Thrill of the Hunt

Thrill of the Hunt
By Diaz Allen

One day I went with a couple of co-workers to a nearby shopping center for lunch. They told me to hurry and eat so we could go shopping. I was a little confused but I obliged and shortly after we proceeded through this strip mall. As we walked through, I recognized many of the names above the storefronts. As we made a left around a corner, a bright glow almost blinded me. As I regained my sight, I discovered that this overpowering brightness was the sign above a store that I had only been able to shop in other large cities. I discovered that this luxury department store was a discount store or outlet. Maybe I had been so consumed with work that I did not realize this treasure right around the corner. Needless to say, I cut a fool. I was a little late getting back to work that day, but it was okay because I was the boss.

The store became one of my ‘go to’ spots in the area. Some have frowned upon outlet stores. They gawked, “Those are last seasons’ clothes” or “I do not like to hunt for anything.” The key is purchasing items that are not too trendy. I only buy classic looks. And as far as hunting, most of the outlets that I have encountered since then are displayed and arranged just as well, if not better than the ‘regular’ store. So what if my Gucci sunglasses hit the runway in the fall of 2007, I purchased it in the fall of 2008 for less than half price. Yes I said Gucci! Names like Diane von Furstenberg, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Balenciaga, Escada, Fendi, Prada, and Dior will make your mouth water.

Some of the finest names in retail have opened stores across our country in outlet malls. It is a very smart marketing strategy that benefits the “Average Joe” (not Joe six pack, Average Joe). They rid themselves of fashions that are a season or so behind and items that might not have sold in the abundance they were expecting. So the next time you are out and see a sign that says “Outlet Next Exit”, brace yourself and get ready for a sure adrenaline rush.

Chelsea Premium Outlets

Tanger Outlets

Prime Outlets
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Soul Food

Soul Food

By Diaz Allen

Unless you have lived under a rock since 1926, you know that February is Black History Month. I know, I know, we should celebrate being of color every day. Many do. In these hard economic times we need to be more creative with our leisure time. For many the days of traveling to Disney World and Six Flags are over. We need to take the time now to pull our children away from the video game systems we charged on our credit cards and educate them about who they are. There are many museums and galleries right under our noses that hold a world of knowledge for our families. Remember when you said the last election showed you that it is a new day in America? Well now is the time to prove it. If we do not appreciate where we come from and what we have been through, how can we be appreciative of our blessings in the future?

Here is a short list of facilities that may be of interest to you in February and every month thereafter. Most major cities have something similar waiting for you.

African American Museum in Philadelphia

701 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215-574-0380

aampmuseum.org

California African American Museum

600 State Drive

Exposition Park

Los Angeles, CA 90037

213-744-7432

caamuseum.org

African American Cultural Complex

119 Sunnybrook Road

Raleigh, NC 27610

919-250-9336

aaccmuseum.org

African American Museum of Nassau County

110 North Franklin Street

Hempstead, NY 11500

516-572-0730 Photo Courtesy of Greensboro News & Record

aamoflongisland.org

DuSable Museum of African American History

740 E. 56th Place

Chicago, IL 60637

773-947-0600

dusablemuseum.org

African American Museum Dallas, Texas

3536 Grand Avenue

Dallas Fair Park

Dallas, TX 75315

214-219-2049

aamdallas.org
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Shopping With A Twist


Shopping With A Twist

by Raphael Baker

If you are like me, shopping makes you hungry. During one of my visits to Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza, I discovered a trendy little spot called, Twist. Nestled in the middle of Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, Twist offers great food for a reasonable price.
The eclectic menu offers tapas, salads, entrees and even a full sushi menu. Most of the food is light, so you won’t become too tired to finish shopping. Twist is also famous for its delicious selection of martinis. There is definitely something for everyone here.
If you decide to dine in during a busy time, the noise can be a bit overwhelming. However, the excellent service provided by the diverse staff will make you forget the distractions altogether.
Overall every one of my visits to Twist has been positive. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for quick bite during a shopping break.

FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE PRICE

Eclectic Excellent Trendy/Noisy $9-$35 approx.

Location: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Rd. NE ( Lenox Rd.) Atlanta, GA 30326

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From Motel 6 to Cloud Nine

From Motel 6 to Cloud Nine
by Raphael Baker
About twelve years ago, some friends and I took a weekend trip to Washington, D.C. We were so excited to be out of town that we didn’t properly plan. We ended up at a place that made the Bates Motel look majestic. After I got home from what seemed to be the longest weekend in my life, I made a promise to myself. I would only stay in nice, reputable hotels. I determined to be greeted by concierges, heavenly beds and spa baths, and never again by pests, dirty sheets and broken sinks.
Since then, I have stayed in some beautiful hotels across the country. The Intercontinental, Sofitel and Loews have been a few of my favorite destinations. My friends now see me as a hotel guru, and rely on me for bookings and advice. What they don’t know is that I never pay full price.
Online booking is the key to getting a quality hotel room for a fraction of the price. Although there are many online resources, there are a few sites that are consistently reliable and some to avoid.
Hotwire has been a favorite of mine for many years. Many major hotels utilize this site to book hotel rooms that haven’t already been reserved. You can search and choose hotels based on star level, neighborhood and price. You can even book multiple rooms at a time (good for those church trips). Hotwire requires that you pay up front, so do not choose this site if your trip dates may change. One downside to Hotwire is that you blindly purchase your hotel. That means the name of your hotel is not revealed until you actually make your purchase. Don’t fret! There are not too many bad four star hotels, so be sure to choose the four star hotel, cross your fingers and say a prayer! I have not been disappointed yet.
Priceline is another one of my favorites. If Hotwire doesn’t have anything available that I like, Priceline is my next choice. While these two sites are strikingly similar, Priceline offers you the option to choose your own price. You blindly bid on a hotel room, and you are able to choose your star level and neighborhood. Please do not be crazy and to bid $20 for a four star hotel in New York City. You will swiftly be rejected. Make a sensible bid. If you are lucky, and Priceline accepts your bid, your card is automatically charged. If you aren’t so lucky, dust yourself off and try again. You can place another bid in 24 hours for hotels in the same rating level and neighborhood. Through this site I have gotten four star hotels at $60 per night.
Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels.com have been disappointments when trying to find discounted hotels. They give you lists and lists of available hotels, but frankly, the deals are nonexistent.
If all else fails, go directly to your desired hotel’s website. Many hotels post specials on their websites that are not available by calling the reservations line. Additionally, many hotels offer reward programs and chances to earn free nights.

Online Booking Tips:

  1. Plan ahead. You will have many more options available if you book your trip in advance.
  2. Be patient. Sometimes the prices on these sites rise and drop dramatically within days and sometimes hours. Some sites have email alerts, which notify you when the price drops for your desired location.
  3. Shop around. If one site seems too expensive, try another one.
  4. Be fearless. Online booking is not for the faint of heart. To reiterate, there are not too many bad four star hotels out there.
  5. Have fun. You will get much joy in knowing that you will be staying in a nice hotel and still have spending money.

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Resume Review

Resume Review

Use a sensible email address.
Have a short and relevant objective.
Honestly describe your experience and skills.
Customize your resume to the position you are seeking.
Use bulleted sentences instead of paragraphs.
Have resume proofread by someone else.
Send resume as attachment only if requested.

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Interview Etiquette

Interview Etiquette

Always look your best. You can never be overdressed.
Know where you are going and arrive 5-10 minutes early.
If possible, do a test drive the day before at a comparable traffic time.
Be polite to everyone and smile. You never know who has influence
on the hiring within the company.
Keep eye contact with the interviewer. Be confident and sell, sell, sell yourself!
Stay positive and do not put down previous or current employers.
Use correct English, be honest, and provide examples when questioned.
Ask intelligent questions, but remain respectful. Do not ask disqualifying questions
like "Do I have to take a drug test?"
Send a thank you email or note to the interviewer.

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Credit 101

CREDIT 101

By Diaz Allen

FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) has created the best-known and most widely used credit score model. The FICO score is calculated based on information from a consumer's credit files. This score is used in credit decisions made by banks and other institutions for secured and unsecured credit. A FICO score is between 300 and 850, with 60% of the population between 650 and 799. The higher your FICO score, the lower your chances of credit denial, higher interest rates, requested collateral, or income and asset verification. Scores are often used to determine rates for auto and homeowner's insurance. Some agencies that generate credit scores have been generating specialized insurance scores, which insurance companies will use to rate the quality of potential customers. Some companies request permission from job applicants to run a credit check as part of their application process. The information can be used as an indicator of an applicant’s level of financial responsibility. Applicants have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and are not required to consent to the credit check.
The FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act), entitles each legal U.S. resident to one free copy of his or her credit report from each credit reporting agency once every twelve months. (Some states permit one free copy every six months.) There are three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each of the agencies will have their own score. They usually differ from 50 to 100 points. Instead of visiting each agency’s website individually, go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
Some tips for boosting your score are as follows:
1. Order a copy of each of your credit reports. You will be required to pay a small fee to find out your score. You may be surprised, so it is worth it.
2. Analyze the reports for errors. Look at previous addresses, all debt (paid and existing), and additional names listed. If there is anything that does not look familiar, dispute it. (Key: DISPUTE, DISPUTE, DISPUTE!)
3. Keep balances on credit cards at a median between zero and the limit. If you are not able to pay down the balance to that level, request a credit line increase from the lender (AND DO NOT USE IT!)
4. Contact creditors and ask for lower interest rates on credit cards. Do not hesitate and do not be rude. Consider doing a balance transfer to a card that offers a low balance transfer FIXED rate.

Experian Equifax TransUnion

888-397-3742 800-685-1111 800-888-4213

Experian.com Equifax.com Transunion.com

Understanding The Difference

Notice below how good credit will save you money. Interest rates accurate as of January 20, 2009 and payments are based on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage on $250,000:
FICO® score APR Monthly payment
760-850 4.612% $1,283
700-759 4.834% $1,317
680-699 5.011% $1,344
660-679 5.225% $1,377
640-659 5.655% $1,444
620-639 6.201% $1,531
Source: myfico.com

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You Voted. Now What?

You voted. Now what?

By Raphael Baker
The previous election season was by far one of the most interesting that most of us have been involved in during our lifetime. We are now trying to wean ourselves off of our CNN addictions and other nightly political news fixes. Donna Brazile, Anderson Cooper, Roland Martin, Candy Crowley and Campbell Brown became household names. Everyone was glued to the primaries on both sides of the ticket.
On the Democratic side, we saw candidates fall by the wayside one by one. The predicted favorite, Hillary Clinton, was shockingly defeated by the underdog, a young, freshman senator from Illinois. The Republicans also nominated their underdog, an elderly war veteran who has been a politician since being elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. The main event of the season was the intense battle between the “maverick” and the community organizer.
Who could forget the buzzwords and slogans of the campaigns such as, “Joe the Plumber”, “Hockey Mom” and “Yes We Can!” Everyone laughed at Tina Fey’s uncanny SNL portrayal of Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. We laughed even harder at the real Sarah Palin noting that the extent of her foreign policy experience was the ability to see Russia from Alaska. Who wasn’t choked up during the debates when Joe Biden fought back tears while discussing his personal family tragedies? Obama remained cool, calm and collected while his adversaries began to sweat and turn on each other. Mud was slung on both sides. Obama was accused of ‘palling around with terrorists’ while McCain was accused of being cranky because he missed his nap. Biden was blamed for talking too much while Palin was taunted for not giving enough interviews.
Despite the negativity of the campaigns, people knocked on doors, made phone calls, donated record amounts of money and attended rallies to show support of whichever candidate reflected their beliefs. People turned out in record numbers, including many first time voters, to ensure their voices would be heard. In the end, most Americans made it crystal clear as to what was needed- change. There wasn’t a dry eye in this country when it was announced that Barack Obama would become America’s first Black president. Men and women of all races, ages and backgrounds cheered and celebrated the fact that this country had come so far. Republicans lost the Senate and the House. Also, in California, Proposition 8 was passed, rewriting the state constitution, thus revoking same-sex marriages. In the aftermath of the election, what are we to do now?
We have all cast our votes, but our work is not over. Having a new president is not going to fix our problems. There are many issues that ail our country, and there is no magic wand Obama can wave to make everything better. The economy has collapsed. The government bailouts are just Band-Aids on top of gaping financial wounds. Banks are closing. More and more people are losing their homes. Unemployment rates across the country are sky-rocketing. The so-called American dream is no longer a reality for many people.
One way to keep the momentum going is to join a political activist group. There are many groups ranging from economic reform groups to those dealing with environmental issues. A good resource for finding the perfect group for you is the National Political Index (www.politicalindex.com). This site lists groups by topics and has links to their websites.
For those who want something a little more laid back, join a political social networking group. These groups usually sponsor many events throughout the year. If you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent or undecided, you can find a group that suits your needs. To find a group near you, go to Meetup.com.
Another way is to host your own political gatherings. You don’t need to rent a hall or have a special location. You can invite friends and family that share your views over to your home to meet and develop action plans. You can spend time drafting petitions, writing letters to politicians and even fundraising.
If you are like many people who feel they can’t get involved because of lack of time, join an online group. There are groups such as Moveon.org and Colorofchange.org which you can join with just a few clicks of your mouse. You can participate in online discussions, meet others from around the country and even send letters to elected officials.
These are just a few suggestions for you to stay involved. We no longer have the luxury of being voyeurs, while others do the work for us. “Yes we can” now has to be “Yes we will” or we will all suffer the dire consequences.
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Making It Rain





Director Rob Hardy and Producer William Packer
Photos courtesy of myspace.com/rainforestfilms

MAKING IT RAIN

By Diaz Allen

Upon the success of their first film, “Chocolate City”, Director Rob Hardy and Producer William Packer created Rainforest Films in 1994. The Florida A&M University Students began to receive awards, job offers, and much needed buzz. They moved the company to Atlanta, GA in 1996 and began to produce a plethora of motion picture and corporate projects.

Their film “Trois” was funded, produced, and distributed independently and quickly passed the million-dollar mark after its distribution. The film “Pandora’s Box” earned Monica Calhoun an award for “Best Actress” from the 2002 American Black Film Festival. Following the success of the “The Escort”, “Motives” and “Motives 2”, Rainforest produced the hit film “The Gospel” in 2005. The highly anticipated “Stomp The Yard” followed and received excellent reviews. Some of their most recent hits include “Three Can Play That Game” and “This Christmas”.

Their urban genre films have graced both silver and small screens. Rainforest Productions focuses its masterpieces on subjects that many films steer away from. Not only do their films fill theatres, they sell out in DVD stores too. These tastefully created films have catapulted the company to the top of every respected list that ranks film distributors. Hardy and Packer have proven that passion and determination equal colossal success.
Look out for Rainforest Films' newest creation, "Obsessed", featuring Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba on April 24, 2009.

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Bad Blood

BLACK BLOOD

By Raphael Baker

You may think you’ve read it before. Woman fights vampires. Woman falls in love with man. Man becomes Vampire. Woman is torn between her career and love.

However, this is no Buffy the Vampire Slayer knockoff. L.A. Banks, aka Leslie Banks, who also writes under at least two other pseudonyms, takes those subjects to much deeper levels. Her Vampire Huntress Series, a 12 book collection, centers on Damali Richards, a young black songstress who is secretly responsible for fighting vampires, demons and other supernatural beings. She is in love with Carlos, a former drug dealer, turned vampire. Damali is surrounded by an eclectic group of band members, who double as guardians, each with special sensory skills, and have her back even unto death.

What really sets this series apart from other vampire authors is the precision in which Banks weaves politics, religion, history, geography and pop culture. She has sex scenes that rival Zane’s as well as vivid battle scenes. She’ll take you from the streets of Philly, to the Amazon jungle without skipping a beat. She will take you to the different levels of Hell and also show you that there is hell on earth. L.A. demonstrates the depravity of man, and also his kindness and compassion. Her books force you to really evaluate the current condition of society and open your eyes to the fact that although we may all be different, we all share similar hopes, dreams and fears. In the end, love conquers all and good always wins. Or does it?

L.A. Banks
Photo Credit: Keith Major
Leslie's Makeup & Hair: Anthony Jones and
Karen Bishop for Evoluer Image Consultants

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Music's Eulogy

Music’s Eulogy
By Raphael Baker
Music won’t be there to help you through your breakups and heartaches. Music will no longer be there to make you laugh, cry or celebrate. We are gathered here today, with tears in our eyes, to mourn the death of music.
Long gone are the days of music’s past when Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Billie Holliday and others lifted up its name. Let us not forget the 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s where the eras were defined by music. Let us not forget the 90’s when R&B dominated the scene. We will miss EnVogue, Dru Hill, SWV, Boys II Men and Xscape. Let’s remember amazing albums put out by Mary, Mariah, Faith and Kelly. Brian McKnight, Babyface and Johnny Gill will all be sadly missed. We’ll always love Big Poppa, and will never forget Jay-Z, Tupac, Foxy or Kim. Lauryn educated us, we learned who Jill Scott was, Musiq told us about love and WuTang Clan was nothing to f*** with.
Music’s health began declining in the new millennium. The first sign of failing health came when artists of the likes of Soulja Boy began dominating the charts. A guy with an electrolarynx and another one with marbles in his mouth have numerous number one hits. Catchy beats and elementary school lyrics became common. We knew music was sick when it succumbed to vulgar, crotch-grabbing, misogynistic songs. Even the veterans in the game became affected by the illness. Beyonce was fine with her first two albums, but became terminally ill with her latest. While many are putting their hands up to "Single Ladies", the rest of her album gets a thumbs-down. Mariah, we love you, but what has happened? Your latest album was not bad, but many songs were snooze-worthy. Mary, Mary, why are you buggin’? We will always be fans, but do you think that we will buy it just because you put it out? Kanye, we are praying for you. Instead of being in a studio, please lay down on someone’s couch. We all know misery loves company, but please do not make our ears continue to suffer.
Yes, music has died. The decline in CD sales is a direct reflection of that. The rise in illegal downloading has taken over the industry because consumers are afraid to buy CDs, since there are usually only one or two good songs.
There is hope that music can be resurrected. All the real artists will have to stand up and be counted. They will have to take a stand and refuse to put out this garbage that has killed music. Rappers will have to stop trying to be R&B crooners. Singers will actually need to be able to sing, and not just be cute (no offense Ashanti and Keyshia). Songwriters will have to start writing something more meaningful.
Until music can be reborn, please close your eyes and have a moment of silence.
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Diaz's Top Ten Classic Albums

Diaz's Top Ten Classic Albums

It is rare these days to purchase an album that is filled with great music and that can be played beginning to end without skipping songs. Here is a list of albums that I downloaded to my MP3 player to listen to when I am feening for quality music.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill cover
Lauryn Hill,
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998
B'Day cover
Beyonce,
B'Day 2006
Confessions cover
Usher,
Confessions 2004
Free Yourself cover
Fantasia,
Free Yourself 2004
Encore: The Best of The Clark Sisters cover
The Clark Sisters,
The Best of The Clark Sisters 2008
Supa Dupa Fly cover
Missy Elliott,
Supa Dupa Fly 1997
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life cover
Jay-Z,
Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life 1998
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Lover's Peach Cobbler

Lover's Peach Cobbler

By Diaz Allen

Have you heard the phrase "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach"? I don't know if that is true, nor do I care. However, if you find yourself wanting to impress your honey before Valentine's Day or your birthday, prepare this simple dish and you will literally have your love eating from the palm of your hand.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb Frozen Peaches

2 Sticks Salted Butter

1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix

1 Tbs Ground Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg

2 Tbs Fine Granulated Sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 385 degrees.

2. In a 9”X 13” pan, layer peaches evenly and sprinkle almonds on top.

3. Evenly cover with cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.

4. Cover mixture completely with cake mix. (Be sure to crush lumps with fork.)

5. Slice butter and lay slices equal distance apart on top of cake mix.

6. Bake for 50 minutes. (Mixture should brown and firm.)

7. Serve hot and garnish with vanilla ice cream for unbelievable results.

NOTES

PEACHES
Can be substituted or mixed with another fruit, i.e. pie filling apples, blueberries, cherries, etc.
ALMONDS
Can be substituted with walnuts or pecans or left out.
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