It’s a weeknight in Newark’s West Ward. Roughly two dozen residents sit patiently waiting for city Department of Water and Sewer Utilities officials to start a presentation. “About the water updates and the lead service line replacement discussion,” announces a city official, asking residents to take their seats. “My home has been tested,” said Daniel Gibson, a retired West Ward resident. “I do have a lead service line and I’m awaiting the city coming in to take it out.” Gibson has lived in his

Professors (and psychologists) of literature have argued that there are only 7 basic plots in all storytelling. Or maybe 9. Or 36. Or, according to mythologist Joseph Campbell, one plot. Laura Linney now stars on Broadway in a play about one woman’s story. Or maybe everyone’s story. Theater critic Michael Bourne reviews a new play at Manhattan Theatre Club at Samuel J Friedman Theater on Broadway My Name is Lucy Barton. Laura Linney stars in the play. Click above to hear the review.

Have beauty standards finally changed here in the U-S? WBGO Commentator Mildred Antenor thinks so. " Miss Teen USA, Miss America , Miss USA , Miss Universe and Miss World , what do these five beauty pageants have in common? They all currently hold black women as the crowned winner of each contest. I have to tell you that I never thought I'd see the day when melinated women would hold those titles." Click above to hear the entire commentary. Mildred Antenor is the author of The Gladioli Are

It's after dark on a school night, and families gather in the Hawkins Elementary School cafeteria for a pasta dinner hosted by Ironbound Community Corporation. But they’re not just here to eat. "Tonight we're going to talk about our sewer system and specifically what combined sewer overflow is. Then we’re going to talk about what the city is doing to solve this problem and get your feedback on it." That's Drew Curtis of ICC is standing in front of a projector displaying statistics about the City

New Jersey's own rock legend, Jon Bon Jovi, was on hand today for the opening of his new JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurant at Rutgers University-Newark.

The New York Guardians are one of eight teams in the newly created XFL. The American football team will play its home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stadium that houses the New York Giants and New York Jets. The home opener for the Guardians, coached by former Giants offensive coordinator and former LA Chargers head coach Kevin Gilbride, will be February 9 against the Tampa Bay Vipers at 2pm. New York Guardians President Janet Duch sat down recently with

Playwright Jewelle Gomez was one of the lucky people who got to see jazz and blues singer and songwriter Alberta Hunter perform at The Cookery in Greenwich Village, New York. Gomez was so inspired by Hunter's music and life that eventually she wanted to write about the legend who had a successful career from the early 1920s to the late 1950s, and then stopped performing. Then in 1977, after twenty years of working as a nurse, Alberta Hunter successfully resumed her popular singing career until

Wonderful music will once again fill Bethany Baptist Church this Sunday, as the Church's Lecture Committee presents "Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." Vocalist and songwriter Cassandra Wilson will be the special musical guest at Sunday's program, which begins at 2:30 p.m. Three of the people involved in the program sat down this week with WBGO News Director Doug Doyle to talk about the event. Bethany Baptist Church's Minister of Music Rev. Karlos Nichols says Dr.

Everyone's experience of the arts -- what we hear in the music, what we see in a painting, what we feel from a play -- is unique. What WBGO theater critic Michael Bourne was feeling from a play now at City Center was very personal. Broadway legend Len Cariou joins Craig Bierko on the stage for Harry Townsend's Last Stand. George Eastman is the playwright. Click above to hear Michael's review of Harry Townsend's Last Stand.

CEO & Founder of Urbanational , Clarissa Cummings hosted the first Bakeran Supper in Newark. Prompted by the Jeffersonian Dinner concept, a Bakeran Supper honors activist Ella Baker's approach to meaningful community building. A curated, invite-only event hosted by Urbanational, a Bakeran Supper brings together 10 urban changemakers around a dinner table of great food and stimulating conversation. Urbanational supports the leadership development of Black changemakers in urban spaces. They