BottleRock: Vernon Davis, KRAVE Jerky, Music and the Arts

I spent my weekend suffering at BottleRock in Napa. I ate, drank, and indulged in a multitude of music acts. You can check out my review of the entire three-day festivities over on the KRON4 site.

Photo Courtesy: KRAVE Jerky

While mingling at the festival I got the chance to interview former 49er and SuperBowl champion Vernon Davis. We talked about his partnership with KRAVE Jerky (which by the way is absolutely delicious!), some of the music on his radar, and the excitement that he'll get to play with the Washington Redskins next season.

From The Desk OF Azu: Help Me Raise Funds

UPDATE as of 4/24: Thank you for the continued outpour of support. My sister has raised enough funds for her airfare, and her babysitting gigs paid for the deposit needed to get into the program. She still needs to raise money to pay for the rest of cost of the program. Please, take a look at her GoFundMe and read her story. Help me by sharing this post. 

UPDATE! Thank you so much to my former bosses, friends, and strangers who have donated to my sister's GoFundMe. She has to complete her goal by May 6th, so please read her story. Some people asked if they could send her money via paypal instead so she can take full advantage of the funds. Here's the link. Any amount will help her greatly, and will bring her closer to her goal. 

My sister Dalia is one of the most hard-working young women I know. From the moment she turned 16 and was able to work she joined me in the real estate work and took on a position wearing multiple hats, and learned everything about real estate. While most girls her age were working in retail, she was on the phone with bank executives and top-notch real estate agents learning about financing, contracts, and bank owned properties.

Her hustle has taken her far, not only is she paying for her tuition at SFSTATE while working two jobs, she along with her amazing boyfriend James rent an apartment in SF (and we all know how ridiculously expensive that is.)

Dalia was set in applying to nursing school in the Fall, but life had other plans. When our grandma suffered a second stroke last Fall, we experienced first hand the lack of Latino representation in the medical field, and she decided that instead of becoming a nurse, she would pursue becoming a doctor.

She was just accepted into an amazing program that will take her to Peru. AMAPeru is a non-profit organization that provides FREE health care to people in need. While in Peru, Dalia will learn some of the most important skills a doctor needs, while providing help to those less fortunate.

She is currently babysitting on the side to raise the funds she needs for her trip. And this why I'm asking for your help. I understand that we are all going through financial woes, but this is for such an important cause, and even $5 will bring her closer to her goal.

Please take a look at her GoFundMe, and I hope that you find it in your heart to help her achieve her goal. In just a few years, she will become an outstanding doctor who will help make a difference in the world. 

Peep At The Newest Oakland Resident

The city of Oakland has become a ‘prime' destination for foodies, art lovers and nightlife aficionados. It is not surprising that it was ranked one of the top five places to visit – as noted by the New York Times. VOGUE also mentioned Oakland in one of its ‘culture' articles as a city to visit.

With so much buzz surrounding what is flourishing around the city, savvy peeps are taking note, and in the blink of an eye there are new business ventures opening up. The downtown & uptown neighborhoods have especially been attractive to business owners – there is an abundance of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and art galleries. With so many options, there truly is something for everyone's taste.

One of the newer businesses that graced Oakland is Pure, an apparel-rare-to-find-kicks store. The business is already causing a stir all throughout social media – with over a 1,000 ‘likes' on facebook, a growing following on both Instagram & Twitter, and glowing reviews; Pure is shaping to be a new favorite. A satisfied customer wrote on Facebook: "Dope people and customer service was immaculate."

Photo Courtesy Of: PURE

Pure is located in the heart of downtown, a few blocks away from the 19th Street BART station, right off 17th Street & Webster. The GRAND OPENING is happening this Friday August 1st – with such a busy location, the ‘First Fridays' festivities are the perfect opportunity to introduce the newest Oakland resident to Oaklanders and Pure's counterparts.

So, ‘sneaker heads' of the Bay REJOICE! This First Friday when you are out and about checking out the art shows, and walking around deciding where to eat and what to drink – stop by Pure and score yourselves some fly new kicks.

Check out Pure's facebook, Instagram & twitter.

Sponsored Post

This Is The REAL Oakland

Yesterday I came across a rather disturbing piece posted on KQED’s website whose author’s “opinion” about Oakland, disagreed with what real Oakland residents, “Oaklanders” if you will feel about Oakland.

You see, there are Oakland newly transplants, and there are those like myself, who are Oakland, whose families have been residents of this great city for many generations, or perhaps families of immigrants who call Oakland HOME.

We know the real Oakland, we breathe Oakland, and we have been part of the community since before Oakland became “hipster.” The author of the KQED piece clearly has never set foot outside of the Piedmont & Temescal area, and believe me when I tell you, that those areas, don’t even comprise a miniscule part of this gorgeous town.

I, like many of the real Oakland residents, know my way around it, know the real great spots whether it is to get food, a bar, where to shop. You see, we knew Oakland was “cool” before transplants and outsiders came on board. While I am all up for people coming into Oakland, and help our economy and the community; I don’t appreciate those like the author over at KQED to look down on other neighborhoods or areas around Oakland… just the other day, I was driving around downtown with a friend of mine, and we were reminiscing on how downtown Oakland was nothing like it is now… that friend and I grew up in East Oakland. He has lived in the “murder dubbz” pretty much his entire life. I have lived there too, Dimond district, Laurel, 79th & MacArthur, the Oakland Hills, you name it.

Let’s talk about places to eat… “Miss KQED Piedmont Temescal” named delis, and that is great, but HELLO! Her sheltered little soul has never heard of Mill’s Hoagie & Deli Shop over by Seminary & MacArthur (ohhh scary East Oakland), or Ike’s in Downtown. For Chinese food, did she ever consider heading over to Chinatown? I don’t know, seems to me like that would be a GREAT area to find Chinese food… may I suggest New Gold Medal, or Jade Palace over by the Dimond District, or perhaps Chopsticks on 39th & MacArthur Blvd. And now, moving on to the BEST taco trucks… that author mentioned “the truck by the lake by East 1st(?)” and she clearly doesn’t know any better. Personally I grew up on Tacos Sinaloa *eyyyy, let’s go get tacos by 22nd*… Sinaloa is beyond famous! You have not experienced tacos de asada or burritos heaven till you devour theirs… oh, and an extra red salsa… YUMM!!!!! Or, how about El Grullense by 28th and International, now, those are some bomb tacos!


When it comes to “sweets” and coffee shops, there is nothing more glorious than some pan dulce from Peña’s Bakery, or how about a cup of coffee from World Ground Café on MacArthur, and yes, both located in East Oakland. 

Best Bars… the list is never-ending! Lounge 3411 on MacArthur and 35th Avenue, The Rock Steady on San Pablo Avenue, Make Westing on Telegraph, as well as SoMar, Beer Revolution, etc, etc…

Where to buy “weird” stuff… I don’t know about you, but I used to go to “La Pulga” aka The Flea Market over by the coliseum, it was a family affair, and you can find all sorts of cool stuff for dirt cheap.

Where to buy groceries… according to Miss KQED Piedmont Temescal, she only shops at Piedmont Grocery… WOW! Well, I buy my groceries at several different stores, Mi Pueblo & Mi Tierra both on High Street, Mi Ranchito on Foothill & Fruitvale, the farmer’s market over by Laney College, Foodmaxx at Fruitvale Station, heck even Maxx Value, there is no shame in my game! A girl is on a budget sometimes.

Where to go…. That author mentions a cemetery, really a cemetery? I will hold back from commenting on such travesty, but I will say this…. The Oakland Hills have some of the best trails, and breathtaking views, and run around the lake is always refreshing…

This long blog post clearly does not list ALL of the superb places that Oakland has to offer, this list is pale in comparison to all of the places around town; really there is no way to fit them all in one post. My intention is rather simple, if new-comers don’t venture out to really get to know Oakland, and choose to stay closed-in their “hipster” bubble, they will never fully take in how beautiful & diverse Oakland really is. Why undermine the cultural aspect of the town? Look down on those who make Oakland such a diverse, rich and welcoming community? 

Pictures Posted On My Instagram & Facebook Page

Makeup Lovers REJOICE!

How exciting is it that Katy Perry has joined the COVER GIRL family, as the new face for the brand? VERY EXCITING if I say so myself!

COVER GIRL just knows who the right women for the line are; from Queen Latifah, to Ellen DeGeneres, Janelle Monáe, NERVO, Becky G, P!nk, Sofia Vergara and now Ms. Katy Perry.

I personally cannot wait to see what new products will launch during her campaign; I foresee some 90’s inspired colors, and I would LOVE to see a vampy plum lipstick.  

 

Credits:  Fleishman Hillard

My Healthy Eating Ways

I turned 30 over the summer, and had a horrendous revelation of how much I have been neglecting my body. Not only was I not exercising, but my eating habits were less than stellar. And, it wasn’t so much that I was eating junk food, but more of my lack of portion control and my indulging in grandma’s scrumptious home-cooked meals.

So, my revelation basically told me that if I want to look bangin’ hot like Jennifer Lopez, my lazy self has to step it up with eating healthy and exercising. And, let me tell you, this is no easy task. I for once HATE exercising, I hate sweating, I hate cardio, I hate everything that has to do with working out. At one point in my life, I tried “Insanity” and failed miserably. I do remember a point in my life when I liked exercising, and that was back in high school when I used to swim every day. And, yes, I could take on swimming every day, but, unless you have a house with a pool, finding a good pool for lap swim is not that easy. If you do find one, the available times might not work with your schedule.

Anyway… on this quest to healthy eating, I was left pondering as to the best approach to stick to my plan and include some exercising in it. I made a pact with two of my girlfriends that we would hold each other accountable for what we eat, and how much we exercise. I felt so determined that I even enrolled at one of my friend’s gym, and she is now my work-out partner.

Now, the eating part… I am always on the go; I always rush out of my house in the morning to get to my office. I knew that managing to get a good breakfast & a healthy dinner would be easy, but my problem has always been lunch, what to eat, where to eat, do I make it at home, do I go out to eat…ahhhh! Decisions! Decisions!

A colleague of mine mentioned that she had started buying the pre-packaged salads from Trader Joe’s. And, while I am not a huge fan of pre-packaged anything; I decided to give the salads a try. Oh, was I in for a HUGE surprise - there are so many varieties that it is nearly impossible to get bored. I figured that I would buy my week worth of salads and see if I like them.

Well, today I had the Mexicali Salad with chili lime chicken – yummy, flavorful & fulfilling! I am actually excited to trying out the ones that I bought for the rest of the week, and perhaps stick to making this my go-to lunch for the next few months.

Of course, I know that the best thing would be for me to prep my own salads, but I know that I am not alone when I say that it is hard, especially when you are always running around like a headless chicken with a million things to do. For now, this is a tremendous step in sticking to a healthy eating plan while I figure out what else works for me.

So, people of the internet, don’t fret! Trying to change unhealthy habits is hard, but, it takes baby steps, and the satisfaction from looking in the mirror and seeing yourself transform it's oh so worth it!