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| YOURS TRULY and Lisa West |
HEY OUTSTAGRS!
WE ARE BACK.....
ON STAGE!!
So, it has been many minutes since the last time this blog has been used to report on arts and entertainment events going on in St Louis, Mo. But with anything in time, when the time happens again, it's as though you never left....like a long long best friend.
But enough with the sentiments.
Last Sunday, Yours Truly got back into the OUTCAM mode by attending two events in the St Louis. The first was to check out St Louis socialite Lisa West's bday soiree that was held at Love at Lowe's in downtown St Louis next to Ballpark Village. This was my first time at the hotel since it was built last year and I must say, it is quite swanky when I entered the hotel.
I was instructed by the front desk folk that the party was held on the second floor outside on the patio that had green turf on the ground that stands next to Busch Stadium. So, when I trekked to the area, i saw the table of familiar faces, including Frontline Security owner, Brian Stemmons (who I attended college with back in the 1990s) who greeted me with brother dap as always. So, the people checking people on the event list (including Miss Denise), I pulled out my media pass and was quickly given VIP treatment to the party.
There, it was an array of 30 + upscale people getting their network on while enjoying the sounds of Union House who's lead singer's voice reminds me so much of an old school blue singer trapped in a white guy's body.
Then, I saw the lady of the hour, socialite Lisa West who was having her bday party there. She hugged and greeted me and thanked me for coming. I've been knowing her close to 10 years while going to her events throughout the years. Then, I ran into the promoter of the event, Cash Cohnes, who is always dapper with some sort of suit ensem. We gave each other brotherly love as he continued to schmooze with the guests which were about 100 plus strong.
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| Cash Cohnes, West and Yours Truly |
Below is a Facebook link video of YOURS TRULY checking out the scene:
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| Band Union House |
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| West gave out bday cupcakes to the engaging patrons. |
Overall, the day party event was a nice Sunday feel to it. The weather was sunny with a touch of wind and people got their various Electric Sliding while the day party was coming to a close ( I saw you two brothas gettin ya Fantasy Slide on LOL) . On the 1s and 2s was Dj Reminisce with his hype man Rhadshad. Also there was TV network owner Andre Holman and his wife (Congrats bro...I'm waiting on my talk show. LOL.)
AFTERWARDS:
Yours Truly, checked out the last couple of hours of Taste of Black St Louis that was held at The Foundry STL in Midtown St Louis. There, over a 100 or so black vendors of food, clothing, jewelry, crafts, services and information spread out throughout the long, outside corridor as hundreds of St Lousians socialized and shopped throughout the event.
The one thing that I enjoy while attending these outside festivals is it's like a family reunion and you will run into people that you haven't seen in months, even years! (Malik Ali I see ya, still looking like you're 35! LOL)
However, in the COVID world, people had their masks on majority of them did, most of the kids, well, they still think they are invincible -but didn't we all think that?
I digress
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| YOURS TRULY and event host Queen Mocha Latte |
While I was hobnobbing and visiting vendors, there was an announcement for Mocha Latte to come to the stage. So, I walked prominently near the stage to meet one of my dearest friends in the events game. We were thick of thieves back in the day of going to events in St Louis. She was summoned to the stage for a Proclamation ceremony to honor the creator and founder of Taste of Black St Louis, Aisha James, who founded the event four years ago when it was held at Tower Grove Park.
So, when Mocha was walking up to the stage, I interrupted her steps and she smiled and hugged me when she saw me. She then walked up to the stage to gather James and her crew for the presentation of the Proclamation from the offices of St Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.
James and her staff after James gave a speech about her workings of creating the yearly event.
Here is part of the Proclamation ceremony video.
Overall, the event gave you a feel of a family reunion and a collective of celebrating the talents of African Americans in the community. Closing the event was Union House (who was giving me life when they performed Earth Wind and Fire's"Can't Hide Love.") who was at Lisa West's event earlier. Before the band performed, on the 1s and 2s was Dj Cuddy. .
