IT”S UPDATE TIME!!

This show is coming together so fast!!. This week we incorporated to use of a child chorus! I didn’t know children sang opera! Well they do in this show! Some of these chorus scenes are so intricate, the work or “business” that happens between the characters and the massive chorus is impressive.  Right now we are still rehearsing in the Basile Opera Center, but we will be moving into Clowes Hall for the beginning of tech week Monday!! This experience so far has been really interesting, and I can’t wait to see what happens when we get in to the theatre!

More Updates Soon!!

I’m Just Sayin!

Hey!!

First, completely of subject… IT IS TOO EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! The day after Halloween, I was in Marsh and they were already playing it!! We’ll talk more about that a little later.

So last night was my first experience with not only the opera, but in the rehearsal process for and actual opera production. I am a “Super” also known as a extra, of sorts, but I have quite an interesting role! Stay tuned to find out more. I will be blogging about my experience throught this little project to share with the world!! So check back often!

until the next time…

I’m just Sayin’!

Saturday night was an intense one. I emceed the Indianapolis area Light the Night Walk. Now this was my first experience with Light the Night, but I was interested in being a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission since Team-In-Training for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. A few thousand people gathered outside at Victory Field, the home of the Indians, to show their support.

If you don’t know much about the fundraiser, it basically is a time to link together for a common goal to raise funds for blood cancer research. Everyone gets a balloon, Red are for those in attendance for support of someone, effected by one of these diseases. White balloons were given to those fighting the diseases now. I had the opportunity to meet a young woman, Destiny, who had just been diagnosed. It was her first experience witnessing the overwhelming support of her team in the flesh. Stories like hers, were what proved to us that these kinds of events and programs are so necessary. Finally, Gold balloons were given to those walking in memory of  lost loved one.

To see all these balloons all fitted with lights inside was an amazing site. The Goal was to raise over 520,000 Dollars. Check back to see what the final count was!

Can I just tell you that this is my Favorite Season! The FALL IS HERE TO STAY!

Among the fall festivities are the haunted houses and the Halloween Parties!! YESSSSS!
But last weekend I was a judge the Brownsburg Haunted Chilli Cook-Off! Hats off to the chefs, the chilli was great and the people were better! My Co-Judges were Angela Ganote from Fox 59, Kevin Gregory of RTV 6, and Terri Stacy and BIG JOE from WIBC! So you know we had a good time. In fact we stayed all night! We rode the Haunted Hayride which was the opening night I think they said they saw something like 1300 people! In one night! But the night was really fun good chili and scared out of my mind. I’d like to apologize to an older man that I grabbed and shook in terror while on the hayride. Don’t judge me, I was trying to protect us from the demons of the night…

With all that being said i had a great time and it has sparked a great idea! We are going to visit other haunted houses in the area and give you guys the low down. If you have any ideas of places we should visit, LET ME KNOW!!
I’m Just ‘Sayin

ON MY WAY TO LA!!! YES the Face, is in Hollywood!! I’m in the PHNX airport right now laughing out loud at how much better our airport is … and it smells better. Phnx doesn’t stink but there is a unfamiliar aroma in the air… sweat? I don’t know but it s a small price to pay to spend Labor Day in LA!! I was a little worried though when our first pilot before we took off said that he hoped we all were having a great Memorial Day Weekend! I Have to give him credit though, he can operate an aircraft at that kind of hour… I could barely talk. Hard to believe huh?

So looks like I’m about to board!! I’ll update via twitter  once I touch down!!

In the City of Angels!!

Pretty much everyday i have one of those conversations i always say… “I’m gonna blog about that….” and NEVER do well… not this time.

I was at the station and we were talking about getting older and still keeping it all together right?

You know the term MILF… right if not look it up… But what about us guys!? Is it that as men as we get older we become undesirable unless we are rolling in the dough? Really! Why is there no term for older men that still have a lil pep in their step? No endearing acronym for the grandads you’d dream about!? I mean where are the DILF Shirts!!!

I’m just Sayin!

Have you ever gone to do something that should be fairly simple and it turn out to be way more trouble than it should have been? I went to Broad Ripple today for some errands, you know how it goes. I’m looking for change because the meter patrol people are serious about their jobs. ( As we all should be) So I get the change and as I’m putting the money in the meter when I hear SSHHINNK….. DOONK! I drive a VW and the alarm sound is pretty distinct. but the only think i have in my hand is 35cents. I notice that the car door is shut but not all the way and I don’t even try to open it because I’m not willing to even think about MY keys being locked in MY car.

Before I continue. I have never locked my keys in my car. One of the reasons being VWs will not let you lock the doors with the key in the car. if you were to be in the car and press lock on your key FOB all the doors except the driver side front door will lock.

NOT IN THIS CASE!!! I couldn’t believe it. I look down on the seat and there they are! Staring at me like “What did i do?” So I have road side assistance on the car right, WRONG! Apparently, the one-time  payment, means a yearly one-time payment, and some women named Sara has to call it it for my car. I don’t know what that means, I didn’t even care. (laughing now but it was not funny then) so after 35 min of answering pointless and redundant questions I ask the the very polite operator for the cost associated by a “Non-Covered Member” (which doesn’t make any sense even when I read it) she says its only going to be a 3hour wait and that it will cost me 79.50 which she would be happy to take with a credit card over the phone!! I JUST HUNG UP. Couldn’t take it anymore.

I walk down the street and there is a Collision Repair shop, I walk in and ask them if anyone is avail to help me. One of the managers tells me some should be free in 15 to 20 min… 5 min later John shows up from the shop. He says “This your car?” Six minutes after that I was in the car, and John was paid…

Now that any of you care but come on now, should it be all of that to get in your car to go home from running errands?

I’m Just Sayin’

As the face I get a lot of little perks, who am I kidding, I get one perk. FOOD!

Well my latest trip in gluttony, was to preview some menus of the Devour Downtown Event!! Running now through Aug 23rd.

If you haven’t made it out to enjoy this event, you are missing out!!

Here’s the deal, for those of you who don’t know (and have been living under a rock.)

Restaurants all over downtown are serving 3 course menus for only $30. Giving people all over, the chance to enjoy 5 star dining without breaking the bank.

I sampled the menus of Euphoria in Buggs Temple, The Skyline club, as well as the Slippery Noodle. Let me first say it was all in one day and I was stuffed! But it was all soo good that I couldn’t stop.

First was Euphoria, prepared by Chef Brad Gates.

Guests can choose from a Summer Lobster Gazpacho or a Grier Salad with a Mustard dressing for the first course.(the salad was my choice, but I had both)

Main Course consisted of Roasted Chicken with Creamy Polenta with a Mushroom Au Jous. (tasty)

For dessert, guests can choose between a White Chocolate Mousse and a Mixed Berry Compote or a Chocolate Cake “Cappuccino”. Honestly, you won’t go wrong with either of these… I had both of them and finished both of them.

Then we headed on over to the Skyline Club, Were we were met with a very nice Pinot Grigio perfect for a summer evening, (shout out to Easley Winery for my Wine Training!)   For those who have never been to the Skyline before its worth the trip simply for the view. But it doesn’t hurt that the food is CRAZY good!!

Here’s the Rundown…

For the appetizer there was another gazpacho, Yellow Tomato with grilled Prawn, to be precise. Or a Brie & Mango Quesadilla with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. Or yet again, Baby Spinach & Applewood Smoked Bacon Salad Toasted Walnuts,  Blue Cheese & Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette. (The Salad was my favorite.)

The Main Course was Your Choice between three items.

Steak Diane, or Grilled Sea Bass with a Lemon Risotto, or Shrimp, Sausage,  and Chicken Jambalaya!

Then Dessert!

First was a Peach & Blueberry Crisp. I usually don’t like cobblers or crisps unless they are made with apples, but it seems that I been missing out on quite a bit!   If the crisp isn’t your thing, the  Chocolate Silk W/ Cinnamon Walnut Crust sure will be!!

I think I really like all the desserts. Again, you can’t make a wrong choice!!

Finally, we made it to the Slippery Noodle!! Perfect if your craving a familiar and hearty meal.

We Started with a house Salad and a Onion Soup. Then was the biggest steak of the evening partnered with perfect mashed potatoes! Needless to say, I was full. But who can say no to a Turtle Cheesecake!!

The photos are coming soon!!

With a little over one week left, you have to visit some of these great restaurants!! And why stop at one!? At these prices you really could Devour Downtown, just remember to save room for dessert!

Until then Head to devourdowntown.org for more information!

I’m just Sayin’….

The 39th Annual Summer Celebration was packed full of exciting events. If you missed it, and I don’t know how you did you REALLY missed it!!

The first event I went to was the Corporate Luncheon. I know, I know sound boring right but IBE knows how to hold a Luncheon. Hosted by Amos Brown and WISH-TV ’s Mike Corbin, but the Star Power Doesn’t stop there!! Jamie Foxx, Max Siegel, Gabrielle Union, Former Mayor- Bart Peterson, and myself(!!) were all in attendance! A friend of mine, LeDeana Brown, won Young Entrepreneur of the Year for her work on her own Hip-Hop lifestyle magazine.

Then it was off to the Jamie Foxx Concert later that night. Is it just me or are you still enjoying the Michael Jackson musical tributes? The Concert was cool, I don’t think that I have ever been to a show with so much bass… makes for a very interesting experience.

Then I attended the Magic Johnson reception, He’s about as big as I figured, but way nicer. You Know what I mean as business man and star athlete you just expect a certain aura or whatever the word is…. he’s just a nice guy. He even gave me one of his books! Signed and everything. (yea he gave the same thing to everybody there, so what. it just further proof of how nice he is.)

On Saturday I headed to the Hollback Teen Forum. I hosted along with BET’s Big Tigga. the topic of discussion this year was this new “SWAG” phenomenon. With several hundred teens, and almost as many celeb panelists  we established what the true definition of swag. It was pretty cool to see how some of the teens reacted to how candid some of the celebs were!

Up after the teen talk forum was the Amp Harris and Reggie Wayne Celebrity Basketball  Game! With DJ Kid Capri on the 1s and 2s, this event was crazy. As always, I try not to disappoint, I encouraged as many as I could to get down. It’s not everyday you get to dance in a stadium fool of people right!?

Speaking of Dancing!! How did  forget the White Party!!  I even helped Ginuwine find his outfit for the night!! I had a really good time at this event and usually do! (pics will follow)

While we are on the subject , the WhiteLies Free Concert in the Park was full of well music, food and dancing!! I met  Musiq Soulchild and Clifton Powell. The concert also included Frankie Beverly and Maze, which had everyone experienceing happy feelings!! Check my facebook its there!! So much so that we ended up doing the “Electric Slide” the president of Indiana Black Expo, Tanya Bell!! Needless to say we all had a good time!!

Like I said, pics will follow!!!

I’m Just Sayin’

We ALL know that No Doubt was just recently in town at Verizon! What some didn’t know was that a Band called “Paramore” was their and I quote, “VERY SPECIAL GUEST.”

Well, I got the opportunity to meet Hayley- Lead singer, Jeremy-Bass Guitar, and (Newest Band Member) Taylor on Guitar. And can I just say, really quickly, this band has been one of my favorite for over a year, and is regularly in my set list for Rock Band! I’ll have to post that video one day! ha!

But we had the opportunity to meet them at the Radio Now Lunch Date with Paramore. A band meeting it’s fans has got to be a cool experience, not only for the fan, but Paramore seemed to really enjoy this time too. People keep asking me what her hair was like. ( I guess its my knack for description) Here it goes: Hayley’s hair is like a  West Coast Sunset; it’s cool, it’s bright and it lets you know the party is about to begin!!

I’m Just Sayin’