DC Life Magazine February - 2012

Beauty Report

More Than Skin Deep

Style Speak

Dressing the Part for Your Personality

Dyanne Marte Passion for Fashion

Articles | News | He alth | Lifestyle | Food

Content 14 More Than Skip Deep Kelly Haywood, resident makeup artist of Laura Mercier, shares beauty secrets beyond cosmetics.

18 Are You a Dreamer, Vixen or Class Act Mutsa Meda illustrates fashion by personality.

20 Dyanne Marte: Passion for Fashion Maha Chaudhry explains how to stay fashionable while focusing on fitness goals.

30 Recipe Box Jennie Ling Tai shares her coffee mug creation for the perfect Truffled Eggs & Spinach.

ON THE COVER | CHARLES BUTLER/PHOTOGRAPHY; MAHUM KHALID/MODEL; DYANNE MARTE/DRESS, BERNADETTE WILSON/HAIR; ANNA CASTILLO/MAKEUP; UNION 206 STUDIO/LOCATION

24 Honeymooning... Let Your SADness Decide Jeanette Zuleger offers her tips to planning a destination vacation.

34 He Said She Said Two of DC’s leading dating experts sound off on the relationship deal breakers.

38 Rick Ross at DAR Constitution Hall Monika Pearson reviews a recent concert featuring Rick Ross.

44 Crazy Love A Poem by Destiny Cammack

46 It’s a Thin Line Between Love, Hip Hop and Comedy Tishawn Seaton of Celestial Caring Enterprises spotlights local entertainment in the DMV.

47 An Interview With DJ Speechless Q & A session with up and coming local deejay DJ Speechless.

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Publisher: Mestizo Media Group, Inc General Manager: Eugene O. Smith, Jr. Managing Editor: Gigi Smith Contributors: Kelly Haywood, Miguel Angel Oyola, Jr., Charles Butler, Anna Castillo, Jennie Ling Tai, Jason (The Daygamer), Mutsa Meda, Tishawn Seaton, Maha Chaudhry, Jeanette Zuleger, Monika Pearson

Advertising Sales DC Life Magazine P.O. Box 272 Dumfries, VA 22026 Phone: 877-275-5569

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Copyright Š 2012 by DC Life Magazine TA: Mestizo Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Editorial

This month has been filled with fashion and progress. We take time to reflect on “the month after our resolutions”, and enjoy a break from the intense holiday season. Now is our chance to focus and gather ourselves for Spring, and the new seasons of color and life. This month is about PASSION, and we hope that this issue gives you a glimpse of ours, and possibly helps you to find yours. Although our time here together is brief, we hope to draw people closer, if even for a moment to appreciate our diversity. I hope that you will find value in this month’s issue and that you will continue to support our cause as we keep growing and expanding into 2012.

Thank you.

Eugene Smith / Editor In Chief

Contributors

More Than Skin Deep Style Speak Kelly Haywood Mutsa Meda 12 16

"We become not a melting pot but a beaut different yearnings, different hopes, differen

By Jimmy Carter 8 DC Life Magazine

Passion for Fashion Maha Chaudhry 19

Recipe Box Jennie Ling Tai 28

tiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, nt dreams."

DC Life Magazine 9

“What we have to do... is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.�

Hillary Clinton

Beauty

Beauty: More Than Skin Deep

By Kelly Haywood Every season, new cosmetic looks and trends grace the covers of magazines, runways, and makeup counters alike.

From sultry smoky eyes and nude lips, to a bold red lip with an Audrey Hepburn tight line, a bronzer which promises to achieve J Lo’s glow…makeup, like fragrance is an extension of fashion, it is the last piece in the puzzle we put together to define our look. One of the biggest challenges as a Makeup Artist is effectively “removing” what is taking away from a client achieving her most flawless look. Whether it is dark circles, sun damage, redness, skin eruptions, large pores, bags, or making fine lines and wrinkles appear less obvious, the canvas is key to achieving the look the client ultimately desires. The things that I see I need to “remove” are usually the things that make a client most insecure, and generally conversation in my chair leads to inquiry on how these things can be corrected. Like a painter’s canvas is carefully mounted and prepped, so is the face, makeup artists must prepare a person’s skin before makeup application. Sadly, makeup utilized as a corrective measure for skin flaws generally results in a heavy feeling on the face, and can be obvious and uncomfortable. As health has become more of a cultural priority and even as cosmetic procedures 14 DC Life Magazine

have become more advanced, people want to utilize makeup in its truest form, as an enhancer rather than a mask. Learning about how to repair and prevent damage to your “canvas” will allow you to enjoy all the fabulous fun makeup has to offer.

Poor skin quality and aging is caused by five major factors: stress, cell damage, collagen breakdown, lack of hydration, and sun damage. Preventing and repairing the look and feel of your skin isn’t as hard as you may think. There are a few easy things that you can do without undergoing cosmetic procedures that can transform your face into being a more perfect canvas, not to mention improve your confidence and your health. By focusing on what is more than skin deep, these five tips will have you looking and feeling as beautiful as you ever have…

Yoga Beats Stress Anyone ever told you, “Just breathe”? They weren’t wrong.

Scientists know that breathing has an influence on the amount of stress that your body undergoes. For the makeup savvy we all know that aging skin, blemishes, dryness, and discoloration

can stress us out even more that we already are. The funny thing is, age is actually a state of mind. And the sad news is, is that stress messes up our cellular processes, creating free radicals that disrupt our body’s cell integrity. Cells that behave abnormally cause us to age, acquire wrinkles, and even cause the body severe illness! Yoga focuses on breathing techniques and meditation. Taking deep breaths can ease stress and tension, and assist our bodies in finding balance. A healthy mind actually increases our ability to ward of the production of free radicals, and thus plumper more beautiful skin, not to mention less worry lines.

Brazil Nuts Prevent Cell Damage Nuts in general are high in protein, essential fats, and minerals, and they are a super easy snack. Brazil Nuts are the top dog of nuts, and if you are concerned about aging and pretty skin, not to forget those nasty free radicals that attack your cells ability to function properly, than you need antioxidants in your world immediately. Guess what? Brazil Nuts are one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the world, and trust me

when I tell you they are really tasty. Eating your antioxidants will help prevent cell damage and assist in safeguarding and even repairing skin damage.

Salmon Protects Collagen Without omega 3’s our collagen is subject to breaking down, we need to feed our body with the nutrients it needs to protect the integrity of the collagen fibers. Salmon is chock full of Omega 3’s, and so are supplements, but wouldn’t you much rather have a tasty meal? Loss of collagen causes wrinkles and lack of elasticity, not fun. Better skin from the inside out relies on your ability to give it what it needs, upping your intake of Omega 3’s will increase your collagen production, not to mention minimizes sunburn, help prevent heart disease, and keeps your brain healthy. You won’t only look great, you will live longer, and you’ll be smarter. What’s not to love?

Eat Your Water No typos, I actually wrote eat your water. It’s true drinking stylus magazine 15

Health & Wellness water is great, if you can get your 8 glasses or more in a day.

Skin needs moisture. Half of the clients I see look wrinkly and tired simply because they need more moisture in their skin.

When moisture loss occurs, the skin can looked aged and more disconcerting, dry and irritated, yuck. This is one of the easiest fixes for a client; eat your water. Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet, but many of them are also water rich. Try juicing your fruits and veggies, not only will you get the number of servings of fruits and veggies you need daily, but you will get hydration your body will hold onto without struggling to carry that water bottle around. If you choose to drink water, make sure it is ionized, ionized water is said to slow bone density loss and aging, plus it reaches those cells quicker, and we all know we need those cells functioning properly.

Wear Your SPF Everyday Sun damage equals more free radical production. SPF isn’t just for the beach anymore. Wearing an SPF everyday is essential to healthy skin and cells and avoiding unwanted pigmentation.

Freckles are cute pigmentation is not. Once your cute little freckles start to grow in size, they aren’t freckles anymore, they are sun damage. Without being said, the sun obviously causes cancer, but it also makes our skin lack luster. Many beauty brands make SPF’s that you can wear over your moisturizer,

they are light like a veil and don’t have that SPF odor you may not like. Make sure they are broad spectrum. Failing to protect your skin from the sun can have irreversible effects.

Kelly Haywood-Philbert Resident Artist for Laura Mercier Saks Fifth Avenue Tysons II Galleria Initially pursuing a career in fashion design Kelly studied briefly at Virginia Commonwealth University eventually transferring to the historic International Fine Arts College in South Beach Miami, Florida. Kelly worked up and down the East coast with start up fashion businesses to higher end ready to wear and couture fashion brands executing a wide range of fashion events for the next decade. Kelly currently works as the resident artist for Laura Mercier Cosmetics at the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue Tysons II Galleria and is a full time business communications major with plans to pursue her Juris Doctorate. Kelly is an avid reader and writer, enjoys gardening (organically grown), music, and spending time with her children. Kelly regularly hosts master classes with both small and large groups at Saks Tysons and enjoys teaching her clients the techniques necessary for achieving a flawless look. For a private appointment with Kelly please contact the Laura Mercier counter 703.239.1362 or visit the store 2051 International Drive, Mclean, Virginia 22102.

Fashion

Are you a Dreamer, Vixen or Class Act? When love is in the air, it’s the perfect excuse to get a little more playful with your wardrobe.

By Mutsa Meda Picture this; a quiet intimate evening, a cool glass of champagne, long stemmed roses, and dinner by candlelight with that one person that makes your heart melt unlike any other. Sounds absolutely divine doesn’t it? Or maybe this paints a more accurate picture for you; pulling out that dress that stays in the back of your closet, getting cute and heading out for a fun night of salsa dancing with your amour. Whatever your dating style may be, it’s time to get excited. February is here! When love is in the air, it’s the perfect excuse to get a little more playful with your wardrobe. And even if Cupid’s aim was off and that arrow missed you by a few inches this time around, don’t let that stop you from taking full advantage of all the special deals that come along with Valentine’s Day. Get a sweet little gift or two for one of the most important people in your life, YOU! Go on, you deserve it! February is indeed the month for lovers, so go on and keep loving yourself, you stone cold fox you!!

Everything from strawberries to white chocolate inspire the color palette for the most romantic month of the year. Need help defining your February style? Let’s divide style into three categories for three kinds of women, who we’ll dub “the Dreamer”, “the Vixen”, and “the Class Act”.

18 DC Life Magazine

Dreamers are very romantic and have an attractive girlnext-door appeal. They have a style that is coy but flirty, and they glow in sheer fabrics, chiffon, lace, and light colors, like soft neutrals and powder pinks. Think Michelle Williams or Charlize Theron.

Vixens are bombshells whose style is bold and va-va-voom. They can exude plenty of sex appeal by dressing in form fitting ensembles and selecting warmer tones, like a vibrant red. This allows them to exude confidence and magnetism. Think Jennifer Lopez or Marilyn Monroe.

Class Acts have a quiet kind of sex appeal that is not too in your face, and is irresistibly captivating. Their style can be described as classy and sophisticated, yet alluring. Think Anne Hathaway or Michelle Obama.

Whether you’re a Dreamer, Vixen or Class Act, treating yourself (or your date!) to something opulent is a great idea if you can afford it. But if you aren’t trying to clean out your bank account this month, fear not. There are plenty of wonderful and affordable items you can get your hands on. Here are a few ways you can achieve a gorgeous look that fits your budget.

stylus magazine 19

Dyanne Marte Passion for Fashion For some, fashion is putting together great style and for others it’s creating it. For Dyanne Marte, it’s a combination of both. She was only about 11 years old when she started making her very own garments, and at that time it wasn’t for people, but for her dolls. The growing inspiration behind Dyanne’s love for making clothing came from her mother, as she was the one making Dyanne’s clothing growing up. As a treat she would accompany her mother on trips to G Street Fabrics, where she would go straight to the eveningwear and special occasion section. She would imagine all the designs she could create, as she ran her hands through the beaded lace and sequence bolts of fabric. Little Dyanne has grown up since then, and so has her passion for fashion. She’s become the perfect example of a girl with a big dream, who has strived to make it happen. Here’s a little behind the scene session Q&A with Ms. Dyanne Marte.

DC Life Magazine 21

People If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Determined, eclectic and adventurous I will try anything at least once. This is true especially when it comes to designing and food. I consider learning an adventure!

I’m a sponge and I like to absorb as much information as I can.

How did your passion for fashion manifest into a career?

I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Fashion from the Savannah College of Art and Design and my Masters in Design Management from Pratt Institute. After college I started my career in New York City first working as an assistant designer for NY & Co. I then went on to work for J. Crew in product development and sourcing; and I worked for Doncaster Collection at Tanner Designs. I worked in corporate for the first 5 years in the industry before starting my line.

Who are some of your favorite designers?

I’ve always admired the collaboration between Clements Ribiero and I loved what they did for Cacharel when they were the creative directors. Some of my favorites also include Tracy Reese, Balenciaga, Sass and Bide. The designers I fell in love with first were with YSL, Claude Montana and Thierry Mugler. It was the 80’s and and they made women look not only beautiful but also very powerful and in control. That has always resonated a need to do the same thing with my line. My earliest memory of fashion was looking in vogue and seeing an editorial with a Montana pant suit in this red bold color. The shoulders were sharp, and the craftsmanship was impeccable. It was beautiful and I told myself right then and there that I wanted to be a designer. I remember that spread like it was yesterday.

Where are some places you find your inspirations and ideas from?

I travel when I can. I love to go to Europe and spent a lot of time there in my youth. I also get inspiration from my country.

I was born in Suriname. The rainforest is so lush and dense there and the birds are so colorful and exotic. There is so much color there!

Tell me a little bit about the production behind designing and making clothing.

First of all, I would never suggest that people do what I do.

Designing and producing a line is a lot of work. It is too much work! I would suggest that the production be contracted out. I have all industrial machinery. Different machines have different functions. I also have screen printing equipment and a dryer belt for screen printing. I’ve been sewing since the age of 12 and I learn by doing. I also learn by observing. I used to take apart garments to see how they were constructed. If I didn’t know the machine that made the garment, I would find out by contacting the manufacturer of the machinery. I also make my own patterns and grade my patterns by hand. I’m living in the 20th century. I could have all that done for me digitally but the cost of the equipment is prohibitive at my level of production. I only produce small runs.

Lets talk about this infamous dress that flatters the cover of the magazine, What was your inspiration behind this dress?

How long did it take you to design? Make?

One month from concept to finished product. I designed the dress for Pink Rocks the Runway which is a Breast Cancer Fundraiser. Charnise Carter was my lovely model who is a breast cancer survivor. She has a great figure and I wanted to show it off. I made a toile of the concept dress that we agreed 22 DC Life Magazine

on but it didn’t look right and I knew that it will take another 2 tries before I got it right and I didn’t have the time so I sent her another sketch and worked on the dress. I had a fitting and then I had to garment dye the dress because the material was originally white. Once dyed it still was not pink enough. I then air brushed the ombre’ effect of the dress and the airbrushing really made the dress. I love it because it is backless and clean.

I am a designer who needs balance. If the back is out, I will not add a split for the leg. Too much skin will show. I was very happy with the results of the dress! It showed very well on the runway.

What does the dress symbolize to you?

The dress represents strength and resilience. It also represents grace and beauty. These are all the traits that these survivors have. They are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

How would you describe your own style? Do you stick to a certain kind of look, or do you prefer changing it up?

I like clean, elegant and understated design. I try to look “put together” but I don’t want to look as though I’m trying too hard.

I have loads of sheth dresses. They are my uniform of sorts.

They are easy enough to accessorize. I’m not the kind of person that thinks about my outfit the night before. Unless it is for a special occasion, I like to dress and go. I wear make-up and jewelry if I’m trying to make a real effort.

Okay lady Talented, What kind of pieces do you enjoy making, aside from clothing?

I’ve made everything from candles and handbags to light fixtures. I really love the process of creating a product from a two dimensional sketch into a three dimensional form.

And my very last question for you is, how would Dyanne define style as a whole?

Style means making a mark and expressing yourself through the way you dress, how you look and how you want people to perceive you. Dressing is a very powerful tool. It makes a statement when you enter the room. You can manipulate people by the way you dress, close deals through dress. Dress has the power to persuade people. Dress also has the power to transform people. Your outfit can make an impactful first impression. I always try to use dressing to my advantage.

As you may know, fashion is always changing. What’s in today can be very well out tomorrow. And what was in two seasons ago can definitely come back four seasons later. So if you are thinking about working in the fashion industry, you better take out your creative thinking cap and keep the ideas coming.

Because according to Dyanne, “It takes talent, patience and dedication to work and last in the fashion industry.”

She added, “You must work on your craft every day, whether you are researching, sketching or constructing garments and always remain engaged.” I take it as, if the industry is competitive then only the competitive will survive.

Dyanne designs and produces ready-to-wear and custom pieces which are made to order. They include dresses, jackets, layering pieces, pants, gowns swim wear and accessories. The designer sells to Vivo Boutique in Annapolis and can be found at www.vivoannaplis.com.

Dyanne Marte is a Professor and Fashion Design Program Coordinator at the Baltimore City Community College in Baltimore, Md.

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Food

The Hungry Muse Recipe Box: Coffee Mug Truffled Eggs & Spinach

30 DC Life Magazine

By Jennie Ling Tai www.thehungrymuse.com

Need a quick breakfast that won’t pack the calories? Try truffled eggs and spinach with gruyere in a little coffee mug.

Ingredients:

Directions:

2 eggs (Discard the second egg yolk to cut 55 calories and 4.5 grams of fat)

Fill the mug with the spinach.

2 tablespoons of milk

Mix the eggs, salt, pepper, truffle oil, milk and 1 tbsp of gruyere in a bowl.

1 cup of fresh spinach

Pour over the spinach and into the mug.

2 tbsp shaved gruyere

Microwave for 45 seconds.

1 tsp of truffle oil

Take out the mug and mix the eggs and spinach together.

salt & pepper to taste

Microwave for another 45 seconds.

Top with the 2nd tbsp of gruyere, and enjoy!

DC Life Magazine 31

Honeymooning...

Let Your SADness Decide

By Jeanette Zuleger My favorite line from the movie Father of the Bride is the following: “People assume that getting married and a wedding are the same thing…. They couldn’t be more wrong.” Well I now know what George Banks (a.k.a. Steve Martin) meant about the difference between two people in love wanting to show the world how much that love means by making a public commitment, and what it actually takes to make that public announcement come to fruition. Anyone who has planned a wedding knows that there is no equal to the amount drawn out stress and worry over the most seemingly unimportant details which is why, in my opinion, the honeymoon is so important to the recently married couple.

The honeymoon allows the couple to wind down from there big day and enjoy the reason they tortured themselves for the last year. Now don’t get me wrong, my wedding, and I am sure others would agree, was the best day of my life and I wish I could relive it over and over again, but the months of color coordinating, 32 DC Life Magazine

table settings, tastings and money paid out did take its toll on our psyches.

As my husband Blake and I are originally from California, we planned our Southern California wedding from here in D.C. with the help of our family and friends, so coming back the chill of D.C. weather meant that we need some sun in our honeymoon stat. And it is not just honeymooning couples that feel the cold air oppress them in these chilly months. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)(a real thing I swear) can occur as episodes of depression that happen at a certain time of the year, usually during winter. Symptoms usually build up slowly in the late autumn and winter months and cause individuals to feel a sense of hopelessness and loneliness.

That is why it is so important, especially for hard working couple who are in desperate need of some “alone” time, pack their bags and head to warmer, and less melancholy climates. For our honeymoon Blake and I loaded up the trunk of our car and headed to the glorious island of Aruba. But why

did we pick Aruba? Why one island?

You may ask. Here are the two main reasons on why my husband and I… out of a multitude of destinations chose to park our overly pale butts on a beach somewhere far far way: 1) Travel Time: We live in the real world, in the real world people have jobs, important jobs that don’t allow them to take off for three weeks of leisure time, especially after getting married.

Therefore when planning our big trip we decided to go some where that would not take forever to get to. The east coast, although ridiculously cold in the winter (my California blood can’t hand it), has one upside. We are pretty much in the middle of everything. A trip to London or Paris for instance is only a 6 hour flight away and the Caribbean Islands are so close its laughable. Blake and I considered Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia and islands located in the Indian Ocean but we realized that we would be spending half of our honeymoon in the airplane. Seeing as I am an ex-flight attendant who basically

lived on airplanes, the idea was not all too enticing. Therefore closeness and minimal travel time ideal.

2) Location, Location, Location: An Island, a Cruise or Europe; these three destinations seem to be the majority of where most couples end up enjoying each others company and newly joined man and wife. So why did we pick the island? Although a cruises offer multiple destinations on a veritable moving city once again we knew that we wanted sand and beach all of the time. We wanted to be able to, on the spur of the moment, lay in the salty water, Mojito in hand, and not have to wait until we docked at an island we had never been before in search of a beach, they may or may not have been close by. My husband and I are also walkers/explores. We get antsy very easily and are constantly looking for somewhere new to explore, and although a cruise ship can be entertaining there is still a limited area in which to walk and take in the sites.

time forced us to relax and not try and do too much.

All in all, your honeymoon, or any vacation for that matter, should be one that you seriously consider what you want out of it first before pushing the purchase button on your computer.

Think what you want out of the trip… Do I want relaxation? Do I want excitement? Do I want a place that will FORCE me to get up and go or a place that will make me sit down and read that book I’ve had for the past two months? Regardless of what your answer may be just get the heck out of D.C. for a few weeks….

Your SAD disorder will thank you.

So then why not Europe where exploration is encouraged? Well, aside from the fact that my husband and I had just gotten back from a trip around Europe (where he surprised me with my engagement ring under the Eiffel Tower…. He did good), we knew that we also needed to force ourselves to relax as well.

We knew that if we did a trip to say, Spain and Italy, that we would be way to excited to run about the cities and not actually spend any time relaxing and decompressing. Aruba gave us the opportunity to not feel caged on a cruise ship but at the same DC Life Magazine 33

Dating & Relationships

He-Said She-Said Are your deal breakers truly deal breakers?

Jason is a Dating Coach and body language expert—his website is Daygamer. net. Every month, Jason will offer up his advice, and invite one of his female colleagues. Our guest writer is Erika Ettin Founder of A Little Nudge and this month’s topic questions the characteristics of deal breakers.

He Said If you walk into a Dating Coach’s or Matchmaker’s office with a laundry list of qualities you must have in a mate, expect the Dating Professional to either physically light your list on fire (Millionaire Matchmaker), or give you a lesson in statistics (Tough Love Miami, Why Am I Still Single). While unrealistic standards certainly can be an issue with both men and women, this is often a tremendous problem for women, so I will focus on women in this month’s column.

Many of my female clients are what 34 DC Life Magazine

people would call “a great catch,” and their friends and coworkers are shocked that these women are still single. Often, a main issue these clients have is unrealistic expectations.

Some of the common deal breaker’s or standards I have come across in female clients include height (6 feet +), religion (type and observance level), race (must be white, not be white, not have an Asian fetish, have dated Asians before, etc), sense of humor, income (six figures +), divorce (must not have been, have been), kids/pets (must have them, not have them, want them, be tolerant of them), and profession (must have a certain type of job, be ambitious, have time for a relationship).

How do statistics work? If you are a woman and you walk into a room of 50 American men, only 6 of them will be at least over 6 feet tall (statistic from Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink). Add any other deal breaker other than really basic ones, and chances are there is nobody left in your dating pool. There are actually far less American men making at least a 6-figure salary than those who are 6 feet or taller. The combination of

things you are looking for should not eliminate your entire dating pool.

Shouldn’t people have deal breakers and standards? Absolutely! You need to screen out inappropriate matches, and screen in appropriate ones. Religion, whether someone wants kids, and where they want to live are examples of completely legitimate deal breakers.

Yes, you should be attracted to potential mates, but this works differently for men and women. Men generally know instantly (visually) who they are attracted to, while a large part of what makes a man attractive to a woman is how he makes her feel. So, give people a chance—as long as the person in question is within the range of possibility, put aside stereotypes you might have

based on their appearance and have a conversation with them to see if there is chemistry.

I have more detailed exercises I do with clients in person, but for now I want you to think about the following things: 01. What are the top 5 qualities I need in a mate, and in what ranked order.

02. Does the list look realistic, with men existing in sufficient quantity for you to be able to find them?

03. Think about how you would screen (ask questions, tell stories that highlight characteristics and pay attention to his response, tell him what you want, etc) for whatever qualities are on your list.

Keep in mind that the trap/pattern that a lot of people fall into is going after qualities they want instead of qualities they truly need, so prioritize needs before wants. Make sure the qualities on your list are not duplicated (such as 2 ways of saying honest) or conflicting.

are looking for as possible, since you never know exactly who you will connect with.

So, go out there, meet some new people, try some new things, and have fun!

If you are serious about men who have a particular quality, think about where you can find them. So, if it is really important to you that your man is extremely athletic (such as a runner), you would go to the specific events/venues (marathons, runner’s meet ups, specific gyms), dating events (speeddating for fit professionals) and websites (including themed community or dating websites) that they would frequent. It helps to meet as wide a variety of people that could potentially have the qualities you

Make sure to look for our next DC Life dating column. Send questions and comments regarding this column to dating.column@gmail.com. Some of the emails we receive will be answered in future columns or electronically.

-Jason

She Said I can’t say I love Patti Stanger’s advice on everything (and I certainly don’t try to emulate her demeanor), but once in a DC Life Magazine 35

while she shares a nugget of information that I actually agree with.

This time it has to do with non-negotiables and deal-breakers.

Patti tells her clients to limit their non-negotiables to five things that they either can’t live with or can’t live without. I don’t know if five is the magic number, or if there is a magic number at all, but having a long laundry list of a dozen “must haves” will inevitably doom your search for Mr. or Ms. Perfect. In reality, no one is perfect, so it’s important to know what you can bend on.

Being an online dating consultant and dating coach, I hear them all: I don’t want a guy under 5’11. She must weigh less than 120 pounds. If he owns a cat, forget about it. If she likes to play board games, she must be a nerd. He puts Splenda in his coffee – that’s so girly. She’s never been outside the US, so she must not have any idea about other cultures. I can’t go out with him if he has the dry cleaner crease in his shirt. She’s older than I am – it’s just a month, but I can’t date an older woman. He does this weird thing where he wiggles one ear when he’s nervous. The list goes on and on.

What’s really important in life? When I did online dating to try to meet the man of my dreams, I had two main non-negotiables: intelligence and religion. I knew that I wanted someone to be smart – really smart. Not that I’m Einstein or anything, but I’d dated people who weren’t as intellectually stimulating as I had wanted, and it bothered me. As for religion, I am Jewish. I’m not terribly religious, and I’m more culturally Jewish than anything else (I make a heck of a matzah ball soup), but it was the common background that I craved. Again, I’d dated someone who was not Jewish, and I learned that it was something I couldn’t compromise on again. Nothing else seemed as important except for some age boundaries and physical attraction. And the latter one is so hard to tell until you meet in person.

Once you get into a relationship, people seem to have a whole other list of deal-breakers.

Sure, this person has passed the non-negotiable test, but now he or she does something that drives you so crazy that you’re not sure you can live with it. A common one is when guys leave the toilet seat up. Is it gross? Yes. Is it annoying? Double yes. But is it a dealbreaker? I had to laugh when a friend of mine, who just moved in with her boyfriend, wrote to me recently, “Oh, and get used to having the toilet seat left up (lol!). I know many girls complain about it, but it really doesn’t bug me. I think guys are just programmed to do it without even thinking.” She got over this so-called deal-breaker, and so can you. (Plus, this is one that can be fixed, given enough time.) With the right person, even a simple, “Sweetie, it bothers me a little when you [insert annoying habit here],” might do the trick.

In the end, what’s most important is how someone treats you. Is he or she kind, generous, and giving? How about trustworthy and honest? That’s what matters in life. So, take your laundry list of deal-breakers and put it in the spin-cycle to disintegrate. Think about the few things that really matter to you and stick to those. Beyond that, throw caution to the wind, and date lots of people until you find that one who makes you happy, whether he leaves the toilet seat up or not.

Erika Ettin is the Founder of A Little Nudge, where she offers services from online dating profile-writing to e-mailing potential matches to planning dates. Want to connect with Erika? Join her newsletter for updates and tips.

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DC Life Magazine 37

Events Gallery

By Monika Pearson

Rick Ross, also known as “Mr. Teflon Don” and the “Boss” blessed the stage of DAR Constitution Hall last Thursday with R&B singer, Jeremih (pronounced jer-uh-myyah) and local DC artist, Fat Trel. Rick Ross is currently wearing the crown for being one of the top artists in the Hip-Hop scene despite critics that refuse to follow a former Corrections Officer that now boasts of drug dealing and the like.

Rick Ross was blasted in the media several years ago for being William L. Roberts, of the South Florida Reception Center in Dade County. Ross denied the rumors, but various media outlets confirmed the stars’ position title and salary.

One would think that his critics had the final say in terms of numbers for the turnout for this concert. Initially, I scanned the auditorium thinking to myself, ‘okay everybody’s late, they’re probably coming home from work’, but the final turnout of the venue was comparable to a high school football game.

HOWEVER, there are many publications that are less tuned-in with the urban/hip-hop community that really gave a false account of the atmosphere and energy at this concert.

One of the sources I read said that the momentum of the concert was non-existent, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The opener, Fat Trel probably got the shortest end of the stick with his very abrasive delivery

and controversial lyrics – the crowd did not respond to his presence much and the population of the crowd (or lack thereof) was more apparent when he was on stage. Ricky Ross (however) was shown plenty of love as I watched him from backstage entering the anticipating crowd and also as I watched him from the left side of the stage entrance.

He definitely held down his core fan base with seductively dressed ladies and “thugged out” gentleman who skipped out on button downs to wear white-tees and Nike Boots.

The chatter was filled with shout-outs to Maybach Music, his own record label, along with memorized lyrics to songs like, “I’m Not a Star” and “I’mma Boss” – which I thought was pretty impressive their memory was pretty sharp with the smell of “earthly herbal essences” in the air.

But to address the low numbers, I would argue that the majority of his fan base (aka the “hiphop” community) have far more important things to spend their money on (i.e., rent, electricity, groceries, gas) than to make sure they fill the seat of a concert that will last all of 3 hours minus the gas, food, and ticket fees from their bank account.

I definitely believe for the small turnout it was, the audience left content with the money they spent.

Images of Rick Ross his concert at the DAR Constitution Hall on Friday, February 24, 2012.

Photographs courtesy of Chapi D Photography. http://www.chapid.com/

DC Life Magazine 39

THE RECORDING ACADEMY® WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAPTER PRESENTS

THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS® TELECAST VIEWING PARTY On Sunday, February 12, 2012, dozens of chapter board members, music business professionals, and invited VIPs from the Washington, DC chapter of the Recording Academy joined to watch the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards at Barcode Restaurant Bar and Lounge.

Barcode is located at 1101 17th Street in Northwest, Washington DC. and has won several awards in the area such as OpenTable.com’s Diner’s Choice Winner of 2012 and the “Best Happy Hour” for the Best of DC 2012 Reader’s Poll for City Paper.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that are dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring that music remains an indelible part of our culture.

Proud sponsors for the Telecast Party included Albert Uster Imports, Inc., BarCode, Beam Global, DJ Beauty and the Beatz, Gibson, Pepsi, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and TamiCakes.

Legendary Funk and Go-Go artist, Chuck Brown was in attendance to enjoy the festivities in his hometown. Chuck Brown is a guitarist and singer who is known as the “Godfather of Go-Go”, which is a subgenre of Funk music. He is known as one of the founders of Go-Go and his 1979 hit, “Bustin Loose” has been adopted as the Home Run Celebration Song for the Washington Nationals baseball team.

The reception was filled with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and giveaways for the guests. Each guest also received a magazine of the 2012 Grammy Awards nominees. The art of networking set the tone for the evening, along with reactions to the memorable performances of the night, and award recipients.

For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram. (courtesy of www.Grammy365.com)

DC Life Magazine 41

Scary Love Poetry By: Destiny Cammack

Whoever said that love isn’t scary, Must have never truly been, It’s like a rollercoaster with all it ups and down, Treading the line between lover and friend, If you hold on to tight you’ll smother it, But you’re afraid to let it breathe, Because if you give it much room, Then it might just up and leave, Love is a scary game, Like playing Russian roulette, With its rules, regulations, both spoken and unspoken, I think I would rather have the gun to my head, Understand that love is not like science, And you may never know how it works, Understand that at time there maybe several pitfalls and not to many perks,

Love is very scary and I know this to be true, It’s giving someone the power to hurt you and trusting that they never do,

Love can save your life but it could also kill you too, Just make sure that you love the right person, Someone who loves you for you, Love is indeed scary but I will do it all over again, For the chance at the everlasting happiness of loving my soul mate, my best friend.

Music Review

It’s a Thin Line Between Love, Hip Hop, and Comedy Mr. Kiss My Bumper Pre-Valentine’s Comedy Show Pashion Lounge 2310 Price Avenue Silver Spring, Maryland 20902 The month of February, Valentine’s Love had so many events happening in the DMV area, however I instantly knew that I wanted to attend the event powered by Back Road Entertainment and EVOSYS Entertainment because these are two loyal and committed teams that represent the true meaning of unity in the DMV areas. Back Road Entertainment paves the way for artists to development with a consistent and structured platform to publicize their talent, product, and brand, but most importantly Black Goo, founder of Back Road Entertainment thrives on bringing artists together for support and uplifting spirits. In likeness, EVOSYS Entertainment, owned and operated by Gary Nwosu, is a savvy, well-seasoned team of professionals providing epic live entertainment to a committed and loyal fan base. The locally recognized promotions are built on the same foundation: innovative strategies; meticulous attention to client needs; and creative networking across the fan base, media, and publishing industries. I just knew I had to attend because I was curious to view this event that mixed romantic love; hip hop; and comedy all under one roof. Could this be possible or did they stumble on a thin line?

The night started off very slow as the event presenters were prepared and in place to take the night away with a delightful ambiance of a blissful and romantic setting in which Pashion Lounge significantly represents. A few of us continued to look around wondering if anyone was going to show up besides the famous Mr. Kiss My Bumper Dude, Howard G, Comedian, Actor, & Writer. To my surprise, artists and their supports were walking through the door and DMV’s hottest up and coming host, King Tay whom is also Celestial Caring Enterprises, LLC Promotions Team Leader grabbed the mic and worked the floor… before I knew it everyone was getting their groove on having a great time.

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Although hours passed with no comedy, the artist performances were on fire. I was sitting in VIP having so much fun as the entertainment was rocking the venue along with the delicious drinks & foods: wings, fries, and carrots hitting the spot!

I wondered if and when the comedian was going to grace the floor with his presence. To my amazement, Howard G swiftly grabbed the mic and had everyone in the entire place cracking up.

The night seemed like it was never going to end…as I didn’t even want it to end. It wasn’t romantic love that filled the room, but passionate love for hip hop took over the event with some of the best artists including the DMV Rising Starz PressCase Winner, Caveman going back and forth on the mic while DJ Prozpect kept the roof throbbing on the 1’s and 2’s. I am pleased to say that an event combining love, hip hop, and comedy is possible!

For Media Relations, please contact Tishawn Seaton at 209.227.

CARING3, pr@celestialcaringent.com Intellectual Property Notice: The above material and concepts are the intellectual property of Celestial Caring Enterprises, LLC 2007-2012, All Rights Reserved Celestial Caring Enterprises, LLC http://celestialcaringent.com

An Interview with DJ Speechless What do you accredit your sense of style to?

I’ll take all the credit for that. I get my style from all different types of designers. I don’t hide who I am at all; every outfit I put on represents my personality in some way.

What musical influences did you listen to growing up that helped to mold you into the DJ you are today?

I have many influences, the most prominent were; DJ Clue, Nas, Jay-Z,Grandmaster, Public Enemy, 50 Cent, Early Can-I-Bus, and Jam Master Jay. I still admire their craft to this day.

What do you have as a DJ that makes you stand out from the rest?

I am very versatile. From releasing mixtapes to my unique marketing tools, you will not find too many DMV DJ’s that are approaching the industry the same way I do. I engage with the crowd, from dancing with people to run back to the DJ booth to switch back to the track. I really move the crowd.

Your mixtapes have been making waves across the east coast. How did you come up with the concept for this project?

A fresh new sound for the streets was my ultimate goal for this mixtape. Being able to be a part of the next era of music gave me the drive to get it done.

What do you think your “biggest break” or “greatest opportunity” has been so far in your musical career?

Ding a party for Kendall Marshall, Point Guard for UNC, and doing a show with Polo Da Don were my best opportunities. Both required me to reach a level in my profession that helped me become the DJ I am today.

What are your greatest challenges as an artist, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic in the studio?

This career is very demanding involved, you have to stay plugged in at all times. If I’m not on the computer promoting my artists, I’m networking and expanding my clientele.

Sleep is a sacrifice. I have gone plenty of days without sleep, to ensure everything is perfected. Knowing how many people support and believe in me, motivates me to grind the way I do.

What do you feel distinguishes you “an artist” from a musician?

Being a DJ gives me more leverage to give people fresh new artists and views on music.

As well as providing exclusive music.

What impression would you like your listeners to be left with after hearing your music?

What will people be able to say about you as an artist?

This was the first question I asked myself starting my career. I want clients to be blown away by my talent as a DJ ultimately. Although, the greatest compliment would be to have them realize that being myself throughout this whole process has made me the success I am. I have many supporters that have been there through the ups and downs. Those who have been there since day one have said how much they admire my hard work and dedication to make a name for myself in the music industry.

If we could listen to your iPod, what are some of your favorite artist that are downloaded

right now?

Nas, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Future, Amiss O.Mega, The whole A1 Camp, Biggie, Tupac, Bone Thugz and Harmony, Roscoe Dash, Fabulous, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, Entourage 4 Music Camp, and my new up and coming artist Jodi Wagner.

If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry what would it be?

Being able to have an abundance of diversity music at my finger tips I get to listen to the new and the old all at once.

Throughout the years the story telling in music has been consistently disappearing. Bringing some of that old school sensibility back into music would make a good change.

When did you first discover your love for music?

Music has always had a place in my heart. When times were really hard homie - Nas featuring Lauren Hill, “If I ruled the world” made me realize that this industry was where I belonged and it has been that way ever since.

What made you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

I had the wonderful opportunity to work for XM Radio; I met Russell Simmons who gave me the best advice of my life. He told me’ “Work hard and you will get to a door that can only be open by the other side.” Since then I’ve been banging on that door so it has no choice but to open up wide for me.

When did you know that you were going to make music a career?

In the beginning I wasn’t sure how well my plans were going to pan out. Hearing my name buzz locally and being consistently busy with mixtapes and parties gave me the greatest feeling of accomplishment and pride in what I do. This not only a career for me but my lifestyle.

Do you have other interest or talents you would like to share

Buyer’s Guide Items that are listed but not priced are from private collections.

Are You a Dreamer, Vixen or a Class Act Page 19: The Dreamer: Dorothy Perkins chiffon dress, $59 dorothyperkins.com. George bolero jacket, $115 - frockaholics. com. Faith peep toe heels, $105 - debenhams.com.

Freshwater pearl jewelry, purepearls.com. Sequin peach ring, $58 - charmandchain.com. Marco Bicego pearl stud earrings, $3,880 - bloomingdales.com. Handbag, purseblog.com. The Vixen: Hervé Léger sleeveless dress, $1,610 - farfetch.com.

Prada shoes, $720 - saksfifthavenue.com. Christian Louboutin gold clutch bag, $2,195 - shopsavannahs.com. Citrine By The Stones stone jewelry, $255 - pret-a-beaute.com. Stefano Patriarchi tear drop earrings, $278 - forzieri.com. Kendra Scott pink jewelry, $55 - kendrascott.com. The Class Act: Cynthia Rowley cotton dress, $410 - cynthiarowley.com. Bolero jacket, $96 - johnlewis.com. Fogal sheer tight, $47 - pret-a-beaute. com. Jimmy Choo nude heels, $695 - bergdorfgoodman.com.

Quilted shoulder bag, $360 - reissonline.com. Necklace, $30 - baublebar.com. Ziba vintage pearl earrings, $16 houseoffraser.co.uk.

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with us? How do you like to enjoy your relaxation time away from the music?

I have always been good at numbers and marketing; I also have the means that could make a really good book. When I do relax it’s usually a mix of four main things; God, family, reading, and I can’t live without listen to music.

What image do you think your music conveys and why did you choose this type of image for your music?

My image is laid back and eclectic, but if put to the test I’m not in the least bit a push over. I know how to handle my own.

This is the reason I have my alias Ironman (my alter ego).

When I switch between the two the style is definitely a little different. Dj Speechless gets the job done but more humbly than Ironman. Ironman is all about the flashy and more in your face type of music. My ability to harness both traits allows me to be as versatile as I want.

What projects do you have in the making and what are your plans for the near future?

I’m working on acquiring my own radio show and television show. I plan to set the bar at a higher standard for DJ’s to eliminate plastic ones and fake. Really, success is the only plan I have.

Is there anyone you would like to thank?

First and foremost, God. He gives me every tool I need to be successful. All of my loyal supporters, for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to grow and become great. Last but not least all of the haters, for keeping me on my A-Game with every project I do, they fuel the fire to my desire for success.