A Gentle Reminder

Goodbye November!

I Need to Write Something . . .

My Girl is on Fire!

39!

Halloween in Harlem

Unbothered: The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne

I don't see many movies on the big screen.  The last grown-up film that I can remember watching in the theater was Dreamgirls when I was pregnant.  Or maybe it was The Help.  In any event, it's pretty sad; my parents have seen Straight Outta Compton and The Perfect Guy- I have not.  However, I do enjoy a good documentary and The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne is one of the best that I have seen in a long while.  You know when you watch something and it's so good that you either:

a) want to watch the entire thing again b) text all of your friends and tell them to watch it?

It's that good.

My first exposure to Doris Payne came a few years ago.  If I remember correctly, I was teaching Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man in 7th and 8th grade LE and we were discussing the trickster in the African-American literary tradition.  I came across an article about a female jewel thief in her 80's, and we ending up having a debate about whether she was a hero, a criminal, or both.  Ever since then I have been (not-so) patiently waiting for this documentary to come out.

Brer Rabbit, the original trickster

I must say that watching Doris Payne on screen in her 80's is inspiring.  The way that she artfully applies her Chanel make-up and combs her white bob into place is like an actress getting into costume.  The thought that she puts into details of her appearance (pale lavender nails and animal print flats) puts me to shame.

Say Yes to the Dress!

The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne is interesting because it is about the power and pathology of physical beauty.   The way that Payne presented herself was crucial to the success of her cons.  She was able to get rich, white people to ignore her blackness at the height of segregation because of the way that she styled and carried herself.  Her crimes (or "campaigns" as she calls them) were victories against racism as she used her looks and her intelligence to outmatch her victims.

Ironically, there is nothing remarkable about Payne's physical features.  In The Bluest Eye,  Toni Morrison refers to "the cloak of ugliness" that Pecola puts on that makes her unattractive.  Doris Payne demonstrates that there is also a "cloak of beauty".  She was attractive because she believed it to be so.  And because she believed it, so did others.

She was described as "sharply dressed" and "looking like a model" in her police reports.

Doris Payne's success as a jewel thief was due to her skills as an actress, as well as her looks. Actresses are professional liars and Payne is riveting to watch.  I wonder why the filmmakers did not make more of an effort to verify her stories about her childhood and her children.  Her mother was a Cherokee? That's what we all say.  Her son, who is clearly an addict, never asked her for any money?  Ok.  Perhaps they wanted viewers to do the work of figuring out what was true and what was not.

One of the most interesting scenes in the film was when Payne was caught lying to her probation officer about being with the filmmakers when she was not.  She first got angry and then tried to make him feel guilty for her lie.  Hmmmm.  Very familiar.  The thing that is refreshing about Payne is that she seems to know when she's lying, as evidenced by the final scene in the film.

Is Doris Payne a liar? Yes.  Is she a psychopath?  Probably.  Does she have anything to show for the 2 million dollars without of jewels she stole?  No.  But as her daughter says, she lived her life the way that she wanted to live it.  With joy and without apologies.

Watch the trailer and then see the film on Netflix. I'm about to go watch it again!

Peque Vinos and Tapas

If you aren't careful, you can leave Peque Vinos and Tapas happily tipsy and broke; the food and wine are just that good! Located at 235 West 145th Street, Peque is in the former location of  Mountain Bird.  The interior is cozy and intimate, and the tables are accented with beautiful decorative plates featuring the portraits of fabulous women of color.

Peque has an extensive wine list that includes several wine based cocktails and a delicious red-wine Sangria.  Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday from 5-7, and includes $6.00 Sangria.  The photograph below doesn't do the generous size of the glass justice!

There is also a wide variety of tapas to choose from.  James and I started off with cheese, which was served with grapes roasted in extra virgin olive oil.  We then ordered artichoke hearts and chorizo.  Once Kyle arrived we ordered grilled mushrooms, meatballs, shrimp in garlic sauce, and cheesecake for dessert.  I could have continued ordering but decided to leave some menu items undiscovered for my return visit with Chloe!  Peque is a warm, relaxed place that is the perfect location for anything from an evening out with friends and family to a romantic date.  Brunch begins this Sunday, October 18th!

Black Art Saturday

It's surprising how many middle-school children come to school with wet coughs, clammy skin,  and feverish eyes.  Despite all efforts to dodge their projectile germs, by the time they come to my desk assuring me that "they feel much better, " I have already begun to feel sweaty and chilly at the same time.  Nevertheless, Saturday was one of those rare fall days not to be missed.  The temperature was  in the mid 60's, but the sun made it feel much warmer.  I lured Chloe away from the television and out of the house with promises of empanadas from La Sonrisa at The Highline.  Our first stop was the new Hudson Yard Station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue.  We rode the escalator up and down looking at the mosaics by Xenobia Bailey.    

Artist Xenobia Bailey

Next, we walked the length of The Highline to The Whitney Museum to see the Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist exhibit.  My first exposure to Motley's work was seeing his painting "The Octoroon Girl" used as cover art for Nella Larsen's novel Passing. 

Octoroon Girl

When the elevator opened onto the 8th Floor it was thrilling to see the purple and brown walls filled with vibrant painting of African-Americans.  Chloe noticed that Motley's portraits were realistic looking, while the other paintings looked more like "animation." His use of blue and green tones to highlight the diversity of African-American skin tones was beautiful and unexpected.  His paintings were inspired by locations as diverse as Chicago, Paris, and Mexico.  

Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist is on view at The Whitney Museum of American Art until January 17th.