RSS Feed

Tag Archives: Akua Allrich

Freedom Friday: Guess Who’s Bizzack?

Picture1

Hello Beautiful People!

It is good to be back on the scene.

As you know, I had to go on hiatus to get married!  And it was one of the best days of my life.  As a friend said to me, you are now “ThatMarriedKellieGirl”! :-)    I am truly happy and still on cloud 9.  I will definitely have to give you guys a recap with some photos and my suggestions on planning a wedding.  I will admit, after a while, I was just ready to get married because our lives were consumed by the wedding.  And the closer the big day approached, the more hectic things were…either something  falls through or someone cancels.  However, my biggest challenge was my guest list and the seating arrangement. You try to accommodate as many family requests as possible, but the reality is that everyone can’t come.   Weddings are very personal affairs.  So I wanted to be surrounded by people who I know love  and support us.  Marriage isn’t a game or to be entered into lightly.  You are entering a covenant with person before God and the whole community of family and friends.  So when I said my vows, I became very emotional because I took those words to heart.  When I look at my family and my husband’s family, we are standing on the shoulders of collectively 80 years of marriage.  And I know neither have perfect marriages, but I admire their commitment to each other and their families.  I believe we have a great foundation to build upon, and just as important, accountability.

So me and my boo and have now upgraded to husband and wife status, and we are excited to step out! :-)    Hopefully, we will see you out there.  And you might see us at one the fabulous events below. 

Love ya’ll! :-)

Peace and Blessings, ThatKellieGirl

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: The Soul Conversations Edition

Hello Good Folks!

ThatKellieGirl is looking forward to this weekend.  And I am so excited to start it out on the radio!  YUP!  That’s right, ThatKellieGirl will be “talking about it” on WPFW’s Soul Conversations.  I will be letting you know about new music and musical happenings in the DMV.

And if you aren’t hip to WPFW’s Soul Conversations with Kimberly Washington and DJ YZO, you’ve been missing out!  I feel so honored to be in their company.  So check us out TONIGHT on 89.3 FM WPFW, 11PM-1AM (EST) on Friday Nights Soul Conversations Radio Show.  If you are out of the DMV area, you can stream the show on-line.

And now you can check out the happenings below!  :-)

Peace and Blessings, ThatKellieGirl

Read the rest of this entry

Music Monday

Happy Monday Everyone!

Last week, the official video for Esperanza Spalding’s newest single “Black Gold” featuring Algebra Blessett befittingly premiered on the first day of Black History Month.  This is her first single from her new album Radio Music Society, out on March 20th.  Esperanza is coming strong on Radio Music Society with  top-notch guest musicians and collaborators such as jazz legends Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart; guitar heroes Jef Lee Johnson and Lionel Loueke; an array of master vocalists including Algebra Blessett, Lalah Hathaway, Gretchen Parlato, Leni Stern and Becca Stevens; hip-hop giant Q-Tip (who performs on and co-produced two tracks); and two Portland-based musicians, Janice Scroggins and Dr. Thara Memory, who provided essential mentorship in Spalding’s youth.

So until March 20th, get a taste of Radio Music Society with “Black Gold”.   Receive a Free Audio Download Of  “City Of Roses” From Esperanza here.  Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: The President’s Speech Edition

Courtesy of Kevin Lamarque/Pool/AP Photo

Hello Good Folks!

Whether you agree or not agree with the American Jobs Act, President Obama came with it last night.  He presented a solid plan, but he also let Congress know that he’s not playing nice anymore.  When you are elected President, you have at least four years to work your plan.  And President Obama has accomplished a lot that he isn’t given credit or is flat-out ignored.  Besides, if anyone watched the GOP debates, I think we need to be concerned about their plan for Americans.  Especially when you have a candidate like Rick Perry who calls social security a “Ponzi scheme” and proudly defends the execution of 234 people in Texas, more than any other Governor in modern times.  I guess they haven’t learned the lesson about what happens when we use divise language and untruths to win at all costs.  I don’t believe in bully politics, but I do believe in being assertive.  And I believe President Obama finally got the memo. 

And as a group of my friends watched President Obama finish his speech, we all wished Obama could have dropped the mic Randy Watson style

Earthquakes, hurricanes, now floods….it’s coming to an end.  Summer that is. :-)     So this weekend, the outdoor festivals are winding up.  Check out the Virgin Music Festival is at the Merriweather Post Pavillion on Saturday.  And Bilal will be at the Birchmere on Sunday.  And on Sunday, check out the National Triathlon benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

Enjoy your weekend.  And be safe out there as we commemorate 9-11.

Peace and blessings, ThatKellieGirl

The Washington National Cathedral will be conducting weekend events for A Call to Compassion in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of September 11th. As we remember the tragedy and losses suffered on that fateful day ten years ago, the Washington National Cathedral is honored to bring the nation together once again in a spirit of compassion and healing.
 
September 9-11
 
Various locations throughout the District
 
Click here for the full schedule
 
All events except those on the morning of Sunday, September 11, are ticketed events. To reserve your tickets, click here . All events will be webcast live.

Freedom Friday: The TGIF Edition

Hello Good People!

TGIF! :-)

See you on the other side of the weekend.  Be safe.

In the meantime, enjoy this uplifting song “Freedom to Love” from Incognito reworked by Reel People.

Peace!

 

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: The Block is Hot Edition

Hello Good Folks!

TGIF! :-)

Summer is right around the corner, but things are already in full gear– high temperatures and power outages.  Hopefully, your lights are back on.   With all of this, I am ready for the weekend to cool out and relax.

You can start by chilling out at the Annual Capital Jazz Festival  starting tonight with legends Herbie Hancock, David Sanburn and George Duke!  The whole weekend has a great line-up.  You can still get tickets at the door, at least for lawn seating . 

For those who want to support a great cause and get some excercise, on Saturday, the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure begins at 8AM at the National Mall.  If you still want to run, you can do late registration until 6PM today (6/3) at the Hyatt (400 New Jersey Avenue, NW ).

The temperature seems to have evened out, so check out some events.

Lastly, shout out to all my fellow Geminis.  Let’s get it in! :-)

Smooches!

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: The Parents’ Day Edition

Happy Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Hello Everyone!

This weekend, my family has decided to do things differently.  What’s new?! :-)

We are celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day TOGETHER.  The reality of the situation is that fathers’ seem to get the short end of the stick sometimes.  For my situation, my Dad is so laid back and nonchalant you tend to think “I will just send him the gift and he will be happy”.  On the other hand, we lay out the red carpet for Mom.  The woman who carried each of my siblings for nine months and was in labor for hours to bring us into the world.   This card out seems to trump everything.  However, you have to give it up for Dad for being a provider and supporting the family also.  We might think Dad doesn’t want a big fuss, but they like the fanfare just as much as mothers.

So in my family’s effort to bring balance to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day (It’s the yin and yang ya’ll!), we are celebrating them together.     Both of them are equally important and essential in building our family.  Both holidays are celebrating the same thing– their love and sacrifice to their family and community.   A colleague asked “well don’t you think each parents deserves their own day?”  I replied “yes, it’s called their birthday!” :-)

Therefore, ThatKellieGirl is officially celebrating “Parents’ Day“.

Enjoy the weekend ya’ll! :-)

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: The Shutdown Edition

 

 

Hello Folks,

All I can say is that it is hectic right now with this government shutdown.   You can cut the  tension with a knife.  Everyone is holding their breathe….

To be quite candid with you, I am really angry about this situation.  Due to ideological differences and political posturing, Americans will now have to muddle through this situation.  And it only breads more contempt for the government, political parties and the political process.  The effect is bigger than not getting a pay check.  

However, instead of getting upset and worrying about the situation, we must to take a “victor”  rather than “victim” attitude.  If anything, this situation makes it more real to me that we have to have faith in ourselves and begin to strengthen our families and communities.  Our livelihoods are too dependent upon other people who do not know us and have little in common with us.  We must begin to build strong, community networks so that in times of famine, we are able to sustain ourselves.  In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, we first have to have faith that everything is going to be alright.  Second, courage to believe that we have everything within ourselves to provide for ourselves and our communities.  And lastly, more than ever, we must show our humanity towards each other.  

One last thing, turn off the radio and the TV!  Hearing too much of this mess only heightens our fears and anxiety.  Instead, get out and enjoy the weekend.

Read the rest of this entry

Freedom Friday: Ready for the Weekend Edition

Hello Family,

The sun finally came out for a little bit today.  I hope you were able to get some rays.  This week flew by for me, but I am ready for the weekend.  There are so many great events this weekend so make sure to get out of the house.

Remember to send out prayers to Japan for being hit by an earthquake and tsunami today.

Peace and Blessings!

Back to the Caverns by popular demand!!! Last year I saw the Rober Glasper Experiment, and all I can say is that they are the truth. Hailed by listeners and critics alike, Grammy nominated artist Robert Glasper is considered to be the consummate jazz pianist of his generation. A native of Houston, Texas, Glasper has performed with neo-soul singer Bilal, Mos Def,Q-Tip,Erykah Badu and Meshell Ndegeocello, among many others. With three widely popular albums released on the Blue Note label, Glasper melds modern genres while preserving the jazz tradition. Seeing is believing.

March 11& 12

Bohemian Caverns

2001 11th St NW

8:30Pm & 10:30PM

Get tickets here.

Read the rest of this entry

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,481 other followers