LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

"DRIFT THRILLS" NOW IN SANTO DOMINGO!
Domincan "Motor Sport" enthusiasts in Santo Domingo are getting an official "Drift Track". Located on Av. Luperon, former site of Herrera Airport, the track is sponsored by AmBev Dominicana manufacturers of the popular beer Brahma, in coordination with Carlos Then of Then Projects. "The Brahma Light Drift Track" opens on September 19th.
Calvin Wan and Casper Canul of the American Drift Association are expected to attend the opening events. Popular Puerto Rican hip-hop band Calle 13 will be performing. The event starts at 2pm and costs RD$500 (roughly $16 USD). Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online at ticketexpress.com.do

"Drifting" is a driving technique; a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed. A car is said to be drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle prior to the corner apex, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa), and the driver is controlling these factors. As a motor sport, professional drifting competitions are held across the world. Carlos Rodriguez, president of the Dominican Drift Society says they have been practicing the sport for the past 10 years.photos compliments of the brothers at autofiebre.com

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

"A&E RECOVERY WALK and RALLY 2009"Well! Here we are again another end of Summer and the beginning of Fall 2009. The return to school, work and snuggle weather. The weekend after Labor Day is typically a stay at home weekend and this year is no exception. I decided to hang with friends who are celebrating "National Recovery Month". The main event of the NYC - NJ area was held Saturday at the Brooklyn Bridge. The event sponsored by The A&E network included a pre dawn social on the Manhattan side, the Recovery Walk across and the rally & concert featuring Smokey Robinson in Cadman Plaza on the Brooklyn Side. A few thousand recovering addicts, friends and service providers turned out in the wind & heavy rain that haunted the day. As a person not in the recovery community I was left with far more questions than answers but had a nice time and saw many familiar faces! There was a special salute to the thousands of LBGT persons on the road to recovery. Events are planned and scheduled during the month across the country!

FROM THE STREETS

Next week September 8th represents the start of another beginning of school, work and all the official business of Fall, but for now, the next four days its "LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2009" and I'm chill'in in the sunny, hot and extreme La Republica Dominicana!

The roving eyes caught a glimpse of the impressingly handsome Henry who kept bugging us if he looked "guud" for those of you who wonder why Henry just returned home from a vacation stint in prison after shooting someone in a domestic dispute. By the looks of things he still has a lil sump'n sump'n going on!

PASSPORT AND JETWAY

TROPICAL STORMS MONAGA AND LEE STUDIOS RAGED THIS WEEKEND IN SANTO DOMINGO, DR
Well the verdicts are in, the pictures are transferred and the pieces have been sent home but that hardly explains the great time that was had by all - locals, visitors and the undecided. By all accounts Friday night had the largest crowd and was the livelier party but nothing can be taken away from part two on Saturday night that easily held its own. Not only were the dancers HOT both nights but they knew how to work a room and a few other things! There was a shower tucked away in one of the corners and each of the dancers in turn made sure everyone knew they were on a hot tropical island shoot. On a personal note it was nice to go in EuKliPtus Bar & Lounge and not be hassled time you walk in the door to buy drinks for a change. Notable was the world-wide diversity of the crowd. Shout outs to all the brothers from Amsterdam, Atlanta, DC, NY and Paris. the festivities continued at Jay-Dee's Bar - Disco for the afterparty and was packed as well, Jerry the owner was busy manning and entertaining peeps at the back bar. The music was a nice mix and the party went on well into the morning heat!

FROM THE STREETS!

PRIDE ON VACATION
Seems the recession, mediocre weather and an uninspiring summer has effected peoples moods for celebrating and enjoying their pride and heritage in big numbers. NYC BLACK PRIDE is at the head of the list for the biggest bust of the year. After the highly sensationalized dismissal of their Executive Director and the subsequent investigation of the agency for misappropriation of funds, P.O.C.C. (People of Color in Crisis, Inc.) was forced to cancel PRIDE last August and shortly there after followed the funeral of the agency. No one really expected there to be any pride events this year as a result BUT true to scandal, a community of like minded NY based promoters in association with the NY Health Advocacy put together "Jubiliation" a Black Expo. Jubilant is not exactly what attendees had to say about the events. Friday night was opening night with a meet and greet that was pleasant enough. Not pulling punches Saturday was not successful. It was billed as a Jubilation Block Party in Commodore Park in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. It never took off, a handful of attendees and twice as many promoters, vendors and outreach workers lulled about complaining to each other. Frustrated vendors started giving food and drink away free so as to not see it wasted. Attendance at the beach event on Sunday was the least attended event. Our team did not attend the Sunday night performance and movie events as the projected outlooks were not favorable. Jubilation was reportedly planned by seasoned promoters and event coordinators who failed the basics. The events were not well publicized or advertised within the community in a timely manner and more importantly did not clearly separate themselves from the lingering stench of the scandal that cancelled last years events. In the future promote earlier in the community at large not just amongst your friends. The venues need to be changed. Commodore Park and Reiis Beach are associated with the scandal and promoters of the past. If you want people to move on, so must you! The best and most jubilant event was the artwork on the flier!

*****

Another of the highly anticipated and popular events of summer "The Dominican Festival and Parade" failed to make any noise this year! Surprisingly the event was not well attended as in past years. The parade was scheduled to begin at noon but did not kick off until after 1 PM and the police rushed it along so quickly that it was like seeing the parade in fast forward. The parade route was limited to 15 blocks, half the usual route. There were roughly 60 floats and 2/3 of them were politicians. Noticeably absent were the bands, radios stations, celebrities and the crowd just never got fully into it this year! This was a big let down after such an explosive and powerful Peurto Rican Day Parade earlier this summer.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE!

Not Exactly "THE EXPERIENCE" we expected!

Drama queen and radio personality Wendy Williams, whose show, The Wendy Williams Experience, has made a career out of challenging and more often than not offending her celebrity guests. She famously hinted that P. Diddy was gay, feuded with Whitney Houston, and told the world that Method Man’s wife had cancer (against his wishes). Now she has made the move to television, hosting a daytime show on Fox that premiered July 13th. In her typical manner she interviews celebrity and wanna-be celebrity guests and focuses on a variety of topics, including her own life. The Fox Network is hoping she’ll be able to carry over the success of her wildly popular radio show into a television format. After much controversy, dwindling ratings and drama the radio show is scheduled for cancellation.When asked about the show and what viewers can expect, she explains the show revolves around her personality. One of the things that Fox keeps saying is, “We want you to be you.” Funny or quirky or whatever it might be — adjusting my wig, or coming in with one pair of shoes and changing to another. It’s not going to be funny — I’m not like a clown, ha-ha. I don’t laugh and tell jokes.

After suffering in and out of a few episodes and to the disbelief and angst of a good friend - David, I feel the show simply does not work in a television format. Wendy an attractive woman comes across as a silly and awkward Halloween drag queen due to poor styling. The show tends to be blindsided by too much buffoonery and a lack of real substance to hold a viewing audience as opposed to a listening audience. The show has been moved to the late evening where it may do better but without a serious makeover and upgrade it will not be around much longer!
Wendy – you can only get so many laughs out of adjusting your wigs. Unfortunately you are funny (and not in a good way). You many not be laughing and telling jokes but neither are the fans at this sick joke of a show!

FROM THE STREETS

An untimely loss of a national treasure and icon!This week the Black (gay) community and the world lost one of it's' most influential, recognized and admired leaders. Best-selling author E Lynn Harris passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 54 while on tour promoting his 11th novel, Basketball Jones his publicist told The Associated Press.According to his official biography at his Web site, Mr. Harris, a tender 54 years young was born in Flint, Mich. and raised in Little Rock, Ark. At the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he was the school’s first black male Razorbacks cheerleader and was a lifelong fan of the team. 15 years ago Lynn sold computers for a living until he self-published his first novel, Invisible Life, which captivated both men and women in the straight and LGBT communities. He forever changed the perceived notion of what a black gay man looked like and how they [gays] are often scrutinized.
Criticized by some in the gay community as tittering too much to heterosexual black women with his earlier novels, E Lynn made amends with his most recent novel Basketball Jones, "a love letter to the black gay community.”
In a statement, Alison Rich, the executive director of publicity for Doubleday, which published Mr. Harris’s novels, said: “We at Doubleday are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of E. Lynn Harris’ death at too young an age. His pioneering novels and powerful memoir about the black gay experience touched and inspired millions of lives, and he was a gifted storyteller whose books brought delight and encouragement to readers everywhere. Lynn was a warm and generous person, beloved by friends, fans, and booksellers alike, and we mourn his passing.”
Contributing Writers: Dwight Powell, Clique Magazine/ Dave Itzkoff, New York Times

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

"THE BIG LATIN APPLE"

This past weekend was the Annual Puerto Rican Festival and Parade. The one week a year when all things in New York City become Puerto Rican with all the color, pagentry and hot latin flavors. 2009 proved to be just as spectacular with everyone from all the tri-state governors, senators and celebrities on hand for the festivities. Each year its seems the parade gets longer and better. Sunday the parade started at 11:00 in the morning with the last group marching across the finish line at 5:oo pm.

"LA GRAN MANZANA LATINA"
Este fin de semana pasado fue el Festival Anual de Puerto Rico y el Desfile. La una semana al año, cuando todas las cosas en la ciudad de Nueva York en Puerto Rico con todos los colores, cálidos y pagentry latín sabores. 2009 resultó ser igual de espectacular, con todo el mundo, desde todos los tri-estatal gobernadores, senadores y celebridades a la mano para las festividades. Cada año su desfile se parece más y mejor. Domingo el desfile comenzó a las 11:00 de la mañana con el último grupo de marcha a través de la línea de llegada a las 5: oo pm