Philadelphia

Never have I on PS shared where I spend most of my free time. When I am not asleep, I am in Philadelphia, truth is, I really like my ‘current city’. I want to say – this is my oozing adoration of things Philadelphia, just for you, future traveller.

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love is like a mix of its big city neighbors, New York without the boroughs, and DC without the politicians. Roughly. While I wholly recommend you stop by the city, our tourism board is working harder to make sure you actually do take a trip here. gophila.com is one of the ways we love our city. While you are here, you HAVE to visit the Liberty Bell, and the Independence Mall. And maybe take a Duck tour of the city.

It is highly possible that you find yourself on a stopover from bus/train or air travel. Here are a few things that you should do if you have only four hours in Philadelphia.

- Take any of the two hourly trains into the Center City – Get off the train at Market East Station. Hello! You are in the Gallery – a downtown mall, where you can see shops, and Philadelphians.

- Right next to the Market East Station are the 2 things that you HAVE to try – the Liberty Bell (situated at the Independence National Historic Park(www.nps.gov/inde) , a bite at the Reading Terminal Market(www.readingterminalmarket.org).

Ever newsy in my recommendations, try www.philly.com for ‘anything and everything Philly’

Of course, check out the NYTimes 36 Hours in Philadelphia.

My personal favorite eatery?

Cuba Libre – http://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/

Best Stroll and Shop?

South Street – http://www.southstreet.com/

Best Neighborhood You Want To Hang In?

Manyunk – http://www.manayunk.com/

Blogs on Philly You Have to Check Out

The Illadelph is a weblog about the city of Philadelphia… and all the ineffable awesomeness (and, unfortunately, awfulness) that comes with it.

Philly from the Inside Out  at Uwishunu http://www.uwishunu.com/

Of course, check out our shining team, the 2008 World Series champs – Go Phillies!

Barber To Beauty

“I have no problem with whatever the next big look is. Just don’t try and tell me that only one look is beautiful.”     Alek Wek

Hairstyle New, Stop Press! I went Alek Wek, June Arunga and thousands of other short natural haired women – and did not even know I loved it till I turned and saw it in the mirror. Welcome to my chronicle of the big day, and the days since. Barber Black Sheep, Have you any wool? …three bags full. After my first haircut ever, I can believe that the barber could fill three or more bags of cut locks daily without a doubt.

Its summer and everyone knows that if you want to have a swimming heavy summer, all you have to do is have a maintenance free hairstyle. Having heard this call to dive in every summer that I have spent in the United States, I took myself, and the weather seriously and sought a haircut.

The Yellow Pages is Your Friend

So, I went into the Yellow Pages and searched for a good natural hair place to change over from the shoulder length hairdo I have sported for many years to a summer haircut. I called a few numbers, old school style, and settled on two shops, one to tend to my natural hair needs and the other to maintain a barber quality do thereafter. I live in Philadelphia, whose swanky South Street boasts Brownstone Natural Hair and Barber Studio, which is well known for making every client feel like a natural woman, and look it too. If you would like to schedule an appointment, these are booked up to a month in advance. The Studio is owner operated, and my stylist was one of the owners.

I went in and had a hair consultation with the resident natural stylist, who proceeded to shampoo my hair, and then picked up a shiny set of very hair-shop style scissors and relieve me of several inches of my hair. All the while I was peeking at myself in the mirror with one eye shut, this was totally new. To distract myself, I looked at what else the other patrons were getting done. One or two were having their locs retwisted, and others were having different shades of color included in their hair. I could only hear the snip snip of his scissors transforming my hair – much coaxed into many styles since I was a child, into this new do! After he was done, I looked in the mirror and went over to show my snoozing companion what I now looked like. It was amazing, I could have sworn it was a totally different person. Not someone I had seen, ever, but definitely a more familiar version of myself.

Barbershop and Me

So I called my buddy who has had a few haircuts, and asked for the male perspective on hair cuttery in this city. My concerned friend was hesitant, having seen me pour $$$ into my tresses, multiple times and did I realize that barbers were male? Undeterred, I sought a recommendation. After all, if you liked the barber, shouldn’t one return there and recommend others?  After days of asking for the name of his barber, my now-harassed friend finally yielded.

I did not know it took so long to share – I was used to the world of salons, where your hairstyle getting noticed was homage to your hairdresser and an invitation to share the address and name of your stylist. Apparently, this was a different world.   A map search of this site and a phone call later, I was in the train headed to this little Center City shop, and had my first hair cut, ever. Well, the first ever sans tears for lost tresses.

I willingly admit no small amount of hesitation. “How short did I want to get a hair cut?” “What does a breeze on the scalp even feel like?” I was curious. I have been to ladies hair salons for eons, since I can remember. I recall having my hair pulled every which direction, and teased, straightened, braided, de-tangled, fused, woven – you name it. But rarely does one go into a ladies hair care place and emerge with significantly shorter hair than before.

D-Day

It was raining. The day of the second haircut, dubbed – “My very first haircut because it was done in a real barbershop”. I walked over to the shop and checked that the phone number on the door was the same one that I had used to call ahead and make an appointment. There was no taking chances.  I took a breath steeled myself, and walked in. It was smaller than my hair salon, minimally decorated and had excellent lighting. Still taking in the shop, I did not notice my new barber walk in right after I did. So shy was I.

He invited me to the chair. My mouth went dry, and the usually chatty me went silent for a little. I croaked my request. I said “Make it even!” All the while, I had I wondered inwardly, “What does one say to a barber, what kind of small talk do people in barbershops make?” Meanwhile, I silently hoped my time in the chair would end my utter puzzlement and get me to a better length and feel. Only later did I learn that there is a language about going to the Barbershop – like “Number 1, neat all round” which denotes a very close, neat shave.

In that moment, and that chair, I had not yet mastered Barbershop Slang – and was too focused on that moment. When had I ever sat so still in my life, just to be sure that I did not botch the cut, this time for myself.  I also looked at the brushes and shavers. It was hard to imagine what each one did. Would I ever get to know these tools as well as I did the tongs and dryers of my former life? I was not sure. If there were ever a more curious chica, it was me.

Half an hour and a healthy dose of WHYY public radio later, I had my new cut, and before I could say – hold the musk, the barber had sprayed some man-smelling hair spray all over my new do, stifling the wiles of my perfume. I was too stunned with my new look to notice this very much, and enjoyed paying the barber for this service. I hoped and waited and then, saw my face and head anew. I liked this.

Alek and company were not kidding. This is a great look, the compliments are flowing!

Ushahidi’s Erik Hersman

Where are they now?

Readers of this blog may have noticed that some of the folks that I have mentioned have gone on to even greater heights around the world.
I will try and update the original posts – but here is a quick recap of some of the folks who made the last three years rather memorable, and where they are now.

Apprentice Africa Favorites

I first wrote about my personal favorites for Apprentice Africa here when the show was aired in 2008, and hosted by Bank PHB in Nigeria. Well, since then, my two favorites have continued to enhance their presence by participating in several ventures across the continent.

a) Eddie Mbugua – is now the Bank PHB Investment Deputy Associate for East and Central Africa, and in an article in last November’s True Love magazine (N 08 Issue), he outlines his career path and credits his success to God, and to being raised by a strong mum. He is definitely one to watch.

b)Joyce Mbaya -

This lady is energetic, inspiring, and a truly great role model already. She has ventured into Brand Strategy and Project Management. I would be lying if I said that I could capture the essence of this terrific lady. Check out her website here: joycembaya.com

I have written extensively about Kenyan musicians whom I greatly admire:

a) Eric Wainaina – He has come a long way from the days of Five Alive. I once had the priviledge of singing the refrain to his song “Riitwa Riaku” with him for all of 30 seconds at a benefit for the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya, have watched him perform in 2007 at the Arboretum in Nairobi, and remain a fan, believing that you should always follow your passion first and then, other things will follow. I have to say, though, that I would love to see more of his content online – In the mean, enjoy a great review by Kilimanjaro Entertainment (link)

b) Sara Mitaru -

This artist has recently been appointed as UN-Habitat Messenger of Truth. She is highlighted in this post(updated recently) Sara Mitaru is the new UN-HABITAT Messenger of Truth. At a truly colorful ceremony, this honor was accorded Mitaru in recognition of her efforts in promoting the role of youth in the Habitat Agenda through entertainment and creative arts. You can read all about it – LINK HERE The host of the event, Under Secretary Anna Tibaijuka said this about Sara, “Ms Mitaru is a wonderful home-grown Afro-fusion singer and song writer known the world over for her music and singing and particularly her famous song, Woman from Africa. Her wonderful music builds around life, love, and change for the better in modern society.” Congratulations Sara! Please check out her music on Myspace or join the Facebook fan page for very current updates of Sara’s music.

Another lady to watch is the activist Stephanie Nyombayire, whose work with genocide activism truly inspires me. I first wrote here in 2007 about her journey to Darfur to highlight the dire situation which the world strenuously refused to call genocide. Stephanie has travelled to hundreds of schools to speak about the Darfur genocide and encourage them to use citizen tools in activism, she has reported from the Chad-Sudan border for MTV on Darfur and testified before the Texas State Commission about Darfur, which led to the passing of a move to divest totally from Sudan in Texas. Now, Stephanie is working with director Michael King on a documentary to shed light on heroic diplomats who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Check out more about this documentary here.

If you have more past blog highlights you would like me to update, let me know!

April Really Now!

Time is flying. Soon, I shall hold a paper written in Latin that declares to the world that I have the power to read. I am talking about the coming graduation. It is an auspicious occasion to say the least. Those who are not aware, unlike many of my classmates of the class of 2009 in my school, graduate education is the exception, rather than the rule, for various reasons. April, you bring with you a decent amount of work, and you are bringing a new era for the family. April, really now, you have outdone yourself. You have refused to yield the blooms of spring without a fight, choosing instead to keep us in winter, even as we spring forward. We are imploring you, April, really now, welcome to your 30 day stay in our lives.