Worthy-Opponent

NewPostsComingSoon

2009-01-14T15:56:00.000-05:00

NEW POSTS COMING SOON.........

WeedVendingMachines

2008-09-24T00:11:00.001-04:00

WEED VENDING MACHINES? HUH?

Has anyone else heard about this incredible phenomenon?

CONTEST

2008-09-23T13:24:00.007-04:00

Hey Fam,

I'd like to kick the Fall off with a little free give away for those of you who have been sooo supportive of this blog and my big mouth! Like I posted a few weeks ago, I am officially supporting Jazmine Sullivan and her talented behind! In celebration of her new album Fearless--that dropped TODAY--and the fact that EVERY single one of you should run out and buy it, I am giving a few copies away for FREE!

Here's the catch: Simply hit me back with why you feel you are the ultimate Worthy-Opponent and/or send me a picture/video representing your Worthy-Opponent-ness. Yes! That's it! I'll make sure to send out Cd's asap to the best entries! Maybe even a few extra goodies if you make it real good!

That's It!

Many Blessings,

Sana

P.S.

** Jazmine will be opening for none other than Mr. Sexiness himself, Maxwell. You can
catch them both, here in New York, on October 9th at Radio City Music Hall!

** To Purchase Jazmine's new album, Fearless, go here:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=280279879&s=143441

** To check out Jazmine on MYSPACE (you know you want to) hit our girl up here:
http://www.myspace.com/jazminesullivan

LolaFiles

2008-09-22T23:00:00.002-04:00

My baby runs free in Fort Green Park!

Crafts

2008-09-22T22:06:00.003-04:00

Make Your Own Business Cards

If you are anything like me, you're working on your next master plan to make some *GWAP* and give yourself that fabulous vacation you know you deserve! I'm always thinking of some obscure, unconventional way to work at something that I like and not have to sit my ass in an office all day. Well, if this plan includes soliciting your business, you might think about getting some business cards made. No money? No biggie. The team over at Time Out New York has a few tips for those of us who are on the come up and need a little professional finesse to get things rolling.

Check out the article here:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/apartments/47601/print-business-cards

HelpJillianPena

2008-09-22T21:55:00.003-04:00

Browsing through Time Out New York this evening, I came across something that made me stop and give thanks for all of the many blessings that I have. I was very moved and it made me sit and reflect for a bit. Here's why:

On August 11, Jillian Peña, a filmmaker, dancer and Hollins University graduate, was struck by a car as she crossed a Brooklyn street. Following emergency surgery at Bellevue Hospital, Peña, 28, has regained consciousness and is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation at the same hospital.

Her parents traveled from New Mexico to be with her, but like many artists, Peña is uninsured and hospital bills are mounting. She is improving gradually, though the gravity of her accident cannot be underscored enough.

An artist of profound promise—she is a doctoral candidate in performance studies at Goldsmiths in London and presented the gorgeous MOTHERSHIP at Dance Theater Workshop last spring—Peña is in need of financial support.

You can follow her recovery progress at friendsofjillian.blogspot.com and donate funds to cover her medical costs via PayPal through donations4jillian@gmail.com.

— Gia Kourlas

Towelhead

2008-09-22T21:39:00.002-04:00

Synopsis: 'Towelhead' follows the dark, bold and shockingly funny life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening.

When Jasira's mother sends her to Houston to live with her strict Lebanese father, she quickly learns that her new neighbors find her and her father a curiosity. Worse, her budding womanhood makes her traditional and hot-tempered father uncomfortable. Lonely in this new environment, Jasira seeks friendship and acceptance from her neighbors Mr. Vuoso, an Army reservist, and Melina, a meddling but caring expectant mother.

Thrown into an unfamiliar suburban world, Jasira must confront racism and hypocrisy at home and at school - and at the same time struggle to make sense of her raging hormones and newfound sexuality. Her boyfriend, Thomas, though a few years older, provides some comfort - but even that relationship causes problems when her father discovers that Thomas is black. Surrounded by adults who are just as lost as she is, Jasira yearns for understanding, even amidst often brutal acts.

TRAILER:

source: Moviefone

SchomburgReadingRoom

2008-09-22T20:38:00.005-04:00

The historic Schomburg Center in Harlem (515 Malcolm X Blvd.) has launched a fantastic new reading series that I felt I should share with you all. The Schomburg Reading Room: Writers on the Cutting Edge, curated by acclaimed author, poet, and journalist, Quincy Troupe which will run from September 2008 through May 2009. It's crazy how many times, in the past few weeks, I've heard people say that they don't read because A) they don't have the time, B) they can't find material that appeals to them, or C) they're just not into reading! AND, to put the cherry on the cake, these comments all came from Brown PEOPLE! This is damn near blasphemous! So here's an opportunity to activate your reading libido and hopefully find something you are "more into."

Learn more at: http://www.nypl.org/research/calendar/prog/sch/schser.cfm?id=349

TrikoLuv

2008-09-22T19:51:00.003-04:00

Hey Fam,

I just wanted to share with you my little cameo on the Triko Blog. Triko is a progressive, premium streetwear brand for the fashion conscious consumer. Triko is committed to using the finest natural materials available to produce high quality product, in order to advance their efforts to a healthier environment. Their focus is on promoting social and environmental awareness through design and lifestyle. Designer Hector Estrada chooses to incorporate sustainable materials into his collection, such as organic or raw cotton on selected tees and using coconut shells or recycled soda cans as buttons.

Triko is actively involved in charities and organizations including Solar 1 and Defenders of Wildlife and will continue to support charities and organizations that work towards the protection of the environment and its inhabitants. They are a pretty cool little company and I'm super excited to be featured on their blog.

To learn more about Triko, check them out at : www.triko.com

To check out my feature, check me out here: http://friends.amivectio.com/

As always, thanks for all of your love and support.

Many Blessings,

*Sana

MYLA

2008-09-18T10:45:00.019-04:00

Browsing through the bulk of naughty e-mails I receive daily, (somehow I end up on these websites' mailing lists..no clue how) I ran across a great one to share with you girls. More than just naughty, this London-based lingerie line is absolutely beautiful, sexy, and completely enticing!

They offer any array of lacy undies, naughty toys, and YES--lots of LEOPARD (which I love)! Panties generally run Small-Large AND their bras range in size for my itty-bitty-titty ladies all the way up to 3 full mouth-fulls of 36 DD's! I particularly like their furry nipple tassels, fresh water pearl g-strings, and their leopard-printed leather/silk tie ups! So if you were thinking about treating him/her to a little evening of naughtiness, or just wanted to give yourself a gift--I try to do this weekly-- check out Myla London and let me know what you think!

Enjoy Kiddies!

Check out Myla at: http://www.mylausa.com

Source: dailycandy.com

2008-09-18T10:45:00.003-04:00

ENSLER VS PALIN

Eve Ensler, the American playwright, performer, feminist and activist best known for "The Vagina Monologues", wrote the following about Sarah Palin.

Drill, Drill, Drill

I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists.

But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.

I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country choose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity.

Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God."

Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not.

She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes.

Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States . She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth.

Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air.

Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be.

I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S. , but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and healthcare or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression.

If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis, doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain.

Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in the floor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?

Eve Ensler
September 5, 2008

What do you think?

Source: M. Rojas ;-)

FashionWEEKSpring2009

2008-09-12T13:17:00.003-04:00

FASHION WEEK WRAP-UP!
I'm totally not a fashion snob or a label whore at ALL, but I do enjoy the creativity that stands behind making a piece of art. In my mind, fashion is art and although I'll be the first to admit that I do not own any of the following designer pieces, I still really like the work and craftmanship. So if you care, check it out and if you don't, carry on. :-)

WORTHY-OPPONENT Fashion Week Faves:

MICHAEL KORS:

OSCAR DE LA RENTA:

ZAC POSEN:

NANETTE LEPORE:

TIBI:

BCBG MAX AZRIA:

and TRACY REESE:

2008-09-12T03:07:00.001-04:00

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

Who is this girl? Where did she come from? And WHY am I just learning about her? I love the sound, love her look, and support her work! I hope you do as well!

LaPenelope

2008-09-12T02:50:00.004-04:00

So this week, my "Yummy" of the week goes to the beautiful, talented, and inspiring Penelope Cruz! She's not your typical bomb-shell yet I find her extraordinarily beautiful and I pretty much love every character she's ever played! I just watched her 2 newest films this evening and BOTH were equally as impressive, well-written, and entertaining. We support La Penelope and hope that you make it out to see this lovely lady and the enchanting Javier Bardem...YUMMY!

(This one made my cry my little eyes out!)

PARTAY

2008-09-11T19:00:00.006-04:00

If you're sitting your sorry ass in the house, watching our 80 degree whether dwindle away before your very eyes, get up and stop by one of these events TONIGHT--before we have to start wearing scarves again:

WORTHY-OPPONENT THURSDAY NIGHT PICKS:

#1: The ALWAYS cool Havana Outpost:

#2: Leela James (I saw her live, a few years ago and she was incredible!)

#3: Fela Afterparty...um...great music? Hello?

9Eleven

2008-09-11T12:59:00.003-04:00

I woke up this morning, washed my face, heated my kettle for some tea, and sat down at my laptop to start paying some of my bills..ugh! Without noticing anything out of sorts, I began clicking away at all of those evil charges when something BIG dawned on me--today is September 11th. This date still puts me in kind of a funk and always makes me take two steps back to take a moment.

I've never discussed how I feel about this date publicly, but I feel as though today should be the day to be brutally honest with you all.

Yes. 9/11 was an international tragedy and a national catastrophe.
Yes. Everyone was shaken up and hundreds of innocent lives were lost.
Yes. It makes me angry and sad to remember that horrible day.

HOWEVER.....

For those of you who did not have the pleasure of living in the NYC during that time, for those of you who were no where near the towers, for those of you who did not lose anyone or watched it all on T.V.....for those of you who like to jump on the band wagon of 9/11 discussions and talk about how horrible it was and then go on to discuss who was wearing what at last night's party...for you all:

SPARE ME, AND THE REST OF US WHO WALKED OUR ASSES BACK TO OUR HOMES, THE BULLSHIT!

I'm always disgusted when people can talk about this day so lightly. YOU WERE NOT THERE! YOU DID NOT SEE THE PEOPLE SCREAMING IN THE STREET! YOU WERE NOT AFRAID FOR YOUR LIFE AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WANT TO THROW UP EVERY TIME PEOPLE DISCOVER A NEW WAY TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF OTHER PEOPLE'S SUFFERING.

I remember not 2 weeks after the disaster, street vendors were actually selling PICTURES of the collapsing buildings, of people leaping to their deaths, of the rubble. PICTURES! And that is not the worst part. The worst part is that PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY BUYING THIS SHIT! TOURISTS WERE BUYING HOME VIDEOS AND FOOTAGE WAS CIRCULATED ON THE INTERNET SO PEOPLE COULD OWN A PIECE OF THIS TRAGEDY. To these assholes who bought a piece of 9/11 as a fucking souvenir I send a big fat FUCK YOU!

I was disgusted by the way the media, the public, and the city (mainly vendors) handled this devastating event, and I continue to be disgusted every time I meet someone from out of town who tells me they have "footage" of the towers on 9/11.

Today, I ask you all, where the hell is our dignity and respect?

LADIES

2008-09-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

...you truly are...

RNC

2008-09-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

MAKE IT STOP PLEASE!

FRIDAY

2008-09-04T18:47:00.002-04:00

FAM:

I'm very excited about this one. When's the last time you went to a STRICTLY R&B PARTY? Anything in the mid-90's doesn't count. Make sure to make this one. As usual, I will be working so I won't be able to attend but make sure to shout out my girl Sam Smalls & let her know I sent you to get in for FREEEEEEEE! Times are hard...don't front!

REACT & BOUNCE @ KATRA
217 Bowery Btwn Rivington/Prince
Downstair Lounge
Guest DJ LAYLO
Mention Sam Smalls & Walk in Free!

SANTOGOLD

2008-09-04T09:55:00.004-04:00

For many of us who were able to keep SantoGold hidden from the rest of the world, it has been both incredible and a little sad to see our beloved Santi White rise to super stardom, appearing in ads with Pharell, and all glitzed & glamed up. We knew it would eventually happen, we knew the world would love her, and we knew that the rest of America would want a piece of our downtown scene. Inevitably--because you can't hold talent back--she's become one of the stars to watch for. Even though there probably will be no more FADER parties or $20 China Town bus rides to catch, in order to go see her brilliant ass in Philly--alongside nearly a million screaming under-agers who don't know a damn word of her songs (gag)--we are incredibly happy for her and can all rest assured that we DID TELL YOU SO! SantoGold's first headlining tour, entitled Goldrush, will kick off on September 19th in...you guessed it...NYC BITCHES!

The Goldrush Tour dates:

09/19: New York, NY @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
09/20: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
09/23: Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
09/24: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
09/25: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
09/27: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
09/28: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
09/30: Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
10/01: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/04: Seattle, WA @ Showbox
10/05: Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
10/07: San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
10/10: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
10/11: Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10/13: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
10/14: Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

Leads From M.I.S.S. Crew :-)

FILA

2008-09-03T18:01:00.002-04:00

I'm not totally convinced that FILA will be able to make a come back...but none the less, I will show my support for this event. After all, it is NAS! Hennessy will be sponsoring so get your Incredible Hulk drank on and enjoy the music!

SALE

2008-09-03T17:29:00.002-04:00

To Shop, visit: http://clawmoney.com/

2008-09-03T17:13:00.007-04:00

Married to the Mob Fall 08' is HERE BITCHES!

Here are a few of my favorite things:

For More MTTB Clothing Shop here: http://www.marriedtothemobnyc.com/

2008-09-03T12:56:00.004-04:00

FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL 2008:

For dance lovers out there, this is an incredible opportunity to catch great dancing, emerging artists, and indulge in the arts at a reasonable price!

* Sep 17-27, 2008
* All Tickets $10

For ten exhilarating days each year, feel the rush…the exuberance…the sheer joy that is dance, from New York City, across the country, and around the globe! Experience the world-famous alongside the cutting-edge, treasured favorites surrounded by undiscovered gems. Multiple companies appear in each performance, offering audiences a sampling of the best that dance has to offer – from hip hop to ballet, tango to tap, and so much more. So bring your family, grab your friends, join us and fall in love…Fall for Dance!

Tickets on sale at 11am on Sunday, September 7! Available online, at the Box Office (W. 55th Street bet. 6th & 7th Aves.), through CityTix® (212-581-1212).

For More Info Visit: http://www.citycenter.org/tickets/productionNew.aspx?performanceNumber=3775

p.s.

If you're a So You Think You Can Dance sucka like I am, you will appreciate this incredible piece choreographed by Mizz Mia Michaels...ahem! It gives me goose bumps every time!

FELA

2008-09-03T12:37:00.003-04:00

Fam,

I believe this is the last week to purchase $50 tickets. Next week, tickets will be selling for $75.00 so hurry up and cop those tix before none of us can afford them. Let me know how it goes!

For more info. on this phenomenal play, please visit: http://www.felaoffbroadway.com/index.html

2008-09-03T12:19:00.002-04:00

MAXWELL IS COMING!

When: Tuesday 10/9/08

Where: Radio City Music Hall

Time: 8pm-11pm

What: Tickets are available at the Radio City Music Hall box office, select Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster phone charge (212-307-4111, 201-507-8900, 631-888-9000, 845-454-3388).
Online: radiocity.com, livenation.com and ticketmaster.com.

ARRIVE EARLY: Please arrive one-hour prior to show time.
All packages, including briefcases and pocketbooks, will be inspected prior to entry.

21+ ONLY.

Who's excited?

2008-09-03T10:59:00.002-04:00

STRANGE "BEACH" PEOPLE

I spent my post-Labor-Day Tuesday at Rockaway beach, basking in the sun and taking in all of life's beauty. There is one thing, I will say, that always throws me off when I go to this beach. I know its considered the lesser of NYC beaches because the hood likes to travel there, and its in Queens, but I actually like Rockaway. I don't, however, fancy the weird beach people that seem to inhabit this beach 24/7. Am I buggin' or do the weirdos just seem to follow me around? I figured I'd post of a few pics of these incredibly odd residents of Rockaway Beach and let my blog fam decide. Enjoy!

The HTML Guy:

The drunk dude that ALWAYS has a Cobra in his hand AND has no teeth:

The Weird thong lady with a shit load of guts:

...along with the hairy guy in a Speedo & the biggest piece I've EVER seen:

The Elvis impersonator:

The toothless guy that eats lots of corn:

One of the MANY She-Males:

...and finally, the Piercing guy:

strange, strange, strange.

LOVE

2008-08-28T15:14:00.002-04:00

The Worthy-Opponent fam would like to announce our official support for Solange Knowles. Although I personally do no think she will ever be able to fill her sister's DIVA LOUBOUTIN'S shoes, I feel that she made peace with this long ago. In fact, I think she has blossomed into her very own identity and has branched out to pursue her very own projects! GASP! A limelight Brown-Girl who actually has a personality and is hopefully not looking to become another drop-it-like-its-hot (this includes dignity as well) meatball (read 'piece of meat')that we all cringe at the thought of? This is just too damn good to be true. I imagine her farting and not apologizing for it. We like that! She has real girl appeal and I like that she's not a total beauty queen/sex vixen. Many Blessings to Solange and her many endeavors. Here's a little piece of just why we love, love, LOVE Mizz Knowles! Enjoy & Support!

Cultist

2008-08-28T15:05:00.003-04:00

DNC

2008-08-28T14:40:00.002-04:00

Going through my blogroll this morning, I checked out what was going on in the world of Mamita Mala (www.mamitamala.com). I noticed an intriguing piece entitled "Resurrection and Death: Covering the DNC as a Woman Of Color." Well you know I couldn't resist what this was all about, so I clicked away and found myself reading an incredibly moving and poetic piece by a fellow Brown Girl. For those of you who do not speak Spanglish, hit me for translations and I'll be happy to put you on.

Check out the article here: http://mamitamala.com/?p=774#comment-55009

Note: DNC=Democratic National Convention.

TONIGHT

2008-08-27T19:39:00.004-04:00

I'm a little annoyed I got this sooo last minute aka just now, but I support this femme-movement. Let me know how it goes.

CINEMATEQUE

2008-08-27T11:06:00.004-04:00

LADIES & GENTS:

I have recently become part of an incredible film/music/documentary project depicting the lives of an emerging Haitian "Rara" Band. For the non-Rara connoisseurs out there, "Rara" music is described as "part carnival, part vodou ceremony and grassroots protest." I'd describe it as similar to Dominican "Palo" music or Honduran "Punta." All forms have been vehemently opposed by Caribbean/Latin communities at large and have been completely vilified by the church--for obvious reasons. This is an amazing cultural journey and I invite all of my online fam to come out and support!

Please come out and support sneak preview TOMORROW, Thurs. 8/28 AT BAM in Brooklyn.

Show Times: 4:30pm, 6:50, and 9:15pm

Buy Tickets at www.bam.org or

To learn more about the film and the movement visit: www.othersideofthewater.org

NOTE: First 5 people to express interest in this screening will get free tickets! Just leave me a comment and I will get back to you ASAP!

2008-08-24T16:21:00.001-04:00

A FEW REASONS TO VOTE THIS SEPTEMBER:

2008-08-15T13:59:00.025-04:00

SO SO RIPE
I remember the evening I met Mizz Folsade Ologundudu--that's "Sade" for us non-Yoruba speakers. I was walking down Chrystie street, in the Lower East Side, and heading to a cooler-than-thou party of some sort, when one of my girls stopped to chat. I was introduced to Sade and was instantly captivated by what seemed to be two female figures dangling seductively from her ears! "ARE THOSE EARRINGS!?" I shrieked. "Yeah. I'm a jewelry designer. These are part of my collection." From that point on, we were destined to connect.

After lunching with Sade, I realized that she is like the little sister I'd love to have. Although only 21 years young, Sade is one of those people who knows she has lots to learn but can still teach an old dog a thing or two. This Brooklyn native of Nigerian/Portuguese/Black American descent has carved out a space for her art and has begun to explore her limitless options.

Sade's love for jewelery design began only a few short years back when her mother was teaching her how to work with beads. She liked the art of jewelry making so much that she began to explore the world of metals. This seemed to be a good fit for her, and no sooner than you could google Ripe Jewelry, her first collection- "Le Femme Fatale"-- was born!

Sade produced her first piece entitled, Alexandra, and admits that "it was all about interpretation. I wasn't looking to strike gold! I was looking to do something well, to create something strong."

"Le Femme" collection is a blatant play on female power, sexuality, body image, and womanhood. The silhouettes are strong, voluptuous, erotic, and what intrigued me most about this collection was the depiction of women with afro hairstyles and kinky buns. "It's okay to wear a figure of a woman and be a woman. It became an empowerment thing. 'Viva,'"(the necklace depicting an exotic dancer) "is clearly a stripper. She's on a pole and naked. But she is also a sign of power and femininity."

Her latest collection, "An Ode to the Game," is a play on children's games and toys we all remember. This idea, being totally distinct from her first, shows off Sade's incredible versatility and un-attachment to any one particular theme. Her material preferences are also evolving. Sade hopes to work with more organic materials such as steel, leather, plastic, and wood, and plans to tap into the world of men's jewelry as well.

"No women are really doing men's jewelry. I have a lot of male friends that are straight, and many that are metro, in their early/mid twenties, and they're style is changing. These guys no longer want to look like high school kids. They're maturing, so I am looking to provide a product they can wear and enjoy."

Unlike many young designers who jump on the first opportunity to work with more known artists--for obvious reasons, Sade seems quite content to be the sole ruler of her own universe. "I've had a few offers where people wanted to work on projects together. I have to be careful with the steps I take. I don't want to be labeled so quickly and I know that if I jump on some of these projects, I'll be boxed in. I'm already a Black Female designer. That boxes me in as is." After a brief pause that seemed to me as if she was looking for the right words to express herself, she rips back: "This is like my fucking garden! I'm planting the seeds and watering the buds. I just don't want any weeds! You know?"

Sade's trendy/in-crowd status came by happenstance after having worked with heavy-hitter and kool-kid jewelry designer, Jules Kim of Bijules NYC. She admits to learning a lot about the business aspect of jewelry design from Mizz Jules, and has been able to draw both inspiration and guidance from her. "Working with people like Jules is not only an inspiration but its a serious motivator. She's a beast!"

As she takes a moment to light her ciggy, I realize that nearly two hours had gone flying by and all I wanted to do was to talk more about the royal estate and crown jewels--a small obsession of hers-- and why cocktail rings are first on the 'Sade Must Haves' List.

All these little tid-bits of her personality are clearly represented in her jewelry design. "My style is unusual and bold. It has swagger and funk. It gives you soul. I gear more toward a really good use of material, than something that is timely and doesn't last."

When asked where she sees her jewelry evolving to, she admits that she's not looking to be the next BVLGARI. "I love the major houses like H. Stern and David Yurman, but I also love Giles & Bro., Ten Thousand Things, and Surface to Air. I see my jewelry definitely being on the higher spectrum of jewelry design but it's more about uniqueness than price point. My consumer wants something special."

The early evening began to set in and I wanted my newly-acquired-little-sister-in-my-head to go home and rest; she looked a bit tired and admitted to having been hitting the night scene the whole week! It is summer in NYC after all! So I decided to wrap up our lovely meeting with the last necessary question: What does being a Worthy-Opponent mean to you?

Taking the last few puffs of her cigarette and with both feet firmly on the ground she replied: "It's like someone that you can't mess with! Someone who challenges and motivates you. It's the friction that makes things happen. If you're gonna do something, you better know you're the best and NO ONE can mess with you."

We hear ya sis!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RIPE JEWELRY PLEASE VISIT: http://ripejewelry.com/splash.html

2008-08-15T12:26:00.007-04:00

"MUJER"
GROUNDBREAKING PHOTO EXHIBIT ON DOMINICAN WOMEN 8/19 – 9/30/2008

“MUJER,” a groundbreaking photography exhibit by Nicole Sánchez honoring the lives and achievements of Dominican women from all walks of life, will be on display at The City College of New York (CCNY) August 19 through September 30. It will be installed on the campus’ newly refurbished Amsterdam Plaza, an open space between the North Academic Center building and Amsterdam Avenue.

“MUJER,” which means woman in Spanish, stems from a highly acclaimed, similar experiment launched a year ago in the Dominican Republic. The show profiles the lives, struggles and views of 125 Dominican women through poster-size photographs, biographical profiles, audio interviews and videos. It is the largest exhibit of its kind to showcase Dominican women.

The photos bring new visibility to Dominican women who in one way or another, sometimes silently and away from the limelight, have been trailblazers in their country. Over the past four decades, Dominican society has undergone enormous transformation, including the arrival of many women in influential places and posts traditionally occupied by Dominican men.

The exhibit is presented by MercaSID, a food service company headquartered in the Dominican Republic, the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) and City College Libraries. The original exhibit, which profiled 100 women from the Dominican Republic, has been augmented with profiles of 25 women living in New York City’s Dominican communities.

In addition, the exhibit will be the first to be displayed on the Amsterdam Plaza, which was landscaped and received new outdoor furniture as part of a program to upgrade the City College campus’ physical environment. The location will make the exhibit accessible to passersby and viewable from vehicular traffic.

“Because of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute and our location in Upper Manhattan, CCNY has forged strong bonds with the Dominican Republic and New York’s Dominican communities,” said CCNY President Gregory H. Williams. “We are proud to host this groundbreaking exhibition and make it accessible to the entire community by displaying it in the beautifully refurbished public space along Amsterdam Avenue.”

“We believe that in order to understand who Dominicans truly are, you have to examine the lives of those from the island as well as the enormous population that now lives abroad,” said José Miguel Bonetti Guerra, MercaSID’s president. “MercaSID is very proud of this project and is excited to share this photo exhibition with such a respected institution as City College, CUNY and the dedicated members of The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute.”

Project photographer Nicole Sánchez and producer/writer Giovanna Bonnelly visited New York City’s Dominican community in 2007 to select 25 women from New York’s Dominican population of more than 600,000. Sarah Aponte, CUNY DSI librarian, coordinated the local arrangements in collaboration with Anthony Achille, CCNY Assistant Director of Urban and Governmental Affairs and CCNY Chief Librarian Pamela Gillespie.

“The connections between Dominicans abroad and Dominicans in the country of origin are being finally recognized more and more,” said Dr. Ramona Hernández, Director of the CUNY DSI. “We see this effort by a large island-based company like MercaSID as another indication of that recognition.

“In order to understand who Dominicans are, and what they are capable of, you definitely need to widen the scope and include both those in the island and the enormous population that now lives abroad, the largest one residing here in the United States.”

“We are very excited to participate in “MUJER,” showcasing Dominican women,” said Dean Gillespie. “The City College Libraries are a cornerstone of the Upper Manhattan community, and collaborating on this project, literally in our front yard on Amsterdam Avenue, is opening our Library doors to the community to show the achievements of the women of a great people.”

For More Info:

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute contact:

Sarah Aponte, 212-650-7496

Contact: Ellis Simon, 212/650-6460, esimon@ccny.cuny.edu

Info. Leads: Uptown Flavor/ City College CUNY

2008-08-15T01:51:00.005-04:00

GIVING THANKS

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that this post has something to do with being grateful, the almighty G.O.D., being a better person, etc. Well actually, this has nothing to do with any of that. This post is simply dedicated to my girls out there who have yet to learn how to say "Thank You."

Now this is not an attack on the bunch of ingrates reading this post. This is more about taking pride in yourself. Being confident enough so that the next time someone pays you a compliment, you simply reply with an eloquent "Thanks."

I'm bringing this simple point up because I am finding more and more that women have the bad, bad, BAD habit of engaging in a 10 minute rebuttal when faced with a simple compliment. I absolutely despise these types of conversations and never seem to understand why when I choose to compliment another woman, particularly on the way she looks, something she's wearing, or some physical aspect about her persona, she feels the need to counter my compliment with: A) denial that whatever I complimented is true, B) an explanation as to why this complimented attribute might be less than compliment-worthy and C) a counter-compliment so as not to leave me feeling un-complemented.

Ladies! Listen up! I know that we have been raised/socialized/beaten into thinking that we are less than ________(fill in the blank). But seriously, lets start giving ourselves the benefit of the doubt. If a WOMAN--of all people--is paying you a compliment, don't doubt that it is not well-deserved... YOU..excuse me... WE ARE THE FUCKING SALT OF THE EARTH! WE DESERVE EVERY COMPLIMENT WE CAN GET! So next time your girlfriend tells you how fabulous you look in that new dress, how dazzling your new hairdo looks, how spectacular your skin looks, I challenge you LADIES, to respond with a simple, sexy, and self-assured: "Thanks!"

Cultura

2008-08-12T17:08:00.003-04:00

ROCK THE BLOCK-- Brooklyn 08'

I took about a million pictures at this event, met highly inspiring & creative people, and ate the best grilled corn I've had in a while! (Thanks LaMonica) After hours of editing and flipping through pics, I've created 2 slide shows for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
p.s.
Special SHOUT OUTS to: Not Just Vintage, BushBaby,Crying Tears, Triple Society, Decadent Industries, Rafiki Clothing, & Lisette Designs for holding down the fort allllllll day!

BROOKLYN FAMLAY:

BROOKLYN FASHION:

MONDAY

2008-08-10T19:21:00.002-04:00

Bobbito is Spinning. Need I say more?

SADNESS

2008-08-10T18:38:00.004-04:00

R.I.P BERNIE MAC & ISAAC HAYES!

FightingBack

2008-08-08T16:54:00.003-04:00

A really good lady friend of mine once confessed to me that she had struggled with eating disorders for most of her life. This surprised me to no end because I never imagined her struggling with weight or having a screwed up vision about her body. She's one of those chics who I lovingly envy for her beautiful curves and womanly build. She's quirky, funny, and one of the smartest and most charismatic ladies I know; and she is also battling this ugly disease.

I wanted to write this post because not only do I think it is INCREDIBLY important, but it enrages me. It pisses me the fuck off that some of my most beautiful, smart, and funny girlfriends are thinking about stupid shit like counting calories or comparing themselves to models that resemble twelve-year-old boys! It pisses me off that we, as women, still battle with being not good enough. That after years of living, countless degrees, numerous accomplishments, and a buttload laughs, we STILL do not think we are good enough...and if you are not PISSED THE FUCK OFF by the time you read the following, then you don't need to come back to this blog because I don't need your shallow ass as a reader anyway!

The following is a letter that my friend wrote to mega beauty magazine, Marie Claire, and how she pretty much tore them a new asshole in the most eloquent and tasteful way. This is my friend, she is a lady, and she IS beautiful.

Feel free to cut and paste. Peace.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

My name is Dana and I write this complaint (read: tough love!) from the heart. Before your mind registers this note as hate mail, and your cursor makes its way to the "delete message" tab, please know that I understand the magnitude of letters you receive from both lovers and loathers of the mag on a daily, if not hourly, basis. I would typically avoid jumping on the bandwagon, but felt compelled to send a response to the recent issue and ask only that you soldier through these words, giving them due consideration before printing the next one.

I should preface with the fact that I am not a religious reader of Marie Claire (gasp!), or of any other "beauty" magazine really. Not hating on the MCs, Vogues, or Vanity Fairs of the world. They just haven't found their way into my reading repertoire. But being somewhat of a Maggie Gyllenhaal fan, I picked up the recent issue and began perusing. After flipping through fall previews and perfume samples, my fingers found their way to the cover feature. Upon continued pilfering, I was intrigued, but not surprised, to find an article profiling a young girl – the victim of an eating disorder – who struggled to overcome anorexia.

I'll spare the MC edit staff my navel-gazing biography, but instead simply state that I am 26 and have spent nearly a decade battling the one-two anorexia / bulimia punch. Only recently finding success with the help of therapy and support groups, I understand Maura Kelly's story, and the range of emotions she experienced are all too familiar. To say that eating disorders are socially isolating and ostracizing diseases is an understatement; exposure brings insurmountable feelings of shame and self-regret, coupled with plummets in self-esteem and confidence.

I probably should have mentioned that this would not be the feel-good rebuttal of 2008.

Nonetheless, I will start by commending the edit staff for their understanding and compassion. For providing Kelly with a voice that can be heard by those who choose to read her story.

However, what I found appalling about the issue is not directly related to Maura's story, but rather the articles surrounding it. Particularly "The Cool Girl's Guide to Living Solo": A few pages sprinkled with filler copy and lined with aesthetically pleasing visuals (translation: pictures of an emaciated model in an ostensibly cutting-edge loft, eating invisible food from Fisher Price bowls and oversized spoons that seem better suited for the set of Pee Wee's playhouse; see pages 104-108.) And while I can't say I'm shocked to see an account like Maura's nestled between pages saturated with wasting women in the latest Miu Miu garb, it did evoke feelings of anger and fueled a rant I've wanted to write for a long time now.

To devote 1,000 words (of a 200-page issue) to the first-person account of an eating disordered individual, only to surround it with images of clinically underweight girls, is like asking a recovering alcoholic to share the story about their struggle with the bottle and surround it with ads for Bushmills and Belvedere.

Please.

I have no doubt intelligence runs deep in the editorial office at MC. But I have to wonder whether a higher power (read: your Publisher, not God) has mandated the inclusion of a "token" tale like Maura's to keep the NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) and AABA (American Anorexia/Bulimia Association) off your back. Or are you really that blind to the ever-increasing obsession with thinness, the false ideals you're perpetuating, and the surge in disordered eating over the past few decades as a means of achieving such aggressive and unhealthy results?

Since it's already known, albeit well established, that the media holds a heavy hand in determining who dominates the upper echelon of the beauty world – into which many of us have been denied application for membership – does that mean we should feel ashamed for achieving anything less than the model-esque build that is currently fashionable? It sure feels that way. And since it's been illustrated by the media that the thin and beautiful are accepted and have their shit straight, it makes sense that we too should strive for such greatness, right? It does.

But what if we try and fall short? Are we guilty of lassitude? Yes, we must have done something wrong since the media has clearly shown us the exercises needed to shave those 10 extra pounds from the thighs and tummies we're taught to be ashamed of. Yes, we must be warped. But that just means we have to try harder, doesn't it? But what happens when we invest all we have into chasing the ideal and we still haven't achieved bodies like those in magazines, movies, and syndicated sitcoms? Does that mean we should beat the shit out of ourselves and accept the hermit-like life for which we're clearly destined because we're too ugly and undeserving of human interaction? Of course.

These thoughts, while paraphrased, are not fabricated - they represent the very typical and ongoing conversation an eating disordered person has within him or herself. This incessant need to live up to cultural standards, coupled with the unnecessarily high premium we place on image, reduces any and all sense of worth to the physical. We are unfairly compared to a standard – this universal ideal that takes nothing like heredity or genetics into account.

You have to trust me when I say that lining the pages of magazines with airbrushed images of models reinforces this false idea that attention and love and happiness (ie, the fun things in life) are only available to those who have been born into or mastered physical perfection – a body that geneticists, medical doctors, therapists, and nutritionists would deem genetically impossible for most (and they do; I checked). We are trapped in a never-ending game of compare and contrast, ultimately fighting a losing battle. And when we don't measure up, we self-defeat and assume that our waistline is the only measure of our success.

It was only after viewing my decade-long eating disorder in retrospect that it hit me: Basing the worth of myself and others on the physical is born of insecurity, laziness, and boredom. How convenient it is for us to reduce and blame all of our problems on the few extra pounds that have set up shop around our hips and our toneless triceps. If we know this statement to be nonsensical, which we know it is, then what is there to gain from judging ourselves and others based on appearance? Nothing. Because tearing apart, finding fault, labeling, categorizing, and jumping to conclusions about what is seen, but not experienced, is for the lazy and the envious. It's unhealthy and it's a waste of time. Time I've come to learn is better spent in the present. Not the future and what life would be like if I was 20 pounds lighter; or in the past and how I wish I had started using funny creams to combat wrinkles five years earlier.

In the nearly ten years (ten!) that I have spent battling anorexia and bulimia, I could have been laughing with my friends about one-night stands and the awkward sex I had with some dude – sex I avoided because I was scared shitless that the sight and texture of my cellulite would result in dry heaving and shock. Ten years that could have been spent in the beaming South American sun, hiking the Patagonia region of Argentina – a trip I have consistently postponed out of fear that my self-proclaimed oversized thighs would cause the local sherpas to convulse. Ten years that could have been devoted to free-spiritedness – something I've only recently discovered because previously I was too self-conscious, and thought myself too ugly, to leave my apartment and interact with people.

I could rant on about the exponential growth of eating disorders in North America and around the world. I could reiterate the role the media plays in shaping the minds of our youth and the alarming age at which children start dieting. I could spout statistics and drone on about the fact that 1 in 5 women struggles with disordered eating, and that eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide. Or that 90% of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25.

But I won't. Because you all in the Marie Claire office are smart women and it's not anything you haven't already seen, heard, or had preached to you. No, I will spare you the statistics and sermons because at this point, it isn't going to do shit. The awareness is there - this is a problem that now requires action.

Since this letter may not dodge the spam manager of your inbox, I will be bringing hard copies to the MC office (and only hope they aren't crumpled and used in your next game of trashcan basketball). I refuse to accept the contemporary beauty ideal and am determined to change it. I would love to discuss ways we can bridge this gap between what is perpetuated and what is actually attainable, to create and advocate a healthy ideal. I ask and speak not only for myself, but the 50,000 people who will die as a direct result of an eating disorder this year.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Dana

Please support Dana's Blog on eating disorders at: http://innerartemis.blogspot.com/

BlockPartaayyy

2008-08-06T14:40:00.003-04:00

The ladies over at our favorite little vintage boutique, Not Just Vintage, sent over this invite and asked that I be part of the media/press people! If there's anything I like, it's BLOCK PARTIES! So come out and support small/creative businesses and the minds behind these places!

INFO:
We invite you to participate and donate your talent for a one day art convergence in Brooklyn that will be held in three locations. Frank white - ( 936 Atlantic Ave) will be used as the live performance space from the hours of 12-8pm. Yume - (925 Bergen St) will host live painting and spoken word artists from 12-8pm. Not just vintage - (1260 Bedford Ave) will host a mid day fashion show (Bedford Corner Fashion Expo) from 5p-8p.

This event was conceived to help bring awareness to the emerging artists renaissance happening currently in the borough of Brooklyn. This day will also be a drive for voters registration.

Hosted by: Sallomazing
NJV's Line up
12p-8p
*serve food and drinks
Live Henna tattoo artist
Indie designers vending(TLS T-shirt company, Rafi, Criteria Accessories, & more)
DJ Fauzi
Free Guru ( Natural energy drink)
Voters Registration
5p-8p
Bedford Corner Fashion Expo(business to business sidewalk fashion show) hosted by bushbaby & NJV

FINALLY

2008-08-05T00:07:00.005-04:00

HAIR DYE..."For the Hair Down There!"

So I was casually strolling through the toiletries isle at the Bed, Bath & Beyond on 6th avenue, when I came across an intriguing little box that I just couldn't resist picking up. It caught my attention for 3 reasons: First, it had bright pink coloring on it, which usually does it for me; Second, the upside down triangle that's typically used to depict a woman's vagina was drawn on the front; And third, the name 'Fun Betty' was also displayed on the box. It was all so alluring--not to mention the fact that it was perfectly situated within the condoms/lube section--that I was tempted to buy it without even knowing what the hell it is. After taking a second more to investigate my new pink find, I discovered that it was hair dye--PUBIC hair dye!

I had a laugh attack for about a whole minute, and then I thought how much fun it would be to have a neon pink crotch! So if you were thinking about having some fun with the hair down there, the Betty Products are especially formulated just for that. Betty Products offer a variety of colors including: Fun Betty, Brown Betty, Blonde Betty, Auburn Betty, Black Betty, and Malibu Betty that's like a bright turquoise color! This is a brilliant idea and I applaud Mizz Nancy Jarecki (founder) for these little boxes of vaginal sunshine! Why the hell not!

To learn more about Betty Products, stop by: www.bettybeauty.com

FreeMusic

2008-08-04T23:49:00.003-04:00

FREE BROOKLYN CONCERTS:

ERYKAH BADU
Monday, August 4, 7:30 pm, Wingate Field (Rutland Rd, Winthrop St)

JUNGLE BROTHERS
Tuesday, August 5, 7:30 pm, Red Hook Park (Bay St btwn Henry & Clinton)

AILEY II
Thursday, August 7, 7pm, Prospect Park Band shell

JILL SCOTT & ESTELLE
Monday, August 11, 7:30 pm, Wingate Field (Rutland Rd, Winthrop St)

BERES HAMMOND, THE MIGHTY SPARROW, BUNJI GARLIN & ASYLUM
Monday, August 18, 7:30 pm, Wingate Field (Rutland Rd, Winthrop St)

MICHAEL STUART
Tuesday, August 19, 7:30 pm, Red Hook Park

PATTI LABELLE
Monday, August 25, 7:30 pm, Wingate Field (Rutland Rd, Winthrop St)

FREE MANHATTAN CONCERTS:

RYAN SHAW
Wednesday, August 6, 7pm, Madison Square Park

THE CHI-LITES
Wednesday, August 6, 7:30 pm, Jackie Robinson Park (147th & Bradhurst)

ECLECTIC RIDE TRIBUTE TO PRINCE & STEVIE WONDER
Thursday, August 7, Marcus Garvey Park (124th St & Mt. Morris Park)---> W-O WILL BE THERE!

SLICK RICK
Wednesday, August 13, 7:30 pm, Jackie Robinson Park (147th & Bradhurst)

BIG DADDY KANE
Thursday, August 14, 7:30 pm, Marcus Garvey Park (124th Street & Mt.
Morris Park)

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS
Sunday, August 17, 3pm-7pm, Central Park Summerstage

RASHAAN PATTERSON & LIZZ FIELDS
Thursday, August 21, 7:30 pm, Marcus Garvey Park ( 124th Street & Mt.
Morris Park)

CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 23, 3pm, Marcus Garvey Park (124th Street & Mt. Morris Park)
Sunday, August 24, 3pm, Thompkins Square Park (East 8th bet Ave A & B)

PAULA ABDUL
Friday, August 29, 7am, Rockefeller Center---> YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE THIS!

NOW YOU KNOW! :-)

AFRICANISIMO

2008-08-01T17:33:00.003-04:00

FIRST FRIDAYS at the BRONX MUSEUM August, 1 2008
! AFRICANISIMO!!! Outdoor Film Screening
Andrew Freedman Home - 1125 Grand Concourse at McClellan Street, Bronx, New York
Cost : free

In collaboration with the African Film Festival and Afrokinetic, The Bronx Museum presents an exciting First Fridays! program of outdoor film screenings and live performances. Music by DJ Chris Annibell (Afrokinetic) and live performance by Michael Markus & Magbana Drum + Dance

2008-07-31T14:14:00.007-04:00

THE STYLIST: Mizz Kimberly V aka "Killer" of KillerFr3$h

A few weeks ago, my brilliant ass decided to set up an interview on the hottest day of the year. The sun was beaming, sweat was dripping, and I wanted nothing more than a nice and salty margarita chased down by a cool A/C. My lovely interviewee, Mizz Kimberly V (look at me, I'm rhymin') and I, met in a quaint little Mexican restaurant in Gramercy, complete with colorful streamers and Mariachi music. For nearly two hours, we ate, we drank, and we were merry. It was a spectacular time & strangely felt like I was having lunch with one of my super beautiful-but-down-to-earth supermodel friends. (This is strange because I do not have any super model friends.)

For those of you who may not know, Mizz Kimberly V, aka "Killer", is the femme-fraction of the almighty styling trio, KillerFr3$h. Meeting her partners (Shandell aka "Fr3$h" & Sweatshop Rob) only 4 short years ago, they have been pretty much re-creating or re-"styling"-if you will- the styling game, to suit their little hearts' desires. At almost six feet in heels, this tall and sleek brown beauty is paving her own way, and apologizing for nothing!

"Well how on earth did you get into the styling game?"

"I always knew I wanted to be in fashion." She replied. "I knew it so well that I ended up leaving college early to pursue a job at Rocawear! That's where I got my start." At Rocawear, she was under the fierce tutelage of Theresa Scott. "She expected nothing less than excellence!" Kim recalls.

After the Jay/Damon split in 2005, Kim was out of a job and left to fend for herself. One evening, she found herself sobbing her little heart out to one of her long time clubbing buddies. The stars must have aligned for Kim V because this very same friend turned out to be one of NYC's most sought after celebrity stylists. He later offered her a job working as his assistant and took her under his wing. This was the path she had been waiting for and she pretty much ran with it! "He had five female assistants," she recalls, "and I was the only Black girl in the crew. I knew I had to be on point."

Having worked so closely with both "high" fashion and street wear, she's found a colorful yet tasteful medium. "I'm really inspired by the hood that I live in, people I see on the train, the city. You can test things out. Flip it. Make it different--totally fresh and new."

Kim admits that although she's a Bronx girl at heart, the one-dimensional around-the-way trends never cut it in her book. "I'm SO over that street/skater/urban/dirty-but-cool look. You gotta grow up a bit. Versatility is a must!" Delving deeper into "Killer" style, Kim equates her taste with "big Diana Ross hair! Even though I can't sit here and pin-point my style for you, if I had to pick someone who is timeless, it would have to be Diana. She oozes glamour!" Kim has often times been compared to Diana and squeals with excitement every time the comparison is made. She went on to sight Grace Jones, Tracy Reese, and Kelis as fashion inspirations and style icons. "I like to call them 'BWB's'--Black Women that Break! That means that they are strong and not afraid to step outside the norm. Fashion gives us a chance to look different. We don't all have big asses and walk around in spandex all day!"

Having had such great exposure and training in the fashion world, Kim V is surprisingly grounded and maintains a very humble and humanistic approach in her work. "We, as women--especially women of color, don't have to be defined by labels. We have always found a way to make things our own. The same goes for fashion."

After nearly two hours of sucking down Mexican tortilla chips and guacamole, we finally arrived to the last question of the day: What does being a Worthy-Opponent mean to you?

"When I hear 'Worthy-Opponent', I think of a game of chess, like you're strong enough to play this game. It makes sense because I know I'm worthy enough to play this fierce game we call fashion!"

Werk!

To learn more about KillerFr3$h Style go to: http:www.myspace.com/killerfr3$h

TODAY

2008-07-28T12:31:00.003-04:00

'08 IMAGENATION FREE OUTDOOR FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Harlem's St. Nicholas Park 135th St. & St. Nicholas Ave.

Take the B, C, 2, 3 to 135th St.

Mondays July 28 to August 18

*Harlem Week Screenings! - Saturday August 16, Sunday August 17

Music 6pm / Films Sundown

TODAY: The Great Debaters Screening

For More info. Please Visit: http://www.imagenation.us/pages/main.htm

TONIGHT

2008-07-10T11:49:00.001-04:00

Worthy-Opponent might have to make this one.

2008-07-09T01:41:00.004-04:00

NADAL WINS WIMBELDON!

My new reason to stop watching re-runs of Flavor of Love and pick up a tennis racket...ASAP! (Aside from Venus & Serena of course ;-)

YUMMIES

2008-07-07T20:35:00.002-04:00

SANA'S WEEKLY YUMMY:

JOHNNY-MOTHERFUCKIN-DEPP. MMMMMHMMMMM!

your welcome!

WTF

2008-07-05T23:46:00.005-04:00

Porn-Star Manikins at Jimmy Jazz

This morning I decided to take a little trip to Brooklyn's own, Fulton Mall. I was still half asleep and wanted to pick up a little something to wear, but didn't feel like going to the City. I figured, maybe I could cop something at my favorite little hood "boutique"-Mandees. So I hopped off the A train and began my journey down Fulton Mile, when I get stopped dead in my tracks. What seemed to be a woman's JI-NORMOUS jugs were blinding me from the Jimmy Jazz Window. After taking a second glance, I realized it was a FREAKING MANIKIN! Now I remember being shocked when the manikin's with the big booties first debuted on the scene, but now this! Is this not RIDICULOUS? I'll let you be the judge.

WEEKEND

2008-07-03T11:16:00.003-04:00

If you do NOTHING else this weekend, if you're a total anti-4th-of-July-and-fireworks type, and you hate every other event I have suggested to you thus far, try not to miss this one. This Sunday, July 6th, Seun Kuti (son of musical genius, Fela Kuti) will be playing alongside Afrika Bambaataa & Love Trio w/U-Roy at Central Park SummerStage. You've got the percussion, funk, soul, and electro-jazz...what the hell else could you possibly want. On top of all this musical goodness, the event is FREE! So get those beach mats and fold out chairs ready because this is going to be an event for the people! Don't miss it!

Event Info:
Sunday, July 06, 2008
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Central Park SummerStage located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.
TRAINS: East side: 6 train to 68th or 77th Streets; N, R or W trains to 5th Avenue; F train to 63rd Street and Lexington
West side: 1, 2, 3, 9, B or C trains to 72nd Street
http://www.summerstage.org/index1.aspx?BD=20525

2008-07-02T22:58:00.005-04:00

JEWISH ROSARIES

You heard right! Brooklyn-based jewelry designer and proud Jewish girl, Carlen Altman decided to freak the age-old Christian rosary and add a little Jew flava to this iconic beaded piece. She re-assures the world that this is NOT an anti-Christian thing but rather a proud Jewish thing and can be worn by all! Well I support this little creative endeavor. If all of our non-Muslim asses can rock the Keffiyeh scarves, we can surely support Jewish Rosaries. All in the name of fashion! (sigh)

Read more about it here: http://jewishrosaries.com/home

EVENTS

2008-07-02T14:06:00.006-04:00

Here are a couple of events that you might see Worthy Opponent at AND maybe you should check out as well!

1. BROOKLYN HIP-HOP FESTIVAL 7/10-7/12

Shout out to the crew doin' the damn thang over at Brooklyn Bodega! Come out & show support to the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival July 10th-July 12th! Lil'Wayne & Soulja Boy's NOT ALLOWED! Thanks!

Festival Event Schedule: http://www.brooklynbodega.com/festivalcalendar.htm

2. LIBATION Feat. Rich Medina @ Sullivan Room 7/3/08

This is a great party as is... but now with the new edition of their "Summer of Soul Series", and Rich Medina spinning all of that incredible dance music to shake, pump, and grind to...we love it even more! No wall flowers and losers allowed at this joint..this is strictly for dancers! (Of course I will be working and unable to make it so please send feedback & let me know how it goes!)

Event Information:
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Every 2nd & 4th Thursday
11:00 PM - 4:00 AM
21+
cover: $10.00 | $5 before 11pm/ $10 after
music: Global Soul, Nu Jazz, Deep House, Afro-Beat

Venue Information:
Sullivan Room
218 Sullivan Street
Between 3rd & Bleecker | A,C,E,B,D,F,V to W. 4th
New York, NY
212.252.2151

3. BRONX FIRST FRIDAYS 7/4/08

This month they will be featuring a live swing band (Ray Abram's Big Swing Band) & live tap dancing by Hoofers' House. Now I don't know about you, but I've been dreaming about tapping since I first saw Greggory Hines in White Nights! This is going to be an incredible event that should not be missed..and yet another opportunity to take your asses uptown! Get it?

Event Information:
Friday, July 11, 2008
Every 1st Friday
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
21+
cover: FREE
music: Big Band, Funk, Soul

Venue Information:
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse
@ 165th Street
Bronx, NY 10465
718.681.6181
http://www.bronxmuseum.org/

4. 4th Annual Afro-Punk Film & Music Festival (7/4-7/13/08)

Showcasing the likes of J*Davey, Janelle Monae, and GAME Rebellion...this makes for good times and lots of funky hair styles! I am incredibly excited about this lineup! We've all been bombarded with massive amounts of nonsense music so this will surely be a breath of funky air! If you get a chance, check out the article that The Village Voice did on my brothers from GAME Rebellion and make sure to support independent music...even though lead vocalist, Netic is A DOUBLE JerkFACE! :) (http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0826,partying-for-their-right-to-fight,481131,22.html)

Check this link for the full lineup: http://www.afropunk.com/

5. 2nd Annual House Dance Festival- A 3-day Event! 7/10-7/13/08

AWWEEE SHIT! You already KNOW this is gonna be dope! This year's festival will be complete with group choreography contests, dance competitions, dance workshops, AND MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! I'm sure you will catch sets from all of your favorite dance DJ's and even pick up a few new moves!

For More Info Check the Site: http://www.housedancenyc.com/index.html

(the music is CRAZY on the SITE ALONE!)

LEGEND

2008-06-28T16:15:00.003-04:00

BI KIDUDE

I must admit I'm a little upset and a LOT late with this. Meet the legendary Bi Kidude, the oldest musical performer in the world. Hailing from Tanzania, this incredible woman continues to tour, sing, dance, play drums, smoke and drink, than-you-very-much! A documentary was released about her journey through life, a couple years back, and I have yet to see it! "As Old As My Tongue" (http://www.asoldasmytongue.net/) was released in 2006 and made international headlines after shining the light on this extraordinary woman and the timeless music she fights to preserve. Just watching the trailer inspires me and I have been writing the production company for some time now, trying to get a re-launch in the Tri-State area. Here are a few clips of my hero for the month!

WTF

2008-06-28T15:37:00.002-04:00

And you thought the A was crowded. No thanks!

2008-06-28T15:28:00.005-04:00

Next Life by: Woody Allen

"In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then.. Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!
I rest my case."

TODAY

2008-06-28T15:05:00.005-04:00

SOLAR-POWERED MUSIC FESTIVAL

Stop by and say "hi" to my girl Alice-In-Wonderland of Digiwaxx!

2008-06-27T17:52:00.006-04:00

NOT JUST VINTAGE

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn...and so does a movement. I recently found myself in the company of co-owners, Maya and LaMonica of Not Just Vintage-- a little clothing boutique right in the heart of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Two incredibly talented and fashionably creative ladies, I was fortunate enough to spend an entire afternoon with these two icons in the making.

After spending a few minutes with this duo, I quickly realized how vastly different they are. Everything from fashion sense to business approach seemed to be at opposite polar ends, but once I began digging deeper, I soon saw the connection that, not only binds them, but creates the perfect formula for a colorful symphony of fashion, activism, and self-expression.

Maya, a 25-year-old Bermudian with an eye for perfectly placed accessories and a warm, inviting smile, kinda makes you feel as if you're stepping into her living room when walking into NJV. "I was never into high fashion or designers. I'm all about price. Thrift shopping has always been my thing and, for some reason, people have always liked it!" Having met a few years back in a street market where Maya rented a booth, the two seemed to cross paths everywhere they turned. Having noticed LaMonica's bold fashion sense, they eventually came to the point of hashing out a hectic business plan that soon led them to their little boutique on Bedford and Halsey. "I wanted to play a role in the community" LaMonica says. "Maya is more of the trendy part of the business, I'm more of the vintage side-the dusty side."

Thankfully, there's nothing "dusty" about Not Just Vintage. In fact, it boasts an array of beautifully colored pumps, belts, shorts, and more polyester than you can dream of! The boutique is "throwback" inspired--if you will--and has found a home nestled in Brooklyn's youth culture. Many of their young clients can't even recall spandex or shoulder pads but religiously hit the racks, stocking up on everything from neon-colored bamboo earrings to butterfly belts. Both agree that "vintage clothing is special because you can always revamp it, you can always make it look new."

One thing that became very clear to me was that this was much more than just your run-of-the-mill fashion store, quick to make a buck and move onto the next craze. LaMonica, with her no-nonsense attitude and head-out-of-the-clouds demeanor, reassured me that "this is a space for the community." Halfway through my interview, I was totally convinced that she was not screwing around. Her personal mantra being, "To uplift the Black woman is to uplift the world," I got the feeling that this was a woman who had lived a little and was now taking full advantage of her platform to make a difference. "Not to pull the race card or anything, but we are Black women who own our own business. Not even Black, but Black-Black

women, and lots of people look to others as business owners. People don't usually believe its us."

After having spent an entire afternoon on the NJV planet, I began to realize that what Maya and LaMonica were cultivating in Bed-Stuy was a lot more like a neighborhood movement, a true artist space, a cornerstone of Brooklyn, USA. "We're not part of that whole Fort Green scene," LaMonica reassures me. While wrapping up, I asked the girls to give me one piece of advice that they would like to share with the rest of us who are sitting on our asses and not really living out our dreams. "Research! Research! Research!" Maya chants. "Get as much information as possible!" As LaMonica slowly re-asks herself the question in her mind, she politely interrupts Maya by adding, "research, but don't sit on it too long, just go for it. In life, you can always reinvent yourself so if it doesn't work out, move on to something else."

2008-06-25T15:38:00.004-04:00

2nd Annual Mott Haven Open Artist Studio Tour
THIS SATURDAY!

BX STAND THE FUCK UP! I'm proud to announce this very important yet widely unknown art-driven event. Let's just be real, the Bronx is not as kewl or trendy as Brooklyn has become, BUT I WILL DEFEND my borough tooth and nail! Outside of the bad ass graffiti artists hailing from the BX, the art scene virtually goes unnoticed. This is why we must support our local art movements. I know its a bit of a stretch for most of you, to take your prissy little asses all the way uptown, but make an effort...its for your personal benefit...trust me.

2nd Annual Mott Haven Open Artist Studio Tour
Saturday, June 28th, from 12:00-6:00pm

A self guided tour featuring over twenty studios, galleries, and alternative art spaces, and the emerging and award winning visual artists of Mott Haven and beyond.

All events free and open to the public.

* The tour starts at the first subway stops in the Bronx

* Take the 4 or 5 trains to 138 St, or the 6 train to 3 Ave / 138 St (exit towards 3rd Ave)

* From 12-5pm, free trolley shuttles on the hour and half hour, from subways to studios

* Tour maps are available here: http://www.bronxarts.org/whats_new.asp

* Printed maps available on the day of the tour at the Mott Haven Branch of The New York Public Library, at 321 E 140th St; Haven Arts Gallery, at 50 Bruckner Blvd; on the Bronx Culture Trolley; and at all locations on the tour.

* Stacey Gershon, curator and independent art advisor, will lead a tour to select studios. To RSVP, please contact Laura Napier at 718-401-7866 or email lauran@bronxarts.org.

Afterparty! at Haven Arts Gallery at 50 Bruckner Boulevard, 6-8pm

Questions? Please contact Laura Napier at the Bronx Council on the Arts, 718-401-7866, lauran@bronxarts.org.

2008-06-25T14:08:00.005-04:00

ESPERAZA SPALDING

My dear old ex-Cornerstone/FADER boyfriend Roberto sent this -ish over to me a few days ago and I felt a deep seeded desire to share with my blog fam. Not only is she very well versed in her interviews--a rarity these days with young and emerging artists--but she also plays an instrument I almost sold my sole to learn how to play. She has a great sound a strong demeanor and she works hard...and I like her damn it! She's definitely a Worthy Opponent! Take a look:

2008-06-25T13:27:00.007-04:00

SAMPLE SALE TIME!

I got a mass text forward--you know the kind--telling me that Betsey Johnson was having a sample sale today. As always, my ass is broke during these pivotal moments in my fashion wardrobe, so I decided to share the goodness with you fine people. I even went so far as to look up other sample sales in hopes that some of my sisters out there will be able to indulge for the rest of us. Here's what I found from our friends at NY MAG. Enjoy!

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/06/events_and_sales_steals_on_ale_1.html

SALES

STARTING TODAY
• Alexander Wang is having a spring sample sale with loads of cool black dresses and loose denim. Through 6/26. 628 Broadway, at Walker St.; Wed. (3–7); Thurs.(10–7).

• Bring out your inner girlie girl on Betsey Johnson’s sample sale. Dresses are down to $87 (orig. $345), and tops are $55 (orig.$220). Through 6/26. Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 W, 44th St., nr. Broadway, Seventh fl.; Wed.–Thurs. (10–7:30).

• The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Thrift Shop got in a special shipment of Chanel blouses, dresses, jackets, skirts, and pants for you to scoop up today only. 1440 Third Ave., nr. 81st St. (212-535-1250); Wed. (10–5).

• Sandals, heels, and more, from Hollywould’s cruise collection, are up to 80 percent off. Through 6/30. 198 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St. (212-219-1905); Thurs.–Sat. (11:30–7); Sun. (noon–5).

• Society for Rational Dress, Diabless, Vivienne Westwood, and Morphine Generation are all 20 to 75 percent off at the Woodley & Bunny sale. 490 Driggs Ave., nr. N. 9th St. (718-218-6449); Daily (noon–8).

• With this three-day sale, you’ll only have to pay $5 to $60 for clothes from Soundgirl, or pay $40 to $60 for Shoes for Lovely People. Through 6/27. 1385 Broadway, nr. 37th St., Fifth fl. (212-730-0377); Daily (10–6:30).

• The Brian Reyes and Tashkent by Cheyenne sale starts today. Through 6/26. Tashkent Studios, 939 Eighth Ave., nr. 56th St., Ste. 501; Wed.–Thurs. (11–7).

• Elaine Turner handbags are up to 75 percent off. The Eva Sand Dollar beach bag that was $150 now is $50, and python clutches that were $650 are only $195. Through 6/26. 320 Fifth Ave., at 32nd St., Ste. 1102. (212-239-8966).

• Score 30 percent off Vix swimwear by typing VIXDC30 at checkout. The Perry black suit with gold detailing that was $170 is now $119.

STARTING TOMORROW
• United Bamboo’s spring/summer 2008 collections, as well as previous collections, are up to 90 percent off retail. Through 6/28. 217 Centre St., nr. Grand St., Sixth fl. (212-925-3311); Thurs.–Fri. (10–7), Sat. (12–7).

ENDING TOMORROW
• The Akris trunk show ends tomorrow at Bergdorf Goodman. Through 6/26. Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Ave., at 57th St., Fourth fl. (212-753-7300); (10–8).

2008-06-20T10:53:00.002-04:00

NYT SPENDS A WEEKEND EATING PLATANOS

Seth Kugel, of the NYT, shows New Yorkers how to spend a weekend in the Dominican community of Washington Heights. A nice little clip about this thriving and colorful community although I will say, he forgot to mention the importance of businesses like beauty salons and hair care stores. If you didn't know, Wash n Set Tuesdays uptown can get as low as 10$!!! Damn! I miss uptown! And by the way, Broadway's In the Heights won a Tony for 2008 Best Musical! Things are looking good uptown! Check out the article here: (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,367213,00.html)

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=cdc431d05fd658f77665cdac4fa664b22616b2e6

Finally

2008-06-20T01:27:00.008-04:00

Without ASSUMING that you all know anything about South American politics or international politics at all, for that matter, allow me to introduce the MOTHER..F&*$ING MAN: Enrique Penalosa, also known as, the former "sidewalk" mayor of Bogota, Colombia. Browsing through the NYT Magazine this past week lead me to this little-breath-of-fresh-air article about a man I'd like to think can influence other scrotum-less politicians around the world. The interview is only a page long and it left me feeling hopeFUL...AAAHHH...DEEP SIGH! Ivy League educated here in the states, he still has a tinge of Socialist mentality, although he openly admits that Socialism would never work this day in age. If you get a chance, stop re-arranging your MySpace Top 10 and read something meaningful. :-)

Also Check out:

OUTI

2008-06-20T01:12:00.003-04:00

If this isn't HOT, then I don't know what is! Zelco has created a new and innovative way to rock out while still: A) allowing you to hear surrounding ambient noises and B) preserving your eardrums. If you're an 80-year-old hypochondriac trapped in a 26-year-old body, like myself, then this is definitely for you! Now you can hear those horns honking away at your ass while you're trying to decipher what the hell Lil' Wayne is laughing about on that damn "Lollipop" song...BRILLIANT! AND, they're only $100 bucks...not too bad for new gadget these days!

http://www.zelco.com/

2008-06-06T17:02:00.004-04:00

For those of you who have NO clue who Rachel Ashwell is...you definitely need to get a clue. Let's put it this way: If I was not living with my boyfriend and had no reason to resist buying everything in bubblegum pink with extra frill, AND was actually independently wealthy (as opposed to being just so in my mind), this would be the end- all of furniture shopping for me.

La Pink Femme and I first discovered the power that is Mizz Ashwell at none other than Target (insert French accent here). She is the brain behind Simply Shabby Chic- her more affordable furniture line offered to the rest of us broke-asses. We were totally obsessed with her Victorian-inspired bathroom decor until one miraculous day-- frolicking around in the west village and dreaming of actually being able to shop there-- we discovered there is so much MORE TO HER QUEENDOM!

Rachel Ashwell has an entire warehouse-sized store (83 Wooster St. NY, NY 10012)to torture and indulge your most pink desires! Of course we fell in love with absolutely ever last ridiculously expensive thing in there! But I will say this: if you are ever to splurge on a little pink-ness, this would be the place to do it! And now you can even shop on-line!

http://www.shabbychic.com/home.aspx

2008-06-06T16:44:00.004-04:00

AKILA WORKSONGS SHLANK Inc.
MOPTOP PRODUCTIONS and ASHO PRODUCTIONS present:

"Dance To The Music: A Look at Hip Hop.Dance.Culture"

WHAT: @ FIRST FRIDAYS! at The Bronx Museum
Friday, June 6, 2008
6:00pm - 10:00pm

WHERE: Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse • Bronx, NY 10456
(at 165th Street; See Directions Below)

Free & Open to All!

A film, panel discussion, and party featuring:

Adesola Osakalumi of GhettOriginal Productions Dance Co.
Buddha Stretch of MOPTOP PRODUCTIONS
Jorge "Fabel" Pabon of Rock Steady Crew; Tools of War
Ana “Rokafella” Garcia of Full Circle Productions
with documentary filmmaker Moncell "Ill Kozby" Durden

Moderated by April Silver of AKILA WORKSONGS & Music by DJ DOC

Four highly respected pioneers from the worlds of hip hop theater, activism, and education - Adesola Osakalumi, Buddha Stretch, Ariel "Asho" Fernandez (ASHO PRODUCTIONS), and April Silver - join forces to co-present a one-of-a-kind program that explores the history, relevance, and future of hip hop dance and the culture that birthed it. The program features a screening of Moncell “Ill Kozby” Durden’s Everything Remains Raw (a groundbreaking documentary on hip hop dance) and a panel discussion (with Q&A). Dance afterwards with music provided by DJ DOC.

Contact Us:

The Bronx Museum at 718.681.6000
or visit www.bronxmuseum.org.

Subway Directions: Take the “D” or “B” to the 167 Street/Grand Concourse station. Exit at rear of station, walk south along Grand Concourse two blocks. Or take the “4” to the 161 Street/Yankee Stadium station. Walk east three blocks to the Grand Concourse, then walk north four blocks along Grand Concourse to 165th Street. Via Bus: Take the Bx1, Bx2, or BxM4 Express to 165th St. and Grand Concourse

Photos will follow! Peace Famlay!

2008-06-06T16:13:00.008-04:00

Okay, Who the hell is excited? ME! This is GREAT! No more crowded, smelly bus to Jersey! No more begging your girl to take you to the garden state for that $200 dresser you can't find anywhere else! SCORE biatches! This is going to be an event!
(Thanks ladyk! )

http://info.ikea-usa.com/Brooklyn/

2008-06-06T16:03:00.003-04:00

Okay Okay...I'm sorry...I just had to. NONSENSE! What really sucks about this video is that if this dude were a chic, she would get no love! I'm sure of it! Okay, I spend too much time on you-tube! I'm guilty! (Thanks Jay!)

2008-06-06T15:51:00.002-04:00

So I know this is old but I had to remind you folks of the complete nonsense taking over the music industry. Even though I totally support nonsense, its nonsense just the same. I also, for the first time, actually saw a dude walking around with this t-shirt and since it tickled my fancy so much, I decided to re-post it. Enjoy!

2008-06-03T12:50:00.003-04:00

MUSEUM MILE IS TODAY!!!

Unfortunately, my broke ass has to work...but for those of you who are lucky enough to be frolicking along the lovely streets of NYC, this event is for you! Pick up a couple of your favorite artists' prints and have them framed...voila! Cultured ART for your apartment. Now you can say you're part of the artsy-fartsy crowd! Enjoy!

When: TODAY Tuesday, June 3rd
Where: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 82nd & Fifth Ave.
What: One day a year, for the past 29 years, nine of the country's finest museums, all ones that call Fifth Avenue home, collectively open their doors for free to New Yorkers and visitors for a mile-long block party and visual art celebration. This traffic-free, music-and art-filled celebration fills the street and sidewalks of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th street, the mile now officially designated as Museum Mile. Over 50,000 visitors attend the festival annually.

http://www.museummilefestival.org/