The Most Beautiful Things On Earth

Maybe it’s vintage Dior or Chanel. Maybe it’s Tiffany or Cartier. Maybe it’s Frank Lloyd Wright. If you simply have an appreciation for the most beautiful things on earth then you’ll want to visit 1stdibs.com where they bring the most beautiful things on earth into your world.

Tiffany & Co
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Butterfly Ring
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I discovered 1stdibs.com while doing a search for Art Deco furnishings, as I am particular to just about anything Art Deco, and up popped the most beautiful pieces.  I was hooked.  1stdibs.com is the premiere destination for all things antique and designer, from past centuries up to the present.  They have everything from fine furnishings, to estate jewelry and  beautifully, timeless, vintage apparel.

Leather Pod Chairs @1stdibs.com

Do you need a place for all of your fine antique furnishings? 1stdibs.com has that covered too. You'll find listings for beach houses, country homes, great old houses, and those from notable architects - all across the country.

So when you are ready for your beautiful life, visit 1stdibs.com for complete access to the most beautiful things on earth.

New Federal Theatre - Celebrating 40 Years & Counting

Susan Taylor
Image via Mass Appeal News

For 40 years, the New Federal Theatre (NFT) has been delivering outstanding theatrical experiences for both audiences and professionals. On May 22, 2011, NFT will be celebrating this milestone with a gala event hosted by NFT award-winning alumna & actress Lynn Whitfield and award-winning, CBS correspondent Randall Pinkston. Chairmen for the event are NFT alumnus Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and publishing powerhouse, Susan Taylor of Essence Magazine.  The esteemed Dr. Maya Angelou is the Honorary Chair.

In addition to celebrating NFT's vital contribution to the arts internationally, the gala will feature special awards for 13 individuals that changed the cultural life of our nation: Sidney Poitier, Ntozake Shange, Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Mayor David Dinkins, Imhotep Gary Byrd, George Faison, Amiri Baraka, Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Elizabeth McCann, Carla Pinza, Terrie Williams and Sylvia Sprinkle Hamlin.

How Can You?

Image via
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats

If you watch TV you must have seen some of those commercials for Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats. I must admit, I have never eaten Frosted Mini Wheats, likely because in my house it would have been just the Mini-Wheats...sans the frosting. But I really LOVE those commercials. How cute that they personified the mini wheats into these cute little "guys"? Characters we can really relate to ...so much that one little boy actually blows on the milk "cooling it down". I am clearly not the only one either, because Kellogg actually has an entire "theatre" dedicated to the little guys - Mini-Wheats Theatre. It's non-stop Frosted Mini-Wheats commercials starring the "cute little guys".

Queens Is Zombieland

A zombie - or two - grows in Queens, NY.  Last night I had an interesting "dream" about zombies...I am convinced that it was a direct result of viewing numerous images from my friend's DeviantArt.com gallery. I say "dream" and not nightmare because while I was being chased by zombies...I don't really have any sense, at any point, that I was scared. I got to meet lots of interesting people along the way - before they were turned into zombies of course.

I also got to visit lots of interesting places with some of these people while running from the zombies - because running is what your supposed to do.  No?  I started off in Queens, New York somewhere, and ended up in the non-specific south, in the beautiful, top floor, oceanside duplex of Ines Rosales - the traffic expert for FOXNY. She was a very gracious hostess considering we weren't necessarily invited to her place. It was clear from the view from her balcony that this vacation location had been adversely affected by the zombie infestation of my dream as there was only a handful of folks on the boardwalk...and they appeared to be zombies.

Some of the images are graphic so, ONLY if you are over the age of 18, check out this gallery...if you dare... and enjoy them as much as I did.

The Coalition vs. The Caucus

Woody King Jr. & Ruby Dee

The Black, Latino & Asian Caucus (“The Caucus”) of the New York City Council was met by members of the ten groups that comprise the Coalition of Theatres of Color (“The Coalition”) in response to information that four of its members were being eliminated for annual support. In an email sent to The Coalition, it was advised that the New Heritage Theatre Group, The H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players, The Paul Robeson Theatre and The Negro Ensemble Company would lose funding despite the fact that $800K had already been allocated to The Coalition in June 2009. Presenters for The Coalition were a veritable “Who’s Who”, not only in Black Theatre, but in Theatre, full stop, and included Ruby Dee, Voza Rivers, Woody King Jr., and Daniel Beaty. 

The Caucus, as a whole, claimed that they had no knowledge of the email that had been sent to The Coalition, and had no part in any decision to revoke the funding to these four theatres. The Caucus, Chaired by Council Members Robert Jackson and Maria del Carmen Arroyo, was surprised by the presence of The Coalition which, according to Councilman Jackson, was not on the agenda to present their case for that day. By sheer turnout, however, there was no way of turning away this group of people passionately united for this all-to-important common cause. Councilman Jackson conceded that The Caucus would give them time at the end of the scheduled meeting to present their cases and then The Coalition could schedule a formal presentation at a later date. 

Representatives for the targeted theatres –– headed up by Chairman Voza Rivers, Executive Producer of the New Heritage Theatre Group - expressed their objections to being eliminated mid-season and presented their arguments for why they should continue to receive funding from The Council. These are theatres with long, consistently productive histories which have turned out iconic artists such as Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Harry Belafonte, Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee. A few members of The Caucus – Council Members Letitia James, Inez E. Dickens and Leroy Comrie - were particularly vocal in their support of funding these theatres and getting to the bottom of the confusion that caused these concerns in the first place. With additional support from Council Members Charles Baron, Robert Jackson, Albert Vann and Jumaane D. Williams the general consensus was that this situation would be clarified and resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.

Originally reported at

Through the Night at Union Square Theatre

Through the Night, written by & starring Obie Award winner, Daniel Beaty,  weaves the interlocking stories of 6 black men, spanning 3 generations, in a community dealing with the challenges of education, homosexuality, spirituality, addiction and ultimate discovery.

In his one-man performance, Beaty’s "orchestra" of monologues, movement, poetry and music brings the audience along on this journey through the drama and humor in the lives of The Bishop, his son Isaac, Mr. Rogers, his son Eric, Dre and ‘Twon. Not to be forgotten, Beaty also portrays some of the strong, loving and forgiving women in the lives of these men. Beaty’s manipulation of the audience’s emotions keeps one riveted throughout as the stories culminate in one unexpected, shared epiphany by all of the men on the same night.

His mastery of movement and monologue make for seamless transitions as Beaty shifts from character to character. He takes you so deep into the persona of the characters that it is easy to forget that it is one man who is portraying all of them. The socio-economic implications of this play transcends race, offering a broader appeal by touching upon what is happening in many communities today. I found myself and the rest of the audience laughing one moment and moved to tears the next.

Through the Night opens Off Broadway at the Union Square Theatre on Sunday, September 26.

Originally posted at

It's My Wonderful Life

Charles Edmonds

Written and performed by Charles Michael Edmonds, a Bronx native, It's My Wonderful Life made its New York debut at the Manhattan Theatre Source as part of the New York Fringe Festival. This one-man show is a personal account of his struggles with drug addiction and captures the essence of comedy and tragedy…or rather the comedy of tragedy and vice versa. Charles delivers a riveting performance in sharing with us, the odyssey - discovery, recovery, and the ongoing challenges - of “staying clean”.

Directed by Alexander Yanhis Stephano, It’s My Wonderful Life takes us on the journey with Charles on his trip into the world of drug addiction. This, sometimes, brutally honest personal account is injected with the humor of various circumstances, without trivializing the seriousness of the subject matter. Could anyone imagine that there could be humor found in such a story?

George Bailey, in Frank Capra’s 1946 production, It’s A Wonderful Life, received divine intervention through an angel. Charles received divine intervention from The Man himself.