Here is a nice round of events you should check out over this weekend:
Thursday, 2/17
The Couchsessons and Under Cult present The Listening Suite Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm at The Reserve (1426 L St NW). DJ Tom Lim spinning good music. Make sure to come through! For more info go here.
“Georgetown Gallery Gaze Valentine’s Date Night” Georgetown’s monthly gallery walk, coined the “Georgetown Gallery Gaze,” is held every third Friday of the month. At the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue NW and M Street NW. The event is held at various galleries in that vicinity from 5-8pm. To see a list of participating galleries check out their site here.
“Activation 2719″: No Kings Collective will transform a beautiful, newly renovated, 4-story Columbia Heights row house into a temporary gallery. Location at 13th and Girard Streets.The opening event will start at 6pm and will include a bar, food provided by Commonwealth Gastropub, and musical entertainment for the evening. Music on the 20th will be performed by Bullfight Academy, DJ Fleg, DJ Phil Real and DJ Smudge. Free event, but you must RSVP at: www.readysetdc.com/2719
Chinese New Year Parade : Held in Chinatown on H Street, NW, Washington, DC between 6th and 8th Streets. The parade will be from 2 – 5pm. For more info go here.
1) Angel Tayloris a pop singer/songwriter from Cali who started out by hitting up local coffeeshops with just her songs and a guitar, to landing a record deal with Aware/Columbia Records out in NYC. I saw her on MTV’s You Outta Know and she caught my attention mainly because you rarely see black acoustic singers getting proper recognition. I’d say you should definitely keep an eye out for her and take a look at her latest music video for “Like You Do”
2) Lionel Louekeis a Beninese jazz guitarist and vocalist. He went to Ivory Coast to study music and then went to Paris and after landing scholarship ended up at Berklee College of Music. In early 2000s, he auditioned for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the University of Southern California in front of jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock and Terrence Blanchard and managed to get in. Over the course of the next decade he collaborated with numerous people and has now released his fourth album. Check out this clip of him performing:
3) Burkina Electric is a music group from Burkina Faso that fuses electronica and Burkinabe popular music. The lead is Lukas Ligeti, a renowned composer and percussionist. I came across them while surfing internet and I definitely glad I did. Yes you will most likely not understand a lick of what they are saying unless you are from Burkina Faso but you will definitely appreciate the sound they are trying to create by bridging traditonal music with electronica, out of all genres of music. Take a listen here and let me know what you think! (If you only want to listen to a song or two, check out Mdole or Bobo Yengue)
4) Flying Lotus Those really into music are thinking…em okay c’mon he’s been around but I don’t think many have really been turned onto him still yet or really aware of how long he has been around. I just learned of him two years ago, but apparently he’s been around for 10 years! I feel like telling you about one or two of his tracks wouldn’t do him or his work justice so check this really great compilation of his work made recently by The Gaslamp Killer. Download here.
5)Roska & Jamie George are two artists with two very different background stories and sounds who collaborated on one project together and came out pretty nice. Both UK-ers, Roska dabbles in afrobeat and hip/hop, meanwhile Jamie George is a pretty established house/alternative DJ. Check out their project here.
6) Platinum Pied Pipers is a Detroit-based duo comprised of rapper/producer Waajeed and multi-instrumentalist Saadiq. They met one another through Baatin, (one of the founding members of Slum Village). Since that fateful meeting in 1992, the two guys have been composing and producing not only records for themselves but for other artists such as Slum Village and Dwele. Check out their music here.
7) Diamond District is a trio of DMV-based hip/hop MCs who came together about 2 years ago, put out a pretty solid album last year, called In The Ruff which mind you was one of top selling hip/hop albums on Itunes.The group is comprised of XO, yU and Oddisee; arguably, they are some of the top artists of the DMV hip/hop scene as of late. The single, I Mean Business is a huge fav among a lot of folks; I know it gets played pretty regularly on my ipod. The album is not only a hit among music fans but fellow music artists as well. Recently, the DJ Premier released a list containing his pick of the top 20 albums of 2009 and Diamond District was at number 12. So take a listen to their music here.
8) Carolina Chocolate Drops is a trio hailing from North Carolina. They are one of the few African-American string bands still in existence. Since their formation in 2005 they have released 4 albums and now this year as of today they released their newest album called Geniune Negro Jig . If you like trying things that are more on the old school folk and instrumental side then this is the group for you. Take a listen for yourself here.
Hope you liked this edition of Third Mondays. Apologies for the lateness, better late than never right?! Right. So leave a comment below and let me know what you think!
What started out as just a joke has turned into a growing entrepreneurial dream turned enterprise. The designer had a dream, the gift of drawing and the tenacity and will to manifest her ideas. She started off by designing high-end pieces and over time began to branch out and test her skills by actually making the jewelry herself. This resulted in the creation of a second line, in spring 2009, of custom-made jewelry pieces called ARIIEL. You may ask yourself, so what does “Ariiel” mean? It means, Light or Lion of God. The designer says she selected this name, “merely for the projects’ inconceivable intention that may position it and others ahead, by becoming the guiding light!”
After a small sit-down with the designer, I asked her few questions about ARIIEL’s story, her inspiration and where her love for jewelry came from. Here’s what she said:
What sparked your initial desire to make art with metals and semi-precious gems?
Growing up, art was my favorite subject and still is to date; Iremember cutting flowers and holding them in-between my fingers or against my earlobes and treating them like my jewelries or drawing, painting and creating things whether it was to create a piano out of cardboard box or sitting in a garden and painting a portrait of the scenery; I did it all!! These were the hours that I retreated from reality and simultaneously these were the days that I began to cultivate and strengthen my GOD given talent and began to weave it with my favorite fashion accessory, Jewelry!!
How do your designs begin?
For ARIIEL: I shape them! And everything is based on my instinct. It’s important that each piece has its own identity and not meet the status quo, for the most part with respect to the classic signature-look of pearl necklaces. Only in the case of pearl necklaces, I bend the rule because; it allows me to relate to some of my favorite actresses like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly who covered the front pages of countless magazines. Overall, my inspiration comes from a combination of things including nature, music and my surroundings together, gives birth to a vision and the jewelry evolves!
Which is more powerful in your work: materials effect imagination or vice versa?
I must say, the materials effect on my imagination have more power; just seeing it come to life itself brings joy to my heart and possesses power on its own not to mention, the jewelry’s color and degree of shimmer.
Who are the different types of women you envision wearing your pieces?
I would envision a woman, who is mysterious yet free spirited who embraces her own identity and style with a passion and confidence. To me, no one should be alike and everyone should have identity because each is special in her own ways!
What or who is your muse?
My imagination allows me to envision the piece before it’s made, and as such in my head is where the muse is located…because at times there have been items that I withdrew from a collection simply because, it didn’t stand out enough or whatever the reason might be in my mental picture.
What sets you apart?
ARIIEL’s identity/brand combined with my dream.
Lastly, is there something that feeds your creativity?
It would definitely be nature combined with my artistic visions which in turn feed my creativity.
The following images below are just a few of the great pieces ARIIEL has to offer. At the bottom you will find the contact information you need should you want to inquire further!
All the pieces within this line are pretty affordable and are definitely unique in design and finish. Each jewelry is a perfect complementary piece for any look of the day or evening. For more information, contact: ariiel.jewels@gmail.com
The Lunchbox theory girls are changing few things up this year. Not only have they revamped their site but they have revamped their signature Afrobeat parties. NEW NIGHT and NEW LOCATION!! They have taken over Bossa Lounge in heart of Adams Morgan, both floors! Live band playing on the first floor, this time with legendary Cheick Hamala, and DJ Underdog spinning nothing but records upstairs. You definitely don’t want to miss out. If you remember my previous post on these parties, they definitely are a nice escape from the stress and pretentiousness that comes with attending these other parties in the DMV, PLUS, you get free face paint and pretty cheap drinks and without fail sweated out from dancing to some great music! You really can’t beat that especially with such a low, low cover of $5.
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THEIR NEW PROMO VIDEO
So don’t miss out and make sure you come this THURSDAY, JAN 28th.
Starts @ 9PM|$5 cover
BOSSA LOUNGE
2463 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009-2003
**Portion of door will be going to Yele Haiti Foundation
National Geographic is showing a documentary called The Choir on Monday, February 8th at its Grovesnor Auditorium located at it’s main headquarters at 1600 M Street, NW Washington, D.C., US 20036 (Telephone: 202-857-7700). Directed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Michael Davie, the documentary follows the lives of South African prison inmates involved in the prison choir and how they seek refuge and redemption through music and arts amidst the confines of the prison walls and gates. The film is showing on Monday, February 8th at 7:30pm. I would definitely recommend you go check it out. Buy your tickets here
Wonderland Magazine- An edgy indie magazine and site created by a Londoner by name of Huw Gwyther. Mag covers fashion and film. Some great articles and images. Definitely a more edgier vibe than you’d find in say Vogue or Nylon. So take a look at their site, read some articles and let me know what you think!
Artschoolvets- Cool arts and culture website…only problem is its all in German. And they don’t have an english option though they really should. Features some really cool artists and I really got into it simply on the images and gives you insight into what young European readers and art enthusiasts may be into these days. Check it out!
DEKKA -Local fashion/art collective located tight on U st in DC. A lot of great designers and artists showcase their work in that place and that is definitely one spot I’d recommend anyone to go to for some great purchases and to find out about some great indie designers/artists.
I hope you liked this segment of THE LIST. More to come next time around. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Following their successful event last week,Lunchbox theory Productions and DURKL present their EAT YOUR VEGETABLES mixtape. Mastered by DJ Underdog himself. Audible goodies you don’t want to miss out on hearing! Click here to download.
Badomedia presents Cerumentalism Volume 01. This is what you need to listen to when you are deep into the holiday spirit and want a nice eclectic mix to ring in the new year. Click here to download.
Monday Jazz brings us a deliciously syrupy mixtape, Waiting for the Winter, that will help ease us into and through this frigid winter. I came across this while surfing Blind I, which itself has an extensive collection of music, but this one mixtape really stood out to me. Click here to download.
Complex – What’s not to love about this magazine/website. Great covers. Edgy, fashionable and innovative. Started by designer Mark Ecko; this site is really great and I am glad its one of the few mag sites that survived last year. Heavy emphasis on Music and Fashion. Definitely on the urban-side but they’ll surprise you from time to time. Check out the site and go buy a copy of the magazine too!
NYLON- I was introduced to this magazine by few friends of mine last year. I really like their angle. Its all fashion but with a slightly indie feel. It’s not like Vogue where it’d be all about haute couture and high fashion, but this mag/site is more about up&coming designers and labels that are fresh and purchasable for us regular folks.
Current – This is actually a TV network but they also have a good website. I am obsessed with this channel. A really great friend of mine told me about it awhile ago but it was not until recently that I finally took a minute to check it out. So finally last week I did and I have been watching hours of it every day/night….all week. There are soooo many different shows and news stories. From following Mos Def in Japan, to the Viewer Content (VC) short films where freelancers from all over the world create, produce/direct and submit their own newstories, to clips on social/foreign issues. A media outlet for the liberal-minded that a even a conservative could learn to love. If you are an aspiring writer, journalist, director/producer, and even actor/comedian, and social media genius, this is a site and network you should definitely check out!
I hope you liked the designers/labels listed above. If you are a designer yourself, please email at editor.shademagazine@gmail.com and tell me about your work! Also lookout for a special DMV fashion piece next month!
i am actually quite upset that i am not here tomorrow now. hmpf. can some1 tell cody to call me.jk jk ok just tell him 2not disappear again. 6 hours ago
@Lunchboxtheory whaaa???? cody is here tomorrW??! the one weekend im not here?! thats not fair! fuck boston. 6 hours ago
I'm convinced verizon has employed the village idiots of the world. 8 hours ago
em this earthquake ish is getting scary.blessings to Chile & to neighboring spots, aftershocks and tsunami warnings will likely happen soon. 12 hours ago
Got an Event and/or music/art/information that you would like to have showcased on the site? Got topic/issue ideas? Do you want to join the SHADE team?
CONTACT: editor.shademagazine@gmail.com
