By Susan Schwartz

Posted July 6th 2010

Cleveland, OH—A hallmark of most modern-day tall ship festivals is the Parade of Sail, which features the ships sailing into harbor with all sails hoisted and canons blazing.  The Cleveland Tall Ships Festival will be no different as a Parade of Sail will showcase all of the festival’s participating ships.  Organized and presented by the Rotary Club of Cleveland and the Port of Cleveland, along with several other sponsors, the festival will be held from July 8 -11, 2010 at the Port’s docks north of Cleveland Browns Stadium. Sponsored by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance with major media sponsorship by WKYC Channel 3, the majestic Parade of Sail will kick off the festivities on Wednesday afternoon, July 7, at 4:00 pm, on Lake Erie, just north of the breakwall. It should be noted that, although the Parade of Sail is on July 7, the ships will not be available for on-board tours until the Festival itself opens on July 8.  Offsite viewing and event coverage is open to all.

Expected for the Parade of Sail are the following ships that are participating in the festival as well as the Great Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® 2010 race series, which will also include stops in Toronto, Bay City, MI, Duluth, MN, Green Bay, WI, and Chicago, IL:  Appledore IV and Appledore V (from Bay City, MI); HMS Bounty (Greenport, Long Island, NY); Denis Sullivan (Milwaukee, WI); Europa (Scheveningen, The Netherlands); Lynx (Newport Beach, CA); Flagship Niagara (Erie, PA); Pride of Baltimore II (Baltimore, MD); Roald Amundsen (Eckernforde, Germany); Roseway (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands); and Unicorn (Clinton, NJ).

There will be a number of ways to enjoy the event.  You can watch from shore as the ships sail past downtown Cleveland on Lake Erie.  Or you can enjoy the spectacle from a boat moored in the lake.  Or you can actually be a passenger on one of the ships as they make their majestic entrance into the city.  Of course, there is no charge for watching from shore, and there will be many popular vantage points, including Voinovich Park at the foot of 9^th Street.  Watching from a boat on the water might be free as well, depending on who you know.  Sailing on one of the participating ships will cost you, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people.

Several ships will welcome passengers aboard for the Parade of Sail; cost to sail is $95 per person.  Participating are the Pride of Baltimore II, Appledore IV and V, Roseway, Denis Sullivan, and Lynx.  There is limited availability for the Parade.  For information about this fantastic opportunity, go to the festival website at www.clevelandtallships.com.  During the Festival, Sail Aways will be available each day. A limited number of tickets ($45 for adults; $35 for children over 6; under 6 unable to sail) will be available only at the Festival Box Office after Friday, July 3.  Festival admission is included.

Tickets for the 2010 Cleveland Tall Ships Festival are on sale now at the Playhouse Square Box Office, online at www.playhousesquare.org, or by phone at 216-241-6000 or 866-546-1353. Festival tickets are $12 in advance; $14 at the event; $11 for seniors, groups, Rotarians, and the Military; $8 for children ages 6 to 14; and free to those 5 and under.  Discount advance tickets are also available at all Marc’s stores.  More information on the Tall Ships Festival 2010 can be obtained at www.clevelandtallships.com.

By Josh Taylor

Posted July 12s 2010

Downtown Cleveland: Beginning, Saturday July 10th and continuing until Sunday, August 1st, the Terminal Tower Observation Deck will be open to the public for a limited time only. On Saturdays and Sundays in July, individuals will have the opportunity to go up into this magnificent Cleveland landmark and, once again, experience the breathtaking views of Downtown. Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Forest City have partnered to make this opening possible.

The Observation Deck will be open from 12:00p.m. until 4:00p.m. and general admission cost will be $5 per person with free admission for children 5 years of age and under. Tickets can be purchased at Guest Services in Tower City Center. The dates listed below are the weekends the Observation Deck will be open to the public.

· July 10th-11th

· July 17th-18th

· July 24th-25th

· July 31st-Aug 1st

Originally opened in 1929, Terminal Tower has been a Cleveland landmark for over 80 years. The Observation Deck sits on the 42nd floor of the Tower. After September 11th, the Observation Deck was closed and since then both the exterior and interior of the Tower has gone undergone numerous renovations. The rehabilitation began about 5 years ago with the exterior façade being repaired; the Observation Deck was one of the latter components of the rehabilitation, but in January of this year the work was completed.

The interior of the Observation Deck has been restored to resemble a more original period of the 1930’s and 40’s. After careful examination of old designs, photographs and newspaper clippings, the Tower today looks much like it did the day it opened, with many of the original features having been either restored or recreated. Checkered floors, exposed radiators, circular lights and railings in front of the windows, which create a sense that people are leaning over to look out from the Tower, are just some of the renovations that took place. They also upgraded their heating and cooling system to a more modern system and installed new eco-friendly windows and elevators throughout.

According to Stephen Bir, General Manager for Forest City Enterprises, “it was the right time to reopen the Observation Deck as many cities across the U.S. began to open up their observation decks again; it was only fitting that Cleveland do the same. Furthermore he added, “there is no other place downtown at this elevation that the public can go up and see everything from Lake Erie to the Cuyahoga River. ” Joe Marinucci, President and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance adds, “offering this destination for tourists and locals is our way of getting people to explore one of Cleveland’s greatest assets.”

“Although the Observation Deck will only be open for a limited engagement this summer, the hope is that we will be able to open it up for future times on a more regular occurrence,” says Bir. For more information about the opening visit www.downtowncleveland.com

Posted June 28ht 2010

DETROIT — A Jackson 5 exhibit has opened at the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit, marking the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death.

Starting Tuesday, the public is able to view photographs, awards and uniforms the group wore throughout its career.

Museum chief curator Lina Stephens says the exhibit celebrates the life of Jackson and acknowledges the Jackson 5’s “contribution to the Motown story.” It will be open through October.

No official program is set up for the anniversary of Jackson’s death Friday, but Stephens says the public is welcome to come pay their respects. A Jackson impersonator will be outside the museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Posted June 20th 2010

Stomp The Yard: Homecoming to Debut as the Centerpiece FilmFestival Competition Awards Totaling $50,000!

New York, NY – The 14th Annual American Black Film Festival, taking place in Miami, June 23rd – 26th. The festival film slate thas Takers (Screen Gems) as the opening night film selection. Produced by Will Packer, Tip “T.I.” Harris and Jason Geter, and Directed by John Luessenhop, Takers stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, and T.I. with Chris Brown & Hayden Christensen.

Takers revolves around a notorious group of criminals (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Michael Ealy) who continue to baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. They are in and out like clockwork, leaving no evidence behind and laying low in between heists. But when they attempt to pull off one last job with more money at stake than ever before, the crew may find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective (Matt Dillon) who is hell-bent on solving the case. Takers releases nationwide on August 20, 2010.

ABFF Founder, Jeff Friday, states “I am honored to present Takers as the opening night film. My goal has always been to open the festival with a film that captivates the audience and represents the work of multi-ethnic filmmakers and actors. I am very grateful to Rainforest Films and Screen Gems for their continued support of the festival.”

Also a highlight of this year’s festival is Stomp The Yard: Homecoming, which will be the centerpiece film.  Directed by Rob Hardy and courtesy of Stage 6 Films, RCR Partners & Rainforest Films, Stomp The Yard: Homecoming stars Collins Pennie, Pooch Hall, Terrence J, Lil Duval, Tika Sumpter, Teyana Taylor and Kiely Alexis Williams.  Columbus Short will be returning to the yard for a featured cameo.

As the sequel to the box office hit Stomp The Yard, Stomp The Yard: Homecoming will follow a new group of students.  Chance Harris (Collins Pennie) struggles with the dynamics of balancing life and the biggest event of the year at Truth University.  School, girlfriend woes, a full-time job at his demanding father’s restaurant, and preparing his fraternity for an upcoming nationally televised step competition add drama to an already action packed weekend.  Making matters worse, Chance is sidetracked by the fact he has an outstanding debt with a street thug who’s out for blood.

“ABFF is a very special festival to Rainforest Films. From the very beginning, Jeff Friday embraced us as filmmakers. Additionally, the ABFF audience provided the optimum platform to showcase our films and help elevate our careers. Now that Rob Hardy and I have grown as filmmakers, we want to give back to ABFF in whatever way we can. I am happy that we are able to use the 14th Annual American Black Film Festival to showcase both Takers and Stomp The Yard: Homecoming. I look forward to going back to Miami – where I always have an amazing time,” states Producer and Co-Founder of Rainforest Films, Will Packer.

Festival organizers also announced the HBOâ Short Film COMPETITION, which has been part of the festival for 13 years.   Film awards presented include: The HBOâ Short Film Award; Grand Jury Prizes for Best Film Sponsored by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, Best Performance by an Actor, sponsored by Gold Peak TEA.  Prizes range from $5,000 to $20,000.  “HBO is proud of its long-standing partnership with the ABFF,” said Olivia Smashum, executive vice president, Affiliate Marketing at HBO. “With our HBO Short Film competition housed at the ABFF since its inception, our combined efforts have given much needed exposure to 60 emerging filmmakers to date. We look forward to working with the ABFF again in 2010.” 2010

ABFF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

GALA SCREENINGS

TAKERS – Opening Night Film, directed by John Luessenhop

Courtesy of Screen Gems

Enter the world of a notorious group of criminals who continue to baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies.

STOMP THE YARD: HOMECOMING – Centerpiece Screening, directed by Rob Hardy Courtesy of

Stage 6 Films, RCR Partners & Rainforest Films

Chance Harris struggles with the dynamics of balancing life…the biggest event of the year at Truth University – Girlfriend woes, a full-time job, preparing his fraternity for a nationally televised step competition. Making matters worse, Chance is sidetracked by the fact he has an outstanding debt with a street thug who’s out for blood.

HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Five films compete for $20,000 grand prize sponsored by HBO.

THE CYCLE, directed by Roy Clovis (World Premiere)

Will the search for a child’s bicycle unite a gentrifying community or ignite a conflict that will tear it apart?

IF I LEAP, directed by Jackie J. Stone (World Premiere)

Zipporah, temporarily professed into the religious order ‘Sisters of Piety,’ engages in an intimate relationship and is forced to decide whether to remain in the religious life or return to the secular world.

MOTH, directed by Hilton Carter (World Premiere)

Based on the painting ‘The Young Martyr’ by Paul Delaroche, Moth tells the story of a beautiful starlet caught up in drugs and stardom.

SAY GRACE BEFORE DROWNING, directed by Nikyatu Jusu (World Premiere)After meeting her African refugee mother for the first time in six years, 8 year old Hawa is forced to coexist with a woman teetering on the brink of insanity.

STAG & DOE, directed by Daniel Patterson & John Staley (World Premiere)

On the eve before their wedding night, a young engaged couple decides to put their relationship to the test at a joint bachelor/bachelorette party.

NARRATIVE FEATURES (In Competition)Four films compete for the Grand Jury Prize for Best Film, sponsored by Gold Peak Tea.

EVERYDAY BLACKMAN, directed by Carmen MaddenA small time grocer has to become the man he used to be when his store is taken over by a drug dealer.

THE INHERITANCE, directed by Robert O’Hara  Friends and Family gather for a “Secret Family” reunion. The reunion turns deadly.

LEGACY, directed by Thomas IkimiIdris Elba stars as a black ops soldier who returns home after a set of mysterious circumstances botch his mission.

NIGHT CATCHES, directed by Tanya HamiltonIn 1976 forces are set in motion when a young man returns to the race torn Philadelphia.

NARRATIVE FEATURES (Out of Competition)

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, directed by Tabari SturdivantWhen what looks like the end of the road could be the beginning of a whole new journey.

CONSINSUAL, directed by Paul D. Hannah (World Premiere)Walk into this seemingly normal marriage where romance quickly turns to lust and morality across the line of corruption.JOY ROAD, directed by Harry A. Davis (World Premiere)

Public defender Tony Smalls is called to defend his sisters’ boyfriend, a dangerous gang leader.

SUICIDE DOLLS, directed by Keith Shaw (World Premiere)

Two lonely girls plan to commit suicide and decide to film their last 24 hours.DOCUMENTARIES

ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS, directed by Reggie Rock BythewoodTells the story of that infamous fight night – (Sept. 7, 1996) when Mike Tyson, the WBC heavyweight champion, attempted to take Bruce Seldon’s WBA title at theMGM, and the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac, and the tragedy that ensued.

SWEET SCIENCE, directed by Chris HowellDocuments the progress and price paid by 11 boxers as members of the United States Olympic Boxing Team.

THE AVON BARKSDALE STORY, directed by Bruce Brown (World Premiere)True story of the life of the character played by actor Wood Harris in the HBO series, The Wire.

NEW VISIONSLEFT UNSAID, directed by Nelson George (World Premiere)15 women meet via Facebook for Sunday brunch in a Brooklyn brownstone.

B.U.R.N.S, directed by Phil Reid (Festival Premiere)The story of Kenny Burns’ grind. Showing you don’t have to be somebody’s slave to make it in the entertainment business.

GANGS OF LA 1991, Lamonte Moore (World Premiere)Follows gang activity during the heightened gang warfare in Los Angeles in 1991.

SPONSORED SCREENING

THE CONFIDANT, directed by Alton Glass (World Premiere)Courtesy of Codeblack Entertainment

When your closest friend becomes your worst enemy.

Additional festival highlights include: ·

• Actor Idris Elba named ABFF Ambassador for the 2010 festival.·

• Oscar Nominated Producer-Director, Lee Daniels will be presented with “Career Achievement Award.”·

• Spike Lee to lead The Art of Filmmaking Master Class.·

• The Pro-Hollywood Workshop (PHI) will launch at ABFF this year—a workshop for professional athletes looking for a comprehensive overview of the creative and business disciplines related to the film industry.·

• Inside Nickelodeon with Janice Burgess, creator of The Backyardigans.·

• CNN Symposium with Soledad O’Brian.·

• HBO’s short film competition awards a $20,000 grand prize.

Tickets:

Movie tickets went  sale June 15.  Ticket prices range from $12 – $20.Advance tickets for screenings held at the Colony Theater will go on sale June 15th and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.

Walk up tickets will be on sale at the Colony Theater box office day of show only. Walk up tickets will be on sale at the Miami Beach Cinematheque box office day of show only. There are no advance sales of screenings held at this theater.

*Further information regarding movie tickets can be found at www.abff.com .About ABFF:Established in 1997, the core mission of the ABFF is to promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry by strengthening the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Through its film showcases and special contests, it annually introduces the top echelon of emerging artists to the film and television industry.

The ABFF is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based event marketing, production and distribution company founded in 2000 by Jeff Friday (CEO).ABFF Sponsors: HBO® is the festival’s Founding and Premier Sponsor.

Other sponsors on board this year include: Grey Goose and Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines and BET Networks (Official Sponsors); CNN, Codeblack Entertainment, Gold Peak Tea, Nickelodeon, The Nielsen Company and Stella Artois (Supporting Sponsors); City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (Host Sponsors); Fox Searchlight Pictures, Halle Berry Pure Orchid, MTV Networks, SAGIndie and the Writers Guild of America, West (Industry Partners). Media Sponsors include: AOL Black Voices, Automotive Rhythms, Black Enterprise, Clear Channel Outdoor, Heart & Soul, MIA, Monarch, Precious Times, Upscale and Uptown.

For media inquiries, call Lisa Sorensen (LSPR) at (646) 330-5458 or via email at lisa@ls-pr.com. General registration information can be obtained by visiting www.abff.com, calling 646-375-2144, ext 1, or contacting the festival via email at abff@thefilmlife.com

By Ms Osupa Nia

Posted June 20th 2010

Photo by Richard H. Morris, Jr.

(L to R Irma McQueen, Sharon Brandon, Stephanie Stovall; second row Brenda Adrine  and Iris Tucker Berry, as church ladies with a goal in Karamu’s Steal Away by Ramona King directed by Jean Granny Hawkins.)

When Playwright Ramona King wrote ‘Steal Away’ in 1982 I wonder if she knew that the production would become a timeless treasure in African American Theatres across the country.

Set in the depression era ‘Steal Away’ is an explosive comedy about a devout group of Negro church women who have bake sales to send young Negro women through college.  Their most recent heir to the scholarship so to say has masterminded another form of fundraising….bank robbery! Of course these angelic ladies would never consider robbing a bank until they were made a mockery by the local bank when applying for a loan and was told ‘colored girls don’t need an education!’

The  ‘Steal Away’, production a cast of six women, is the most hilarious stage play that I have witnessed all year! Laughter bellowed from an audience that was young and old and of all genders throughout the entire production.

The cast: Arien Hodges, Sharon Brandon, Irma McQueen, Stephanie Stovall, Iris Tucker-Berry and Brenda Adrine I am proud to say are Clevelanders with a repertoire of local and regional stage productions in their portfolios. The depth of each character portrayal was compelling and colorful.

Veteran Director Jean E. Hawkins, know as granny in the theatre arena, vividly produced a slice of life of African Americans living in the depression era. Dramatic and comedic ‘Steal Away’ will steal your heart during this two hour extraordinary production.

‘Steal Away’ is a must see for the entire family.  So make a date and don’t be late!  ‘Steal Away’ runs through next Sunday June 27^th at the Karamu House Theatre.

Purchase Your Tickets Now!

By Caleb Johnson

Posed June 12rh 2010

Do you love coffee and e-books? If so, Barnes & Noble has a deal for you. According to PC World, customers who show a B&N barista an open e-book running B&N’s app will receive a free tall cup of coffee. It’s a limited-time offer, so hurry down to your local book megastore before it ends (though, they haven’t announced when that will be). Barnes & Noble hopes this promotion will encourage more customers to not only use its e-reader app, but also to purchase a Nook, which hasn’t quite lived up to Amazon’s Kindle or Apple’s iPad.

Thankfully, you can download the B&N app on a Kindle, iPhone or iPad, too, which means many smartphone users will also be able to get a caffeine fix. It’s a good thing, too, because Barnes & Noble patrons don’t want to see a horde of maniacally undercaffeinated nerds. It ain’t pretty. [From: PC World, via: Engadget]

By Beverly Ghent Skrzynski-Executive Direcctor

Posted June 5th 2010

(PHOTO HMS BOUNTY)

Cleveland, OH-HMS Bounty and Roseway, two historic sailing vessels that have “starred” in movies, are coming to the Cleveland Tall Ships Festival, which will be held in Cleveland from July 7-11, 2010. The Festival is being organized and presented by the Rotary Club of
Cleveland and the Port of Cleveland, along with several other sponsors. Both ships will participate in the Parade of Sail on July 7 and will be docked at the Port of Cleveland for on-board visits by festival goers from July 8-11.

(SCHOONER ROSEWAY)

“We are very excited that these two majestic ships will be part of the festival,” said Mikel B. Harding, a past president of the
Rotary Club and co-chair of the 2010 Tall Ships Festival along with Charles (Arnie) de la Porte, who is also the Honorary Consul for the Consulate of the Netherlands. “I know that our attendees will enjoy climbing aboard the ships and learning about their amazing histories,” he continued.

HMS Bounty was built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, for the 1962 MGM movie “Mutiny on the Bounty,” which told the story of the famous maritime mutiny that occurred in the South Pacific in 1789. In 2005, HMS Bounty was one of four tall ships used in the filming of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which starred Johnny Depp. Now owned and operated by the HMS Bounty Organization LLC, HMS Bounty makes Greenport,

Long Island, New York, her homeport. In an effort to return Bounty to the condition of her Hollywood film days, the famous ship completed an extensive renovation from 2006-2007 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. She spent 2008 traveling around the world, culminating in the 220th anniversary of the original Bounty’s first arrival in Tahiti in 1788. The ship carries 18 full-time paid crewmembers working side by side wit sail trainees and passengers. Her primary mission these days is to preserve the skills of square rigged sailing in conjunction with youtheducation and sail training.

Roseway, a 137-foot schooner, was built in 1925 in Essex, Massachusetts, as a private fishing yacht that would also compete in the annual races between ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and schooners from Gloucester, Massachusetts. After being purchased by the Boston Pilots Association in 1941, Roseway was outfitted with a .50-caliber machine gun and assigned to the First Naval District (New England) in 1942. The pilots used Roseway to help guide ships through the minefields and anti-submarine netting protecting the Boston harbor. At the end of the war, the Coast Guard presented a bronze plaque to the pilots in honor of Roseway’s exemplary wartime service. Roseway was the last pilot schooner in the United States when she was retired in 1973. In 1974, she was taken to Maine to serve in the Windjammer trade. In 1977, Roseway starred in the television remake of Rudyard Kipling’s “Captains Courageous.” In September 2002, she was donated to the World Ocean School, an internationally focused nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing challenging educational programs aboard the schooner. Today, Roseway is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Tickets for the 2010 Cleveland Tall Ships Festival are on sale now at
the Playhouse Square Box Office, online at www.playhousesquare.org
<http://www.playhousesquare.org/>; , or by phone at 216-241-6000 or
866-546-1353. Tickets are $12 in advance; $14 at the event; $11 for
seniors, groups, Rotarians, and the Military; $8 for children ages 6 to
14; and free to those 5 and under. Further information on the Tall
Ships Festival 2010 can be obtained at www.clevelandtallships.com
<http://www.clevelandtallships.com/>; .

Posted June 4th 2010

Karamu House :  ‘Steal Away’!

Run of Show: June 4th through June 27th 2010

Karamu House Performing Arts Theatre proudly presents the last play of its 86th Theatre season, Steal Away by Ramona King, directed by Artistic Director, Terrence Spivey. The show opens Friday, June 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm and concludes Sunday, June 27 at 3:00 pm in the Arena Theatre. Ticket information and purchases maybe made by contacting Karamu’s box office at 216-795-7077 or visiting the website at www.karamuhouse.org.

Steal Away is a delightful down home comedy set in Chicago during the Depression. It is the story of five upstanding church ladies who raise funds to send young Black women to college by holding bake sales and the like. Their latest beneficiary, Ms. Tracyada, has more ambitious ideas. She wants them all to rob a bank! Of course, the ladies are reluctant to do anything that drastic; but when they are turned down at the bank for a loan to send another young woman to college because the White bank manager doesn’t think “colored girls” need an education, the ladies decide to join in Tracyada’s scheme. Incredibly enough, the ladies manage to pull off the robbery. Come to Karamu and see our “church ladies” in action!

Only one preview night is scheduled for Steal Away. It will occur on Thursday,
June 3 at 7:30 pm. Ticket price for preview night is $10.00

Regular performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Ticket prices for Thursday and Sunday are $20.00 and $25.00 on Friday and Saturday nights. Senior, Student and Group Discounts are available.

Steal Away has replaced Closure this season. Closure by Mary Weems will open Karamu’s 87th Theatre season, and be presented September 17 thru October 10th in the Jelliffe Theatre. Karamu is located at 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

Karamu House Inc. is supported in part by The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The Ohio Lottery, The Ohio Arts Council and is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Posted May 24th 2010

(PHOTOS BY BODIES)

BODIES…The Exhibition provides an intimate and informative view into the human body. Using an innovative preservation process, the Exhibition allows you to see and celebrate your body’s inner beauty in ways you never dreamed possible. Over 200 actual human bodies and specimens, meticulously dissected and respectfully displayed, offer an unprecedented and wholly unique look into your amazing body. Come explore, experience and celebrate the wonder of the human form.

For more information log on to: BODIES THE EXHIBITION CLEVELAND OHIO

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Posted May 23rd 2010

Author Terry McMil­lan kicks off the Essence “Sum­mer Fic­tion Series” with a four part pre­view to “Get­ting To Happy,” the sequel to her best sell­ing book “Wait­ing To Exhale.” The first excerpt will be fea­tured in Essence’s June 2010 issue and will con­tinue through the Sep­tem­ber 2010 issue.

In “Get­ting To Happy,” McMil­lan fast-forwards 15 years and catches read­ers up on the lives of “Exhale’s” four beloved characters—Gloria, Robin, Berna­dine, and Savan­nah. Get­ting to Happy will be released by Viking on Sep­tem­ber 7, 2010.

“This is the pub­lish­ing event of the year,” said Patrik Henry Bass, Essence senior edi­tor. “Essence is ecsta­tic that we are able to fea­ture this pre­view from this highly antic­i­pated sequel exclu­sively. This coup also speaks to Essence’s lit­er­ary legacy for the past 40 years, as well as the extra­or­di­nary strength of the brand. We also know that Essence read­ers will be in for a treat as McMil­lan shares the lat­est on their favorite characters.”