My birthday weekend in Canada



The past couple weeks have been a bit morose with all the news of people passing away, so it was a welcome break to head to Canada for the weekend and celebrate my birthday with loved ones.

I HAD A BLAST!!

You wouldn't think it was only a 3-day getaway the way we were hopping from one place to another, but we managed to squeeze in a tour, party in the streets for Caribana, go shopping, watch a baseball game and party again on my bday.

About to have dinner and watch the game from the hotel

(Toronto Blue Jays won in that game against the Texas Rangers...sorry USA)

Canada is so beautiful and clean, and Canadians seem very proud of their country. Everywhere you turn is the flag...one guy even had the maple leaf (from the flag) as air freshener in his car -__- (a bit much but oooook).

We visited the Niagara Falls which isn't listed in the Seven Wonders of the World, but is certainly one of the Seven Wonders of Canada.

It is absolutely breathtaking and an amazement (not to mention it serves as a source of hydroelectric power, and the flow of the falls is regulated by gates at night, and during low tourist season...ok moving on...)

One of the highlights of this trip was going back to the Falls so many years later with my cousins. When we were much younger (and waaaaaay more innocent lol) we went there with family. 

Here we are as kids

it's not a great photo but from left to right - youngest to eldest

(I'm on the right with the big red bow on my head)...

...and here we are, all grown up

(same order)

We also brought the "baby" (in green)

who wasn't born at the time of the original photo

 Here are some other moments of the trip:

Met up with a friend from highschool

Hockey Hall of Fame

My birthday cake: Creme Brulee cheesecake

(since Cakes Galore was not on hand with one of their fab creations)

By the Falls on the US side

Casino

The falls on the US side

That little yellow speck at the side of the building is an elevator

 

Their buses/trolley

The CN Tower

View of the Rogers Center from the top of the CN Tower

through a glass floor!!

View of Toronto from the CN Tower

yes, below me is the street

This glass floor was very intimidating!

Headed to the top of the CN Tower - the skypod!

 

Rogers Center (the stadium) with the roof closed

With my fam at the Caribana parade

 

We represent anywhere we go lol (The Trini flag in center)

And the award for best dressed goes to...

I snatched up a couple police officers

Yeah he performed out there JUST for me (or so I'd like to think lol)

Machel Montano

This guy is playing a "hervu" ? or something like that...
I dont' know I thought it a pretty cool instrument

Falls view from the Canadian side

It was a really nice trip!

RIP Frank !

Frank and I

at our company holiday party a couple years ago

When I heard a former co-worker passed away I was saddened by the news. Frank was always so cheerful; a prankster with a real passion for life. I don't remember ever seeing him angry or annoyed. He was handsome with pretty teeth (yes I'm a "teeth-person"), and I didn't even realize he was so young...he passed away at a mere 35 years old.

My condolences go out to his wife, children and extended family.

Rest in peace Frank!

RIP Gene McDaniels

With Gene McDaniels

I was just beginning my birthday weekend celebrations in Canada when I found out about Gene McDaniels death.

My friend/ music mentor, Ann Ruckert, introduced us and also was the first person to send me the unfortunate news. Ann was the catalyst for Gene and I working on music together... we were working on a project at the time of his passing.

Gene was a wonderful songwriter/composer with Grammy-award winning hits like "Feel like Makin' Love" (Robert Flack), and "Compared to What" which has been recorded by many artists, most recently by John Legend and the Roots.

He was a great person. We only met a few times, and other conversations were via phone since he lived in Maine, but he had such character and strength, yet was soft-spoken and calm.

He will truly be missed.

See Ann's blog on Gene here: http://www.annruckert.com/ann_ruckert/

Here's Gene talking about "Compared to What":

Here's the John Legend and the Roots version:

RIP Amy Winehouse

Google image

I had heard about Amy Winehouse long before her music was popular here in the States. A friend of mine from London sent me her cd "Frank" and I thought Amy's sound was different but good: she had that slightly drunk-in-a-bar sound mixed with a bit of jazz and old school. She sang like someone who KNEW what pain was, the way Billie Holiday sang. I remember when I heard "F**k Me Pumps", I thought here's a singer (songwriter) who's not afraid to live on the edge.

Then came her "Back to Black" album: absolutely genius...the sound and the lyrics. I knew she was going to win a Grammy or two for that album -- she won five!

I remember her performance on Grammy night. Her frail body shook and shimmied onstage (via satellite) and I cringed during her performance because she looked like she was barely holding on yet STILL she gave a great performance. Moments later she won a Grammy and as she delivered her acceptance speech, I cried at home because I was rooting for her like so many others.

This weekend I found out about Amy's death via social media. I was not completely in shock because she had a well-known history of drug and alcohol abuse, but I was definitely saddened to hear about her death. So young, such talent! Sometimes you never know what struggles a person may have...rest in peace Amy!

Here's here performance on Grammy night:

Rihanna Rocks!

Last Thursday I went to Rihanna's concert -- her Loud Tour. It was a great show!

Rihanna during a banging performance of "Man Down"

JCole

JCole opened the show with his featured piece on "A Star is Born" (from Jay Z's BluePrint 3 album) and performed some of his hits, including my fave "Can I hit it in the morning?"

We waited for about AN HOUR before Ms. Rihanna graced the stage...I wasn't too happy about that but just as the crowd was becoming restless, the Good Girl Gone Bad appeared. It was worth the wait; it was a great show!
 

Riri about to appear onstage

Rihanna finally hits the stage

Rihanna's no Sheila E but she did her thang on the drums

She closed the show with Mr New York himself, Jay Z

I was skeptical about going to the concert because Rihanna hasn't been the strongest vocally on live performances, but that night she was in her element and did her thang!

Galia Arad and her "Assets"

Galia Arad

at The Living Room, NYC

Galia Arad killed her performance at The Living Room last night. She was charming and funny as usual and totally OWNED the stage! A guy sitting next to me was there to see Silvertone, the group that was on before Galia, but he said when he saw the crowd and the buzz in the room for her, he decided to stay. He said "who is she? Is she well known? I said "yes, and now you know her too".

Two songs into her set and he was clapping and hollering like he'd known her forever.

It's just that easy to love Galia and her music.

Galia and her band

Galia performed some of my faves "Better than Bonnie" and "Ain't Quite a Broken Heart", as well as some newbies "Mr. Detective" and "I Confess" (I think I just totally re-named all her songs but at least you'll be able to identify them when you hear them lol).

She invited some of her hedge fund peeps onstage to perform with her, she called them her "assets" lol.

They are also a funny talented bunch!

Galia and her hot guitarist, Nick

Galia and her "intern" (blue shirt)

Galia's sis, Carmel(a)?, performed with her as well

Galia and her "lollipops"

If you haven't seen their popumentary, click here...too funny!

One of Galia's hedge fund peeps (blue shirt)

was the featured drummer on one of her songs.

This guy (another hedge fund peep) said he passed on the U2 concert

to be at Galia's show.

...and this is why...he made his debut on harmonica...

Sorry Bono!

Did I say Nick is HOT!?

It was a great show and it's so good seeing my girl perform

and watching her growth in this music business!

Much continued success Gals!

Lost Bohemia

Lost Bohemia is a documentary by Josef "Birdman" Astor. It tells the heartbreaking story of how artists were evicted from Carnegie Hall for its $150 million expansion.
Andrew Carnegie intended for the artists studios above the music hall to be used for exactly that: artists! It was a place for musicians, dancers, actors etc to work and much more than that it was home.
The original Carnegie Hall was built in 1891 and formed the nation's first actors' studio. Tenants had resided there as early as 1941...over 50 years, and were systemically removed from the building for the expansion.

"The studios’ significance to 20th Century culture cannot be overstated, as generations of legendary performers and artists lived and worked in them including Isadora Duncan, Marlon Brando, Barnett Newman, Agnes deMille, Marilyn Monroe, Leonard Bernstein, Ruth Gordon, Mark Twain, Martha Graham, Paddy Chayefsky, Robert Redford and Lee Strasberg."[sic]

The studios as they were (on left) and the renovation plans on right

It's a great documentary but a sad tale of how desensitised we can become when money is involved, but in hindsight we lose what's really important.

Carnegie Hall was rich in culture and history in those studios. See the trailer below:

To buy the DVD click here.

"Stick to your art, bury yourself in it, it will never fail you"

~Dr. Donald Shirley, virtuoso pianist

tenant since 1946

Roseanne's Nuts...literally! lol

I'm becoming a reality tv fanatic even though painfully hard to admit. It all started with Flava Flav and went downhill from there (dam you and your gold teeth Flav! lol)
I tuned in yesterday to watch the premiere of Roseanne Barr's reality show "Roseanne's Nuts". I'm not sure what I expected (not too much honestly) but I just HADDDD to see what Roseanne was up too. Yup, as expected, not too much.

Roseanne Barr

(who has an uncanny resemblance to my friend's mom lol)

It was typical Roseanne. The first episode was kinda boring but I figured it was just an intro... it turned into a bleepfest! Most of the 2nd episode was bleeped while Roseanne swore (literally) that it was a curse -__- (pun intended).

She headed to some lady to help with her "chakras"...I don't know...at some point maybe it'll get interesting cause she's definitely a character but she lost me when she was talking to the pig.

I could hear Ann (my music mentor) right now "you're time would be much better spent practicing!"......Ann is right!

Click the link for episode two and see for yourself:

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/roseannes-nuts/video/full-episodes/season-1/episode-2-the-curse

Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis

(Google Image)

I LOVE Jenifer Lewis. She's such a beautiful, funny, talented actress. She's one of those characters who doesn't have to have the leading role to steal the spotlight.
I recently saw her as the meddling mom in the T.D. Jakes movie "Not Easily Broken" and I thought she's such an underrated actress...that is, in the big Hollywood scheme of things.
She gives you that feeling that she'd be a great mom or that tell-it-like-it-is friend. She definitely is feisty and has charisma!

She has quite a career, featured in several tv shows and films. Some of my fave performances from her are as the wedding planner in "Madea's Family Reunion", Vera in "Meet the Browns", and as Tina Turner's mom in "What's Love Got To Do With It".

She's been in classics such as "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, "The Preacher's Wife" with Denzel Washington and a slew of performances on Broadway. I didn't even realize she was the voice of Motown Turtle in "Shark Tale" or Mama Odie in "The Princess and the Frog".

Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie

(imdb image)

After googling her I found out she was also on Oprah discussing how she deals with being bipolar.
I wish her much continued success and hope to see more of her.

16 lb baby!

I found this on Egyptsaidso.com: a story about a woman giving birth to a 16lb baby!!

But look at the baby on the left...

Baby on left looks like "what da...?"

hahahahha...

....For the rest of the story click here.