Since Saturday many countries have been dancing the night away in the streets to bring in the Lent season which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday.

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox societies hold festivals in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday that most commonly involve large parades and public street parties.

The Carnivals held in Rio De Janeiro, and Trinidad & Tobago are the most popular celebrations where people travel from around the globe to take part in.

On Wednesday Christians embark on a 40 day period of fasting and prayer, so one could appreciate the party till the wheels fall off atmosphere of Carnival before this journey.

Carnival in Rio or Trinidad is a great vacay whether its just the girls, just the fellas, or just the two us  type thing,  it doesn’t matter, a great time is guaranteed!

It’s too late for this year but you can begin planning for 2013 and trust me planning ahead is crucial  when attending carnival in Trinidad or Brazil because accommodations sell out up to 4 months before the events!

Here are some snaps of people getting their Carnival on!

Valentines Day, the most depressing day for single Americans has past.

You and all of your single friends decided to be each other’s valentines, went to dinner, then to the strip club, all the while making fun of the sea of couples you all saw in passing in an attempt ease each others loneliness. Unfortunately it wasn’t as eventful as you had hoped.

Halt! Put down the lotion!  Heineken wants to help you “seal the deal” with that special someone and  get a jump start on V day 2013.

Just asking someone out on a date is soooo 2011, Heineken has introduced the Serenade Facebook App that enables you to woo your luv-candy in song.

With just a few clicks you can send a custom song to that special lady  asking her out on a date in hope that one day she will eventually have sex with you.

To begin your quest to having sex again here is the link to the Serenade Facebook App: http://apps.facebook.com/heinekenserenade

Send it to at least 5 women, because statistically,  1 out of every 5 women are willing to sleep with you. Then Bam! You’re so in there!  I’ve sent myself one, and I must say it was quite romantic. *wink*

The latest of Serenade promotion videos features a friend of Food & The City,  the talented funny man, Affion Crockett. This is hilarious! Check it out!

WhatChu Think? Fellas, if romance wasn’t valued extremely by women, would you still be romantic?What do you think of women’s expectations of romance in relationships? Unrealistic? or Whatever the lady wants she shall have?

Holla,

My cousin brought this video to my attention and I have to say this is the most Gangster-ish Senior Citizen I have ever seen in my life! This is the kind of woman you want on the squad, because you know! That she has got your back!

No one knows the lady’s name so I’m just going to call her OG Oatmeal-Cookiez.  (Whaaat! she looks like she makes great oatmeal cookies… and she’s like an oatmeal cookie… sweet but rough in texture) *cheese*

In this video OG-Oatmeal gives a young lady on the bus a good “talkin’ to” for being disrespectful.

Disclaimer: OG-Oatmeal-Cookiez has a potty mouth. This video contains explicit language.

Holla!

This adorable Pekingese named Malachy won “Best In Show” yesterday in the only contest where bitch is a technical term ,   the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

One may wonder, what did Malachy and his handler, David Fitzpatrick, gain from their new doggy stardom?  Here’s the list of prizes for the 2012 “Best In Show” Dog.

-Silver Bowl Trophy

-Steak Dinner at Sardi’s, a historic restaurant in the Theatre district.

-A tour of the Empire State Builing

-And Malachy and his handler , David Fitzpatrick, will ring the opening bell on the NY Stock Exchange on Thursday.

(It’s a lil depressing that Malachy’s life, who is a dog, is more exciting then mine…just slightly)

Although there isn’t a monetary prize for the “Best In Show” title, the notoriety and appearance fees  from upcoming scheduled appearances on the Today Show, The View, and other shows, will make up for it. Also the Fitzpatrick recieves a higher stud fee for breeding the dog.

Apparently Doggy Fame comes with digital hate mail. Persons peeved at the judges  choice took to the internet to express how they felt about Malachy: ”I’m sorry, but the thing that won Westminster is NOT a dog. It’s more like an animatronic troll doll with extra hair,” said one Twitter comment.

My larger concern is for this Tweeter who made that and 1. Watching the Dog Show on Valentines Day, and 2.  then felt passionate enough to tweet about it… Talking about it is the first step buddy.

Well I got some ink in my pocket just in case I come across Malachy so that I can get a paw print (that’s how doggie celebrities give autographs….duuuuh!)

Congrats Malachy on your new shiny bowl, and superstar status!

Holla,

Most people like brownies and cheesecake, so putting them together only seems natural. Adding red food coloring to the brownie batter and swirled into the cheesecake mixture on top make for a festive dessert for Valentines day.

They’re super simple to make, and you can serve it in a desert dish with some vanilla ice cream with two spoons for sharing.

Valentines Cheesecake Brownies

It’s the morning after Grammy night, a night filled with great accomplishments, and great performances by Adele and Jennifer Hudson.

I am so proud of Adele, It’s great to see true talent prevail. It’s refreshing to see an artist leave the antics and choreographers at home and just sing, and that’s exactly what Adele does, S-A-N-G!!! Any woman that can set Fire to the Rain is All-Rite with me!

Congrats Adele on your complete domination of the Grammys, taking home 6 Grammy’s girl !(talkin’ like I know her)

The mood was somber as the show went on without one of musics greatest song birds, Whitney Houston. Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Whitney by singing her career hit “I Will Always Love You.”  It was a very emotional moment. (Niagara falls on the tear scale)

Katy Perry let us know that she got a divorce, then wrote a song about it… Like to hear it… here it go… it’s called  ”Part of Me” .  I am goo goo gaa gaa over some bright colored smurf looking hair, but you should really consider giving your BFF  Ri Ri her wig back. Music artists are so lucky, they can break up and then make money off of singing about it, all I’ve ever received from an ex was trust issues. *shrug*

Dammit, I can’t take it no more!  Nicki Minaj has got to go! Last night she fell all the way off the effin’ map….. I’m done..

This bi#c!h is sorry.  Is anything sacred in America anymore….I know she wouldn’t have done this performance in Rome…. making a mockery of anyones faith is not cool, we don’t have to all believe the same thing, but respect is a must, and some things are sacred, period.

Ok, take away the all the references to Catholicism, the song is still Wack, and bad trees bear bad fruit, therefore the performance was Wack as well or an “Epic Fail” as my predecessors say…

Is this what’s hot right now, or am I just getting old…. I may just me getting old…but that ish was Wack-Sauce with a side of fu#*in horrible…

Relive this moment at your own risk smh (with my hands covering my face). I spent 5 minutes too long searching for the link to this mess..

I have nothing else to say…. except subscribe to Food & The City! (pssst. button is on the top right of the screen *wink)

Holla,

Yesterday music lost another one of its treasures, Whitney Houston at age 48.

Whitney Houston was the epitome of Diva. She leaves behind a catalog of contributions to music that transcends time itself. Although she will never grace the stage again psychically, her music will outlive us all.

It’s sad that some can only focus on her not so glamourous history then her legacy. Most of us can suffer the ramifications of our bad discussions in private, and can successfully escape the judgment sketchy pasts from friends and family. Whitney, like any other superstar have no choice but to live their lives publicly.

Sure, some moments in Whitney’s life made for some good TMZ stories, but when someone dies, famous or not, a degree of respect, tact, and care should be taken when life is lost.

How she died,  and who was with before when she died, is irrelevant to me.  The end result is still the same, she’s gone, and that fact, trumps any detail that could come to light at this moment for me.

I remember when I became a Whitney Houston Fan.  I was in the 2nd grade and I got a whippin’ for borowwing my moms Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” tape and playing it until it broke…..no regrets lol.. I’d do it again.

Thank You Whitney for sharing your talent with the world, you will be missed!

Enjoy this Video Playlist of some Whitney Hits ! Celebrate Her Legacy!

First a little history….

Valentines Day was created in America because without it,  February would be void of a holiday where you were culturally bound to purchase something for someone else.  (source: ronique nicole 1981)

While most women anticipate to be swept off of their feet on February 14th in a vortex of romance, most will be disappointed because they’ve seen “The Notebook” one too many times, and unless you’re dating professor x, your partner can’t read your mind, and therefore are clueless to what your idea of “romance” may be.

Well, I can’t tell you what the standard of romance of  your girlfriend, wife, or baby-mama is,  but I can tell you 5 gifts that you should stay away from.

ONE:

Teddy Bears:  Unless your girlfriend is 12, I would stay away from the Teddy Bears. Adult females have no use for teddy bears. A while ago we’ve traded in tea time with Mr. Fluffles for mocha lates at Starbucks with Christina and Susan, our human friends.

TWO:

Candy: More likely than not, your girlfriend is on a diet. In America 9.5 out of 10 women are on a diet whether its been successful thus far or not. You can walk into any women’s restroom USA and overhear some lady who is a size 2 calling herself a fat ass in the mirror.

THREE:

Teddy Bear Holding Candy: This is a double offense.

FOUR:

Hand Made Anything: Unless you are a carpenter or a jewelry maker, put down the glue gun and go to the mall. Gift cards were invented for a reason.

FIVE:

Clothes Or Lingerie That Don’t Fit: If you don’t know her body and her size you better not call yourself  buying an article of clothing for her, because trust me, if you give her something that doesn’t fit, no matter what body type she is, it’s the body type you won’t be examining that night (if you know whadd-I-Mean).

Disclaimer: This is just advice infused with humor, and like any advice it should be aligned with facts.  You are the only one that can fill in “facts” about your relationship. So don’t contact me talking bout, I treated my girlfriend to a day at the spa,  and she wanted chocolates…*shrug*

What-chu-Think?  What are some of the worst Valentines Day gestures you have heard about or experienced?

Holla!

Simon Cowell is setting the record straight that Mariah Carey Cannon and Beyonce Knowles Carter are not on the list of candidates to fill the two empty judge chairs over at X-Factor USA. Teeth are clenched to know who will fill these empty spaces?

Who Would You Pick?

Whitney Houston? (if she can keep it together *peering eye)

Gwen Stefani?

Chilli from TLC?

Fergie from BEP?

What-chu-Think? Who would you chose to fill the empty seats for X-Factor USA? 

There was a time that I thought there was nothing better than Godiva Chocolate.  Well the folks at Godiva proved me wrong by rolling out their line of Godiva Chocolate Liqueurs that could be dangerous, in a good way, in the hands of any skilled drink mixer or baker.

Tracy from New York proved just how deliciously dangerous she could get with Godiva Liqueur  with this remix of the red velvet cake.  The cake is adorned by a fluffy Godiva White Chocolate liqueur infused filling and frosting that is delish! Serving this cake up in martini glasses is sure to be the buzz of any par-tay!

Without further adieu, Behold!

White Godiva Martini Cake

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