4/20…Continues to Draw Large Crowds

As marijuana reform continues to prevail, today marks the day of the counter-culture holiday 4/20 Pronounced (Four-Twenty), where folks across America gather and celebrate the consumption of Cannabis. This celebration started on the campus of San Rafeal High School in California back in the early 70’s. The after-school detention students would gather after 4:20pm (after detention) and engage in consuming the illegal drug, Marijuana. Since the 70’s, this movement has taken off as a global phenomena reaching across the globe to New Zealand.

Although many supporters are aware of the threats of exploiting synthetic drugs at these events, the significant gathering continues to push the movement of youth organization.

A large celebration is held at Boulder Colorado’s Campus every year, drawing crowds up to 10,000. “We’re at the starting point of a movement,” a Boulder student  explains, “This is a big part of the reason I applied here — for the weed atmosphere.” – Daily Camera

In some locations, 4/20 kicks off Earth Week. Anti-drug organizations and college campuses are working hard against these unsanctioned, unwelcomed, illegal activities. For instance, UCSC has taken action in limiting transportation in and out of the campus this entire week. Sections of the school will be closed and a “no-guest” and “no overnight stay” policy to on-campus residents will be in place.

Aron Byzak, president of the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, an anti-drug group in north San Diego County, says

“This is a prime opportunity for us to educate them about how every bit of marijuana someone smokes here is giving more power and more money to the drug cartels in Mexico” – Wall Street Journal

Michael Phelps is sure to be alone on this day with bong in hand. Can’t always trust your  so-called friends when you’re on a box of Wheaties.

The Banana Split

As ridiculous as it sounds, watching reality shows has made my life just a little bit easier. It puts things into perspective and reminds me of how good life is especially when people are going to such great lengths to make fools of themselves (oops!) I mean, find love on television.

With that being said, as we draw closer to the season finale of the ever so entertaining reality show For the Love of Ray J, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to one of the most eligible bachelorettes, Chardonnay. I must admit, that out of all of the ladies, I wanted Chardonnay to be one of the final two. Unfortunately, the suave, debonair, vocally talented Ray J eliminated Ms. Chardonnay from the competition. She worked so hard to get Ray J’s attention, I think she was deserving of the proverbial crown.

That Chardonnay sure does know how to entertain. Lets think back to one of the earlier episodes in the season where Ray J challenged the ladies to entice him via a web cam. Chardonnay won Ray J over with her “banana split” routine – he was so amazed that he fell out of his chair. If you haven’t seen this, I suggest you check it out for yourself.  As a heterosexual woman, I was impressed (and a tad bit jealous at the same time). I gotta give it to her, It was creative and well thought out. She had the best talent out of all of the girls. Now if only Chardonnay had applied all of that creativity towards other endeavors she wouldn’t have to subject herself to being auctioned off on TV for the “love” of Ray J.

I’m not here to knock anyone’s hustle. As the saying goes, “it ain’t trickin’ if you got it”. My only concern is when Chardonnay stated that prior to being on the show she had never been on a plane before and had never been out of the state of Georgia. Wow. Thanks to reality TV she had the opportunity to see another part of the United States and introduce herself to the world. This was her moment, her debut, and she decided to do the “banana split.” Who am I kidding? She was on a show called For the Love of Ray J. What else do you do on a show like that? If there’s any time to showcase a talent like the “banana split” then it must happen on a show with a sleazy man and other desperate women fighting over him. I really don’t know what else to say about this except that when I do have children, they aren’t going to watch TV.

I’ll never look at a banana split the same. Thanks Chardonnay.

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Miss California’s Answer….Weak, Strong or Both?

 

How do you all feel about her answer?

And check out Perez Hilton’s Bitch Fit….Interesting

Click here

A New Day, A New Dawn

The problem with reality television is that when the drama is so big, so over-the-top, so ridiculous our natural tendency is to think it’s scripted. The people involved are nothing more than caricatures of characters played by humans…or something like that. So, when you’re sitting on your couch trying to stifle the “no, he did not just cry like that,” or yell loudly “What the hell happened to your face Aub…” it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day, these are people who followed their dream of being famous.

It’s hard to forget the ones that have talent though. Take Dawn Richard. You know her as the sweet Southern girl whose life was ripped apart by Hurricane Katrina and partially made whole by her life-changing experience with Sean Combs’ “Making the Band.” You know her as the one with the voice, the one who dated Qwanell, the one who stuck the ride out until the very end.

What you don’t know is that this hardworking 26-year-old has a true underestimated level of grit and determination. She also has a slight problem of being on time. When she did finally make it downstairs from primping and whatnot, the person that sat down for her interview with THE BLVD. was surprisingly candid, polite, poised and ready to talk about her journey.

Since the storm Richard and her family relocated to Baltimore; still, being in Houston felt like a homecoming for her. An appearance at the Cotton Exchange put a little change in her pocket, but it was the heavy humid weather of Houston that did wonders for her soul. “Any chance I can get to Houston, I do,” she said. Richard’s been busy since her Making the Band days. She’s preparing for her second comic book, Danity Kane, coming out on www.Danitykanecomics.com and has a soundtrack to accompany with a scheduled release of December 2009. Fans of the show will remember that it was Richard who created the name based off of a character she created – Danity Kane.

“I’ve always liked to draw, it’s been my outlet,” she said while casually sitting in the lounge area of the hotel. “As a child, I knew that I had thoughts and ideas that made me a bit different from other kids.” Her days as a college student at the University of New Orleans – main campus she felt that she wasn’t like her peers. Her saving grace – singing. “You know how parents will put their children in everything,” said Richard, who has been singing since seven-years-old. “I hated it at first, but I fell in love with how I was able to express myself.”

It was vitally important to her after Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of New Orleans residents in late 2005. It was during that time that Richards found her strength despite people telling her that she played the victim. “I’m so past that because everybody goes through struggles, but during the time it was all I could see,” she said. “In the end it’s a blessing. Sometimes we use the place we’re born as a crutch.”

That wisdom helped her get through her most recent storm, the dissolution of her band. The group saw platinum record sales, sold out tours and two hot albums, but it wasn’t enough to keep egos in check, communication open and the drive to succeed intact. True enough, she’s still in a state of delayed shock, but it’s not something that is going to deter her. “I knew coming in that this is a business,” she said. “I chose to look at the bigger picture and acknowledge what it was,” she steadies her tone for a second to collect her thoughts. “I didn’t come in with friends,” she continues. “I wanted a good business, I wanted success. It was a job like any other job.” That meant that the five members: Shannon Bex, Wanita “D.Woods” Woodgette, Aundrea Fimbres, Aubrey O’Day and Richard had to deal with the struggles of day to day business; showing up on time, taking accountability for individual decisions.

They were able to make it work for three years, but having your personal and professional lives played on the screen will take a toll on any group. “95 percent of these groups don’t like each other,” she said. “But it’s true, we did form a sisterhood, it’s only natural after you spend more than a year with anyone.” But, at the end of the day it’s still a business. “I wish people could see it for what it is,” she said, while fidgeting with loose aquamarine and purple top that drapes her 5’3 frame. “It’s nothing more and nothing less.”

Wait, does that mean that the fights and arguments splashed in vivid color were real and not staged. “Absolutely,” she said. “We had no choice, but to be real. We lived, worked, loved together. A lot of people had money invested in us and we had obligations to work hard. We were dealing with men, and they don’t care about the bull, they want to see your numbers, how much you sold.”

That grind gets so tiring that in a way, Richard feels relieved that part of her life is over. The lights shone too bright, especially on her relationship with ex-boyfriend Qwanell Moseley. Moseley, also known as Que from Day 26, fell in love on the show and the two remain close friends despite the decision to go their separate ways. “I feel bad for Que right now,” she says referring to the shenanigans occurring on the current season of Making the Band. “You have to keep in mind, he’s 20. He’s a boy trying to become a man. You made the same decisions when you were 20, the difference is it’s not being played on a public stage. Would you want someone judging you for those decisions?”

It’s a lesson that she’s had to learn along the way, and as she prepares for the next phase in her life one can tell it’s going to be done on Richard’s terms. It’s in glimmer in her eyes when the mention of a possible solo project is in the works. While she can’t discuss the details, tracks from various collaborations have been leaked for the better part of a year, including one incredibly hot collabo with Lil’ Wayne titled “Phase.” Those tracks garnered a great amount of hate from fans, blogs and the like, but it doesn’t faze her. “I appreciate the opinion, but you choose to listen to what you want to listen to,” she said. It’s time for her to leave, and as she prepares to exit she turns around and imparts one last piece of wisdom. “I know God is a good God,” she said. “I try to make my choices righteous, I’m not perfect, but I try to do the right thing for me. I think we all should.” 

Special thanks to Kelly King for coordinating this interview.

EDITORS NOTE: In the article it is stated that Dawn and her, ahem, boyfriend Que are no longer together. www.theblvdmag.com stands by its original reporting, but has been alerted by Dawn’s management that Dawn and Que are indeed still together as of Wednesday, April 22. The management is the only source of this information currently, oh and the show. Please stay tuned for more developments.

Village Girls Don’t Cry….

It was 1 p.m. on a random sunny week day. I was day-dreaming and compiling a list of To Do’s for the weekend when I received a frantic call from one of my best girl friends. She woke up and realized that her wardrobe was still stuck in the early 2000s, our college days, and not befitting of a young, successful newlywed. My response came from the most sisterly place within me, “What the hell!? Pack that shit up in a trash bag and call Purple Heart TODAY!”

As a shopping fanatic, my ears twitched and I felt the excitement of possibly going on a girl’s day with my best bud mixed with slight apprehension given her history of Internet shopping. Internet shopping can be an informal introduction to the latest trends in fashion and a possible wardrobe, so I knew my services were needed.

I took her up for a date. She planned out the entire day from lunch to where to shop as I strategized the specifics on wants vs. needs for both our wardrobes. I’m a want person with an artsy but polished style, willing to go above and beyond to find great labels on a discount. She’s structured and needy and hates to bother with large inventory. It was the Neiman’s Last Call shopper vs. the J. Crew shopper, a challenge I was willing to take to inspire a fresh new start and a sense of newness for the both of us.

I wanted a flirty one of a kind summer jumpsuit and sexy vacation dresses. She needed a cocktail dress and transition pieces to include in her everyday wear and occasional date nights with her hubby. We were on different pages but the same book, so it was a good start for us. As our shopping day was approaching, we called each other on occasion, “Did you see The First Lady today?”….”Yes she looks amazing, I can’t wait to go shopping and work on my arms.”

Our day finally arrived. We grabbed a quick bite to eat to alleviate the grumpy distractions, and after doing a drive-by of the entire Village Arcade, our first stop was a hidden spot — Village Girls. The “word on the street” was there was a colorful boutique, right next to Buffalo Wild Wings off of Rice BLVD, owned by an islander by way of Trinidad who’d been in the Houston resale business for more than ten years. We knew we weren’t in the mood for ethnic print wrap dresses and bamboo bracelets. We wanted something stylish and unique, something that resembled how we felt about ourselves.

As soon as I entered the boutique, with the hot pink walls and animal print décor, I had a good feeling. This place was bold and unafraid. To our delight, we were greeted with a jovial “Hello Lovely Ladies! Welcome.” Judy Hunte, the store owner, was taking a lunch break with a friend who happened to be an awesome make-up artist. Creativity was in the building to say the least.

As my buddy and I shifted through the colorful racks, we drifted into our own worlds. My arms were full of colorful cotton sundresses and tops. I checked on my good friend and was relieved to see her feasting over the more structured, delicate cocktail dresses. We were screaming at each other as if we were competing for “who could find the best stuff the fastest?”. As we talked with Judy, she reminded us of a long lost favorite cousin or young aunt. Her spirit was beautiful and she added onto the madness by bringing out more hot clothes we missed. With her comforting Trini accent, she responded to our excitement with “Finally…some girls who get it, people can be so afraid of color…ya know!”.  She never once tried to make a sale by adding an unwanted belt or accessory, she just did her thing…she sat back and let us take joy in being friends and the experience we were sharing with each other.

It was spring and we were feeling the bug; we wanted to feel sexy and free. We were blown away by these two satin Jackie “O” dresses. Each dress befitting of our personality. The dresses fit right in our price range, only $80 for a limited quantity dress that fit like a glove.

With the economic collapse and the media inspired fear of shopping, we were proud to bring some cash flow back to a deserving small business like Village Girls. We felt the love from the boutique and Judy. She cheered us on as we made a mess in her dressing room. The two of us together purchased 6 dresses with prices ranging from $20-80. We walked out happy and inspired.

Stop by Village Girls 2509 Rice BLVD, 713-533-1163

http://www.myspace.com/villagegirls

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE TIME

The Time

1982 Warner Bros

Produced by Morris Day & The Starr Company

“What’s a ‘wiz?’” – Dorothy

Minneapolis is a strange place. Something, in the often below freezing temperatures, must breed some serious racial harmony. Save for the ubiquitous P-Funk, black rock bands didn’t really exist in 1982. As wild as Cameo and The Ohio Players may appear; the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll of the road often failed to pervade the black airwaves or basement parties. Enter Prince, The Time & Vanity 6. Under the auspices of The Starr Company, we got two to three Minneapolis batches of funk, rock, R&B and new wave every year properly feat worthy of nostalgic praise.

The Time’s self-titled debut presented us with six semi-clean cut, but motley musicians. The assumption of the album, based on the individual cues & cadence, was that they played everything we were hearing. In the hands of less genius company that would still hold water. Sure, the opening road ode “Wild & Loose” is impressive, funky and rocking, but when “777-9311″ cuts in, we realize that we have stepped into some other shit; something that no band could actually play with such precision for seven-plus minutes. The innovative and astounding programmed pattern with the high-hat roll and then off-time clap drum has to be credited to “TheWiz.”

“The Walk” reclaimsed the bands ownership of their distinctive groove. The bass and guitar are all in pocket, and the “cool” jam really showcased Morris’ charismatic clowning.. He’s a guy’s guy. He’s always gonna be for the fellas, even when appearing as a romantic, he’s a player. “Gigilos Get Lonely Too” was his ode to “dudes” everywhere.

Whether six or seven men, the genre-jumping and underrated new funk brand established here and on ‘that guy’s’ 1999, this was the next generation of funk to be imitated, but never duplicated for the next ten years. Minneapolis stamps the blueprint.

SPLISH-SPLASH

 

As usual, H-Town is putting fine luxury wear on the map with the opening of sizzling South American swimsuit company Zingara (4027 Westheimer Road). The store will open its well polished doors in Highland Village, making its United States debut right here in Hustletown,just in time for a Houston summer where scanty bikinis are key to surviving the “dewy” workday. The line features bold vivacious prints, dazzling accents and sexy touches. A few well placed cutouts on these  that hint of Italian influences that are perfect for your Sunday morning lay in at Hotel ZaZa. Add killer heels, a sheer cover-up, Nicole Richie sized sunglasses and you’ll be looking like Giselle in no time. 

Get A Brasilian

 

In Houston, any given Spring day can lead you all over the city, and in a town known for its superb cuisine, that means you’ve gotta stop somewhere and get a bite to eat. There’s no better place to rest your haunches than Brasil. Tucked away inside lush brush, bush, and hanging vines the brick and old oak wood exterior gives way to an open, airy, café where the wait staff is friendly, and the entrees are as aesthetically pleasing as they are tasty. The spacious restaurant, located at 2604 Dunlavy and Westheimer, has a breezy brick courtyard that has enough gentle wind coming through it at any given time to keep all patrons comfortable. For fare, assortments of red and white wines are available, along with imported and domestic beer, juice, lemonade and water. Brasil mastered the art of a good salad. The Duck Salad is a divine treat with crumbled feta cheese over leafy baby spinach. Fresh cooked duck is roasted to a medium well leaving just enough pink to keep the meat tender and sliced on top of the salad, with fresh blackberries bursting underneath the heat of the duck. A rich vinaigrette is drizzled on top giving contrasting sweet savory flavors. Or try the four cheese grilled cheese sandwich, replete with fries and chips. Four Italian cheeses are melted together on lightly toasted white bread to make the ultimate in grilled cheese sandwiches. Prices are beyond reasonable and range from $6 to $13, but generally hovering around $7.

Brasil: 2604 Dunlavy

(713) 523-1998

 

Photo Courtesy of: imneverfull.blogspot.com

Human Nature, April 3-May 10

 

These days it seems that everyone’s talking about the state of the world around us.  People are “going green” or taking time to examine the way they treat the earth.  Not to be left behind, the Houston Center for Photography will be hosting Human Nature for the following month.  Human Nature is a collaborative exhibition between several photographers from all over the world, each displaying a series of photos demonstrative of the dynamics of human infringement on the natural world.  Additionally, there is also a section dedicated to local student participation in this project. Young artists from high schools all over Houston have also submitted their work in answer to this theme.  Collectively these photos form a fascinating mosaic. 

Furthermore, on Friday, April 17 and Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. there will be a film screening relating to the thesis of the “Human Nature” exhibition.  On the alternating Thursdays, April 23 and May 7, also at 7 p.m., the HCP hosts “partner potlucks,” where, for a donation of canned food, one can enjoy food, drinks, artist talks and discussion sessions for local non-profit organizations.  All donations benefit Loaves and Fishes, an organization providing free meals to families in need nationwide.  The HCP is located at 1441 West Alabama St. Check them out at www.hcponline.org

 

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