Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.
She wasn’t facing just anyone, of course. She was playing her older sister Venus. And when the latest all-Williams final finished, when Serena wrapped up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory for a third Wimbledon championship and 11th major title overall, she jogged to the net with her arm extended for a handshake.
Venus pulled her close for a warm embrace, instead.
“I didn’t think about Venus at all today. I just saw her as an opponent,” said Serena, who also beat her sister in the 2002 and 2003 finals at the All England Club. “At one point, after the first set, I looked on the side of the court at the stats, and it was like ‘Williams,’ ‘Williams.’ I couldn’t figure out which was which.” Keep reading →
At a rally today in East Harlem, tenants and community leaders called for enhanced security at public housing developments, after a gunman opened fire last month, shooting an 11-year-old boy and 77-year-old man at the East River housing complex. Diana Rodriguez has lived in the complex for 21 years. She says she’s noticed an uptick in crime.
RODRIGUEZ: Now we’re getting break ins. We had a shoot out 2:20 in the afternoon. We’re definitely feeling the impact. And it’s sad, we’re working people.
Local leaders say they’d like to see 24-hour foot patrol at the complex, and the installation of security cameras. Police say overall crime in the neighborhood is actually down 23 percent since the beginning of the year. So far, there’ve been no arrests related to the June shooting, which occurred on the basketball court near 105th Street and First Avenue.
A Harlem Success Academy charter school has blocked a second local public school from expanding as planned, outraged parents charged on Friday.
Mosaic Preparatory Academy – an elementary school that opened just last fall to replace a failing school – was told to get rid of its sixth grade next term and scrap plans to add a seventh and eighth grade.
“The parents were outraged that it happened like this,” said Annette Jimenez, parents association president. Keep reading →
What do you get when you put great kids together, with a great location and a great organizations, a great project! In June of 2008, Hamilton Grange National Memorial was relocated to Saint Nicholas Park. Until a permanent plan is developed, a short-term garden designed by local children is being planted on the historic… Keep reading →
Here is a tale of two cities: New York City and ours.
I took the Amtrak train down to Manhattan last weekend and spent time at the Morris-Jumel Mansion. This is a “jewel in the crown” and is the oldest house in Manhattan. It is located in Fort Washington on the upper West side of New York City up from Harlem and off Amsterdam Avenue and past Columbia University.
Inside the black iron fence sits a sunken garden where I found myself watching on the awakening spring morning children from PS4 being introduced to the basics of gardening. Lecturers inside the mansion were preparing presentations on the founding fathers and their quest to establish a country free from tyranny.
Thousands of people file in line to pay tribute to the King of Pop at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY in spite of blazing sun and pouring rain.
Starting at 12pm the Apollo allowed 600 people in 45 min. intervals to come and celebrate the life of Michael Jackson. By nightfall thousands of people, still waiting for entrance, decided to celebrate on 125th Street.
Special appearances by Al Sharpton, Spike Lee and hosted by Shayla of Kiss FM 98.7.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin surprised supporters Friday and announced she is resigning from office at the end of the month, leaving open the possibility she would seek a run for the White House in 2012.
The news rattles a Republican Party plagued with setbacks in recent weeks, including extramarital affairs disclosed by two other 2012 presidential prospects, NevadaSen. John Ensign and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. Palin and her staff kept her future plans shrouded in mystery, and it was unclear if the controversial hockey mom would quietly return to private life or begin laying the foundation for a presidential bid.
Palin hinted she had a bigger role in mind, saying she wanted to make a “positive change outside government.” But she kept supporters in suspense, promising on Twitter: “We’ll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election … this is in Alaska’s best interest, my family’s happy … it is good. Stay tuned.”
This is the often told story of the depression era exploits of bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and his battle with FBI agent extraordinaire, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale).
A lot was at stake. Dillinger was making a fool out the nation’s law enforcement, robbing banks and no jail seemed to be able to hold him. J. Edger Hoover was trying to federalize law enforcement and build a reputation for the fledging FBI and the key to gaining the nation’s and Congress’ confidence was to catch Dillinger, dead or alive.
The animated series Ice Age returns for the third time. First there was Ice Age. Then Ice Age: The Meltdown. Now there is Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
Back is this unlikely herd of four legged friends: Manny the Mammoth (Ray Romano); his wife, Ellie (Queen Latifah); Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo); and the saber tooth tiger, Diego (Denis Leary).
Extra holiday service has been scheduled by MTA Metro-North, beginning today when the Hudson Line will have three added afternoon outbound departures and the Harlem Line will have five.
The extra Hudson runs will be between 1:45 p.m. and 5:22 p.m. and the extra Harlem ones will be from 1:45 p.m. through 5:59 p.m.
An added departure from Grand Central Terminal on the Harlem Line is set for Saturday at 10:45 p.m. to bring home viewers of the Macy’s July Fourth fireworks in Manhattan.
Friday will have a regular weekday schedule and Sunday will be a regular Sunday.
MSG will toss the ball up on a new original series, EBC Live at Rucker Park, tonight,
The 13-episode series, debuting on the regional sports network on July 2 at 7 p.m. (ET) will bring viewers courtside at the famous Entertainers Basketball Classic Tournament at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York.
Hosted by Michael Bivins, each half-hour installment will highlight the EBC Tournament players, announcers, celebrity attendees and feature behind-the-scenes stories on the world’s most-talked about streetball tournament.
Christin Gelsone, a slender 36-year-old with delicate features and hair the color of a ripe eggplant, lay flat on her back on the bare parquet floor of her West Harlem apartment, an expectant look on her face.
Her husband, Seth Bloom, 34, whose dark hair shimmers with electric blue highlights, placed his palms atop hers. Then he balanced over her, almost as if he were floating in the air. Keep reading →
A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is on display inside a Harlem showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities.
Owner Marty Abrams says an oil painting titled “The Book” is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The painting shows Jackson sitting in Renaissance-era clothes and holding a book.
The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams says he acquired it in 1992 and had it stored.
Michael Jackson is singing at his final rehearsal from his “This Is It” tour. Michael Jackson is performing “They Don’t Really Care About Us”. The Footage was shot on June 23rd.
Jazzmobile, which presents New York’s oldest continuous summer Jazz festival reaching approximately 100,000 annually, will kick off its 2009 summer season with a three-borough concert tour, featuring jazz great Randy Weston, on Sunday, June 21. Keep reading →
In honor of Nelson Mandela, Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) and Hachette Audio produced an audiobook edition of Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales, an award-winning book of stories hand-picked by the Nobel laureate. Diverse, acclaimed performers donated their talents to the charitable endeavor by voicing stories: Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard. Archbishop Desmond Tutu recorded a message to the world’s children, and African music legends Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela composed original music.
Listen to HW Radio with Harlem-based media owner, activist Joseph Hayden. His company allthingsharlem.com, produces news video in Harlem. Join our conversation regarding CNN, Obama’s election and the Media with HW founder and CEO Daniel Tisdale.
The Black Press is the true voice of Black America. Founded in 1827, the Black Press still stands on the basic premise that was stated in the first editorial of Freedom’s Journal: “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.” The Black Press is also one of the last standing truly independent voices.
Today in 2009, there are many who say that they represent America, but what America do they represent? They show America as they see it. They show America through the lens of white America.
Whether in print or on TV, the lens is through the eyes of white editors and producers. They see our communities as the media has seen them historically, not as the actually are. If we look at newsrooms across the country, especially print, the numbers we were so optimistic about in the late 1990s have turned around. According to the American Society of News Editors, “American daily newspapers shed 5,900 newsroom jobs last year, reducing their employment of journalists by 11.3 percent to the levels of the early 1980s.”
Nielsen SoundScan says Michael Jackson’s album sales have exploded – three of his albums are in the top three spots and 2.3 million tracks have been downloaded in the United States since his death.
Album sales for the week through Sunday hit 422,000 in the U.S., up from 10,000 a week earlier. The week’s tally was greater than all the Jackson albums sold from the start of the year to June 21.
The top three albums were Number Ones, Essential Michael Jackson and Thriller. The Black Eyed Peas’ latest CD came fourth.
Michael Jackson’s signature sequined glove and black hat lay on a bar stool. The mic stand is placed slightly to its front. Crowds of adoring fans reach out to the stage. Most are dancing, chanting, and singing to hits such as “Dirty Diana,” “Liberian Girl,” and “Smooth Criminal.” Despite the stage being set, its guest of honor won’t physically be taking the stage. Instead, all are gathered to commemorate the man crowned “The King of Pop.”
VP Media Relations 2R's Entertainment & Media, Inc. Ra-Fael Blanco and Devon Christopher
ELECTRIK RED
Last Friday night, Bleu Magazinecelebrated their 3rd year anniversary at downtown nightspot Greenhouse. The bash was presented by Ed Hardy Vodka, Sprite Green & Conair and hosted by DEF JAM Recording Group ELECTRIK RED and BLEU Magazine’s Publisher, De’von Christopher.
With magazines falling like dominoes, there was definitely a reason to celebrate De’von’s and the Bleu Magazine team’s 3rd year. Joining the festivities, among others, were Harlemite and recording artist Talia Coles and model Christina Mendez.
Talia Coles
Right as the party started to bubble, Electrik Red came out and sang happy birthday. It proved to be the perfect lead in to De’von’s words of appreciation of the Bleu Magazine team.
Congrats Bleu! Keep doing it! Check out more images from this event in the HWMag Gallery.
Honoring the King of Pop Michael Jackson, Jazz Pianist Batiste took the stage wearing a Michael Jackson T-shirt. Midway through his set, the Batiste led band broke down a Curtis Mayfield song into Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
Esperanza Spalding
Spalding followed Batiste and raised the energy level at Summerstage. This firecracker rocked the upright bass, the electric bass and sang her tail off. After playing nearly an hour, Spalding and her band left the stage. However, an overwhelming roar from the audience guided Spalding and crew back. Before performing one more tune, Spalding instructed the audience to participate because that’s the only way she could continue on with her feet hurting.
Closing out this lovely afternoon, was the two-time Grammy nominated R&B singer Ledisi. From the moment she sang the first note and that soulful sound came pushing through the speakers, it was on! Although Ledisi playful said she was leaving the stage a couple of times because the crowd was not with her, clearly she knows New York City loves some Ledisi.
Yesterday, the Apollo Theater held a special public memorial for Michael Jackson. Thousands filled the sidewalks in front and around the Apollo. Groups of fans were let into the Apollo to see the video tribute to the King of Pop.
Due to the masses of people who showed up, vehicular and pedestrian traffic in front of the Apollo had to be stopped. Many never made it into the Apollo as the line was shut down around 8 PM. But many never had any intentions of going inside the Apollo. They were happy just being amongst the people on 125th street remembering Michael Jackson.
Denzel from Brooklyn New York
There was Brooklyn resident Denzel, who stood across the street from the Apollo holding up his picture of Michael Jackson and himself taken 30 years ago. Born in Trinidad, Denzel knew the promoters who arranged to have the Jackson Five in Trinidad. He had many pictures and had given them away, but the picture of him and Michael is the only one he kept. Denzel says of Michael,” he was a wonderful, cool guy.”
Michael Jackson touched the heart of Denzel and so many others for so long. It will be hard for people to say goodbye. The man that rushed back to pay his respect to The Godfather James Brown-Michael Jackson, many will be rushing to pay their respect to you.
Michael Jackson often concealed his image with surgical masks and veils, and later did the same with his three children. It’s been reported that Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s ex-wife, with whom he was believed to have fathered two of his kids, Michael Jr. and Paris are not his or her biological children.
According to TMZ.com, multiple sources familiar with the history of Jackson’s children said the three children were all conceived in vitro, meaning outside the womb. Sources said that Rowe was paid very well to be a surrogate for the two older children she bore without the use of her eggs or Jackson’s sperm.
LiveSteez research shows that Black churches, in aggregate, have collected more than $420 billion in tithes and donations since 1980. With a Senate investigation into the finances of several mega churches underway, the “Prosperity Movement” has been the target of mounting criticism from inside and outside the Black Church. Specifically, the affluent ministries of The Reverend Creflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long and others have drawn the attention – and ire – of some clergy and laypeople alike.
Music magazine stalwart Vibe is folding, joining fellow publications like Blender and Radio and Records.
Vibe was no sure thing when it first appeared in 1992. “Convinced that hip-hop music is giving rise to the same kind of pervasive culture that rock-and-roll did a generation ago,” The New York Times reported that September that, “Time Warner Inc. and the musician Quincy Jones are starting a funky new magazine called Vibe.”
That “funky new magazine” took off as hip-hop proved its founders right, particularly in the 1990s. The bottom line, however, was less reliable. Time Inc. sold Vibe in 1996; the buyers sold Vibe again 10 years later. Last February the latest owners, Wicks Group, cut circulation by a quarter, dropped two issues from the schedule and put the staff on a four-day work week – Keep reading →
Jackson with his silver glove, english army inspired jacket and the classic curl hanging in his face.
Private and public funerals have been set for the late Michael Jackson, according to CNN.
Hs body will return to his Neverland Ranch for a public viewing on Friday, CNN reports. (Jackson’s brothers Jackie, Jermaine and Tito visited the grounds over the weekend and a delivery truck was spotted there Tuesday dropping off boxes.)
A private memorial service is slated for Sunday, according to CNN.
There is still no word on where Jackson will be buried, but his hometown of Gary, Ind., is hoping the family to send him there.
“I believe that his body will lie in state in Gary, Ind.,” Gary Mayor Rudy Clay told Chicago radio station WGN Tuesday. “Now, it may not happen, but I believe it will.”
At the very least, Clay said he hopes Jackson’s body will be taken to Gary for a July 10 memorial service at U.S. Steel Works ballpark. Keep reading →
New York City has taken on the ambitious goal of becoming the greenest city in America by 2030. As crowded as the City is, it seems almost impossible to turn a land of mostly concrete, steel, and smog into a green oasis. Many would think traffic and power plants are a major source of pollution for the region but surprisingly they are not. The City has over one million buildings, which currently produce 80 percent of the region’s carbon footprint due to energy use. The abundance of powerful, luxury corporate skyscrapers and older residential buildings populated throughout the city require vast amounts of power to operate and sustain. Green building and renovating on a larger scale can dramatically improve efficiency and reduce costs by an estimated three-quarters of a billion dollars a year.
A live video of outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY, on 125th St. on Mon. 6.29.09 at noon. People paying homage to the King of Pop, all different ways. Vendors with Michael memorablilia.
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Posted in Harlem Tagged: Apollo Theater, Michael Jackson
Another loss on a major stage: Brazil 3, United States 2.
This is the epitaph in the wake of a heartbreaking loss in Sunday’s Confederations Cup championship game.
Too harsh? Perhaps, considering the United States was facing a great Brazilian team. On the other hand, there must come a point in the discussion of soccer in the United States when the training wheels must be removed. Either this is youth soccer, in which the goal is to let everyone play, or this is the big time, in which second or third place is no longer acceptable.
A live video of outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY, on 125th St. on Mon. 6.29.09 at noon. People paying homage to the King of Pop, all different ways. Vendors with Michael memorablilia.
The forty-four-year-old British painter Hurvin Anderson, whose scenes of Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the fifties and sixties suggest a cross between Peter Doig and David Hockney, will exhibit his work at the Studio Museum in Harlem. (212.864.4500.)
Event
Mark your calendar for the NAACP Centennial Author Pavilion Celebration on July 13-15, 2009.
100 YEARS, 100 AUTHORS
This event is free and open to the public
Our 2009 Authors include: Diahann Carroll, Chris Gardner, Water Mosely, Terry McMillan, Dr. Dorothy Height, Bernice Mc Fadden and many many more. For the full roster click here.
Meet and Greets, [...]
In Memory
Michael Jackson mania continued over the weekend with tributes in Harlem and Hollywood. Over in the Philippines, the CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center showed their appreciation for Michael Jackson’s life the best way they know how: with another choreographed routine set to classic Michael.
Demonstrators opposed to mayoral control of city schools rallied in Harlem yesterday, just a few feet from supporters of the law. The dueling protests took place outside a school, where the mayor, the governor, and other officials urged the State Senate to get its act together and renew mayoral control before it expires tomorrow.
But one person who is hoping the law will expire, is Josh Karan. He’s a member of the District six Community Education Council. Karan says the rush to renew the law does not allow for enough discussion about what aspects of the law work.
KARAN: So the expiration of the present law perhaps would allow that discussion to take place after the legislature finally decides how it will organize itself.
REPORTER: But Mayor Bloomberg says even a brief lapse would cause chaos and invite a flood of litigation.
Description: Maria Sharapova slipped to a surprise 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 at the hands of Argentinas Gisela DulkoAdded by: RamiViewed: 49 time(s)Tags/Keywords: Tennis Added On: 2009-06-29
Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.
