Brown Girl Gumbo

The Tupac Shakur Estate Opens Powamekka Café Pop-Up Restaurant in Los Angeles

June 16, 2022

Today would’ve been Tupac Shakur’s 51st birthday. Although his life was cut short at the tender age of 25, his legacy continues to live on.

While the iconic actor, rapper and prolific poet accomplished many things in his short lifetime, he still had countless aspirations that he didn’t live to see come to fruition — opening a restaurant was one of them. That’s why the Tupac Shakur Estate is making it their business to carry out some of the late artist’s dreams.

In honor of his birthday, they just opened a limited-edition Los Angeles location of Tupac’s Powamekka Café, his original restaurant concept in partnership with Fixins Soul Kitchen located across from the “Wake Me When I’m Free” museum at LA Live, which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this year.

A quarter of a century has passed since Tupac conceptualized Powamekka Café. A place for all to “play and parlay,” the Powamekka Café, representing the finest in “down home Southern,” was to serve as a place for friends and family to get together and “escape the worldz cold reality.”

His vision first came to life in 2018 in New York’s Lower East Side, with Powamekka Café taking over John Seymour and Nas’ Sweet Chick restaurant on Ludlow Street for two days. Now, Powamekka Café, Los Angeles, will once again give Tupac’s friends, family and fans a chance to revisit his vision.

Straight from the handwritten pages of one of his many notebooks, currently on display at the exhibit, Tupac’s concept is brought to life by including his favorite items from the menu he created including meatloaf, gumbo and his cousin Jamala’s fried chicken wings. These sure-to-be delectable offerings will be a nice complement to the restaurant’s premium soul food menu.

Many of Tupac’s notebooks filled with concepts, scripts, video treatments, poems, raps and more are on display at the “Wake Me When I’m Free” museum at L.A Live in Los Angeles.

The Powamekka Café pop-up will be located at 800 W Olympic Blvd A150 in Los Angeles for two weeks from June 16 – June 30th.

Monday – Thursday : 11:00AM – 9:00PM
Fridays: 11:00AM – 11:00PM
Saturdays: 10:00AM – 11:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 9:00PM

Reservations will be available via OpenTable.

Which of the menu items would you order from the Powamekka Café?

Category: Arts and Entertainment | 2 Comments

The Lilly Awards Foundation Launches The Lorraine Hansberry Initiative

May 20, 2022

When I was in elementary school, I vividly recall doing a report on Lorraine Hansberry in celebration of Black History Month. I remember choosing the acclaimed playwright because I’ve always been intrigued by writers of all kinds. So, researching and writing about the first African American woman to have a play produced on Broadway (“A Raisin in the Sun”), who happened to come from my hometown of Chicago, was beyond rewarding.

That’s why I’m super excited to share the news that the Lilly Awards Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to celebrate the work of women in the theater and promote gender parity at all levels — announced the launch of the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative, which aims to honor the great American playwright and civil rights leader’s legacy while investing in those following in her footsteps.

The initiative includes a statue of Hansberry that will tour the nation in 2022-2023 to raise public awareness of the full breadth of her work and teachings. The statue, created by the renowned sculptor Alison Saar, is entitled “To Sit Awhile,” and features the figure of Hansberry surrounded by five bronze chairs, each representing a different aspect of her life and work. The life-size chairs are an invitation to the public to do just that: sit with her and think.

Courtesy: The Lilly Foundation

Additionally, the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative has created a scholarship to make sure that the next generation is able to follow in Hansberry’s footsteps, regardless of race, gender, or economic situation. This singular grant will be primarily intended to cover the living expenses of three female and/or non-binary dramatic writers of color entering graduate school, with two additional recipients added each year. Each recipient will receive $25,000 for each year of their education, ensuring that they have protected time to write, work with collaborators, and benefit from the guidance of professional mentors in their respective fields.

“One can draw a straight line from the issue of real estate and racial discrimination that Hansberry pointed to so clearly in ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ to the generational wealth gap that is preventing women of color, specifically Black women, from following in her footsteps today,” Julia Jordan, the Lillys executive director said in a statement.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage added, “We know that graduate school is the primary gateway to a career as a dramatic writer. In my twenty years of teaching at the graduate level, I have had only four Black female students. If we want theater to tell the full story of humanity, we need to nurture the full breadth of talent.”

The statue’s tour will include three installations in New York, followed by a national tour of major cities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In each city, the Initiative will work with local theaters and social justice organizations to showcase the work of contemporary writers of color concurrent with the sculpture’s placement.

The full NYC tour stops are as follows:

♦ Times Square: June 9th – 12th (unveiling will take place on June 9th)

♦ The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: June 13th – 18th

♦ Brooklyn Bridge Park: June 23rd – 29th

Additional supporting NYC events include:

♦ The New Victory Theater will host Speak Up, Act Out: Celebrating Student Voices (Inspired by The Lorraine Hansberry Initiative Dramatic Writing Showcase) on June 9th.

♦ The Museum of the City of New York will present a panel, titled The Playwright as Activist, on June 13th as part of their Freedom Week programming, which will feature a conversation between playwrights Lynn Nottage, Lisa Kron, and Erika Dickerson-Despenza.

♦ The Drama Book Shop will be dedicating their display space for the month of June to works by and about Hansberry and contemporary writers of color.

Following the NYC installations, the tour will stop in cities across the country, including Philadelphia, Detroit, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. As the birthplace of Hansberry and the setting of “A Raisin in the Sun,” Chicago will enjoy an enhanced and permanent installation in 2023.

This is an amazing initiative for Black female writers and individuals who appreciate Hansberry’s cultural impact. I can’t wait to see the statue and attend some of the activations and events taking place in New York City.

To learn more about the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative, please click here.

I saw the Broadway revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” back in 2004. Have you ever seen the play or watched the film adaptation?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, DE&I | 3 Comments

Make Mother’s Day Memorable With a Personalized Flower Delivery From DoorDash

May 3, 2022

There are three things in life that are guaranteed to make me smile: flowers, old photographs and my mother. This Mother’s Day, DoorDash has incorporated all of those joy-inducing elements into one brilliant campaign and giveaway.

Who doesn’t want to give their mom a beautiful bouquet on the second Sunday in May? Well, the online food ordering and food delivery platform is making it a lot more personal and memorable. Since last week, DoorDash’s ‘Memory Bloom’ campaign aims to awaken memories for a mom in your life with a bouquet inspired by flowers from her past. Cue the nostalgia.

Simply upload a photo of your mom with flowers to The Memory Blooms and get a custom recommendation on what bouquet to gift her this Mother’s Day. From roses to carnations, the site will offer floral suggestions that are sure to delight.

Flower Giveaway: Anyone who uploads a photo to the website from now until May 4th will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize so you can pamper mom with everything DoorDash has to offer. The first 100 entrants will win gift cards toward that special personalized bouquet.

Flowers are always a wonderful way to express your love and this personalized approach adds a special touch that your mom will appreciate. Plus, they’re perfect for last-minute gifting!

Here’s how it works:

♦ Uncover a photo of your mom with flowers from a lifetime memory. Think of any special occasion that she will fondly look back on.

♦ Go to www.TheMemoryBlooms.com, upload your photo and fill out a Contact Us form with your information.

♦ DoorDash will then email you back with a bouquet recommendation from a flower expert inspired by the photo you provided so you can give your mom flowers that recreate that special moment in her life.

♦ Order your bouquet for Mom from one of more than 3,000 local and national florists DoorDash partnered with across the country for on-demand delivery.

*No Purchase Necessary. Open 4/29/22 – 5/4/22 to US residents, 18 & older. For complete Official Rules, see https://doordash.readysweeps.com/rules.

What’s your favorite flower and fondest mom memory?

Category: Holidays | 2 Comments

Magical Memories: Interview with Disney Dreamer Kayla Nelson

April 11, 2022

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month since I attended and covered the 2022 Disney Dreamers Academy in Orlando, FL. The 4-day event and mentoring program hosted by Walt Disney World Resort was an unforgettable experience for me, so I can only imagine the positive impact it had on the 100 teenagers from across the country who were accepted into the coveted program.

Having the chance to unlock their imaginations and dream big with the encouragement and support of mentors at “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” was an experience I’m sure they will never forget.

For Kayla Nelson, a high school senior from the suburbs of Chicago, being a Disney Dreamer was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she’ll forever cherish. I had a chance to catch up with the dedicated basketball player and aspiring educator to hear about her memorable experience.

Below, check out our Q&A:

Photo by Todd Anderson

BGG: How would you describe the Disney Dreamers Academy in three words?
Kayla Nelson: Inspirational, informative and fun!

BGG: How did you hear about the program? What was the application process like for you?
KN: I heard about the program through my mom. She told me to apply and I did. I had to answer a couple questions about my aspirations and why I wanted to accomplish these things and how I would make them happen.

BGG: Tell me how you felt when you found out you were selected to be one of the 100 students to attend the 2022 Dreamers Academy? What were your first thoughts?
KN: When I first found out, I was definitely excited but also nervous because I had no idea what to expect. The first things that came to mind was what I was going to wear and how my teachers would react because they knew about my application. So overall, I was extremely excited and overwhelmed.

BGG: Had you ever visited Walt Disney World prior to the mentoring program? If not, did it live up to your expectations? If so, how?
KN: Prior to the Dreamers Academy, I hadn’t visited Walt Disney World. While I was there I was extremely overwhelmed by how much there was to do. Between the four parks and the fireworks shows, Walt Disney World definitely lived up to my expectations. My teachers and friends had been telling me that I would have so much fun. They told me what rides to get on and they didn’t lead me down the wrong path!

BGG: Can you share your most memorable moment from the entire event?
KN: My biggest highlight was meeting Kelly Rowland. I got the opportunity to talk to her and get a picture, which had me a little star struck. But getting the opportunity to talk to her and have a conversation with the one and only Kelly Rowland was truly the highlight.

BGG: Have you kept in touch with any of the other Dreamers?
KN: I’ve kept in touch with a lot of the other Dreamers. I text them all the time and they comment on my pictures and I do as well. It’s really like a family that we have and it’s funny because we were only around each other for four days.

BGG: What was the most surprising thing that you learned from attending the Disney Dreamers Academy?
KN: The most surprising thing I learned was how many jobs there are for people within the Walt Disney Company. This whole time I just thought it was the typical amusement park where you have the people who operate the machines and the people who let people into the park etc., but there was so much more within the company that makes it more than just a TV channel or an amusement park.

BGG: What advice would you give someone who hopes to be selected to participate in this program?
KN: My advice would be to just go for it! There were so many doubts in my head when my mom first told me about it like maybe my dream isn’t big enough, or what if i don’t get picked, but looking back I wish someone would’ve told me not to worry and to just do it.

Photo by Todd Anderson

BGG: What was your biggest takeaway from this experience?
KN: I learned that my dream is big enough. I also learned to persevere through the setbacks because my time will come and when the time comes to take it head on.

BGG: What is your dream for the future?
KN: My dream is to become a teacher within two years of me graduating college. I want to become a history teacher because I feel like history is one of the most important subjects simply because it forces conversation and allows students to see other perspectives.

BGG: How do you hope to change the world and make it a better place?
KN: I hope to change the world starting with teaching students history. Teaching students history will show students how the world has evolved. With students knowing and understanding how the world has evolved for the better will hopefully give students the push to evolve themselves and contribute to making the world a better place.

For more information about the Disney Dreamers Academy, check out the program’s official website.

Are you a mentor or did you have a mentor as a high school or college student?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, DE&I, Disney, Interviews | 2 Comments

Event Recap: Kate Spade ‘Celebrate That!: Occasions’ Pop-up in Soho

April 5, 2022

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a fun Kate Spade New York pop-up event. Held at a bespoke townhouse located in the heart of Soho, the venue was the perfect space to celebrate the luxury fashion house’s new coffee table book: Celebrate That!: Occasions.

As a fan of the brand, I was excited to check out the event and boy am I glad I did. Simply put, it was heaven on earth for me. Countless blooms abound covering nearly every surface throughout the gorgeous townhouse. The pretty petals emitted a delightful floral scent that wafted at every turn. Being there was like slipping into a bountiful botanical paradise. The best part? Guests got a crash course in creating our own beautiful bouquets provided by Stolen Magnolia, a Latinx-owned floral shop based in Brooklyn.

That was just one of the highlights of the afternoon. Attendees were also treated to delicious chocolate chip cookies and pretty, thirst-quenching drinks like strawberry lemonade spritzers, coffee and tea — all courtesy of Maman, a popular Manhattan bakery with several locations throughout the city.

Needless to say, the splendidly decorated space was teeming with countless photo opportunities — perfect for influencers and bloggers who crave content. Oh, and of course, all guests left with a lovely copy of Celebrate That!: Occasions. The hard-cover book is a collection of essays, photos, advice and how-tos about living life to the fullest and celebrating life’s occasions.

Always eager to celebrate memorable moments, big or small — this event inspired me to take time for myself and celebrate being ME.

What was the last thing you celebrated?

Category: Books, Gumbo Mix | 7 Comments

Things to See: Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ on Broadway in New York City

April 1, 2022

If I had to choose one Disney movie to watch on repeat for the rest of my life, it would be Aladdin — hands down. It’s been my all-time favorite since I saw the original animated version starring the late Robin Williams back in 1992. Obviously, I also enjoyed the live-action remake with Will Smith, but neither of those movies compared to watching this fairy tale unfold right before my eyes.

Seeing the Disney classic up close and personal on Broadway is an unforgettable experience that my kids and I won’t soon forget. Starring Michael James Scott (Genie), Michael Maliakel (Aladdin) and Shoba Narayan (Jasmine), this musical comedy beautifully captures the story of a lovable pauper falling for a gorgeous down-to-earth princess — with some magical help from a wise-cracking genie. Funny and heartwarming, this live performance directed by Thomas Schumacher is an all-around slam-dunk.

From glittering costumes to awe-inspiring set designs to mesmerizing music, the award-winning production seamlessly transports showgoers to the enchanting, fictional land of Agrabah. Plus, the actors’ performances are all outstanding, especially Scott who steals the show with his unmatched charisma and gregarious personality.

If you’re a die-hard Disney fan like me and my family, this is a must-see show (if you haven’t already). Even if you aren’t into Disney movies, Aladdin is a captivating Broadway show that doesn’t leave anything on the stage. It gives you everything you expect from the Great White Way and then some.

I’ve seen it twice and am thinking of making a third visit. Trust me, this is the perfect outing to celebrate special occasions or if you just want to do something fun while visiting New York City. Oh, and if you’re thinking it’s just for kids — you’re wrong. Aladdin is ideal for people of all ages — a testament to its longstanding run (it’s in its 8th season). I promise you’ll only have one wish after seeing this and that will be to see it again!

Aladdin-The-Broadway-Musical-Brown-Girl-Gumbo-Kids

Ava and MJ anxiously waiting for the show to start.

Aladdin is playing at the New Amsterdam Theatre, located 214 W. 42nd Street, NY, NY. For tickets and more information, visit their official website.

Have you seen Aladdin on Broadway? If so, what were your thoughts? If not, which Aladdin version do you prefer: live action or the original animated movie?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Disney | 4 Comments

Places to Visit: Tupac Shakur ‘Wake Me When I’m Free’ Interactive Museum in L.A

March 31, 2022

I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was September 13, 1996, I was riding in the backseat of my sister’s Toyota Corolla as she drove me and my cousins down Lake Shore Drive. They were visiting from out of town and we were heading towards Navy Pier, a popular Chicago tourist attraction. Before reaching our destination, we heard a breaking news announcement on the radio: Tupac Shakur is dead. The 25-year-old rapper died from injuries he sustained six days prior.

As a 16-year-old teenager who was obsessed with Tupac before his passing, I was shocked and devastated. Like many, I believed he would pull through like he had when he was gunned down two years prior. Sadly, we were wrong.

As the years rolled by, there would be many movies, documentaries and books made about Tupac, as well as countless conspiracy theories surrounding his death and life.

But none have captured the pure essence and undeniable genius of the legendary artist like Wake Me When I’m Free, a groundbreaking hybrid museum, art installation and sensory experience curated by his estate.

I had the pleasure of visiting the 20,000-square-foot space in February and was blown away. The interactive exhibition explores Tupac’s life and legacy in incredible displays including: notebooks filled with handwritten raps and poems, screenplays, never-before-seen personal artifacts, iconic memorabilia and more. Plus, many of the displays are accompanied with an audio element that instantly elevates the experience.

From notes from his mom (the late Afeni Shakur) to clothes worn to various award ceremonies, fans get a glimpse into who Tupac was as a child up until his untimely demise. The breadth of this his work and contributions to our culture is outstanding and quite frankly, mind-blowing. To have lived only 25 short years, he accomplished things that would take most people triple the time to achieve.

Jeremy Hodges, the creative director of the exhibition worked alongside Nwaka Onwusa, who is the chief curator and VP of Curatorial Affairs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame To honor his legacy.

“It is a privilege to be a part of such a monumental project,” Hodges said in a statement. “Tupac Shakur was my Malcolm; he was my Martin, and to build an experience that honors such a prolific man cannot be summed up in words.”

Hodges added, “We wanted to create a memorable experience that will inspire you to be better than when you walked in, all while leaving you with the knowledge that he was a true revolutionary spirit.”

Wake Me When I’m Free is currently at L.A Live with dates listed through May 1st. The exhibition will travel to different cities, but those locations and dates have not yet been released. For more information visit the museum’s official website.

What’s your favorite Tupac song or movie?

Category: Arts and Entertainment | 2 Comments