The Trove: Lynda Johnson August 11, 2011

Living lovely in Harlem. Lynda Johnson was born and raised in Syracuse, New York but her family’s roots are in Montgomery, Alabama and it shows in her Southern hospitality and colorful storytelling. Her people were part of the epic, 20th century migration of blacks from below the Mason-Dixon line in optimistic search of opportunity up [...]

The Trove: Myles Carter August 4, 2011

The visual and culinary artist in Paris. A highly sentient soul, Myles Carter loves fiercely, be it his family, mastery of the brush stroke or an elegantly prepared and plated meal. He lives in sensory call and response: he touches and is touched in return. The enamored husband, delighted father and adoring son revels in [...]

The Trove: Eisa Ulen Richardson & Ralph Richardson July 2, 2011

On the Fundy Trail. On each other: “He is my rock…She is wonderful, loving, giving.” Capricorn hip-hop heads Eisa Nefertari Ulen and Ralph Richardson, Jr. lived parallel lives near to, yet unaware of each other. Born in the city of Brotherly Love, each eventually moved with their families to idyllic Columbia, Maryland in the 1970s. [...]

The Trove: Reed Morano Walker June 7, 2011

Shooting the Oscar-nominated, Sundance hit, “Frozen River.” The year 2008 was a busy one for cinematographer Reed Morano. In January the exquisitely shot Frozen River (starring Melissa Leo who scored an Oscar nom for her performance) premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance (Reed’s first festival entry.) In June she gave birth to her remarkably beautiful [...]

The Trove: Craig Wallace May 11, 2011

Craig Wallace before his performance in Jennifer L. Nelson’s “24,7, 365″ at The Atlas Performing Arts Center. Though I met Craig Stephen Wallace, he of the resounding voice and commanding presence, about twenty years ago, I’ve seen him more in the past year than in all the years before, owing to seeing the respected thespian [...]

The Trove: Shalea Walker January 28, 2011

A glowing Shalea Walker at her spa. Nestled on a quiet block near Jersey City’s Grove Street Path Station, Walker’s Apothecary is a “beauty haven designed to relax and enlighten.”  I went recently to visit the visionary proprietor Shalea Walker and marveled over her radiant skin as a nail technician completed her manicure. We spoke [...]

The Trove: Abby Dobson December 19, 2010

  Mama’s Girl: “I am ever aware that I am standing on her shoulders and those of all the women in the house I was raised.” I was sitting in my mama’s living room in post-Thanksgiving satiety flipping through the Washington Post when I came across a listing about Abby Dobson’s performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium [...]

The Trove: Fanon Che Wilkins October 20, 2010

The polymathic professor. Since meeting the powerfully named Fanon Che Wilkins over a year ago while dancing Michael Jackson’s memory to the skies in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, I have seen him only twice: ringing in the new year at the Harlem home of mutual friend, theHotness Grrrl and just last month as we enjoyed pristine September weather [...]

The Trove: Nnenna Ogwo September 16, 2010

Radiant and surrounded by fragrant rosemary and blossoming chives. Though the brilliant concert pianist Nnenna Ogwo recently completed her doctoral studies in Musical Arts at SUNY Stony Brook, she is “going ‘back to school’ in such a delightful way,” losing herself in the pages of Larousse Gastronomique. “I like to fancy myself a cook of sorts.” I can vouch for [...]

The Trove: Henry Adebonojo August 12, 2010

With the same great love for capturing the moment through the moving image as for distilling the essence in a single frame, cinematographer/ photographer Henry Adebonojo is “happiest when I am making pictures.” I met the courteous and quiet Henry in passing many moons ago as he, fan of foreign cinema, was headed to Tower Records on 66th [...]