55 Secret Street

King of the Cats

King of the Cats is a wonderful biography by Wil Haygood about the rakish, debonair Harlem Congressman and Baptist minister Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.   Even with the scandals that marred his legacy, Powell had some real accomplishments, such as the important role he played in the passage of minimum wage and anti-poverty acts, as well as bills supporting federal aid for education. 

However, he is primarily remembered for his fiery sermons, his radical politics and his flamboyant lifestyle.   After news of one of his adulterous affairs broke,  someone said to him, "I thought you were a man of the cloth."   He replied,  "I am.  Silk." 

King of the Cats: The Life and Times of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. by Wil Haygood $10.85.   Rolex Vintage Silver Bracelet Watch $3,500.   L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme $69.00.    Bergdorf Goodman Travel Shoe-Shine Kit $120.

Spoonbread & Strawberry Wine

Norma Jean Darden was a model in the 1970s, gracing the pages of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Essence, as well as the runways of Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy and others.   Today, she is the owner of two restaurants, Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too and Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too, as well as a catering company,  Spoonbread Inc.    In 1979, along with her sister Carole,  she authored one of the most enduring African-American cookbooks, Spoonbread & Strawberry Wine.  Based on their family recipes and history, it's still a bestseller today.   I have had brunch at Miss Mamie's on many a Sunday after church in Harlem and, I must say, it doesn't hurt that it's right around the corner from my hairdresser!   Although I've had spoonbread, I must confess that I've never actually tried strawberry wine but that will definitely change in the near future.   The Spoonbread recipe below is direct from their website.

SPOONBREAD

8 servings
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3 tablespoons butter
3 large eggs, well beaten
2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slowly add cornmeal to the boiling water, stirring constantly until thick and smooth.

2.  Add butter and salt and cool to lukewarm.   Then add eggs and milk.

3.  Beat for 2 minutes, then pour into a greased casserole and bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

4.  Spoon out while piping hot and pass the butter!

Six Easy Pieces

Walter Mosley's Six Easy Pieces has nothing to do with the  six easy pieces here - but why get in the way of a great title?  The Charlotte Beach Tunic Dress is perfection to me.  I love "throw on" outfits!  Who doesn't?  The Juicy Couture shorts are cute too.  I wouldn't walk around the streets of Manhattan in them though.  Guess I'll have to save them for the beach. 

Banana Republic Seamless Stretch Halter $14.99 (sale). Banana Republic Cropped Chino $39.99 (sale).   Charlotte Beach Tunic Dress $79.00.  Juicy Couture Short with Rose Embroidery $168.00.   Gap Ribbed V-Neck Tank $14.50.  Gap Favorite Cami $9.99 sale. 

Jump At The Sun

The Harlem Book Fair is coming up on Saturday, July 22, so I thought I'd have a little fun with book-themed posts this week.  Today's post was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston, the legendary novelist and anthropologist.  In the 1930s, she traveled throughout the American south, collecting folk tales, songs  and other invaluable African-American history.   I will be doing some traveling through the south myself this summer, although under much easier and desirable circumstances thanks to the gains black Americans have made over the decades.  The inside of my suitcase will look a little something like this...

Anthropologie Fourth of July Dress $118.  The Complete Stories by Zora Neale Hurston $14.95.  NARS Lip Stain Gloss in Chandernagor $22.50.   Neutrogena Age Shield SPF Sublock SPF 30 $9.44 (sale).    Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme $58.00.  Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish $62.50.   Tocca Travel Candle Set $42.  Olympus WS-310 Digital Voice Recorder $179.00.