Art, Beats & Lyrics Brings Out the Best

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Each time I attend it becomes easier and easier to explain the phenomenon known as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Art, Beats & Lyrics (AB+L). Think, if you will, as to what would happen if you took a family reunion, an art museum field trip and a music festival placed them in a piping hot pot, seasoned them with soul, swag and sass, sprinkled in a few flakes of “the culture”, saturated it in speaker-thumping sounds from all the genres of music that really matter, added a big dollop of dope art and interactive exhibits, tossed in a swig of Jack, then let it simmer for hours in an urban, artistic roux. That, my loves, perfectly conveys what AB+L Birmingham 2018 served up. We got served!

Regions Field was the perfect playground for a standing room only crowd of Birmingham’s best to experience the best art and music creatives from around the country have to offer. Along with the wall-to-wall art and free-flowing Jack Daniel’s elixir DJ Wally Spark, DJ Rahdu, Gina T and WERC Crew set the night’s musical mood and made it just right for hip hop musical guest BAS. Since it’s humble beginnings in Atlanta in 2004, AB+L has been the vehicle moving culture forward in all its urban glory. “The motivation behind the start of AB+L was to give a platform for urban artists and musicians that weren’t getting accepted into many of the galleries and outlets at that time,” said AB+L Curator Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright. With no plans of slowing down, Curator Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright says AB+L will continue to be next level. “We have been striving to keep the wow factor at our events. We incorporate new technologies and non-traditional ways of showcasing art to keep the audience excited year after year,” he said.

Art, Beats & Lyrics Birmingham was electric! The people, art, music and Jack Daniels (for the drinkers) were too. I can hardly wait for next year to savor the dopeness also known as AB+L.

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@angelamichele316

Rapper TI and Coors Light put a little extra Magic in the Classic

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Acclaimed rapper, actor and businessman TI was in Birmingham last month for the 76th Magic City Classic. At the request of sponsor and Magic City Classic supporter, Coors Light, the Atlanta rapper spread his southern hospitality in the Magic City with a concert performance.

The partnership with TI and Coors Light is one proving to be beneficial as a presentation of two checks of $10000 each from Coors Light were presented to Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University.

Photo Credit: MillerCoors

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Becoming a staple at the McDonald’s Magic City Classic, the Coors Light Tailgate Experience was also one for the record books as game-goers and tailgaters braved the muddy conditions to enjoy the festivities which included live music, vendors, interactive games and more.

Photo Credit: MillerCoors

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A good time was had by all, especially from my household!

@AngelaMichele316

 

 

Coca-Cola Serves Up Economic Empowerment at NHHE2017

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Saturday, March 11th was all about hair, health, beauty and business for the thousands who attended Birmingham, Alabama’s annual Vision Beauty Distributors’ Natural Hair and Health Expo. To add a burst of flavor in the form of financial and economic empowerment, title sponsor The Coca-Cola Company discussed strategies from its 5by20 initiative to an audience of women wanting to hear more about their efforts to empower.

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The 5by20 initiative was developed in 2010 recognizing that women around the world were already pillars in the business system. “The 5by20 initiative is our company’s global commitment to enable  economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by the year 2020, said Eyvon Austin, programs director of supplier diversity for Coca-Cola North America. The online sign up program is simple and free, and addresses the most common barriers women face while trying to succeed in the marketplace, while also offering access to trainings, financial services and connections with peers or mentors. Bringing that message home to her Alabama audience, Austin offered practical tips and tools to inspire the women in attendance. With a message to “Transform Your Leadership”, Austin rallied the captivated guests to…INgage the heart, INspire a compelling vision, INvent your winning team and INstill collaboration. She also shared best practices on expressing vision and passion, balancing work and life, and partnering with civic organizations to help support business.

Proving they are beverages and much more, The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to 5by20 resonated loudly and clearly with the ladies in attendance at the Natural Hair and Health Expo as they freely shared questions, business strategies and desires toward ownership in a moderated Q&A session with Eyvon Austin.

All-in-all it was a truly refreshing time thanks to The Coca-Cola Company’s investment in empowering women.

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@AngelaMMoore316

 

 

Coors Light Serves Up a Classic Experience

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The 75th Magic City Classic was just that, MAGIC! If you’re not familiar with the magic which is “The Classic”, it’s a large, and long-standing college rivalry pitting Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University in a battle of the best of football and half-time spectaculars, which also includes a week of epic tailgating, fashion, parties, comedy shows, concerts and more. Think of 75,000+ people converging in one place for one purpose….a GOOD time. And that would be the #mcc.

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I had the privilege to again spend time in the VIP tailgate “Chill Zone” hosted by Coors Light. For a second year in a row, this experience did not disappoint! The adult beverage bosses served up a festive atmosphere right in the heart of the magical madness and had something to offer for all, even those non-drinkers like me. The floating crowd of alumni and supporters were welcomed into the zone to a feel which was like an uber-upscale family reunion with your favorite old and soon-to-be new friends. Per usual, there was delicious food. I mean the food was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!! (And I love food so I know food.) The picnic theme with burgers, hot dogs, pork sliders, pasta salad, garden salad, uber-SWEET corn on the cob, baked beans and plentiful liquid refreshments, of course including Coors Light, was the ideal back drop for the 88 degree October weather game-goers were surprised by. The food was hot, fresh and replenished often by a doting team who was always watching and making sure all was better than well. Little extras like that make a foodie like me really, really happy. Former Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta star and radio personality Traci Steele http://tracisteele.com/ was on the scene in a fabulous jumpsuit, might I add, along with legendary (and still cute) hip-hop DJ, DJ D-Nice, both bringing a party vibe to the hot “Chill Zone” which made one want to wobble right smack dab in the middle of the sun-drenched crowd. Joining them was life-style specialist Kenny Burns, and the return of none other than rapper and reality star Yung Joc, who, was one of my favorite entertainers at the tailgate last year too. Even in the midst of sizzling sun and scorching, hot temps, the Coors Light VIP Chill Zone was a breath of fresh air.

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As if the celebratory atmosphere wasn’t enough, Coors Light extended their hospitality and HBCU support to the half-time show by presenting a $20,000 scholarship donation which was equally divided among the schools for students 21 or older. It just doesn’t get any more magical than that. Cheers, Coors Light! Here’s to more Classic magic.

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@AngelaMMoore316

All About That…Art, Beats and Lyrics

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Art, Beats and Lyrics made its final stop in Birmingham after visiting Charlotte, Miami, Houston, St. Louis and New Orleans for its 2016 tour. In its 11th year, Art, Beats and Lyrics’ February 5th Birmingham, Alabama visit was an electrifying, cultured experience gathering the best of Birmingham’s urban, professional, and eclectic community, and featuring a hodge-podge of music, arts, food and refreshing social engagement under the beautiful backdrop of Birmingham’s Regions Field. The at-capacity event presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Gentleman Jack spanned multiple rooms and oozed of contagious, creativity as it featured works of art from the likes of Dubelyoo, Aniekan Udofia and Kazilla, and included a live performance from hip-hop legend, Twista.

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Twista performed some of his top hits for a packed house at the 2016 Art, Beats and Lyrics tour finale in Birmingham. Presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Gentleman Jack, Art Beats and Lyrics showcases some of today’s best upcoming artists, along with seasoned veterans in art and music under one roof.  (Photo by Kat Goduco)

While the ABL Tour is officially a wrap for this year. If I were you, I wouldn’t hesitate to hop on board next year to enjoy the thrilling ride where art is the masterful conductor and music is the undeniable conduit to bring people together for one night which can only be described as epic.

@AngelaMMoore316

California Love

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Today’s #bloglikecrazy post is supposed to feature a “hole in the wall favorite”. Leave it to me to schedule my own blogging schedule during a time recently where I’ve not been eating out as much and was scrambling to remember the last time I’d been somewhere remotely like a hole in the wall. Well, leave it to me also to be a picture taker of all things tasty and run across two shots from a neighborhood gem in Alabaster, that might not be a hole in the wall in the sense of what some might think, but is certainly a little place packing a lot of good food and in a great, authentic atmosphere.

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I’ll admit, I’ve passed this place for years without thought of going in. An impromptu trip to a parade, growling bellies and in need of a quick school night meal landed us at this restaurant. Upon entry, what first struck me was is the feel of family. There was something so inviting as we swung open the door and it just wasn’t the waft of the food which hit us at the same time. It felt good to be there. The next thing I noticed as my sister and I clearly didn’t understand the difference in the two menu offerings of Authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex or Los Angeles style (I can’t remember. It was all tasty to me) was the patience of the staff as we sorted through the menu with intervals of “Oohhhhhh, girl that sounds good” or “You get this. I’ll get that”, or my favorite phrase of the night, “You know y’alls prices are cheap, right?” Anywho, we decided. I chose tacos. She chose an authentic LA burrito.

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The presentations were simple. The complexity of the flavors, abundance of portion and freshness were anything but. Los Angeles Burrito in Alabaster, just off of Kent Dairy Road is a trip to the other side (of the country) without leaving the 35007 or 35114. I’ve never been to California or Mexico, but I feel like my taste buds have.

And if things couldn’t get any better, they have all kinds of combo specials. They have flavored, ethnic beverages and they also serve breakfast. #Yum

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@AngelaMMoore316

Classic Shots

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The 74th Annual Magic City Classic has come and gone and already I’m looking forward to the BIG 75th gathering pitting Alabama State University against Alabama A&M University in Birmingham, Alabama for the largest HBCU football game in the United States. For those unfamiliar, the Classic, as it’s called, is more than football. It’s about food, concerts, syndicated morning shows, late night nights, high fashion, school colors, charity, half-time shows, long lines, even longer hugs, parades, vendors, tailgating spanning days, rivalries and reunions all in one. Both of my parents and several of my relatives are Alabama State University alums and have celebrated Classic for more than four decades. It’s a part of my DNA. It’s etched in my life’s story. It’s the Classic…an experience like none other.

Here’s a photographic snapshot of my Magic City Classic experience which started with the Rickey Smiley Morning Show dark and early on Friday morning and ended with the post-Classic family dinner on Sunday where my mother cooked enough food to feed a small British battalion. I hope you enjoy my instant trip down a not-too-distant memory lane.

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Until next year Magic City Classic…

@AngelaMMoore316

Coors Light, Concerts and Culinary Perfection…Now That’s Classic! ‪

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from my page…www.angelaeatstheham.com

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First, may I start by saying I’m not a drinker. In fact, I’ve never been a drinker, but I know plenty of them, which is why I was super excited to be able to cover the Coors Light Magic City Classic VIP Tailgate in Birmingham, Alabama during the 74th Annual Magic City Classic football game. I was excited because I knew my friends would enjoy the beer, and they did. I knew I would enjoy being able to do what I love to do and that’s eat good food, meet new people, hear great music and write all about it. And I did! It was a win-win for all. And speaking of wins…Yay, Hornets!

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Let me just cut straight to the chase. Celebrity Chef Jason Ellis is a beast! And by beast, I am in no way referring to how he towered over my friends and me while we posed for an impromptu photo which slowed up the food line and warranted us a few side-eyes from the eager feasters.

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The menu, worth the 35 minutes we waited in line, consisted of fish fried and seasoned so perfectly it practically oozed with a buttery taste and was so filled with flavor I forgot the two slices of soft white bread I’d picked up to accompany it. There were grits so delightful we played a round of “guess what’s in these grits” at my table and still couldn’t figure out what made them better than my Mama’s on her best day (and my Mama can cook everyday!). He served us rice, laden with large and succulent crawfish, hot-off-the-grill grilled chicken as pleasing to the eye as it was to the palate, and fresh, crunchy cole slaw with a spicy kick which snuck up on the back of your throat with the surprise attack of an adolescent playing an old-school round of hide and go seek, yet it made you want more and more.

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Topped off by ample Coors Light beer and other stronger elixirs, crowd-wowing concerts by acts like Young Joc (who put on quite a show, by the way), academy award winning artist and my sisters “boo in her head” rapper Juicy J and others, so much mingling in an atmosphere best described as electric, and a surprise visit by Magic City Classic Ambassador Anthony Anderson, the event made it hard for me to leave to go in the game. This Magic City Classic Coors Light VIP Tailgate experience was one for Facebook and the record books!

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I don’t know what the intentions of the celebrity chef known for his stint on Season 7 of Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen were when he entered Legion Field, but thanks to Coors Light he came. He served. He satisfied and he left us sleepy in that “I just devoured some itis-inducing, good, soul food” kind of way. He also left this blogger in need of just one more piece of fish. Kudos, Coors and their team of coordinators for putting a bit more magic in the Classic!

@AngelaMMoore316

You Can Take the Girl Outta the Hood….

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There’s a popular saying that was really popular in my life growing up. “You can take the man/woman/boy/girl outta the ‘hood, but you can’t take the ‘hood outta the man/woman/boy/girl,” was something often said in various forms depending on the geographical location of the man/woman/boy/girl being discussed. So ‘hood, as in neighborhood could be easily substituted with words like the country, the ghetto, the projects (of which my daddy was particularly proud), Alabama, the Gump (as in Montgomery, my place of birth) and so on and so on.

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While designing my meme anticipating the upcoming Straight Outta Compton Movie and proudly blasting the West on my chest (as in West End, as in West End Manor, as in #35211), I thought about the fact that I’m glad the ‘hood remains in me. Now, don’t get me wrong. My “hoodocity” pales in comparison to some, probably most, as I’ve always been a bit genteel, and sure, it has been buffed, polished and shined up like an Italian leather Easter shoe, but believe me, it’s still there. And I’m proud. My ‘hood has helped me so much. It’s helped shape a little girl into a culturally rich, people sensitive, genuinely caring, grown woman.

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Nowhere else can you learn creativity and ingenuity like the ‘hood where you took a cardboard box and made a full-fledged dance floor, or turn Jolly Rancher and pickle selling into a thriving business. Where else can games like Four Square, Double Dutch, Hide and Go Seek, Dodge Ball, Old Mary Mack, Red Light/Green Light and Hands Up for 85 give you eight full hours of absolutely free fun, and teach you the art of improvising, teamwork and how to refresh yourself from a water hose? Where else can you have your summertime hair stylist live right across the street and she hook you up with braids and beads so colorful and plentiful that they would have made Bo Derek jealous? (Shout out to Carol!) Only the hood could provide the luxury of a wintertime, springtime, and falltime hair stylists who lived two blocks over and had burnt fried bologna, homemade biscuits and Alaga Syrup waiting for you when you walked to her house ALONE as a six or seven year old with $5 in hand to pay her to press the mess out of your hair with Queen Helen or Royal Crown Hair Dressing. (Thank you Mrs. Feagins.) The ‘hood taught me my signature picture pose and how to do it in a way that was real sassy, but still classy. (Take a look at any of the many hundreds of pictures I take today and that “hand on the right hip, head slightly tilted, smile straight at the camera” pose remains the same. As it shall. #35211ForLife) The ‘hood taught me event planning the time my Mom and her friends shut down our entire street, with permission from the city, to host a block party that rivaled one from NYC. Nowhere but the ‘hood would have an unofficial, organized “hospitality committee” comprised of the most loving and caring neighbors who would canvas the street day or night, going from house-to-house to take up donations of funds or food if anything happened to one of their own, or would call for prayer in time of tragedy (Kudos to the 19th Street caring crew like my Mom, Mrs. Mary, Mrs. Long and the rest.) My ‘hood also had loving fathers like my own and so many who wouldn’t mind breaking up a street fight (Gasp! Yes, we did have those) then calling us all to the front porch to break down some common sense (or break out a belt), reminding us, especially the young men who might have been involved of how loved and valuable we were.

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My ‘hood taught me about love, respect, courage, confidence, support to and from others, community, fun (for free) and so much more. None of that do I wish to depart. So yes, the saying is true. You can take the girl outta the hood, but you can’t (and shan’t) take the hood outta the girl, at least not this one.

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@AngelaMMoore316

Wanna See Something New? Say Something Old.

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Both of my schools are in the news for two different reasons. It’s certainly bittersweet and a contradiction of the two roads of life.

The University of Alabama has embarked on a great, historical landmark with the election of the first African-American Student Government Association President in 40 years. Way to go Elliot Spillers! I know Elliot personally and admire him for so many reasons. One of which is the fact that he is vested in the undeniable process of investing in the lives of others AND purposely surrounding himself with people who can help shape, mold, groom and grow him to the greatness that obviously is within. He gets it because he allows others to give it so he can give it.

On the other side of that proverbial coin, Birmingham’s Ramsay High School made unfortunate headlines after four students were arrested for a mid-day house break-in. For decades, Ramsay has been the pinnacle of academia in the Birmingham area. Known for bringing the best and brightest from neighborhoods far and near to the beautiful campus nestled near Red Mountain, like many Birmingham City Schools, the school I love and hold dear to this day has been a great launching pad for thousands of students and me.

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The initial outcry after the arrests mostly heard from the Ramsay graduates and supporters I follow was that of shock, anger, embarrassment and disbelief that our legacy could be threatened by the careless actions of some who do not understand the nature of who we have long-sense prided ourselves on being. The comments from some of the people who have time to spew racism, ignorance and hate on posts like al.com are nothing short of venom-come-to-life. I digress…Whether the actions of those four students who had bright futures ahead is what is expected of Ramsay (or any school’s) students or not, clearly something socially and morally is missing that these and many children need.

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In the midst of prepping for my Wednesday night Empire ritual I started thinking. I started reflecting back on my high school and college days and some of the tomfoolery my friends and I found ourselves in. I made a mistake or two or ten in high school and college that I’m not proud of, but thankfully lived through, with no other purpose than to make sure someone else doesn’t do the same. None of my friends or people I thought were friends broke into a home to my knowledge, but to be completely honest and transparent, many of us (yes, I said us as I am certainly included) did things that could have made the top of the headlines or blown up social media had it existed way back then. Gasp! I prefer sipping tea over spilling it, so I won’t tell the bees-wax of anyone other than me, but I wonder what tragic, unfortunate, “wrong place at the wrong time” things could have happened to me when my friends and I skipped school, or went to a neighborhood with purple and gold donning, high school fraternity boys we had no business knowing then a mini-tornado broke out. I wonder what would have happened that time we piled into a Ford Escort with the friend of our friend named Duchess and drove all the way to Tuskegee in the middle of the week to go to a party where the floor literally fell in and the driver fell asleep en route back to Tuscaloosa. I wonder. I wonder. I wonder. While I thankfully will never know what bad could have been back then, I do know what to do now. I believe we all have a little bit of what the youth of today need. It’s up to us to pull from our bag of testimonies (even those humbling ones), know what we have to offer, be bold enough to share it, share it (whether we feel it’s effective now or not) and not stop if we really care about those who need us to care about them.

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The moral of this story: I’m proud of Elliot Spillers and hope that many more stories of this kind become the norm rather than exception. I believe it will. And yes, I’m disappointed by the Ramsay students not knowing or caring to accept the reality of the consequences of their poor actions and accept personal accountability. But let’s be real, people. We’ve all done things without entertaining the aftermath. Now is a GOOD time to get up off of those life’s lessons, mentor these students, hang out with them, hear their points of view so we can know what to do and spill our beans so we can save some lives. No longer is our real, true story good enough to sit on the shelf like a dusty book no one wants to read. It’s time to pull it down, brush it off, open up those tattered pages, unfold those stories from the beginning to that messy middle and the “thank God I made it” end and be real enough to help someone avoid the paths we overcame only by the grace of God. Our impact can mean the difference in the headlines and their lives. #RollTide #IBleedBlue

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@AngelaMMoore316