The James Hotel is one of the chicest stays in Chicago and with diverse works from a Southside prodigy to a New York Pop graffitist gracing its public spaces, it also doubles as one of the city’s smartest art galleries.

By Isoul Harris

“ROOM 28,” 1997 BY JOEL ROSS

Chicago is the cultural hub of the Midwest, so it only makes sense to stay in a hotel that truly represents the arts. The James Chicago—designated as one of the best hotels in the country by both U.S. News and Conde Nast Traveler—has custom-selected pieces of art for display that work in tandem with the hotel’s warmly luxurious décor and accessibly modern design. “Art enhances the experience for customers,” says Aaron Shirley, Public Relations Manager for The James Chicago. “The art here is very relevant to the time and what it is going on.”

While traveling, it is an absolute must—no matter how busy my schedule—to visit at least one museum or gallery. So, staying at The James was a perfect choice for my week-end visit. The hotel has partnered with the notable MoniqueMeloche Gallery and The Art Institute of Chicago to curate permanent and rotating collections. Art abounds.

Walking to the elevators, you immediately notice “Room 28,” an installation by Illinois-based artist Joel Ross. Consisting of a colorful pile of vintage suitcases containing the remains of a now dismantled Texas motel room: the piece was one of the hotel’s first purchases. Throughout my stay, I stop to look at it each time I pass by.

Art permeates all areas of the hotel, including The Jimmy, the hotel’s standalone lounge, designed by James Beard Award-winner Thomas Schlesser. Also a local hotspot, with a rotating set of popular DJs, the space is peppered with modern pieces by the likes of Steve Icorn and Heather Gable.

When dining at David Burke’s Primehouse, the celebrity chef’s modern take on the classic American steakhouse at The James, patrons are also surrounded by art. Pieces by Todd White depict scenes of cool nights and good times fueled by martinis, lively conversation, wine, food and laughter. It’s art imitating life.

All of the studios, one-bed apartments, lofts and penthouses at The James are designed as residential spaces. In my loft, I notice that the dining area artwork by globally-acclaimed, New York City-based photographer Paul Solberg (his work is in every room with a dining niche). Despite my nearsighted nature, I notice cool imagery on the cover of the guest directory booklet on the nightstand in bedroom. With closer inspection, I see that the gorgeous, yet aggressive canvas is clearly influenced by the ’80s downtown New York art scene. After a few taps on my iPhone, I learn that the artist responsible for this beautiful jacket is Bobby Hill. A New York City native, Hill’s style is a blend of pop art and graffiti. Once an illustrationist, his discovery of Andy Warhol converted him to the screen printing process. All guest rooms feature art and photography by celebrated artists such as Wolfgang Ludes and Michael Kenna and a large scale rendering of the Chicago skyline by Nienke Sybrandy is positioned at each elevator lobby.

The magnum opus piece, of The James’ impressive collection, is a mural by Southside native Demarcus Purham that graces the entire back wall of the hotel’s special event space. Purham, 17 at the time the piece was commissioned, went on to attend the world-renown Parsons School of Design in New York. His work for The James is a breathtaking baroque drawing of Chicago, fully drawn in white pencil on a charcoal black background. The recent racial issues plaguing the city, and the remnants of the social problems of Chicago’s notorious past, make Purham’s intricate composition just as subversive as it is harmonious.

Image: Logan County Sheriff’s Office

Oklahoma native Matthew Lane Durham has been convicted and sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing Kenyan orphans, reports the The Root.

“These were heinous crimes committed on the most vulnerable victims. He was their worst nightmare come true,” said U.S. District Judge David L. Russell who also ordered Durham to pay $15,863 in restitution.

The now 21 year old was 19 when in July 2014 he was accused of raping and molesting several girls and boys at the Upendo Children’s Home in Nairobi, where he served as a missionary since 2012.

Officials from the orphanage and five children traveled from Kenya to testify in the U.S. against Durham. The Swahili-speaking children testified via an interpreter after Russell was removed and the courtroom was closed to the media and public.

A 12-member jury convicted Durham of seven counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country, in June, reports The Root. However, Russell acquitted him of three of the counts in January. The same jury also found Durham not guilty of planning to abuse children before he left the United States.

Prior to sentencing, Durham asked for mercy, saying, “All I wanted was to follow God’s plan for me.”

His attorney says he plans to appeal the convictions.

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Shanaiya Hunter, a junior at Greene County High School in Georgia, says her male teacher became upset with her after she asked a question and embarrassed her in front of her entire class.

Back in December, Hunter was recording her lesson on her school-issued iPad when she asked her teacher a question and he responded that she was “dumb,” adding that her “purpose was to have sex and children.”

A male voice can be heard on Hunter’s iPad recording saying, “I have been around 37 years, and clearly, you are the dumbest girl I have ever met. … You know what your purpose is going to be? To have sex and have children because you ain’t never gonna be smart.”

“It really hurt me inside,” a tearful Hunter said to WSB-TV. “I don’t think it’s OK. I don’t think he should be here.”

Hunter’s mother, Cathy Wright, reported the incident to the Greene County school district, but doesn’t know whether the teacher was disciplined. She also said he continues to teach at the school.

Attorney Ben Windham, who took on Hunter’s case pro bono, said, “This man does not need to be teaching young children. It’s not a gray area. End of story.”

According to WSB-TV, the school district’s only response was that there are limits to what it could publicly say.

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The name says it all — wine and food. Do we need we to encourage you any further?

By Patrick T. Cooper

Who really needs a reason to take a quick weekend jaunt? Well, we can provide one huge and major reason you should make your way to South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida next year. Our hunt for all things new recently pointed our compass toward to the 15th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE (SOBE)! SOBE is a festival of delicate bites, an assortment of rare wines, and a great cause that is the perfect excuse for a weekend getaway. To date, the Festival has raised more than $22 million for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.

Economy Travel with “The Works”

Through the Frontier “The Works” bundle package, the airline offers the ambitious traveler options to see the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean at a fraction of the price, especially since Frontier recently added 42 new routes. Frontier is offering special introductory fares as low as $39 one-way on these new routes as of today at FlyFrontier.com. “Travelers between big cities have enjoyed low fares while many markets have remained overpriced and under-served,” said Frontier President Barry Biffle. “Frontier’s low fares in these new markets will benefit millions of new fliers who are forced to drive because they haven’t found affordable air travel options –- or they simply stay at home,” Biffle continued. “We see hundreds of additional opportunities like these throughout the country, fueling our growth for years to come.”

If you are like me, stretching your dollar for maximum wow-factor and a chance to explore different terrain makes the journey even more enjoyable. Frontier operates an all airbus fleet equipped with premium slim-line leather seats, reduced ambient noise in the cabin, increased overhead storage, and ambient lighting options. The journey aboard Frontier to Miami was pleasant, brief, and full of hospitable in-flight talent.

Director’s VIP Welcome Happy Hour
Following the brief flight, we immediately indulged in the warm welcome from the South Beach Wine & Food Festival team at the historic The Betsy South Beach. Coined as a hotel with “colonial chic,” this historic landmark exudes elegance and highlights gorgeous ocean-front views. The rooftop of the hotel served as our initial spark into a weekend of bliss … or should I say blur.

Château De Bligny Champagne

Château De Bligny dazzled guests with bubbly. (If you look closely at the small print on the label, the “RM” stands for Recoltant-Manipulant and signifies that the vineyard grows and vinifies its own grapes.) I attempted to pace myself as The Betsy spoiled guests with hors d’oeuvres from its own BLT Steak. This exclusive opening reception wasn’t open to the general public, however, SOBE offers countless events that are, and I strongly encourage you to grab your tickets now for next year’s festivities.

[Main image: Shutterstock]

The Best of the Best Weekend

Ferrari Rosé

South Beach provides a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean, but the evening of Wine Spectator‘s Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach was sensory overload. One particular wine brand that I fell in love with is Ferrari wines. Since 1902, Ferrari has been Italy’s celebratory sparkling wine par excellence. The assortment of tastings made this evening truly memorable. This brand offers a wine collection sure to please any palate. The Classic line, the Maximum line, the Perlé line, and the Reserve each offer a unique flavor and appeal.

Where To Recover

Riviera Hotel South Beach

The hustle and constant movement of South Beach can be overwhelming. Boutique and quaint wins hands-down with the South Beach Hotel Group, which was founded by real estate developer and hotelier Alan Lieberman in 1998. It is the largest independent and privately owned hotel organization in South Florida. This trip, I was comforted by a gorgeous suite at the Riviera Hotel South Beach.

Riviera Hotel South Beach

The hotel consists of three buildings, containing 162 guest rooms, including suites with full kitchens and balconies overlooking a courtyard oasis. Guests have access to two pools — a stylish one on the rooftop featuring a fully-stocked bar, and the Zen pool where the newly-opened Life Is Beautiful Organic Bar is Miami Beach’s first all-organic bar. If these amenities are not enough, the South Beach Hotel Group offers complimentary airport transfers and a nightly guest happy hour from 7 to 8 p.m. Please indulge in South Beach responsibly.

Life Is Beautiful Organic Bar

For more than 15 years Patrick T. Cooper has consistently influenced fashion, art, and entertainment. With an innate creative ability, Cooper curates visual imagery that sets trends. Cooper mindfully manipulates color, texture, and layering to create a lifestyle and his mantra “Live in color,” which is an exercise to be and live freely. This attitude is evident in each uniquely designed piece of the Patrick T Cooper Resort Collection. For more information go to PatrickTCooper.com or follow him on social media @patricktcooper.

Serena Williams said she was “surprised and shocked” to learn of Maria Sharapova‘s positive drug test, but the 21-time Grand Slam champion added that the Russian tennis player “showed a lot of courage” in being upfront about the situation, reports Sports Net.

On Monday, Sharapova revealed that she had tested positive for a banned substance the day she lost to Williams at the Australian Open quarterfinals in January. The banned substance is meldonium, which is a blood flow-promoting drug that also aids in oxygen uptake and endurance.

Williams refused to discuss facing an opponent with a banned substance in her system, while speaking at a news conference Tuesday to promote an exhibition at Madison Square Garden.

“I think most people were happy she was upfront and very honest and showed a lot of courage to admit to what she had done and what she had neglected to look at in terms of the list at the end of the year,” Williams said.

Sharapova could face a long ban from the International Tennis Federation, which could end her season and prevent her from competing in the Olympics.

“It’s just taking responsibility, which she admitted that she was willing to do and ready to do,” Williams added. “Just hope for the best for everybody in that situation.”

RELATED: Serena Williams Goes Topless For 43rd Pirelli Calendar

India Arie recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter after watching an early cut of Nina, a biopic about Nina Simone, and discussed the casting of Zoe Saldana in the starring role as an error. Arie also speaks about the team behind the film being predominantly white.

“There are certain understandings that are just in your bones, based on who you are, and those would have been brought to bear,” Arie said. “I don’t know if it would have been a perfect movie, but certain fundamental truths would have been taken into account. But there’s also a part of me that’s naïve and thinks, even if it were 98 percent white people involved in the making of this movie, it still could have been done right if they cared enough to do it right. But obviously, that didn’t happen.”

Arie like many other fans of Nina Simone takes issue with Saldana being cast because the iconic singer was often inspired by the color of her skin and her treatment in America as a result of it, and how Hollywood still has an inclusion issue today. In order to play, Nina Simone, Saldana appears in the film wearing makeup to darken her skin and a prosthetic nose.

“In the context of the politics of race in America and the politics of race in the entertainment industry in America, to make a movie about a person like that and cast an actress that has to wear blackface and a prosthetic nose is tone-deaf. To propagate that institutionalized racism that is historical in Hollywood in a movie about her is ironic in the worst possible way.”

However, Arie doesn’t think Saldana did anything wrong in taking the role.

“I don’t know her and I don’t think she did anything wrong. If I were in her shoes and I admired Nina Simone the way that I hear she does, I would have said yes, too, and I don’t even think I can act. If they asked me to sing Nina Simone, I got that. But I never pursued it because I felt it was not my place. And I don’t know if it was her place to do that. I think they cast Zoe Saldana because they wanted a big name, but that makes me ask, ‘Is the name Nina Simone not big enough to get people to come to the movie?'”

Hairstylist Karim Belghiran tapped local women to style model Aya Jones‘s cornrows for the March Vogue España cover, which was shot on location in Botswana.

The issue declares “Black is Beautiful” and features the Ivorian-British model prominently in a simple set of cornrows and nude makeup. The cover and accompanying photo editorial was shot by photographer Nico Bustos and styled by Belen Antolín.

Jones looks both ethereal and strong on the cover and in the photo editorial.

Belghiran posted a photo of him getting some help with braiding Jones’s hair from the Botswanan women.

RELATED: Quick Pic: Zac Posen’s ‘Black Models Matter’ Bag

“The cloth bag belonged to a woman sitting at the back. At one point, she wanted to open it and somebody on the neighboring row of seats saw that something was moving inside,” said a passenger from an Air France flight to French website Planet.fr.

The traveler was referring to the discovery of a 1- or 2-year-old baby hidden inside a woman’s carry-on bag aboard Air France Flight 1891, which was traveling from Istanbul to Paris Monday.

The flight attendants opened the bag, and then moved the woman and the baby from the back of the plane to the front. Air France requested French authorities meet the flight upon its arrival in order to handle the situation.

French investigators are now trying to determine why the unidentified woman snuck the child onto the flight without a valid ticket.

It makes one wonder when exactly she put the baby into the bag. If it was before going through the security checkpoint, then more than a few people should be held accountable.

RELATED: Boundless In BVI

[Image: Joe Ravi/Shutterstock.com]

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“Damn Pink we were all born naked society sexualizes our breast and bodies. If a grown mother of 2 is comfortable with her body and wants to show it off that’s none of ur business or anyone else’s. Now, if u wanna talk to kids and be a mentor to young teens, tell them to go to school and to not use their bodies to get ahead?! I’m all for it! But please as a grown woman let another grown woman live as she wishes. That’s our problem! We’re so quick to down each other instead of uplifting! Pink, We’ve seen u damn near naked swinging from a rope( Beautifully) but what’s the difference between a rope, a pole and a pic on Instagram? Classism. Because u sing while ur half naked does that make it ‘Classy’ or is it because u have a ‘talent’? I’m not dissing at all Pink just curious after u said ‘You’ll never have to make a silly excuse for yourself'”

— Amber Rose defends Kim Kardashian West against Pink on Instagram, after the singer criticized the reality star for posting another nude selfie to the ‘Gram and Twitter Sunday. Following in the vain of Bette Midler, Piers Morgan, and Chloe Grace Moretz, Pink seemingly took a potshot at Kim K when she posted the following message on Twitter:

“Shout out to all of the women, across the world, using their brains, their strength, their work ethic, their talent, their ‘magic’ that they were born with, that only they possess. It may not ever bring you as much ‘attention’ or bank notes as using your body, your sex, your tits and asses, but women like you don’t need that kind of ‘attention,.’ In the quiet moments, you will feel something deeper than the fleeting excitement resulting from attention, you will feel something called pride and self respect. Keep on resisting the urge to cave. You’ll never have to make silly excuses for yourself.”

Which mother do you agree with, Amber Rose, Kim Kardashian West, or Pink?

Lil Mama, whose real name is Niatia Jessica Kirkland, was arrested in New York this morning for speeding.

The Brooklyn native was reportedly driving 38 mph in a 25 mph zone in Harlem at 4 a.m., according to NYPD sources.

To make matters worse, Lil Mama had no legal right to drive.

After the police pulled her over for speeding, they ran her driver license and discovered it had been revoked. The police immediately arrested her and she’s still in custody.

The 27-year-old rapper is best known for her 2008 hit “Lip Gloss” and for portraying Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in the Lifetime biopic CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.

RELATED: More celebrity arrests …

[Image: Instagram]

Two successful restaurateurs have turned another hearty passion into a luxury lifestyle.

By Patrick T. Cooper

Designer Berhane Hawariat exudes a level of elegance like no other. Her innate style is a direct reflection of her home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The daughter of a diplomat, Mimi (as her family calls her) learned at an early age what international style truly is. Her passion for all things fabulous became even more explosive with the meeting of her business partner Roberto Boratto. A man of Milanese descent, Boratto also has affection for finely curated goods. Together this duo has birthed the magic of Boratto Luxury. The handmade craftsmanship in each leather good and exotic skins are the epitome of opulence. It only took a glance for me to become a fan and I am sure you will too. Luxury has a new destination and that destination is Boratto Luxury.

UPTOWN: Do you channel any iconic figures when developing your collection?
Boratto Luxury: For our men’s line, they range from Miles Davis to Bradley Cooper. For women, we envision Dorothy Dandridge to Angelina Jolie.

U: What inspires you?
BL: Mostly travels to Italy and France. We love sitting in cafes and people watching. European individuals there are simple yet elegant and know what’s appropriate for their lifestyle, body type, and age. Our philosophy is effortless looks with attention to quality and craftsmanship.

U: What brand in the market place past or present represents the success you would like to achieve for Boratto Luxury?
BL: Tom Ford. Mr. Ford’s philosophy is the perfect combination of classic American and Italian style. We would love to see Boratto Luxury products passed down from generation to generation.

U: Celebrity capital has become such an impacting resource in the fashion industry. What celebrity personality would you choose to be your brand ambassador and why?
BL: Vincent Cassell and Idris Elba both embody a classic elegance with a worldly appeal.

U: What one word of advice would you give to some one following in your footsteps?
BL: Find inspiration in the simple everyday things, travel as much as you can, and let the creativity flow.

U: What’s next for Boratto Luxury?
BL: Our exclusive women’s line of clutches, bags, accessories, and unisex eyewear.

Boratto Luxury is available here. Follow the luxury accessories brand on here.

For more than 15 years Patrick T. Cooper has consistently influenced fashion, art, and entertainment. With an innate creative ability, Cooper curates visual imagery that sets trends. Cooper mindfully manipulates color, texture, and layering to create a lifestyle and his mantra “Live in color,” which is an exercise to be and live freely. This attitude is evident in each uniquely designed piece of the Patrick T Cooper Resort Collection. For more information go to PatrickTCooper.com or follow him on social media @patricktcooper.

A new study has found that Splenda may contribute to serious health issues like cancer.

During the study, which was published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, mice were fed sucralose daily throughout their lives and developed leukemia and other blood cancers.

The mice were given the equivalent of consuming 10 cans of diet soda per day, which isn’t impossible to consume if you’re getting the sucralose from multiple food and drink sources. Low doses of artificial sweetener can also present a risk for cancer, however.

As a result of the study, a nutrition watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is now advising consumers to avoid sucralose, which can also cause weight gain, increase belly fat and obesity risk, and has been shown to spikes and dips in blood sugar and insulin levels.

[Image: Instagram]

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Michelle Obama just doesn’t play when it comes to shutting down a red carpet. Take the Canada State Dinner, for example, where the First Lady wore a custom Jason Wu gown to the dinner to honor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The midnight blue floral jacquard gown features asymmetrical draping and a gold and red floral print. Wu featured the same floral print in the fall 2016 collection. This is Obama’s third major Jason Wu moment; she previously collaborated with the designer for the two Inaugural Balls.

[Main image: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images]

This weekend many celebrities, like Ciara and Russell Wilson, spent time with the ones they love and/or respect, making lasting memories.

Russell Wilson proved he was the missing piece in Ciara‘s future by proposing to “The Goodies” singer in the Seychelles. Then, Ciara took to the beach to subtly show off her major rock.

Keke Palmer gave some love to black-ish stars Marcus Scribner and Yara Shahidi during the Kids’ Choice Awards Sunday. Lookin’ good Young, Black Hollywood!

And in more Keke Palmer news, she and Niecy Nash announced during PaleyFest Sunday that they will return for Scream Queens season 2. And it seems Jamie Lee Curtis will also return for the murder-mystery comedy.

Zendaya was thankful for being recognized as the favorite female TV star at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards last night.

Kandi Burruss shared an image of her baby son Ace Wells Tucker, who also enjoyed his first trip to the Big Apple this weekend. Kandi appeared on Watch What Happens Live Sunday and brought her two favorite guys along.

Ne-Yo and Crystal Renay showed off their pregnancy with an intimate photo shoot.

Let’s just call this edition of CELEB IG WKND the BABY IG WKND because we’re loving all these celeb parents sharing their tots with us. Over the weekend, Teyana Taylor shared posted the most adorable video of her and Iman Shumpert‘s daughter Iman fighting sleep after a warm bath and coconut oil rub down.

Lupita Nyong’o appreciates everyone who comes to see her show, Eclipsed</em, including Joan Smalls, Angela Bassett, Alan Menken, Miss J. Alexander, Vondie Curtis Hall, and Seth Meyers.

How cute is Blue Ivy Carter playing in makeup?!

Cam Newton shopped in Pharrell Williams‘s closet for the hat the NFLer wore to the Lakers vs. Cavaliers game.

The Cecil, a Harlem hotspot located at 210 West 118th Street, spearheaded the introduction of Afro-Asian-American cuisine to the culinary world when chef and restaurateur Alexander Smalls (above) opened it in 2013. However, Executive Chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson, 31, is taking the dinner menu even further, in 2016, to reflect more of the flavors from the world’s most influential Afro ports and the African diaspora.

Through his travels to Ghana, Jerusalem, the Caribbean, and other locales, Chef JJ (left) was inspired to revamp the menu at The Cecil. He received inspiration from the many food cultures and culinary histories he experienced on his journeys. Together with his mentor Smalls and newly-appointed Chef de Cuisine Tiffany Minter, Chef JJ hopes to continue to demonstrate how multi-dimensional Afro-Asian-American cuisine can be.

Not only are the dishes new on the dinner menu, but also new ingredients prevail, like heirloom grains from Anson Mills. The Cecil also belongs to a new whole-animal grass-fed beef program in partnership with an upstate New York farm. “From wok-fried Peruvian adobo chicken wings to fonio porridge inspired by his experience cooking at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, to a chili lobster with udon noodles, the menu is fresh, exciting and dives further into this bold cuisine,” describes a press release.

Check out some of the highlights from the new menu:

Clockwise from top left: Hands Only, Tamarind Glazed Oxtails, Moqueca

• Hands Only: based on a popular Senegalese street dish Thiebou Dieune -– a spicy mix of beans, sticky ricem and rabbit sausage, eaten traditionally by scooping it up with grilled roti.
• The chef’s interpretation of Moqueca: a Brazilian fish stew from Bahia, an aromatic dish made with smoked fish, okra, prawns, and shrimp and served over Carolina gold rice.
• Braised Goat Dumplings: a staple meat in many parts of the world, Chef JJ wanted to incorporate goat into this fan-favorite Asian dish; he serves them with piri piri sauce and infused with peanut butter.
• Inspired by his winning dish at Meatopia in London, the Tamarind
  Glazed Oxtails are braised for four hours and slide easily off the bone, tender in their sweet and sticky glaze alongside brown rice grits.

Clockwise from top left: Braised Goat Dumplings, Plantain Kelewele, Fried Chicken Fried Rice, Pan-Roasted Venison

When I attended a preview dinner of The Cecil’s new menu, the Golden Tofu, which features toasted sesame seeds and shaved cabbage salad, was a hit even among the meat-eaters at my table.

But there are new cocktails too!

Beverage Director Antoine Hodge has created a bevy of new cocktails utilizing traditional African ingredients and spices to complement the new flavor-packed menu. “Senegalese Ginjan Ginger Juice is incorporated into the Eye of Horus cocktail with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, African baobab fruit powder is [tasted] in the Bourbon-based Amina cocktail, and Senegalese bissap flowers are paired with Olmeco Altos Blanco Tequila in the Blood & Fire cocktail,” reports the press release.

If you’re not able to hit up The Cecil for dinner, this Harlem resto serves weekend brunch, and lunch every Thursday and Friday in the lounge. The Cecil also delights diners with live jazz performances every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

For more information visit TheCecilHarlem.com. Whet your appetite by following @thececilharlem on Instagram.

[Images: Lindsay Talley (except photo of Alexander Smalls)]

“You have a right to get into a closed, private event, and you get what’s coming to you. I do not condone violence, but if you go into an environment where you’re interrupting 13, 14 times, you do expect a hug or kumbaya?”

— Omarosa was back to defending Donald Trump while speaking with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews about the recent physical and verbal attacks on Black protesters attending Trump’s rallies. While showing little empathy for the victims of the racism-fueled attacks, Omarosa added that she doesn’t think Trump is instigating the behavior: “He’s a New Yorker, what do you want him to say? … He’s not gonna be pushed around, Chris.” Well, it’s as simple as that: the protesters got what they deserved and Trump being from New York is enough of an excuse for his behavior.

Omarosa previously defended Trump when he promised to banish Muslims from the U.S. The ordained minister, who has played a villain on The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice, said she knows him differently and like a “father” figure to her.

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Mike Tyson has purchased a larger Henderson, Nevada home, so he’s put his first home in the bedroom community of Las Vegas up for sale. Let’s take a peek into the 5,800-square-foot home located at 1294 Imperia Drive …

Henderson is only 16 miles from downtown Las Vegas, so it reportedly offers upscale living that is quiet, as well as allows residents to raise children far from the glitz of the Vegas Strip. The wealthy community also places high on the FBI’s list of safest cities to live in the U.S.

Now that you’ve been sold on the neighborhood, let’s check out what Iron Mike’s home has to offer.

The two-story home was renovated in 2016 and sits on a third acre. It has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and three fireplaces (trust me, a December in Las Vegas calls for a fireplace). The house is industrially-styled with skybridges, open ductwork, and vaulted ceilings with materials of marble, wood, steel, and slate. The backyard features an infinity edge pool, waterfall, two spas, and spacious patio area with fire pit, BBQ, bar area, and pool bathroom. “The spectacular master bathroom upstairs offers marble floors, floating tub, chandeliers, seamless shower, LED rain shower, marble and glass tile on walls, Luna marble counters, refinished cabinets, wall sconce and custom wall mirrors. All bathrooms have been remodeled with a gorgeous new contemporary design,” reports Luxury Homes of Las Vegas.

Keep clicking for more images of Mike Tyson’s nearly $1.5 million home.

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The Last Poets founding member Abiodun Oyewole, a.k.a. Tunes by Dune, is suing the Estate of The Notorious B.I.G., Roc Nation, Rita Ora, Busta Rhymes, and Eminem for $24 million in a copyright infringement case.

Oyewole alleges that Biggie, Ora, Rhymes, and Eminem have used his hook, “party and bullshit,” which is said repeatedly on the 1970 musical compilation “When the Revolution Comes,” without his permission. The world famous poet alleges that he wrote “When the Revolution Comes” and therefore owns the copyright.

Oyewole claims B.I.G. never obtained a license to sample the hook on his 1993 song “Party and Bullshit.” He says he intended to pursue legal action against the rapper before his untimely death. He adds that after B.I.G.’s death, he didn’t want to hassle Biggie’s mom Voletta Wallace or other loved ones.

But then, the Estate licensed the rapper’s song to Ora for her 2012 single “How We Do (Party),” which happened to be produced by Justin Combs Publishing. Not only is Justin Combs Sean “Diddy” Combs‘s son, but Diddy also owns the copyright to Ora’s song.

To further infuriate Oyewole, Busta Rhymes and Eminem released “Calm Down” in 2014. The poet claims the rappers wrongfully exploits his work in their song.

Along with $24 million in damages and an injunction to prevent further infringement of his copyright, Oyewole is also seeking to be deemed the true owner of the phrase “party and bull or bullshit.”

[Image: YouTube]

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While Nate Dogg enjoyed a career as a solo act, you can’t deny that he became The King of Hooks in Hip Hop thanks to rappers like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac. Let’s remember the gone-too-soon rapper on the fifth anniversary of his death by two-stepping to 13 of his best hooks. Warning: Some lyrics are NSFW.

“Regulate”: Warren G feat. Nate Dogg

“All About U”: Tupac feat. Nate Dogg, Dru Down, Top Dogg

“Ain’t No Fun”: Snoop Dogg feat. Nate Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt

“Oh No”: Mos Def feat. Nate Dogg, Pharoahe Monch

“21 Questions”: 50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg

“Xxplosive”: Dr. Dre feat. Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Hittman

“Till I Collapse”: Eminem feat. Nate Dogg

“Next Episode”: Dr. Dre feat. Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt

“Can’t Deny It”: Fabolous feat. Nate Dogg

“Area Code”: Ludacris feat. Nate Dogg

“O.G.”: Daz Dillinger feat. Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg

“Gangsta Nation”: Westside Connection feat. Nate Dogg

“The Setup”: Obie Trice feat. Nate Dogg

[Image: Lionsgate]

[Image: Lionsgate/Instagram]

The Divergent Series: Allegiant hits theaters and IMAX this Friday, March 18th!