The Chicken Chronicles — Popeyes and KFC Are Doing The Damned Thing

I did not study journalism and communications at two of the greatest public universities in the world (Go Blue! On Wisconsin!) to write about fast food chicken joints. But here we are. And I’d have it no other way. This is some bad assed bird. Before I tell you about KFC’s exciting new menu item, …

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights – A Review

Añoro mi abuela. I certainly miss my grandmother. She left this earth 21 years ago this month. I still think of her almost every day. And she was certainly on my mind last evening at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, as Rayanne Gonzales gave a bravura performance as Abuela Claudia in Broadway At Music Circus’ premiere …

The Isley Brothers In Modesto – A Concert Review

Ron & Ernie Isley of the legendary group The Isley Brothers are singing and playing a little bit softer now, with a little less of the fervor for which they were known during their decades-long, hit-making heyday. But what they brought to Modesto Saturday night was more than enough to transform the majestic Gallo Center …

47 Meters Down: Unfathomable – A Movie Review

Before I get into this movie review, here’s a quick shoutout to the guy in the row ahead of me, in Auditorium #11, in row F, seat 3, Friday, August 16 at the 9:50pm show at the Cinemark XD Theatre on Arden in Sacramento. He was on his iPhone X for most of the movie, …

Goodnight, Reeses

That headline is not an ode to a bygone candy bar binge. It’s how you say goodbye to a dog that was named by a nine year old. She was a black and brown German Shepherd mix whose coat was the colors of that little girl’s — and her dad’s — beloved peanut butter cup. …

Me and My Colonoscopy

I originally published this one in 2016, on a platform that targets African Americans. I was nervous about being so transparent as I hit “send.” The first email I received about it was from a guy who wrote that he’d scheduled his long-delayed procedure after reading my column. So here’s to transparency — and to …

Burger King’s New Plant-Based Impossible Whopper: Ronald McDonald Is In Trouble

Burger King locations nationwide launched the fast food chain’s new plant-based Impossible Whopper today. I stopped in this afternoon for lunch so I could let you know how it is. The last time I walked into a Burger King lobby that was that crowded was… never. If that lobby’s any indication of what’s to come, …

Preview — The Wiz Plays Sacramento

When Universal Pictures released a big budget adaption of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz in 1978, then 34-year-old superstar Diana Ross took a lot of flack for playing a 24-year-old Dorothy. Over four decades later, 30 year old musical theatre phenom Adrianna Hicks has no problem playing a 15 year old Dorothy in Broadway …