God bless this city...

...how I miss it so...

Jay-Z - "Empire State Of Mind" ft. Alicia Keys

Jay-Z | MySpace Video

Well if this isn't the truth...

..and if it doesn't remind me of NYC/miss it...man...


Shout out to my girl Xosha! and the rest of the hollaring homies ;)

Last night at Mansion...

I couldn't help but wonder: Why do people like this flippin song so much?????

This is footage of some very avid Stank Leggers at the club last night. I swear I can't escape this song....if you are a stanky legger, please grab you booty-do and vacate HC headquarters IMMMMEDIATELY! Head Cases do not dare to stanky leg. Only in jest lol.

The subway is ALWAYS fun...

...except when the heat/ac is off...or you get attacked by THIS lady:

LMFAO! (*Sorry Z. it was TOO funny...)

Gotta love those musical adventures..

So last night I was blessed to have one of my musical adventures in the city. First stop, The Eldridge for Ciroc and Chester French's Ciroc Star Cocktail Hour...Why? Because we're CirocStars right DA? Lol.

Bad Boy's own superstar, Capricorn, was a gracious host and greeted us with smiles and directed us to the Ciroc open bar where we enjoyed Ciroc, Pineapple and Sprite...mmmm! Tip-saaaay! Thanks Diddy! After jammin to sounds courtesy of DJ M-O-S, Chester French engaged us with an acoustic set including my favorite "She Loves Everybody". If you haven't seen their phenomenal video, here ya go:

DA and Max totally killed it! Love those guys...Afterwards, DA decided to teach Where's Leslie? how to properly tie a bow tie...with NO mirror:

He's such a pro...

Next stop- The Sugar Spot to show love for LAX Paperboy Skotch Davis. Not only was the MC Miss Maria Davis (aka his Mom) JOKES all night long, he killed his set as well. Check a little sample:

The kid is HOT...if ya don't know now ya do and click his name above for more!

I must say it was a lovely evening and I met some beautiful souls....here's to the rest of this week and more music.

Also don't forget!!! Tuesday, April 7th!:

I know it's cold....

But it's not THIS cold my brutha DANG! He looks like Biggie said...walked into the jungle and came out with the beast straight on his back....

BOI STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!

(*Thanks N. for the pic)

At Fashion Week I realized...

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIHANNA! PRAYERS WITH THE WHOLE SITUATION...DAMN...*Pic Above Rihanna and Zac Posen)

Everyone TRULY has their passion. And while amidst all the beautiful frocks and frolickers, all I could think about was:

Man I wish I coulda been at the MAC Barbie party when Where's Leslie's? "We Are Rockstars" was playing....

Is Making the Band on?

Heeeeey who is this playing.....B-line to the DJ booth to spy on the serato screen...

Why do they call it a B-line?.....

LOL

I will say, my hi-light as I was leaving, I met the goddess, the bag of funktified fierceness. The one and only Patricia Fields.

All I could utter..."I love you!" "Thank you dear, you're beautiful!" as she kept on to her adoring fans and pappos. Mission complete, and Zac who? LOL.

Another Fashion Week draws it's close and soon the tents will once again be a park, PR girls and "guys" will have to relinquish their powers and I will keep marching to my drum.

But damn we count the days til the Devils in Jacobs, Posen, and Sui walk again....

Did I neglect to mention...

HAPPY FASHION WEEK?!

I've been caught up in grind mode that I haven't even noticed all the eye candy lurking around the city and those undeniable tents. The city is in a flurry with fashion and model mayhem...and tomorrow I'M GOING TO ZAC POSEN!!! WOO WOO!!! So stay tuned for some lovely shenannies!!! But here's a taste from the Spring Collection...

New York Magazine.....

Has come out with their 4th annual "Reasons to Love New York" and it's great! Check out their intro:

Our fourth annual “Reasons to Love New York” issue lands at a time when there are plenty of reasons not to feel the love so keenly: sweeping budget cuts, Plaxico, talk of tolls on the Brooklyn Bridge. No matter. Because, for one thing, our governor is not named Blagojevich. And for another, the payoffs from living in this city remain stratospherically high, regardless of what the Dow does on any given afternoon. It is still the place that makes people dream hard, whether that dream is about gaining fame and fortune or simply giving an old life the slip. It is still endlessly diverting, and an avid promoter of change. And it is still, as always, full of people who know how to survive and who are eager to help their neighbors do the same. This year, as in years past, the reasons we’ve accrued are timely and timeless, glaring and obscure, straight-up and strange. And, once again, a number of them came from our readers. In fact, we’d like to quote one of those readers right now, Jennvine Wong, whose reason is itself a quotation, from the architect Le Corbusier. “A hundred times have I thought New York is a catastrophe, and fifty times: It is a beautiful catastrophe.” We’d quibble with that ratio, but with the sentiment not at all.

On stands now.....

Rules for adults...

This was in my bathroom stall while partying Saturday...

Apparently adults need reminders too.

Maybe they should put the golden rule up as well: Treat people as you wanna be treated, i.e. no randomly pushing bi*ches while drunk...Bi*ches!

There's someone for everyone...

Yesterday, I found it really fun walking from 37th to 21st for some reason. There were so many funny occurrences but here's one that was particularly funny...

This old man found love with a mannequin...I didn't plan this he was walking and took to the siren lol. And was gracious enough to chuckle with me and allow my camera photo action.

I took some secret glee in the fact people in such trying and difficult times can still find the humor in everyday life. Just walking down the street.

But what's even more great about this moment and picture which I just noticed while writing, take a look in the costume store's window....read the sign....

Hmmm...

This made me laugh....

As I was walking to my office past FIT, I saw these 3 ladies gabbin and chatting down the street. It made me wonder, "Will that be my girls and I in like 40 years?"

I cherish the fact that everyone in my life currently has some tie to my childhood and adolescence, to my grounding. I truly appreciate that and it gives me comfort that there will be many more years to come.

Plus these sistas looked like the ladies who lunch with fierceness and memories of Hendrix lol. I love it.... God Bless this City.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Guess what folks?! Not only did Head Cases turn a month old this weekend (YEAH! Go HC! A month and almost 3000 hits!!!), but M. is turning 24 this Friday!!!

So of course as we do when we can, IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!

If you are in the New York Area and would like to come party with the folks you read about on Head Cases (lol) here's my birthday itinerary:

September 30th, Tuesday 10pm

Come check out KYA Entertainment's (My family away from home) weekly spot for hot music THE ECLECTIC RIDE

@ DROM on Ave A btw 5th and 6th

featuring performances by JahStix, Meleni Smith, TL Cross and DJ Beverly Bond on the tables

$10 before Midnight, free beers by Heineken

***Attendees are eligible for tickets to Wednesday's Special Heineken Sponsored Event with performances by KEYSHIA COLE and RAHEEM DAVAUGHN!!!****

October 1st, Wednesday 10:30pm

Come celebrate with Krucial Keys and I @

HOME nightclub located on 27th between 10th and 11th

Special Guest DJ BIZ MARKIE!!!

October 2nd, Thursday 10:30pm

Dance till the wee hours of the morning in one of NYC largest hot spots

MANSION on 28th btw 10th and 11th

October 3rd, Friday 10:30pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY M.!!!

My actual birthday!!

We will be at Room Service located at 35 E 21st St. btw Park and Broadway

October 4th, Saturday 10:30pm

Two clubs in one night!!

Hiro on 16th and 9th

and also

GuestHouse on 27th btw 10th and 11th

October 5th, Sunday 10:30

It all comes to end....

CATCH 22 located on 22nd btw 5th and 6th

Brand new hot spot that is sure to be a fun time!

HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT!!!

**All attire is upscale chic with the exception of the Eclectic Ride which is casual**

Oh the wee hours of the morning...

...after attending some parties, my GBF Carl and I boarded the 4 train home. The interesting thing about NYC, there's ALWAYS something to get into no matter WHERE you are if you just look around. While sitting waiting for the train, we began to notice how tired everyone was.

First there was this guy who took FOREVER to get up the stairs then found new strength at the top (please excuse our drunken commentary):

Then we decided to car hop on the train (which I had never done before...let me telllllll you! It's a rush!!). Here are all the people we found in need of a Red Bull:

We deemed ourselves The Mischief Bandits and concluded that due to the recession people are working entirely too hard. The winner of this election should strive to make the trains more comfortable...especially for this guy:

Till our next adventure! SABBBAAAA SAAAAAAAAA SABBBAAAA SSAAAAAAAAAA! lol

Random hilarious moment of my day..

A coworker decided to make masks of my boss for our Tuesday morning meeting...you can't see my face but at this moment and the entire meeting I couldn't stop laughing because at any moment someone would raise their mask to their face to talk. Classic.

We had some shennanies after at the showroom...

...and things got a little coocoo....
Here's the collage Jerome made for inspiration for the show...
And here's one of the girl's contributions (awww)
Here's me trying to steal the models' numbers...
FIERCE! GO ROMEY ROME LOL!
ANd our very own fashion show....

NOW TO THE PARTY!!!!
Yes...The Plaza was kinda crackin courtesy of jams spun by DJ CASSIDY....
Say whaaaaaaaat Jerome?!?!?!
Well looky looky....
Yes I fought every urge to ask him to sing "This Woman's Work" in my ear....
Get it Carl!!

Now this brings me to the BITCHASSNESS OF THE EVENING AWARD....I give you Alexis Phifer aka Kanye's Ex and "designer"....
Wanna know why she's posed like this? I asked her politely if she was wearing one of her designs... She answered yes...I in turn asked if I could please take a picture of it, I'm a fan (yes we have to lie sometimes to get what we want lol)...Her answer, "I just want to dance with my friends. Sure you can take it while we're dancing."....Really? So I did with EVERY intent of this entry.
Here's my thing, if the powers that be are kind enough to bless you with your 15 minutes of fame, don't you think it's humble enough to grant the masses less than thirty seconds of your time? I don't get this about people sometimes. You're at an event. I'm not a menacing papparazzi harrassing you while you're trying to take your child to school. THIS IS WHAT YOU GOT DRESSED UP FOR STUPID! AND ITS FREE PUBLICITY FOR YOUR TRASH BAG DRESS! People in this industry are paid more than people who ACTUALLY contribute to society and this is how they treat patrons who potentially buy their product. Now I'm not at all saying I make or break her but it's a cause and effect type thing. Remember how you treat people, everyday...that's just GROSS. AND BIG UPS TO HOW GRACIOUS AND KIND MAXWELL AND TEYANNA TAYLOR WERE ALLLLLLLL EVENING....Sheesh....

Moving on...

Here's one of the models gettin his Beyonce on...and Teyana Taylor tearin up the dance floor...

and here's the random lady wearin a tutu that showed Teyana up...


Hehehe I mean I'm just sayin...she got it...

I've been to a lot of industry parties and I must say..these fashion folks sure get down a little harder then the music folks...isn't it ironic? Or it is it just NUEVA YORK!!!

An Evening with Baby Phat...

...and what a night we had Head Cases! So much fun and fabulosity all over the place I don't know where to start. The rain didn't seem to get New Yorkers to stay inside. Everyone came out in their Friday's best for Miss Kimora. Spotted: Serena Williams, Evan Ross, Maxwell, Teyanna Taylor, Djimon Honsou, Russell Simmons, Ice-T and his wife Coco, Letoya Luckett, Dawn and Q from MTB (5millionth season hehehe)...together holding hands, Case (I know right...where has he been?!), Andre Leon Talley (yes I almost died!) and many more...

Here's the recap via photogs and video:

The show opened with a video montage of 10 years of Baby Phat. That's right folks, Kimora has been building this empire for a DECADE


I apologize for the blurry pics but these chicks were MOVING down the runway! Sheesh!



And excuse the heads...4th row what can ya do?

The finale and notice them stop to say hi to papa Russell and Djimon...Awwwww!! Such a family affair I love it....


More to come!! We r having uploading...

Time to unwind...

....after my eventful week full of Politico and Obama-ites, it's now time for me to finally participate in NY's honored bi-annual tradition, Fashion Week. I'm headed to the Baby Phat show featuring of course, my one and only favorite fabulousity-reigning diva, Kimora Lee Simmons. I can't wait! I expect lots of drams, gays, gold and rhinestones! Check back for an update.... And break a leg Jerome!!!

My days with Obama!!!

So let’s start at the beginning…

Monday 9/8
While perusing facebook and looking for someone to harass on instant messenger, I noticed that an old friend from high school had an interesting away. “If you’re in NYC and have a driver’s license, I have an amazing opportunity. Hit me up for more details.” Curious, I did, to see what it was about.

M.: What’s the opportunity?
B: You’re in NY?
M.: I live here
B: I didn’t know… Obama is coming to town and we need a driver for his motorcade
M.: SHUTUP!

Now all I had to hear was Obama and I didn’t care if I had to hold his coffee all day and keep it hot.

B.: Yeah all I need is your license number, social, full name and to make sure you don’t have a record for secret service and you can do it.
M.: I think I paid my last ticket before I left.
B: No like no DUI’s or a criminal record
M.: OH! Nope clean as a whistle here’s all my info…let me make sure with my boss…

Now here was the hard part: convincing my boss, a staunch McCain supporter and strong believer in no days off, to let me do this. How was I going to swing this? So I phrased it a little something like this:

M.: So I know you hate him and everything but my friend just offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity to help out with Obama’s motorcade for two days and I would love you forever and truly appreciate if you let me do it…..(deep inhale)

My boss always wants to be loved so I figured I’d play to that emotion...“Sure” he said and no quicker than he did, I ran back to my desk to begin my journey.

To be honest, the entire night before, I was so anxious that I definitely started to believe that maybe it was all a joke. Maybe I would show up to the Park Meridian the next day only to find hidden cameras and surprise that the joke was on me. This was too good to be true.

Wednesday 9/10/08
I couldn’t sleep with excitement. I woke up, showered picked out my winner outfit and began getting dressed. While hopstopping directions, I got a text to bring a snack and also print some things out for my friend. This was really happening. I sprayed my fave perfume and I was out the door.

As I arrived at the Meridian I saw two young girls who looked as excited and lost as I did. I asked if they were here to volunteer too and they said yes. Turns out they were Columbia students where the event would be held the following day. When everyone arrived, I was given the keys to Staff van 3 and instructed on all the rules of motorcades.
We were off to the airport.

Watching Obama’s plane land and him step was out of this world. From the secret service to the protocol to the sheer level of intensity and amount of press that travels with him, it’s unreal. You always see the clips on TV but to see it first hand, on the tarmac…I don’t even have words so here are pictures:

These are my fellow drivers and our leader...
This is a picture of the super scary Armored SWAT guys...



On the tarmac folks! UNREAL....

He was immediately rushed to Letterman so I wasn’t able to get a picture. I hope you all tuned in. If you didn’t here’s a clip…


He did good...funny, relatable, talked about the issues a bit. Thoughts?

After Letterman, he came back to the airport, flew to DC for an event then returned to NY again. I don’t envy this man’s schedule. An hour before we had picked him up that morning he was in Virginia. It’s crazy, yet commendable, the stamina one must have to campaign.

We finished the evening with a pizza dinner, a job well done yet sadly, no picture with the main man yet.

Thursday 9/11
This day is so bittersweet. A day of remembrance, yet one of the coolest days of my life and a historical one. But security of course had to be even tighter than the day before:





I struck up a conversation with a secret service agent named Kevin*
M.: How does one become a secret service agent?
Kevin*: Well you go to college, get your degree and apply. Then you take the tests, go through the training and there you have it.
M.: Are most former military?
Kevin*:Yeah a lot are but not all.
M.: Are you?
Kevin*:Yup Army just got back from Iraq in March
M.: Oh wow so what do you do specifically?
Kevin*: I’m EOD (explosive ordinance division..I think). Basically we check for explosives or threats and then test for them to set them off. So say if there’s a bomb in the seat of your car, I sit on it to test it before you do.
M.: Um aren’t you scared?
Kevin*: Well I just got back from Iraq so compared to being shot at and worrying about land mines…it’s not so bad.
M.: Yeaaaaah you’re right.

By now I guess word had spread that he is here and on each corner crowds would just grow by the minute everywhere we went. Take a look:





Finally he came out:


We started off by leaving the hotel and heading to Harlem to visit Clinton at his office. Our motorcade included about 15 or so cars, a bus and swat trucks with highly armed officers. With sirens blaring, lights flashing and a tight, tailgating train in tow, we took off, getting to ignore any and all traffic laws. BY FAR THE COOLEST THING EVER!

Once in Harlem, people would get excited over everything. While bringing back our lunch from Sylvia’s (amazing soul food by the way you got to try it!!!) people were yelling, “There goes Obama’s lunch!!!”



Here’s a pic of good ol Billy Bob aka the Other Black President and Barack in Harlem:
This preacher showed support by running inside and throwing on her shirt (left) and the other wanted me to tell Mr. Obama, “Look No Lipstick!”
But as we left, the crowds in the streets had grown so large, literally over a thousand people, crowd control almost got out of hand. I shot this video while driving (shhh don’t tell) right before some people tried to run up to Obama’s van to take pictures and pissed off the secret service:


It was so empowering to see so much support, love and care from Harlem. Not empathy, not just excitement over someone notable, but true compassion, true care, true excitement for change. People are happy this man has stepped up.

Next we headed all the way downtown toward ground zero to meet up with Biden and McCain (yup that Stepford Wife Cindy was there too). It was extremely emotional at the site and there were countless officers and firefighters.

I thought this was funny...It rolled by RIGHT before McCain's motorcade....
Some humorous elements, however, were that McCain’s motorcade included an ambulance and ALL staff had walkie-talkies…everyone. One of the drivers had a video camera too….but he was narrating. Also, a tourist next to where I was parked on the other side of the barricade had a last minute sign that read, “Obama, thanks for not letting us get a glimpse of you.” Little did he know it had nothing to do with him but rather how the barricade was setup. On such a day, every extra measure was taken for safety. Here’s a clip of McCain’s motorcade rolling in:


We left the memorial and headed back to the hotel where a secret service agent decide to seize an opportunity:

Agent: So how’d you get this gig?
M.: I volunteered.
Agent: Really are you qualified?
M.: Oh yes I’m a pro sir!
Agent: Hmmm. We’ll see. I think I’m going to need your phone number to check you out.
M.: Smooth but I definitely gave them my social security number so I’m sure if you wanted to you could find out when I lost my first tooth.
Agent checks his phone…
Agent: Nope not in here so I think you should give me your number to be sure.
M.: Sliiiiiiiiiiick

Luckily, we were interrupted by head of security and I was not invited into anymore relentless flirting Homeland Security.

Next stop: Service Forum at Columbia aka Obama’s Alma Matter.

More cops of course...Mr. Obama going to his car...
This was hilarious...the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha better known as PIKE had a sign that read "OBAMA McCAIN SETTLE THIS THE AMERICAN WAY" and a picture of a beer pong table...
These sorority girls kept watching from their window trying to get a picture of Obama...they waved as I took a picture of them...

Here's the press room where we could watch the forum..

McCain delivered a colloquial, slightly humorous speech that of course barely answered questions and didn’t speak to anything really. Obama, however, seemed like there was so much he wanted to say in so little time. This is his niche; service to fellow man. I have mixed emotions about this part of the evening but we shall revisit that later. Overall all, the evening was a success and everyone was ready to end a day well done.

Riding back came one of the highlights of the day:

Obama Staff Member: You’re like Danica Patrick.
M.: Oh its nothing this is just like Grand theft auto, Election Style.

I left for the evening feeling a sense of accomplishment, like I had truly participated in something great. It helped that as the staff members in my van left, each and every one said thank you, good night, and shook my hand or said, “Good job!”. To be part of that type of team, even if for a short time, is a. something I hope to experience again this lifetime and b. exemplary of those who surround a certain type of individual. Even more reassuring of the day's efforts was as I walked down the steps of the subway station to go home, a homeless man was singing Sam Cooke's Change Gon' Come. It was so perfect for the end of this day on the road to change that it was almost mystic, like a reaffirming sign if you believe in that like I do...look:

*I know the construction workers SUCK! lol

I’m so glad I was fortunate enough to miss work to participate in the past few days. Although I didn’t get my Presidential picture with Barack, I did good kids!!! I might get another chance very very very soon ;p

So stay tuned to Head Cases…I’m always happy to share a piece of this head with a case…..

M.