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If Miami is getting really good at one thing, it’s the collective hangover. That certainly is the case here at 944 after we put on a three day Super Bowl Party. The last night of which was truly great even though a snow-bound Mario didn’t remained grounded in Baltimore. DJ Kiss spun a great set the kept the crowd happy till midnight when Kid Sister took the stage for lengthly set followed by Mr. Haiti himself, Wyclef Jean who was joined onstage with impromptu appearances by Shaggy and LL Cool J. It’s tough to beat that, but unfortunately, so was the hangover induced by open bars from which Heinekin, Platino and Ciroc never stopped flowing. Reports of celebs and big productions were everywhere. I even had the chance to get an eyeful of Chris Rock right from my window front chair at Cutler Salon where I was busy getting a tad bit blonder at the hands of color maven Emily Thomas. Anyhow, it seemed like Chris was more than happy to stop and chat with three sexy cafe ou lait females who were obviously excited to have run into the funny man. So what’s next? Check out the Happenings section of 944.com and find out for yourself, I’m too tired to dream of it!  

My name is Madeline, and I am the Houston Managing Editor of 944. What’s 944, you say? 944 is the premier fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazine for the upwardly mobile 21- to 44-year-old city dweller. Already in nine cities, the award-winning publication is launching Houston and Dallas this April. Want more information? Check out 944.com. “And if you don’t know, now you know.”

The Weekly Dose is 944’s weekly letter discussing the people, places and events worth noting nationally and around town. Last week, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. But here at 944, we know things are just heating up in Texas. As we gear up for one hell of a month—the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, the Chinese New Year—we suspect our bank accounts will dwindle, but our spirits will remain high.

Over the next few weeks, we’d love to get more virtually acquainted with you. Here are some sites for you to reach out and say hello.

944.com/Houston
Facebook: 944 Houston
Twitter: 944Houston

I’ll also be starting my editor blog, “Sticky Wickets,” this week. But enough about us! We want to know what you want to see covered and what’s on your mind. Shoot me an email or send us “tweet” nothings. The pleasure is all mine.

Cheers,

Madeline Hollern
Managing Editor | Dallas
Madeline@944.com

 

Calvin Pace, linebacker for The New York Jets, is more than an athlete. He may have mad skills on the field, but he can also score in the kitchen. An avid foodie, #97 loves to whip up creations and share them with friends and family. A veteran cook and party planner, he knows what you need to have the perfect soiree. The Jets may not have made it to the Super Bowl, but Pace is here to ensure that your party is a touchdown.  

When did you become a foodie?

A young lady I was dating during college time was into a lot of different types of food, so she always had us eating at places that I considered odd. Over time, after trying different ethnic foods, I was hooked and my love for food has grown since then.
 
How did you learn to cook?

It was by trial and error. When I was in elementary school my mother and father got home a couple of hours after I got home from school so I was left to either eat leftovers or a hot dog or sandwich. That got boring, so I basically just started watching the food network and started trying small simple dishes.
 
Do you cook for your teammates?

The most I've done so far for them is BBQ.
 
What do you make at home?

I'm single, so I make a lot of one-man meals.
 
So, what will your Super Bowl be like?

My party will be with a small number of people just eating good food and relaxing.

Check out Pace's Top 9 tips for a hot Super Bowl party here: http://www.944.com/top9/?id=82

Common is so self-effacing, he’d dispute this. But the performer born Lonnie Rashid Lynn is the Barack Obama of hip-hop. Not that he’s primed to run the country or anything, but his unabashed optimism, his blend of humility and confidence, his palpable concern for everyday people, and yes, his fineness, make this Chicago native a musical mirror of the Illinois Senator.

Much like Obama, Common transcended a knucklehead phase--see him clutching a 40-oz of malt liquor on his debut Can I Borrow a Dollar �• to become a people’s champ. The 16-year rhyme veteran has always had the potential to go pop, but remains a hip-hop community leader, cranking out soulful mediations on the culture (“I Used to Love H.E.R.”), racism (“U Black, Maybe), love (“The Light”), and urban struggle (“The Corner”).

In lesser hands the South Side son’s expansion into acting could have backfired. Instead, credible performances in star-studded films such as Smokin’ Aces, American Gangster and Wanted have transformed Common into a mainstream favorite �• without alienating his core audience. Of course it doesn’t hurt that he linked up with Chicago brethren Kanye West for 2005’s Be, and its sonic successor Finding Forever, which debuted at number one and earned him a long-overdue Grammy.

Despite his star status, Common still acts like a regular dude who happens to have an interesting job. You never forget that his mama was an assistant principle, that he has a 7-year-old daughter, that he’s authored three children’s books and founded a Chicago-based nonprofit for kids. The night before his tour starts, after an exhausting day of rehearsals, meetings and conference calls, Common is still down to discuss his music, his movies and why he, a lifetime political skeptic, is ready to Barack the Vote.

You’ve done PSAs for Barack Obama and you’ve shouted him out in “The People.” Before this election, were you involved in politics?

Nah. Like a lot of people my age and younger, I just didn’t pay much attention to it. I didn’t feel like there was anybody out there who represented my goals and vision, who really had the people in mind. Some of that came from me being part of the hip-hop culture and listening to KRS-One and them talk about the government. And then I could actually see it. I mean, the first time I saw George W. Bush open his mouth, I felt like, Damn, this dude has no type of truth in him. He don’t have good intentions for us.”

Had you ever voted?

The first time I felt compelled to vote was in 2004, when Bush ran for his second term. I wanted to be able to say that I had voted against him. I had to do something.

Why do you support Barack Obama? After all, he’s a politician, too.

On a practical level, we’re dealing with a lot of hard times and struggles. I see Barack Obama as a beacon of light because, more than anything, I see him promoting love. Of course he’s a politician, working within a system, but he’s been able to show us that we can’t be caught up in old prejudices or focus so much on the negative things. I believe that this guy is gonna do right for us because he’s paying attention to middle and lower class people, to Black and Latino people, so-called minorities.

I’m going to read you a quote from a 19-year-old web producer named Jazmyne Young who reviewed a Valentine’s Day show you did in San Francisco. She wrote, “Because of people like Common's support, Obama won my vote.” How does it feel to have that kind of power?

Man I love it. I’ve always wanted that…Well wait, when I first started rappin’, I just wanted to be fresh and be dope.

I remember. I was just listening to Can I Borrow a Dollar. You were saying stuff like, “And it’s phat, kinda’ like Oprah before she lost weight …”

Oh my God! [Laughs.] Right. But when I realized how music affects people, I decided to use my voice to encourage and enlighten them.

Did you ever fear that people would put you in a “conscious” box �• that you’d have to be this role model?

To me, conscious means aware, awake and in tune. So I want that responsibility. The artists I’ve respected throughout time, like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti and KRS-One, have been known as conscious artists.

Tell me about Universal Mind Control, which was called Invincible Summer until it got pushed from August to November.

Well, Universal Mind Control is actually more fitting for what the album is because it’s a new adventure in music, a progressive sound to capture the people. I worked with The Neptunes and Mr. DJ. to create Common music that’s really danceable.

Why go left after your success with the soulful, sample-heavy sound of Be and Finding Forever?

I’ve watched people enjoy themselves to all kinds of music in places like Spain and Prague. And I was like, That’s how I want my music to be. I want people to let loose to it. I’m missing that from my body of work. The fact that people have called me and said that they’ve heard my songs at the club is a victory to me.

Let’s talk about movies. From Sir Ivy in Smokin’ Aces to Barnes in next year’s Terminator: Salvation, you’ve played variations of a man with a gun, which is the opposite of your rap image.

I remember telling my acting coach that I wanted to do some dark stuff since people see me as Mr. Peace and that’s what I strive to be. But I wanted express another side, so people could get to see me as an actor.

What’s your dream part?

It would be a leading role where the character has a lot of layers to him, someone like a preacher who’s dealing with a lot of stuff. Well he could be having an affair or having doubts about his faith. I need to write this movie, right?

Yup. Your publicist sent me this mountain of press clips from magazines including Interview, Elle, W and Vanity Fair. The term “A-List” came up a lot in reference to your work with Kanye West and your movies with Jeremy Piven, Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. How do you feel about being on the A-List more than a decade into your career?

I’m grateful for when it came in my life because I’ve been through not being known. Like, I’m thinking I’m A-List when some people didn’t know I was on any list. [Laughs.]

How do you stay grounded with paparazzi snapping pictures of you, people buzzing about who you’re dating, and magazines salivating over you?

I just make sure I don’t wear it like I’m better than anybody, ‘cause this is all about God blessing me, about him giving me these opportunities. Man, we’ve seen the biggest pop star in the world, Michael Jackson, become the object of ridicule, so there’s no way that any human being on this Earth can think they can’t fall. I stay grounded by knowing who I am and who God is.

www.common-music.com



Photography by Marc Baptiste, www.marcbaptiste.comPhoto Assistant: Emily GendronStyling by Evet Sanchez, at The Wall GroupGrooming by Junior for Changing Faces SalonMake-Up by Rhea Williams, Rhea Williams Creative ServicesCatering by Brataw Caf?, www.brawtacafe.comSpecial Thanks: JB, Mezz at Sun West Studios & Space332

Hello, I’m 944. Well, I’m your introduction to 944. 944 Dallas, that is. 944 is the best fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazine with a local twist that can be found across the coolest cities in the country, and now we can count Dallas and Houston among the lucky 11.


For those of you who know me from my days with ENVY, you know why I’m here: to provide you with the best in the who/what/where/when/why around town. Although our first issue in town doesn’t come out until March 22nd (the April issue), you won’t be out of the loop during the transition as we gear up for the big launch.


In the meantime, 944 will be making a splash in Dallas during the NBA All-Star Weekend next week, when 944 and its sister publication, game, take over The Boardroom and Ghostbar for some unforgettable events that will include the likes of Snoop Dogg, Common, Doug E. Fresh and Russell Simmons to name a few.


In this e-mail, you’ll find a link to four articles from the February issue of 944, including one about “Southland” star Ben McKenzie written by yours truly. On any other week, you’ll find two locally-relevant articles and two national articles. You’ll also find 15 of the best things to do around town and some links with info on the hottest events in town, which not coincidentally, will likely be 944 events.


As always, thank you for your support and dedication and we'll see you out there soon.

All the best,

Paul

Paul Salfen
Managing Editor | 944 Media | Texas
paul@944.com