Food, Justice, & Sustainability

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RED TAILS OPENING WEEKEND

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TTS NYE 2012

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TTS NYE 2012

Featuring Jennifer Johns, Martin Luther, & DJs Nina Sol, Manny Black, & donGuapo!!


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WONDER-FULL SF 8

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FELA! IN OAKLAND

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Purchase tickets here!


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http://bit.ly/oakriders


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TTS(ite) Appreciation Party!

The finest Habesha (Ethiopian/Eritrean) cuisine and the very best of AFROBEAT. Admission is complimentary with RSVP on the TTS website, and dinner is on us!


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Martin Luther is Bionic!

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TTS Speaker Series w/ Bobbito

Everybody knows Bobbito got hustle, but what motivates this Wesleyan University graduate to push every single day?  You may know Rich Medina as the world's most craftiest afro beat magician, yet did you know the Cornell graduate also has one of the most brilliant minds?
 
In Tupac's vision, who else might have joined him for dinner at the White House?  Why, giants among us of course..
 
On Thursday, March 24 Bobbito Garcia will open as the first featured guest of the TTS Speaker Series, along with Mayor Jean Quan, Gregory Hunter (Oakland Redevelopment), & Kenton Rainey (BART Chief of Police). AC Transit Director, Joel Young will moderate the speaker series, presenting your questions to our featured guests.

RSVP now or one of 125 seats to this quarterly series.


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TTS NYE 2011 TIX ON SALE!!

 

T O P  T E N  S O C I A L   2 0 1 0

1.15     HAITIAN RELIEF*
1.29     MORRISON
2.26     DAZ-I-KUE
3.26     CAPITOL A
4.09     A.A. STUDIES UC BERKELEY 40TH ANNIV 
4.09     TOAST NACIONAL @ ERA
4.23     THE TWILITE TONE
5.28     BOBBITO GARCIA
6.06     VIKTER DUPLAIX
6.25     MARK GRANT
7.02     TOAST NACIONAL @ TAMARINDO
7.23     TTS 44TH ANNIV W/ CAPITOL A
8.06     RAW GALLERY 
8.08     VIKTER DUPLAIX
8.27     KARIZMA
9.10     SF OVERNIGHT SENSATION
9.24     MARQUES WYATT
10.29   SPEN
11.20   RITMOS SIN FRONTERAS
12.04   THE VANGUARD MOAD FUNDRAISER**
12.11   WONDERFULL
12.31   TTS NYE 2011 W/ DAZ-I-KUE***
1.15     RITMOS SIN FRONTERAS - RICH MEDINA
3.24     TOP TEN SPEAKERS SERIES***

*$16K raised for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, donated via Doctors Without Borders.

**$5K raised for the Museum of the African Diaspora Vanguard (young professionals group)

***we're broadening our focus to encourage solution driven conversation about your community.

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TTS NYE 2011 w/ DAZ-I-KUE

 


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Solution to 37% Drop Out Rate?

A hearty thanks to Julian Lute for pointing us to a link in response to our question in last week's email. 

According to the SF Chronicle article published above the fold last week, 37% of California's African American high school students drop out before graduating, as compared with an overall 22% statewide and 9% San Francisco drop out rate. Oakland? A breathtaking 40%.

Julian pointed us to a paper explaining what Strive is accomplishing in Cincinnati.  We appreciated his sharing the piece, and hope you'll share with those in your circle of influence.


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Ozumo Exclusive for TTS Members

From time to time, we'll include TTS members incentives especial at some of your favorite destinations. We call it Top Ten Social Rewards, and think you're going to love this one!

We've partnered with Ozumo to offer savings as the holidays approach. Purchase a $50 gift card, and we'll include an additional $25, for $75 in value. Purchase $200 in gift cards, and receive $300.

Submit your name and email under the "RSVP" tab above and we'll take care of the rest! C'est bon!


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MARQUES WYATT IS IN TOWN!!

Meet Talia. Not your average girl next door. Her experience is rich! She's well traveled, well spoken, well read, and just like you. She's looking for love, and as a boundless African American woman, it's becoming more and more difficult.

Well it's good news that people are meeting through Top Ten Social. Yes! Socialites are finding love.. Some have met at our monthly parties, while one beautiful pairing connected at the Derrion Albert benefit.

Isn't it your time? They did it.. You want it? Then get it..

See you Friday, September 24th when MARQUES WYATT plays the soundtrack you'll always remember.

$5 presale here.


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An Overnight Sensation in SF

Friend of Top Ten Social? Then you've been invited to an "Overnight Sensation" THIS FRIDAY at a scrumptious San Francisco Financial District penthouse.

We've partnered with Mai-lei, hostess of one of Oakland's longest running private loft parties (AF Sessions), as well as The Twilite Tone and Ge-ology of NYC (GREAT WEEKEND).

Sometimes it snows in April, and sometimes we cross the bridge.  This Friday, we bring heat to San Francisco.

Dial 646.504.XOXO for the address and guest list to secure your weekend Overnight Sensation. It's a gathering of champions, so be sure to share this with only those you treasure most.

YES, space is limited as you might imagine, so arrive early to lock up one of the banquette's for your team.

*rsvp by designated phone line only


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Labor Day Picnic (oakland)

Monday, September 6 is Labor Day! An extra day off work and time to get together with loved ones under the sun. Friends may recall our 4th of July potluck picnic, and so we’ve decided to celebrate again right across from Lake Merritt at Pine Knoll Park (Lakeshore and Hanover).

We’ll be firing up the grill at 11am so come early. It’s a pot luck picnic so bring a dish. Lucky supermarket is two or three blocks away by the Lake Merritt bakery so there’s no need to stress…you can pick something up on your way. Also bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, sun block, hat and sun glasses.

Most importantly, bring yourself….and some friends too if you’d like!


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Practically Gilt Free Shopping

You mean ya didn't know? Everybody is doin' it these days. Shopping guilt free, or at least at first.. Alexander McQueen, Costume Nacional, and these beautiful Emanuel Ungaro riding boots may be found for bloody pennies on the dollar at Gilt.com.


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Karizma is coming August 27th

In August a brother in Baltimore, Maryland wakes up, makes his way to BWI, flies across the continent, & checks into his hotel in Oakland, California.

That evening, he proceeds to evoke emotions of wonder & discombobulation to a people absolutely committed to finding themselves. This man makes it no easier for them to do so, & why should he?Oakland is the City of GODS, and he's the failsafe.

This man is DJ Karizma aka Kaytronic & he is going to f#ck you up. $5 presale tix available here.

 

*guest mix available in RADIO


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PUSH

Break beat, b-boy stance, bass bump, b-girl flex. This world comes with its blows, jazz tunes elegantly blown.  How well do you improvise with life? Beats flow with our rhythm. Pulse like frequency dance steps, rise up, back down to the floor -jump.

We be that which is brilliant. Colors flash, can’t you hear it? Fashion inspired, culture conspirators, making it up as we push it along, yeah, push it along.

Still planning on saving the world? Read this first.

Drink lots of water, get your rest, and meditate/rejuvenate yourself first. The modern day revolutionary must be able to claim the victory before the battle ensues, possibly avoiding the battle entirely in order to maintain the clarity of mind that they wish to see in the world.

A peaceful warrior prepared for an eternity of joy.


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Freedom to speak is freed speech.

Uncage your tongue.

We are beautiful people. A strong people. We are brilliant. We are GODS. We are the beginning and the end of everything. We must begin to live our lives richly, if we haven't already, and stand together. We must remember who we are, and begin a new lineage, a history of justice.

We need to hold ourselves up and make sure there are no more Oscar Grants, Sean Bells, Malcolm X’s. No more senseless murders of our beautiful black skin, our beautiful black women, and beautiful black men.

Now go.


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Brilliant Magenta

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Take yo azz straight to ssense and cop these. Now. Oak City already has a pair.. Where you smashin?


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Barney's Honors Iman

We love fashion. The simplicity of a well fitted suit, the sheer design of a woman’s dress, how fabric accentuates the beautiful shapes of our bodies, and the endless possibilities of color.

How well do your clothes fit, and how well do you fit your clothes? There are those among us who can rock anything and make it look good, shit, fabulous!

Individual style is suggested, if not mandatory for the modern socialite, fore fashion is nothing without the people who define it.. Challenge your own ideas of self by participating in the fashion game on your own terms.

Barney’s is honoring supermodel, Iman, for her contribution to the game.Get ready.. You’re next!


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Sunny and Rising..

Ain't nothing like summertime to make you feel sexy.  Damn, if you have eyes and any sense of emotion, you have been aroused by a little bit of skin, or how the sweat from her or his neck slowly eases on down the road less traveled.

Something about the less clothes we wear makes us horny, feel sexy.. and summertime heat begs each to take the high road and just look at all the beautiful babies without clothes.

The shedding of the skin we have had to wear for warmth, the unpacking of our spring and summer clothes, these actions enable us all to feel the weight taken off our shoulders of winter. And now we are free. Free to be naked, at least share more of our beautiful bodies with the world and the sun, and enjoy the change in seasons.

Welcome Summer, we’ve been waiting for you.


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Ladies and Gentleman, Ms. Lena Horne.

When the great Lena Horne was born, "diva" was merely a word used to describe and pay tribute to female opera singers, specifically in Italy.  

And while today, we might like to find similarities with that which defines Ms. Horne, very few of us can remember the conditions in which she found her voice.

Though she was raised in an upper middle class family, modern society offered no inclusive mold of what Ms. Horne could be, let only what she dreamed of becoming. Therefore, excellence was no choice. It was her certainty.

"You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way."


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House Volume 1

Looking back on some of the finer moments of 2009, smiles were nothing short of abundant.  

Now moving forward, we simply cannot wait to see you smile again..


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Napa's Black Coyote

Try Black Coyote's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, and you'll understand why we're visiting them in Napa, May 15th. This wine is good. Really good.

Dr. Ernest A. Bates will be present to speak with TTS about his life, wine making process, and what led him to become one of Napa's only African American vintners.

Purchase tickets below.


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TTS dot com

It's finally here! The website being all but complete, and we invite you to look around and acquaint yourself with what it has to offer.

In the coming months, you'll find contests for free swag, invitations to exclusive members only engagements, and brand new music releases from some of your favorite recording artists, and photos galore of beautiful you.

We suggest you dig in for this one..


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Haiti - an update from Doctors Without Borders

" ...three months later, MSF is continuing to develop strategies to respond to the evolving realities on the ground and serve both the immediate and the longer-term needs of the Haitian people. As a medical humanitarian organization, MSF has been focused on the health-care situation, which, in this case, has included consideration of current living conditions and their potential health implications.

It is important to remember that despite recent improvements in Haiti’s health care sector, medical services were limited and inequitably provided even before the January 12 earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of people..."

Read more about where your dollars are going below.


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