Tracy Hopkins

Over the Labor Day weekend, the southwestern Washington, D.C., waterfront Wharf neighborhood was alive with the sound of music. Grammy-winning chanteuse Samara Joy headlined the annual DC JazzFest and serenaded overheated festival attendees and dockside bystanders. Restaurants overflowed with handsome couples and groups of singles ready to mingle, while carefree kids and grown folks alike grooved to the ’80s funk and soul flowing from an outdoor DJ set.
As a proud alumna of Howard University,...

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the fall foliage and take advantage of all that the crisp pumpkin season has to offer. About an hour’s drive or a Metro North train hop from New York City, the topographically diverse cities and villages of Westchester County will keep your fall weekend or midweek escape calendar booked and busy.
Anchor your trip to the region with a stay at The Opus Westchester (https://www.theopuswestchester.com/), centrally located near the bustling strip of shops and ...

When we arrived at MetLife Stadium about 30 minutes outside of New York City, we saw die-hard fans decked out in silver sequined cowboy hats, fringed tops and bottoms, booty shorts and cowboy boots. People-watching in the parking lot was half the fun! With styling assistance from her daughter, my friend Cindy wore a sheer metallic top over a black tank, jeans and silver hoop earrings. I went with ’90s-style parachute pants, wedge gladiator sandals and a huge pair of hoop earrings accented wit...

The hazy days of summer are moving swiftly, but there’s still plenty of time to get back outside and enjoy the sunny season. To make the most of hot fun in the summertime, here are six jazz music festivals to consider attending.
Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah, NY (July 22, https://caramoor.org/event/jazz-festival-summer-2023/)
Hop the free shuttle from Metro North’s Katonah train station to attend this annual cultural highlight at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, presented in co...

Typically we like to heed the wise words of TLC to “stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.” But when it comes to new travel adventures, Sis, we highly recommend that you go chasing waterfalls.

Since there are so many wondrous falls to choose from, here’s some navigational inspiration to get your wanderlust flowing. Start with these bucket list treks to six breathtaking waterfalls around the world, including Niagara Falls in North America, Dunn’s River Falls in the Caribbean, V...

We’re celebrating the genre’s birthday with a playlist that puts the ladies first – with hot tracks by our favorite new- and old-school lyricists. C’mon fly girls, let’s bust a move!

As an art form, hip-hop has come a long way, baby, from its humble beginnings in 1973 at a back-to-school party hosted by DJ Kool Herc in the Bronx. Since then, the culture has shape-shifted to embrace the street smarts of East Coast rap, G-funk from the West Coast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik vibes, spiritua...

Juneteenth is a time to celebrate Black liberation and make a joyful noise with family, friends, and extended community.
Also known as Emancipation Day and Jubilee Day, the federal holiday is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the effective end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth was first recognized by African American communities in Texas and marks the date in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed....

Looking for some hot jazz, hip-hop and soul for a fun-filled summer? Mark your calendars and plan a groovy getaway with your girls or a melody-making date night at one of these seven music festivals across the country, featuring Grammy award winners like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Samara Joy, Missy Elliott, the Isley Brothers and Herbie Hancock.
The Roots Picnic
Philadelphia (June 2-4, therootspicnic.com/)
Kick off your summer jam season at the annual Roots Picnic at the Mann Center in Philly’s Fairmou...

When it comes to making travel plans, do you like to play concierge and create an itinerary full of sightseeing highlights and festive activities? Or do you prefer to just show up at a lavish resort, unpack, unwind and relax knowing that daily meals, fitness and wellness activities, and outdoor excursions are already covered and planned?
If the latter sounds appealing, then staying at an all-inclusive may suit your vacation vibe. Just be mindful of when and where you want to travel. According...

More than 100 million American adults live with diabetes or prediabetes. But despite the prevalence of these conditions among different racial and ethnic groups, the Black American community is disproportionately affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the United States, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes in 2018, and non-Hispanic Black Americans were twice as likely as non-Hi...

Do you want to immerse yourself in culture and connect more deeply with your roots on your next travel adventure? Perhaps you haven’t allotted enough time to secure a tourist visa and get the necessary vaccinations to make the pilgrimage to a West African country like Ghana, Mali, Senegal or Nigeria. But you can still heed the call of the motherland with a trip to one of these four dynamic Black diasporic destinations in South America, the Caribbean and stateside. Each city or region is overf...

If going vegan has crossed your mind, whether it’s to spice up your meatless Mondays or for long-term spiritual or ethical reasons, the good news is that brown rice and steamed vegetables is no longer the bland health-food standard.
Eliminating animal and dairy products from your diet has health benefits too. Research shows that adopting a plant-based diet can lower your risk of heart disease, lower your blood pressure and bad (LDL) cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and help you maint...

Suite! Upscale resorts with private kitchens, pools and other amenities may save you cash — and the uncertainties of renting from a homeowner.
Although staying at a hotel-style resort is often a convenient and reliable option, it can also be predictable and pricey (room service, resort and mini bar fees, hello!). As an alternative, condo and guesthouse rentals are popular, but as we’ve discovered through trial and error, not all experiences with companies such as Airbnb, HomeToGo or Vrbo are ...

Richmond’s Black culinary scene is blossoming because of chefs and restaurateurs who have fought to preserve their foodways and ancestral connections in the city that was at one time the largest slave-trading center in the Upper South.
“The joy, pain, and stories of our past and present are centered around food. In celebration, in sorrow, food connects us,” said Amy Wentz, a proud Richmond native and co-founder of the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience. The goal of the weeklong event (March...

You loved our list of retreats so much, we’re back with even more pampering picks.
When was the last time you took yourself on a spa date, Sis? Setting aside 30, 60 or 90 minutes for a refreshing facial or a tension-taming massage might be the self-care treat you need to regain that natural glow, boost your immunity and put some pep in your step. To enhance your experience, we’ve found five Black women–owned day spas across the country for you to consider.* Plus, cool cultural things to do wh...