HAPPY WEEKEND

JUST WRIGHT

When NBA All-Star Scott McKnight (Common) suffers a debilitating injury, tough-talking physical therapist Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) pulls out all the stops to get him back on his game. But their professional relationship turns personal when Leslie finds herself falling for Scott, and discovers the feeling may be mutual. Paula Patton co-stars in a romantic comedy. STARS PAULA PATTON, PAM GRIER AND PHYLICIA RASHAD. IN THEATERS MAY 14.


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CAFE BISTRO

SIPPING ON CREAMY TEA WITH WHIPPED CREAM

INDULGING IN FRENCH TOAST FOR BREAKFAST

SITTING IN A QUIET CORNER CAFE

IDRIS ELBA COVERS JET MAGAZINE

A PERFECT DAY

FENCES COMES TO BROADWAY

JASMINE GUY

STAR JONES

LYNN WHITFIELD

HILL HARPER

TONYA & SPIKE LEE, DR. CHATMAN AND HUSBAND ACTOR JAI WHITE
AUGUST WILSON'S FENCES RECENTLY OPENED ON BROADWAY STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON AND ACTRESS VIOLA DAVIS. JUST SAY DENZEL AND I'M INTERESTED.

WEEKEND LOVE

LISTENING TO SOME SMOOTH SADE

SLEEPING IN WITH NO ONE DISTURBING ME.

PACKING MY SUITCASES AND NEVER LOOKING BACK

HAVING MY FAVORITE CUPCAKE WITH CHAMPAIGN

IN MY MIND MY DREAM MAN IDRIS ELBA

SIPPING SOME HOT VANILLA CHAI TEA

SITTING INSIDE WATCHING THE RAIN FALL

I LOVE SPENDING THE WEEKEND WITH MY MAN.

HAPPY CUPCAKE DAY

BEAUTY

SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have come a long way since their humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. Steeped within the gilded and gritty sounds of gospel, soul and funk, this nine-piece Brooklyn collective has continued to electrify fans, disc jockeys, critics, record collectors, and bloggers the world-over with their authentic, heart-felt sound. The authenticity clearly demonstrated on the band’s three critically-acclaimed albums – Dap Dippin’ (2002), Naturally (2005) and 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007) – captured and released by the independent Daptone Records. Their albums recall an analog era led by iconic studios like those at Motown and Stax Records, and have thrust the fifty-three-year-old Augusta, GA native and crew into the multimedia limelight.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO I LEARNED THE HARD WAY HERE

CALEB KIDS

SKYE DAUGHTER OF DIRECTOR/ACTOR ROBERT TOWNSEND OF FIVE HEARTBEATS FAME

JENNIFER HUDSON AND SON DAVID

KN0WN FOR HER ROLE AS HILLARY ON FRESH PRINCE KARYN PARSONS-ROCKWELL CEO OF SWEET BLACKBERRY FOUNDATION AND HUSBAND DIRECTOR, ALEXANDRE ROCKWELL, KIDS LANA AND NICO ROCKWELL.

RYAN ELIZABETH PEETE, 12, DAUGHTER OF ACTRESS HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE

MARIAH SMITH, 11, DAUGHTER OF RAPPER BUSTA RHYMES

REMEMBERING DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT

FOR MORE INFO ON DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT CLICK HERE
THIS MORNING I WENT PASS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE NCNW AND SAW SECURITY GUARDS SURROUNDING THE BUILDING. TODAY DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT'S BODY WILL BE ON VIEW. SHE LIKED TO SAY THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN TO OWN PROPERTY BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AND THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON D.C. I ATTENDED HER FUNERAL AS WELL AS A CELBRATION OF HER LIFE SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT WAS A VERY MOVIING TRIBUTE TO A POWERFUL WOMAN WHO LIVED HER LIFE AS A CELEBRATED CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER. EVERY YEAR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN HELD THIER ANNUAL CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON DC AT THE RENNASSANCE HOTEL. I AM A MEMBER OF THE NCNW AND I USED TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT. I REMEMBER SPENDING SEVERAL HOURS A WEEK AT THE NCNW HEADQUARTERS AND HELPING THEM TO PREPARE FOR THIS YEARLY EVENT IN WHICH WOMEN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CAME TO ATTEND. MY FRIENDS AND I WERE DOING NAME TAGS, CERTIFICATES, GUEST LIST AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS ASKED OF US. ONE YEAR WE VOLUNTEERED AT THE BLACK FAMILY REUNION WHICH THE NCNW SPONSORED AND PICKED UP THE GUEST FROM THE AIRPORTS AND TOOK THEM TO THIER HOTELS. DR. HEIGHT WAS COMMITTED TO SHARING HERSELF TO EVERYONE. SHE WOULD ATTEND EVERY VOLUNTEER MEETING AND THANK US FOR GIVING OF OUR TIME AND EFFORTS. SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY IN HER BOOMING VOICE. I WISH I COULD PAY EVERYONE BUT SINCE I CAN'T I CAN FEED YOU AND SHE ALWAYS PROVIDED THE BEST CATERED FOOD FOR EVENTS AND MEETINGS. I'M GLAD THAT I GOT TO WORK WITH A OUTSTANDING WOMAN AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.

TASHA SMITH COVERS UPSCALE MAGAZINE AND HOPE FOR WOMEN

CHECK TASHA SMITH IN HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE SHE TALKS ABOUT MARRIAGE, SINGLE LIFE AND TYLER PERRY.

There’s no doubt Tasha Smith has the looks and talent required to be a leading lady. The potential is evident in her scene-stealing turn as Angela, the tell-it-like-it-is hair stylist who seems intent on emasculating her husband in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? But Smith, who reprises her breakthrough role in Why Did I Get Married Too? out April 2, has a solid reputation as an ensemble player who can take small but complicated parts and turn them into something special. And while she enjoys the perks of being a movie star—frequently gracing red carpets around Hollywood—Smith’s approach to stardom is all about hard work and hustle.

Smith discovered her talent for teaching when she needed to make some extra cash and began tutoring beginners. Now she is a respected coach, helping established performers prepare for parts. Many Tasha Smith Actors Workshop students, like House of Payne star Lance Gross, have found success in TV, movies and theater.

Despite all the glitz and glam, she’s managed to stay grounded.

And she is experiencing her own success with Married Too? a? In the new film, the vacationing best-friend couples confront more serious issues, and one relationship ends. Add to that the palpable pain of castmate Janet Jackson, who was still reeling from her brother Michael’s sudden death when filming began…

Want more Tasha Smith? Purchase the April issue of upscale Magazine, on a newsstand near you (or subscribe today) to find out how she helped Janet work through her grief, who the new man is in her life and what turned their Bahamas film set into, “Gilligan’s Island, not Fantasy Island.”

KID N PLAY

KID N PLAY RECENTLY CELEBRATED 20 YEARS SINCE THE RELEASE OF THIER MOVIE HOUSE PARTY. I WATCHED HOUSE PARTY LAST WEEKEND AND IT IS STILL HILARIOUS CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS.

FOR SOME KID-IN-PLAY INSPIRATION CLICK HERE

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MY DREAMS

I'M ALLOWING MY DREAMS TO HAVE A LIFE OF THIER OWN
TO CHANGE DAY BY DAY
TO REFLECT MY NEEDS
AND THE NEEDS OF THOSE I LOVE

DEATH AT A FUNERAL PREMEIRE

DANNY GLOVER AND EDDIE MURPHY

CEDRIC AND WIFE

MARTIN LAWRENCE AND DATE

TRACY MORGAN AND CHRIS ROCK

MARTIN LAWRENCE, ARSENIO HALL, EDDIE MURPHY AND DANNY GLOVER

CHRIS ROCK AND WIFE MALAAK COMPTON ROCK

CIARA
LAST NIGHT I WENT TO A SCREENING FOR DEATH AT A FUNERAL. THIS MOVIE TEAMS MARTIN LAWRENCE AND CHRIS ROCK AS BROTHERS. THEY MAKE A GOOD COMEDIC TEAM. THIS ALL STAR CAST OF DANNY GLOVER, TRACY MORGAN, LUKE WILSON, LORETTA DEVINE, COLUMBUS SHORT,REGINA HALL,ZOE SALDANA, KEVIN HART, RON GLASS, JAMES MARSDEN AS THE ESEMBLE. THIS CAST WORKS WELL WITH EACH OTHER PROVIDING COMIC RELIEF TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT KEEP ESCALATING AS A FUNERAL IS GOING ON THAT GET'S OUT OF HAND BUT THE STORYLINE STILL REMAINS INTACT AS THE FILM CLIMAXES INTO A TENDER COMEDY OF ERRORS. WITHOUT SAYING MORE GO SEE THIS MOVIE ITS HILARIOUS.

MRS O COVERS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND CONDE NAST MAGAZINE

MY GIRL CRUSH FIRST LADY OBAMA IS ON TWO MAGAZINE COVERS THIS MONTH.

LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS

PICTURE YOURSELF IN A BOAT ON A RIVER, WITH TANGERINE TREES AND MARMALADE SKIES
SOMEBODY CALLS YOU, YOU ANSWER QUITE SLOWLY, A GIRL WITH KALAIDOSCOPE EYES
CELLOPHANE FLOWERS OF YELLOW AND GREEN, TOWERING OVER YOUR HEAD
LOOK FOR THE GIRL WITH THE SUN IN HER EYES AND SHE'S GONE
LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS