Top 5 Reasons Watching Warriors Games on TV is Just as FUN as Being Inside R'Oracle Arena

Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs are starting and if you are a Golden State Warriors fan like me than you are more excited than a toddler tasting ice cream for the first time. Everybody knows that the R'Oracle Arena will be rocking. But don't feel bad if you don't have tickets to this sellout event because watching the game on TV can be just as fabulous if not more than being at R'Oracle....

#5 Steph Curry's mouth guard....

Dwight Howard may have his shooting arm sock and Amar'e Stoudemire may have his shooting arm sock and face googles but, my pick for most adorable thing in the NBA is a close-up on Steph Curry's babyface gnawing away on his mouth guard.... Especially when there's only 2-minutes left in the 4^th and we are down by 2. There's something so comforting about his chill factor as he swirls his mouth guard in his mouth. Steph be like, “Pfffssssttt this is not a problem,” to everybody watching.

#4 The Warriors Bench

courtesy of  http://ncwtv.com/nn/the-15-best-gifs-of-nba-benches-losing-their-minds-in-celebration-4591/

I love watching the bench while they are watching their teammates play on the court because they act they are in they are DUBNATION.... Jumping up and down, throwing up 3's with their fingers, twirling their towels, and high-fiving each other, Steph even does the Rumba every once and a while. I get so excited watching them!!! I just want to run down to the bench and squeeze in between them and pass my bucket of popcorn around. 

#3 Mark Jackson's Face

Okay I must admit I was one of those folks that took it personal the way Mark Jackson was fired at end of the season last year. I like many fans didn't understand why a coach who had improved wins for each of his 3 seasons along with leading the Warriors to their first back to back playoff appearances since 1992 was fired in such a despicable way. Despite all the rumors about how Jackson clashed with the front office and some members of the team, I tend to think that there is always a classy way for folks to depart and in my personal opinion Joe Lacob was a little unclassy. Just look at his pouty mouth during one of the 2014 NBA Playoff games.  

But you know whats worse than Lacob's pouty mouth? The saltiness displayed on Mark Jackson's face whenever he commentates during a Warriors games. It must be absolute torture to watch the team he groomed to be champions to continue their magical ride on what has been deemed their "FAIRYTALE" season with their new head coach, Steve Kerr. OMG ESPN just end this already!

#2 @Money23Green

courtesy of USATSI

Who's the most notorious trash talker in the NBA today? If you're thinking it's Kevin Garnett you are wrong. It's actually DUBNATION's very own and completely lovable #23, Draymond “Money” Green.  

To quote a friend and fellow Warriors fan who is always watching from home, “Draymond stay talking shit in slo-motion.” Yes indeed he does. Although it's a beauty to watch my first pick for Defensive Player of the Year physically berate his opponents up and down the court when you are at the actual game, nothing is better than the verbal tear down Money Green serves up to his opponents in slo-motion. But if you are at the game you miss out on the slo-mo and honestly trash talk in slo-motion is the best trash talk there is.

#1 DUBNATION

courtesy of https://christinechenphotography.wordpress.com

Even Pelican'ts (and yes I spelled that right) head coach, Monty Williams, had to admit that 19,596 Loud and Proud Warrior fans can be a little hard on the eardrums. I mean they did get sweeped. I would like to think that us members of the DUBNATION are the main reason for that. (On a sidenote: The way Monty Williams was complaining about the noise at the R'Oracle would make you think he had never visited the place. But honestly anybody with the volume on knows that Warriors fans can be a little loud....IJS)

Nonetheless, Whether you are in your living or at one of the many official Warriors Playoffs Watch Parties —with all proceeds raised going to local Bay Area charities through the Warriors Communities Foundation---I'm thinking if you are sensitive to noise pack a pair of earplugs cause it gonna be LOOOOUUUDDD. Everybody knows that you don't have to be inside the R'Oracle Arena to be Loud and Proud especially when the Splash Brothers are hitting them 3's …... 

 

Help Blackberry Soul Food Academy Raise $10K

It is not the first time that I have written about BlackBerry Soul Bakery & Cafe' and it probably won't be my last time either. The truth of the matter is I absoluetly love the place and once I met head chef and owner, Rene Johnson, and her family, I  knew that it would be love. Well, the love came from the first bite of their blackberry cobbler. I stayed because...Well you get my drift. Simply put the food is HELLA G.U.U.D!

Fried Tomatoes, Greens, & Hotwater Cornbread

When Rene began offering cooking classes they sold like hot cakes, pardon the pun. They sold over 300 classes in 3 days, and have a 4-star rating on YELP with dozens of rave reviews for its Southern style sweet and savory dishes made in-house. Rightfully called, BlackBerry Soul Food Academy, the interest in the classes have became so popular that she had to dial back the days and hours of the restaurant to accommodate the more than 700 students who have booked classes. Rene is teaching students how to fry chicken, clean greens, and bake sweet potato pie. And she absolutely loves it! "If I had known how much I'd loved teaching, I probably would have never opened the restaurant first," she jokes. Expansion is necessary to keep up with the demands of both the restaurant and the culinary school. They are trying to raise $10, 000 through the crowdfunding website, IndieGoGo.com

Fried Chicken.."Season the chicken not the flour"

The contributions from this campaign will be used to purchase items and supplies specifically needed to support the growing number of students and requested classes. A brief inventory list of what is needed is posted below:

Fresh Made Simple

What Is Needed:
Cooking Utensils
Cookware
Aprons
Dishware and heat protection
Convection Oven
Office Supplies and additional Digital Services
Recruiting and hiring additional instructors

Students from th biscuit & fruit compote class

Click here to pitch in your support. You can give as little as $5 or as much as you want. No amount is too small. Be sure to spread the word and make some noise about the campaign. There's only 10 days left!
For more information about BlackBerry Soul Bakery &Cafe go to www.blackberrysoul.net

www.indiegogo.com/blackberrysoulfoodacademy

Happy Father's Day

If you are still trying to figure out what to do for that special man (men) in your life this Father’s Day, consider taking them to the BlackBerry Soul Bakery & Café. They will be Celebrating Father’s Day with a special menu that includes Smoked Chicken or Ribs, Baked Beans and Potato Salad. You can still order off of the regular brunch menu which includes their delectable Sweet Potato Waffles, Salmon Croquet, mile-high Homemade Drop Biscuits & Gravy, or a big poppa sized helping of one of their many mouth-watering cobblers and pies. No matter what you chose be sure to stay cool with a tall glass of their enchanting BlackBerry Lemonade.

Keep in mind that a percentage of all sales today will go to support 100 Black Wings, a boys and girls youth track club who are raising money to travel and compete in the 46th Annual International Children's Games which will take place in South Korea this coming July. These games are endorsed by the International Olympic Committee and help to promote global peace and foster cultural exchange through competition and cross-cultural friendship building.  

BlackBerry Soul Bakery & Café is located at the corner of 14th Ave & E. 21st  Street. They are open 10am-6pm today. 

A Call For Dance Studios

As a performer growing up in Oakland I was lucky to have the world at my doorstep through dance. Whether Haitian, West African, or Ballet, I gained a sense of the world through the twinkling of my toes. 

Malonga Center of the Arts courtesy of OaklandNorth.net

Everybody's Creative Dance Center, Mosswood Park, Studio One, Ms. Manduke at Oakland Tech, the Malonga Center, and Shawl Anderson all hold great memories of  dance in my heart and now Oakland's Art & Soul Festival will feature the many dance studios located throughout the city and are looking for performers. For more information call 510-763-5180. 

 The 12th Annual Art and Soul Festival is scheduled for AUG 4th and 5th, 2012. You can check out the following link to find out about this year's line up.  www.artandsouloakland.com/

Dance, Eat, Walk!

Today is the first of the month and it’s also the First Friday of June. As an Oaklander, I really look forward to First Fridays because of Art Murmur and the Art Walk that happens from all points downtown Oakland and throughout the Town. The energy is magnanimous! Yes that’s a mouthful but so is First Friday’s. If you followed me on Foursquare or Twitter last month, you had a chance to see where I like to roam. Whether I’m at Oaklandish checking out the live music, the Betti Ono Gallery to see a new cutting edge local artist, or grabbing a bite from one of the many food trucks parked along the streets, I LOVE IT!  

I will be trying something new tonight and if you are looking for something new you should meet me out at the “Night Market,” at Jack London Square. Debuting originally on May 4^th, this June 1^st event will be the second in the series 3 monthly shopping bazaars. There’s live music, fresh farmers produce, delicious food and libations. There will also be an Interactive Art Exhibit and of course artisans and craftsmen featuring their artistry and handmade goods. If you miss tonight’s event the final bazaar is scheduled for July 6, 2012. The festivities get started from tonight 6:00-10:00pm. Visit http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/night-market for further infomation.

courtesy of www.savvycities.com

Tonight will also mark the first in the series of the annual summer series, “Dancing Under the Stars,” on Jack London Square. You can learn to salsa for free with classes provided by the Linden Street Dance Studio . “Dancing Under the Stars,” will happen each Friday with something new to learn each time. For more information about future classes visit www.savvycities.com/dancing-under-stars-jack-london/ Free dance instruction is from 8:30-10:00pm with a dance party to follow.

If you are looking for an activity with substance join BAY-Peace Youth Leaders, and the Resistance Art Projects for “Poetry Murmur.” The open mic poetry reading will take place at the “Champions for Humanity,” monument located at 19th & Rashidah Muhammad Way. “Poetry Murmur,” is the last event of the school year so come on out and support our youth as they confront militarism and other forms of violence through “youth organizing” and “artistic resistance.” It’s an open mic and you are welcomed to bring a poem of your own that honors the legacy that the monument represents. Food will be served potluck style so feel free to bring a dish to share as well.  For more information about the Bay-Peace organization visit www.baypeace.org “Poetry Murmur,” begins at 7pm.