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Jamaica’s #MyDestinationExperience = Entrepreneurs, Influencers & Creators

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The key to any fab party is always the ambiance…  Whether its soft & sultry or bold & edgy, the first impression sets the tone for the complete experience.  So when I arrived to the #MyDestinationExperience at the Goldeneye Resort I was left speechless.  The exotic resort has hosted the worlds most prominent figures in arts & entertainment including Ian Flemings (creator of James Bond), Jay Z, Beyonce and Kate Moss.  The exquisite destination was the epicenter of an exclusive celebration and entrepreneurial mash-up of Jamaican elites, Hollywood producers and American media.

Candle lit evening by the pool

#DestinationExperience, where a luxurious party meets somewhere between the infinity pool & the beach

The Destination Experience weekend was curated by brother & sister team Kirk-Anthony Hamilton and Michele-Anne Hamilton.  The weekend affair consisted of a collection of boutique events around the marvels of Jamaica.  Presenting sponsors included National Commercial Bank and Visa Signature including activations from other sponsors including Jaguar and Range Rover, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Moet and Chandon, Virgin Atlantic, Island Outpost, Marketing Guru and Magellan Jets.  Weekend activities included:

  • Private dinner at The British High Commissioner’s residence hosted by High Commissioner David Fitton with cuisine by Chef Brian Lumley and Errol Flynn’s grandson Luke Flynn as a special guest
  • Cocktail reception at a listed US $3 million home featuring Chef Oji Jaja
  • Cocktail Reception at The Club at Reading Heights in Montego Bay – private development owned by DC based A.J. Dwoskin and Associates.
  • Press Reception for ‘The White Witch of Rosehall’ film announcement & media event – Rosehall Greathouse.
  • Arthur Wyle invitational Golf Tournament – Cinnamon Hill
  • Jaguar and Range Rover Drive Experience – Hermosa Cove featuring Chef Sean John of Spur Tree in New York
  • Media Adventure Excursion to Goodhope, Chukka Cove, Hermosa Cove
  • The Destination Experience flagship party at GoldenEye

The Destination Experience was designed as an global platform for business leaders and key influencers to converge in a unique environment and discover business and lifestyle opportunities.  As creator and host, Kirk-Anthony is the founder and CEO of the Infiniti Partnership which owns The Destination Experience and is now pursuing various interests in the hospitality and lifestyle industry, which includes concierge services and resort development.  The Destination Experience raised funds to benefit the American Friends of Jamaica Charity and Chain of Hope Jamaica Charity.

Moet was a sponsor at The Destination Experience
Range Rover was a sponsor at The Destination Experience
National Commercial Bank & Visa were presenting sponsors at The Destination Experience

Attendees were in for an exquisite treat!  For the first time, the exclusive Golden Eye Resort in Jamaica shut it’s doors to be the destination & experience for trendsetters and high net worth professionals.  The evening satisfied all the your entertainment senses, with sounds by DJ Ideal from Miami and DJ Shane – The Firestarter with local Jamaican appeal.  DJ Shane was not the ONLY fire starter…  The event included amazing dances from Fire Spitters that performed to the music and interacted with guest – I even made a special cameo!

The evening ended with a very special & sentimental touch…  Guests gathered on the beach, barefoot and full of optimism as we lit sky lanterns and filled the Jamaican sky with our dreams.  This particular aspect of the event really resonated with me, as I’ve always loved the beauty and depth of the fire lanterns.  I truly enjoyed the experience mingling with Jamaican entrepreneurs, American media and Hollywood producers while dancing under the Jamaican twilight and sipping on bottomless Moet.  I look forward to the next #MyDestinationExperience and an opportunity to visit a new exotic location.

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‘Red Tails’ star Tristan Wilds attends JoiStaRR’s ‘Magic Monday’ launch event

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…And I had the pleasure of being in attendance! It was a great night, the launch for JoiStaRR was pulled off quite classy and everything was in abundance. One of my pet peeves is to go to an event and the food runs out or the ‘open bar’ ends at an undisclosed time. But My Block Records definitely held no stops with making sure that ‘Magic Monday’ launched to a packed house of satisfied attendees. The event was buzzing with camera crews filming the premiere season of WeTV’s Mary Mary which is slated for March 2012. The uber-cute and sassy Erica Campbell was just un-phased by the swelling crowd and in some rooms hot & humid conditions. The food was absolutely DELISH, with unlimited servings of jerk chicken skewers, mac & cheese, crab cakes and even cute fun shaped PB&J. I conveniently positioned myself in arm’s length to sample the comforting bites.

Peach Bellini’s topped with Ciroc was the drink of the night. With endless bottles of Ciroc and Moreno, champagne cocktails are always a hit! The cute studio was equipped with an analog SSL board and vintage hardware to compliment, as the patio area was transformed into a seasonably chic lounge with all white furniture and white trees slightly frosted by blue up lighting. To my surprise a youthful Tristan Wilds was spotted looking effortlessly stylish rocking a Tuskegee t-shirt in support of his new film ‘Red Tails’ that opens in less than a week on Friday, January 20th. Also spotted was 90’s vocalist, Shanice Wilson ALL smiles. PJ Morton was in attendance whom JoiStaRR collaborates remixing the Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo classic duet ‘Nothing Even Matters.’ The host of the night, Warryn Campbell is the CEO of My Block Records and a Grammy award-winning producer. He is the husband to Erica Campbell, which they are expecting the birth of their third child.

The night was very eventful with a short performance by JoiStaRR and PJ Morton. Each room was filled to capacity as everyone gathered inside to see the performance. I was able to see a few familiar faces and network with music insiders and artists on the grind. I would definitely rate this event: B- (Due to the flow of traffic in the venue, everyone was cramming into a room that everyone couldn’t fit. The bars did not have variety, Ciroc was the only liquor and the inside bar was stocked with cheap Barefoot wine chardonnay and Cabernet. PLUS, I didn’t meet any cuties).

 

Ms. Badu’s DAMN Birthday JAM – House of Blues Sunset Strip

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First of all, I LOVE Erykah Badu!!!!  I have all her albums and truly believe her music is spiritual and for the conscious soul…  Not many people will agree with me, but I think any music virtuoso will share the same sentiment.  So of course when I got a last-minute invite approx. 2hrs before her Feb. 24th show I was SUPER SICED!  This particular situation was extra special, as a dear friend and mentor hit me up w/ VIP access to attend (so I humbly obliged).

We arrived fairly early and was able to secure prime positioning on the balcony level stage right, without any visual obstruction.  Food of choice catfish nuggets + quesadillas, libation = Makers Mark.  Ms. Badu hit the stage approx. 2hrs later than expected, but DJ Eque kept me partying to infamous 90’s East/West bangers.  The show started in the vain of a jam session with various artists taking the stage, one by one.   There was quite a soulful line-up, such as N’Dambi and Mayor Hawthorne.   Biz Markie and even Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance.  Chappelle hit the stage and even went in on the keys, Moonlighting the Sonata…

Apparently, Erykah Badu turned 40 this year and I’m literally shocked!  She looked good, of course eccentric but definitely HOT!!!:

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Her performance consisted of a full band, in addition to Ms. Badu on a Roland drum machine…  The set was HOT, but took a little warming up before she really turned it out.  The last time I saw Erykah Badu perform was 2001 at the Soul Beach Music Festival inside the Miami Orange Bowl and I definitely prefer the intimate non-pregnant set best.  She hit my favorite love mantra “I Want You,” the infectious chanting and simplicity of words embodied in the Worldwide Underground album. *whewwwwww*

The night was one to remember, I was in good company and ran into a few familiar folks…  Aside from the chicken bone in my quesadilla and partying a little too hard w/ a gay dude (who knocked my drink over the railing onto some poor soul below), it couldn’t have been any better.  Ecstactic I was able to share the moment w/ Ms. Badu to celebrate her 40th Birthday.

I also want to shout-out a few folks that I had the pleasure of seeing:  Gary Owen (@garyowencomedy) & Laz Alonso (DC native @lazalonso – Avatar & Miracle at St. Ana) were both mesmerized by Ms. Badu’s ass-piring performance.  The homie Eddie Goines (@EddieGoines) the leading man for N’Dambi’s new music video, was with the director Matthew Cherry (@MatthewACherry – whom’s hustle I truly admire).  B’more K (Karron Johnson), always fun chopping it up & talking sh*t.  Ms. Wanzer, I miss you girl!  Paul (@PDiesl), it’s funny how twitter creates alliances.

The Dogg House presented by Adidas, HVW8 and Snoop (Feb. 16, 2011)

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I had the pleasure of attending the Snoop Exhibit at the HVW8 Art Gallery, 661 N. Spaulding off Melrose in Los Angeles and I must say I truly enjoyed myself.  Initially, I was taken aback by artists taking swigs of Colt 45 in paper bags but soon came to realize that it went all too well with the theme of the event (the paper bags were actually insulated to maintain the coldness of the malt liquor).  To bring the event full circle, there was FREE fried chicken catered by Dante’s Fried Chicken truck which washed down well with the Colt 45.  Making my way to the bar, the beautiful hostess’ greeted me with a choice of carton water, classic Colt 45 or the new Colt 45 BLAST in Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Pomegranate and Raspberry Lemonade (which hits shelves April 4, 2011).  I festively decided on BLAST Strawberry Lemonade which really got me feeling NICE!

As the place began to pack out and I realized there was not ONE familiar face, I sparked conversation with newlyweds who were just sooo sweet & cute.  The DJ was jamming and Dam Funk hit the mic, giving a full out performance of Pasadena grown “west coast – FUNK.”  This was an authentic LA experience, and I couldn’t help but dance.  Computer Jay started out the party BUT Dam Funk definitely ended it, a truly talented musician he went from DJing, singing, electronic vocoding and even the keyboard guitar.  Snoop eventually hit the mic and seemed a little modest in terms of performing.  But the audience was not having it!

I met a few cool folks Anthony (DC native & music producer), Claudia & her husband, KG, Tyrin Ford of Ethno Brands and of course THANKS to the homey Slav K.

For info on the gallery go to:  http://hvw8.com/2011/02/16/adidas-hvw8-and-snoop-present-the-dogg-house/

it’s Holiday Season… PICS: Tony Rock’s ‘My Rock Foundation’s’ 3rd Annual Toy Drive

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soooo….  I’m not really in the holiday spirit.  Unfortunately, I will be spending the second Christmas away from my family and it’s raining like a monsoon in California to boot.  Last year, a dear friend and I served food to families for the Union Station Shelter in Pasadena.  It was a beautiful 75degree afternoon, with hundreds of positive people beaming & buzzing while greeting families with hearty servings of holiday cuisine.  We closed the festivities at a friend’s beautiful home and left w/ quite a buzz.

This year, I will go back to my friend’s house with a few new friend’s in tow.  My spirit will definitely be with my family on the east coast as I know that I will be in theirs.  The next two weeks will be a little rough, but I hope to be productive and upbeat.

Happy Holidays!

P.S.  I’ve posted a few pics from Tony Rock’s “My Rock Foundation’s” 3rd Annual Toy Drive casino event which was held on Thurs. Dec. 16th at the beautiful W Hotel in Hollywood.  The event was a success with plenty of comedians & activities. [

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