JOE WILL BE LAUNCHING IT'S NEW SITE ON A NATIONAL SCENE:
THE NCCA FINAL FOUR PARTYS CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW SITE!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
JOE : GADGETS
PlayStation Home
Download targeted to be under 500MB
Sony: Xbox Live is Static and Can't Match PlayStation Home
Sony Computer Entertainment’s big news at this year’s GDC is the announcement of PlayStation Home, basically what appears to be ‘the answer’ for PS3’s life online. Phil Harrison’s keynote Wednesday at the Game Developer Conference explained the features and appearance of PlayStation Home, which some call the closest realization of William Gibson's Cyberspace.
Old, but apparently relevant sci-fi classics aside, parallels between Second Life and PlayStation Home were immediately drawn, but Sony touts its free online service as superior to the MMO. “Home is a much more rich, user friendly experience than Second Life, allowing for ease of entry and use, as well as being fully-functional with the technology and capabilities of PS3,” said a Sony representative in the ThreeSpeech blog.
With Microsoft’s Xbox Live service as the benchmark for online console gaming, most Sony faithful were hoping for a PS3 online experience that would equal the competitive offering. But Sony’s belief is that it has a product that’s incomparable to Xbox Live.
“Home is a first of its kind 3D community that allows for open interaction between consumers, SCE and third party partners. It is a truly interactive, global community of users,” the representative added. “Xbox Live is a static, 2D, text-heavy environment that can’t match the rich community features found in Home. Xbox Live community interaction is much more passive and limited to the members on that friend’s list.”
While it’s unclear if PlayStation Home will become a mandatory way for gamers to connect with each other, but the current PlayStation Store is to coexist with the upcoming service. “Home is a real-time online 3D, networked community available on the Network, while the Store offers free and premium digital goods delivered directly to your PS3,” Sony said.
It’s also unknown if PlayStation Home will be an optional component for online gamers, though Sony revealed that a download of under 500 MB is required in order to add the feature to the PS3.
A Home Beta Trial Web site is now available online with placeholder graphics and art for the pending public beta test set to begin in April. The full release of PlayStation Home is slated for this fall.
By Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam is a Blog Writer for Daily Tech
JOE : GO GO JOE GADGETS
Nokia Cell Phone Could Sport a Joystick
By Steve Kovsky
Steve Kovsky is a Blog writer for the Daily Tech
Serious fun is the operative idea behind new Nokia designs, including a phone that could mimic the Wii's wireless controller.
Nokia has been hard at work designing more playful mobile phones. The Finnish company's latest innovation is a recently patented design that incorporates a built-in joystick function to give the phone an edge with serious gamers.
Inventors John Patrick Wong and Jeff Philip Crampton of Vancouver, BC, were granted a patent on a cell phone design with a trackball in its face that accepts insertion of a detachable stylus. Insert the stylus into the trackball and, voila, the phone's keypad becomes a joystick game controller. Combined with advances in mobile phone processing power and graphics, joystick controls could propel the Nokia design into a new gaming league.
The plot thickens when considered in conjunction with another recently granted Nokia patent involving orientation sensors that allow a phone to automatically adjust to being used in any position. Combined with keys that change their labels to accommodate whether the phone is being held upside, on its side or right side up, the patent specifies embedded chips that will also sense velocity and direction when the phone is being moved. This capability will inevitably draw comparisons to the popular and innovative wireless controller for Nintendo's best-selling Wii videogame device. German inventors Josef Stohr and Thomas Franke also suggest that the signal from an onboard video camera could be used to support the tilt sensor, which itself might use a tiny gyroscope or related gravity- and acceleration-sensing mechanism.
Much of the latter patent application is taken up with elaborating on the keypad design, which specifies the use of "hard" keys rather than soft keys, thus steering clear of a potential infringement claim relating to the Apple iPhone. The iPhone's multidirectional design relies exclusively on soft keys displayed via a touch-sensitive screen.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
JOE : Living - Terzetto
Terzetto A TRIO of Living!
Type: Loft
City: Aventura
Price: $500,000.00
Project Essentials:
Number of units: 405
Square Footage: 900 - 1830 sqft
Price Range: $500,000 +
Number of units: 405
Square Footage: 900 - 1830 sqft
Price Range: $500,000 +
Terzetto -\Ter*zet"to\ n. A composition in three voice parts; a vocal trio.
This is truly a three part composition of South Florida best;
the building, the amenities and the location.
The Building:
The stunning 20-story Mediterranean-inspired tower with luxurious amenties and a location that is one of the best in town, is ideal for the urban professional. Terzetto' Tower Residences combines convenience, luxury and affordability to offer the ultimate in Aventura living. With lofts, tower residences, and villas, Terzetto living is as individual as every lifestyle and owner.
The Amenities:
Terzetto offer amenities such as 1,2, or 3 bedroom models, city,bay or ocean views, prewired for "Smart Home" with internet access to lights, HVAC and window coverings, secured parking, front desk and servicing in the lobby, 24-hour high-tech security, online concierge, clubhouse, billiards and recreation lounge, luxurious state-of-the-art, LA style fitness room, library, and much more.....
Location:
The location is everything and living here you are in close proximity to the best dining, entertainment, and shopping the Beach has to offer. The tower residences provide value through design, specifically catering to the 21st century lifestyle through an impressive list of amenities.
-Andre J Durall
JOE : Living In Hot Miami
Cité : Trendy but Affordable
Type: Loft
City: Miami
Price: $280 - $850,000
Cité is cutting-edge form and function that works for how you want to live. Awaken to a breathtaking view of Biscayne Bay or the Miami skyline just outside your window. Go for a swim in the private resort-style heated pool as the city comes to life all around you. A state-of-the-art fitness center is also at your disposal for an invigorating workout. Then dash off to your nearby office or to your favorite corner coffee shop for an impromptu meeting.
Inside your residence, the striking combination of innovation and aesthetics is both hip and inviting. Gourmet kitchen, pampering bath and additional perks such as roomy walk-in closets, washer/dryers and pre-wiring for all your electronics come standard. And for the optimum city living experience, Cité offers covered, secure garage parking for all residents; executive business center area and an entertainment center so you can bring your work home—or just kick back—in style.
Located on Biscayne Corridor at the Bay, you are only minutes away from South Beach, Downtown, the Design District, Brickell, and the new Performing Arts Center.
Type: Loft
City: Miami
Price: $280 - $850,000
Cité is cutting-edge form and function that works for how you want to live. Awaken to a breathtaking view of Biscayne Bay or the Miami skyline just outside your window. Go for a swim in the private resort-style heated pool as the city comes to life all around you. A state-of-the-art fitness center is also at your disposal for an invigorating workout. Then dash off to your nearby office or to your favorite corner coffee shop for an impromptu meeting.
Inside your residence, the striking combination of innovation and aesthetics is both hip and inviting. Gourmet kitchen, pampering bath and additional perks such as roomy walk-in closets, washer/dryers and pre-wiring for all your electronics come standard. And for the optimum city living experience, Cité offers covered, secure garage parking for all residents; executive business center area and an entertainment center so you can bring your work home—or just kick back—in style.
Located on Biscayne Corridor at the Bay, you are only minutes away from South Beach, Downtown, the Design District, Brickell, and the new Performing Arts Center.
-Andre J Durall
JOE : The Real Dirty South - Miami
FILLER-UP
THE FILLING STATION
Miami, Florida
Type: Loft
City: Miami
Price: $300,000.00 plus
Project Essentials
Number of units: 77
Square Footage: 1000 sq. ft. to 4000 sq. ft.
Price Range: $300,000 to $1.5 million
Square Footage: 1000 sq. ft. to 4000 sq. ft.
Price Range: $300,000 to $1.5 million
Opening Date: 2005
Completion Date: 2007
The Filling Station will be a 10-story low-rise that overlooks Downtown Miami. The building is 179 feet (55 meters) tall. The building will feature four townhomes, complete with 36 foot ceilings - these four levels will boast a huge outdoor garden, industrial windows, diamond plate staircases, and concrete floors with full exposure. Or choose to combine multiple units with options from 1,000 to 4,000 sq ft.
All units will feature 18 foot ceilings, upstairs mezzanines, stainless steel appliances, and European-style kitchen cabinetry. Each bathroom will feature white vintage hexagonal floor tiles, and NY style subway tiles on the walls - every bathroom will have a double sunflower shower head, wall-hung tank toilets with pull chain and vintage sinks and faucets, and exposed pipes and ductwork throughout.
The Filling Station is just a few minutes from Miami International Airport, close to beaches, shopping, and everything else Miami has to offer.
For more information please call (305) 673-3303.
-Andre J Durall
Thursday, March 8, 2007
JOE'S HOT SPOTS
JOE’S SELECT: HOT SPOT
Chicago, IL: Crocodile Lounge
Mere blocks from the Board of Trade, the neighborhood is a bit on the underdeveloped side but that only entices you to find out what’s behind the battered steel door of this tiny downtown gem. Crocodile Lounge holds down a day job as an after-work hang; during the week, traders clamber in for chicken wings, calamari and cocktails. At night the lounge morphs into any of the following; Tuesday Nights: showcase for up-and-coming hip-hop artists, Wednesday Nights: a venue for house music or comedy, Thursday and Friday Nights: a variety of hip-hop, R&B to mainstream and or Saturday Nights: an occasional gig spot for live jazz and reggae bands. Despite the "anything goes" mentality, a few ground rules exist: Sneakers and baseball caps are generally not welcome, and guests must be prepared to shell out a cover charge of $5-$20, which is quite reasonable.
Combined crocodile-chic decor with Gotham City glitz: brassy, faux croc skin upholsters the banquettes; a curvy, metal fixture crowning the bar resembles fins on a sea monster; and hues of amphibian green, gold and chocolate brown lurk in every corner. Bask in the warm candlelit glow of curling metal chandeliers, which are bumped up just enough to illuminate the sculpted wall hangings, and low-slung seating arranged around glass-topped tables and hardwood floors. Exposed brick walls lend an industrial feel to the space while sinuous metal chandeliers and twisted sculptures spell out a downtown vibe. The soundtrack of house, neo soul, R&B and hip-hop is eclectic and sexy—as is the crowd, mostly after-work escapees from the nearby financial district, wearing cubicle casual or, occasionally, a bespoke suit.
When it comes time to imbibe, pick your poison from a full bar. Order yourself a signature Cocktail of Citrus Vodka and Melon Liqueur with a dash of Sweet and Sour and settle in at the wood and sculpted-copper bar or head out to the patio for an alfresco good time. Satisfy your munchies with a newly expanded menu of crab cakes, pizza, pasta and brochette as well as all the regular bar featured appetizers which include sandwiches like: Italian chicken and fried white fish and much, much, more.
—Andre J Durall
Crocodile Lounge
221 West Van Buren Street
Chicago, IL
312.427.9290
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
JOE : Beauty
INDULGE: BEAUTY
Hot Chocolate
By Amber Efé
cocoa on the rocks:
Mint au Chocolat Scented Rocks by Slatkin & Co. $32, www.beautyexclusive.com/scentedrocks.html. (Rocks scattered throughout).
yoo-hoo:
white chocolate:
chocolate bar:
Evolution of Colour for Eyes in Brown Velvet by Laura Mercier $36, www.lauramercier.com.
chocolate kisses:
Mint Chocolate Lip Whip by Jaqua Beauty$14, www.bathandbodyworks.com.
brown sugar, baby:
The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ in Brown Sugar$20, http://www.thelipscrub.com.
super fudge:
Le Vernis Nail Colour in Madness by Chanel, $18 www.chanel.com. (Two bottles pictured).
brown baby with sparkling eyes:
Big Beautiful Eyes eye contour kit by Benefit, $30 www.sephora.com.
pretty brown eyes:
Basic Chocolate Eye Colour by Laura Mercier, $22 http://www.lauramercier.com
like water for chocolate:
Blue Agava & Cacao Cologne (100 ml) by Jo Malone $90, www.jomalone.com.
JOE : Rides
INDULGE: CARS HEAT ON THE STREETS
Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
LP640 Coupe: $295,700
Roadster: $326,900
Versace version: $350,000
The magic will hit you as soon as the scissor doors of your Italian supercar are raised for entry. Offered as either a coupe or a roadster, the all-wheel drive Murciélago LP640’s 6.5-liter V12 bangs out 640 horsepower, allowing you to pull away from the crowd in a mere 3.4 seconds (0-60 mph). Try out the “Versace” edition of the coupe and the interior of this ride becomes even more plush than usual. With the “Ad Personam” personalization program, your Lamborghini can be swathed in high quality leather and stitched with the signature Maison Versace motif. Adding to the ultra-luxuriousness of your Lamborghini are Hermera rims, a transparent engine hood (coupe only) and his and hers handcrafted luggage.
Clear the lane!
With a high-tech aluminum body and an upgrade of the V12 found in the Enzo, this new Ferrari promises some extra heat on the streets. The high revving V12 produces 620 horsepower, placing the Fiorano at the pinnacle of performance-oriented sports cars. Its design is captivating and its form sophisticated. The interior of the Fiorano is what you would expect from a style-conscious Italian carmaker. The driver’s position is crafted with carbon fiber and aluminum details, while the entire passenger compartment is wrapped in opulent leather. Racing seats from Recaro feature extended side bolsters to hold you snugly in place. Available options include: an interior iPod connector, a customized luggage set and a unique trim kit, which enhances the door panels, instrument panel and gearshift areas. Bose has also tailored the audio with an eleven speaker high-performance surround sound system to make sure you enjoy your tunes while blowing past spectators.
—Andre J Durall
JOE : SPIRITS
INDULGE: SPIRITS THE SPIRIT ENIGMA:
Port & Sherry
Photography by Massimo Gammacurta
After a decadent holiday meal, nothing puts the proverbial “cherry on top” like a digestif. Slightly sweet, the fortified wines of the Iberian Peninsula are the perfect complement to a meal. Port hails from the town of Oporto, Portugal. Sherry is from the Atlantic coast of Andalusia in southern Spain. Made by adding brandy to wine, port and sherry are classic wines that have been sought after for centuries. —Andre J Durall
Dow’s Tawny Porto, 20 year, $47.99
A blend of vintages averaging twenty years of age, this port has mellowed into a light, amber hue. Rich and nutty with aromas of raisins and honey, tawny port doesn’t get much better.
Cockburn’s Vintage Porto, 2000, $85.99
Vintage port is the crème de la crème of port and 2000 is noted as being one of the best vintages in fifty years. Luxurious, concentrated and very fruity, this is for special occasions.
Hidalgo, La Gitana Manzanilla, $10.99
“The Gypsy” is the champagne of sherry, and the most popular Manzanilla in Spain. Served slightly chilled, this sherry has crisp, dry and slightly tart flavors.
Bodegas Toro Albala, Pedro Ximenez, 1971, $26.99
This 35-year-old sherry made from the Pedro Ximenez grape ends any meal with an exclamation point. Rich and viscous with flavors of raisins, figs and molasses, this wine is heaven in sips.
JOE : INDULGES
INDULGE:
Lap of Luxe
Sky high design
Words by Andre J Durall
Photograph by Jon Humberly
When you absolutely have to get there with enough style wafting in your tailwind to set hearts aflutter and tongues ablaze, the lush lair inside your vehicle must be just as important as the sexy shell. From luxury jets to high-end cars, make sure the outside of your ride is just the beginning of the, well, ride.
Thirty-nine-year-old aircraft interior designer Edese Doret must be thrilled to know that even though it still seems opulent, private jet travel is rapidly becoming more accessible.
An unlikely combination of September 11-based paranoia and an increase in the number of wealthy (but not super-rich) people in America has resulted in a proliferation of aviation companies offering fractional ownership. In other words, that Gulfstream jet you’ve always wanted is now available to you at timeshare prices.
Accessible, however, is not a word to be confused with affordable. Twenty-five hours of private NetJet access through a Marquis Jet membership will cost you north of six figures. Even so, that’s barely a nick on your Louis Vuitton wallet compared to the $45 million it’ll cost you to buy a Gulfstream yourself—not including flight staff, maintenance, gas and miscellaneous expenses (alternate side parking tickets must be rough). All of this is fantastic news for Haitian-born, Bronx-raised Doret, whose company (Edese Doret Industrial Design, Inc.) specializes in creating luxurious and innovative private airplane interiors. In business for himself since 1998, Doret first started designing plane interiors after earning a degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. After six years of rising through the ranks to become one of the main designers at an aircraft design firm, Doret had an epiphany when he was able to handle a new client while his boss was on vacation. “I said, ‘I can do this myself,’ ” Doret explains.
Starting off with helicopter interiors, Doret soon made history by becoming the first person to design a private interior for an Airbus A380—the largest passenger airliner jet in existence (think of a plane that has two levels and enough room for nearly six hundred passengers). “All of my private customers are billionaires,” Doret says of how the project came to be. Natch, since the cost to implement one of Doret’s interior designs can cost as much as $30 million. With clients ranging from Angolan oil firms to the Kuwaiti airforce, and mega plush conversions on everything from Boeings to Lockheeds, tapping Doret to create airplane interiors fit for a … well, you know, makes perfect sense.
“It’s almost a hip-hop way of designing,” says Doret of his non-traditional approach. Instead of carpet, for example, he prefers to use wood or marble floors and he favors freestanding structures such as entertainment centers to break up the interior space instead of walls. One of the only African-American independent aircraft designers in the world, Doret is obviously setting the bar high enough to scrape the top of the 80-foot-high Airbus A380 that made his firm famous.
See you on the plane? But, um, the second floor leather sofa by the flat screen TV is all me.
JOE : Feature - Scott Tucker
THE ANIMATOR
Scott Tucker
Words by Diana McClure
Photography by Wyatt Gallery
Scott Tucker brings empty space to life.Thirty-six-year-old Scott Tucker lives by what Taoists would call “instinctive spontaneity,” continuously creating change around him by changing himself. The diversity of his creative practice is astounding. Interactive corporate event design, sculpture, painting and furniture design are all manifested simultaneously within Tucker’s Brooklyn-based business and studio space. In Square Circle Design Concepts is a one-stop shop for fulfilling clients’ visual marketing needs.
With his 2007 line of wood, rectangular-shaped furniture (named Raunjiba) previewing in the spring, an exhibition of female figurative sculpture debuting at Brooklyn’s My Moon restaurant in February and continued work as a spokesperson for the Lincoln Navigator Entrepreneur campaign, Mr. Tucker is one busy artist.
Tucker’s organic process of creation began in an experimental elementary school, in his native Flatbush, Brooklyn. “Instead of having rooms, it was an open complex. There were no chairs and no desks. You sat on the floor in a circle.” Tucker’s favorite activity in this creativity-enriching school was building dioramas (3D scenes within shoeboxes), which led to an early interest in architecture.
Post-high school, Tucker’s architecture inclination led him to an engineering trade school, but he decided to pursue interior design at FIT instead. A year in the sculpture program at The Corcoran School of Art in DC taught him trade skills, including welding and woodworking, and a fledgling interest in painting was honed later, during a BFA from Long Island University with a year abroad at the Winchester School of Art in England.
Figurative images and colorful interiors both take prominence on Tucker’s canvases. “I realized that I liked the idea of making my interiors into paintings. Now, it’s developed to the point where the figures are more in focus.” In most cases, he finds a point of inspiration in magazines, culture or life. A dance scene from the movie Frida inspired one of his diptychs. The two matching paintings portray a rich, vibrant image of dancers, guests and musicians at a small party.
Tucker’s female figurative sculptures—made of copper, steel, paper, acrylic and stone—are called Segmatites. Their futuristic style, lifelike movement and interior lighting are unique and otherworldly. In fact, his February exhibition will feature “a series of flying Segmatites with projection on a sheer scrim that has different sky views,” Tucker explains. “Wherever you are sitting in the restaurant the sky will be over your head.”
And that’s just one example of Tucker’s ability to fill a space with his imagination, which is why clients such as Nike, Evian and Sundance have all hired him to envision and then create physical spaces that promote their products. Tucker has become known for his ability to breathe structured life into empty spaces, just as he breathes vibrant life into his art.
JOE : FEATURE STORY : GRANT HILL
HOOP DREAMS
Grant Hill
Words by Andre J Durall
GRANT HILL'S collection of African-American Art will make him a legend off the court.For the past twelve years, Grant Hill, Orlando Magic’s star guard-forward, has led the Detroit Pistons, the NBA All-Stars, several Olympic teams and, of course, the Magic to many victories. But as the 34-year-old looks beyond basketball, he wants to be remembered as more than one of the best all-around players of his generation. While his charitable work with Habitat for Humanity has led him to build homes for underprivileged families and he has volunteered with the organization Prevent Child Abuse America, Hill is turning a lifelong love of art into his most notable endeavor off the court. “It’s so important for people from all walks of life, young and old, to be exposed,” says Hill, who has served as an associate of the Orlando Museum of Art for three years. With a personal collection of more than eighty paintings, sculptures and castes by artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Ernie Barnes and Arthello Beck Jr., he is considered one of the world’s premier collectors of African-American art. And after launching the two-and-a-half year-long tour of forty-six of these pieces, called “Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African-American Art,” he is also one of the world’s black art educators.
Grant Hill
Words by Andre J Durall
GRANT HILL'S collection of African-American Art will make him a legend off the court.For the past twelve years, Grant Hill, Orlando Magic’s star guard-forward, has led the Detroit Pistons, the NBA All-Stars, several Olympic teams and, of course, the Magic to many victories. But as the 34-year-old looks beyond basketball, he wants to be remembered as more than one of the best all-around players of his generation. While his charitable work with Habitat for Humanity has led him to build homes for underprivileged families and he has volunteered with the organization Prevent Child Abuse America, Hill is turning a lifelong love of art into his most notable endeavor off the court. “It’s so important for people from all walks of life, young and old, to be exposed,” says Hill, who has served as an associate of the Orlando Museum of Art for three years. With a personal collection of more than eighty paintings, sculptures and castes by artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Ernie Barnes and Arthello Beck Jr., he is considered one of the world’s premier collectors of African-American art. And after launching the two-and-a-half year-long tour of forty-six of these pieces, called “Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African-American Art,” he is also one of the world’s black art educators.
Growing up in Reston, Virginia, Hill was surrounded by the paintings and sculptures that his parents, Janet and ex-Dallas Cowboys football player Calvin Hill, loved. “They were always passionate about art and enjoyed sharing their enthusiasm with family and friends,” he recalls. “Especially me.” In 1993, as his classmates at Duke University were decorating their rooms with beer posters and bikini calendars, the college junior hung a print of Ernie Barnes’ “Duke’s Fast Break,” a 1986 painting of the school’s basketball team, in his apartment. “It couldn’t have cost much,” he remembers about the purchase. “But I thought I was big time.” Regardless, it was nothing compared to what he paid for the authentic pieces he now owns. “Still, it goes to show that you can be a fan and support African-American artists without having to spend a lot of money.”
After being drafted into the NBA by the Detroit Pistons a year later, Hill moved into his first apartment and began collecting in earnest. “I wanted art like the art I grew up with,” Hill, who was a history major at Duke, explains about his first acquisitions. This is evident in the number of Beardens and Catletts he owns, both of whom are among his parents’ favorites. “Bearden is able to tastefully capture the joy, excitement and pain of the life of the nineteenth century African American, and I respect the strong and powerful way Catlett pays homage to women in general.”
Also like his parents, Hill enjoys sharing his passion with others. “The only thing on my wall growing up was the picture of Black Jesus at the Last Supper,” admits his wife, the Grammy-nominated singer Tamia. “Grant taught me about art, and I’ve enjoyed collecting with him.” Working with Hill’s mother’s longtime friend Dr. Alvia J. Wardlaw (associate professor of Art History at Texas Southern University and the director and curator of the University Museum at Texas Southern University), the couple decided to organize Something All Our Own. “We wanted to bring people into the museums to view African-American art,” Hill explains, adding that he and his wife also sponsored class trips to the host museums to give children the opportunity to view the exhibit. For those who did not see the historic tour, they released an illustrated catalogue, with essays by notable art historians including Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, adjunct Associate Professor in African American Studies at Yale University, and Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spelman College.
Now that the tour has ended, the power couple is broadening their collection. “Up until this point, I’d focused on the African-American masters,” says Hill, whose interest has most recently been piqued by abstract expressionist painter Norman Lewis. “Now, I’m looking at other cultures, as well as contemporary African-American artists. Really, though, it’s whatever stands out and speaks to me.” Which is why whatever direction his professional career takes in the coming years, it’s clear that Hill will continue to rank highly as one of the art world’s key players.
JOE : JOHN LEGEND
LEGEND :
in the making
Words by Andre J Durall
Photography by Jodi Ake
It’s time to face the ugly truth. Romance on the radio has, for the most part, been tossed aside for unmentionables in a box. We may have all cracked up at Justin Timberlake’s hilarious music video parody on Saturday Night Live, but it was more of a nervous laugh-to-keep-from-crying type of thing. Deep down we know that R&B is careening down a slippery slope paved with strippers, booty-smacking and questionable singing abilities. True soul singers are being overshadowed by thinly disguised rappers trying to hold notes over slick, over-produced tracks. And John Legend is pissed off about it.
“I’m so not feeling that general direction,” Legend says to explain his solo mission to save R&B from itself. “People rap-singing has led to the separation of melody from R&B, which is really unfortunate. I’m not in the same lane. I’m trying to create something transcendent, something that inspires people.” At the very least, Legend is hoping to bring a little beauty to your speakers with timeless love songs that won’t make your poor grandmother’s head explode.
Today, however, he is just hoping to stay awake. He’s on the last leg of his three-week European tour and is gearing up for a performance in Manchester, England. It’s a struggle to keep the sleepiness out of his voice. “I don’t get to see many sights on this tour,” Legend says. “It’s pretty much constant work and travel.” In a few days, though, he’ll be off to Springfield, Ohio, to spend Christmas with his family. Then he’ll head to New York to celebrate his twenty-eighth birthday before going back on the road.
Legend is on the grind to promote Once Again, the follow up to his 2004 smash debut, Get Lifted. The new album is young and fresh, but with an ancient spirit. There’s no brash party track and no clever wordplay from Kanye. It’s simply an organic blend of live instrumentation, gospel, soul and heartfelt songwriting. And as good as it is, it’s hard to see where an album like this belongs in the current landscape. “It was a challenge trying to figure out where to market Once Again because it doesn’t fit neatly in different categories. You have to have eclectic tastes to appreciate it—not everyone gets it.” Whereas the multi-platinum Get Lifted was the album of 2004, earning the singer three Grammys and heavy rotation everywhere—from top-market radio stations to your local hair salon—Once Again is enjoying a quieter (albeit loving) reception. “The trap I try not to get into is to write for a program director,” insists Legend. “I wasn’t worried about how it was received commercially. The only way I would be worried is if I didn’t believe in the music. And I really believe in this music.”
Everyone else was just as taken with Legend as Lady O and Magic. There was something irresistible about the album’s energy, attitude and sexiness. Legend took the ensuing fame in stride, although he admits that the “abnormal and unrealistic amounts of power and control can be intoxicating.” Detractors tried to write him off as pompous and too big for his britches, but Legend believes those people didn’t understand his position. “I’ve never had a rep of being arrogant among people who really know me,” he says. “But sometimes I would say things that were really confident, like, ‘I really think this album is good,’ or ‘I’m proud of this album.’ I’d say things championing my project. You have to understand that when you’re in the mode of a new artist you’re just trying to prove to people that you belong, that you should have a deal. You have to go in there with confidence saying, yes, I have music that’s important, music that’s relevant.”
“My legacy is important to me,” Legend admits. “It’s not just in the back of my mind, it’s pretty forward. In the same way that I listen to a Stevie Wonder or Beatles album and it still sounds important and fresh, I want my music to feel like that in the future.” Perhaps that’s the best way to keep himself (and his unmentionables) out of a box.
JOE : Feature - BENCHMARK
BENCHMARK
The NBA's Sixth Man Steps Up His Game
words by Andre J Durall
Photography by Christian Lantry
Ben Gordon came off the Chicago Bulls bench last season like the Six Million Dollar Man. In fact, he was the first rookie in NBA history to earn the title of the Sixth Man-which denotes the main "go to" guy after the starters. In other words, the player with the skills and the potential to become a force on the team. An early draft pick (third overall), Gordon was a winner and a standout during his three seasons at UConn, consistently turning in performances that ultimately led the Bulls to his door.
Wow! First rookie to ever win Sixth Man. How did you feel about the hype? Obviously there was a lot expected from me but the way I started the season lowered everybody's expectations. So, I had to prove myself all over again. I know I surprised everybody in the league by winning that award.
What do you hope to bring to the game this season? I want to start off where I finished last year-on a high note. I want to be more of a leader, more of a focal point. Last year was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Once I got my groove I realized that basketball is basketball. You can play anywhere.
Mt. Vernon declared August 20th "Ben Gordon Day" in the state of New York. What was that like? I didn't think I deserved it but the more I heard about it, I realized it was more for the community than for me. There were hundreds of kids. When I was their age, I never got to meet anybody who was famous or had made it, so I was definitely happy.
How did you come to choose #7 as your jersey number? Do you believe in numerology? I'm always looking at the symbolic numbers in my life. No. 4 was my number in college, but it had been retired by [former Bulls player and current Utah Jazz head coach] Jerry Sloan. So I added three-for 3rd overall draft pick-plus four and got seven. As the season went on, I started thinking about it and realized that before I got here the Bulls had not gone to the playoffs in six years. [Note: With Ben's help the Bulls did make it to the playoffs last season.]
What do you do when you're not smokin' the bench? When last season ended, my mom and older friends told me to travel. But, I had just finished traveling the whole year! I was happy to be home. I stayed in Chicago and enjoyed off time with my friends.
Michael Jordan has been a bit of a mentor to you. Ever hang out at his house? I've gone over a few times for parties, BBQs, stuff like that. But you're not really trying to watch a movie at Mike's house. You're trying to be a sponge.
You recently did a show for MTV2 called "Nike Battleground." Is coaching something you'd consider? I was the coach for the NYC team. Kids between 16 and 21 were on my team. I couldn't see myself coaching right now because you have to have a high level of patience. Plus, if you were a player and you're trying to coach guys [who] may not be as talented as you were, it might be hard to get across to them. Maybe as I get older, I'll get more patience.
Can you date the Luvabulls (the Chicago Bulls dancers)? Naw. Conflict of interest.
Any you find attractive? (Laughs) Think I'll play it safe on that one.
JOE : Best Beer
Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Ave.Brooklyn,New York 11211
(718) 963-4140
http://www.spuytenduyvilnyc.com/main.htm
[map]
Why You Should Go:
Voted RateBeer’s #4 Best U.S. Beer Bar for 2006, Spuyten Duyvil is both New York Magazine’s and TimeOut New York’s pick for Best NYC Beer Bar, and with good reason. This unmarked, cozy and quirky bar with an antique gramophone and an ashtray collection on display offers a stunning selection of obscure Belgian beers along with the creme de la creme of U.S. micros from Sixpoint Craft Ales and Southampton, among others. Better still, the food wonderfully complements the beer, consisting of quality cold cuts and gourmet cheeses. A beer garden out back only adds to the enjoyment. The owner, Joe, is often on hand to chat and his passion for the pleasures of beer drinking and travel is evident. The other bar staff also knew a thing or two about beer. All in all, Spuyten Duyvil, which means "spitting devil" in Dutch, is the perfect bar, arguably without a single substantial misstep.
History:
Spuyten Duyvil opened around March, 2004, and has gone from strength to strength since then. Within a month of opening, it was heralded as NYC’s best beer bar, and has retained that title ever since despite substantial competition.
How To Get There:
Using the map link provided at the top of this page, take the NYC Subway L train to Bedford Ave (at 7th St) and walk about six short blocks to the corner of Metropolitan Ave. and Havemeyer St. Look for a small red bar with no sign as pictured above.
Two Birds, One Stone:
Consider walking 8-10 minutes to nearby Barcade, one of NYC’s finest beer bars, offering choice U.S. micros in a converted garage with 1980’s arcade games. Pac-Man, anyone?
JOE : Recipes
Pizza Dough
MADNESS STYLE
SUBMITTED BY: Stephen
PHOTO BY: Butterfly
"Makes three hearty pizza crusts. This dough can also be used to make calzones or can be frozen for later use."
Original recipe yield: 3 pizza crusts
PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 30 Min
READY IN 2 Hrs
SERVINGS 16
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
5 1/2 cups bread flour
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let sit until creamy; about 10 minutes.
2. Stir the olive oil, whole wheat flour, salt and 4 cups of the bread flour into the yeast mixture. Mix in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume; about 1 hour.
3. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds and let them rest for about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
4. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into the desired shape, cover it with your favorite toppings and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for about 20 minutes or until the crust and cheese are golden brown.
2. Stir the olive oil, whole wheat flour, salt and 4 cups of the bread flour into the yeast mixture. Mix in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume; about 1 hour.
3. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds and let them rest for about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
4. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into the desired shape, cover it with your favorite toppings and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for about 20 minutes or until the crust and cheese are golden brown.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 202
Total Fat: 2.6g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 438mg
Total Carbs: 37.8g
Dietary Fiber: 1.7g
Protein: 6.3g
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 202
Total Fat: 2.6g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 438mg
Total Carbs: 37.8g
Dietary Fiber: 1.7g
Protein: 6.3g
JOE : Recipes
Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip II
SUBMITTED BY: Tiffany
SUBMITTED BY: Tiffany
PHOTO BY: Sean Lemecha
Original recipe yield:12 servings
PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 25 Min
READY IN 40 Min
"This dip is amazing -- so cheesy and fragrant. If you don't like artichokes, don't worry -- you'll never know they're in there! My only question is: Is it okay to just eat it with a spoon right out of the dish? "
INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 143
Total Fat: 11.8g
Cholesterol: 29mg
Sodium: 402mg
Total Carbs: 4.7g
Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
Protein: 5.1g
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 143
Total Fat: 11.8g
Cholesterol: 29mg
Sodium: 402mg
Total Carbs: 4.7g
Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
Protein: 5.1g
JOE : Recipes
Seven Layer Taco DipSUBMITTED BY: Sue Case
PHOTO BY: WANDA
"I am continuously asked to bring this dip for parties and family get-togethers. People gather around the platter until it's gone. Five layers of Mexican-inspired delights are topped by a layer of vegetables, then smothered in cheese and garnished with black olives. The vegetables may be varied according to taste."
Original recipe yield:
1 dip
PREP TIME 30 Min
READY IN 30 Min
INGREDIENTS
1/4 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1/4 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1/4 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1/4 (16 ounce) jar salsa
1/4 large tomato, chopped
1/4 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 bunch chopped green onions
1/4 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1/4 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
2. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
3. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 66
Total Fat: 4.9g
Cholesterol: 13mg
Sodium: 164mg
Total Carbs: 3.5g
Dietary Fiber: 0.9g
Protein: 2.3g
JOE: SPORTS : MARCH MADNESS
PARTY - NCAA TOURNAMENT - CAPTURE THE MADNESS
By JAN LANDON
Special to JOE Magazine
The key to hosting a successful March Madness party is to keep it casual. Basketball-watching parties can be held during the first round (March 15-18), when there are lots of games, or during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight (March 22-25), when the tension is high, notes http://www.ehow.com/. The Final Four games will be March 31 and April 2.
Encourage guests to wear jerseys or hats from their alma mater or from the team for which they are cheering. The host can wear a referee shirt. Invite guests early enough that they have time to get settled before tipoff. Provide plenty of seats, each with a good view of the game.
Set up at least two televisions, says Kevin King, general manager of Tanner’s Bar and Grill in Waldo (Kansas City), who has lots of experience meeting the needs of sports-crazy customers. If you want to go all out, buy a satellite package for one of the TVs so guests can watch games from across the country on it while the other TV is devoted to the regional games, he says. If the weather allows, put a television on the deck or patio and light the fire pit.
Make sure a small television or radio also is playing in the bathroom so guests don’t miss a moment, ehow.com suggests. Print out the basketball brackets and post them on the wall across from the toilet.
If some guests have no interest in basketball, give them something else to do. Set up a game of bunko or a conversation area in another room. For children, play movies in a bedroom. For food, set out dips and chips, bowls of popcorn and peanuts and a hearty meat tray. “This isn’t the time for a steak dinner,” King says. “The key is being able to watch the games. People aren’t into having plates of food because they are up jumping around.”
If you can’t stifle the urge to serve more substantial food, ladle up bowls of chili or grill hamburgers or hot dogs. Dessert can be easy-to-eat choices such as basketball-shaped cookies or brownies.
Although beer goes well with basketball, King emphasized that it shouldn’t be the emphasis of the party. Bottles of water or soda also should be available, and one or two designated drivers should be on hand.
BETWEEN GAMES …
•Give a prize to any guest who can sing his entire college fight song.
•Go outside and shoot baskets in the driveway.
•Pop EA’s NCAA March Madness in the Play Station or Xbox.
•Play a basketball movie like “Coach Carter,” “Hoosiers,” “Hoop Dreams” or “White Men Can’t Jump.”
March Madness Party:
Celebrate college basketball’s annual spectacle at your home.
By JAN LANDON
Special to JOE Magazine
March comes in like a lion, usually bringing along a Blue Devil, a Gator, a Jayhawk, a Buckeye and a few other friends. It’s the perfect time to sit back and watch, stand up and cheer, bump chests, high-five and relish the excitement of college basketball.
The key to hosting a successful March Madness party is to keep it casual. Basketball-watching parties can be held during the first round (March 15-18), when there are lots of games, or during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight (March 22-25), when the tension is high, notes http://www.ehow.com/. The Final Four games will be March 31 and April 2.
If ever there were a time for e-mail invitations, this would be it. Phone calls also work, but guests appreciate e-mail reminders, and they can easily forward e-mailed invitations to a spouse or date.
Encourage guests to wear jerseys or hats from their alma mater or from the team for which they are cheering. The host can wear a referee shirt. Invite guests early enough that they have time to get settled before tipoff. Provide plenty of seats, each with a good view of the game.
Set up at least two televisions, says Kevin King, general manager of Tanner’s Bar and Grill in Waldo (Kansas City), who has lots of experience meeting the needs of sports-crazy customers. If you want to go all out, buy a satellite package for one of the TVs so guests can watch games from across the country on it while the other TV is devoted to the regional games, he says. If the weather allows, put a television on the deck or patio and light the fire pit.
Make sure a small television or radio also is playing in the bathroom so guests don’t miss a moment, ehow.com suggests. Print out the basketball brackets and post them on the wall across from the toilet.
Decorate with school banners and posters, but don’t hang anything that obscures the view of the TV screen. Place small basketball hoops throughout the house and provide guests with Nerf basketballs. Let guests guess the winning teams — either of individual games or the entire NCAA bracket — and provide a special prize to the winner.
If some guests have no interest in basketball, give them something else to do. Set up a game of bunko or a conversation area in another room. For children, play movies in a bedroom. For food, set out dips and chips, bowls of popcorn and peanuts and a hearty meat tray. “This isn’t the time for a steak dinner,” King says. “The key is being able to watch the games. People aren’t into having plates of food because they are up jumping around.”
If you can’t stifle the urge to serve more substantial food, ladle up bowls of chili or grill hamburgers or hot dogs. Dessert can be easy-to-eat choices such as basketball-shaped cookies or brownies.
Although beer goes well with basketball, King emphasized that it shouldn’t be the emphasis of the party. Bottles of water or soda also should be available, and one or two designated drivers should be on hand.
BETWEEN GAMES …
•Give a prize to any guest who can sing his entire college fight song.
•Go outside and shoot baskets in the driveway.
•Pop EA’s NCAA March Madness in the Play Station or Xbox.
•Play a basketball movie like “Coach Carter,” “Hoosiers,” “Hoop Dreams” or “White Men Can’t Jump.”
Jan Landon is a freelance writer in Overland Park.
JOE : Sports
READY TO RUMBLE
Major-conference tournaments have stories to watch
Major-conference tournaments have stories to watch
By Andy Glockner
There will also be a lot nail-biting as Missouri State waits until March 11.
Five days till Selection Sunday, when you can print brackets and revel in Madness. But there's a lot going on between now and then.
After a couple of relatively quiet days in Bracketville, things will start to get a lot busier Wednesday when the Big East opens the big-boy portion of Championship Week.
Although the large-arena venues and the possibility of multiple at-large berths mean major-conference tournaments often lack the same intensity seen in smaller gyms around the land, it doesn't mean these games are unimportant -- for the participants or for mid-major teams such as Missouri State, Old Dominion and Drexel that are trying to hang on to positions right on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament.
As such, here are a number of story lines to watch as you take in the five days leading up to Selection Sunday:
The race for No. 1 seeds
Being a No. 1 seed may simply sound prestigious, but there are legitimate competitive advantages to being one, especially this season.
First, No. 1 seeds essentially get a bye into the second round, as no No. 16 seed has ever won a first-round game. Having to win, in essence, three competitive games instead of four makes a huge difference in a team's ability to progress.
Last year's lack of upsets in conference tournaments compacted the bracket at the bottom, pushing quality teams down into the 14- and 15-seed lines (and even the 16, with Oral Roberts). That led to three of the 2-vs.-15 games being extremely close and to No. 3 seed Iowa falling to No. 14 seed Northwestern State. We're seeing the same thing this season; the first 10 auto bids from smaller conferences went to either the top seed or second seed in those tournaments, so beware.
Also, there looks to be a significant drop-off after the No. 10 position or so in the S-Curve, meaning this season's 4-seeds will be (A) significantly weaker than the 3s, and (B) not significantly better than the 8-seeds. That means a 1-seed also will get an easier Sweet 16 game if seeds hold than a 2- or 3-seed that will be playing a comparable opponent in that round.
UCLA looks locked in to be the No. 1 seed out West, but the other three No. 1s still look up for grabs. If the Big Ten tournament champion is either Ohio State or Wisconsin, that team should nail down another No. 1. That leaves two for some combination of Kansas, North Carolina, Florida, the loser of the Big Ten final, and possibly Texas A&M.
Teams that might only need one win to dance
There are a number of teams that appear to be a win away from solidifying their spots in the NCAAs, just needing to avoid a first-round or quarterfinal loss to be sure.
That list includes Syracuse (faces UConn in the Big East's opening round), Kansas State (gets a bye into the Big 12 quarters), Texas Tech (which coincidentally will be playing Kansas State in that quarterfinal if it can handle Colorado), Michigan State (vs. Northwestern in the Big Ten's opening round), Georgia Tech (vs. Wake Forest in the ACC's first round), Stanford (vs. USC in the Pac-10 quarters) and Air Force (vs. Wyoming in the MWC quarters).
If you are a fan of a team truly on the bubble, you are rooting hard for as many of those teams as possible to crash out in their tournament openers.
Teams that could find some trouble with an opening-game loss
There is a handful of teams that have looked good for a while but have slid recently to the point that you have to at least take a second look at their profiles should they lose their tournament opener.
That list obviously includes the teams listed above, but it also includes Boston College (would finish 19-11, would be only 7-8 without Sean Williams, with two of those wins being over New Hampshire and Hartford, and would have closed with five losses in six games) and USC (RPI would be close to 60; went 0-4 against the two best teams in the Pac-10; and nonconference schedule, albeit without Gabe Pruitt, is fairly barren). Indiana (5-7 vs. RPI Top 50, but no losses outside Top 100) also could be worth a second look if it loses to Illinois in the Big Ten quarters. (As an aside, the win over Southern Illinois is the gift that keeps giving for the Hoosiers -- evidence that high-majors can benefit from playing elite mids.)
I find it hard to believe at this point that there will be enough teams with profiles that could pass teams like that, but it's not 100 percent unthinkable.
Teams that can win multiple games and/or steal an auto bid
This is the nightmare group for those teams already on the bubble. You have to sit and watch as someone gets hot and gets the wins needed to pass you. Or you could have a team like Syracuse move from likely out of the bracket to an auto bid in four days. Also, remember that South Carolina came within a whisker last season of running through the SEC tournament, so it's not as rare as you think.
This season's list of potential megaspoilers includes Washington (even if the Huskies can't seem to do anything away from home), Providence (which has the talent to go deep in the Big East if it can get past a desperate-but-not-good-on-the-road West Virginia team in the opening round) and DePaul (similar situation to Providence, but might not need to win the final to be considered).
Then there's the group of teams that could win more than one game and find themselves back in the at-large mix. That would include Clemson (opens against Florida State, then would get North Carolina), Michigan (opens with Minnesota, then would get Ohio State), and maybe even a team like Arkansas (which has some decent nonconference wins).
Andy Glockner is the men's college basketball editor at ESPN.com and the host of ESPNU College Basketball Insider.
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