Black Meetings & Tourism

Arts & Entertainment
Music Month by: Darlene C. Donloe
NEW MEXICO ART The New Mexico History Museum is now open in Santa Fe. The state-of-the-art facility is an immersive, interactive exhibition about New Mexico's colorful and complex history. The museum's multi-media environment explores the early history of indigenous people, 400 years of Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the Santa Fe Trail. The exhibition also details the flourishing of New Mexico's world-renowned arts communities and the coming of the Atomic Age. For information: www.nmhistorymuseum.org. COSBY IS A PLAYBOY Bill Cosby will once again be the master of ceremonies for the Playboy Jazz Festival, which will take place June 13-14, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The 31st annual event includes a star-studded line-up of some of the music world's greatest artist, including: The Neville Brothers; Summer Storm, starring Norman Brown, Eric Darius and featuring Gail Johnson; Esperanza Spalding; the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, featuring Sheila E, Peter Michael and Juan Escovedo; Kenny G,; Patti Austin; King Sunny Ade and more. For information: www.playboyjazzfestival.com. BUY THE BOOK *HUBERT HARRISON: THE VOICE OF HARLEM RADICALISM, 1883-1918* (Columbia University Press) by Jeffrey B. Perry is currently in bookstores. Harrison, (1883-1927) was a skilled writer, orator, educator, critic, and political activist who combined class consciousness and anti-white-supremacist race consciousness into a coherent political radicalism. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands-born and Harlem-based Harrison profoundly influenced "New Negro" militants, including A. Philip Randolph and Marcus Garvey. E. Lynn Harris, who at one time sold computers, is now a 10-time New York Times bestselling author. His latest tome is *BASKETBALL JONES. In the book, Harris explores the consequences of loving someone who is forced to conform to the rules society demands its public heroes follow. The book is filled with nonstop twists and turns. For information: www.bnreview.com. MONTREAL JAZZ* The 30th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place June 30-July 12. Stevie Wonder will open the 30th edition of the jazz festival by performing a free concert. Wonder, Toots & The Maytals, John Pizzarelli, Ornette Coleman and Susie Arioli are the 2009 winners of the prestigious prizes awarded annually by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to artists who have made extraordinary contributions to the evolution of music. This year, they will receive, respectively, the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award, Antonio Carlos Jobim Award, Ella Fitzgerald Award, Miles Davis Award and Oscar Peterson Award. Artists set to participate include: Dave Brubeck, Branford Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Randy Brecker, Joe Cocker, Kenny Garrett, King Sunny Ade, Kool & The Gang and more. The summer music celebration features 11 days of non-stop entertainment, from noon to midnight, right in the heart of downtown Montreal. HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL The 10th Annual Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) takes place June 2-7, in Beverly Hills. The HBFF, dubbed "The Black Sundance," is an annual 6-day celebration of Black cinema drawing together established and rising filmmakers, popular film and television stars, writers, industry executives, emerging artists and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. The festival was founded in 1999 by its executive director, Tanya Kersey, in order to enhance the careers of emerging and established Black filmmakers through a public exhibition and competition program. The festival's goal is to play an integral role in discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the industry, media and public. For information: www.hbff.org. NEELYS AT HOME Pat and Gina Neely, better known as the Neelys, have written, *DOWN HOME WITH THE NEELYS: A Southern Family Cookbook(ebi) (KNOPF). Millions of viewers watch their daily Food Network show and tour buses line up in front of their Memphis restaurant. The Cookbook encompasses all the great menu items that have made NEELY'S BBQ* a destination for BBQ aficionados around the world, as well as signature recipes from their show. Each week, more than four million viewers tune in to watch the Neelys cook recipes that have made them so admired and loved, including: Get Yo' Man Chicken, Barbecue Spaghetti, Sock-It-to-Me Cake, and their famous Cheesy Corkscrews with Crunchy Bacon Topping. The Neelys are currently touring coast-to coast through June. GETTING YOUR MASTERS The Pageant of the Masters, a California fine art exhibition, runs July 5-Aug. 31. The art event is staged in a six-acre canyon park near the ocean in Laguna Beach, CA. More than 140 artists will show their wares. The artworks represent a complete spectrum of art media: paintings, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, etched and stained glass, fiber arts, handcrafted furniture and even scrimshaw. For information: (800) 487-3378 PUT A CORK IN IT The City of Kirkland, WA, uncorks its signature summer festival of art, style and taste July 17-19, in picturesque Marina Park. The event is in its third year. Kirkland Uncorked celebrates the best of Washington wine, art, food, music and lifestyle elements, with activities and exhibits throughout Kirkland's picturesque waterfront and downtown. The Tasting and Lifestyle Garden will offer visitors an opportunity to sample more than 60 vintages from over 20 Washington wineries, including the Kirkland Uncorked Salmon Safe Signature Wine created by Terra Blanca. Winemakers and winery liaisons will be on hand to answer guest questions, and assist with tasting tips to best guide guests through the collection of regional wines. For information: www.kirklanduncorked.com. REDRUM Ruby Slipper Events presents *Murder On American Idle(ebi) at the Fairfax Marriott Fair Oaks Mall, in Virginia through June 27. (i)Murder on American Idle* is an interactive, dining adventure. Select audience members are cast as contestants and judges. The fun starts with the Idle audition which leads to the audience competition. The cast delivers a different performance each night based on guest interaction. The actors perform among the crowd, not on a stage. The three courses of the dinner alternate between the scenes of the play. The real action takes place during the dinner breaks. The actors entertain on a one-to-one basis dropping clues and raising suspicion. For information: www.murderonamericanidle.com .

Arts & Entertainment

Music Month
by: Darlene C. Donloe

NEW MEXICO ART

The New Mexico History Museum is now open in Santa Fe. The state-of-the-art facility is an immersive, interactive exhibition about New Mexico's colorful and complex history. The museum's multi-media environment explores the early history of indigenous people, 400 years of Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the Santa Fe Trail. The exhibition also details the flourishing of New Mexico's world-renowned arts communities and the coming of the Atomic Age. For information: www.nmhistorymuseum.org.

COSBY IS A PLAYBOY

Bill Cosby will once again be the master of ceremonies for the Playboy Jazz Festival, which will take place June 13-14, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The 31st annual event includes a star-studded line-up of some of the music world's greatest artist, including: The Neville Brothers; Summer Storm, starring Norman Brown, Eric Darius and featuring Gail Johnson; Esperanza Spalding; the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, featuring Sheila E, Peter Michael and Juan Escovedo; Kenny G,; Patti Austin; King Sunny Ade and more. For information: www.playboyjazzfestival.com.

BUY THE BOOK

HUBERT HARRISON: THE VOICE OF HARLEM RADICALISM, 1883-1918 (Columbia University Press) by Jeffrey B. Perry is currently in bookstores. Harrison, (1883-1927) was a skilled writer, orator, educator, critic, and political activist who combined class consciousness and anti-white-supremacist race consciousness into a coherent political radicalism. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands-born and Harlem-based

Harrison profoundly influenced "New Negro" militants, including A. Philip Randolph and Marcus Garvey.

E. Lynn Harris, who at one time sold computers, is now a 10-time New York Times bestselling author. His latest tome is BASKETBALL JONES. In the book, Harris explores the consequences of loving someone who is forced to conform to the rules society demands its public heroes follow. The book is filled with nonstop twists and turns. For information: www.bnreview.com.

MONTREAL JAZZ

The 30th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place June 30-July 12. Stevie Wonder will open the 30th edition of the jazz festival by performing a free concert. Wonder, Toots & The Maytals, John Pizzarelli, Ornette Coleman and Susie Arioli are the 2009 winners of the prestigious prizes awarded annually by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to artists who have made extraordinary contributions to the evolution of music. This year, they will receive, respectively, the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award, Antonio Carlos Jobim Award, Ella Fitzgerald Award, Miles Davis Award and Oscar Peterson Award. Artists set to participate include: Dave Brubeck, Branford Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Randy Brecker, Joe Cocker, Kenny Garrett, King Sunny Ade, Kool & The Gang and more. The summer music celebration features 11 days of non-stop entertainment, from noon to midnight, right in the heart of downtown Montreal.

HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

The 10th Annual Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) takes place June 2-7, in Beverly Hills. The HBFF, dubbed "The Black Sundance," is an annual 6-day celebration of Black cinema drawing together established and rising filmmakers, popular film and television stars, writers, industry executives, emerging artists and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. The festival was founded in 1999 by its executive director, Tanya Kersey, in order to enhance the careers of emerging and established Black filmmakers through a public exhibition and competition program. The festival's goal is to play an integral role in discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the industry, media and public. For information: www.hbff.org.

NEELYS AT HOME

Pat and Gina Neely, better known as the Neelys, have written, DOWN HOME WITH THE NEELYS: A Southern Family Cookbook(ebi) (KNOPF). Millions of viewers watch their daily Food Network show and tour buses line up in front of their Memphis restaurant. The Cookbook encompasses all the great menu items that have made NEELY'S BBQ a destination for BBQ aficionados around the world, as well as signature recipes from their show. Each week, more than four million viewers tune in to watch the Neelys cook recipes that have made them so admired and loved, including: Get Yo' Man Chicken, Barbecue Spaghetti, Sock-It-to-Me Cake, and their famous Cheesy Corkscrews with Crunchy Bacon Topping. The Neelys are currently touring coast-to coast through June.

GETTING YOUR MASTERS

The Pageant of the Masters, a California fine art exhibition, runs July 5-Aug. 31. The art event is staged in a six-acre canyon park near the ocean in Laguna Beach, CA. More than 140 artists will show their wares. The artworks represent a complete spectrum of art media: paintings, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, etched and stained glass, fiber arts, handcrafted furniture and even scrimshaw. For information: (800) 487-3378

PUT A CORK IN IT

The City of Kirkland, WA, uncorks its signature summer festival of art, style and taste July 17-19, in picturesque Marina Park. The event is in its third year. Kirkland Uncorked celebrates the best of Washington wine, art, food, music and lifestyle elements, with activities and exhibits throughout Kirkland's picturesque waterfront and downtown. The Tasting and Lifestyle Garden will offer visitors an opportunity to sample more than 60 vintages from over 20 Washington wineries, including the Kirkland Uncorked Salmon Safe Signature Wine created by Terra Blanca. Winemakers and winery liaisons will be on hand to answer guest questions, and assist with tasting tips to best guide guests through the collection of regional wines. For information: www.kirklanduncorked.com.

REDRUM

Ruby Slipper Events presents Murder On American Idle(ebi) at the Fairfax Marriott Fair Oaks Mall, in Virginia through June 27. (i)Murder on American Idle is an interactive, dining adventure. Select audience members are cast as contestants and judges. The fun starts with the Idle audition which leads to the audience competition. The cast delivers a different performance each night based on guest interaction. The actors perform among the crowd, not on a stage. The three courses of the dinner alternate between the scenes of the play. The real action takes place during the dinner breaks. The actors entertain on a one-to-one basis dropping clues and raising suspicion. For information: www.murderonamericanidle.com .