getting out and taking a chance...

last night, the air was thick and heavy with possibilities. it felt like anything could happen and i wanted to be off my block when it did. it started with a trip to barnes & nobles and then a stroll across atlantic ave. on court street. i had never been on court st. on that side of the avenue, over there by trader joe's. before that trader joe's opened, it always seemed like there was an invisible wall or some kind of spell that made you not even interested enough to look down that way. i don't know what made us look over there last night but we did. maybe it was how the lights were twinkling. i do recall how movie set clean the block looked. anyway, it took forever to cross atlantic but when we did, it was if the veil had been lifted. there was a steady flow of traffic in and out of trader joe's but it thinned out as we went down the block. after wading through all of the hemp totebags and scooters, we encountered the standard fare - trendy boutiques and restaurants, world of bennetton crews, baby strollers and hyperactive mini dogs. ahh, park slope. nothing new but it was a welcomed break from our block. weeksville, that historical slice of brooklyn on the border of bed-stuy and crown heights that no-one seems to know or remember anymore, is rough. in fact, we walked by 2 curb barbecues, the beginnings of a drunken serenade, and two soused old men scheming on how they were gonna get their next king cobra (that's malt liquor, y'all) on our way to the train station. anyway, we just missed a wine tasting at the brooklyn wine exchange but we picked up a garnacha bielsa (red for him) and a quattro mani toh-kai (white for me). how bourgie of us, lol.

court street was nice but we turned down bergen to get to smith street. after walking down several blocks and checking out several menus, we decided on this cute asian restaurant on the corner with outdoor seating. chance asian bistro on smith and butler is now officially my new favorite restaurant. my boyfriend buddha had a prix fixe dinner with wasabi lobster tempura as an appetizer, filet mignon for the entree and coconut mille crepes for dessert with a sangria. i also had a prix fixe dinner but i had the jalapeno calamari, crispy tropical chicken in a warm pickled ginger sauce and the yamamomo (japanese plum) creme brulee with a nigori sake berry martini. we also each had an extra appetizer. i had the spicy thai mussels and he had the steamed chicken shu mai dim sum and the deep-fried shrimp wontons. sounds like a lot of food, right? it wasn't. the portions were just right. the food was well-seasoned. the flavors were distinct and not muddled. i could identify the ginger, scallions, coconut milk and the red curry paste in the broth for my mussels. that broth was so good that we both spooned some over our jasmine rice. everything was delicious. everything! i had no complaints. at. all. the food was orgasmic and the restaurant itself was modern and sexy. we had already started planning our next visit before we had even finished our appetizers. sigh.

the night continued with us watching our DVRd sunday line-up. FOX aired one of the most uncomfortable hour long family guy specials ever. i still love them but last night's episode was just crazily inappropriate. talk about pregnant pauses and awkward laughs. i guess it prepared us for the season premiere of the boondocks. that shit right there...man, listen. i'll have to dedicate a separate post for that later. i'm still processing everything i saw and heard. i will say, like i said on twitter (follow me @ashaknows), that someone needs to write their thesis on uncle ruckus in "post-racial" america and entitle it "a splish-splash of irish". ha! anyway, the night ended with a lightening show and a relatively quick steady rain. i thought the rain would break the humidity but the air was just as charged when i woke up this morning. hmmm, i wonder what else this week will bring. i don't know but i'm willing to take a chance and find out.

moving weight to pushing paper...

ok fam, "stringer bell" has a legitimate 9 to 5 now. my favorite brit, idris elba, has now joined the cast of the office. if you're not already watching this show, add it to your dvr list. it's so f'in funny without any of that corny-ass laugh track. check it out if for no other reason than to see idris clean shaven in a suit...and off the block.

thanks: nbc, wireimage

it's that nu-nu (but sounds old) ish...

it's getting cold outside and what better way to warm up than laying up with that special someone and listening to some smoky soul music. check out the revelations ft. tre williams.




the revelations ft. tre williams will be at bushbaby out in brooklyn tomorrow night at 8pm. and the show is FREE! will i see you there?

thank you: myspace, soul bounce

and yes, i know. he sounds like anthony hamilton. but that's all soul, not memorex.

stop it. you're making me blush.

Fashionistas, Divas, Divos, Fellas with swagger, and Chicas with bad-ass shoes...
join Girlfriends Get-Together in celebrating the premiere of

featuring make-up artist extraordinaire Rainell Chivonne

This is an after-work, networking affair and together we'll watch the debut of "Blush" as it airs on Lifetime Television at 10:00PM.

EVENT DETAILS
When: Tuesday, November 11


Time: 7:00PM

Location: The Hill, 416 3rd Ave. (Bet. 29th & 30th st.)


RSVP: RSVP@tinaleemedia.com

check rainell out on her myspace page. yet another fly and fabulous brooklyn chick! come to the launch party, watch the show and show some bk love.

if you're an anglophile, you will love the upcoming target first saturday at the brooklyn museum. london calling will bring a documentary about election day, a film about an interracial, same-sex couple's struggle for love and success in england, as well as, singing sculptures and electronica pop performances by british artists, and the famous dance party to Brit pop, northern soul, new wave, beat, and British indie music. sounds like fun. you can really get into the spirit of things if you show up in an a-line mini-dress, colorful tights, cute flats or platforms and a fabulous modern bob. how mod! since this will be on nov. 1st. and halloween will be over, i don't wanna see any amy winehouse costumes. please, please leave the beehives & crackpipes at home, lol.

and after, if you're still jonesin' for something brit, hit the theater to see rockNrolla (although the reviews haven't been that great, my movie crush idris elba is in it!) or go home to enjoy snatch or lock, stock and two smoking barrels (i LUV these movies!)

eating out...

"I know you love me like cooked food"
- Jay-Z - Song Cry

"Made me some breakfast, toast, two scrambled eggs, grits..."
- Jill Scott - The Way



if you like to grub and lounge with the fabulous brooklyn crowd, make sure you RSVP for brunch at harriet's.





thanks to: clutch magazine, harriet's alter ego and the minority report.