I won tickets to 'The Last Jedi' via @theevergrey & @pacsci

I'm a firm believer in a closed mouth not getting fed, so I carry that same spirit into the world of IG and enter every single contest or giveaway of interest. I feel like I've been vibrating at a higher energy level because I've been winning a TON of stuff lately.

Seattle-based events newsletter (The Evergrey), hosted an IG contest giving away 2 tickets to see "The Last Jedi" at the Pacific Science Center. I actually saw "The Force Awakens" at PacSci back in 2015, so I was excited to see I'd been chosen as a winner to watch the latest installment.

Before everyone moves on to the highly anticipated "Black Panther" premier next month, if you still wanna checkout "The Last Jedi" I'd highly recommend going to the Pacific Science Center and seeing it in IMAX.


Pros:

~ The sound is amazing!!!! They did a bunch of upgrades to their sound a few years ago and everything sounds next level.

~ The Pacific Science Center reinvests money spent on ticket sales back into their STEM programs!

~ Reasonably priced snacks (cheaper than other theaters)


Cons: 

~ No assigned seating, so if you're watching a movie (especially in 3D), you'll want to get there SUPER early so you can sang a good spot. They typically open the line up a few hours before the movie time, so you can bring your friends, a snack and a game and wait inside. It's not the worst thing ever... I usually make sure my phone is charged, I have a snack and make the most of it.

Science of Spirits 10/13 21+ After Hours with @PacSci

Do you know the difference between whiskey, bourbon, scotch and rye? Do you know that Whiskey and Whisky are 2 different things? Have you ever tried vodka made from grapes?

If you're like me and a fan of hard liquor, but have zero clue how your favorite spirit is made, the Science of Spirits is the perfect educational boozy event for you!

This Friday (10/13) the Pacific Science Center is teaming up with over 15 local distilleries for an educational night of boozy fun. Attendees will sip on samples, discuss the distilling process and discover the science behind their favorite spirits with the makers themselves! The evening will also include access to the tide pool, tropical butterfly house, Halloween "myths, legends and the night sky" in the planetarium, and playing Dr. Frankenstein by creating your own 'FrankenToy'.

Tickets are $45 and includes drinks and after-hours access. Food will be available for purchase (cash only). Click here to purchase tickets.

This is a 21+ event.

Beyoncé Laser Lemonade 10/13 Pacific Science Center (via @PacSci)

The Pacific Science Center is back with another DOPE Beyoncé laser show! This time they'll be rocking out to Queen Bey's iconic Lemonade album for a show they're calling "Laser Lemonade."

Back in February I went to their regular Beyoncé laser show, which featured music from her entire catalog, including Destiny's Child... but was thrilled to learn "Laser Lemonade" would focus solely on her Lemonade album, which is one of my favs. I mean, I'm still in formation and was actually learning the Formation World Tour choreography in my living room last week.

I'm already drinking tea to warm up my vocal chords so I can prepare to sing along. I can't promise this won't turn into karaoke for me.

Laser Lemonade kicks off this Friday, 10/13 @ 10:30p and tickets are $12. The show is 60 mins and please note that there will be NO LATE SEATING, so you should plan to arrive at least 15-30  mins early so you can snag a seat.

I'm not sure how long Laser Lemonade will run, but they have 1030p show times planned for the remaining Fri/Sat dates in October. Cop your ticket and prepare to get your entire life!

Click here to purchase tickets.

interSessions: The Art x Hip Hop Dialogues

What is interSessions?
interSessions: The Art x Hip-Hop Dialogues™ is a series of curated conversations between figures from the arts community and the hip-hop community. Each conversation – mediated by artist Fahamu Pecou – features notable figures speaking on a range of subjects related to intersectional experiences in the arts and entertainment and their impact on popular culture and society.

interSessions™ considers the growing number of engagements between the worlds of hip-hop and fine art. The series is dedicated to interrogating art and hip-hop not as isolated encounters, but rather where they overlap, how they complement and enhance each other, and, ultimately, how in conversation they act together to transgress the status quo.

The event kicks off tomorrow night (8/2 @ 7p) with guests Negarra Akili and Frank William Miller Jr. @ The Piranha Shop in SoDo.

Click here to RSVP for tickets to this FREE event

Kendrick Lamar Laser Show 8/4 & 8/5 @ 10:30p (via @PacSci)

The Pacific Science Center is about to snatch all of your edges -- they've just added a laser show for Kung Fu Kenny, Mr. Kendrick Lamar himself! I'm so freaking excited that they're adding more variety to their laser show line-ups and recognizing talented artists in their prime.

They'll be kicking things off with 2 shows this weekend: Friday, 8/4 and Saturday, 8/5 @ 10:30p. Tickets are $12 (non-members) and the show will run 60 mins.

Click here for tickets.

Dress for Success Seattle: Summer Clothing Sale

There's a saying that urges people to "dress for the job" they want, but what do you do if you don't have access to those clothes? Founded with the mission to "empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life," Dress for Success Seattle is a key resource in helping women rebuild their confidence with access to professional clothing and career coaching to re-enter the workforce.

As an effort to raise funds, Dress for Success Seattle will be hosting their annual Summer Clothing Sale Thursday, 7/13 through Saturday, 7/15. The event is BYOB (bring your own bag) and will feature new and gently used designer items, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Dress for Success Seattle! Truly shopping for a great cause.

The event will be held at 1118 5th Ave (5th and Seneca) inside the Downtown Seattle YWCA Building.  For more information click here.

THEORY: Festival 2017 Party Under the Stars

After one of the gloomiest winters on record, this summer I've been going into overdrive getting out to enjoy sunshine, social events and never passing up on a potential good time. One of events hoping to secure your coins in exchange for a night that'll be lit af, is the Pacific Science Center's THEORY: Festival 2017!

Promoted as one of Seattle's "premier outdoor events of the summer," THEORY will feature party staples like food, craft cocktails and drafts, with the added bonus of a silent disco party curated by KEXP DJs, access to the Terracotta Warriors exhibit, Laser Karaoke, and ability to let your imagination run wild at Tinker Tank.

The event will take place on Friday, July 28th from 7p-Midnight and is currently offering 2 ticket options:

Gravity Level (General Admission: $95 non-members, $85 members)
Quantum Level (VIP: $150 non-members, $140 members)

Keeping it 100, tickets are expensive. When I saw the price it made me take a deep breath. There are so many events competing for our time, attention and coins that it can be overwhelming deciding if something is truly worth the cost. Although I've been to a few 21+ events hosted by the Pacific Science Center, none have carried a price tag over $50. So, why should you drop $$$ to attend?

Open Bar + Food

The event will feature local craft beer, wine and cocktails + food from local restaurants ... the perfect combination to make any hipster heart swoon! VIPs will also be treated to an exclusive appetizer buffet from Ethan Stowell Restaurants. If you're a non-member and paying for a $95 ticket, at the very least you could consume enough food and drinks to warrant the majority of the cost, and that's pretty dope considering everything else the event has to offer. Also, it should go without saying, please drink responsibly! It's one thing to shut down the bar having a good time, but you don't want to end up underneath it.


Terracotta Warriors
Guests will have full access to the Terracotta Warriors exhibit (usually $34.95), featuring real figures from the terracotta army and artifacts from the First Imperial Dynasty of China! These warriors were buried for over 2000 years before being discovered, so it's an amazing opportunity to experience the rich history of how they came to be, minus the typical crowd that'd be at the science center during business hours.

Laser Karaoke
I've gone to quite a few laser shows at the Pacific Science Center and they're actually one of my "hidden gem" things to do in Seattle. Combine that with Karaoke and I'm already getting excited at the potential for this dope combination. Guests will have the chance to avoid those atrocious karaoke lines you'll get a places like Hula Hula or Rock Box, and sing their hearts out as custom laser shows are displayed behind you. I'm currently thinking about which song(s) I should perform. Also -- this will make for a sick IG video. Laser show tickets are usually $12 to $21, so this is a great value when you throw in the added bonus of karaoke.

Silent Disco Party

I've seen  my friends in other cities attend these parties for a few years now, so I'm happy to finally have it make its way to Seattle! I actually think the Pacific Science Center will be one of the first venues to test this out, so I'm geeked to see what the hype is all about. Music will be curated by KEXP DJs Darek Mazzone, DJ Miss Ashley, Chilly and Larry Rose.

If you're unfamiliar with silent disco parties, imagine going to a club and being on the dance floor with your own set of headphones. DJs will be spinning different genres of music and headphones can be tuned into the music you prefer... everyone dancing together in harmony to the beat of their preferred drum! I'm a lover of options and this will give you quite a few.

Cocktail Attire/Black Tie Optional
I'm from Chicago and have lived in Seattle for 4 years... meaning I slowly made the transition from rocking heels all the time to acquiring Birkenstocks, Plaid Flannel, and a dope pair of Warby Parker hipster glasses. Basically the casual Seattle uniform. Living in such a casual, laid back city is nice, but my inner Chicagoan misses having ample opportunities to dress up. This will be the perfect time to slip into that hot dress and heels or have your PNW dude clean up!



Still interested in learning more about THEORY? Check out this feature from Seattle Refined!

The wait is over... Trap Karaoke hits Seattle 8/20

After waiting for what seemed like forever, Trap Karaoke is finally coming to Seattle!! They'll be the opening act for the 2 Chainz "Pretty Girls Like Trap Music" Tour hitting Showbox Sodo on Sunday, August 20th. I've never been to Showbox Sodo before, but have heard the venue isn't the best for securing a decent view. I typically prefer Showbox (Pike Place), but couldn't pass up on the chance to experience a Trap Karaoke party.

Waiting for Trap Karaoke to hit Seattle has been YEARS in the making, so please snag your tickets so we can make this a successful event!

Doors open at 7p. Tickets start at $42.50 and include Trap Karaoke + the 2 Chainz concert.

For tickets click here.
For Trap Karaoke Performance instructions click here.

The 3 stages of #trapkaraoke // 1.20.17 // #trapkaraokela // 📽 @yakubfilms

A post shared by Official TRAP Karaoke (@trapkaraoke) on Feb 3, 2017 at 11:30am PST

Yoga + Trap Music Trap Vinyasa in Cap Hill 3/10

The time has finally come! The next Yoga by Biola Trap Vinyasa class will happen on Friday, March 10th at Rival Fitness in Cap Hill!

As a longtime member of Rival Fitness, I was thrilled to make the introduction between studio owner Jim Mahan and Biola. It was peak Black Excellence being able to bring together 2 dope, locally owned, BLACK brands.

Even though the event takes place in March (once Black History Month is over), it's a nod to the beauty of bringing together #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy to create something pretty awesome.

Tickets are dwindling for the event, so click here to grab yours now!

"Get Lucky" on 2/11 Nail Art, Mimosas & Cannabis Topcoat SEA + Trichome

If you missed the Topcoat SEA nail event last weekend at Babeland, you're in luck! The dope ladies behind the nail brand (Mary Jane and Gwen) will be blessing everyone with another nail event this weekend at Trichome in the International District.

Trichome specializes in high end cannabis goods like pipes and bowls, in addition to clothes, accessories and even cologne!

Unlike the Babeland event, manicures will not be free, but instead heavily discounted at $15-$25 depending on the art you receive. Nail art will be provided by The Nail Mystic, Topcoat's Mary Jane, and my nail artist bae Impekable Nails.

Mimosas will be flowing and attendees can receive 15% off Trichome purchases. Musical vibes will be provided by DJ's MaryJane and She's Gucci.

 Image: @ItsTopCoat

Badwill Market: Valentine's Day Edition 2/12

If you love supporting local businesses and buying dope shit, Badwill Market is the pop-up for you. Held monthly at The Rhino Room in Cap Hill (11th and Pine), Badwill Market is one of my favorite monthly events in Seattle and something I've regularly attended since living here.

The market was created to "provide Seattle shoppers with a unique platform to connect with local boutiques, vintage vendors, independent designers, up and coming brands and DIY artists."

This weekend's theme is "Valentine's Day" and will feature vendors slangin' apparel, vintage goods, jewelry and plants. I've copped some of my favorite chokers, plants and art from Badwill and have my eye on a few of the vendors who will be there on Sunday.

This event is 21+ and runs from noon to 5p. I recommend getting there on the earlier side so you have first pick at all of the stuff.

"Brown Girls" Seattle Viewing Party 2/15

While it's a shitty time in our country, it's a great time for people of color in television and film. Brown Girls is the latest addition, showcasing the friendship between two women of color in Chicago (my hometown). I'm all about #BlackGirlMagic and women of color having our stories shared on a large platform, adding depth and balance to what can sometimes feel like an over-saturated market of bullshit reality TV.

"The near two-minute trailer introduces some of the shows leading characters, Leila, a South Asian-American writer who is seemingly trying to navigate her own sexual orientation; and her close friend Patricia, a black musician who is struggling financially, creatively, and romantically. In just a short period of time, the clip, which is guided by the sounds of Chicago native Jamila Woods, illustrates a fusion of both of the women’s backgrounds, while addressing themes of love and relationships, family and sexual orientation.

Unlike other series, Brown Girls is led by a crew of 95 percent women, people of color and/or women, according to director Sam Bailey. “When I was putting the crew together, I really focused on making sure that the people behind the camera represented the story they were telling in front of the camera,” Bailey said of handpicking the BG team. “We got on set every day and the energy was just different. You could feel it. Everyone was so invested. It was personal for them and I think that comes through in the final product.” - Vibe Magazine

The Seattle viewing party will take place on Wednesday, February 15th @ Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar in Cap Hill (11th Ave. between Pike and Pine). The event is free, but starts PROMPTLY at 6p, so make sure you head over early to snag a good seat.

Click here for more information.

Beyoncé Laser Show 2/10 Pacific Science Center (via @PacSci)

... And on the 3rd day of Black History Month Beyoncé gave us a dope ass laser show at Pacific Science Center!

If you live in Seattle and have yet to experience the laser shows at Pacific Science Center, you've missed out. Tickets are only $12 and feature 60 mins of live laser projections by trained "laser artists" in their state of the art laser dome.

Little known fact: The Pacific Science Center laser dome is the largest laser theater in the world!

Beyoncé's laser show debuts Friday, February 10th at 1030p!

Click here for tickets. Also note that there is NO late seating for the laser show, so arrive at least 15-20 mins early to get a seat.

Through The Eyes of Art 2/3 @ MoPop

If you're looking for a way to celebrate Black History Month this weekend, Through the Eyes of Art will be celebrating their 4th annual show. This all ages show take place at MoPop (formerly the EMP) and kick off at 7p, featuring local vendors) before the 8p show starts.

"Presented by MoPOP and Brandkings, the city’s premier Black History Month celebration will look at the topic of building a strong black economy. Featuring a speech by CNN correspondent and Seattle native Angela Rye, live performance from Josephine Howell, and a special reunion show by Seattle hip-hop group Ghetto Chilldren. The Servant of the People Award will be presented to Ezell's Famous Chicken co-founders Lewis Rudd, Darnell Rudd, and Faye Stephens. The evening will be hosted by Isiah Anderson."

My nail artist @ImpekableNails will be showing during the vendor portion (7p-8p) and I'll be her nail art model! If you're in the area, feel free to swing by and say hi.

Tickets are $15 ($12 for MoPop Members)

For more information and tickets click here.

Love, Peace and Soul Black History Month Party via @HellaBlackHellaSeattle

The dope ladies of Hella Black Hella Seattle will be hosting a Black History month party on Saturday, February 4th -- right when we need more events to come together and partake in self-care and shenanigans, balancing out all the fuckshit Cheeto Satan is doing. The party will be held at LoveCityLove in Capitol Hill (14th and Pike) from 8p-Midnight. The cover is $2 and will feature moonshine by Dame The Bartender. If moonshine ain't for you, it's BYOB -- but drink responsibly. This event is FOR US BY US and we want to keep the foolishness to a minimum.

Click here for more info.

Night Shift Seattle 1/27 @ The Crocodile

One of my favorite Seattle dance parties is Night Shift SEA. They typically feature a rotating line-up of dope DJs and during their summer events (Day Shift) always have a bomb photo background. Good music and perfect selfies? What more could you ask for!

Well, this summer they moved their location from the easy-to-get-to Cap Hill, to the less poppin' Ciudad in Georgetown. While I'm not privy to what caused the change in scenery, it was a huge deterrence to going to their events. I know everyone isn't as OCD about location as I am, but Seattle traffic is gnarly, the public transit is still growing, and the further South you move your events, the less likely they are to have people attend. Again, this perspective is based on having most of my friends live close to Downtown (Belltown/Queen Anne/Cap Hill) or further North in Ballard or Fremont. Basically the opposite of out South lol.

When I saw the email go out saying Night Shift was launching again in Belltown it made me smile. They'll be at The Crocodile, which is a music venue I like in an accessible location, cheap Uber range, and surrounded by late night eateries (Rocco's for the win).



If you've never been to a Night Shift event, they feature a rotating line-up of DJs that range in sound from trap to house, but mainly having that hipster/hip-hop/alternative rap vibe that dominates the radio. The crowd is a mix of mostly 20- and early 30-somethings, artsy "cool kids" who usually post dope pics on Instagram and are mainstream, but in a rebel type of way. I've found the environment to be mainly inclusive, but there's definitely a strong "vibe" to the folks who regularly attend.

Advance tickets are currently $10 (not sure of the door price), but I'd suggest snagging a ticket if you wanna go. Their events tend to be very popular and with the move back to Belltown it's safe to assume they may sell out.

What: Night Shift
When: Friday, January 27th
Time: 9p - 2a
Where: The Crocodile / 2200 2nd Ave (Belltown)
Tickets: $10 Advance

Room 1 DJs (Showroom): Tony Snark, Emecks, HANSM JUSTIN, Stas THEE Boss, Young Strong.
Room 2 DJs (Back Bar): T.Wan B2B Hojo, Epaulets, DJ SJ, Max Taylor, Ratha

Pink Carpet Project III A Planned Parenthood Benefit (via @BadwillMarket)

My earliest memories related to sexual health and education came from Planned Parenthood in Chicago. I remember continuing on as an adult and visiting Planned Parenthood locations in South Carolina, Arizona, and Seattle. I actually still visit Planned Parenthood for all of my women's health needs -- Birth Control, Annual Exams, STD Testing... the center does everything. They're so much more than abortions (which is a valid and valuable service people need access too), but to think that's all they do is ridiculous and ignorant. The last time I was at the First Hill center in Seattle, I remember looking around the waiting room -- 4 men and 3 women, diverse backgrounds... all coming to the center to receive the services they need.

The fact that politicians are working so vehemently to defund the organization is sickening and mind-boggling. At the same time it's disappointing and not surprising that people would take a great thing that has REAL value and does amazing work for men and women each day, and try to shit on it with their out of touch views on women's reproductive rights and overall sexual health and access for men and women. This is some fucked up shit going on and we must band together and do the work to block the normalization of Trump, Pence and all these ignorant ass people.

One way to help is by supporting the #PinkCarpetProject event being hosted by Badwill Market at Rhino Room on Friday, January 20th from 7p to 10p. Sponsored by Seattle Magazine and The Stranger, the 21+ event will feature music, food, cocktails, art, and more!

"Burlesque performance by  the inimitable J Von Stratton, inspirational words from our keynote, Amelia Bonow from #ShoutYourAbortion, music by DJ Lady Coco, delicious appetizers from Madres Kitchen, cocktails by The Rhino Room, and booth installations of art, fashion, conversation curated by BadWill Market, featuring various woman owned businesses and artists. There will also be a silent auction where participating vendors will create and donate a one of a kind piece towards the cause."

Tickets are $25 and 100% of the proceeds (tickets sales + silent auction, plus a percentage of the bar sales) will be donated to Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.

For more information and tickets visit the event page.

Core Workshop w/ @KaisaFit #JustMove

Kaisa Keranen (known simply as @KaisaFit online) is a Seattle-based fitness pro spreading the benefits of daily movement to her 300k+ followers. What first attracted me to Kaisa was how much power, energy and creativity she displayed in her Instagram fitness posts.

After meeting her in person, and having the pleasure of taking one of her FitBit Seattle classes as Zum Fitness, I was enamored with just how beautiful of a spirit she has in real life!

Kaisa not only has an enviable physique which promotes strong being beautiful, but when she jumps it's like she's weightless! The height she gets and her ability to seemingly have non-stop energy is really a source of motivation when you're taking her class.

There are so many "fitness chicks" on IG, many of whom seem to have gotten some surgery and are just half assing their way through workouts... or just pushing flat tummy tea lol... it's refreshing to have examples like Kaisa who are truly living a healthy lifestyle, encouraging people to achieve their fitness goals in a practical way (Daily Movement), and who promote body positivity. Kaisa is basically my Fitness Bae and someone you should know, especially if you're in Seattle.

This Saturday she'll be partnering with her mother Monique to teach a Core Workshop at Zum Fitness! This women's only workshop will be broken into 2 parts -- the first an hour long workout with Kaisa, followed by an hour-long discussion with her mother.

"One thing my mom and I often discuss is the concept of our core and what it means to be truly strong and grounded in who we are as human beings. We all know what our physical (external) core is but our internal core, the element that truly makes us who we are, is often neglected. Over the years my mom has taught me the importance of getting in touch with what lies underneath my skin and what it takes to be truly strong, bold and fearless in who I am as woman. Working on my internal core is a daily process but one that is often made easier with the support of my mother. She is truly the reason I am who I am today and I couldn't be more excited to have her come and share with you all."

This event has a suggested donation of $20. For tickets and more information click here.

A photo posted by Kaisa Keranen (@kaisafit) on Jan 5, 2017 at 9:58am PST

Images via FitBit Local and Shape

Seattle Twerkshop 1/20 The Boss Chick Dance Workout

Back in October a girlfriend gifted me a last minute ticket to a Seattle Twerkshop. Though I love to dance and am quite the dancing queen, I was on the fence about going to a Twerkshop... in Seattle.. and what that would actually be like. I was iffy on the flyer, didn't see much information online, but was down to be the guinea pig and see what the class had in store. Fast forward 90 mins later and I had experienced the most body positive, genuinely FUN, dance fitness class ever!

Created by classically trained dancer Simone Sobers, The Boss Chick Dance Workout is a "hardcore, hip hop, dancehall, reggaeton workout designed exclusively for women to feel sexy and get fit at the same time." What I enjoyed most about the class was coming together with women of all shapes, sizes, racial backgrounds and dance levels... getting in an intense, yet FUN workout, and burning an insane amount of calories. I think I topped out around 800-900 calories burned... it was epic and amazing.

The class includes a mix of twerk drills, twerk techniques, twerk cardio routines, floor work, isolations and a short choreo routine to end the class! Below is a video I took of the final choreo we did to close out the class back in October!




What: Seattle Twerkshop (Women Only)
When: Friday, January 20th
Time: 7p to 830p
Where: Mitchell Activity Center @ Seattle Central Community College (1718 Broadway)
Tickets: $24 in advance and $30 at the door (click here for tickets)

Note: There are no refunds, but you can transfer your ticket to someone else 

Culturally Expressive Yoga #TrapVinyasa (via @YogabyBiola)

Inhale. Exhale. Throw that ass in a circle? There's something beautiful about combining the ancient practice of yoga with the modern influences of trap music that makes my little ratchet heart soar. What makes it even better is having an insanely dope black woman lead the movement and change the typical face of yoga in media.

The brainchild of Seattle yogi Biola Akanni (pronounced bee-AHH-luh), these new classes are aimed at "liberating your mind and body through culturally expressive yoga rooted in yogic philosophy infused with creative movement and music."

Through her business, Yoga by Biola, she's currently offering 3 Culturally Expressive Yoga classes: Zen Tea Gentle, Trap Vinyasa, and Divine Feminine Hatha. In addition to these classes, she also teaches more traditional yoga classes at 8 Limbs in West Seattle and Zum Fitness downtown Seattle.

Y'all know I have minimal chill when it comes to discovering dope women of color doing stuff in Seattle, so I was thrilled to connect with Biola last week for drinks and chit chat. Her spirit is such a beautiful balance of peaceful/zen yogi and quirky black girl magic -- consider her your guide in vibe alignment with a turnt twist! A perk of living in Seattle is having access to so many unique small business owners. I personally find it very rewarding genuinely support women of color and other small business owners in my everyday life.

I've always found regular (non-heated) yoga to be a bit boring... mainly because my mind wanders and I always struggled to focus on the practice. I'm excited to try Biola's Culturally Expressive Yoga classes, especially Trap Vinyasa... because, Trap Music is damn near the "bacon" of music... it makes everything better!

For more information check out Biola's website.



Images via YogabyBiola.com