Miami Heat basketball champion superstar Dwyane Wade signed copies of his new book, “A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball” on Wednesday night, September 5th, at the brand spanking new My Image Studios MISTHarlem.
The kick-off event at MISTHarlem, located at the Kalahari Condominiums on W. 116th St., was wonderfully hosted by a Harlem fave NY1′s Cheryl Wills and co-sponsored as a pop up event by Hue-Man Bookstore owner Marva Allen, that closed in July, 2012.
In the memoir, Wade, 30, recounts being a single father to his two sons, Zaire, 10 and Zion, 5. He was awarded primary custody of his children in 2011 after a bitter battle with his ex-wife.
He told the gathering of over 250 that “I love that they see me get up every morning and go to work,” Wade said. “It shows that it takes hard work to be successful.”
Defining himself as a father first was important for Wade, who discussed how he balances parenting with his busy schedule of travel and appearances.
Defining himself as a father first was important for Wade, who discussed how he balances parenting with his busy schedule of travel and appearances.
“You have to be creative if you are trying to be a professional career dad,” Wade said in an interview. “When I’m around, I give them my undivided attention and I do a lot of things with them. When I’m not around I still find ways to be incorporated into their lives. It’s hard work, but something you should want to do.”
Wade said he had to mold his life around that of his children and nephew. “Now whenever I make a move, a decision, they come first and I’ve got to think about their needs first. It changes everything about the way you are used to living.”
Wade said this wasn’t his first visit to Harlem. He visited Marcus Samuelsson‘s Red Rooster Restaurant last summer and said he enjoys the neighborhood. “It’s Harlem. It’s not many places in the world you can go to that have a brand worldwide,” he said. (DNAInfo)
The line was almost Apollo like long, as well as the wait to see Mr. Wade, the was as shown by the crowd, was well worth it. Mr. Wade appeared, and warmly received some Harlem love.
(Click image to get your copy)
In a HW Radio Podcast, Taneshia Nash Laird, Chief Marketing Officer, of MISTHarlem said, “there are plans to host independent film screenings, poetry nights and comedy shows for a nearly 300-seat arts and entertainment space replete with a 130-seat restaurant and bar.” She continued “Plans for the venue, which will cater its programming to what its founders called the African and Latino diaspora, were in the works for nearly four years.” The $21 million, 20,000-square-foot space appears far from completion, but the partners developers Carlton Brown and Walter Edwards are founders of Full Spectrum; Edwards is also the chairman of the Harlem Business Alliance) say it will be finished in time for a Def Poetry Jam showcase with Danny Simmons on Sept. 27, 2012.”
Hue-Man Bookstore owner Marva Allen said “It’s great to be back and it’s great to see my customers,” she couldn’t stop raving about the turnout after the first such event since her her brick-and-mortar bookstore shop closed. Her next “pop-up” event will be a book signing with rapper T.I. at Harlem’s Chocolat Restaurant Lounge on Sept. 19.
“I have never seen so many young men in the audience,” she said, noting that many were lined up more than three hours before the event. “I just told (Wade), ‘Please write a few more books.’ . . . Our kids will read, if you give them something that they want to read.” (NYDailyNews)
As you can see Wade was very appreciative, as if everyone were friends, his down to earth demeanor made everyone comfortable with him. He truly is a superstar on and off the court!
Okay, speaking of court, Wade said it’s not going to be easy to win another championship.
As for the NYKnicks’ prospects this year:
“Hopefully for the city of New York they do well,” Wade said, “but not too well.”
Check out the raw video of Wade arriving in Harlem:
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