add sugar’s blog

This weekend kicked off "Taste of Chicago" in beautifully humid Chicago. I went early and didn't think that it would be as crowded or hot as it was. Since I touched down in the city, all weather reports, taxi cab drivers and hotel staff have been talking about how thunderstorms are expected to match this 88 degree heat. Fortunately it didn't rain today but the humidity made me glad I didn't come out here with a press. That would have been messy.

Why doesn't LA have anything like this? The festival went for miles each way and there was a ton of entertainment including acrobatics, bands and the culmination of the night with Chaka Khan. Tomorrow night Stevie Wonder will kick off a free concert for everyone. It was free to get in and food tickets were relatively cheap. The treat of the day for me was meeting Chicago fire fighters who had a booth and were talking with the public. Now that is a good use of city tax dollars, OMG.

Apparently other cities also have "The Taste". Once again, why isn't LA doing this, I think it would be so great. Well, if you haven't been to "The Taste" you can live vicariously through me or get your butt to Chicago within the next 3 weeks to enjoy the rest of the festival.

Check out this great new site/social networking group that I was introduced to. It's called hiving and it's an online

Hiving

community that believes in partying with a purpose. You create a limited profile for yourself (not as crazy as a Myspace profile) and you get invitations to events in the greater LA area to do stuff with like minded people.

Great opportunity to network, meet new people and try new places. To become a member you have to have a referral code or be referred by a current member. I got you, just type "DCHIVING" in the referral code box and you're in.

It's summer, get out there and party with a purpose.

Nordstrom mens sale

Just in time for Fathers Day (yes, it's this Sunday). The annual Nordstrom Mens Half Yearly Sale starts this Friday.

I thought I would share this bit of info. because the Women's Half Yearly Sale is monumental. I mark it on my calendar.

Enjoy!

Check out the current Howard L Bingham: "Rumble In The Jungle", Muhammad Ali exhibit at the M+B Art Gallery in LA. The exhibit only runs until this Saturday so treat yourself and find a way to get in.

Ali

The exhibit shows black and white and color photos that chronicle Muhammad Ali's legendary trip of 1974 to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to fight a heavily favored George Foreman in the first world heavyweight boxing championship held on the African continent. For more details, check out the official press release.

If you can't make it to see this exhibit. It looks like there will be a number of additional upcoming exhibits that you can check out.

Here i stand

I had a chance to listen to Usher's new album and overall I would say that it's a 9/10. His last album, "Confessions", definitely is one of my top 5, I think I loved every song. He has a couple of great songs on "Here I Stand" that stood out for me. Some of my favorites and why were:

"Best Thing" featuring Jay-Z - It automatically gets the thumbs up b/c it has Jay on it but the up tempo beat and vocals by Usher are great. Of course, as a woman the lyrics touched a spot because he admits that he had no business running the streets and as a result the girl left and took the best thing that happened to him. (But ladies, we knew that was going to happen)

"This Ain't Sex" - Great up tempo beat, vocals and the quote of the summer "We ain't having sex, we're making moments that will outlast the world". Well, that just about says it now doesn't it.

"What's Your Name" featuring Will I AM - This will definitely be the next club song. It isn't too original but the beat is cool.

Songs like "Something Special" and "Love You Gently" are classic Usher songs that will put the ladies in their feelings. You knew Usher had to give us those, married or not, he had to take care of the ladies.

But then there are songs like "Appetite" that seemed so real to me. Usher explains how he is happy being married and loves his wife but sometimes gets those urges to be with other women. Then he encourages all men to "fight that appetite for the ladies" and fellas, he also lets you know that you need to put your "BS to rest". Kudos to Usher for admitting this urge that most men use as an excuse. Yes fellas, an excuse. Usher proves that you can keep it in your pants, especially if your girl is special enough to be faithful to.

I could honestly comment on each song, but I encourage you to get it for yourself. Definitely the album of the summer. Album in stores this Tuesday, May 27th.

Art of love tour

I highly enjoyed Chrisette Michelle's performance as part of the "Art of Love Tour" with Solange and Raheem Devaughn. The concert was on Friday at the Anaheim HOB and the crowd was small but dedicated. Mostly women and couples but it seemed like everyone knew every word to every song. Chrisette graciously sang just about every song on her album plus covered a Diana Ross classic. She's not a tiny girl so I was impressed by her style of clothing. She had on tight skinny jeans a white tank and cute jacket. If you have heard her album, seen her videos or seen her perform live, you know that she is unique and a definite breath of fresh air at a time when most Hip Hop and R&B is garbage. Her energy was great and she performed with a great live band that made the experience that much more amazing.

If you don't have her album, do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to her current album in stores now entitled "I Am".Also check out my thoughts on her album below in a previous blog.

Solange opened the show and was suprisingly good. She definitely has grown up and looked very cute in a little pink puffy prom looking dress with background dancers. Her voice sounds good and she seems to be doing a good job of differentiating herself from Beyonce.

We didn't stay for Raheem. Not a big fan, I mostly was interested in seeing Chrisette live and she didn't disappoint. If you have nothing to do tonight, you can catch this concert at the HOB on Sunset

I laughed, I cried and then I cried some more and then I related and that made me cry again. I was fortunate to check out a screening of the 144 minute movie ( I never looked at my watch once) with great anticipation. True SITC fans will love it. The girls definitely stayed true to their characters and the amount of fashion was incredible.

The product placement was over the top yet so appropriate for this type of movie. Stuff from Sky Vodka, Smart Water, Mercedes, Louis Vuitton, buy sell trade, iPhone......... i mean, these are products that are in my daily life anyway so I could relate (stop laughing, I drink Smart Water)

There was A LOT of nudity and sex scenes which most fans of the show should be used to because it was formerly on HBO but it's been a while since I've seen "all that" in a movie.

While my emotions were all over the place I would say that I was happy for the ending. Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it.

It's definitely a "chick flick" but it also is a great way to end an all girls night. Dinner, drinks and SITC. In theaters May 30th. You'll love it ladies.

Last night was the Alicia Keys "As I Am" tour at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Let me break it down the way I usually do.....

Venue: The Honda Center is nice, clean and had great audio. The staff seemed really friendly so no complaints there. Plus there was great food options at the concession stand like Ruby's where I could get a real hot fudge sundae. What a great place to allow you to eat a hot fudge sundae and watch a concert. I ignored the fact that it was a contributor to the muffin top.

Crowd/Audience: Not too bad for this concert. It was truly a mixed crowd with different races and ages. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the concert and there wasn't any drama or fear that some guys in white tee's would be fighting afterwards LOL

Jordin Sparks: She was cool. I don't think she really got the crowd into her performance as much as she could and she is getting a little thick. Thicker than a snicker actually. She may want to spend a little more time with the trainer on the tour. Her voice sounded really good though and while her set was simple, she did a pretty good job for being the first real act for the night.

Ne-Yo: Great. I have seen him perform live before and he always does a great job. He had some provocative dancers though, but after a few songs my guess that they were strippers went away and I could see that they had some professional training in them. Ne-Yo played all the great hits and kicked his set off with his new single. Shameless plug... he also announced his album will be out next month. Definitely one that I will buy the Tuesday that it is out.

Alicia: She was great. Very classy, sexy but conservative and allowed her true talent (not dropping it like it's hot or rollin' around on the floor or bringing a guy up on the stage to gyrate on) to come out. She played a lot of songs on her piano which was nice and her voice was amazing. We had great seats so we were able to see everything (thank God the crowd stayed seated for most of the show). She rocked that cute Farrah Fawcett hairstyle that she has going right now and gave a really good, classic show.

To find out where Alicia will be next. Check out Alicia Keys Events