Fashion Feature: ModCloth

I came across an idea today...featuring my favorite brand/store/style for the day (kind of like my Song of the Day and Excursions coming together...the semester just started and my Excursions are probably going to be on somewhat of a hold). This will be my first Fashion Feature post so we'll see how it goes! Today's feature is ModCloth, one of my recent favorite retailers, websites, and now blogs! I actually love ModCloth's blog, ModLife, because it's not just about their clothes; there's sections on fashion & beauty, music, recipes, and even home crafts. I think I'm partial to variety blogs, but only because I like a lot of different stuff and I appreciate when certain blogs/magazines talk about more than one of the things I like. Anyways, here are some of my favorite pieces on ModCloth's website via my Shopstyle!

TOPS 

OUTERWEAR

 DRESSES

 BOTTOMS

SHOES

For more info and shopping on ModCloth click here.

Cityscapes and Knives

This post needs no introduction. Watch the video, look at the pictures, and click on the link.

Malta

London 

Paris

The man behind the art: Kal Gajoum

For more info on Kal Gajoum and his work, click here.

Song of the Day: Thelonius (Not Monk)

I really wanted to make Like Water for Chocolate Album of the Day but there really is no way for me to put an entire album on here. I can tell you to go buy the album and then listen to the whole thing twice, but that's about it. So my choice for song of the day off Common's Like Water for Chocolate is Thelonius. It could be because I'm partial to anything Jazz related now that I'm in a literary jazz class, or because there's a Slum Village feature on the record. Or both. Probably both. And apparently, the song is perfect for walking in rainy weather...I almost forgot I was getting soaked on my way to class..

Excursions: Luck of Lucien

At about 7:15 on Friday night I realized that we were running late (again) and it was my fault (again). I wanted to take Brian to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe for the Friday Night Poetry Slam and we originally planned on eating closer to school. If any of you know anything about Friday night at the Nuyorican, you know that "Doors open at 10pm" means you'd better be in line by 9:15 if you want to get inside. Lucky enough for us, my tardiness led us to eating at this amazing French restaurant on the lower east side called Lucien. There was an authentic vibe to the restaurant that made us feel like we were right back in Mont-de-Marsan or a South of France city equivalent. We ordered Escargot for an appetizer...and it was healthy competition for the ones we had in France. Honestly. The fish soup (Soupe de Poisson Traditionelle sounds so much nicer) was really good too; they served us crispy bread and two different types of cheeses for the bread and soup....clearly they knew I was coming. It was really great and the people there (like the Parisian hostess) are actually friendly, despite what people think about the French. 

View from the entrance of Lucien.

The old couple is just adds to the cuteness of this picture.

Sadly enough, Escargot never looks appetizing in pictures.  

Soupe de Poisson Traditionnelle. And it was amazing.

.

For more info on Lucien NYC click here

Freestyle Saturday

(sorry about the size. you can click the video and it will open to YouTube for better viewing.)

Yes, I know what I titled the post; I don't like conformity. I honestly cannot explain why this video have been on my blog yet, but better late than never. If you want to understand what true free-styling talent is PLEASE watch this video immediately. This video answers the question as to why Black Thought is one of my favorite MC’s of all time. According to Youtube, this clip is a part of a 2000 documentary called “Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme”. When you watch this, you’ll understand that this really is an art.  A comment on this page really sums up how I (and probably people like me) feel about this video:

"Now this is true hiphop music with real lyricism and content. A lot of people forget that hiphop is not a music genre alone. Hiphop is a culture consisting of 5 elements: Emceeing, DJing, B-Boying, Producing, and Graffiti. We need to remind the rest of the world what Hiphop truly is." 

No this wasn’t rehearsed. No he didn’t write this down. This is legitimate “Questo just said the word blue...what rhymes with blue...got it...let’s keep it going” free-styling off the top of the head. I need to learn how to do this. Now.

Cakes-ish

 via thedailymeal.com

 via chicago.grubstreet.com

 via toxel.com

via guidespot.com

via melimashable.com

Honestly, the bag of Cheetos. How is that even possible?

Cheating

I know people like to think Spoken Word poetry always has to be deep or lovey dovey or somewhat depressing, but the Poemcees kinda do it differently on this one. Hands down, this poem is one of the funniest ones I've heard on Def Poetry Jam. On a side note, I'm a season short of having the full series on DVD and I'm pretty sure I'm going to find it and buy it within the next week. Thank you Amazon. Oh, and thanks Brian on showing me this like 2 years ago.

Seeing Fashionably

I really love my new glasses.

A Feminine Poem by Rakim

Okay, a poem written in feminine rhyme...by Rakim. Whatever.

A couple of summers ago, my parents, aunt, and I went to D.C to visit my sister's apartment and she took us to one of the coolest restaurant/cafe type places I had ever been to: Busboys and Poets. We were only there for lunch (I'm actually really mad that I can't remember what I ate...I remember loving it and I would have loved telling you people about it) but everything from the menus to the waiters made it clear that there was a poetic vibe going on. Actually, this particular poem by Rakim was actually on the menu, but with good reason since it's a poetry cafe. There are tons of different poems all over the menu by artists like Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, which is a good little distraction for people who are incapable of choosing anything to eat at restaurants like me. Basically, this place is a little bit like the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe in Lower Eastside NYC but with food and more alcohol. I know this because I'm pretty sure someone around us ordred a mint mojito or something. As for Rakim's poem, well the man is just a genius so I support what he does and apparently so does Busboys and Poets.

 For more info on Busboys and Poets, click here! 

Song of the Day: Pursuance for Inspiration

In honor of the first day of my "Jazz and the Literary Imagination" class (it's an English class...and I get to learn about jazz. I love my life), I give you Mr. Coltrane's Pursuance. From now on -- hopefully -- I'll be able to add a mini biography about anymore jazz songs I feature for Song of the Day. I'll update this post with how my class went later!

Song of the Day: Bob Said It Best

Lord, do I need this on repeat right now. Second semester of sophomore year begins tomorrow and I need to keep this song in mind the entire time before I go insane. If anyone else is having a stressful day, complete mental breakdown, got a hangnail/paper cut/ the equivalent...go ahead and whistle. You know you want to, and you probably need to, too.

Un Geste Pour Haiti

If there is anything in this world that I really am proud of, it's my haitian heritage and culture. I was raised by Haitian born parents (1st generation American, yay me!), so needless to say, the earthquake in Jan 2010 really hit home, especially for my parents. After hanging out with my mom tonight and watching a little TV, this video came on Island TV and we instantly fell in love with it.



It really is an amazing video and a great song so I hope you enjoy it, even if you have no idea what they're saying. You get the message.

Une mélodie d'espoir sur cette terre, agissons pour Haïti... chérie. 

Shopstyle Create a Look

Skinny Denim by Madewell

Platforms by Aldo

Top: Madewell

Jeans: Madewell

Heels: Aldo

Necklace: Betsey Johnson

Ring: Free People

Bracelet: Topshop

Purse: Zappos

Me and a Few Friends

An old picture of me and my sneakers: from my Poison SB's to my Jordan Fire Red V's (clockwise) and the Mineral Blue VII's on my feet. The collection has grown since, and hopefully I'll be getting more in the near future.

Sneaker collecting ≠ hobby. Check the label.

Lisa Bonet: The Vintage Hippie

She may be slightly nuts, but i dig her style.

She Says She Loves Me

This poem is deep and kind of gives me chills when I listen to it. It was the inspiration for Kendrick Lamar to write the record "Opposites Attract" off his mixtape O(verly) D(edicated). Listening to this entire poem now makes me listen to the song a little differently, a little clearer.  Kendrick even adds a clip of the audio of Lamont Carey's poem at the end of the song, and the whole thing is just genius.

Where to Be in 2012

Music Hall of Williamsburg

According to the NY Times (it's totally a coincidence), NYC is the place to be in 2012, particularly for food and music. On January 8, a series of articles were written to prepare readers for the new year and what cool things to do all over the world. Varying from giving tips on where to see art to where to go to understand the world, these writers from the Times give us a glimpse of places they've been around the world that should be listed somewhere on our bucket list. For something a little more accessible, for some of us anyways, some music and restaurants are experienced best with a New York state of mind. As it turns out, I'll be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on the 18th to see one of my favorite producers Madlib do a DJ set (look out for a post on that!), and that venue was one of the first ones featured in the long list of Brooklyn venues in article "Where to Hear Music in 2012" by Peter Edge. And New York Restaurant Week conveniently starts on Monday and I'm pretty sure I should put Kajitsu on my restaurant list..."Where to Eat in 2012" convinced me. Check out the parts of both articles after the jump. And hey, if you can travel the world like those authors...a) I'm jealous of your life and b) check out the full articles too. 

Magnify Your Mind

Song of the Day: Yes I Do

I know I've already featured Mr. Bonny's "J. Birly" as the Song of the Day a little while back, but I couldn't pass this one up. Off his EP Closer Love, "Yes I Do" is the perfect combination of soul, jazz, and hip hop and the outcome is one of the smoothest sounds I've heard in a minute. This song has to be the textbook definition of modern soul music, and I love it. The horns, the piano, the rhythm...it's all there. I think I'm obsessing over jazzy type music right now, but wouldn't call it a bad thing. It's a healthy obsession. And to top it all off, he revived a classic 70s sample for the melody. The title? Short and simple: "I Love Music" by Ahmad Jamal (Go to 6:07).

Hold up...Nas, "The World is Yours"? I can appreciate that.
More Music by Miles Bonny on his bandcamp.

Spaghetti Sandwich

I know. Just hit the jump for the recipe....and more pictures.

Sketch It Up

 Ballpoint pen on paper, via Young Sibling

Drawing is art, and art is culture...if you ask me. Feel free to disagree.

My Inspiration

The one and only Vashtie Kola. Urban Chic at its finest.

Dopey Beanie

One of my favorite Christmas presents from my favorite guy. I'm probably going to live in this thing next semester and I'm more than okay with that. I don't even remember how we even found this brand, considering the makers are from Texas Tech, but I fully support what they do. Dope clothes, dope beanie, appropriately named. For more info and to check out their stuff click here.

Got Bugs?

Coming from a dorm with mouse problems and, most likely bug problems, I feel for this man. If you don't laugh at this video, I don't understand your sense of humor at all.

Indian Style Family Dinner + Onion Chutney Recipe

My best friends and I have a tradition where we all get together and cook for each other and we call this little love fest "family dinner". For my 20th birthday, we did a family dinner where they mostly cooked for me, and Brian and I made appetizers (he made an amazing guacamole and I made sweet onion chutney for the first time...recipe after the jump!). My birthday was almost an Indian style dinner with Chana and Chicken Tikki Masala and the Onion Chutney served with Naan bread...but I guess guacamole and a roasted portabello mushroom salad doesn't exactly scream Indian food. Either way, dinner was amazing and my friends/boyfriend are all amazing in the kitchen.

Speaks for Itself

No One Man Should Have All That Power...

...on vinyl.