The Year Ahead: Part Deux

Photo courtesy of http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/soul-food.

Totally didn't keep my promise to write more, but, hopefully (fingers, eyes, and toes crossed) that will change in the new year.  Found this quote from vegan soul chef and author Bryant Terry and wanted to share with those who may care:

On the African-American tradition of eating black-eyes peas on New Year's:

"The lore is that the black-eyed peas actually represent copper or pennies. And so along with that, one typically will have a green dish such as collards, mustards, turnips, chard, kale or cabbage, and the leafy green dish actually represents money. And then with that, one might have some cornbread, which represents gold. You eat it on New Year's, and it's supposed to usher in a very prosperous and abundant year."

Solemates to Sir & Madame

Photo courtesy of sirandmadame.com.

Kudos to my people over at the luxurious Sir & Madame for making Racked 38 Essential Chicago Stores.  Sir & Madame has transcended from its days as Solemates...Chicago, the vintage and consignment boutique, to creating their own clothing line amidst the top competitors. Owners and hubby-and-wife duo, Autumn and Brian Merritt, continue to prove that they OWN this needle and thread thing.


938 N. Damen, Chicago, IL
773.489.6600
www.sirandmadame.com


Here is Racked.com's blurb about the dynamic duo:

Sir & Madame has won acclaim for their 1920s functionality-meets-urban dandy sensibility on national blogs and high profile publications. Their refreshing take on street wear is a force to be reckoned with in the transformation of West Town/ Ukrainian Village aesthetic.

Amalgamated Culture: Ballet Jook

Another type of Asian fusion.  This video is a fawesome representation of why I love being a person of color.

Old-famed Yo-Yo Ma plays on while the newly-famed Lil' Buck does the Memphis Jook.  Love love love.  Courtesy of Spike Jonze.

art.jazz.life: Louis Armstrong's Fancy Kitchen

Stumbled into this article on The Kitchn today, and I fell in love with this piece.  Its jazz.  Its art.  Its epicurious.  Its Louis Armstrong's 1960's kitchen that has been preserved as part of the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, NY.  All the doors on the glossy blue custom cabinets are mounted on piano hinges - snazzy!  See the slideshow here.

Lightbulb...

I think I finally understand why people like Twitter so much...it can be entertaining at times...but, not ALL day. That part, I still don't get. Some people literally LIVE to log on to Twitter every single day and wait for comments to appear in their timeline...no can do. But I think I finally see "the light". Had some good clean fun tweeting and DM'ing today. Pow.

Solemates...Chicago

I have yet to make it to the actual store (I promise I'm coming, Autumn) but I frequent their site often just to peruse and take in the fabulousness. Solemates...Chicago is owned by Brian and Autumn Merritt - a funky fresh, very stylish, hubby and wife duo that just so happen to be former classmates of mine. Solemates...Chicago is a vintage lover's paradise. You name it, they got it. Or, I will bet my last dollar that they can get it. Check their merch, bio, and other goodies at solemateschicago.com

Visit them in real life at :

2708 N. Halsted, Chicago

This Old House: Frank Lloyd Wright

File this under "Damn, I Didn't Know" - there are Frank Lloyd Wright houses in my backyard. Oak Park, to be exact. Anyone with an eye for design will appreciate this. Went on a mini excursion with my boss today, and she introduced me to this hidden treasure. Believe it or not, these houses (shown here) were built in the 40s. Call me late, but better late than never. I will be taking a tour this summer.
























From top: Weltzheimer - Johnson Living Room, Weltzheimer - Johnson Bedroom, Pope-Leighey Kitchen

Avri Bijon

My homeboy Av has one of the best blogs out the Chi. Av and I go back like lumberjacks, and probably unbeknownst to him, I frequent his blog regularly. Av's RockBox contains the most up-to-date material on all things upbeat or off-beat. On top of all that, Av is also very talented musical genius, graphic artist, and videographer. Av is sound, light, and color all rolled into one. Peep his craft here.

Let's Do Lunch: B. Smith

I have been a B. Smith lover since childhood. Something about this lady was just amazing to me. B. Smith is the Black Martha Stewart...not to throw shade on Martha (cause that's my girl, too) but B. is that deal. If ever I am in Sag Harbor, I will definitely stalk out her house, and invite myself over, lol. I have her books, and I loved her show, B. Smith with Style on TVOne. Although her show no longer airs, B. is still featured in Essence and other publications. B. reigns supreme as a spokesperson for Lawry's and Kraft Foods. B. also has her own Home & Living line at several retailers. She does everything from weddings, to crafts, to decor, to cooking, to (insert action verb here)..now THAT's a bad B.

See some of B.'s goodies @ Shopstyle.

Photos of B.'s NY Restaurant.

Honey Black

I wrote this a long time ago, my sophomore year of college, when the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. Organization held a contest to see what 'Black Love' means to Black students on campus....so I wrote this, in less than five minutes.
(I think this might've been the illest shit I ever wrote...)

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Black Love is unity
Black Love is creativity
Black Love is keeping our heads above water
Black love is loving hard
Black Love is hymn sangin' during slavery
Black Love is my community
Black Love is being true to self
Black Love is Love of all shades
Black Love is support
Black Love is music
Black Love is a free Nelson Mandela
Black Love is my fist in the air
Black Love is his brown skin against mine
Black Love is Ahkenaton, my unborn sun
Black Love is poetry
Black Love is overcoming stereotypes
Black Love is making a statement

Black Love is crowning a King in my Queendom
Black Love is soul food
Black Love is a treasure
Black Love is hope
Black Love is water from the Nile
Black Love is change
Black Love brown hands caressing my face
Black Love is cornrows
Black Love is Yaa Asantewaa and Makeda
Black Love is freedom ringing
Black Love is teaching
Black Love is giving birth to my daughters
Black Love is manifestation
Black Love is breakdancing and Capoeira
Black Love is the ankh
Black Love is his lips enveloping mine
Black Love is Mother Africa
Black Love is communication
Black Love is respect
Black Love is our ancestors
Black Love is you, me, we
Black Love is us
Black Love is life