Big Rube’s Philly: Style Iconoclast Charlie Lichtenfels
I always tell people: “Be stylish, not fashionable.” By that I mean: Wear what makes you happy, no…
Big Rube’s Philly: Shaheed Rucker, Art Maker
I always tell people: Do something out of your love and your passion, and the world’s gonna come…
Big Rube’s Philly: Bariq Cobbs, “Art and Fashion”
Bariq Cobbs is an artist, a fashionista, and a flat-foot hustler. Growing up in Mill Creek, he loved…
Big Rube’s Philly: Jamele Ransom, Crossing Guard and Then Some
By now, everybody knows my friend Jamele Ransom. He’s the Southwest Philly crossing guard who went viral on…
Neighborhood Gazing, a la Gordon Parks
As long as I can remember, my grandmother, Nan, subscribed to Life magazine. One of my first memories…
Big Rube’s Philly: Kenya Abdul-Hadi, Style Iconoclast
Not too many people have stories that mirror mine. Kenya Abdul-Hadi is an exception. Just like me, he…
Big Rube’s Philly: Women’s Style
I grew up with two undeniably stylish women. My mom was Muhammad and Belinda Ali’s seamstress and tailor.…
Big Rube’s Philly: The Hip-Hop Plus Edit
Musical artists have made me who I am today. Two years ago, for the 50th anniversary of the…
Big Rube’s Philly: The Celebrity Edit
Through the years whenever I’ve met certain celebrities, I surprise them. I’m from West Philly, not Bel…
Big Rube’s Philly: Gazing Back
Lately, I’ve been waking up with joy in my heart. Over the past couple months, I received multiple…
Big Rube’s Philly: Jennifer Sherlock, Cosmopolitan Communicator
My friend Jennifer Sherlock is a real-life Sex in the City character extraordinaire. Jen grew up in Medford,…