Energy Vampires…Back Off!
Posted by Heather Stallsmith | Filed under uncategorized
Energy vampires are people who mentally and physically exhaust you with their negative influences. These people can be friends, family, coworkers, or random people you come in contact with. You know that drama queen two offices over…yeah, she’s an EV. And to be honest, I think that at times, I’m guilty of being one myself. Aren’t we all?! The good news is that there are way to recognize and stop ‘em! Besides, if you know what to look for, you may not fall into the same category in moments of negative weakness!
So lets take a look at ways EVs drain that positive energy…
- • Intruding in your life and ignoring boundaries and privacy
- • Making a big deal out of nothing
- • Complaining about themselves…they like to vent!
- • Criticizing your hair, appearance, job, kids, partner, friends, etc…
- • Not taking “No!” for an answer
- • Being negative and encouraging you to do the same
- • Placing the blame for their problems on others
Looks like it’s time to drive a stake through the heart of these vamps! Here are a few ways to get rid of them without getting out the garlic!
- • Limit the time you spend with him/her
- • Learn ways to end convos when they start to go neg
- • Stay calm and detach…don’t let their negative energy consume you
- • Refrain from trying to fix them…they need to do that on their own
- • Practice walking away…the more you do it, the easier it is
- • Limit eye contact
- • Avoid being in close spaces with him/her
Urbane Exclusive: #DETChevySXSW and Auto Tune
Posted by Henry | Filed under uncategorized
Guest post by Henry Balanon
Hey guys!
I called my wife while on the road with #DetChevySXSW. This is what happened…
Urbane Exclusive: #DETChevySXSW and Auto Tune from Brandon Chesnutt on Vimeo.
Big thanks to Urbane Apartments for being such a huge supporter of our community. I can’t thank you enough Eric and team. We super appreciate it.
Tags: #DetChevySXSW, Henry Balanon, South by Southwest, SxSw
Tune Tuesdays 3-9-10
Posted by WEKetchum | Filed under uncategorized
Detroit hip-hop veterans do a commendable job of showing their consistency from year to year, but recent weeks have shown how the city’s young rap scene is preserving the future to be as strong as its past. The next two music columns will speak on the high quality releases from these up-and-comers.
JYoung The General & Nick Speed, Black History Year: Installment One
The first release of this week is a from an artist that this blogger manages, JYoung The General. Black History Year is an installment of EPs executive produced by Nick Speed - a Detroit musician who works with G-Unit, Talib Kweli, and others - that looks to educate about black history through song. I won’t offer a review of my opinion since I manage JYoung, but song concepts include a conversation between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., an ode to black comedians, Haiti’s fight for independence, and more. The disc has gotten rave reviews so far, so if you’re interested, give it a listen and download!
DOWNLOAD HERE
Nametag & Black Bethoven, The Soul System EP
Nametag has previously gotten some help from his cousin Black Milk and other noteworthy emcees from Detroit, but The Soul System EP sees him striking out on his own, and to great results. His pen game is on point, with songs like “Beast Mode” (feat. Kopelli of Cold Men Young) showcasing punchlines and wordplay, and “Can We Try” and “About You (Part 2)” chronicling the highs and lows of relationships. Tag also shows that his ear for beats isn’t limited to his cousin by enlisting producer Black Bethoven for the EP’s six songs. The fellow Detroiter shows his worth, using minimalistic bangers like “The Product” to highlight Nametag’s braggadocio and the soulful, sample-based “Visionz” to help pay respects to Tag’s mother. If Nametag continues working on his own while not relying on others as a crutch, he’s sure to be one of the most formidable emcees in the city.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Young Scolla, Escaping Reality EP
After becoming a member of URB magazine’s annually lauded “Next 100” list and a feature with fledgling Atlanta emcee Pill, Scolla has come a long way since dropping his The Block Obama mixtape a year ago. A listen to Escaping Reality helps newcomers realize what the hype is about. The Detroit native’s penchant for choosing beats is fantastic, as each song has the polish of a major league product while still complimenting his concepts. Lyrically, Scolla tackles universal subjects—the heavy “Decisions” speaks on the choices that a drug dealer, a stripper, and a recession-burdened college graduate make to get their dough, and “Get By” focuses on persevering through struggles to reach success. The production occasionally outshines Scolla, but otherwise, Escaping Reality is a quality project from a Detroit artist who has a bright future ahead of him.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Urbane #DetChevySXSW Exclusive: Henry Balanon vs. Channel 7 WXYZ
Posted by Henry | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI
Guest post by Henry Balanon
Earlier this evening, our #DetChevySXSW team was covered by Channel 7 WXYZ by Stephen Clark. This is the outtake you missed.
Urbane #DetChevySXSW Exclusive: Henry Balanon vs. Channel 7 WXYZ from Henry Balanon on Vimeo.
Big thanks to Urbane Apartments for being such a huge supporter of our community. I can’t thank you enough Eric and team. We super appreciate it.
Tags: #DetChevySXSW, Audrey Walker, Channel 7 WXYZ Stephen Clark, Dave Murray and Brandon Chesnutt, Henry Balanon, South by Southwest, SxSw, Team Chevy
SxSW…Safe Travels Team Detroit!
Posted by Heather Stallsmith | Filed under uncategorized
And they’re off! Henry Balanon, Audrey Walker, Dave Murray and Brandon Chesnutt or on their way to South by Southwest in Austin, TX! This trip is sponsored by Chevy as well as Urbane Apartments!
Along the way, they will have to face 50 challenges in order to receive clues on where they SxSW reception will be! Winning team will receive a Chevy sponsored tweetup in their hometown…ours being DETROIT!
Follow the team on twitter… @balanon, @bchesnut, @davemurr, @walkerau And cheer them on with the hash tag #DETChevySXSW!
For more info, visit http://detroitsxsw.com
The Best of Clawson: Frittata
Posted by Heather Stallsmith | Filed under Clawson Neighborhood, food
Looking for an amazing place for breakfast, lunch or brunch?? Check out Frittata in Downtown Clawson! They offer a variety of choices but their signature Frittata is to die for! We’re calling this place one of the “Best of Clawson!”
A Frittata is basically a 3 egg omelette that starts out in a pan on the stove. Lots of fresh veggies and/or meat are added and then it is finished off in the oven giving it a fantastic crisp crust and a moist flavorful inside. Try the Southwest Bacon Frittata…stuffed with bacon, green peppers and cheese and set atop of their homemade enchilada sauce. Yum! Each day they have fresh jams and flavored butter to accompany the many types of toasts they have available. Not to mention a menu that any vegan or vegetarian can work with!
Frittata was opened about 5 years ago by Tracy and Chef Jerald along with their spouses Jon and Donna. They met in the restaurant industry and decided to create food and an atmosphere that people would line up for. And that is exactly what they got! Spring through Fall, when the patio is open to all, you will literally see a line out the door for this fresh gourmet breakfast and lunch.
Inside this gem you’ll find a small calming space with just about 10 tables. Low wood tiled ceilings and gorgeous artwork by Tracy’s husband Jon give this place a European feel. Fresh cut flowers on each table every day are just another example of the dedication to making every guest feel comfortable and welcome.
Wondering about dinner? Well Frittata is only open to the public from 7:30-2:30pm every day except for Monday BUT they are always open to catering events on or off site for any meal you like! Check with Tracy and she’ll give you all the details!
Tags: Add new tag, Breakfast Spots in Clawson, Clawson MI, Frittata, Frttata's
The Best of Clawson: Flip Side
Posted by Heather Stallsmith | Filed under Apartments Clawson MI
Walking into this cool shop really ignites the senses. The smell, the vibe, the cool stuff throughout. It’s a collectors dream especially if you have a love for vinyl records! You’ll find cd’s that you couldn’t find anywhere else along with gear for indie bands that isn’t at your local FYE.
Owner Todd Fundaro took over the shop for his father which opened 27 years ago. You can really feel his passion for the store radiating as he talks about the history. Not only that but his staff feels just as much passion as he does for the music and the memories.
We’re calling this vintage music shop the “Best of Clawson!” Why? Because there is no better place to go if you are in love with music…and it’s one of those stores where you walk in and say, “I have to buy this!” because you know the chances of ever seeing it again is slim! Check out Flip Side and feel the vibe!!
Tags: Flip Side, Things to Do in Clawson, Todd Fundaro, vinyl records
Up To Business: Steven Taylor
Posted by WEKetchum | Filed under Apartments Birmingham MI, Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Apartments Royal Oak MI, Apartments Troy MI
Detroit native Steven Taylor is known as “Superhero 4 Hire,” and with his versatile skill set and benefactors, the name fits. In the early 2000s, Taylor interned for Marvel Comics (home of “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “The Incredible Hulk” and more) and self-published his own critically-acclaimed comic book “Silent Night,” while freelancing for hip-hop artists around the country. These days, he supplies flyers, posters, business cards and more with his company Green Light Printing, and he has established himself as a go-to source for models’ web sites. In an interview with Urbane, Steven Taylor talks comics, working with beautiful women, and his veteran status as a graphic designer.
You call yourself “Superhero 4 Hire.” Where does that nickname come from?
This can be a bit of a long story sometimes but it mainly comes from my background as a comic book illustrator starting out. I’m often the last person anyone calls on projects, yet I’m always counted on to save the day. I look at myself as a “hitman” when it comes to my projects: you pay me and send me out to get the job done, no questions asked. If you need someone to save the day in a hurry I’m the hero you hire. [laughs]
What project would you say was your “breakthrough” project and why? Which project goes down as your favorite ever, and why?
I would have to say my moment in the sun was self publishing my comic book “Silent Night”. It allowed me to tour 24 states, it got me the fan base that I have today and helped me build business relationships and friendships that I hold dear until this day. It was one of those things that no one believed that I could do it and it was so rewarding to see my dreams come true then.
You do a lot of work with models, which would seem like a dream job for some. What would you say is the most unexpected part of that?
The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I have that clientele in the first place. It wasn’t something I went after it just fell in my lap. The world of modeling and adult entertainment is like a secret society that very few are privileged to work in but it’s just like any job with it’s ups and downs. I should say that the most unexpected part of it is how the business really works. It’s all about who you know and your reputation means everything moreso than any other business because you are dealing with women that are used to being taken advantage of both financially and socially so you always look but never touch.
You’ve been in the arts since you were 14. You’re 30 now. How have things changed since you were young? And are those changes for the better, or for the worst?
With Photoshop being such a big part of what we do as artists now, it seems as if anyone with a PC can consider themselves an artists and it’s really diluting the quality of work that’s out there especially on the commercial art side. In most schools no one teaches the fundamentals of art and design anymore as the PC provides so many shortcuts but those of us that still have classic training are able to provide the “soul” to our work that allows people to connect to our pieces that much more and you can’t teach that. It’s also more of a business than before. It’s not about how great your work is anymore, it’s all salesmanship and you have to build your brand in order for those to believe in it.
What artists, business owners, etc. have inspired you to do what you do, and why?
Without question the Todd McFarlanes of the world are artists I look up too because they bridged the gap from just being a pencil pusher to a valuable part of pop culture and made a huge impact on Hollywood as well. This may not be all that popular to some but Sean “Diddy” Combs will always get props from me because I remember hearing about him when I was in Junior High School when he was still an intern at Uptown records and you could see his influence in artists such as Mary J. Blige, then discovering Notorious B.I.G, starting Bad Boy Records and using that as a platform to venture into Fashion and now Television. While Russell Simmons has done the same but I saw his rise to fame every step of the way and while we get caught up in his fabulous lifestyle now he went from step A to B to C like most of us so he laid a great blueprint for any young African American entrepreneur growing up in the Hip Hop Generation. I can say the same about Jay-Z as well because I remember when he was just a great emcee that dropped Reasonable Doubt and back in 1996 he told us what he was going to do in the marketplace so the fact that he’s on top is no surprise to me.
Local Artist; Meet Jon Parlangeli….
Posted by Heather Stallsmith | Filed under Apartments Clawson MI, Apartments Ferndale MI, Cool People
Who the heck is that? Well, Jon is a talented local artist with a passion for the artwork he creates. Jon has been creating works of art for the past 23 years. He’s studied at WMU, WSU and CCS but has his own thoughts of an “art education!”
As for Jon’s inspirations, he says… “I am a storyteller blessed with a cynical sense of humor and strange sense of observation that culminate in color, light, texture and composition.” He doesn’t show at a ton of galleries because he feels that art should be experienced by all people, ordinary to extraordinary. In this economy not a lot of people are taking the time and money to visit art galleries which is not allowing these people to experience art. Jon views art as a therapy and calls it “accidental harmony.”
“I am a storyteller blessed with a cynical sense of humor and strange sense of observation that culminate in color, light, texture and composition.”
This is exactly the reason why he is choosing to display his artwork at the Pittman-Puckett Art Gallery located inside Affirmations. The opening of his show is March 12th from 7-9 and will stay up through April 1st. He’ll be showcasing about 20 pieces spanning through his 23 years of painting. Get a sneak peak of more stuff by Jon by clicking here.
Jon also curates shows for Black Lotus Brewing Company in Clawson, MI. To date, he has sold 29 painting off their walls. He represents other artists from time to time as well.
Below is a statement from Jon:
“I am not sure if the average viewer, art enthusiast or even a great number of artists know the passion, the pleasure and pain it takes to truly be a painter. I am not saying that other artists don’t possess the imagination, dedication or skill to create beautiful things, but there are few of us who truly live to experience the paint. Not all feel the pleasure of a brush gliding across the canvas and the excitement as that brush’s mark on the canvas begins to end. A story was just told with that stroke, and thousands more are ready to be told at that very moment. Have they all experienced the beautiful accidents we call home on a long winter night spent freezing in the studio? Do they appreciate the beauty of that moment forgetting all other troubles? What about the smell of oil it as it permeates the air, or drips in gobs on your clothing and shoes in the heat of the moment? It is intoxicating. I live for the visual exchange of color and light and movement; for the explosion of passion that confounds reason for the sake of composition or message; for the blind fury of mark making on big canvases; to scream messages through imagery. It is beautiful. The end results are images fantastically broken and torn yet satisfied in their hyper-coll-aged existence by process and passion. Because of all this the process is more important to me than the end result… because the act of creation often trumps the imprint. That is where the value is found in my art.”
Tags: Affirmations, Ferndale Art, Fun in Ferndale, Jon Parlangeli, Mi Art, MI Artists
My Fav Salad- A must try!
Posted by Monica | Filed under fitness, food, uncategorized
I have been teaching and training a lot over the last month, so to be honest salads have not been my selection of choice for food as I am craving the COMPLEX carbs ….. ladies and gentlemen, remember:
CARBS ARE NOT THE ENEMY!
So I thought it would be a nice change of pace to lighten my load for my meal and make on of my absolute favorite salads the Chicken Walnut (caramelized optional) pear salad. There are a lot of variations in this recipe, you can add all kinds of fruit, switch up the protein source (tuna instead of chicken perhaps). The best parts are that it’s easy to make, taste’s amazing, leaves you full, and it will help you lean up while still giving you your protein:) So go ahead read below, try it, and LET ME KNOW IF YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS I DO:)
*red or green leaf lettuce, washed and cut into pieces/purple cabbage optional (crunchy and great for you!)
ADDED INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 cups red grapes
3 tablespoons crumbled walnuts
4 pears, thinly sliced or cubed (peeling is optional)
2 breasts of chopped cooked Chicken/ other source of protein
Dressing: olive oil and red wine vinegar / Raspberry vinaigrette
Salad:
1. Toss the lettuce, grapes and pears with the dressing into a large bowl.
2. Add the chopped walnuts, feta cheese, pears and any other remaining ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!!!!
Kettles kick butt!
Posted by Monica | Filed under Rambalings, music, people, technology, uncategorized
At first I was a bit hesitant to purchase the kettlebell, after seeing some pretty scary training sessions (we will leave the gym unknown here) where a trainer was letting a client use a kettlebell and I was just waiting to see the clients shoulder pop out of it’s socket. Needless to say the kettlebell’s weight was to heavy as well as improper, uncontrolled movements…
tisk tisk Mr Trainer!
I did however do some further research where I discovered the CORRECT way to use this exercise tool, and all the benefits you can gain from it. They are not meant to train muscles to failure either.
“Consistency is more important than intensity,”
says Tsatsouline (www.healthwriting.com/health/kettlebells/), who considers kettlebell training a greater challenge than either traditional weight lifting or aerobics. “Unlike in running or other popular weight loss regimens, kettlebell exercises distribute the load evenly throughout the body,” he says. “More muscles working at once means greater metabolic overload, which translates to superior fat loss.”
I have to say I am slowly but surely becoming a kettlebell junkie, I love it! I have actually named mine KIRBY (don’t even think about stealing my name either haha) Not only is it portable, but you can get an entire body workout (if done the right way), they are pretty cost effective, and they vary in weight as well as color, which can be fun too:) Most companies now re-arrange the bells by weight, and beginners should start with a lighter weight until they progress, which they can then go heavier in weight. So go ahead grab a bell and hop to it!
Get back to work: HAPPO empowers PR job seekers
Posted by ericafinley | Filed under Detroit MI, events, people
There are a lot of talented people in the public relations industry in Southeast Michigan. But some of those talented people have found themselves without a job.
That’s where HAPPO comes in.
This Friday, Feb. 19, marks the first-ever “Help a PR Pro Out” Day — spearheaded by Arik Hanson (@arikhanson) and Valerie Simon (@valeriesimon) — as a community-based initiative to connect PR pros with job opportunities in this challenging economic climate.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT Friday, PR bloggers, agency leaders and PR professionals from across the country and beyond will come together to support this effort. For more about the inspiration for this event, check out Arik Hanson’s blog post.
Detroit’s very own Nikki Stephan (@EstrellaBella10) stepped up as a Market Champion for HAPPO when she saw the D wasn’t being represented, connecting our region to more than 25 HAPPO markets, including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
If you’re a PR pro currently looking for a job, HAPPO will connect you with a massive network of people who want to help you. If you’re an employer, join the conversation to post job openings or seek talent that fits your needs. If you’re neither but still want to help out, follow the #HAPPO conversation and help facilitate connections.
Job seekers, prepare for this event right now. Put together a professional, creative blog post that highlights your talents & skills, and be prepared to share it on your Twitter page with the hashtag #HAPPO during Friday’s event. Market Champions, like Nikki, will be re-tweeting these pitches and linking you to resources and employers who can reinvigorate your job hunt. Prefer to be a little more discrete? Get in touch with Nikki or one of the other Market Champions for information.
Let’s go out of our way to help our fellow Detroiters find a job by pooling our resources and “paying it forward.”
For more information, visit www.helpaprproout.com, and follow the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.
Tags: arikhanson, detroitjobs, happo, helpaprproout, jobs, pr, prjobs, valeriesimon
