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Indie Label Signs Hip-Hop Wunderkind Abie Flinstone

NewsUSA — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – Big Jake Music believes it has seen the future of the industry, and it comes in a unique package named Abie Flinstone — a 19-year-old wunderkind from Europe who is currently making headlines with her distinct sound.
The New York-based indie music label recently signed Flinstone and has high hopes for the rising hip-hop and R&B star.
“Right now is the most exciting time ever for new labels and new artists,” said Jake Shapiro, founder of Big Jake Music. “We have every confidence that Abie has the ability and makings to be a musical force to be reckoned with,” he added.
Flinstone, who originally hails from Southern Davao in the Philippines — she gives a shout-out to her country in a song titled “Love You Like Davao” — now calls Lommel, Belgium, home. It’s there that she writes and records songs such as “Have Dat” and “Aye.”
After sending a demo to Absolute P Entertainment (Mostiko Records) late last year, Flinstone took the underground and club scene by storm with “Get Outta My Way,” a single featuring Kaliq Scott.
With a 90s feel to her lyrics, but with a millenium twist, Big Jake Music thinks their new hip-hop artist is in a category all her own.
“In an industry that can make or break you,” Shapiro said, “Abie has the potential and credentials to go far.”
Even as the music industry grapples with less-than-stellar CD sales, indie labels are finding success by being choosier about whom they sign and more cost-conscious in their marketing and promoting strategies.
By controlling costs and targeting marketing, indie labels are able to give their artists the attention that larger labels cannot provide — a creative, nurturing environment and the opportunity to be a very big fish in a much smaller pond.
Having recently been acquired by Seven Arts Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: SAPX), the indie music label now believes it has the backing and the ability to focus on up-and-coming artists like Flinstone.
For more info on Flinstone or Big Jake Music, visit www.bigjakemusic.com or www.7artspictures.com.

Indie Label Signs Hip-Hop Wunderkind Abie Flinstone was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Tips to Entertain at Home the Kardashian Way

ChadJohnson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:28:07 +0000

So, you say you want to learn to throw a party worthy of the Kardashians? Well, admittedly, that’s asking a lot. After all, one of their more recent bashes featured synchronized swimmers – it was a poolside event – surprising guests with a routine straight out of a 1950s Esther Williams movie.

But take heart.

The Kardashian sisters – who seemingly never run out of mind-blowing ideas – didn’t think that party highlight up themselves. Linnea Johansson, author of “Perfect Parties: Tips and Advice from a New York Planner,” did. And even if you don’t have money to throw around, she says to apply the “same principle” of doing “something unexpected” at your event.

For more on how that translates into actionable advice, read on.

• Fun in finger foods. Out: sit-down dinners. In: small plates and finger foods like the very trendy Russian-style tapas called zakuski. As far back as Tolstoy’s 19th century, the custom was to individually plate an array of what literally translates into “small bites” and eat them in a set order.

The key to really pulling it off, though, says Johansson, a noted chef herself, is to pair the zakuski with an authentic premium Russian vodka, which to her means Russian Standard Vodka. “It’s the number-one premium vodka in Russia, and it’s perfect for drinking neat or in cocktails, and excellent paired with food.”

• Creativity shines in centerpieces. Why spend a fortune on store-bought white roses for your dinner table? Pick some pine cones and holly leaves while out strolling, say, throw in a few cinnamon sticks and clove-laden oranges, and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece so delicious-smelling that it doubles as an air freshener.

• Toast to great times. Russians certainly know how to drink vodka, and toasting is the perfect invitation to celebrate and party. The traditional way of toasting in Russia is continuous and lasts throughout the night, which can only lead to a great time!

• House cocktail to invite tastebuds. Even if your guests’ tastes lean more toward chips-and-dip than zakuski, Johansson says that vodka – used as the base for a custom cocktail like the one below – is “a definite crowd pleaser.”

MAPLE & FIG COCKTAIL

2 ounces Russian Standard Vodka
1/2 ounce maple syrup
2 ounces lemon juice
1 ounce ginger beer
1 fresh fig

Muddle the fruit and syrup in a shaker, add the lemon juice and Russian Standard Vodka. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a slice of fig.

For more information, visit facebook.com/RussianStandardVodkaUSA.

Tips to Entertain at Home the Kardashian Way was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Score a Touchdown With Your Football Party

NewsUSA — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – Football season is here, and Sundays are full of game day cheers. Whether you are tailgating or hosting friends to watch the big game on your HD TV, savory snacks and drinks go hand in hand with the game day experience.For your next football party, impress friends and family with a simple, yet easy, addition to the usual six-packs, chips and dips on-hand, and spring for a refreshing, easy-to-make tequila cocktail to jumpstart the party’s energy.As official sponsors of four NFL teams, including the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, Familia Camarena Tequila is a natural tequila of choice for football parties and tailgates this season. Made from 100 percent agave, the core of any good tequila, Camarena Tequila’s smooth and soft agave flavor mixes great in a variety of cocktails.While Camarena Tequila is a growing staple in football stadiums across the country, it is also a widely available, affordable choice for entertaining at home. For the same price and same amount of servings as a case of beer, create your own stadium experience with the following recipe for a simple but delicious drink: CAMARENA PALOMA1 oz Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila2 oz grapefruit juiceSplash of club soda Serve tall, over ice, and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish the beverage with a lime wedge, and enjoy.Camarena Tequila has a 250-year legacy of crafting their tequila by hand. It uses painstakingly traditional methods from field to finish, which only adds to the smooth taste. For more tequila recipes, visit www.tequilacamarena.com.

Score a Touchdown With Your Football Party was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Sexy Women and Movies Make Profitable Combination

NewsUSA — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – It used to be a tongue-in-cheek dance of reading the innuendo between the lines, but now sex and movies are unabashedly holding hands and swinging arm-in-arm — or hand-in-wallet.
The marketing mantra “Sex sells” has become a promotional staple — it’s evident in most TV commercials and successful films. “Charlie’s Angels” and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” are two of many successful franchises founded on the power of sexy women kicking butt. The fact is, beautiful women snag the male viewer’s attention like a moth to a flame.
After all, half the allure of action-packed blockbusters like the James Bond movies, “Mission Impossible” and “Transformers” is waiting to see which sexy female co-star steals the scene.
“‘Sin City’ grossed almost $75 million in ticket sales; it didn’t hurt that the film featured a literal army of gorgeous prostitutes. Since the 1970s, sex in film has shifted from accepted to in-demand,” says Peter Hoffman, CEO of Seven Arts Pictures. “More recently, the demand for sex and sexy women is seen in college movies like ‘American Pie.’”
Seven Arts recently released its newest film, “The Pool Boys,” into the sex comedy ranks. The theme focuses on a Harvard student desperate to earn next year’s tuition, and he teams with a pool boy, a gardener and a smokin’ hot escort. The result: Hilarious, sexy debauchery and the party of a lifetime in a Beverly Hills mansion. “The Pool Boys” stars Matthew Lillard (“Scream,” “The Descendants”), Brett Davern (MTV’s “Awkward.”), Efren Ramirez (“Napoleon Dynamite,” “Eastbound & Down”), Rachel Lefevre (“Twilight, New Moon,” CBS’s “A Gifted Man”), and Hollywood’s favorite comedian, Tom Arnold.
“With these movies, consumers aren’t only buying the laughs, they’re buying the scantily clad women and busty cleavage,” says Hoffman.
Learn more about “The Pool Boys” movie and see the R-rated trailer at www.ThePoolBoysMovie.com, then see the movie today “On Demand” from your local cable provider — also premiering on computers, mobile phones, tablet computers and DVD.

Sexy Women and Movies Make Profitable Combination was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Top Theme Party Tips for 2012

NewsUSA — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – Let’s face it. Theme parties are a blast. They can turn any combination of coworkers, family and friends into an enthusiastic crowd admiring creative decorations and inventive outfits. The best part? Party themes can be as far-fetched, classy or outrageous as you like.
Event planning experts suggest going beyond holidays and committing to themes with some integrity. After all, these party themes must be worthy of belonging to the apocalyptic 2012.
All celebrations can gain an unforgettable flair or stylish elegance by adhering to a theme for key elements — specifically cocktails, music and decor. From birthday parties and anniversaries to baby showers and engagement parties, themes can be specific or broad, but they can also be pricey.
Since we don’t all have access to the deep pockets necessary to afford celebrity planners like Mindy Weiss or David Tutera, here are some creative tips to help select the ideal 2012 party theme.
* Go green. If your veins bleed green instead of red, plan an eco-friendly party. Decorate with luxuriant house plants and natural colors. Spend money on compostable paper materials, and save by making it a pot-luck event. Challenge your guests by urging them to only bring things they made themselves, whether it’s a dish, beverage or gift.
* Tap into doomsday fears. Optimize on the end-of-the-world hype and throw a wicked bash with a Goth theme. Keep an upbeat mood with punk rock favorites from the “Night of the Demons” soundtrack. The horror film from Seven Arts combined tunes from Zombie Girl and Creature Feature for a scarily popular soundtrack available for download on iTunes.
* Recreate your current TV obsession. If you’re gearing up for the season five premiere of “Mad Men,” turn your party into a sophisticated 1960s event complete with Old Fashions, Tom Collins and classic hits from artists like Ray Charles. Other shows like “Glee,” “Grimm” or “Dexter” would provide lots of entertaining costume ideas for guests.
* Commemorate a favorite decade. Whether it’s the 70s, 80s or 90s that has your friends reminiscing, combine all your beloved elements of the decade for a memorable celebration. From music to food to clothing, your party can mimic the times. For cheap decor, see what dusty gems are lying in your attic.

Top Theme Party Tips for 2012 was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Classic Favorite Enjoys Spirited Renaissance

NewsUSA — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – In a world of constant upheaval, cognac makers have always taken pride in how their centuries-old techniques never change. So it’s big news that these days the brandy — which originates in the Cognac region of France — is enjoying quite the renaissance among bar and restaurant patrons of all age groups, cultures and regions.
“Cognac is really gaining ground with the recent cocktail renaissance hitting bars across the country,” says Todd Appel, a master barman in Chicago, Ill. “It is such a timeless and elegant spirit
– not to mention, it appeals to such a wide range of tastes, such as bourbon and scotch drinkers, whether ordered neat, on the rocks or in cocktails — that bartenders are turning to it more and more often.”
Here are a few things to keep in mind when ordering cognac:
* There are three grades of cognac: Very Special (V.S.), which is aged two years; Very Superior Old Pale (V.S.O.P.), which is aged four years; and Extra Old (X.O.), which is aged six years.
* The younger varieties (V.S. & V.S.O.P.) work better in cocktails. Older, more mature cognacs are better consumed neat.
Why the resurgence in this beverage’s appeal? Well, according to spirit aficionados and experts, it’s in large part thanks to the emergence of new ranges of the amber liquid that defy the drink’s image as a spirit best enjoyed in the winter months. In fact, not only are two of the latest stand-outs — the aromatic CAMUS Elegance V.S. and V.S.O.P. — perfect year-round given their distinctive smoothness, aroma and overall elegance, but they’re ideal for making cocktails taste like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
If you’re really looking for a treat, try the CAMUS Pink Love cocktail below, which Appel says is perfect before, during or after dinner.

CAMUS Pink Love
1 ounce CAMUS V.S. Elegance
0.25 ounce Raspberry Liqueur
Champagne
Combine CAMUS and raspberry liqueur in a champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a raspberry.

For more information about the fifth-generation, family-owned CAMUS cognac brand, visit www.camus.fr.

Classic Favorite Enjoys Spirited Renaissance was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

How to Make Your Halloween Bash Wickedly Creative

ChadJohnson — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:02:39 +0000

Have you ever walked into a happening Halloween party bumping music like Kid Rock or Rebecca Black? Of course not. Party throwers, beware: the right spooky playlist can take a party from yawningly decent to over-the-top spectacular in moments.

But this isn’t just any party we’re talking about – this is Halloween, and your bash needs more than candy and crepe paper to be a hit. There’s a select number of Halloween party do’s and don’ts that all hosts and hostesses should be aware of. Music is critical, but it isn’t everything.

Do crank up a creative Halloween music mix: Obvious picks are “Thriller” and “The Time Warp” from “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but that’s only a start. Halloween party music must have a haunting quality that still causes bodies to gyrate and arms to fist-pump. If punk rock is your musical poison, a certain soundtrack may set the perfect loud atmosphere.

Horror flick “Night of the Demons” from Seven Arts Pictures combined Zombie Girl, Creature Feature, 45 Grave and more for a scarily popular soundtrack. In fact, it was only released after the movie’s fans demanded it with relentless enthusiasm. This incredibly spooky soundtrack is available at most local music stores, or it can be purchased directly from iTunes.

Don’t deafen your guests: Although dancing is a non-negotiable necessity for good parties, we can’t ignore the minglers who thrive off stimulating conversation. Keep the volume cranked in one room and turn it down in another. The quieter music keeps the ghoulish festivity alive without killing all possible conversation.

Do add some flair by offering spooky cocktails: Nuclear Waste, Vampire’s Kiss and Green Goblin are tasty choices. Or, increase the creep factor on your favorite drink with simple food coloring and use eyeball or fingernail gummies instead of lemon wedges and olives.

Don’t spend extravagantly: Since adult beverages and food can add up, save money on decorations. Food coloring really is a blessing. Old white sheets and red food coloring create a gory, blood-spattered corner or table display. Keep lights turned low, or throw dark-colored scarves and pillow cases over your lampshades for a shadowy setting. Candles also provide an eerie element to any room.

How to Make Your Halloween Bash Wickedly Creative was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Make Your Halloween Bash Wickedly Creative

NewsUSA — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – Have you ever walked into a happening Halloween party bumping music like Kid Rock or Rebecca Black? Of course not. Party throwers, beware: the right spooky playlist can take a party from yawningly decent to over-the-top spectacular in moments.
But this isn’t just any party we’re talking about — this is Halloween, and your bash needs more than candy and crepe paper to be a hit. There’s a select number of Halloween party do’s and don’ts that all hosts and hostesses should be aware of. Music is critical, but it isn’t everything.
Do crank up a creative Halloween music mix: Obvious picks are “Thriller” and “The Time Warp” from “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but that’s only a start. Halloween party music must have a haunting quality that still causes bodies to gyrate and arms to fist-pump. If punk rock is your musical poison, a certain soundtrack may set the perfect loud atmosphere.
Horror flick “Night of the Demons” from Seven Arts Pictures combined Zombie Girl, Creature Feature, 45 Grave and more for a scarily popular soundtrack. In fact, it was only released after the movie’s fans demanded it with relentless enthusiasm. This incredibly spooky soundtrack is available at most local music stores, or it can be purchased directly from iTunes.
Don’t deafen your guests: Although dancing is a non-negotiable necessity for good parties, we can’t ignore the minglers who thrive off stimulating conversation. Keep the volume cranked in one room and turn it down in another. The quieter music keeps the ghoulish festivity alive without killing all possible conversation.
Do add some flair by offering spooky cocktails: Nuclear Waste, Vampire’s Kiss and Green Goblin are tasty choices. Or, increase the creep factor on your favorite drink with simple food coloring and use eyeball or fingernail gummies instead of lemon wedges and olives.
Don’t spend extravagantly: Since adult beverages and food can add up, save money on decorations. Food coloring really is a blessing. Old white sheets and red food coloring create a gory, blood-spattered corner or table display. Keep lights turned low, or throw dark-colored scarves and pillow cases over your lampshades for a shadowy setting. Candles also provide an eerie element to any room.

Make Your Halloween Bash Wickedly Creative was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Throw a Birthday Party On a Budget

NewsUSA — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0000

(NewsUSA) – A birthday celebration can be anything from a quiet dinner to an extravaganza with party hats, games and noisemakers – and you can pull off either one even if you are on a budget. Here are some tips:
* Set a budget. Before you do anything else, set a budget for food, drinks, decorations and other party-related costs. To avoid buying more than you need, confirm your guest list. If you don’t want guests to spend a lot on gifts, write a suggested spending limit on your invitations.
* Find affordable gifts. Retailers like Dollar General (www.DollarGeneral.com) offer many gift choices for both
children and adults. Many children’s toys are priced under $10, and birthday cards are always two for $1.
Grown-ups love getting personalized gifts, like framed pictures. You might also want to consider purchasing an item that will brighten up the birthday boy or girl’s home or office. Decorative clocks, lamps and other home furnishings are useful as well as aesthetically pleasing.
* Give back to the community. Announce plans to donate gifts to a good cause, and you’ll relieve your guests of the pressure and money that can go into choosing the perfect gift. Ask guests to bring cans for a donation to your local food pantry. For a child’s party, have guests bring a children’s book or stuffed animal that can be donated to a local children’s hospital.
* Let them eat cake. Saving room for dessert is never more important than when you’re at a birthday party. Stock up on an assortment of options, including cake mixes, pie crusts, fruit fillings, ice cream, cake decorations and more at a discounter such as Dollar General. That way, you’re prepared to create the perfect dessert (or two).
* Leave guests with a favor. Thank your guests for coming by surprising them with a little something to take home. Start with plastic fold-top sandwich bags, and fill them with simple goodies such as mini candy bars or homemade cookies. For kids, pencils, stickers or animal crackers are popular and inexpensive favorites. Tie up each bag with colorful ribbons.

Throw a Birthday Party On a Budget was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

The Family That Plays Together Stays Together

NewsUSA — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/MusicTogether.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Many families today might want to spend more quality time together, but it can be difficult to find activities that each family member will enjoy. …/div/div

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