New Video Janelle Monae-Tightrope

| Video

Introducing GLO TV NETWORKS!

I would like to be the among the first to introduce you to GLO TV NETWORK! GLO TV Network is The Urban LGBT Network! GLO TV is an innovative, national TV network. Amazing new shows, films and entertainment made for YOU: the Urban LGBT audience, friends and family! GLO TV launches late Summer 2010!

GLO TV is the baby of Chief Creative Officer, Maurice Jamal who we all know and love in this community from his hit films "Dirty Laundry", "Ski Trip" and it's spin-off "Friends and Lovers". Speaking of that project, I hope Maurice brings that with hit to GLO TV!

Now, I cant give you all the info. I would love to but this is just a sneak peek. I have know Maurice Jamal for years, been a fan of the work that he has done and I'll have a full exclusive interview in April 2010. And while their marketing campaign doesn't start for several weeks I couldn't contain my excitement and after begging him, he gave me a little advance info on the network.

Maurice had this to say about starting GLO: "The last time I was this excited was when I wrote the script for Dirty Laundry. And just as I knew how amazing that movie would be, I am even more excited by GLO, because I know what it will be, can do and represents. This is the most important thing I have ever done in my career."

When I asked what made GLO TV different from Embrace Networks this is what Maurice said: "My focus has been on GLO and making it AMAZING, so I can't really speak to any other effort. I know the guys running it, they're wonderful guys and I wish the well. For me, what is important is that GLO TV is the best network possible. Period. Not the best gay network. Not the best urban network. The best. That's always my goal. My partners and I have all worked in national TV and film for years, and we took the time to make sure that we do this right. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THE BEST. GLO will present something that the whole community can be proud of. We have programming that stands toe-to-toe with the best of cable and network TV without a doubt! I don't want anyone to watch GLO because we have gay programs, or because we have urban programs. I want them to watch GLO because GLO is AMAZING."

When asked what exactly an Urban LGBT Network is, Maurice had this to say: "Urban is Black, Latino, Asian, it's even a couple funky white folks (LOL). But seriously, the urban gay community is the one that has been on the cutting edge of popular culture and we're also the ones most impacted by politics and the biggest headlines of the day. Wherever and whoever urban gay America is, that's what GLO represents".

New Christina Aguilera "NOT MYSELF TONIGHT"

She is BACK! her album comes out on June 8th "Bionic" and this is her first single off of it and i am so lovin it!

Usher – ‘OMG’ Music Video

Usher's album comes out today Raymond vs Raymond and today he release the latest video off of his album "OMG" featuring Will I AM i am loving this video and the song is definately on point. Now as for the album i must admit Usher did his thing on this album. I am loving the entire album. kudos to Usher!

Welcome Embrace Network

This thursday in New York Demarco Majors who we all remeber from the LOGO series Shirts & Skins will be coming back to tv! as a TV talk show host on the Embrace Network "L.Y.T.E Living Your Truth on Embrace". Special Guest: From Make me a SuperModel RONNIE KROELL, The BEST dance crew I know from America's Best Dance Crew VOGUE EVOLUTION!! Also we have The Incredibly Beautiful and Vocally Gifted Nenna Yvonne . This all takes place on the opening episode of the show.


Other shows premiering on Embrace Network are:
Queendom! Starring Bebe Zahara Benet – Welcome to the jungle, the queendom jungle that is! In this series we follow drag superstar/TV Star Bebe Zahara Benet (Winner, Season 1 :: RuPaul’s Drag Race) as she tells her story of taking over NYC, and beyond. We follow her as she performs, prepares for a new CD, rehearses, an...d deals with everyday life as a drag extraordinaire in NYC. This show will be one of the most anticipated shows of the season as Bebe Zahara Benet welcomes you to her jungle only on the EMBRACE Network!

EMBRACE Politics with Will Florentino & Nate James (EPWN) – Welcome to the new face of politics! Embrace Politics will be the only show that gives you you’re daily dose of everyday views in the cut throat world of politics from a gay perspective. The show feature political roundtables and the most hard edge interviews to ever air on TV... with special guest’s politicians stopping by to give their take on the world as they see it.

DA DOO DIRTY SHOW LIVE!! COMING TO THE EMBRACE NETWORK THIS FALL with DJ Baker of the Da Doo Dirty Show goes from radio to TV with a late night show!


About Embrace Network
EMBRACE is a cable television network with 24 hours of programming for LGBTQQI people of color.

EMBRACE TV coming fall 2010!
We are living in a generation of change, and our opportunity has come. Our chance to show the world how we live, how we love, how we think and how we, even in the face of adversity, still and will always Embrace.

EMBRACE...our place. Premiering 10/10/10!
Our mission is to deliver quality entertainment, news, and health programming; and act as a central platform for LGBTQQI people of color and their allies.
www.embraceourplace.com

Finding Me Truth:Behind the scenes

Gay rapper Bry'Nt takes us behind the scenes of the last day of shooting of the hit sequel to the indie film finding me so check out the footage as well as the teaser. Finding Me Truth is schedule to premiere this summer so check back to the blog as more info is forthcoming.




The teaser

New MUSIC VIDEO: ERYKAH BADU - “WINDOW SEAT”

At 3:33 a.m. EST on Saturday, Erykah Badu premiered the new video for “Window Seat“, the first single from her new album. Filmed in downtown Dallas.

Andresflava teams up with Inferno DR

Well its with great pleasure and happiness in my time of mourning that i announce that Andresflava has becoming one of the official promotional/media sponsors for Inferno DR the biggest up and coming Labor Day Weekend Events for Black LGBT folks in the country. Along with being a media sponsor Andresflava will be LIVE in the Dominican Republic the entire labor day weekend!

Below is a little history behind Inferno DR and stay tuned for the one one one interview with Inferno DR that will be happening next week LIVE! more details on that on monday!

The concept behind Inferno is From the City to the Sands! Inferno targets professional GLBT people who are ready to leave urban life for a VIP Caribbean excursion to paradise that is unlike any other. The goal is to be the Premier GBLT International Event and no expense is spared to ensure that attendees agree. Inferno welcomes guest from the hustle and bustle of city life from all over the U.S. to the sun and fun of Caribbean sands.

In founding Inferno, the Inferno Team spent over three weeks touring 26 facilities in the Domincian Republic. The staff toured almost every major city in the DR including Santo Domingo, Puerta Plata, Juan Dolio, and Boca Chica, and Punta Cana. When we arrived to the breath-taking Melia Caribe Tropical in Punta Cana, it was love at first sight. Words cannot describe the beauty of this resort; seeing is truly believing. The resort matches our vision of affordable luxury accommodations for the professional GLBT man and women.

Next the Inferno Team mated affordable luxury with exemplary service and convenience. This is why we offer ALL INCLUSIVE packages. What most people don’t realize is the amount of money that they spend on attending GLBT events. The average attendee spends $500 on the host hotel (4 nights stay), $300 on airline tickets, $250 on meals, then another $500 on club entry and drinks. By the time a long weekend is over, the average attendee has blown $1550.

For just over $1100, Inferno provides airfare to the Dominican Republic from every city in the U.S., transportation to and from the airport, 5 Star Accommodations on Caribbean beaches, all you can eat at your choice of Dominican, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, French, American, and Seafood restaurants, all you can drink at over 14 bars, 10 pools, access to all events, a luxury shopping mall, indoor and outdoor spa services, golf, and tennis!

Inferno is professional service for the professional GLBT man and woman. All individual and group travel services are handled by Worldwide Travel Partners with bi-lingual agents on the phone Mon – Friday during normal business hours and response to email inquiries within 8 hours 24/7! WTP also provides all Inferno patrons with travel insurance and passport products and is there to cater to the travel needs of Inferno patrons. While we are certain that Inferno participants will have the time of their lives, they can also rest assured that Inferno is a party with a purpose.

While we know you will have the time of your life, rest assured that proceeds from Inferno go to a good cause as we support the Phoenix Healthcare Foundation whose mission is to provide for the healthcare needs of the underserved in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. PHF was one of the leading organization to provide medical relief in Haiti by sending over 100 physicians, 75 nurses, medical supplies, food, and pharmaceuticals to aid those injured.

It is the Inferno promise to make each year more exciting than the last year. We will have guest speakers to bring attendees up to date on both the community’s fight against HIV/AIDS and marriage equality. Additionally, we have special hosts and DJs just for the ladies and our Disco Inferno event will most definitely bring the heat with new performances by out talent Bry’Nt, KIN4LIFE, and Last Offence. With the hottest in U.S. and Dominican models and dancers, all new hosts, and all new events, we are excited about Labor Day weekend this year. Plus we have memorabilia to make your experience unforgettable, Inferno now has the Inferno Store online we patrons can purchase everything from our signature Inferno chain to muscle tees for him or baby tees for her. All this makes INFERNO more than an event… INFERNO IS A BRAND… AND A LIFESTYLE.

Life As a Promoter- FINAL INSTALLMENT

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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So what now….my life as a promoter has not only helped to get my life back in order, but has also opened up some other doors in the process. The promoting at the Vault has gone so well, that I was asked by a good friend of mine who is a designer in Atlanta to promote his fashion show which will take place in the Midwest this week. (I am here now! Will post pics soon!) I successfully promoted his open casting call and am now working on promoting the show. I will actually be traveling to the Midwest to promote and attend the show this week. Then I have an associate who has seen my promotion’s work in action, and wants to go into business and throw a once a month party. And he wants me to promote it for him. I guess the next step will be to open up my own club, which lately I have been seriously debating. A lot of my close friends have been whispering in my ear that this would be a great move for me. They have alot of confidence in me. I admit the promoting has gone extremely well. And I am now branching out to do some bigger events, not just the weekly stuff. I working with the Vault now to get the Vault involved in the Winter Music Conference 2010. We will have secured 3 NYC’s Djs and our resident DJ, Blaze for Soul Unleashed. This event has been a logistical nightmare, and I have spent close to 1000 dollars on this event, so far, to make it happen. So I have a lot riding on it. I am excited because this is the next step. My next big event will be in the fall, you will be hearing more about that soon.

My Life as a Promoter has been a rocky one but an exciting wild ride. It has given my life back the focus it lacked since my brother’s dead. It has expanded my job opportunities and possibilities. A lot of people have taken notice of how successful I have been, even the straight clubs and a few event planners. I think pretty soon I will be hanging up my promotion sandals and taking a vacation. Promoting has left me feeling a little bit bruise. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s not. My relationship with the owners I feel has become a little bit strained as well. I love them both as brothers, and I treat them as such. But like most sibling relationships, sometimes they piss you off for doing stupid little things that irritate you. But I still love them the same. I have seen the Vault grow. And I can’t help but feeling that this success had a little something to do with me. Like I told the owners in the beginning, I am here for you, which is weird to say. I have been with these guys since the beginning. Maybe lately, I have feeling a little bit underappreciated. I think one day I will take them on the wild ride I go through each week, when promoting their events. It can be fun, but it is a lot of work. Behind the scenes, I have spent countless hours and A LOT of money to make things happen. And promoting has made me a much more socialable person with all the contact I have with visitors to Miami and local patrons.

As a promoter, it seems I am in constant party mode. A party, that doesn’t want to end. I bring a lot of business to Vault, which is my job. From my MySpace page to my daily conversations with my friends, it’s all about Vault. Lamar, where are you going this weekend….Bitch you know I will be at Vault, is my response. I think the owners don’t realize that at times, but for a year now it really has been about making their business a success. The last year, at least for me, has been strictly about the Vault. Like I said earlier, they are new to game, however I am not. From establishing their email and text list to giving them ideas on different promotions and advise. The constant text and calls especially over the weekend, about the cover charges, bottle specials, and so on. Even during Thanksgiving, while I was in the cold and freezing in the Midwest, I was working for Vault. Phone ringing off the hook, about the South Florida Circuit party and their events. Saturdays will continue be the thorn in my side for a couple more weeks, then who knows. But the past year as a promoter has been an experience I wouldn’t take back for the world.

"No Glove, No Love Short Film

NSW-FREE DOWNLOAD: "No Glove, No Love" (2003)- The short film that spawned Noah's Arc. This used to be posted online, but now it's yours to download. Enjoy! http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/z0xj8x (49MB version) http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/yp6ooe (136MB version)

Janet on the "Today" Show

This morning Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry stopped by the "Today show" to talk about there new movie Why Did I Get Married Too which hits theaters on April 2.

Dy'Ari & Seanmicheal Wedding in NYC

Yesterday in New York City 2 people were joined as one as Seanmichael Rodgers & Damien Rodgers better known as gay r&b singer "Dyari" Wedding took place and if you dont know these two love birds they are truly an amazing couple. Check out some of the pics below courtesy of Author Nathan James.


Also below is an interview they did with blogger and friend Darian Aaron of http://www.loldarian.com/

House Passes Health Care Reform 219-212

Wow what a proud and historic evening as Health care reform will become law under the leadership of the first Black president and the first female House speaker. Now we still have to wait til tuesday to see what the senate does and hopefully they do the right thing so that we can get Healthcare for ALL who deserve it!


Below is President Obama talking on Health Care being passed



Below is a summary of the Health Care Bill

House Democrats are confident they can overcome solid Republican opposition and pass the bill. Leaders are using a two-step process where the House approves Senate-passed legislation and then votes for a separate package of changes to satisfy concerns of House Democrats. The Senate is expected to approve those changes as well and President Barack Obama plans to sign the bill into law.
Here is what to expect if the bill becomes law:
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT
*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.
*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
*Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.
*Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.
*A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.
*Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.
*A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.
*A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2011
*Medicare provides 10 percent bonus payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons.
*Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get a free annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan service. New health plans will be required to cover preventive services with little or no cost to patients.
*A new program under the Medicaid plan for the poor goes into effect in October that allows states to offer home and community based care for the disabled that might otherwise require institutional care.
*Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage services are frozen at 2010 levels. These payments are to be gradually reduced to bring them more in line with traditional Medicare.
*Employers are required to disclose the value of health benefits on employees' W-2 tax forms.
*An annual fee is imposed on pharmaceutical companies according to market share. The fee does not apply to companies with sales of $5 million or less.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2012
*Physician payment reforms are implemented in Medicare to enhance primary care services and encourage doctors to form "accountable care organizations" to improve quality and efficiency of care.
*An incentive program is established in Medicare for acute care hospitals to improve quality outcomes.
*The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the government programs, begin tracking hospital readmission rates and puts in place financial incentives to reduce preventable readmissions.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2013
*A national pilot program is established for Medicare on payment bundling to encourage doctors, hospitals and other care providers to better coordinate patient care.
*The threshold for claiming medical expenses on itemized tax returns is raised to 10 percent from 7.5 percent of income. The threshold remains at 7.5 percent for the elderly through 2016.
*The Medicare payroll tax is raised to 2.35 percent from 1.45 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000. The tax is imposed on some investment income for that income group.
*A 2.9 percent excise tax in imposed on the sale of medical devices. Anything generally purchased at the retail level by the public is excluded from the tax.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2014
*State health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals open.
*Most people will be required to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a fine if they don't. Healthcare tax credits become available to help people with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty purchase coverage on the exchange.
*Health plans no longer can exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
*Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage face a fine of $2,000 for each employee if any worker receives subsidized insurance on the exchange. The first 30 employees aren't counted for the fine.
*Health insurance companies begin paying a fee based on their market share.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2015
*Medicare creates a physician payment program aimed at rewarding quality of care rather than volume of services.
WHAT HAPPENS IN 2018
*An excise tax on high cost employer-provided plans is imposed. The first $27,500 of a family plan and $10,200 for individual coverage is exempt from the tax. Higher levels are set for plans covering retirees and people in high risk professions.

Life As a Promoter- Part 4

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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Promotion also has a dark side. I have turn a blind eye to a lot of B.S. at times. Usually if it does not affect my event, I don’t get involved and I let it slide, however people sometimes try to get over on you. And we have other promoters, who will step on your toes or at least try too. Some believe they can do a better job than you. For example, over the winter, getting people to the Vault on Saturday nights has been a daunting task. We had the long established and heavy weight Club Boi on one end, Disko-techka on the other, No-Cover Twist, and Vault Miami all in the mix trying to vie for this Saturday night crowd. Saturday nights have really been the thorn in my side. It is hard to get people to come out to a fairly new establishment to party on a Saturday. Anyway, unknown to me, the owners decided to give another promoter a chance to promote Saturday nights. This was never communicated to me until after the fact. And the other promoter was kind of stand offish to me, and said to me “We are going to get this place packed on Saturdays!” I just nodded and said, sarcastically “okay”. In the back of my mind, I kind of laughed, and said to myself, if you can do it better than me, go ahead! Keep in mind; I had tried every trick in the book to draw in this Saturday night crowd. They were just not coming out.

The promoter takes over Saturdays, the 1st Saturday night was a hit! Large crowd, and everything seemed peachy until the 2nd and 3rd week and 4th week came around. The Saturday crowd died off as expected. And we were back at square one with Saturday nights and the crowd being sporadic. One of the Vault employees, said Lamar, you should help him out. I replied with a stern, “No.” I was a little pissed off on how the whole thing had gone down. The promoter stated to one of my associates that Lamar can’t have a guestlist for Saturdays anymore, even though I was accustom to having a guestlist of 25 people. So from my angle, I was thinking, let him crash and burn, which is exactly what had happened. I guess the owners had come to realize that their business relationship with this promoter was not working and asked me to provide a guestlist once again for the following week. So I was back to promotinh Saturdays once again. This may have pissed the promoter off, because he wrote ON A PIECE A PAPER to the owners, that he QUIT and left the establishment with his DJ in tow. LOL! It’s not funny but it is. And it was not like he was doing a bad job; it was all about the night. Saturday night is a bitch! He thought he could do a better job than me, but that was definitely not the case. Anyone can be a promoter, but can you be a successful promoter, that is a harder question to answer.

Janet Jackson is BACK with "Nothin"

Ms. Janet Jackson is BACK! with a brand new single "Nothing" that was leaked a few hours ago courtesy of Jermaine Dupri the producer of the track and was aired twice today on the Ryan Cameron show which is heard in ATL on V-103 and this is so CLASSIC Janet and will indeed be a classic hit!

Andresflava mourns the loss of Andre Joseph Allen Sr.

About 2 hours ago i loss my father and i have had mixed feeling for the last 2 weeks as i found out he was ill and in the hospital and eventually died in hospice. My father and I were not close at all and even though we werent i was still sad and heartbroken by my father's illness because there was so much i wanted to ask and say to a man who didnt want me apart of his life. The last time i saw my father was in 2004 when i visited him at his apartment on his birthday and he asked me for money to get him something to eat. At the time i was troubled and bothered by the fact that a man that didnt want to have nothing to do with me was asking me for food in his own home but i complied and got the food. As i found out the news of his death i am somewhat numb that i was unable to express my feeling to him and i dnt know if it was the time or place to share my feeling but deep down in me i feel like it would be beneficial to me in the long haul. Even though you were never in my life dad i have always loved you and i will miss you. RIP hope you are in a better place and not in any more pain. RIP Andre Joseph Allen Sr. 8/2/62-3/19/10

The Game returns 2 TV!

One of my favorite show is finally coming back on the air after much rumors and speculations the series "The Game" which was dropped by the CW Network back in May of 09 has been picked up by BET. On March 15, 2010, AOL Black Voices reported that cable channel BET struck a deal with The Games' parent company Paramount to develop new episodes of the show.

The Game Premiered on October 1, 2006, and The series is a spinoff of the long-running UPN/CW sitcom, Girlfriends.

Recapping the Synopsis of the show Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry) is a first-year medical school student who has given up an offer of admission to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore (widely regarded as one of the two best medical schools in the country) to follow her boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall), a professional football player, to San Diego, against the advice of her parents. Derwin Davis is a first-year rookie with a fictional team called the "San Diego Sabers". As Melanie settles into her new life, she meets Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson), the mother of Sabers' starting quarterback Malik Wright (Hosea Chanchez), and Kelly Pitts (Brittany Daniel), the wife of Sabers' captain Jason Pitts (Coby Bell). As she learns to balance her new roles as both med student and the partner of a professional football player, Tasha and Kelly immediately warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous "gold diggers" who approach the professional football players.

Congrats and i cant wait to see new episodes of the series back on television again.

Life As a Promoter- Part 3

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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As a promoter, I have learned to be honest. Honest with myself, honest with the owners, and honest with my guests. I do my best to be honest with my patrons, especially if I advertise a celebrity guest appearance, or giveaway or even something as simple as a drink special. This is very important because it shows your integrity and people respect you and your events more. As a promoter and patron, within the last year I have seen promoters take advantage of our community and people in general-here in Miami and elsewhere. Like I said earlier “I want you to come back…”, so I try to be on the up-and-up in all I do and be honest. For instance, last year there was a promoter who gave the illusion that a particular celebrity would be performing at a club, when in fact this particular celebrity, would only be doing a walk-thru and would be exiting the club. I don’t know if this was intentional, but many felt it was, but in the meantime charging outrageous prices and no celebrity performance happened. I am trying to be as generic as possible to prevent any hurt feelings, but if you have been following AndresFlava you know the situation I am referring too. But at the end of the day, everyone was pissed off, the promoter reputation tarnished, angry emails flying, and our community left feeling ripped off

I try my best to make sure I don’t conduct my promotions in such a manner. And what some promoters don’t realize and is that people remember that sh**. And I stress that to the Vault owners when I am promoting an event, because my name is attached to that. I don’t want my name attached to mediocrity or B.S. or any dishonest or misleading event. Another example, there is well known promoter in the D.C. area, who it seems, every time I read a blog or email about a scandal or event gone BUST, it seems his name is attached to it. I have some friends or associates who don’t go or attend any event just because his name is attached to it. And it all stems from all the scandals and botched celebrity appearances and B.S. that has happened in the past at his events. People remember! So I will continue to live by the phrase “I want you to come back…” I want you to remember my events as a good time, good value for your money, and I want you to come again to another one of my events. I won’t stand to have my name dragged thru the mud just for a quick buck.

As a promoter I deal with a lot of different personalities. I have come to learn how to work with them or work around them. It is a challenge. And lately it seems I have been constantly defending myself and actions and I have run into some sticky situations. For instance, I promoted a highly successful Carnival party last year at Vault. It was so successful, that this event is going to be expanded this year. You will hear about this more in a next couple of weeks. Get ready; it will be one of the wildest weekends ever! Back to the point. I got a couple of sponsors for give-a-ways to help me promote. In the interim of securing these sponsors, I found myself defending myself against other promoter’s actions. Case in point, I called a vendor to get some “adult” items and the first thing they said to me, “I hope you don’t operate like *BLANK*, because they are so unorganized and they want everything for FREE”. And I replied, “No, I don’t operate like that” and went on to explain how I operate and how I would create a win-win situation for the vendor and Vault and how I could help them. It was one the most awkward conversations I have ever had. Basically this vendor went on to vent to me ALL the dirt when dealing with this one particular promoter. They had been dealing with this person for a few years. In the back of my mind, all I could say is oh my god! That is why I try my best to be on the up-and-up when dealing with vendors and patrons. It’s not good, when someone has nothing but negative stuff to say about you and your organization, not good at all! People talk. And business people talk to other business people. Word gets around, and it gets around fast. Even though it was not professional for that vendor to dish the dirt, however it has made me very cautious when dealing with other businesses, vendors, and djs. I always try to meet my deadlines, my financial commitments, and be true to my word. When dealing with me, I want to make the experience as pleasant as possible, and I want you to work with me again in the future.

March Madness Predictions! Rd 1

Round 1 Midwest

Kansas over Lehigh

Northern Iowa over UVLV

Michigan St over New Mexico St.

Maryland over Houston

Tennessee over San Diego St

Georgetown over Ohio

Oklahoma State over Georiga Tech

Ohio St. over UC Santa Barbara

Round 1 West

Syracuse over Vermont

Gonzaga over Florida St.

Butler over UTEP

Vanderbilt over Murray St.

Xavier over Minnesota

Pittsburgh over Oakland

Florida over Brigham Young

Kansas St over North Texas

Round 1 South

Duke over Ark-PB

Louisville over California

Utah St over Texas A& M

Purdue over Siena

Old Dominion over Norte Dame

Baylor over Sam Houston St

Saint Marys over Richmond

Villinova over Robert Morris

Round 1 East

Kentucky over East Tennessee State

Texas over Wake Forest

Temple over Cornell

Wisconsin over Wofford

Washington over Marquette

New Mexico over Montana

Missouri over Clemson

West Virginia over Morgan St.

Tiger Woods returns 2 Golf via the Masters!

Tiger Woods will make his highly anticipated return to competitive golf at the Masters, ending a four-month hiatus brought on by a sex scandal.

The world's No. 1-ranked player, who has never missed the year's first major as a professional, announced in a statement Tuesday that Augusta National Golf Club will be the site of his comeback.

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," Woods said in a statement.

"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."
The Masters is scheduled for April 8-11. Since World War II, only one player has made his first official event of the year the Masters and gone on to win -- Ben Hogan in 1951 and 1953.
Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National and the tournament, said: "We support Tiger's decision to return to competitive golf beginning at this year's Masters Tournament. Additionally, we support and encourage his stated commitment to continue the significant work required to rebuild his personal and professional life."

Woods is a four-time Masters champion, although he has not won at Augusta National since 2005, his longest drought there.

"We were pleased to learn that Tiger Woods will be playing the Masters in a few weeks," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement. "He has invested a lot of time taking steps, both in his personal and professional life, in order to prepare for his return. We all wish him and his family the best as he rejoins the Tour."
“
The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played. ” -- Tiger Woods.

"We look forward to Tiger's return to the Masters and seeing him back on the course," said Nike, Woods' longtime sponsor, in a statement.
The Masters had been seen as a strong possibility for Woods' comeback, due to the relative scarcity of tickets and Augusta National's tight control of the event, which extends to media coverage.

The Richmond County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office, which assists the private firm hired to provide security for The Masters, has not been asked for changes to the security plan and is not expecting any major problems, the Augusta Chronicle reported.

"We have that place sealed up tight," Richmond County Col. Gary Powell said, according to the report.

Woods last played on Nov. 15, when he won the Australian Masters in Melbourne for his 82nd career victory. His world then unraveled less than two weeks later; he was involved in a one-car crash outside his Florida home that required a hospital visit and led to a series of revelations about his personal life that included a later admission of multiple affairs.

"I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment," Woods said in his statement. "Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."


2010 Masters
Date: Apr. 8-11, 2010
2009 champion: Angel Cabrera
Course: Augusta National Golf Club
TV coverage: Rounds 1 & 2, April 8-9, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
Rounds 3-4, April 10-11, on CBS

Life As a Promoter- Part 2

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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Promoting has been an experience. *Smiles* You really need to have a passion for it and be willing to do the work. Your success or failure, ultimately falls on you. Promoting has left me feeling like I am always out to prove something to myself and also the owners of Vault. I believe…well I know...the owners were a little hesitant to give me a chance to help them out, which I completely understand. Here is this guy who has only promoted at a “straight” club, never promoted for an “alternative” club and I am saying I am going to help get people in here. A lot of promoters sell club owners a dream of large crowds, huge bar sales and don’t deliver. This makes the owners hesitant and leery of people like me, who are promoting and working for them. I sensed this, in the owners, so I need to have, what I call, a few game-changing events. And that is what I did.

My first event was an All-White party for my birthday at Vault. Up to this point, people were coming to Vault very sporadically. So, the week of my birthday, instead of celebrating my 29th, I was working to make this White party the best and biggest event the Vault had seen, up to this point. I used every social network, email and text database I knew to promote the hell out of this event. And it was whopping success. The Vault had the majority of the patrons in white clothing, people were drinking, the dance floor was full, and everyone was having a good time. Needless to say I was happy, the crowd was happy, and the owners were extremely happy. However I wanted more. Promoting had left me always wanting to improve on the last event, to try to lure people to the Vault and to keep them coming back.

“Keep them coming back….”- this is the phrase I live by when promoting. You must understand there are two types of promoters out there. They are the promoters and organizers who only promote one or two BIG events for the entire year and this is their bread and butter. Then there are other promoters like myself who promote every week for events and it’s on-going, a day in and day out job. I respect all promoters, who do a legitimate job to promote their event or a club. It’s a hard job! I know. But people especially in the GLBT need to be a little cautious of where you are going and what event you are attending. It’s always a good idea to do your research. The promoters who do the one or two BIG events a year have a lot riding on those events especially money and the countenance of their event the following year. I call these the “wham, bam, thank-you maam” events because if you go to this event once, even if you have a bad time and don’t come back the next year, there will be 50 others who will come, just because they have never been. And sometimes these events are over hyped and once you attend and spend all your money, you are left feeling juked. You end up asking yourself, what happened once it’s all over and was this event the best investment of your time, energy, and money. Then we have promoters who promote every week or several events a year. Day in and day out, on the grind trying to promote a particular night or event. Sometimes your attendance is great, and some weekends it may lag. It will depend on how much energy, effort, and time you put into it. And a lot of time it depends on what is happening in town and the draw of the crowd. It can be difficult to gauge where the crowd will be week in and week out. It’s like predicting the weather; you can’t always be “right on”.

3rd Part on its way....

Steph Jones – La La Means Love

Steph Jones released a new video for “La La Means Love” over the weekend. The song is currently featured on his Gravity mixtape.

Life As a Promoter- The Series- Part 1

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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Afternoon socialites and blog-a-sphere! As promised here is my series on “Life as a Promoter”. I hope it will provide some insight into my life as a promoter and experiences I have over the past year. This series does not include every challenge but just a small portion. But to fully explain everything, it’s always a good idea to start at the beginning. I know my blogs in the past have been very controversial and I don’t want any gauntlets thrown this time around. I tried my best to speak in very vague terms, not to offend anyone or an organization. But I not going to be cute, I going to give it to you rough and without the fluff.

A year ago, many of you may have noticed, I kind of fell off the blog-a-sphere due to a couple of life-changing events. I wasn’t working with AndresFlava as much, and my life was kind of up-side-down. My youngest brother was tragically murdered back home and it blind-sided me. The loss really tore at my heart and still does two years later. Then a few months later a good friend of mine, Terry died unexpectedly. I really had a crush on him, and I was building up the nerve, to ask him out. I was getting to know him; he had invited me to his fabulous birthday party in this mansion on the beach and so on. There wasn’t a weekend; I didn’t see Terry leading up to his death. It was a double whammy. We all have these life altering events, but we must learn from them, grow, and continue to live our lives. But for some strange reason, I couldn’t pick myself up and move on. Call it depression, call it a little bit of anxiety about the future, call it what you want. There was something that was preventing me from moving forward. So, in this search to find my niche and move on with my life, the Vault Miami happened.

When all this was occurring, the Vault Miami sprung up in Downtown Miami. If you have been following AndresFlava or me on Twitter, I am always saying something about the Vault. I promote their events and the events of my own for good reason. I became one of their “official” promoters last year. The Vault has been open a little over a year now, which is a major accomplishment for a club in Miami. Most clubs close down within 6 months of opening so, how did we get to this point.

The Vault had just opened and was closed for a few weeks after their grand opening, while dealing with “red tape” with the city. Up to this point, the Vault was really catching on. The crowd was getting larger and larger each week. Then they were closed abruptly and re-opened a few weeks later. But by this time the momentum had been lost. The crowd was not coming anymore and the Vault was struggling to get their crowd back. So shortly after Sizzle, myself and another mutual friend, approached DJ Blaze, one of the owners, and asked, “Do you guys need help with promoting”. And he replied, “Yes”. The owners had confided in me that they were a little brand-new to the nightlife industry and needed some help with the promotion aspect. After working at Nocturnal, another club, for a short spell, I decided to lend my expertise to the Vault and help get their numbers up. Working as a promoter has had its ups and downs. Promoting has been a good outlet for me to put a lot of things in perspective and was a welcome distraction for me, when it seems everything in my life was going wrong. However the promoting has not been all rosy. Part 2 coming....

Drama Queenz - Episode 203 - "Money"

Finally episode 3 of season 2 of Drama Queenz has hit the net. hopefully the other episodes wont take so long to come. below is a brief summary of the episode.

Money talks! An early morning visit from the landlord forces the boyz to examine more than just their finances. Preston makes a desperate call to his mother, Jeremiah finds himself insulted by an insinuation, and Davis is left smelling like day-old cabbage and regret! How will the boyz fix this one?

Maxwell kickoff US tour with Jill Scott in May

Maxwell has announced the dates for his US tour. The Grammy Award-winning singer will be joined by fellow R&B powerhouse Jill Scott on a 20-city showcase which begins on May 21st. Check out the full list of shows below:

Fri-May-21-10 / Cleveland / Quicken Loans Arena
Sat-May-22-10 / Detroit / Palace of Auburn Hills
Mon-May-24-10 / Indianapolis / Conseco Fieldhouse
Tue-May-25-10 / Chicago / United Center
Sat-May-29-10 / St. Louis / Scottrade Center
Wed-Jun-02-10 / Seattle / Key Arena
Fri-Jun-04-10 / Oakland / Oracle Arena
Sat-Jun-05-10 / Los Angeles / Staples Center
Tue-Jun-08-10 / Dallas / American Airlines Center
Wed-Jun-09-10 / Houston / Toyota Center
Sat-Jun-12-10 / Atlanta / Philips Arena
Mon-Jun-14-10 / Miami / American Airlines Arena
Fri-Jun-18-10 / Washington DC / Verizon Center
Sat-Jun-19-10 / Philadelphia / Wachovia Center
Mon-Jun-21-10 / Uncasville , CT / Mohegan Sun
Fri-Jun-25-10 / New York / Madison Square Garden

Club Boi Madness & the Final UPDATE

We here at andresflava have been tryin to get the story straight on what the hell is really goin on behind the scence down in Miami at Club Boi and all the surrounding drama! I personally reached out to Dias and Dj Gavin T and asked for clarity and a statement as to what was really goin on and below is what they had to say also enslosed is the press released send to us as well.

Hi Andre:

I have to say thank you for the fine work you have done so far covering the story. Your assessment of the situation is correct. DJ Gavin T and I will be running the new location BOi 2.0. You can still reach us at www.clubboi.com as we are the sole owners of Club BOi. In the spirit of fairness, it was important that Peter was given an opportunity to pursue his dream. He decided to use the name Club Boi Miami, in-order to retain a bit of the original concept and identity.

As I mentioned in my press release, Club Boi is not a location. It is a movement. It is about people and how they are treated and the music and the way it makes you feel. It cannot be duplicated. You will have an opportunity to experience it March 13th.

Our reasons for this move was outlined in the press release. We have had many challenges at our previous location. Many have complained and even stopped patronizing our establishment not because they were dissatisfied with the service, but solely because of the area. Gavin and I have always had a vision for ourselves and our future. We wanted more and to do more for so many who have stuck with us over the years. It was a vision that Peter never shared.

We wish him all the best. Continue the great work and get yourself ready for BOi 2.0, the second phase in our evolution.

Best Regards,

Dias


Press ReleaseHello Everyone:



From 2002, Club Boi the movement delivered the best in music by legendary DJ Gavin T. Despite it’s location called “The Hood”, thousands came to “bump and grind” to the sounds pulsating from the speakers; some came to chill and net work with the staff; while other flocked to express themselves in a way not permitted elsewhere.



The Club Boi concept was designed and developed to facilitate a diverse audience. Reggae and Soca music was and continues to be a major staple; with an infusion of hip-hop, R&B, old school, and disco. As time progressed, the addition of another house DJ Dias, introduced Tribal house, salsa, Reggaeton and meringue to the line up.



Throughout the changes, there is one constant. The key to our success is always to focus on delivering excellence in customer service. When you entered the doors, you felt quite at home with a smile, hug and lots of shout-outs from the DJ’s. With all the positives came lots of challenges:



Parking was a major issue for many; cars were being broken into, towed or stolen.
The area was not the most welcoming with the constant parade of panhandlers and prostitutes.
The patron that frequent the straight strip club next door, were intimidating to many.
Our space was limited with no growth potential.
The A/C system was always a constant source of contention keeping the space extremely hot.


Our new location comes with new found hope and promise. We can now offer our patrons:



Secured valet parking in our own private parking lot.
A classy and upscale environment that is as welcoming on the interior as it is on the exterior.
Non-smoking on the interior; provisions made on the front patio for those who wish to smoke.
More space for net-working, dancing and lounging with two (2) dance floors, VIP area, and social meeting area.
A cool and comfortable atmosphere with central air conditioning.
A more mature and responsible clientele that is 21 and over.


Change is never easy; however, it is necessary for growth. Re-inventing oneself adds spark, intrigue and keeps people attentive and focused. DJ Gavin T and I decided the time was right to break away from all the struggles that plagued the club experience and address them head on. “BOi 2.0” is our answer to all the Challenges we faced in the past. It is a place that we can finally present to you as our home; a place we are truly proud of. Club Boi was never about just the location. It was a combination of belonging to something thrilling and exciting and discovering the joy of being oneself.



DJ Gavin T and I cannot control the actions of those who try to cling, and claim credit for work done by others. We cannot dictate how they conduct their business; all we can hope is that in the eyes of fairness and respect, the intimidating and manipulating tactics be put aside while we focus on what is important; which is “giving the people of South Florida a black owned establishment that we can be proud of”.



Make no mistake, BOi 2.0. is the only place for a guaranteed good time. Get ready for your walk on the red carpet. The paparazzi will be waiting along with DJ Gavin T and DJ Dias. You can still reach us by visiting www.clubboi.com where you will get all the up to date information on what is happening.

New Music Drake-"Over

Drake’s 1st single entitled “Over” from his highly anticipated 1st album “Thank Me Later”.

Drake has stated that Nas and Andre 3000 have been an inspiration to him and have influenced some of the work on Thank Me Later. "Nas was somebody that I used to listen to his raps and never understood how he did it. I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure. I went back and really studied Nas and Andre 3000 and then came back with this album." Drake said at the Sprite Step Off show in Atlanta. When asked how the album would sound in comparison to his last mixtape, So Far Gone, "It's gonna be bigger, it's gonna sound happier," he said. "More victorious, 'cause that's where I'm at in my life."

New Music Video: Estelle "Freak"

For all my house heads this is for you! Estelle is back with her lead single "Freak" off of her upcoming album "All of Me" which will be released later this year!

Gays Can Finally get Married in DC!

Well yesterday it became official that gays can marry in the District of Columbia despite protests and last minute legal moves which were overturned! watch below as the DC Agenda takes a look at the days events that took place yesterday.

About 150 pairs had something in common Wednesday, though, applying for wedding licenses on the first day same-sex unions became legal in the nation's capital.

The mood at the marriage bureau inside the city's Moultrie Courthouse was celebratory. Couples clapped, called out "Congratulations" and cupcakes and tulips were handed out. One family said it was important to show up the first day.

The District of Columbia became the sixth place in the country permitting same-sex unions. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont also issue same-sex couples licenses.

Because of a processing period of three business days for all marriage license applicants, the couples won't be able to marry until Tuesday. That's the day they can pick up their licenses.

Most couples who applied for licenses were from the district and nearby Virginia and Maryland, which said last week it will recognize same-sex unions performed elsewhere until the state Legislature or courts decide otherwise. One couple got on the road at 4 a.m. to drive from West Virginia and another couple was from Delaware. Some said it was symbolic to get married in the nation's capital, but for many D.C. is simply home.

A number of couples worried that the licenses would be short-lived as in California, where same-sex marriage was legal for a time but later overturned by voters.

In D.C., the marriage bureau prepared for the day by making license applications gender-neutral, asking for the name of each "spouse" rather than the "bride" and "groom." The bureau also brought in temporary employees to help its regular staff. Couples got numbers when they arrived to help with crowd control.

Normally, the bureau handles 10 applications a day. On Wednesday it was 151, though at least four heterosexual couples did show up, including Matt Lawson, 30, and Christine Vander Molen, 27.

They are getting married next weekend and couldn't wait any longer to apply for a license. Vander Molen said she didn't mind being the "odd couple out" and found it funny when one person looked at them quizzically and asked, "You two are getting married to each other?"

The gay marriage law was introduced in the 13-member D.C. Council in October and had near-unanimous support from the beginning. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed it in December, but because Washington is a federal district, the law had to undergo a congressional review period that expired March 2.

Opponents have so far been unsuccessful in challenging the law, but they are still attempting to overturn the bill in court. That worries Eric North and Tom French, both 45, who were at the courthouse.

Special Report: Two Club Bois in Miami? WTF?

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow me on Twitter for the Latest in SoFlo Haps
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As reported earlier, Club Boi has decided to revamp and relocate. But hold up! Your eyes are not decieving you. That flyer does say "We are Not Relocating.." You are looking at an actual flyer I saw over the weekend at a local hotspot. What the hell is going on, over at Club Boi? Are you serious? Two clubs bearing the "Boi" name? Well I had to dig a little deeper to see what is really going on. And, looking at the flyer, I have a strange feeling this one might get a little ugly.

From a confidential source, it seems Club Boi management is at odds with each other. Part of Club Boi management wants to stay at it's current location on NW 79th St & 7th Ave in the hood, and the other part (as reported) wants to do something different and move to the 79th St Causeway location; which I applaud. If you ever been to the current Club Boi location, the area is not the best; I know this from experience after having my car broken into while inside Boi. The new location, however in a very nice area of Miami called North Bay Village, is kind of out of the way. for most. And considering, Boi 2.0 has decided to make the club 21+ only, will reduce their clientele. I guess those of you who have complained about the young jetsetting queens in the middle of the dance floor, will not have to contend with that, for very much longer. Or maybe you will, they will just be a little bit older this time around. LOL.

I really don't know how to call this one. Club Boi has been around for many years now, and it seems this next episode, might tear both clubs down, the old and new. Me and several friends spent several minutes arguing about if Boi was closed for good Everyone is confused. Some people are even saying there is no more Club Boi. A new location is basically like starting over for a club, regardless of the name. Its a true gamble and very risky!

Club Boi Miami, Boi 2.0, Vault Miami (which is supposed to switch over to a girls night on Saturdays soon) Twist, Diskotekka, are the really the only true party spots on Saturdays in Miami. All I can say, is someone is going down. Unfornately unlike Atlanta, New York City, and DC, we dont have a HUGE black gay population to support all of these venues. Also given the fact, Diskotekka and Twist does not cater to predominantly black crowds. But we shall see which one bites the dust first.

Coming up next: A Year in the the Life as Promoter (2 part series)

New Music "Mars vs. Venus" ~ Usher Raymond

"Mars vs. Venus" ~ Usher Raymond (LISTEN/DOWNLOAD)

Usher has went back in the lab to regroup and perhaps start over. In this new track entitled, “Mars vs. Venus” the recently divorced crooner sings about the differences between men & women, proclaiming “I don’t know if I’ll ever win…”

Aaron McGruder bringing back ‘Boondocks’ on Adult Swim May 12

After two-year break, Aaron McGruder tweeted that he will be bringing back “Boondocks” on Adult Swim May 2. Adult Swim confirmed the return date via twitter today.

McGruder created 30 episodes over two seasons of this controversial animated series based on his former comic strip. The show debuted in late 2005. The last original episode aired in February 2008 and drew 1.6 million viewers.

The satirical show features a black family that moves to the suburbs and grapples with culture shock. Huey is the afrocentrist, who faces off against an often skeptical brother Riley and grandfather, who is their legal guardian.

Two episodes season two were not aired on Adult Swim with no official explanation why. Both were harshly critical of BET. The episodes did make it on the Boondocks season two DVD.

There are a tone of video samples from the show on YouTube. I had trouble finding any that was even close to PG. Most involve violence or just plain bad language. Someone did post some advance photos for the season:

Winter Party Kicks Off This Week in Miami- March 3-8

From the Desk of King in Miami
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Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance event on the sands of beautiful South Beach, Winter Party Festival has evolved into a week-long series of events benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community nationally and locally (www.winterparty.org)

To date, the Festival and its sister event, the Miami Recognition Dinner, have raised over $2 million.

More than just a day at the beach, Winter Party Festival creates an experience for LGBT people and their friends and supporters. In addition to being an important fundraiser, the Festival is also a major contributor to Miami and Miami Beach's economy by attracting over 10,000 people from around the world to South Florida each year.

Vault Miami Welcomes WMC Event- SOUL Unleashed

From the Desk of King in Miami
Follow Me on Twitter for the Latest in South Florida Haps
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Hey House Heads! With three weeks to go, Winter Music Conference (www.wintermusicconference.com) time is just about here. For those who have yet to experience this first class, non-stop party, it is definitely a treat. Ever since my good friend Kevin in Jersey took me to this event, I have been hooked. Partying, day and night, with some of the hottest Djs on the scene. And this year the Vault is getting in the mix and hosting some of the best. If you are into "soulful" house music, this will be a party not to miss!

Club Boi Revamps & Relocates

Boi oh Boi i will miss having Club Boi in the hood with all of the hood elements but hey with all good things things got to change. and this change according to my sources is a GREAT THING! and with that below Club Boi released the following statement to Andresflava.

New location with a familiar feeling….
Greeting patrons:

After seven (7) plus years of delivering the best entertainment South Florida has to offer at 726 NW 79th Street , we have decided it’s time to shake things up for 2010. On March 13th, please join us for the grand opening of BOi 2.0, the rebirth of Club Boi.

Over the years, many critics and staunch supporters have written expressing their thoughts regarding the operation. We have listened. At BOi 2.0, we will provide you with a Club that is equipped and fully functional. With over 4000sq of space, BOi 2.0 now has:
1. 2 Dance floors
2. Outside terrace area for smoking
3. Meet and network area
4. 1 VIP service area
5. 21 and over entry
6. Valet Parking
Rest assured, we have not changed everything. We will continue delivering:
1. The best entertainment has to offer with a diverse musical format filled with Hip-Hop, R&B, Old School, Disco, House, Reggae, Soca, Salsa & Reggaeton.
2. The best in customer service, from the moment you arrive and up until your departure.
3. The best value for your money with our reasonable drink prices and weekly specials.

We have appreciated the support given to us over the years. Help us write a new chapter by celebrating with us on the red carpet on March 13th at 777 NE 79th street causeway.