WEEKEND HAPZ: Parties and Hardbodies!

It seems like we just took a break from the work-week for Weekend Hapz but it's that time again!!!!


BUT, Before we got to the nightlife for the Grown, Sexy and Playful ...

Let me remind you about the BLACK AND WHITE BASH at the Robinson Film Center on Friday night ... this is a one-of-a-kind mixer for Christian Young Adults (and all-around good people). There will be FOOD and Live entertainment. Admission is $15 (you CAN pay the door). The event beings at 7 pm!!!

Now, for the PARTY PEOPLE -- Here's a look at what's going down this weekend in the SBC:

ON FRIDAY:

Diamond Jacks Casino in Bossier City is hosting their "Wet! The Pool Party!" The event kicks off at 8 pm and lasts until 11pm (ladies drink FREE 8-9pm). The party will be held poolside and will feature music, DJ, dancing, drinks and more! Admission is $5-$10.

ACROSS THE RIVER ... The TAU BETA Alphas will be welcoming their new brothers under the Texas Street Bridge with a SPRING PROBATE in the Red River District ... the show begins at 7:06 pm ...

AFTERWARD ... The Alphas ... along with The (Xi Alpha) Kappas and CrowdPleaser Entertainment, will host a collective event at Riverview Hall called PHROZEN KONTROVERSY.

Come with the brothers of both frats ... and the collegiates of the area!!! DJ Marle-Mar will be on the 1s and 2s. Doors open at 10 pm ... Discount with college ID until 10:30; Greek discount all night (with paraphernalia).

ON SATURDAY:

The World-Famous BLACK CHIPPENDALES will take over GiGi's CLUB NEW YORK as they make a stop in the SBC on their "Whip Cream Tour".

Ladies come out and see the hardbodied brothas of the Black Chippendales put on a show!

Tickets are $20/ VIP is $30. Tickets are available at Dollar Mania, JJs Superstore, and Lakeshore All Around Sounds. Call (318) 208-2400 for more information.

LATER ON THAT NIGHT ... DOWN THE STREET ... CrowdPleaser Ent. will be inside Riverview Hall for another night of partying ... as they host SWAG SURFIN' SATURDAY with HowURidin’ Magazine. DJ Marle-Mar and Marcus Jones will serve as hosts. And your swag could win you cash money!!!!

Get your hands on a flyer (like the one above) and get discounted admission (until 11 pm). For more information call (318) 208-3257 or 422-5322.

And ON SUNDAY ...

BOOMTOWN CASINO hosts it's monthly LATIN NIGHT. Come and enjoy the great atmosphere, awesome drinks and dance the night away with DJ Pablo playing all your favorite Merengue, Salsa, Reggeaton and more! FREE Salsa lessons & FREE admission for all 21 and over. The party begins at 7 pm and last until midnight!!!

(To find out about COMMUNITY events going on this weekend, check out our sister site, the SBC WEEKLY EVENTS PAGE!!!)

EVENT ALERTS: Farmer's Market & Community Gardens Invite You To Stop By!

If you're anything like the women in my family, spring and summer means getting out in the garden and planting (or harvesting) ... So I thought I'd fill you in some places you can enjoy blossoming gardens (and the fruits of their labor lol):

Starting Saturday at 8 am, the Greenwood Farmers Market will open to the public.

Vendors will have available for sale: fresh produce, eggs, honey, meat pies, tamales, jams and jellies, natual granola, bird houses, fresh plants, dog and cat treats, pickled vegetables, natural skin careproducts, monogrammed baby clothes, grass fed beed, cookies, breads, brownies, wood items and more. Call (318) 938-7261 for more info.

At 9 am (Also on Saturday) The Community Garden Open House will take place at gardens all over the SBC.


Gardens on the tour are:

• Allendale Garden of Hope and Love, corner of North Allen and Buena Vista;
  
• Cedar Grove Garden of Love, corner of Line Avenue and 73rd Street;
  
• Highland Communioty Faith Garden, 3811 Crosby Street;
  
• Sankofa Garden, 1651 Tulane; and
  
• St. Catherine's Cedar Grove Community Garden, corner of 71st Street and Henderson.
  

Community gardeners will be available to give information about their gardens and answer questions. This event is presented by the Red River Community Garden Coalition.




AND ... at 2 pm (yes, also on Saturday lol) The Shreveport Rose Society will host a meeting at the Gardens of the American Rose Center. There will be a Garden tour, led by Ray McKibbon, Rose Center Horticulturist, who will answer your rose gardening questions; and light refreshments will be served. This event is free!





Oh ... and SPEAKING OF GARDENS and SANKOFA ...

Registration is underway for the Sankofa Saturday School, which will taken place June 6th through 27th.

The school is a program for children that incorporates gardening with arts, academics and African-American heritage.

The program is open to boys and girls ages 6 and up. Cost is $75 per child (which includes lunch). Scholarships and family discounts are available!

Call (318) 230-2892 for more information.

EVENT ALERTS: Benefit Banquet & Flapjack Fundraiser

You know I always let you in on what's happening this week as far as nightlife and entertainment ... but some events are for good causes and should also be publicized ... here are a couple that fall into that category:

On Friay night, a Benefit banquet will help raise funds for non-profit youth programs. The Right Way Foundation is hosting the event at the Municipal Auditorium. It begins at 6:20 pm.

Guest speakers will be NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown and City Judge Pam Lattier. Tickets for the banquet are $25 per person or $150 per table of 8. For more information or to get tickets, call(318)771-2555.

AND ON SATURDAY ... Sacred Heart Catholic Church will hold a Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast at Applebee’s on Mansfield Rd. The breakfast starts at 8 am and it costs $5.

EVENT ALERT: Black & White Party @ RFC

"It's a Christian Thing" ... that's the motto for a group hosting a unique social event this Friday night at the Robinson Film Center.


Event organizers say this night is for those who love Christ, and will feature great food and live entertainment from "Intiution". Everyone is encouraged to get their ticket and come mix and mingle with Young Adults from different churches in the Shreveport/Bossier area.


Attire is Casual Dressy (non-formal) Black, White or a combo of both ... Tickets are $15 ...


BUT -- Wednesday is the last day to purchase tickets!!!! So call Anthony at (318) 572-3739 or e-mail him at ak2preach@bellsouth.net to get your tickets!


The Robinson Film Center is located at 617 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport. This event begins at 7 pm. Come out and enjoy!!!



***

ATSBC ALERT: Subjects Wanted For June Spotlights

AROUND THE SBC is getting ready for Black Music Month (June) ... and has some big things planned ... including giveaways and the return of our SPOTLIGHTs!

Sooooo we're looking for local people who are making moves in the music/entertainment industry ... locally or nationally ...

Whether you're a musician, singer/rapper, DJ (on air or in the club), music executive, producer/composer, songwriter .. WHATEVER ... if you're involved in the business of urban music, we want to hear from you!!!

Just e-mail us at mahoganimedia@gmail.com and tell us what you're doing in the industry (include links to any of your sites/work) ... and you may be featured next month right here on AROUND THE SBC!!!

EVENT PICS: CrowdPleaser's All-White Extravaganza

CrowdPleaser Entertainment brought in the holiday weekend with an All-White Extravaganza at Adam's Lounge Saturday night ...

Also in the house were May babies celebrating their birthdays ... some dressed in all-white and some not ... lol

The ladies controlled the dance floor (and the club) for most of the night ....

But DJ MARLE-MAR (a May baby himself) stepped down from the booth and got out on the floor a time or two as well ...

There was a lot of mingling going on ... (above) and a lot of chillin' as well (below ... I see you JB! lol) ...

(Um ... next picture ... lol)

But the best part (as with all CrowdPleaser Events) was the dancing ... The ladies (and a few gents) got out and showed off their outfits, shoes and their struttin' skills :)

Go head boy!!! (he was doing the Stanky Legg) LMAO!!! I left the event early but it was fun while it lasted ... and the fun is not over!!! ....

CROWDPLEASER ENT. has an even busier weekend coming up ... They're hosting The PHROZEN KONTROVERSY with the Alphas and Kappas of the SBC on Friday night ... and then The SWAG SURFIN Party with HowURidin' Magazine on Saturday night ... both events are at Riverview Hall ...

Stay linked for more information on both events .... and to see ALL the pics from the All-White Extravaganza ... go HERE.

*** All photos taken by mahogani media

WEEKEND WRAP: Mudbugs, Motha Nature and Clubbin' on Both Sides of the Red!

There was a lot going on this pre-holiday weekend (being that actual observance is Monday) ...

SBC'ers were out Mudbuggin' in Festival Plaza (when the rain would allow) ... The festival wrapped up Sunday ....

See all the photos from the 4-day festival HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. (Photos above, by Doug Collier/The Times).




And speaking of rain ... this was the sight in South Shreveport (my side of town) Saturday afternoon ...

But by Saturday night I was able to get all gussied up (yeah I said it lol) and head out to the All-White Extravaganza ... (I'm not pictured but we all had fun :) .... MORE PICS COMING SOON!

After leaving Adam's I made it over the river to GiGi's in Downtown Shreveport. There was another White Party at KoKo's apparently ... but it seemed everyone in the SBC arrived to join the GiGi's crowd at the EXACT SAME TIME ...








Yeah ... the line was HELLA Long ... We waited about an hour but my friends and I entertained ourselves with all the fashion no-nos walking up and down Commerce Street (I swear I"m gonna start doing a weekly blog on that ish) ...

When we finally got inside of GiGi's (via a $15 cover charge) the inside was just as packed. DJ SLIM kept it hype (and extra loud) until the lights came on ... and I saw some familiar faces ....

So all-in-all it was a good weekend and I'm taking the day off!!! :) I'll be back tomorrow with event updates, alerts and links to all the graduations that have happened so far in the SBC ...




So STAY LINKED!!! Be Safe and Say A Prayer for the Armed Forces ...

*** all photos taken by mahogani media unless otherwise stated

WEEKEND HAPZ: Memorial Day Wknd = Plenty of Events!

Ahhh, it's the weekend again. And not just any weekend but a holiday weekend! Which means MOST people have Monday to relax as well. While you're enjoying the weekend, don't forget to send a prayer and thank you to all those who gave their lives for our freedom ... after all, that is what Memorial Day is all about :)

But of course SBC'ers will be splashing around at newly opened public pools, enjoying a barbeque in the backyard or at the park ... visiting family and friends or maybe just hanging around town ....

If you're doing the latter, there's lots to do this weekend:

• Mudbug Madness is in town through Sunday ... so go enjoy some good music, food and of course crawfish! ...
  
  
• The Bossier State Fair (set up at Harrah's Louisiana Downs) is wrapping up ... so you can take the family there as well!
  
  
• There's Baseball and Football to enjoy ... The Battlewings and the Captains both have games on Saturday ....
  
  
• If you want to catch a movie, The Last Lullaby is playing at the Robinson Film Center this weekend. The film was not only Made In The SBC, it was directed by Shreveport native, Jeff Goodman and spent two weeks doing an outstanding run at the Regal Cinema-Louisiana Boardwalk.

And there are lots more community/family events to enjoy this holiday weekend ... go HERE to see more!

FOR THE PARTY PEOPLE:

CrowdPleaser Entertainment is hosting the first All-White Extravaganza for young professionals. The event takes place Saturday (5.23) at Adam's Lounge. All-White attire is encouraged but not mandatory.

Along with the special event, CPE will we welcoming lots of MAY Babies who will be celebrating their birthday that night (including DJ Marle-Mar himself). Doors open at 9 pm.

( *** And don't forget to check back here on Monday to see the Party Pics!!! *** )

For the recent grads and undergrads, this Saturday night is all about SWAG. DJ Spoonie is hosting a SWAG PARTY to celebrate recent (and future) grads of '09. The event is being held at the Municipal Auditorium. Doors open at 9:30 ... Admission is just $10 for Early Birds. Come swagged out and ready to party!!! Early arrival is suggested!

ALSO ...

If you checked out my blog on Bijou's Wine Tasting last weekend, they're doing it another happy hour again this weekend ... on Saturday to be exact ...

Same time, same place ... it's not exactly a "tasting" but you will be able to purchase some of the best wines available at the Ultra Wine Bar .... Happy Hour begins at 7 pm!

PARTY HARD BUT PARTY SAFE PEOPLE ... AND HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!

ITEM: VIP Returns to SBC Nightlife

A lot of people (including me) have been asking where the boys of VIP ENTERTAINMENT have gone. Once a vital member of the events/promotions community in the SBC, they kinda faded into the background as the new year rolled in ...

Well VIP is returning to the scene in a MAJOR way next month ...

On JUNE 26th, VIP (now VIP ENTERPRISES) will be hosting an event at GIGI's. Total Choice will be perfoming Live, you'll get the first taste of their specialty drink called EXCLUSIVE ... AND you'll get a chance to win TWO tickets to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans (July 3-5).

I mean damn --- that's serious .... Live Music, Drink Specials and a chance to win Essence Tickets!!! Not to mention you could win VIP Status at their next EXCLUSIVE event (which includes a limo ride!!) ... Oh! and the LADIES of VIP will be in the building too!

So mark your calendars ... Friday, June 26th ... GiGi's ... VIP returns ... Great Giveaways ... Live Music ... Beautiful Ladies ... Cool Drinks ... Another Classy Event. BE THERE!!!!

More details to come!!

P.S. -- VIP is looking for young, professional movers and shakers to join their EXCLUSIVE social group called the V-LIST. Members will get the chance to go on a FREE cruise to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands later this year!!! Call (210) 323-7974 or e-mail VIP at vipgb_2006@yahoo.com for more info!

BIZ BUZZ: Longhorn Steakhouse

Ok, so I know LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE has been here for a minute ... but I'm JUST NOW realizing how awesome this place is after a recent visit.

Located next to one of my favorite restaurants (Raising Cane's), this place has always been a mystery ... because it had just as many cars filling its parking lot as Cane's did on any given day. And now I know why!!!

The decor is not really my style. I'm not into western art or cowboy couture, but I wasn't hear to critique the setting ... even with a casual atmosphere, enough TV's to consider it a "sports bar" and that awful cowboy statue staring me in the face every time I looked up, it's still a quaint little place for a family outing or a casual dinner date (I was on the latter).

The bread is good (not as good as Texas Roadhouse, Ryan's or even Olive Garden, but satisfactory) and the food was AWESOME (I had the Grilled Chicken covered in Parmesan -- and I do mean COVERED ... so consider asking for LIGHT cheese lol) ... with a baked sweet potato (which was DEEEELISH) accented with butter and brown sugar ... and steamed asparagus -- to get in my veggies :) (scrumptious!!!) ...

BUT ...

What I'd definitely go back for, even if I didn't eat anything on a return visit ... was the Strawberry/Raspberry Lemonade.

If you know about the addictive lemonade that Chick-Fil-A serves (or that at Cane's) you know what I'm talking about. The kind of beverage that you drink so fast, you're sad to see it go ... and will gladly pay for a refill or two!! It was JUST THAT GOOD!!!

So if you have a little extra time (and money) and want to check out a place where you can enjoy good food and drink (and catch the NBA Finals on the big screens) ... mosey on over to LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE on Youree Drive ....

It's GOOD STUFF! :)

EVENT PICS: Wine Tasting @ Bijou Ultra Wine Bar

It was quite a classy affair in the Red River District Saturday night. Groups, Singles and Couples filled the new BIJOU ULTRA WINE BAR to get a taste of some great wines, listen to some great music and mingle with some great people. Check it out:

(Event Hostesses Tasha and Rasheeda)

The crowd that showed up to taste, sip and drink even went home with some of their favorite wines. The club owner says he may make this a monthly event, so be on the lookout for future alerts RIGHT HERE!

• To see ALL the pics from the event, go HERE (photos by mahogani media)
  
  
  
• To see more of the inside of the BIJOU Ultra Wine Bar, go HERE.
  

** WANT US TO COME TAKE PICS AT YOUR EVENT AND FEATURE IT ON AROUND THE SBC? E-MAIL US! -- mahoganimedia@gmail.com ***