Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Support the Daniel McCree Foundation
DONATE - Support the Daniel McCree Foundation
Volunteer your time to our supported organizations, or
make a donation towards our efforts.
www.DanielMcCree.Org
Volunteer your time to our supported organizations, or
make a donation towards our efforts.
www.DanielMcCree.Org
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Man run over, killed during Alaska's Pride Parade
Man run over, killed during Alaska's Gay Pride Parade
(ChicagoPride.com : Anchorage News)
Anchorage — The car carrying the grand marshal of Anchorage, Alaska's Gay Pride Parade ran over and killed a man on Saturday.
The accident happened near the beginning of the parade route.
James L. Crump, 50, a registered nurse who worked for a public agency, was killed.
"It ran over a person, totally over," Grand Marshal Doug Frank told the Anchorage Daily News. "This went from one of the best days of my life to the worst."
The convertible was being driven at a slow rate of speed by a woman in her 70s who apparently panicked once she hit Crump. That's when she kept hitting the accelerator instead of the brake, and ended up dragging him under the car.
Crump was walking in the parade, and the Anchorage Daily News said that participants were told to walk close to the grand marshal's car.
The parade was canceled, although a PrideFest event later in the day did go on as scheduled, although in a significantly more subdued way.
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/06/25/1936109/police-identify-pedestrian-killed.html#ixzzFxfqxwwaa
http://alaskapride.org/festival.htm
(ChicagoPride.com : Anchorage News)
Anchorage — The car carrying the grand marshal of Anchorage, Alaska's Gay Pride Parade ran over and killed a man on Saturday.
The accident happened near the beginning of the parade route.
James L. Crump, 50, a registered nurse who worked for a public agency, was killed.
"It ran over a person, totally over," Grand Marshal Doug Frank told the Anchorage Daily News. "This went from one of the best days of my life to the worst."
The convertible was being driven at a slow rate of speed by a woman in her 70s who apparently panicked once she hit Crump. That's when she kept hitting the accelerator instead of the brake, and ended up dragging him under the car.
Crump was walking in the parade, and the Anchorage Daily News said that participants were told to walk close to the grand marshal's car.
The parade was canceled, although a PrideFest event later in the day did go on as scheduled, although in a significantly more subdued way.
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/06/25/1936109/police-identify-pedestrian-killed.html#ixzzFxfqxwwaa
http://alaskapride.org/festival.htm
Friday, June 24, 2011
http://bellevillepride.comMetroEast NEWS 2011 Digital Directory
We are grateful for the more than 2000 readers of our First Edition. If you are interested in adding your business or fan page to the next issue, you can still do so at: www.BellevillePride.Org
By smartchoicestl
Views: 2096
Monday, June 20, 2011
A heartfelt thank you to our community (CARBONDALE)
www.BellevillePride.com
I am completely in awe over the amount of participation that the community provided during last weekend's Pridefest. I had always believed that Carbondale could and would support its very own gay pride, but there were those that did not feel it could happen. As I asked people over the last year, I heard all sorts of reasons why not: the community was too small, Carbondale is just not the right place, it wouldn't work because of St. Louis's Pridefest, there is too much homophobia, and the saddest that I was told was that our community was too disparate, disorganized, and frankly did not care. Well, I did not believe them and everyone proved the naysayers wrong!
I want to share with you how this started for the sake of posterity as well as clarity. I became acquainted with Julie Schurr through a mutual friend who repeatedly told me, you have to have Julie come to Carbondale to perform because she is phenomenal. So when the final approval happened, I feared that she would not gain the audience that she deserved due to time constraints.
After seeing that Belleville had started its very own Pridefest, I thought perhaps we could give it a shot and make Julie the headliner. Todd was intrigued by the idea and went to Dan for approval who agreed it was time. However, we only had 17 days to plan, which meant we had to get the word out quickly. That’s where you as patrons came into the picture!
Within 24 hours nearly 100 people responded to the Facebook invite and word of mouth spread this fledgling event. It was at that instance that I knew people were hungry for their very own Pridefest.
I am very proud of how our community embraced the idea, especially with such short notice. In 17 days we were able to draw nearly 1000 people for the entire weekend. Imagine what next year will bring. The overall goal from this weekend was to show Carbondale that there truly is enough community support for the city of Carbondale host a parade. However, garnering city participation is going to take some assistance from the entire community through grassroots organizing. Additionally, the event should not solely be tied to a bar; it should include outside sources so that the youngest members of our community can participate. Ideally, next year’s Pridefest will include committees that organize a festival that the entire Carbondale community can be proud of. Please inquire if you are interested, since organizing an event that size takes time. I hope that within the next three months we can gather enough volunteers that preparation would start in October and Pridefest will become something that people from miles around will come and attend.
Now I have to show my gratitude to everyone directly involved. Without Julie Schurr, this event would not have started and it would not have been as much fun. She is an incredible person with a ton of talent, I cannot think of a better headliner. Even though she ran into some of the most treacherous weather that So. Ill. has to offer, she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Carbondale and wants to come back! Yay!
Next, Party City, the corporation, was the first outside vendor to declare that they backed the event. That meant so much, because it is a nationally recognized business that added legitimacy to the cause. Party City has declared that they want to fully participate next year and offer sponsorship; we will be in contact with them soon to find out how to make this event bigger and better. Everyone give them a shout out.
We need to thank Steven St. Julian at the Jackson County Health Department for providing the event with free condoms and AIDS testing. Steven was so helpful and numerous people stepped up and got tested! Knowledge is power in fighting this disease. I want to thank Alex Ambrose from St. Andrews Animal Shelter for conducting the doggy wash on Sunday. It was a lot of fun to see everyone’s pooch. Remember St. Andrews’s shelter when you think you are ready for a new pet. We have a shout out to Eman El-Ayins and Martha Wallis for the give-away’s a games.
Thanks to our vendors Jeniflower’s Jewlery and Hippie Child Creation for setting up a great Pride gear display. They offered some quality pride merchandise at reasonable prices.
At this time, I have to move directly to the immediate Club Traz family and offer my sincerest gratitude. I am going to discuss each night and those that made each night flow with so few glitches that I am extremely proud of our teamwork. We deemed Friday night NOH8, which was based on the national campaign and a rash of hate crimes that have happened in Carbondale over the last year. Parrish did such a wonderful job face painting; I had goose bumps from all of the love that flowed through the crowds. We took a number of photos that are all over everyone’s Facebook page. It is one step closer to eliminating hate crimes that are committed in this community. Of course, Blanche DuBois hosted a fantastic drag show that offered the audience both Drag Queens, Club Kidz, and Drag Kings. Thank you to Blanche, Ryder Sweet, Issis, Electra, Paige, Alexandria, Titan, and Mistique for the opening processions. The show was hot and the performers energized the crowds for the weekend.
Saturday night was themed the Glitterfest offering a nice variety of entertainment including Julie Schurr, the So.IL.D Kings, and a ton of glitter. The show was the best that the Kings have performed thus far. Ryder is a great emcee coming into his own and kept the audience entertained while organizing the Kings. Thank you so much, while you are a young group, you are blazing a name for yourselves in the region! People are taking notice and the response is growing with each show. Individually, thank you Ryder, Dirty D., Rodrick, Jon, TC, Jermaine, Rick, and Ryan! I am so very proud of what you are accomplishing in such a short amount of time. I feel like I am at a rock concert! Take pride in the fact that Saturday was packed to the gills!
Sunday was the closing ceremonies with the Doggy wash on the Patio.
Again thanks to Alex for his hard work. The finale was Primetime Cabaret with Blanche DuBois and Jodie Santana. They brought us Veronica Headley and Sasha Moore who embraced Pridefest with zeal. Blanche adorned herself in her prideful outfits of glamour and sheen. Jodie Santana looked marvelous as always and both ladies are Carbondale’s legacy; it would not have been Pridefest without them. Veronica Headley represents the next generation; she’s beautiful and very talented and Carbondale is beginning to embrace her as their own. Sasha Moore had a wonderful rainbow gown and danced her heart out for the crowds. It was a great way to end our very first Pridefest.
Behind the scenes, there are so many names starting with Dan Terry and Shawn Williams for giving the space for the event. If Traz of Carbondale did not exist, I am not sure this would have jettisoned itself so quickly. They are great to work for and I am so happy that they allow us to create new and different venues for the community. Thank you to Todd Taylor for running all of the intricate details and making sure the employees have what they need. It is not easy to corral queens, kings, bartenders, dj’s, and everybody else…including Ricky. ;-) Thank you Kent Keen for spinning some very good music all weekend; the crowds danced almost all weekend long! Thanks to Ricky Cheatham, Tyler Myers, Michael Oliver, and the girl that kept stealing my hat for building the balloon arches, which was not an easy task with short notice. Thanks to Papa Tim for turning on the water and getting the things that were needed for the patio. Thankd you Traci Burchell and family for offering up the Beer Pong table and supplies, it was great to play yesterday. You are all wonderful.
I was honored to work with Ariele Gooch and David Hoppe on the patio, they put up with my antics all weekend long. I have never had a job where it is acceptable to act like a ten-year old and get paid for it. Of course, thank you to Jennie and Karen who worked so hard to keep the bar clean, kept the drinks flowing, and ensured that the people entering were old enough to drink. Karen really does protect us from any legal issues and it is highly appreciated.
I hope that I have not missed anyone, but if I have I say thank you! I want to say one more time, Thank you to the Southern Illinois Community; you came through in a big way, which means we are going to work even harder to give you a better Second Annual Pridefest Carbondale. Keep showing your support and offering suggestions throughout the year, and we will keep your ideas front and center as we plan. You have been so wonderful and we at Traz love all of you!
RELATED STORIES:
A heartfelt thank you to our community for a hugely successful First Annual Carbondale Pridefest
I want to share with you how this started for the sake of posterity as well as clarity. I became acquainted with Julie Schurr through a mutual friend who repeatedly told me, you have to have Julie come to Carbondale to perform because she is phenomenal. So when the final approval happened, I feared that she would not gain the audience that she deserved due to time constraints.
After seeing that Belleville had started its very own Pridefest, I thought perhaps we could give it a shot and make Julie the headliner. Todd was intrigued by the idea and went to Dan for approval who agreed it was time. However, we only had 17 days to plan, which meant we had to get the word out quickly. That’s where you as patrons came into the picture!
Within 24 hours nearly 100 people responded to the Facebook invite and word of mouth spread this fledgling event. It was at that instance that I knew people were hungry for their very own Pridefest.
I am very proud of how our community embraced the idea, especially with such short notice. In 17 days we were able to draw nearly 1000 people for the entire weekend. Imagine what next year will bring. The overall goal from this weekend was to show Carbondale that there truly is enough community support for the city of Carbondale host a parade. However, garnering city participation is going to take some assistance from the entire community through grassroots organizing. Additionally, the event should not solely be tied to a bar; it should include outside sources so that the youngest members of our community can participate. Ideally, next year’s Pridefest will include committees that organize a festival that the entire Carbondale community can be proud of. Please inquire if you are interested, since organizing an event that size takes time. I hope that within the next three months we can gather enough volunteers that preparation would start in October and Pridefest will become something that people from miles around will come and attend.
Now I have to show my gratitude to everyone directly involved. Without Julie Schurr, this event would not have started and it would not have been as much fun. She is an incredible person with a ton of talent, I cannot think of a better headliner. Even though she ran into some of the most treacherous weather that So. Ill. has to offer, she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Carbondale and wants to come back! Yay!
Next, Party City, the corporation, was the first outside vendor to declare that they backed the event. That meant so much, because it is a nationally recognized business that added legitimacy to the cause. Party City has declared that they want to fully participate next year and offer sponsorship; we will be in contact with them soon to find out how to make this event bigger and better. Everyone give them a shout out.
We need to thank Steven St. Julian at the Jackson County Health Department for providing the event with free condoms and AIDS testing. Steven was so helpful and numerous people stepped up and got tested! Knowledge is power in fighting this disease. I want to thank Alex Ambrose from St. Andrews Animal Shelter for conducting the doggy wash on Sunday. It was a lot of fun to see everyone’s pooch. Remember St. Andrews’s shelter when you think you are ready for a new pet. We have a shout out to Eman El-Ayins and Martha Wallis for the give-away’s a games.
Thanks to our vendors Jeniflower’s Jewlery and Hippie Child Creation for setting up a great Pride gear display. They offered some quality pride merchandise at reasonable prices.
At this time, I have to move directly to the immediate Club Traz family and offer my sincerest gratitude. I am going to discuss each night and those that made each night flow with so few glitches that I am extremely proud of our teamwork. We deemed Friday night NOH8, which was based on the national campaign and a rash of hate crimes that have happened in Carbondale over the last year. Parrish did such a wonderful job face painting; I had goose bumps from all of the love that flowed through the crowds. We took a number of photos that are all over everyone’s Facebook page. It is one step closer to eliminating hate crimes that are committed in this community. Of course, Blanche DuBois hosted a fantastic drag show that offered the audience both Drag Queens, Club Kidz, and Drag Kings. Thank you to Blanche, Ryder Sweet, Issis, Electra, Paige, Alexandria, Titan, and Mistique for the opening processions. The show was hot and the performers energized the crowds for the weekend.
Saturday night was themed the Glitterfest offering a nice variety of entertainment including Julie Schurr, the So.IL.D Kings, and a ton of glitter. The show was the best that the Kings have performed thus far. Ryder is a great emcee coming into his own and kept the audience entertained while organizing the Kings. Thank you so much, while you are a young group, you are blazing a name for yourselves in the region! People are taking notice and the response is growing with each show. Individually, thank you Ryder, Dirty D., Rodrick, Jon, TC, Jermaine, Rick, and Ryan! I am so very proud of what you are accomplishing in such a short amount of time. I feel like I am at a rock concert! Take pride in the fact that Saturday was packed to the gills!
Sunday was the closing ceremonies with the Doggy wash on the Patio.
Again thanks to Alex for his hard work. The finale was Primetime Cabaret with Blanche DuBois and Jodie Santana. They brought us Veronica Headley and Sasha Moore who embraced Pridefest with zeal. Blanche adorned herself in her prideful outfits of glamour and sheen. Jodie Santana looked marvelous as always and both ladies are Carbondale’s legacy; it would not have been Pridefest without them. Veronica Headley represents the next generation; she’s beautiful and very talented and Carbondale is beginning to embrace her as their own. Sasha Moore had a wonderful rainbow gown and danced her heart out for the crowds. It was a great way to end our very first Pridefest.
Behind the scenes, there are so many names starting with Dan Terry and Shawn Williams for giving the space for the event. If Traz of Carbondale did not exist, I am not sure this would have jettisoned itself so quickly. They are great to work for and I am so happy that they allow us to create new and different venues for the community. Thank you to Todd Taylor for running all of the intricate details and making sure the employees have what they need. It is not easy to corral queens, kings, bartenders, dj’s, and everybody else…including Ricky. ;-) Thank you Kent Keen for spinning some very good music all weekend; the crowds danced almost all weekend long! Thanks to Ricky Cheatham, Tyler Myers, Michael Oliver, and the girl that kept stealing my hat for building the balloon arches, which was not an easy task with short notice. Thanks to Papa Tim for turning on the water and getting the things that were needed for the patio. Thankd you Traci Burchell and family for offering up the Beer Pong table and supplies, it was great to play yesterday. You are all wonderful.
I hope that I have not missed anyone, but if I have I say thank you! I want to say one more time, Thank you to the Southern Illinois Community; you came through in a big way, which means we are going to work even harder to give you a better Second Annual Pridefest Carbondale. Keep showing your support and offering suggestions throughout the year, and we will keep your ideas front and center as we plan. You have been so wonderful and we at Traz love all of you!
RELATED STORIES:
- First Carbondale Pride Event Makes History for Southern Illinois - Monday, June 20, 2011
First Carbondale Pride Event Makes History for Southern Illinois
www.BellevillePride.com
First Carbondale Pride Event Makes History for Southern Illinois
By: Colby Kluthe- MetroEast NEWS
photos by: Mickey Johnson
(CARBONDALE)
Club Traz in Carbondale decided in early June to "make a start" with the first Carbondale Pride Festival. A three day event, Carbondale Pride began on June 17th and included a number of events the entire weekend.
With more than 200 attending in its inagural year, Carbondale Pride is a welcome addition to equality efforts throughout the State of Illinois. This years headliner was the well known musician Julie Schurr as well as the Southern Illinois Kings, which have made a definitive mark on the Carbondale scene over the past year.
Julie Schurr, who calls the Saint Louis region home, has traveled extensively since 2007, after frustrations that stem from the lack of opportunities for female musicians. Schurr is available for bookings and offers much of her music & apparell for purchase on her website: www.julieschurr.com
Mickey Johnson, who is on staff at Club Traz has been kind enough to keep us in the loop with the vibrant scene in her part of Southern Illinois. Providing us with excellent coverage of Pageants & special events that occur nearly every weekend of the year.
MetroEast NEWS congratulates Carbondale in their first Pride Festival, and look forward to upcoming events in 2012 and beyond!
First Carbondale Pride Event Makes History for Southern Illinois
By: Colby Kluthe- MetroEast NEWS
photos by: Mickey Johnson
(CARBONDALE)
Club Traz in Carbondale decided in early June to "make a start" with the first Carbondale Pride Festival. A three day event, Carbondale Pride began on June 17th and included a number of events the entire weekend.
With more than 200 attending in its inagural year, Carbondale Pride is a welcome addition to equality efforts throughout the State of Illinois. This years headliner was the well known musician Julie Schurr as well as the Southern Illinois Kings, which have made a definitive mark on the Carbondale scene over the past year.
Julie Schurr, who calls the Saint Louis region home, has traveled extensively since 2007, after frustrations that stem from the lack of opportunities for female musicians. Schurr is available for bookings and offers much of her music & apparell for purchase on her website: www.julieschurr.com
MetroEast NEWS congratulates Carbondale in their first Pride Festival, and look forward to upcoming events in 2012 and beyond!
www.youtube.com
Julie Schurr at Traz 6-18-11 performing Boi in the Girls room :) during Carbondale, Illinois first Pride!!! video by:
KrisTy Flint
RELATED STORIES:
www.BellevillePride.com
KrisTy Flint
RELATED STORIES:
Monday, June 20, 2011
A heartfelt thank you to our community (CARBONDALE)
Metro East PROUD~ Pride Month is off and Running!
4th Annual Metro East Pride Festival
Colby Kluthe- MetroEast NEWS
photos by: Stephen Houldsworth
June 20,2011
(BELLEVILLE)
Metro East Pride has become the veteran festival of Southern Illinois, celebrating its 4th Festival on June 18th.
The "Main Street" Festival in Belleville always takes on a spirit of "homecoming" celebration for many throughout the St. Louis region.
The Metro East Pride (MEPSI) organization has become more than a festival, but an advocacy that represents the LGBTQIA community throughout the year. If you haven't seen the current board of directors out and about, chances are you may still be in the closet.
The 2011 Festival was a truly amazing experience with vendors and organizations of vast variety. People of all ages and backgrounds converge around Club-Escapade in a demonstration of the very best our community has to offer.
The 4th Annual Metro East Pride festival was a huge success with a large number of artisans and entertainers and food court selections you wait all year to enjoy. This years festival was well attended and enjoyed picture perfect weather throughout the event.
2011 Also marked the first year of offering a Royal Court celebrating the entertainers that work in our community year-round.
The main stage also featured returning standards such as Band Together, and newcomers such as EarthSol , and Youre Not Kablamo as well as appearances by Y-98 Radio's Courtney Landrum and Dieta Pepsi.
Pride celebrations in Belleville, have really become a part of the city's fabric, and undoubtedly has paved the way for other festivals which are beginning to spring up across the state. In 2011, both Springfield and Carbondale will hold pride festivals, each bringing new opportunities to engage and advance the issues of equality for all people who call Illinois home.
READ MORE ON CARBONDALE PRIDE
Colby Kluthe- MetroEast NEWS
photos by: Stephen Houldsworth
 |
| 4th Annual Metro East Pride- Belleville, Illinois |
(BELLEVILLE)
Metro East Pride has become the veteran festival of Southern Illinois, celebrating its 4th Festival on June 18th.
The "Main Street" Festival in Belleville always takes on a spirit of "homecoming" celebration for many throughout the St. Louis region.
The Metro East Pride (MEPSI) organization has become more than a festival, but an advocacy that represents the LGBTQIA community throughout the year. If you haven't seen the current board of directors out and about, chances are you may still be in the closet.
The 2011 Festival was a truly amazing experience with vendors and organizations of vast variety. People of all ages and backgrounds converge around Club-Escapade in a demonstration of the very best our community has to offer.
 |
| Band Together Marches to the Main Stage |
The 4th Annual Metro East Pride festival was a huge success with a large number of artisans and entertainers and food court selections you wait all year to enjoy. This years festival was well attended and enjoyed picture perfect weather throughout the event.
2011 Also marked the first year of offering a Royal Court celebrating the entertainers that work in our community year-round.
The main stage also featured returning standards such as Band Together, and newcomers such as EarthSol , and Youre Not Kablamo as well as appearances by Y-98 Radio's Courtney Landrum and Dieta Pepsi.
 |
| You're Not Kablamo - Metro East Pride 2011 |
READ MORE ON CARBONDALE PRIDE
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Jim's Place closes it's doors (PADUCAH)
www.BellevillePride.org
June 10, 2011
Jim's Place WANT TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT JIM'S PLACE. YOU GUYS WERE GREAT! SHANE, JUSTIN, SKIP, CHRIS, ANTHONY, BRUCE, ALEX, JOSE, JOHN/JAMES, KEVIN, RON AND THE SHOW CAST. I HOPE I HAVEN'T LEFT ANYONE OUT. THANK YOU GUYS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MARK
June 10, 2011
Jim's Place WANT TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT JIM'S PLACE. YOU GUYS WERE GREAT! SHANE, JUSTIN, SKIP, CHRIS, ANTHONY, BRUCE, ALEX, JOSE, JOHN/JAMES, KEVIN, RON AND THE SHOW CAST. I HOPE I HAVEN'T LEFT ANYONE OUT. THANK YOU GUYS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MARK
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE STL LGBT TEAM
www.BellevillePride.com
Komen Race for the Cure STL LGBT Team
via Todd Alan
Hey all-
It is too late to register DIRECTLY for the St Louis LGBT Team on the Komen site. PLEASE ASAP sign up with them as an INDIVIDUAL, then in box me with your shirt size for ordering of the separate team shirts. NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WE WILL HAVE PACKET AND TEAM SHIRT PACKET PICKUP AT JUST JOHN from 4-7 on June 8-9.
I will have extra LGBT team shirts for those late signing up.
Location: Downtown St Louis
Time: 8:00AM Saturday, June 11th
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Cigar Inn Two Year Anniversary Party- feat. Random Thought
www.BellevillePride.com
By: Susan Spit-Fire
And award-winning Musician, Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, and Spoken Word Artist Aireez DaRychuss (Terroll D. Williams) will be here. Originally hailing from New Orleans, Aireez has performed at SoulSTAGE, Poems, Prose, and Pints, Urb Slam @ Legacy, and many other local shows, as well as gracing events across the nation. He has two excellent CD’s out – So Deep, The EP, and 9 Lives. Not willing to compromise himself or his message, he stepped out on a limb and created his own successful record label - Thundagrownd Produckshuns, and recently returned from a tour in the South. Terroll’s live performances are exceptional, whether he’s doing Spoken Word, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Soul, or a spell-binding cover of the classic hit “I Put a Spell on You”. He released a new full-length album this Spring entitled Apply as Needed. Aireez’ website is www.rychuss1ad.com.
By: Susan Spit-Fire
Hey, it’s finally here y’all!!! The Two Year Anniversary of Open Mic Night @ The Inn is next Thursday, June 9th (Doors-8; Show-9) and we will be throwin’ a party to honor some of the people who helped make it all possible! These remarkable artists have been with us since the early days and are known for their high caliber performances and dedication to the arts and to their passion and purpose in life. Our main act for the show will be none other than Rennell “Random Thought” Parker - a superb Poet, Author, Spoken Word Artist, Emcee, Motivational Speaker, and Educator from Florissant, MO. Born in St. Louis, he studied Education at Ashford University and he’s had two books published – Speak Up, Speak Out, Shout If You Have To and Do You Mind If I Write You Poetry? Rennell is also a strong advocate for our young people. He mentors and sponsors young men in a series called The Man Talk Sessions, which occur at The West Valley Branch of The Florissant Library. He works closely with The St. Louis Poetry Center and other organizations on many different literary programs for youth. His spoken word performances are powerful and truly inspiring. Mr. Parker, a Navy Veteran, is also a Little League Soccer Coach and was the emcee of Club 15’s incredible show The Grey Area. Check out his websites for more info: www.actsofarandomthought.org and www.iamrandomthought.com.
Dana “Kels” Kelly will open up for Rennell. She’s a Poet, Author, and Spoken Word Artist from St. Louis. Her work’s emotional and deeply moving, and her spoken word performances are riveting. Kels began writing at the tender age of seven. She was only eleven when she was first published by The St. Louis Post Dispatch, in which she wrote of the violence transforming her neighborhood. Back then Dana was also a skillful vocalist who was often featured at weddings, plays, and talent shows. She began her spoken word career at Mocha Latte’s show Got Lyrics? and has appeared on over 100 stages across the U.S. since then, as well as abroad. Kels has a book out entitled Tatted Up: Emotional Tattoos of The Heart. The second book in her Writing Lab Series is called Ugly Me and is due for release in September. When she’s not rocking the stage Dana spends her time as a licensed tax professional.
Also joining us will be East St. Louis native Pacia Anderson, a very gifted Journalist, Photographer, Poet, and Spoken Word Artist of great depth and range. She is a student at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL. and writes articles as an associate reporter for their school newspaper the Eye of the Storm. Miss Anderson has performed at SoulSTAGE, The SIUE/ESL Center for Higher Education (with The Eugene B. Redmond Writer’s Club), The Schmidt Art Center, and many other local spots. Her poetry is intellectual and provocative and her spoken word performances clever, humorous, and timely. She and her young daughter Heaven currently reside in the city of East St. Louis.
Our special guest for the evening will be Genesis Crawford - a hot new Poet, Spoken Word Artist, and Model originally from Chicago’s Southside. She attended Lemont Township High School and is now an intelligent and devoted student at Illinois University, where she is specializing in Biology and Pre-Med. Studies. She also takes classes at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville when her schedule permits. Genesis’ work is gripping, gritty, and real, and her performances touching and unique. She first debuted her poetry at Open Mic Night @ The Inn nearly two years ago and has subsequently performed all over the Metro East and the state of Illinois. She now lives in Chicago, IL.
In light of the Two Year Anniversary and in honor of all our dear friends and fans (Thank You for all your support!!!) there will be a festive and spirited atmosphere, free candy, and fabulous specials on Caramel Apple Martini’s, Mojitos, Hot Damn, and Sex on The Beach. As always there will be a fine array of cigars for your smoking enjoyment, free Wi-Fi, and a classy, laid back venue to experience it all in. Plus the Open Mic will be going down, free to all who want to share their talents –so come out and celebrate with us. (But try to get here by 9 if you want a seat!) I’m looking forward to seeing you soon. Peace!!
Love & Hugs, Spit-Fire
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The 2011 Digital Directory is Complete!
We have completed the first edition of the 2011 Directory. If you missed your opportunity to be listed, you may contact us for details on being included in the "late edition" to be published in July.
A special thanks to each of the Directory Sponsors! Your support is greatly appreciated.
A special thanks to each of the Directory Sponsors! Your support is greatly appreciated.
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