Wednesday, February 1, 2012

OUT 1097--ILLI MO BITZ (FEB 2-8)





HEY OUTTOWNERS!

ITS THAT TIME AGAIN!!

TIME TO GET TOWNED!!



BLACK HISTORY MONTH BITZ

This week we feature female astronaut Mae Carol Jemison.

Born October 17, 1956 in Decatur Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison became the first black woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.

Jemison says that as a young girl growing up in Chicago she always assumed she would get into space. After the flight of Sally Ride in 1983, Jemison felt the astronaut program had opened up, so she applied. Jemison's inspiration for joining NASA was African-American actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek.[4] Jemison was turned down on her first application to NASA, but in 1987 Jemison was also accepted on her second application and was in the first class of astronauts selected after the Challenger accident back in 1986,

Her work with NASA before her shuttle launch included launch support activities at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and verification of Shuttle computer software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL).

Jemison flew her only space mission from September 12 to 20, 1992 as a Mission Specialist on STS-47. During her flight, she passed over her bred town Chicago. STS-47 was a cooperative mission between the United States and Japan that included 44 Japanese and United States life science and materials processing experiments. Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space.[

She resigned from NASA in 1993 to form a company researching the application of technology to daily life. She has appeared on television several times, including as an actor in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is a dancer, and holds 9 honorary doctorates in science, engineering, letters, and the humanities.

Some of her honors and accolades include The Mae C. Jemison Science and Space Museum at Wilbur Wright College in Chicgao, the Mae Jemison School, an elementary public school in Hazel Crest, Illinois and being inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 2004

THE BIG A& E NEWS STORY THIS WEEK IS:


RIP BITZ: The shocking death of Chicago native and TV icon Don Cornelius early Wednesday.

In the wake of the death of "Soul Train" creator "Don Cornelius," BET, CENTRIC and Chicago station WCIU, The U have planned a special broadcast lineup for the next few days.

Cornelius, creator of the iconic music series "Soul Train," died Wednesday after apparently shooting himself in the head at his LA home. He was 75.

"We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Don Cornelius. He was a pioneer in the television and music industries and his legacy and influence on American culture will continue to live on for many generations to come. He made ‘;Soul Train' a destination for lovers of black culture and music and connected the world to our culture and we are forever grateful," said Debra L. Lee, chairman and CEO of BET Networks.

"We owe so much of our success to him, he built the space for the creation of a BET, built a platform for the music that our audience loves and gave a voice to countless artists that shaped black culture and beyond;his impact can't be measured. He will be missed, but remembered at every wedding, party and family reunion forever with the enduring 'Soul Train' line."

The Wednesday episode of BRT's "106 & Park" kicked off that network's specials. Hosts Terrence J and Rocsi honored Cornelius in a special segment.

At Chicago station WCIU, where "Soul Train" got its start in 1970, The U will honor Cornelius during the Thursday edition of "You & Me This Morning," which begins at 6 a.m. Jeanne Sparrow and Melissa Forman will look at Cornelius' start on The U more than 40 years ago and his rise to national fame.

On Saturday at 6 p.m., The U will simulcast "Bounce TV Remembers Don Cornelius," a seven-hour "Soul Train" marathon hosted by Chilli, a member of the musical trio group TLC. The episodes will feature stars such as Gladys Knight & The Pips, Al Green, The Commodores, Kool and the Gang, Janet Jackson, En Vogue, as well as Don Cornelius' last show as host in 1993.

Below you will find the full schedule of specials for BET and CENTRIC.

BET Programming Lineup

Wednesday, Feb. 1

5 p.m.: "106 & PARK" Special Episode

7 p.m.: "SOUL TRAIN: HIPPEST TRIP IN AMERICA"

Thursday, Feb. 2

7 p.m.: "SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2011"

CENTRIC Programming Lineup

Wednesday, Feb. 1

9 p.m.: "SOUL TRAIN: HIPPEST TRIP IN AMERICA"

11 p.m.: 24-hour "SOUL TRAIN" marathon

Thursday, Feb. 2

24-hour "SOUL TRAIN" marathon continues.

Friday, Feb. 3

8 p.m.: "SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2011"

Saturday, Feb. 4

9 a.m.: 12-hour "SOUL TRAIN" marathon

9 p.m.: "SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2010"

Sunday, Feb. 5

8 a.m.: 12-hour "SOUL TRAIN" marathon

The network have more on Don Cornelius at www.bet.com

and www.centrictv.com

. All times above are Central.

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The producer of American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe has given an open invitation to President Barack Obama and Rev. Al Green to sing a duet on the show after the viral You Tube hit of Obama singing the first line to Green’s classic hit, “Let’s Stay Together” last month at a fundraiser at the Apollo in Harlem (It’s up to four million hits so far and counting) on a dare from his aides and where Green was going to perform.

This week Lythgoe tweeted to Obama: "@barackobama we loved your vocal performance so much we'd love to invite you on to #AmericanIdol this Season for a duet with Al Green."

Lythgoe isn't as impressed with other major politicians' attempts to carry a tune. Mitt Romney recently delivered a less-than-pretty version of "America the Beautiful" at a rally in Florida which has been roundly ridiculed. Lythgoe tweeted about Romney's performance, "If it were an election based on vocal talent @barackobama would beat Romney hands down.”

We don’t think Obama is going to do ‘Idol” and sing, but we have a feeling he may do a taped segment like he done for Betty White. Now Rev. Al? we are sure he has already said YES in coming.

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In related newz, Obama has influenced record sales of AL Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” as it has caused a sales boost of the song. According to Billboard Magazine, Obama’s singing of the tune sparked a 490% weekly sales increase for the song. It sold 16,000 downloads in the week ending Jan. 22 according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the best sales week for the song since SoundScan began tracking downloads in 2003.

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In more related newz, Rev Al Green was reported as saying that President Obama nailed his song, “Let’s Stay Together” after hearing the president crooning his tune, telling TMZ.com Obama was "terrific."

He adds,” I was thrilled that the President even mentioned my name, and if the President can get the economy going again and get everything going that he wants to, then we'll all be together."

We are sure Rev Al was thrilled. As we see Obama is like a male Oprah where anything he endorses entertainment wise people pay attention. He is what Fleetwood Mac was to Bill Clinton.

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In more Obama newz, FLOTUS Michelle Obama says that President Barack Obama loves to serenade his wife by singing songs from Al Green, Marvin Gaye and other R&B greats, the First Lady revealed Tuesday night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno .

'He does have a beautiful voice, and he sings to me all the time,' Michelle Obama told Leno.

The president gained a little attention in January for breaking out a bar of an Al Green song during a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

However, her appraisal of Republican front-runner Mitt Romney's choir voice was a little less generous.

Romney surprised supporters in Florida with an off-pitch version of 'America the Beautiful' on Monday, and Leno asked the first lady for her opinion.

'It's beautiful,' she said after a pregnant pause, with a laugh and raised eyebrows.

'And it is America's song, and it's a song that's meant to be sung by every American,' the first lady said in a taped appearance for the NBC show.

Leno told her, 'That is right, regardless of political affiliation.'

Michelle Obama also cajoled Leno into nibbling on apples, sweet potato fries and a pizza made with eggplant, green peppers and zucchini, breaking his long-held aversion for all-things-healthy in his diet.

Mrs Obama, who's promoting her 'Let's Move!' campaign to get kids excited about fitness and healthy eating habits, is on a two-day swing through California where she'll promote her initiative while attending two events to help Democrats raise money for the upcoming elections.

Hmm, we wonder if the First Lady can sing?

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In unrelated FLOTUS newz, Fashion Icon Mikki Taylor has a new book dedicated to First Lady Michelle Obama. The book, Commander In Chic, is dedicated to the fashion stylings of Mrs. Obama.

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In unrelated Obama newz, he and his wife FLOTUS Michelle Obama celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary recently.

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Former Chicagoan and current network maven Oprah Winfrey and TV journalist Barbara Walters are reportedly in a war to get the first sit down interview with London socialite Pippa Middleton.

Talk show hosts Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey are involved in a £300,000 ($471,690) TV bidding war for Pippa Middleton's first US interview.

The younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is about to start promoting her upcoming book about how to be the perfect hostess, is considered to be the pair's "dream guest" for 2012, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Winfrey apparently told staff at her OWN network to "pull out all the stops" to secure the interview, sources told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, Walters reportedly is pressuring bosses at ABC to offer a six-figure sum for the interview, according to the paper.

Both want to secure Middleton as a guest for an hour-long special.

Middleton, who will donate any fee she receives to charity, rose to fame after her show-stopping appearance at Britain's royal wedding in April, when her sister, Catherine, married Prince William.

We don’t get this at all. Is she that much of a hot commodity??? We think Oprah will end up winning because she has bigger pockets than Barbara, and as they say, whoever has the best deal wins.

In unrelated Oprah newz, she celebrated her 58th birthday on Jan 29.

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The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held this past Sunday and three ILLI MOians either got an award or were presenters respectively. First, Oak Park, Ill native Betty White, who attended, won for Best Actress for "Hot in Cleveland," gushing over winning but wanted her costars to be acknowledged but in her own comedic way said that her costars could still look at her award. Plainfield, Ill native Melissa McCarthy, who was nominated along with various other actors in “Bridesmaids” for Best Cast presented the film during the Best Cast featured nomination along with cast members SNL’s Kristen Wiig and former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph. While on stage, they done the Drink Game that was portrayed in the film (This go round, using the phrase Scorcese) Lastly, West Plains, Mo, native actor Dick Van Dyke presented his former “Dick Van Dyke Show” co-star Mary Tyler Moore with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Current Chicagoan and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell and fiancee Michelle Rounds are planning to expand their family.

On Friday's episode of her OWN talk show, O'Donnell, sits down for an hour-long interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz and reveals that she and her fiancee are starting the family planning process.

"Michelle is seeing a fertility doctor," a source close to O'Donnell tells Us Weekly. "She is really excited and they cannot wait to add to their family. Rosie goes to all of her doctors' appointments with her and is really supportive. She isn't pregnant yet but they hope as soon as possible she will be."

Looking to tie the knot on Long Island where she grew up, O'Donnell -- who was married to Kelli Carpenter from 2004-2007 -- intends to have a low-key ceremony, and involve her four children: Blake, Parker, Chelsea and Vivienne.

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Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard commented recently that he would consider a trade with the Chicago Bulls and to dispel rumors that he left the Bulls off his wish list because of a Addidas shoe marketing conflict with current MVP Chicago Bullster Derrick Rose (both have shoe deals with Addidas)

Approached Friday night in New Orleans after a 26-point loss to the Hornets, Howard shared his thoughts on a long-shot trade to the Bulls.

"If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen," Howard told the Tribune. "It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That's my brother and it has nothing to do with Adidas," Howard said. "In fact, Adidas would love that because me and Derrick have the same guy."

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Some believe the company doesn't want two signature players on the same team.

It’s a win-win for Addidas if both were on the same team. In this land of competition, the dollars will still be deposited in their account on who gets the most sales of both their shoes. And the players still collect paychecks in the end.

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The 29th annual Chicago Blues Festival has booked Grammy Award winning legendary singer Mavis Staples to headline the festival, scheduled for June 8-10 in Grant Park. Staples, a Chicago native, will close out the festival on June 10.

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Fashion model Bianca Golden of Americas Next Top Model fame will be hosting the Men of XY All Male Fashion Show that will be held at The DuSable Museum in Chicago Feb. 4

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Chicago native singer/musician Melody Angel, who was a finalist on MTV’s Starmaker fame, has released a single and music video to “Everything.” To peep it go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YoNyNAi2Uc&feature=youtu.be

ILLI MO REALITY

The St. Louis auditions on “American Idol” will be aired this Thursday on Fox TV. The host, Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler and crew were in St Louis this past September at the Hyatt Regency in downtown St Louis to see singers who made the first cut back in late June at Scottrade Center where about 10,000 singers were seen and host Ryan Seacrest appeared.





THE BIG STL A&E NEWZ STORY IS:










The negotiating team of St Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke (ABOVE)and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission dominated the headlines this week on two big issues: the lease agreement of The Edward Jones Dome and the legality of having The Rams play three consecutive year home games in London as it relates to the lease agreement.

First, the lease agreement. The CVC and Kroenke met in a private meeting Feb 1 to talk about the mandatory renovations of the Rams home, The Edward Jones Dome that the CVC owns and manages. The CVC gave The Rams organization the requirements that were needed to make the Dome a standard and high tech stadium as it relates to big stadiums across the country before the CVC’s lease of the Dome expires after the 2014 season and keep the team in the city and renew the lease.

The CVC has given Kroenke’s team until March 1 to approve and accept its proposal or to say NO to it. If it is not approved, then the Rams can counter propose their own suggestions to the CVC and give the consortium until June 1 to accept or not its counter proposal. If its not approved, then the negotiations will go into litigation where a Missouri state judge will decide if the Rams will stay after the lease expires, a decision that will be decided in December.

Meanwhile, prior to the initial negotiations, it was announced to the press that Kroenke wanted the Rams to play three consecutive year home games in London where Kroenke has a football team.

Well, according to reports, the CVC is not happy with this decision. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission believes that the team’s lease at the Edward Jones Dome requires all home games to be played there.

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“We immediately brought this to the Rams’ attention and are awaiting their response,” the CVC said in a statement. “Our lease with the Rams requires that the Rams play all their home games in the Edward Jones Dome.”

Per the Post-Dispatch, the Rams’ lease requires the team “to play all its home NFL Games (other than pre-season NFL Games) at the Facilities.”

The Rams can avoid that obligation if, per the Post-Dispatch, the stadium “is not in useable condition or if the lease is terminated.”

The Rams have not yet stated their position on this issue. If it lands in litigation in a Missouri state court, look for the court system to lean toward the CVC’s interests.

Kroenke is challenging the CVC on his demands and the CVC, which represents the city is going to fight back. Its been reported that Kroenke wants to use city dollars to renovate the Edward Jones Dome by raising Missouri’s taxes in doing such. With the Rams being one of the worst record setting teams in recent years, we are sure this will not fly as a referendum for the city to vote on. But what is interesting is the clause that we are sure will be used in Kroenke's favor to play in other facilities if the stadium “is not in useable condition (meaning the renovations as proposed by the CVC are denied by The Rams or not met ) OR THE LEASE IS TERMINATED (from various means in either parties interests). If either one occurs, The Rams would be free to leave the city to play in London (that would negate the lease agreement)or the team can leave PERMANentLY just without a football home.

We think Kroenke will play this out in the courts for the next three years and let the lease agreement expire and return the team back to Los Angeles where a reported new stadium is being built by a construction company that Kroenke is very much familiar around.



RIP BITZ: Former college basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour died at age 72 in Chapel Hill, N. C., Wednesday after a lung infection. In the 1980s, during his tenure at Southwest Missouri (now Missouri State), Spoonhour's teams were 197-81 with five NCAA appearances. In the 1990s, while coaching at SLU, Spoonhour’s “Spoonball” compiled a 122-90 mark with three NCAA appearances. He finished his coaching career at UNLV from 2001-04 with a 57-31 mark before retiring with a heart issue.

Services will be private in North Carolina, Vicki Spoonhour, his wife, said. Spoonhour is survived by sons Jay, head coach at Moberly Area Community College, and Stephen, in addition to five grandchildren.

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According to KSDK TV, The former Pujols 5 located in Westport Plaza is becoming the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame and Grill. The restaurant will continue to be owned and operated by the Hanon family.

The Pujols memorabilia is being taken out and replaced by memorabilia from the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. The transition will be completed in three weeks, and some of the stuff is already in the restaurant.

Baseball slugger Albert Pujols, the namesake of the former restaurant, is supportive of the idea. He has no ownership in the restaurant.

The statue of Pujols that was erected in front of Pujols 5 last Fall belongs to Albert and the foundation; it has nothing to do with the restaurant.

Hmm, interesting that all of Pujols' memorabilia is being taken out. We would hope they would leave some of it there. Isn't he part of St Louis Hall of Fame with his major contribution with the Cardinals??? We just sayin.

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St Louis Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker has been overshadowed on his new baseball card with the now infamous Rally Squirrel. On the card, Schumaker’s right foot at the batter’s box is the only thing during Game 4 of the NL Division Series in 2011 when a furry rodent bolted across the field at Busch Stadium and gave the Cardinals their unofficial playoff mascot, the Rally Squirrel.

From reports, the squirrel may end up being nearly as valuable to card collectors as it was to the Cardinals. The Squirrel and Schumaker card will only be available as a short-printed variation card, so a standard one with Schumaker's picture will eventually replace it in the set.

We were wondering if Schumaker would get his own card, but we are sure he doesn’t want to be remembered as the guy who was next to the Rally Squirrell, that totally upstaged not just Schumaker, but almost the Cardinals as a team!

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University of Missouri-Columbia had a press conference Wedensday to announce six football players who will play for their home team.

Mizzou’s coaching staff was successful in attracting not only some of the top in-state talent, but some of the top players in the nation, headlined by wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who Rivals rates as the No. 1-ranked player in the entire country. He was joined by fellow in-state standout OL Evan Boehm, who is the No. 2-rated guard in the country according to Rivals.

Included with this recruiting class is junior WR Darius White, who transferred to Mizzou in January from the University of Texas, where he played for the previous two seasons. White will redshirt in 2012 due to NCAA transfer rules, and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2013.

In all, six of the state of Missouri’s top football talents signed to play for their home state school. A total of nineteen had requested through a petition to be considered play for the team.

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St Louis native boxer Devon Alexander will fight contender Marcos Maidana Feb 25 at Scott Trade Center. According to fighthype.com, the winner of the February 25th fight between Devon Alexander (22-1, 13 KO’s) and Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KO’s) could face welterweight contender Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s) in a fight in June with the winner of that fight a possibility for a Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout in the summer. The fight will be televised on HBO.

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Last Saturday, downtown St Louis was the spot where the Afghanistan Parade had taken place. From reports, thousands of people lined the streets of downtown St. Louis on Saturday cheering on marchers in a parade honoring veterans of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the nation's first major welcome to soldiers since the end of the Iraq War.

Crowds of parade-goers stretched a mile through the center of the city, many waving American flags.Thousands of marchers participated in the parade itself, which had 93 floats, 500 motorcycles, veterans from the most recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the 1991 invasion of Iraq, and Vietnam, as well as family members, high school bands and the hometown Budweiser Clydesdales.

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The Fabulous Fox Theatre is back in business after a car slammed into the front of the venue. St. Louis police are currently investigating the crash that damaged the Fox Theatre Box office in St. Louis.

Police say around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday a white SUV was traveling eastbound on Washington and a black SUV was traveling southbound on Grand when the two collided. Both drivers claim the other ran a red light.

The black SUV reportedly clipped the front of the white SUV before driving up onto the sidewalk and taking out a light pole. The vehicle reportedly continued over the sidewalk and slammed into the front of the Fox Theatre, damaging the marble facade and shattering a large display window.

Two women from the black SUV were reportedly transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The southbound lanes of Grand were reportedly shut down while crews cleaned up debris and towed the black SUV from the front of the theatre.

The crash reportedly shattered a window to the Fox Theatre Box Office. It was reportedly repaired and the box office reopened at its usual 10 a.m. time.

The Fox Theatre reportedly sustained no damage.

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Webster University professor and poet David Clewell is seeking a second term as Missouri's poet laureate. The Missouri governor's office recently announced that applications are due by Feb. 24 for the state's next poet in chief. From reports, there’s no sure bet that the Laureate committee will re=elect Clewell for a second term or whether it will choose a new poet. The laureate committee recommends a poet after reviewing the applications and the governor makes the final decision.

Clewell was appointed the second Poet Laureate March 1, 2010 by Gov. Jay Nixon for a two year term which expired Jan 31.

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The city of St. Louis was ranked No. 8 this year in the annual rankings of America's Most Literate Cities. The study was done by Central Connecticut State University, that gathered data in six categories: booksellers, educational attainment, Internet resources, library resources, newspaper circulation, and periodical publishing resources

St. Louis' best category is again in library services. It ranks 2nd in the country, just behind Cleveland. Last year it tied with Portland, Ore., for 9th place.

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This year’s Kevin Kline Award nominations were announced this week and the big nominee was The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis once again received the largest number of nominations with 31,

Other theaters also accrued double-digit nominations: 18 for the Muny, 17 for Stages St. Louis, 14 for the New Jewish Theatre, 12 for the Black Rep and 10 for Mustard Seed.

Some of the featured nominees were women . One was Deanna Jent, who was nominated for three Klines for Outstanding =Director of a Musical ("Godspell.") Two plays that she wrote, a stage adaptation of the C. S. Lewis fantasy "Till We Have Faces" (which she also directed) and "Falling," a drama about a family dealing with autism, were nominated for outstanding new play or musical. All three were produced at Mustard Seed Theatre, where Jent is artistic director.

Also Andrea Frye, also was nominated as outstanding director of a musical, for the folk-inflected "Black Pearl Sings!" at the Black Rep. Her other nomination, for outstanding lead actress in a play, recognizes her performance in "Ruined” also at The Black Rep.

Multiple nominations also went to actress Linda Kennedy (who competes with herself in the Best Actress in a Play) , actor Gary Wayne Barker, choreographer Dana Lewis, costume designer Dorothy Marshall Englis, lighting designer Matthew McCarthy, set designer Scott C. Neale and sound designer Rusty Wandall. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony at the Loretto-Hilton Center on April 2.

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From a report from stltoday.com, the new wing of the St. Louis Art Museum located in Forest Park won't open for another year, but the museum has reinstalled 18 galleries in the original Cass Gilbert building. The galleries feature 12 new acquisitions, 45 works that have not been on view for a decade or more and several other pieces that have undergone extensive conservation.

The highlight is the new Max Beckmann gallery featuring 14 works from the famed German expressionist. The museum has the world's largest collection of Beckmann paintings, sculptures and prints.

The museum will be installing other Beckmann paintings — it owns 39 — in other galleries.

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Rapper Wale is replacing rapper Jim Jones Feb. 11 at the Imperial Palace


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Yandy of Love and Hip Hop will be at Ladies Night at Club Amnesia following her castmate Chrissy who came through the club two weeks ago

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"American Idol" finalist George Huff had been added to the Super Bowl XLVI Gospel Fest coming to the Gateway Area BFAC in Cahokia) Feb. 3.

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There is a YOUTUBE video that has been posted on the basketball Mizzou Tigers titled, “We Are Mizzou” It was produced by Mizzou Competitive Dance Team
Mizzou Basketball Team, MUTV Sports and Mizzou Nation. You can peep it at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vMfqosdDbY

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EI Institute will have a special event on March 1 at the LUMIÈRE PLACE CASINO Theatre Room for its first-ever speaker series! Its special guests will be Kandi and Phaedra from the Real Housewives of Atlanta. There, the ladies will share their perspectives on the entertainment industry, the music industry, and living in the spotlight.

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Saint Louis on-air personalities Lux and Lern will be hosting Bakers Shoes audition for faces of their new Spring 2012 campaign at The Saint Louis Galleria in the Dillard’s wing on Thursday, February 2 (SEE AUDITIONS BELOW FOR MORE INFO ) Event goers will enjoy giveaways from Bakers Shoes and beauty demonstrations from the Paul Mitchell School of Saint Louis.

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Rockhouse Entertainment is about to start a VIP card access night on Sundays at Lola’s . The group will be reaching out to the "Who's Who" in the music/fashion/movie/modeling/hair care industry's etc. who will receive a VIP card for Sunday nights. With this card movers and shakers will receive discounts on a special food menu and drinks and free valet. More details to come.





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Kim Massie at Plush Feb 3

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Description

T1 Production Presents

Lil Wyte Return to St Louis

Feb 4 @ Fubar

Hosted By LaLa

This Is A All Ages Event

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PRO-LINE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE BROADWAY NIGHT CLUB PRESENT......... TWISTA ''LIVE'' IN CONCERT, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH

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Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil Feb. 7-8 • Scottrade Center

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Love & Laughter Tour with Kem, Babyface and Rickey Smiley

Feb. 11 • Chaifetz Arena

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UPDATE: Rapper Wale(instead of Jim Jones), is at the Imperial Palace Feb. 11

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Kim Massie, Cheryl Brown and LeAndra will perform Feb 12 at the Loft

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Trey Songz "Anticipation 2our" comes to the Fox Theatre Feb. 12. Big Sean is also on the bill.

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George Strait and Martina McBride Feb. 17 • Scottrade Center

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Gabriel Iglesias Feb 17 at Peabody Opera House

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Air Supply two shows Feb. 17 • Lumière Place

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NEW:JB PRESENTS RICK ROSS LIVE IN CONCERT AT THE AMBASSADOR FEB 19

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Jane's Addiction will perform Feb. 22 at the Pageant.

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Eric Roberson at Plush Feb 25

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Drake LIVE March 1st at Sprint Center in Kansas City

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Barry Manilow March 1-2 • Fox Theatre

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Comedian Wanda Sykes is at the Peabody Opera House with a concert on March 8.

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Radiohead will perform March 9 at Scottrade Center and March 11 at Sprint Center in Kansas City.

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Everlast is at Lumiere Place Casino's Lumiere Theater with a show on March 16.

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Kelly Clarkson March 16 • Fox Theatre

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Peter Frampton March 30 • Peabody Opera House

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STL native and resident singer David Peaston died Wednesday at the age 54. ( The cause of death was unknown as of this bloggin ( Peaston was diagnosed with diabetes in the early 2000s and had his legs amputated, forcing him to use prosthesis.) but we got info from his Facebook page , updated by his wife, that he was in the hospital prior to his passing.

In the late 1980s, Peaston, a former schoolteacher, won several competitions on the Showtime at the Apollo television show, winning over the audience with a powerful rendition of "God Bless the Child."

In 1990 he won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist. He is mostly known for the singles, "Two Wrongs (Don't Make it Right)" and his cover of "Can I"

Peaston's mother, Martha Bass, was a member of The Clara Ward Singers gospel group. His older sister is R&B/soul singer Fontella Bass.

Here is a video of Peaston singing God Bless The Child that put him on the map.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-KP2pORgmI




Newspaper editor and publisher Robert H. Voris, of waterloo, Ill died this week at the age of 83. . He worked as editor and publisher of the The Waterloo Republican newspaper (later known as Republic-Times) for 40 years, retiring in February 1992. The newspaper was founded by his grandfather, H.C. Voris, in 1890.



HAPPY STL B-DAZE AQUARIANIANS (Jan –30 THRU Feb. 5)

Politician Robin Wright Jones (PICTURED),designer/promoter Ola, promoter/event host Young Dip, promoters Angela Brown, Sarah Bryant, Tany B., and Lailah Wilson and fashion show producer Tan Hollywood





BLIND DISHZ

Which STL radio personality got on Facebook recently about how their famous interviewee kept calling them “boo-boo.” (like Nene Leakes)?

HINTS

1.The STL personality is a female

2.She is on the FM dial

3.She shares the same first name (different spelling) and last name (but she doesnt use her “entire” last name) as a female R&B singer who was produced by her interviewee

4.The interviewee is a superstar in the R&B field who started off in a 1990s R&B band.









PRO-MO-CIAL-ITES (Jan 28 to Feb 3) Which STL mover and shakers are getting it in this week?









Ola.(RIGHT) This fashionista of Ola Style Designs will have a b-day party and her designs featured in a fashion show with fashion show producer Tan Hollywood at Copia, a venue that she co-owns, this Saturday. (SEE EVENTZ BELOW)

Seviin Li. (FAR RIGHT)This singer and new webcast host of her own monthly show at EI Institute, will debut her new monthly showcase this Friday nite at Inspot Dessert Lounge.





Phil Assets.(RIGHT) The CEO of Liquid Assets is on the grind with special nites at Club Amnesia including the newly established Friday Nite Lite and on this Saturday during their Ladies Night, Yandy of Love and Hip Hop will host.

Rhashad Shadzilla Whittier.(FAR RIGHT) Coming off of co-promoting the monthly Speakerboxx(featuring hip hop legendary DJ Spinderella) with his group SYGU, Shadzilla will be hyping the crowd this Friday at Lola along with DJ Reminise as the duo The Vaporz, with the special event Pure Us promoted by bday celebrator Sarah Bryant



PROMO LITEZ


This week we feature STL based rapper Playboy Ro

A native of Kinloch, Mo and the son of late great musian and concert promoter Al "Coletrain" Cole Sr.,. Ro got his start in music at age three performing drum solos during intermission of his fathers shows.

In 2003 Ro was one half of the St louis duo, JMC & RONIN that recorded the back to back classics, “Nikki” and Hennessey No Ice”.

The group parted ways in 2005, and Al took on another project with his cousin Quincy aka "Ball and they formed the group Ball & Ro the duo went to record two studio albums and one mixtape.

In 2009 Ro embarked the CD, on a solo mission. Under the alias of PlayBoy Ro he dropped the CD, “63140.” In 2010, he released "The Prodical Son" in 2010 Both releases were produced by his own label Haymaka Music.

He is currently getting strong downloads on his song, “I’m A Dog” featuring Floyd “Money” Merryweather and he is currently working with St Louis based R&B singer Ms Kriss on a duo project.

To download “I’m A Dog” and past tracks go to http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/fb_share/360422

WORDZ TO THE WHYZ??????????????????????

Why did Mitt Romney sing “America The Beautiful” during his victory speech in Florida? Why is Christina Aguelera’s PR team trying to say that it was spray tan that leaked from her legs during her performance at Etta James’ funeral? And why wasn’t Beyonce there? Why did Flava Flav’s daughter beat him up? Why did the American Idol judges praise Jim Carreys daughter’s OK vocals when she auditioned? Why did Pat Sajak wait til now to say that he and Vanna White used to get sloshed during tapings of :Wheel of Fortune: back in the day? And why did Madonna dis’ Janet indirectly saying she didn’t need any gimmick to perform at the Super Bowl?


THIS WEEK (FEB 2-8)

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1ST FRIDAY @ CIOCCOLATO

FRIDAY FEBURARY 3, 2012

816 OLIVE ST | DOWNTOWN

JOIN US FEB. 3 AS WE BEGIN BLACK HISTORY AT

CIOCCOLATO...DOWNTOWN'S CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE

LOCATED AT 9TH AND OLIVE.

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Kim Massie at Plush Feb 3 at 8p.m.

DIVA'S..... TanHollywood & Ola Style will have a bday party/fashion show Feb 4 starting at 7p.m. at Copia Urban Winery , 1122 Washington Ave. Tickets $10

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PRO-LINE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE BROADWAY NIGHT CLUB PRESENT......... TWISTA ''LIVE'' IN CONCERT, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH @ THE BROADWAY NIGHT CLUB, LOCATED AT 11836 WEST FLORISSANT AT NEW HALLS FERRY. DOORS OPEN AT 8PM PRE-SALE TICKETS START AT $15. 612.723.8869,., LIVE ALSO YO BANGER AND REDD CARLIONE , AT THE BROADWAY,.

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Come join us at LOLA, Saturday, February 4th for PURE US, sponsored by PURUS VODKA. There will be drink specials all night and free tastings of the organic vodka. Special guestsThe Vaporz - Shadzilla and DJ Reminisce - will be on stage keeping the party goin. And S&R co-founder Sarah will be celebrating her birthday! This is a night you don't wanna miss. Please arrive sexy, sophisticated, and early! Bottle reservations can be ordered by contacting SandRpromo@gmail.com

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Canvas Ent. & Select Saturday present N.E.O.soul sisters N'dambi & Julie Dexter f/DJ Needles

Sat., Feb. 4
Doors: 8 p.m.
Plush St. Louis
3224 Locust St.

Tix. $15 in advance $20 at the door
Advance tix. available at http://www.plushstl.com/shows.html?band_id=2317

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Close to Famous presents

~SEX And THE SUPER BOWL~ w/ Model MIKA SHAY

When

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Time

4:30pm until 10:00pm

@ The Inspot (5854 Delmar)

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Come meet us Starpower Marketing Presents The Blackgirls" STL "Rock" the Superbowl party at Exo!! With Delux Magaine

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SUPERBOWL party

BINIONS 5917 DELMAR NO COVER,2 FOR 1 BUDWEISER PRODUCTS AT HALF TIME & DJ C-NOTE ON THE 1'S & 2'S

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Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil Feb. 7-8 • Scottrade Center



NEW ONGOING BITZ

CLUB/NIGHTLIFE

The Darius Bradford Monday Night Comedy Show @THE ALL NEW LOFT!.... I will be preparing for a new show produced by Walter Latham ( *Kings of Comedy * Queens Of Comedy * Bad Boys Of Comedy etc..... ) SHOW TIME - 8:00pm!... FREE before - 8:00pm! Only $10.00 After 8:00pm!!!!

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\


THE UMBRELLA GROUP PRESENT:

CIROC SATURDAY!!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4TH @ THE TWISTED OLIVE (5916 DELMAR)

LADIES ONLY $5 TILL
10 PM

MEDIA

The Lesley On The Town Promo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beqmRv5IETY&feature=youtu.be

http://www.iwatchradio.com/shows/entertainment/lesley-on-the-town , and LesleyOnTheTown.com will be launched in the near future.. Thank you for all your support!

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SPECIAL EVENTZ

The St. Louis Black Film Festival will have a screening every Thursday in February at the Tivoli of classic black films from the 50s, 60s and 70s during Black History Month . For more info, visit facebook.com/stlouisblackfilmfestival

MUSIC

STL rapper Gena released a single called “N Luv Wit Myself” that you can peep at http://limelinx.com/files/b62b857df5e4f4d15ce3dce6ba694e40

AUDITIONS

Bakers Shoes is seeking real life beauties to be the faces of their new Spring 2012 campaign. Up to 20 local girls will win a free pair of shoes and placement in the Bakers Spring 2012 Lookbook. A select group will go on to be the faces of Bakers in-store and web campaign, and will win a pair of shoes each season for one year.

Bakers Model Search will be held at The Saint Louis Galleria in the Dillard’s wing on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 3:00-7:00pm. *Must be at least 18. No height or weight requirements.

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Open Audition for a fabulous production "Silhouette" to be staged in March and June 2012!!!!!! We are looking for the best talent St. Louis has to offer. Auditions will be held this Saturday, Feb 4, at Carpenter Branch Library 3309 S. Grand, Auditions will be held from 1pm-5pm. Be prepared to perform a piece or selection that you have rehearsed and can perform in less than 5mins!!!!!! There will be a schedule, contact us for your audition time!!!! We are looking for the following......actors and singers of all races, genders and sexual orientation. Set designers and builders. Directors and stage managers. WE are determined to make STL a trailblazer in putting an end to HIV.

This is an HIV/AIDS awareness production. This production is set to be produced across the country. This is where it STARTS! Interns are welcome to work with us also

FOR MORE ONGOING BITZ

GO TO

http://maatology.blogspot.com/2010/03/ongoing-bitz-april-week-one.html

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