Creative 4 Cause x Westham Records x Cool Sessions = Fun Times!

Peeps, this weekend is JAM PACKED with festivities! In addition to CGI's Can I Live Celebrity Weekend, you have, many, many other options to choose from. Here are a few that are standing out for me!

Tonight, Photographer/Graphic Designer Akeara Williams hosts her 1st showcase, Creative 4 Cause Charity Art Exhibit. A Digital Art Exhibit,  there will be 10 original pieces for viewing and silent auction.

Admission is only $5, and proceeds from the door & sale of the pieces will be donated to the Red Cross for Haiti Relief. It's only been 6 months since the devastation that struck Haiti, so if you can attend, please swing by to show support!

It's from 6:30p-9p at Aquarius Creative Studio (688 S. Cox, Memphis, TN 38104), and there will be food and drinks, with DJ Rocksteddy on the 1's and 2's!

Also tonight will be the label release of Westham Records. A record label with influences ranging from Hip-Hop, Soul, Electro, and Dub Reggae, tonight's launch will be for the true music lover.

Performances by Memphis' own Preaux, Ify, Cities Aviv, and Homework (he is such an amazing DJ.& Producer I once sat in on a studio session and got a chance to see him scratch on a beat he created. I was in awe!)

It starts at 9p, is only $5, and will be at Nocturnal (1588 Madison Ave.) 

I listen to both mainstream and underground artists so I 'm really excited for this label's launch in our city. They already have singles on Itunes so they are making moves!

Ok, so you've been to Saturday Sessions at Senses and Rumba Room. You've been to Cool Out at Round One. But have you been to Cool Out Sessions?

Tomorrow's edition promises to be EPIC. Moody Inc. and The Cool Out Crew are collaborating on the ultimate Day Party at Republic Nightclub. Both floors will be open, including the patio with Memphis' best kept secret, DJ Houston.

I'm usually out running errands but I plan on stopping by. Free admission, and it's from 2p-7p. Hope to see you there!

Dear readers? Will I see you at any of the other festivities? Comment below and keep us NDLoop!

Can I Live? Yes You Can!

Ok guys, this weekend has to be one of THE biggest that the City of Memphis will see this summer. A plethora of events taking place, there will be activities for everyone. However you choose to get it in, make sure you have an energy drink on hand!

So last night was the official kick off for CGI Entertainment's Can I Live Celebrity Weekend. One of the most anticipated weekend's of the year, Can I Live brings so many people to our grand city. I'm prepared for a little more traffic, but I'm also looking forward to seeing new faces in the city. You never know who you might see in the car next to you!

First up was the Old Skool Skate Party at Crystal Palace last night. If you're a Memphian, you know that CP was THE roller rink to go to growing up as a kid. The DJ always played the best music, and they served some yummy food (remember their chili cheese nachos? Sigh) I spent many weekends there honing my skating skills with friends. I took a few tumbles in my day (oh the memories, lol) but I ALWAYS had a blast! If you missed it, no worries because there are waaay more activities to come!

Tonight is Curtis Given's Annual All White Affair, which will take place at the Historic Peabody Hotel. I was able to attend a few years back with my crew and we partied til the wee hours of the morning. Tickets are only $40 each, and they can be picked up at Sammy's, Level II, and Big Bill's BBQ.

There is also a School Drive from 8am-2pm in front of the Southland Mall today. CGI isn't just about parties; they do give back to their community as well. In the event you can't swing by to donate during those hours, you can also stop by Level II and Toys 'R' Us at any time. Their goal is $50,000 so do your part to help those kids in need!

Be sure to visit their website to get more information on the other festivities (Family Day Picnic, K97 Summer Jam, BabyFace Concert, & Basketball Tournament).

Also, check back with NDLoop to see pictured from all of the events.

So readers, will you be attending any of the Can I Live Events? Comment below and keep us in the loop!

Are You On The Flipside?

Saturday was the Season 2 premiere party for Flipside Memphis. Presented by Live From Memphis & CVB, Flipside Memphis is a docu-series highlighting 15 people & places around the city that are unique to the Memphis area.


Held at the Brooks Museum, there was free food and entertainment from some of the people featured in the series;when I got there, The Wise Guys (an improv comedy group), was performing and they were hilarious. I’ve always liked improv comedy so I’m interested in attending one of their live shows.

Also featured was Strange Fruit Vintage, an online vintage store owned by my friend Shalishah “Petey’ Franklin. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s apparel & accessories, check her out!

Other highlights from the documentary (Click on their names to learn more):

Rock-N Romp-A live concert with arts and crafts for parents and their kids. Held at different venues around the city, you must be accompanied by a child.

Mollie Fontaine Lounge-Located in Victorian Village, Mollie’s is known for its cool uptown/downtown vibe. The walls are covered with cool artwork, they serve yummy food (try the mac-n-cheese), and they have two forms of entertainment: a piano player/singer & a DJ upstairs.

Fire Tribe Memphis- Fire eating, fire breathing, belly dancing with fire palm torches-this is just an all around “HOT” performance. They perform all around the city, and you can catch them at Overton Park on Sunday afternoons in a drum session with Rico Rumba’s drum circle.

I seriously enjoyed the documentary. As I’ve said before, Memphis has so much culture, both mainstream and underground. I was happy that I was familiar with some of the artists/businesses featured (hi-five for me lol) but it also gave me some activities to look forward to. Please visit Live From Memphis’ website to see the documentaries and find out what you’ve been missing on the Flip Side!

So readers, did you attend the screening? Are you looking for new things to do around the city? Comment below and keep us NDLoop! ~KT

Hookah Anyone?

So Friday night I went to Oasis Liquid, a Hookah Lounge & Cafe located inside of Minglewood Hall in Midtown. For those that are unfamiliar, hookah is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) instrument for smoking tobacco in which the smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water. There are many flavors to choose from (last night we tried Vanilla), and they also have a few that are tobacco free. They also serve libations and snacks to nibble on in case you’re hungry.

Oasis is open every night starting at 5pm. On Fridays, belly dancers from Pyramid Dance Company perform starting around 10pm.

(I’ve never seen belly dancing live so I had to go down and check it out. They were pretty good, and now I want to take a class). Saturdays, there’s a live DJ spinning.

Oasis has such a cool vibe. It feels like you’re in an Uptown NY loft, hidden away from the world. If you need a moment after work to relax, or just want somewhere to go where you can hang out with your friends in an unconventional location, go by and check it out. The only requirement is that you have a membership (which is only $6 a year; if you got one at the Highland location you’re fine).

Have you been to Oasis yet? Do you plan on going? Comment below and keep us NDLoop!

J'Adore Magazine Swimsuit Competition

Beautiful Women. Hot suits. A-List Judges. July 2nd was J'Adore Magazine's Swimsuit Competition at The Republic Night Club. Hosted by Vivica Fox, the finalists from the previous model calls competed for a cash prize & an upcoming spread in the magazine. Peep some of the pics below, and be sure to visit NDLoop.net to check out who won and to see the rest!

Dear readers: did you make it to the competion? What do you think of the winner? Comment below and keep us ND Loop!

Ménage A Trois Mondays

Monday I got a change to swing by the opening night of “Ménage A Trois Mondays” at Ground Zero on Beale Street. I know what you’re thinking (kinky!) but I swear it wasn’t like that lol! Tim Bachus Enterprises and CS123 Marketing have come up with an, ahem, interesting way to market their event. 2 levels, 3 rooms, tons of fun, “Ménage A Trois Monday’s” at Ground Zero just might be your new spot to hang out on Mondays nights.


In one room, you have Karaoke King Tim Bachus playing the hits we all love to sing to (My friend Sam did an EXTREMELY entertaining rendition of Prince’s Beautiful Ones” lol). In another you have a DJ on the ones and twos (DJ Rock Steddy was there that night) and in the last there’s a live band (which unfortunately I missed because I was running late. I love listening to live music so I plan to be there early next time!).

With drink specials and a low cover charge ($3; how can you beat that!), it’s a fun way to spend your Monday nights with your friends. Depending on your mood, you have three forms of entertainment under one roof so I doubt that you’ll be bored. Hope to see you there!



So readers, did any of you attend? Sing along? Will I see you next Monday? Take a moment to comment below and keep us NDLoop!

Big Boi Listening Session

A few weeks ago, I attended Big Boi’s Listening Session that was held at Round One during its Monday Night Mingle Set. Unless you’ve been sitting under a rock for the last few years, you know that Big Boi is ½ of one of the ultimate Hip-Hop duos, Outkast. On tomorrow, he will be his releasing much-anticipated solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot… the Son of Chico Dusty.

While I’m not the hugest Hip-Hop head, I know good music when I hear it, so please believe I will be copping it on tomorrow. One of the things that I’ve always respected about Outkast is that they never played it safe when it came to their music; Big Boi is continuing that tradition with his solo LP. While many of today’s established acts are content with churning out the same drab musical offerings, Sir Lucious Left Foot... is like a breath of fresh air. The production is SICK (I like the lead single Shutterbugg, but General Patton is the OBVIOUS standout) so this could be the soundtrack for the summer.

And let me add, Big Boi is an extremely down to earth artist. Although a VIP area was set up, I watched him take countless pictures, sign autographs, and do interviews all night (I even got a picture and a hug). You’d have thought he was with friends and not at a promotional event. He’s been in the game for a while but still appreciates his fans and grinds like a new artist (up & coming artists take note!) and that’s a pleasure to see. You can’t help by support an artist like that.

Anyhoo, below are a few pictures from the night, but go to NDLOOP.NET to see the rest!

So readers, where any of you at the listening session? What did you think of the album? Take a moment to comment and keep us N D Loop!