Homebase does it again: Sandbloom opens for Bilal!

First, apologies for skipping out on Halloween. We normally go pretty hard for the event and try our best to win local costume contests (check out our winning ensemble feature from last year). In short, we ran short of ideas for this year. But we had a fantastic alternative: Homebase hosted their first ever concert event, Lovers Lane featuring Bilal and opening act Kevin Sandbloom!
We and three friends got gussied up and went to listen to the neo-soul/funk/rock concert.

Side note: Yes, we noticed that the title of the event was Lovers Lane and we fully acknowledge that, to the untrained eye, attending this event with girlfriends would seem - pathetic. For all you who might be thinking that you have what the brothers over at www.verysmartbrothas.com call "Ugly Girl Problems." Please, please don't be that guy.

We saw lots of people we know there - Homebase is family afterall - and cheered as Sandbloom sang his hits and Bilal killed the crowd with "Soul Sista" and "Sometimes". To top it all off we had late-night delight at Bobby Cee's. I had the fried chicken wings with dirty rice and yams. I don't know what those other dorks were eating.

The Basics for Homebase presents: Lovers Lane
Next event: November 27, 2010 Featuring: Anthony David
Time:8pm
Cost: $25 - $35
Location: The Wyndam Hotel in Phoenix
Crowd: Grown and sexy but never, ever bourgeois (is it Bourgeois to say Bourgeois?)
Dress Code: Fashionable
Atmosphere: Relaxed, safe, fun
Contact: Homebasepoetry.com

Clearly it is possible to have fun in Phoenix without exposing yourself to people who probably should be on the local sexual predator database (hide your kids, hide your wives...). So stay sexy, stay live, stay positive and stay far away from the club!

Next week we are skating in Tucson with the Mu Eta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Check back for location/time/cost details.

Until then,
ABTC Girls

Jump Street was soooooooooo much fun!

Let me tell you that Jump Street was the most fun that we have had in such a long time! If you have never been there GO RIGHT NOW! Jump Street is an indoor trampoline park where you literally jump around until your head is throbbing and you think you might faint.

They even have a room with 6 trampolines dedicated solely to dodge ball. (Special note: If you do decide to play dodge ball please do not assume that because the room is full of children that you will be triumphant. Those kids are small, military-trained dodge ball specialists who will knock your block just as soon as look at you).

All in all it is the perfect place for a party - in this case we were celebrating Kazzie's move to North Carolina and Katrice's Birthday!

The Basics on Jump Street:
Days: Anytime
Time: 10-9pm...until 12pm on Friday and Saturdays!
Cost: $10 for first hour. $6 for each additional hour
Location: 455 E. Warner Rd. Chandler, AZ 85225 480-270-8008
Crowd: Kids, so bring your whole crew to have the most fun
Dress Code: Sweat pants and socks!
Atmosphere: Crazy - but in a "I wish I was a kid again" sort of way.

More pics to come! In the meantime, check back for more updates on our adventures and pics of ABTC Apparel!
Love ya!
ABTC Girls

Last Night: March 11, 2010!

Hi All!

Last night we went to Press Play: A Game Night hosted by ISE at the Aloft Hotel. Believe it or not, it was a lounge full of young, urban professionals playing childhood favorites like Connect Four, Sorry, and UNO. And what would an African American gathering be without the obligatory game of Spades (I read somewhere that Obama mandates that all his staffers learn how to play and keep score)? In addition there was a full (cash) bar, pool tables and lots of Hip Hop over head. All in all a good time!

The Basics for Icon Status Entertainment
Days: 2nd Thursday of every month
Time: 6-10pm
Cost: $5
Location: The Aloft Hotel in Tempe
Crowd: Grown and Sexy, Sophisticated Business Professionals
Dress Code: Fashionable
Atmosphere: Fun, mingly, and Flirty at times

This weekend on March 13, 2010
We are going to JUMPSTREET in Chandler!
You definitely don't want to miss what we have to say about this!

In the meantime, Be sure to let your friends know to join the blog and if you want us to review your event you gotta holla at us!
ABTC Girls!

Who does Hill Harper think he is?!

Apparently he is just what the doctor ordered. When students learned that Hill Harper was billed as our unofficial Black History Month Keynote speaker the responses fell into one of three categories:

1. Hill who?
2. Well, he is Obama's homeboy and he does write books so it should be interesting.

3. OMG, girl! I cannot wait! Hill Harper is sooooo cute.

Turns out that the chosen auditorium was almost too small as students and Phoenix residents (from categories 2&3) filed in to hear what the Hollywood actor had to say to about - whatever it is Hill Harper talks about.

Turns out, Hill Harper believes in the power of hard work, positive thinking, and perseverance. His address to the listeners was full of advice on how to attach purpose to their actions in order to achieve their career and personal goals. Of course, there is the tricky issue of thinking that you can advise people on how to live their lives based on how you live your own (he is an Ivy League scholar, a network TV star, with pretty impressive friends, to boot). Usually not the best route for longevity and general appeal (read: Steve Harvey giving relationship advice). But Hill Harper seems wise enough to know that he is only a single voice in the conversation between the reader and the author, the speaker and the listener. That's probably why he encourages people to apply their own experiences when considering how to interepret his lectures and publications (read: The Conversation). All in all, not a bad choice.

Of course their was a slight tinge of wackness when it came to a select group (and I use this particular term very deliberately) of women who chose to use this Black History Month event as a time to stargaze. Ladies, as it relates to panty tossing - whether you do it literally or whether you sit in an audience and sigh, and drool, or run to the stage to take pictures or attempt to start a first date conversation at the autograph table - there is a time and a place for everything. He's not Ronald Isley - a man for whom panty tossing is quite appropriate when he is working. It's Hill Harper. An actor? Yes. An attractive man? Sure. A man for whom panty-tossing is appropriate when he is speaking to an audience of students? Nope.

That's our take. If you weren't there you should have been.

Next week

Pop Quiz: where can you find young, urban, down to earth people who know how to chill and just have a good time? Icon Status Entertainment at the Aloft.

They are having Game Night at the Aloft on Thursday March 11, 2010. If you were at their Sweet Escape, you already know. If you weren't there better be in the place this time so you can get your "Grown Man/Woman" on!

In the meantime, you got plently of options so stay clear of tha club!

ABTC Girls

Fashion, Fashionable Entertainment and Hill Harper!

Hi all!

We are back in business! And we plan to keep you right in 2010. Check out the newest crazes in AZ and of course, plan to meet us this weekend!

Diaries of a Recessionista

The author is known as This Chick. She is an expert at remaining fashionable on a budget. Please believe that if you ever see her out and about she definitely proves her point! Check her site for info about the best deals in town and on the web.

http://diariesofarecessionista.blogspot.com/p/site-wide-disclosure.html

Icon Status Entertainment

ISE caters to young professionals by creating traditional and non-traditional events that balance work and play while making a positive impact on the community. From planning the city's hottest nightlife events, to creating programs that uplift the community and promote financial freedom, we are working daily to change the face of being young and hip in Phoenix.

http://www.iconstatusentertainment.com/

This weekend

We are going to attend the Hill Harper lecture and booksigning. Here is the info so you can meet us there! Please come early as they expect a huge crowd!

Saturday, February 20, 2010 5-7 PM

ASU Tempe Campus

Murdock Hall-Room 201

450 E. Orange Street

Tempe, AZ 85287

Check back on Monday for our take on Hill Harper. And don't forget that if you want us to come to your event just let us know via email! Until then, don't be that guy- stay out of the club!

E&T

Wine Tasting with the Kappas!

Hey Guys! My name is Shontielle. I wasn’t originally involved in the creation of this blog, but I’m the new BFF in town to Tasha & Erica Nicole so I will be blogging about my weekend excursions as well!

Last night, Thursday, September 10th, I attended a wine tasting party hosted by the Phoenix Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Being that we just got back from a wild weekend in Vegas, it was a refreshing change of scenery. It was very mellow with nice conversation and extremely polite people. After being invited to this event I didn’t know what to expect, but I am very glad that I went. There were bottles of wine there to taste (for free), as well as great food/wine specials. The restaurant offered half off wine bottles with discounted dinner entrees. What more could a sistah on a budget ask for! Nice men in nice attire were in attendance, and I even met some new female friends.

Towards the end of the night about 6 of us got into a pretty heated discussion about interracial dating! Don’t worry, no one was harmed!!! But this is just another perk to attending this event. You can come out and voice your opinion on whatever topic is at hand without getting either pimp slapped, sucker punched, or threatened (as you would at tha club).

This event is normally held about once a month at the 1130 restaurant in the Arizona Center. If you are looking for good conversation, nice looking men and women, and a relaxed atmosphere, please find your way out to this event. I believe the Kappa’s send out an email for their wine tasting parties, so when we get the info on the logistics for the next one we will post them for you.

The Basics for Wine Tasting:
Days: One Thursday out of the month
Time: 5:45pm – 10:30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: 1130 Restaurant in the Arizona Center Downtown
Crowd: Grown and Sexy, Sophisticated Business Professionals
Dress Code: Casual (most people did not wear jeans, even though I did)
Atmosphere: Laid Back, Stress-Free, Inviting, Cozy

And remember, drinking wine in the club is not PC!! LOL…so stay you azz out tha club!!!

Guess Who's Back?!?!

Forgive us friends. We have been gone but we have the best weekend post to date. VEGAS! For Labor Day we and Shontielle and Muhsinah (Muffy) drove to Las Vegas, Nevada. To start we must be sure to tell you that many of our experiences have been purged into the mysterious depths of the Hoover Dam. But we can offer pics and some captions for your deducing pleasures...

Why you should go:
Vegas is not all about hedonism and gambling. There is so much fun by the pool, at fantastic restuarants and amazing parties. Plus world famous performers are there five nights a week. In our case, we partied with people from all over.
Vegas can be cheap. Thanks to Tasha's parents we paid $100 total for three nights in a bomb suite (kitchen, dining, washer/dryer, two baths, etc). We hustled our way into an exclsuive pool party, for example and took our own car. Also, if you can, try to skip the shopping (sorry Shony)!

Why you should skip it:
If you don't have good friends who are down to make moves and are not party poopers! Or, if you need more than three hours of sleep a night.

The Basics on Vegas!
Days: Any holiday weekend
Time: No such thing in Vegas
Driving Distance: Six hours from Phoenix if you take the regular long-route. Five hours if you take Tasha's homemade death-path and Muhsinah is driving 89 mph
Crowd: The entire 5th season from Jerry Springer, celebrities, newlyweds and best friends
Dress Code: fun, fun, fun
Atmosphere: Off the Wall, Don't Stop till you get Enough, Thriller...Never Can Say Goodbye!

In the midst of this recession remember the cover price to a Phoenix club is not tax deductible. So stay save your money and stay out the club!
T&E