Me in New York... A possibility

I have spent a lot of time over the years visiting New York... but after this past 4 day weekend, I finally saw myself as possibly being able to live in this city.

Granted this trip was a little different from any of my previous trips. I had a suite on the 38th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel... I spent most of my time in the midtown areas versus my usual stops in the Village and SoHo... and I had the opportunity to visit my company's luxurious office right off Park Avenue.

Now I know I would not be able to afford to live off Madison and 57th... but if a position opens up in that office I am going to be all over it.

The hot weekend was capped off by partying with friends including a hotel lobby pool party and a rooftop Junior Vasquez party... definitely a great weekend in the city.

Missing my Vacation...

I can't believe it has already been a week since me and my travel partners returned from Casa Ventana and Puerta Vallarta.

Simply stated this was the best vacation I have ever taken with a group of friends.

The villa we rented was amazing, from the staff to the rooms to the view from the infinity pool... it was definitely first class the entire way. The house staff was quite impressive... I casually mentioned over the french toast breakfast that I wish we had a diet coke to one of my friends. Later that afternoon when I returned from the beach the fridge was stocked with a 12 pack of Coke Light (Mexico's version of Diet Coke).

The views and house were quite impressive... waking up in my suite to views of the Pacific and the city below made me just lay in bed for awhile each morning and just take it in.

The activities we took part in from chartering a private catamaran to zip lining through the Mexico forest, were all new adventures I was happy to share with my old and new friends.

There was no drama, no attitudes, just pure relaxing and fun for 6 days... we are all already anticipating our next trip.

You Know You Need a Vacation when...

(I am reserving this lounge chair right there on the left....)

1. anything that comes out of your intern's mouth begins to make sense.

2. you find yourself day dreaming in the middle of a meeting... that you are leading.

3. ...

2 weeks till a week of lounging pool/beach side, drinking, and fun with friends...

Hey! How Are You? Long Time No Speak...

I am so feeling this Washington Post article, Hey! How Are You? Long Time No Speak... Since Tuesday I have had 11 requests of people asking to crash at my spot.

Now if I had a palatial estate in the suburbs with staff, I wouldn't mind accommodating most of the requests... however I live in a one bedroom/ one bath apartment about 7 blocks from the National Mall and 10 from the Capital. And being an only child who never had to share... I am really selfish about my space, and who I allow in it.

But anyway I see that I am not the only Washingtonian getting calls and emails from people I haven't spoken to in years.

East met West

What a relaxing and fun weekend. I have visited LA a few times but this time was cool just to relax and go with the flow with my bestfriend. United first class.... Beverly Wilshire hotel.... and good friends.

We didn't do a lot of touristy things... it actually seemed like a 5 day plug for me to move out west. Now the nightlife could be a lot better... and everything is sooooooooooo spread out, but I actually considered the move for a hot second. But anyway great times...

Anyway East meets West part 2... September 17-21, 2008

Spur of the moment business trip but hey I love the miles.

~

East meets West in 5 Days

I am looking forward to waking up Friday morning and being officially on vacation... granted it is LA and not Provence or Hampshire... but Beverly Hills will accomodate just fine.

Thanks for the emailed and comments left of suggestions of what to hit up... keep them coming.

In One Month.... East meets West

So today marks one month till East Coast meets West Coast. The last time I was in LA, while the company was cool, my stay was just blah. But I am hoping this trip out will show me another side of LA and seeing that my bestfriend is moving there to finish his PhD... I may need to start liking it at least for awhile. So.....

While I know there are a lot of people East of the Mississippi that read the blog... I need my Californians to hit me up and give me some ideas of what to do while out in LA. What parties/clubs should I visit? Any shopping secret places I need to know about?

So far on the list is...

1. Breakfast at The Blvd

2. Dinner at Wolfgang's Cut

3. Lunch at the Ivy

But I need more suggestions, I would really like to leave LA with more pleasant thoughts than what I think of it now....

East meets West

I have never been a huge fan of Los Angeles. Last time I was there, I stayed for five days and saw the Hollywood sign only once due to the smog. The smog also had me washing my face several times a day. After sitting in traffic at 8pm at night the first two days, I wondered why the hell these people weren't at home yet. After visiting Zuma beach and telling my friend there was no way he was getting me in that brown water... I wondered why the hell people lived there.
As if earthquakes, forrest fires, and mud slides weren't enough signs from God.

Well 3 years later I am making my return to LA. With everything going on on the Right coast (hey I didn't make it right just look at a map), I need a vacation and why not spend it with my bestfriend who is relocating to LA to finish his PhD. Sooooo instead of punking out in ATL this Labor Day I will be in the land of stars.

• Nonstop flight from Washington to LA .... check


• Luxury accomodations at the Five Star, Five Diamond Beverly Wilshire Hotel, A Four Seasons property... check


• One best friend to kick it with all weekend... check


• Need for a getaway... double and triple check

August 29-Sept 3 East meets West

~

Checkout Megabus.com

ok so I saw this on CNN.com and had to pass it along... Megabus.com is offering express bus service to and from NYC to DC and many other locations that start at $1.

No gimmick at all of course I tried it out and booked my ticket for my trip to NY later this month on it before I let you all know. The difference between this service and other bus services is they sell their seats like airlines do, which allows them to offer lower fares on some seats than others.

So after seeing this on CNN.com I tried for at least 20 minutes to use their website which was swamped with traffic so I ended up calling. My trip to New York was $8, my return was just $1 and since I called I had to pay a $3 reservation fee vs. the $0.50 they charge on the website. My entire trip was $12. That is more than I would pay for tolls up and lets not even get on gas.

This will be the first time I have rode a bus so I am hoping it isnt too bad but for $12, I will put my ipod on and close my eyes and ignore whatever else is going on....

Of course I will blog about the bus ride up to let you know how great it was (think good thoughts, think good thoughts)

The thing I miss the most about my former career in event management was all the travel. I use to be on the road to some city somewhere at least once a month and often up to 12 days a month. But the new J-O-B only has me travelling much less than I would desire. Even my own personal travel has suffered as of late... but I am about to work on that.

Seeing that I haven't been to New York since relocating back to DC this past fall... I am over due for a trip up there and SoHo is overdue abusing my Visa. So I just booked my room and will be booking my train ticket later for the last weekend in June... which happens to be NYC Pride weekend... definitely looking forward to that parade. But I will not be walking from the Grand Hyatt on 42nd to Christopher St with a few stops in between like I did last time with my boy Tim and crew. I hate that my friend Kris left NYC... I was always up for a quick weekend getaway when he was there. Now I only know people that always come to DC to stay with me but have excuses when I want to go up... had to end that quickly.

Later in the summer I will be venturing out to LA or Vegas to kick it with my best friend and of course a year wouldn't be complete without a trip back to St. Kitts.

OK back to work...

Where Da Hell You Been?!?!

Yeah I know it has been a week but hell I was busy with family and travelling.

So I actually decided to go to the nonsense wedding I blogged about last month. Flying to the middle of west Texas is always an excruciating experience. And when I tell you it was a complete and utter ghetto mess. OOOOOO I wish I had taken a picture or two of this. And most of you may think 'this bourgeois asshole would call anything ghetto' but when the usher is walking down the aisle with one of those Bic Lighter guns with a ribbon tied around it... what else can it be.

So of course my first question to my mother when she told me my 26yo cousin with no career, no degree, and removable gold fronts was marrying a 36yo woman was Is she pregnant or desperate? Well seeing her waddle down the aisle answered both questions to the affirmative. I just looked at my cousin from Florida and mouthed... told you so. So after the wedding I tell my mother... I told you she was pregnant, I get a response well we didn't know she was always shaped funny. At that moment I was officially done and ready to fly back to Dallas.

Now don't get me wrong the highlight of the trip was definitely seeing my mother, grandparents, great aunts and cousins... but the Erykah Badu concert featuring the Roots was everything. I had just seen Erykah six months ago at the Verizon party at Love Nightclub here in DC. But when I tell you Badu carried on and on. It is rare when a true R&B singer gives you a show at a concert and that is definitely what she does. She is so entertaining to watch and wonder what her crazy ass is going to do next.

The next 3 days were filled with scheduled meetings which all could have been condensed into a day and half but I won't complain since I was staying at the amazing Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Collinas. The amazing weather (less the never ending rain storm on Tuesday) allowed me to sit poolside up until 9pm each night. Damn.... I am loving this new job.

Standing on my patio every morning looking at this course had me wishing I knew something about golf.

Good times but definitely good to be back in DC... see Texas in another 3 years.

Jill, Erykah, Momma, and Me

This is going to be a great week...

It started today with a great day of work visiting clients with reps from two of our European properties. I love networking with other sales managers from all over our company... at the end of 2009 I will be calling upon some of these contacts to help me secure the next position.

Sunday, Mister Selfish aka X surprised me with tickets to see the Jill Scott concert at DAR Constitution Hall this Wednesday. In case you didn't know I am a huge Jilly from Philly fan. This will be the 8th time I have seen her live and I think it was a very thoughtful gift. I never mentioned I wanted to go but three weeks ago when we were out having dinner he asked me what was my favorite song as of late and on that conversation he took it up on himself to give me a early birthday gift.

I like a man that pays attention.

I've been talking to this man... He's been saying what I like and
He makes me smile, When I'm down, so down
He says sweet things in my ear... All the things that I needed to hear
But that's as far as it's gone... I promise, I promise
- J. Scott, Whenever You're Around, "The Real Thing: Words And
Sounds Vol. 3" (2007)

But the week gets even better. I already blogged about the nonsense wedding that my fam is having this weekend in Texas. I decided to go but not so much for the wedding but to see my mother and grandparents and nephew. I haven't seen them in forever and my grandparents aren't getting any younger. And anytime I can see my mother I am all over it. The fact that I also have to go to Dallas for a business meeting starting on Sunday doesn't hurt... especially since they are picking up the tab for the flight already.

But the highlight of the trip other than seeing my moms is none other than getting the opportunity to see Erica Abi Wright aka Erykah Badu. Another friend that knew I was coming to town and that my birthday was coming up soon secured "great seats" (as he says) for her concert this Saturday. I just saw Erica in concert in September but with the release of her new album just two weeks ago I am even more excited to see her perform some of those new songs live.

I am a huge fan of Common, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott and the only thing that would make this week even better is if someone surprises me with tickets to see Common... feel free to take that hint!!!

An Extended Weekend

Wednesday, January 23, 2008... back to work and tired. This past weekend was full of activity from flying Delta... to hanging out with friends... meeting new people... and trying to at least see some of my old friends in ATL.

Three from Jersey, me from DC, the three ATLiens, and our Iraqi transplant made it a full weekend even though we only hit up 2 house parties and 2 clubs it seems as if we were going nonstop. Friday we hit up Trademark at the former Palace. Due to the abnormal cold weather we skipped the general admin line, for the VIP line which we were told as we got in it would be $20 admission. Two minutes later as we stood at the cashier we were told ummm no $25.

So while waiting for some drag queen waitress (sorry if that isn't the proper term) to bring back some drinks for my friends... this attractive short guy that I will call Esquire grabbed my attention, we talked for a few, exchanged numbers and decided to meet up later in the weekend. After several hours of dancing, drinking, and sweating... we decided to bounce hit Checkers and call it a night.

The club promoters gouging the kids for all their leftover holiday money left a bad taste in our mouths and prompted us to skip going out Saturday and just check out a house party or 2. When we finally made it to subdivision where the first party was located it was quick to see this is where everyone was.... cars were parked everywhere. When we made it to the door... we were told no more people could go in because it was crowded. I informed the doorman I was an invited guest and threw out the name of one of the residents and me and the crew walked in. As soon as the door opened I realized the party wasn't crowded. It was absolutely crazy. There had to be at least 400 people in this house. No Way in Hell I would ever have that many people in my house!! Ever!! We were there less than 30 minutes when the cops came and put everyone out... just in the nick of a time seeing a fight was about to ensue right in front of where we were standing. So with the help of some queen with an annoyingly screechy voice we all flooded out of the house and off to the next party. We never made it because the party was in a new subdivision that even GPS couldn't find.

Sunday we went to see DJ Sedrick the District House Mutha at Club Europe. That is where I met Baller... a mid 30s ex pro athlete. Our eyes met when we first walked in but I like to check people out and see how they act and interact with others before speaking. As I exited the restroom after what had to be my third drink... Baller grabbed my arm and struck up a conversation. Exchanged numbers with the promises to get up later the next day... which never materialized but I did get a phone call explaining why which at least showed he was considerate of my time.

Monday was a pretty chill day... tried to visit a couple friends and lunch out with my boys I came to hang out with. Something told me to check my email before I started packing for my 6am flight the next morning to see... Delta cancelled my flight and others due to weather (mind you there was no bad weather out) and rescheduled me on an 8pm flight that evening. How you go from a 6am to 8pm I still haven't figured out but after talking to two CSRs I was finally rebooked on the 220pm. The delay in flight was a good thing it allowed me to have more time with Baller and Esquire. But while I love ATL and enjoy my friends... I was ready to get back to DC, my own bed and my own bathroom... always good to be on the go but even better to be able to go home!!

Holidays in Atlanta

So with so much time on my hand and not as much money in my pocket I decided to drive down to Atlanta, instead of flying and renting a car once there. I couldn't find a flight for uner $350 and renting a car would have been at least another $120 for the week. So seeing I spent less than $200 on gas I think I came out ahead.

I spent a lot of time with my mom and extended family, Wednesday and Thursday. While the dinner wasn't all that great, talking to my grandfather's brother and sister and learning more about their parents and childhood was worth the 8.5 hour drive. I am not all that close to my family but it is so funny to sit back and watch how they share so many of the same characteristics and habits.

Thursday night was spent working and schmoozing at the Ryan Cameron Foundation's 16th Celebrity Bowling Challenge. So many of Atlanta's music and entertainment community came out to support and raise money for the foundation, I only wished I would have watched a good week of Rap City before going. The event went from 8pm until 3 in the morning... and as soon as I thought I was going to cut out early to meet my friends at the bar in comes ubersexy, music producer Polow the Don... which prompted me to stay a little longer. The YoungBloodz were there, as well as many others including Young Joc or Young Dro or some youngin. I really miss my RCF fam, we always have a good time when we are actually working the event.

On my way back to my cousin's house, I stopped by to visit with my boy, Mr. Valentino of ATL. Definitely good seeing him, even if I was forced to watch the Beyonce Experience (just joking). He is definitely one of the few friends I miss in Atlanta.

Friday, I totally avoided any store, mall, or shopping experience. Watching the madness on TV and experiencing it last year was more than enough for me. Besides the only thing I need is a new TV for my living room and I can't afford the 42" LCD right now so that will have to wait. Friday night my crew reunited for food, drinks and a lot of partying at the Palace. Aaaah fun times for sure... can't wait until the rest of the fam from Jersey and Baghdad reunite MLK weekend.

Saturday I hit it back up 85/95 north to avoid the traffic and get home to my own bed. I love visiting and traveling but there is nothing like going home... all in all good times.

Welcome Back to Atlanta...

Well it seems to be that time of year again. Seems like it was just four months ago we welcomed you to Atlanta, and now that time is upon us again. Well on behalf of Mayor Shirley Franklin, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, and all the residents of metro Atlanta, we welcome you back to the King Weekend Celebration.

While we know you came in town to party, meet a jump-off, and go to the many Escada Balls… we ask that you keep in mind the reason we are all off from work on Monday. We ask that you take a minute and reflect on the man, the works, and the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Take a minute and visit historic Auburn Avenue and the King Center (or at least drive down MLK Boulevard). Or take a few minutes and visit the AUC Library and look at our multimillion dollars pieces of paper… ooops nevermind they aren’t even on display yet.

But while here please remember to follow the 10 Commandments for Visitors during Pride Weekend Part 1

1. Thou shall not steal. Now we do not want a repeat of the events that occurred last year (although I am sure it was some tired ATL queens). So if you find the need to permanently borrow some new ‘fits… do that before you leave home. Just to forewarn you Signature 4 Men has since hired a very massive guard that doesn’t really care for homos.

2. Thou shall not harass the straights at Lenox Mall, because once again they will be walking around wondering why this mall is gayer than usual.

3. Thou shall dance like nobody’s watching when the DJ plays the house version of MLK’s I Have a Dream speech; for this is the closest to playing homage most of you will get to this weekend.

4. Thou shall remember that the old Cypress Street has been gentrified and is now home to some of the most expensive condos and office space in Midtown… so don’t go trolling down there assuming to find… well you know what you were trolling for.

5. Thou shall not commit adultery. If you are vacationing without your significant other… keep it in your pants.

6. Thou shall not take late night walks in Piedmont Park. It’s too damn cold and the park closes at nightfall anyway!!

7. Thou shall remember this weekend is about peaceful progress. Stop gritting on each other and say hello when you pass by or at least smile.

8. Thou shall be a friend to your friend. Do not let them come out of the house in some shit that if anyone else had on you would be cackling about. I do not want to see a repeat of the chain thong incident walking around Lenox Mall.

9. Thou shall once again remember that Atlanta is currently at its homo resident limit, so no new homo residents at this time!! (the only exception to this rule: tall, light, masculine, educated, attractive, over 25 but under 35, employed, single with a great sense of humor and beautiful thighs and smile… otherwise you gotta go)

10. Thou shall have a good time, enjoy Atlanta for the weekend and take your ass home on Monday.

See also:
Is it Time for Gay Pride Travel Tour Already??

Remebering the Dream of a King

Farewell... Coretta Scott King

Welcome to Atlanta

GoGo'n Back to DC

Well next week will mark 6 months in Atlanta... and when I left DC I said that I would try to get back every three months to visit the many friends that I left behind.

As most of my close friends know it has been a truly challenging 6 months and I have often questioned if this move to Atlanta was the right decision. The great job opportunity that prompted this whole move is nothing but a sour distant memory... friends that I thought I knew and were close to for the past 10 years have shown a new side and have too become nothing but a memory... once being able to feel that my home was my refuge from the world and that I was completely safe, is gone as well. But I totally believe in God and have faith that he started me on this journey for a reason and I will sit patiently and wait for that to become apparent....

But on a better note next week a good friend is having his 35th birthday party with the theme of keeping it sexy which is why I will be back in DC next Thursday till the following Monday morning. It wasn't till after I had purchased a ticket on my favorite carrier USAir and reserved my midsize with Hertz that I found out that next weekend is also Howard's homecoming. So what a more perfect weekend to get back to the city, hang out with friends and party. So to all of my friends and my invisible readers... I am back and ready to have a good time!!

Welcome to Atlanta...

On behalf of Mayor Shirley Franklin and the residents of the Atlanta metropolitan area… we welcome you (and especially your tax dollars) to Atlanta and the Annual Gay Pride weekend. Whether you arrive by plane, train, bus (don’t front cause you know some of you will be on Greyhound), or driving… please pick up a map of Atlanta from the nearest rental car desk or gas station and stop asking folks to “chill and show me around”, gas costs too much and you are not hardly interested in seeing the sites.

On Saturday… as you are cruising Lenox Mall we ask that you purchase something besides a Chickfila sandwich from the food court. (please also leave the straight folks alone while at Lenox for some reason they seem to forget what weekend it is… and always walk around questioning why is this mall gayer than usual).

On Sunday… while hanging out at the 1st Annual Unity Picnic in Piedmont Park keep two things in mind: 1) the park closes at dark and 2) stay away from those bushes by the tennis courts. On Monday (Tuesday if you just must) we ask that you pack your bags and take only what you brought with you or have receipts for and go home… Atlanta is currently at its homo resident limit and currently over our traffic capacities, so no new residents at this time!! (one exception to this rule: tall, light, masculine, educated, attractive, over 25 but under 35, employed, single with a great sense of humor and beautiful thighs and smile… otherwise you gotta go)

On the serious tip while here make sure you check out the events hosted by In the Life Atlanta and the hottest parties of the weekend brought to you by the Lions Den.

Sincerely,

The Atlanta Welcoming Committee

Lions Den

In the Life Atlanta

Go Goin Home

This Saturday will mark 3 months that I have been living back in Atlanta. But this Thursday, I will be heading back to DC for a weekend of partying and hanging out with my friends in the Nation's Capital. Shopping in Georgetown... Sunday Brunch... the Metro... accessibility of the Washington Post... djs that play a mix of hiphop, r&b, go go, and reggae music... crab cakes made of crab...

Of course I have already been in contact with my boys back in DC... getting the weekend lined up. So far there is a cocktail reception on Thursday... a house party and the Daryl Wilson's Bounce party at the Edge (especially since it will be closing soon) on Friday... the White Attire Affair on Saturday... and brunch and Daryl's Sexy Sunday party which has moved from Love to Mirrors rounding up the weekend. I am sure by the time I get on that flight heading home on Monday afternoon I will be good and wore out...

White Attire Affair 2006 DC

(look at my brother-n-law matthew all the way on the left)

The Ummah Endowment Fund is proud to announce
live and in concert on the main stage at the 8th Annual White Attire Affair

World renowned recording artist!

RACHELLE FERRELL

&

America's Only Next Top Model

EVA PIGFORD

For More Information and Tickets visit WWW.UMMAHFUND.ORG

GoGo'n Home

Let me begin this by saying I love my job but damnit it is so good to finally be going home. Yeah home... after Montreal, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Chicago all in a week and a half, it is finally good to be going back to Washington.

Yeah good ole Washington... the seasonal home of our favorite and least favorite politicians... home of GoGo music and mambo sauce...

The highlight of this trip was not only meeting a new friend in St. Louis but connecting with friends in Chicago which I don't get to see that often. But it is going to be good to finally get back to my apartment in the city, my bed, my empty kitchen, my DVR, my washer and dryer, my... well my everything.

I am also looking forward to going home Sunday because me and KCK are going to check out Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has been in quite a funk lately. Unhappy about his job, unhappy about past choices regarding school and the out of the blue end of his relationship. While part of me is happy that nonsense is over, the new selfless side of me is more concerned with being his friend through this time. Just trying to do my part, my asinine actions last summer caused more heartache and stress on him than one should have to deal with. So lately I have just been trying to be the best friend I can be to show him that I am not a total asshole just 1/4 quarter.

In the Background: Change Clothes - JayZ