20
Carlton Street, Suite 1032, Toronto, ON
M5B 2H5
(416)
677-5883
langfieldent@rogers.com
www.langfieldentertainment.com
April 17, 2008
An amazing month so far. Birthday week for me this week and I've noticed
that it's almost more significant than New Year's to me when reflecting on the
past year. I look forward to a year of joy and fulfillment - and working
to achieve those! Maybe it's just spring in the air but I definitely
feel a sense of 'newness'.
Speaking of which, I have a new event listed for you this week - it's the
amazing Alvin Ailey Dance Theater coming to Toronto again. I went
last year and was completely blown away! Unbelievable! So, get your
tickets. And also remember Legendary American dance troupe Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company with only three more nights left at
Harbourfront.
Then there's the event to kick
off Toronto's amazing spring and summer seasons - the VIP Jam at Revival. Come out and enjoy a selection
of some of the best of the best artists this city and country has to offer
- all for the love of performing and jamming. This night always holds a
very magical quality - and there are always tons of surprise guests.
Check out pics from the last one in December here.
Lots of cool and hot news below - so check it out!
::HOT EVENTS::
Virtuosic Dance From Contemporary Icon Bill T. Jones In The Canadian
Premiere Of Chapel/Chapter - April 16 To 19, 2008
Source:
Harbourfront
Centre
(April 2, 2008) Legendary American dance troupe Bill T.
Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company returns to Toronto, April 16 to 19, with the Canadian premiere of Chapel/Chapter,
as part of Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2008.
Through spoken word, live music and a brilliant company of dancers, Chapel/Chapter
is an exhilarating experience performed in-the-round, an intimate setting
draped in red fabric reminiscent of the sanctuary of a church. Rigorous and
joyful, tragic yet uplifting, Chapel/Chapter vividly contrasts evil
deeds with beautiful, at times, elegiac movement and music in this captivating
and emotional multi-media performance. "Chapel/Chapter is a
riveting experience…the visceral impact of the piece is inescapable,” says The
New York Times.
Based
in Harlem, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane
Dance Company is world renowned for its politically driven, socially
charged performance works. Continuing to push the envelope, Jones proves once
again that he is one of the most powerful voices in contemporary dance today.
In Chapel/Chapter, three
stories—two highly visible news items and one personal confession told in
movement, words and music—set the narrative mood for an intimate exchange
between the audience and one of the world’s top dance choreographers, Bill T
Jones. An emotionally powerful work, Chapel/Chapter will long linger in
audiences’ memories.
"To
me, Chapel/Chapter asks the very real question ‘Can there be good in a
world so full of evil?‘ The inspiration for Harbourfront Centre's focus on
Sacred throughout the spring, this remarkable dance work allows us to
experience these disturbing stories on a visceral level while finding refuge
and ultimately hope in the beauty of the performance," says Dance
Programmer Jeanne Holmes.
Chapel/Chapter's spirit is conveyed through live music performed by
an ensemble of contemporary musicians: singer/multi-instrumentalist Lipbone
Redding, who has been variously described as a vocal trickster and experimental
cowboy; cellist Christopher Lancaster, who creates multi-layered, textural
music through the use of real-time samplers and effect processing; and soprano
Alicia Hall Moran, a classical singer whose influences range from opera to
jazz.
Harbourfront
Centre’s World Stage 2008 presents a diverse collection of innovative and
exciting performing arts events in one visionary series with a number of world
and Canadian premieres of some of the world’s most exceptional artistic
endeavours. 13/13 rush ticket programme: students and seniors can purchase one
$13 ticket, per valid ID, cash only, 13 minutes before curtain (subject to
availability). Package discounts up to 20%. Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage
2008 showcases the best theatre, music and dance through May 10.
Other
upcoming World Stage performances: world premiere of Every Time I See Your Picture I
Cry—Daniel Barrow (Winnipeg), presented as part of the 21st annual Images
Festival, April 10-12; Canadian premiere of Damascus—Traverse Theatre
Company (Scotland), April 22-26; Toronto premiere of Short Works—Black
Grace (New Zealand), April 30-May 3; and Toronto premiere of The Space
Between—C!RCA (Australia), May 6-10 who also perform 46 Circus Acts in
45 Minutes on May 7.
FOCUS:
Sacred
From
January to June, Harbourfront Centre asks the big question—What do you hold
Sacred? Part of an ongoing exploration of ideas in programming at Harbourfront
Centre. Our Lens. Your View. Harbourfront Centre - divine culture.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 – FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2008
CHAPEL/CHAPTER
Enwave
Theatre
Harbourfront
Centre
231
Queens Quay West
8
p.m
Matinee
performance takes place at 2 p.m. on April 19
Single tickets: $40.
For tickets and information, the public can call 416-973-4000 or visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage
(For additional information on the company, please
visit www.billtjones.org.)
Monday Night Revival Jam Reunion – Monday, April 21, 2008
Yes, that’s right folks – all the original players – Shamakah Ali (percussion),
Rich Brown (Host and bass), Joel Joseph, (keys) Anthony Wright (sax), Alexis
Baro (trumpet) and Dane Hartsell (Guitar) will be reuniting on Monday,
April 21st at Revival for a spring version of VIP
Jam!! Many special guests will be joining this famous crew as
well!
Did you ever go to the Monday night jams at Revival?
Practically every big visiting artist would stop by and hit the stage with our
amazing Toronto musicians! It was such a great vibe and very
well-attended. Well, now it’s time for the REUNION!
Check out the best of R&B, funk, rock and blues this spring season!
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008
MONDAY NIGHT VIP JAM REUNION
Revival
783 College St. (at Shaw)
Doors open 9:00 pm
$5 COVER
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre – May 16-17, 2008
Source: Sony
Centre for the Performing Arts
Join the celebration as Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater,
America’s cultural ambassador to the world, marks its 50th anniversary of
bringing African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition
to the world’s stages. The genius of Alvin Ailey changed forever the
perception of American dance; today the legacy continues with Judith Jamison’s
remarkable vision and the extraordinary artistry of the Company’s
dancers. Beauty, spirit, hope and passion know no bounds. That is
the power of Ailey.
AADT returns to the Sony Centre for three performances; each show will be
comprised of a distinct set of pieces from the company's repertoire,
culminating in the signature ‘Revelations’.
FRIDAY, MAY 16-SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE
3 Performances Only
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
1 Front St. E. (corner of Yonge & Front St.)
Prices: $48 - $78
Tickets: (416)872-2262 or visit www.sonycentre.ca
::TOP STORIES::
Ticats' Jackson Found Dead At Home At Age 26
Excerpt from www.thestar.com
- The Canadian Press
(April 14, 2008) HAMILTON–Linebacker Jamacia Jackson, who spent last season with
the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was found dead Monday in South Carolina. He was 26.
"Jamacia was a beloved player, teammate and friend," Ticats head
coach Charlie Taaffe said in a statement. "He will be truly missed by our
entire team.
"Our sincere condolences are with Jamacia's family and friends."
The Ticats said the six-foot-one, 210-pound Jackson was found unresponsive at a
Sumter, South Carolina, home Monday morning. He was later pronounced dead in
hospital.
The CFL club added the cause of death wasn't immediately known.
"Jamacia was a respected and talented member of our team who worked as
hard in our community as he did on the field," said President Scott
Mitchell. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jamacia's family."
Jackson is the second Ticats' player to die during a recent off-season.
Offensive lineman Travis Claridge died Feb. 28, 2006 after being found
unconscious in his Las Vegas home. His death was later ruled accidental.
Claridge was 27.
Jackson, a native of Sumter, spent last season with the Ticats after signing
with the CFL club as a free agent Jan. 11, 2007.
He signed with the NFL's New York Giants in 2006 but was allocated to NFL
Europe and was selected in the 16th round by the Berlin Thunder. He attended
Berlin's training camp but was released March 5 and subsequently cut loose by
the Giants two weeks later.
Jackson signed with the NFL's Tennessee Titans in 2005 as an undrafted free
agent but was released during training camp. He subsequently joined the
Montreal Alouettes' practice roster.
Jackson spent his college career at the University of South Carolina
(2001-'04). He appeared in 43 games over four seasons, including 21 as a
starting strong safety. He registered 159 career tackles, two sacks and two
interceptions, returning one 98 yards for a touchdown. He also forced three
fumbles and recovered two others.
Idol Gives Back Raises $60 Million
Excerpt from www.thestar.com - Bruce Demara, Entertainment
Reporter
(April 11, 2008) LOS ANGELES–Fox's Idol Gives
Back telethon
Wednesday night raised $60 million in pledges, Ryan Seacrest revealed on last
night's edition of the reality show.
The amount was far shy of the $100 million producers had hoped to raise, but
the expanded opportunities for donating as part of this year's show should help
them reach that goal.
Pledges were still being sought during last night's results show.
This was the second year for the event, taped Sunday at the Kodak Theatre in
L.A.
But what is unclear is how the two events truly compare.
While Fox officials balked at releasing a preliminary figure before last
night's Idol's telecast, at least one paper, the L.A. Times, was
reporting that the season's Idol Gives Back tally had already topped
$225 million thanks in large part to a $200 million contribution from the
United Kingdom.
It is unclear whether the $76 million raised from the 2007 edition came
entirely from pledges or included corporation donations.
Ratings-wise, this year's 2 1/2-hour special averaged about 17.5 million
viewers, easily outdistancing second-place CBS, which logged 10.4 million
viewers, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research released
yesterday. But it was well below last year's show with 26.9 million viewers.
The event attracted a diverse group of artists, athletes, politicians and celebrities;
everyone from Brad Pitt and Bono to Annie Lennox and Eli Manning took part.
Charities selected to benefit from Idol Gives Back this year include the
Children's Defense Fund, the Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save
The Children and the Children's Health Fund. Corporate sponsors included Fox
network parent company News Corp., ExxonMobil, Allstate and Ford.
In addition, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell donated
their salaries for the evening.
Besides the chance to purchase highlights from the night, Idol fans were
also lured to iTunes by free exclusive content, including a behind-the-scenes
look at Alicia Keys' journey through three countries in Africa helping children
with HIV/AIDS. Last night, host Seacrest said the Top 6 downloads on iTunes
were from Idol Gives Back.
Billboard.com with files from L.A. Times
Where's
The Funding For Hip-Hop?
Excerpt from www.globeandmail.com
- Ian Keteku, The Canadian Press
(April 14, 2008) OTTAWA — Hip-hop might be
an entrenched force in Canadian music, but that
doesn't mean it's earning respect when it comes to cultural funding.
Documents obtained from the Canada Council for the Arts show that just four
hip-hop acts received federal grants in 2007, leaving it behind other musical
genres when it came to funding last year.
Three of Canada's 10 bestselling digital tracks in 2007 were hip-hop, according
to Nielsen SoundScan, while Canadian artists such as Kardinal Offishall and
K-OS continued to gain critical and commercial success. And with thriving
scenes in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, notable hip-hop artists have also
started popping up in cities such as Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax.
But despite its growth and popularity, documents obtained from the council
under the Access to Information Act indicate that the genre might still not be
accepted by the federal agency committed to encouraging the arts.
Vincent Letellier, otherwise known as Freeworm, who raps evocatively about
environmental causes, received a grant, as did Romeo Jacobs (a.k.a. Red 1) and
Eric San (Kid Koala), currently on tour in Australia; the latter two received
professional development grants. The group Eekwol also earned a grant, through
the council's Aboriginal Peoples Music Program.
Almost 300 artists applied for funding in the non-classical category. Of those
awarded funding, a majority of the 43 successful applicants were either
classical or jazz musicians. Applications are judged by a committee that is
supposed to represent Canada's two official languages, its aboriginal peoples,
cultural and regional diversity, and an eclectic mix of musicians. Applicants
in each category are to be judged by musicians representing a variety of
musical tastes.
But it appears that hip-hop artists were not judged by their peers in 2007. Not
one of the committee members who reviewed applications in the non-classical
category was considered a hip-hop artist, according to assessment reports used
by the arts council.
Edmonton-based singer/songwriter Mireille Moquin was on the non-classical panel
and said there was no bias against hip-hop artists when the decisions were
made. "It is mainly based on how creative the project is, what jumped out
as being out of the ordinary and original," Moquin said.
The judges need to look beyond creativity and realize that hip-hop music is now
popular culture, said Mils Knight (DJ Mils), who represents Eekwol. Although
that group is grateful for its grant, Knight said, more needs to be done to
recognize the influence that hip-hop has on Canadian culture. "It is a
very popular genre and there is a large pool of talent in this nation that the
government needs to acknowledge."
Hip-hop artists also need to shoulder some of the responsibility, Knight added.
"It is a competitive process and artists have to learn what the jurors are
looking for, refine their application and also learn about the numerous funding
options for musicians."
We shouldn't be fooled by the glitz and glam of an artist's music videos, he
said. "It's not like we are making crazy money, driving crazy vehicles,
and flying in private jets. I still got to pay for rent and I got mouths to
feed. I have bills."
Other rappers say the committee's narrow selection of hip-hop musicians
supports artists with already thriving careers, leaving emerging and
independent artists out in the cold.
Marlon Wilson, also known as Young Mav, belongs to the Edmonton-based hip-hop
collective Politic Live. His group has released two critically acclaimed albums
and three videos on MuchMusic, but still struggles to receive funding from the
council.
"If you're a big name and have a record label that's backing you, you
don't need the funding. The small guys get squeezed out," he said.
Wright on
Time-The Blackout Interview with Kam Williams
Source: Kam Williams
Jeffrey Wright was born on
December 7, 1965 in Washington, DC where he was raised by
his mother, an attorney, with the help of her sister, a nurse, following the
untimely death of his father when he was still a baby. After attending a prep
school, Jeffrey enrolled at Amherst College, discovering his love for the stage
on his way to completing work for a bachelor’s degree in Political
Science.
Next, he earned a scholarship to NYU’s prestigious film school, but dropped out
after only two months to pursue a professional acting career. In 1994, the gifted thespian won a Tony Award
for his spellbinding performance as “Belize” in Tony Kushner’s award-winning
Broadway play “Angels in America.”
A couple of years later, Wright would enjoy his breakout role on the big screen
as the title character in Basquiat. The versatile scene-stealer has since made
innumerable memorable appearances, mostly as a second banana in such flicks as
Shaft, Ali, Syriana, The Manchrian Candidate, Casino Royale, Lackawanna Blues
and The Invasion.
As for his private life, Jeffrey is married to Carmen Ejogo, the
Scottish-Nigerian actress he met on the set of Boycott, where they played Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. The couple lives I Brooklyn
which is where they are raising their two children. Here, he takes about his
latest film, Blackout, recently released on DVD, a drama revisiting the chaos
and looting which erupted in East Flatbush during the Great Blackout of 2003.
KW: Jeffrey, thanks so much for the
time.
JW: Thank you.
KW: Well, there are a million things I’d
like to talk to you about. Let me start by asking you what interested you in
Blackout?
JW: It was a film about my neighbourhood, essentially. I live a bike ride away
from Flatbush in Brooklyn. So, it was an opportunity to tell a story that was
close to home. It was also an opportunity for me to experience the blackout,
since I was out of the country when it actually went down. And I had heard
nothing about this side of the New York story. Where I was, it was all reported
as Chianti and Kumbaya. So, that things had gone down was news to me. In fact,
when [director] Jerry LaMothe first approached me about the project, I went online
to see what I could dig up, and couldn’t find any references to it. But going
over to the neighbourhood and talking to the folks about it, I learned that it
had been a very different story for them than had been presented through the
mainstream media. So, this particular story represented in many ways how the
lives and experiences of certain sectors of the American population go
unnoticed. And it allowed us, as actors, to shed light on a story that might
otherwise remain in the darkness.
KW: The picture shows how an already
disadvantaged community’s troubles can be further amplified by a disaster.
JW: Sure… sure… I’ll tell you, I’ve rarely been on a film set that melted so
organically into the location in which it was being shot. Folks who happened to
be walking down the street ended up in the movie. While we were shooting in the
barber shop, guys came in and got haircuts. I even offered to cut a few, but
didn’t get any takers. [Laughs] So there was an authenticity about it that was
really special. But at the same time,
what I came to understand as well is that there’s a volatility in that
particular section of Brooklyn which would only, as you say, require an
incident like the blackout to really spark something.
KW: I think of you in the same light as
the equally-underrated Christian Bale, as two of the best actors never
nominated for an Oscar. Whenever I watch you at work, you’re always quite
extraordinary.
JW: Well, thank you. Some of it’s okay.
KW: When did you develop an interest in
acting?
JW: It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I really seriously pursued
it, and I’ve been trying to escape the business ever since. [Chuckles]
KW: Why did you leave NYU after only a
couple of months.
JW: I had an opportunity to do a Lorraine Hansberry play, so I took it. But I
also left because I felt that I would better serve my craft by actually getting
out and working, and digging my skills out of the boards of the stage, rather
than within the safety of the classroom.
KW: Do you prefer working on the stage?
Obviously, making movies pay a lot more.
JW: Yeah, that’s an attraction of film work, but the stage is satisfying in a
different way. It’s harder work, but most importantly, you have more control
over the final output on the stage, because there’s no one filtering what you
do for the audience. There’s a certain freedom and fulfillment in directly
communicating with the audience that you don’t find in film work. But they each
have their own challenges, and I derive enjoyment from both. But, yes, I think
I have a preference for the stage.
KW: You’ve played a lot of famous
figures: Basquiat, Bobby Seale, Martin Luther King, Sidney Bechet, and you’ll
be portraying a couple more soon in Colin Powell and Muddy Waters. How do you
feel about being tapped to do so many icons?
JW: Basquiat was iconic in certain circles, but relatively unknown in larger
circles. What was exciting about playing him was that it could be an invitation
to a larger audience to his work. So, that was compelling to me. In the case of
Dr. King, it was an opportunity to do a piece about an icon, yes, but about an
icon whose legacy was being lost on younger folks. It was a chance to remind
those who weren’t alive at the time about his work and his life.
KW: Why haven’t you relocated to Los
Angeles?
JW: Why haven’t I? Hmmm… It’s a nice place to visit. [Laughs] I grew up in a
one industry town, Washington, DC. Los Angeles is a one-industry town, too, but
the industry is a little too narrow. Also, I have kids now, and Brooklyn, in my
opinion, is a far superior community to raise them in than L.A., just in terms
of their being overshadowed by movies and things like that. And there’s a lot
more to the world than spotlights.
KW: Is there a question you always
wished a journalist would ask you?
JW: That’s a good question, but no.
KW: Are you happy?
JW: That’s a good one, too. I used to say that “happy” was like “lucky,” kind
of imaginary. But now that I’m married and have children, I find that happiness
is a real space. And I have to say that I am happy, although I’m probably
pulled in too many different directions sometimes, and more stressed than I
should be about things. But I’m blessed with a beautiful family, and that’s all
I can ask for.
KW: It must be very challenging for an
actor and an actress to be married.
JW: Yes, a lot of drama.
KW: Thanks again for the interview,
Jeffrey. I’m looking forward to your landing that Oscar nomination in the near
future.
JW: Well, Kam, thank you very much. I
appreciate it. Turn Up
The Heat In South Beach
Excerpt from www.thestar.com
- Caroline Mallan, Special To The Star
(March 27, 2008) Miami Beach, FLA.– Far from
the snow boots, the shovelling, the wind chill and
the drudgery of a winter that seemingly will not end there's another world. Or
in the case of South Beach – another planet.
Thanks to the now-legendary revitalization of this art deco-studded strip of
sand, South Beach has produced a line-up of professionals who put the heat, the
hip and the vibe into one of the coolest cities south of the border. And if
you're planning a late escape from a long winter and slow-moving spring, their
services are worth checking out.
The Tanning Butler
Malcolm Vincent, 27, was born for this. "No really, I was," insists
the bronzed man with the impossibly white teeth who is mingling poolside at the
glamorous Ritz-Carlton. "I was born and raised in Maui and the beach was
where my family celebrated everything."
An army veteran who served in Iraq and specialized in getting the troops into
shape, Vincent also doubles as a personal trainer.
His ``tanning butler'' role on South Beach came thanks to an open job posting
that he spotted online.
"I knew the job was mine," he said, adding that he was not fazed by
the other 200 who turned up in the hopes of impressing Michelle Payer, creator
of the world's only tanning butler.
"Malcolm was the one, as soon as we saw him we knew," said Payer, the
head of public relations for Miami's Ritz-Carltons.
Vincent had a hand in choosing the brand of sunscreen that he wears in his
holster –overtop his trunks and white T-shirt with his job description
emblazoned on the back – as he roams the chic pool deck in search of signs of
sunburn.
He also offers a cool mist spray and guests' sunglasses get a spritz and a
polish to complete the service. Vincent's application methods are legendary.
"Malcolm gives the best mini-massages as he puts on the sunscreen,"
said poolside regular Melissa Coon.
"He is a dream, everybody knows about him in South Beach."
The man himself is not mere brawn, Vincent has a true knack for putting people
at ease, chatting with hundreds of guests a day and ensuring they feel welcome
whether they prefer life under an umbrella or soak up the rays for hours.
"I think of myself as a tanning ambassador for the hotel and for the
beach."
The Nightlife Concierge
When it first opened in 2003, Maria Roa-Warnant was the greenest junior on the
concierge desk at Miami's luxe Four Seasons hotel. When guests asked for tips
on how to gain entry to the best clubs and restaurants, they were sent to ask
the young ingénue with a love of the nightlife.
"I was only 19 when I started here. I guess if people asked me where to
go, I just knew. I'm a Miami native and I know the scene here."
Her after-hours pursuits of the latest lounges that draw the famous and the
beautiful to Miami gave her the lowdown on where to go for a good night out.
Three months ago, Roa-Warnant's informal role became official when she was
named the hotel's nightlife concierge.
"I didn't ask for a raise since my job is basically partying," she
says with a smile.
She is the woman to see if you want VIP treatment at celebrity haunts such as
Mynt, the Opium Garden or Set.
Which is not to say that Maria can manage miracles.
"Telling a guest that there is no way – and I mean no way – they are
getting into a great club wearing flip-flops and pirate shorts or with big
Texas hair is hard," she says.
Another toughie is finding a way to get a bachelor party of a dozen men into
one of the city's preferred clubs.
"Bachelor parties are the hardest thing. The clubs are just not looking
for 10 or 12 single men, no matter how much money they have to spend."
Bachelorette parties, on the other hand, are easy.
"A dozen beautiful women dressed to kill, I can get them into any
club."
The Vibe Manager
Chesa Crouch is all about the "feel." Not just the look of the
boutique 88-room Hotel Victor on Ocean Drive in South Beach, but the less
tangible elements – the smell, the music, the tone, the lighting.
"It's all part of the vibe," she explains of her unusual job
description.
But the hotel's "vibe team" is not just in charge of the overall
effect; they aim to ensure each guest's personal vibe is catered to as well.
"I take it upon myself to make sure all their senses are catered to and to
help each guest to experience their own vibe," Crouch says.
It involves contacting guests before they check in to find out if there is a
special occasion that might merit a particular scent, be it from flowers or
candles.
Different zones of the hotel have different vibes, aided by a scent machine
that pumps various fragrances into the public spaces.
"In the spa, it's very Zen, in the restaurants the smell is more an
enticing smell," she says.
Each sniff comes with its own music, too, which Crouch is in charge of making
sure changes throughout the day, going from mellow mornings to a louder, more
lively beat come cocktail hour.
The Decipherer of Cool
Steven Giles does not know when he gained "the gift." Great
connections at some of Miami's best boutiques ensure that a rack of clothes for
a guest who is wardrobe-challenged is only a phone call away.
How do you know what people will want to wear, hear, see, feel, smell and sit
on before anyone else?
"I've never had that epiphany, which is good because I wake up every day
in a mild state of panic," he says of the success of Base, his lifestyle
concept store on South Beach's Lincoln Rd.
Giles, a transplanted Londoner, is behind what is widely recognized as the
first such store in the U.S.
The main boutique offers a sound bar with an eclectic mix of artists and
genres, clothing, technological gadgetry, books and accessories.
It is a one-stop cool emporium and Giles is the man who decides what makes the
cut.
Base has been around Miami for 18 years, but just over a year ago, it expanded
to open Base Annex in the tiny courtyard behind the main store.
Here, cleverly divided into seven different-themed rooms, are the treasures
that transform a house into a gallery.
There is a camouflage-pattered bench in this corner, a life-sized wooden
carving of a cowboy over there, impossibly beautiful ceramics in another alcove
and chandeliers that drip with funky good taste.
"It's only been in recent memory that I have realized that what I like
other people seem to want to buy, which is an extremely useful ability if
you're in the area of retailing that I am," he says.
"We decipher what's cool or people, at least that's what people say."
The Beach Yogi
After indulgent shopping, lounging and partying, Arianne Traverso offers
visitors a chance to stretch out and seek some inner peace, with nature as a
backdrop.
Traverso is the city's only teacher of acro-yoga – a blend of yoga, acrobatics
and Thai massage, with a playful social side that lightens the mood.
"People go to a yoga class, do their things, maybe say `hi' to one or two
others and then go home," she said of more conventional yoga. "But
with acro-yoga it is a lot of partner work which relies on trust."
Terri Cooper, head of yoga at The Standard Hotel, singled out Traverso's yoga –
held regularly in the hotel garden – as a must-do for visitors. Traverso said
teaching on the beach or in the garden makes for a special experience.
"I'd rather say, everyone facing the ocean turn onto your right side than
say, look at that wall in a studio," she says of nature's studio.
"It's so much more beautiful to use visual cues ... everyone feels
it."
Caroline Mallan is a freelance writer based in London, England.
Just the facts
Tanning Butler works weekends poolside at the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach, One
Lincoln Rd. www.ritzcarlton.com/SouthBeach
Hotel Victor is at 1144 Ocean Dr. in South Beach. www.hotelvictorsouthbeach.com
The Four Seasons Miami is located at 1435 Brickell Ave. on the mainland. www.fourseasons.com/miami
For details on Arianne Traverso's acro-yoga classes in Miami Beach, go to www.ariyoga.com. Information about her classes
at The Standard Hotel can be found at www.standardhotels.com/miami
Base is at 939 Lincoln Rd., the Base Annex is in the rear courtyard. www.baseworld.com
::TRAVEL NEWS::
Turn Up The Heat In South Beach
Excerpt from www.thestar.com
- Caroline Mallan, Special To The Star
(March 27, 2008) Miami Beach, FLA.– Far from
the snow boots, the shovelling, the wind chill and
the drudgery of a winter that seemingly will not end there's another world. Or
in the case of South Beach – another planet.
Thanks to the now-legendary revitalization of this art deco-studded strip of
sand, South Beach has produced a line-up of professionals who put the heat, the
hip and the vibe into one of the coolest cities south of the border. And if
you're planning a late escape from a long winter and slow-moving spring, their
services are worth checking out.
The Tanning Butler
Malcolm Vincent, 27, was born for this. "No really, I was," insists
the bronzed man with the impossibly white teeth who is mingling poolside at the
glamorous Ritz-Carlton. "I was born and raised in Maui and the beach was
where my family celebrated everything."
An army veteran who served in Iraq and specialized in getting the troops into
shape, Vincent also doubles as a personal trainer.
His ``tanning butler'' role on South Beach came thanks to an open job posting
that he spotted online.
"I knew the job was mine," he said, adding that he was not fazed by
the other 200 who turned up in the hopes of impressing Michelle Payer, creator
of the world's only tanning butler.
"Malcolm was the one, as soon as we saw him we knew," said Payer, the
head of public relations for Miami's Ritz-Carltons.
Vincent had a hand in choosing the brand of sunscreen that he wears in his
holster –overtop his trunks and white T-shirt with his job description
emblazoned on the back – as he roams the chic pool deck in search of signs of
sunburn.
He also offers a cool mist spray and guests' sunglasses get a spritz and a
polish to complete the service. Vincent's application methods are legendary.
"Malcolm gives the best mini-massages as he puts on the sunscreen,"
said poolside regular Melissa Coon.
"He is a dream, everybody knows about him in South Beach."
The man himself is not mere brawn, Vincent has a true knack for putting people
at ease, chatting with hundreds of guests a day and ensuring they feel welcome
whether they prefer life under an umbrella or soak up the rays for hours.
"I think of myself as a tanning ambassador for the hotel and for the
beach."
The Nightlife Concierge
When it first opened in 2003, Maria Roa-Warnant was the greenest junior on the
concierge desk at Miami's luxe Four Seasons hotel. When guests asked for tips
on how to gain entry to the best clubs and restaurants, they were sent to ask
the young ingénue with a love of the nightlife.
"I was only 19 when I started here. I guess if people asked me where to
go, I just knew. I'm a Miami native and I know the scene here."
Her after-hours pursuits of the latest lounges that draw the famous and the
beautiful to Miami gave her the lowdown on where to go for a good night out.
Three months ago, Roa-Warnant's informal role became official when she was
named the hotel's nightlife concierge.
"I didn't ask for a raise since my job is basically partying," she
says with a smile.
She is the woman to see if you want VIP treatment at celebrity haunts such as
Mynt, the Opium Garden or Set.
Which is not to say that Maria can manage miracles.
"Telling a guest that there is no way – and I mean no way – they are
getting into a great club wearing flip-flops and pirate shorts or with big
Texas hair is hard," she says.
Another toughie is finding a way to get a bachelor party of a dozen men into
one of the city's preferred clubs.
"Bachelor parties are the hardest thing. The clubs are just not looking
for 10 or 12 single men, no matter how much money they have to spend."
Bachelorette parties, on the other hand, are easy.
"A dozen beautiful women dressed to kill, I can get them into any
club."
The Vibe Manager
Chesa Crouch is all about the "feel." Not just the look of the
boutique 88-room Hotel Victor on Ocean Drive in South Beach, but the less tangible
elements – the smell, the music, the tone, the lighting.
"It's all part of the vibe," she explains of her unusual job
description.
But the hotel's "vibe team" is not just in charge of the overall
effect; they aim to ensure each guest's personal vibe is catered to as well.
"I take it upon myself to make sure all their senses are catered to and to
help each guest to experience their own vibe," Crouch says.
It involves contacting guests before they check in to find out if there is a
special occasion that might merit a particular scent, be it from flowers or
candles.
Different zones of the hotel have different vibes, aided by a scent machine
that pumps various fragrances into the public spaces.
"In the spa, it's very Zen, in the restaurants the smell is more an
enticing smell," she says.
Each sniff comes with its own music, too, which Crouch is in charge of making
sure changes throughout the day, going from mellow mornings to a louder, more
lively beat come cocktail hour.
The Decipherer of Cool
Steven Giles does not know when he gained "the gift." Great
connections at some of Miami's best boutiques ensure that a rack of clothes for
a guest who is wardrobe-challenged is only a phone call away.
How do you know what people will want to wear, hear, see, feel, smell and sit
on before anyone else?
"I've never had that epiphany, which is good because I wake up every day
in a mild state of panic," he says of the success of Base, his lifestyle
concept store on South Beach's Lincoln Rd.
Giles, a transplanted Londoner, is behind what is widely recognized as the
first such store in the U.S.
The main boutique offers a sound bar with an eclectic mix of artists and
genres, clothing, technological gadgetry, books and accessories.
It is a one-stop cool emporium and Giles is the man who decides what makes the
cut.
Base has been around Miami for 18 years, but just over a year ago, it expanded
to open Base Annex in the tiny courtyard behind the main store.
Here, cleverly divided into seven different-themed rooms, are the treasures
that transform a house into a gallery.
There is a camouflage-pattered bench in this corner, a life-sized wooden
carving of a cowboy over there, impossibly beautiful ceramics in another alcove
and chandeliers that drip with funky good taste.
"It's only been in recent memory that I have realized that what I like
other people seem to want to buy, which is an extremely useful ability if
you're in the area of retailing that I am," he says.
"We decipher what's cool or people, at least that's what people say."
The Beach Yogi
After indulgent shopping, lounging and partying, Arianne Traverso offers
visitors a chance to stretch out and seek some inner peace, with nature as a
backdrop.
Traverso is the city's only teacher of acro-yoga – a blend of yoga, acrobatics
and Thai massage, with a playful social side that lightens the mood.
"People go to a yoga class, do their things, maybe say `hi' to one or two
others and then go home," she said of more conventional yoga. "But
with acro-yoga it is a lot of partner work which relies on trust."
Terri Cooper, head of yoga at The Standard Hotel, singled out Traverso's yoga –
held regularly in the hotel garden – as a must-do for visitors. Traverso said
teaching on the beach or in the garden makes for a special experience.
"I'd rather say, everyone facing the ocean turn onto your right side than
say, look at that wall in a studio," she says of nature's studio.
"It's so much more beautiful to use visual cues ... everyone feels
it."
Caroline Mallan is a freelance writer based in London, England.
Just the facts
Tanning Butler works weekends poolside at the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach, One
Lincoln Rd. www.ritzcarlton.com/SouthBeach
Hotel Victor is at 1144 Ocean Dr. in South Beach. www.hotelvictorsouthbeach.com
The Four Seasons Miami is located at 1435 Brickell Ave. on the mainland. www.fourseasons.com/miami
For details on Arianne Traverso's acro-yoga classes in Miami Beach, go to www.ariyoga.com. Information about her classes
at The Standard Hotel can be found at www.standardhotels.com/miami
Base is at 939 Lincoln Rd., the Base Annex is in the rear courtyard. www.baseworld.com
::MUSIC NEWS::
Mint
Condition Returns
Source: Nyle Washington, Account Executive, Susan Blond, Inc.
(April 11, 2008) *The trendsetting, platinum Minnesota-based R&B
group, Mint
Condition is back with their eagerly awaited ninth album, e-Life, in
stores May 6, 2008.
The album will be released on the band’s own label, CagedBird Records in
joint venture with Image entertainment and includes collaborations with Anthony
Hamilton, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Phonte from the group Lil Brother.
e-Life is a career defining album that will remind Mint Condition’s fans that
their signature sound, an eclectic blend of funk, rock, and soul, is still
intact and even better 17 years after their debut.
The group’s longevity is a testament to their unique sound. Lead vocalist
Stokley Williams says, “Our sound is an extension of the kind of music we love
and Mint Condition is always going to be relevant because we don’t follow
trends, we believe in the integrity of our music and how it makes our fans
feel.”
e-Life is Mint Condition’s first release since their 2005 album Living the
Luxury Brown, which hit #1 on Billboard’s Independent Album Charts.
Keyboardist Rick Kinchen reflects on the title of the album: “Each song deals
with the difficulties in maintaining relationships; between men and women,
parents and children, and friends in a world that communicates through the
internet, e-mail, texting, and instant messaging.” Mint Condition’s first
single, “Baby Boy, Baby Girl,” is a clear example as the group tackles raising
children in the digital age. The single impacted radio in a big way and is
currently the #1 most added song to Urban Adult Contemporary Stations across
the country.
Recorded and written collaboratively by all band members, Mint Condition once
again tests the limits with a range of soul stirring love ballads and drum and
bass laced grooves. e-Life shows Mint Condition’s versatility ranging from
their first single, “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” featuring soul crooner Anthony
Hamilton to the futuristic sounding joint, “Why Do We Try” featuring A Tribe
Called Quest and former Lucy Pearl sound architect Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Mint
Condition challenges the negative connotations of women who seek out well-to-do
men in the aptly titled mid-tempo song “Golddigger” and discusses a failed relationship
in the trademark Mint sounding ballad, “Nothing Left To Say.”
The original members of Mint Condition are still intact with Stokley on vocals,
Lawrence El on piano and keyboards, Rick Kinchen on bass and lead guitar,
O'Dell on rhythm guitar and Jeffrey Allen on saxophone and keyboards.
Beginning as a sextet, the group now stands at five after the amicable
departure of keyboardist Keri Lewis.
Mint Condition was signed in the early nineties by heavyweight producers, Jimmy
Jam and Terry Lewis, and has long stood apart from other R&B groups.
Ever since their debut album Meant to be Mint was released in 1991 the platinum
selling group has been churning out hit after hit. Starting with the Top 10 pop
single, "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” a steady chain of hits
followed, including “Someone To Love,” “You Send Me Swingin,” “What Kind Of Man
Would I Be,” and “You Don’t Have to Hurt No More.”
In support of their upcoming album, e-Life, Mint Condition is gearing up for
their 2008 U.S. promo tour this Spring. Soon after, the group will head over
seas to tour internationally in Europe and Japan. The group also has
plans for their new label CagedBird Records, which includes signing new talent
and the exciting prospect of releasing Mint’s highly coveted side project, a
experimental jazz group which features Jeffrey Allen, Stokley, and Lawrence El
and Odell’s funk, rock, and r&b group THE TRUTH.
Erykah Badu Plots Six-Week Tour
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(April 10, 2008) *Erykah Badu will traverse
North America next
month for a six-week tour in support of her latest release, "New Amerykah,
Pt. One: 4th World War." The trek,
set to launch May 4 in Detroit, will feature opening act The Roots for many of
the dates. The performers will visit
U.S. cities from coast to coast, as well as a few Canadian provinces, and Badu
will veer off for gigs in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean island of Aruba. Tour details are listed below:
May 2008
4 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
5 - Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
6 - Sherbrooke, Quebec - Jacques Cartier Park
8 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
9 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Concert Pavilion
11 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
14-15 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
16 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall
17 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
18 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theater
20 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphitheater
21 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Coliseum of Puerto Rico
23 - Atlanta, GA - Fabulous Fox Theatre
24 - Montgomery, AL - Jubilee City Festival
25 - Aruba, Dutch Caribbean - Soul Beach Music Festival
27 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
28 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
29 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
30-31 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
June 2008
2 - Denver, CO - Fillmore
3 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
5 - Redmond, WA - Marymoore Amphitheater
6 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
8 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
10 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
13 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
14 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheater
15 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
Red
Stripe Pulls Sponsorship From Dancehall And Reggae Stage Shows
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
- By Kevin Jackson
(April 10, 2008) *Diageo, the parent company for Red
Stripe Beer has
pulled its sponsorship from the staging of dancehall and reggae shows in Jamaica
with immediate effect.
Two of the more prominent stage shows held in Jamaica, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest and Guinness Sting
will be without the support of the Red Stripe and Guinness brands, when they
are staged later this year.
In a carefully guided press release issued to the Jamaican media, Red Stripe
said:
"Jamaica has a rich cultural and musical heritage that has earned the
country much international acclaim through the years. Our Jamaican musicians
are among the best and most talented in the world. The Jamaican music industry
has contributed to building economic and social life in Jamaica, and for that
we are very proud. It is for this very positive reason, that for decades Red
Stripe has sought to associate its brands with Jamaican music. The Red Stripe
Company has maintained a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the
music industry and together we have worked very hard with promoters and
artistes to uphold globally acceptable standards.
Over the years, however, a very negative trend of glorifying violence has crept
into some of the music, causing much consternation among well thinking
Jamaicans and others at home and abroad. This has far-reaching and damaging
implications for the industry and for the country as a whole. While our most
recent efforts through the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors have met with some
measure of success, some performers continue to propagate, through their live
performances, violent and anti-social lyrics. Red Stripe will not be party to
this, and thus we have taken the very difficult decision of withdrawing
sponsorship from live music events. Consequently, Red Stripe will not renew our
contract for title sponsorship of Reggae Sumfest and Sting. We will, however,
ensure that our brands are made available whenever and wherever our loyal
consumers enjoy premium alcohol beverages.
It is our hope that our action will cause the proponents of this destructive
trend in local music to stop and take stock of the negative impact of their
actions on the society and seek to make a change. Red Stripe looks forward to
the time when good sense will prevail and we can see a return to improved
quality and standard of music that all Jamaica can be proud of. At that time we
will review our position."
Reggae Sumfest which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Montego Bay this year,
is reportedly eyeing top guns including Akon, Chris Brown, Ne Yo and Keyshia
Cole to perform at this year's festival.
In the past, names including LL Cool J, Mary J Blige, Jay Z, Ludacris, Beyonce,
Destinys Child, Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Ciara, have performed on the Reggae
Sumfest stage.
Get MORE Reggae updates here: www.eurweb.com/story/eur42500.cfm
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