I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the word on the street is I’m a grandfather. My daughter and her husband had a baby boy two weeks ago. Everyone is happy and healthy. They’re also stressed and lacking sleep. So, all is normal in their household. Enough about them. This is all about ME!!!

Since the birth of my grandson, the question I hear most is what is he going to call you? I answer with “I don’t know. I have a couple of years until he talks. I’ll figure it out by then.”

But, in actuality, I have been thinking it over. I have a few names that are out. My brother is PAPA to his grandkids. Too much confusion with two of them in the same family. ZADIE is also a loser. Whenever I hear it, I think of old men sitting on a park bench, killing time until they die. Remember the movie “Going In Style”, with George Burns and Art Carney? Those guys are Zadies. If you’re reading this and you’re a Zadie, no offense meant, it’s just not my style. Please keep reading and I’ll see you when I take my next walk in the park. I’ll even bring you some bread crumbs so you can feed the birds.

Finding the ones that are out is the easy part. Finding a great grandfather name is trickier. At first, I was sure it would be Grandpa. That’s easy, traditional, old school. But, I don’t want to be that guy. I want to be a hip, cool and now dude. For that, I need a hip, cool and now grandfather name.

I did some Googling and found a website called “Choose the Perfect Grandfather Name’.”  It has every name you can possibly imagine.

It starts with the traditional ones. I didn’t know that Big Daddy, Bompa and Bumpy were grandfather names, much less traditional ones, but it’s their website so fine, I’ll go with that. They also have names in other languages. Too bad I’m not French or Chinese because both Grand-pere and Ye-Ye have nice rings to them. Hmmm…but if Trump wins re-election, I might have to use the Russian word of Dedushka. That’s a lot to put on a small child, isn’t it? Eh…I’ll worry about that in November.

They have a third grouping of modern names. Now’s that’s what I’m talking about! That’s what I’m looking for! That’s what I need!!!

Check some of these out:
Ace
Boss
Captain
Champ
Rocky
Skipper

Really? Those are grandfather names? Good thing I don’t like any of them. Plus, I can’t picture my daughter ever saying to her son, “Honey, come downstairs. Ace is here.”

But, they do have a few that might work:
G-Dad
G-Daddy
G-Dawg
G-Dog

When you hear these names, you are thinking one of two things:
That’s a hip, cool, now dude
or
That man is fucking nuts. What’s the matter with him?

I’m going to lean towards the first one because that’s the guy I want to be. In my head, I can hear these words from my daughter to her son, “Honey, come downstairs. G-Dog is here.”

So as of now, that’s what I’m going with.

Later this week, I’ll go for a walk in the park along Chicago’s lakefront. I’ll see these old men sitting on a bench watching the birds. I’ll hand them some breadcrumbs with the words, “Hello Zadie’s, have a good day.” They’ll respond with a smile and say, “Thanks for bird food. Have a good walk, G-Dog.”

Now that’s what I’m talking about!!

Related Post: OMG! My baby had a baby!

What is Your Legacy?

Founded in fall of 2017 by Mandene Muhammad, Legacy Men’s Boutique exists to provide high end men’s clothing and accessories at affordable prices. Previously nestled in the heart of Bronzeville Chicago on King Drive, Mandene and staff are proud to serve the community and provide an inviting atmosphere which caters to the urban and sophisticated man who is building a legacy of style. On Saturday, October 3rd (11am-7pm), the Legacy Men’s Boutique will launch a new chapter in a new location at 107 E. 47th Street next to the Abundance Bakery. The new location will be bigger and even better.

About Mandene Muhammad

As a dedicated follower of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Mandene said like a lot of people he understands the importance of giving back. His mother died at a young age and his aunt did not hesitate to adopt him and his brother. He remembers that finances in the household were tight and his aunt struggled to collect nice clothes for them. As an adult, Mandene took to collecting clothes so he could help kids in need of every day school clothes and special occasion outfits for graduation, prom, etc. Mandene had collected so many clothes that his closets were overflowing, but he had not yet gotten to the important step of distributing the clothes back into the community. It was good news that people were so generous with their donations. But bad news because Mandene was running out of space.

For many years Mandene worked in the background with Brother Munir Muhammad running the Coalition for the Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad (C.R.O.E.) and the popular Munir Muhammad TV show on cable access. He was comfortable in the background and it wasn’t until he decided to open his own business that he realized all the entrepreneurial lessons he had gained from having Brother Munir as a mentor. Brother Munir often spoke about how he always had multiple streams of income. Munir sold insurance and he sold men’s and women’s suits out of the truck of his car. Munir said in business it’s important to have flexibility and low overhead. By selling out of the trunk of his car, he could sell when he wanted to or needed money and he didn’t have the expense of a brick and mortar store.

In 2017, with overflowing closets of donated clothes, Mandene decided it was his time to give back to the community. He wanted to cater to men, boys, and parents of young men who want to invest in style without breaking the bank.

Quality Clothes At Thrift Shop Prices

Legacy offers a wide selection of clothes (many major brands) and a full line of accessories for men. Staff members are always happy to assist and can answer any questions you may have. There is something for EVERY man in your life. For people who don’t like previously owned or gently used clothes, there are new items in stock. At Legacy, you don’t have to break the bank to look good. Shop Strong, Recycle Black Dollars, Look Fly, and still have money in your pockets.

Clothing
Whether you’re on your way to an interview or a night out on the town, Legacy has classic pieces to help make your experience legendary…Everything from unique suits to jeans.

Accessories
Its always a great idea to finish the look with pieces that adds a little extra to the top. Legacy has everything from exquisite neck ties to sunglasses.

Shoes
You can always tell where a man is going by looking at his shoes. Legacy offers a wide array of shoes for him…Everything from dress to casual.

“Our Legacy Lives Long.”

In 2017, Mandene knew it was time to get the overflowing clothing donations out of his house and into the hands of young boys and men in the community. He often ordered food at the now closed Jerk Shack across from National Black Wall Street Chicago at 47th and King Drive. When he was waiting for them to prepare his order, he’d walk around the building. One day inspiration hit and he knew it was time to come out from Brother Munir’s shadow and build his own legacy. He rented space in the EastLake building on 47th and the business took off. Personally, 2019 was a rough year with the passing Brother Munir, two uncles, and one cousin he was very close to was murdered in a tragic shooting. And 2020 has been…well 2020. But Mandene has built his legacy. He’s prepared to weather the storms to fulfill his purpose to give back to the community by providing quality men’s clothing at thrift store prices. He feels blessed that in this hectic year, he was able to move to a larger location that grants him visibility to street traffic. Please join Mandene and his staff on Saturday, October 3rd for the Grand Opening at the NEW LOCATION…107 E. 47th Street from 11am-7pm.

Reviews from Facebook:

*Great service! I brought my son in to purchase some items for graduation photos. I was able to afford shirt, tie, sweater, pants, belt, shoes and even cuff links! The salesman was able to coordinate his entire outfit effortlessly and even showed my son how to properly tie his necktie ! � I met the owner while I was there. So impressed and I will be back!

*Beautiful place, atmosphere and clothing. Highly recommended!!!

*Stopped in today to pick up a few things for my husband and son. I hit a home run with the amazing pieces I was able to find. Both my husband and son we’re pleased with the shirts, jacket and watch. They had a great selection of quality items at an affordable price. The service and atmosphere was phenomenal as well. I encourage you to check it out and support. We need more of this in our community. It certainly an inspiring experience.

*Great service and the prices are just right!! Their shoe selection is outstanding!!

*Great place to find blazers; greater place to give in donating for others to have!

*Fantastic atmosphere and clothing tailored towards men, that a thoughtfully chic fashionista can wear too.

*Quality and elegance personified– to look elegant, classy & swanky, you don’t need to break your bank & you wont at Legacy Men’s Boutique

*OUTSTANDING SERVICE…OUTSTANDING PRICES
One of the best kept secrets on the South side of Chicago. Black owned with great selection. Please check it out.

SHOP IN CONFIDENCE:

Great Selections, Amazing Prices, Friendly Service

Legacy Men’s Boutique is a high end men’s clothing boutique with thrift store prices. We specialize in styling the man who is building a legacy!

107 E. King Drive (NEW Location)
Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: (872) 228-1871

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat, 11am – 7pm
Sundays by appointment
(872) 228-1871

If you enjoy the Red Cup Adventures blog, please support author Deanna Burrell by purchasing her first book…the inspirational guide Voted Most Creative. The $13 paperback and $5 ebook are available by clicking here.

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Chicago Bears quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles react to the Chicago Bears’ in-game quarterback change during the team’s Week 3 win against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Fall is often considered the best time of year to plant new trees. Late August, September and October have good gardening weather, here. There may be rain for the new plants, and still mild days and sun. The hottest days of summer are past, and the ground isn’t frozen yet.

This is the season gone to seed. The fluff of milkweeds on the wind, the rattling seed pods of the indigo plant, the plumes of blooming grasses, and all kinds of burrs and sticker seeds!

For oak trees, this is the season of acorns. And maple seeds fly in the air like tiny helicopters. These are called samaras, and they are a delight for  children of any age. The samaras are so good at flight, they have been studied for aeronautic designs. You may find acorns and maple seedlings along the city parkways, or in your yard, if you’re fortunate enough to have one.

What are some good trees to plant now? Maples, crabapples, oaks and ginkgo, to name a few. Ginkgo are especially resilient to road salt and pollution. They are slow-growing, but they can live a very long time. Some trees in Japan are reported to be over 1000 years old. You can read more about  the ginkgo here.

When is the best time to plant a tree? The old saying is–twenty years ago.  But what we can do now will shape the future, the climate, the earth we share with the trees, breathing in and out with them. The best time to plant a tree is now.

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The Fall 2020 teatre season will look a little different this year. But there’s still a lot to be excited about. The Chicago Theatre community–that is second to none–has put together a creative line-up of programing from outdoor performances and drive-ups to virtual and audio performances.

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS (with more in the works)

“As Chicagoans gather on the park greens or around their computers, we celebrate the resiliency of Chicago theatre and the resolve of the industry to continue the work using new media and new ways of working. Theatre is an important part of all of our lives and theatres are striving to make sure we can all stay connected,” comments League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Deb Clapp. 

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES

Music Theater Works will perform Richard Rodgers’ Greatest Hits in the parking lot of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts live in Skokie on September 29. The performance will be available online from October 2-11.

E. Faye Butler (Fannie Lou Hamer) in Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It! by Cheryl L. West, directed by Henry Godinez (September 17 – October 3) GoodmanTheatre.org/SpeakOnIt

Goodman Theatre in collaboration with the Chicago Park District brings Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak on It! to parks across Chicago, playing now through October 3. The production featuring E. Faye Butler, directed by Henry Godinez, is inspired by the life of famed civil and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer—and uses storytelling and music to remind us there’s courage in the face of fire, hope in tomorrow and that we all have a stake in our country.

Oil Lamp Theater presents ICONIC: A Broadway Hits Cabaret in Glenview in a parking lot adjacent to the theatre on September 25 and 27.

Theater Wit offers the Park n’ Play Cabaret, a traveling cabaret act performed on the back of a customized 26′ flatbed truck. A live accompanist and Chicago stage performers will perform a private, socially distanced 35-40 minute Broadway cabaret at a host’s location.

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES

The Second City’s Happy Hour is a live weekly show with a hilarious cocktail of interactive games, special guests, music, sketch comedy and suggestion-driven improv, now through November 5.

The Neo-Futurists performs 45 Plays for America’s First Ladies, a companion piece to the past Neo-Futurist production 43 Plays for 43 Presidents The play follows an identical format as its predecessor, with a chronological series of 1-5 minute plays that – in typical Neo style – adopt a variety of shapes, tones, and theatrical conventions. October 8 – November 2

Congo Square Theatre’s Hit ‘Em on the Blackside is a new, online sketch comedy series with Congo Square’s award-winning African American acting ensemble on the company’s Instagram and Facebook pages. October 9 – December 18

International Voices Project presents a virtual staged reading festival of international playwrights, including 2 readings in collaboration with Silk Road Rising on October 14 and 21.

Theatre in the Dark presents an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ A War of the Worlds performed live on Zoom, October 15 – November 15.

Strawdog Theatre offers a dark fairytale about one man’s obsession in Run the Beast Down. Filmed as a series of single shots, this production runs October 2-25.

Collaboraction’s Peacebook 2020 is a free program of Chicago artists/activists premiering short new works about peace in Chicago, on Zoom October 17 – November 14.

Broadway by the Decade

Porchlight Music Theatre’s Broadway by the Decade is a tour of Broadway musical history from the late 1800s to present day with performances by Chicago musical theatre performers, September 25 – October 25. 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

Families can experience Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Beatrix Potter and Friends, an outdoor drive-in movie theatre and puppet show experience. The made-for-film puppet performances will be projected on a giant screen in the theatre’s parking lot, October 1-18.

PlayMakers Laboratory is producing its signature revue online. That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, written by elementary school students and performed by professional actors, plays through October 5.

Northwestern University theater students, faculty and alumni will share 15-minute stories for young audience through its online weekly ImagineU Storytime program from The Wirtz Center. 

AUDIO PLAYS

16th Street Theater’s Rastus and Hattie is an audio play by Lisa Langford, adapted and directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley with illustrations by Roy Thomas. The provocative comedy runs now through October 24.

Northlight Theatre is one of a select group of nonprofit arts organizations across the nation participating in a free livestream theatrical event, an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel It Can’t Happen Here. The radio play, produced by Berkeley Rep and featuring David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck), will broadcast live via YouTube on October 13. 

MORE

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres websites,  ChicagoPlays.com and HotTix.org.

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More than four decades after Roots: The Saga of an American Family was published and became a sensation, I finally read the book by Alex Haley. It tells the stories of six generations of Haley’s ancestors, starting in the mid-1700s with Kunta Kinte, a 17-year-old African captured into slavery.

Roots spent 46 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and won both a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1977. It was adapted that year into an eight-part ABC miniseries that was the most-watched series in television history.

The television series inspired my lifelong interest in genealogy. I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin in 1977 and had to pull myself away from the State Historical Society’s genealogy collection to write my master’s paper. I had a much easier time finding my first American ancestors than Haley did his because records exist for whites. It took Haley more than a decade of researching to trace six generations back to Kunta Kinte’s West African origins in Juffure, the Gambia. In doing so, he inspired and empowered descendants of enslaved Africans who thought that any attempt to trace their ancestors would be fruitless.

Reading Roots, I was tempted to skip ahead to Kinte’s kidnapping until I realized why Haley devoted almost 200 pages to Kinte’s early years in Africa. By lingering on the rich culture and customs of the Mandinka people from which Kinte sprang, Haley debunked the notion that Africa is the uncivilized “Dark Continent.” I don’t believe it lessened Haley’s impact that later scholarship found discrepancies in his research. The exact identity of his African ancestor is not as important as Haley’s locating his roots in a particular civilization in which he gained pride. Inaccurate details of his African-American forebears’ lives do not invalidate his portrayal of life in slavery: toil from dawn to dusk, demeaning submission to the “massa,” beatings and torture, and perpetual fear of loved ones being sold away, never to be seen again.

While Haley did not downplay slavery’s horrors, Roots is ultimately hopeful. His ancestors were not mere survivors of oppression. Brave Kunta Kinte, his foot chopped off after four attempts to escape, made sure that daughter Kizzy knew about her proud African lineage and would pass stories and words down to succeeding generations. The special skills of cockfighting expert George and blacksmith Tom elevated their standing on the plantation. Their dreams, ambition, and tenacity were fulfilled in the freed generations, which included the owner of a lumber business, a college professor, and journalist Haley.

Is Roots as important today as it was in the 1970s, when few works of art had examined slavery through the lens of victims? Does its message still inspire when polls find that Americans think that the state of race relations is plunging? A&E and the History Channel thought so in 2017. They aired a four-part update with slicker production values to appeal to modern audiences, especially younger people. Like the earlier series, reviews were good.

Discussion of racial issues often focuses on contemporary circumstances without enough attention to their source. The racism of today’s America originated in slaveholders’ stigmatizing people from Africa as an inferior race. Four centuries after the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia, Black lives are still not valued as much as whites’. We see that not only in the obvious example of police killings of unarmed Blacks but also in disparities in wealth, education, employment, and healthcare, in the impoverished conditions in which many Blacks live, and in the disproportionate number of Blacks in prison.

Interviewed by Mother Jones about the remake of Roots, LeVar Burton, a producer and the star of the original series, said, “America today is directly related to America of the antebellum South and the slave trade. And some of the issues that we still grapple with have their roots in slavery and its attendant legacy of racism.”

Forty years ago Roots had the country talking about slavery. The conversation continues. As the seminal element in US history, slavery will always be a relevant topic.

*****

ANTI-TRUMP COMMENTS: 131ST IN AN ONGOING SERIES

A psychopath, a narcissist?
Your insults are such bores
And here’s the most tremendous thing:
My sickness is now yours.
— from “A Poem about Donald Trump,” Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune, September 27

Top-rated weight loss and nutrition app MyNetDiary is currently launching several advances for Fall 2020. New offerings include keto-, low-carb-focused and Mediterranean diets and functionality, along with hundreds of Premium Recipes. Users of different lifestyles can choose from a variety of diets based on their preferences and further customize diet and tracking options from measuring carb and protein intake to calorie distribution and macronutrient targets. For each diet, the app provides premium features, including personalized guidance and feedback, access to diet libraries, extensive nutritional information and advice developed by registered dietitians. For time-pressured people, the new premium recipes are fast and easy with the majority clocking in at about 20 minutes of preparation and cooking time. As a response to current diet trends, MyNetDiary will also be rolling out vegetarian, vegan, and intermittent fasting plans and recipes later this fall.

With the holiday season on the horizon, many users, including an uptick in younger consumers, are turning to tech to track their way to fitness, getting into shape for fall and beyond. MyNetDiary has seen an increase in app engagement during COVID-19, as stress, emotional eating and working from home highlight the need for customizable, DIY weight-loss and weight-management solutions.

“The coronavirus has been reshaping how consumers eat, shop, pursue physical fitness and seek out expert nutritional advice,” says MyNetDiary CEO and founder Sergey Oreshko. “Our goal from day one was to build the most comprehensive diet app. It’s more important than ever to empower our users with the ability to customize their diet plans and provide them with the knowledge and support they need to look and feel their best.”

Launched in 2007, MyNetDiary is one of the original online and mobile (iOS, Android) calorie and exercise trackers with over 11.5 million members worldwide. Focus on easy customization, data-backed advice, an interactive community and delicious recipes helps members turn good intentions into long-lasting, positive change. The app covers all aspects of following a diet, from planning to tracking and results analysis. By offering healthy and scientifically-proven approaches to weight loss, MyNetDiary’s average active member loses 1.4 pounds a week.

While core functions such as calorie counting, daily analysis and tips from a top-level team of registered dietitians are available for free, Premium membership features wearable tracker integrations along with specialized diets and recipes. A dietitian-moderated forum encourages interaction, allowing members to ask questions, import recipes and connect with others.

MyNetDiary’s food catalogue offers a complete and up-to-date nutrition database, with over 1,000 foods added or updated daily, and the PhotoFood Service allows for missing items to be uploaded by members via barcodes or photos. MyNetDiary also maintains a growing library of articles written by their team of registered dieticians, featuring diet-specific advice and guidance. The app can be added to exercise and fitness devices. Premium membership can be activated for 8.99 per month or 59.99 per year.