U. City Ballin’. Okay. Fine. Y’all are built different, U. City. I said it. And I tip my Thanksgiving French roll to Brandy Clay, Cash Cohnes, Mick Woods and everyone else involved for pulling off that epic U. Ball in the middle of a winter weather advisory with a healthy dose of snow. But I know my props won’t be enough. How do I know? Because we’re talking about U. City! We’ll be hearing about the alleged blizzard U. Ball until at least 2061. And we won’t hear it like I just finished stating the facts. Here’s how U. City folks will tell it:
“It was worse than the blizzard of ’82, and then it rained just like it did before the flood of ’93. We couldn’t even drive on the roads, but we’re U. City. So, we chartered private jets and handed out parachutes. U. City landed on the roof of Ameristar, wiped the snow off their outfits, and kicked it like only U. City can. What was really wild is that so many people showed up, we didn’t even have enough parachutes. Tish Period used the tassels on her Shug Avery outfit as her only landing gear. And because she’s from U. City, she survived with her makeup intact. And you know Vanessa Townsend-Vann from U. City did her makeup. So Tish’s mug was weatherproof and skydive-proof!”
Please understand I say this with no hate in my heart. I had an absolute U. City Ball Saturday night!
U. City Ballin’: Part two. Now, I did roll my eyes when I saw the “U. City, Missouri” light display in St. Charles, but that’s as close to shade as I got. The theme was Harlem Nights, and it was giving the casino scene from that movie, with a sip of my idea of a Players Ball. There were one or two who looked like extras from “The Players Club.” Yes, Miss turquoise one-leg mesh outfit, I’m talking about you. But outside of those tiny exceptions, I still give the overall fashion an A! Beverly and Mick were among my favorites. Y’all know I’m a sucker for a winter white suit. And Beverly had the nerve to set it off with that sickening fedora. And can we talk about Brandy Clay for a second? Girl, I saw you in that black gown, which was an utter and absolute slay. The next day my timeline was flooded with U. Ball content, and there you were in white and red – slaying the game in each ensemble. Please don’t tell me you shut it down like that with three whole looks in one night! If so, I’m gonna have to step my Salute game up for 2026.
Café Soul’s snow date. While I gave props to U. City for powering through the storm, I must also shout out Nichol Stevenson for postponing Café Soul until this Saturday. I was angling like crazy trying to figure out how I was going to swing them both. And I probably would’ve had to split my time and missed the best moments from each to make provisions for my inclement weather riving. But Café Soul will have my full attention – and I’ll get the chance to help Nichol ring in another year of life – in a couple of days. I know I keep it light in Partyline, but Nichol is a walking miracle and a true cancer warrior. I’m sure things haven’t been easy, but she’s from East St. Louis – and therefore doing what champions do! Okay, now back to Café Soul: it’s going down at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 6 at The House of Soul. Based on y’all’s Facebook activity, plenty of my faves will be in the building – including a few faces from the milk carton. I can’t wait to get together like the good old days and cheer on some of the best, most soulful talent St. Louis has to offer.
Galas galore. Is it me, or has gala season 2025 been on steroids? I promise I’ve averaged three a week since September, and it looks like that’s the routine until Christmas. So, have galas replaced holiday parties? I literally have two planned in one day next Saturday – 100 Black Men of STL’s Dayla (their word, not mine) and, of course, the Delux Power 100. They might be my last two, mainly because I’ve cycled through all my archived Salute ensembles. If you see me in a Temu rhinestone cape and some Aldi Christmas leggings, just know I didn’t have enough gowns for all these galas. I just might be so gala-ed out that I’ll sleep through New Year’s Eve. Who am I kidding? Y’all wouldn’t let that happen. If you see me repeat a look from one of the 9,487 galas that have taken place between the first week of September and the last week of December, blame it on the organizations for not giving me enough time to shop for a new look from one gala to the next. And if you see me in something brand new, just know it’s probably a dry run for next season. And since I’m talking about all the galas, I might as well spin the block and give mention to a few looks that escaped my mind at the time. Diamond White, you did that at Salute. DT your suit was everything at Steve Lacy’s set a couple of weeks back. And while we are on the subject of Steve’s set, Ms. Easley…how dare you shut it down like that with a bath towel and those sickening buckle red bottoms!
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
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