FEB | MAR | 2010
STYLE | CULTURE | CONSCIENCE
URBAN LUX MAGAZINE
yele.org
“When you want something more”
| CONTENTS |
| CONTENTS | 5 the lux team - editors note - contributors 8 urban lux approved - in love with cuisine 9 STYLE - in love with style 10 imagery - in love with bright lights 17 CULTURE - are you a desperate dater? 20 CULTURE - build with a builder 22 CONSCIENCE - in love with consciousness photo: briian dargon
shophim.com
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feb | mar 2010 UrbanLuxMagazine.com
“Life, LOVE and the pursuit of happiness” Is that how the quote goes? Well, it’s February so let’s talk about LOVE, or better yet, “IN LOVE”. Places you would LOVE to take your Valentine, dating advice for her, dating rules for him, the LOVE of imagery, the LOVE of style and much much more. Enjoy . . . Lentheus Chaney - Publisher / Editor LentheusC@UrbanLuxMagazine.com 888-446-1269
| THE LUX TEAM |
| EDITORS NOTE |
URBAN LUX MAGAZINE STYLE | CULTURE | CONSCIENCE UrbanLuxMagazine.com
| CONTRIBUTORS | FAITH MURPHY KNIGHT
Okeeba Jubalo
Faith Murphy Knight is an author, publisher, journalist, web producer and project manager. As owner and operator of Copy: FRESH, LLC, a Web content creation and publishing service, Faith is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and The Project Management Institute. copyfresh.com
A true Renaissance Man & Visionary; Poet, Photographer, Fine Artist, Graphic Artist, Musician, Song Writer, Entrepreneur & Author. When asked to provide his bio, Okeeba plainly responded, “Just Google me.” rosesnbrassknuckles.com
ALAN LUCKEY
BRIIAN DARGON
Driven by the opportunity to be a world class photographer, Alan Luckey inspires others with his personality. He loves to work with young talented individuals with dreams and creativity. He believes in order to be unique and noticed, you have to be polished. This is the key element to his belief in standards. He believes in a quality that is above expectation. alanluckey.com
Imagery, Details, Old and New School Cool and a fascination with birds led Founder and Designer of BSIXTEE6 Clothing Company/ Photographer Briian Dargon to our pages. Briian contributed images to the cover and several of our stories this month and is currently finishing up his first book “Broke(n) Genius” and his commitment to the “HEAL HAITI” Sneaker Drive to be held in New York this month. bsixtee6.com healthesole.wordpress.com
GRACE LEE
ZACH DAVIS
Founder of AtlantaGspots.com, Grace has an insatiable appetite and her passion for food has built quite a following in the Atlanta area. She has done several food challenges, beating men almost three times her size. Her love of food is the foundation for her website that serves as a food portal of food reviews & restaurant recommendations. atlantagspots.com
Zach Davis is a father; husband, life coach, and author, whose passion to inform and help others led him, along with his friend Okeeba Jubalo, to form Z & O Publishing. An urban publishing company aimed at giving the same food for thought he wished he’d had second helpings of along the way. rosesnbrassknuckles.com
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atlantaopera.org
| URBAN LUX APPROVED |
| URBAN LUX APPROVED |
IN LOVE WITH CUISINE URBAN LUX top picks
by Grace Lee
photo: mug beater
Still haven’t decided where to take your special date for Valentine’s Day? Fret no more! You’re sure to impress any girl by taking her to my favorite romantic restaurants in the city. Now all you have to do is make sure you bring flowers ;)
Aria 490 E. Paces Ferry Rd Atlanta, GA 30305 aria-atl.com (404) 233-7673
Top Flr 674 Myrtle St NE Atlanta, GA 30308 topflr.com (404) 685-3110
Dogwood 565 Peachtree St Atlanta, GA 30308 dogwoodrestaurant.com (404) 835-1410
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Located in the heart of Buckhead, this casual yet elegant restaurant thrives off of their creative creations on the menu! Their “concepts” will tickle your tongue & leave you wanting more. The intimate setting is the perfect atmosphere to share with someone special. A little bit pricier but worth the splurge on Vday! Try the warm lobster cocktail for your appetizer & the scallops. Simply divine. For dessert, try the warm chocolate cheesecake.
Top Flr is a two story restaurant & bar located in the heart of Midtown. Its a small, cozy, intimate spot that is a gem in the city! Their bistro dishes are incredibly delightful! Small plates done with perfection! For dessert try the coconut crème brulee with a mango puree, it is heavenly. This atmosphere leaves the impression that only the hip & trendy know about this special restaurant. Perfect for a first date on Cupid’s day.
Dogwood is simply beautiful and one of my newest favorites in the city! Located on Peachtree St. downtown, these Southern dishes will melt your heart! The decor is elegant & the service is always impeccable. Each bite will tease, tantalize, and then overwhelm you with flavor. The desserts are unbelievably good; you might end up licking your plate. Trust me, if you take your Valentine here, you are guaranteed to gain a few points ;)
feb | mar 2010 UrbanLuxMagazine.com
IN LOVE WITH STYLE
| STYLE |
| STYLE |
Style mentor Stan S. Mukoro has led a well-traveled life. His personal journey of style began with the influence of his father, an actor and television personality in Nigeria. Stan grew up around the studio absorbing a variety of influences from the actors and news reporters he met. Model work as a teenager cemented a budding passion for style. Later as a young man he journeyed to London where he worked in fashion at the epicenter of classic men’s style, Savile Row. It wasn’t long before Stan’s entrepreneurial drive took him “across the pond” to find a new career in the luxury automobile business.
photo: harold daniels
First in Houston and later in Atlanta, Stan set new standards of service meeting the needs of high-net worth clientele.
Stan’s passionate interest in fashion and men’s style never waned and soon he found himself to be a regular contributor writing articles on men’s style for The Vanguard, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers. Stan created MUKORO | BESPOKE to help successful men present their best self in all situations. Taking a highly personal and customized approach to service, Stan assists his urbane clientele in finding their own personal style. He helps them to find that perfect fit to match their personality, work and lifestyle, working hard behind the scenes to make sure that for his clients the ongoing process of maintaining one’s image and appearance always looks and feels effortlessly elegant. mukorobespoke.com
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IN LOVE WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN LUCKEY Models: Mercedes Garcia, Devonna Pouncil, Candice Marshall, Arti, Sarah, Markita Lowe Make-up: Ivy Cooper - Ivy LaArtista Artistry & Reese Williams - Eye Make It Happen Studios Wardrobe Stylist: Desiree’ Griffin - Kiss Fabulous Fashions
bsixtee6.com
MercedesofBuckhead.com
Are you a desperate dater? by Faith Murphy Knight Of course your first instinct is to say ‘no.’ Or ‘Hell no’ if you are truly in denial. Yes I said denial, because no matter where you are in your relationship life right now, either you have been or you will eventually be, a desperate dater. It’s inevitable in fact, because the simple laws of attraction demand it.
| CULTURE |
| CULTURE |
Let me explain. You are a beautiful, sexy, on top of your game woman and one day you meet a man who is the eye candy from Heaven. Furthermore, he meets all the ‘must have’ items on your requirements list. But that’s not all. He has an unshakable demeanor that deflects every excuse you throw at him for not giving him your number. Finally! You’ve met the man of your dreams. He doesn’t need a touch up, an overhaul, an oil change or any other do-over to make him perfect for you. This is the real deal!
photo: briian dargon
You’re sure of it because when he’s near, you get goose bumps. The smell of his cologne drives you crazy. Each time you hear his voice you find yourself descending into a vulnerable state. And to add fuel to the fire, he knows how to take care of business: at the restaurant, at the mall and in the bedroom.
Oh shit. Now what? The next order of business is to start showing this man just how much you appreciate that he made the right choice by picking you. After all, you were made for each other, right? He’s got it all. You’ve got it all. It’s perfect!
In steps the nurturing instinct (and we all have it, even if we don’t quite know how to use it). If you
can cook, that comes next. What man-of-your-dreams would not appreciate a home-cooked meal? If that is not your thing, then laying the sensuality on thick is in order. Only the best for this brotha: Victoria Secret this, that and the other, along with the best perfume you can afford (strategically placed where it can’t be missed, OK?) Life is good, isn’t it? Until.... He slows down the phone calls. He makes an excuse here and there that he cannot ‘make it tonight’ because... his mother is sick or something. continued on pg. 18
UrbanLuxMagazine.com feb | mar 2010
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| CULTURE |
| CULTURE |
. . . continued
What do you do? Well, he’s everything you’ve ever wanted so casually calling it quits is not a viable option. He hasn’t exactly said he was no longer interested, so no need to panic. But something has definitely changed. Naturally, you want to know what’s going on. Why all of a sudden things are ‘different.’ What the hell is he doing with his Friday nights? Now you are on a mission. You set out to find out what changed and why. photo: briian dargon
You want things the way they used to be: perfect (or so you thought). People don’t just turn on and off like that, you reason. You are determined to get to the bottom of it. That’s when you start leaving messages on his cell. First questioning...then accusing. You can’t eat. You can’t sleep. You are focused on getting his attention. Well, guess what? You are now officially a desperate dater. Oh no! How did that happen? It happened because you were being yourself. You found the one man you’d always wanted and there was no need for you to play the game anymore. You let your guard down and you got taken. Plain and simple. To avoid this fate, you must do three things: 1. Love yourself first – not like gold digger love, but self-esteem love. The kind that causes you to think about your well-being, not just his. 2. Look for the signs – a man who appears to be everything you’ve ever wanted is bad news. Why? Because he knows it. He’s re-read The Women’s Wish List for Dummies at least 10 times so that he could be what he needs to be to catch you off guard and give him what he wants. Pay attention. 3. Know when to let go – if you learn this one early, you’re ahead of the game. Determine what it’s worth to hold on to him. Don’t over pay for love. You can learn more about the signs of a desperate dater and how to avoid them in my new book “Desperate Dating – 10 mistakes that will keep you single.” Available @ faithmurphyknight.com. Also available everywhere good books are sold (or just ask for it).
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atlantagspots.com
mugbeater.com
pdtaxes.com
eileenmcarter.blogspot.com
| CULTURE |
| CULTURE | “build with a builder”
photo: briian dargon
by Zach Davis & Okeeba Jubalo
Finding a good woman is like looking for a grain of sugar in a 100 lb bag of salt. This will be no easy task and this road is not built for the faint of heart. Regardless of the flavor that you crave, all women are cut from the same mold. There are variations due to various reasons, but at the end of the day, it’s the same squirrel trying to bust open that same nut.
See this for what it is and we will bring you up to speed on the importance of building with a builder. As men we must ask for more out of the women we chose to involve ourselves with. Any fool can sit down and eat a dead chicken, but it takes a special kind of WOMAN to break a live chicken’s neck! It takes a real woman to get in the trenches with you when your back is against the wall. Now those trenches do vary and it can range from her holding the household together to her keeping your business together. It just depends on the type of woman you are dealing with. Just as some women have their “must-haves” when dating, men should have the same “musthaves” with women that they date. If you are sexually active with this woman, it is ESPECIALLY important because she could potentially be the mother of your child. If so, is she the kind of woman that you will be able to deal with long-term? If she is the type of woman you could see yourself sharing your life with, your selection has to go deeper than looks and sex. Youthful looks will fade and you may become bored with the sex. If that is the case then where does that leave you if she lacks in the other major areas? Your life is going to be Hell on Earth if you are a builder and you are caught up with a demolition artist; she will undermine you and rip your dreams apart brick by brick. I speak from experience and I can tell you that there’s nothing worse than dealing with someone that is too foolish to lead and too smart to follow. What is most important is that you have a woman that has enough sense to play her part. Don’t waste your time with these jokers that just want to show up at the parade on your arm, find you a WOMAN that wants to help you build your float. Build with a woman that believes in the same dream that you do. That way she will be willing to do or let you do what it takes to make that dream a reality. A man is only as strong as the woman beside him, so make sure you can lean on her like she can lean on you if the time ever comes. There are plenty of guys out here with a bunch of “dimes” and couldn’t get a penny from them if they really need it. If you got ill or in an accident tomorrow, is she the type of woman who would care for you? Remember it is easy to find a woman to sleep with, but is she the type of woman that will stay awake with you? If so, that is the type of woman you should want to wake up with twenty years from now. If not, she may be the type that will have you losing sleep twenty years from now. Zach Davis & Okeeba Jubalo are the Authors of Roses & Brass Knuckles: A Man’s Pocket Guide to Winning The Dating and Marriage Game.
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feb | mar 2010 UrbanLuxMagazine.com
joanntakespics.com
theperfectbartender.com
| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
in love with consciousness by Lentheus Chaney
photo: lentheus chaney
Born a child of the eighties in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a Steel Mill town outside of Pittsburgh Pa, in the midst of economic down turn, engulfed by rise of the crack epidemic, LaToya Ruby Frazier documents her family, fearlessly exposing all. LaToya was raised by her grandmother who shaped the soul of a conscious artist Through eight years of exploration, collaboration and erudition LaToya gained full awareness of what the body of work needed to be as her mother became her collaborator. With her mother directing some of the shots or shooting portraits herself, the camera is tuned on LaToya, who then becomes the content of the work in addition to her family, giving a very personal view of living a life of “family secrets, hidden history and constant silence.” I had the pleasure of viewing LaToya’s work and the honor of interviewing her at the Atlanta premier of her exhibit, “The Notion of Family”, at the Hagedorn Foundation Gallery, hfgallery.org. Enjoy . . .
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How would you describe yourself as a person and as an artist? I am a very empathic listener. I really listen to people and I like to watch people. I would probably sit somewhere where it’s busy and observe people interacting with one another and their environment. I am a pretty warm person and very sensitive towards people, not that I would save the world, or can, but there is this sensitivity and an emotional maturity that I realized I had at an young age and I believe that happened to me because my Grandmother raised me.
| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
Grandma Ruby & Me, 2007.
As a person does that transcend to your photography? Photography is what I have invested in and what I feel my calling is. I can see clear what my purpose is. I don’t think I would know my purpose without what I have experienced at home and in my community in Braddock. When you go through things that are difficult and painful, it teaches you to survive, you become tough. I have built up that thick skin to be able to go into a place that people find intimidating or uncomfortable, which is the truth about people, about us, about Americans, about our society. I’m not afraid to get knee deep into sensitive issues and things. That’s what I’m interested in as an artist. I feel like my role as an artist is to bring people back to reality, tap into people and what’s really going on. Everyone is distracted now by technology and people have built this whole other world of delusion, but they only do it because they want to distract themselves from the painful reality that we are all in. We are taught at a young age, the distinction between public and private space. You’re not supposed to air dirty laundry. This whole idea of dirty laundry is fascinating to me as well. As an artist I think it’s my job to interact with my community and people. You can put me anywhere and eventually I will develop a rapport and create a body of work. UrbanLuxMagazine.com feb | mar 2010
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| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
Were you or your family concerned about perception and people peering into your personal lives? My mom has had reservations and my grandmother, who has since passed. They are the type of women that endure things and maybe harbor them on their own time, but me and the generation of women that I am friends with go against that conditioned mentality. It’s about stopping that cycle. It’s not about being silent and it’s not about being ashamed because there is nothing to be ashamed of. Being human is complicated. No one is perfect. Our perception of who we think we are and who we want to be is shaped by our community, society and American history.
Self Portrait (March 10 am), 2009.
Me and Mom’s Boyfriend Mr. Art, 2005.
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. . . continued
feb | mar 2010 UrbanLuxMagazine.com
| CONSCIENCE |
. . . continued
Momme, 2008.
Do you feel that you mirror any of your mother’s challenges or the challenges of your community? Yes. My mother and I are one in the same; one entity in two separate bodies. The challenges and struggles that she goes through I go through to. These are challenges and struggles dating back to slavery. There are traumatic psychological damages that we have not dealt with in our communities or in this nation. It’s a mental and spiritual war and I hope that people can grasp that from looking into the images.
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| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
. . . continued
Through this work has your family struggles transformed your relationships or is the art a bridge to keep you close? No, the art is not a bridge to keep us close and never really has been. That is one of the misconceptions that people have, that this is art therapy and it saved our relationship. It didn’t. We have decided to take control over our reflections of our lives in our community and society together and make it positive. Do something in a different approach than most people are used to seeing. Me and my mom have always related to each other differently from how society deems the appropriate mother / daughter status quoi. Our bond has always been different. It’s just that we started making work about how we perceive ourselves. The nature of our relationship has always been the way it is due to the double role my grandmother played as mother to both of us. I have two mothers from different eras in America.
Grandma Ruby Smoking Pall Malls, 2002.
In past experiences I have seen how death changes the dynamics of family. Sometimes the change is for the good, sometimes for the bad. How has the passing of your Grandmother effected your family and will it be depicted in future works? It’s gonna be depicted. You gotta wait for the book. It hasn’t changed the way things have been for the last several years. I lost a huge part of myself and that’s it.
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. . . continued
| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
Mom and her Boyfriend Mr. Art, 2005.
What’s the overall message? What do you want people to take away from viewing of your work and hearing your story? Wow. Well, I’m not a politician or an activist or anything to that nature. I’m an artist making work of a real account of something that was experienced in this country / world. People are certainly shaped by their family, community and environment and it doesn’t end there. We are constantly in flux. Changing, re-identifying and reshaping and redefining what family even means. It’s about transcending race, class and gender because when you strip all that away, everybody has a soul. So, for me, if anybody can relate to it that’s remotely removed from the specifics of our lifestyle and if they can relate regardless of that fact that were are black women then the work has done what it needs to do and that is touch people and make people feel again without judgment. Break that mold down that we’ve been living under. This fantasy of what living really is. We are living, I don’t know about anyone else, but in this work this is living to me and no matter the circumstances that I grew up in, we still survive. We have been able to accept the hand that was dealt and I’m gonna keep moving. One persons Luxury is different from another. What’s your personal “Urban Lux”? PEACE, a peaceful, quite and undisturbed life. UrbanLuxMagazine.com feb | mar 2010
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| CONSCIENCE |
| CONSCIENCE |
. . . continued
Momme Portrait Series, 2008.
Gramps On His Bed, 2002.
Please visit latoyarubyfrazier.com to learn more about Latoya Ruby Frazier and her work.
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rosesnbrassknuckles.com