Exhale Premium Cigar and Events

Thanksgiving Cigar & Dinner

The quaint boutique restaurant known simply as Meze was the meeting place for the first Exhale Premium Cigar and Events meet up.  Geared towards the cigar aficionado and those who love pairing sophisticated drinks with exotic foods, Exhale Premium Cigar and Events was designed to bring together a few friends, as well as enjoy the company and surroundings of the Gaslamp Quarters.  It accomplished that and more.  With San Diego known for having some of the best cigar lounges in the country, more than a few friends attended the first gathering at Meze.  The guys known as Big Tony, Downtown Bobby and Corey put this event together because of their love for cigars and their long standing affinity of downtown San Diego. Relax folks, they’re just regular guys.  With the few friends they invited to EPCE, the word got out and the crowd came.  Those looking for great aromatic flavored cigars got 2 stix from one of San Diego’s notable cigar lounges.  Those coming for drinks and libations were treated with samples of some great martini’s, well drinks and wine selections.  And the cuisine from the kitchen of Meze Greek Fusion was definitely the pallet pleaser of the night.  The food selections were as authentic Mediterranean as being in city of Santorini.

Monday November 25, the second installment of EPCE “Thanksgiving Cigar & Dinner” will be held again at Meze, hosted by NFL great Vincie Glenn ( San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings) and a few of his friends.  Those that know Vincie know that he is a cigar connoisseur, but getting him to take time from his travels on the golf course is a feat within itself.  Specialty drinks, 2 complimentary cigars from Racine & Laramie, one of San Diego oldest and notable cigar shops located in Old Town is only the topper.  The food pairing presented buffet style, will again blend perfectly into the start of a festive Thanksgiving week.

The night is not just another guys night out, hoping pretty ladies would by chance come and join them. The ladies that came were not there just as eye candy.  They were aficionados of the smooth spirits, foods and stogies, but also assured that that last back glance in the mirror stated “Damn…even I would want to date me”.   San Diego has had many  cigar clubs, dining clubs and wine and spirits clubs, but none have been able to put them all together as did the guys from Exhale Premium Cigars and Events.  The events will be scheduled monthly at various locations throughout San Diego in 2014, but Meze   in the Gaslamp seems to hold its own in hosting the night.  They added their own sensual flair with an exotic belly dance that made the smoke stand still before it evaporated into the air.  The music pairing of Jazz keeps the mood light but at times make you wanna move a thing or two.  With Missy Anderson unique style of Jazzy Blues and Sacha performing the rhymetic beats of Latin Jazz, the live entertainment for a  Monday night will match any Friday or Saturday night club.  This night life event will become one of San Diego’s notable destinations in 2014.

Meze Greek Fusion Restaurant, opened over a year ago by brothers Patrick & Raymond Davoudi, is known for their culinary excellence, enlivening atmosphere, and world-class service. Cuisine for the evening will be provided buffet style with a variety of options. Live entertainment will be provided by Grammy nominated Sacha Boutros, and the renowned vocal artist Missy Andersen. There will be a Cigar Art Auction, featuring two local San Diego Artists. Your reservation includes two Premium Cigars, a drink, and a delicious meal, a great place to net-work, and a memory to last a lifetime.

Priority Reservations are $40.00 per individual.

Reservations are filling up fast! Click below to place your reservation now!

ExhalePremiumCigarsandEvents.com

So ladies, before all the stuffing sets in from the holiday feasting and the battle ground at the malls on Black Friday commence at midnight…guys before you’ve been simplified as just a reindeer leading the the shopping sleigh or just an arm for shopping bags to rest on, take some time to for yourself…who knows when you’ll get a chance to sit back and Exhale.

Come Exhale With Us

Sponsors:

Meze – Racine & Laramie Limited – Famous Vodka –  Pura Vida Tequila – Magnifico Gironata  Evol – koo koo Liqueur – Boondock Brothers – City Cruiser San Diego

HAFU: The Mixed-Race Experience in Japan
By: Jacqueline Penhos

Mixed, Bi-racial, multicultural, mixed breed, mulatto, mestizo/a, HAFU: These are just a few of the terms most people who are more than one race have been called or must hear on a daily basis. If I have to answer the question, “what are you mixed with? One more time I’m going to scream from the top of my lungs. The interracial experience has been an adventure the past 20 years of my life. Watching HAFU hit home with me, the journey was deliciously enlightening and heart rending at the same time. A must watch for any one who is blended or wishes to understand the mixed-race experience. Definitely worth taking a mental and visual journey at the next showing. Its not everyday a film touches your core in a therapeutic and holistic way. Growing up mixed, being pressured to choose one nationality, culture, and race has been second nature to my daily repertoire.

These are some of the similarities many of the HAFU’s experienced in the film. HAFU, a film about being/having mixed roots in Japan. Being bi-racial, Multi-racial, or multicultural can be stressful in any country or society. HAFU presents the mixed factor in an a organically genius documentary, sharing the stories of 5 HAFU’s living in Japan. Do we need to be categorized? HAFU seeks to answer this question, and many important ones similar to it, as it proudly displays the new wave of multicultural families in Japan. As, I mentioned the term “hafu” literally means “half”- this term has both negative and positive connotations in Japan. Similar to the word mulatto or mixed breed in the United States. The film shows how mixed race people living in Japan not only long to be acknowledged, but accepted and understood. “Directors Megumi Nishikura and Lara Perez Tagaki, HAFU’s themselves, present five intimate stories featuring people whose ethnicity and nationality are called into question every day of their lives.”

The film was presented at the Asian Film Festival 2013, in San Diego, Ca. There’s David a 28-year-old who’s lived in Japan nearly his entire life and is now looking to give back to his mothers village in Ghana (David’s father is Japanese). Or 9-year-old Alex, who leaves Japan to live with his mothers family in Mexico after traumatically being bullied for being different (Mexican and Japanese). Then there’s Sophia who lived in Australia her entire life, but comes to Japan to learn about the language and culture she barely knows. HAFU opens a dialogue about what it means to live in an increasingly global world and accepting our differences. It is my hope that times are changing and that people see, that, Diversity rocks!

Welcome to Deebone Productions

Deebone founded Deebone Productions in October 2003. The intent was to produce affordable and entertaining productions including plays, spoken word, comedy, talent and variety shows. The first show, a spoken-word concert called “Spoken Expressions”, produced in January 2004 was a sell-out. Because of the success, “Spoken Expression II” and “Spoken Expressions – The Show” were produced the following February and March. In April 2004, Deebone produced “My Father, My Father,” a play written by her client. The play received overwhelming positive comments from nine Community Actor Judges. The Judges described “My Father, My Father” as excellent, captivating, magnificent, profound, moving, awesome, professional, outstanding, superb, superior, extremely emotional incredible and done-perfectly. It were these comments which led Deebone Productions to receive the Aubrey Judge’s Award on behalf of actors and director. Other shows produced include a fashion dinner auction show, musical revenue, jazz concert, variety show, talent show, numerous comedy shows and Deebone’s first written stage play “Memories of Best Friends”. Following the stage play, was her first original written musical revue vignette “Vanilla, Chocolate and Caramel Too!” in 2007. Her second original musical revue vignette, “Choo, Choo”, was staged in 2010. “Harlem Today” is also an original musical revue vignette being staged in June 2013.

Meet the Producer

Dee (Deebone) Brooks is the sole owner of Deebone Productions and a graduate from the University of Phoenix with a Business Marketing Degree. Born and raised in San Diego, she is the youngest of five children. Her father was born in Terrell, Texas; her mother in Kaufman, Texas. Known for being well-organized and a stickler for time, you can expect her productions to begin timely. Quite frequently, you can expect to be treated with something free at her productions. With the exception of the “Choo, Choo” flyer, Deebone has designed all of her flyers and programs. In addition to owning a production company, she is employed as a Business Systems Analyst.

Dee produces and funds all productions with original content and music. Her productions have grown in size and visibility within the play circuit. She is currently casting for her next production…

I have openings for actors and actresses 17 years of age and older.  Someone suggested I checked with your group.  The name of the show I’ve written is called “Whatcha’ Gonna Get’. It is a multiple skit vignette. Skit selection isn’t made until the cast is intact so I do not have any specific information to provide. There will be 9 – 11 skits. All skits have acting, some have dancing and some have singing. This production will provide a couple of actors the opportunity of Directing or co-Directing a skit to add to their resume. There are choreography opportunities as well. Compensation is a targeted stipend + $5 per ticket sale. Rehearsals are 2 days a week + Saturday.  Rehearsals will increase to 3 days + Saturday  closer to the show date. Ideally, I would like to secure 2 more actors and 1 more actress of any ethnicity.   The first cast meeting is this week so I’m finishing up auditions within the next few days. If you know anyone interested, please have them email me whatchagonnaget@deeboneproductions.com

2000 Diana

Harlem Today

 

The production will be held at a beautiful location in National City.

Show dates below…
Tech night 2/17
Tech night 2/18
Tech night 2/19
Show 2/20 : opening night
Show 2/22 : evening
Show 2/23 : matinee show
Show 2/27 : evening
Show 3/1: evening

Being an entrepreneur is very challenging…being a young entrepreneur can be both challenging and a hard road to navigate.  Regardless of the industry mental toughness, patients and virtue are just a few traits one must have in order to stay the course and succeed.  There are going to be many challenges, but at the same time there will be great personal rewards. When you have established a firm foundation and a solid base for your venture that’s just the beginning.  Tatiana Daniel has begun to explore her travels with “Brooke Journey Inc”. When starting a new business there will be many first.  Recently she produced her first fashion show “The Black & White Affair”.  The show was well attended and had various local designers from the San Diego area.  From the onset we could see she was very driven to put present a great product as well as a great event.  For those of us who have produced or been involved in the back room workings of a fashion show, or any other major event you know the trials and tribulations that go along with organizing such an event.  The various personalities, the egos and the attitudes all are just standard ingredients.  Tatiana seemed to take all that in stride during the night of the show and showed the balance between greeting her guest and keeping the show in order.  But we all know, there was probably a lot of drama taking place back stage.

She now takes her first step in taking her show on the road.  She will be appearing the much acclaimed Facet Fashion Show; Fall Edition, in Los Angeles Ca.  The fashion industry  can be a rough road to navigate if you do not know the ins and outs.  The New York fashion industry is known worldwide as one of the hubs for fashion.  There seems to be a more common unity to move the industry forward, with collaboration and think tanks.  Los Angeles on the other hand can be very competitive and sometimes cut throat.  With the entertainment and movie industry as an outlet for designers, making sure your looks get seen first can be the key to making your mark in the industry.  Tatiana takes Brooke Journey Inc. into the fashion web of HOLLYWOOD.  It is the old David and Goliath story of the fashion world.  Without much backing and support outside of San Diego, she’s taking her leap of faith and the first big step.

“Life has been one big roller coaster.  This all started with losing my father but that loss turned into a grief pushing myself hard to achieve a goal.  Building a company from the ground up is hard work but has an amazing feeling of appreciation.  I thank God for every opportunity he has given me.  I thank all my true friends and the people who have supported me personally.  Debuting in my first big show in Hollywood…I’m nervous and excited.  I’m up to burning the midnight oil sewing”.

The styles of Brooke Journey Inc., varies in looks, but all do one thing… accentuates the form, shape and curves of a women.  With most designers, they tailor their looks for the size 0 – 2 when designing and cutting the garments.  Sometimes that look does not translate to the size 6 – 10, which there are plenty of.   Brooke Journey Inc. begins by designing to make sure that all the beautiful curves that make a woman, gets their just due, just plain ole Sexy.

The show will be held Saturday November 9th at Mack Sennett Studios, 1215 Bates Ave in Los Angeles CA.  Doors open at 6:00PM.  Come out and see a great show and Brooke Journey Inc. on the runway.

The Image of Magazine is looking forward to producing the feature for Brook Journey Inc. for the print edition in the Spring of 2104

What is it about Film Festivals that makes them uniquely important and seemingly a vital, integral part of the movie industry?  Why are there Film Festivals taking place all over the world and in small pockets of society? Simple… it levels the playing field, or the big screen in this case. It is an opportunity for the little man to compete with the big wigs of the industry.  As long as the movie can fill the size of the screen, the low budget, 1,2,3, 4 man production can be seen as equally and along side the multi-million dollar production.  Second, you, me the audience gets to see movies, films and documentaries that are not under the marketing control and distribution of the majors…therefore there is no censoring of talent and no shelving of the little mans project that has been pegged for DVD distribution without ever making it to the big screen.  Third, they have become the meeting grounds for cultural diversity and sharing.

There are thousands of film festivals around the world.  Each one with its on unique lure that attracts an audience.  The various cultural festival seem to have a unique pull all their own.  Whether if its a geographical, ethnic, educational or religious in nature, film festivals brings together that community, as well as  invites others to come share in their rich cultural background.  Film festivals allows an audience to see more of the movie industry that is shoved out by the majors. It allows new and up and coming talent, people and other aspects of the world to be seen and is not typecast by a single industry’s view. The artist, film makers and actors have as much freedom to create and showcase their on brand and talent.

So let me introduce you to a very rich cultural Film Festival that has captured high acclaim in the festival world.  Recently named by USA Today as one of the 10 reasons to visit San Diego, the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival is the flagship event of Pacific Arts Movement (formerly the San Diego Asian Film Foundation), a non-profit media arts organization specializing in Asian and Asian American cinema.

Founded in 2000, the Festival has grown to become the largest exhibition of Asian cinema in the western United States, and has showcased everything from future classics like Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder (US Premiere) to luminary independent work like Patrick Wang’s award-winning In the Family (North American Premiere).

Pacific Arts Movement also presents the SDAFF Spring Showcase, a mini-festival in April, as well as year-round quarterly screenings and community events. For information about Pac-Arts and its mission and values, click here.

Join The Image Of Magazine as we cover a dynamic events and the people who make it happen, on and off the camera.  Check out past editions of the San Diego Asian Film Festival:

Unbeatable
2013 SDAFF Spring Showcase
2012 San Diego Asian Film Festival
2012 SDAFF Spring Showcase
2011 San Diego Asian Film Festival
2011 SDAFF Spring Showcase
2010 San Diego Asian Film Festival
2009 San Diego Asian Film Festival
2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival
2007 San Diego Asian Film Festival

Starting Thursday November 7th the San Diego Asian Film Festival begins.  Come out and see why USA Today says the SDAFF is a must attend film festival.  View more information, films, times and dates read the preview for this year on The Image Of Magazine website front page.

When you listen to Musiq, you know he is a musical talent. When you meet the man behind the Musiq you realize there’s more to him than what you hear. We recently held a show for Breast Cancer Awareness month and it reminded me of what Musiq Soulchild has accomplished and why he is still “Just Being A Real Man”. Here’s the article…

Musiq Soulchild… Just Being A Real Man

The one thing that stood out the most about Musiq was his kindness and giving.  After the show at the 4th And B, we spoke with him personally about some of the things he has done and achievements  in music.  He stated to me that he appreciated that I book him to do the show… a full show with a band and everything.  He said that most acts and venues are so into the appearance and not the talent of performing.  He thinks that waters down the industry and true music.  He also said he only had 30 minutes after the show to do pictures, without a fee charge by the way, with a select few fans.  Well he actually stayed for an hour taking pictures with anyone who came to the photo room and spoke with them on a personal level.

That leads me to this.  I also found out that he was an ambassador for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure.  He spoke about being a part of the movement and said he was honored to be a part of it.

(2010) Musiq Soulchild recently announced his new role as an Ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Circle of Promise, a movement designed to further engage black women around the globe in the fight against breast cancer.

In his new role, Musiq will raise awareness about breast cancer so that younger women know the importance of early detection and why it’s important to pay attention to their bodies.

“Early detection is the key to winning the fight against breast cancer,” said Musiq. “Too often, black women are diagnosed in stage three and four when breast cancer is most difficult to treat. Some women are afraid to seek treatment for fear of losing their breasts or their hair. One’s physical appearance is much less important than the will to live. It’s time to remove the stigmas that are attached to this disease.”

When I saw the video I knew I had not only booked a great musician to do the show, but also a great person who is  just a good ole fashion real MAN that does support women and their cause.  He gives back as much as he can.  When I now look into producing show, I want the quality of the person as well as the talent. 

So for the remaining days of Breast Cancer Awareness Month we will feature the music of Musiq.  Check out Musiq at www.musiqsoulchild.com.  If you missed his show last year at 4th And B you missed a real talent that knows how to entertain his audience.  We are looking forward to bring Musiq back to SD in 2014.  Stay tuned…

Wednesday October 30, 2013

Musiq was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the oldest of nine children. At an early age, Musiq left home and dropped out of school at the age of 17. It was during that time Musiq started to build a reputation for being musically gifted, beat boxing for MC’s, free styling on the open mic circuit, scatting at a jazz club, or just performing a cappella in the streets of Philadelphia, which is where he got the name “Musiq” and later added “Soulchild”, which is intended to respect and represent the legacy and traditions of past soul artists. He cites as his inspiration such icons as Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Patti LaBelle, Billie Holiday, Sly & the Family Stone and Ray Charles.

“There were people who knew of me but they didn’t really know me; they just knew me as ‘that music dude.’ So after getting that so much, I was like ‘Just call me Musiq.’ It was so fresh to me because if I had to be called anything, I would have wanted to be called Music. That’s how much I dug it; when you see me, I want you to automatically think of music.”^[1] The nickname Soulchild came from two ideas. Musiq quotes it as, “Musiq Soulchild is technically two ideas. ‘Musiq’ is the front man and ‘Soulchild’ is the idea behind it. It’s basically me as an artist in this generation, representing the traditions and the legacies of the past soul stars.”

More than any song produced and performed by Musiq Soulchild, “Love” is and will always be the song most of his fans will identify as his signature song.   The words, melody, arrangement and delivery pushed him to the top of the R&B charts.  The “Philly” sound became known to the rest of the industry and the world.

Outside of music, he has been featured in television and print ads for McDonald’s, Nike, Inc., Coca-Cola, Levi Strauss & Co. and The Gap. He made a special appearance on The CW’s #1 comedy The Game on Monday,  as well as the UPN sitcom All of Us. On June 25, 2012, Musiq released a book on love and relationships titled “143 – Love According To Musiq”.

Here’s another classic that could make the average person want to get on the floor and try thier luck on doing the Chicago Step…