Cool Happening: Art & Music Event, Dammit Fannie

So if you haven't heard about CIAA, it's a college basketball tournament that has taken place in Charlotte, NC during the last weekend of February for the last five or six years now. Many of people love CIAA because of all the events, day parties, and celebrities that come rolling through.

You know, it was this event where Drake came to a local strip club and rained $50k!

This year, I was so excited to go. But only because of one event: Dammit Fannie. Dammit Fannie is an event thrown by the duo @dammit_wesley and @djfanniemae, who I was lucky enough to meet during my internship at the creative studio, Dupp & Swat over in NoDa. He, Dammit Wesley, normally paints live while she, DJ Fannie Mae, spins. It took place on E. 10th St. at Studio 1212. These two artists have made effective statements through their creative outlets. With their combination of music and art, they have created an intimate space where creative individuals are able to showcase their work.

This event is great for networking and taking your collabs to the next level.

So many creative individuals were there. There were creatives who spoke poetry and creatives who performed their own music. There was a band where this guy had an awesome guitar solo, and a brother duo that sang and played from their soul! Photographers and videographers, I even met a guy who started his own magazine.

What I loved most was how a group of so many different individuals were able to come together to celebrate each other. Through the dancing, supporting, and admiring, I saw a group of people who reminded me what love is all about. I saw a group of people who stood together and embraced every difference in one another. I saw self expression turned into beauty, art, music, and photography.

But most of all, I saw something real. 

I had a great time at this event and if you're a chill little homie like me, I recommend that you attend any one of these happenings these creative duos put on if you're not up for the club or a day party in the city. Clicks those links in the second paragraph to see what's up and click this one here to see more photos I was lucky enough to take. Shout out to Makeda for letting me use her awesome camera!

@chinkdooga

Favorite Apps: Phhhoto

Phhhoto, created by Champ Bennett, Omar Elsayed, and Russell Armand, launched in July 2014 and allows users to make moving photos (or gifs) that they can post on their other social media accounts. 

The app uses your camera to take 4 photos and strings them along to make a gif. The app features a “Wow” page where Phhhoto staff pick their favorite phhhotos and display them. Several times a week, a user is picked and gets to host the “Wow” page for a day and pick out their favorite phhhotos (which are tracked using #wow). Phhhoto also gives you the option of using a filter on your newly created gifs. It’s basically Instagram’s cooler, artsier younger sibling. Some celebrities that have the app are: Skrillex, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Cole Sprouse, and even Mark Zuckerberg.

Despite having over 200,000 users, the Phhhoto community is still relatively small so this could be the social break you’re looking for. Maybe this is just me & my introversion, but following friends on social networks is cool & all, but after a while, I start to feel a little suffocated & restricted. Not a lot of people are on Phhhoto, which means you can be as weird & unapologetic as possible.

Phhhoto is a way to document your life in a cool artsy way. It’s an app full of artists & creators, and is yet another great way to establish connections and collaborate with others. Plus it’s just a really cool fucking app.

His Own Direction

One Direction, the British 5-part boy band made famous from The X Factor in 2010, has been broken up for about 10 months now. Well, logically, actually only since November 13th with the release of the seemingly last album,  Four.
I can't help but ask myself, who really even gave a fuck after Zayn Malik decided to leave? He was the one bringing in those numbers. What'd you think, Harry Styles? He dated Taylor Swift, so everything he does is now considered null and void.
I am a completely heterosexual man, so I can admit this in full comfortable in myself that Zayn Malik is a sexy sum'bitch. Look at him.

Knowing what I know about 1D -- a group geared towards 12 to 15 year old girls -- I never really gave a damn about them. But I frequent Twitter. That's my home. So when Zayn Malik split from the group, the Brit became a trending topic. It got me curious, why the f*ck he do that? 

Nothing much immediately came from the J.T./Beyonce move, or dare I say, the greatest solo venture ever, Michael McDonald leaving The Doobie Brothers. But, around the month of September, when talks of the final One Direction project began to arise, Malik began opening himself up to major publications in personal interviews at his home in Beverly Hills where after reading into who he is, you can clearly see he was the 'bad boy' of the group.

The graffiti, the smoking, the bleached hair and obligatory leather jacket. 

Now, the solo career started in March 2015. Here we are in the new year and still nothing. He has acknowledged the glaring absence of music in which constitutes a solo venture. So where the hell is it Zayn?
Learning of his life's musical influences really sparked a new interest in his forthcoming work. The British Pakastani credits his father with a deal of his influence, who was immensely into R&B, and when asked what music he had playing around the house, he said “it was a lot of R&B, a lot of R. Kelly, a lot of Usher, a lot of Donell Jones, a lot of Prince.” Along with rap artists like Pac and Big as well as the bop & reggae genres.

Training Wheels Zayn:

Motorcycle Zayn:

With knowing that we will hear some of Malik’s own sound in the spring is exciting and I am personally looking forward to it.

Club Review: Chemistry Nightclub

Chemistry Nightclub

2901 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC

Recommendation: Go on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays are karaoke nights and Thursdays are drag nights. Aside from the obviously entertainment-packed weekends, Chemistry Nightclub’s themed week nights will easily become your favorite weekly pastime. Or maybe even how you get through the week, as I can recall this exact exchange between myself and friends several times: “What day is it?” “I think it’s Thursday. Wait no. Last night was karaoke, so it’s Wednesday.”

My first experience at Chemistry was back in early September. This was the first semester I actually became a part of UNCG and Greensboro’s queer community (after 2 years/4 semesters being here, bless my little introverted soul). I was on the board for UNCG’s Queer Student Union and had just gotten my Paris Is Burning virginity broken at our first movie showing. It was my second time being in a club. My first was at Legends in Raleigh with a couple friends from school, but we were all 18, barely knew each other, and stayed in the corner for half the night. We went to Chemistry as a group, board members and some organization members, which helped introduce the club as a place to go with my new “family”. It was a night of firsts that easily became “the regular” as I became a usual at Chemistry (sorry, Mom. I know, yeah, I should be spending this time studying.)

Tuesday’s karaoke nights are hosted by Niel Reyes, a lively freshman at UNCG who is not afraid to call you out on your off-key rendition of the theme from Phantom of the Opera. The ratio of college students to adults is almost perfect. Meaning there will be a lot of pop, rock, and trap, but there will also be a good mix of 90's R&B, broadway, and disco. There are some “usuals” that I run into every time I attend: the small group of UNCG students who sing Wicked and Fall Out Boy, the guy that feels inclined to bring back The Bad Touch by The Bloodhound Gang (to which I always pelvic thrust to like a middle schooler, so let me hush), the fabulous older ladies who dress in their best and wow us with some Celine Dion, and the guy that always ends out the night with Afroman’s "Because I Got High." Karaoke nights are the place to go if you’ve had a long day and just want to pour your soul into a microphone for 3 minutes and 42 seconds.

Thursday’s drag nights are hosted by Chemistry’s performance director, Tia Chanella. Advertised as Dorm Thursdays, on this night, Chemistry will be overrun with college students who will spend half the night out on the back patio in groups smoking cigarettes, gossiping, and being admirably unapproachable. That is until the clock strikes 12:30am, Chemistry’s drag night theme begins to play, and everyone comes back inside and forms an arch around the stage to watch the performances. Drag nights usually consist of three queens (Drag kings are on Sundays but I’ve been hearing some rumors that our kings and queens will soon be sharing the same Thursday stage) who will have your heart, your attention, and your single dollar bills as they perform to their chosen music. Thursday’s drag nights are not the night to miss. Especially as a college student because the night is free for us.

Chemistry is one of my favorite places to go after a long day of nodding off in class. The staff is easy to get to know and they will know your name by your third visit. It’s a place for free entertainment, socializing, and a place to be unapologetically yourself as an LGBTQIA+ person. If the world were to end at 1:14am on a Friday morning, I’d be really glad to say I was a part of the people who got obliterated whilst trying to twerk to Nicki Minaj’s "Trini Dem Girls."

Photo by Jeffrey Tullis

Coffee Spotlight: Irving Farm

Irving Farm

88 Orchard Street NY,NY 10002

4/5

Recommendation: Macchiato (traditional mind you, those tiny little cups of magic that are made up of a double shot and the smallest amount of steamed milk) and a raspberry doughnut.

I like to think that I know a thing or two about coffee. It was the first industry that I went into when I started working, and I never left until I moved into the city for culinary school. So, when I moved the first order of business was finding a local coffee shop that cranked out awesome drinks and would also hopefully serve as a good hangout spot and home away from my dorm. While Irving Farm on Orchard may not be a super chill spot to settle in with a book (though the downstairs seating can offer some respite from the crowds) they reliably serve up some of the best espresso I’ve had in the LES. Coming from a cafe that roasted in-house, I love that the shop uses all Irving Farm Roasters coffee, and what good coffee it is.
While I do almost always tends towards espresso as my daily drink, I brew Irving Farm coffee at home and can attest to the quality of their beans for a pour over or cup of drip. (Right now I’m brewing their organic Honduras Capucas, a washed coffee that has notes of pineapple, brown sugar, tobacco, dried cherry and vanilla.) Not only does Irving Farm have excellent espresso (I urge you to get a simple double shot, a macchiato or cortado), they also have some super tasty sweet treats as well as a breakfast and lunch menu. I’ve never had any of their hot food, but I am a total sucker for their raspberry jelly doughnuts, which go perfectly with a double shot and a glass of sparkling water. On a hot day, their iced americanos knock it out of the park but if you’re not feeling coffee they make some seriously delicious lemonade in house.
Not in the LES? Fret not, Irving Farm also has locations in Gramercy, the Upper West Side, and Grand Central.

Restaurant Review: YN

YN

227 Mott St, NY, NY, 10012

3.5/5

Recommendation: Make a beeline for the formaggi and salumi, they usually run a deal that gets you 5 choices for around $35. For the amount of delicious meat and cheese and toasty bread they serve up, it’s a total deal. Go ahead and order a glass of prosecco too, you know you want to.

YN was the first restaurant I stepped foot in after moving to the city and I fell madly in love at first sight (and bite). Part wine bar, part excellent Italian restaurant, this tiny, primarily bar-seating restaurant serves wines, small and large plates that pay homage to different Italian regions and traditions. The space is almost excessively quaint, with bottles and jars of Italian alimentary products sitting next to copper pans on the shelves that line the brick walls. But thanks to its quality products and charming staff, YN manages to dodge the bougie vibe that permeates a large part of Mott Street these days.
The first time I ate at YN, my brother and I were happy hour-hopping through Nolita and arrived at the restaurant around 5 p.m. The happy hour specials here are excellent; from 4-7 p.m. all crostini and cheeses are $5, and select glasses of wine from their carefully curated list are $7. After realizing that we were the only people and that it appeared as if there was just one girl working behind the bar, we decided to try a couple of the aforementioned crostini and were pleasantly surprised with both the product and the service. (It has continued to be my experience that there are never more than two folks working and they do it all: take orders, pour drinks, and prepare food behind the counter). After ordering three crostini: chevre, anchovies, and pecan, we ordered a couple of glasses of barolo and chatted with the waitress while she prepped our order. 

The crostini were amazing, served on thick slices of good bread that was toasted and drizzled generously with olive oil (and they’re happy to keep the bread coming) and not overpowering or fussy in their presentation or taste. Since that meal, I’ve been back for brunch and dinner, and have had nothing but good experiences. I will say that breakfast/brunch tends to be a little more “american” and heavy duty as well as perhaps not being as good of a deal, but it’s delicious all the same.

If you find yourself in Nolita (or really within 20 minutes of this place) I highly recommend stopping in, even if it’s just for a coffee or some bread and cheese. YN manages to at once be a neighborhood cafe and a reliable source for delicious small plates, all reasonably priced and housed in a space that will make you dream of Instagram fame.

Best Spots in Asheville for Coffee and Quiet Time

Sometimes it's nice to get away from your room or campus to study, create and write. You can look up and not recognize someone, for once, and you can be inspired by an ever-changing atmosphere. I prefer it, even. The surroundings are very important for me when picking where to go. I am introverted when it comes to my study style, so I like to be able to close off the craziness of the world for a bit and get away in a nice, quiet spot. Being a college student also makes it quite hard to really pay for $5 coffee every time I have a paper due, so I look for reasonable prices which isn't easy to find in a world that loves their high-dollar espresso. And good chai. Always good chai. Check out my favorite spots to wind down, drink coffee and get inspired in the Asheville area below. 

1. Battlecat Coffee Bar

373 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC

If you’re anything like me, you have to be surrounded by people doing shit in order to get your own shit done. Battlecat is a beautiful mix of Asheville flavor and hard work, artsy flare and quiet time. I love this place mostly for their low prices and iced specialty drinks like their iced chai (my go-to order) or their thai iced coffee, a wonderful blend of thai tea, cream and coconut. The wifi is fast, the chairs are comfy and the vibes are great. Go here if you feel like blogging or finishing up some homework in nice natural light. In the back of the coffeehouse, Tigerbay Cafe houses colorful, fresh brunch options for the early parts of the day, and the room is covered in a signature Paper Frank mural of pink, yellow and tigers. The crew is super friendly also.

2. High Five Coffee Bar

13 Rankin Ave, Asheville, NC

Oh how I love this little spot! You’ll probably catch the Let It Be Yours team here on a random morning planning and plotting, ‘cause this is our favorite place to get things done. The coffee is delicious every time. Although it is a little pricey for my college wallet, I learned what suits me and I love supporting the High Five crew of talented baristas. This place fills with sunlight early in the day, with awesome seating high up or down low. The tunes are eclectic, ranging from old school hip hop to chillstep. The cool thing about High Five on Rankin is that it stays open until 8 p.m., even on weekdays. So even if you’re procrastinating that paper, you can still start it here as the sun is going down.

3. Filo

 1155 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC

This is quite possibly Asheville’s coffee scene’s best kept secret. Filo is a one-room stone house in East Asheville serving up fresh pastries, warm coffee and dinner to a cozy crowd. I went in here during exam week alone not knowing what to expect. I ordered their supposedly popular grilled cheese dinner with a vanilla latte and man did I fall in love! The grilled cheese rested lightly on a homemade tomato soup, serving as a sauce to the sandwich. They are open until 12 a.m. (yeah, seriously) so they are pretty much a godsend to the late starters in search of an off campus hideaway.

4. Vortex Doughnuts

32 Banks Ave #106, Asheville, NC

Okay, yes, this place might have the best doughnuts you've ever tasted. But stop for a sec and focus. I know. The coffee here is actually just as dope. Yes, it's true. And the vibes, even better. Head down to Vortex Doughnuts to not only be overwhelmed by the aroma of glaze and sweet, sweet icings, but also head down there to finish that paper due at 5 p.m. Go! This spot is beautiful and comfortable, with lots of space to breathe and think. You've gotta grab a doughnut, of course, but you'll want to come back for another flavor, another drink, and another spot near the window. You're welcome.

5. Bomba

1 N Pack Square, Asheville, NC

Wondering where all the cultural flare in Asheville is at? I’d like to argue it all resides within the walls of Bomba, right across the street from Vance monument downtown. Walking into this half-windows, half yellow establishment will warm you up instantly. The menu is Mexican and Latina-inspired with lunch and dinner dishes with delicious espresso creations. It’s slightly cramped, but the food is worth it. Take a seat on the side and people watch like crazy. Oh, and please order the plantains.

  

Honorable Mentions

Old Europe DOWNTOWN

This place is always open. Like, I don't think I've ever seen it closed. Known for being downtown's oldest coffee shop, Old Europe keeps an old timey style in pastries and coffee drinks. The vibes give it a romantic quality that makes it great for studying or hanging out with significant others. I wouldn't study here alone, but the coffee selection is reasonably prices and the desserts are to die for.

Firestorm Co Op WEST

Best book selection in town although the coffeeshop side is kinda over-priced. Great events and meetups for twenty-somethings throughout the week. If you dig social justice, you'll love this spot.

Izzy’s Coffee Den DOWNTOWN

Coffee lacks where the vibes pick up. Sometimes the baristas were pretty rude to me, but I brushed it off because of the cool factor and artsy quality of the spot.

World Coffee  DOWNTOWN

Super touristy, tasty, and upbeat spot. Although the priciness breaks my heart, the coffee specials are so on point and great for dessert-drinks. Treat yoself.

Edna’s NORTH

Weird place and the wifi sucks, but it’s very spacious and has an eclectic menu. I've gotten lots of things done here, and it's north Asheville location is nice to get away from downtown sometimes.

Double D's Coffee & Desserts DOWNTOWN

 This red european double-decker bus in the heart of downtown may be a super hot tourist spot, but they definitely have some of the best coffee and prices in downtown Asheville. Climb up to the top floor of the bus to find some nice quiet space when downtown isn’t too hectic.