The Market at Santa Monica Place. Mmm Mmm GOOD!

So, I took a couple quick trips to check out The Market at Santa Monica Place. One with my bestie and one with my mom. Thank God I have foodies in my life that would understand my excitement! I love food. I love trying different things, cooking, discovering cool items and expanding my knowledge. All good things to me. So, I had been waiting for The Market to open for months. So I had to taste, buy...and take pictures. LOL

30 Days Later...

I’ve been working very hard at changing my habits and lifestyle for the better. For years, I seem to have always been fighting an uphill battle in my life. 2 steps forward, 2 steps back with pit stop of good times along the way. I think a lot of us do that. I think its survival. We take what comes our way and find ways to cope. For me, I had developed the habit of shutting myself down. Doing what I had to, to get things done, then holing up in my bedroom in front of the TV…or going out so I could be away. Nothing wrong with either, but I realized a few months ago that I had stopped being actively in control of the life I led. Mine was a life of defense. And as long as I didn’t take control, what happened in my life would remain the same.

The Beautiful One...

Yeah, so I've seen PRINCE. 3 times. Have you seen PRINCE? It's kind of funny what it's turned into now. Have you or haven't you. And how many times have you gone? But, I look at it a little differently. I study. The show, the business and, the part a lot of people don't see, the politics of the business. No doubt about it, Prince is one of the most amazing performers I've ever seen live. And each of the 3 shows I've been too have been different. Jazz arrangements on some songs, a long section on The Purple One on BASS last week, and different songs each time I've been. I had forgotten in listening to the recorded music how AMAZING A GUITAR PLAYER Prince really is. Watching him play has been nothing short of astonishing. It's also great to hear him sing the songs he's written for other people. My personal favorite has been "Shhhh..." the song he wrote for Tevin Campbell. I've always loved the song, but Prince's version laid me out...

But, Prince also has an integrity that will not allow for BS in his business or shows. If it isn't right, heads will roll. Some people think he's sensitive and strange, but you don't reach that level of success of talent by worrying about how people feel about your standards or decisions.

By last night, Prince walked on stage yelling that he was now paid and free of contracts. He was celebrating and making a statement. Only time will tell how things with Prince and concert promoters wash out...and which cities he does next, if any. But, this 21 Night Stand has been amazing! And it's not over yet. If you haven't seen Prince yet, do it! But watch Ticketmaster's ass...they're up to some trickery.

And of course, I've taken some pictures...

Permanent...Momentary...Satisfaction. A Love Summit recap. (VIDEO)

Last night was a great night at Little Temple. The folks at Nu-Soul Magazine have been hitting hard with their Nu-Thursday event for the past few weeks and The Love Summit was no different.

The night started with DJ Destroyer setting the mood in high fashion. Yet another great set! 1st up on the stage, Chris Young. The crowd was really diggin his style and his creativity. He ended the set with a song I really love Focus feat Nikko Gray. Nikko stayed on stage to go into her own seamless set...

Nikko is one of my favorite artists right now. She's got it all, the voice, the pen, the personality, the looks and the girl is a great nail artist who makes some dope jewelry to boot. Nothing like a woman who is creative and limitless.

The night ended with a stellar performance by Taylor McFerrin. It was an entirely improved set showcasing all sides of his musicianship. Some of the things he can do live really stretch the imagination. I cant wait to see how his live show develops as he adds songs and starts releasing full albums. A highlight of the set...McFerrin being joined on stage by his label mate, pianist Austin Peralta, while their Brainfeeder family, including Flying Lotus and Thundercat looked on. In his introduction of Peralta, McFerrin said that they'd met that day...but what they did together on that stage, with Austin on keys and Taylor on the beat box (which doesn't begin to describe what he does) was pure magic.

Here's a little more of The Love Summit fun, plus a vid...

Kick off Grammy weekend with the launch of Nu-Thursdays!

Hello all and Happy New Year! It's still new, right? There are lots and lots of things I'd like to post to the blog this year but with Grammy weekend FAST approaching there's no better place to start! The best part about being in LA during the Grammy's is all the wonderful live music and the infusion of great people from all over the world. There is never a dull moment. This year, you DO NOT want to miss the launch of Nu-Thursdays at Little Temple on 2/10/11.

 Hosted by 2011 Grammy nominee Eric Roberson, the night will feature performances by Sy Smith, YahZarah, Avery Sunshine and nominee Carolyn Malachi backed all night by Breezy LoveJoy Band. There will also be sets by DJ Destroyer. VERY limited presale tickets and table packages are available at http://templebarconcepts.tickets.musictoday.com/. HURRY!


Want a taste of what's in store for the night?

The McRib? Nah, I'm good...

“The McRib Is Back!”


A brightly colored sign announced this to an overflowing McDonald’s. The food stylists, those people responsible for making sure that every photo of every item of food looks heavenly, have done a great job. The barbeque sauce looks tantalizing, the pickles and onions look crisp and refreshing and the bun looks fresh. The best looking fries and ice cold drink sit off to the side. It all just works together.

But me, I just shook my head. Under all that lovely looking accompaniment lies one of the strangest food experiences I’ve ever had. Ever. Years ago, when I lived with my grandmother and we were broker than broke, we were signed up with a food bank at a local church. We’d go over and pick up a couple of bags of staples to supplement what we could afford. One day, as we were unpacking the bags, we came across this large industrial plastic bag with a dozen or so patties in the bottom.

They were grayish brown and covered in ice, so we didn’t know what they were. We smelled them, something completely unrecognizable hit me, but I still couldn’t identify what kind of meat they were. So we put them in the freezer to figure out some other day. You know, when we got low on protein.

When we finally defrosted some, we started to see the faint shape of ribs…more accurately, a McRib. They were like little oily sponges of pork something-or-other once they were thawed. I’d never seen a texture like that in a grocery store before in my life. My 1st thought…“is this what scrapple looks like?”

But, we were hungry and it was time to cook them. So, into the pan they went. BIG mistake! Within 2 minutes, they were swimming in grease and a 3rd of their size. We ended up wrapping them in paper towels, a couple of times, to get as much of the grease off as possible before we ate them. They tasted alright, but my stomach was not happy. But, we thought it was our cooking method. They couldn’t be THAT bad right? This was the highly sought after McRib, after all.

But, sadly it was not. The next time, we tried to bake them. When we pulled them out of the over there were these small, still grayish brown, things floating in grease. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Needless to say, I never touch a McRib again. And this was before I gave up meat. All it did was make me wonder…what else is in this stuff?

A little global funk and soul recap...

I saw Taylor McFerrin (yes, son of Bobby) do a great improved set this past Wednesday at Zanzibar...on the same show as Electric Wire Hustle. I'd heard his name, seen a few mentions but hadn't really gotten into his stuff. Until now. UBER talented dude. And he makes beautiful music. I newly obsessed with A Place In My Heart feat Ryat. Check this dude out, you won't be disappointed...

Taylor McFerrin - Track Preview from EARLY RISER by Taylor McFerrin

Go sign up for Taylor McFerrin's mailing list to get these songs!

And speaking of Wednesday night...Electric Wire Hustle!!! Another group I'd heard bits and pieces about for a while before I got the album. Loved it right away. But that album is only about a third as good as they are live. And I mean that. 3 people on the stage that sounded like 12! A lead singer with a gorgeous voice holding down the guitar, a keyboard player/programmer that did a BANANAS talk box solo and a drummer that really BEAT my bad day completely out of my body. This is their first go 'round in the US, but if you get a chance to see their show, DO NOT MISS IT!