urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
2 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
3 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Most Diverse Magazine Contributing Writers and Photographer Manuel McDonnell Smith is a Multimedia Content Editor with NewsCore, the content sharing service launched by News Corporation in November of 2009. This new division is tasked with aggregating the company’s global editorial intelligence and redistributing it in real time. From the New York City Bureau, Manuel is responsible for coordinating the cooperative multimedia efforts of News’ global portfolio of sites including wsj.com, foxnews.com, and sky.com
Kyle Leishear has been a Tech & Gadget enthusiast his whole life. Even as a child when he would break something he would try to fix it. That led him to a life of always trying to stay on top of the latest and greatest technologies and seeing how they work. Call him a geek if you will he doesn't mind at all
Denise James is a seasoned journalist whose passion is telling stories that reflect people’s truths in empowering ways. Denise began her career at WGPR TV & Radio in Detroit. WGPR was America’s first black owned television station. There she hosted a live morning talk show, reported for the evening news and produced special segments focused on people and issues shaping the times. She has worked at network affiliate TV stations in Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina as well as 6abc Action News in Philadelphia. She has covered everything from education and celebrities to crime, politics and the Ku Klux Klan. Denise’s commitment has been to work in the public trust, giving view and voice to people and issues that might otherwise be overlooked or misunderstood.
Keya Carter– Having kept journals as a child, writing very quickly became second nature to this reporter. As a rule, Carter’s parents made Keya and her sisters watch a thirty-minute CNN segment before cartoons and were made to report, at least, three current event stories per week in order to collect allowance. Thus, growing her passion for fact-checking, research and, eventually, politics. With the 2012 election on the horizon and the current hard-nosed political climate, Carter is thrilled by the variance of material to be written to keep the masses aware.
Chanel is a relationship expert/columnist. Most of her topics are concerning the male/ female relationships on a weekly basis and offer advice concerning that specific topic. Chanel writes featured articles on Relationships and I am also the creator and writer for "Ordinary Woman Doing Extraordinary Things “series. She is also the Relationship Expert for Crème Online Magazine and she has written articles for EURweb Online Magazine. Chanel occasionally co-host "Beauty Shop Talk Wednesdays" on the Dedan Tolbert Show. Chanel has Bachelors in Marketing and Masters in Organizational Leadership.
urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Greg discovered his passion for photography at the age of 10. Years of licensing content for Dow Jones and Company and Getty Images, has made Greg an expert in content licensing. He has traveled several paths in his life and they always lead Greg behind the lens. Greg runs Greg Tavares Photography and focuses on photojournalism, portraiture, commercial, and fine art photography. When not behind the camera Greg can be found flying a kite.
CONTENTS Philadelphia’s BEST KEPT
43 Rashaad Ernesto Greene
NEWS 9 11
The Plight of Girl in Rural Kenya ART
61
Moe Booker-More than an artist
63
Honoring the Gift FOOD
11
talks about his life
The Debt Ceiling
He Say She Say - Relationships 57 Are You Playing the Fool? 64 Roar of a Woman….Cougar on the loose Book Of The Month -Excerpts 40
Home Away From Home
David Simms & Eatible Delights 20 HEALTH
33
Get Up and Move - Yoga
33
Concussion
14
MUSIC Who is Esnavi? Money Minutes
45
Are You Financially Exposed?
From Dreams to Reality
Paradise Awaits in the US Virgin Islands HOT Or Not
15 58
Interior Design Made Simple The Beautiful New You
60
What ever Happened to Customer Service
21
Fashion - Redefining Style Gracefully Learning For Life
32 Former Philly School Chief Arlene Ac-
23
Finding the Right School
kerman takes a moment to smile and reflect
24
Fostering Good Habits for Back-to School
25 A Mother’s Guide 32 Is this my passion? to Child Modeling 26 Your Not Done Parenting 101 Path Lighting 51 His Plan , Her Plan or Our Plan 2 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
31.
The lovely and talented Kathryn Taylor Smith is pictured to the right before being scooped up by noted attorney J. Christopher Smith. Too late fella’s.
29. A Horse is not a Horse
32
Denise James— One of Philly’s
Favorite writes her column aptly titled 42 Child Modeling
Photo by Maria Ulacia 3 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
“Passion Works”
Publisher/CEO/Creative Director George Clifford Blackmon ————————————————————— Masthead Creation – Nouveau Concepts Cover Layout - Matt Schmidt ————————————————————— Content Manager - Stacey Martinez ————————————————————— Accessories Director - Diane Blackmon ————————————————————— Project Manager – Jamika Richardso ————————————————————— New Business Development 215-878-3227 ————————————————————— Advertising & Sales 215-878-3227 Fax Information 215-878-5227 —————————————————————
Contributing Writers Manuel McDonnell Smith George Clifford Blackmon Margarita McKissick Keya Carter C Double R Kyle Leishar Re. David Pope Sande Webster Moe Brooker Lolita Clark David Pope Irene Okech Glynis Tart
Contributing Photography Maria Ulacia Lois Mauro Greg Tavares (Cover Shot) Urban Suburban is published quarterly by MoMac Media LLC. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photo’s or artwork. Printed in the USA
Pictures from top to bottom - 2011 Urban Suburban Film Festival, Special Screening at the African American Museum 4 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia in Philadelphia featuring Former BET talent Cathy SitaRam
s ’ r e h s i Publ e Not
It’s yours….. OWN IT
Life is full of surprises, some planned and others are unintended. Life can be somewhat predictable and full of pitfalls, plateaus and pinnacles. Yes, this is the predictable part, it is not certain. As most of us have learned from occurrences in Africa, Europe and Asia, life can change instantly. These changes have brought both anger and joy. Many continents away in the City of Philadelphia we are experiencing change that may not be as life altering but the changes are absolutely as predictable. Issues such as the flash mobs, curfews and dismissal of the School Superintendent are new but reoccurring. Flash mobs are nothing more than the 1980’s “Wolfpacks”, we did nothing to understand the root so the problem has resurfaced. Let me see how many long term superintendents you can recall beyond Constance Clayton or Rotan Lee. The problem still exist. Your money is spent as a blank check to sole discretion of those in power. Each of us needs to OWN the process and hold the people in charge accountable for the hiring and firing. Seriously, who fires the ones that are hiring and firing. It is any wonder that many of our children failed to rise above the challenges that life often will spring upon them when the adults in charge struggle to handle similar circumstances. Let me be clear I am not a soap box kind of person. I truly believe that most of us will make the right decision, if we are provided a good support system throughout life not just at certain intervenes in life. In our 1st issue I specifically mentioned four areas' that we need to be more cognizant of it relates to our community; 1.
Parental School Choices – Allow parents the option of using a specified voucher amount to the school of their choice. It’s your money. You have the right to spend it at a public, private or charter school or do you?
2.
Better Management of your tax dollars - Require full disclosure for future high level hires such as Police Chief and School Superintendent. What does the contract language specifically mention?
3.
Neighborhood Gentrification – Here is a small step. Value your property by respecting your neighbors by cleaning in front of your home and painting your home if needed.
4.
Education – Encourage our children to explore all opportunities in all fields such as carpentry, medicine and teaching.
As a community we need to OWN the right to select the schools of choice. We also need to be aware of the happening that occurs in our neighborhood schools. We need to begin dropping off our children at school; We need to attend parent teacher conferences; We need to take off a few days a year to go on a field trip with our children; we need to read and encourage that thirst of knowledge for our next generation. We need to encourage a more common sense approach to managing the school. No one person, not the principal nor any teacher owns the process. These are your schools so OWN it. For example, all throughout the city you see school yards turning into parking lots. Is it no wonder that childhood obesity is on the rise? Where should the children play? We need to remove parked cars from the school yards so our children can play freely. This would also allow for teachers to park in the neighborhoods they teach in, thus reconnecting with the parents and the neighbors. It’s a small step but a necessary one. We didn’t get in this mess overnight and we will not get out of it without effort. We must OWN our mistakes and dare to challenge those in charge. I mean how much time you really have to waste. You must OWN it. Change can and should come in many different ways. W.E.Dubios wrote quite eloquently about the “Talented Tenth” and some years later modified his position that the best in leadership didn’t come exclusively from college He wrote “it’s those who suffered most and have the least to lose that we should look to for our steadfast, dependable and uncompromising leadership.” and unfortunately we still have far too people that think by position, education, lineage or entitlement that their solution is the sole solution. This is not he case become as involved in the process as you wish., it is yours so OWN it. Above—Publisher George Blackmon poses with former US Virgin Islands, BET Talents, filmmaker and ADY award winner Cathy SitaRam. Right—George poses with Emmy Award Winner and Filmmaker Eva Jane Buckley and Former DIY Host Janette Smith.
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Powerful Women in the Media Visiting Philadelphia Various cultural events
presented
by Urban Suburban Film Festival June 2011
Photographer and Author Terra Renee, President of African American Women in Cinema addresses the audience.
US Virgin Island residents Cathy SitaRam and Executive Director Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism Fran Gerard talk at the African American Museum in Philadelphia during a USVI sponsored event.
Former BET Talent , ADDY Award winner and current Filmmaker Cathy SitaRam addresses the crowd
Filmmaker Lagueria Davis talks about her highly acclaimed film “1in#� and the topic of domestic violence.
Alenka Slavinec
Former DIY Host Janette Smith discussing her pending book release. 6 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Urban Suburban Side 5
2
3
6
1 4
1 - Benjamin Lovell Shoes 4305 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-487-3747 2 - Fleur 4254 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-482-4609 3 - Cadence Cycling 4323 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-508-4300 4, 5, 6 & 7 - Photographs by Lois Mauro around the Filter Square neighborhood
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7
Where is it?
1
4
5
3
2
1 - Revival Smith 4233 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-509-6550 2 Le Bus 4266 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-487-2663 3 , 4 & 5 - Filter Square Photos by Lois Mauro
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ National News
By: Keya Carter “The ‘Democraps’ and ‘Repulic - - ts’ don’t give a hell about the working class American people,” says a patron in a local Brooklyn restaurant on a quiet Tuesday afternoon in mid-July. He stood fixated on the flat screen hanging above a lonely row of empty barstools and listened to the rest of the MSNBC segment that was captioned “Debt Ceiling Disaster” and finalized his initial statement. “What’s all this mean? All this fancy talk but nobody is talking to us! They don’t care about us. As long as the rich keep getting richer and poor keep getting poorer; only then are we living the American dream.” Obviously disgusted at the behavior of Washington politicians with emergency meetings and egotistical walkouts, a one disgruntled American citizen spoke his piece to an all but empty dining area and seemingly, no one was listening. While his statements were poignant - complete with political party pseudonyms – he asked one very simple question that, in these times, is undoubtedly what so many want the answer : what’s all this mean?
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It may be safe to assume that for those who have been watching the “Debt Ceiling Disaster” unfold, it’s hard to sift through the “fancy talk” and political lingo to get to the meat of the matter. Even televised panel discussions on this topic are far from informative yet, somehow, oddly entertaining - witnessing passionate pundits unravel is inevitable – and once again, there are no answers. Back in May of this year, the United States government reached the legal limit of the amount of money it can borrow. Theoretically, the debt ceiling is equivalent to a credit card in which the borrower has a limit to the amount of money that can be charged. Once said limit is reached, other than paying off the debt – aside from risking bad credit scores and loan default due to nonpayment - there is no other option to maintain suitable credit status. Of course, payment history, monthly minimums and interest rates play a large role in factoring a grand total. To compare the two – an everyday credit card holder versus the U.S. spending limit - one’s American Express may cap at $10,000 while the government’s estimated borrowing limit is upwards of $14 trillion. The complications arose when the Republican led congress could not come to agreeable terms to raise the
credit limit, and from this, the “debt ceiling disaster” emerged. The Dems were vying for an estimated $2.5 trillion increase to fund the government’s expenditures adhering to the notion of spending money will eventually create more revenue; however the left rejected such proposals to raise the U.S. borrowing limit. Nonetheless, it should be noted the debt limit was increased a total of seven times during the George W. Bush era and many Republicans argue each budget expansion during the former president’s two terms supported a justifiable cause. The Democrats intention to raise the borrowing amount meant that they would be able to cut checks to federally funded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education and the military, as promised by the Obama administration. Simply put, without the ability to raise the borrowing amount, many of the aforementioned program beneficiaries will suffer the backlash of recent budget cuts, which will likely yield a variety of results including job loss and for some, a reduction or loss of benefits. Now that a short-term deal has been struck (in what critics believe leaned more in favor of the Republicans) Washington’s underdogs have bashed the President and his constituents, claiming they weren’t “tough enough” during negotiations. A very unhappy Representative Maxine Waters (CA-D) declared during a House floor speech against the ‘Budget Control Act,’ “the rich will feel no pain and the vulnerable will pay for their spoils. The cuts will be deep, they will be lasting, and they will weaken an already-depressed economy.” In more extreme cases, some agree with the notion that the unpopular debt deal is the same as force-feeding Americans “a sugar-coated satan sandwich” as Missouri Democratic Representative, Emanuel Cleaver, stated.
specific programs that are in danger of losing federal funding have yet to be determined. To further simplify the expected course of events, the cash won’t be yanked overnight it’s more so the pace at which the funds are being spent that will decrease – and throughout the next decade the budget will have decreased by a little over 5%, financial experts say. While future negotiations are seemingly dismal on account of the polarized political climate, Americans can breathe a short sigh of relief due, in part, to the fact neither party is satisfied with the current fiscal arrangements that were later labeled “messy” by President Obama. Now that the American public is paying close attention to the political warfare that has taken place and what is at stake, a heightened level of transparency is expected and, perhaps, in the upcoming election voters will hold the parties responsible for the debt deal aftermath accountable. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, the final outcome and who’s most affected by the “debt ceiling disaster” remains unknown. The undeniable truth that can be taken away from a long summer of relentless Washington politics is, in the eleventh hour, each party scrambled to do what was needed to avoid the worst case scenario - loan default, adversely though, the “disaster” is far from over.
In sharp contrast however, economists say, “don’t panic!” According to a recently published article on Yahoo.com’s ‘ The Daily Ticker,’ most of the American public have misinterpreted the most immediate affects of the debt deal. Apparently, what has yet to be translated to plain English is this: the term “cuts” create an unnecessary anxiety because the $900 billion budget reduction will be made over the next ten years and the 10 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ International News
THE PLIGHT OF THE GIRL-CHILD IN RURAL KENYA Written by Irene Okech
I woke up at 5:00 this morning. It was my day to light the fire that would be used to prepare breakfast for the family. I softly crept out of, the semi dark bedroom I shared with my three younger sisters, but not before I peeked at each of their faces and saw the peacefulness with which they slept. My bare feet felt the dew on the grass as I made my way to the kitchen, which was external to the house, built from earth, with a tin roof. I lit the match, set the firewood in place, and within minutes had the fire going. I then set two pots to boil; one for the water for the porridge and the other for the potatoes. I walked outside and took a deep breath; I
I am grateful that my mother believes that education is fundamental to the well-being of each of her children.
liked the clean morning air; it gave me hope that one day I
In rural areas in Kenya, from early childhood, young girls
would go to school …..I am the second child in a family of
are taught by their mothers, and grandmothers in the
five children. My mother, a single parent, works at a
village how to tend to family needs. Typically, as narrated
neighbor’s farm to help feed the family. Despite the fact
in the true story above,
that she cannot afford to educate us, she is determined to
the girl would wake up at
break the cycle of poverty that we face. So, she educates
the
one child at a time. Our first born, my sister has just
prepare breakfast for her
completed High School, and scored well on the final
male siblings and father
exams. We are all so happy. I am hopeful now; because I
and
am next…I have been admitted to High School... I am 19
mother to the farm to till
years old. But I consider myself fortunate as most of my
the
female age mates were forced into marriage in their late
depending on the season.
teens and early twenties. Most already have children. Education for them was not an option. Their husbands are not educated either, and the cycle of poverty that has plagued our society seems to continue….so despite the fact that I wish my younger sibling did not have to wait in line for me to complete high school before she can commence her high school.
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crack
then land
of
dawn,
follow or
her
harvest,
“more than 110 million children not in school, approximately 60 percent are girls.”
On other days she would follow her mother to market, where she would be taught to sell family produce for money. Evenings are spent at home preparing the evening family meal and cleaning up. At this same time, a boy her age would be trained in a trade such as carpentry or masonry, or if funds are available, the boy would be sent to school.
by addressing disparities in healthcare and
education
facing
women
and
children in African countries. To date, Imbako has been instrumental in raising awareness
of
the
importance
of
education to all, and in channeling efforts to support education in rural Kenya. Imbako is based in Atlanta, Georgia – USA and Nairobi, Kenya. Imbako believes that given a chance to attain education, the potential of the girl child to society will be realized. Imbako Public Health: Reaching Women, Teaching Children, Healing Community. www.imbakopublichealth.org .
The girl child is also usually married off early. Early marriage is associated with early childbearing as, in most cases particularly in the developing world; the main purpose of marriage is to have children. Early childbearing is however fraught with substantial health risks for both the mother and the child. Young mothers are more likely to experience
“females were forced into marriage in their late teens and early twenties”
pregnancy related complications and less able to deal with them, which often leads to maternal death. Children born to young mothers are usually subject to elevated risks of morbidity and mortality. This population in rural Africa has grown to be one that lacks education and has not reached its potential. Statistics from the United Nations (UN) show that in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls have HIV rates up to five times higher than adolescent boys. An estimated 450 million adult women in developing countries are stunted, a direct result of malnutrition in early life, and of the more than 110 million children not in school, approximately 60 percent are girls. The plight of the Girl Child still exists in rural Kenya today…. Founded in 2008, Imbako Public Health is a non-profit organization that focuses on reducing poverty and its effects
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30 Days in
Urban Suburban
September Fireworks and Fountains
Philadelphia City Hall Tours
Saturday September 3
Sunday September 4
Longwood Gardens
Discover George Washington September 5
The Philadelphia National Constitution Center Puerto Rican Day Parade The Parkway
Center City Restaurant Week
Philadelphia, PA
Temple Owls vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
September 12-16/18-23
At Participating Center City District Restaurants Philadelphia, PA
POPPED!
Terror Behind the Walls
Saturday September 17 Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA
Hero Thrill Show
Music Festival
at FDR Park September 24
Friday and Saturday September 23-24
September 23
Philadelphia, PA
Eastern State Penitentiary
Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
Mac Miller Campus Philly Kick Off
Philadelphia Eagles
Saturday September 24
First Regualr Season Home Game
Wednesday September 28
vs. New York Giants The Parkway Philadelphia, PA
Sunday September 25 Lincoln Finicial Field
The Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
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31 Days in
Schedule of Events Celebrate Oktoberfest
The Throne:
Saturday October 1
Jay Z & Kanye West
October
Design Philadelphia Friday October 7
Various Locations along at Grumblethrope Philadelphia, PA
Watch the Throne Tour Tuesday October 4 Checked for new time in November
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival Full of art, music, great food, boutique shopping and family fun.
Philly Neighborhood Food Week
Avenue of the Arts Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Flyers First Regular Season Game vs Canucks
Sunday October 10-16 Manayunk
Sunday October 10
Wednesday October 12
At the Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA Fall Brawl Lacrosse Tournament
Walnut Street Theatre
Boo at the Zoo
Aspects of Love Saturday October 22
Wednesday October 19
Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Last Day to See Mummies of the World Exhibit
Last Day to see Rembrandt Art Collection at Philadelphia Musuem of Art Sunday October 30
Saturday October 22 Philadelphia, PA
Sunday October 23
HALLOWEEN
At The Franklin Institute
=)
Philadelphia, PA
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Hot or Not │ DESIGN STYLE
Design Made Simple & Easy Real smart and environmentally friendly designs. A perfect step by step guide by Glynis Tart of Verden Interior Design Studios
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What is a sustainable living room? A sustainable living room is an interactive space which provides a balance of entertainment, casual relaxation and function for an individual, roommates and families. This can be achieved by using specific furniture selections, paint colors, adding “green” and ecofriendly accessories in the space, utilizing correct lighting fixtures by using warm energy efficient bulbs, maximum air quality, eliminate clutter, provide adequate storage solutions, artwork and using correct furniture placement in the living room space. The living room should be considered as an extrovert section (action area) of a home (the kitchen is also considered as an extrovert area). The bedroom for example is the private/ introvert section of a home. Electronics such as televisions, dvd player devices, are utilized here. Architectural built- ins as fireplaces, bookcases and seating ledges maybe included in the living room with some residences (retro 1960’s architectural design styles). Books, photos, artwork and other items are on public display for guests to view. Life, love and laughter should be the focus of this space. There are four benefits of creating a Sustainable Living Room Space: 1. Utilizing a space inwhich one can enjoy entertaining guests 2. Creating a healthier space which is beneficial to allergy sufferers 3. Achieving a multi-functional space notwithstanding the amount of square footage given 4. Creating a space that is a true reflection of the individual or family members Consider space planning your Living Room furniture the right way! 1. Know the size of your space when it comes to Furniture selection and placement: a. When space planning for your living room, the biggest mistake most people make is purchasing furniture which is too big and too bulky! When furniture is too big for the area, it blocks the flow and circulation space. It also prohibits one to add additional items (such as an accent chair, small end table, etc.). Furniture which is too big for the space makes a room appear smaller and cramped. Sofas are usually the main culprit. People tend to buy sofas which are far too large for their rooms. For most spaces, do not purchase a sofa which is over 86” wide unless your living room is over 250 square feet. Remember to place end tables on each side of the sofa to anchor the unit. A Sectional sofa is a great option to include seating for 5, 6 or 8 persons in a room. Measure the corner wall spaces accurately and subtract 24” on each side if you want to add a small end table with this layout. b. When purchasing furniture for your living room, take a measurement of your space. Look at windows, doors and opening locations. No piece of furniture should block entry and exit ways. Window locations should be accessible to open and close and adjust window treatments. Furniture should not fully block visibility properties of the window. If you have a large square shaped living room, you can experiment your space layout by placing your furniture on diagonal angles (see space plan on easel). This is not effective in small spaces unless you have single chairs and small side tables (see
space plan on easel). Angled placement of furniture gives a dramatic feel within a space (show the layout which has diagonal furniture). 2. Determine the purpose of your living room. Is your living room used strictly for entertaining, relaxing, work, solitary time or family gatherings? Will it be multi-purpose? Is this a studio type space? Make a decision on what use or uses which are required in your living room in the order of importance. 3. Determine the type of furniture to include in this space according to the purpose of your living room a. If you are a single professional or an adult couple, you can choose living room furniture which can be high maintenance, high end, fabrics and finishes which b. are more expensive, such as cottons, wools and silks. Glass, marble, stones and other types of expensive accessories can be presented in the space. Is your living room a place to show off photos, paintings, sculpture work? Make this room your special art museum and gallery. Have your artwork be the focus of the space and choose informal yet casual seating with small side tables. Keep the colors on the walls neutral, not necessary white but in the beige, and gray family. Make sure that you have accent lighting which will highlight your artwork piece by piece. Consult with an Interior Designer and/or a professional art consultant for the best colors and lighting to use in this type of space. The themes and color of your specific artwork should determine what wall paint color is used in the room. c. For living rooms which are mutli-purpose or used for practically a studio space, use furniture which is multi functional. Ottomans, end tables and coffee tables with lower shelving, and bookcase units should be highly considered. Sleeper sofas are a great option for a studio/living room or can serve as alternate sleeping space to unexpected guests. There are no rules for color in this space, although if this space will be used for home office work or student study, pick a warm color suchas reds, yellows and oranges. These are mind stimulating colors. d. If your living room is a gathering space for family members including children and pets, choose fabrics and finishes which are easy to clean and maintain. Choose furniture and tables which have rounded and soft corners. Make sure sofas, seating and tables are made from good quality and sturdy construction for long lasting and continual use. Tables and media equipment may serve as alternate storage units for multi-purpose use. Show memorable photos and items which portray happy times with your family. 4.
Determine how to choose colors in this space
a. The living room should be a place of fun and enjoyment! There is a great array of colors from which to choose to choose from. Choose your favorite colors but make sure there is some uniformity and color connection with the adjacent rooms, especially for those who live in small spaces. Pick an object of inspiration for your color scheme such as a painting, a vacation spot or a pillow! Do not use more than (4) colors for your living room. Consult a color consultant or an Interior Designer for correct color placement, tones, weight and hues for your space. (Continued on page 17)
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(Continued from page 16)
b. The traditional rule for colors in Interior spaces is lighter colors on the walls create an illusion of a larger and airier room and dark colors can make a room appear smaller. Actually, dark colors on the walls give a room an intimate and secure feel to the space. You can use dark colors on walls, but again have a color template of no more that (4) colors to use in the space. Keep ceiling and trim colors light to add definition to the space. 5. Make your Living Room a healthy Living space! Items to consider when creating a healthier living space: 1. Flooring - Choose hard wood floors, bamboo flooring, laminate flooring, stone, recycled vinyl, concrete, linoleum, or ceramic materials for flooring. Carpet harbors dirt and bacteria even during regular vacuuming. If you want to have a soft surface material on the floor, consider area rugs which are made from natural fibers as jute, sisal, wool and wool-silk blends. There are manufacturers which include natural dyes in the production of their carpet products. Also consider recycled carpet in the form of carpet tiles. If a carpet tile is stained or damaged, you can remove the (1) carpet tile and add a new carpet tile instead of replacing a room of carpet. This saves time and money and offers a sustainable solution. Area rugs provide a design trick to separate spaces from one another or to enclose an area! 2. Window treatments - It is best to use wood blinds or hard surface blinds as window treatments for allergy sufferers. Blinds are easy to clean and do not harbor bacteria. If one must have drapery fabric as window treatments, choose materials which are easy to clean in a conventional washing machine such as cottons and cotton/poly blends. Wash your draperies on a regular basis (once a month) so bacteria, dust, and dirt will not grow in a rapid pace on curtains. 3. Seating - the best option is to select seating which is upholstered in leather or vinyl. These materials are easy to clean by hand wiping with a soft cloth. Leather and vinyl does not hold or harbor bacterial, hairs or wet/damp matter. If an allergy sufferer must have a fabric upholstered seating, choose cotton slip covered seating. Slip covers are easy to wash and recover. Again, if seating in your space is used heavily on a regular basis, remove, wash and recover your slipcovers at least once per month. 4. Air quality - make sure indoor air vents and grille are maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Take advantage of opening windows late spring, summer and early fall. Fresh air is healthy and allows the house to “breathe”. Make sure when vacuuming soft floor surfaces and upholstered furniture that your cleaner contains a hepa filter. This will filter the dirty air into clean air. A must for a space which small children and allergy suffers occupy. 5. Lighting - Your living room should have adequate lighting! Take advantage of natural lighting at all times! During the daytime, open your window treatments to allow sunlight to enter the living room. Sunlight makes a space warm and inviting. It improves one’s mood and spirit. Most Americans are purchasing energy efficient bulbs which are a great incentive to conserve energy and save a portion on electric bills. But some of these bulbs give a cool or blue cast on the walls once the lamps are turned on. This produces a cold appearance in a space. Make sure that your bulbs have warm lighting. Go to a local home improvement store for the correct selection.
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6. Storage and clutter issues - Storage is one of the most addressed issues in the home today. Most people are often trying to locate more closets and hide away units for more products which we use and purchase. America is a nation of consumers and at times over consumers. Easy access to purchase items, whether it is in a retail establishment, television or the internet, often results into where to place these items. New housing construction allows for large closet rooms, master suite closets, walk-in closets, etc. in homes but most of us do not have the luxury of a celebrity walk-in closet or a large closet room to house items and with the changes in the national economy, over consumption is now substituted with using a product which has several functions of use. The Green revolution and the focus of becoming more sustainable with one’s practices and lifestyles has given priority over unnecessary consumerism. In the living room, occupants may want to store media equipment, books, cd’s and dvd’s in components. These items (except for books) should be hidden to prevent clutter. Use wall units which contain drawers which can store these items. Ottomans can double as an alternate storage unit by lifting the seat area, trunks can serve as a multi-purpose function for a coffee table and storage. Open and/or closed bookcases can serve as library space in a living room. The key is to use storage type furniture pieces for multiple use. This will eliminate the clutter. Again, please use the expertise of an Interior Designer to achieve your look! You and your loved ones and friends will be impressed in an attractive, sustainable space!
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Home Away From Home│ Travel
Paradise Awaits in the U.S. Virgin Islands The U.S. Virgin Islands offers unique character, diverse culture, and breathtaking Caribbean views. With many direct, non-stop flights from major U.S. cities and no passport required for U.S. Citizens, a memorable and hassle-free vacation in paradise is just a quick plane trip away. Once there, experience all of the islands’ best offerings thanks to comfortable accommodations and easy and affordable travel between St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas via ferry and seaplane. St. Croix is the largest of the United States Virgin Islands – 28 miles long and seven miles at its widest point. The island lies entirely in the Caribbean Sea, with all the beauty and warmth of a tropical destination. However, it is this island’s distinct history and cultural heritage that set it apart from other Caribbean islands. St. Croix is rich in diverse history that remains alive in the architecture, national parks, historic landmarks, botanical attractions, food, music and traditions that are an integral part of island life. Explore the natural beauty and unique flora of St. Croix at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens. Continue exploring from atop a horse, while an experienced guide shows the whole family the scenic shores and lush country side of St. Croix. Relax and enjoy the island’s culture and breathtaking views while listening to the sounds of the free monthly concert series, Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted. St. John, the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, retains a tranquil, unspoiled beauty uncommon in the Caribbean or anywhere else in the world. The island’s natural forests and stunning beaches attract nature-loving travelers. Reconnect with the outdoors on St. John in 7,000-acres of Virgin Islands National Park, with a hike along trails dotted with ancient rock carvings made by Taino Indians. View demonstrations of cultural traditions, including basket weaving, music, and dance at the Annaberg Sugar Mill Plantation ruins. Save time to experience St. John’s turquoise waters with a catamaran sail day trip and a visit to Trunk Bay, ranked one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. St. Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with an energetic, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is the most visited port in the Caribbean and boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. The city’s reputation as the shopping Mecca of the Caribbean attracts visitors from around the world who are drawn to its elegant dining, exciting nightlife and international, duty-free shopping. SNUBA, a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving, is another way to experience the underwater sea life on St. Thomas. St. Thomas’ close proximity to the other U.S. Virgin Islands makes island-hopping fun and easy.
To see the latest USVI travel packages, go to: VisitUSVI.com/Packages_and_Promotions Follow us on Twitter @USVIMockoJumbie Become a fan on Facebook: facebook.com/VisitUSVI 20 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Hot or Not │ FASHION & STYLE
Redefining STYLE Gracefully Two of the "Best Dressed Real Men" combine their creative chic to introduce a new variation in men’s fashion accessories: pocket squares, not intended for the typical “square” guy. In a time where fashion is as subjective as art, it takes someone with expression of individuality and flavor to stand apart from the masses.
“It’s Okay To Be A Square”
Recently, the collection caught the attention of GQ magazine, which featured them on their website.
By Angela Edmunds
The look has a well placed detail the button, which is seen in flowers, wood, silk, or bone and in all shapes and colors. “It was a symbol of uniqueness, and giving a signature look” Clifton Wilson
“Timeless”, “unique”, “innovative”, “classic take with a fresh yet unexpected twist”, “an essential accessory”…are what is being said to describe this amazing new brand. The Armstrong & Wilson brand of pocket squares incorporates timeless men’s fashion with a splash of modern zest using distinct fabrics, bold colors, and a signature button look to generate a sense of distinction and personality to the traditional pocket square. A new, bold brand, Armstrong & Wilson encourages the individuality of the man who’s not afraid to stand out amongst the crowd. The dynamic duo and two of Esquire Magazine’s “Best Dressed Real Men” Ontario Armstrong and Clifton Wilson met in 2000 at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, who instantly knew the fusion of their design creativity, and a shared love of traditional men’s fashion would one day create a great brand. The collection launched in its first retail location atthe pop up store Boutique77 in October 2010, and has spread like wild fire ever since. Armstrong & Wilson hit upscale specialty stores across the U.S. and has reached customers as far as Hong Kong. Armstrong & Wilson can be found in Michael Andrews Bespoke (New York), The Shirt Store (New York), Beau Brummel (New York), Andrew Davis Menswear (Indiana), Q Custom Clothier (Texas), Craft Workwear (Los Angeles), Frank DeRito Custom Clothier (Newtown PA), and in three Beecroft & Bull locations in Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Charlottesville, Liles Clothing Studio (Raleigh NC). 21 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
The story of the box… “Presentation is everything to us.” says From a young age I thought everything that came in wood box was elegant with value.” That is what they want to express with the brand displays, as each store gets a beautiful wooden box with the engraved Armstrong & Wilson button logo and the tag line “It’s Okay To Be A Square”, a colorful inside lining, and a custom gold name plate. Celebrities getting the A&W bug are musician/actor Mos Def, Grammy Award Winner Anthony Hamilton, Hidden Beach Records artist Jeff Bradshaw, Def Jam recording artist Abraham McDonald, and ESPN’s own Michael Smith have donned Armstrong & Wilson. Armstrong & Wilson understands it’s great to give back, as they donated $5,000 worth of pocket squares to Career Gear 12th Annual Gala which generates funds, and donated clothing to low-income men to prepare them for job interviews as well as job placement and advancement. Armstrong & Wilson is in the
process of designing a signature pocket square for the Happy Hearts Fund whose mission is to improve children's lives through educational and sustainable programs in natural disaster areas, where all proceeds from the squares will be donated to the fund.
Find your perfect square at www.armstrongandwilson.com
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Learning For Life │ DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
Learning For Life Finding the right school for your child
S
earching for the school that is a good “fit” for your child is a challenging task and an adventure at the same time. It is a challenge because often parents must wrestle with their own hopes and dreams which may differ from what is the best “fit” for their child. It is an adventure because parents will be exploring options, be involved in lots of discussion and travel through an involved process of decision making.
Here are some ways to begin the odyssey.
children, involve them in the process. Let them talk about their interests and what’s important to them. Visits are always part of the application process and get your child’s feedback. Stay calm when they’re reviewing their day. Make a grid of the positives and negatives. Remember this is ultimately a parents’ decision. An elementary child continues to feel comfortable where you do. A potential high school student may have some stronger ideas and feelings to consider and need to be “heard out” through the process unless there are certain limitations for matching your child to a school—learning style, special needs, etc.
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Read informative materials such as school literature and independents school guidebooks.
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Browse individual school websites.
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Are there high-quality and committed teachers?
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Visit a range of schools—do not look at cost first—visit first.
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What is the student-to-teacher ratio? How does it work?
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Consult with your child’s current teacher.
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Do students feel challenged by their school?
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Talk with admissions representatives, faculty, and students.
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Are there strong partnerships among parents, teachers, and students?
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Take a school tour.
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What is the tuition?
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Accompany your child to a school sporting event, school play, or science fair to experience co-curricular options.
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What student financial aid is available?
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Talk to parents of children who attend the school
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How does the school measure quality and meet high standards? Testing environment? Non-testing environment?
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Try out their summer camp if you have lead time.
For young children, they will feel comfortable where parents feel comfortable. Envision your child in the environment. Would they like to become involved in what you see? Visualize an accurate picture of your child in the environment. If your child is an observer, look at the adult(s) to see how they notice and interact with quieter children, If your child likes to move around, is there an option to get up and move around the classroom individually or are the children organized mostly in group activities and sitting for longer periods of time? For older
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Ask questions. Here’s a start.
Use the web to help you to research. Consider the following web pages: www.PAISPA.org, www.ADVIS.org, and www.pde.state.pa.us Finally, relax. There will be a school for your child and with all things considered, you will make the best choice. Written by Helena Grady, Headmaster 215-563-6368 www.GreeneTowneSchool.org
Learning For Life │ Good Habits
Fostering Good Habits for Back-to-School
W
hat do our youth really need for back-to-school? As parents some may think its clothing, shoes, book bags and supplies. Educators may believe our youth need the correct sized binders, pens, tissues, sanitizer and a host of other essential classroom needs. While neither one of these perspectives would be wrong – So much more is needed for back-to-school. What about social needs? With social media and the epidemic of texting on the rise, our youth is losing its grasp on reality. Parents must pay attention and be more aware of their child’s activity, particularly their video gaming and internet usage. And those with cell phones who are still in grade school need to have their talking time limited; I mean really, what do they have to talk or text about? I know many of you have heard the term - Getting back to old-fashion person-to-person communication, but what does that really mean? When I think of going back in time to do anything, it doesn’t sound too appealing to me. However, this is very different; it simply means to be able to interact in person… You know, person-to-person, something as a people we have lost thanks to emerging technology. With all the Texting and Cyber communications, children rarely talk to one another except during the course of the school year and that’s mostly because many are forced to interact with one another. The problem with this is – They don’t want to. Why, because in most cases they don’t know how. Many of our youth K thru 12 were never properly taught how to interact with one another. In this day and time, they don’t have to have direct contact to communicate. At least in my day we had Bell telephone, but the texting have crushed that and diminished the usage of any verbal communications including on the cell. And what about the verbiage they’re picking up through texting. Our elementary and secondary students can’t spell simple words to save their life because the abbreviated versions of texting have destroyed any usage of proper grammar. Who’s correcting them, not the same person passing the abbreviated text, I hope. Most children 5 years of age and under have been exposed to the Internet and many are independently playing video games and texting before they can form complete sentences. By the time they are 6 they’ve mastered texting, video game chatting, blogging, and
FaceBook as a means of communicating with others. However, do they really know how to provide that same directness of communication person-to-person? As a parent or educator have you given this much thought when imposing social interactions? Let’s be clear though… This is ultimately a parent’s responsibility and at the end of the day, you are held accountable for any dysfunctional social behaviors your children possess as a result of too much electronics and Cyber communications. As a result, your children could very well develop into anti-sociable beings. With or without education, communication in this world will always be a means of survival. Eventually these same electronic savvy children will have to seek employment. How will they cope with the pre-requisite of getting the job – The Interview? You do want your children to eventually move out of your home and get a job – Don’t you? We all want our children to survive at everything they do in life but some of us fail to realize that being able to interact person-to-person is monumental for a child’s social development and survival. Remember this the next time your child picks up his cell phone to text, grabs the remote to turn on the game, can’t leave the house without the handheld game, or argumentative about who’s next in line to use the computer.
Margarita McKissick has 15+ years of professional experience as a writer and public relations professional. She is currently working on her Ph.D in Philosophy (focusing on today’s youth), she earned her Master’s degree with high distinction in Public Communications at American University, and her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a focus on radio and television broadcast from Cheyney University.
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Learning For Life │ CHILD MODELING
A Mother’s Guide to the facts about Children Modeling As a mother of a child that models and has been featured on many TV shows, commercials, magazines and even voice over's. I did everything myself to start her modeling and acting career with little to no money. So my aim is to provide mothers and fathers like myself tips on important facts about child modeling. So lets get started! First of all real agencies don't charge anything for reviewing children’s snapshots. The submission is free as well. All you need to send is a snapshot unless they specifically ask otherwise. A legit modeling agency will not make an appointment, with you without seeing a snapshot of your child first. If a real agency calls you for an appointment you will not be charged or offered any portfolio deals. At least not until your child gets a few jobs done and they may see a benefit of making a portfolio for him or her. Some agencies might pay for it, some will ask you to pay but your child would be a working model by then. There is nothing wrong in taking some of the earnings and investing them into further career advancement. Top modeling agencies need new kids but they don't charge you for doing business with them. They charge clients that hire their models and then take a percentage from that amount before paying you for the work done. I feel like saying it over again to ensure this settles in your mind. Last, but not the least, the real modeling agencies will not guarantee work for your child or promise any special treatments when it comes to "go sees" or jobs. Unless it is a requested "go see" specifically set up for your child, you will be standing in line with everyone else. You know what a real modeling agency is but how do you get to it?
1. Search the web for top legit modeling agencies in your city and find out their submission requirements. 2. Take a few snapshots of your kid. 3. Send the snapshots to each agency as per their requirements listed on their sites. 4.That's all there is to it.! At this point you know how to tell a real agency from a fake one. You know how to find the best agencies and how to submit your child to them. Let’s move on to a very important part of the process - dealing with rejections. How to deal with rejections by children modeling agencies: Don't get frustrated. You must not. It is a process, that's all. The letter you received probably suggested to try again later. They actually mean it. Kids grow and change a lot within months and agencies always look for new faces. Take new snapshots with another haircut may be or a different angle or choice of clothes (make it plain though) and try sending these letters again in a month or so.
yours and your child’s as well as consistent effort and persistency. If your child is accepted by a modeling agency, how fast things will become busy depends on luck and your willingness to attend lots of "go sees". In case of my daughter it took about 7 months. I know kids who didn’t have this period at all. Be prepared to get very short notice calls from your agency about next day jobs or "go sees". Sometimes they can call at 5PM or even later in the day but normally there is enough time to re-schedule your plans. In the beginning of your child's career, you may go for a lot of "go sees" and they would not seem to work out. It is very important not to get discouraged and skip on the "go sees" because most companies keep the snapshots "on file" for a long time and you may get called for work later on. If you get vacations days at work, you'll probably be taking them for going to work with your child. Children Modeling. Is it worth the effort?. Is it worth it? It depends on your objective. I've seen parents who do nothing but this work with their kids. Most children love doing modeling as this is fun for them. At the same time it is also very hard work believe it or not. As a result, children learn how to be responsible, work in a team environment and control their emotions from a very early age. Of course there is a monetary factor present as well. Most of the parents I know never tell their children that they are earning anything. The rationale is not to hide the earnings from them but to concentrate on the fun and creative aspects of this work. So now that you know the deal, you may ask what's in it for me to tell you all the "trade" secrets of children modeling business. The answer is rather simple. I have tried to helped many kids into modeling as well as my daughter Lola Ann Clark who is very successful. Some children have quit because their parents couldn't handle the load, some still do it and quite successfully. I also hate the industry of lies and deceit that has grown so big, charging hopeful parents crazy amounts of money by selling fake promises that there seem to be no way to stop it. This is my attempt to shed some light on this industry and making you aware of it. It is your choice to use it or not.
The Success.: How to deal with it and what to expect.
Finally, I enjoy the process. I love to see my daughter Lola Ann Clark on cover pages, on the web, on huge posters for Burlington Coat Factory, TV shows like Team Umizoomi, Sesame Street. She even does voice over's and also appeared on The Rachel Ray Show . It makes me feel good to see her shine in what she loves to do. It also allows me to meet new people, learn of what they do and show them what I can do to help others.
Getting accepted is an accomplishment of a great magnitude. Staying in the industry takes some serious sacrifices of time, - both
I hope you enjoyed reading this article on child modeling and learned some useful information.
Always remember. If your goal is to make your child a model you should never give up and keep trying as the industry needs different looks and there are opportunities for everyone.
Written by Lolita Clark 25 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Learning For Life │ PARENTING
You’re NOT done !! What’s your next role?
CONGRATULATIONS
parents! Well done! You
successfully navigated your son and or daughter through the first 13 years of their education, watched the pomp and circumstance unfold before your eyes, basked in the glow of seeing your graduate’s name on their diploma and are looking forward to “what’s next?” You did know this day was coming, right? Confidently grab those scissors and cut the proverbial strings. Successfully launch your young adult onto life’s super highway! Hopefully it wasn’t too stressful helping them figure out just what is next. Yeah right, who am I kidding? If you weren’t stressed out you most likely were not involved! College? Trade school? Military? Work Force? Community Service? Or the utopian year off (I’ll take that one myself). What did your young adult decide? How involved in the decision were you? Was it their decision without unsolicited advice or did you go full “old school” telling them what their next step would be? Hmmm…how did that go? Old habits die hard.
Mistakes must be allowed -- almost expected, it is part of the growing process. Admit when they are wrong, give genuine apologies, forgive themselves and others and then move on. They must know the existence of their full village, starting with the rooted tree of their parents or some loving parental figure they can always return to for restoration, no matter what, when their spirit needs recharging. We parents must trust and believe the solid foundation needed to live away from us is set for making split second decisions. Now, before you furrow that brow, purse those lips uttering “she’s trippin’”, know that I too am a newly minted parent of an 18 year old struggling with all the emotions you are too, attempting to practice all of what I preached in the preceding words. Until next time, when in doubt, be still and know… Lisa M. Morton
©2011
Raising children today definitely is not for the faint of heart or the feeble of mind. We must raise independent thinkers who view themselves as citizens of the world, not just their ‘hood.” Essentially, unselfishly raising them to leave you, trusting you have cultivated Independent thinkers, who know when to speak up, speak out, stand up and stand out. We get the first 18 years to be stewards of their lives, my prayer for myself and all parents; I hope we made the most of it! No “helicopter” parents wanted, needed or allowed…please! Every year of life comes with more responsibility and every year we must help them rise to the challenge of that responsibility. They must view their lives and the world they live in as one amalgamated entity. This cannot happen if thinking skills haven’t been taught and exercised. Young adults should know their opinions count, their voice should be heard, sometimes they will be wrong and that really, it’s okay. Our children, no matter the age, should always want to value our opinions and we should trust, with sound information, they will make the right choice.
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ CATERING
Urban Suburban Caterer Profile | Eatible Delights Catering SO many great caterers, who should I choose? Eatible Delights Catering and Mr. David K. Simms
Hot Penne Pasta Salad w/ sun dried Tomato crème sauce Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Ingredients 8 ounces of Penne Pasta One small red onion (Julianne) One small red, pepper One small yellow pepper One small green pepper One small bunch of fresh broccoli 5 small button mushrooms ( diced) 5 sun dried tomatoes (Julianne) One handful of baby spinach leaves 8 ounces of heavy crème 8 ounces of half and half ½ pound of butter ½ cup of fresh minced garlic ½ cup of dry parsley ½ cup of fresh parsley ½ cup of Montreal steak seasoning Tablespoon of salt On elarge stainless steel pot One mixing bowl
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In large sauce pan, bring water to a boil, add salt. Drop in Penne Pasta, while stirring for about 4-5 minutes. Pasta should be cooked Al Dente Take pasta out of pot and rinse. Let stand in mixing bowl. Julianne, red onion, and all 3 color peppers, cut up broccoli, into medium size pieces. On a very low flame, melt butter and add heavy cream, with half and half. When Mixture is completely melted, add in fresh garlic, Montreal steak seasoning, and dry parsley. Next add in peppers, onions, sun dried tomato and broccoli into butter and crème sauce. Let cook on a very low flame for approximately 5 minutes, and then remove. Add in mushrooms, and fresh parsley, and then stir once more until everything is evenly mixed. Lastly add in pasta and mix all ingredients together on low flame for about 5 minutes. Makes 10 servings www.eatibledelights.com
Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ BARBEQUE
One Pig at a Time It’S so simple. No matter how sophisticated you want or pretend to be, just try eating some mouth watering ribs without licking your fingers. It’s impossible...So for once in your lifetime be a pig. It’s OK. Now dig in………………..
The Rib Crib
6333 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA 19144 Neighborhood: Germantown (215) 438-6793 Hours: Thu-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Dwight's Southern Bar-B-Que
4345 Lancaster Ave Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 879-2497 3734 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA 19140 (215) 225-6030
Ribs R Us
Located on 5th Street in Philadelphia, PA. Open Thur. 12pm - 9pm; Fri. 12pm - 11pm; Sat. 1pm - 11pm; Sun. 1pm - 9pm. Tues. & Wed. 12pm - 6pm for Pickup Only 4912 N. 5th Street Philadelphia, PA 19120 Luther (215) 324-7427 www.ribsrusonline.com
Phoebe’s Bar-B-Q
2214 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 (215) 716-1409 http://www.phoebesbbq.com/
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ Passion Work by Denise James
Passion Work –
The Way The Ball Bounces The truth rolls off of his tongue with ease. “My name is Thomas young and I love doing what I am passionate about.” 24-year-old Thomas Young has been passionate about playing basketball since he was old enough to walk. “Me and my mother would be in my grandmother's living room playing on the fisher price court,” the only child said while sitting in the Police Athletic League gym that’s run by his mother. She is a Philadelphia cop. “My mom would be on her knees. And we would be playing all day. I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember.” Thomas has honed quite a few round-ball skills since those fisher price days. While growing up, the Philadelphia native from Fairmount played on police athletic teams, then broke records at Plymouth Whitemarsh high school, and ultimately earned big baller respect at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At IUP, he played three positions, averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. He led the IUP Crimson Hawks to the division championship game during a 33-3 season. Thomas maintains his stats don’t paint the picture he tries to paint on the court. “I just hope somebody says ‘he’s a good player… hustles for the team’. I’m the type of guy who looks out for my teammates before I look out for myself.” The 6’3” - 203 pound Thomas boasts that his mother taught him to play good basketball and to live a principled life. “Every time somebody asks me, I feel proud to say, well my mother taught me.” Earlier this year, Thomas was not discouraged when his name wasn’t called for this year’s NBA draft. He treated that silence as an invitation to bounce… and take the rock on the road. While
waiting for his agent to negotiate a deal with an overseas team, Thomas fed his dream by pouring sweat equity into his passion during daily workouts. He advised, “Make sure you strive to be the best because, as the old saying goes, you can shoot for the moon but if you don't make it to the moon, you'll still bee amongst the stars.” Now the officer’s son is poised to be a shining star as a starting point guard for the VFL Stade pro basketball team in Germany. He says it’s clear that work rooted in passion pays off. . “It’s a great feeling to be able to do what you have a passion for,” he shared insightfully. “I've seen some of my friends that have jobs that they hate or dislike and hate to go to. For me to be able to have a job that’s my passion, its no other feeling like it.” In life’s playbook, this handsome guy with the engaging smile is single. But he says the love he’s courting, for now, is the game. “I have one goal right now. That’s to play basketball. Get to that level in basketball. That has been my goal since I first started pee-wee basketball.” Thomas’ future plans include taking the one class he needs to complete his degree, choosing charity to support, and before transitioning to the bench as a college coach… seeking a spot on an NBA roster. Thomas beams as he considers the possibilities, “My ultimate goal will be to come back to the NBA ... and stay here, play basketball here so my family will be able to watch me every day” It will undoubtedly be a chance to watch someone blossom… someone whose work is rooted in his passion. His name is Thomas Young. And he loves doing what he’s passionate about. To see Thomas in action, check out http://www.youtube.com/user/denisejamesUtube. Passion Work photo contributors: Tyra Smith, Victoria Andrews & Daynette DeLoatch
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ NEWS
Arlene Ackerman’s gone but before
Unplugged
she left, she completed an interview for the ages. By Manuel McDonnell-Smith
“The Governor and I believe that Dr. Arlene Ackerman is the best candidate to lead Philadelphia Public Schools”, proclaimed Mayor Michael Nutter in a press release in June 2008. “She came up through the ranks as a teacher, principal, and superintendant and really knows how to make schools work”. Four years later, as he departed a press conference about engaging the city’s youth, we approached him about the impact of Ackerman on the city’s children “Uh, can you call my office a little later”, was his tense reply as he rushed for the door. The future always has a promise of being brighter, and the dawn of the 21st Century could not have been brighter for the students of Philadelphia. A new school reform commission, with a new charismatic new leader that promised new books, new paint for crumbling school walls, new buildings, and even new charters that would that would transform the way we educated our children in the new millennium. Change here though can be arduous and slow, a process too long for one man named Paul Vallas who was on his way out by 2007. The former Overbrook Councilman now known as incoming Mayor Nutter, and the former Mayor now rising Governor Rendell knew that Education was a big part of the fuel tank that kept a reviving city chugging, so a local, easy option was out. A national candidate, one with reform experience was needed. Yes, a candidate was needed could keep a formerly sick district healthy….so they recruited a
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Doctor Arlene Ackerman was the name. She came with the promise of “creating systems that target resources to the schools that need them most”, “creating new funding formulas that are fairer & serve students better”, and most importantly, Dr. Ackerman vowed during the interview process that she would prove that she could handle resources well before asking citizens for additional funding. So with these promises kept, and more, according to Senior District Officials, is the change train for Dr. Ackerman predicted to depart sooner rather than later from Philadelphia? In a wide ranging interview with Urban Suburban Magazine, the Doctor talks about her prescription for change, why has it been a bitter pill to swallow for some, who’s she’s not apologizing to, and if she’s willing to depart on the timetable of her critics. Q: As a child of Jim Crow Era Schools, you’ve described this job as a mission, or a destiny. A: “The reason I’m here is that I’m standing on the shoulders of people who allowed me to have my dreams come true, who fought for me, some I knew, some I didn’t, who worked hard and made sacrifices….my family, my church; it takes the entire community to raise a child [and that’s what happened for me] Q: What would you say is the main challenge in educating children in today’s urban schools? (Continued on page 34)
A:Back in the day it was about the community celebrating and supporting it’s young people, now it’s about each individual nuclear family, and if you’re lucky to have some extended family, then that’s how it gets done.
And [some of] those schools did much better. The Promise Academies are the schools that did not respond to the initial set of resources we gave. It’s the difference between someone who is in the emergency room because they are in critical condition, or someone who is in the ER because they are going to be okay. The Promise Academies are in critical condition.
Q: Some schools have been designated as “Promise Academies”. What does this mean for the students and families assigned to them?
Q: It seems as if your predecessor, Paul Vallas, had more of popular reception among political leaders and the community. Do you think race has contributed to that?
A:The term is more about the adults; it keeps them honest about our promise to give students the resources they need to succeed, whether it’s a great teacher or the time they need to succeed. We’re going to do whatever it takes because we’ve made a commitment.
A: Race is ever present in this country, and anyone who ever says that it’s not must not be living in the same country that I’m living in. It doesn’t mean that it’s a negative; it means that it’s a reality for all of us. We learn to live with it, we learn to deal with the issues that come up as a result of it, I understand as a woman, as a black person, that the rules are different for me, the expectations are different for me than they would be from a white male. I’m not sure why the pushback has been so vigorous for me, other than the fact than I must be making it really uncomfortable for the adults in this system.
(Continued from page 33)
Q: First “Empowerment Schools”, Academies”? What’s the difference?
but
now
“Promise
A:When we came into this school system, one of the things we wanted to do is say “Which schools have been underperforming for a long time”? There were 95 of them. The first thing we did was to give resources to those schools, we put in social workers, parent ombudsman, students advisors, more nurses, all of the things that we felt would address the needs of those students.
Q: It does seem that you are unpopular among many adults in the school system. (Continued on page 35)
“I’d have more respect for Hope Moffett, If she had gotten on the bus with them, but she cared so little about those kids, she put them out there by themselves.”
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“I will never apologize for opening contract field to minority vendors…
68%
15% Latino but only 20% of the contracts
of Students in the system are Africans American..
go to minority…..10% of that go to white women.” (Continued from page 34)
A: I say when children fail; it’s a failure of the adults to do no harm. When you make changes that are positive for children, the adults are going to be the ones who scream the loudest, push the hardest, because they benefit……[the system has] more benefits for the adults than for the children. Q: Then why did it appear that Paul Vallas had an easier time at affecting reforms? A: My predecessor made changes, but did he really make changes that really changed the behaviors of adults, that’s my question? [Start to] Change the behaviors of adults to behaviors that put children first, when you do that you’re going to get serious pushback. Q: What about the Teacher’s Union, do you feel they have been strong partners in school reform? A: I believe that when there are tight economic times, it’s harder to negotiate with anybody. Everyone is trying to protect their own. I have tried to approach the union negotiations differently from some of my other colleagues in DC and other cities, and in the end we all have the same challenge. How do you get the people closest to the children to understand that it’s not about them, it’s about the children. Q: You have been here for a little more than four years. How do you feel about your reception in Philadelphia? A: I’ve worked in eight cities, and this is the most difficult city that I’ve worked in terms of the political and media climate. Philadelphia has this parochial view of the world, it’s all about neighborhoods…and they don’t seem to understand that if you bring the neighborhoods together you make a vibrant city. I also see the schizophrenia here having lived in D.C. and New York, that “We’re Philadelphia”; we don’t want to be DC or New York. Q: And you feel that these attitudes are a barrier to change? A: There’s something really refreshing about having people come with different perspectives. That’s why [those cities are] vibrant, they get views from around the world, they don’t push them away. That seems to be the biggest problem to me in bringing change to the city, is that the city needs to come together, not just as neighborhoods. If the city thrives then everyone is going to thrive. 35 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Q: And what would you suggest as a solution to this issue? A: I don’t think that city values diversity like other successful cities. I’m not just talking ethnicity; I’m talking about people not from here, in terms of thought. People are quick to tell me, “Well this is Philadelphia; this is the way we do it here”. Is it working? That’s my question. And if it’s not, why are you continuing to do it that way? If they could embrace diversity, of thought, then they would be better off… Q: And how does this translate to your goal of reforming schools, particularly troubled ones? A: The challenge of trying to make change is harder if people have never seem what it looks like. One of the things we do with the Promise Academies is to take the parents and students is to put them on them on a bus see what good schools look like…..then they feel “we’re not going to settle for this anymore”. Q: What about parents whose students don’t attend Promise Schools? A: I was telling parents that you’ve got to show up to schools. Go unannounced. You need to show up because your child needs to see you show up when they don’t think you’re going to come, and their friends need to see you show up, because when you show up, you’re actually the mother for a lot of other kids who are friends of your children…… Q: Dealing with difficult parents is a familiar hallmark of public school life. How do you approach this issue? A: I’ve never met a parent who didn’t want the same as I wanted for my child. They may not have been to college, they may not be able to articulate what they want for their child the way I would, so all I can do is the best for everyone else’s children because I know what I wanted for mine. This is why I fight so hard for them, and I think this is why I get so much pushback. They’ve never seen anybody so invested in other people’s children as I am. But if I don’t fight for them, then who will? Q: Reflecting on the clashes between Asian & Black Students at South Philadelphia High School, do you think that you could have responded differently?
(Continued on page 36)
go to minority vendors? 10% of that go to white women; the other 10% is split among all other minorities. You tell me if you think that’s fair and if I should be sorry for it.
(Continued from page 35)
A: I’m regretful that I did not understand the seriousness of the fights sooner than I did, and I’m regretful that the fights ever happened. You don’t want to see anyone’s child hurt or sent to the hospital. I’m regretful that people thought I did not take it seriously when it happened, but we all make mistakes, we’re all human. You say you’re sorry, and never try to do that again. Hopefully, I will never make that mistake again. What people here do is hold that against me forever. What about the hundreds of days that we’ve had school and that there have been no problems or fights? Q: There was serious concern over the bid for security cameras installed at the school after the incident. People felt that the contract was given at no bid to a minority contractor of your choice. A: I’m not sorry for that. I didn’t do anything but question, as I should in this position, why we don’t have a diverse pool of contractors on a bid? I knew one. I asked, but people said they knew none, so I placed down that card. They chose to use that one, I didn’t tell them to do that. But am I sorry that I tried to level the playing field for minorities to bid on contracts, absolutely not. How could I be in this position, and not open that door? I will never apologize for opening up the contract field for minority vendors, never. 68% of students in the school system are black. Another 15 % are Latino. And a few more are Asian. That means Almost 90% of the kids in the school district are of color. So tell me how it squares that only 20 % of the contracts
Q: How about Hope Moffett, the Audenried High School teacher characterized by press as being “muzzled” by the administration after allowing students to leave class to protest changes at the school. A: First, I put myself in the role of a parent first, not as an administrator. If either one of my children would have come home after me sending them to school, and told me that the teacher let them go in the middle of the day to protest, I would have had their heads. If it had happened at another school, the parents would have demanded that she be gone the next day. But because it’s at Audenreid, where [a population] of the student parents don’t have a high school diploma, the press chose to make this about me and her. Just the thought of a teacher releasing some kids from school……what if a child had gotten hit or something crossing Broad Street. I would have had a lot more respect for Hope Moffett if she has gotten on the bus with them, but she cared so little about those kids, she put them out there by themselves. Q: How do you explain your unpopularity among other large populations of teachers? A They don’t understand what I’m trying to do, because these kids don’t look like them. Do they value Black lives, Asian lives, and all the other lives as much as they do white lives? I would say to you that they don’t. If they did, would I be getting pushback on Promise Academies, Summer Schools, and everything else if they valued black lives as much as white lives? (Continued on page 37)
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(Continued from page 36)
I do think there needs to be more of a balance of diversity in our teacher, principal staffs. Q: There was consternation in the Mayor’s Office about your plea for additional school funding for Kindergarten, then your reallocation of dollars for it soon after. A: Was it a misstep? Absolutely. The Mayor put a lot of political capital in that fight for more money around Kindergarten, and I actually I went back to what I would have liked to be done if I were a young single parent. If I had it to do all over again, I wish I would have talked with the Mayor and gotten on the same page with him. I don’t think that the decision in and of itself to save Kindergarten was a bad decision. It was not a political decision, it was an educational decision. Q: Do you feel a particular kinship with the other politicians of the city, especially the African American leaders? A: I’m not a politician, and that’s been a criticism of me, that I don’t play the politics, or I don’t play them well, and I really don’t apologize for that. The lives of our children are at stake here. The moment you start playing politics then you have to start making compromises that are unacceptable. Does that mean that I can stay 10 years in this city? Probably not. But does it mean that I can get a lot done in a short amount of time? I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get these young people whatever they need. Q: Rumors of a buyout or deal that would see you leave the School District are rampant. Under what terms would you consider leaving early? A: How do you work out a buyout unless you pay the person what you say you’re going to pay them? I don’t know what that would look like unless they were going to pay me out the balance of my contract. Q: If you had to leave under those circumstances, would you feel that you’re leaving the position with your goal unfulfilled? A: I came here to do a job, I didn’t come here on my own, people came to get me. I had a great job, and I was making more money than I did here. I came to do it, and I’m here for such a time as this. When the powers to be say “Arlene we don’t need you anymore”, I’m not going to fight to be someplace where people don’t want me. But I have a contract and I expect that it will be honored. Q: In your own words, describe the legacy your tenure has left on the Philadelphia School District. A: My accomplishments speak for themselves. Children are better off because I was here. Student achievement is increasing, graduation rates are up, since I’ve come, and violence is down. Accountability systems are in place, parents
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engaged in ways they’ve never been engaged before, all in 3 years. In any other place you think that they would have been begging me to stay. Q: Any final thoughts… A lot of this is all about the politics of adults. Not all people want our children to achieve, and that’s okay. If people want something else, and want me to step aside, then let me know, because for as long as I’m here, I’m going to put young people first. Writers note: This article is the result of a wide ranging conversation with Dr. Ackerman held in her office over the summer of 2011. Although her views here are presented as expressed, in subsequent conversation, Dr. Ackerman and her staff went through lengths to reiterate her support for diversity in education, and to say teachers and staff of all races are important to playing a role in the changing the lives of Philadelphia’s students.
Get Up ! & Move│ Yoga
Yoga at any age
“Yoga changed my golden years to a productive life filled with intense vitality; helping my body and limbs through a slow, patient process,” Mary S. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word, yuj, meaning to yoke or unite. There is an estimated 14.3 million people in America practicing yoga. My start in yoga happed out of necessity due to a car accident which took out my knee. There was the possibility of me being crippled for life, which left a sore taste in my mouth. I didn’t accept that diagnosis. Three surgeries and nine months of therapy I walked again. I incorporated yoga techniques to supplement therapy I was receiving. I didn’t take it seriously until I used it for my mother, Hazel who was recovering from a fall which fractured her pelvis. As I watched her therapist, I had an idea. Why not apply the yoga stretches on her; even at the age of 74 she felt the difference, which helped the healing process. The word spread throughout the senior community and others wanted me to work with them. That’s when the idea came to teach elders.
practitioners, come for the long term benefits such as reducing stress, increasing fitness, flexibility, and balance, lowering blood pressure and maintaining mental stamina. My clients are always glad to see me, always giving their best. For some seniors I do a gentle chair yoga routine, but the more nimble go directly to the mat. Something as simple as learning how to get on the floor and getting up again, helps build confidence. For all of my clients, the most important lesson is how to breathe correctly, this is key to the body, mind and support of the asana, or pose. Yoga means the connecting of mind, body and spirit; it’s important for practitioners to understand the connection of their breath to their lives. Correct breathing really does help to reduce stress and anxiety and over a long period of time and will burn calories and lower blood pressure. Most popular comment is how relaxed, yet invigorating they feel. When one is faced with a stressful condition, environment or person, my motto is to, “Stop, Drop and Breathe, when finished, you’ll have a more positive outlook. Beginning a yoga practice is not difficult; anyone at any age or health condition can do it. Just do it with love. Namaste Kind Essence lives and runs a studio, Yoga Soul in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia. You may contact her at 856-287-7070 for class, workshop or retreat information.
As a caregiver to Hazel and my Aunt Connie, I couldn’t work a full-time job, yet I needed to bring in some income. I became certified in Hatha Yoga, a style which focuses on posture and alignment. My next step was to contact senior centers promoting this healthy approach to exercise. My first professional site was the Tioga Senior Center, then the company grew to include Life Programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing, Mercy Life and non-profit community organizations, but it was the girls at Tioga who helped form the name, Sassy Senior Yoginis. Out of the estimated 16 million people practicing, 18.5% are over 55, according to Yoga Journal. They come for many reasons; the exercises or social activity, but true yoginis, woman
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Get Up ! & Move│ Student Health
Concussions How many fingers am I holding up? Do you know where you are? What day is today? You feel okay? Good get back in the game! This used to be our approach to managing concussions, but so much has changed in recent years as we learn more about concussions. We have all seen the hits on our hometown athletes like DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Simon Gagne and Carlos Ruiz. Even the 76’ers coach and the Phillie Phanatic are not immune. Concussions are happening everywhere, and in all sports. Concussions are not limited to the professionals; they are happening to athletes all the way down to the youth levels. There may be more concussions happening because there are more kids playing sports at more competitive levels, but it could also be that athletic trainers and doctors are better trained to recognize these sometimes subtle injuries. While we can take some measures to prevent concussions from happening, they are still going to happen; we need to learn to properly treat the concussed athlete. One of the best treatments starts before the concussion even occurs. This is where certified athletic trainer, Bill Wardle, of Body Active, Inc. comes in. Body Active, Inc. uses a software program called ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Training). ImPACT is a computerized neurocognitive test which measures how an athlete’s brain works in the areas of memory, reaction time,
processing speed, focus and concentration. Athletes take a baseline test in the preseason before any injury occurs. If an athlete sustains a concussion, the athletic trainer or physician administers a follow-up test. The disparity between the baseline and follow-up data will help to drive the treatment of the concussed athlete, and will ultimately help determine when it is safe for an athlete to begin his or her return to play. Most colleges and many high schools offer ImPACT to some of their athletes in certain sports, but every athlete playing a contact sport should have a baseline test done. Body Active is available for any athlete who wants baseline testing regardless of the sport or competitive level. Neurocognitive testing is a vital part of concussion evaluation and treatment because it assesses brain function so the clinician does not have to simply rely on the athlete’s report of symptoms. There are at least 21 possible symptoms of concussion ranging from headache, memory loss, dizziness, feeling “foggy” in the head, difficulty concentrating, etc… Because a concussion is a metabolic injury affecting the brain chemistry and function, you cannot simply rely on symptoms or even advance imaging like MRI and CT scan to gauge the severity or recovery from the injury. Bill Wardle has been using ImPACT for 5 years, and has recently been featured in local newspapers and on the Discovery Channel. Visit www.bodyactivefitness.com for more information about concussions, and contact Bill Wardle to learn how to obtain a baseline test for individuals and teams.…”because you only get one brain.”
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ Book Excerpt FROM DREAM TO REALITY: How to Navigate the Journey and Fulfill Your Destiny by Janette Smith goal. However, for those who are passionate, fearless and faith-filled, this is the beginning of wondrous adventure. We are all creative beings. Think about it. We imagine, we think, we plan, we build. The Wright Brothers looked up to the sky and entertained the idea that they could create an apparatus that enabled man to fly like birds. They had absolutely no proof that this was true. Their only inspirations were the musings and studies of Leonardo Di Vinci and a flying toy their father once gave them, made of bamboo and cork — it was powered by rubber bands. This may seem rather insignificant, but this toy planted a seed that encouraged them to entertain a thought, that sparked an idea, which fueled a dream and initiated a plan that was further developed through diagrams and then ultimately manifested as a We can deny it, run from it, let others belittle it, but there it remains— tucked down deep in your heart— pulling at you, calling to you. It’s your dream. During my career I’ve encountered too many people who live in a shroud of sadness, because they’re traveling down the road of life realizing “I would've, could've, should've done what was in my heart. I know there is more I was born to do.” Turning your back on your dream is not like changing your
pilotless kite. You thought I was going to write, ‘our first flying machine.’ Nope. The Wright Brothers’ quest for success was a decade-long obsessive pursuit of inventing, testing, failing and doing it all again. With just that brief look into their inspiring story, you begin to understand that there is no magical formula for birthing a dream. The process is more of a journey that takes you from one level of completion to the next. It will test:
mind about a store purchase. You can’t just hang your life’s dream back
• the motives behind your dream
on the rack and walk away, never to think about it again. Turning your
• your capacity to step out on faith for your dream
back on a dream is more like burying a living thing in the middle of your kitchen. It's always there, and you can only pretend it’s not. You may
• your willingness to work for your dream
walk over it, even put furniture on top of it, but that denial will never
• your character to attain and maintain your dream
destroy your soul’s desire for you to do and be what you were created to do and be.
These are the things not always discussed in books and magazine columns. Most times, readers are lead to believe that
What were you born to do? This column is designed to help
having a strong desire for something is enough to make it come true.
you take the next most important steps toward fulfilling your dream. It’s
While passion and drive are vital components for keeping the fire of
time to wake up and locate yourself on the map from dream to reality. I
pursuit fueled; emotion and desire alone can’t bring dreams to fruition.
can hear some of you asking, “Does everyone have dream?” YES! It’s
This is why many people will race out of the gates pursuing a dream, with
sown inside you, but as we grow older we are told to ‘get real’ when we
full fervor and determination, and still not get real results.
talk about following our dreams and exploring the desires of our heart. However, it is within the process of dreaming that we find the keys to our true purpose and calling.
We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and
To have a dream is only the beginning. To fulfill that dream
protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the
takes courage, tenacity and a tremendous amount of faith. “How will I
sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that
make this happen?” The answer to that question is revealed
their dreams will come true. ~ Woodrow Wilson
progressively. The journey from dream to reality can take many paths and is largely dependent upon the decisions and actions of you — the dreamer.
How is discovered from one level of learning to the next, like
pieces of the puzzle. The revelation of how is also earned through perseverance; which is why many dreamers are found stranded on the shore of desire staring out toward their dream as if it is an unattainable
Notice that the 28th American President mentions ‘nourishing and protecting’ dreams so that they can reach ‘sunshine and light.’ The terminology paints an image of planting and cultivating something — a seed. Your ‘dream’ is a seed. The seed is key, but it becomes useless if it is never given an opportunity to produce the thing it was created to. If you want an apple you don’t eat the seed. You plant it
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in good soil, nurture and protect it and in due time it becomes a fruitbearing tree. Though dreams are intangible, they hold the same power as any other seed that brings forth a form of life. Dreams are also extremely important because they instill confidence and hope in the dreamer. They offer what some may call ‘Faith Photos’ — mental pictures to help propel us toward our dream through conviction and inspiration. This is most important as you go through the difficult seasons that will come. I find it helpful to journal about my current dream so at any time I can go back and read through it and reenergize my faith. If you don’t believe in your own dream or work to nourish and protect it from attacks of negativity, that seed (your dream) will die. Commit to locating or resurrecting your dream. The world is waiting for what your unique gifts and talents have to offer. May this column serve as an encouraging guide along the way. Janette R. Smith is an Emmy, Telly and Aurora-winning journalist, who can be seen on D210.TV and heard weekly on her popular internet radio program. Visit www.JanetteSmithOnline.com for links to her various programs and for more information on the Ebook, “From Dream to Reality”. www.MirrorMediaSolutions.com
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ Entertainment
You will remember
Rashaad Ernesto Greene Q&A by George Clifford Blackmon
Q. Please describe the Sundance experience? We had an amazing time at Sundance this year. Every independent filmmaker dreams of premiering at Sundance in front of a sold out crowd, and selling your film. And that’s exactly what happened. It was a great platform to create awareness for GUN HILL ROAD. Q. How many film festivals have you been to? We’ve screened at about 20 festivals since January. The response both domestically and internationally has been wonderful. The hope is that the global awareness will translate into numbers at the box office when we release this August 5th in the USA. Q.
Tell the readers about Gun Hill Road? What was the cast like? GUN HILL ROAD is a hard-hitting family drama about a family in the Bronx whose father returns home from prison to discover that his teenage biological son wants to be a woman. It hits home for a lot of families struggling with issues similar to this.
Q. Describe your body of work thus far? I’ve been very blessed thus far. Starting out as an actor in New York, I decided to jump behind the camera about 6 years ago. I attended the NYU Graduate Film Program to learn the craft, and it’s been a wonderful journey ever since. My first few short films performed well on the festival circuit. Two ended up on HBO and one at Sundance. After that, I decided to direct the feature. Q. Where are you from? Where were you born? How old are you? I’m from New York City, born in the Bronx. And let’s just say, I’m still young… Q. How tough are you on yourself? Are you a perfectionist? If I wasn’t tough on myself, who would be? That’s an emphatic ‘yes!’ I strive for perfection, with an understanding that I may never reach it, but it keeps me ticking.
Q. What is the best advice you've ever been given? Do you follow that advice? The best advice that I’ve ever been given is to ‘create a Q. What project are you currently working on? When will it be finalized I’m currently working on my next life that I love’. I try to follow that advice every day of my life. If and when I fail, I get up and try again. script. I hope to be in production by summer of 2012.
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Q. Who would you love to work with in the future? I’m a big fan of Viola Davis and Chiwetel Ejofor. I hope to work with both of them in the future. Q. What excites you the most in life? Laughing and acting up with my family and friends. There’s nothing better than that. Q. Most of your films are based on New York story lines? What city other than NY do you anticipate shooting in next? Not sure just yet. I have a lot of NY stories inside of me, so I’ll probably stick to NYC until they make me shoot elsewhere. Maybe Philly Q. Describe the atmosphere in the city when you were filming 50 shots? 50 Shots was an extremely hot and charged time in the city. Shooting during the Sean Bell rallies was a bit dangerous, but there was a strong sense of community that I felt protected by.. Q. What is your favorite dessert? Hot fudge brownie. Q. What is the one item you would not want to lose? My brother.
Check out Ernesto @ http://mialmafilms.com/
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Money Minutes│ FUTURE PLANNING
Are you financially exposed? By Brian Madalion State Farm® Agent Many people realize the need for life insurance but keep putting it off until it is too late. You may think that life insurance is confusing, expensive and complicated. You may think you don’t know enough to make the right decisions for you and your loved ones. Postponing this decision leaves you and your family exposed financially. Assumption #1: I’ll always be able to buy life insurance. You could develop a health condition that makes you uninsurable or could make life insurance too costly for you. Assumption #2: I’ll get life insurance later when I’m older or have a family. Life insurance may be needed at all stages of life. Whether married or single, male or female, with or without children, you may have financial obligations that need to be met. Life insurance provides financial security for you and your loved ones. Assumption #3: My family and I are covered by the group insurance at work. To meet the future needs of your family, you need to have 7 to 10 times your annual income. Most group term insurance amounts offered by employers won’t meet this need. And, when you don’t work for that employer any longer, you usually lose that coverage Assumption #4: My husband has life insurance so I don’t need it. Women often live longer than men but not always. There are countless stories of men who had to shoulder the family financial burden along with the emotional burden after their wife passed away. Assumption #5: My family can cover funeral and burial expenses. Burying a spouse or loved one is the most stressful time in a family’s life. Having life insurance can reduce financial concerns for the family. Take the time now to review your needs and provide adequately for yourself and your family. For more information, contact an insurance professional.
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Inspector of Gadgets│ GADETS STYLE
TECH BUZZ Gadgets For Thought
It is that special time of year when the sun begins to fade and the sun doesn’t shine as bright as it once did, when you wake up and realize that your summer fun is over and that school is just around the corner. Then you begin to panic, breathing heavily because you don’t have any school supplies and your parents fret over the amount of money they are going to be spending on you and your school supplies that you may or may not use during the year. However, I am here to help ease the burden and stress and show you some gadgets that you can convince your parents or your wallet that you MUST have for the upcoming school year. Sure there will be some surprises and of course you will see some devices that will be MUST haves in other lists but for now let’s get down to the business and make some lists. Also as a tribute to my website I have a ratings scale and it goes from 0 – 10 and I call it the Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama and we will be using that scale in all these device reviews. So sit back and enjoy and get your back to school lists ready. Here we go.
Back To School Gadget Ideas Livescribe Pen: Now this device has been around for a few years now and is only getting better each time they update it. Right now the pen is a complete audio recording device as well as a transcription device. How it works is an infrared pen writes on a special dotted paper that works like a copier. It will copy all your written notes and doodles and sketches even math equations and then digitally reprint them on your computer for you to see and edit. Also it can record lectures and discussions that your teacher will make so you really have no excuse for not missing what the teacher says during class. You can even send your notes via Text Message to share with your friends. Of course with any gadget there is a fun aspect to it as well. You can play the piano and games as well as calculations with it. I wrote a full review about this device on my website at www.TheTechnoFiles.com.
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On the Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama I give this handy device a solid 9.2 out of 10. It really is a very useful gadget for all ages and will help you out tremendously. It retails in a few versions ranging from the Echo (2GB) $99.95 and Pulse (4GB) $149.95 (8GB) $199.95. Accessories sold extra for more info check out www.livescribe.com.
Laptops: Now this is a must have for all ages. Whether they like it or not in a digital age laptops will replace school books. Teachers will be posting the course outline on a website; kids will be taking online classes, and Facebook statuses will need updating. Now with laptops coming in all different varieties it is best to find one that suits your child’s needs and not go to overboard getting the most expensive one when a mid-range laptop will do. Sure they may want the very expensive MacBook or the latest Alienware gaming laptop but in reality a good laptop shouldn’t make you worry about breaking the bank. You want a laptop with a good size hard drive, nothing less than 500 Gigabytes (GB) will do and when they speak about RAM you want to make sure it has at least 4GB or more to handle multiple applications. As far as what type of computer processor you should get, Intel Quad-core i3, i5 or i7 will do (Continued on page 48)
(Continued from page 47)
and with each chip version the price will go up. You can also go with a MacBook like a lot of parents do because of just how versatile the laptop is and how safe Macs are. However all that hipster attitude comes at a price and in the end whether your kid has a Dell, Asus, or MacBook Pro each laptop will play Solitaire just fine and will be able to handle any task you put in front of it.
Flash Drives: Now these little guys are very handy and also very inexpensive. They come in all shapes and sizes. You can find them in your impulse aisle at Wal-Mart sporting 4GB of data. Plus you can put them in your pocket and keep them on
For my personal preference I HIGHLY recommend a Dell XPS15. It has an Intel i7 chip inside of it running Windows 7, and has 6G of RAM. It can handle with ease any type of program I installed on it and never had a hiccup or hang-up. For more information go to www.dell.com and as far as the Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama goes we will be giving the Dell XPS 15 a rock steady 9.5 out of 10. Honorable Mention: Alienware M11x, MacBook Air, Toshiba Portege R835-P56X
Tablets: Now I am not going to talk about the iPad because I am not a huge fan of it. Instead I will go with its best competitor and it is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It is running Android Honeycomb build operating system. On top of that it has the NVIDIA Tegra2 graphic chip that makes every application and game look amazing. I really didn’t want to send my review unit back to Samsung and apparently the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has so many people mistaking the Tab for the iPad that Apple is now suing Samsung over it. So if that doesn’t answer the question of “What else is there besides and iPad?” the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 answers that question resoundly. On the Kyle
your belt loop if need be. These things you can purchase in multiples and should have at least 3 or 4 of these little guys around. The best part about this gadget is that it is very inexpensive but can hold an enormous amount of data. Not only that, it also makes it very easy to transfer data from one computer to another than back to your own computer.
Cellphone: Now of course when it comes down to absolute MUST HAVE devices for back to school the cellphone jumps straight to mind. Regardless of personal preference I will list the best phones available on each cellphone carrier’s network. So let us begin shall we? AT&T: iPhone (of course), Motorola Atrix
Scientific Scale-o-Rama I gave the Tab an 8.7 out of 10 and that is basically because of the lack of sufficient apps for the Android Tablets at the moment but developers are working hard to change that. Plus you can snag a Verizon branded Galaxy Tab that has some blazing 4G speeds and the pricing is comparable to iPad’s with the 16GB Wifi version starting at $499, and the higher the GB the higher the price.
Verizon: iPhone, HTC Thunderbolt
Honorable Mention: Blackberry Playbook
Now any back to school list wouldn’t be complete without something to help you while you are hanging out with your friends doing homework and want to listen to some tunes using some very odd speakers. This is where I introduce you to the Rock-It 2.0. Back in my day growing up listening to music was a huge deal. Whether it was you bringing out a HUGE Boom box (remember those?) or you had a walkman with those very sketchy headphones that dig into the side of your head pulling out your hair from time to time. Well those days are now long gone with one very unique device. It is called the Rock-It 2.0. This device fits in your pocket and can be paired up with any device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack insert. Once you plug the Rock-It into your iPod or Laptop you will then
Amazon Kindle or Nook: Now during the school year kids will be required to read certain books. Instead of packing them into the car and driving down to the library, like you have done in years past, now you can just download the book to an eReader like the Kindle or Nook. The advantages are no late fee plus, the convenience of never having to leave the couch. I have played with both the Nook and Kindle and I can say both are fantastic devices for school kids and college kids alike. Whether you read for the school curriculum or just like to read these devices come in real handy.
T-Mobile: HTC Sensation, myTouch 4G Slide Sprint: HTC Arrive, HTC Evo3D Honorable Mentions: Samsung Galaxy S II (unlocked), T-Mobile G2x, Samsung Infuse 4G
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ MUSIC
WHO is ESNAVI??? 49 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
ESNAVI is her name….and the Anyone who is serious about good food and even better music knows where to find a super sized helping of both in a special corner of South Philly on Wednesday nights. That night is reserved for those who can handle Country Fried Cornmeal Catfish, and the cuddling cries that only Soul Singers can deliver. As expected, the caramel voice of Carol Riddick caressed the Warm Daddy’s crowd on one warm night this past July. When she exited the stage, the majority of the full-bellied crowd slowly rolled to their cars thinking it was the end of the night, but those who stayed for dessert, or maybe another drink, were in for yet another treat. “I remember, I remember when I lost my mind…” the voice began to belt from the stage that evening, quieting every raised voiced to attention and every raised glass back to the bar according to music industry veteran Lamonte Hayes. “I’ve learned over the years not to watch an artist, but the reactions of the crowd”. “Something happens when true artists congregate in a room, there’s an itching, there’s an twitching...” So when Carol Riddick closed her set, Hayes knew the night couldn’t end there. So before the base player could remove the strap from around his neck, he asked them to play just one more set with the artist he’s currently on a “quiet” tour with. Through the lyrics of Gnarls Barkley, the crowd was intimately introduced to Esnavi, and they were “in a trance” remembers Hayes. In a rush, is my very first impression of Esnavi. Thanks to Manhattan Traffic, I was late to my interview with this up and coming artist. Unfazed by my offer of a bottle of wine, she wanted to get straight to the point. She was here to talk about her passion, her personality, and the music she wants to deliver to a global palette of fans. “Eclectic, Soulful, Natural, Authentic, Vivacious, and Intriguing, that’s what the name means” was her deep answer to my very first question. In just three minutes, I was hooked with conversation. It would take just two for me to begin to fall in love with the CD. Music is not my usual beat, so how do I even begin to describe an album that cannot fit into my iTunes category list. Do I start with the lyrics? Yes, says the inner writer in me who can tell that these lyrics were most likely inspired by one of those early dawns after a long night. “I write good music that’s appropriate for all situations”, was not the answer I expected from the artist. “Is this something that I can play for my parents?” is the litmus test this artist from the Midwest uses before locking in a set of lyrics. “I write music that’s globally appealing”. Not daunted, I dive right into the voice, because the story can start from there because even if you don’t know it, you’ve heard her before. Think back to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, or if you don’t video game, you probably have cable, where’s you’ve heard her voiceover work on the Starz Cable Channel. What are the lines I can use to jog their memories from those gigs I ask? “I remember not one” says Esnavi. Like a teen boy, struggling to get a date past the first sentence, I ask her to pop in her CD. Her debut album, now in the middle of a massive release is called “Exit E”. Appropriately titled, it is a music journey. But before we begin the journey, let me give you a bit of background about the guide. As I mentioned earlier, she’s
sound is incredible..
engaging, interesting, and intellectual right from the beginning. Not exactly what you would expect from a young woman from St Louis who arrived in New York City shortly after graduating with a degree in Marketing. But unlike most who arrive in Manhattan from the Midwest, she never planned to hang her cum laude degree on some pale office in Rockefeller Center, nor did she plan to be awed by the lights of Times Square. She was on a mission, “I wanted to pursue my music career”, she explained. The proof is in her mobile phone. She uses it not so much for calling, but for capturing sounds, feelings, essences. “You hear that, she asks?” as I hear the cacophony of what sounds like a birthday party”. “I get inspired by things all day long” she explains, so she uses the phone as a blank canvas, coming back to find words that will eventually become lyrics or sounds that will eventually become beats. Ahhh, it’s this type of inspiration that makes this album and this artist different. According to Esnavi, your first listen to “Exit E” should be alone, “in the best place you have for sound”. It’s not that you won’t eventually find and jam to your favorites, but for the first time, you’ll get the true meaning of the record by listening all the way from track 1 to 16 in one sitting. She compares it to the way that you groove to D’Angelo’s “Brown Sugar” for fans of R&B. If a guided tour of the album is what you expected, I’m not going to be the tour guide you want. But having made the trip before, here’s what to be on the lookout for. You’ll definitely want to open you mind to track one, because it’s here that the artist really explains herself, who she is, and what she plans to deliver in this album. After that, just let yourself glide through the next few tracks, if you’re already an R&B or Soul fan, then you’ll fall right into place with these rhythms. “Ding Ding” is the title of Track 4, which is appropriate because there’s a transition to an uptempo, more club oriented song. Esnavi says this is the track that ladies will play while getting ready for that night out on the town. Some people like to experience their music in an “herbal sense”. Listen to track 7 and you’ll know what I mean. It’s said to be perfect for that. Stay on your journey through the next few tracks, and explore emotion, love, a little spirituality, and definitely a few songs that are inspired by past relationships. By track 15, you’ll feel like this is the trip you’ve really needed, but just like Oprah gets you ready at the last commercial, Esnavi finalizes the stories and lessons from the trip, and gets you ready for the return to reality and the finale of track 16. Enjoying all 16 tracks of her freshman CD, I struggled to find other artists that I could compare her to. Could this be soul like Jill Scott? Or rather deep character-filled voices like Deborah Cox. Maybe I’m touched by the deep lyrics like Erykah Badu or Lauren Hill or India Arie…but no, “Exit E” is all unique and original. But it all makes sense in the end, just as the title suggests, “I’m taking fans to ride with me on a trip”. Last stop in 16 tracks, Exit E. Written by Manuel McDonnell– Smith
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Path Lighting│ HIS HERS OR OURS
His Plan, Her Plan or Our Plan Rev. David Pope We hope this section of the magazine shall serve as a light unto your path! It is often in life that we find ourselves coming to another 'Y' in the road. There is that one defining moment when we must decide which path we are going to chose. Should we go to the left; or should we travel the path to the right. Trust your instincts!!! We have been living this journey long enough to recognize the signs along the way. If you happen to come to a 'Y' in the road and one road appears to have more bumps and sink holes, try the other road! If you have been told by someone who has driven that same journey that one road is more treacherous than the other, let us not be thrill seekers and think that we can avoid the same holes into which someone else has fallen. Have you ever started out on a road trip and after traveling for quite some time, daylight fades and we think that we are lost because we have lost the light! It could just be as simple as getting off the road at the next exit, checking into a hotel to get some rest. "Rest If You Must; Just Don’t Quit"! If you feel that you have driven your life off course, stop, take a pause and get back to the journey that is before you. Whatever the journey you want to accomplish in life, we must start every journey with the end in
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mind. What do you want to accomplish in life? What will it take to accomplish your goals? What is the time frame necessary to achieve the end result? These are all necessary questions that must be answered if you desire to have your path revealed. To shine the spotlight on your path to success, we have decided to request that every reader develop and write a 7-year plan for your life. If you do not have a plan, life will develop a plan for you! It is certain that you will be more comfortable and eventually more successful following a plan that is familiar to you by your own drafting, rather than following a plan that life has designed for you. “Begin with developing a plan by putting your thoughts in writing; this will aide in achieving balance, organization and clarity”. 1) career and family; 2) health and wellness; 3) professional promotion and increased income; 4) management of investments and savings; 5) charitable giving; 6) community activism; 7) social service. These seven areas should provide a framework for you to light your path!
The inability to manage balance of both. One thing that is important to us all is the ability to balance career and family. We must use a methodology that enhances our performance at work and our relationships with our family and friends. These great responsibilities can result in the source of great stress for all involved. We must examine ourselves first and seek to understand our own personalities and then make the necessary changes to achieve balance. Once we have turned the spotlight on ourselves, it is necessary to illuminate the personalities of others, using a method of understanding within both our working and of our personal relationships. By achieving this balance in our careers and within our personal relationships, we can turn our attention to our own health and
wellness. With the elimination of stress we can begin to focus on those things that we enjoy that can achieve significant results; such as, developing and maintaining a schedule for weight training and cardio training; structured classes such as yoga and meditation. With this balance, we can also turn our attention to increasing our income through enhanced performance at our position of employment; seeking new positions of promotion (internally or externally); or entrepreneurial development. We would like to hear from you to insure this column is dedicated to the questions and answers of our readers; we wish to continue path lighting for others. Please direct all comments and questions to (provide e-mail contact information). Let us continue to walk in the light together.
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see just how awesome this device is. Mainly because you can turn almost ANYTHING into a SPEAKER! You read that right you can turn almost anything into a speaker using vibration resonance, where the sound vibrates off the object and amplifies the sound turning it into a speaker.
Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ Film & Entertainment
Are you down with SAG? If not, you should be and here’s why.
I myself turned a milk carton, refrigerator, glass table and anything else I could find and turned it into a speaker. One of my favorite items to turn into a speaker was a Styrofoam cup, as that produced some of the best audio quality. Basically the more hollow the object the better the sound. When I reviewed this for my website www.TheTechnoFiles.com I gave it a solid 8.2 out of 10. This isn’t designed to replace your home audio however it is a great little device to have when you are hanging out with your friends and want to listen to some tunes between homework. I am quite certain that with this handy guide for back to school gadgets that you will go into the upcoming school year with confidence that you can handle anything your teachers throw at you. Remember you can get all your Tech and Gadget news from my website at www.TheTechnoFiles.com and I have reviews, news and I even post videos of a lot of my reviews.
Philadelphia has a thriving film and video community with skilled craftsmen and talented professional actors. Through this mixed populous of production workers exists diversity and opportunity. Hello, I’m John Wooten president of the Screen Actors Guild Philadelphia Branch. I stand with my fellow branch members, representing the diverse opportunities that exist within our industry. With the increasing number of creative projects in our region, ranging from film, television, commercials, new media and others, there is a continual demand for experienced, talented and professionally-trained actors to fuel those productions.
In the meantime you can check me out on Twitter @KyleLeishear or @TheTechnoFiles. Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions or if you are a company that would like to see your products get the Kyle Scientific Scale-o-Rama treatment drop me an email at kleishear@thetechnofiles.com.
For the content creators of the region, the quality of a Philadelphia SAG actor is the best, bar none. And in order to remain competitive in the overall industry in and out of our region, we recommend working with one of our producer-friendly contracts, many of which are currently available on-line via the SAG Production Center, www.SAG.org/ProductionCenter. To the actors in the region who give their all when performing in front of the camera, take seriously this business of acting. Consider fair wages and minimums, working conditions, protections and acknowledgements for dedicated achievements. If you are not already a member, then you should consider membership to Screen Actors Guild. Find out if you’re eligible and how to become a union professional by contacting our North Region Executive Frank Traynor at ftraynor@sag.org Kind Regards, John Wooten, President SAG Philadelphia Branch
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ New Book Releases
We Love to READ Excerpt From
“Overcoming the Obstacles, Releasing the Winner in You”
dealing with obstacles can change our lives and make it difficult for us to move forward. How you move from one obstacle to the next depends on what you believe and what you hold to be true. You can choose to sit back and feel sorry for yourself and become self-destructive, or you can decide to move forward with hope, faith, and determination. You must have the strength of mind that you will not give up and then determine in your heart and mind that you will make it through the grace of God, that by His strength, you will pull yourself up and move forward with life.
• Reactions is a sexy novel that will hold your interest from beginning to end!
When you think about obstacles, you may think about items, things, or people that obstruct, hinder, delay, frustrate, or even stop you. You may even believe that you have to jump over, go around, go under, or knock down obstacles. Obstacles can cause fear, terror, panic, depression, shock, despair, hopelessness, dejection, and misery. According the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the very definition of obstacle means obstruction, impediment, barrier, blockage, problem, difficulty, hindrance, or complication. We all seem to see obstacles in the same light: something we want to avoid. Despite our desire to escape them, though, we all are faced with obstacles each day of our lives. Considering the definition of obstacles, it seems impossible for us to even consider that an obstacle could be a blessing. I certainly didn’t see any as blessings in my youth. At an early age, I was faced with many obstacles that terrified me, devastated me, and caused great sorrow. The difficulties of obstacles can indeed cause all that I have mentioned above and more. The feelings of depression, loneliness, abandonment, and even guilt that come from
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Shameka Nicole Williams- a savvy, sexy businesswoman who secretly loves having sex with strange men in strange places and has no interest in settling down. When she starts having the same recurring nightmare she seeks professional help. What Shameka discovers will change her life forever. Tracy Marie Jackson- Shameka's best friend since kindergarten and the sweet girl next door. She's married to her successful college sweetheart, Eric Jackson, runs a nonprofit organization, lives in a million-dollar condo in downtown Philly, Tracy has the perfect life. The only thing that's missing is a child. Just when things are going as planned, tragedy strikes that rocks Tracy's world. Christopher Jamal Johnson- the retired NBA player turned ESPN sportscaster. He's married to his college sweetheart, Tina Johnson, has two beautiful children is trying his hardest to leave his past behind, but this is proving to be the toughest challenge he has ever faced in his entire life. Can Chris gain the courage to put his philandering ways aside and become the faithful husband his wife always
Books of the Month Alenka Slavinec unique Photographic book SLOVENIA IN US is abook dedicated to raising the awareness of Slovenia’s heritage and independence, particularly the magnificent and magical Lipizzan horses that are native to the region.
Traveling at the speed of life by David Hale Sylvester
The 20 photographs depict each year of Slovenian independence presented through the pure form of the Lipizzan stallion..
The tragedy on September 11, 2001 killed many and hurt many more. David Sylvester tried to make sense of that senseless moment by jumping on his bicycle and connecting with people. His message to the people he met across three continents was simple: “Find your bike." It translates to finding your passion and now, ten years later, after pedaling across deserts, down dirt roads and highways, and over the mountains of Africa, Asia, and North America, David spreads his inspirational message on the pages of this book. Whether relaying stories of tragedy or triumph David writes with a degree of honesty, humor and passion that will make you want to 'find your own bike' and go for a ride.
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He say She Say │ RELATIONSHIP
Are You Paying Your Dues or Playing the Fool? Know when to cut your losses We all have to pay our dues in life, whether it’s to advance in our careers, to gain the respect that we rightfully deserve, deal with family issues and yes even
even step out on our mate with a one night stand. However, a good relationship is worth fighting for especially if you believe it is worth keeping. Nonetheless, you need to differentiate when you are paying your dues versus playing the fool when it comes to getting back into good graces with y o u r mate. We all have been in the doghouse a f t e r we’ve messed up in our relationships, but how long should you pay for a prior deed that you have repeatedly apologized for and not just with words, but with actions? If your mate repeatedly brings up your indiscretions or your foul ups and tells you that she/he will never forgive you but remains in the relationship, most likely you are being used and playing the fool. If this is the case you may want to cut your losses, take this one on the chin and keep it moving. If you have shown that you are sorry for your wrongdoings and your mate is moving forward and is trying to put her/his trust back into you again but has you on a short leash, then you’re paying your dues. If you have to check in from time to time, leave your cell phone out where your mate can see who’s calling or be home at a certain time, this is called the “probational” period and don’t fret eventually all will be forgiven, but you have to put in the time before you can be completely given for your crime.
sometimes in our relationships. In our careers, sometimes we may have to work for free to prove ourselves in order to get the job that we really want. Sometimes we are forced to prove our self worth to gain the respect that we justifiably warrant. When it comes to our families we may have to put other things on the back burner to make sure our home life is right. When it comes to relationships it’s a little more complicated. We all make mistakes in life, especially when it comes to relationships. We may say the wrong thing at the wrong time, overspend without telling our spouse or
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Don’t continue to stay in a situation where you know you’re being used and not paying your dues
because eventually you will end up playing the fool! I’m just saying! C Double R!
Hot or NOT │ Health & Beauty
The New Beautiful You Fall
is coming and the time to work on being beautiful is
now! Over the years, I have watched countless women spend money to mask problems while neglecting the necessary steps to achieve naturally beautiful hair and skin. If you are one of those women, here are some steps to help create “The New Beautiful You”:
1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid those empty calories. Entertain a diet that is rich in proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The body needs to be properly fueled in order to perform its many functions. If you are lacking adequate nutrition, consider taking a vitamin supplement. Your hair and skin will tell the story! 2. Keep it moving: Exercise will get your blood flowing and increase circulation. This will help deliver vital nutrients throughout the body, including the hair follicles, promoting a healthy scalp and hair. 3. Flush your flesh. H20 to the rescue! Properly hydrating your body will help your hair and skin maintain that healthy glow. Toxins rest in the hair and skin and need to be continually flushed in order to promote optimal health. For dry skin and hair, the use of moisturizers will also help to maintain that vibrant glow and shine. 4. Let it go. Problem hair may be evidence of an unhealthy or toxic emotional state. While many stressors are a natural part of life, it is necessary to find ways to manage chronic stress. Free your mind! Try an Epsom & Sea Salt bath with lavender. It will soften your skin and relax your muscles while removing toxins from the body. Also try lighting a candle and listening to soft music to create a peaceful atmosphere. Remember, do what works for you. 5. Try something new. A new hair style or a new hair color is always fabulous! Don’t be afraid of a haircut. A change can be good. Lifeless hair is
never fun. Keep it fresh. And don’t be fooled; short hair can be sexy. 6. Get a hair prescription. Your hair deserves an annual physical just like the rest of your body! Talk to a professional about selecting products that you should use to maintain your hair if you are not a frequent flyer at a salon. Significant damage can be done to the hair simply by using the wrong shampoo. Be certain that you are using the best products for your hair type. Getting your ends trimmed regularly can drastically improve the overall health of your hair. 7.
And, last but not least, recognize that true beauty begins inside! Invest as much time working on your inner self as you do on your outer self. You can’t be messy on the inside without it showing on the outside .Focus on activities that build a better you . Be happy! For more beauty tips and to read the entire article please visit our website at www.salon9east.com. Open Tuesday thru Saturday 9 East Eagle Road, Havertown, PA 19083 610-446-1900
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Hot or NOT │ Health & Beauty
Whatever Happened to Customer Service? By Chanta’ N. Barrett
When
I was originally going to write an article I was going to talk about hair care, the importance of it, how to be fabulous with or without chemical services, etc. As I began to put my thoughts together and contemplate the jewels of knowledge that I wanted to share there was one question that kept nagging at me. This question is something I’ve asked myself repeatedly over the years and is the number one complaint of almost all my new clients. This question plagues men and women from all walks of life, professional and non-professional, busy people and persons of leisure, stay at home and hard working single parents:
going hungry. Yes God has given us a gift, and a talent to do things with what the bible refers to as a woman’s glory that others can not grasp, but that gift and talent is not a pass to disrespect people by treating them as if you’re doing them a favor. Our clients have enough trials and tribulations going on in everyday life that they do not need to come to a place where they have an appointment yet their stylist doesn’t show up until three and a half hours later without the semblance of an apology. Nor do our male clients who are fighting the good fight with hair loss but do not seem to be winning need to be told they have to accept the reality of being bald with a sharp tongue and a bad attitude. There are other businesses that we come in contact with on a daily basis that are in the service industry and if they were half as unprofessional as many of us are, they would loose our patronage. If a waiter or waitress was rude to you while out dining would you tip them? If a sales associate at your favorite shoe store ignored you when you walked in would you still give them your money? In the Beauty/Hair care Industry we get to express our artistry while delivering, beauty, confidence, and reassurance to another individual, and get paid for it. What could be better than that. I say we start a campaign to make customer service the new IT skill to have. Let’s make it chic to be a professional. Anybody in?
Whatever happened to customer service? The lack of customer service today in a service oriented industry is baffling. When I attended beauty school one of the first things we learned were lessons on professionalism and customer service. We were taught from the very beginning the customer is always right and the more pleasant we were the better and more successful a hairstylist we would become. We seem to have forgotten that it is not us but our customers who pay our bills, keep our doors open, clothe our children, keep us from 60 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Best Kept │ ART
Moe Brooker: More Than An Artist When looking at the abstract work of Moe Brooker, whether it be painting, drawing or sculpture, you can feel the presence of “Unspeakable Joy”. His relationship and connection to God is ever apparent and indeed, each work is signed at the bottom, “TTGG”, To the glory of God. And it is a God ever present in the universe that gives Brooker an optimism, an ability to express the richness of his talent and his life in his work.
The story of his accomplishments is dazzling. From his days at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to his MFA at Tyler. In 1987 he spent three months as the guest artist at the Tianjin College of Fine Arts in Tianjin, China. and then on to teach as an associate professor at University of Virginia, University of North Carolina, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. Then back to Philadelphia as professor at the Academy. on to New York as Chairman of the Foundation Department at Parsons School of Design. and finally, the Basics Department Chair at Moore College of Art. He has left behind adoring students who realize the gift they were given in his class: patience, knowledge, recognition of emerging talent, encouragement and always “to follow your dream.”
“realize your gifts and always follow Your dream.”
Moe Brooker is in more than fifty museums and important private collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, the American Museum at PAFA, Absolut Vodka, GM, Ford and AT&T. Among his numerous awards is the James Van Der Zee award from Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Visual Artist of the Year award in 2011 presented to him by then Governor Ed Rendell. As a member of Recherche, (French for choice, rare, much sought after) an African-American visual arts group whose mission was to present to the World work of critical acclaim........... Exhibitions in the United States included Philadelphia, New York, Dallas, Macon, Chicago, Hampton and others .......then on to Copenhagen, Denmark and Bahia, Brazil. Moe’s “dream” is in every painting. just stand and observe the layers of pastel, charcoal and paint. The abstract images that seem to dance and move about, even as you are searching for the theme of each particular work. Jazz is still a source of information and inspiration although he has moved from Miles Davis to John Coltrane . Early artistic influences were Kandinsky, Mark Tobey and Cy Twombly. But the reality is that his work is his own, easily recognized as a “Brooker”; never without the spiritual and always alive with the vibrant color, the marks , the patterns that reinforce his life affirming view of the world. To be touched by the intensity is to experience the true artist and his art. May Moe’s dream continue on. The world is more wonderful, more spiritual because of Moe Brooker.
Sande Webster For Urban Suburban
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ Art
HONORING THE GIFT this good light. I could not be at the gallery, the Restaurant or the Philadelphia Museum Of Art, however, Bernadine Ann Beecham Edney made every event.
Written By LeRoy X Edney Once released from double confinement,(the RHU) I stopped drawing and worked fulltime in the Business Education Department under a civilian Business Teacher who had sought me out due to what he had heard about my art. This good man told my counselor that he was losing the Editor of his newsletter and needed someone with a creative imagination to take this guy’s place. He hired me. I worked on that Newsletter for two years before I was discharged. I had nothing. I wasn’t motivated to put out any art. I had become pretty accomplished during those R.H.U. days. There had been three articles written about my work: my art had been seen at a number of Galleries, in and around the Philadelphia area. I was shown at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art on three separate occasions. A great female artist who worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, someone who had established a fondness for my sculptures, took my work on her College tour. None of these things had any significance after the death of my Mother, my biggest fan. Having a son who disappointed her most of my life, now turned Artist and shown in grand fashion at Galleries and Restaurants, finally gave her the ability to tell her friends “my son is being honored, they love his work!” Finally something good to say about the “bad boy”. Almost immediately after the public took notice of my work, I decided then and there that the woman who struggled with me, the woman that stood with me in the Principals office and the court room would some how share in
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After my baby, my sweet Mother was gone, I just stopped drawing and fell back into a deep depression, I stopped art, I stayed in my cell for 6 months. I ate in the cell, I bathed in the sink, I didn’t leave my cell for nothing but a visit. After some coaxing from fellow prisoners I slowly attempted at some form of routine outside the cell. My Mother, my greatest inspiration gone. Ironically, my greatest fear was that my Mother would die before I was released from prison. Yet, she didn’t leave here upset at my circumstances, she rejoiced. I was able to make her proud from the most unpleasant place on earth. Then the news came, my counselor and other staff members voted that I should be considered for parole. At the same time a famous art periodical was released. I was the feature and the caption read “PAINTING FOR PAROLE,” with my name beside it. No one told me, the images in that piece were older images, and I had not drawn in two years at that time. Nevertheless, twenty-eight years in Prison and I learn I was actually going before the Parole Board for consideration to be paroled to the outside. Enter my cousin Biff Morris, who helped sell most of my art over the years . He told me I had to get back into art. I needed clothes and other necessities. I had to now create a new life, starting with nothing. I didn’t have any money to spare so I collected boxes and created a cardboard collection. I drew on the back of toilet paper boxes, using the full length of each side. I made certain that the images were gallery worthy, and full of life and color. I made a few more of my tape and shoe polish sculptures, which had become pretty popular by this time and we sold everything. I was coming home to some clothes and some eating money. It’s ironic how my life is similar to that of the caterpillar. During the first stage of my development I was this baby crawling around getting into mischief and chaos. As nature would dictate, my lowly state would lead me to confinement for almost 3 decades (28 years), trapped inside a confined space, a cocoon. At a point I embraced my predicament for what it was, an opportunity to transform from someone people looked down on
to someone people look up to. I can even display an array of beautiful colors like the butterfly. I have wings today. I struggle to fly, but I am not crawling. Good people still look up to this man of small stature simply because I honor the gift and bestow positive energy. My life experience has made me want to be not only a good artist, but also an artist’s artist.
He say She Say │ RELATIONSHIP THE ROAR OF A WOMAN By Ava Black Cougar – [koo-ger]; NOUN. An attractive woman (a.k.a. milf (n.)) in her 30’s – 40’s who generally looks much younger and is ‘on the hunt’ for younger men.
I don’t like labels. Never have. The idea that a person can be summed up in a word just makes no sense to me. Things are never that easy. There is always an exception to the rule and lots of gray areas. Not to mention almost every word in the English language can mean something different to each person. Cougar started out as one of my least favorite society appointed titles. I work with children today, I have taught art to some, while others have the gift. I tell the children that the creative process sometimes begins when you think you made a mistake. Never punctuate your life or work because of a mistake or shortcoming. Use that black mark as a part of the building and creative process. I learned to be a better human being from wanting the back of my completed work to look as good, and as professional as the featured image on the front. Art has given me opportunities and placed me in excellent company. I ask the Creator, “why place a man struggling, a man with my background in such good company? My dear friend said, “Brother LeRoy your wealth is your talent, your relationship with the youth.” I responded, “do you think the bill collector will allow me to pay him in relationships?” I have developed a passion for art, it saved my life and on a number of occasions kept me from belittling myself. A very wise woman told me, “Your art is your way out.” My mother was always right, honoring this gift has not only helped me, but a host of others. If I had my own place to create, I would have thousands of images to display, I would create those images that would make a difference. There are a number of you who know me, to you I say, this journey has been saturated with hills and valley’s, like the poet said; “my life has been no crystal stairs.” Many have counted me out, even while I continue to evolve, and grow. What we all require is not swift moments of happiness or artificial stimulants. We need resources and opportunity. I know who you are, I know where you are, and my life experiences will not permit me to overlook one aspect of my life. What time will reveal is my deep love for you, as well as the fact, you were
I honestly never heard the term until a few years ago when I was told I qualified by ‘intended prey’. I listened closely to his definition as he excitedly explained that he could ‘handle me’ since I wasn’t his first. Almost everything else he said came out sounding like the teacher from Charlie Brown. I mean…who cares what he’s talking about anyway. LOOK at him. YUM! I thought to myself, ‘…yes baby sho’ you right. Do you live alone?’ Then he uttered a word I would never associate with being a cougar, date. “Are you DATING anyone?” I almost laughed out loud. WHY? You just labeled me a cougar and by MY definition I’m guessing cougars don’t date. This is why labels don’t work for me. First of all, I’m not at all interested in dating you. Let’s be serious. You’re what, 23? You aren’t really qualified to date me. I’m a REAL grown up. Where will we go? What will we do? How will we communicate and about what? Read the full article at www.urbansuburbanmagazine.com
Thank you all!
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ Fashion
Full-Figured Week of Fashion Philadelphia now has a Full-Figured Week of Fashion (a fashion industry event) which is produced by Curvation Nation The Movement, lasting approximately 3-4 days, which allows Fashion Designers or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, Philadelphia Full Figured Fashion Week will allow the industry to know what's "in" and what's "out" for the season. The goal is to become one of the most prominent fashion weeks such as the events held in the fashion capitals such as London, Milan, New York City, Paris. Our VERY FIRST Full Figured Fashion Extravaganza (Hosted by Alicia Burbage) will be held October 15th 2011 featuring Fashion and Design's created for the 2012 Spring/Summer Line. Current Designers (just to name a few) that are dedicated to present are: 1.
Lonie Cisco – The House of Lonie Cisco
2.
Just Raymona – EnVNewYork
3.
Solomon Steeley – Touche’ Mei
4.
Chinoo Designs
5.
TB7 Professional mage Boutique & Fur Salon
More About CNTM! Curvation Nation The Movement (CNTM), a full figured modeling organization, began in August 2010 by its founder Ms. Shawn D. Marrow ( referred to as ‘Phenomenal 1’ by the Philadelphia community). When asked why she decided to start an organization such as CNTM, Ms. Marrow kindly responded by saying “I see on a daily basis women of many different ages, height, weight, and styles. What better way to assist in celebrating who we are than a event such as this? “Embrace yourself and love the skin that you’re in” is a motto lived daily. CNTM was established to assist in the positive promotions of the Full Figured community where Fashion & Design
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are extended. CNTM produced the above mentioned event in Philadelphia in order to provide a place for plus-size models, consumers, bloggers and media to celebrate full figured fashion with a series of conferences, workshops, shopping trips, meet-and-greets and fashion shows. The goal is to introduce plus-size fashion collections to a wider audience, showcase the everyday plus-models on the runway and allow the media, fashion industry buyers and consumers to have access to collections they may not be aware of. Curvation Nation the Movement (CNTM) has auspiciously conformed like-minded individuals to join forces for the positive promotion of such goals. Curvation Nation The Movement (CNTM) has also been able to partner/collaborate with other companies such as Ashley Stewart, Urban X-Pressions, Swan Expressions Photography, Punchline Clothing, Girl U Can Do It Inc, Hustle Hard Graphics, Next Level Entertainment, Unforgettable Women (Virginia), B.I.GbyGetta (Maryland), Plush Barbie Club and Major Studios … just to name a few. If you are a Full Figured Model or model hopefull in the Philadelphia and/or Tri-State Area in search of a home base organization to work with, or an individual that wishes to become a member such as Volunteer Coordinator, Events Committee Director, etc … please feel free to contact Curvation Nation The Movement. They welcome all who are dedicated and determined…with open arms. www.CNMovement.org 267-587-7193
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Philadelphia’s Best Kept│ COMEDY showcase events feature well-known comedians from the who perform regularly at Helium Comedy Club, Raven Lounge and the BirdText comedy show.
40 Shows Later . . . Rittenhouse Comedy Year in Review and Upcoming Fall Events In August of 2010, Paul Goodman a dentist and aspiring comedian organized and hosted a comedy benefit called Teeth Are Funny at Noche at 1901 Chestnut in the Rittenhouse Square area. Donations were collected for the charity “Give Kids a Smile” and 10 local comedians competed for the grand prize of professional teeth whitening. The night was a huge success for all involved parties including Noche, the charity, and the comedians. Wanting to capitalize on the momentum of a new comedy room, Paul enlisted the help of Jack Martin to run a weekly open mic on Tuesdays at Noche from 9:30pm12:30am. Jack started performing stand up comedy at the age of 18 and 5 years later is a regular at places like the Laff House/ The debut night was October 26, 2010 and the momentum of Rittenhouse Comedy has continued to grow. With the help of Center City comedy, Paul and Jack have run a number of showcases including the holiday themed Rudolph's last stand and Why Valentine's Day is Kryptonite for your relationship. These
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Additionally, Rittenhouse Comedy supports comedians in the early stages of their stand up career and the weekly open mic commonly has 40 comedians perform with varying experience levels. In February of 2011, local comedian Brian Finnell was added to the Rittenhouse Comedy group to help run the behind the scenes operation. As of July 2011, Rittenhouse Comedy has started a comedy night in University City on Wednesday nights called “University City Laughs” and are teaming with SketchPlayground to run a weekly open mic on Monday nights at King's Oak in Northern Liberties. Additionally, a monthly ticket show has been added to the mix called Comics on Chestnut. The first show on July 22nd was completely sold out. The talent level of Philadelphia comedians in the local scene is outstanding. Audience members leave the shows run by Rittenhouse Comedy impressed and wanting to come back for more. Join us this fall for continued laughs every Tuesday at Noche starting at 9:30pm. The next Comics On Chestnut show will be on Sunday, October 2, 2011 with a hilarious line up of comedians. Contact Paul Goodman at 609-462-6926 or paulgoodmandmd@gmail.com to reserve tickets.
Urban Suburban Styling │ ENTERTAINMENT Q & A with actress, writer and filmmaker Kathyrn Taylor Smith Former Southeast Missouri State University student, and Memphis native is doing it way big. I had the opportunity to ask KT a few questions. Interview by George Clifford Blackmon
Q. I’ve been seeing your face all over the place, in commercials, NBMBAA conference. What is next for you? I just booked a print job for Nestle and a national commercial for Ford. I star in a new web series on You Tube called “The Marriage Lottery.” I wrote my one woman show called “A Mile in My Shoes” and a stage play called ‘The Platinum Club” that I will be producing later this year. I also have two tv pilots scripts I am developing.
Q. What film project are you currently working on? When will it be finalized? I’m writing a feature called the Platinum Club that I plan to coproduce in 2012. My latest film that I star in ConSINsual just released nationwide on DVD in March 2011. I was also just on an episode of Southland. Q So I heard you recently got married? What did you recently buy your husband to show your love? New eye glasses, so he could see all the hard work I do around the house, LOL. No seriously, he had a nice pair of black rimmed Gucci glasses but they were so old and I thought he needed a new “I’m married” look. I knew he wouldn’t buy any new ones any time soon. He truly believes if it ain’t broke don’t fix it (or in this case, get a new pair J). So I got him a pair rimless Hugo Boss glasses. He looks really handsome in them and gets compliments on them all the time. I did well. Q. What is your favorite food in California? Memphis? In LA it’s a toss between Tai and Cuban In Memphis I like anything my mom is cooking, she’s the best cook ever! Q. Do you miss Memphis? In some ways yes, the people are genuine and friendly, what you see is what you get. The cost of living (homes and gas) is reasonable and my roots are there so I know exactly where to go when my car fixed, and I have connections, resources, a support system and a fan base that I am still working on out here. But you can’t beat the diversity in food, entertainment and people that LA offers oh and did I mention the weather. Q. What is the best advice you've ever been given?
Q. Who would you love to work with in the future? It goes without saying, acting icons such as Angela Bassett, Denzel Washington, Alfrie Woodard, Samuel L Jackson, Jamie Foxx, and Will Smith. But I would also like to work with the actors Al Pacino, Javier Bardem, Meryl Strep, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and Cameron Diaz. Q. What excites you the most about your future? Writing and producing. Acting feels passive at times because you have to be cast by someone else and your performing someone else’s words and quite frankly helping someone else make money. But when I write or produce a project that’s my baby. I see it from beginning to end. I control it, with God’s blessing of course. Plus I get to cast myself in roles that I otherwise might not get brought in for that truly showcases my talents. Q. So, any baby plans in the near future? Of course we are in preproduction right now J My life wouldn’t be worth it if I couldn’t share my knowledge, experience, wisdom and resources with children. Plus I think I will be a really fun mom and I couldn’t have picked a better man with whom to raise children .
I haven’t been given any life changing face to face advice that I can remember, but I read a lot and would consider myself an unofficial quote collector. I think the best advice I have ever read was, “:You can’t take something from the world without giving something back”. That reminds me as much as my left is reaching for the stars to take my right hand and reach for someone else and bring them along with me (figuratively and literarally). 68 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia
69 urban suburban magazine.com Philadelphia