Dubai- The gateway to life's grandest experiences

Everyone knows I keep my passport on hand at all times.  At any given moment I am liable to buy a ticket and be on a plane heading to God knows where.  That is just how I role.

Why?  Some would describe this behavior as being erratic.  Simply put, I love life, I love everything it has to offer and everything it promises to be.

I tell people all the time "I don't ever want to be on my death bed wishing, regretting what could have been.  I will not allow cost, or lack of opportunity, to be the excuses I use to say that is why I did not enjoy my life and the wonderful things that were brought before me".

So with that said, my last venture took me to a place on my "bucket list", Dubai.  YES!!!  I finally made it.  After 4 years of getting invitations from some dear friends, family and business contacts, I finally did it.  I took the plunge and lived.

Dubai is located within The emirate of Dubai, southeast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and is one of the seven emirates that make up the country.  

I have labeled Dubai as my generations modern day French Rivera, or Paris.  I recall my parents generation discussing Europe as being the hot spot to run to.  But for me and my generation, Dubai is giving us "The Sexy".

I would like to describe my experience in Dubai as one of the most educational, exciting experience to date in my life.  Dubai is not my first experience with the Arabic culture.  I was raised in the heart of Brooklyn, with a family from Yemen.  My best friend Amal, her sister Souad, Samera (my sisters best friend), and Galal the brother who was my age, we were class mates.

Because we lived in the same house, my mom would give us permission to go upstairs and have dinner with the family.  So we experienced this rich culture in an intimate way.  I heard the prayers,  listened to the music, and tried to learn the language, but of course you know that it didn't stick, with the exception of the naughty words.

I have to say I have happy memories of my Arab experience.    Further down the road from where we lived was a large Arab community so we were no strangers to the culture.  So it was already in my blood, I was determined to go to The Gulf, The Middle East.  Of course my only knowledge of the Arab culture was Egypt, what we were told about it from a European standpoint.  

But as I was growing up in a predominantly caucasian community, with 70 percent of the population being Italians, first generation from Italy, 10 percent American, 5 percent Latino, 3 percent Black, 5 percent Arab and the other 7 percent other; my family and my cousins being the only Haitian Families in the community.  

I had a great childhood.  I have fond memories of my life and living in Brooklyn.

But it was in Junior High School that I started to hear contrast in the story that I was taught in Elementary School.  African-American people were claiming Egypt as part of their history, we were being taught that we were of one race.   Our history seemed to overlap, and the Egyptian culture was also part of the African culture.  It changed my life completely.  I started seeing the wealth, the similarities of our history as people of color, and my pride began to be rebuilt.  

So with that said,  the Arab culture is very dear to me.  So I was definitely destined to see it for myself, the culture that I heard so much of from the pages of books, and stories from my Arab family.

My first trip was to Egypt and it was everything I imagined it to be and more.  I thank the wonderful person that invited me, and it was how I wanted my experience to be.  My second visit was to Qatar, for work experience and I stayed with the most amazing family, my then boss, the Publisher of Scratch Magazine, Alex Fox.  When I say wow.  I was wowed.  It was the most amazing journey, working with Tribeca Film Festival and seeing that part of the world through the experience of Art and Culture.

I am still in awe by this wonderful experience.  Life was grand.

Now Dubai, has opened my door to another experience.  Business!  It is everything and more that people have promised.  It also helps that I have an amazing dear friend/sister Nora, living there with her family to share with me the wonderful opportunities that the region has to offer.  It helps in this life to have a guide.

I continued to have additional support, lady in charge Michelle Kruger, who kicked in.  All I had to say was I am heading to Dubai and the emails started rolling in.  Next thing I know I was at a hotel, greeted by mangers, directors, head of the hotel.  Wow I was ballin'!!!  I felt like Beyonce at Super Bowl!  At the Ramada Plaza Jumeriah Beach Residence.  Yes I said Ramada.  This is nothing like the Ramada we know in America.  My view was like "WHAT"!  Private pool on the property, across the street from the beach.  On the strip of some of the best restaurants in the country.

What made the experiences even more extraordinary was the opportunity to hang out with some of the legends of the region.  Mr. Antonio Fadel, who introduced us to some of the most amazing people in the region.  From the local designers to Hollywood stars at home.  We ate at 5 to 7 star places, and crashed a wedding (and the bride let us stay), we partied like rock stars!  We had Arabic Coffee with VIP, Sheikhas and traveled by car, camel, boat and went sand surfing.  

We shopped with celebrity makeup artists, Lorna Butler, and got proposals by some of gods best looking creations..Arabic men. I think I'm moving.

I love being American, I love my present lifestyle.  The wonderful opportunity to be able to freely move around the world with a passport that is welcomed almost every where.

It is important for us to broaden our horizon and travel.  We need to use the freedom we have and explore other cultures, we will see that the world is brighter then we imagine it to be.

Life is grand.

Beauty Take Over

New York Fashion Week is three days away and the fashion madness begins.  Twice a year the whole city of New York puts on its finest frock and the divas, fashioniestas come out and the paparazzis take over.  Every media, social media outlet sells out every where.
All for the sake of fashion and beauty.  If you can't beat them join them.  Or at the very least watch it....

The fun doesn't only happen on the runways, but it really begins backstage... the making of it.  So I went into my archive and found one of my favorite artists Petra Alexandra- Vanessa Evelyn and wanted to share with you a wonderful teaser.... Let the fun begins...

A New Day

Every January first we ask each other the same question, "What is your new year resolution?" The first 20 days or maybe two months we start off well and it looks promising.  It looks almost doable, but some where down the line life catches up and reminds us of whose in charge.

We all have great intentions.  Every year, is that year, to make that change, give up that vise, or drop that habit. We meet, and we talk about it.  We create a game plan, map out the road that will lead us to the promise land.  But before you know it the road seems so long  and we begin to tire out and get off of if.  We tell ourselves its only a pit stop.  But the pit stop ends up being the vacation home that you now desperately convince yourself is the final destination.

Well this year, it is finally that year..A New Day.   You will line up your prospects, be at the right place at the right time.   And you will do what you love.  And you will be GREAT at it.
You will embrace the gift that was given to you at birth.  You will step up to the plate.  You will reign.

Today I took the first step on my road of reclaiming my rightful place among Gods great children.  I walked over to the gym, began regaining my mojo.
I walked over to my corner haute spot, Into Tea. (Gates Ave/Downing), I say my good morning.  There to my left, this young man smiles at me, whispers good morning.  His face is perfectly groomed.  Eyebrows-thick and dark, his lightly stained chocolate lips part to expose his perfect row of teeth. Wow.

"Hey."  We hug, I recall meeting him through a dear friend, client Tracey Moore, legendary acting coach, to Eve, Busta, Terrence J, Selita E Banks to name a few.
We exchange words and I compliment him on the beautiful video I just saw.  He bows his head almost embarrassed by the compliment.  Smiles and giggles.  Wow.  He's humble.  What a wonderful surprise. His name Len Xiang.  His music, his soul reminds me of Jonathan Butler, Maxwell and Tupac Shukar all rolled up into one.  I will let you judge for yourself, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je8hYUzatrA&NR=1&feature=endscreen.

We begin our conversation about work, his future, his art, his family, and more important, life and the contribution we want to make in our community.  The legacy we want so badly to be remembered for.
This is what you talk about when you reach a certain stage in your life.
Giving becomes your most important priority...... life is different...the journey has begun.

Tracey walks and we sit for what seems like a life time, and discuss all we want to do and how our lives are so joined.
I tell you no lie, Len Xiang, inspires...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je8hYUzatrA&NR=1&feature=endscreen.

Production Value

Serving others has proved to me the most valuable venture I have the pleasure of adding to my resume.

For 2012, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the industries most talented, brilliant, charismatic people life has brought to my door.

For some being a "servant" is not considered a glamours role.  While for me it is one of the most fascinating roles I can claim.  The reason being, I consider it an honor for me to be entrusted, some what with the life, image, and business of the individual.  My decisions, qualifications, standards, values, and expertise can make or break the life, career of those I hold dear.  That is major to me.

So when one comes to me and inquires about using my services, I see it as the highest form of compliment one can get in my field.  Referrals are the greatest form of references of your skills.  

It is with all those in mind that I feel the greatest sense of responsibility and the greatest pressure to please those in my care. And with deepest sadness when I fall short of their expectation.

2012 proved to me amazing as it was our first year, and for the first year we were able to gain the trust and service some of my heros, legends and talents Justiin Davis, Isaiah Washington, Mikki Taylor, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Movado, Matthew Curtis, Kithe Brewster, Tracey Moore, New York Fashion Week, Vera Wang, Diva Foundation, Chef Rodney LoveJones, Taking Tea Instyle- Sharon Levy, Kevin Sharpley, Victor Amos, Brian Hawkins, Michelle Swiney and Modalistas to name a few.

I celebrated my first year anniversary writing for the Huffington Post, contributing  to Amour Creole, Side View Magazine and Scratch Magazine.  All honoring me with a platform for my voice to be heard and to make a contribution in my industry.

My journeys to Miami, London, Paris, and Ireland to increase my visibility and build my network.

I am humbled by life and the promise of 2013.  Bravo.

Face Forward

Creating a brand starts with getting to the heart of the subject.  It ends with the face that is presented to the public.

Estee Lauder, Revlon, Dior, YSL, Canon, Noami Campbell, Essence, Vogue, Goya,  Epic Records, Virgin Atlantic, Harley Davidson, you name it once you say the name it is quickly identified by the audience.

These are the things that must be clear to anyone who is considering putting out a product, or becoming a public figure.  The moment you decide that you want to take your product, career to another level, the real work begins, creating an image and the hardest part is maintaining that image.

The deeper I enter into the depths of this branding business, the process of creating or recreating certain things becomes more and more challenging.
The challenges do not always lie in the vision of the product I am creating but convincing the subject the you are creating that you are clear in what it is that you see even when they don't see it themselves.

The biggest challenge is being clear with your own vision and not lowering your standard and compromising your own values, not taking things personal  and keeping your own door of growth open to the experiences of those greater then you.  Welcoming wonderful new talent, with youthful vision, brilliantly inspired by life, their surrounding and the inspirational places the world has to offer.

I am grateful for the very power to explore this life and the wonders it holds for everyone of us.

Keeping a positive face forward in the heart of all these challenges can be often times distracting but knowing when to switch gear keeps things bright.

The Evolution Of A Man- Isaiah Washington

West Side! Yeah Yeah!!

Yes. I am poppin' my collar, strutting like I was Naomi Campbell on the catwalk, givin' you face like Iman, throwin' money like Diddy....

I just interviewed the one and only legendary Isaiah Washington!!!!! Can you dig it?!! This MAN is BAD A@$# and DOPE!!! He has swagger like WHAT!!! HE may be the original pimp DADDY with a swagger like THAT. He is BRILLIANT, he may be able to re-write the Encyclopedia! He is funny like Bill Cosby and Martin combined. His style is like Tupac meets Tom Ford.  Can you envision that??? Can you imagine if Tupac was styled by Tom Ford????? That is Isaiah Washington naturally. 

Washington's ability to move in front of the camera is so , tick tock, on point we rolled out close to twenty different shots with him.  And was able to conduct a 30 minute interview in less then 8 hours.
He was easy to work with, complained NONE.  Washington was gracious and charming.  The shot's are MONEY MAKING SHOTS!

The interview was definitely African, African-American History 301 Senior, European History 201, Parenting 101, and Life 101.  He speaks with a passion, delivers his message brilliantly and gets the audience thinking.  He recites historical events like they happened yesterday, and I felt like I should have read them in yesterdays New York Times, or saw it on 60 minutes.  The crew stopped all they were doing to gather around to listen to him speak and learn.  Once completed the conversation kept on and if we didn't have to exit the location, La Descarga, which we were granted access to by Mark Houston, one of the two brothers who owned the space, we would have been in the way of opening the celebrated bar.

My crew and I had such a great time with Washington I can't express it to you in English alone.  I may have to pull words from 7 other languages, do some research on 4 because I only know 3 three. He makes you want to sing like Jill Scott!! Her whole first album! This MAN IS EVERYTHING!!! A MAN FROM ANOTHER LAND! HIPP, HIPP, HIPP!! HURRAY!

My team of GREAT MINDS, Frank Ishman, the baddest mother f#$@% photographer on the WEST COAST! Francesca Beniquez kept the face/hair on point. Tiffany Nesson pulled some HAUTE A#@ clothes and Maisie Dunbar brought us gifts to groom him courtesy of BluffaJo and Shea Radiance. 

Thank you GOD! I may not have somethings but I sure have EVERYTHING I EVER EVER WANTED in this life and you still blessing with more. I will take it humbly. Please forgive me for bragging this time. I just couldn't help myself.