ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • MARCH 13 - 19, 2014 C8 Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week Arlis was good hands with Nakea and Sharida as they celebrated their birthdays @ The Umbrella Group’s Blazers and Stilettos Party Saturday night @ The Rustic Goat Fan Tiffany Foote had the opportunity to meet soul singer Chrisette Michele between her two sold out shows Saturday night at the Lumiere Theater. Peter Gunz of ‘Love and Hip Hop’ teamed up with Mocha Latte and Delux Magazine’s Keith Griffin to party with the Pisces Friday night @ The Rustic Goat Paige and Datiana getting festive with the 1st Fridays crowd @ Lotus Croonin’ Chrisette. Although the delight of seeing soul singer Chrisette Michele finally perform with a band was temporarily offset by the fact that she came to the stage dressed like a bad-built Punky Brewster, she brought the house down Saturday night at Lumiere Theatre. I know there are still quite a few people who don’t know who she is. If Saturday’s show is any indication, it won’t be for long. That girl scatted her face off and seduced her boyfriend the guitar slayer at the same time – without missing a note. I must say that I wasn’t the biggest of fans when I walked in there, but by the time she took me to church and back I was like “that girl is good.” And she quietly has me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how she cuts up as one of the new cast members of “R&B Divas: LA” after she announced at the show she would be the one bringing the drama this go ‘round. I felt even more cheated from all of the times she came with tracks after seeing her do her thing with a full ensemble. I hope that she knows she can never come back to the Lou in Memorex after the way she did it live last week. Theo of Kennedy’s Pet Shop with his brother Shorty Da Prince for BPLR’s Customer appreciation party Saturday night @ Soho Attack of the partying Pisces. When did the Pisces start going so hard repping their Zodiac sign? Because they were so deep in these streets this weekend that I no longer secretly longed to be a Scorpio. The Pisces partied like it was 1999 last weekend! It has me wondering what they are going to do for the next two weeks. Things kicked off at the Rustic Goat on Friday night when my girl Mocha Latte teamed up with DELUX Magazine’s first lady Carri Griffin. It was cute, but I was expecting it to be more _________ (insert new slang for crunk). There was a nice mix of STL stars there though. I was happy that the crowd wasn’t so deep that it was uncomfortable; too bad the folks seemed a little too chill for my taste. And did anyone else completely not check for special “celebrity guest” Peter Gunz? That was a rhetorical question based on how folks gave him a side eye and kept it movin’ when he got on the mic to try and get the folks amped. They would have been better off giving Mocha the mic and directing Peter to the grill area to help prepare pizzas and chicken and waffle plates. What? It was true. A word to the wise, party promoters, if you decide you have to use a reality star/starlet, go with one of the housewives (meaning Kandi – because she’s the only one who does club parties) or one of the alleged basketball wives because I haven’t seen a “Love and Hip Hop” cast member who has brought the crowd since Miss Chrissy. That’s right; it was empty boots for Joseline and Steebie too. Ashley and Devin couldn’t help but kick it @ The Coliseum Saturday night Mike of Dat Dude Ent along with Tangie and Lawanda kicked off their Who Got Game Kick Ball League with a special party Friday night @ EXO Pisces partying: Part II. I know y’all didn’t think I was finished swimming with the fishes for the weekend! Day 2 meant another round of the Rustic Goat with the Umbrella Group. I don’t know if it was an official Pisces party – but based on the VIP birthday booths, and the fact that Daryel Oliver was there celebrating, we will charge it to the Pisces game. Now this party was all the way live. I would have said a little too live had I not stepped foot next door to kick it with the Young and Restless and quietly ratchet crowd that the Coliseum pulled in. It was so packed that I assumed some sort of celebrity was in the building. However, when I made it to the stage it was the Hella Fly crew doing their usual Saturday night hype session. I also made it up to Cuetopia II where I had to maneuver through balloons, birthday cakes and a bustling crowd – so yes, the Pisces get credit for that one too. Bre and Ambria enjoyed the laid back vibe of 1st Fridays @ Lotus Kima and Shay kicked their weekend off @ EXO 314 stand up! Although St. Louis the city is technically an Aquarius, that doesn’t stop us from pretending that STL as a part of team Pisces every March 14th (as in 314 day…get it…). And Friday will be the biggest 314 day to date thanks to the folks over at Hot 104.1/Old School 95.5 FM. They are taking over Art Hill for a live broadcast with my girl Staci Static starting at 3 p.m. and asking that the city come out in droves for the ultimate STL selfie at 4 p.m. (be sure to rock your STL related gear).I’m praying that the weather gets its Multiple Personality Disorder under control and gives me something along the lines of that sunny 76 degrees we had on Tuesday. I have a feeling 314 Day live is going to be epic either way as the city comes together to show St. Louis pride. It was a musical girl’s night out for Miranda, Lissa and Aerie as they enjoyed the soulful sounds of Chrisette Michele Saturday night @ Lumiere Theater Movin’ with Music Therapy. JE Entertainment’s Music Therapy has changed locations and I thought I would go check out the ladies lineup in honor of Women’s Month Friday at Voce (inside the new Maurizo’s downtown on Tucker). Poetess X Blu Rayne was the hostess and she was giving me KiKi Shepherd with a twist out. I know there were some untraditional songs on classical instruments. I missed Rhoda G. on the sax, but Bell’s version of Outkast’s “So Fresh and So Clean” in F minor (probably not) on the violin is etched in my brain. The surprise grand entrance of headliner Shelley (and her seductive cat suit) was foiled by the soundman, but the folks didn’t seem to mind. Be sure to check them out the first Friday of every month. Photos by Lawrence Bryant A futile 1st Fridays. The March edition of 1st Fridays was held at Lotus and was quietly a bust. I don’t blame Fred, Harry or their partners in the least, though. I’ve decided that somebody put roots on the building at the corner of 20th and Locust, because there haven’t been any parties worth writing home about since it was at Nectar. I’ve decided that it was either the owners of Nectar or Bobby Brown that directed black magic at the spot. Remember how Bobbay got “full” and cut up as the celebrity guest? He threatened to fight, was trying to charge fans $20 AFTER he agreed to take photos, threatened to smash a photographer’s camera and almost got put out. If my memory serves me correctly, that was one of the last packed to the gills parties the spot ever enjoyed. I’m sure 1st Friday will bounce back for April! Herb and Mello of It’s Just Different came to party for 1st Fridays @ Lotus WWW.STLAMERICAN.COM