Bartending Across the Races

Tonight I bartended an Indian birthday party at a Chinese restaurant (Indian as in India and not Native Americans).  I've also bartended for Black Americans, Caucasians, West Africans (worked in a West African club), Ethiopians (worked in an Ethiopian Club), deaf students, and this past Halloween a White/Black/Latin party at an Italian restaurant.  I've bartended for well-to-do and upper, lower and solidly middle,  middle-class people. As a person who has worked conferences on all my jobs in the past 20 years, I've also partied with all types of people at meeting and conference receptions and parties.  There are many obvious differences across all groups (i.e., arrival times and the ability to dance on beat) but what I want to talk about are a few things that are the same across races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

• Everyone loves a Michael Jackson song.
• Kids love to jump around the floor and call it dancing.
• Most young kids have absolutely no rhythm before the age of 10.
• Everyone loves to line dance whether its the Achy Breaky, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Wobble or Booty Call.
• The women are always dressier than the men.
• Everyone drinks vodka no matter what else they drink.
• There is a drunk in every bunch.
• The shrimp is always the first thing to go on the buffet.

This holiday season and all year long, make sure your next event is Professionally Poured.  Visit www.professionallypoured.com too book a bartender for your party today.  Or send an email.

Cigarette Tax Burdens Low-Income, Doesn’t Deter Smoking

Cigarette Tax Burdens Low-Income, Doesn’t Deter Smoking: Higher cigarette taxes may be financially hurting low-income smokers rather than making them more likely to quit, according to a new survey by researchers at RTI International. The survey, which looked at more than 13,000 people living in New York state, found that lower-income smokers...

Gabby Douglas Responds to Hair Critics

 
American gymnast Gabby Douglas' straightened hair became a topic of conversation last week when she became the first African-American women to win the all-around gold.

"I don't know where this is coming from," Douglas said Sunday afternoon. "What's wrong with my hair? I just simply gelled it back, put some clips in it and put it in a bun.

"Are you kidding me? I just made history? And you're focusing on my hair? I just want to say we're all beautiful inside out. Nothing is going to change."

 Her hair will remain the same in her next two competitions in bars and beams this week.

From USA Today

Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion 2012 : Old School New School Challege: Thanks

Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion 2012 : Old School New School Challege: Thanks

Top 10 Reasons to Come to "A Suttle (Thoughts) Night in District Heights"

 

10.  Brought to you by 100 Proof Entertainment

 

9.  Plenty of tables so you won't have to stand up all night

 

8.  Plenty of free parking

 

7.  Music by DJ Frisco and Photos by True XPosure

 

6.  Performance by Suttle Thoughts

 

5.  And a performance by Facez U Know (Halima Peru, Halima Peru, Halima Peru)

 

4.  Free food!  Need I say more?

 

3.  Great drinks.  Cash bar with Professionally Poured.  Try their signature drink, "the Professional"

 

2.  Its a great place to celebrate your bday (or anniversary, new job, getting out of jail, divorce, etc).  For party packages, call Los at 202-642-3906

 

 1.  Advance tickets are just $15  (available at www.gogoradio.com)

 

 

RHOA: Sheree explains remarks about NeNe's son, Kim defends her and Who Got dumped from the Cast

Part one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion aired last Sunday and as expected Ne Ne and Sheree got into a war of words.  Andy brought up Ne Ne's comment to Sheree in a previous episode where Ne Ne said that she was rich and 'cashing Trump checks.'  Sheree remarked that if Ne Ne were rich then her son Bryce wouldn't have bee arrested for shoplifting a razor from WalMart.  For those of you who don't know, Ne Ne's son is 22-years old and while Sheree isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, surely she knows that rich kids are probably the biggest shoplifters out there.  And Bryce is an idiot.  Anyhoo, Ne Ne went off about Sheree bringing her kids into the equation. 

Sheree took to her twitter page to explain what she mean further proving how dumb she is:

The point I was trying to make on the reunion is if you are so "rich" it would make sense to leave petty cash around the house for your kids to purchase things needed when you're not around.

Not to be outdone, Kim took to her blog on Bravo to explain what Sheree meant:

Sheree and NeNe had an argument over the "rich bitch" comment NeNe made, and Sheree brought up NeNe's son. NeNe went off because, "We don't involve kids," but she has tweeted about my children before. I feel like there's a certain line that you can cross but children are off limits! Talk about me, talk about my friends, my finances, whatever, but never my kids. Sheree wasn't talking about NeNe's son, she was trying to figure out why her son was stealing if she was so rich.

All together now:  "SHUT UP KIM!"

Who got dumped from next Season's RHOA Cast?

By now you've probably heard that Sheree won't be coming back.  Rumors say that Sheree was fired because fan favorite NeNe refused to tape with her, but according to Wendy Williams, that's not true.  She said that Sheree got Sheree fired.  She had no storyline and she was boring.

And in true Sheree fashion, Sheree issued a statement about why she quit :eyeroll:

“After four solid seasons of helping Bravo build the show into its most successful Housewives franchise, I have decided to leave. The direction the show is going in is no longer a fit for my lifestyle. I’m tired of the fighting and the cattiness.”

“I want to be part of something that empowers and inspires women to not only be healthy, but to treat themselves with respect. I wish the rest of the women the best of luck. I’m thrilled to say I’m now a free agent and am already fielding offers.” 

Click here to read on.

Is Sheree the Only one Dumped from Next Season's Cast?

Though Kim and her husband Kroy have a wedding special coming soon on Bravo, MediaTakeOut.com is reporting that Kim has also been dropped from the Atlanta Housewives cast for the 5th Season.  Bravo has yet to make a statement.  One can only hope its true and that Marlo will become a permanent cast member.  She's messy, but we love her.

Tune in Thursday and Sunday for Parts II and III of the reunion where our girl Marlo will be spilling tea and snatching wigs.

Since Sheree will no longer be on Real Housewives of Atlanta, I've come up with the top ten things she can do not that she has no job.  Click her to check it out.

Top Ten Things Sheree (RHOA) Can do Now that she Has no Job

10. Build Chateau Sheree herself and save on contractor fees

9. Become the new Sweetie/Slave/Kim's Assistant

8. Become NeNe's stylist

7. Work for Phaedra's funeral home picking up the bodies since Apollo doesn't want to do it.

6. Comb her kids hair

5. Become a watiress at Peter's Bar One

4. Borrow a yard and have a yard sale

3. Work at Evelyn Lozada's shoe store Dulce

2.Go back to school








1. Become Lawrence's shampoo girl

Suttle Thoughts, Facez U Know, & Professionally Poured First Time Together

100 Proof Entertainment brings you

A Suttle Night in Distric Heights

with Suttle Thoughts and Facez U Know

Saturday, May 19

Limited Early Bird tickets only $10

Limited Advance tickets only $15

Click here to purchase tickets

Love and Go-Go the Series Returns w/The Last Two Chapters

What's next for the Love and Go-Go series? 

The series was such a hit, that I decided to wait a while to publish the last two stories.   Find out which Go-Go band member introduced John Agurs to his wife "Sweet" Cherie Mitchell-Agurs.

Familiar Face's Jasen "O" Holland and Tandra Williams have been together for years and have three children between them.  Will they ever tie the knot?  You'll have to check back to find out.

 

 If I find enough couples in the Go-Go industry who want to share their story, then the series will become a weekly part of the blog.  So, far I have at least one.  Maybe I can finally talk to Suttle Thoughts' percussionist Love who inspired the series.

Tune in this week for the final two stories.

If you are in the Go-Go industry (musician, host, promoter, manager, security, dj) and want to be a part of the series, email me.

Basketball Wives Season 4, Episode 1 Sneak Peek

Love and Go-Go: The Series

When you first see the title, Love and Go-Go, you immediately think of the back-stabbing, gossip, and hair-pulling drama of reality television shows such as Basketball Wives, Love and Hip Hop or the Real Housewives series.  And while I once had a conversation with a go-go wife about how such a series would make for interesting viewing, it wasn’t that conversation that inspired the series.  That’s not to say that such a show wouldn’t be entertaining, but if that’s what you are hoping to see here, then you will be sorely disappointed, because this series is nothing but a love fest.

Read the rest.

Basketball Wives Season 4 Super Trailer

Get More: Basketball Wives (Season 4), Evelyn, More Video

Finally Pics of Blue Ivy Carter

 

New Music from Monica and Brandy - It all Belongs to Me

Viola Davis as You've Never Seen her Before - Natural and Beautiful

Check out these wonderful photos of actress Viola Davis of the movie The Help shot for a recent article in LA Times Magazine.

Click here to read the article.

Why I Stopped Going to Go-Go's

Last night I went to the Decoy Lounge inside of the Colony South Hotel in Clinton to check out Another Vybe/Different Vybe/Vybe Lite/Whatever. It's basically the Vybe Band without the congos. They play R&B (still with a go-go feel) in spots that don't want Go-Go. And while I still enjoyed the music and had a good time, I definitely prefer congos. The best part about the night? I got to sit down at a table! Granted getting a table depends on what time you get there and even though we got there at 8:30-ish, we still had to sit at a table on the floor. But, it was still a table. I had my purse with me and nobody looked in it, I didn't have to take my shoes off, I wasn't patted down or wanded, parking was plentiful, I didn't have to wait in a line (unless you consider the two ladies in front of me a line), and it was only $10.

Don't get me wrong, I still love Go-Go, and will still check out a band occasionally. Every time I do go out, someone in the band will say they haven't seen me in a while. Or, someone will hit me up on Facebook and ask me when I'm coming to check them out. I always tell them "I'm old." I'm joking, but not really. Many don't realize that I'm 46. My tolerance for foolishness has diminished greatly. After 9 years of bartending in a club (and working a full-time job) not only am I tired, but my feet hurt!! I can't stand up for 4-6 hours (unless I'm bartending) and I'm not buying a bottle to get a table because I don't drink like that. I'm not standing around an hour waiting for a band to start and if I stay at home and wait, I'm liable to fall asleep, and once I drive home from downtown, I'm not coming back downtown and I'm definitely not staying at work 2-3 hours past my 5 O'Clock quitting time. So, this once-a-month Vybe situation at Decoy is perfect for me.  Not to mention that MzLaydee's (Natasha) and Songbird's

Kimise Lee, Derrick Holmes, and Natasha Kelly

(Kimise Lee) voices blend perfectly with Derrick Holmes and I don't think I've enjoyed a singing trio this much since Pretty Nikki, TJ and Kal'el shared the stage with After Hours. Or Shorty, Pratt and Michelle Blackwell with Suttle Thoughts.

Brencore Entertainment brings Vybe to Decoy once a month on Saturday along with Derek "Redfootz" Freeman's Red Sessions on Fridays. Its also a cute neighborhood spot to pop into for a drink or quick bite to eat.

The title of this posts is somewhat exaggerated. I still pop into a Go-Go from time-to-time. I hope to get a chance to check out Killa Cal with Rare Essence soon and I haven't seen Backyard in a while. I just have to remember to wear flats, clothes with pockets and bring nothing but my license and some money.

Wale Performs Lotus Flower Bomb on Jimmy Fallon w/Miguel. I see you Tre

WLFBJFL by YardieGoals

UPTOWN Magazine » Brand New Day: Tameka Raymond [Exclusive Interview] » UPTOWN Magazine

 

Tameka Raymond is standing in the middle of her airy kitchen cracking jokes and sharing recipes. She’s meticulously picking out pieces of Cajun shrimp from a piping hot casserole– as if playing Operation– and eats them carefully, so as not to smudge her freshly painted red lips. I am surprised to learn she cooks for her children daily. She rattles off a recipe they are gaga over: a dressed-up, chicken-flavored ramen noodles dish. In disbelief, I open the doors of her spacious cupboard, were the infamous orange packages stare back at me in blatant rebuke.

You would think the former spouse of superstar singer Usher (they divorced in 2009 and have two children) lived like the women on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. However, the reality is that she’s a single mom with a career like many other women. During the day, while a nanny cares of Usher V (aka Cinco), 4, and Naviyd, 3, and while Ryan 12, and Kile, 10, (children with her first husband, music exec Ryan Glover) are in school, Raymond runs two businesses. She launched Estella, a clothing and home-decor boutique in Roswell, Ga., in 2010; and KangaZoom, an indoor children’s play facility in Alpharetta, Ga., which opened at the top of 2011. After a hard day of work, it’s all about family. In the Raymond household, paparazzi could snap pictures that might run with a caption like “She cleans after her kids. Just like us!” Which isn’t to deny Raymond’s glamorous side.

Read the rest:

UPTOWN Magazine » Brand New Day: Tameka Raymond [Exclusive Interview] » UPTOWN Magazine

Love and Hip Hop Season 2, Episode 8 Sneak Peak

Jim Jones surprises Chrissy in Miami with a touching proposal. Kimbella faces the demons of her past by meeting with her mother and the demons of her present by meeting with Erica to squash the beef.

Love And Hip Hop