Une Conversation
GET YOUR HEART ON Do you remember when Valentines day was making a heart shaped pocket for your grade three desk, and having it be mandatory that you give one to all of your classmates? When that changed in high school and the girl sitting next to me had 3 carnations delivered to her, all of them red for love, and I had received not one, the charm of the holiday wore off. In my first year of University, I had just started dating someone around this red and pink time and with my faith somewhat renewed, I gave him a spider man comic with a card. I played the moment out in my head that I would give him the comic, he would be charmed that I didn't deliver something obvious and then of course he would give me the thoughtful gift he had prepared. What actually happened was horribly awkward, a wave of guilt washed over his face and he quickly found an excuse to bolt. It became more awkward the next day when he gave me a "vintage nail kit," which I found out later belonged to his mother. At least it was red. This year I decided that New Years could be everyday, and warned my friends that if they heard me counting down from 10 on an obscure Tuesday at 4:53, not to be alarmed. My Valentine's wish to you is to celebrate whenever you feel like it, without the chubby cherub. We are disappointed when reality doesn't meet our expectations, but on the rare occasion that it does it's usually not quite what we thought it would be. I've always found the unexpected to be ideal. Ovid said Fortune and Love favour the brave and as daunting as it can be to put yourself out there on any given day, when you wait for a holiday to celebrate love or to laugh at its disappointments, it's like drinking a virgin martini - you miss the bite.
Photo: Mona Aletheia
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ritty love
Britannica Lightfoot / Hiranyalokalove.com ---Truths bloom most recklessly when love is around in fact, it has me by the ankles holding me upside down "shaking all of the nonsense out" (as Hafiz so wisely once said)
Diamond Messages “Liquid Summer”
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here is much to talk about with 88 Keys. My first instinct is to ask him what it was like to learn from A Tribe Called Quest's Q-tip, Pete Rock, and Large Professor, who incidentally gave him his moniker, or to ask him about his working relationship with Kanye West, given that he is one of 88's closest friends, and Godfather to his daughter. 88 Keys produced "No Church in the Wild" on the Jay-Z and Kanye West "Watch the Throne" album, which features Frank Ocean and is now being used as the title track for the new Denzel Washington movie, "Safe House." However, as compelling as these relationships and achievements are to explore, there are two distinct things 88 shares about himself within 10 minutes of our
meeting: When travelling to different cities there are only two things he cares about seeing, a record shop and the Ralph Lauren Store. We all have our vices, some people smoke and drink, others dress head to toe in Ralph Lauren. Every. Day. When I ask him about what sparked his love for Polo, he talks about the brand with as much passion and authority as he does about hip hop. 88 reminisces about the 10th grade in 1990, when he first began buying his own clothes and aside from a quick tryst with Hilfiger, Nautica and Guess, he says he quickly learned that he was never disappointed by Ralph Lauren and thought, "Why am I wasting my time? He always had something I liked." In 2006 he was invited to a Ralph Lauren "LoHead" photo shoot and as if describing the beginning of a grand love affair he says, "I just saw 50 or 60 people all rockin polo stuff, all of the early to mid-nineties stuff, it all came together in one spot and I was thinking, this is a beautiful moment.’ Since that year, 88 has been fully committed and is now the owner of 750 pieces and counting, "I made a pretty penny in this music industry and decided to only buy his stuff by the collection. I started wearing only Ralph Lauren and even stopped wearing other types of sneakers. From that day forward I never looked back." I attest to the sincerity of this statement as during the interview we Googled "Lo-head" images and within the first ten, there was a picture of his daughter cited as the youngest one.
88 is a native New Yorker as is Ralph Lauren and in fact they were both born in the Bronx. Lauren built his empire from scratch starting with a wide and unusual neck tie. His brand emulates the story of the American dream, and in Oprah Winfrey's 2002 interview with Lauren she said she came to equate monetary success with owning rows of his towels. When I ask 88 how he feels about the brand in this respect he says, "The funny thing is a lot of people who know about me, and know about my love for Ralph Lauren clothing, they all think I'm into fashion but I couldn't care about fashion whatsoever, I couldn’t give a damn about who's wearing what on the red carpet. I don't care if Gucci has the latest something you know, I don't care about any of that stuff, I just love Ralph Lauren Polo. I love the lifestyle he draws his inspiration from. It kinda takes me there mentally. You know the feeling when Halloween is around the corner, and you're going to pick out your outfit and you're thinking, I'm gonna wow everybody with this, and then when it actually hits and you wear it you just feel like a different person? I get that feeling everyday when I wear Ralph Lauren." 88 talks about the Polo collections like fine art work. He knows what inspired them, the different cultural influences involved, and has deep respect for Lauren's ability to draw from many sources to create designs that are unique and timeless. The admiration 88 has for Lauren's love of his craft is reflected in his own work; He religiously samples from his ever growing record collection and delivers something inspired and lasting. We begin to talk about the story of Ralph Lauren and I remember reading that when he was first selling his ties, he went to Bloomingdale's to show the buyer his selection and was told to make them a quarter of an
inch narrower, take his name off and replace it with Sutton East. He refused and continued to sell his ties elsewhere. Six months later, Bloomingdale's called. As I'm telling the story, 88 interjects and says excitedly, "And that's how I am! When the industry was going all electro and keyboard synthesizers were being used in hip hop, I was like one, I don't know how to play keyboards, and two, it sounded a little too synthetic for me. Especially since they're not using the Moog keyboards or the Arp, or these vintage keyboards, they're using the new Triton, so now everybody has the new Triton you know, one producer makes a certain sound famous and everybody wants to use it because that one producer just blew up off it and made tons of money. I never got into that, that's why I stick to my sound, I've always stuck to my sound even when people have urged me to change it up, I'm like nah, I'm not gonna change my sound because you like that type of music, I don't even like that kind of music. I like to make the music that I like, the music that I try to emulate, which is like Tribe, Pete Rock and De La Soul and stuff like that. I stick to my guns, I don't change my ways, I love my ways." Good for us because we are certainly enjoying the product of those ways as well. After an incredible weekend of making music with Chin Injeti and myself at the Hastings Set in Vancouver, 88 packs up his MPC 3000 in his army green Polo bag and calls it a night. He is heading back to his home studio in New York the next day named "The Polo Grounds". Of course, what else do you do when it's real love? For more on 88 Keys visit: polo67life.com facebook.com/eightyocho @eightyocho
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Photos: Mona Aletheia
L'indiscrète In search of a raw and uncompromising love, she set out into the concrete jungle, with only a magical plant to help her, serving as a light amongst shadows, in search of Love.
In need of help, she found the only thing that could support her in her difficult quest: a fluorescent
buoy.
She begrudgingly discovered that not even the most charming of men could satisfy her needs. Their lackadaisical indifference only left her thirsty for
something more.
But she knew her days of flirting with freedom were numbered. So she swallowed her independence and began playing the part of
seductress...
Only to find herself alone on Friday nights, with an ironing board, a baby and a cigarette. But at least they were made of the finest tobacco leaves money could buy.
Credits: Photography, hair and make-up by Kate Wotherspoon Creative direction and words by Alexia Anastasiou For more from Alexia check out: beautythemark.blogspot.com from Kate follow: @keightw
SWEET RUSH
is Siham and Iman Hashi, a singer/songwriter duo who are the first female Somali artists to sign a Major American Record deal, and founders of the non-profit organization, Somalia Lives Again. They are currently working on their debut album with Grammy award winning producer NO I.D. and expanding their humanitarian efforts with the U.N. and other organizations alike. It's no surprise they have something to say about the ins and outs of love...
DO Girls:
HAVE YOUR OWN LIFE They say an idle mind is the devils playground but that is an understatement when it comes to a girl who revolves her life around a boy. Your satisfaction with the relationship will always be temporary because your time is consumed with the things you want him to do and what he isn’t doing. Doing your own thing will give you guys plenty to talk about, less time to obsess, and you will both look forward to the next time you see each other!
Guys:
PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL STUFF It’s not always the expensive gifts that make us girls happy. It’s the little things that are the most effective. Like leaving a note or bringing us lunch. Not for a particular reason but just because you were thinking of us. Those are the priceless moments that we’ll be gushing about to our girls! So next time you feel like your “low on cash” situation is stopping you from doing something nice, just remember its usually the little things that end up being the grandest gestures.
DO NOT Girls:
SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF Yes, “Love is a Battlefield” but not every battle is worth the fight. Unless something has become an ongoing issue, don’t bite his head off for leaving the dishtowel on the floor. If you are constantly having issues with the little things, it’s probably because you have a bigger issue that you’ve been holding inside. Address the bigger issue and leave the small stuff alone.
Guys:
HIT ON MULTIPLE FRIENDS You know how they say you should put yourself out there to increase your chances of finding someone? Well, you definitely shouldn’t try that out within a group of friends. It’s tacky and you’ll most likely ruin any shot you had all together. Choose one and try your luck and charm with her. For more on Sweet Rush visit: sweetrushworld.tumblr.com facebook.com/sweetrush @sweetrush
Love at First Bite When we arrived, I exhausted, her annoyed by my silence, she curtly informed me of the house rules. "If you finish the Brita filter, put new water in it!" "Ok" "If you make any food don't throw the leftovers in the garbage!"
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he was the sister of a friend. Having met her several years ago she had left me with a good impression. A strip club followed by a morning in a hotel room. We reconnected several months ago. I'd been asked to drive her home and within forty eight hours I was in love. Great believer in love at first, or I suppose second, sight that I am. Bit of a romantic. She was a saint, someone worth fighting for, the sort of woman who was careful about her lovers and I (lucky man!) had been chosen. She left town a week later and I had a girlfriend. We spoke every night and I was to meet her across the country by the end of the month. I believed in the woman I had created in my mind. Although a part of me (and all of my friends) knew that I was in love with something all together different. Tits.
"Ok dearest" I sat there like a poor fool waiting for his sentence as she put on some loud music. Moments later she changed it, asking if I minded, "To be honest, it was kind of loud" "That's it! You've been picking on me all night!" "Whatever are you talking about big tits that I love?" Ok, the last one is what I meant, not what I said. "I don't and will never love you and I want you to leave in the morning." I can laugh about it now but my wounded pride cried the whole nine hour drive home. A part of me knew the whole time that I was enamoured with a construct whose main support was a physical attribute. It amazes me in retrospect how I was able to fool myself, to the point of being genuinely upset over something that I knew in my heart was doomed and not based in reality.
When we met at the station we could hardly contain our excitement. I suppose she'd spent her time creating some version of myself that suited her vanity as well. We spent several days in a sort of bliss, both unconsciously working at mending the ever forming cracks. On our last night in the city we went to see a singer she loved. When he came on stage she let go of my hand.
The point of the story is this: If love at first sight exists it is something to be feared and treated with extreme caution like a jungle cat let out of it's cage. Perhaps on approach you'll discover a bond that leads to a lifelong companion, but more often than not you'll just get mauled. I, however, found a bandage for such a mauling: I slept with her sister.
She didn't believe in driving. She had no problem being driven, but had some sort of moral hangup against getting a license for herself. I have to admit that even then I realized that although her words made no sense, she made two very good points. I drove on.
Happy Valentine's Day! Georges DuBerger
HIS & HER’S
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What could be more tedious than boy-girl episodes? by Alexia Anastasiou
he year 2011 took to its close with the most promising, yet disappointing, of suitors. Having met them only days apart, I was convinced my luck was changing. I was already imagining the ways in which I would gently let down the one I would not choose, citing some harmless, insignificant detail so as not to hurt him. Nonetheless, he would inevitably be wrecked, spending the next few weeks bedstruck, left alone with his tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream to contemplate the past few weeks. Yet not even their Half Baked flavour would offer him enough insight to pinpoint the moment it turned sour. As a man, he would never assume he was one of many.I met him in the sauna at our local pool. We seemed destined for a hot tryst. It all started when he overheard me talking to the girl sitting next to me. He interjected with a joke made at my expense. Never one to recoil from a sexy battle of wits, I held my own, although he won and walked out with my number. Tall, dark and handsome, I was grateful for the attention. And surprised when he called the next day. He came over that night, and picked me up on his motorbike. Expecting the suave, quick-witted man I had met only yesterday, I was a bit shocked to find someone a little disheveled, and perhaps even a little drunk. Ever the love optimist, I got on the bike anyway, eager to feel the wind in my hair and his hand on my leg. The ride was everything I had hoped for. The next night was spent with friends. In the bar, with my back to the wall, I surveyed the crowd. Then he walked by, wearing a white jacket and baseball cap that practically glowed in the dark, and made some sort of hand gesture in my direction. Content with the man I had only met yesterday, I paid no attention, that is until later, when we met on the dance floor. Taking the lead, he spun me while he shared his preference for tall women and old-fashion dating. He won me over. We had sparked and suddenly the other guy was an afterthought. It's true what they say: all you need to get a date is another date. We spoke on the phone that night, sharing our passions for almond milk, Fleetwood Mac and
lazy Sundays. The next morning, he called again just to make sure nothing had changed in the light of day. We wasted no time meeting again. Well-versed in the fluctuations of courting, I knew not to put all my eggs in one basket and let both men try to woo me. Neither went as planned. The first, eager and straight-forward, called at all the right times, and said all the right things. Yet, he seemed to have a more passionate affair with his beer. All of our encounters, whether in the afternoon, evening, or early morning, involved him either talking about drinking, drinking and being drunk. I didn't stay to clean up after him. The second turned out to be so head-bashingly confusing he almost made me want to call the alcoholic. A few great dates in and he suddenly became cool and distant. Although I had a vinyl record he wanted sitting the back of my car as proof of how much I really liked him, I knew an ex-girlfriend was to blame for the distance. Never one to be silently slighted, I sent him the record anyway, and topped it with a post-it note that went something like this: I bought this for you before I realized you weren't interested. You should enjoy it anyhow." Predictably, it got a response. One full of flattery, hope and promise. However, my optimism quickly waned as his interest faded to cryptic texts, random phone calls, and empty promises. Eventually I stopped caring, and came to the realization that I live in Vancouver and there are hundreds of men here who drink almond milk. Maybe there's hope yet.
More from Alexia: beautythemark.blogspot.com