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Showcase your shape Enhance your style Stimulate your mind (PAGE 14)
FRANK SKI
The Next Chapter Inspirational Stories and Ideas of New Beginnings
J A N U A R Y - M A R C H 2012
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speaks on life lessons, building a new business & his rise amongst controversy
Brandi D. Williams is STALKED
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Happy New Year 2012
“URBAN is NOT a definition of race. It’s city dwelling. It’s a lifestyle. It’s STYLE, CULTURE and CONSCIENCE. It’s URBAN LUX MAGAZINE” - Lentheus Chaney
IN THIS ISSUE contents
Photo: Ish Holmes
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STALKED | A FASHION PICTORIAL | pg.20
6 THE LUX TEAM 8 CONTRIBUTORS 10 EDITOR’S NOTE 11 DIVERSITY CORNER 13 LUX APPROVED | BRANDI D. WILLIAMS STYLE
14 LUX LOOKS | WE DARE YOU
18 LUX DECOR | BEyOND BUSINESS AS USUAL 20 FASHION | STALKED CULTURE
36 LUX CUiSINE | THE LOVE OF FOOD 39 LUX DESTINATIONS | ONE RUNG AT A TIME 40 LUX LUV | KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL Photo: Ish Holmes
CONSCIENCE
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lux FEATURE | FRANK SKI | PG. 28 January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
43 LUX PULSE | BE WELL DO WELL 44 LUX ECONOMY | TODAY’S FINANCES 44 LUX ESSENTIALS | ORGANICALLY GROWN
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| the lux team
TIA AIKENS Beauty Editor
MONICA COMPTON Travel Editor
KENNY J. GRACE Community Editor
CARLTON POWELL Executive Editor
LENTHEUS CHANEY Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
WILLIAM A. COOPER, MD Medical Contributor
GREG JONES Executive Editor
IAN SMITH Finance Editor
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
CONTRIBUTORS | contributors
Troy Clinton Fashion Stylist Troy Clinton has been intrigued with fashion for over 25 years. Growing up in New York City, New York, Troy started his fashion career in retail and has done visual design, merchandise buying and coordinated fashion shows. Troy continues to propel his love of fashion through his Personal Shopping, Image Consulting and Wardrobe Styling services. View his styling prowess in this issue of Urban Lux Magazine as he sets the mood for our voyeuristic fashion spread entitled STALKED.
Darcy Harris Luxury interior designer and lifestyle maven Darcy Harris has quickly gained industry recognition for her sophisticated palate and inherent style sense. Darcy’s design philosophy is based on her inimitable ability to blend fashion-forward trends in residential and corporate spaces with flawless appeal. Her company is DARCY HARRIS, INC and The Darcy Harris brand is a marvel of elaborate design.
Ish Holmes Ish Holmes is one of Atlanta’s leading Commercial and Editorial photographers. His style and brand has evolved over time, and can be best described as “Urban Vintage.” Ish makes his way back to the pages of ULM this month shooting another dynamic cover, our very voyeuristic fashion spread entitled STALKED. Learn more about his work at IshHolmes.com
Dian Thompson Even after 25 years in the fashion and beauty industries former Estee’ Lauder make-up artist, event coordinator and professional model Dian Thompson stands that under the receptacles which contain us should not define us. In 2008 Dian created Botanicals by Organic Xperience – BOX – an organic Skincare company that strongly believes in the preservation of our environment and selves. getBOXedin.com
Rosalynn Wilson Exploring the wonderful city of Atlanta for all things fun, frugal and fabulous is what this girl on the go is all about. “I love to visit new places and really experience what my city is offering me and I plan on taking you along for the ride.” Get on board at ChicBoutiqueTours.com.
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
EDITOR’S NOTE | 's
Now is a good time to stop and think. What is your next chapter? Will you allow circumstance and or other people to write your stor y or will you begin to live out the stor y that GOD has predestined for you?
note
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hard time staying committed to their New Year resolution(s), eventually returning to the same old patterns in our lives.
Photo: Ish Holmes
W
e take a deep breath and begin the countdown… 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. In a blink of an eye a new year appears. There is laughter, hugs, kisses, and Champaign toasts as the celebration continues and a new chapter begins.
Now is the time for you to move into your own destiny. Your life is the script and you are the author. Appreciate and except present circumstances, commit to improvement and begin the next chapter of your life.
There are declarations of becoming a better [in s e r t your declaration here] and promises to loose [inser t your weight loss goal here]. For some, this ritual becomes a revolving theme with no change in [inser t your challenge here]. It sounds a little like the same old stor y.
LENTHEUS CHANEY - Publisher/Editor-In-Chief LentheusC@UrbanLuxMagazine.com 888.446.1269 ext. 1
In fact, mainstream media has Americans pegged and have had a hand at keeping the revolving themes alive. Pay close attention to the commercials that are running now and the ones that will continue to run throughout the first few months of 2012. Marketers know that most Americans have a
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In this first edition of Urban Lux in 2012, I have included numerous articles to help you begin your next chapter, along with examples of individuals who have already begun their next chapter. A few of these ideas and examples in this issue are: We Dare You – a guide to helping you to improve your fashion sense, page 14; B eyond Business as Usual – ideas to update your home office and make it functional, page 18; you are encouraged to Let Your Mind, B ody and Soul be Organically Grown, page 46; be encouraged by cancer sur vivor Chef David DeCuir, who talks about his perspective on life and starting his new chapter, page 36. As a motivation to change, our feature article about Frank Ski highlights the accomplishment of a man on a mission to unprecedented territor y, page 28.
January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
DIVERSITY CORNER |
F
Alexandria Phillips adapted to a different way of life at an early age
Allstate has teamed up with Rodney Peete, former NFL quarterback and cofounder of the HollyRod Foundation, an organization which helps those living with autism and Parkinson’s disease, to announce the 2012 Allstate Give Back Day Heroes. In speaking with Peete about getting others involved in their community he stated “It’s not about just donating money; it’s also donating your time that is a lot of times more valuable.” He teaches his children to live by one of his favorite quotes, “Service is the rent that we pay for living on this planet” by Marion Edelman. In kicking off Allstate’s National “Give Back Day, four exemplary AfricanAmerican volunteers have been named as 2012 Allstate Give Back Day Heroes. One of which is Atlanta’s own Alexandria Phillips. Never-ending compassion for human kind was instilled in Alexandria Phillips at a very early age. Phillips was five years old when she moved with her mother from their hometown near Kansas City, MO., to the Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola shared by Haiti, where they lived for a year. During this time, Phillips learned to speak Spanish fluently and adapt to a different way of life, as she lived in a small village where many families still lived in wooden slat homes with dirt floors and thatched roofs, without running water or electricity.
corner
or the fourth consecutive year, Allstate is paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by encouraging individuals to volunteer in their communities on MLK Day January 16, 2012 through its National “Give Back Day” program.
diversity
Give Back SHEroe!
After returning to Missouri, Phillips volunteered at Hillcrest Ministries helping others learn to establish stable family, work and community circumstances, and worked at the Cherith Brook Catholic Worker House where meals, clothing and shower facilities are provided for the poor and homeless. Eager to learn more about the way of life on the other half of Hispaniola, Phillips took a cultural immersion trip to Haiti in 2007 where she became familiar with the Haitian culture, their hopes, dreams, and lifestyle. This year, she served as Haiti Team intern at the Clinton Foundation and worked on the Event Operations team as Whisper Room Logistics Assistant for the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. Phillips, who was recently named an Opportunity Nation Scholar, attended the summit and leadership institute in New York City. Phillips, 21, is currently a senior at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. where she is majoring in International Studies and is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Student United Way, Actively Changing Tomorrow through Service (ACTS) and Association
of Fundraising Professionals. After graduation, Phillips looks forward to a career within the non-profit sector and foundation work helping others less fortunate than she is. Give Back Day Heroes embody the principles of Dr. King through their year-round commitment to volunteerism, making a positive impact in their communities, and encouraging others to follow their lead. Each has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to community service and volunteering their time and efforts to important causes such as domestic violence, education, and mentoring at-risk youths. Peete will be attending a special Allstate Give Back Day volunteer event in Atlanta on MLK Day 2012. As part of their recognition, all four of the Heroes Joyce Calvin of Chicago, Robert Cradle of Baltimore, John Darjean of Dallas and Alexandria Phillips will attend The King Center’s ”Salute to Greatness” Banquet on January 14, 2012. Learn how you can get involved at http://allstate.com/givebackday
by: Lentheus Chaney
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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LUX APPROVED | BRANDI D. WILLIAMS |
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randi D. Williams may best be known for the chart topping songs she sang as a member of the platinum selling teenaged trio BLAQUE.
lux
new look - new sound - new woman
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The fearless young ladies of BLAQUE, which stands for Believing, Life, Achieving, Quest, Unity, Everything, had a string of hits in the late 90’s. The group’s debut album sold more than 1.5 million copies and was certified Platinum.
music
Discovered by the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, BLAQUE created a legacy of memorable songs like “808”, “Bring It All To Me”, “I Do” and “I’m Good”. Fast forward to 2012— Brandi D. Williams, now a young woman is back with a new sound, a new look and her very own story to tell. Having just released the single, “Love It”, Brandi wanted to reintroduce herself to her fans and give them just a taste of the music she is capable of producing as a solo artist. Brandi has been recording heavily in Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York and Atlanta in a quest to capture the best talent for her first solo album on her own independent label, BRANDID MUSIC. Brandi intends to release the first official single in late March. She says now is the perfect time for her to release a solo project because she is finally ready. “I am ready to share myself and the issues I am going through as I learn about becoming a young woman. I am wiser now…more grown up and ready to get back to work.” As with any human Brandi has gone through her ups and downs. In asking her about her rumored marriage she said, “Actually I am going trough a divorce. I was married in 2009 to somebody that I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with and it didn’t work out. I hate that didn’t go the way we both planned but it’s something to learn from. I do not regret it… its just unfortunate but you live and you learn and then you move on.”
photo by: Corey Finley
With the new album on the horizon Brandi wants BLAQUE fans and her new fans to walk away knowing that this is an album they can relate to. “I am human; I deal with issues and I want them to know that I am a real person.” Brandi recently teamed up with R&B veteran R Kelly for a duet named “All The Way” which will appear on Kelly’s new album. Expect a mature international sound from Brandi D. Williams as she taps into her R&B roots and trends towards the new genre of Urban Leaning Pop Music. See more of Brandi on page 20 of our fashion spread entitled STALKED and hear her new music at BrandidMusic.com.
by: Lentheus Chaney
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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| style
WE DARE YOU!
LUX STYLE tips to showcase your shape, enhance your style and stimulate your mind.
| lux
A
looks
nother level, another season… now is an opportune time to reinvent yourself and release the fashion inhibitions that you have been dying to unleash for so long! It’s understandable that you would refrain from making any type of change to your choices in fashion because as a creature of habit, we get complacent and comfortable. There comes a time when you need to develop a new and improved you. After all, your style is a reflection and self-expression of who you are. It should always evolve and improve, just as the many facets of your life. Unlike most, we do not advise you to tip toe your way into reinventing yourself. We encourage you to jump right in and explore as if it is a pool of cool water on a hot summer’s day. Once you begin to splash around you will discover the joy and pleasures of the waves and find that it was not so bad after all. This year we challenge you to step out of the familiar and into the unfamiliar with fashion. Try things that you have never tried before.
WE DOUBLE DARE YOU
T
he fastest way to change your look is by simply wearing proper under garments. What a difference it makes to wear shapers that can suck in that “After-Holiday” flab and properly shape your upper torso. Opposed to not wearing them at all is astonishing!
simplyyours.co.uk
[continued on pg.16]
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WE TRIPLE DARE YOU | style
C
[continued from pg. 14]
Block your colors and embrace it!
| lux looks
olor block fashion is one of the hottest new trends for the season. It combines the use of two or more blocks of color in an ensemble. This could be for a top, bottom, tunic, a dress and even a handbag or shoes. Simply it means – creating an outfit by putting areas or blocks of solid color next to each other. It can include monotone, bright colors, muted colors, contrasting and complimentary colors. Clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories can all feature color block designs or can make up different blocks of color to be put together for a color block outfit. Gone are the days where you must match from head to. Reinvent your wardrobe by inheriting color blocking.
mandco.com
asos.com
Things to be mindful of when wearing color blocks:
• Don’t be shy to experiment. Any color combination is fantastic if you can pull it off properly. Blue, green, and orange sounds mad but will look oh-so-pretty. • Do not combine more than three to four colors. • Choose what you want to color block and keep the rest of your look simple. For example, if you opt for a color-blocked bag, go easy on the clothes and shoes. • Never ever combine two color-blocked items. This is the worst thing to do to this trend. • Try using the same color but in different hues. • The color blocking method does not have to be loud. You can focus on subtle colors and neutrals. • If you’re afraid to color block your outfit, try shoes and accessories that already use the method.
GO ABOVE AND BEYOND!
A
lways remember that knowledge is power. Educate yourself on fashion and beauty so that your style can remain timeless no matter how you change it. Newly released “Commander in Chic” written by Mikki Taylor is a great book to educate you on being classic with a twist by one of the nation’s foremost authorities on fashion, beauty and style. While using Michelle Obama as her muse, Mikki shares the keys to the Obama look with her diary-like observations, tips, and Mikki-isms (her short, ultra-clever style aphorisms) for women everywhere
“Calling all working girls: do leave your “sneaks” for the gym. Work a pair of elegant flats instead when lowering your heels on the commute to and from work.” MIKKI-ISM~ Now that you have tools to assist you in transforming your new look, take what you’ve learned, put it to good use and enjoy the journey you are about to embark. - ROSALYNN WILSON
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Beyond Business as Usual Chic Home Offices & Functional Tips for 2012! | style
Window Treatment Tip: Select window treatments that will allow you to control the lighting in the room. Do not make them too elaborate. You still want your clients to take you serious and not feel like they are having a social visit. Using blinds and a moderate type of “black-out” drapery together are highly recommended, particularly if you do a lot of video / Skype conferencing. Additionally, the blind and drapery combination adds more versatility for controlling your lighting.
| lux decor
A
s the New Year unfolds, more people are finding themselves starting businesses out of their homes. However, if you are like me, you still want to feel connected with the outside world and want your home office to reflect your style! How you organize your home office space all depends on how you set up your work area. Make sure it reflects your style along with multipurpose products that save time and space. When purchasing things to outfit your office, make sure it is conducive to your working needs. Here are a few very important Tips to remember when getting organized for 2012: Functional Chair Tip: Select a chair that is comfortable, the right height, and provides proper back and arm support for the type of work you will be doing. Ergonomic desk chairs are very popular and can be found at your local Staples, Office Max, Office Depot and Container Store retailers. Task Lighting Tip: It is extremely important to have proper lighting in your home office. To reduce eye strain, have lighting installed over your reading area, over the computer, and behind you so that there is no reflection from the computer monitor. By reducing eye strain, you will be able to work longer and more safely. Whether you just spend time browsing the internet or do all of your work at your desk, you want to make sure everything is illuminated with the proper lighting. The importance of a good task light cannot be overstated. Smartphone Tip: A professional who runs his / her own business should always have the proper tools to keep him connected and owning a smartphone is necessary. Purchase a phone that will help you stay organized with both professional and personal tasks. The smartphone should have capabilities that allow you to check and respond to e-mails whenever you are mobile. In addition to e-mail capabilities, ensure your smartphone is able to handle the workload of using Twitter, Facebook and holding images that you upload.
Client Visiting Areas Tip: If you will be meeting with clients in your home office, ensure pets are safely secured preferably out of site to prevent possible distraction and keep walk through areas clean. Keep things as professional as possible and consider the privacy of your work. If clients will be waiting for an appointment with you, provide comfortable a seating area with proper lighting and interesting literature. Office Desk or Work Station Tip: The most important piece of furniture will be your office desk or work surface. Whether you select custom-designed cabinets and writing surfaces or use two file cabinets with a door stretched across them, this is where you will spend the most time and it should be large and comfortable enough to do your work. To make the most of limited space, have shelving installed behind your desk so that books and supplies will be easy to reach while working on projects. Clock Tip: Once you have set your office hours do not forget to hang a wall clock or place one on your desk. It may seem obvious but when working from home it is easy to lose track of time. Even though your work is at home, there still comes a time when you have to stop for the day and shut your door to the office. Office Supplies Tip: I suggest investing in colored office supplies. Purchase these items to keep things bright and to keep you awake and alert. Most office supply stores carry a variety of colored paper clips, thumbtacks, staples, tape dispenser, spirals, folders and binders. Give your home office the look and feel that makes you smile every time you sit down. The key to transitioning from a 9 to 5 office job into your own business is how you feel when you’re in your workspace and how functional it is. A home office does not have to be serious even if the work you do there is. The key to a workspace you will love: storage solutions & office accessories specifically tailored to your task! So this year take your home office to the next level of stylish designs, bold colors, and functional organizational solutions for a successful 2012! - DARCY HARRIS
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
stalked
a pictorial by ish holmes
Models: Brandi D. Williams & Andre Hilton Styling: Troy Clinton Assistant: Ricky Bush Hair: Chris Hernandez (Salon Penna’e) Make Up: Corinne Fairley Creative Director: Lentheus Chaney
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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BRANDI - Dress: Aiden Mattox, Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Handbag: Calvin Klein | ANDRE - Suit: Hugo Boss, Shirt: Hugo Boss, Tie: Burberry, Shoes: To Boot New York
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
BRANDI - Sweater: Aqua, Vest: Yves Salomon, Boots: Hunter, Jeans: Rag and Bones, Handbag: Louis Vuitton, Sunglasses: Gucci
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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ANDRE - Sweater: Diesel, Vest: Diesel, Jeans: Diesel, Boots: Diesel, Sunglasses: Oliver Peeples
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
ANDRE - Sweater: Diesel, Shirt: Diesel, Jeans: Diesel, Hat: Nathaniel Cole, Shoes: To Boot New York Boots, Sunglasses: Gucci
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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BRANDI - Dress: Rachel Zoe, Handbag: Chanel, Blazer: All Saint, Sunglasses: Jimmy Choo
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
BRANDI - Dress: Vince, Turtleneck: Vince, Boots: Via Spiga, Sunglasses: Oscar de la Renta, Handbag: Salvatore Ferragamo
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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ANDRE - Blazer: Theory, Pants: 7 For All Mankind, Sweater vest: Ralph Lauren Polo, Shirt: Ralph Lauren Polo, Sunglasses: Gucci, Shoes: Jack Purcell Converse
| lux feature
| frank ski
FRANK SKI To more than 1.2 million listeners of The Frank and Wanda Morning show, he is the guy in the entertainment world that every one wants to know, a friend to Atlanta’s influential, blessed with a wealth of experience and knowledge and one who possesses a crazy infectious laugh. But he’s is also a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, a husband and dad and by his own admission, a perfectionist. Atlanta’s most popular radio host talks to Editor-In-Chief Lentheus Chaney about life lessons, his embarking of new ventures and how he maintains his close friendships even in the midst of adversity.
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Standing (L to R): Deanna Hamilton, Sharlinda Parker, Lena Danielle Chenier, Sabrina Rowe, Penna’e Seated (L to R): Brandi Hunter, Chanita Foster, Nicci Gilbert-Daniels, LaTresa “Tree” Cunningham Not pictured: LaTasha Batch, Monyetta Cunningham, Terri J. Vaughn-Riley, Yolanda Simth
Photograph by Ish Holmes
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me t Fr an k Sk i and hi s w i fe Tany a in 2 0 0 9 — the year of the 6th annual Frank Ski Kids Foundation Celebrity Wine Tasting and Urban Lux Magazines very first editorial assignment. I anxiously waited at the entrance of the palatial estates to be checked in along side my newly hired photographer. It was a misty day and the attendees were abundant. The guest list, a public relations agent’s dream, included the names Julius “Dr J” Erving, Jesse Jackson, Doug E Fresh, Big Boi and Yung Joc, to name a few. At that event I realized Frank’s enduring commitment to giving back to the community and his ability to encourage others to not only give, but give big. That day was an inspiration and helped to define Urban Lux’s mission to highlight people and organizations committed to community service. Considered a pioneer of hip-hop music, Frank Ski dreamed of being a rapper in the early days. This is how he got the tag name “SKI”. A New York native, Ski came to Atlanta from Baltimore and has remained a major influence and contributor to the music industry as a DJ, producer, journalist and radio host. His philanthropic acts have changed the lives of many youth, giving them rare opportunities and experiences of a lifetime and his entrepreneurial efforts have greatly impacted Atlanta’s nightlife. While holding the number one spot in morning radio across all formats in the Atlanta landscape, Frank’s schedule seems more than enough to keep five men busy—and it’s only part of what he has on his plate. Frank and Tanya, who have been married for 15 years, are the parents of four sons (Jarrett, Franklin, Blake and Harrison.) An avid traveler, Frank believes in exposing his family to the history, the sights and the sounds that the world has to offer and just about every Friday and Saturday night he can be found holding down the DJ booth. He also recently opened his own signature restaurant located on Atlanta’s famous Peachtree Street. How does he do it all? Turns out, Frank credits his father for teaching him the importance of conducting multiple jobs simultaneously and handling everything to the best of his ability. We talked about that—and about being placed in foster care, being fired and the ups and downs of being Frank Ski— when we got together for a long chat.
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
LENTHEUS: What are some of the misconceptions people may have about Frank Ski? FRANK: Man...misconceptions people may have about Frank Ski? I don’t really know. I’ve worked hard on the branding and learned to make sure that everything I do is within the brand. Probably most people don’t realize that I DJ parties. I do the morning show where we have very mature talk but people would ever think that I DJ until they go to a club and see that I actually am the DJ. LENTHEUS: How do you differ in reality from your public persona? FRANK: I’m a real person so I have different sides. I appreciate having the ability to sit down and talk to the President or enjoy a cigar and a glass of wine with Yong Jeezy. That’s the beauty of life and when you travel around the world you realize that everybody is really the damn same. We might have language barriers but people are really the same. I guess one of the benefits I have is the versatility to be able to talk to many types of people on many different levels. What you see is what you get. LENTHEUS: Would you say that overall people like you? FRANK: The people who don’t like me don’t know me. The other part of it is that it creates a challenge when people don’t like you because when you realize what it is that they don’t like you start to improve. Everybody has areas of improvement and I’m no different. Someone may say, “I don’t like Frank Ski because that Negro talks too much on the air.” There might be some truth in that and most of the times there is, so I have to improve on that without loosing the fundamental of what it is I am there to do. LENTHEUS: You spent some time in the foster care system as a child. Tell me about that situation. FRANK: It was a difficult situation. In fact it was mentioned someplace that Mom placed me in foster care when actually I was taken away from my mom. It was a pretty bad situation that really wasn’t her fault. I was taken away from her and then subsequently I went to live with my father. That had always been a painful family thing for me and my Mom to go through. My Mom and I are great friends now because we were able to talk through it and get through it. I’m very passionate about the foster care System in the United States and what it means.
“What I’ve learned is that sometimes in life when you want to make leaps and bounds in your career, you have to leave.”
photo by: Ish Holmes
LENTHEUS: How does having gone through that experience help you deal with the kids you work with? FRANK: It makes me better. I think one of things people miss is empathy. People blame the person instead of calculating the situation. For example, here’s a guy who has a family at home with two kids and he is out of work. The kids are hungry and the guy goes and steals a loaf of bread. Do you judge him or do you look at the fact that he has a family at home that’s starving? Some people can be empathetic about the situation and realize the pressures the situation brings. Others have zero tolerance for that. As for me, being in that situation and having family members that did all kind of things that would be considered not cool, I realize that it’s part of the culture and it is what it is. So I am able to relate much better when I deal with the kids in the foundation. There is not much they can say that would shock me and I don’t judge them for those situations they come from. I realize that there are certain things people need professional help for and there are certain situations when people just need love. LENTHEUS: Was your dad a strict disciplinary? FRANK: Stupid strict---I mean ridiculously strict! And I wouldn’t trade it. I look at it now and I wouldn’t trade it. People would always ask me how I get up so early to do morning radio that requires six to seven days a week of work, go to work at the restaurant at night till midnight and be back up at 4am. How do I do it? It’s from having a strict father like mine who said you have to get the job done. Basically, if he gave me a job and it took five days and it was the weekend then I knew for the next couple weekends what I had to do. I missed the entire summer one year doing work for my dad because I had to do what I had to do.
LENTHEUS: Who is your mentor and what contribution did that person make to your life. FRANK: I had a life mentor named Mike Lubin who became a father to me. I talked to this man daily. He was a white Jewish guy; he was a lawyer who I happen to be a law clerk for. I thought I was going be a lawyer. I never thought I was going to be a radio DJ. My dream was to be in law. He was the one who encouraged me to persuse my other dream to be in radio. He gave me advice...life advice all along the way over a span of 20 years. Nothing that he ever said was wrong. I understood that I had to take his wise council because I didn’t know any better. He taught me self value and taught me the value of what my brand was worth. He taught me the value of incorporating myself and what that meant. He taught me the value of honesty and integrity. He was the first person that told me I needed a tuxedo when I thought, “what the hell I need a tuxedo for?” He was the first person to send me the Wall Street Guide to Investing. He called me one day and told me I needed a computer and I asked, “for what?” He said, “you need a computer, let’s go.” He made me buy a computer that I didn’t want to buy because they were so expensive back then. He got me online, made me start an email account and the rest is history. LENTHEUS: How do you balance daily life, family and work? FRANK: I’ve learned that you have to schedule it. You can’t just say I’m going to do it. It has to be on a schedule. You have to have a family movie night. You have to have a lunch scheduled every week on the same day at the same time with you wife. You have to have to have date night every week without fail and then you become disciplined not to plan anything around those times. When you do that you are able to get that time in. It really has to be something dire for me to miss my kid’s game or recital or play. I always want them to be able to say that dad supported them. LENTHEUS: What was the lowest point in your career? FRANK: The lowest point of my career changed my career for the better. There was a time when I was on v-103 in Baltimore and I was as popular if not more popular than I am here in Atlanta. I had just started hosting the morning show from doing nights when the station was brought and sold twice. It was during those consolidations that one of the owners came to the station and fired me even though I was the number one person in the city on the radio. That was a reality that showed me that it was all about the business and not personal. I learned that you always have to watch out for yourself and always be expecting that you may walk in to the station one day and it be your last day. That experience opened the door for me to go to another radio station which catapulted my career in another direction. What I’ve learned is that sometimes in life when you want to make leaps and [continued on pg.32] bounds in your career, you have to leave.
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LENTHEUS: What are your thoughts on comedians, entertainers and musicians entering the morning show marketplace? FRANK: In every field or every sport fundamentals win. You could be faster or throw further or shoot better, but if you don’t have the fundamentals you won’t win championships. As long as those people who come into radio learn the fundamentals of it all, they can be successful and have a run at it. There is no degree you have to have to become a radio host so there are no requirements. All you have to have is charisma, people have to like you and you have to keep people entertained. Who better to entertain people than people who do it professionally like comedians or singers? They understand entertaining people. If they don’t learn the fundamentals then their time is limited and they go by they way side. It’s like musicians that become actors or actresses and or a popular rapper doing a film. Are you going to be like Will Smith? Not unless you start taking classes and learn how to be an actor. Not everybody can do it but the ones that can, they do it well. Ice Cube is a great film director and producer in his own rank. He gets it. He had to learn and that’s what it is. You have to start some where and learn LENTHEUS: You conducted one of the final interviews with Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Was that a proud moment for you and why? FRANK: That’s one of those things that not many people can ever say they did. I am proud of the fact that unlike all of the other interviews done with Mrs. King, I did that interview asking questions about her. In the interview she said that she was not used to talking about herself and that no one had ever asked about her as an individual. I got that idea from my wife. I just wanted to interview her. And to find out that she was a freedom fighter before Dr. King and hosted rallies before he did, that was a proud moment. LENTHEUS: How did you get involved with the Wobble Song? FRANK: I had always talked to Mr. Collipark and we joked about doing something. He heard me playing in the club and heard my voice come over a song. He called me up and said that he wanted me to do the hook and intro to this song called the Wobble. So I did it. The song had been out for a year and a
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half before all of a sudden it just organically mushroomed in the underground circuits and became a line dance song. I don’t think that V.I.C, Collipark or even I ever saw that song to be a line dance song so when it happened we all were surprised. Now that song is being played all over the world and I get royalty checks from countries you can even pronounce. LENTHEUS: Would you consider yourself a perfectionist? FRANK: Yeah, I’m terrible and it frustrates a lot of people because I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work. I want my work to be done a certain way and sometimes the perfection is actually in the imperfection so it’s difficult to work for me and I’ve come to realize that. LENTHEUS: Do you encourage your kids to follow in your foot steps of entertainment and entrepreneurship? FRANK: I think that kids learn by example and it’s not necessarily that they will follow in your footsteps. One thing for sure is most kids will become what they see. I think what it takes is for them to have an example. I do see one of my kids trending in that area but my kids have many different interest than I had because they have so much more opportunity. They have been traveling around the world and they have seen things. They are not impressed by material things which makes it better for a kid and they can really focus on what it is that they want to do. Some people get sidetracked because they want what the position brings instead of what the position can do for them as far as being happy in their life. LENTHEUS: You seem to form great friendships with individuals like Bill Campbell, Andrew Young, Shirley Franklin and Kasim Reed. Are those true solid friendships or more of a business and community service type of relationship? FRANK: It starts off with a mutual respect and then after you have a mutual respect for someone you eventually realize the friendship. You see, I don’t use the Mayor to get ratings on the radio so when the mayor does something that’s wrong, I’m not going to be loud and try to create a story out of no story or be dramatic with it just to get ratings. That’s not what I do...I leave that to other people. What I do is give people an opportunity to set the record straight. I
January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
understand that in politics people are not going to like everything you do. In a way at the radio station we do politics because I have to get listeners to listen to me every day and sometimes I say stuff that they don’t like. I may say something that is off base with them and they are cursing me out on Facebook and Twitter so I understand the plight of a politician. I understand that sometimes a politician is going to have to make a decision to do something that’s going to be unpopular in order to get the support to do something that is popular. Politics is not something people go into because they want to be popular. Politics is a sacrifice. These people make a sacrifice to have their life put under a microscope and have people criticize them. It’s because they been called into leadership that if I can just support somebody and make them a better leader, then that’s what I’m going to do. I think that type of respect has come across and it has helped me develop some great friends. LENTHEUS: Do you think your job negatively or positively impacts your personal relationships? FRANK: Sometimes it’s both. When Bill Campbell had his troubles I supported him as a friend. There is a certain misconception the public has when it comes to politicians and public figures that if you support them when they do things the mainstream don’t agree with, they think it’s something you personally agree with. I tell people like this, if you have a best friend who gets addicted to drugs, do you say, “aiight dude, you f ’d up and when you get your shit together you hit me back” or do you help them get their stuff together and support them through that cloud? To me, that’s what a real friend is. A real friend is not somebody who stops talking to somebody when the bullets go flying. A real friends is like, “c’mon, lets get outta here” or “imma back you up” or say to them “you know you got yourself in some mess but imma fight with you and we gonna fight our way otta this even thou I don’t agree with what you did.” I’m not gonna say, “you on your own hommie.” You are either a friend to somebody or you are not and I think that is what I have been able to do. I support them. When people are fighting for your community you help them in anyway that you can. That’s what my wife and I do. No
“I came out the gate quick and said that I was there for him (Bishop Eddie Long) and it was taken totally out of context.” matter what it is they ask I’m always there, and they can ask me anything. Some people say “wow you have a bunch of friends” and I say, “are you kidding me?” The Mayor has a bunch of friends. He doesn’t need another friend in me. He just needs a real person and if I can just be a real person to somebody and be a support to them then that’s what it is. LENTHEUS: I know you took a lot of flack for your support of Bishop Eddie Long. How did you get through that? FRANK: For me it was difficult thing because I did not look at it as an attack on the man as much as I looked at everything that was happening as an attack on the religion. I can’t speak on anything that he has done because I wasn’t there. Here is a guy that would come on the radio, do our inspirational vitamin and motivated people to the point where people of all walks of life from Bishop TD Jakes to Bernice King followed this guy. When it went down, when it first happened, I came out the gate quick and said that I was there for him and it was taken totally out of context. That was a low point for me in my career because there was no way people could call and talk to him and attack him so they started calling me. I took a lot of flack for that and it was very difficult. Kids from his church have been on my trips. I know his kids. I know his wife. To imagine someone attacking me like that, what would it do to my kids? That was a really sad thing for me and it was a sad thing for the church because true or false, there is no way that it doesn’t hurt the church. LENTHEUS: Do you think he did it? FRANK: I don’t know. I don’t know at this point. I have never really given my opinion on what really happened. I have only said that I pray for everybody involved. I pray for that church because there are a lot of people that are going to be lost now. I pray for those people because that’s a tough thing to go through. I was able to find other spiritual leaders that when I get down I am able to pick up the phone and call like Bishop Ellis in the Bahamas. Different people who help you and lift your spirit, I think everybody needs that. So to know that a person who was that to so many people is now out of the picture, you pray for that situation. LENTHEUS: If there was a sermon from Bishop Long you felt inspiring would you play it on the air?
FRANK: I wouldn’t...I think that anything that would come out now for the general public to hear wouldn’t be heard the way it should and that’s why I wouldn’t do it. LENTHEUS: Tell me about Tanya’s role as president of the Frank Ski Kids Foundation. FRANK: The foundation is really reflective of us both and it bares my name only for the marketing and branding side of it but half of what we do are her ideas. LENTHEUS: What was the motivation for the two of you to start the foundation? FRANK: The foundation is basically a way for us to give back to the things that we are both interested in. To have a foundation it has to be something that you are really interested in. For me, I love to travel. I love taking these kids to strange international locations where they learn. I’m the guy that will get in a canoe and paddle through the Amazon. That’s me. LENTHEUS: Tell me about a few of the success stories of the foundation? FRANK: One of the first things we did when we moved here was to adopt a recreational center and get it opened because we knew that keeping kids busy was a way to keep them out of trouble. Idol time is never good for kids no matter how old they are. You will find that most kids that are involved in recreation centers really don’t have time to hang out and get into trouble LENTHEUS: Why did you choose to open a restaurant? FRANK: It’s funny because I didn’t want to necessarily open a restaurant first. I actually wanted to do phases. I wanted to do a martini bar with a wine lounge first. I wanted to do a club and then I wanted to do a restaurant. Then I realized that the martini bars and wine lounges have to be really small to make money because there is a lot of unused space many days of the week. Then I realized most clubs only do business one night a week. If they are lucky, they get two nights even though they have all the bills of seven night operation. So that’s very difficult. Then I realized that the only thing that makes money every day is a restaurant. So I said what if I could put all of those things in one place? That’s what we have done here. My concept for Frank Ski’s Restaurant and Lounge was to be like someplace in Vegas. When you want to do a business you want to research and find out who is making
the most money and has the best product. When I started researching restaurants, I found that the number one restaurant in the United States is TAO in Vegas. To give you an example, the number one restaurant here in Atlanta makes 14 million dollars a year. That same restaurant in New York makes 28 million dollars a year. TAO in Vegas makes 54 million dollars a year. What they have realized in Vegas is that they want everybody to not only come for dinner.
photo by: Averi Washington
They want every celebrity to have their event there. They want people to have dinner and stay. They want people to come for drinks and stay and everybody that goes to Vegas for their birthday wants to have their birthday at TAO. Frank Ski’s is place where all of the attention goes into the food and the service because the entertainment side of it I can do with my eyes closed. It’s a great restaurant with a great bar and a great wine program. We have become the biggest mover of high end wines in the city of Atlanta. No one would think that an African American restaurant could do that but we have been able to do it. This concept gives us the ability to be open seven nights a week and on Friday and Saturday we become the spot for people to come and have their birthday dinner and they stay. When they stay we turn it into a party and that’s when this place really starts cranking and making money. We are able to do it all in one place and that’s the beauty of what Frank Ski’s is. [continued on pg.35]
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LENTHEUS: Why did you name the restaurant Frank Ski’s FRANK: When I was creating the branding for the restaurant, it wasn’t called Frank Ski’s. I was sitting down at dinner one evening with Jonathan Katz and Ryan Glover, who were managing my brand at the time. They asked me what the name was going to be and I told them. Jonathan looked at me and asked why? He said, “why not call it Frank Ski’s?” “It’s you.” I said it was because I didn’t want people to think I was an arrogant asshole. Then Jonathan told me companies spend millions of dollars to create a brand and why would I not use that power for my already established brand for own business. When he said that it hit me and I realized that he was absolutely right. Why fight the battle of trying to create a brand name when there are millions of people in Atlanta that already know my name? Why call it anything else? So that’s why it’s called Frank Ski’s. LENTHEUS: What effect has the opening of your restaurant had on others? FRANK: We have a staff of 64 people and I never realized how important entrepreneurship was until I went to pick up those checks one day. Then I looked around and I saw how many people I am responsible for. I mean, I’m responsible for a lot of people’s livelihood and their families. But that’s the beauty of it. LENTHEUS: What has been your number one challenge since opening the restaurant? FRANK: Hiring and getting the right people to work for me has been the most difficult of all. Because the concept is new and people don’t understand it, you can’t just get someone who all they do is manage a restaurant. They won’t understand the lounge and the liquor side and when it moves from the restaurant to a party they don’t get it so that’s hard. It takes a long time to get the really good restaurant workers to believe in what you are doing. It takes a lot of time, money and training. There are also a lot of people who won’t work for a black restaurant because they feel blacks don’t tip. We sell $500 dollar bottles of wine yet we can’t get people at certain restaurants where their wine list stops at $100 to come and work for us because we are black and as long as they continue to have that perception we won’t get that talent. The good thing for the people who believe in the product is that they can come here, get trained up and they can make money. LENTHEUS: Has it been everything you thought it would be? FRANK: It’s been 10 times more. I didn’t know we were going to get the kind of attention that we have gotten. When you get to the point that you open a business and Denzel Washington walks in, I didn’t expect that! It’s not just about the celebrity component but Atlanta needed a place like this. It feels good to be able to satisfy the demand and still keep the quality. LENTHEUS: What are your future aspirations? FRANK: I would like to take the restaurant brand and expand it. I would like to open one of these in South Africa or Hong Kong and why not? I would also one day like to publish a book. I already have about 18 chapters and every time I have a life event or milestone I write about it.
LENTHEUS: What advice would you give people who aspire and dream to be great? FRANK: First, you have to understand your worth. There are so many people who are living their dream and never really have understood their worth. Even though they are doing something they love and would do it for free, there is nothing like being taken advantage of. That in its self can kill someone’s spirit. The second thing is to understand that successful people always have their ear to the streets. They always know what’s happening around them and they are always either ahead of the change or a part of the change. A successful person or company is never chasing change. That’s the mark of successful people and companies. They are not waiting for that change, they are the change. - Lentheus Chaney
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LUX CUSINE | The LOVE of Food | c u lt u r e
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Building an Empire while Overcoming Life Challenges
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avid Troy DeCuir, renowned Chef from Louisiana was born in a gifted family of cooks where the men out-cooked the women. Raised in Baton Rouge, David grew up with five brothers. His father and uncles were all self-employed and all could “throw down” in the kitchen, says DeCuir. They would all get together to prepare Cajun favorites like dirty rice, macaroni & cheese, fried turkey, and gumbo. After the men prepared the meals, the women in the family were more than willing to serve the food and clean up afterwards. His mother handled all the family business, so his dad did all the cooking and became his biggest inspiration in the kitchen. “Everything my father cooked had a twist to it,” says Chef DeCuir. He discovered his love for the art of cooking by watching his father for many years. He soon realized the ease of cooking was a natural for him as well. Chef DeCuir says he became bored with only Louisiana dishes and wanted to do something different. At the age of 10, he convinced his mother to allow him to prepare dinner. He introduced Lasagna as a main dish to the family and they fell in love with the savory baked Italian dish. He says that being allowed to explore his cooking ideas took his cooking skills to a different level, which is what inspired his catering business. After graduating from Northwestern University in Louisiana with a Marketing Management degree, Chef DeCuir launched “DeCuir Gourmet Catering” in 2000, in Atlanta, GA. With his passion for maintaining his French Creole roots, Chef DeCuir wanted to share his creativity through his wonderful cuisines. Managing a successful catering business for over 9 years with a staff of 30 employees, Chef DeCuir continued to add his own blends and flavors to the growing menu, where 80% of the food is baked. Although he makes awesome traditional dishes like Macaroni & Cheese, he simply does not tolerate boring traditional dishes on the table. “Why can’t you put lobster, shrimp, and crab in Mac & Cheese,” asks Chef DeCuir. As a holiday dish, he added Rotel and Chicken to his Mac & Cheese, just to change things up. DeCuir’s passion for food is his life, but on the road to becoming a successful Chef and business man he encountered major life challenges. At the age 16 he was diagnosed with cancer. After giving his life to Christ, he struggled to understand why God would allow him to face such a challenge just when his life was beginning. Through the struggle, Chef DeCuir says through faith he chose to live, and prayed that God would restore his life. The cancer eventually went into remission, but DeCuir Gourmet Catering Company suffered due to his illness and the down-turn of the economy. “Everything seemed to have been
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photo by: Dwayne Sullivan Photography
falling apart,” says DeCuir. The stress of the large 5000 sq. ft. facility, his staff members and business obligations all seemed to be crumbling when the Atlanta Tribune voted DeCuir the #1 African-American Caterer. He was also named as one of the Top 3 Wedding Caterers of 2009. Chef DeCuir says, “No matter what I go through, giving up is not an option.” Although Chef DeCuir suffered some losses, which included losing the catering facility, during his illness, he and his staff were able to keep DeCuir Gourmet Catering Service in business. His customers continued to make their request for that specialty shrimp/lobster/crab Macaroni and Cheese, Jerk Turkey, Caribbean Punch and Mango Tea. In fact, most of the time during his stay in the hospital he would have his laptop on hand. His clients would call to request his catering services and Chef DeCuir would type up the service requests and his staff would fill the orders and service the clients. He kept DeCuir Gourmet Catering open, but at times it seemed too much to handle the cancer and the pressure of the business. Chef DeCuir says he reached out to his Pastor for advice and through faith building, he says, “I chose to live and not die… because no one is going to live your life, dream your dreams or choose your joy and your hope—you have to do it for yourself; and as long as I have perfect health and can see tomorrow, I am going to be ok.”
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Celebrating 10 years of service, Chef DeCuir has started a foundation to help homeless children with cancer. Chef DeCuir is now walking in the gifts that he has been given, as his gift of cooking has become a blessing for helping others. To learn more about Café DeCuir/Decuir Gourmet Catering, please visit www.decuirgourmet.com.
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Located in Smyrna, Ga., the Café is an extension of DeCuir Gourmet Catering Service, the parent company, which continues to provide clients with exquisite catering services by request.
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On February 1, 2012, Café DeCuir doors will be open to the public. Café DeCuir will offer some of the Chef ’s most famous recipes, like Seafood Cornbread Dressing; Jerked/Bar-B-Q/Lemon Pepper Turkeys; Blackened Salmon; Lobster/Shrimp/Crab Fondue; Blackened Shrimp/ Tilapia and Stuffed Potatoes. In addition to these tasty cuisines he has increased Café DeCuir’s initiative for heart healthy eating. He bakes the green beans with brown sugar and black pepper and bakes the rice as a part of a health initiative. Chef DeCuir says, “You can become a gourmet cook without lifting a finger.”
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Living everyday with expectation is now Chef DeCuir’s mission. His love for food has helped sustain his catering business. DeCuir Gourmet Catering has been restored and is now the brainchild of the newly formed “Café DeCuir,” a café concept where customers can get large or small portions of Chef DeCuir’s wonderful cuisines. The theme of Café DeCuir will be to “Taste the Love.”
by: KENNY GRACE
Chef DeCuir’s Healthy Baked Cajun Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki Wings
photo by: Bobby Thornton Photo
Ingredients: Choose Fresh Chicken wings or Drummets 1 tablespoon of minced onions; 1 tablespoon of minced garlic; 1 tablespoon of the zest of orange peal; 1 cup of brown sugar; 1 cup of soy sauce; 1 teaspoon of sesame oil; 1/2 Cup of Japanese sake or ½ of red wine; 1 cup of fresh cut pineapple chunks; ½ onion strips & red bell pepper strips
Directions: Season meat w/ olive oil, and your choice of spicy blend of Mrs. Dash or Complete Seasoning by Badia; place in baking pan; sprayed w/ Pam or lightly covered with olive oil; Bake 350 degrees until browned *Tightly; Drain broth; Place meat in mixing bowl; mix meat w/ teriyaki sauce completely; then bake again until browned *tightly. Place in your choice of platter *Hot & Ready to serve
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But she soon learned that this experience was a cornerstone to her moving up the Marriott ladder. She began cleaning 18 rooms and was promoted to floor supervisor putting her in charge of three floors. Soon she was housekeeping manager and then director of services, running the department with 280 associates under her supervision. “I was a young woman managing women in their 50s,” Brown says. “But they had seen me pushing the housekeeping carts and I had gained their respect.” She had the opportunity to give a presentation to the director of marketing and decided to get creative. Her presentation revealed the secret of distinguishing between king and double bed sheets in the hotel laundry room. “It may sound simple, but when the sheets are folded, it’s difficult to know what’s in the cart,” Brown says. “People don’t realize there’s a whole process behind it; a lot is going on behind the scenes.” Brown also created “Housekeeping Jeopardy” to train the staff on various processes. The director of marketing was so impressed, he asked her if she would consider going into sales. Villa was living with a Japanese family in Hawaii at the time and her knowledge of the culture would make her ideal at selling to the Japanese market in California.
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“Here I was a college graduate cleaning hairs off toilets wearing an orange pumpkin uniform,” Brown says. “I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘I did something so wrong.’”
“I loved the entrepreneurship of the position,” Brown says. “I created the entire thing on my own.”
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After 32 years with Marriott, Brown has experienced many facets of the hotel business starting from an early age. While studying hotel and restaurant management in college, she took her first position working the front desk at the Anaheim Marriott. She had always had a passion for Latin American culture and began practicing her Spanish. Her supervisor thought this would be beneficial for a position in the housekeeping department where most of the staff was Spanish-speaking.
After six years, Brown took a position with Marriott Vacation Club which she describes as her “most exhilarating time with Marriott.” It came at an opportune moment as she was about to start a family and this position would allow her to curb her travel. Marriott wanted her expertise at attracting the Latin American traveler to the timeshare concept. She developed an offsite operation where the timeshare rented space in the hotels – galleries – to showcase what the club had to offer to already loyal Marriott travelers. She also put kiosks in malls knowing that affluent Latin Americans also shopped.
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rom the hotel housekeeping staff to the director of sales for a global hotel brand, Cindie Brown is proof that starting from the bottom and working your way up is not only possible, it’s the best career path to take.
Brown handled major Japanese corporations in Torrence, Ca. While she enjoyed her new role, her passion for Latin America never waned. She read an article in Marriott Magazine about Latin America and contacted the author. She was offered a job handling the Latin American market, moved to Miami and traveled throughout Latin America promoting Marriott as the place to stay when visiting the U.S.
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LUX DESTINATIONS | “One Rung at a Time”
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Cindie Brown
“It’s critical to understand the culture,” Villa says. “Not everyone has an American mentality. You can’t go in with that – you have to have respect for other cultures.”
After nine years with Marriott Vacation Club, she had a desire to get back to hotel lodging and took a job as director of sales and marketing at the South Beach Marriott. “After nine years away, my learning curve looked like a hockey stick,” Brown says. “There were so many new acronyms being used in the industry, it was like a different language.” What foreign language she did speak well was Spanish. She had been practicing the language for years by watching Spanish soap operas, reading children’s books written in Spanish and listening to Spanish music. “When you really want to learn something you can,” Brown says. “My ability to speak Spanish opened an opportunity I wouldn’t otherwise have.” Fluent in Spanish, she was an ideal candidate for a position she now holds as director of account sales for Marriott’s resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. While she looks ahead to her next career adventure, she cannot help but look back to how she got here. “I didn’t believe anything was beneath me,” Brown says. “No matter how demoralizing it may seem to clean rooms or wash dishes, our industry is based on practical experience.” She says she learned early on to tune into what made her happy. “If you make decisions based on what makes you happy, your life will be like a pyramid,” Brown says. “Everything you do will get you closer to this goal.” by: MONICA COMPTON
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Kindred The Family Soul
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n this segment of LUX LUV, we sat down with the perfect example of LUV…the Philadelphia vocal duo Kindred the Family Soul. Husband and wife Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon both began as solo performers. Dantzler was born in Philadelphia and got his start in the music business writing songs for Pebbles and Bell Biv DeVoe. Graydon, from Washington, D.C., had a solo deal at the age of 15. The two united and began writing songs.
“Magic Happen” and “You Got Love,” featuring Snoop Dogg and singers Raheem DeVaughn, Bilal, Carol Riddick and others. Additionally, there is spoken word by Ursula Rucker and collaboration with “Go-Go” Godfather Chuck Brown.
They caught the attention of Jill Scott while performing at the Black Lily Club. She took them to Hidden Beach Records, who signed them and gave them their launching pad to stardom. Their debut album, “Surrender to Love” was released in February 2003. Focusing on their honesty-sincerity-truthlove maxim, the duo along with their ten piece band infused the 70’s flavor with soul and gained a contemporary stamp of approval. “Surrender To Love” was named one of the “Best Albums of 2003” by USA Today. Albums “In This Life Together” (2005) and “The Arrival” (2008) followed.
ULM - Tell us about the new album and the inspiration behind it: Aja The new album is called Love Has No Recession and the inspiration behind it is just stories. Things and experiences that we all have been going through for a long time but specifically in the last few years with the difficulty that’s been going on in the country and the effect on your neighborhoods, our communities our relationships and our perceptions of ourselves. Of course we have love songs and I just think it’s a fun record even though it’s dealing with a serious issue. It has equal parts, gonna make you think, gonna make you dance and have a good time as well as cuddle up with the person you love, appreciate that you have them and that no amount of money can take that away.
Their most recent project “Love Has No Recession” was released in July, 2011 on their new label, Purpose Music Group/Shanachie. The project tackles many of the current issues facing the country today and offers some remedies for making it through all the craziness. The group recognizes that while people are losing their jobs and homes, it’s important to focus on things that can’t be taken away, such as relationships with loved ones. Those “intangibles” are explored on singles
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
After a recent concert, ULM had the opportunity to ask Fatin and Aja about the music, the love, and the magic they have for each other and keeping their family strong.
ULM - One of the things that make your group so attractive and relatable is that you are married and have children. You are living your life and making it work. How is that you make marriage, music and six children work in such a difficult time and industry?
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Aja We have had a lot of blessings and a lot of help along with the patience of one another, the blessing of having each other and being able to depend on one another quite a bit. We have a huge amount of trust for each other. I trust him and I know that he will do what I need him to do; as well, I know that he fully trust me to do what I need to do. So we have just been blessed really—not our own doing, just a blessing and mercy that has been placed on our family and hopefully we use that everyday to give back to those who listen to our music and support us as we try to give them stories that will inspire them and tell their story. We will always be dedicated to that despite what appears to be in vogue at the time. Fatin Being grounded in faith, love, purpose and vision is what has really given us the opportunity to move forward and to flourish. We have something that we both are working towards which is the preservation of our family and our love, and that is very important. Being on the same page with one another has been a big blessing and has helped us tremendously
strong supporters of natural child birth. I have been teamed up with midwifes to help spread awareness about midwifery and natural childbirth.
ULM - How to you give back to your community? Aja We are firm believers of investing in our neighborhood. We own two businesses in our neighborhood that we decided to keep within our community, even though we have had several opportunities to relocate downtown. We support our local school and our children are hugely evolved in school and the arts programs there. We recently did a tribute album in support of Breast Cancer awareness and are
Join the family at kindredthefamilysoul.com. Their new album Love Has No Recession is available in stores and at iTunes.com.
ULM - What is your idea of Urban Luxury? Aja My idea of Urban Luxury? WOW! Urban Luxury to me is living in a neighborhood where I can walk and get a cup of coffee and enjoy a public park; where I can have fun with my kids while enjoying city living. I love the whole vibe of culture and kids being able to grow up in that. I think a lot of us feel we have to live in the suburbs to give our kids a good life and I don’t necessarily feel that way. I like the idea of my kids living in a place with history, culture and things happening. That’s my idea of Urban Luxury. Fatin Ahhh, on a hot summer day a nice lemon water ice, soft prexel and my baby right next to me hanging out watching everything that is happening in the summertime streets! LOL! Now that’s Urban Luxury!
by: LENTHEUS CHANEY
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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LUX PULSE | conscience lux
uring this season of setting new resolution goals for 2012 with promises to do better in an area of life, Urban Lux Magazine wanted to share with you a great idea that might satisfy two of the major resolutions set by most people for the upcoming year.
BC4C also offers interested participants an opportunity to try the program for free on “Try Us Out Days.” The next scheduled Try Us Out Days are Tuesday, January 24 and Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Get a move on! And, as the old proverb says, “Kill two birds with one stone.”
According to USA.gov, committing to community service and losing weight tops the list of 2012 resolutions, and if you are like most people these commitments may be currently on your list or added at some point in the year.
Learn more about Boot Camp 4A Cause at BC4C.com.
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by: LENTHEUS CHANEY
To combine the goal of community service and weight loss, consider investing in a fitness program such as Boot Camp 4A Cause (BC4C). BC4C is committed to giving back to the community by donating 100% of its proceeds to local causes. They select non-profit organizations that are near and dear to their instructors and boot campers and are open to participant suggestions for organizations to donate proceeds. In their second year of operation, BC4C has donated over $46,000 to local causes such as Open Hand, Camp Twin Lakes, Everybody Wins, Adopt a Golden Atlanta, PATH Foundation, Kate’s Club and Get Grounded Foundation. Here are some additional facts about BC4C: • Programs are designed for a 30-day period or 16 sessions • Participants meet in Piedmont Park - Atlanta • Sessions meet 4 days per week, beginning at 5:45 am; done by 7 am • All fitness levels (beginners or intermediate) are welcome and encouraged to join • Training sessions address strength, cardio, balance, flexibility and more • Members receive a fitness journal with nutritional advice and daily workout tips • Classes are led by veteran volunteer trainers • All proceeds benefit local causes
UrbanLuxMagazine.com | 2012 January - March
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LUX ECONOMY
Preparing Today’s Finances for Tomorrow’s Unknown
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famous author once said “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” Well, that’s true. But in these economic uncertain times, how can we create a financial future better than the reality we’re living today? There are a few tips and tricks to turning the corner toward a better financial future, and what better time to start than now
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Taking Stock of Your Financial Situation: First of all, what is your current financial situation? Sounds like an easy question, but in order to turn the corner you really have to take stock of your current position and understand where your money is going. You’ll be amazed!
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What’s Your Plan? Set measurable financial goals for yourself once you’ve taken stock of your finances. Break your goals down into one year, two year and even three year benchmarks. Where do you want to be financially at the end of this year? Start there. Cut, Cut, Cut Figure out where you can make cuts. All of us can cut back on spending. Remember, you’ll be surprised when you take stock about where a majority of your dollars are really going. Can you do with one less meal out a week, or one less shopping spree a month? You could free up a few extra dollars a month by making a few simple changes. Put a spending plan in place and stick to it. It’s an Emergency You have to treat your financial future like an emergency situation, and this means putting an emergency savings plan in place. To better prepare for tomorrow’s uncertainly, you need to create an emergency savings net for yourself of at least three to six months of funds to cover your living expenses. You should also create a back-to-basics budget that you can draw from in the event you become unemployed or unable to generate income for an extended period. Get Rid of Debt It sounds like a cliché, but you’ve got to prioritize paying off your debts. Start with those debts with high interest rates and put yourself on a plan to paying those debts off. A brighter financial future can begin with lowering your debt obligations and freeing up more of your money to invest in your future.
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Understanding your Taxes Getting a better handle on your finances also mean getting a clearer understanding of your tax situation. Consider seeking the advice of a tax advisor to determine if there are additional ways to lower your taxable income. Placing income in a retirement accounts is a great way to reduce your current taxable income while simultaneously saving for your future. January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
Mind your business Rodolfo Price, CPA of Price Dean provides accounting, payroll and tax services to small business owners. He says that many of the same financial and tax planning strategies for individuals hold true for businesses as well. Rodolfo advises that business owners always have their finger on the pulse of their business, explaining that it’s not only changes in the industry that impact business success, but also making your business economically adaptable. Adaptability is one of the key ingredients to a successful financial plan. RODOLFO PRICE, CPA - pricedean.com
Retirement is Around the Corner Few people plan to work forever. Plan today for a future when you may choose not to work or earn income. As part of your planning, think about what it will take financially to maintain the lifestyle you want in your retirement years. Take advantage of your employer’s retirement plan, or if you’re able to, consider setting up your own IRA. Reviewing your retirement plan is a critical part of effective financial planning. Meet with a financial advisor to discuss retirement planning, whether through your company’s 401K plan or an individual IRA. Also consider setting up a longterm plan and examine your existing investments for possible changes. Pay close attention to market volatility as well as current and future economic trends. Protecting your Assets With a solid plan in place, emergency funds set up and your retirement plan in motion, you should think about protecting your assets from risk. This risk could be any number of unforeseen circumstances, including health issues, property loss, job loss or death. Some of this is self-insurable and some of it will require you to take out insurance. Consult your financial advisor for the best course of action for your situation. Tomorrow is unpredictable but your finances do not have to be. Take an assessment of your current situation, set realistic goals, establish a savings plan, and seek financial advice to create a brighter financial future for tomorrow.
by: IAN SMITH
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LUX ESSENTIALS | conscience
Let Your Mind, Body and Soul be Organically Grown
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n the coming year, there are going to be a lot of changes that we have no control over, whether those changes be political, social and/or financial. Why not make the decision to change some things in your own life that can be a positive influence on our global community, environment and the mother earth we live on.
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Some people tend think that “going green” means changing all aspects of your life and becoming a “tree hugging” activist that looks more like a bohemian hippie from the 60’s, when it merely means changing your MIND set and making a conscious choice to do some things in your everyday life that will help the environment, your health, and preservation of our world. GREEN TIPS Recycle: Learn how to recycle! Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours or a tv for 2 hours. Recycling one ton of aluminum saves 37 barrels of oil. Glass never wears out - it can be recycled forever. Glass containers save 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of glass recycled. It takes more than 500,000 trees to produce the newspapers Americans read each Sunday, yet only 30% of all newspapers are recycled. Producing new plastic from recycled material uses only twothirds of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials. For every 7 trucks needed to deliver paper grocery bags to the store, only 1 is needed to carry the same number of plastic grocery bags. Find your local recycling center and ask what things you can recycle. Our earth will thank you! Conserving Energy at home: Conserving energy throughout your home, saves money on heating and electric bills. Because most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels, using less is beneficial for the environment. Use energy efficient bulbs (cfls) in your light fixtures, saves energy and money. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. When not using your appliances, unplug them. Home Cleaning: These at home items are great for cleaning organically. Baking soda (deodorizing, scrubbing and whitening), borax (deodorizing, disinfecting, removing stains),Hydrogen peroxide (disinfecting and removing stains), lemon (deodorizing and removing stains), liquid soap (sudsing power), plant essential oils- chemical free fragrance, white vinegar (disinfecting and removing stains) are just a few things that you can use.
Skincare/Makeup: Use Organic products. Our skin is the largest organ and absorbs anything we put on the BODY from skincare and makeup to fragrances. Some of the toxic ingredients that you need to look for in products are parabens (of any kind), ethyl (anything-its alcohol), and bismuth. There are some great skincare lines out there to choose from such as, BOX-Botanicals by Organic Xperience, which are organic facial bars that are recipe based with Oatmeal and Goat’s Milk, then filled with ingredients such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, silk oil, and shea butter (all hydrating and exfoliating oils).
Not only are you taking care of your skin organically, you are healing your skin when you use natural oils on the body for moisture such as, real coconut oil, almond oil and shea butter. These items are found at your local farmer’s market or natural grocer. Preserve your SOUL and your health: Eating organic foods and using fresh herbs are the best way to go, but you have to be careful and read the labels. All labels that say organic might not be organic and “natural” does not mean organic. Look for the labels that say “certified organic”. Make sure the label of meats read, corn or grain fed. What you put in your body will manifest itself either positively or negatively and can attribute to good health or bad health. Globally: We can help the global community at large by purchasing from fair trade establishments. These entities work with various communities around the world to provide sustainable living. Or by purchasing locally with independent vendors, i.e. jewelry makers, local farmers, etc. helps our local community. These are just a few tips, but you can make the choice of changing things and lessening your imprint on our earth. If you have never thought organically, now is a great time! This is our earth, why not hold on to it and treat it good. Have a GREAT NEW YEAR, ORGANICALLY! by: DIAN THOMPSON
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January - March 2012 | UrbanLuxMagazine.com
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