O & A This Week: Tuesday, July 29 Through Monday, August 4, 2014- Art, Dance, Film, Music and Theatre

By Walter Rutledge

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 The weather maybe unseasonably cool, but the New York City art scene is definitely heating up. Fine arts prevails in Harlem and Soho, dance is turning heads from Long Island to Lincoln Center, film honors the Godfather of Soul and a gadfly for social justice and we have high flying theatre near Union Square. Here are a few of the many events happening this week in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to get you Out and About. Continue reading

Hollywood Monday: Chicago- Cell Block Tango and When You’re Good To Mama

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Chicago (2002) is an American musical comedy-drama film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name. Both the movie and the stage play explore themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz Age Chicago. The film stars Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones and also features Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs, Colm Feore, Mya Harrison and Desmond Richardson.  Continue reading

Throwback Thursday: Tamia – You Put A Move On My Heart and Strangler In My House

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Tamia Marilyn Hill known professionally as Tamia, is a Canadian born singer-songwriter whose music spans several genres: R&B, neo soul, hip hop soul, pop, gospel, jazz and soft rock. She is best known for her first Top 40 hit on the R&B charts You Put A Move On My Heart, and her 2001 hit Stranger In My House. Tamia is married to retired NBA player Grant Hill and they have two daughters; Myla Grace and Lael Rose. Continue reading

Throwback Thursday: Bette Midler- Wind Beneath My Wings

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In 1988 Bette Midler, co-starred with Barbara Hershey in the film Beaches. The accompanying soundtrack remains Midler’s all-time biggest selling disc, reaching No. 2 on Billboard‘s album chart and with U.S. sales of four million copies. It featured her biggest hit, Wind Beneath My Winds, which went to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 and achieved Platinum status. Midler won her third Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Continue reading

Apollo Gala: Honors The Place Where Stars Are Born And Legends Are Made

By Walter Rutledge

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The annual Apollo Gala has become one of the premiere uptown events. The star studded casts and celebrity laden audience recalls the glamor of the original Harlem Renaissance. This year the format was slightly different; instead of paying homage to a music legend, we were invited to honor the legendary Apollo Theater on the concert hall’s 80th anniversary. Continue reading

O & A With WaleStylez: NYC Ghosts- A Photographic Essay

By Walter Rutledge

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WaleStylez aka Adewale Adekanbi is a photographer who has a special affinity for New York City. NYC Ghosts focuses on places with a past, that are forgotten and outlooked; on the verge of decay a ghost of their former form and function. A fan of  black and white silvertone prints he pays homage to the genre. Continue reading

O & A Memorial Day Music Tribute: Star Spangled Banner- Marvin Gaye

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Marvin Gaye sang The Star-Spangled Banner at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Gaye’s highly soulful performance received much acclaim from the crowd and has became an instant classic. Continue reading

Vivian Reed is Back!

By Walter Rutledge

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The multi-award-winning singer, actress and dancer Vivian Reed is back. After a self-imposed hiatus from performing to care for her ailing mother, Reed is back to the business of entertaining. On Tuesday May 20 she is not only back on stage, but also back at 54 Below, 254 W 54th Street, for one performance at 9:30pm. Continue reading