I recently had the chance to check out Ripe Kitchen & Bar in Mt. Vernon, NY owned by chef Nigel Spence. The quaint old house turned restaurant serves typical Jamaican entrees, but the appetizers really stole the show with it’s presentation and a twist on classic dishes.

The Ambiance: I felt like I was at a small restaurant in Jamaican (minus the cold weather). The bartender was serving up drinks and there was some reggae and lover’s rock playing, but it wasn’t too loud so you could still have a conversation. The restaurant was a little dark with very little lighting, but the delightful smell of the food coming from the kitchen could not be missed.

The Food:  The appetizers were great! Picture above is the Plaintain Boat, slightly ripened filled with a sauteed codfish medley with a light sauce. Below is the Codfish Spring Rolls, a nice twist and alternative to fritters.

I had the jerk chicken with rice & peas. The chicken was very tender, you could tell it marinated very well. It wasn’t as spicy as I had expected, but it was still filled with flavor. I would have loved a spice jerk dipping sauce instead ketchup.

I had a small taste of the “Big Ass Steak” which was delicious! On my next trip I’ll definitely order this, even if I can’t finish. Can’t wait to go back again, think the vibe is even sweeter when the weather is nice.

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For fans of Love & Hip Hop, you saw Olivia perform “Walk Away” a few weeks ago. She followed up with a video, which highlights a domestic violence, check it out.

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Rihanna’s reign continues! Giorgio Armani released more ads with the starlet; she became the face of the brand in 2011.

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I’m kind of late on this video, but I love this song! I actually remeber Laza Morgan when he was with the group LMS. Venturing out on his own is proving to be very successful as “One By One” hit the airways and has been in heavy rotation ever since. I honestly didn’t know who it was just by listening, but remembered the name once I found out who it was. Check out the video for “One by One” featuring Mavado.

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Usain Bolt continues to be a branding machine! The fastest man in the world teamed up with one of the world’s craziest moguls, Richard Branson. Bolt impersonates Branson in a commercial for Virgin Media broadband services in the UK.

First spotted at The Adventures of Mamachel

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I recently read an extremely noteworthy article via The Root about Haitians from the Diapora returing to their home land post earthquake to not only continue to rebuild Haiti, but also re-connect to their culture. Diasaster Brings Haitian Americans Back Home two young Haitian-Americans Samuel Darguin and Fabrice Armand, talk about their efforts in Haiti and how they plan to continue their work. Here are some key points that really stood out:

“For our parents’ generation, Haiti is the place they were forced to flee from in search of a better life. So for [many of Haitian descent], visiting Haiti was often discouraged because it was the land their parents had left behind. Yes, Haiti is a difficult place for some,” he points out, “and the luxuries of the West aren’t always available here. But Haiti is ours, and if we don’t take care of our inheritance, who will?” (Samuel Darguin)

Read in it’s entirety HERE. It’s and article that ALL Caribbeans in the diaspora should read and be inspired by to help those in your home land. It’s more than just embracing the culture abroad but reaching back to invest and help our own.

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Sing Your Song  is a riveting documnetary that chronicles  Harry Belafonte life in music and his humanitarian efforts beginning with the Civil Rights Movement. The actor, singer, activist talks about his upbringing in Harlerm and Jamaica, how he got into show business and what made him become activist he is today.

Sing Your Song is an up close look at a great American, Harry Belafonte. A patriot to the last and a champion for worldwide human rights, Belafonte is one of the truly heroic cultural and political figures of the past 60 years. Told from Harry’s point of view, the film charts his life from a boy born in New York and raised in Jamaica, who returns to Harlem in his early teens where he discovers the American Negro Theater and the magic of performing.

From there the film follows Belafonte’s rise from the jazz and folk clubs of Greenwich Village and Harlem to his emergence as a star. However, even as a superstar, the life of a black man in 1960s America was far from easy and Belafonte was confronted with the same Jim Crow laws and prejudices that every other black man, woman and child in America was facing.

Among other things, the film presents a brief look at the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of an insider, someone who despite his high profile, wasn’t afraid to spend time in the trenches.

 The film will be screening in select cities across the U.S. starting January 13. check local show listings. Check out the movie trailer.

Sing Your Song official trailer from S2BN Films on Vimeo.

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Singer Melanie Fiona will cover the next issue of Rolling Out Magazine . Check out this behind the scenes video where she talks about her upbringing with hard working parents, her take on love and how it affects her music.

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Model Sky Nicole Grey  who debuted her acting skills in Better Mus Come has added to her acting resume with the movie Restless City. The feature film tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle and falling in love is his greatest risk. Although there is no trailer available for the movie, it seems she may be the love interest of the main character Djbirl (Sy Alassane). The film has been featured at a few film festivals including Sundance, Urban World Film Festival and received and MTV Movie Award and was recently mentioned a New York Times feature New Directors Flesh Out of Black America, All of It by Nelson George. Definitely looks like a great film.

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