Close
Current temperature in Boston - 62 °
BECOME A MEMBER
Get access to a personalized news feed, our newsletter and exclusive discounts on everything from shows to local restaurants, All for free.
Already a member? Sign in.
The Bay State Banner
BACK TO TOP
The Bay State Banner
POST AN AD SIGN IN

Trending Articles

Civic leaders say Wu ignoring community input

Mass. hospitals first to reach health equity standards

Banner Art Gallery roundtable hosted at MFA ‘City Talks’ draws standing room only crowd

READ PRINT EDITION

Arts

Kam Williams
Arts


Timbaland at the House of Blues

Timbaland, a Grammy award-winning record producer, singer and rapper recently performed at the House of Blues in Boston. (Colette Greenstein photo)    Krystal Banfield, Director of Berklee City Music and Rev. Dr. Gloria White Hammond. (Phil Farnsworth photo)

Producer extraordinaire Timbaland is ripped!  I tried to focus on his performance but at times I couldn’t help but be distracted with how massive his arms are … they look like pythons. His performance was somewhat similar to when he performed with Justin Timberlake a few years back at the Garden. The difference being this time around that he got up from behind his keyboard and sang and performed and, to the amazement and delight of the crowd, even threw in some unchoreographed dance moves. One of the cool points about the show was the LED screens on stage, which actually featured Justin Timberlake and Keri Hilson singing to the songs produced by Timbaland. It reminded me of when I went to see Maxwell at the Hollywood Bowl last October in Los Angeles.  Maxwell also used several LED screens on stage where you could see Maxwell up close and personal from any seat at the Bowl.  I must say, pretty awesome technology.  And of course enjoying Timbaland that night in VIP was Melissa from WJMN’s “Ramiro and Pebbles Morning Show.”  

Berklee City Music Unsung Heroes Breakfast

By now, you should know that I am not a morning person by any means, especially on the weekends, but I really wanted to attend the Berklee City Music Unsung Heroes Breakfast.  It was held at the David Friend Recital Hall on Boylston Street in the Back Bay.   It was presented by The President’s Office of Education Outreach at Berklee College of Music and featured guest speaker Reverend Gloria White-Hammond, M.D.  Over the years, I’ve heard many wonderful things about her and read some interviews about her community work. So, I was very much looking forward to hearing her words of inspiration that morning, and she sure didn’t disappoint.

In addition, to being a doctor, Rev. White-Hammond is the co-pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston and executive director of My Sister’s Keeper. Her speech was about courage and time, and she spoke about her work with women and children in Sudan and in Darfur. In 2002, she co-founded My Sister’s Keeper, a women’s group that partners with women of Sudan in their efforts toward reconciliation and reconstruction of their communities.

The morning was filled with poetry, music by Beyond Borders Ensemble, Afro-Brazilian artist Marcus Santos and the Berklee City Music All-Stars.  There was also a presentation on student courage which included 1961 Freedom Riders, Jean Thompson and Judith Ann Wright.   One couldn’t help but leaving inspired and also grateful for all that we have in our lives.

Parish Cafe and Bar
Stoddard’s Fine Food and Ale

If you’re ever in search of an inexpensive and hearty lunch, Parish Cafe and Bar on Boylston Street is the spot.  It’s a four-star American restaurant featuring sandwiches that have been created by chefs of local renown. Parish Cafe has a casual atmosphere with friendly, upbeat service, a full bar and great outdoor dining during the spring, summer and fall months. A few years back I was working with comedienne and actress Kathy Griffin, who was in town performing and I brought her to Parish. She so loved the place and food that every time she’s in town, it’s one of the first places that she goes to have lunch. If you’re not able to get to this location, Parish recently opened a second location in the South End on the corner of Mass Ave and Tremont Street. This place is a must!

Later that night, I attended the private, sneak-peak “Make Your Mark” event in celebration of the opening of Stoddard’s Fine Food and Ale on Temple Place in the Ladder District. I walked in and instantly felt that I was transported back in time to the early 1900s.  At any moment, I expected a saloon keeper to step out of the back with the long, twirly mustaches and a bowler hat and a gun-toting cowboy sitting in the back of the bar with his boots on the table.

The theme of the night was pre-Prohibition cocktails, served with an unparalleled selection of ales and a taste of early American cuisine such as miniature spicy sausage sandwiches and bite-size lobster cakes. Not sure how the lobster mini-cakes fit in with the theme, but they were delicious. The wall-to-wall crowd was buzzing with laughter and conversation and as I was taking it all in, I spotted PR guru George Regan of Regan Communications, Erica Corsano, Stuff Magazine’s editorial director and 6one7’s Ace Gershfield.

If you would like me to cover or write about your event, email me at inthemixwithcolette@gmail.com.