Sweet dreams at Hampton Inn and Suites-Downtown Mobile

  After an amazing night at Malaga Fest, my husband and I stayed at the beautiful Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Mobile. The lovely hotel is within walking distance from all the great venues the area has to offer. And, it is also located on the parade route which makes it the perfect place to stay during Mardi Gras. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a friendly face at the desk. Check in was smooth and she made sure to show us where the complimentary breakfast would be served in the morning. Our room was very nice. A king size bed with a sitting area, fridge, microwave and a spacious bathroom. The perfect place to lay our tired heads. The bed was super comfy and we both had a great night's sleep. The breakfast was great too. There were muffins, pastries, fresh fruit, cereal, eggs, sausage, waffles made on the spot and of course lots of coffee! We really enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back!

A day of pampering at Fairhope Salon and Spa

Fairhope Salon and Spa is nestled in the middle of downtown Fairhope. They had their Christmas open house Wednesday Nov. 30, 2011 and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon there.The spa was beautifully decorated for the holiday season and everyone was full of holiday cheer.

The first part of my pampering was a wonderful Elemental Nature Complete Massage by Lani. She explained that AVEDA takes a unique approach to massage  by using personalized aromatherapy. Then she laid out 7 cards each one representing a chakra. Then she asked me to choose the three that best fit me. Of the three I chose the Nourishment card as my signature scent. It was represented chakra 2 and the aroma was a mix of sandalwood, organic orange and geranium. It was energizing yet calming. Exactly what I needed to compliment the amazing massage. Lani definitely has "the gift". I felt wonderful when she was done! 

Next it was time for my pedicure with my nail tech Melissa. She was absolutely fabulous and on of the sweetest people I have ever met. She did a beautiful job and we had the nicest conversation. Next she did a "gelish" manicure. It incorporates a shellac type polish set with a UV light. It's supposed to resist chipping for at last 2 weeks. I absolutely love it! 

My entire visit to Fairhope Salon and Spa was fantastic. If you are looking for a gift for someone, a girls day out or just want to treat yourself I highly recommend any of the services they offer. They are located at 323 De La Mare Street so you can park, be pampered, then spend the rest of your afternoon having lunch or shopping at one of the many wonderful merchants close by. Give them a call 251-990-5015.

Click here for a list of services.

"Boobies Rock" Breast Cancer Benefit Party Nov 4 2011

It was a cold but beautiful night at Paradise Gardens in Downtown Pensacola. Everyone came out for Boobies Rock breast cancer benefit party to show support for "the girls". Self Salon and The Gulf Coast Entertainment App Network threw quite the party! There was a silent auction, door prizes, a money machine, mechanical bull rides, delicious eats and chair massages. Fantastic live music by Brooks Hubbert , Limozine and Tribe Zion filled the air as a fire dancer wowed the crowd! There was also a dunking booth that Gulf Coast Entertainment's own Steven Barshov braved the elements to get in. Way to take one for the team Steve! It was a great event for a great cause and all the money rasied was matched by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation through OUIDADS- Curls For A Cure.

A great big 'Thank you!' to all the sponsors of this wonderful event!

Self Salon

The Gulf Coast Entertainment App

Paradise Gardens Pensacola

Pixie Productions

Culinary Produtions 

Black Hawk Entertainment

Jams Plus Media

Demetria Baily LMT.

Halloween at The Hangout. 10/28/11

All the freaks came out to The Hangout in Gulf Shores for their Halloween Party. There were lady bugs, zombies and Waldos galore. New Orleans own Jermaine Quiz kicked the evening off with some funky mash-ups. Quiz takes his art to a new level by adding live instrumentation to his show. Accompanied by Eddie Christmas on drums and James Hausman on violin, they got the crowd pumped and ready for a wild night. 

DJ Jermaine Quiz with Eddie Christmas and James Housman

Up next was a crazy costume contest full of scary monsters, sexy kitties and a host of other characters all vying for the prize. So many amazing and elaborate creations. Well done everyone! And then it was on to the main event. The Oakland based trio Beats Antique took the stage and shook the room off it’s pilings! Beats hit hard, having no mercy on crowd goers as they pulled us into their seductive web of sound. The show was a mix of different musical genres combined with samples and heavy percussives. Zoe Jakes (belly dancer, drums) and guest dancer Kami Liddle provided a feast for the eyes with their Tribal Fusion dance and performance art. The crowd was moving and grooving together as one to David Satori's (guitar, saz, viola, percussion), Sidecar Tommy Cappel's (keys, toy piano, drums, percussion) funky beats. Such a fun show! Thank you Hangout for a fantastic night! Looking forward to many more!

Stanton Moore Trio at The Independent - San Francisco 9/15 and 9/16 2011

Stanton Moore San Francisco got a double dose of the Stanton Moore Trio when they ended their cross country tour with not one but TWO shows at The Independent. Luckily, I was in the Bay Area visiting family at the same time. I’m a huge Stanton Moore fan and was anxiously awaiting the Friday night show. I've seen him play countless times on the Gulf Coast with Galactic, Garage A Trois, as well as SM3 and he never fails to blow my mind. The first act for night 1 was Soul Rebels who are undoubtedly one of my favorite New Orleans brass bands so I was excited to see them as well. They were the perfect opener! There is nothing like a good brass band to put you in a NOLA state of mind. Their explosive sound and high energy had the crowd pumped and ready to go. They finished their incredible set to huge applause and then it was time for the main event. SM3  After a short break the lights dimmed again and Robert Walter (organ), Will Bernard (guitar) and Stanton Moore (drums) all made their way to their respective instruments. Stanton, with his signature black rimmed glasses and ever present smile, greeted the crowd. The Trio kicked the evening off with “Pot-Licker” and away we went. Next were “Pie-Eyed Manc”, “Layer Cake” and “Neeps and Tatties”. Partway through the first set, Soul Rebels joined them for “Tchfunkta” and “Sprung Monkey”. That stage was packed! I felt like I was watching a Jazz Fest after dark show where the musicians just keep piling on. It was fantastic and the crowd went crazy! The Trio continued on with “Special", ”Angel Nemali”, "Knocker”. They finished out the first set with “Bigguns” then took a short break. Stanton signed some cds and had a little “meet and greet” at the merch table, then hopped back on stage and the flurry of funk continued with “Over (Compensatin’)”, “Maple Plank”, “Awana”, “Live Wire”, and “The Yodel”. We were grooving along into the night, then they slammed us with “Proper Gander” followed by “Keep on Gwine” and “Who Took The Happiness”. As always, I was mesmerized by the incomparable Mr. Moore thrashing on his Gretsch kit. Adding to that, the sweet sounds of Robert on the keys and Will’s killer guitar riffs made for a show that was a truly magnificent experience. It was clear they were having as much fun playing as we were listening. These three artists, all masters in their craft, have blurred the genre lines of jazz, blues, funk and rock to create a unique musical fusion. For the final song of the night they took us back down to New Orleans with “Late Night At The Maple Leaf”, one of my favorites for many reasons. It was the perfect song to end an incredible evening of music. Robert Walter  As a lagniappe, I was invited to SM3's second show so I went back to The Independent after photographing Joan Osborne at The Fillmore Saturday night. I arrived just in time to hear their version of “A Closer Walk With Thee” which made you want to dance down the street in a second line. They followed that up with a heavy hitting cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times”! Although I missed opening act The Shotgun Wedding Quintet (Jazz Mafia), I did get to hear them play with the Trio and would highly suggest checking them out. I also had the pleasure of catching the phenomenal Will Blades sitting in on the B-3 for a couple of tunes as well! This was another stellar night of music by Moore, Walter, Bernard and special guests! Thanks to SM3 for a fantastic time and an extra “Thank You” to Stanton for providing me with setlists!   Will Bernard Setlist Night 2 Adelita Kickin' Up Dust Licorice 571 Magnolia Root Cellar A Closer Walk With Thee Good Times Bad Times *Break* Hung up Aquafresh Dunkin' In The Deep Squash Blossom Who Took The Happiness Proper Gander Keep On Gwine 32nd Street   www.gulfcoastmusicpics.com

Joan Osborne - September 17, 2011 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

I first heard Joan Osborne in 1995 when she opened for Widespread Panic at the Riverfront in Nashville. Her voice had the power to make a bunch of rowdy college kids stop and take notice. I was blown away by the timbre of her voice so rich and pure. So, when I found out I was going to be covering Joan Osborne at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco I had to pinch myself. It meant the end of a nearly 16 year wait to see her in concert again. Joan looked absolutely radiant as she stepped out on stage in an elegant long black dress. She opened with “This Is Where We Start” and I was overcome with emotion as her perfect voice filled the ballroom. Accompanied by Keith Cotton on piano the sound was truly magical. The next song was “St. Theresa” which is one of the songs I remember from the Nashville show and an absolute favorite of mine as well. Then she paused to talk a little about her love of San Francisco and a funny story of how she had been the victim of a pick pocket that day. “They got my iPhone” she laughed, then went on to say she’d gotten a new one and found an app in the process called Funk Box which she then used to accompany her on “Work On Me”. Next was a cover of Grateful Dead ‘s “Brokedown Palace” which she explained had always been a song she hoped to sit in on while she was touring with them but never got to. “So, I’m going to sing it now.” she said with a big grin. Followed by another favorite of mine “Spider Web” where she kept time with the mic stand and a drum stick. Then she belted out two beautiful renditions of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” and Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted”. Finally, she closed out the amazing set with “One Of Us” which brought the entire room to a standstill! She left the stage to huge applause with the crowd cheering and whistling for more. She returned for an encore bringing her opening act singer/songwriter Dar Williams to the stage to join her on guitar and vocals. Together they brought down the house with Johnny Cash’s “Long Black Veil” and Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”. This was one of the most amazing nights of music I have ever experienced! 

Dumpstaphunk at The Great American Music Hall- San Francisco 9/15/11

Dumpstaphunk

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk represented New Orleans proudly when they left their phunky mark on San Francisco. Headlining at The Great American Music Hall, SF's's oldest and grandest music venue, Dumpsta gave the crowd a heavy dose of the thick nasty musical goodness that NOLA is famous for. Ivan Neville, Nick Daniels, Tony Hall , Ian Neville  and newest member Nikki Glaspie (replacing Raymond Webber). All uniquely masterful musicians in their own right they have combined their talents to create something that is distinctly New Orleans yet very much a sound all their own. (Think Funky Meters mixed with Parliament Funkadelic with a side of rock and roll.) I have had the pleasure of seeing Dumpstaphunk many times in New Orleans so it was a rare treat to see them laying it down on a different coast. They started the evening off with "Paper Chasing Britney" and it was on! The crowd relished every minute of it. Moving and grooving to Ivan on his B3, Ian on guitar, a double dose of bass by Nick and Tony, and Nikki banging it out on the drums. They followed by "Everybody Want Some" and "Greasy Groceries". In true Dumpsta fashion, half way through the show Tony Hall invited all the ladies up on stage to shake it while they played "Standing In Your Stuff". They brought the evening to a close with "Meanwhile" (one of my favorites). It was one phunkin' good time! Thanks for a great show!

Setlist:

Paper Chasing Britney

Everybody Want Some

Greasy Groceries

Fight The Power

Blues Wave

Lt. Dan

Standing In your Stuff

Sheez Music

Betty Davis

Deeper/Dumpsta
Meanwhile 

Ivan Neville

Tony Hall

Nick Daniels

Ian Neville

Nikki Glaspie