Nick Cannon vs. Eminem

Well, well, well. Just when we thought Nick Cannon couldn’t get anymore lame, he proves us wrong. If you haven’t heard about the little issue between Nick and Eminem, then I’ll take a moment to fill you in.

Eminem has a new album coming out called Relapse and he decided to take a stab at an easy target, Nick Cannon by dissing his relationship with wife Mariah Carey in his song “Bagpipes From Bagdad” by implying that he wants her back.

“Nick Cannon better back the f— up,” Em warns the actor/musician on the track. “I’m not playing, I want her back, you punk.”

Later in the song, Em leaves a parting salvo: “Nick Cannon, you pr—, I wish you luck with that f—in’ whore.”(source: MTV)

Nick of course falls into the trap by responding on his blog (the response has been taken down) but other sources such as MTV show his response: “A mediocre (at best) Eminem record that sounds like it was written in 2001,” Cannon blogged. “At first, I thought it was old material that had been dug up from when dude ‘fantasized’ about having a pretend fling with Mariah. … But all of a sudden I hear my name in the verse! My first reaction was like, ‘This is his new sh–? Wow, that’s too bad.’ ”

Nick took it a step further by not only calling Eminem lame, but at the same time calling him out in the lamest of all lame ways by saying, “What type of grown…man lies about getting with a chick? Only Slim Lamey! LOL!”(source: yahoo)

Needless to say, whatever Eminem did, he did it with intellegence. Nick Cannon was the perfect person to use as a target simply because Nick is wack enough to respond. Instead of Nick playing the secure role and just sitting back with his sexy wife living in the moment, he has to fight back and prove that he’s “the man” by attempting to take a stab back at Eminem. Nick, that was a lame attempt and you have done nothing but give good ‘ol Slim Shady more publicity for his up and coming album.

Gardening Aint Like Bingo!

With this cool spin on “Going Green”, will gardening be a trend in youth culture?”Going Green” is the buzzword of the moment, and with good reason. With the economy still in the toilet, families are taking alternative routes to achieve healthy living. Stroll down any Whole Foods or drive to the nearest Farmer’s Market and take note of the “organic movement”. Buying organic is a great way to support local and independent farmers and teaches the importance of cooking fresh foods.

I’ve always had a ken of gardening, its been a secret hobby for years. My grandmother was an avid gardener in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and would force my brother, my little cousins, and I to pick green beans, tomatoes, collard greens, and okra in her huge garden during the entire summer. My brother and cousins cried and whined, as we shuffled manure into the soil. We all hated that shitty part, but I listened to my granny lecture on the importance of fresh vegetables and I guess it stuck.

Gardening does require proper techniques to produce plentiful crops, so I will save gardening tips for a later date. If it’s not too much for you busy city folk, visit the Bayou City Farmers Market located on 3000 Richmond Ave., in Houston, Texas and get a taste of what is real and fresh. The farmer’s market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to -12 p.m.

Julia Trainer, the farmer’s market coordinator for Urban Harvest, is reminding the youth to “Get involved and find a community or donation garden,” or at least volunteer with a community-based organization with a positive outcome. Check out their website at urbanharvest.org for future classes on gardening and community based programs.

So yeah I said it. I love to Garden!  Thanks to the whole “Green Movement”, I don’t feel shamed of my geriatric hobby….it’s kinda peaceful!

Life Time Fitness- Get FIT

Looking for a luxury fitness center? If so, Life Time – Sugarland Fitness is the place. Located at 1331 Highway 6, it’s a 24-hour gym complete with a spa, cafe, basketball court and an indoor and outdoor pool equipped with water slides. The club has excellent lighting and offers a variety of clean cardiovascular and weight machines. The major drawback is the club is around five-years-old and its routine to see broken machines sitting around for days waiting to be fixed.

Life Time offers a wide range of classes such as yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, aerobics, spinning and strength training. The first class during the week is at 5:15 a.m. and the last is at 7:15 p.m. One caveat for dedicated yogis, the yoga classes offered are more fitness based than traditional yoga. If you want to try a class, Adriana is the most skilled instructor.

The locker rooms are clean and spacious except for the restroom area. They only have four stalls and could be kept neater. The pool and locker room area is overrun with children and teenagers during peak hours. This is expected from a gym in the suburbs. And if you’re looking for a solid game of basketball, be prepared to stand in line, the court generally stays crowded. They have extra space outside that would adequately fit a soccer field, but no moves have been made by management to accommodate this member demand. Still, membership is comfortable enough to make getting a good workout in a decent amount of time possible.

All of Life Time’s amenities come at a moderate price for a plush gym — $55 is the average fee. However, members have to pay or upgrade their membership to use the rock climbing wall or racquetball court and to visit other Life Time Fitness locations.

All in all, if you are willing to pay the slightly pricey monthly dues and mingle with the slow-paced suburban crowd, Life Time is a well-run club with a friendly staff

A Pit-A Heaven

Last week, I stumbled across a quaint restaurant tucked away in a town center off of Westheimer. I was on the way to a lame fast food chain. I was in the mood for something ethnic and tasty to eat. Café Pita + Bosnian Cuisine sparked my interest.

There were two older men sitting in front of the cafe, quietly sipping on miniature cups of macchiato’s, reminiscent of the laid back demeanor of old Italy. I stepped inside to view the plethora of menu items. The list was overwhelming with options that made my stomach roar; from hummus, beef and chicken shish kebabs, to an array of soups and salads, I had no idea where I should start. I kept it simple and ordered the gyro sandwich for an affordable $4.99 . This isn’t your standard greasy sidewalk cart gyro. Café Pita’s gyro is a combination of marinated beef and lamb seasoned and cooked to a tender perfection placed inside freshly baked pita bread. With the accompaniment of yogurt dipping sauce and a side of freshly cut French fries, I was relieved to eat real food instead of artificial ick.

I couldn’t relish in my new find alone. I brought a to-go order home for the hubby, called cevap (pronounced che-vop), ground beef and lamb mixed with flavorful spices served in links, placed inside lepinja bread along with a side of red pepper sauce for dipping. This $6.99 dish is a deal for the portion size. Not only were we both excited about this newly discovered cafe, but finding an affordable alternative to unhealthy eating was a relief. They bake all their breads daily, and best of all, it’s CHEAP. Cafe’ Pita was a great find, and a definite must-try for food lovers on the go.

Before The Final Bow

You should know by now that UGK released its last album in April. By most standards the release of UGK 4 Life made a respectable showing. It sold 77,000 units the first week and debuted no. 6 on the Billboard 200. But it also marks the last time any of us will hear Bernard “Bun B” Freeman and Chad “Pimp C” Butler create that Port Arthur/Houston sound that has come to define east Texas for more than two decades.

Saying it’s the last hurrah would be nothing short of an understatement. It is the end of the golden age of Houston hip hop. The tough questions about Pimp C’s death in December 2007 have been asked, and somewhat answered, but what lingered was how would Bun B and those who have loved UGK since Too Hard To Swallow would close the final chapter of the Underground Kingz. Theblvdmag.com caught up with Bun B for a brief moment to get his thoughts about UGK 4 Life and life after UGK.

BLVD: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. You’ve said that working on this album was overwhelming at times. Can you take us back to the days and evenings you spent finishing the album without Pimp C?

BUN B: Everyone involved with the process was close friends with Pimp C, so even though we put our all in all of our projects, this one was different. Everyone tried to walk it the way that Pimp would walk it, but no one could fully duplicate his touch on everything we did.

BLVD: Do you think that he’s proud of what you created?

BUN B: I like to believe so. I like to believe that he’s pleased with what we produced.

BLVD: What are some of your peers saying about the album?

BUN B: They’re telling me they like it and I have to believe that they’re telling me the truth. I have friends who are real friends in this industry and they would let me know if I was heading down a wrong path with this one, but I think they’re telling me the truth.

BLVD: Pimp C’s final album will be released in a few months, what’s next for you and your solo career?

BUN B: I’m trying to get back into the studio, get back to recording and doing shows, and talking to people. I’m interested in a few projects that I can’t discuss yet.

BLVD: I’m sure what you have planned is going to be out of the box because the recording industry is crumbling.

BUN B: I think everybody is just trying to get the reorganization and structure of the music industry. The economy is having an effect on the way people are doing business across the board, including these CEOs. They’re looking at their bottom line differently. Either way, at the end of the day we gotta keep making music.

BLVD: But, you can make music and people still won’t buy it. Do you think the fans will still be there to support this industry?

BUN B: People aren’t buying music like they used to, and artists have to understand that you can’t rely on your last hit. What’s going to make a difference is about people having a real relationship with the music. It’s about making yourself accessible and out there as an artist.

BLVD: When not making music, what else are you doing?

BUN B: I’m making myself more available to the community. It’s not always about money, but more time and energy.

BLVD: That’s commendable.

BUN B: I’m really just doing what I would do if I weren’t an entertainer. It’s my civic duty, not only as an entertainer, but as a citizen.

Good Grief: A DJ You Should Know

There are some DJs that gain their fame from prolific mixtape output. You know their names because they’re blasted in echo effect on every song of every mixtape. They chose DJ’ing as their means to become famous, smashing songs together with no care or concern for the music.

Then there are those DJs who are legendary because they understand that DJing is an art. In Houston, the DJ of note is Robert Davis, better known as DJ Screw, who transformed the hip hop landscape by creating a genre of music that transcended the city he repped – Houston. But, he’s not alone. Houston can claim another legend in the making, DJ Good Grief.

Those in the know can find Grief mixing at EJs and The Spot, the least likely place for a white guy form Channelview to be at, but his homebase non-the-less. They’re the kind of spots that serve all you can eat crawfish for $20. And eating crawfish was the perfect way to pass the time on a sticky night while waiting for Grief to show up. His scheduled time was 8 p.m., one bucket of crawfish and two gin and tonic’s later the man of the night arrives in the most unassuming manner. He walked in swiftly, fresh from DJing a gig in the rain. With headphones on his head, he began to set up shop.

Ten minutes later EJs was popping. The guy in the black t-shirt and plaid shorts immediately spun rap classics from ESG, Mystikal and Eric B and the crowd rocked with him while they played dominoes and watched the playoffs. So, how did this DJ become a Houston classic affectionately known as just Grief by his fans? “My mom is a record head and my sister plays bass in her own band,” he says in his soft spoken demeanor. “I just grew up around music.” He may have grown up around music, but found a particular kinship to all things funky. Grief’s choices have a similar heavy bass line that overpowers any 808. The music is pulsing and groovy; selections that could have only been chosen by a true music lover.

His first gig was in 1987, recording songs on a Beta Max VCR and made a few bucks playing tunes for the neighborhood. He honed his skills by working the ones and twos at legendary Houston club scenes such as Maxx’s and The Roxy.

“From Electro-Boogie to the Auto-Tune, I feel like I’ve been able to stay ahead of the sound. Back in the day it was the only way of survival (as a DJ) to be an original. Now-a-days it’s a big factory where every DJ is equipped with a laptop and downloads of what a program director is paid to say is hot.”

Since then, he’s toured overseas, headlining in Paris with DJ Jazzy Jeff, and put out a few mixtapes himself. Grief isn’t interested in the fame that his peers around Houston compete for; his interest is in the acclaim from the fans who appreciate his pure love for what he does. “He really loves music,” says Billye Jordan, a close friend of Grief and a member of the legendary Coughee Sister crew. “He’s a hip hop historian. It’s rare that you find this kind of talent at this level.”

Grief reaches all the way back to Houston classics from the SUC and recent hits from Dallas to Boosty Collins and the Isley Brothers, and it’s evident that he has a mastery of what blends musical tastes. He’s one of the few Houston DJs who makes you want to stay for his entire set.

What’s more impressive than his musical styling is how approachable, humble and just plain ol’ nice he is. When he’s not working the turn table and a white Apple laptop, he’s moving around talking to people, pushing in chairs strewn about the club and occasionally picking up a fallen napkin from the floor. No, he’s not a Go DJ, wearing T-Pain hats and talking on the microphone every five seconds. “I respect those dudes, but that’s not what I’m into,” Grief says. He understands the game, and recognizes his own prowess on the turntables, which has lent itself to hate from outsiders at times. “I try to stay out of the media,” he says. “I don’t want to be a part of that crowd. It’s wack, and it’s boring to be that kind of DJ.”

See, it’s not that Grief is being confrontational, he just sees so much more for the Houston music scene. “There’s not really Houston rap,” he explains. “There’s not really a sound in Houston anymore, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s expanding and it’s becoming universal. Pop is rap.” True as that may be, it’s still sad to see the Houston sound fade, and the grind to keep up with the change is wearing on Grief. “I want to chill with my family and get into some other projects,” says the 30-something who plans on retiring at the end of 2009.

He plans to begin teaching DJ courses at Caanes High School, an alternative school for kids who want to find a different way to pursue their passions, one similar to the one he attended when he was younger. “I got bored with school and felt like there was something else I could put my energy towards,” he says. In that same vein, he’s in the planning stages of a not-for-profit music school for grammar and middle school-aged children. The hope is to be an alternative for children who have had the music programs removed from their respective schools. “He’s a very nice person,” Jordan says. “He’s family oriented, generous, and is genuinely interested in offering alternatives for the kids around Houston.”

In the meantime, he’s DJing throughout the Houston social and club scene, consistently at EJs on Saturdays. Catch him if you can, he’s worth it. And get a taste of his style when you check on the exclusive theblvdmag.com/Good Grief mixtape.  For more info check his site djgoodgrief.com. You can also find him blogging about his experiences as a DJ on thegriefgoodlife.com

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE EXCLUSIVE THEBLVDMAG.COM MIX

SPECIAL THANKS TO GOOD GRIEF

The Hypochondriac’s Nightmare…

The Swine Flu! AGHHH!

The swine flu has given way to media sensationalism and hysteria, and everyone is going crazy. Don’t get me wrong, I take it very seriously, especially when there are people dying from this. I must find some humor in the midst of all of the paranoia however. At the airport people are wearing masks and if you cough in a quiet place everyone begins to look at you like you’re a leper. The moment you mention that you’re allergies are bothering you people are discreetly asking you about your symptoms, “are you having muscle aches? Fever?” You’re just a person who has year-round allergies and you have to take your Allegra-D on a regular basis, no big deal right? Wrong. And, you may have just worked out or moved a bunch of heavy boxes recently, so your muscles may ache just a tad bit – but don’t tell anyone. To others you are a virus filled health hazard and you must be stopped. Who cares that you eat pretty healthy and you stay away from fattening foods to keep your arteries from being clogged. Who cares that you try to drink the suggested eight glasses of water a day. Who cares that you take Vitamin C and Echinacea on a regular basis to keep your immune system strong. You sneeze in a waiting room, at church, in the cell phone store – you have the Swine Flu. And, you must perish.

In all seriousness, my fellow Americans, please take care of yourself. Wash your hands, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer around, keep a can of Lysol at your desks at work. Even with out all the Swine Flu talk, people should try to work a little harder to not spread their nasty little germs. And, for God’s sake, PLEASE wash your hands after you go to the restroom. I don’t care if you only do “number1” and if you do drop a deuce, be courteous and strike a match or take that can of Lysol with you to the john. We didn’t need the Swine Flu to rear its ugly head for people to abide by these rules – but I’m taking the time out to address this problem because some people don’t know. There’s nothing like being in the restroom and witnessing your co worker take a squat and then walk out like he or she didn’t just wipe themselves AND touch the handle on the toilet in a PUBLIC bathroom. That’s probably how the Swine Flu got around so quickly – just because Jane or John Doe decided to relieve himself, not wash his hands, go to the conference room and stick his hand in the office cookies.Gross. So, people to avoid getting the Swine Flu, E. Coli, Pallegra, a Charlie Horse, or whatever the “new” virus is wash your hands.

…And apparently stay away from pork and people who eat it for that matter. Martin Lawrence said it best on his hit TV show, Martin, “Lips that touch swine, will never touch mine…’cause I feel so divine!” (see youtube clip below @ 1:37)

Pura Vida!

What do you get when you mix together Jamaican immigrants, French Artisans, twenty-something free spirited Americans, a heaping dose of reggae along with breathtaking beaches and the spirit of the ganja?  The hospitality of a small town with a big heart called Puerto Viejo.  Expats from almost every country imaginable call Puerto Viejo home, which is located on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and four and a half hour drive from the capital, San Jose.  Unlike other beach destinations, you won’t find overcrowded beaches lined with commercial buildings.

In order to preserve “The Rich Coast” the country has laws against building 50 meters along the beach. For this reason, lush natural green mountains line nearby pristine beaches.

Looking for a place to satisfy your sweet tooth?  Handmade chocolates and desserts are baked daily at Bread and Chocolate, owned by a young cat from Baltimore who fell in love with Costa Rica after a Spanish immersion class during his college days. Any place that has truffles named “Hot Damn” and “Straight Up” is a place worth trying.

Need a place to unwind?  Pure Jungle Spa says it all.  Where else can you get a caribbean cooler body treatment along with tropical bliss facial and exotic foot ritual?  For all my chocoholics, I’d try the ultimate total body chocolate decadence body treatment with the jungle chocolate facial.

Hungry from lounging on the beach all day?  Try a little Jungle Love, owned by a San Francisco couple, Yamu and Poppy.  Set in a small intimate garden atmosphere, their world fusion/tropical cuisine will definitely have you regretting you didn’t order an extra plate to go.  The shrimp salad topped with mango salsa was a personal favorite.

For all you art hounds, Lulu Berlu houses creations from local and international artists.  From African inspired furniture to purses made from recycled goods, to hand painted ceramics to eye-catching beachwear, Lulu Berlu will surely have something for everyone.

Lookin for an authentic Costa Rica meal?  Don’t leave Puerto Viejo without stopping by Tex Mex.  Don’t let the name fool you, you won’t find any mariachis here.  This bar has it all in one spot with one of the city’s best breakfasts during the day and savory drinks by night.

Ladies, you can leave the Louboutin’s at home, with flip flops on your feet and rhythm to catch the beat, you’re set just leave a free hand for the mojito the bartender is ready to give you and be ready to live the Pura Vida
Check out: www.luluberluart.com    www.purejunglespa.com

EJ’s

 

Missouri City doesn’t know what hit it. A dope-ass sports bar right off of Cartwright and 1092 complete with more than eight screens and a hot DJ every night. This bar is tucked in the corner next to the Shell gas station and is a hole in the wall in the best sense of the phrase. If you come on Mondays, it’s Ladies Monday Martini’s where the drinks are only $4 all night. If you have a taste for wings it’s .50 wing Wednesdays, and don’t forget about Grown Folk Fridays where teachers, accountants, waste management specialists, hell anybody paying bills can go and enjoy sounds from the O’Jays and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Don’t fear though, this isn’t just your mom’s favorite hangout. DJ Good Grief is just one of the special attractions. If you come in on a good night there’s all you can eat crawfish for $20, and people playing dominoes until 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday bring out the home folk from the Mo. Dress to enjoy yourself, but no baseball caps indoors. There’s plenty of parking for biker crews that come through EJ’s and occasionally there are motorcycle shows outside, but if you arrive in a vehicle with doors parking is limited after midnight. No cover ever and plenty of security, not that it’s needed. The crowd is relaxed and just looking for a drama free night. The owners, Enos Cabell and Jarrod Oliver, wanted to make sure there wasn’t a bad seat in the house and they got it right.

EJ’s Sports Bar

The corner of Cartwright and F.M. 1092 in the same shopping center as Ed’s Pharmacy

ZAC POSEN 2009 FALL LINE

At 11 am, Kentucky derby hats, floral print dresses, and cocktails may be too early of a start for most regular nine-to-fivers, but rules do not apply to the high society guests of this invitation only event. The Houston Grand Opera and SAKS 5th Avenue hosted the preview of  Zac Posen’s 2009 Fall collection to a select group of shoppers and fashion mavens at Houston’s Hotel ZaZa on April 22nd.  Zac Posen was also in attendance, dressed in a silk cotton lilac suite accessorized with his signature romantic take on the bow tie. Charming the fringe blouses off the rich housewives of oil tycoons and financial gurus, Posen said all the right things to all the right people. The ladies were excited and ready to make special orders before the show even started.  For a native New Yorker, Zac was pleasant and candid while talking briefly to his supporters and fans. Before unveiling his collection, a housewife with scissors and paper in hand performed an impromptu cut-out of the silhouette of Posen in a matter of seconds. Impressed but not at all stunned, Posen politely placed his gift on his lapel as a thank you and walked into the ball room to start the show.

As the champagne flowed, the attendees were dazzled by the statuesque beauties.  Unsurprisingly, the diverse model line-up served well for Zac’s collection. The light weight cotton and silk fabrics of Chartreuse, plum, and gold were vibrant for the fall.  Houston’s weather is not befitting of dark and heavy fabrics, so the show was a definite inspiration for what is to come in fall trends for warmer climates.

I questioned Zac for advice on how to stay focused and motivated during such a trying time with the economy. He hesitated to respond,  almost walking away due to my lack of interest in making a purchase. The press was not a focal point, he’s been a well known celebrity in the fashion world since Sean Combs invested in his line back in 2004. The last he wanted to hear was a reminder of the current economy and it’s effect on the high end retail industry. I stood firm and took out the scary “economy” word…”Zac, can you give us young, aspiring entrepreneurs advice on how to stay motivated when diversity rears its head?” he responds…”Good luck and congratulations with your new venture….and keep pushing forward.” Not really the response I wanted….but hell, I’ll take it, It’s Zac Posen!

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