Issue 16

ENTERTAINMENT

Atlanta United FC Georgia Tech Basketball NFL Pro Bowl U.S. Women’s Soccer

Batman vs. Superman Deadpool Rihanna DNCE

Arts & Culture The Sound of Music Moulin Rouge

SPORTS

No. 16

Contents Arts & culture 4 The Sound of Music Disgraced

4 6

Beauty 14 Are You Matching Your Foundation Correctly?

The Baking Technique Indie Brands to Know

Events 27 Professional Bull Riding The Lives Untold Docuseries Ladies of Business Conference Stellar Awards

14 17 19 21

8 9 11

Movies 28 Batman vs. Superman Risen Deadpool Dirty Grandpa

29 32 34 36

Hail, Caesar!

38

40 42 44 45 47

Jon Hope Martin Garrix Vicetone

48 48 48

50 53 54 58

Atlanta United

61

Music 39 Atlanta Jewish Music Festival Monster Outbreak Tour Emily’s D+ Evolution DNCE Rihanna

Sports 49 Charlotte Hornets Georgia Tech Basketball U.S. Soccer (Women’s) NFL Pro Bowl

Travel & Recreation 63 Miami International Film Festival J International Bounce TV App Skiplagged App Andretti Grille

63 67 68 69 70

*cover photo: promo from Warner Bros. for Batman vs. Superman, in theaters now

Arts & Culture On March 1, we were fortunate to catch the first glimpse of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” directed by Jack O’Brien. Since the film first debuted in 1965, I was sure the audience would be reflective of such. It was nice meeting so many people who had such fond memories of the original production with Julie Andrews and how big of an impact the film had during that time.

An example of that impact can be seen in modern-day entertainment. Anyone born after 2000 wouldn’t have a clue who Julie Andrews is, let alone heard of The Sound of Music, but they’d be surprised to know they’ve had glimpses of it. Anytime a TV show or Cartoon (Family Guy for example) performs a rendition of “My Favorite Things” they’re actually channeling their inner Maria Rainer (Andrews’ character in the film). Whenever someone hears “The hills are alive with the sound of music” or the very mention of the Von Trapp Family Singers, those are all references from the timeless classic.

This tune-filled production is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world’s best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Kerstin Anderson plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey who becomes a governess for the Von Trapp family. In the home of this retired naval captain lives The Sound of Music. Photo: Tracy P. Silvester

seven children, all of whom know nothing but structure from their strict and orderly father.

Maria makes a grand impact on the children, bringing a new love of life and music to their household.

Captain Von Trapp is played by Ben Davis. As a very stern figure, Von Trapp has everyone on his estate in order and in check. To summon anyone from his governess to his children, all he has to do is whistle. As opposed to learning the different pitches to make requests, Maria teaches the children about the warmth, glow, and overall feeling of music. Von Trapp is not a supporter of the regime changes and as an Austrian, refuses to acknowledge the German takeover that is slowly happening. Things start to get complicated when the Captain decides to marry Ursula (Andrea Ross), the CEO of a company who rivals riches with Von Trapp. This sort of pairing had questionable intentions and support from “Uncle Max” (Merwin Foard), better known as Max Detweiler. One should always question the intentions of someone who “loves the way rich people live, and love the way they live when I’m with them.”

This Broadway in Atlanta feature production was perfect in every way (10 out of 10). The singing, the set design, the cast, the love, the laughs, and the overall experience makes this an epic “must-see” production while it’s here. An extra kudos goes to Kerstin Anderson as Maria, Merwin Foard who was hilarious as Max Detweiler, and all of the young talent that rounded out the Von Trapp Family Singers: Audrey Bennett (Gretl), Maria Knasel (Louisa), Mackenzie Currie (Marta), Paige Silvester (Liesl), Svea Johnson (Brigitta), Erich Schuett (Friedrich), and Quinn Erickson (Kurt). The level of talent in those children is astounding.

-Jon J. The Sound of Music “DoReMi.”

DISGRACED Back in February, I had the pleasure of reviewing a stage play called “Disgraced”.

This was a rarity for me in that normally I have some degree of knowledge about the performance I’m going to see. Normally, I would have heard or read something in advance about the performance; but not today. Today my mind was a blank canvas — no knowledge of, or research done prior to attending the performance.

Because there was no research done on the show prior to viewing the performance, there was no preconceived level of expectation — high or low. What I witnessed on stage today at The Alliance Theater totally blew my mind.

The screenplay written by Milwaukee raised Ayad Akhtar, 45, tells the story of mergers & acquisitions lawyer Amir Kapoor (Andrew Ramcharan Guilarte) and his wife, Emily (Courtney Patterson), who live amid the trappings of his success on New York’s Upper East Side. Emily is an up-and-coming artist whose interest in Islamic artistic tradition and themes is beginning to fuel the direction of her paintings. Amir is a Pakistani-American who has broken with his Muslim upbringing. Amir’s nephew, Abe (born Hussein Malik, and played by Ali Sohaili), asks Amir for legal help aiding a local imam facing charges of financing terrorist-supporting groups, who Abe feels to be the victim of injustice. At Emily’s urging, Amir lends minimal and reluctant assistance in an unofficial capacity but is still pictured with the imam’s legal team in The New York Times. The stresses in Amir’s life bubble to a head at a dinner party with his legal colleague Jory (Tinashe Kajese-Bolden) and her husband, Isaac (a curator interested in Emily’s work and played by Andrew Benator) with devastating consequences. The play is set in 2011, in the Kapoor’s Upper East Side apartment in New York and is wonderfully directed by Susan Booth.

“Disgraced” has all the trappings — couples living the high life in Manhattan, racial, religious, and cultural prejudice, as well as marital infidelity. The cast also wrestles with many of the world problems that we face today — especially when it comes to the challenges in the Middle East and overall Jewish-Arab relationships. “Disgraced” takes the audience on a cultural rollercoaster ride that will have audiences having serious conversations amongst themselves as it relates to prejudice, the world we live in today, and what the future might hold for all of us.

I think the finest accolade a performance like this can receive is to have the audience / attendees to be engulfed in conversation at the end of the performance. It was interesting to watch people after the play was over. As I stood waiting for my ride to pull to the front of the theater, it was interesting to watch the amount of postperformance chatter that was occurring with people as they were exiting; you could just see people engulfed in deep thought and conversation, visibly moved by what they had witnessed on stage during the previous hour.

The Peach Review® gives “Disgraced” a solid 10 on a 1-10 scale. Would give it more if possible. It’s a must-see.

“Disgraced” is scheduled to run through February 14 at The Alliance Theater, part of The Woodruff Art Center.

-KJ

Beauty Are You Matching Your Foundation Correctly?

For so long, we have been told to match our foundation to our necks. But what if that wasn’t necessarily true? Being someone who has suffered from eczema since the second grade, I know all too well what comes of the scars and discoloration of the skin.

When I first started wearing makeup it took me a while to find my right shade. And looking back on some old pictures, it would lead you to believe I didn’t have any real friends to tell me I needed to reconsider a few of my choices. Over time I got better but I still wasn’t pleased with how my makeup was looking. Everything I put on was always too light compared to my neck. That was the area I suffered from my eczema the most.

One day while doing my makeup I realized my face and my chest were closer in color than my neck. Bingo!! I was an exception to the “neck matching” rule. Moving forward I began color correcting my neck just as I would my under eye area for the darkness and blending my foundation over that area. I noticed a huge difference after that. This made it easier for me to find matches in foundation. I think it is important to know exactly what part of your body you need to match your foundation to. The neck and jaw line doesn’t work for everyone. Some people have lighter or darker complexions on their faces than they do on their neck and chest.

I think this is where a lot of people go wrong in finding their foundation shades. To be honest, it takes time and you might not get it right on your first few attempts. But that’s ok! As long as you have the correct tools and knowing what works best for you, it will make the process easier. This applies for those of you that tan as well. I know many people don’t tan their face so they have to match their foundation to the tanned parts of their bodies. The same concept applies. Color correcting helps makes this process easier as well because it simplifies the need to cover up discoloration for that unified look.

In my case I apply foundation to my cheek and my chest when trying to find a match. If the color blends into both areas without detection then I know that shade is my match. If matching to your neck you would follow the same steps. With products like Cover FX Custom Color Drops, it easier to customize your foundation to fit you as closely as possible. When trying different shades, be sure to consider highlighting and contouring as well. If I plan to go darker with my foundation I’m always sure to highlight correctly so that everything balances out. This ensures the face is balanced without colors throwing off your look. Be sure to visit places like Sephora and department stores that provide samples so that you have a few choices to choose from before you commit to a shade.

The Baking Technique The popularity of the ‘baking’ trend in makeup has raised a few eyebrows regarding the relevance of it. The origin of this trend has been said to come from the makeup routines of drag queens. Applying concealer and a liberal amount of powder to set or ‘bake’ the product to prevent any creasing has proven to remain a favorite technique among beauty gurus. I believe that some makeup trends can be intimidating to those just learning to apply makeup. The more time we take to practice our makeup application, we find that there are some things you just cant leave out. But the real question stands: Is baking a must-have beauty technique?

When I began teaching myself how to do makeup by watching YouTube videos, this trend wasn’t as popular as it has become. For those of you wondering if it even makes a difference to bake… It does. Allowing your powder to sit for a few extra minutes over your concealer ensures the longevity of your concealer. Baking something is basically pulling the moisture out and setting the product. Just like baking brownies. They start off as a thick, wet consistency and after you’re done baking, they’re set in place. I also find that letting my powder sit allows for a brighter highlight. I have more of an airbrushed, yet full coverage look afterwards.

Does this work in your everyday makeup routine? That depends. If you are wearing a full coverage look every time you apply makeup then go for it. Personally, I have days where my makeup is very light and I don’t see baking as necessary. Baking concealer doesn’t allow for a natural “no makeup” look in my opinion. Using just enough powder to set my concealer works for an everyday makeup look.

Another reason to apply a liberal amount of powder under the eye is to catch any fall out from eyeshadow application. This allows you to sweep away the fall out with the remaining powder.

When using this method often, its important to keep the under-eye area moisturized.

Baking with dry skin can come off as flaky so using an eye cream before makeup application can help with this. For someone trying this method for the first time, start with a little product to see what works for you.

So is baking a beauty necessity? No. Are there benefits to do doing it? Of course! I think beauty trends can be intimidating and sometimes people feel like they have to do the most popular thing. Starting small and working your way into new things is the best way to feel confident in your everyday makeup application. Don’t feel pressured to hop on the latest trends full throttle. Take your time and find out what works best for you.

Indie Brands To Know After speaking with a few “newbies” to the makeup world, I realized that jumping right into high-end brands or taking a trip to Sephora can be a little overwhelming. I also think it is important to support smaller brands and those created by beauty bloggers we follow on YouTube and Instagram. I chose to go with brands that have different price points. Some go as low as drugstore prices and some are on the higher end. I love this because it allows everyone to have quality products no matter what your budget is.

Dose of Colors was created by a popular makeup artist on Instagram by the name of Anna (@makeupbyanna). Dose of Colors is known for their highlighters but what causes the most buzz is their liquid lipsticks. With shades like Berry Me 2 and Truffle that are quick to sell out, they have no problem captivating the consumer. They also carry very pigmented lip glosses to pair with any of their other lippies. These are on the higher end as far as pricing. Their liquid lipstick retails for $18.00 and the lip glosses retail for $15.00.

DOC products are also vegan and gluten-free.

Makeup Geek was founded by Marlena who many of you know as MakeupGeekTV on YouTube. The wonderful thing about Makeup Geek is that not only do they have affordable, high-quality products, but Marlena still makes educational videos.

On her website you can buy your products while checking out her blog. It’s amazing how she juggles running such a successful company and still being able to touch the people who started with her on YouTube.

Makeup Geek is known for their growing collection of eyeshadows. They retail between $6.00-$10.00 and there are even bundle deals to where you can buy all the shadows at once. With her new foiled eyeshadows, it is clear that Makeup Geek is just getting started. She also offers ZPalettes so it is a one stop shop to start or continue your eyeshadow collection.

The last brand I want to focus on has taken the social media world by storm. With its super affordable prices and extremely large variety of shades, ColourPop has been owning the beauty industry this past year. No single product on their website is over $10.00. Their Lippie Stix are twist-up applicators that have a matching lip pencil for each color. The range of colors is amazing so you won’t leave their site disappointed. With the launch of their Ultra Matte Lip Collection this summer they joined the liquid lipstick craze with more colors than most brands and a price point of only $6.00 each. They’ve established themselves by their unique formula of eyeshadows. With a bouncy texture and an array of finishes to choose from, this is a dream for beginners and those on a budget. Another thing that I love about this brand and so many others are the collaborations with some of our favorite YouTubers/Beauty Bloggers. This is a brand that gives back to the community that supports it.

These are just a small portion of the amazing companies that occupy our growing beauty community. I think it’s important to support these brands because they started out just like us and they show their appreciation with the consistency of their brands. I appreciate quality products that I can easily afford and want to continue to repurchase. These brands excite me, and isn’t that the joy of being a beauty guru?

Follow these brands on Instagram to stay connected: @doseofcolors ; @makeupgeekcosmetics ; @colourpopcosmetics Honorable mention goes to Sacha Cosmetics. This brand is well-known for their Buttercup Powder which is a dupe for Ben Nye banana powder. This brand claims to cater to “exotic skin” but also carries shades for everyone on their site. Another is Karity Cosmetics. This brand has just recently come across my radar due to the buzz about the $5.00 single shadows that are comparable to MAC shadows.

-Keisha Campbell Follow me on Instagram @KEENICXLE

Sources: www.theodysseyonline.com ; www.4.bp.blogspot.com ; www.makeupgeek.com ; www.temptalia.com ; www.doseofcolors.com ; www.colourpop.com ; www.karity.com ; www.sachacosmetics.com

2016 PBR Duluth Invitational Canadian sensation Tanner Byrne took home the championship buckle for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Duluth Invitational Sunday afternoon at Infinite Energy Arena. Byrne, who has now won two Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) events this season, earned the win at the buzzer with an 87.5-point ride aboard Cracker Jack in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. He was the only rider to go 3-for-3 on the weekend.

With the event win, Byrne earned 482.5 PBR world standings points and moved inside the Top 10 to No. 7 in the PBR world standings. “I had a good pick,” Byrne said. “I picked that bull because I saw him at an event earlier this year when Wallace (de Oliveira) won on him. If you can just keep your hand shut, you can ride any bull.”

Brazil’s Paulo Lima finished in second place in Duluth, winning the Built Ford Tough Championship Round along the way with an 87.75-point ride on Rebel Yell II.

EVENTS

The fan favorite of the event, by far, was Australia’s Ben Jones, who finished in third place. His third place finish came with some controversy. He needed to score 81.25 points for the win, and at first, it looked like he did so by the narrowest margin. Almost immediately after celebrating his impressive ride, his discovered during the replay he was bucked off by Crazy Horse at the 7.6 second mark (falling 0.4 seconds short of his target).

Riding alongside Byrne were two-time reigning PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney (PBR’s first $6 million man), Silvano Alves (11′, 12′, 14′ Champion), Guilherme Marchi (08′ Champion), and Mike Lee (04′ Champion), world No. 1 Shane Proctor, and rising stars Derek Kolbaba and Nevada Newman just to name a few.

You can see a snippet of some of the action HERE

Judging For those not familiar with the tour, here’s a quick overview of how the riders are judged: A cowboy must ride for 8 seconds to earn a score (each ride is timed). The clock starts when the bull’s shoulder or hip breaks the plane of the gate. It ends when the rider’s hand comes out of his rope. Each ride is worth 100 possible points. Four judges award up to 25 points each to the rider and the bull.

Those points are added together and divided in half to reach a score between 0 and 50 for both the rider and the bull. Those final numbers are then combined to reach a final ride score between 0 and 100.

How To Watch Sunday’s Round 3 and the Built Ford Tough Championship Round will air live on CBS Sports Network at 4 p.m. ET on March 20. Fans can also watch all of the action in real-time on PBR LIVE online at http://www.pbr.com/live, or via the PBR LIVE app, which is available for download now on Google Play and iTunes.

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network and networks around the world. Television ratings for PBR on CBS are up more than 20 percent this season compared to last year at this time, according to Nielsen.

-Jon J. Photo: Kent Foster

Just blocks away from the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Digital Sharp Shots, LLC and The Social NetworKING™ kicked off Black History Month with a bang. The digital duo premiered The Lives Untold™ Docuseries featuring award-winning journalist Monica Pearson. Over 150 attendees, including everyone from the eager college students to the established professionals, filled the M Bar to witness the unveiling of a living legend who holds over 30 Emmy awards.

With her husband, John Pearson by her side, Monica Pearson discussed everything from humble beginnings in Louisville, KY to sweet victories as not only the first AfricanAmerican female anchor in Atlanta, but as the first minority anchor period. She even touched on the progression of the city: “People said that this part of town would never come back and now look what’s across the street…. pretty soon people are going to be running in here trying to buy the M Bar. Look at the 4th Ward…back in the day you couldn’t give a house away, now houses are selling for $500k and up.”

The Lives Untold™ Docuseries featuring Monica Pearson Although Pearson has been approached by several people who are interested in telling her story, she embraced “the vision of the project” that Georgia State film student and director, Drew Alexander created. He believes that, “So many people have amazing stories… Lives! Their lives have gone unspoken and these are the stories we should hear… These are the lives that matter to us, the people we can relate to… The Lives Untold™.”

Following the screening, The Social NetworKING™ moderated an empowering Q&A segment. Monica Pearson provided unfiltered responses to questions about broadcasting 101, her battle with breast and liver cancer, the Black Lives Matter movement, and a wealth of advice: “You’re not reinventing the wheel, but you can put a new spin on it.”

“It is incumbent upon us to reach back, pull up, and push forward. It does no good if we are successful and we don’t share it with other people…. There’s a high school girl and an elementary girl that can use your help.”

“You can get around a person who doesn’t like you for the color of your skin, but because your work is so excellent, they cannot afford to let you go…”

“We’ve got to take back our families, our streets; Black lives do matter… But how can we say black lives matter when it refers to police, yet we’re killing each other everyday.”

-Courtesy of Sapphire Ink

Ladies of Business Conference 2016

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the first annual Ladies of Business Conference put together by the founders of Ladies Who Brunch Atlanta. The purpose of this conference was to provide an avenue for female entrepreneurs to learn what it takes to start a business from successful women in today’s society. Over a three-day period there were workshops, pitch competitions, and seminars providing endless information to attendees.

The first day of the conference was a great introduction into what was to come for the entire weekend. The Pitch Please! Competition was a way for business owners to see what it is really like to pitch your ideas to potential investors. Day Two was followed by numerous workshops. The amount of information obtained from these workshops was impressive. Speakers included: Rachel Jackson (R Jackson Agency), Nicole Garner Scott (100 Female Entrepreneurs), Nicole Davis (Moze Print and Design) and several others.

Attendees learned how to balance a busy lifestyle as well as take care of themselves in the process. There was also a segment on the financial aspect of growing your business. If one were to come into the conference knowing nothing about starting a business, they would leave knowing exactly what steps to take to get them started. Just attending day three of the conference left you feeling empowered and knowledgeable. The keynote speaker of the evening was Myleik Teele, founder of the Curlbox. She gave an intimate discussion on networking and many other topics with guests over dinner.

Day Three was the headliner with the Signature Brunch. The brunch featured a panel of female entrepreneurs, including Jasmine Lawrence (Eden Bodyworks), Claire Sulmers (Fashion Bomb Daily), Miss Diddy (The Brand Group LA), Ming Lee (SnobLife Studios), and Toya Wright (Author and The Garb Boutique). Each one of these ladies gave insight on how they broke through barriers and what they learned in the process of becoming successful entrepreneurs. They were very transparent about the mistakes they made while creating their businesses, which was commendable. This truly was an open discussion and a learning experience for everyone attending.

The venue, although spacious, was still very intimate. You were able to walk up and start a conversation with any of the speakers and that is something I know most of the attendees appreciated. At times it feels like these women are untouchable from the outside looking in, but this experience showed that they are women, just like most of us, that just took that extra step and decided to chase their dreams. For this to be the first conference presented by Ladies Who Brunch Atlanta, I think that they nailed it. From the presentation to the speakers, any woman attending this event in the future will not leave emptyhanded. These ladies continue to impress me and many others with their growth as a brand and their passion of empowering women. Once again I’m excited to see what is next for the Ladies Who Brunch Brand.

To keep up with the movement follow their Instagram @ladieswhobrunchatl

-Keisha Campbell *Images courtesy of the Garner Circle

“Roll Tide…” What a way to announce your presence on the red carpet during a pre-entrance stroll. The one and only, comedian and syndicated radio and TV personality Rickey Smiley did just that. He later returned to the red carpet “suited and booted” in a dark silver suit that he also wore while hosting the 31st Annual Stellar Awards alongside actress and TV personality Sherri Shepard.

We were greeted on the red carpet by many talented, gifted, spirit filled, and fashionable artists, as the Las Vegas sun assured me and my colleague, Robin Briggs that we were going to be returning to our homes with a tan by the end of the evening.

Jonathan McReynolds graced this year’s red carpet, sporting a soft blue suit with neutral toned accents. I was given the honor to speak with him over a phone interview during the week, so the only thing left to do was to capture the moment with a photo of the singer and songwriter of the hits “I Gotta Have You” and “Pressure.” During his phone interview with me, he was very candid about his walk with Christ. When asked about his salvation story, he stated “when people normally ask me when I got saved, my response is ‘this morning because you have to pick up your cross daily, like you have never picked it up before.’”

2016 Stellar Gospel Music Awards Red Carpet on Saturday, February 20th, 2016 at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by: A Turner Archives)

31st Annual Stellar Awards

He, like Lady Tramaine Hawkins, who was the recipient of the Stellar Honors Award this year, stressed that what they do goes beyond music, its ministry and that all that they do is for the glory of God. Of course, Lady Tramaine was elegant in an all-black ensemble accessorizing with a purple folding fan to keep her cool in the hot Las Vegas sun.

The legendary Dr. Bobby Jones, who was a presenter for the evening and Richard Smallwood, who was nominated for 5 Stellar Awards, also jazzed up the red carpet. Gospel music maestro, Mr. Smallwood showed off some fancy footwork in a pair of black and gold velvet loafers and told us about his upcoming autobiography which will be released this year. Of course, Dr. Jones could not be outdone and made a bold statement in his coordinated red blazer and white and red button up shirt. Although, the Bobby Jones Gospel Show which aired on BET will be ending this year, he assured us that he is going to be very busy with ventures in radio, television, and lecturing across the World.

And because we are the Peach Review and based in the ATL, we definitely have to shout out our Atlanta brothers, Sunday’s Best’s contestant Zebulon Ellis, who has released his compilation project, “Lift” and Sunday’s Best winner Dathan Thigpen who sported a white blazer and with “all black like the omen” and a pop color; his teal lapel flower. Thigpen is signed to For Your Soul Records (Kirk Franklin) and RCA and will be dropping his project soon.

Dorinda Clark Cole (Photo by: A Turner)

Cora Jakes-Coleman, author and daughter of T.D. Jakes, and Dr. Cindy Trimm, author, life coach, and preacher, made their presence on the red carpet. Coleman spoke to us about her new book Faithing It: Bringing Purpose Back to Your Life. Dr. Trimm wore a leather bomber jacket with a graphic t-shirt and a black high low skirt.

She took the time to give us 3 points for those who may be struggling in life. She shared “know who you are in God, know your purpose, and know that God has a place for you, a space for you, a grace for you, and a pace for you.”

Wendy Raquel Robinson on the red carpet. Photo: Earl Gibson III

We were very excited when the ladies of Virtue arrived on the red carpet. If you haven’t already heard, I am telling you now that the ladies of Virtue are back! After a 10 year hiatus, this dynamic trio comprised of Karima Trotter-Kibble, Ebony TrotterHolland, and Heather Martin recently released their highly anticipated album “Fearless” and were just as fearless and fierce in their coordinated, multi-colored gowns. Their album is available in stores, on iTunes and Amazon now.

And we must speak on Wendy Raquel Robinson’s beautiful dress. The actress and former star of the “Game” wore a beautiful white and shear sleeveless dress causing heads to turn as she made her way down the red carpet. Other actresses and reality stars that attended the show include Patty’s Cakes spokesperson, James Wright, actress and star of the new show “Here We Go Again,” LaToya Luckett, and star of Lifetime’s reality show, Little Women LA, Tonya Renee’ Banks.

“Five years ago, I was just trying to get a seat…”

Last, but certainly not least, we cannot leave out comedian, radio personality, YouTube star, singer, and entrepreneur Lexi, who proudly showed off her engagement ring and announced her upcoming wedding in June.

While we’re on the subject of love, let’s not neglect all the love that was shown on the red carpet. That’s right; couples showed up and showed out on the red carpet that night and they were not ashamed to show it. Every couple we spoke with commented about how much they loved one another and how much they supported each other’s dreams and visions. They even went as far as shamelessly plugging their significant other’s projects.

Some notable couples include Tina and Teddy Campbell, Todd Dulaney and his lovely wife, Kenyetta Stone-Dulaney, Pastor Marlon Lock and his “wifager” (wife + manager) author Kimberly Rochelle, singer of “I’m Good” Tim and Brelyn Bowman, and Stellar Awards nominees Gerald and Tammie Haddon. Singer, Travis Greene spoke of his wife, Jacqueline Gyamfi, who was also with him when giving his testimony of what inspired him to write, “You Made a Way.” This chart topper is a song that speaks about how God made a way when his wife was 27 weeks pregnant and went into premature labor. His son was born 7 weeks later with no signs of premature birth because God made a way. He performed both songs at the awards show and received a standing ovation.

The love and support was also reflected after the ASCAP Morning Glory Breakfast presented by ASCAP and Motown Gospel the morning of the Stellar Awards. During the breakfast, Brian Courtney Wilson along with label mate Tasha Cobbs both received the first ever “Power in Praise” award. Ken Pennell, President of Gospel Labels, Capitol Music Group, along with Larry Blackwell, VP/GM of Motown Gospel, presented both Mr. Wilson and Ms.Cobbs with surprise plaques to acknowledge their accomplishments over the past year. When presenting the plaque to Ms. Cobbs, an emotional Mr. Pennell stated “We’ve seen you win, but we’ve seen you win people to Jesus.”

The event was hosted by singer and radio personality of Atlanta’s Praise 102.5 WPZE, Darlene McCoy, and seemed more like a church service than a breakfast after Myron Butler’s performance of his new single “Best Praise” and Brian Courtney Wilson’s performance of “I’ll Just Say Yes.” Both Cobbs and Wilson gave speeches that brought the crowd to tears.

There was not a dry eye in the room as Brian Courtney Wilson gave his emotional and inspirational speech at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. With tears in his

eyes, he humbly accepted the award stating that five years ago he was “just trying to get someone to notice me” and now here he stood Stellar Awards nominee and “Power in Praise” award winner. He encouraged fellow artists, media and other attendees to never give up on the purpose that God has for their lives, for in due season you shall reap the harvest.

Although, Anthony Brown and Group therAPy eluded us on the red carpet this year, we did get a chance to speak with the history making winner after the ASCAP Morning Glory Breakfast. At this time, Anthony was not aware that he would be the winner of 10 Stellar Awards; winning in all the categories that he was nominated. When asked where his inspiration comes from when writing a song, he quoted contemporary Christian music singer, Chris Tomlin from an acceptance speech he made at the Dove Awards “’Sir (God) I would be honored if you tell me what you want me to say…if this is any indication that I heard you correctly then I’m honored sir.’ I never forgot that moment, everyone else applauded, I broke down in tears because I realized in that my greatest creativity in writing songs would come directly from the source (God). All I ever say is Lord show me; tell me and I write down whatever He says.” He also told us that his number one hit “Worth” was written during communion and encouraged others that if they are looking for inspiration to write a song, to just go directly to the source (God).

Anthony Brown and Group therAPy opened this year’s show at the Las Vegas Orleans Arena with a riveting performance of “Bless the Lord” and their Billboard Gospel charttopping hit “Worth.” Other performers include winner of 3 Stellars, Tasha Cobbs who performed “Put a Praise on It”; winner of 4 Stellars, Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago with a performance of “War”; and winner of New Artist of the Year, Casey J with a medley of “I’m Yours” and “Fill Me Up.” There was a beautiful tribute to the late O'landa Draper, a Grammy Award winner and winner of the Allstate James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, performed by Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Ricky Dillard.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is produced by the Chicago- based Central City Productions, Inc. It was founded back in 1970 by Don Jackson and was created to honor and recognize gospel music artists, songwriters, producers, radio personalities, and so forth, for their inspiration and dedication to this genre. All winners were selected by online voters for the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards aired on TV ONE on March 6. For a fulllist of syndicated show dates and times you can click HERE. The list of winners are on the next page.

-Alisha J. Blanding

CATEGORY #1 ARTIST OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #2 SONG OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN, WORTH – EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #3 MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #4 ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #5 GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #6 NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR ▪ CASEY J., THE TRUTH, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #7 CD OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #8 CHOIR OF THE YEAR ▪ CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/ MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #9 PRODUCER OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & JUSTIN SAVAGE, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #10 CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #11 TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR ▪ THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT

CATEGORY #12 CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #13 TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ CHARLES JENKINS, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #14 CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #15 TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ▪ TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE

CATEGORY #16 CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR ▪ ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #17 TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR ▪ TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE

CATEGORY #18 URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR ▪ KIRK FRANKLIN, WANNA BE HAPPY? (SINGLE), FO YO SOUL RECORDINGS/RCA RECORDS

CATEGORY #19 MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR ▪ CHARLES JENKINS & THE SPIN SINGERS, #WAR – ANY GIVEN SUNDAY(CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO), INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #20 TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR ▪ CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/ MOTOWN GOSPEL

CATEGORY #21 CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR ▪ J.J. HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, I SEE VICTORY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC

CATEGORY #22 INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR ▪ BEN TANKARD, FULL TANK 2.0, BENJAMIN UNIVERSAL MUSIC

CATEGORY #23 SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR ▪ VARIOUS ARTISTS, WOW GOSPEL 2015, RCA INSPIRATION

CATEGORY #24 RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR ▪ DEREK MINOR, EMPIRE, REFLECTION MUSIC GROUP/EONE MUSIC

CATEGORY #25 YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR ▪ GOD’S GIFT AND SOLDIERS YOUTH CHOIR, THROUGH THE FIRE AND FLOOD, DIR/MOTOR CITY PRAISE RECORDS

CATEGORY #26 QUARTET OF THE YEAR ▪ THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT

CATEGORY #27 RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR ▪ DENISE TROTMAN & CONNI TREANTEFELES, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CATEGORY #28 PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR ▪ TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

M

s e i v o

So here we are, Friday, March 25, the Friday that film and DC Comics fans have waited for. After years of discussion and leaked images, Batman vs.

Superman: Dawn of Justice has arrived, and even before its “official” release, it seems like everyone has something to say (and mostly negative).

The reviews I’ve seen, to be frank, have been quite terrible. It’s to the point where I’ve been thinking, “Did we see the same movie?” For those of you that have been out the loop, allow me to fill you in. For those of us in the film industry, early screenings have been available for us in certain markets since last Friday (ours was Tuesday, March 22). Since then, there have been scathing reviews coming up from every crevice of the earth. Why? I have no idea. Here are a few headlines: New York Post: “Batman v Superman is so bad it could kill plans for a DC Universe” USA TODAY: “Batman v Superman gets no super reviews” Rotten Tomatoes: 1.5 stars and 31% rating And the conspiracy theory: “Some people think Disney paid critics to give bad reviews.”

If you type in your search engine “Batman v Superman negative reviews” you’ll see the internet circus in full effect. The funny thing is, a lot of people are going to see the film with preconceived notions already. As opposed to just watching a movie and judging it for what it is, many already have standards set so high that they will be impossible to meet. Some people don’t like director Zack Snyder, others aren’t fans of DC, yet, they are still going to see the film. I personally can tell you there is a boatload of Marvel bias. Because of this obvious bias, I knew the film was going to have a rough week. Here are two examples: 1

We’re allowed to bring a guest with us to early screenings. My guest had been amped to see this for months. After the film’s conclusion, everyone was excited and talking about how awesome it was. The very first thing out of his mouth? “Deadpool was better.”

2

Everyone stayed seated after the movie was over. I’ve never seen so many people sit through the credits (in anticipation of a sneak preview of a sequel). After the credits finished and people were disappointed in the absence of a sneak peek, you could hear groans of “Of course there’s nothing, its not a Marvel film,” and “Only Marvel films do that” and my favorite “Screw DC! That’s why Marvel is better. They would’ve left us a preview!”

That ladies and gentlemen is enough to support my point. Everyone should go into a film and give it an unbiased, standalone look that it deserves as a creative piece of work. But it was very apparent that loads of people have, and are going to, compare this to anything Marvel has made (and most recently the success of Marvel flick Deadpool). So now that I’ve addressed that, let’s get to the good stuff.

Dawn of Justice Trailer The film is awesome. Perfect? Absolutely not, but its definitely awesome. I only had two concerns coming into this: How are they going to have these two fight each other, and If Ben Affleck fails, I’m done with him forever. Well, I’m here to say Ben Affleck did not fail me and I unfortunately cannot rid him from my life from here on out.

I’m not going to give any spoilers so don’t worry. The way they tied Batman and

Superman into fighting each other was pretty good. Henry Cavill (Superman/ Clark Kent) did a good job and I was pleased I didn’t have to deal with an illplaced, smushy, love fest with him and Amy Adams (Lois Lane). Gal Gadot (below) was a great casting as Wonder Woman and I like how she’s introduced. The trailers make it seem like a fight is taking place between Batman and Superman and then poof, she just appears, conjuring a “Is she with you?”

The only problem I had with the cast was Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. If you are just seeing this as a movie buff then you may like it. But I’m 99% sure if you’re watching this as a super geek, comic aficionado, or DC fan, you are not going to like Jesse Eisenberg. I felt like I was watching him compete with Heath Ledger for title of “The Best Joker” instead of the head of LexCorp.

Lastly, there are a few slow moments in the film but, not enough that it should affect the feel and flow of the story (it is a story by the way, not just a three hour long brouhaha).

I give Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice a 9 out of 10. There’s tons of action and the suspense build-up is immense. I have no doubt that even with these negative, unjust, biased, awful reviews, it’s going to do great numbers in the box office this weekend. Now, not everybody is going to like it for their own reasons (I'm not ruling that out), but the pure hate in these reviews I believe, is ill-placed. You should leave the theater feeling fulfilled, having seen the greatest fight in the history of mankind. Or, you could walkout thinking to yourself, “I had no idea Metropolis was so close to Gotham?”

“Risen” is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman military tribune, and his aide, Lucius (Tom Felton), are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.

Directed by Kevin Reynolds, “Risen” shares a new perspective on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ through not only the eyes of a non-believer, but a Roman soldier.

For those who haven’t been paying attention, there has been a rise in mainstream Hollywood talent being featured in faith-based cinema. In “Risen” the most notable face you’ll see is probably that of Tom Felton (Harry Potter, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and some may recognize Cliff Curtis (Fear the Walking Dead, Gang Related, Training Day), who plays Jesus Christ.

The film touches on the death, burial, and resurrection in roughly 30-45 minutes. Everything after that is a mix of fiction with biblical events. The film begins with Clavius roaming across the desert and stopping at what looks like an inn. After being questioned about where he came from, the story begins as we flashback to the very beginning, when Pilate (Peter Firth) first spoke of the ‘Nazarene nuisance.’

Risen Trailer

Although the film is set in the days of Jesus, the events and the film’s direction mirror present-day conflicts that are witnessed everyday. Do we believe, or do we not? Even after Clavius witnessed Christ’s return face to face, he still questioned whether what he saw was real. Everyday, people witness miraculous occurrences but wrestle internally if there’s logic behind it, or was it truly a miracle?

One thing is for sure, Clavius was not about to let others decide the truth for him. He went out on his own and risked everything to find the truth, which led him on a life-changing adventure. I give ‘Risen’ a 7 out of 10. It’s nice to see the Resurrection from an untold perspective, but there are more than a few slow moments in the film. Enough fiction to satisfy Hollywood, balanced with enough Bible that believers can recognize the events taking place.

Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) with Jesus' disciples, witnesses a miracle in Columbia Pictures' RISEN.

Storyline Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter-ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Review This might be the greatest anti-hero superhero movie ever created. With an extremely dark sense of humor, Deadpool’s cynicism is the most beautifully welcomed nuance that fans are going to love. This is a far cry from your typical Marvel movie. You will see X-Men cameos by Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and the multiple offers from Colossus to join them, but Deadpool is uninterested. The entire point of the film is for him to find the man who experimented on him, Ajax (Ed Skrein), and get him to reverse his mutated state. But of course, the original plan never pans out as expected.

What to expect Deadpool is the main protagonist and narrator of his own story. During the movie he takes several shots at other Marvel characters (mainly wolverine) and Marvel Studios itself. There was a lot of controversy with its R-rating which left a lot of people upset as it excludes a large chunk of people. But after seeing this about a week ago, you need to know it’s rating is more than appropriate.

Some of the kill scenes were reminiscent of 300 and Spartacus: Blood & Sand; bloody and barbaric as possible. Plus the language and sex scenes wouldn’t be appropriate (like I said, not your typical Marvel film).

Deadpool Trailer

Conclusion This movie is filled with loads of comedy and an antihero that’s impossible to not fall in love with. The seats were filled with fans dressed up as Deadpool or wearing DP merch. After the film I caught up with multiple people who said they were ready to see it again once it comes out tomorrow (Friday, February 11).

This might be the best Marvel superhero film yet, and if I was wrong they wouldn’t be in the process of making the sequel (spoiler alert). Definitely giving this a 9 out of 10. Be ready for blood, laughter, and to cheer for the badgood guy.

Robert De Niro Hits New Low I find it extremely ironic that approximately one week after I’m morbidly disappointed in the overrated, offensive disaster known as ‘The Book of Mormon,’ that I find myself almost speechless after sitting through ‘Dirty Grandpa.’ This film will go down as the ‘Soul Plane’ of Robert De Niro’s career.

Here’s the synopsis: Jason Kelly (Zac Efron) is one week away from marrying his boss’s controlling daughter, putting him on the fast track for a partnership at the law firm. However, when the strait-laced Jason is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, Dick (Robert De Niro), to Daytona for spring break, his pending nuptials are suddenly in jeopardy.

Between riotous frat parties, bar fights, and an epic night of karaoke, Dick is on a quest to live his life to the fullest and bring Jason along for the ride. Ultimately, on the wildest journey of their lives, “dirty” Grandpa and his uptight grandson discover they can learn from one another and form the bond they never had.

I could sum it up in one sentence. Take the cursing from South Park with the vulgar oneliners from Adult Swim and sprinkle it with an X-rated comedy from HBO and throw in Zac Efron and Robert De Niro. See how much shorter that was?

Now to answer the question of its comedy label. Yes, there was humor in various places, but the humor is overshadowed by the amount of vulgarity and the copious attempts at ‘shock’ comedy. Efron has a six pack, cool. De Niro cusses a lot and conjures every form of ‘cock blocker’ imaginable, ok. But after that, there’s not much left. If you were looking for an actual movie, with a storyline and a point, you will be greatly disappointed.

If you want a raw, hardcore, raunchy comedy and you want to laugh without any limitations? You’ll probably enjoy this.

This movie is simply too much. Too perverse, too vulgar, and trying too hard to establish a comedic base when it could’ve grown naturally. But that can’t be established when the most overused word in the film is “cock” and overreach by having De Niro drop the “N-word” while rapping over NWA in a karaoke scene. The comedy was hit or miss throughout the entire film.

I have to give this film a 5 out of 10.

There’s no point of wasting money to see this, as it will soon die and find itself in On Demand heaven soon enough. The only reason I even give this a 5 is because the comedy that does stick, is pretty epic.

Jason Kelly (Zac Efron, left) and Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro, right) in DIRTY GRANDPA. Photo Credit: Bob Mahoney

Hail, Caesar! is the latest project from the minds of Joel & Ethan Coen and does not disappoint. In a type of Michael Clayton-esque character, a Hollywood fixer Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) works to keep his studios’ stars in line and to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. His biggest test comes when a major motion picture is interrupted when its main star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) who plays Caesar is kidnapped and held for ransom.

The quality cameo list only supported the uniqueness of this comedy. My favorites were Channing Tatum as movie star Burt Gurney and Ralph Fiennes as renowned drama director Laurence Laurentz. Tatum’s character lives a double life as an America movie star and a Russian communist in secret. The comedy provided by him and Fiennes was simply outstanding.

Whenever Mannix needed someone to take the rap for anything, he turned to Joseph Silverman (Jonah Hill). All things were in silence, he was the celebrated 6th man that doubles as a lifesaving notary and fallback guy. In the film, he very boldy adopted a child that already had a parent, and bravely gave it up for adoption so the mother could adopt it back (so bold… So bold).

If you’re a fan of Michael Clayton and O’ Brother Where Art Thou you will definitely love this movie. Subtle and intellectual comedy at every turn! 8.5 out of 10.

-Reviews by Jon J.

MUSIC

The 7th Annual Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (AJMF7) kicked off this Spring with a diverse line-up of local, national and international Jewish musicians. This year’s festival ran from March 10th through March 27th and featured 16 events in Jewish and public venues across the Greater Atlanta area.

The Opening Night Jazz set came by way of the award-winning, New York based Hadar Noiberg Trio (pictured left). The trio kicked things off at Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs. Steve’s was the perfect venue for such an affair as parking is free, it’s local, the staff is friendly, and the setting is intimate. While my ears were being serenaded by Hadar’s flute solos, I mingled with guests and enjoyed the fact there’s not a bad seat in the building.

This year’s performances went far beyond the traditional Klezmer to include the exotic, spiritual music of Canadian vocalist Aviva Chernick, playful children’s songs by interfaith duo Andrew & Polly, and powerful beats by funkadelic DJs FSQ Chuck “Da Fonk” Fishman and Sa’d “Hourchild” Ali (nephew of George Clinton).

After more than 2 weeks of diverse music and activities, the festival concluded with an energetic, sold-out performance by A-WA (pictured below) and Jaffa Road at Terminal West.

A-WA photo by Trenton Talbot

AJMF7 ended its 18-day run on Sunday after producing 16 different events catering to all ages and affiliations. This year’s festival was the largest Spring Festival to date attracting nearly 4,000 fans, a 20% increase from 2015.

“This is our first Spring Fest where I feel like we’ve truly arrived," said AJMF Founder and Executive Director Russell Gottschalk. "Our connections throughout Jewish Atlanta and our city’s arts communities are the strongest they’ve ever been. To execute such a broad and diverse celebration of Jewish music takes incredible leadership from our entire staff and volunteer network.

I’m proud to lead this organization connecting Atlanta to the global Jewish music renaissance and I’m excited to think about the opportunities that AJMF8 will reap from the successes of AJMF7.”

Fun Facts about AJMF7: • • • •

• • •

3,950 people attended AJMF7, a 20% increase from 2015.

The AJMF7 Purim Party featuring international electro pop sensation AWA and world music group Jaffa Road at Terminal West was sold out A-WA wrapped their very first North American tour in Atlanta at AJMF7.

Three separate AJMF Acts, Hadar Noiberg Trio, members of Jaffa Road and Sammy Rosenbaum participated in video shoots for Rust Magazine around their performances at AJMF7.

Interfaith children’s music duo Andrew & Polly shot a music video highlighting iconic Atlanta landmarks during their weekend at AJMF7.

AJMF7 expanded its social media presence to Snapchat garnering 800 new impressions at a single event.

No Komment won AJMF’s inaugural teen “Battle of the Bands.”

-Jon J.

A-WA photo by Trenton Talbot

2015 was the year of Fetty Wap. “Trap Queen” was the modern day audio of Bonnie and Clyde but instead of a relationship ending in death, Fetty sung of kitchens full of pies and love that put the entire country under his spell.

He went from being a practically unknown rapper with a passion for singing to conquering radio and clubs worldwide. After the song reached number 2 on Billboard's chart and went Platinum, there was no question he had a hit. But it didn’t stop with one, the hits continued to shoot up the charts until there was no denying that Fetty Wap was a blossoming superstar that had more than one catchy single. After months of his take over, when it was announced that Fetty would be taking his show on the road, it was expected that no matter what venue he stepped in, every seat would be filled.

I can’t speak for the entire Welcome To The Zoo tour but in Atlanta, at the Tabernacle, there wasn’t a single empty seat. The show was completely sold out, the energy was high, and everyone came to sing their souls out. You could feel the energy in the moments after walking in, that this was a crowd exuding excitement. Ready to welcome Fetty with warmth and cheers. It wasn’t just Fetty, Post Malone, Mr. White Iverson himself was also on the tour. Another newcomer that soared up the charts with one song but has an entire Soundcloud of bangers that made him a worthy opening act for Fetty. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Post Malone left the Welcome To The Zoo tour in exchange for Justin Bieber's Purpose tour.

Without Post, a plethora of opening acts took the stage to entertain the sold-out audience before Fetty’s performance. It seemed that the acts were coming from everywhere, I’m almost certain that one rapper came through the ceiling. Sadly, the acts came and went

without leaving much of an impression. Act after act, the crowd was beginning to get restless. The final performer was T-Wayne. He had a big song that was huge on Snapchat and vine. He had a strong stage presence that kept the crowd engaged. He also brought out guest - Silentó, who came out and performed his hit “Watch Me” that got everyone out of their seat to Whip and Nae Nae. Next, Bandit Gang Marco, a wellknown local rapper on the cusp of breaking out performed his bubbling song “Nasty”. TWayne closed with “Nasty Freestyle” the song that became a viral sensation online. With the strongest set of the night, he warmed everyone up for the guest of honor.

What was incredible about Fetty Wap’s set was from the moment he touched the stage, he didn’t sing a single song alone. The crowd knew every word from not just the singles but from his album. “My Way” “Again” “Jimmy Choo” “679” all the big single and album cuts like “Trap Luv” and “RGF Island” got huge reactions. It felt like the entire stadium knew every word he sung. Despite the long wait and the underwhelming openings, Fetty gave the crowd the show they wanted. It’s not about him being the best singer or the greatest lyricist, Fetty has charm and songs people enjoy singing. They sung until he walked off the stage and likely sung all the way home.

The entire stadium knew every word

-Yoh Phillips

Throughout the album (like her performance last year) Emily seamlessly moved from her 4-string Fender jazz bass, to her 5-string fretless without missing a beat. She does what has always boggled my mind for a bassist to be able to do; she played those two basses, held down the pocket, soloed, and sang — and was masterful at all of them. Yes I know, Meshell (Ndegeocello) sings and plays, Sting sings and plays, Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins, yadda yadda, but let’s face it, none of those artists are playing material with quite the complexity of what Emily is playing while they’re singing; so to compare them would be like comparing apples & oranges.

Listen to track “Good Lava” HERE If you were fortunate enough to be around in the 70’s like I was, and witness artists like Miles or Hendrix, those guys never put on the same show twice.

They were always evolving. They were never static. They were always reinventing themselves (think Hendrix “The Experience”, then think Hendrix “Band of Gypsies”; think Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”, then think Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” or “Tutu”) because their art was not static — it was a continuum. I think that’s what we’re witnessing with Esperanza / Emily.

All that being said, what I witnessed live was actually a sneak peak of her album. Not only is this new sound of hers great, she’s coming back to ATL (Center Stage to be exact) on April 22 to bless us once again with her greatness.

The album “Emily’s D+ Evolution” is a solid 9 out of 10.

You can buy her album HERE -KJ

The eccentric EP, SWAAY, introduces Joe Jonas’ new band DNCE with the delicious, “Cake By the Ocean”. This track is going to be played at parties and events for years to come. The mix of disco-funk and fun lyrics make this a great song to sing at the top of your lungs while standing on top of a boat in the middle of the ocean. How do I know this? Because I in fact did this recently and it was the best memory of my Florida Vacation. This song reminds you to stop stressing so much and enjoy those very sweet moments in life. You can have your cake and eat it too while sitting in the sand by the ocean.

“Pay My Rent” is flipping the script on the classic “Bills, Bills, Bills,” by Destiny’s Child. I mean its 2016 and the cost of rent is on a steady rise. More and more couples are learning that splitting the rent is the new way to show you love someone. Plus not having your finances in order is one of the top reasons for divorce these days. He wants to marry this girl but he has to know she’s ready to commit to those grown up responsibilities we all hate. Sounds like it is love well spent.

“Jinx” is a cute little love ballad about a guy who is trying to take things slow as not to scare this girl away he is in love with. It has references to superstition and the tradition of keeping your birthday wish to yourself so that it will come true. He doesn’t want to push commitment on her but his love for her has taken over his head.

SWAAY may be a small project but it definitely leaves a big impression of what kind of identity DNCE wants you to know. The four members of this group have a ton of creative and fresh pop hits that surely will be a staple on the radio waves.

Jonas has chosen a great group of musicians to venture into the next step of his career with. Their quirky styles tie together seamlessly and result in the kind of pop-funk you need to hear to hear on both a bad day to lift you up or a good day to keep you going!

Watch “Cake By The Ocean” video

-YoAngie!

DNCE (Meredith Truax)

Leaving your toothbrush at someone’s house dates back before the days of relationship status updates on Facebook. If you were able to leave your toothbrush and maybe even have your very own drawer at someone’s house you were in there! This marked your relationship was moving past just a one night stand. He is ready to tell the world about his woman and tells her to close the door behind her, stay and play!. This song “Toothbrush” is going to have a lot of women imposing the toothbrush test on their relationship.

ANTI The long-awaited eighth studio album from Rihanna is finally here. Rihanna took us by surprise with the sudden release of Anti to Tidal and Samsung users. After listening to this album a few times the verdict is finally out: Rihanna has a solid album that will bring new listeners into her fan base.

She shows her growth as an artist on this album by straying away from an entire pop filled album to more soulful tracks. She found a good balance by having those Rihanna records that we’re used to but experimenting with vintage sounds on songs like ‘Kiss It Better’ and ‘Love on the Brain.’ She still contains that dark mystique that we love about Rihanna but, it seems like she’s owned it and learned how to control it instead of the opposite.

She took risks with ballads which I can appreciate but I don’t expect amazing vocals from Rihanna. The effort was apparent on ‘Higher’ but at times it felt strained. I can appreciate the musicality of these type of songs overall. I think this is the first album from start to finish where most people who weren’t real fans of Rihanna could really listen to the album in its entirety and not want to skip any songs. From the straight to the point intro of ‘Consideration’ to the catchy beat of ‘Work’ down to the sweetness of ‘Close to You’… Its safe to say that Rihanna has found her niche.

It’s rare that artists have a well-rounded album that is easy to listen to all the way through. I have followed Rihanna from the beginning of her career and I’m finally seeing the growth and risks that as a fan, I’ve been longing for.

-Keisha Campbell

Jon Hope releases the vibrant visual to his latest single ‘Plaids & Polka Dots’ produced by long time collaborator El Jay Se. The Walu directed clip finds Jon Hope playing the narrator as he illustrates the the dynamic of a love triangle.

Plaids & Polka Dots is the latest single off Hope’s critically acclaimed ‘A Guy Named Harry’. (Explicit Content) Watch Video

-YoAngie!

Vicetone introduced their latest single “Bright Side,” the first release from their debut five-track EP, Aurora. With its light-hearted strings and heavenly vocals care of Cosmos & Creature, the song is equally cinematic as it is symphonic. This melodic house tune evokes a warm pop sensibility for its listeners, taking them on a sonic journey to the brighter side of dance music. With the full EP set for release on April 8th via Spinnin’, “Bright Side” marks a step forward for the duo, giving the world a taste of their first full-bodied collection of work.

Listen HERE

Dutch star Martin Garrix is back with a huge new single in the form of Now That I’ve Found You: a vocal anthem that is sure to cement his growing status as a major crossover artist.

Watch Video

-YoAngie

Premiered on Zane Lowe’s highly influential World Record show on Beats 1 this week, the track is released on Garrix’s new STMPD RCRDS label on March 11 and features the vocals of Swedish singer/ songwriter duo John & Michel.

SPORTS

The Hornets snapped a seven game losing streak tonight, defeating the visiting Atlanta Hawks 107-84. For those who closely follow these teams, seeing the Hornets win so convincingly was great considering the Hawks have owned the series winning 3 of the last 4 contests.

Kemba Walker shot 9 of 13 from the field to lead the team with 23 points, but much of the talk around the locker room was about Nicolas Batum (who returned to action after suffering a toe injury). Batum used his presence in the post to create plays for his teammates; finishing the game with 6 points and 10 assists. A major recipient of those assists was Cody Zeller who scored 19 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

The Hornets got into a rhythm early and never trailed in the contest, they ended the 1st Quarter leading 20-19. In a postgame interview, Coach Clifford listed their start as key to tonight’s victory: “We started the game better. The last four games we struggled in the first quarter but the starters set the tone with a good balance of offensive and defensive play. That was probably as complete of a game as we’ve played all year.”

The Hornets played very aggressive in the 2nd Quarter leading by as many as 13 points. They went into halftime with a 45-36 lead; this was the second time this season they were able to hold an opponent to just 36 (previously done against Miami on December 9th). Things continued in the Hornets favor during the 3rd quarter where they lead by as many as 22 points, finishing with an 80-58 lead. In the 4th Quarter, Jeremy Lin scored 9 of his 17 points and the team lead by as many as 35 points.

Many of the players mentioned that Team Owner and NBA Legend Michael Jordan spoke to the team after Tuesday’s practice. He reassured them that he had confidence in their ability to win if they played for each other as they did earlier in the season. Based on tonight’s results he was right. The Hornets grabbed 54 rebounds (17 more than the Hawks), forced 16 turnovers, and shot 84.6% from the charity stripe.

Despite the loss every active Hawks player scored a basket and they were led by Paul Millsap’s 20 points. The Hornets travel to New Orleans for a game on Friday, and then back Home for 2 straight games.

-Tony Stanford Jr.

The Charlotte Hornets look playoff ready after defeating the Indiana Pacers 108 – 101. This was the Hornets third victory over the Pacers this season, giving them a two-game advantage in the eastern conference playoff standings and the number six spot.

Kemba Walker played spectacular shooting 100% from the free throw line and 52% from the field finishing with 33 points and 10 assists for his second double-double of the season Both teams traded baskets early in the game, where fans saw 7 lead changes.

Paul George of the visiting Pacers scored 15 of his 35 points in the first half.

Strong play by Walker and Nicolas Batum who scored 15 of his 31 points in the half, gave the Hornets a 55 – 50 lead at halftime.

The Hornets biggest challenge of the night came in the 3rd quarter where the Pacers rallied behind 24 combined points from George and Monta Ellis to take an 82 – 80 lead in the contest. However, the Hornets used strong team defense to close out the game holding the Pacers to 19 points and 5-of-18 shooting. Al Jefferson, who had several injuries this season, gave the Hornets a spark off the bench with 13 second half points with 6 coming in the final quarter.

Every Hornet who played tonight scored a basket. In a postgame interview Coach Clifford stated, “The team has a good understanding of who we are and what we have to do, we are healthy and now they are playing harder and smarter.” The Hornets have a 21-9 record at home this season where they will face their next 6 opponents starting with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday at 7pm.

-Tony Stanford Jr.

Nicolas Batum played an integral role in the Hornets win tonight (Tony Stanford Jr.)

It was the turnaround that Yellow Jacket faithful had been waiting for. After two straight, forgettable seasons, they turned their horrendous record into one of the best showings in recent memory.

After their early ACC Tournament exit, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets accepted a bid into the next best thing to the Big Dance: the National Invitational Tournament or NIT. Tech finished (20-14) overall with a (14-5) home record this season. Their #4 seed saw them take on a well-prepared Houston side with the #5 seed in the first round of the NIT. If you were able to catch the game, it was one of those matches where you felt proud to be a fan. The Yellow Jackets played so well and when thinking on how far they’ve come without any real bigname players, its a testament to the balance on their team.

Marcus Georges-Hunt had 19 points in their 81-62 victory against Houston. The domination by the Jackets lasted the entirety of the game, outscoring the Cougars 41-32 in the first half, and 40-30 in the second.

After this massive victory and their first postseason contest in the past 5 years, the Yellow Jackets will move on to face the South Carolina Gamecocks in the next round of the NIT. -Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright

USA CAN

2 0

Starting XI: Hope Solo, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Kelley O’Hara, Morgan Brian, Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Pugh, Alex Morgan

It couldn’t get any better for the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT): Olympic qualification set, the destruction of opponents at every turn, and the final match of the tournament is your border-rival Canada. The only thing that would’ve made this better is if it was televised (it was available only on NBC Sports app in English but NBC Universo showed it in Spanish).

There were a lot of new faces in this final, which was great to see since most fans are used to the grudge match which is Wambach-Sinclair. Newbies for the Canadians included Ashley Lawrence and Nichelle Prince while veterans like Christine Sinclair and Diana Matheson came off the bench.

For the USA, the future of women’s soccer, Mallory Pugh, started and played almost the full 90′ against our arch-rivals. I called on this about two years ago stating “this right here is the future! She’ll get called up before she’s done with high school,” and here she is at 17 years of age, leading our girls to victory.

She started up top with Alex Morgan (who thankfully has been able to find her form from 2012) and could’ve played the entire match but was substituted in stoppage time.

The CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament has been a great opportunity to showcase the youth before the Olympics begin. The names you need to keep an eye on are Crystal Dunn (who has been on fire since her World Cup roster snub), Lindsey Horan, Jaelene Hinkle, and the big one, Mallory Pugh (pictured right). We are fortunate to have a rising star like Pugh but another one to keep an eye on is Horan. Football (soccer) is still not embraced as strongly as it is overseas. So for Horan, a standout at such a young age with European powerhouse PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), to leave UEFA glory and join the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) is a very big deal. Kudos to these youngsters that want to help improve the women’s league here at home.

One thing about being the #1 team on the planet, is that everybody wants a piece of you.

The more talented countries aren’t as aggressive as the lower tier, but still, when you’re losing and getting outclassed, things can get chippy. This game versus Canada was just that. Our neighbors to the North were extremely fortunate not to get carded as much as they should’ve. The USWNT often take abuse while decimating their opponents but, they always get up and push on with class.

US Striker Alex Morgan gets fouled from behind while pursuing a loose ball (Hakim Wright)

The first goal came when Becky Sauerbrunn served a beautiful ball to Lindsey Horan, who nailed a sweet header past the keeper in the 53′. The second goal came when Pugh found Tobin Heath at the opposite end of the box and hit a beautiful one-time goal (when you receive a pass and immediately shoot without dribbling or setting up).

See Tobin Heath’s GOAL Although the girls won the tournament and defeated Canada 2-0, I’m sure there will be a few changes before the Olympics. Hopefully, they won’t exert too much energy in the coming weeks as they’re hosting the “She Believes Tournament” in March, with titans Germany, France, and England. While it looks to be a better test than the CONCACAF opponents (the three opponents in the She Believes Tournament are ranked Top 5 in the World), I worry about injuries. Also, I’m sure USWNT Coach Jill Ellis might want to rethink the positioning of Horan. While being a young phenom in Paris she was scoring as a striker.

With the U.S. she’s been used mainly in the midfield. I would have zero qualms if she wanted to rotate between Pugh-Morgan or Pugh-Horan up top. Because even if the latter combination didn’t prove effective, she’d still have Alex Morgan, Christen Press, and Crystal Dunn coming off the bench.

The girls handled their business this tournament and I’m sure they’ll do great in the “She Believes Tournament” as well. I hope these networks will start showing some respect and airing these matches on TV. The men haven’t won a tournament in years but always get televised while the girls are 3-time World Champions and just qualified for the Olympics and have to stream?

-Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright

Every year, the best of the best in the NFL gather in Hawaii for football’s all-star game, the Pro Bowl. What used to be the NFC vs. AFC has changed recently to a fantasy draft format. Retired NFL legends Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin have been the team captains since the format change and can draft any player they choose, regardless of their conference. This exciting change has put teammates against each other, which would have never happened in past seasons.

In this year’s edition of the NFL Pro Bowl, Team Irvin blew out Team Rice 49-27. The explosive start was thanks to Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who threw for 3 early touchdowns in the 1st half. The Champion Quarterback went 8 for 12 for 164 yards to go with those 3 touchdowns. The other rotations at Quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings) and Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), threw for 2 touchdowns apiece with only 1 interception coming from Bridgewater.

Team Rice fell short of their high hopes due to Team Irvin’s defense.

Quarterbacks Eli Manning (Giants), Derek Carr (Raiders), and Tyrod Taylor (Bills) combined for 6 interceptions. Their running game wasn’t much of a factor either with a combined 61 yards from 5 different running backs.

Another Pro Bowl, another win for Team Irvin. The match will be remembered for Wilson’s 1st half heroics. We also caught candids of Falcons players Julio Jones, DeVonta Freeman, Desmond Trufant, Patrick DiMarco and former UGA standout A.J. Green.

-Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright

Back in April, we were part of a select few that got a private tour of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBZ) that’s replacing the Georgia Dome. But before that, we witnessed a landmark moment in progress for our new football club Atlanta United. The latest club to benefit from MLS expansion, Atlanta United FC will kickoff its first season next spring in 2017.

What took place yesterday was a type of prequel to next month’s international friendly. Atlanta United Technical Director and US Men’s National Team legend Carlos Bocanegra officially welcomed two important figures: Santiago Baños (Director of National Teams for Mexico) and Juan Carlos Osorio (Mexican National Team Manager).

Remember that friendly I mentioned? Mexico is kicking off their 2016 US Tour in Atlanta, facing Paraguay, and then heading to San Diego to take on Copa America champions Chile. The match in Atlanta is on May 28 while the San Diego clash is just days after on June 1. With two exhibition matches taking place just four days before the historic Copa America Centenario, I asked newly appointed Osorio if he was worried about fatigue: “We think looking ahead, by that time, the players probably will feel fatigue. Not just because those 2 games but it’s the end of their own seasons, whether in Europe or in the Mexican league. Physiologically speaking they probably will be tired. But again I think to play for the National Team is an honor and that fatigue will be put to the side and if anything, it’ll be taxing on the mental side. We’re playing against two top teams in South America, one the actual champions (Chile) of the Copa America. So those two teams have their own players playing in Europe in top leagues. So I think it’ll be mentally taxing but I think that the Mexican National Team is ready for it, and I hope that we’ll contribute to 2 very good games.”

The city is abuzz with excitement with the return of the Mexican National Team. Their friendly with Nigeria in 2014 and their Gold Cup match against Panama in 2015 drew sold-out crowds to the Georgia Dome. As of right now, 30,000 tickets have been sold for next month’s match with Paraguay.

L to R: Carlos Bocanegra, Juan Carlos Osorio, Santiago Baños (Jonathan Davis)

True football fans are excited to see Mexico try to extend their 18 match win streak (longest in the world) with Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and Carlos Vela at the helm.

After the press conference, we proceeded next door to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, currently under construction. During our hard hat tour, we were able to get a sneak peek at the Atlanta United locker rooms, therapy rooms, suites, and an amazing city view from the top. The tour was topped off with a photo-op with our guests of honor from Mexico and Carlos Bocanegra.

Juan Carlos Osorio inside the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Jonathan Davis)

-Jon J. Photo: Jonathan Davis

These are exciting times in Atlanta. With the arrival of a new MLS club and the announcement Monday on their new Marietta training ground, ATL will definitely be in the football spirit sooner than later.

This new stadium will be the best in MLS and arguably the best in American sports.

Season tickets are available now with a preview center available to visit to see/feel the seating in-person.

For those in need of tickets to next month’s friendly, you can buy those HERE

Travel & Recreation

To kickoff our Spring Edition of 2016, we decided to feature the 33rd edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival (MIFF). This epic 10-day film festival was highlighted by tributes to Iciar Bollain, Gavin Hood, Deepa Mehta, and Monica Bellucci.

The festival took place at the historic Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami, plus six additional theaters across Magic City. Included in the festival were copious screenings, parties, discussion panels, awards, and networking for all of the thousands in attendance.

This year’s festival screened 129 films, 100 of which were feature films and docs (documentaries) while the latter were short films. 46 films from the lot were directed or co-directed by women. To add to that diversity there were 12 world premieres, 1 international premiere, 16 North American and 13 U.S. premieres, all debuting at MIFF in Miami.

One of the biggest names to grace the red carpet at MIFF was Monica Bellucci (pictured above). In one of her most complex and demanding roles yet, she plays the role of French actress Sophie Bernard in the film Ville-Marie. “I was grateful for the chance to take this beautiful role,” Bellucci said of working with director Guy Édoin.

“It’s like three roles in one. Sophie is an actress looking for herself, and she’s a mother. This woman discovers herself and her weaknesses through her work and she tries to find a good relation with her son, because it is very difficult.”

Another element that played a part in her taking the role was the fact that she had to gain weight. She has defied all types of age-bias and this film is just another example of that. So her response when asked “how did you feel about gaining weight?” came twofold: “This movie came in a moment in my life where it was the perfect moment. Had this movie came to me 15 years ago it wouldn’t have been the same. This woman in the film is not a young woman, and we need to see her body, also too be decadent; to see the pain in her face and her eyes.”

Spanish filmmaker Javier Ruiz Caldera’s Spy Time and Cuban filmmaker Pavel Giroud’s The Companion tied for the Lexus Audience Favorite Feature Film of the 33rd edition of MIFF. The Festival was a star-studded week with Spanish recording legend Raphael, Academy Award winner Christine Lahti, and Argentine actress Dolores Fonzi in attendance at the numerous screening events. Additionally, American filmmaker Logan Sandler’s short “Tracks” was unveiled as the Lexus Audience Favorite Short Film.

The announcements were jointly made by the Festival’s executive director Jaie Laplante, Lexus’ Chuck Dixson, and The Related Group’s Carlos Rosso, on the beautiful outdoor plaza at One Brickell property just “steps” away from historic Olympia Theater on the banks of the Miami River. Guests enjoyed imaginative installations, an Oscar-themed red carpet photo booth, and sipped Pyrat Rum and Stella Artois all following the US premiere of Andrew Currie‘s The Steps featuring a brilliant ensemble cast led by James Brolin and Oscar-winner Christine Lahti. Also in attendance from the film was rising star Benjamin Arthur. The Audience Awards announcement capped an incredible edition of the Festival, which featured a total of 127 films from 40 countries.

Here are the award winners and their categories: KNIGHT COMPETITION, presented by The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation. Jury members Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Selton Mello and Trey Edward Shults (a friend we made in Cannes 2015) selected the winners: • Knight Grand Jury Prize: Dheepan (France), produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard • Grand Jury Award Best Performance: Zhao Tao in Mountains May Depart (China) • Grand Jury Award Best Director: Yorgos Lanthimos for The Lobster (Ireland/ Greece) KNIGHT DOCUMENTARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, presented by The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation. The Award winner was selected by the Festival audience.

• Queen of Thursdays (USA), produced by Jorge Alvarez, Orlando Rojas and Dennis Scholl LEXUS IBERO-AMERICAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION Jury members Carlos Lechuga, Leticia Tonos Paniagua and Kenny Riches

selected the winning film: • Paulina (La patota) (Argentina), directed by Santiago Mitre JORDAN ALEXANDER RESSLER SCREENWRITING AWARD Jury members Rosa Bosch, Jorge Guerricaechevarria and Diego Lerman selected the winner: • Lorenzo Vigas for From Afar (Venezuela/Mexico) Shorts Competition The latest in films 30 minutes or less from around the globe, the jury-selected winner received a $2,500 cash prize: • “The Man of My Life” (France) directed by Melanie Delloye MIAMI ENCUENTROS presented by Knight Foundation The winning project in post-production received the Achievement Award, which includes a $10,000 cash prize: • The Candidate (Uruguay), produced by Micaela Sole and Daniel Hendler Miami Film 2016 presented by The Related Group Three prizes were awarded to Argentine films in development: • Diego Lerman for A Sort of Family • Gonzalo Tobal for Dolores • Camilla Toker for The Death of Marga Maier CINEMASLAM Jury members Carla Forte, Giancarlo Loffredo and Alouishous San Gomma selected the winner in the Miami student film competition: • “I Want To Beat Up Clark Peters” by Joseph Picozzi (University of Miami’s School of Communications)

Anyone in the Southeast that’s into film should mark this festival on their calendar.

Next year we look forward to bringing you even deeper coverage of this festival. You can put this down with Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, ATL Film Festival, and of course Cannes. Miami International Film Festival is top notch.

-Khaleah Evelyn & Danae Bruce

TAKE A TRIP

James Washington, better known as “J International,” is back again, to break stereotypes about other countries and encourage youth to travel.

This go-round, he kicks off his video all the way in Fiji. He’s determined to get the youth (and specifically black youth) out the house and around the world. For Americans, many travel to specific places which he describes as “your comfort zone.” He believes the best experiences are had outside of that: “No disrespect to the Bahamas or Jamaica, but you’re just touching the surface.” He continues, “Being that far away you have no other choice but to have a good time. Your best times are outside your comfort zone. Miami is your comfort zone! The Bahamas is your comfort zone! Fiji? Fiji is not your comfort zone!”

Sit back and relax as J International takes you to the exotic islands of Fiji and Sri Lanka.

Bounce TV, the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television, announced the launch of a free mobile app which will allow access to a wide variety of its popular programming anywhere, anytime.

So I gave the app a run on my iPhone and the first thing I have to mention is its size. At a mere 25MB I was pleased so much was available to me in a package that took up so little space. The second feature is a big one for me: having access to programming without a login. This is a big “plus” for me, especially when I can remember just a few years ago we were all free to stream live programming network websites without accounts and passwords. Now, networks force you to login with your cable/satellite provider and for those who don’t have online accounts or know their login, this step can become a nuisance for some.

The first thing I wanted to see was PBC (Premier Boxing Champions). I remember watching PBC on NBC about a year ago, so I think its great that a new edition, “The Next Round” is available on Bounce. This acquisition just goes to show how much Bounce is growing with its base and as a network.

The original programs that are available include: My Crazy Roommate, One Love, Off The Chain, In The Cut, Family Time, Mann & Wife, and Saints & Sinners.

The great thing about this mobile app is that you can access entire seasons of their programming. Even with the debut of their new series “Saints & Sinners,” if you weren’t able to catch it on TV it was available on the app a few hours later.

With new original programming on the way, I can see Bounce TV reaching the heights of other major networks and eventually surpassing BET. The Bounce TV App is now available for free in the iTunes App Store for iPhone/iPad and in the Google Play Store for Android devices.

-Jon J.

Skiplagged is the only airfare search engine to not only find tickets where your destination is the final stop, but also any stop leading up to some other destination.

Why the latter? As part of the pricing model of many airlines, they would sometimes charge less for tickets where your destination is a layover rather than the final destination. This is price discrimination that has to do with being competitive in the industry. At the end of the day, what you would be doing here is purchasing more of a service than you need for less. There are a few caveats though: (1) no checked bags because they'll end up at the final destination [carry-ons are okay] (2) must book two one-ways for round-trips (3) shouldn't associate with frequent flyer programs (4) there is risk of airlines removing your actual destination from your itinerary during times of irregular activity such as really bad weather The savings can be substantial, sometimes reaching 80%, and other around 10%. It also checks for rates around the dates you’ve chosen and the coolest part, a graph to show when prices will increase or decrease (pictured right, the line graph on the bottom shows price fluctuation).

I only use the app domestically, but I don’t see why you couldn't take advantage of this for international travel. The only downside I could think of for traveling across the pond would be your inability to check luggage. I myself am a carry-on type of guy so this app works great with my travel habits.

Out of all the travel apps out there, Skipplagged is truly one of a kind and I highly recommend it. Available on iTunes & Google Play.

-Jon J.

Back in February we had the arduous task of reviewing the Andretti Grille, located inside of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. Oh what a “task” it was…

The new Marietta location has become an instant hit in the area and is sure to be packed this summer. We were one of the first to try the Grille’s food and beverage selection and we must say, patrons will not be disappointed!

Once we were seated by our waitress Kimberly (who was amazing in every way) we ordered appetizers. The seating is extremely comfortable. There’s an elevated area on the left side of the dining area with cushions and booths and that’s where we sat. With so much room and good vibes to go around with the seating, Kimberly’s personality, and overall comfort, we ordered one mega appetizer: The Route 66 Platter. (Pictured right) The Route 66 Platter simplified things for us as a group and alleviated the need for separate orders. The platter comes with just about everything you can choose from the appetizer menu. We had jumbo potato skins, chicken quesadillas, wings, and creamy four cheese mac-n-cheese.

Whilst conversing about the experience, we decided to order drinks as well. Pictured left is a very delicious and extremely potent Checkered Flag (Ciroc Amaretto, Simple Syrup, and Lemonade).

While we were waiting on our entrees, Kimberly constantly checked on us (we never had to ask for anything because of her watchful eye on us) and in her absence, manager George Humphrey did the same. When I say they are the perfect combination, I mean it. It really creates a memorable experience when the people tending to you are not just friendly, but caring people who are truly concerned about your experience with them.

So all of these good vibes and a perfect experience thus far led us straight to the main course. Nothing gives you the fuel to race like a Margherita Pizza.

Pictured top left, the Margherita Pizza is packed with fresh ovoline mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, and glazed balsamic.

It’s definitely as delicious as it looks and yes, you are looking at eight slices.

For dessert? A Hot Skillet Cookie Sundae. This is a huge dessert option that’s enough to share with everyone.

Those two large scoops of vanilla (it comes with three but the third was devoured quickly) are sitting on top of a giant chocolate chip cookie that was baked in that cast iron skillet. It comes with all the luscious details of caramel sauce, whipped cream, and Hershey bar shavings (ours came without the shavings or whipped cream).

-Jon J. Photo: Keisha Campbell

So with the perfect 10 out of 10 experience, everyone needs to know the Marietta location of Andretti’s features food that’s as enjoyable as its entertainment.

Editor-in-Chief Jon Jones Beauty Contributor Keisha Campbell Music Contributions Lauren Brumley YoAngie! Caquias KJ Sports Esli Lara Mike Brown Jon Jones Tony Stanford Jr.

Editor KJ Videography Malcolm “X” Lewis Art/Graphics Bob Jeffreys Fashion Team Joy Larkins Keisha Campbell

We hope you enjoyed our Fall 2015 Issue, No. 15 of The Peach Review®. If you’d like to see more content (pictures/videos) or keep up-to-date on events around ATL you can:

Photography Hakim Wright Malcolm “X” Lewis Yoh Phillips Anna Lira Jonathan Davis Kent Foster Event Contributions Khaleah Evelyn Andrea Abril Erica “EDB” Bizzell Doug Bryant Consultant Desmond McLennon Video Games Titus “TBZ” Rowell Alana Clarke

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