Ray A. Smith

@rayalexsmith

Lifestyle reporter at The Wall Street Journal's Life & Work section. Ex-fashion reporter.
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Weeks posts
I closed out Black History Month with George C. Wolfe’s landmark ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’ - thrillingly revived with a stellar cast featuring Billy Porter and The Leslie Uggams. Here’s hoping for a Broadway transfer. #encores #jellyslastjam #blackhistorymonth #citycenterencores
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2 years ago
The first few months of this year have been quite the ride! First-quarter highlights include getting the chance to interview the very talented star Colman Domingo - catch him on season 3 of ‘Euphoria’ and SNL soon - for WSJ. Magazine, my first magazine cover story, keeping commitments to iRL time with loved ones, taking in great art and finally visiting Roscoe’s House of Chicken n Waffles while in L.A.
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1 month ago
The new building for the Studio Museum in Harlem is fantastic. (And so is the art. ) Welcome back. Catch it.
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1 month ago
Black women today are starting their own businesses at a faster clip than any other demographic in America, according to a recent report. In this story, which I’ve tried to nail for nearly two years, sometimes doubting it might ever see the light of day (so don’t be so quick to give up) I interviewed four dynamic women who are betting on themselves. The article appears in today’s WSJ. TAP
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2 months ago
A milestone! My first magazine cover story, for WSJ. Magazine. The magazine’s men’s style issue is on newsstands this weekend and features my profile of the esteemed and dapper Colman Domingo. Thank you @wsjmag
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2 months ago
Presenting my first magazine cover story, for @wsjmag - a profile of the esteemed actor Colman Domingo. He’s the magazine’s men’s style issue cover star. I got to spend time with him in Los Angeles earlier this year and we talked about his later in life rise to stardom and so much more! Many thanks to Colman Domingo and to Bonnie Wertheim and her outstanding WSJ. Magazine team (and my editors for greenlighting). Check out these beautiful photos by @ajacobs3 and styling by @pauavia LINK IN BIO. On newsstands soon. #colmandomingo #menswear #mensstyle
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2 months ago
Braving NYC frigid cold for great friends, music and art. I❤️NY.
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3 months ago
4th-Quarter/End of 2025 highlights - visiting Portugal, quality over quantity with dear friends, thrilling theater, New Orleans, surrendering to my family’s ugly Christmas sweater contest, interviewing the iconic Sandra Bernhard, and other work fun. HNY 🥂#happynewyear
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4 months ago
I had a great time exploring Portugal, specifically the cobblestone streets of Lisbon and my trip’s highlight, beautiful Porto, (including a cable car ride overlooking the city!) plus visits through the Alfama neighborhood and to Sintra to walk down the Initiation Well. Ate very well, lots of seafood, especially cod, and the meats - pork and the best steak in Lisbon, with a signature creamy sauce, at Cafe de Sao Bento plus the famed Portuguese dessert Pasteis de Belem. Also got to experience a stirring Fado performance and visit Lisbon’s world-famous aquarium, castles, palaces, and landmarks like Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Jerónimos Monastery and the National Pantheon. Lisbon has long been on my to-do list and grateful I finally made it. 🇵🇹 Thank you @vickolas and @dness88 for all your recommendations!
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4 months ago
Do you know how to behave at work? You can test your business-etiquette knowledge with this fun quiz I worked on with the Emily Post Institute. Link in bio or copy and paste this -/lifestyle/workplace/do-you-know-how-to-behave-at-work-take-our-quiz-to-test-your-office-etiquette-skills-7708304e?st=vVXauE&reflink=article_copyURL_share
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5 months ago
A quick trip back down memory lane in New Orleans to see a dear friend, and indulge in gumbo, po boy sandwiches, beignets, live jazz and more…
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5 months ago
‘Remember when…?’ A lot of our conversations have a ‘Do you remember?’ component as we have been close friends for decades.❤️ it can be a song we learned in elementary school in music class or a Bronx pizzeria. Great to reminisce in person this time and to spend last weekend with her and her beautiful family.
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6 months ago