Filthy Zvezdochkas

What do you do with a pair of filthy Zvezdochkas?  You clean them.

Easier said than done.  I made the mistake of wearing these to an outdoor party.  They were danced in by me and subsequently stepped on by drunks.  Stupid indeed, but I believe that shoes are meant to be worn.  So I tried to clean them and it's much more difficult than I originally anticipated it to be.  I thought they'd pretty much just wipe clean and that would be the end of it.  After a full days soak, I still wasn't able to get them as clean as I want them to be.  It's a good thing I have a second pair!

Random Pics pt. 8

Nu Beginnings Salon & Spa Fashion Showcase

My good friend Trish is part owner of a new salon & spa in Rosedale, NY.  To help promote her new store she put together a small fashion showcase to display hair, clothing and accessory styles from her network of friends and colleagues.  It was a great event that promises to grow bigger and better with each showing.

It was phenomenal to see young entrepreneurs working so hard at mastering their respective crafts.  Designers like Cleva and Dori of The Traveling Boutique really impressed with their flair for style.  There were some really remarkable pieces to be seen.

Nu Beginnings set the foundation for a truly special event to blossom.  If you know the area where the shop is located, definitely check out their services.  They cover hair, nails and make-up in a wonderfully set up, well kept and comfortable space.

Nu Beginnings Salon & Spa

145-16 243rd St. 

Rosedale, NY 11422

Donna: 917-376-8145

Trisha: 718-915-0077

We Dream Too

I am, and have been for most of my life, sick of how Blacks are portrayed on film.  Especially how we portray ourselves.  See, I'm well aware of the following ugly truths:

The Black nuclear family is far too often screwed up.
"Ghetto" life can be very ugly.
Getting to and excelling during college isn't easy.
Relationships are difficult.
America had, has and will continue to have deep rooted racial issues.

If I see 10 Black films, 9 of them are using at least one of these themes as it's core.  Spare me.  Our people are much more diverse in thought, character and actions.  If you let these films tell it, all Blacks dream about is making it out of "da 'hood".  We don't dream of starships and magic.  We never imagine distant worlds and alternate realities.  We just hope to be fortunate enough to leave our neighborhoods on our own terms.

I'm truly tired of seeing so many of the same films over and over again.  The same themes with slight variations and nothing bigger or more daring.  I'm not just tired; I'm furious.  Where's our Lord of the Rings?  Why couldn't Harry Potter be a magically gifted Black boy?  No negroes in Narnia?  I refuse to believe that this is all a result of racist studios denying Black filmmakers the funding to make the films they want to make.

I am not a great writer.  I'm probably not even a good writer.  If I were, I would honestly write a film that I want to see.  I deserve it.  My son deserves it.  My people deserve it.  We dream too and our art should better reflect that.

Call Me Crazy pt. 2

About mid-April I posted about an Air Jordan II retro that released that seemed a bit too similar to a concept I drummed up in 2007.  Today, I catch wind from an acquaintance in Virginia that Jordan Brand is getting or was a lot closer than I had previously thought.

My 2007 Concept

“Vero Cuoio” sample Air Jordan II

Notice that this sample pair even has gold lace tips.  That's far too random a combination to be a coincidence.  I guess we should just chalk this one up to some of the theories of Quantum Physics and alternate realities.