For 30 years, Xavier Guerrand-Hermès of the renowned Paris-based fashion empire collected both stunning North African jewelry and historic late 19th- and early 20th-century photographs by some of the region's most prominent photographers. Highlights from the collection will be featured in an exhibition at the Museum of the African Diaspora opening on October 5, 2012. "Desert Jewels: North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection," will continue through January 23, 2013. Read more!

Five Screenwriters from International Body of Applicants Contend for Unique One-Month Writer's Retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains--The San Francisco Film Society, in partnership with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, today announced the finalists for the 2013 Djerassi Residency Award/San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship, given annually to encourage the career of an emerging or established screenwriter. The fellowship is one of a number of screenwriting initiatives offered by Filmmaker360, the Film Society's filmmaker services program. Get the details here.

San Francisco Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women joins with The Forum Conversations at YBCA for an Evening with Judith Jamison, the world renown dancer, choreographer and former Artistic Director for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Read the details about the September 22nd Evening with broadcaster Farai Chideya.

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), the innovative museum in downtown San Francisco, celebrates its seventh anniversary with a Gala honoring four exceptional individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions within the corporate, philanthropic and cultural sectors. To be held at The Palace Hotel on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 6:00 p.m., the Gala, themed Global Reflections, Global Connections, promises to be a very special occasion. The event is highlighted by Mistress of Ceremony, Dana King, sculptor and CBS 5 News Anchor. Read More!

Where is Lassie? "The Oogieloves" say "on the way." Where is Lassie? That's a question I asked myself for a while. I mean really, Where is Lassie? It's been a question that has been in my subconscious for years. Don't know if the recent re-occurrence was fueled by the need to entertain my three innocent grandkids or my own need for a good G-rated movie to assuage all the years of the onslaught of violence and negativity on my sensibilities via media. The pioneering interactive G movie for kids,"The Oogieloves in The Big Balloon Adventure" directed by Matthew Diamond opens today, August 29. The cast includes: Toni Braxton, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, Chazz Palminteri, snf Jaime Pressley Get details here.

BABJA Interviews Terri J. Vaughn, Mario Van Peebles and Darrin Henson at The Black Expo--Oakland's highly-anticipated 2012 Bay Area Black Expo,presented by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 8-9th at the Oakland Convention Center, 550 10th Street, downtown Oakland, CA. For two impactful days Bay Area BlackExpo, LLC will host a dynamic, enlightening multicultural marketplace to engage community residents and people who travel great distances to make the Bay Area Black Expo an annual weekend destination. Get the Details here!

For mature audiences only, "Cops and Robbers" the revolutionary play written and performed by "The Piper" of Flipsyde" hits the Malonga Casquelourd Center (old Alice Arts Theater) in Oakland, 7:00 p.m. September 8, 2012. From what I saw at a special preview hosted by photographer Jim Dennis, Sunday, August 26 at his Emeryville studio, "Cops and Robbers" will not only hit the theater but your heart and mind as well. It is a hit! Piper has developed a one man show monologue sure to open a wide platform for dialogue and solutions. It's food for thought and action.

Join the fun....Mary Elizabeth Inn will be 100 years in 2014 and Infusion Lounge kicks off the fundraising campaign to keep this great organization alive and well as it keeps single women in need off the streets of San Francisco. It happens September 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Let's all be there! Let's Drink to That at "Happy Hour to End Homelessness!"

The San Francisco Film Society in association with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco presents the second annual Hong Kong Cinema festival, September 21 - 23 at New People Cinema (1746 Post Street). This exciting series highlights one of the world's major filmmaking hubs and features recent films showcasing Hong Kong's range of cinematic storytelling with works by both internationally known filmmakers as well as up-and-coming talents. Get details here.

World Premiere of Piper's "Cops and Robbers" is a must see. See for yourself. Renaissance rapper, actor and playwright pours it on in his new one man play.Get the details here.