J&R MusicFest 2008 takes place this weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) in City Hall Park in Manhattan starting today at 5 pm. The festival has a variety of R&B artists lined up for the three days of free music including some R&B veterans, a few new (and maybe questionable) acts, and others reinvented. I'd like to head over to see the show tonight and tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm hopping on a plane to go to sunny Florida Saturday morning so I'll miss my FAVORITE ARTIST, JOE [THOMAS], perform.

 In any case, I digress! Here are some stand-out names for the 3-day festival....

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST (SHOW STARTS AT 5 PM)

Solange: She's really taken her music in a different and unique direction. Check out her myspace page to take a listen: http://www.myspace.com/solange. It'll make you groove in your office chair! Her album, "Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams," drops next week, August 26th.

Michelle Williams: After experiencing several album release pushbacks, she's keeping strong! While the machine that is Beyonce overshadows her & Kelly Rowland's solo projects, I hope her label and management really push her album. She deserves some recognition! This lady's got a new look & a new sound. Take a gander: http://www.myspace.com/michellewilliams.

Terrence Howard: Yes, I'm writing of the amazingly talented actors, Terrence Howard. For all of you who saw him in the film, "The Best Man," the scene with him playing the guitar at the lounge was him really playing. And dude can really play the hell out of a guitar. But who knew he could sing? Not me, at least not until recently when I noticed he got signed to the label I used to work for, Columbia Records. His new album, "Shine Through It," will be in stores September 2nd. http://www.myspace.com/terrencehoward

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND (SHOW STARTS AT 5 PM)

I'm unfamiliar with the below jazz artists but definitely would love to hear them play.

Aaron Parks, Espereanza Spalding, Caribbean Jazz Project Featuring Dave Samuels, Roy Hargrove

If I go on Friday afternoon, I'll defo fill you in on how they were.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23RD (SHOW STARTS AT 1 PM)

Joe Thomas: Formerly known just as Joe, the 'New Man' is going with his full name, Joe Thomas. His new indie album, New Man, releases on September 23rd. I'm defo excited because his single, "Why Just Be Friends," is a great hit. I hope his new indie label, Kedar, will really push his career and his music to the next level. Jive Records did not do Joe justice. Thank goodness he's out of that contract! With the help of his manager/business partner, Kedar Massenburg, I hope Joe succeeds in his new journey. For someone who has had a 10-year career already, his future seems bright with the new direction he's going in. Check out his myspace page:  http://www.myspace.com/officialjoemusic

Jo de la Rosa: Um, I'm unsure of why she's in the line-up but Jo, of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and "Date My Ex" fame, has a debut album titled, "Unscripted," that released on August 19th. I haven't heard her single, "U Can't Control Me," get any radio play but who knows - maybe she'll surprise all of us and actually put on a great performance.

Ashanti: With her new album, The Declaration, already in stores, she's making a comeback from a hiatus that took her away from music and into acting. With the likes of Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, and Pharrell Williams, as producers on this album, I hope the album has more good singles for her label to release to give the album some legs to stand on. Her first single, "The Way That I Love You," did okay on the radio but I think she can do better. And I'm sure she'll give a great performance on Saturday.

I'm still so sad that I can't see Joe perform BUT you can! Get out there and support these artists' performances, especially since the festival is FREE! J&R's website says that the artists (except Joe) will be available for in-store autograph signings right after their performances. Hey, getting Terrence Howard's autograph and seeing him up close & personal could make me swoon and then...faint. ;) Be on your best behavior girlies!

I have kept an eye on both parties' candidates and I can't say that I had deeply researched any of them until recently. I have yet to fully support any one of the candidates yet but Senator Barack Obama's victory speech at the Iowa Caucus last night has given me hope for America's future. 

Leaving you with an excerpt from last night's rousing speech given by Senator Barack Obama:  

"But on this January night - at this defining moment in history - you
have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. You have done what the
state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America
can do in this New Year, 2008. In lines that stretched around schools
and churches; in small towns and big cities; you came together as
Democrats, Republicans and Independents to stand up and say that we are
one nation; we are one people; and our time for change has come.

You said the time has come to move beyond the bitterness and
pettiness and anger that's consumed Washington; to end the political
strategy that's been all about division and instead make it about
addition - to build a coalition for change that stretches through Red
States and Blue States. Because that's how we'll win in November, and
that's how we'll finally meet the challenges that we face as a nation.

We are choosing hope over fear. We're choosing unity over division,
and sending a powerful message that change is coming to America.

You said the time has come to tell the lobbyists who think their
money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don't
own this government, we do; and we are here to take it back."

I have been on the prowl for a new camera, to be specific, an amateur photographer's camera as I already have a Canon PowerShot ("Make every shot a PowerShot" - as said by Maria Sharapova). But parting with $800+ for an SLR digital camera seems a bit excessive for my itty bitty budget. So anyway, an acquaintance of mine posted some pictures she took with her "new lomography camera" and that just sparked my interest. I had/have no idea what lomography means but trust me when I say, the photos come out amazingly well in a not-so-digital/pixelated way. You can achieve vintage-looking photos in today's day & (digital) age with the variety of lomographic cameras. One of my favorites is the Fisheye Camera (only $50) that takes photos from a fisheye's point of view. The photo in this post is taken with this camera. It's definitely something interesting created with a simple, inexpensive, point-and-shoot camera - no need to stand still for 15 seconds to get the camera to focus on the object/person. And, it uses the back-in-the-day 35mm film.

Also, if you are not exactly savvy with photography, the site is very helpful with details about types of film you can use and gives you great examples for how the photos come out according to camera & film type. Any novice can use it! 

There are a variety of cameras to choose from that achieve different looks. Check it out here! I just ordered mine so I'll post my own photos soon! Can't wait!

*Photo credited to http://shop.lomography.com/fisheyecamera/

We all love options, don't we? Well, Camileon Heels came out with high-heeled shoes that can be *drum roll please* transformed into low-heels! The brother-sister pair came up with the idea after seeing so many "beautifully dressed women walking to & from work" wearing sneakers. The brother, Dr. David, with a background in radiology and musculoskeletal problems used his medical background to figure out the science while the sister, Donna, joined the technology with footwear designs.

The technology is innovative and the styles are clean & simple. The shoes are in the $300 range but hey, that's less than many of us spend on 2 pairs of shoes with different heights, right?

 Check out Camileon Heels at http://www.camileonheels.com/shop.cfm

 The picture is of the Marta style :) Happy shopping!

CALYPSO
Christiane Celle Warehouse Sale

378 Broadway (Corner of White St., 2 blocks south of Canal
St.)

Up to 80% OFF retail
price on Women’s (Apparel,
Accessories & Jewelry), Children’s, and Home
Accessories

October 11th -
14th: TH: 12 pm – 6 pm/ FRI & SAT: 10 am – 6
pm/ SUN: 11 am – 5 pm

AG
Jeans; now $50, originally $185

Joy
Gryson Leather Handbags; $200, originally
$650-$800

Velvet Knits; $40,
originally $60-$140

CALYPSO Christiane
Celle Sweaters; $40, originally
$175-$250

CALYPSO Christiane
Celle Duvet Covers; $50, originally
$250

BETSEY JOHNSON SAMPLE SALE - Up to 80% off retail prices!

Dates: Thursday 10/4 - Friday 10/5

Time: 10 am - 8 pm

Location: 263 West 38th Street (b/t 7th & 8th Aves)

Contact #: 212-391-6495

Payment: Accepting Cash, MasterCard, Visa, AmEx

INSTYLE'S 2ND ANNUAL ACCESSOIREE: THE ULTIMATE DESIGNER SAMPLE SALE

Date: Wednesday 10/3

Time: 9 am - 7 pm

Location: Time & Life Building 1271 Avenue of the Americas 8th Floor (Enter at 50th Street b/t 6th & 7th Aves)

For tickets: http://instyleinsider.instyle.com/accessoire/ - $30 general admission

Payment: Accepting Cash, MasterCard, Visa, AmEx

Cause: portions of proceeds will be donated to the Global Youth Action Network

GRACYGIRL.COM BLOW-OUT SAMPLE SALE - up to 70% off retail prices!

Dates: Wednesday 10/3 - Thursday 10/4

Time: 8:30 am - 6 pm

Location: 481 8th Avenue (4th Floor) - New Yorker Hotel at 34th Street

Brands: Rachel Pally, Mint, Iisli, C. Ronson, Nanette Lapore, Project E, and more

Payment: Cash only on purchases under $150; Visa & MasterCard for purchases over $150.

DENIM BLITZ DESIGNER FALL SAMPLE SALE - 30%-90% off retail prices! (2 NYC locations)

Dates: Monday 10/1 - Sunday 10/14

Time: 12 pm - 8 pm

Location: 718 Broadway (b/t 4th St. & Astor Pl.) AND 530 Broadway (b/t Prince & Spring St.)

Brands: 7 for All Mankind, True Religion, Antik, Taverniti, 575, Diesel, William Rast, People's Liberation, Yanuk, and more

Payment: Accepting cash, MasterCard, Visa - no checks.

Site: www.denimblitznyc.com

FASHIONISTANY.COM: BLUMARINE, CAVALLI, VALENTINO, UNGARO, BALENCIAGA, PRADA, FENDI, GUCCI, AND MORE

Dates: Wednesday 10/3 - Thursday 10/4

Time: 10 am - 7 pm

Location: The Surrey Hotel at 20 E. 7th Street  (b/t Madison & 5th Ave.)

Payment: Accepting cash, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx

Site: www.fashionistany.com

Happy shopping!

Do you think you can rock the house better than Panic! At the Disco?! Well, show 'em TONIGHT! The band, Panic! At the Disco, Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship, Scott Lipps of One Music, Johnny Cragg of Arckid, Super Frank, Andy Hilfiger (son of Tommy Hilfiger), GUESS? Cover Girl Jessica Hart, and Peter Gaston of SPIN.COM will judge who can rock it out karoke style at new hipster spot ANGELS & KINGS (Pete Wentz's spot) from 10pm-1am.

 ANGELS & KINGS (www.angelsandkings.com)

500 East 11th Street @ Avenue A

 WALK-INS ENCOURAGED!

As I look back on September 11, 2001, I feel an aching in my heart. I'm not one to be very expressive of my emotions so my attempt to describe how I feel is a little difficult. But I think it's a mixture of sadness, compassion, hope, and pride. I'm sure many of us on Splendora know someone who was directly or indirectly affected by the tragedy.

One of the designers at my company told me the story of her husband who worked in one of the Towers on the 85th floor (the plane hit the 84th floor) and she was 8 1/2 months pregnant. He just happened to be in a Queens court for a case he was working on and wasn't at the office; but she had no idea where he was because the phone lines were down. She said he sheds tears every 9/11 as he watches the news and the various programs dedicated to 9/11. None of his co-workers made it home that night. A whole office completely lost ...along with 2 iconic buildings and 2000+ lives.

I feel a tremendous sadness for the lives lost and the families who lost their sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers. But I also feel disappointment that our country, unified back then under such tragic circumstances, has completely divided again. The story of the "Jena Six" broke my heart. That such perverse actions as hanging three nooses from a tree could be tolerated as a practical joke sickens me. The image reminds me of the volatile 50s and the decades previous when people pretended lynchings were either excusable or non-existent. While violence should never be the first or last resort to conflict resolution, I can understand the frustration and betrayal these students felt. And I'm sure this is not the only story of such preverse acts.

However, I do feel great pride in the volunteers and site workers which included police officers, fire fighters, EMT personnel, construction workers from all over the country to assist with the search for survivors, the clean-up, and the memorial. Also, to the soldiers fighting in various parts of the world, especially in Iraq, I salute you all. Regardless of everyone's differing stances on the war, I know there isn't a single person who isn't appreciative of our men & women in uniform.

Rudy Guiliani, as the Mayor of NYC in October 2001, said to the United Nations: “This massive attack was intended to break our spirit. It has not done that. It has made us stronger, more determined and more resolved.”

While I don't feel the same kind of spirit now as Mayor Guiliani described back then, I look forward to a brighter future for the US where people can agree to disagree, tolerate people of different faiths, beliefs, skin colors, sexual orientations, and still feel that we indeed can all be 'American'. 

*Photo credited to http://images.twiet.nl/world_trade_center.php

I think it's safe to say that yesterday's VMAs show was a spectacular disappointment. And I don't point the finger only at Britney's horrid performance. For a network that rarely plays music videos, I'm not sure what MTV expected by trying to put together a set of what was supposed to be entertaining performances. There's a reason why MTV doesn't play music videos as much as the network should - because the business behind the music has completely failed, whereas reality tv (while the popularity has declined) is where the money is. Other than a very small handful of performances, last night's VMAs were boring, at best.

The music biz has always been about the glitz & glamour. In its 90's hey-day, the biz could get away with the ridiculous spending on its artists, i.e. large advances, crappy but expensive CGI-graphics in music videos, expensive travel tastes, etc. But it seems the biz can't come to grips with the fact that its "business" is no longer the what it once was. It can't afford to cut a 6-figure check for an artist when the labels themselves can't sell records to profit from. A few labels are fortunate enough to have heavyweight established artists who could easily put out "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in an updated version and still remain popular. However, these same labels don't have enough new artists and don't try to develop the ones they acquire. Instead, the labels end up w/a very large catalogue of one-hit wonders when they could have invested the time and proper budget to help the artist produce talent-worthy tracks and drop them as singles in a timely fashion. I believe the only reason one-hit wonders exist is b/c the artists' labels have betrayed them tremendously by not dropping the second single after the first single hits big. It seems incredibly stupid for the labels not to make a strong effort to make an album a true success w/endless promotion and marketing as they already have money invested in the artist as soon as a contract is signed.

 Although the free-sharing of music over the internet was initially the main cause of the fall of the music biz, the labels have had plenty of time to brainstorm new ways of running their precious business. Unfortunately for them, they haven't and are still stuck in their old ways. A tiny percentage of the profits from ITunes & ringtones won't keep a business afloat. Luckily, artists aren't dumb and the established ones have taken it upon themselves to create new ways to add to their diminishing cash flow: clothing brands, commercial advertisement, perfumes/colognes, make-up lines, acting roles, the production of tracks for other artists, etc. Whether they're actually good at any of these is seriously questionable. But hey, at least they're smart enough to realize that their music careers aren't going to be paying their bills (I mean that figuratively).

 I truly believe in the power of music. I believe in the creative arts and the unique talents the arts require for a music artist to become a great entertainer. This is why I had worked at 4 record labels over a period of time. But my experience in the business gave me an insight that I would have rather not gained. Putting all cynicism aside, I'm going to keep the faith that the music will make a real come-back, unlike Britney's uninspired one.

I'm having issues trying to upload the picture file into this diary. Maybe it's because I'm doing this from my Mac Book. But anyway, if you'd like the discount, I'll be happy to email it to you. Just leave a comment and I'll send it your way!

Enjoy 25% off full-priced merchandise and 10% off sale items. Lots of cute stuff! :) Happy shopping!