How To Make It In America!!! I don’t have the answer to that, unfortunately, but I do know I am SURELY going to make it. I also have a great suggestion for you: tune into HBO on Sunday nights and watch the new series, How To Make It In America. The premise is pretty much two friends, Ben (Bryan Greenberg) and Cam (Victor Rasuk), trying to make in the big city of New York. They are far from content with their current lifestyles so they are incorporating a bit of street smarts with a bit of business savvy. Cam and Ben have, thus far, found themselves trying to start a denim company, bartering and borrowing from everyone willing to help out. The show has been amazing so far and it’s only four episodes in so if you haven’t been watching, it isn’t too late. They have yet to divulge the secret of how to make it in America, although that is what I’m patiently waiting for. The series has already featured the likes of John Varvatos, Kid Cudi, and Eddie Kaye Thomas so I can’t even imagine what the upcoming episodes have in store for viewers. If you want to catch up to the rest of the world before episode 5 on Sunday, just click here. That’s if, of course, you want to make it.

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Santos Party House has the most fitting name of any night life entity I have ever come across…It is truly a PARTY HOUSE. And in this house, you can find some of the greatest and coolest musical talent to date. From live performances, to guest DJ’s, Santos is the place to be in NYC. A new addition to the Party House inhabitants is world renowned music producer Just Blaze. He’s got a lot more time on his hands now that Baseline Studios is closed so his Friday nights will be spent on the turntables at Santos Party House. I recently ran into him at 105 Rivington and he’s a pretty cool cat so you will catch me in the building. Be there! You might just get to hear the latest Just Blaze produced track “Exhibit C” by Jay Electronica.

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]]> http://www.mn-eminent.com/2010/02/22/santos-party-house-x-just-blaze/feed/ 0 http://www.mn-eminent.com/2010/02/08/and-as-spring-slowly-approaches/ http://www.mn-eminent.com/2010/02/08/and-as-spring-slowly-approaches/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:17:16 +0000 Nick http://www.mn-eminent.com/?p=2819

Clothing brands are dropping some very serious pieces for the warmer weather! It doesn’t even seem like Spring is right around the corner, with all the cold, inclement weather we have these days. DC is covered in snow and NYC is freezing so it’s about time for me to take a vacation very soon. But first, I’ll need to acquire a few things for my wardrobe. My first stop is going to have to be J.Crew. They have new pieces in store and online for men, women and children. The linen herringbone blazer, gingham shorts, and Persol sunglasses are must haves for my next vacation. There are a few women’s items I’m a bit jealous of, though. I really wish they made the white denim jacket and golden McCallister boots for men. The boys even got stuff that made me wanna be a kid again. That “greatness” sweatshirt is classic, as is the cashmere shawl collar cardigan for girls. Ok my J.Crew rant is over. Rugby’s Spring collection is a bit more colorful and preppy than that of J.Crew. There is a lot of red, white, and blue incorporated, like this fleece baseball jacket. A.P.C. took a more subtle approach and kept it very classic. The highlight of their collection for me is the shoes. These blue desert boots are sick! I think I’ll be ready for the next 3 Spring seasons after my next shopping excursion. How bout you?

At the end of 2009, one of the illest, most artistic websites I’ve ever seen was launched. Manned by directors Coodie and Chike, as well as former CEO of Roc-a-Fella Records, Dame Dash, Creative Control brings something brand new to the table. It is what I would call raw art and genius caught on video. It displays everything from short conceptual films, to musical performances, to interviews. Creative Control has linked with the likes of the NYC socialite twins Dee and Ricky, to Erykah Badu, with each collaboration being nothing short of amazing. It is worth checking out, and I’m sure it will only get better. You’ll catch me on there one day doing something like this interview with one of my favorite photographers, Sante D’Orazio. Kudos to Dame, Coodie, and Chike.

It’s that time again. You know, the time when the trees are completely bare, the turkeys are cooking, and everyone is shopping as if their lives depended on it…It’s Holiday season!!! For many, this is a very hectic time of the year because it involves multitasking at its best. But there are ways to ease the stresses that anyone who steps foot out of their house and partakes in anything that has to do with the Holidays will encounter. Check out the list I’ve compiled of things that could probably help you out this holiday season.

1: Black Friday savings tend to lighten up the load a bit when it comes to holiday shopping. Stores open sinfully early to allow people to come in and bargain hunt. A lot of the stores that actually participate in the Black Friday sale are usually very packed so if you aren’t in the mood to fight over the last DJ Hero video game for your kids, try shopping online. According to an article on MSN Money, sites like Best Buy and Walmart will have some of the best deals you can possibly find on Friday. Check out the article here and be sure to click the link within it that direct you to money saving blogs and other sites that may come in handy. Also, you may want to head to your nearest outlet mall. They already offer amazing deals so you may be able to find some things for thrift shop prices on Black Friday!

2: With Thanksgiving being just a day away, and everyone being so swamped with work or just the procrastination bug, dinner is a big issue and usually very stressful when cooking for a family. So me being the nice guy that I am, decided to do a little research on quick, tasty recipes to cook up and have ready for tomorrow. In my research, I came across a great article on Yahoo that had a few great recipes in it that I may even try myself. The currant glaze for turkey and the fresh cranberry relish were my two favorites. Check out the article here. I cam across another via MSN that held the recipe to a great five-ingredient stuffing and a pear and apple crisp to end a meal the right way. You can view that article here. See how easy finding a recipe is? If you happen to be a vegetarian, here’s a link for those recipes too! Happy Turkey Day folks…

3: Restaurants tend to be closed on Thanksgiving which sucks because maybe you’d like your favorite dish cooked and served by someone else. Or maybe you’re not home for the Holidays and want to still have a happy Turkey Day. Well, there is an easy solution for that. A lot of restaurants actually DO stay open on Thanksgiving just so you don’t have to cook and a lot of them actually serve traditional Thanksgiving meals. You no longer have to miss out on mom’s stuffing or sweet potato pie. Restaurants like Atlantic Grill in NYC, Chicago’s Firehouse Restaurant, and Clyde’s in DC are serving up amazing dinners for people who aren’t celebrating at home. I, for one, will be home in DC so if you’re in the area drop by and get your grub on!

New York Fashion Week starts Thursday everybody. Yup, it’s that time again, and to celebrate, there will be literally hundreds of events happening throughout the city at a plethora of participating retailers. Expect special sales, exclusive items, giveaways, and lots more. I did a quick look at the menswear events just to get an idea, and there’s really tons of stuff going on. Making your rounds throughout the city would be the best bet in order to fully take it all in. Barney’s NY will be having a full out street fair, while Brooklyn Industries on Smith Street will have live performances and wine & cheese just to give you an example of the variety that’s available. Hit up the site to do a search on everything that’s going on in each and every borough so you’ll have a gameplan before Thursday. Leave no stone unturned and most of all, go out, enjoy the night and mingle.

Maybe you DIDN’T KNOW…But NYC is where it’s at during the winter holiday season. The ambiance is ridiculous and all the lights and events make New York City one of the greatest spectacles in the world around this time. We’ve got Rockefeller Center aka the, the Roc, the the the Roc, Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square and every square your little heart could ever desire!!! The weather outside is frightful. I can’t lie about that one. But this is boo season anyway so hopefully you have someone to cuddle up and roam the streets with so it won’t seem as cold. For many, the holiday season is the beginning and end of a lot of things. For students, it’s the end of the fall semester and the beginning of winter break. For some, it’s the start of traveling season. Whatever you did this Christmas and New Years (and all the holidays in between) I hope you enjoyed yourself. I know I did!! Other than having to be in D.C. for work, i spent a lot of my time in NYC. Christmas was unwrapped with my beautiful children and the New Year of 2009 was brought in with great friends. Check out some pics of my holiday activity and continue to show love to MANDNEMINENT!!!

I never hesitate to give props to fellow Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT) Alumni, especially when they burst into their respective industry and shine. Photographer Chad Griffith couldn’t be a better example of this. This former photography major has an array of big names in his portfolio and I’m sure the list will continue to grow. Working out of NYC with major album and magazine covers to his credit, Chad’s come a long way from his days in snowy Rochester; and will surely continue to rise.

Peep his portfolio at http://www.chadgriffith.com