in the Mix

Hugh Masekela, Grammy award-winning South African trumpeter and musician, performs April 21 at Berklee. (Brett Rubin photo)

CNN’s Lemon inspires at Emerson College...

CNN news anchor Don Lemon was in town to speak to Emerson College students in celebration of African American Heritage Month at the Paramount Theatre. The 47-year-old (whose birthday was March 1) talked about “how old he was” and all that he had accomplished, which he was very grateful for.

His primary motivational message that night encouraged students to “not be afraid to fail” in life. He reminded the audience that “no one has broken barriers, no one has started revolutions by playing it safe.”

Words to remember indeed.

Where The Cape meets Chestnut Hill

Just over a year and half old, The Cottage restaurant in Chestnut Hill is a gem of a place.  From the exterior it resembles a lot of restaurants that are sleek and modern in look and feel, but once you step inside you’ve entered a place of serenity painted in soft white-washed walls with warm lights throughout. You almost expect to hear rolling waves in the distance with the smell of an ocean breeze wafting through the windows. The Cottage is a beautiful space with a mid-sized bar area with white plush high-back chairs.  

Once settled in, it was all about the food. Dinner was their crispy calamari and curried slaw with fresno chilies on top, which was a nice surprise.  The calamari was breaded very lightly, so you didn’t get “that weighed down feeling.”  

Accompanying the calamari was a garlicky remoulade which added zing.  In addition to the calamari was a tasting of the eggplant fries, which were really good. The eggplant was breaded very lightly with a side of lemon-tarragon dipping sauce that didn’t overpower the fries or your senses.

And, dinner wouldn’t be complete without an amazing dessert of heavenly chocolate flourless soufflé topped with crème fraiche. It was so light and smooth and just melted in your mouth. And it’s accompanied by a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream with hot fudge.  Absolutely divine!  

Coming Up…

The Color of Film Collaborative presents Dinner & A Movie this Friday, March 8 at 6 p.m. featuring the film “The 1st Grader” at the Haley House Bakery Café in Roxbury. Tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/335469.

The Huntington Theatre Company at the BU Theatre presents Lorraine Hansberry’s timeless classic “A Raisin in the Sun,” March 8 through April 7.  Tickets are available at www.huntingtontheatre.org.

World Music/CRASHarts presents Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars this Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center. Tickets are $48, $42, $37 or $30 and can be purchased at www.WorldMusic.org.

This Sunday, RiRi, better known as Rihanna, along with opening act A$AP Rocky hit the TD Garden with her Diamonds World Tour at 7:30 p.m.

It’s a bit of old school hip-hop at The Wilbur with Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick performing on Friday, March 29 at 8 p.m.

The Agganis Arena presents Alicia Keys’ “Set the World on Fire Tour” on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Hugh Masekela brings his legendary trumpet to the Berklee Performance Center on Sunday April 21. Tickets available at www.worldmusic.org.

If you would like me to cover or write about your event, email me at inthemixwithcolette@gmail.com.