The Urbane Urbanite

As a lifestyle and entertainment writer, I interview a lot of people. Almost every story needs quotes. You get quotes by interviewing people. That’s just the way it goes.  I’ve only been writing professionally for three years and in that short time span, I’ve had the opportunity to interview some pretty famous people. I’ve talked men’s style and fashion with John Legend; waxed poetic with Common about performing on stage versus on camera; listened to Ledisi (who is a super-duper sweetheart, by the way) reflect on how friends and family lifted her up during rough times. Two years ago, I sat across from Faith Evans in a hotel room in Boston where she raved about how Aliya S. King’s smokin’ hot debut novel, Platinum , was a spot-on depiction of what it means to be the wife of a hip-hop superstar. And then there was the time Angie Stone threw some very mild shade in the direction of her baby daddy, D’Angelo, during a quick backstage interview I conducted with her a...

After a six-year hiatus, I've made a triumphant return to the big screen ! The small screen ! Okay, your computer screen! Yep, I've got a lead role , a supporting role, a small role as a therapist in one scene of the fifth episode of the upcoming comedic web series, Jackson & Lewis (think Bad Boys meets The Odd Couple ).

Tyler Perry's latest film, Good Deeds , debuted last weekend to an underwhelming $15 million . But don't cry for him, Argentina. He's got three more times to get it right this year. With The Marriage Counselor , Madea's Witness Protection and Alex Cross all slated for release before Christmas, he'll more than recoup any losses at the box office. But does the top-paid man in entertainment risk overexposing himself? The Grio asked that very question in an article that ran on their site last week . Jarrod Harden and I, along with a few other folks, received the link to the story via email. Here's Jarrod's response.

Words By Perry B. With every Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Carter, there comes an equal yet opposite jackass who spent the past year devouring attention and contributing nothing to society. In honor of the douche bag debauchery, I have put together a small team of degenerate gentlemen to form the ultimate guild: The League of Un-Extraordinary Gentlemen. Usually, upon hearing the words “extraordinary” and “league” you may immediately comprise an urbane super-group with Tom Ford, George Clooney, Pharrell (of the Neptunes) and Idris Elba, ravishingly prepared to save the world, one swoon at a time. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case, a group of regal and rightfully deserving personas should come to mind. This is not that group. This is the other group: those who use so much time and energy soaking up all the free resources (both, sunlight and oxygen) that they’ve forgotten the true purpose of their presence. This is a league of gentlemen I doubt anyone would willingly want to be a part...

Image Used in an Old Blog Post about the NY Giants 2008 Ticker Tape Parade Last night, the New York Giants clenched another victory against the New England Patriots in the final nail-biting moments of Super Bowl XLVI - and I couldn't be happier. I yelled. I screamed. I ate my feelings. I clutched my chest. It was EVERYTHING! In honor of their win, I ransacked my archives and unearthed a blog post (on a now defunct blog) that I wrote four years ago about my experience at the ticker tape parade in celebration of Big Blue's win in 2008. Here's the blog post...subpar writing, corny puns, misplaced commas and all. I've grown as a writer as much as the Giants have grown as a team. *Runs to Modell's to grab a new hat and shirt for tomorrow's parade* ____ On Tuesday, members of the 2008 World Champion NY Giants football team, rode floats headed up The Canyon of Heroes (Broadway) to the cheers and admiration of thousands of their most die-hard fans. There we...

View from my suite (Photo: S. James) If I could add an additional 1000 square feet to my apartment at home; swap out the hardwood for marble floors; throw in a master bathroom the size of a NYC studio apartment; and switch my drab view of Papa Johns with crystal clear blue ocean waters, my spot would look just like the rooms here at The Seven Stars Resort in the Turks and Caicos. I feel so at home here; it's less hotel, more home away from home. I soooo needed this getaway. The winter blues began to set in. I was starting to live in my feelings on a daily basis. Again. And just when I was on the brink of an inevitable wall slide, my beloved editor hit me up and asked me to review this beautiful resort. Take a look at some pictures I shot of the 2 bedroom 2.5 bathroom suite I'm calling home. Cheers! www.sevenstarsgracebay.com My welcome package! (Photo: S. James) Living Room (Photo: S. James) Master Bathroom (Photo: S. James) Master Bedroom (Phot...