Mix and mingle in Atlanta
It’s been a super busy week with about 20 different events going on in the city! It’s one of the many reasons I love Atlanta. I went to a film festival, listened to live hip hop music, Nina Simone tribute that was a spoken word/art event and singles mixer! I am exhausted as that sounds but I had a wonderful time running around town. I will tell you about the events in more detail next week.
On Tuesday, I braved the crowd and ventured to Buckhead to attend the 13th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase the Havana Club in Atlanta. The event was hosted by R&B crooner Lloyd and DJ Drama, the showcase featured performances by hip-hop heir apparent Drake and Atlanta-bred Travis Porter.
One of the exciting moments for me was when BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and members of Organized Noize and Goodie Mob presented rapper/producer Big Boi with the Legends of ATL Award. I am a HUGE OutKast fan, so it was great to see Bib Boi aka Sir Luscious Left Foot!
After I stopped pouting about being in a club on a Tuesday night, I relaxed a bit and had a great time catching up with my friend “SuperStar.” We mingled around as she caught up with friends, including one of the BMI representatives. Let me tell you, there are a lot of perks to knowing people in high places! He was kind enough to help us throughout the evening and kept us posted on Drake’s E.T.A. on stage.
The crowd was getting bigger and bigger, and it was getting later and later. I have been wanting to see Drake perform live since the buzz about him began. Just when I was feeling too old and too irritated to endure that crowd, Drake came on stage. I was pretty impressed by his stage presence. He worked the crowd and really did his thing. I get why there was so much industry buzz about him.
It ended up being a really great event that made me almost fall back in love with hip hop again. One thing I noticed about the crowd that night was that it was pretty diverse. I know I felt older *cough* then the average attendee, but the truth is there were people there of all ages.
When you go out, are you mindful of the age range of people? For the younger readers, do you prefer to hang out at events with people in your age/demographic? How can you tell when an event is geared toward you?
Are there certain places or events that you totally rule out because you know that the crowd won’t be your scene? Is it a good idea to discount any place you have a preconceived notion about? I actually met an older man, in the music industry while we were in line. He was pretty cool and not African American, so I would not necessarily have expected to swap business cards with someone like him that night. Which is my point. Do we mix and mingle with an open mind?
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601 comments Add your comment
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
I’ve been told I talk to much so you are knowing me well at to your other assessment whatever you think bruh! HA!
PrincessNik
April 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
Carlito i love that idea
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA THE GOD OF WAR
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
CArlito – Princess cut, Solitaire or what..
Leggs
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
@Carlito, my ex Italian Studmuffin ~ that is very sweet. Love that you spoke to her father. He should be able to get her ring size…naw, never mind, he may slip. Men usually aren’t as smooth as we are in things like that! Congratulations!
AmazonRed™
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
Here is an idea that is kind of different, tell me what you all think. What if I just get a loose stone and she chooses the mount?
I don’t like it. She gets engaged and then has to walk around with a loose diamond til y’all can get to the store?
She’s known you for over 6 years. The thing she’ll want most at the Derby is to show off her ring to all her loved ones.
Dig That
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
@DK- I knew you would catch that. Hey he hasn’t tied the knot yet. Best time to do it.
Melo
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
WTF a nap date is.
@Dig??
there are 2 types..the one a spouse proposes and uall head upstaris and u fall asleep
AND
and the other where uall (u and girl) have sexual tension(u aint hit yet!) and the dude sugggests the nap date and assures her,”none will happen,we just cuddle” and the chic agrees coz she also has sexxual tension but wont admit it!
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
11:53 am
a date nap or nap date?
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
11:54 am
Infamous, I want to get her an asscher cut.
AmazonRed, I do not want to wait until the Derby now. I am going home in the morning.
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
11:54 am
Hey Dig That!!!!!!!!
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
11:55 am
lurker you are my chica!!!!! LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA THE GOD OF WAR
April 23rd, 2010
11:55 am
Dig – Yes SIr.. Face is my Man.. And that there is a classic with ya boy KAne in the video..
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
11:56 am
Infamous and Dig That, I see ya!
Raqi...Working for The Man
April 23rd, 2010
11:56 am
Carlito, I thought you said yesterday that it was too soon???
But anyhoo, buying a ring just buy the one you want then take her later to have it fitted.
Or do like my husband did and steal a ring from her jewelry box to get the size correct. I just hope she doesn’t have a kid or even a roommate that will get wrongfully accused of taking it like I accused my son of doing.
The ring was only missing for a few days. I just thought that the little knucklehead returned it after I got in his collar. I didn’t find out until after we were married that the marido took and returned it.
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA THE GOD OF WAR
April 23rd, 2010
11:56 am
Carlito – Do it at the Derby so you can get it right and call them to help you.. That way she’ll never forget it and will feel oh so special because of the effort.. Dont be lazy now..
Leggs
April 23rd, 2010
11:57 am
Who is this OVIE MUGHELLI person from The Falcons. We are doing a skit at our company BBQ next week against The Saints and The Falcons. I am one of the Falcon’s cheerleaders and we are to have a cheerleading soundoff. Well Ovie Mughelli is our surprise guest. I know nothing about football, anybody care to take my place?
This is not the event I referred to earlier!!
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
11:57 am
Date nap or nap date? There’s a difference
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA THE GOD OF WAR
April 23rd, 2010
11:57 am
Carlito – and dont be getting married cause you think she’s gonna leave you again.. Or oops that you feel like ya’ll abreakup again if you dont get married..
PrincessNik
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
lurker, please do tell
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
Lady J – I have yet to master the smiley icon so I’m sending this to you
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA THE GOD OF WAR
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
Leggs – Falcons Fullback..
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
I did it I dit it!
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
princess cut or emerald cut white gold just my personal fav Carlito…….
I want some princess cut earrings and a pocketbook for mother’s day and or my bday….don’t have a clue who would buy it besides me! LOL
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
11:59 am
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
11:59 am
Raqi, I have been doing a lot of methodical thinking and praying. Yesterday I was working things out in my mind. After talking to her father and her lastnight. Well I have known the only hold up is me
The whole town has been waiting. LOL The next time I am supposed to see her is at the Derby. I have thought about it gone over my finances etc, I can handle it all now without a blink. For all I care she can quit her job and come back with me. 
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
12:00 pm
Planned versus not…maybe? I was reaching when I posted that.
Melo
April 23rd, 2010
12:00 pm
@Carlito??
u been up country in the nrth??
wait till Julia comes here,see how she vibes to the metropolitan and then re-assess!
Some pple/chics change when they hit the A!
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
12:01 pm
PrincessNik – Honestly, I read Melo’s explanation or sort of went there. What was I thinking? LOL
Lady J-Gone Baby Go, Don't be long-I can't wait to see what you DO!!!!
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Leggs don’t make me run an errand next week and go to your office!!!!!! LOL sounds like fun!
lurker
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Melo, I’m going to lunch with my other person I assist. She’s a chick. There’ll be no tension. And yes, we’re discussing business…
AmazonRed™
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Well Ovie Mughelli is our surprise guest. I know nothing about football, anybody care to take my place?
Leggs – I’ll do it. Ovie hit me up on MySpace right before he joined the Falcons. I didn’t pay him half a mind hitting me up in that manner years ago. I wish I had now! He’s a playmaker! Dang!
abc
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Carlito, the diamond thing, it can get pretty complicated! Here’s my advice:
Of Carats (size), Color (clear, yellow, brown), Clarity (relative lack of imperfections), and Cut, go for size and color, then cut, then clarity. If you have to sacrifice something because of cost, sacrifice clarity first, then cut. That said, don’t go below VVS inclarity, unless you find an SI example that just isn’t that apparent to the naked eye.
SIZE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, no matter what anyone tells you! It has to be big and clear. Then, it’s nice to have ultra sparkly (perfect cut), and after that, no flaws (clarity). The most sparkly cut is going to be round princess cut, and they look the biggest too, so go with that.
Do NOT buy a platinum setting, it’s a waste of money. Go for either yellow or white gold. She won’t care a bit about the material the setting is made of if she likes the diamond.
Get ready to spend at least $15K. Consider it a ring that she’ll wear for a lifetime. Avoid the sales babble about upgrading — this is a forever ring! Make it a good one!
Good luck!
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Infamous, lol that has nothing to do with it. I am making her honest. She was willing to be with me again even though she knew how I FELT about marriage. It is more of my personal beliefs about a few things
Dig That
April 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
<—Waving at Lady J
AmazonRed™
April 23rd, 2010
12:03 pm
AmazonRed, I do not want to wait until the Derby now. I am going home in the morning
Boooooo!!!!! The Derby is only two weeks away!
Raqi...Working for The Man
April 23rd, 2010
12:04 pm
I did it I dit it!
lurker, you sound like my youngest when he was about three and he stuffed an entire bologna sandwich WITH CHEESE into the toaster and turned it on. He came running in the room “I did it I did it”.
abc
April 23rd, 2010
12:04 pm
Clarity-wise, I meant don’t go below VS (very slight) to SI (slight inclusion). VVS (very very slight) will not be apparent to the naked eye, it’s a pretty high rating.
Raqi...Working for The Man
April 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Carlito, did you know before two months ago that you wanted to marry her? Or did you decide it after she came back after 1 year that you would marry her to keep her from leaving again?
BlackMagicWoman
April 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
CARLITO…congrats! I am a 4.5…which is so very NOT normal. But as someone said 6 is the size that is used by a model. I would buy a 7 and you can have it sized.
Oh yeah…and everything abc said is absolutely correct!
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
abc, thanks I am prepared to spend. I have been here before but this time I am able to afford the best for the best woman.
Melo, that is not a concern. Julia went to college in a big city, I did not and plus I know her. Atlanta is not a threat to our relationship, besides it is just a pitstop to Florida in the long run. We share the same values and besides I do not live in the city of Atlanta.
Raqi...Working for The Man
April 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Carlito, answer that in about a couple of hours. I am on my way out the door to lunch.
Dig That
April 23rd, 2010
12:10 pm
wait till Julia comes here,see how she vibes to the metropolitan and then re-assess!
Some pple/chics change when they hit the A!
@Carlito—I think this might be the best advice. I know we all have our principles and values, however you both have already done somethings I’m sure that has compromised that already. Take your time. Don’t rush. Don’t get caught up man in what the town wants BS.
Melo
April 23rd, 2010
12:10 pm
And yes, we’re discussing business
@lurker??
I know u been working urself a lot lately.
But smetimes, a Big girl gotta play grown games too. The world dont have to know!
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
12:10 pm
Raqi, I left her the first time, she did not leave me. The reason why I left her is because I knew where the relationship was heading. Deep down I had a desire to marry and knew she was the one but I got scared and ended it. So to answer your question, I am not marrying her to keep her. She has always been there I am the one who left.
Carlito
April 23rd, 2010
12:11 pm
BlackMagicWoman, thanks.
Leggs
April 23rd, 2010
12:11 pm
@ARed/Lady J ~ come on thru 4/29, 11:30-1:30. You have my numbers (lol).
I’ve been thinking about Tazzee Mae Jenkins. She will be married in 3 weeks. Thought it would be a great idea to have a fellowship dinner to celebrate her marriage. Was thinking about having something at Sambuca’s or any other restaurant if you have any ideas. Thought it might be a good idea to meet up for drinks and dinner and celebrate her union! Any thoughts?
Dig That
April 23rd, 2010
12:12 pm
Well you just explained that Carlito. Handle your biz homie
For Real (Carlito I know you ain't no pimp)
April 23rd, 2010
12:12 pm
Enter your comments here
i'm swiss
April 23rd, 2010
12:13 pm
Dang, BlackMagic… you’ve got some skinny fangers…
Melo
April 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm
@Leggs, u always very sweet and thoghtful!
Sambuca is jus damn expensive for nothing even tho the ambience is cool! And the food is so so…
Queen wants to go there again!