Sneak Preview: Nelson George and Diane Paragas' Brooklyn Boheme

Join us for a preview screening of Brooklyn Boheme, a new documentary from award-winning Nelson George, director of the HBO feature film, Life Support (2007), which won Queen Latifah a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Brooklyn Boheme takes a look back at the close-knit African American/Latino neighborhood in Fort Greene, prior to gentrification, when the community nurtured a new wave of original and uniquely talented artists, among them, Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, and many other creative innovators featured in this film.

Nelson George, Co-Director/Writer/Producer, Brooklyn Boheme; director, Life Support; author, City Kid, Hip Hop America, The Plot Against Hip Hop

Diane Paragas, co-director, Brooklyn Boheme; television writer/producer/director (BET, MTV and CBS News)

Presented with Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Media Arts Dept., Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

Sponsored by BET

Book signing of The Plot Against Hip Hop follows.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 to 9:00 pm

WHERE: Kumble Theater, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Flatbush Ave.

(DeKalb & Willoughby)

Don't miss next month's preview screening with Nelson George and Diane Paragas. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP at www.cencom.org. You can also e-mail info@cencom.org or call (212) 686-5005.

I LOVE NY 27 of 28 Places to Visit

Macy’s
The World’s Largest Department Store

Macy's was founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. On the company's first day of business on October 28, 1858 sales totaled $11.06 (Approximately $287.37 in 2007 USD). Macy had established a dry goods store in downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1851 that initially served the mill industry employees of the area. Macy moved to New York City and established a new store named "R. H. Macy & Company" on the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue, later expanding to 18th Street and Broadway, on the "Ladies' Mile", the 19th century elite shopping district, where it remained for nearly forty years.

In 1875, Macy took on two partners: Robert M. Valentine; and Abiel T. La Forge, and Macy died just two years later in 1877 from Bright's disease. In 1895, R. H. Macy & Co. was acquired by Isidor Straus and his brother, Nathan Straus, who had previously held a license to sell china and other goods in the Macy's store. Isidor Straus later perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. In 1902, the flagship store moved uptown to Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway. Although the Herald Square store initially consisted of just one building, it expanded through new construction, eventually occupying almost the entire block bounded by 7th Avenue on the west, Broadway on the east, 34th Street on the south and 35th Street on the north. Exceptions are the small, pre-existing building on the corner of 34th and Broadway, which carries Macy's famous shopping bag sign under an agreement allowing the Macy's sign, and small pre-existing building on the corner of 35th and 7th.

The original Broadway R. H. Macy and Company Store, was built in 1901–02 by architects De Lemos & Cordes. It is sheathed in a Palladianfacade, but has been updated in many details. Other additions to the west were added in 1924, 1928, and 1931, all designed by architect Robert D. Kohn. They are all in the Art Deco style. The building has been designated a National Historic Landmark. It boasts one of the few wooden escalators still in operation. The company produces the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a well known parade which has been held on the streets of New York City annually since 1924. The company also sponsors the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks display, which began in 1976.

In 2008, Macy's celebrated its 150th birthday. The store launched a commercial including old Macy's commercials, and actors and actresses mentioning Macy's on shows. It also featured clips of past Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades. The commercial was used to promote Macy's and a way of saying thank you for making Macy's part of your life for 150 years. The commercial aired around when the annual Primetime Emmy Awards aired live on ABC on September 2008. The commercial has aired on different channels also throughout the whole September, October, and November months.

ReMix Tuesday with Lil Mogul November 2009

FACE to FACE

The MEGA World of Lil Mogul
by Lil Mogul

This is my last Remix TUESDAY in December of 2009. On Tuesday, November 10 The MEGA World of Lil Mogul discussed Brands more than ever need Face-to-Face connection with customers.

We live in the most hyper-connected time in the country's history; and yet we exist in a constant state of disconnection. While Apple, BlackBerry, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Match.com, Fresh Direct, and Amazon are well-designed, convenient and address specific needs and for the most part work well; they are also responsible for the undeniable in-personal interactions we used to take for granted during the course of a regular day.

I live in Harlem and I'm always amused by watching teens walking down the street with their friends while texting and talking on their cell phones rather than with each other! How is this younger demographic, armed to the teeth with all the technologically advanced connectivity tools, going to cope and interact as responsible adults? Poorly, I contend. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace? -- "Social" networks that do not require you to engage in any kind of human socialization. Apple? -- Creators of the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and iTouch. I do not think it too crazy to say that we are in the midst of a dreadful away of human interaction that could seriously impact people's ability to truly "connect" with one another.

We've already seen the emergence of dieting coaches, dating coaches, life coaches. Now, people will pay many thousands of dollars to attend "Unplugged Retreats." Eventually, the pendulum will swing the other way, back toward more personal/human connections. And the brands that get that will be winners. I believe the brands that do not emphasize ultra-modern design, trendy badge value or blow-your-mind technological innovation as their core vision -- but rather emphasize the value of person-to-person, real live human interaction -- are the ones that will ascend and maintain leadership positions in the long run.

This trend may already be happening. One company that is already starting to apply that thinking is Macy’s. Macy's "Come Together" cause-marketing campaign scores points for teaming up with Feed America to provide 10 million meals for local food banks. With the tagline "The Great American Dinner Party," the retailer is encouraging people across the country to participate by having some friends over for a dinner party/fundraiser -- and just simply enjoy each other's company.

Macy's will match the contributions raised by each party. Television commercials for the campaign feature celebs such as Martha Stewart, Usher, Jessica Simpson, Tommy Hilfiger, Donald Trump, and Queen Latifah enjoying their own dinner party after hours inside Macy's Herald Square.

Old School? Yes!!! But in this day and age, also kind of revolutionary.

So in 2010... I will meet you at the playground.

Lil Mogul... Face-to-Face

Brands Need Face-To-Face Connection

The MEGA World of Lil Mogul

by Lil Mogul

We live in the most hyper-connected time in the country's history; and yet we exist in a constant state of disconnection. While Apple, BlackBerry, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Match.com, Fresh Direct, and Amazon are well-designed, convenient and address specific needs and for the most part work well; they are also responsible for the undeniable in-personal interactions we used to take for granted during the course of a regular day.

I live in Harlem and I'm always amused by watching teens walking down the street with their friends while texting and talking on their cell phones rather than with each other! How is this younger demographic, armed to the teeth with all the technologically advanced connectivity tools, going to cope and interact as responsible adults? Poorly, I contend. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace? -- "Social" networks that do not require you to engage in any kind of human socialization. Apple? -- Creators of the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and iTouch. I do not think it too crazy to say that we are in the midst of a dreadful away of human interaction that could seriously impact people's ability to truly "connect" with one another.

We've already seen the emergence of dieting coaches, dating coaches, life coaches. Now, people will pay many thousands of dollars to attend "Unplugged Retreats." Eventually, the pendulum will swing the other way, back toward more personal/human connections. And the brands that get that will be winners. I believe the brands that do not emphasize ultra-modern design, trendy badge value or blow-your-mind technological innovation as their core vision -- but rather emphasize the value of person-to-person, real live human interaction -- are the ones that will ascend and maintain leadership positions in the long run.

This trend may already be happening. One company that is already starting to apply that thinking is Macy’s. Macy's "Come Together" cause-marketing campaign scores points for teaming up with Feed America to provide 10 million meals for local food banks. With the tagline "The Great American Dinner Party," the retailer is encouraging people across the country to participate by having some friends over for a dinner party/fundraiser -- and just simply enjoy each other's company.

Macy's will match the contributions raised by each party. Television commercials for the campaign feature celebs such as Martha Stewart, Usher, Jessica Simpson, Tommy Hilfiger, Donald Trump, and Queen Latifah enjoying their own dinner party after hours inside Macy's Herald Square.

Old School? Yes. But in this day and age, also kind of revolutionary.

So, I invite all of my friends and business associates to join The Future every Saturday starting November 28th for the Saturday Experience at Desire Lounge, 45 West 8th Street, West Village, NYC for some Face-to-Face time. STAY CONNECTED and discover new friends. We are calling them OFFLINE EVENTS.

We have a preview offline event this Saturday, November 14th at Desire at 10pm, The Future, Nubian Dreams, Fela and Brother/Sister plays attendees are all inviting you to join us.

Queen Latifah ft. Missy Elliott - Fast Car in a Mustang

The Queen made a wish...Ford Motor Company commanded. Latifah, already a proud owner of a '65 Mustang, wished to drive the car in the extended music video for her new song 'Fast Cars' featuring Missy Elliot.

“There are certain cars throughout history that have their own identity. They become synonymous with feeling and energy, an event in your life,” says Latifah. “A Mustang is a Mustang; the car is timeless.”

On June 24, 2009, Latifah took a detour from promoting her new album to head to the New Jersey Motorsports Park, where Colin Braun and the 2010 Mustang were waiting for her. “Are you ready,” Braun asked her. She held on tight while he white-knuckled her through a few hot laps and then Latifah joked, “It’s time to conquer this track,” before she threw on her own helmet and experienced the raw power and handling of the new 2010 Mustang.

CoverGirl gets a HERO as new spokesperson

Procter & Gamble’s CoverGirl has selected television and movie actress Dania Ramirez to be the newest face of CoverGirl cosmetics.

The 29-year-old Dominican joins the long list of CoverGirls, including Drew Barrymore, Queen Latifah, Rihanna, Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Rachel Hunter, Tyra Banks, Niki Taylor and Molly Sims. CoverGirl print and television ads featuring Ramirez will launch January 2010, featuring the newest makeup lines debuting mid-winter.

Ramirez is best known for her role as “Maya Herrera” on NBC’s series “Heroes.” In 2006, she was in the third installment of the X-Men franchise “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and had a role on the HBO drama “The Sopranos.” She was also featured in the Sony Pictures thriller “Quarantine” and will soon be seen in two independent films entitled “Ball Don’t Lie” and “Brooklyn to Manhattan.” Her other credits include films “Cross Bronx” and “Fat Albert.”