S: Is for spiritual inspiration

August traditionally for me is a month of filming and trade shows, so it is hard to think when you are filming from 8am-6pm and back again on another set at 9pm-7am. That is what I have been doing. Sometimes social consciousness comes in the form of a person who is inspirational. Here is 80 year old grandmother who leads the way.
Cancer, illness and loss of loved ones have not prevented Martha from getting on with life over the past 25 years, Martha Harris has beat cancer four times.
The last occasion cost the 80-year-old grandmother her voice and a well loved spot on her church choir. However that hasn't stopped this spirited soul from battling on to achieve her dream of becoming an actress. After a rigorous bout of speech therapy, Martha, a Jamaican-born retired nurse, last month became one of the oldest graduates of the acting, poetry and prose classes organized by the Big People's Theatre and has tread the floorboards in various productions. In early December, she also outpaced youngsters six or more decades her junior by passing – with distinction – the prose and verse examination accredited by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda), a leading drama school in west London. "I got involved with poetry because of my little grandson," she said. In addition, "Some of the youngsters were afraid so I just wanted to inspire the young children and give them a bit of understanding about sharing and loving and looking forward to the future. "Poems are about love. For me, it's all about sharing love with people. I believe in love and sharing especially when it comes to younger people. Many of the young children today don't know it so you, as a grown up, have to show them the light, the difference between right and wrong." While dealing with cancer, the loss of two husbands and a miscarriage, she has also raised seven children. She formally adopted four children, one of whom belonged to her second husband but she also raised three other children who she informally took in because they needed homes.
"I am not rich but as I said it's all about love. I love doing that sort of thing. I was brought up in a family where my mum had always done that. We always shared. I take after my mum. I always loved sharing." Now, Harris, who came to England to work as a nurse 40 years ago, is also battling glaucoma, a condition which is slowly erasing her eyesight. But for her, that is just another challenge to overcome. She plans to do more acting classes in the coming year. "I can't do as much I used to but I don't let it get me down. I do what I can. "I always wanted to act. I still do a bit of dancing and I try to help out the young ones," she said.

It is never to late to pursue your dreams and live life to the fullest and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for titalating theater

My friend Vickie took me to see "Angry Young Women In Low-Rise Jeans With High-Class Issues" ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES" at the Players Theater 115 MacDougal Street. This hilarious evening of comedy has the women of New York discussing thongs, sexual fantasies, public displays of affection, the pill and it's side effects, traumatic memories of a first sexual experience, traumatic memories of last night’s sexual experience, sympathy sex, the double standard of nudity in movies, the artistic integrity of vagina's and penises in independent film, and of course...men. It's part sit-com and part stand-up comedy! Humorist Matt Morillo has written one of the funniest plays I have seen about my favorite subject "Sex" and discovered how women tick. Impressive! This series of character studies gives us a light-to-serious look at the psychology of the urban goddesses. These girls are coffee-driven, sensitive, wired, misunderstood and fuming with awkward issues. Who'd have dreamed that when she bares her soul, temptation could be so self-conscious? They are frustrated with the way of the world, the perceptions men have of them and their own reactions to it. How, for example, do you resolve contradictions like dressing as a hooker and still being a feminist? An evening of two monologues and three playlets. A young woman discourses on the practical limits of fashion in "My Last Thong." Two girls struggle with being objectified in offensive sexual fantasies in "Playtime in the Park." New to birth control pills, a woman takes out the frustrations of her mood swings on her boyfriend and his best friend in "Unprotected Sex. " In "The Miseducation of Elissa," a woman blames her loving, supportive and generous father for her being ill-prepared for the callousness of men. In "The Nude Scene," an actress balks at her first career topless scene while her bolder girlfriend, unfazed, tries to steer her through the experience. I had a wonderful time and so will you. You can catch this terrifically well written evening until September 16th. sex and the way we deal it is down right funny and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Clubs that Captivate

Last week my friend Maria took me to meet a friend of hers who had opened a new club. She wanted me to try the food because it was a combination of African, French and Asian which she thought was completely unique. She was right and it turned out I discovered a jewel nestled in the heart of the east village. The east village to me was a place to buy crystals but other than that I wasn't interested. How prejudiced I was. This part of town is a mecca for health food, great buys, wonderful clothing, interesting people and the Buocarou Lounge. Boucarou lounge (64 East First Street) heightens the senses with its alluring décor and comfortable setting. It is perfect for a late night meal and entertainment as the kitchen stays open till 2am. I can not tell you how many times I have just been completely busy through out my day and at around 12 realize I am starving and wanted a meal, not a snack but something amazing to satisfy. Its exotic menu does just that and more. It leaves you with a fresh energy to enjoy your night. The Tunapica $14 is the best Tuna tartar I have had in a long time. Fresh, it melts in your mouth with black currents, almonds and an array of spices that keep it interesting yet simple. Malik’s Mafe: Senegalese Peanut Butter Lamb Stew, Yams, Potatoes and Mixed Vegetable
$18 is the restaurants signature meal. Though better left for a fall night this dish is warm, filling and leaves you completely satisfied. Boucarou is a nightclub with a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe, a complete menu, a true dance floor and with the capacity for film screen projection which makes this the place to visit next and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is for the art of Harlem!

Harlem has a rich history that is experiencing a rebirth. There is so much to see and do especially since until September 10th it's Harlem Week. Well actually more like Harlem months but the F.A.C.T. is a lot of terrific art and music is happening there. Here are a some reasons to explore this multicultural mecca.

Do you love baseball? The Museum of the City of New York, located in East Harlem, recently opened The Glory Days: New York Baseball 1947-1957, which runs through December. Glory Days documents the history of the golden era of baseball in New York City. The exhibit includes photography, film, and historic artifacts from all of the City's teams from the period, including, the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. See there's even a museum that you can drag a man too that will thrill him to no ends.


Thursday, August 9th 5:00pm – 7:30pm on Harlem's Summer Stage A Tribute to PATTI LaBELLE featuring Doug E. Fresh, Ray, Goodman & Brown, Blue Magic and GQ makes this a show not to be missed! Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street (corner Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. Free to the general public.

Harlem New York is a boutique that brings emerging clothing designers to their 116th Street location. Shoppers will find clothing from world-renowned designers such as Hugo Boss and Nicole Miller along with emerging design talents like B. Oyama and Byron Lars. Jonathan Adler and Marimekko home design products are also a store staple.

Saturday, 18th the International Vendors, Exhibits, Foods, Art, Fun & Games on West 135th St. from Malcolm X to Frederick Douglass Blvds.

Sometimes art is where we least expect it. All the art shown comes from Harlem expressing it's it's heart and soul and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Disappearing Freedoms

When will it end and more importantly when did it begin. Did it ever really exist or was it an illusion meant to tempt us into a false reality. On Saturday, the Democratic Party led Congress in yielding to President Bush and approved legislation to temporarily expand the government's power to conduct electronic surveillance without a court order in tracking foreign suspects. Who does this include? The answer is all of us. None of us are truly pure breed America's. There is no such thing. My family came here on the Mayflower but that statement in itself makes me exactly what is being targeted, a foreigner. Did the House of Representatives support those precious freedoms given to us by our forefathers? No, it concurred 227-183, the day after it won a Senate approval of 60-28. There reasoning for this abhorred display of vandalism... "possible terrorist attacks on the United States". Has anyone stopped to think that maybe this is just an excuse to make us prisoners in our own country? This new law will allow Gonzolas and Rove to justify the wire taping and listening to private conversations of our Supreme Court. Was this Bush's tactic for his latest move.

I once had my civil liberties taken away in a custody battle against my in-laws. My husband was in the process of dying and it became not a fight for truth but a battle against who could buy the most people. I lost because they kept making up the rules as they went and I was definitely on the losing side of the monetary position. The truth is nobody won. Nobody gains when the rules are so distorted that the end becomes lost in the translation. The one thing it did do was make me fearless in speaking out against the tyranny and the failure of a government to protect it's people.

President Bush stated that "Surveillance law needs to keep up with technology, Protecting America is our most solemn obligation." Mr Bush my question to you is who is going to protect us from you? This is an alarming F.A.C.T. we need to figure out.