Cute!

Jockey Helmet Decorations

MoozLum the Movie

http://moozlumthemovie.com/moozlum/

Can't wait to see MoozLum this weekend. Please go out in support of a young, up and coming filmmaker. Nia Long and Evan Ross star in the film. 

When I watched the trailer, it brought tears to my eyes making me thinking of my own childhood as a religious outcast. 

Damn. #TheTruth

I, Too Sing America: Happy Birthday Langston!

  As a graduate of an Historically Black College I have a special affinity for this poem and for this poet specifically. So, in honor of his birthday, this post is dedicated to Mr. Hughes, Poet Laureate of the Harlem Renaissance.

                                          I, too, sing America.

                                        I am the darker brother.
                                They send me to eat in the kitchen
                                        When company comes,
                                                But I laugh,
                                                And eat well,
                                             And grow strong.

                                                Tomorrow,
                                           I'll be at the table
                                        When company comes.
                                               Nobody'll dare
                                               Say to me,
                                          "Eat in the kitchen,"
                                                   Then.

                                                 Besides, 
                                 They'll see how beautiful I am
                                          And be ashamed--

                                           I, too, am America.

With the Busboy Poet on his birthday at Busboys & Poets :-)

They Call Me, @Fisk Forever: Tonight's Black DC Blogger Meet Up & Tweet Up

Had a wonderful time this evening connecting names (Twitter handles) with faces (TwitPics & Avatars),  checking out a new spot and meeting new creative minds. Ahhh, how refreshing! :-)  It was all thanks to @DCBuppie and her blog, BuppieTheBlog.com. Check her out, she's pretty fly! This evening and all the contacts made was just what I needed to get re-inspired to blog more often and finish up these bags I'm making for a fellow Fiskite. Can't wait to knock these out.

www.BuppieTheBlog.com and @FiskForever

@Lil_TinkrBella, @TheMarciOh and @RedCarpetImages, www.redcarpetimages.net

Photo Credit: Good Life University, www.redcuplife.com

Another Fine Photo Credit for Good Life University, www.GoodLifeUniversity.com

For the record, as I met folks tonight, I told them about my love and lifelong propensity toward photography and what did I do? I took 6 pics alllll night. *Tori shrug* But here they are all the same.

I didn't bring out my camera but I also met really nice folks from Good Life University and I MUST say---their branding is TIGHT. I'm not sure if anyone else still says that, but dagnabbit. It is. The shirts, their iPad with THE SICKEST hi-res images from a photo shoot they did----MAN! Had me thinkin' about a #RedCupLife! LOL, I told them their friends should meet my friends---maybe we could be friends---shoot we could do this every weekend. ;-) #RIPBIG

All in all, whenever there's an opportunity to meet genuinely cool, down-to-earth people with great conversation, no pretenses and break out of the same old, same old, you WILL find me there. GLADLY. Please show the fellas some love on Twitter, their site and Facebook. The same goes for www.redcarpetimages.com, @DCBuppie, @TheMarciOh, @LilTinkrBella, @AngryBlkManDC, etc. etc.

Daddy Hamilton

Came across this GAWJUS shot of a father and daughter in the Motherland and it reminded me of the closeness I share with my own father. His birthday is this coming Saturday and this is no tie clip, money clip or new tie but in lieu of being there in person, this post is dedicated to him. I love you Daddy-O! 

Old Wine, New Bottles: New Year, Same Me.

This might be late---but hopefully it's right on time.

In the morning when I brush my teeth---in the evening when I brush my teeth and all day long in between I have to live with me. I run into others all day long between these two times but I must make decisions, create beauty and seek out what I want. No one else will ever or could ever do this for me.

I had THE most AMAZING New Year's! I got to spend it with friends, family and friends who are more family than anything else. I spent time in quiet reflection with my faith and got to literally let my hair down and shake a tail feather.

I tested out my culinary skills and had very little to complain about. Here's to 2011 being all that I make it.  Here's to you doing the same.

New Art.

Ailey

 Ailey

Damn Straight.

Cool.

Brown Girls Burlesque

Carrie Mae Weems 

Pretty Bottles.

Beautiful Watercolor.

Coolest flyer ever.

Very cool.

Cubana Mama, Bishes.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'noose'.

African American Flag, David Hammons

Looove this.

I think he totally looks like Fiddy Cent to me.

Luncheon on the Seine (?)

Hair on FIYAAAA.

Damn, Hank Willis Thomas.

Yessir.

Ye-uhhh.

LOVE. THIS.

Damn Straight. Last Poets.

Lego Bling.

Liquid Life.

Love the art on the wall. Looks like mine.

Masaai Woman.

Bad ass watercolor.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Medellin, Colombia.

Mexico City, 1968.

Pretty Colors.

PacMan.

Damn Straight.

Brown Dolls.

Spartan Headdress.

Spraypaint.

Stamp.

Josephine Baker.

Sugar Shack by Ernie Barnes.

The Blues, Baby.

X & Ali.

Yale Cheerleaders at the Yale/Harvard Game, 1968.