It’s official. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player award has been given to no other but the Miami Heat All-World Forward, LeBron James. This is LeBron’s third time accepting the award however this is his first time accepting them in spandex (Eddie Murphy Voice: Spandex……. Ohhhhhhh Spandex!)

The new HBO show “Girls ” is receiving a lot of attention these days for a medley of society’s unresolved sociopolitical issues, however, as in most cases we find ourselves in the seemingly answerless place of race. The 25-year-old creator, writer/ producer of the show, Lena Dunham, recently responded to the critiques on NPR’S program “Fresh Air”. We particularly thought one part of the interview was thought provoking and thought that we’d share.

“I take that criticism very seriously. … This show isn’t supposed to feel exclusionary. It’s supposed to feel honest, and it’s supposed to feel true to many aspects of my experience. But for me to ignore that criticism and not to take it in would really go against my beliefs and my education in so many things. And I think the liberal-arts student in me really wants to engage in a dialogue about it, but as I learn about engaging with the media, I realize it’s not the same as sitting in a seminar talking things through at Oberlin. Every quote is sort of used and misused and placed and misplaced, and I really wanted to make sure I spoke sensitively to this issue.

“I wrote the first season primarily by myself, and I co-wrote a few episodes. But I am a half-Jew, half-WASP, and I wrote two Jews and two WASPs. Something I wanted to avoid was tokenism in casting. If I had one of the four girls, if, for example, she was African-American, I feel like — not that the experience of an African-American girl and a white girl are drastically different, but there has to be specificity to that experience [that] I wasn’t able to speak to. I really wrote the show from a gut-level place, and each character was a piece of me or based on someone close to me. And only later did I realize that it was four white girls. As much as I can say it was an accident, it was only later as the criticism came out, I thought, ‘I hear this and I want to respond to it.’ And this is a hard issue to speak to because all I want to do is sound sensitive and not say anything that will horrify anyone or make them feel more isolated, but I did write something that was super-specific to my experience, and I always want to avoid rendering an experience I can’t speak to accurately.”

If you haven’t got a chance to check out the show yet, below is trailer for the series.

Crazy view of the DC skyline…flowing drinks and food (all complimentary of The Smugger)…fine women…smug fellas…an intimate setting…For all of you that received an invite to this private party and came through on Cinco De Mayo, you already know this was the place to be. Everybody else, make sure you at least give yourself the opportunity to be in the know when we have our next pop-up party in June, July, etc.  Here are a few of the picks we captured during the party but you can see more on our Facebook Page.

To stay updated on events, deals and everything else that The Smugger is offering to our readers  (that’s you!) check out SMUG CITY SCENE ASAP.

Shout out to EPYCK  for helping us put this together!

See all of the photos on our Facebook page!

If you’re a fan of the arts in any way, shape or form then you need to be here at “The Blend” brought to you by RAW natural born artist.

For those whom are unfamiliar, RAW Natural Born Artists is an independent arts organization for artists – by artists. Their mission is to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. RAW currently operates in 32 cities across the United States and counting. They welcome all genres of art including independent film, fashion, music, visual art, performing art, hairstylists, makeup artists and more. If you don’t know, NOW YOU KNOW!

We were fortunate to catch up with Lamar The Artist, one of the artist that will be displaying their talents at The Blend. Of course we had to chop it up with him for a sec just to get the scoop on his artistic ways and tonight’s art showcase.

TS: When did you first learn about your artistic ways?

LTA: I first learned about my ability to draw when I was about 5 yrs old watching my older brother draw. He helped me by telling me to close my eyes and draw what I saw in my mind ever since then I let my mind run wild.

TS: Tell us the story of your life being an artist from when you started, to your current endeavors.

LTA: growing up I’ve never pictured making art a career I wanted to be a chef and own a restaurant. At one point in my life I completely stop drawing for about to 2years. but I have never lost a step taking that break I soon notice my artwork became 10 times better…I have been making a living from my art since high school making handmade tee shirt art to working as a graphic designer in the marine corps and now a tattoo artist and freelance artist.

TS: What new doors have opened for you to explore?

LTA: With art I meet a lot of people that find interest in my creation. I have networked with a lot of them as well as of right now I am attending The Art Institute of Washington where I have meet individuals that share a common love and interest with art like myself. We now have a group that goes by the name NERDnation (Notion to Embrace the Range of Design) we are on twitter @1nerdnation

TS: Seeing how this will be your first public art show, what is the 1 thing you hope to take from it?

LTA: with this art show being my first major show I plan to show the public everything anything I am capable of doing with my creativity. I hope to gain much experience and positive feedback that I could use to make a better show next time around.

What can we look forward to seeing from you in “The Blend”?

LTA: in the RAW artist show you can expect to see many different forms of art from digital painting photography and tattoos I would say the only thing that I missed out on is sculpting maybe next time. I go by my own saying when creating my art “A creative imagination will see more than the eye can picture”

BUY TICKETS HERE

EVENT DETAILS:

When: May 10^th, 2012

Where: CAFÉ ASIA

1720 I Street NW

Washington, DC

Details:  21+ Event – Fashionable Attire

Tickets are $10 presale but will be $15 at the door

Check out this video of the last event:

The LA Clippers have an opportunity to close out the Memphis Grizzlies tonight to advance to the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs. Clippers guard Nick Young, formerly of the Washington Wizards, didn’t do much in that game but he found a way to shine anyway….at the post-game press conference after their overtime game 4 win. Young found himself a very bright half-denim/ half-silkish material shirt that looks like he stole it from a guido magician. Chris Paul, seen in the background, should pull the kid to the side and give him an assist. No dimes.

Recently, I began running and I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. Running is one of those calming, reflective, self-conquering types of things that gives one a sense of peace and accomplishment. Feeling anything but during the past few weeks, I’ve taken up the activity to do some “head-clearing”. Sadly at 26, my post-collegiate athletic days are far behind me and this was my first time picking up the cross-trainers in over 365 days.

I’ve always prided myself on my decision making ability. Whether it was false confidence or pure instinct be it right, or be it wrong, I’ve always taken a squeeze first, ask questions last approach.

But somewhere along the way I’ve changed. Needless to say I’m not squeezing anymore. I’m reflecting. Deliberating. Procrastinating; which we all know are polite terms for wasting time. However, as oxymoronish as it be, I’ve made a bold decision to be cool with my indecision. My subtle answer to some of life’s most challenging questions is simply not having one at all. Some of life’s most pressing inquiries are scraping me up a bit and it looks like I’m fresh out of band-aids.

So back to the running thing. Back to me being on my Forrest Gump shit. During my most recent dash through the park something annoying happened. A quarter-mile in, my iPod ran out of juice. At that moment I had a serious decision to make. It was either turn around and go back home, or bear the brunt of my run Roy Ayers-less; visibly disgruntled, I scampered on. As I continued down the path, my would be focus on the music was now redirected to everything else around me. I took in the trees, I took in the water, and most importantly to this story– I took in the people.

About 10 passersby into my run I made a humble observation. Seeing that we were doing the same activity, on the same mosquito ridden trail, I assumed my fellow runners and bikers would have a shared sense of camaraderie, a “running brotherhood” if you will–I was wrong.

I assumed that because we were all on the same path, that we all understood the hardships that it came with, and that understanding would perhaps evoke a sense of empathy that would at least warrant a friendly head nod, or a slight grin. Again, I was wrong.

I couldn’t believe it, but the arrant disregard the fellow runners and bikers so happily extended to me, promptly got me in my feelings. I was actually internalizing the way other runners were responding to my kind notions. The varied responses were triggering feelings that affected the way I was running. At some points I found myself sprinting intensely, and at others I was moseying along at a pace slightly past crawling.

After I finished my run I was still experiencing a decent level of discontent. After completing 8 miles, you would think I would have some sense of accomplishment… Nope. However, what I did feel was the postpartum-like symptoms of my run. It was angering me that something so simple and dumb could affect me in that way—then it hit me.

Hiding behind my reasons for running was a plethora of different truths. Although this was my first physical run in over a year, I’d been doing a lot of internal running. I thought about how running is a tale of two contexts. In one instance it’s seen as a healthy, encouraged exercise that strengthens your outer and inner self; but in the other it’s seen as an excuse for inaction, or something people do when they’re afraid.

The truth is this new call to run was never about exercising, it was about having some uninterrupted self time where I was free to think my own thoughts and move freely. I haven’t felt that way in a while. So in turn, I’ve been running. It’s almost funny to see how freedom can bring on two totally different responses. In a mind full of fallen facts, one truth remains standing, and that is my desire to keep running. Now I just have to figure out what type it will be.

We don’t feel like Solange Knowles gets enough credit. Forever in the beauty shadows of her big sister, Solange rarely gets talked about in anyone’s top 10 ladies in the game. Here she is at the 2012 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala showing that little sis can more than hold her own.

You know that joke about showing up to an event in your draws. Looks like renowned Fashion designer Marc Jacobs took that to heart for the 2012 Met Gala. For that he get this week’s NOT Smug Shot honors.

Kanye West let us know that he has haters. Many haters. He’s known for that. But sometimes he let’s us know what he hates. This time it’s on Twitter. Yeezy unleashed a Twitter stream of all things fashionably abominable to him. It includes blazers with jeans. I love blazers with jeans so I can’t really take a guy who wears Watch the Throne “kilts” and women’s blouse and skinny pants get ups seriously. But to each his own.

See what he ranted about below. 

Just driving through the city and I see a few thing I hate…—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate button up shirts with hoodies—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate hoodies with sport coats—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate sport coats with button up shirts, jeans and dress shoes—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate khaki trench coats with jeans and off brand work out sneakers—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate khaki cargo shorts—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I Hate big ass striped scarves—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

I hate long ass sideburns with the line up RnB beard—
Kanye West (@kanyewest) May 05, 2012

Today marks the premier of what looks to be one of the most visually stunning movies we’ve seen in a long time. Restless City showcases the story of a young man surviving the trials and tribulations of life while attempting to pursue music in New York City. The film premiers in many U.S. Cities today. For ticket information in Washington DC go HERE