#200: Efficiently Beautiful (Friday, October 29)

Back in Good Friday #163 (Capturing Life, February 12), I talked about my friend Niya, an amazing and talented photographer. I didn't mention that he was half of Ishka Designs, a Brooklyn-based interior design firm that creates "efficiently beautiful" spaces.

I met the other half of Ishka Designs (and the half for whom the company is named) this past summer and we clicked right away! She has a wonderful spirit. Like me, Anishka is Jamaican (I think we even went to the same prep school) and spent 10 years in finance/Wall Street before leaving to pursue her first love (well that last part isn't so much like me, but this is year 10 so...LOL).

But you can tell this is what she was meant to do. I love their design asthetic! From Baby J to Union Street to Jefferson Avenue (one of my faves), Ishka Designs is simple yet beautiful. And they do exteriors too.

But the bestest part is the Ishka Designs blog and the Twitter sessions, so check 'em out at www.ishkadesigns.com and be inspired! I know I was.

#199: Mark Plays Trombone (Friday, October 22)

I'm not really a live music fan. Give me any style of music and I will probably prefer the recorded version. The combination of the noise, the starting and stopping, and just the general confusion just doesn't do it for me. The Mark Williams Quartet changed my perspective.

I met Mark Williams a couple summers ago at a backyard BBQ. I noticed he was one of my fraternity brothers, so I said hello. We got to chatting and he said he was a musician, but he was very humble...All he said was, "I play the trombone and I'm part of a band." He didn't actually say how good he was.

It wasn't until a year later, that I checked out his site: Mark has been accepted to study at top schools like the Juillard MAP Program and the "FAME" school. He graduated from Howard University with honors and both a Bachelors AND a Masters...and after hearing him play this past summer, I can unequivocally say he's pretty damn good.

The Mark Williams Quartet has a really great New Orleans/swing ambience. For someone who "doesn't like live music", I was certainly moving like a maniac that night. I danced like there was no tomorrow. And he's doing it again tonight, so if you're in NYC, check him out before he starts his European tour with The World Famous Count Basie Orchestra. And he's also extended an open invitation to musicians to "bring their horns."

Mark Williams-trombone
Mamiko Watanabe-piano
Burniss Travis-bass
Isaiah Cook-drums

Buka Restaurant
946 Fulton St.
Brooklyn,N.Y. 11238
Showtime 9:30pm-12:00am
Food & Drink Specials !
Free Admission !

He also is a music education, so if you can't make it tonight, but you're interested in learning to play a "horn", check out his site: http://www.markplaystrombone.com

#198: Empower A Girl, Empower the World (Friday, October 15)

I'm always on and on about how awesome my friends are, and each time they support me with proof. In Good Friday #194, I told you about my friend LJ who was raising money for breast cancer and doing a 60-mile walk for the cure as well. Last week, I told you about my friend Brent, who's also hosting a raffle in support of his community service projects.

This week, my friend Armi is raising money for a cause that will just tug at your heart strings. The Girl Child Network, is a Zimbabwe-based organization that empowers girls who have been sexually abused due to a myth passed on by the traditional elders that if a man has sex with a virgin, he can cure himself of AIDS. They focus on self-empowerment through education and advocacy.

My friend Armi was moved to create a fundraiser after seeing a segment on Hulu about a young girl named Runyararo. She's committed to raising $6000 in donations for GCN, and is hosting a fundraiser on October 26th to meet her goal.

So if you're in NYC on October 26th, I hope I will see you there. Click here for the fundraising flyer, and help empower a girl.

Be excellent, and be the change you wish to see in the world.

#197: Necessary Luxury (Friday, October 8)

As you know, volunteering and supporting community endeavors is very important to me. One of my friends Brent is trying to do the same thing and "live in contribution" by raising money to further some of his community goals. He's creating a "win-win" raffle (Necessary Luxury Fitness Raffle) which begins October 1st, runs through drawing day on October 29th and is open to all with access to the NYC / New Jersey area. You have two raffle options: the Spoiled Rotten Ticket for $50 or the Hardcore Luxury Ticket $25.

Spoiled Rotten Ticket $50 (Total Cost of package $430-$455)

• Your Choice of a One-hour Thai Massage or Acupuncture Session with Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist Vanessa Hortian ($150 value), PLUS
  
• Your Choice of a One-hour Weight Training, Kickboxing, or At-Home Personal Training Session with Certified Fitness Trainer Scott Morrow (Includes over the phone assessment beforehand) ($125 value), PLUS
  
• Personalized 6-Week Workout Program Designed by Scott ($60 value), PLUS
• Spa Goodies Basket $50-$75 value, PLUS
• 1 Delicious Health Pack (Collection of recipes as healthy as they are tasty) $25 value, PLUS
• 1 Guaranteed Spot In Drill Sargeant Janice Ested's Boot Camp Class $20 value
  

Hardcore Luxury Ticket $25 (Total Cost of $185)

• One Personal Training session with Janice $100 value
• Personalized 6-Week Workout Program designed by Janice $60 value
• 1 Delicious Health Pack (Collection of recipes as healthy as they are tasty) $25 value
  

If you're interested in purchasing one of these raffle tickets, email Brent for more details.

#196: Super (Friday, October 1)

There's a couple things many people may not know about me: 1) I love reality TV, and 2) I love documentaries. So when my friend Idriys sent me an email with a preview of a "format-undecided" trailer he was working on, I couldn't be more thrilled to watch it.

Super is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of boxer extraordinaire, Zab Judah. Now I don't know much about boxing, but I've definitely heard the name before. Methinks it would be MUCH better as a documentary rather than a reality show (which is the direction I think they're going), since the former category is going to the dogs. LOL. Check out the trailer, and leave some feedback on the Youtube site...especially if it's something you'd like to see more of: