Upscale Magazine June/July 2022 by Upscale Magazine

CLIMATE CHANGE: HOW WE CAN SAVE THE EARTH! • ABFF RETURNS LIVE TO MIAMI

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE

THE

WEDDING ISSUE

NATURI NAUGHTON-LEWIS AND TWO LEWIS ON THE POWER OF LOVE AND THEIR BEST DAYS AHEAD

RISE & SHINE CREATE A SUNRISE WEDDING CEREMONY AWAY WE GO! TIE THE KNOT IN MEXICO

JUNE-JULY 2022

SOUTHERN COMFORT GET A TASTE OF GULLAH FOOD ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA RETIRING ABROAD OUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO MOVING OVERSEAS

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MIND, BODY & SOUL 10 HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH POST-PANDEMIC LIFE

CONTENTS

FEATURES 28 /

POWER OF LOVE Still on a natural high from their magnificent wedding and enchanting honeymoon, Naturi Naughton-Lewis of Power Power,, Notorious Notorious,, and Queens fame and celebrity talent manager Two Lewis came down to earth long enough to talk love, marriage, and commitment as well as their mutual desire to enrich the lives of others. By Leslie E. Royal

Cover and inter ior : Stanlo Photog raphy

36 /

RISE AND SHINE How to create a sunrise ceremony timeline for your wedding. By Cassandra L. Thomas

38 /

AWAY WE GO! When love, romance and saying “I do” means exciting travel too. By Kitty J. Pope

40 / SOUTHERN CULTURE Chef Kevin Mitchell to headline Taste of Gullah on St. Simons Island, Georgia. By Leslie E. Royal

44 /

ALL ALONG THE FLORIDA RUM TRAIL A taste-filled journey into the Sunshine State’s small rum distillery world. By Hal Peat

50 /

RETIRING ABROAD Here is what you will need to know about retiring abroad. By Sheryl Nance-Nash

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CONTENTS UPDATE 09 / O pener An unprecedented breech reveals a startling turn for women’s rights

10 / M edia Robin Roberts on waking up to new hopes and dreams

11 / N umbers A lot has happened in our community and beyond

12 / J essica Frances Dukes dazzles on stage and screen

14 / Head South Three reasons to visit Charlotte, NC

16 / A utos Go electric with VW’s ID.4 18 / O n-trend Hair moves to illuminate your style COLUMNS 23 / M ind, Body, Soul Here are 10 ways to cope with post-pandemic life

24 / C limate Change How it will affect countries

that rely heavily on Oil & Gas

SPOTLIGHT

54 / J ackie’s Boy takes his chart-topping skills to the next level

56 / Grooming for the modern male ET CETRA 04 / Publisher’s page 26 / F ashion Shop Nordstrom’s ready wear 64 / Last Word / Juneteenth at Reedy Chapel

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Cour tesy of Subjects

15 / Jeff Friday’s American Black Film Festival

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

LET THE JOURNEY CONTINUE Bernard Bronner chats with our very own senior editor, author, and multimedia journalist Leslie E. Royal. An award-winning writer, she penned our cover feature spotlighting the wonderful love story of Naturi Naughton-Lewis and Two Lewis for our special wedding issue.

Leslie E. Royal

pg 28

Bernard Bronner Publisher Ceobernardbronner Bernardbronner Bernardbronner

BB: What’s on your summer to do list? LER: I’ll be traveling to visit family, enjoying my new grandbaby, and organizing my garage.

LER: My first is Leslie’s Lane the Book! The second is How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book for FREE with Amazon’s KDP.

BB: What are you watching on TV these days? LER: I’m a serious news buff. I’m watching coverage of the War on Ukraine, January 6 Commission, and national politics.

BB: What are your post-pandemic plans? LER: I’m excited about resuming my “How to Become an Author” workshops. I believe everyone has a story to tell. I’m thrilled about inspiring others to write their first book.

BB: Can you tell us about your selfhelp books?

From the desk of Bernard Bronner 1 The world is beginning

to resemble some sense of normalcy and we’re all looking forward to resuming our lives with great expectancy. In this issue, we help you do just that with stories featuring the outdoors, travel abroad, and other areas of interest.

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2 I’m looking forward to

the Bronner Brothers Hair Show which will be held in August in Miami, Florida. The electrifying event will feature over 200 companies, 100 classes, and one hot Hair Battle.

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3 In June, I’ll be joining

Jeff Friday at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami Beach, Florida as his organization continues to empower aspiring filmmakers. (pg 15)

4 Discover the tasty

cuisine of the low country with Chef Kevin and restaurants on St. Simons Island, Georgia. (pg 40)

5 Jocelyn Amador

continues to amaze us with her extraordinary profiles featuring men’s grooming products (pg 56) and women’s hairstyling tips from celebrity stylists. (pg 18)

UPDATE NO CROWNS IN THE CASTLE

Building a Strong Relationship and a Harmonious Life

MEDIA REVIEWS

BRIGHTER BY THE DAY

Waking Up to New Hopes and Dreams

Who Moved My Pieces?

Penned by Robin Roberts Instagram @robinrobertsgma

Penned by Dr. Kevin B. Lee Instagram @bcc_gwinnett

Good Morning America host and New York Times bestselling author Robin Roberts has been an inspiration to individuals around the globe. In her latest book published by Grand Central Publishing, the beloved television personality gives readers advice on how to remain positive and stay encouraged as they go about their daily lives. Readers learn how she has relied on sage advice from loved ones, leaned on her faith, committed to having a mindset of optimism, and chosen to look at things in a positive way – even in the most difficult of times. Robin shares how she feeds her mind, spirit, and soul and how readers can do the same as they go through this wonderful journey called life.

—Leslie E. Royal

“Happiness and joy are kinfolk for sure, yet there’s a fair amount of daylight between the two. Happiness arises because of our circumstances. Joy sustains us in spite of them. Happiness is fleeting, a high note that slowly fades. Joy is the space between the notes, the flow that holds the music together. Happiness is a pursuit. Joy is a choice. And when it comes to shifting our mindset, that’s where it all starts – with choice.” — R OBI N R OBER T S 10

GRAMMY AWARD WINNER and American Idol contestant Fantasia Taylor joined her businessman husband Kendall Taylor in writing this book published by Worthy Books. The couple take the time to share godly relationship advice with the readers. Speaking candidly, they delve into the “Taylor Talks” that are available globally on their social media platforms. That includes humbly focusing on and serving your spouse and partner despite all of the accolades and successes that you have received in the world. The book’s chapters include addressing conflict, properly communicating, keeping the fire going, creating healthy relationships, and understanding the challenges of a blended family. —L.E.R.

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I’M PUZZLED

Published by Amazon KDP, this book is the fifth installment of the Puzzled Pieces series written by Dr. Kevin B. Lee, senior pastor of Berean Christian Church Gwinnett in Snellville, Georgia. Having nearly 30 years of experience in youth ministry, Pastor Kevin wrote this book to inspire and motivate adults to learn innovative ways of working with young people. —L.E.R.

Cour tesy of Authors

Penned by Kendall and Fantasia Taylor Instagram @tasiasworld and @salute1st

SHOW TIME

Award -wi nn i ng Thespian and A ct ress Jessica Franc es Du k es Dazzles on St age and Screen BY LESLIE E. ROYAL

JESSICA FRANCES DUKES began her exciting career captivating audiences in theatrical performances in several cities. She eventually moved to New York City and landed coveted roles in Off Broadway productions including By the Way Meet Vera Stark and Bootycandy. She soon made her way to Broadway appearing in Trouble in Mind. Her exceptional efforts earned her several commendations including an Obie Award and Audelco Award. “Theatre is so many things to me. It’s such a magical place. You are in this massive room with hundreds of people and all the sudden the lights go down, and the music starts, and we are all transported through time to some world that is crafted and created to inspire, teach, change, influence, and entertain,” says Jessica. “For 90 minutes or more, we forget about our days, and everything else that exists outside of those doors, and we are only focused on the story on stage. Every single night is different, and it is such a rush! There is nothing like it!” The versatile actress seamlessly transitioned to television in superb performances in NBC’s New Amsterdam, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and currently as FBI Special Agent Maya Miller in Netflix’s Ozark. “Special Agent Maya Miller is a joy to play. She’s so smart and I love to play black women that are powerful and smart. She’s not perfect of course. But no one on Ozark is perfect,” exclaims Jessica. Not many actresses get an opportunity to perform on Broadway and appear in a hit series. But Jessica does so with ease. With theatre, they get four weeks for rehearsal, the curtain drops, and it’s show time. No cuts or numerous takes. Conversely, in television, performers rehearse as they shoot. They get many takes, the director gives tips, and the crew film from multiple angles. “They are such different beasts. The study of the character for me is the exact same though. When I’m doing my homework and dissecting the script, I use the same methods,” she says. “There are some fun things coming that I can’t wait to share. But for now, it’s in the vault. I’ll always post on my social media as soon as they let me say. So, stay tuned!”

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Cour tesy of Jessica Frances Dukes

UPDATE

NAVIGATOR

ONE LOVE

Three places to find joy in Jamaica W RIT T E N B Y SH E RYL NANC E - NASH

PORTLAND

The parish of Portland on Jamaica’s northeast coast is rain forests, stunning beaches, and a chill vibe. Raft the Rio Grande, explore the Folly Ruins, or soak up sun at Reach Falls, with its underwater cave, heart-shaped pool, mountain views and lush vegetation. Another sweet spot is Geejam Hotel, secluded, home to a music studio, and Rumba Rooms with more than 40 pieces of art. Bushbar is craft cocktails and elevated cuisine like jerked lambchops.

MONTEGO BAY

Jamaica’s third-largest city is renowned for the turquoise waters of Doctor’s Cave Beach. Thrill seekers get their fix ziplining through the jungle and snorkeling at Montego Bay Marine Park. Time your visit for the annual Reggae Sumfest in July. Eclipse at Half Moon is the place to stay. Choose among the Great House, estate homes or cottages. Pamper yourself at the 68,000 square-foot Fern Tree Spa, with overwater bungalows ideal for a couples’ massage.

SOUTH COAST

For a road less traveled, an hour from Negril is Bluefields. Perched along the hilly coast and overlooking the ocean you’ll find the Bluefields Bay villas, with private pool, butler, maid, full kitchen, chef, nanny, and elder care for seniors. Do as little or as much as you like. Arrange for dive tours, deep sea-fishing, glass-bottom boat cruises, or simply hang out in your gazebo, chill in a hammock and marvel at the sea. upscalemagazine.com

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Peter Taylor Ph otog raph y

UPDATE

Greg and Subrina Collier in their restaurant Leah & Louise

NAVIGATOR

HEAD SOUTH

Three Reasons to V isit Charlot te W RIT T EN B Y SH E RYL NANC E - NASH

HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS & CULTURE This should be at the top of your mustsee list. Be ready for powerful, political art as activism in a variety of mediums that tell stories of the African diaspora down through the ages. It’s also gathering place for music, film, dance, literature, and arts education programs. The 46,500-square foot institution is in the city’s central business district once a lively hub of the Black community that was razed in the 60s..

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LEAH & LOUISE

There’s a Black-owned food renaissance in Charlotte. Greg and Subrina Collier’s Leah & Louise restaurant stands out. It has a Beale Street Memphis, New Orleans speakeasy feel, sophisticated, cozy with touches like vintage velvet couches. It’s a mesh of southern goodness with a menu straight out of heaven, with favorites like Leah’s Cabbage and pan seared North Carolina fish, anticipate a flavor explosion. The restaurant gives back, offering a Pay What You Can community dish.

BAYHAVEN FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

The Colliers went next level with their inaugural BayHaven Food & Wine Festival, a 3-day event last October that brought in 60 Black chefs —mixologists, and Black-owned wine and spirit brands from around the U.S. and locally. The event, held at Camp North End, a 76-acre historical industrial site, was successful with its Harlem Renaissance theme, dinners, tastings, food truck carnival, jazz brunch, and more. Make your way to the next one this October.

UPDATE

Cour tesy of ABFF

FILM

CHANGE MAKER J eff F ri d ay’s Amer ican Black Film Fest ival B Y C H E L SYE J . B U R R O

IN JANUARY OF 1997, EAGER TO indulge his passion for independent films – particularly films by and about people of color, Jeff Friday attended the Sundance Film Festival for the first time. It was an incredible, amazing, and inspiring experience. But there was an undeniable lack of diversity and representation of people of color. Acutely aware of the underrepresentation of people of color in the entertainment industry, Jeff was determined to change it. Driven by the mantra “Because Hollywoodn’t”, he channeled his passion for film and belief that people of color deserve the same opportunities as their white counterparts. In 1997, Jeff founded the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). He was committed to diversity, showcasing world-class talent, and celebrating Black and Brown culture. Today, with his wife and partner Nicole, who serves as the festival’s president and general manager, they have created what is considered to be one of the most successful and prestigious events of its kind in the world. We caught up with Jeff to talk about ABFF and what’s next. How did you launch ABFF? I was president of the film division at UniWorld Group, a prominent multicultural advertising agency founded by Byron E. Lewis. When I shared my Sundance experience with Byron, he embraced my desire to make a change and advocate for Black filmmakers and creative artists. At the time, one of our largest advertising clients was the Mexican Tourism Board and they were interested in increasing Acapulco’s image as a Hollywood attraction. And so, with Byron’s support, Black Filmmaker Foundation President Warrington Hudlin, and the Mexico Tourism Board, we joined together to present the Acapulco Black Film Festival. That first year, some 90 people attended the festival, including many prominent Black artists, among whom were Debbie Allen, Halle Berry, Bill Duke, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, LisaRaye McCoy, Elise Neal, John Singleton, Morgan Freeman, Regina King, Robert Townsend, and Salli Richardson Whitfield. A strong camaraderie of artists, filmmakers,

and storytellers, eager to showcase Black content, was established. In 2002, I acquired complete ownership of the event, brought it stateside, and rebranded it the American Black Film Festival. How does ABFF continue to be relevant 26 years later? It was a huge milestone when we celebrated our 25th year. In 2019, we were faced with the coronavirus pandemic. We launched ABFF PLAY, our custom-built platform, to provide a virtual hosting venue for the 2020 and 2021 ABFFs. We were able to present the festivals’ complete lineup, attracting an audience of more than 75,000 across 95 countries. ABFF is one of the primary pipelines for the entertainment industry to discover Black creatives. We have supported some of today’s most talented Black actors, producers, writers, and directors, including Ryan Coogler, Steven Caple, Jr., Pete Chapman, Renaldo Marcus Green, Issa Rae, Roger Bobb, and others. We are excited to return to Miami Beach this June for a live event to celebrate 26 years of inspiring storytelling by and about people of color. What can we expect from ABFF in the next 25 years? Our work is not complete and there is no shortage of great stories and storytellers. We will continue to showcase the best in Black. ABFF Ventures is just one of the brands under the Jeff Friday Media (JFM), a global entertainment company umbrella. JFM was established in 2020 to produce events, film, television, and digital content focused on Black and Brown culture. Through our JFM brands including the aforementioned ABFF, ABFF PLAY, ABFF Honors, ABFF Comedy Festival, ABFF London Film Festival, and our production and distribution partnerships, we will continue to expand globally to create a cultural footprint that fosters equity in Hollywood and proves that diversity is good business. upscalemagazine.com

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GUTTER CREDITS

UPDATE

AUTOS

ELECTRIC AVENUE

The Volkswagon ID.4 electric SUV is winning raves at a price you will love BY UTAMU BELLE

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2022 Volkswagon ID.4 WITH A STARTING PRICE as low as $33,260 (after potential federal tax credit), the 2022 Volkswagon ID.4 electric SUV is winning raves at a price you’ll love. The new stylish, upgraded models of the award-winning electric vehicle is presently considered one of the least expensive of electric vehicles (EVs) on the market. With additional advanced smart features included in the new version 3.0, like wireless MSRP: apple car play and android auto, users’ reviews have indicated that the ID.4 is more sophisticated and fun to drive. $33,260 More features include improved safety technologies and an advanced automated driving suite- Travel Assist with Swarm Data. More interesting functions for the tech- savvy include Park Assist Plus with Memory, new touchscreen displays which include more information such as a low battery indicator, upcoming roundabout symbols and destination distances. There is also the panoramic moon roof along with the heated seats and steering wheels feature. Manufacturers have also included an increase in charging speed from a maximum of 135Kw as compared to the previous 125kW. Plus, there’s the added benefit of 30 minutes free fast recharging for three years with Electrify America- which currently boasts over 2000 recharging stations within the United States. With these amongst the new and improved features, the ID.4 is considered another favorite by EV lovers.

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SHAGGY BOB Skip the geometric bob and opt for something softer and super feminine. “This trend is for the ultra-polished creative,” observes star hair pro Tippi Shorter, who created this look as part of The Texpert Collective’s “Urbane” coif collection showcased on these pages. Deep pink highlights flow over a mauve base allowing the plush texture to give this version of the bob movement and momentum. Get The Look: “The cut was created using the Mizani AirCut Method to achieve volume and depth,” details Shorter about the haircutting technique that plays up volume on curly/coily hair. She then used Mizani Foam Wrap to enhance spirals and further pump up the silhouette.

HAIR

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT On-Trend Hair Moves To Illuminate Your Style BY JOCELYN AMADOR

Consider this your cheat sheet to what’s hot on the hair scene this season. It’s all here—from celebrity hair stylists’ forecasts, and the products needed to craft the latests looks, to an inspiring coif collection. And the trends are bold, bright and beautiful! “Everybody loves to color their hair in the Spring and Summer. It brightens up everything. It creates an amazing glow,” observes star hair pro Tippi Shorter, whose A-list clients include Rihanna, Regina King and Jennifer Lopez among others. Here, Shorter gives us a glimpse of what’s new with this amazing coif collection from The Texpert Collective (thetexpertcollective.com), her newest project that teaches professionals how to style textured hair. Now let’s get this trend season started… 18

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Ha ir by The Te x pe r t Collective: Tippi Shor ter, Kauilani Goodwyn & Shar melle Winsett. Makeup by Dominique Hall. Photos by Dan n y B our n e.

UPDATE

THE MAG Celebrity hair pro Tippi Shorter dubbed this look “The MAG” because it blends two popular bi-level cuts: the Mullet and the Shag. She keeps the silhouette soft and wispy, with no hard lines in sight. Muted pink gem tones create a gentle, dimensional color-block effect that’s so on-trend this season. Get The Look: Razor cutting keeps the layers soft, divulges Shorter about the technique that gives this cut a deconstructed feel. To further play up the feathery layers, she reached for a Mizani texturizing spray to give ends a piece-y effect.

POMP PIXIE Think of this silhouette as a pixie cut with an attitude, describes The Texpert Collective’s Kauilani Goodwyn. “This best represents trends of shorter hair as we move into the Spring/Summer season,” notes the cut’s creator. Longer lengths at the crown are painted with copper tones and pops of blonde which transition into a darker copper hue as the cut’s texture becomes tighter and the silhouette tapers along the perimeter. Get The Look: To create volume, Goodwyn styled this look via a wet set using both flexi rods and perm rods. The key is to position rods larger in diameter at the top, notes the stylist, who then switched to smaller rods positioned down the back. Priming hair prior to the set with a product cocktail consisting of leave-in conditioner and mousse delivers heat protection, conditioning and hold.

DIAMOND BOB Why go for a Power Bob when you can level up with the Diamond Bob? This jewel of a cut comes courtesy of The Texpert Collective’s Kauilani Goodwyn who gives this flared silhouette dimensional warmth with a light copper color contrasted against natural, darker roots. “This variation of the bob still looks classic, yet allows the hair to visually have movement due to the color placement and shape,” points out Goodwyn. Get The Look: “I started with a one-length bob. Then I layered it to create the shape so the expansion of texture would support it,” shares hair pro Goodwyn. Styling with a diffuser allows waves to bloom while an application of a heat protectant, layered with Mizani Perfect Coil Oil Gel (an oil-based gel that provides hold and moisture), elongates texture and further shapes the cut.

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DEEP WAVE Ready to grab even more attention? Wish granted. “This trend is all about color blocking. It’s designed to give exaggerated waves with color,” notes star stylist Tippi Shorter about a mane move combining two of this season’s most popular style details. Get The Look: “The hair was lightened using alternating patches on natural, black hair and finished with a deep crimson hue” reveals Shorter. To craft the texture, the stylist reached for L’Oreal Professional Tecni.Art Infinium 4 Hairspray (to provide hold and shine) and employed a waving iron to fashion the deep, dramatically defined waves.

ICONIC CURLS Full, unapologetic texture merged with color describes this stunning style created by The Texpert Collective’s Sharmelle Winsett. “The color graduation features three shades of red—violet red, red violet and fuchsia— applied from root to ends with brighter pops of color throughout,” points out the stylist. What makes this coif a success, says Winsett, relies on how the cut supports the shape. “Setting the hair so curls ‘bounce off’ each other instead of collapsing unto themselves, and expanding the curls with a pick from the interior (to keep exterior curls defined) is key,” says the hair pro. Get The Look: “This look was created with a flexi rod set,” shares Winsett, who also primed lengths with mousse prior to the set. “The resulting curls were separated and expanded to create a ‘good frizz’ and veiled with a curl finishing spray.”

GOLDEN CROWN Freestyle texture glazed with gold hits all the right style notes this season. And that’s just what The Texpert Collective’s Sharmelle Winsett delivered with this amazing look. Whether created on Natural lengths, or on a tighter textured human hair unit as shown here, the end result is glorious. Get The Look: “This look was created using a combination of finger styling, twists and comb coiling to set the look,” points out hair pro Winsett. After drying, the set is hand separated to allow for intentional expansion of texture throughout. The stylist suggests using a cream leave-in moisturizer, layered with an elongating product, to provide hold and imbue hair with moisture.

Continued on page 60 20

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Hair continued from page 20

As a celebrity hairstylist, L’Oreal Color Specialist and Mizani Global Artistic Director, Tippi Shorter not only knows trends, she sets them. Here she hones in on the mane moves we’ll be seeing everywhere this season. THE PIXIE—People are going for the Big Chop, but not to chop off the relaxer. They’re doing it to get the super-short cut. The cool thing about the pixie is it can be worn straight or curly. THE BIXIE—This cut is basically a bob and a pixie together. The front is a little bit longer so it looks more like a bob, but it has layers which still makes it a pixie. FULL VOLUME—Rounded layers, done on full curly cuts, are popular with women rocking natural texture. Everyone wants their hair to be the fullest, the most robust round shape possible. BRUSHED OUT—I’m loving the brushed out look on naturally textured hair. The lengths don’t have any definition and the effect is luxurious, beautiful and super full. If you’ve got relaxed hair, just dry it and skip the flat ironing. It makes your hair look super thick and healthy. COLOR MIX—Icy platinum color looks great on short styles while curls are popping with golden dimension. And, pastel colors create a light, airy effect on hair this season. Of course, these hair color effects should be done by professionals to protect the hair and get the best results.

C our tesy of Tippi S h or ter

TRENDING NOW: Mane Moves To Make

When celebrity Natural hairstylist Felicia Leatherwood isn’t styling some of Hollywood’s hottest Naturalistas (think Issa Rae and Ava DuVernay), she’s helping us show our curls some love as Founder of Brush with the Best, makers of the original Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush and other textured hair tools. Here, the hair pro calls out the top trends for Naturals this season… THE PONYTAIL is a forever trend. For 2022, we’ll most specifically see the “Full Princess Pony”—similar to Issa Rae’s wedding photo. We’ll also see high and low ponytails. BABY HAIR is the rage! It’s here now and we’ll see more people incorporating intricate baby hair looks in their everyday hairstyles to add individual style. BOHEMIAN LOCS are easy to maintain and a great protective style… We’ll see a lot of fake locs, of all colors and lengths, and people wearing a lot of very modern dreadlock hairstyles. These styles are temporary and give an opportunity to try something new without fully committing to locs. MOISTURIZED CURLS…Moisture is a curl’s BFF. It’s essential for hair and scalp health. During the warmer months, deep conditioning is a must to prevent breakage from the sun, heat. I love a great leave-in conditioner. In my opinion, leave-in conditioners are underrated but they add so much value to the hairstyle and can be used for multiple purposes. It provides the hair with another coating of moisture and nutrients for curl definition. 60

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Te al Mo ss

TRENDING NOW: News For Naturals

2 1 3

Check out the season’s best in urban wear from Nordstrom’s.

Thanks to Alexis R. Campbell at Nordstrom Phipps Plaza; Model Chri st i an C ook

Ready Wear

BY KADEEM N. KIL L IKEL LY

11 10 Clockwise from top left

1. Adidas Convertible track pants: $90; 2. Pangia organic shirt: $55; 3. Cross Colours Rugby: $95; 4. Bucket hat: $9; 5. Ahluwalia shirt: $495; 6. Ahluwalia long polo: $675; 7. Kids of Immigrants tote: $35; 8. Issey Miyake pants: $340; 9. Rag & Bone sneakers: $245; 10. Mimi Wata swim trunks: $95; 11. Organic shorts: $80; 12. Cross Colours patch tee: $55; 13. Rag & Bone handbag: $225 26

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POWER OF LOVE W ORDS BY L ESL IE E. ROYAL

STILL ON A NATURAL HIGH FROM THEIR MAGNIFICENT WEDDING AND ENCHANTING HONEYMOON, NATURI NAUGHTON-LEWIS OF POWER, NOTORIOUS, AND QUEENS FAME AND CELEBRITY TALENT MANAGER TWO LEWIS CAME DOWN TO EARTH LONG ENOUGH TO TALK LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND COMMITMENT AS WELL AS THEIR MUTUAL DESIRE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

P HOTOGR A P HS B Y STA NL O P HOTOGR A P HY

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ans have eagerly followed Naturi Naughton since her days in the girl group 3LW. She brings extraordinary depth to her characters in movies, TV, and theatre. That includes her exceptional role as Tasha St. Patrick, the ride-or-die wife of James St. Patrick aka Ghost played by Omari Hardwick, in the smash hit series Power, Lil’ Kim in Notorious, and Jill “Da Thrill” in Queens. Over her career, fans have been cheering on her achievements and expressing support in her disappointments. She continues to captivate her millions of followers globally. Naturally, they would rejoice with her as she wed the love of her life this past April at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. She married Two Lewis and is now Mrs. Naturi Naughton-Lewis. Two is the president of Owner’s District Management with clients including Hardwick, Brett Gray, and Marco McKinnis. His company has curated special events for the celebrity likes of A$AP Rocky, Cardi B, 50 Cent, and Kevin Hart. While Two recalls meeting Naturi several times in passing, it was when he was with Hardwick that Naturi remembers meeting him for the first time. They conversed while she sipped ginger tea. “It was in February 2019 that I really got a chance to connect with Two. He came into the studio with his client Omari Hardwick”, reminiscences Naturi fondly. “Omari and I were doing a song together and I think Two and Omari had a session. Omari was like you have to meet my team. You haven’t met Two yet. Two and I just started talking and you know, he just couldn’t resist.” There was a magnetic connection for sure. But Two didn’t want to rush the relationship. They would have to be friends first. The “Two Rule” is that there must be 365 days of friendship. It’s one that Naturi agrees with and affirmed that more couples should probably implement as well.

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I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE THIS MARRIAGE, THIS COMMITMENT, AND THIS LOVE IS SO UNIQUE

BECAUSE IT’S BASED IN GOD. LOVE STARTS WITH GOD… SO, I LOOK AT GOD’S LOVE AND JUST TRY TO EMULATE THAT. – Naturi Naughton-Lewis upscalemagazine.com

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ou gotta protect yourself from yourself. You gotta protect your own heart. And you gotta make sure that since you are a giving and loving person, you can’t give it to everybody because people will take,” says Two. “People are born naturally selfish and takers. We are taught to be selfless over time by our parents. So that’s one of the things I had to do to protect me from giving everything to a person.” At the end of one year, he asked her out on a date. Instead of flowers, he gave her a journal because she likes to write. They went shuffleboarding. Two said he thought the evening wasn’t going well. Naturi softly interjected that it was perfect. “It was all planned. He courted me. He told me what time to be ready. He’s romantic. He paid attention to every little detail. Our whole experience was really just fun. Let the record show that I won. Tell the people that I beat him,” said Naturi. While he playfully teased that he let her win, he agreed she won fair and square. “She won my heart too,” he added with a smile. Two days before Christmas in 2020, at a spectacular engagement photo shoot, he surprised her by getting on one knee and proposing marriage in the presence of her parents and daughter Zuri who was later the flower girl. Following pre-marital counseling by Pastor Montell Jordan and his lovely wife Kristin of Victory Church, the star-studded, magnificent wedding took place a little more than a year later. Naturi wanted the wedding to represent black royalty and selected lovely purple hues and other accents to reflect that. Her exquisite gown and bridesmaids’ dresses were styled by Vainglorious Brides. His regal tuxedo with an exclusively unique vest was designed by Ozwald Boateng. In the presence of loving family and friends, the couple recited their wedding vows which each had personally written. “I think it was very important to express, affirm, and profess our love to each other in a public forum in our own way and in our own voices and not just repeating after the pastor. We wanted everyone to be a witness to our love,” shared Two. He stresses that love is about caring for someone so deeply that it exceeds the love of one’s self and that marriage means you’ll be in that person’s life forever. As for commitment, you don’t get what you want all the time. Two believes men have to make sacrifices for and love on one’s wife in all that she’s going through and everything she does for the rest of her life. “Amen,” agreed Naturi. “You see why I married him right? Love means unconditional, unwavering support. Love is when you choose that person every single day. No matter what. Marriage is becoming one. I believe in marriage so much and the commitment that comes along with it. They’re almost twins – marriage and commitment. My parents have been married for 50 years and I am in awe of them. My grandparents were married for 65 years before they passed away. When I think of marriage, I think of being willing to sacrifice and be present in the relationship when it’s good and when it’s bad. Commitment means I stick it out with you.” The newlyweds recognize that being married means having lots of fun and continuing to get to know their mates over time. Who knew that Two was such a phenomenal dancer? Naturi discovered that on their wedding day when he and his groomsmen performed a medley of songs during the garter toss. Two realized what few people know and that is Naturi, like her character in Power, is the most loyal person to her friends through thick and thin.

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wo soon learned Naturi’s favorite things. The food is BBQ Chicken, BBQ ribs, and well, BBQ anything. The sport is basketball, place to travel is South Africa, TV show is This is Us, and movie is Love Jones. His favorite movie is Juice, TV show is Billions, and sport is football. Their marriage is off to a great start as they both agree that Love & Basketball is their close second movie. “Food? It’s easy for me. I love cereal. I’m a cereal connoisseur. I love Reese’s cereal, Frosted Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, Smacks, Honeycomb. I eat it all,” reveals Two. The couple hit the ground running upon their return from their honeymoon at a magnificent 5-star resort called Palafitos Overwater Bungalows in Tulum near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo in Mexico. Each has many amazing projects in the works. Naturi completed season one of the ABC series Queens, written by Zahir McGhee, alongside Brandy, Eve, and Nadine Valazquez. “It’s about four women of color who get a second chance to be in a group again. To follow their dreams of being in the music business,” says Naturi. “I got to do a collaboration with Wyclef Jean. We got to work with Remy Ma. It’s really surreal for me because I was actually in a girl group when I was a teenager. Girls are kind of adversarial sometimes. That’s what happened with Queens. So, I used some of my experiences of being hurt, by being ousted out of a group. I was devastated as a teenager. Thinking I was in one of the hottest girl groups and then literally, in a split second, I was back home in East Orange, New Jersey starting my whole career all over again. To be real, I definitely used some of the pain and hurt to pour into the character.” She’s got several exciting projects in the works including her directorial debut in a short film called Behind the Smile which will air this summer on BET Her in association with MegaMind Media. She wrote and directed a production called 333 in partnership with Swirl Films. Two is focused on his nonprofit On Track Georgia and the CreditRich app he started with Angel Rich to help build credit. They’ve got couples’ goals that include a production company on the horizon. “We’ve got lots of goals. We want to help other couples be inspired to be in love. We definitely want to start a group of married people or soon to be married people – particularly black couples,” says Naturi. We plan on doing like a trip or something just to inspire other young black couples.” Two joined in to share that they want to pour into others by organizing various types of enrichment activities that will enhance their lives. “Even if they are new couples, or married couples, or older couples. It’s peer-to-peer mentorship. We get to learn from other people, and they get to learn from us. Actually, we want to fix the home. Because if you can fix the home, you can fix a lot of issues in the world,” says the Atlanta, Georgia native. While they have immense love for and commitment to one another, they have stressed the importance of continuing to serve others through community service. Two also shared that he looks forward to expanding his family in the future. “That’s a couples’ goal. That is a goal. More babies,” Naturi lovingly and approvingly said as she snuggled up next to her new husband.

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Antasha Royal Wilson and Ibiyi Julius Wilson

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RISE AND SHINE

How to create a sunrise ceremony timeline for your wedding

W O RDS B Y C A SSA NDR A L . THOM A S

magine the birds beginning to sing as the bride and groom welcome the new day with the first rays of sunlight bearing witness. A Sunrise Wedding Ceremony is a unique celebration that is intimate, breathtaking, and refreshing. “It typically takes place on a beach or outside and begins at 6:30 am so that the wedding party and guests see the sunrise during the wedding ceremony,” says Bernadette Birch, event planner and designer for Over & B’yond Events. “The bride and groom would want to do this because it is a unique way to make their day memorable.” The key to everyone being able to see such a beautiful ceremony is precision planning and organization. Therefore, it is vitally important for the wedding party and guests to adhere to the timeline set forth by the coordinator so that the wedding begins promptly. “The beauty and the miracle of the sunrise as the blue sky is transformed with gold colors is an inexplicable experience that is worth capturing in the beauty of a wedding with the captivating joy of beginning a new life together,” says Kelly John, co-owner and vice-president of Georgia Palms and Gardens in Powder Springs, Georgia. Her stunning 6.5-acre event venue is complete with a Bed and Breakfast Inn, elegant outdoor ballroom nestled in lush greenery and flowers, and a gorgeous gazebo. Birch’s company specializes in creating unforgettable memories for weddings and other special events. Upscale enlisted her help in creating a practical timeline for an on-site Sunrise Wedding that will be useful in keeping everything and everyone on track on the special day. 3:00 a.m. – 3:15 a.m.: The Wedding Party Awakens Freshen up a little and make your way to your designated breakfast area. 3:15 a.m. – 3:45 a.m.: Enjoy a Light Breakfast “Plan a nice continental breakfast. Anything else will be a bit too heavy for that time of morning,” says Birch. The cuisine can include bagels and cream cheese, smoked salmon, fruit, cereal, yogurt with granola, juices, coffees, and teas. 3:45 a.m. – 4:45 a.m.: Hair and Makeup for the Ladies “Keep it simple since it is an early ceremony. Bridesmaids and flower girls get their hair done the night before and can freshen

up the next morning,” advises Birch. “As for the bride, you and your hair stylist should come up with a simple, yet stunning hairstyle for that morning. Add your favorite flower or adornment to enhance your look. Since it’s early in the morning, makeup should be light and natural.” 4:45 a.m.– 5:15 a.m.: Get Dressed The bridal party will begin to get dressed. If you like, have prayer or meditation with each respective group. Pass out boutonnieres, corsages, and bouquets. 5:15 a.m. – 5:45 a.m.: Pre-Ceremony Indoor Photos for Respective Bridal Groups Get pics of the bride alone and with members of her bridal party including bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride. Get pics of the groom alone and with his groomsmen. 5:45 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.: First Look Photos for the Bride and Groom This is a private and sentimental moment for the couple. It also makes for one of the best photo ops, “I typically connect with the photographer beforehand to select an intimate space on the property for the bride and groom to take memorable First Look pics,” says Birch. 6:00 a.m.– 6:15 a.m.: Wedding Party Line Up and Guests are Seated At this time, ushers can allow guests to go outside to be seated on the beach, in the courtyard, or on the terrace. The musicians will begin to play selected melodies. 6:30 a.m.: The Sunrise Ceremony Begins Love is in the air and it’s time to witness the breathtaking ceremony. The photographers and guests can take photos as the sun peeks over the horizon. To contact Bernadette Birch of Over & B’Yond Events, visit her website. www.OverAndByondEvents.com. To contact Georgia Palms and Gardens, visit www.GeorgiaPalmsAndGardens.com. TIPS FROM OVER & B’YOND EVENTS

1. If the sunrise ceremony is just a little too early for some guests, offer the option of attending the reception and other festivities later in the morning. 2. Provide blankets or encourage guests to bring a wrap if it’s cool. 3. Have a small champagne toast over the continental breakfast to commemorate the day. upscalemagazine.com

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AWAY WE GO! When love, romance and saying “I Do” means exciting travel too

W O RDS B Y K ITTY J . P OP E

hether it is to a tropical beach, blissful waterfall, or unique site with cultural heritage, destination weddings are growing in popularity. Many couples are traveling to exclusive destinations for their wedding ceremony as well as their honeymoon. From Mexico to the Caribbean and beyond, excited couples are opting to journey to locations around the globe to repeat the two-word vows of “I do.” Destination weddings provide adventurous experiences for couples as well as their family and friends in attendance. When visiting another country, the wedding party and attendees get an opportunity to indulge in the culture, sample authentic cuisine, and enjoy the unique entertainment of the country. Many couples are also choosing to embark on a destination wedding cruise as it is less hectic, requires minimal planning, and is mostly all-inclusive. Destination weddings do not have to break the bank and are oftentimes less expensive than traditional weddings at home. For destination weddings, planning is key and should be done well in advance. An exceptional destination wedding planner can assist with selecting the wedding venue, reserving guestrooms at the resort or hotel, and arranging travel for the wedding party and guests. One such person is Brenda O’Neale of the award-winning With This Ring Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Travel Agency. She can assist in pinpointing the perfect place to visit. For example, Mexico is a popular local for couples who are looking for an unforgettable destination wedding as well as honeymoon experience. A country rich in culture, visitors can enjoy the cosmopolitan life of the cities and historic adventures of the colonial towns. Delicious culinary experiences are offered while guests can relax on beaches from the east to west coast. The capital, Mexico City, is home to Proyecto Publico Prim. This popular venue is a place of preference for a growing number

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of couples. Located in the heart of the bustling metropolis, this historical venue celebrates culture and creativity while offering a beautiful backdrop for one-of-a-kind wedding ceremonies. Bride-to-be Ashela Pope chose Proyecto Publico Prim for not only its grandeur, but because of her love for Mexico and its culture. Having visited over 25 countries and its cities, she says Mexico City is one of her favorites. This is which is why she and her fiancé Bunna Lim decided to have their destination wedding there. “I had heard so much about this venue, so I flew down to meet with the wedding planner and to take a tour of Proyecto Publico Prim. As soon as I entered the building, I knew in my heart that it was the right venue for me,” explained Ashlea. The couple is excited about their Mexican destination wedding set for February 2023. Lavonne and Rob Powell, of Atlanta, Georgia also decided on Mexico for their honeymoon. Their unique engagement party was held at the High Museum. The intimate wedding was held in the lush, picturesque garden of the Wahoo! Grill in Decatur, Georgia. Because they wanted a location that is relaxing as well as invigorating, they chose Playa Del Carmen. They stayed at the all-inclusive Occidental Royal Hideaway Playacar located right on the beach. “Playa Del Carmen was only a little over a two-hour flight, and I packed very lightly, mostly loungewear and a different bikini for the 5 days that we spent there,” says Lavonne. “We got to go shopping, dine at different themed restaurants, spend most of the time relaxing on the beach, or chilling in the beautiful resort.” The Powells felt the adults-only resort was the perfect setting for their memorable escape. To learn more about Mexico, go to VisitMexico.com. To schedule an appointment with wedding planner Brenda O’Neale, visit https:// www.withthisringdwh.com/.

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SOUTHERN CULTURE Chef Kevin Mitchell to Headline Taste of Gullah on St. Simons Island, Georgia WO RDS BY LESLIE E. ROYAL

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Peas and Greens

A Recipe from Taste of the State by Kevin Mitchell and David S. Shields INGREDIENTS 1-pound dried black-eyed peas or sea island red peas, soaked overnight (black-eyed peas from Marsh Hen Mill or Sea Island Reds from Anson Mills) 2 sprigs thyme 4 cloves garlic, divided (2 whole and 2 finely chopped) 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil 1 small onion, finely diced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon curry powder ½ teaspoon ground turmeric 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained 1 cup vegetable stock 1 can coconut milk 2 bunches of collard greens of your choice, bottom stems removed, chopped (any local or from Nat Bradford) salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS Drain soaked peas, place in a large pot, and cover with plenty of cold water. Add thyme, 2 garlic cloves and a generous amount of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, about an hour. Once peas are tender, remove pot from heat, let stand 5 minutes, then drain. Reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid and set aside. In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium-low; add the onion and cook until tender, about 10 minutes, then add ginger, garlic, red pepper flake, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the curry powder and turmeric and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the stock, coconut milk, and reserved cooking liquid to pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce thickens a bit, about 20 minutes. Add the peas to the sauce and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the peas are lightly coated, about 10 minutes. Stack kale leaves on top of one another, roll tightly, and slice into thin ribbons. Fold greens into peas and remove pot from stove (greens will cook from the residual heat). Adjust seasonings and serve as is or over rice. To get more delicious recipes from Taste of the State, visit www.USCpress. com/Taste-the-State

Annually, the Saint Simons African American Heritage Coalition hosts its Taste of Gullah event to give visitors and locals an opportunity to experience authentic and modern Gullah cuisine. Held at the Historic Harrington School Cultural Center, this year’s event on Friday, June 17, 2022, will include live entertainment, a tour of the celebrated school, and storytellers. Few are better suited to narrate the extraordinary backstory of southern, Gullah, and lowcountry cuisine than renowned Chef Kevin Mitchell. Chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, South Carolina Chef Ambassador, Chef Scholar, and co-author of Taste of the State: South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories, he is a much sought-after speaker and historian. He will be having a discussion and signing books. “It is important for me to take part in the Taste of Gullah because it allows me to honor the beautiful heritage that is Gullah culture,” says Chef Kevin. “I am a chef trained in classical French

cuisine. However, my focus is on the food of the American South. I chose this food because of the significance it has played on American cuisine. It also allows me to honor the enslaved cooks on which shoulders I stand upon.” He was inspired to cook by his beloved grandmother Doris who began teaching him at the tender age of six. Raised in a single parent home, he and his three brothers spent a considerable amount of time with their grandmother while his mother worked. “She would always allow my brothers to go out and play and keep me in the kitchen with her. One day I asked why she would not let me go out and play and she would always tell me that she or my mother would not be around to cook and clean for us, so I needed to learn how,” reminisces Chef Kevin. “I believe that she saw something in me, and I have been in the kitchen ever since.” To purchase tickets to Taste of Gullah, visit www.ssiHeritageCoalition.org.

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Escape to Luxury Accommodations at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

uilt on St. Simons Island in 1935, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort features stunning parlors, a ladies’ lounge, oceanfront accommodations, a ballroom, an outdoor palm garden, a cardroom, and stained-glass window murals. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it has been a must-visit destination for generations of families, couples, civic organizations, and special event attendees. The resort features 195 varying accommodations including 141 hotel guestrooms and suites, 6 unique beach cottages, and 48 spacious villas. The cottages, villas, and residences feature full kitchens with up to four bedrooms. The iconic property continues to be a popular destination as visitors seek to get rejuvenated, renewed, and refreshed in beautiful surroundings. To make reservations, visit www.KingAndPrince.com.

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Bask in the Oceanfront Dining Experience of ECHO ECHO features a spectacular oceanfront view as you feast on fabulous low country cuisine and international fare. For breakfast, try the smoked salmon plate, praline French toast, and seafood omelet. Maple pecan chicken salad sandwich, pimento cheese hummus, and she-crab soup will make for a delicious lunch. Coastal cobb salad, Atlantic grouper, and smoked oyster & artichoke Dip will be great for dinner. Sited in The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, this restaurant allow guests to relax on the sandy beaches with cocktails like a St. Simons Island Sunrise, Pear & Cranberry Bellini, Peach & Blackberry Muddle, White Peach Sangria, and Prince’s Paloma.

Delight in the Incredible Cuisine of the Georgia Sea Grill This remarkable St. Simons Island restaurant features specially curated low country cuisine. The upscale eatery offers the freshest of produce from Potlikker Farm, sustainably farmed catfish from Satilla Ponds, and quality locally sourced ingredients. The end result, to stunning effect, is delectable menu items such as crab-stuffed hush puppies, smoked fish dip, fried pimento cheese, low country crab soup, Satilla Ponds fried catfish, corn battered fried Georgia shrimp, herb-crusted lamb racks, house-made desserts, craft beer, and wines. Consider the excellent Reserve Wine List with varietals from Flowers Vineyard, Cakebread Cellars, Chateau Mongravey, and Goldschmidt Vineyards. To make reservations, visit www.GeorgiaSeaGrill.com.

About St. Simons Island It is the largest barrier island in the Golden Isles of Georgia and is internationally known for scenic salt marshes, historic lighthouse, and inviting sandy beaches. upscalemagazine.com

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SOUTHERN CULTURE Chef Kevin Mitchell to Headline Taste of Gullah on St. Simons Island, Georgia WO RDS BY LESLIE E. ROYAL

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Peas and Greens

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Escape to Luxury Accommodations at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

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ALL ALONG THE FLORIDA RUM TRAIL A taste-filled journey into the Sunshine State’s small rum distillery world WORDS BY H AL P EAT

Agritourism in the American south takes on a whole new flavor nowadays when it comes to exploring Florida beyond its big city and beach scene. Emerging within the wider coastal and inland landscapes of the Sunshine State lies an intriguing trail of rural to semi-urban locations that are have become home to individually operated rum distilleries in recent decades. Together they form a vibrant and thriving collection of authentic smaller distilleries that have found this state to be the ideal ground for creating their own rum identities. So where can today’s visitor gain some initial direction into this Florida rum-based world? One way to understand the variety and map your way into this regional rum landscape is to check into the long-standing Miami Rum Festival, which happens each year in the city of Coral Gables. It’s an ideal event for Florida rums to showcase their blends, and a useful starting point for sampling the rums to be found out there regionally. We asked the Festival’s longtime proprietor and rum expert Rob Burr about the driving forces that have fueled the growth of native Floridian rum distilleries, and he summarizes it this way: “Florida has sugar cane, and plenty of molasses production — therefore Florida is an ideal place to make rum.” With that general awareness, we set out to touch base with some of these regional rum entrepreneurs, and understand how their working distilleries were making their mark up and down this state.

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ALLIGATOR BAY DISTILLERS Punta Gorda, Florida

Head north from Ft. Myers and along Florida’s southwestern coast until you reach the inlet and town of Punta Gorda. Here you come across the family-owned and operated small batch distillery known as Alligator Bay Distillers, While you won’t encounter gators on the premises, you will find a friendly and thriving business in brother owners Alexander and Benjamin Voss, who began producing their line of rums just in 2015. As Benji Voss explains about their intended rum identity, it was really about “creating our current flavors to maximize consistency and provide a subtle difference to industrial produced blends. As a craft distillery, we want to be different but not so different that it turns a guest to question what rum should taste like.” How to be distinct but still recognizable in rum flavors, is what you observe on the tour here: “Being Floridian, we want to create a rum crafted using Florida cane. We also mention on our distillery tours that alcohol is a cultural experience relatable to the regional crops of the community the distillery produces in,” Voss also notes. Location is also key in other respects: “We enjoy the proximity of our location to the interstate and sugar mill. We’re located 2 miles of I-75, exit 164. We’re 80 miles west of the Clewiston sugar mill where we source our raw blackstrap molasses.” What lies ahead for Alligator Bay? “Our product offerings will also include our reserve series this year,” he adds, with a view into the future to expand distribution beyond Florida. Meanwile, visitors here gain a first-hand insight on how a young but traditional approach to rum achieves a distinctive range of blends on a scheduled free tour of the operating rooms - and of course a tasting of the results. (www.alligatorbaydistillers.com)

SUGAR SAND DISTILLERY Lake Placid, Florida You couldn’t look for a more central Florida home than what Sugar Sand Distillery enjoys here in the Highlands county town of Lake Placid. Seated within a ten-acre sugar cane estate, the emphasis at this small batch distillery is building on the origins of rum – being white rum – and then its refinement into labels of aged, spiced, and of course unmistakable white blends. “Our aged rum takes years to bring to market and we use only new American white oak charred barrels, think new bourbon barrel, the spiced rum is a crowd pleaser for the masses,” explains founder Don Davies. And while Sugar Sand has only been distilling its rums for just over four years, its approach to an authentic Florida identity of its own has a strong basis with its earlier experience here with other spirits which include finer “moonshine” whiskey, vodka and gins. In fact, location was always central in every sense here – with Sugar Sand having the distinction of being the only “estate grown” sugar cane distillery in all North America and Hawaii: “We owned the land for eight years before we planted the cane farm and its actual proximity to Henscratch Winery made it a good choice. Since we opened, another winery has opened around the corner from us,” Davies adds about the practical decisions here. Nowadays, this ambitious mid-Florida operation seems to thrive on its farm-to-bottle small handcrafted rum production. The gates are open here at Sugar Sands on a Saturday for scheduled tours to connoisseurs and new enthusiasts alike to sample a free tasting and take a way a bottle of their favorite aged, spiced or white rum specialty. (www.sugarsanddistillery.com)

PALMER’S TROPICAL RUM Dunedin, Florida

Just north of Clearwater on the state’s Gulf Coast, the town of Dunedin with its beaches and park preserves is now also home to the thriving distillery of Palm’s Tropical Rum. Named after founder Dean Palmer and his partners Michael Cotherman and Tara Cupp at Cotherman Distilling, the entire production takes place onsite here - from fermentation, to distillation, to bottling and hand labeling. As Dean Palmer recalls: “Our original goal was to produce historically-correct, barrel-aged artisan rum. We started out with a few sources of sugarcane products starting with raw panela sugar and molasses, and ending up using pure Florida sugar cane molasses with nothing else added. Our variations became based on the molasses blend (recipe and fermentation) size of the barrel, the prior use of the barrel, source of the barrel, and the time spent in the barrels. This produced a variety of profiles. Our flagship barrel-aged rum is Crockett’s Special Reserve which spends a minimum of two years in a former whiskey or bourbon barrel at 120 proof, and is then proofed down to 80 proof with no added flavors, colors, sweeteners.” Attention to detail at every step is clearly a key rule at Palmer’s Tropical. “From there we have a variety of special editions which have a variable in the formula and barrel,” Dean also points out. And then there is the line of flavored rums he and his partners have achieved that have a strong appeal: “Our three most popular brands are Palmer’s Dark, Mr. Tiki Pineapple Rum, and Rum King Spiced Rum. Our Dark Rum is the biggest seller across our Florida West Coast market, and is our version of a dark Jamaican-style rum, Mr. Tiki is gaining quite the following as it is not only flavorful, but is also of very high quality and can be enjoyed neat or over an ice cube. Our newest, Rum King, is a complete departure from our traditional “spiced rum” formulas and was originally meant to be a spicy shooter, but has evolved into a favorite of the rum & cola drinkers.” Nowadays, he and his partners welcome visitors on a tour of their facility where everything is “made by hand at every step of the process and only released as a product that can stand on its own when served neat.” (www.cothermandistillery.com)

WICKED DOLPHIN DISTILLERY Cape Coral, Florida

Being close to a region of sugar cane fields was also a decisive factor in the emergence of Wicked Dolphin Distillery, now celebrating its first decade in Cape Coral, near Ft. Myers and along the Gulf of Mexico. This family-run enterprise relies on Florida sugar and local sourced incredients to produce their fine handcrafted, small batched labels. As Wicked Dolphin’s president, JoAnn Elardo, remarks about the regional qualities and appeal here: “Wicked Dolphin has worked with local farmers, bars, resorts and restaurants to come up with flavors our community and visitors would like. We have stayed with our original goals in creating these flavors through our entire line of of 14 rums.” That emphasis on home-grown, locally sourced and regionally inspired has worked out well over the years since opening: “Wicked Dolphin Distillery was the first in Florida to sell alcohol from their Distillery. Our distillery is about 30 minutes from the fertile sugar cane fields, which produce about 50% of the sugar cane grown in the U.S.A. It was the perfect spot for us to be close to the farms but also a highly visited area with beautiful beaches,” Elardo summarizes. Wicked Dolphin also boasts the use of the largest operating American copper pot still in south Florida, along with an aging process in American White Oak barrels formerly used to hold Kentucky bourbon for up to 14 years. Guests can tour Wicked Dolphin and sample the results of the fine ingredients and craftsmanship that have gone into their award-winning, allFloridian rums. Before you hit the rum trail If you can’t make it to the Rum Festival, then take along a copy of Rob’s Rum Guide, either in print or online at www.robsrum.com - it’s the big picture of the rum world with some closeups of Florida’s presence within it. (www.wickeddolphin.com)

Cour tesy of Jackie’s Boy

SPOTLIGHT

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MUSIC

C our tesy of A n g ela Marie H utch in so n

NEW LEVEL UNLOCKED

SINGER/SONGWRITER JACKIE’S BOY TAKES HIS CHART-TOPPING SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL BY UTAMU BELLE

Before he became known as a Grammy Award- winning singer/songwriter, Jackie’s Boy had already written and produced chart- topping hits for celebrities like Madonna and Flo Rida under his pen name Carlos Battey. He has written 12 songs that succeeded to the #1 spot on Billboard’s HOT 100 charts and sold over 18 million albums. “Suga”, by Flo Rida- one of the first songs he co-wrote with another artist made it to #3 on the Billboard charts and sold 1.5 million copies. After going multi-platinum with Flo Rida, he wrote the Grammy-winning song “Revolver” for Madonna. But the multi-talented Jackie’s Boy tells Upscale magazine that writing for artists was somewhat accidental. “I always wrote songs for myself because I assumed everyone else did. It wasn’t until I arrived in Los Angeles that I realized how valuable a talent songwriting is. While I was street performing a mix of covers and originals in Santa Monica, California, A & R executives from various record companies would ask about my original music and if I could write for their artists. It was their interest in my songs that sparked the songwriting bug”, he says. He notes how exciting it is to watch artists in their elements and how amazing it feels to hear stories of how his songs have helped people fight depression. The Savannah, Georgia native notes that after being diagnosed with a tumor called Ameloblastoma in his jaw in 2016, he felt as though he was wasting valuable time by not using his own voice. “So, I prayed and asked God to give me a chance to sing again and help uplift through my music”, he says. Jackie’s Boy has since recovered and is now re-inventing himself as an artist, businessman, actor and Co-Founder of Big Circle Music Group. Check out his latest video for the song “Recipe.”

FILM

HOLLYWOOD LIFE ANGELA MARIE HUTCHINSON IS HELPING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR ASPIRING SCREENWRITERS BY LESLIE E. ROYAL

Angela Marie Hutchinson came upon writing movies when she envisioned certain characters and scenarios. After sharing the concept with her Mom, she inspired her to write her first script. Since that time, the multi-faceted, exceedingly talented Hutchinson has become a showrunner, screenwriter, founder of BiH Entertainment production company, and author of Create Your Yes! – a book that gives readers practical tips to on how to create success in their own personal lives. Even with all of her demanding work, she finds the time to help others through her nonprofit. “BReaKiNG iNTo HoLLyWooD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that I founded in 2005 to help entertainment professionals pursue their careers with creativity, enthusiasm, and integrity. We host educational networking events focused on the arts and media. The organization strives to inspire its members and creative community-at-large to achieve their career dream,” says Hutchinson. She’s realized her own personal dreams in so many areas including being the creator and executive producer of the Facebook Watch series Asking for a Friend, writer and producer of

Hollywood Chaos now streaming on NBCUniversal’s Peacock, producer of Diva Diaries, and director of Something About Larray. She is also the writer for OWN’s A Christmas for Mary starring Vivica Fox and Jackée Harry. It has aired many times since its premier in 2020. “During production, it feels like life is nonstop work. Thankfully, I am also a wife and mother of three young children so that forces me to maintain a work-life balance. But throughout any production from pre to post, it can be a very demanding schedule with back-to-back work meetings with writing team, department heads, and production company execs,” says Hutchinson. But she finds her profession a very rewarding one. She’s showing no signs of slowing down either. She’s developing a game show concept with a prominent production company, in discussions with publishers about a new book, and is helping others elevate their careers. “I’m extremely passionate about helping others achieve their dreams. Through the rejection and Nos that I’ve experienced throughout my life, [they] have been extremely useful experiences in helping me to navigate my path to success,” says Hutchinson.

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NEXT LEVEL BY JOCELYN AMADOR

Grooming for the Modern Male For today’s man, grooming isn’t a game. It’s a lifestyle. Mixing substance with style via tech innovations and wholistic ingredients is where it’s at for the modern male. And these new personal care products and tools are what it takes to level up.

2 inCRED At Home Cordless Clipper by Andis delivers exactly what you need to keep your at-home haircuts and personal grooming on point. The inCRED Cordless Clipper’s innovative design and slim profile makes it incredibly user-friendly and allows for cordless barbering with the longer charge, fade-free power of Lithium-Ion battery technology. It also includes ten attachment combs, an adjustable stainless-steel blade, a barber comb, stainless-steel shears, blade brush and oil…all packed in a sleek storage case. $39.97 / walmart.com

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SCurl Beard Wash from Luster Products helps cleanse, soften and condition beards for the ultimate in beard care maintenance. It gently, yet effectively, cleanses beard and the facial skin beneath. Shea butter, aloe vera gel and olive oil moisturize, soothe and nourish as the sulfate-free formula works to remove excess oils while imparting shine. Free from harsh ingredients that can dry out beard or face, SCurl Beard Wash can be used daily and is also great for shampooing the hair. $7.99 / lusterproducts.com

3 Bevel 2-in-1 Exfoliating Pads, part of the Bevel Skin collection, are pre-soaked toner pads formulated with 10% Glycolic Acid to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and minimize the occurrence of ingrown hairs. After cleansing the face and skin beneath beard hair, gently massage the exfoliating pad on to dry skin. Made for PM use only (do not use on freshly shaven skin or before sun exposure), Bevel 2-in-1 Exfoliating Pads make a great addition to an evening skin care regimen. $13.95 / target.com

5 4 Power Wave Boar Brush is a major player in every grooming kit. Part of the Kiss Colors & Care x Bow Wow limited edition mens styling collection, it features 100% high-density natural boar bristles that help to create natural shine while brushing the hair. The Power Wave Boar Brush’s curved profile also contours to the head for enhanced styling and is available in two designs: curved palm or curved handle. $10.59 / KISSColors.com

Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner, part of the hair collection from indie grooming brand Scotch Porter, focuses on the care needs of coily, kinky and wavy hair types. This lightweight moisturizer, formulated with Biotin, is made for daily use and helps to intensely hydrate hair. Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner keeps moisture locked in while smoothing and defining texture. $11.99 / scotchporter.com

6 Bevel Pro All-in-One Clipper + Trimmer is a grooming game changer designed for both the professional barber and the home styler. Technologically advanced features include the world’s first leverless electronic gap adjustment, activated with just the touch of a button. The Pivot Lock Magnetic Guards, a patented design that enables guards to snap on with magnets and securely stay on for the duration of the cut, makes traditional spring clip guards a thing of the past. Easily switch from clipper to trimmer by snapping on/off the included clipper and trimmer blades. Plus, the LED Display delivers precise gap adjustments (from 0.0-2.5mm at 0.1mm increments) while a blue battery indicator ring lets you know how much juice is left so you’re never caught off guard. $329 / getbevel.com

7 Hydrating Beard + Skin System from H.I.M-istry takes a therapeutic approach to the beard growing experience. A rich combination of natural ingredients (like acai berry extract, argan oil, grapeseed oil and hyaluronic acid) work in tandem to help hydrate both skin and hair while reducing skin irritation and boosting beard growth. The 3-product Hydrating Beard + Skin System set includes: Acai Berry Beard & Face Cleanser, Hyaluronic & CoQ10 Moisturizing Serum and Argan & Grapeseed Face/Beard Oil. $57.99 / himistry.com upscalemagazine.com

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LEADING MAN MOVES Celebrating the business of Black Love, Bravo’s newest reality-TV series Love Match Atlanta gives a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of several of ATL’s hottest matchmakers including Joseph Dixon, CEO/ Founder and Matchmaker at RealBlackLove.com. He started his “Real Black Love” dating app in 2013, quickly growing it to have nearly 500,000 members (even meeting his girlfriend and eventual business partner through the dating app). Here, he shares the keys to his grooming success. STYLE HISTORY: I learned how to cut my hair at a young age, I believe around 13 [because] I got tired of my mother messing up my hair. I have been cutting my own hair ever since. It definitely did not start out pretty; I got clowned hard from some of my mess ups. But by the time I got to 11th grade and all through college I was pretty decent—nothing like being a college student and not worrying about a haircut. For the most part I am never without a haircut, shape-up or five-o’clock shadow. THE BUSINESS OF GROOMING: Appearance is everything when it comes to business and dating. We all should want to look our best and dress to impress. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. I think being well groomed plays a major part in how potential clients perceive me. For the most part, the people that take pride in their appearance are usually the people that are keen on other aspects of their life as well. PERSONAL BEST: I use Nioxin to grow my hair and beard fuller, when I decide to grow it out. After a hot shower I take a quarter size of Softee Indian Hemp and massage it into my hair and scalp. I love the product because It is not too greasy, it’s light, makes great curl patterns, helps with hair growth/strength...and it smells good, too. I trim and shape my beard with my Wahl edgers. I prefer not to put blades on my skin seeing I have very sensitive skin and shaving helps grow bumps. GROOMING PHILOSOPHY: Your style should represent who you are. I always say: Be yourself from the first date—and that incorporates for your style, wardrobe and grooming.

8 CHI Man Text(ure) Me Back Shaping Cream is what you’ll reach for when it’s time to boost your style! Formulated with Vitamin E, Antioxidants and Aloe Vera, CHI Man Text(ure) Me Back Shaping Cream is a pliable, medium hold styler. What makes it unique: It’s blended with fibers to help create thicker, fuller styles imbued with texture. Pareben and cruelty free, it’s formulated with Oud Fragrance and leaves no residue behind. $20 / chi.com

9 Spongelle Supreme Buffer is a luxurious sponge infused with a triple butter body wash that will forever change your shower experience. Moisturizing cocoa butter, nourishing shea butter and Vitamin A enriched mango butter is released with every use of the Spongelle Supreme Buffer while black tea and coffee extracts help skin feel smooth and rejuvenated. In addition, the buffer’s invigorating scent of Cedar Absolute is the ideal fragrance to kick-start the day, take to the gym or refresh in the evenings. Expect this all-in-one treatment to cleanse, scrub and hydrate for 20+ washes. $20 / spongelle.com

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Joseph Dix on : C our tesy B ravo- TV.

Talking Style With Love Match Atlanta Star Joseph Dixon

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inEDGE One Blade Trimmer from Andis is a new at-home device designed to help maintain facial and body hair. It’s for use in or out of the shower to trim and shave the face, body, eyebrows, ear and nose hair. Effortless, affordable and easy for on-thego use, the inEDGE One Blade Trimmer is powerful and offers interchangeable heads, unlike any other single-bladed trimmers of its kind. $49.99 / walmart.com

Mielle Oats & Honey Soothing Scalp Stick is the key to calming a bothersome dry scalp. Specially designed for a sensitive scalp, the convenient stick provides the hydration the scalp deserves. Ingredients such as oats, honey, olive, mango and shea butter in the Mielle Oats & Honey Soothing Scalp Stick combine to saturate and nourish the scalp, helping leave it calm and refreshed. $6.99 / mielleorganics.com

Scotch Porter Nourishing Beard Mask is the next grooming frontier of beard care as a form of self care. Designed to provide intense hydration for dry, dull or coarse beards, the Scotch Porter Nourishing Beard Mask is infused with clean and natural ingredients such as Shea Butter and Sunflower Oil. The product’s two-step process creates a personal self-care experience by first coating and massaging the beard with the Nourishing Beard Conditioner then followed by placing the Nourishing Beard Mask gently on face and neck to deep condition the beard. The result: a soft, manageable and ready-to-style beard. $10 / scotchporter.com

GROOMIMNG COLLAB

Bow Wow: Cour tesy KI SS.

Q&A With Rapper & Actor Bow Wow “From the jump, I’ve been a fan of the KISS brand and everything they do to help us push the culture through hair,” says rap artist/actor Bow Wow about his role as a KISS brand ambassador and the collaboration for the brand’s mens collection, KISS Colors & Care x Bow Wow Collection—which includes five products ranging from brushes to durags. Here, the star takes questions about his approach to individual style and teases what fans can expect from him later this year… How would you describe your grooming vibe? For my lifestyle my grooming style is always simple, easy and low maintenance. What do you reach for when it’s time to style it up? Every one knows I like to switch up my hair from time to time—from braids, waves, twists or whatever mood I’m in at that moment. I always have to keep my KISS Colors & Care products with me for every hair change, including the Power Wave velvet durags, Twist King twist brush and my Power Wave Boar Brush. I got to have all. What role do you think durags play in style? The durag is one of those I-can’t-live-without items for every one of my hair styles. I think that speaks for a lot of people who rock braids and waves; both [hairstyles] have been around forever. And, back in the day, you would see people wearing scarves or their mom’s stockings just to lay their braids and waves down. Now, you have a product like the durag that has evolved into a fashion accessory for men and women. Of all the styles you’ve worn during your hair evolution, do you have any favorites? Man, that’s a tough one. But I would have to say the braids because that style really stood out for me early in my career with the fans, both male and female. They could really relate to the braids. Second [look] would be the waves because it’s a whole movement that never goes out of style. What projects can fans look forward to from you? I have some TV and film projects in the works but that’s all I can say on that right now. You will definitely catch me out on tour this year along with some new music. upscalemagazine.com

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REEDY CHAPEL J un e teent h C elebr at ion BY SHERYL NANCE-NASH

ALL ACROSS AMERICA ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH there will be Juneteenth celebrations commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. While the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln took effect January 1, 1863, it wasn’t until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, that the enslaved learned that slavery was abolished. Reedy Chapel AME Church was one of the stops where the General Order #3 was read. Former slaves marched from the courthouse to Reedy Chapel AME Church to pray. Relive the history with a full day of events at the church built in 1848 -- 11 a.m. worship, block party from 1-6 p.m. and at 6 p.m., a Freedom March. Reedy has one of the oldest pipe organs in the state, and is one of two of its type in the country, the other is housed at the Smithsonian. In 1866 the church and land were deeded to the former slaves. Reedy is the mother church of African Methodism in Texas. For more information, www.reedychapel.com, 2015 Broadway, Galveston.

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