Monthly Archives: May 2012

All Aboard 6th Annual Konpa Cruise

V-World Enterprises Presents THE SIXTH ANNUAL BOSTON KONPA CRUISE culture ~ rhythm ~ style www.KonpaCruise.com   SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012   Featuring: A VIP pre-board networking party packed with leading Boston professionals and featuring a show of talented surprise guests.   4 Floors | 4 Mix Masters aboard the Spirit of Boston cruise ship   Level 1 – Island Fever Level 2 – Konpa/Zouk (Main Floor) Level 3 – V-World VIP Lounge Level 4 – Moonlight Deck   Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, giveaways and prizes throughout the night.   21+ | PROPER ID IS A MUST | Ship Sails Promptly at 11:30 p.m.   The Style: Professional, fashionable & trendy. Your finest attire is requested. The Sound: A variety of vibrant West Indian rhythms by surprise guest DJs and musicians. The Spot: Boston’s Premier Luxury Cruise Ship, Spirit of Boston For Info: [email protected] | 781-333-8423 For Tickets: ADVANCE TICKET SALES ONLY.   Purchase tickets online at www.konpacruise.com or at the following locations:   Excella Graphics 300 Main Street | Malden, MA 02148 (617) 625-8333   Highland Cuisine 2 Highland Avenue | Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 625-8333   Bon Appetit Restaurant 1132 Blue Hill Avenue | Dorchester Ctr, MA 02124 … read more

Money Guide to Raising Kids

Starting a family is an exciting time. You plan everything: baby names, the nursery, where you will deliver, who will be in the delivery room and even the color of the nursery walls. Unfortunately, too many families fail to plan the baby budget.     On average, a family spends over $225,000 to raise a child. Of course, the numbers are dependent on where you live, household income, marital status, and so on. One thing is certain — feeding, clothing, educating, and entertaining those kids is more expensive than a pedicure and day at the Ritz.   We spoke with financial guru Kay McCutchen to learn strategies to make the costly burden of raising children a little less burdensome. Here’s what she had to say:   Your Child’s Future Savings Account: When you first start planning to have a baby, McCutchen recommends opening an account solely for your child’s future. You can link the baby account to your personal checking account and start transferring money deposits right away. How much you contribute will depend on your personal financial situation. McCutchen says contributing $100 a month is a great start. If you can only afford less, that’s okay, too; just make … read more

Men’s Steamin’ Summer Looks

The weather is heating up out there and there are equally smokin’ looks in the stores. We’ve picked a few of our faves. Check them out and let us know what you think!     When it comes to accessorizing, keep it minimal. Add items that will pull your whole look together. A simple hat, watch, pair of sharp sunglasses or stylish loafers can give you a polished look.   Fave watches of the season include Kenneth Cole’s “New York Multifunction” $150, Diesel “Square Digital” $120 and the Michael Kors “Large Runway” $250.   For the guys that loves to sport a fedora, a trucker hat or a fitted cap, check out “Black Paper” $39.90, “Original Snapback” $24 and “Natural Straw” $69.50.   All Amour Creole men should be donning a sweet pair of shades like “Bubbled Aviator” $98, Persol “PO2999S” $220 or Oakley “OO9102” $190.   It’s said you can tell a lot about a man depending on his shoes, so there’s no reason your footwear should not be on point this season. Faves include: boat sneakers “Lander Canvas” $55, “Suede” ankle boot $99.90, “Vintage” brogue $99.90 and moccasins “Driver with Bow” $89.90.   The nautical look is always … read more

Haitian Roundtable Dialogue Series talks careers with young professionals

“Loans right now are pretty much the same as a mortgage,” Laura Payne, a Stony Brook University graduate said. Payne graduated in May 2011 with a bachelor’s in economics. Since graduation, Payne has not been able to secure a full-time job.     “I’m interning to make myself a more attractive candidate,” Payne said. “Sallie Mae will have to just wait until I get a real job.” Payne took on a post-grad internship to add more experience to her resume. However, until she finds a job, she has been unable to make her loan payments.   Several students like Payne attended the Haitian Roundtable Dialogue Series’ event The Art of Reinventing Your Career on May 14 at Touro College to get tips from professionals thriving in their industry. Moderated by Dr. Jeffrey Gardere, contributor for CNN and MSNBC, the panelists discussed how to survive in today’s highly competitive professional environment.   Panelists included: Fabrice Armand, president of Fabrice J. Armand Group; Midwin Charles, attorney and founder of Midwin Charles & Associates LLC; Faride Precil, manager of Education Programs for National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC); Mona Scott-Young, founder and CEO of Monami Entertainment; and Brian Simon, director of Government … read more

Supple Winter Skin Can Be Yours

Battling dry skin during the winter season can be stressful and expensive. So Amour Creole is here to help you find the right moisturizer and give you some money-saving tips.     Low Humidity, stronger winds and of course, low temperatures are the reasons we struggle with dry skin all winter long, and not only is dry skin unsightly, but dry skin is prone to natural wrinkling and sun damage which may increase a number of health issues.

Red Carpet Gala Doesn’t Disappoint

It was a sea of black, red and white outside the Kristin Hanson Loft on the last Saturday of April. Hours earlier, women fastened their hair atop their heads, applied rouge to their cheeks, zipped their floor length evening gowns and slipped into stilettos. Men fastened their cufflinks, knotted their ties and buttoned their vests. All anticipated a night of luxury and New York City elegance honoring Fleurimond Catering’s 10th Anniversary.   The impressive group of designers, chefs, politicians and family friends filed through the loft’s glass doors. They past sparkling display cases filled with diamond jewelry, all handcrafted by Haitian artisans, and found themselves in a room of white exposed brick walls which backdropped formal dining tables set with sky high centerpieces of dove white feathers and red roses. On the way, each guest paused on a red carpet while a photographer snapped a photo, a memento of the night which celebrated one of the Haitian community’s most favored success stories, Nadege Fleurimond. The 30 year-old woman, who ten years ago, began a modest catering company out of her Columbia University dorm room.   The loft’s second floor was a swirl of party dresses as laughter echoed through the … read more

35 Seconds for Haiti, the Talent Show

  NORWICH — Youth groups from two churches in Greeneville are uniting for a talent show to raise money for 35 Seconds for Haiti, a local outreach to an area of Haiti that suffered the most damage from the 2010 earthquake. The First Haitian Baptist Church of Norwich and Peniel Church of Norwich will host the event at 6 p.m. May 12 at the Kelly Middle School auditorium in Norwich, Conn. Tickets are available for a $5 minimum donation. The group that raises the most money will paint six youth leaders from the losing team.     Call Adam Bowles at (860) 861-4246 for tickets or more information.Seating capacity is 800.First come, first serve for tickets so act quickly!   The outreach is a ministry of the Haitian church in partnership with Peniel. Approximately $12,000 in business and individual donations has been raised since the ministry launched on the one-year anniversary of the disaster. The group would like to raise enough money to build homes in Haiti.   Adam Bowles is one of four pastors at Peniel Church in Norwich, Conn.After joining members of the First Haitian Baptist Church of Norwich on a mission to Haiti one month after the … read more

Designer Kazz Forbes offers high schoolers career advice

Turks and Caicos Islands international designer and photographer Kazz Forbes of Saint George Fashion House (SGFH) returned to high school to share a little fashion savvy with aspiring students.     Forbes, who recently ran an eight-week after-school fashion club at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Center in Providenciales, spoke to about three hundred students of the Clement Howell High School in Turks and Caicos on careers in the fashion industry.   The annual career day is an attempt to guide students to making informed career choices. Accomplished executives from various industries are invited to share insider knowledge and tips for career success.   “It was indeed an honor and a privilege to speak to the students, providing knowledge on what is fashion, [what] careers in fashion [entail] and encouraging them to set goals and to follow their dreams,” said Forbes.   “It took about six minutes to get the students settled as they were screaming and cheering me on as I made my way to the podium to speak,” said Forbes. “That spirit … motivates me to continue following my dreams and is indeed a signal of excitement and eagerness within that body of students to endeavor to be … read more

Designer to Hit Caribbean Fashion Week

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Saint George Fashion House marks its one-year anniversary this June with a resort collection to be featured at Caribbean Fashion Week in Kingston, Jamaica.     Kazz Forbes, head designer and proprietor of the fashion house, debuted his first collection “Le Caicos Chic with Decadence” at Caribbean International Fashion Week in NYC June 8th of 2011, exactly a year prior to the scheduled debut of his second collection, “Island Breeze.”   Caribbean Fashion Week is the region’s largest, most recognized fashion event. The event features both top Caribbean and international designers, supermodels and fashion press, including Vogue and Fashion TV Paris.   Forbes said he’s honored to be the first to represent his country at this show and said this showing is especially meaningful as it marks the anniversary of his Manhattan debut.   “The collection is inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said Forbes of his resort collection.   “For me, I think of the quality of light in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the sun, sand and sea, the blue of the moonlight and the minty light of the days. I go often to the beach, and … read more

Cambria Heights

Why it’s one of the richest black neighborhoods in the U.S. The streets are tree-lined with single-family brick homes. Children run in spacious backyards under the hot summer sun and during winter snowfalls.     Cambria Heights is the quintessential suburban middle-class community and sounds like your average American neighborhood, but for the many families living in this predominantly black community, it’s not.   Cambria Heights is a sociologist’s dream case-study — 98 percent of the residents are black and the community boasts a median household income twice the nation’s average. Unfortunately, this is an uncommon reality in the U.S. where many black communities struggle to stay above the poverty line.   “This is one of the wealthiest black communities in the U.S.,” said Sen. Malcolm Smith who represents Cambria Heights. The community follows behind Prince George County in Maryland, the wealthiest black community according to the 2012 U.S. Census. The average median house- hold income for New York is about $49,000, but Cambria Heights’ median income ranks at about $74,000.   “I think a distinguishing characteristic is that the majority of the residents are immigrants from the West Indies who strongly value and promote education in their families,” Smith … read more