Soul Fiesta Global

Fashion’s Night Out – Baltimore(Thurs. 9/6/2012)!

via Baltimorefashionalliance.com

Join editors, stars, models, fashionistas, and designers on September 6, 2012, as they flood stores in cities across the country and around the world for fashion’s most iconic extravaganza.

Last year’s bash featured events in eighteen countries and more than
4,500 events here in the States alone,featuring special limited-edition
products, celebrity appearances,and unforgettable performances.

FNO 2012 promises to be even bigger and better!

www.fashionsnightout.com

Pictures have been posted from SFG’s Stylist Wars(4/21/2012) and Fela Cast party(5/19/2012) on flickr.

Felabration Baltimore:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sofiglobal/sets/72157629956910492/

Stylist Wars:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sofiglobal/sets/72157629938395111/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sofiglobal/sets/72157629938127009/

Fela On Broadway in Baltimore 5/15!!!.

The outstanding Fela On Broadway is finally coming to Baltimore May 15th for a five day run over at the Gilbert Concert Hall in the Murphy Fine Arts building. Details to come on Felabrations too. Gonna be magic!

On Thursday March 29th from 6pm-9pm Eubie Blake National Jazz & Cultural Center presents a showcase for Women’s History month.  Featured on this night will be one of our Stylist Wars team members….the woman and artist known as Choke.  It’s free so please come out and support her vibrant and eclectic works of art.  Band members from the Bangladesh Project band will be performing live.  SFG’s founder and musical director, “Jay Rags”, will also be in the house playing jazzy House music just for the occasion.

“C.H.O.K.E” From the Sol

A Closing Reception for Aritist: Choke

Thursday March 29, 2012 || 6-9pm || Free – all are welcome

847 N. Howard St. || Baltimore MD, 21201

An Evening of Art and Jazz spotlighting CHOKE and her art created on her journey through this life under the sol (Spanish for Sun)

It’s getting close to the date for SFG’s first big fashion event(Stylist Wars 2012). A very nice event in which fashion, art, networking, and music come together. As we get close to the event date we would like to release some info on our host, our live performance, and some of our judges.

Our host will be Melanie Blue. In 2005 at 15, Melanie S. Blue signed with KIS Agency and another local agency & began walking in fashion shows in the DC & Baltimore area and shooting with the area’s best photographers. Melanie later moved to NYC in 2011 and recently signed with Wilhelmina Models as a Runway & Print Model. She has been in Vogue, Seventeen, Essence and D.U.B Magazine. She was also a hair model for 2 seasons for KMS/GOLDWELL for hair stylist Gary Hamabata and Robin Sween; Hair model for Matrix by L’Oréal Paris for 4 seasons for world renown hair stylist Ammon Carver, Brian & Sandra Smith. Regularly attends Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC.

We will also have a live performance from one of Bmore’s gem’s. Miss Kim Poole will be entertaining you all at some point during the event. Just know this woman, who can sing in any genre, will get you “lifted”. She’s a soulful giant on the mic.

We would like to give some details on our first 3 judges too. They collectively are designers, fashion stylists with a wealth of experience in the fashion industry and scene. Travis Winkey, Beverly Hill of Baltimore Fashion Alliance, and designer Carlos Palmer will be a welcomed assets to the event so far.

Travis Winkey:

Carlous Palmer:

An American Fashion Artist/ Stylist, with over 20 years experience in the industry with a body of work that covers Television , Film, Stage and Fashion.  More… 

Stay tuned for updates on this story as we add judges and more bio information.

In the opinion of me and Soul Fiesta Global, one of the best monthly parties in Baltimore is the “4 Hours of Funk” party.  It happens the 3rd Friday of the month at the Windup Space in the new Station North Arts district; just 1 block away from the famous location of the old Odell’s nightclub building.  The great promoters, and residents dj’s Fleg & Exclaime invited me to add my Soul Fiesta vibe to this party and be the guest dj.  I am the SFG founder Jay Rags and this turned out to be one special night for me.  Of course I was able to add funds to the SFG Stylist Wars projetct, but this turned out to be one of the best parties I’ve ever played at.  It is always special at the end of a performance or dj set when a crowd of attendees give you an ovation.  I will never forget that.  They gave me the energy I like, and myself, along with awesome percussionist Davon McCoy, gave it right back.

This party centers around discofied funk sounds from the 70′s/80′s.  I describe this party as one with beautiful hipsters, house heads, honeys, dancers, and bboys.  There were all ages in there dancing, breaking, and generally fist pumping to the sounds of dj Fleg, dj Exclaime, Jay Rags, and Davon all night.  If you get a chance visit the party.  You won’t regret it, if you just want to party and have fun.

Castings for SW2012 have concluded and now the models & stylists for the show have been selected.  Soul Fiesta Global’s “Stylist Wars 2012″ is the company’s 2nd fashion event.  What’s makes it special is that 4 fashion stylists have been selected to act as the fashion stylists for the 18 models.  There will be a winning Stylist, and a winning model(base on their runway talents).  We plan on creating an atmosphere that is friendly towards networking, with great music, food, fashion, and celebration. We’re one of the events celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Eubie Blake National Jazz & Culural center. They’ve been providing artistic outlets for local and national artists for decades. Portions from Stylist Wars will go to the Eubie Blake center.
[Tickets]: http://stylistwars2012.eventbrite.com

Fashion Stylists: (Carlyle Williams(Mr Carlyle), Brandon Lee(BLee Style), Keyuana Rusk, Tiffany Hughes)
Models:
Dashawn Winchester
Shentel Teal
Catherine Marie
Lindsay Valerio
Ashley Harrison
Elexis Turner
Brenae Bushrod
Brandon Flowers
Dominique Everette
Olga Chernova
Brandi Anderson
Curtis David
Omari Miller
Blair Higgs
Rumeal Mosley
Danielle Veney
Terrez Brown
Tiffany Hughes

On Saturday April 21st 2012, 4 Fashion Stylists and 18 models will be putting on a showcase of fashion and the art of runway modeling for prizes. Judges included local fashion industry folks. The event will have free food, great music, a live performance, networking, and the actual event. An after-event, private wind-down will happen for the SW staff, stylists, models, photogs, and attendees that purchased advanced tickets($20).  A 2nd place model prize will also be announced there.

Are you into soulful dance music? A little of that bangin’ music for dancers? Then you would have wanted to be at the Skyloft in Baltimore on Saturday January 28th. Soul Fiesta Global founder and chief music director began the 4 month campaign to fund SFG’s April 21st Stylist Wars by rockin’ a serious peaktime set of underground music for your soul at the “Intense Sound” party. It’s an art gallery/performance space with a party given by Intense Sound Productions(a promotion and sound production company in Baltimore). We had an awesome time and want to thank ISP and all the dancers that helped make that a lot of fun.

Look for more parties given by Intense Sound Returns @ The SkyLoft(3701 Bank St. Baltimore, MD) with resident Rob Tarter and guests once a month. Here’s some pics from the evening.

Chronicles of Stylist Wars castings:

Well casting calls continue for Soul Fiesta Global’s upcoming Stylist Wars fashion event in April.  One awesome thing that has emerged from the casting calls is the great networking going on between our team and the people that flow through the castings.  Creative people are coming through.  One of our SW members…..more…STYList Wars 2012.

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Renaissance people are known today as folks that are multi-talented  and gifted in many different professional, social, or artistic passions.  On a very warm fall day Jay Rags of Fiesta  Gear, Noreen Smith of Jedidah Jewelry art, & Ruben Smith(photographer) meet in beautiful Baltimore(USA) for the Fiesta Gear/Jedidah photo story.  Professional careers aside, just know that if
you see them standing next to each other you’d be looking at 3 people whose combined passions include Poet, Author, Actor, Writer, Illustrator, Promoter, Photographer, Designer, Videographer, Stylist, Model, Deejay, Comedian, and Entrepreneur.  Just remember that you may walk by the Benetton store in the mall or the Doll House boutique in downtown Baltimore and see Jedidah
jewelry, or listening to a couple of deep House songs and hear spoken word from Jay Rags flowing through it; and even be sitting at a comedy show and see Mr. Brown, photographer extraordinaire, bringing comedic joy to the audience.

Yeah, we may be thrown here on the bed but last night we were partying. You see socially, our owner is a deejay and when he’s not playing he has to travel to hear the kind of soulful House/Dance music we like. Last night he took us to a sexy party with House & afrobeats all the way in dc. Our owner was lost in the music and dancing and sweating. There was a time when being surrounded by 2 or more women on the dance floor meant a sexy sandwich on the floor. But this time our owner Jay Rags was just enjoying the sounds of his dj friends/acquaintences from DC at Eighteenth Street Lounge. So yes, we may be thrown here and still smelling a little like Dolce & Gabbana cologne. But last night we were worn by a music loving free spirited person.

Taking Flight

Sometimes I feel like a baby eagle with broken wings in a crab basket;
Telling those fools that the wind will one day carry me to great heights;
But they laugh at me while I’m not looking, not knowing my wings are healing;
They say “let’s grab his leg” when he tries to fly;
But I watch them with my eagle eye;
Sharp like the Egyptian god Horus;
So I practice, making my wings sound like a beautiful chorus;
Then, while they look around wondering what that celestial noise is,
I take off slowly; soaring and sounding like a gospel choir with a flight of success;
As they show the look of stress, I look down and say, we could have escaped together with a positive scheme;
Could have turned that basket over as a team;
But you just laughed at me, telling others you’ve been trying to escape waaaaay before I even got trapped in the basket;
I had new ways of fleeing the mediocrity, and you all were too prideful to listen. Excuse me while I take flight.

Chronicles of JR…2008

On my mini-vacation I thought I’d take a break from house music and kick out another mix of eclectic tunes whose elements often find themselves in my House music mixes. Sometimes I need to just play the tunes that inspire me. Please allow me to share this vibe with you. It contains Afrobeat, salsa, house, disco, and a couple of newer funk joints.

Studio Sessions #49(Afro-Latin) my vacation mix .

peace,
JR…..SFG promoter

I believe life has teachable moments. I have learned to live my life like that. People, friends, and acquaintances are all sent my way to teach me something. Some lesson from a higher being so to speak. It may be about trust, love, or anything. When that lesson is over you’ll notice how that relationship sort of falls off. Your contact may not completely stop, but the immense communication that you once had seems to subside. What if you don’t seem to get anything from the relationship? In that case I simply say that you’re the one that is giving a teachable moment to someone else.

Have you ever noticed how you and “insert name” don’t really communicate anymore and you don’t know why? Well, for me I just see it as a teachable moment and keep it moving(2 ships passing each other). No hard feelings for me because I understand. In my social life, I promote parties/events. I often get questions from patrons like why don’t you and “so and so” hang out anymore, or why don’t I see you at “that spot” anymore? Well my god’s plan for that part of my life may have just passed by…the teachable moment could well be over. It may sound a little cold, but I don’t want to be one of the people wondering why “this person” or “that person” no longer communicates with me anymore.

Now, there will be instances where broken communications will be the result of a legitimate falling out between parties. Over time those bonds usually get mended. But until then, I usually think of it as some sort of life lesson. By living like this some may think you’ve become “stand-offish” or “not approachable”. It’s just that past life lessons and teachable moments allows me to see potential problems headed straight at me. I just remain the same caring person I always am.

I still have family and life-long friends that I’ve grown up with that I don’t often see. But when I do see them, love is all around. Some bonds are never broken or forgotten

peace,
j to the r

Interview with our Spring SFG guest Ian Friday…courtesy of “Time Out New York”.
http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/nightlife/1268823/after-dark-inquiry-ian-friday

“Taking Flight”

Sometimes I feel like a baby eagle with broken wings in a crab basket;
Telling those fools that the wind will one day carry me to great heights;
But they laugh at me while I’m not looking, not knowing my wings are healing;
They say “let’s grab his leg” when he tries to fly;
But I watch them with my eagle eye;
Sharp like the Egyptian god Horus;
So I practice, making my wings sound like a beautiful chorus;
Then, while they look around wondering what that celestial noise is,
I take off slowly; soaring and sounding like a gospel choir with a flight of success;
As they show the look of stress, I look down and say, we could have escaped together with a positive scheme;
Could have turned that basket over as a team;
But you just laughed at me, telling others you’ve been trying to escape waaaaay before I even got trapped in the basket;
I had new ways of fleeing the mediocrity, and you all were too prideful to listen. Excuse me while I take flight.

Chronicles of JR…2008

You ever hear someone say “I’m going to get a latte”? Or even a cappuccino? Did you think to yourself, who drinks that stuff? Well, many years ago I said the same thing. Didn’t understand what the big deal was. Just thought it was something consumed at places where artists and poets gathered. It wasn’t until years ago when I wanted my own coffee/internet café that I developed a taste for these drinks. Even learned of all the places that grow the beans for it and everything.

Let me first put it in perspective. Think of a latte in terms of someone who drinks wine instead of beer, or even what marijuana is to a cigarette(lol). A Latte is to coffee what wine might be to beer. A latte contains espresso. Espresso can be drank in shots just like folks drink Vodka alcohol straight(not mixed). Same thing with espresso. Espresso, when mixed with steamed milk and flavoring creates all sorts of exotic drink combinations. Espresso mixed with steamed milk make up the basic latte drink. Lattes with flavored additives that gives each drink funny name combinations like Mocha latte(latte mixed with some chocolate or cocoa), cappuccino(espresso, steamed milk, topped with foam), Frappuccino(cold version of cappuccino), and many more.

I went to CoffeeFest a few years ago in Chicago, which is a sort of convention for folks in the industry. There was everyone from baristas(coffee equivalent to a bartender), to retail store owners, and shop designers. They even had latte art competitions. This is also where I tasted my first shot of straight espresso. It burned my chest, just like someone that doesn’t drink would take a shot of vodka(lol). But from that point on I developed a taste for Latte’s. A caramel latte in particular.

These days when I visit a coffee shop selling espresso I don’t feel so uncomfortable asking for what I want. I just whip out my laptop or tablet and relax with my drink, or converse.

This whole movement started from a little ole’ party we started in Baltimore back in 2003. Some of the most notable resident dj’s were Karizma, DJ Oji, & Jay Rags.  Originally wanting to just play eclectic music for friends, and their friends, and dancers.  Soulful house music, Afro/Latin, etc. Just different! Unique….a place where artistic minded folks might want to come and dance the night away. There are many cities in the world that have that one , or even a few, events that are just universally soulful in nature. Whether they be a soulful House music party, hipster funk/disco, Salsa, Spoken Word/Open Mic nights, or old school soulful hiphop. These events may have live art/graffiti, body painting, fashion shows etc. They all have one thing in common. They are eclectic, unique, or soulful in nature. A soulful and artistically fulfilling experience has no color, age, or race and is global in nature. We are Soul Fiesta Global and want to be a hub for global soul sounds and activities from around the world.

Have some new Fiesta Gear Tees available:  “I Roc House”, “Soul Fiesta Global”, and the new “my SOUL craves a universal feel”

sofiglobal at gmail dot com…… for more details

We’re online!!