A Rage in Harlem

Last night, I watched an oldie but goodie "A Rage in Harlem" Starring Forrest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, and Robin Givens. Set in 1950s Harlem, this follows a gangster's moll who was on the run from Mississippi with a stash of gold, and hoodlums ultimately follow her to Harlem to retrieve it.

Though this movie was set in Harlem, very few people know that the film itself was filmed in Cincinnati in the early 1990s as filmmakers were looking for cost effective ways to make it. The top place to make this movie was in Over-the Rhine because the Italianate architecture was the perfect stand in for New York, and Main Street was the perfect street as it was a hot and happening hipster location.

The building at 1202 Main Street, once also known as Local 1207 and 1207 bar, was renamed "Braddock's Bar" for the movie.

Urban Eden, a home goods shop on 1313 Main Street, was used as "The Royale" nightclub.

Way Back Wednesday

I have had a strange week, with Monday being Memorial Day and also Taste of Cincinnati, but I'm not complaining. I'm blessed to be on this side of glory one more time. Speaking of glory, I'm going back to the glory days. As in Sunday, October 29, 2017. I had a rare opportunity to tour a part of Walnut Hills as part of the Cincinnati Preservation Collective's series of neighborhood walks.

The C.H. Burroughs house on 1010 Chapel Street was designed by Samuel Hannaford, best known for his design of City Hall and the iconic Music Hall.

This was also the home of Cincinnati's first mayor, John Mosby.

Things really kicked off with a letter published in a national newspaper in the 1800s that portrayed African American women in a negative light. James Jacks of the Missouri Press Association responded to that letter that would call black women into action.

In turn, women's clubs would form in Cincinnati, and that meeting resulted in what is today the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. This organization would ultimately purchase this home and had it paid of in 1946.

This home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and also served as a boarding house for single black women coming north from the Deep South.

Showing Our Roots

After church yesterday, I headed to Washington Park for the Midwest Regional Sweet and Natural Fest, a celebration of all things Afrocentric, natural, and beautiful. This was the perfect time to stock up on some unique beauty products and remedies (which I will share in later postings), as my hubby suffers from allergies. From hair demos to step shows and everything in between, it was a great day (though it started to rain heavily not long after), great sense of community like nothing else. For a few hours, we put aside whatever beef we have, situations we're going through, and celebrate our roots and educate the community on what it means to be family. Happy Monday!

RIP Nipsey Hustle Funnel Cake, The Funnel Cake House

J.J. Newberry's

I pass this building very often downtown, and I used to shop here for my hair and beauty supplies. This morning, something told me that there is more to this story.

The building, now Newberry Lofts on 6th, was one of five-and-dime chain stores founded by John Josiah Newberry, who worked at S.H. Cress stores from 1899-1911, after working for department store Fowler, Walker, & Dick for five years.

In 1919, his brothers C.T. and Edgar joined J.J. in management. At the time, there were 17 stores, and yearly sales of $500,000.

Between the 1930s-1960s, Newberry's was among the retail powerhouses in the United States, competing with the likes of Woolworth and S.S. Kresge Co for the discount market.

Over the years, Newberry's acquired stores all over the U.S., including this one in Cincinnati on 6th Street. This location was likely built in the 1950s, and has gone through various incarnations, including a beauty supply store and the current CVS store before finally closing locally 1997. At the time of J.J. death in 1954, the company had 475 locations.

The business declined over the years, filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992, and closing its final store in Portland, Oregon in 2001.

Happy Hump Day!

Cincy-Cinco

Today has been a pretty relaxing day compared to earlier in the week. After volunteering at the visitor center, I headed to Cincy-Cinco on Fountain Square as part of Cinco de Mayo, which is officially tomorrow. May 5th commemorates Mexico's victory over the French empire in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, but this two day celebration celebrated all things Latin, from mariachi to salsa, cumbia to reggaeton and everything in between.

I topped off the afternoon with some chicken kebobs, breadfruit, and sweet plantains from Antojitos Criollos Puerto Rican cuisine.

En las palabras de Don Cornelius, amor, paz y el sabor!

In the words of Don Cornelius, love, peace, and soul!

SalSoul Nights on the Square

 

Ritmo Nuestro music video

I had a very trying week this week, but yesterday after work, I went to a Certified Tourism Ambassador event at Samuel Adams Taproom and then headed to Fountain Square for the first Salsa on the Square of the season with Son del Caribe, just in time for Cinco del Mayo Weekend. Son del Caribe is a local old school salsa orchestra who has been apart of Salsa on the Square for over a decade, and this band keeps getting better and better.

For those not familiar with this gem, salsa is a blend of European, Amerindian, and African beats. It originated in New York and experienced its heyday during the 1970s with salsa dura, and Fania Records was a Latin music powerhouse, Latin music's answer to Motown. Out of this wave came great artists such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Hector Lavoe, Johnny Pacheco, who called themselves the Fania All Stars. In the 1980s, salsa romantica became popular with artists such as Frankie Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, and Gilberto Santa Rosa. In the 1990s, it was Marc Anthony, La India, DLG, and Michael Stuart.

I also enjoyed chorizo tacos from Mazunte. Right now their two locations are in Madisonville but they plan to open a downtown location in the future, and boy I can't wait! I want some chorizo now! Those tacos are so addictive!

Viva la salsa!