Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Ladies Lotto!

Flashback: Feelings, Nothing More Than... DAMN.

I do not believe in the conditions that produce a situation that demanded a song like that - Nina Simone

Nina Simone is one of the most fearless artists of the last century. Outspoken and "uppity" for a southern BLACK FEMALE, she showed the world it was only on her own terms she would live. Simone was under surveillance by the FBI, she was considered a threat to US security because of her lyrics and voice.

This performance of "Feelings" is so incredibly powerful and moving. Take a few minutes to watch Nina's captivating sheer genius and ferocity. Be prepared to faint as she opens her heart. Nina Simone is truly a gift from the heavens. MAGIC.

Feelings — Nina Simone

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Ladies Lotto Los Angeles' Naomi Robbins aka Angel Baby and her partner, Doctor Nod, have put together a Halloween mix that is guaranteed to "creep you out with a scary assortment of musical Halloween tricks n' treats."

Download the set here by right clicking:

Original audio source (2010-10-27T20_07_34-07_00.mp3

Set list features:
The Adventures Of Frank N. Stein - Al Casey & The Bats screams by "Knobs" Miller / Dracula!!! - Z Z en de Maskers / The Movie Monster's Ball - The Fiend-Ager / Jack The Ripper - Casey Jones & The Governors / Beware - Bill Buchannan / Jekyll And Hyde - Jim Burgett / Graveyard - Leroy Bowman & The Arrows / Walking Through A Cemetery - Claudine Clark / Graveyard - The Blazers / Shock Hop - Johnny Cale / Nightmare Hop - Earl Patterson with The Darts / The Monster Hop - Jimmy Dee & The Meteors / The Electronic Insides And Metal Complexion That Make Up Herr Doctor Krieg - The Riders Of The Mark / Two Heads Are Better Than One - Beatnik Duet / The Mad Scientist - The Zanies / The Witch - The Rattles / Mad Witch - Dave Gardner

Visit Angel Baby's "Lost in Paradise" site for more music:

http://lostinparadise.podomatic.com/

Happy Halloween!!

Modern Mamahood: The Puppy-Stage of Toddlerhood

As my wee one, Regina Jade enters toddlerhood, she's basically turned into a puppy. I'm not sure how long the puppy stage will last, but I think there should be a chapter about the puppy stage in most child-rearing educational books.

Knowing whether or not your child is like a puppy might give parents insight into how to care for and entertain their little one. I've broken down the characteristic similarities between my child and a puppy, in a very scientific way, for you to measure puppy-ness in your own tot.

Cuteness - Like a puppy, she is super cute...people squeal when they see her and would pet her if I'd let them.

Going Outside - RJ always wants to go outside. If she gets the idea herself she'll stand at the door and indicate she wants to go out. If someone mentions going outside, she gets super excited and runs to the door to be let out.

Marking Territory - While puppies mark their territory with pee, RJ marks hers in her own way. As she bops along in a new environment, she touches nearly every single thing on her path.

Scrounging for Food - Puppies are notorious for begging for food or standing around waiting until someone throws them a frickin' bone here. RJ does the exact same thing when others are eating in front of her.

Whining - RJ's whines when she doesn't know a word for something, or just doesn't feel like using a word, and it sounds a lot like a puppy's whine: "eh, eh, eh, eh?"

Sleeping Well - After nearly a year of not "sleeping like a baby" through the night, RJ finally has this one down and sleeps like a pro, much like a worn out puppy.

Playful - It's no surprise that toddlers and puppies are both playful, they want to play play play, 80% of the time.

Untrained - Like a puppy, RJ hasn't yet learned how to pee in a more socially acceptable place. She is also not capable of walking alongside her "owner" for long. Both advancements will take dedicated training.

Loves Balls and Parks - Puppies and RJ love playing with balls...fetch is one of their favorites. She also loves parks, just like puppies.

Acting Like a Puppy - One of RJ's favorite animals is the puppy, and she's learned how to take on the characteristics of a puppy by barking and panting. When she does this, its become extremely hard to tell the difference.

What should you do if you feel your child might actually be a puppy, or really close to one? Simple: give her cuddles, food, guidance, understanding and let him or her run wild as often as possible. I personally am not a fan of the child-leash, but in extreme cases of child puppydom...I have come to understand their place.

The Modern Mamahood Column on the Ladies Lotto Blog:

As our Ladies Lotto community grows and evolves, we now have quite a few mamas and mamas-to-be! The LL Modern Mamahood weekly column presents the issues and products related to being a Ladies Lotto Mama. Blogger: Lana Perry

Is Your Art In Action?

No tricks here, only treats! Believe that this workshop is a treat, if you are looking to strengthen your performance muscles. Performance artist and badass burlesque performer, Victoria Libertore, is teaching her "Artist In Action" performance workshop using archetypal energy work which includes tuning into intuition, using your body and movement to express ideas and emotions, utilizing space on stage and much more.

Ms. Libertore, also known as "Howlin' Vic," is an expert in creating on stage marvels, most recently producing and starring in her one-woman show, "Girl Meat," about Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer in history. I took her goddess burlesque workshop earlier this year and I continually use her techniques as I develop as an artist. She will help you find things within yourself that you didn't know existed and it's a magical space to connect with other budding artists.
Details are below, enjoy!

PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP: Artist in Action

Tuesday Nights in November: November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Location: BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 Fifth Avenue (between 7th & 8th St.)
BAX
Cost: $150.00
Registration: Limited to eight. No drop-ins.
Sign up with BAX: 718-832-0018
Develop your own performance piece using Victoria Libertore's unique method of archetypal energy work.
In this five-week workshop, you will learn a foundation for creating an original performance using tools of physical theatre, archetypal energy, intuition, character exploration and imagery. Each participant creates original material and builds on it from week to week. There will be group exercises as well as time for each person to present work. All types of performers are welcome: solo, collaborations, text-based and movement-based. The workshop will be a safe and warm environment for you to express your creativity and walk away with performance-ready material. All levels of experience are welcome. Whether you are a novice that is new to making your own creative work or a pro that wants to refine your skills, you will benefit from these tools and from watching each others' journeys as artists in action. Maximum of eight participants.

Seven Questions with Cozette McCreery

 

Two years ago I lived and worked in London for six months. During that time, I somehow got immersed in the East London fashion and nightlife scene. The most exclusive, chicest night I encountered over there was PONYSTEP. I mean, the first time I went to a PONYSTEP party was fashion designer Gareth Pugh's going-away-to-Paris party! Cozette McCreery happens to be a member of the fashion-forward PONYSTEP tribe. And girlfriend, does she sure know how to WERK it out on the dancefloor. Door queen, DJ, fashion + PR maven - she is the female embodiment of uber-chic. After reading this interview with Cozette below, you will instantly gain 10 cool points. I guarantee it.

What is your name, age, occupation(s), location(s)?
My name is Cozette McCreery. I am 42 years old and my occupations
include: one third of men’s knitwear collective SIBLING, door girl for Richard Mortimer’s Boombox and now Ponystep events, PR, DJ, active committee member of the charity HOPING and general Miss Fix It.

Locations are London and occasionally Paris and usually at or around a door frame/DJ booth/party/design studio/computer.
 

Why do you do what you do? What inspires you in general and in your work? What makes you stand out from other artists?

I can’t actually think what else I could be doing. Does that make your career choice part of your genetic make up? As a child I wanted to be a train driver, a designer or a vet. I haven’t driven a train but I was a shepherd so in my mind I never say never.

I’d like to quote cheesy John Miles here about music being my first love. I love how different genres influence everything from the way that people dress to the way that they dance. Youth tribes I guess and all the uniforms and manners associated with them. And, even though I wasn’t really part of a tribe other than being a punk just as it finished and could be brought at Miss Selfridge (kiss of death), SKA in the most basic terms of wearing a Madness or Specials T shirt, New Romantics with my frill shirt and Spandau inspired tartan shawl and Grunge (naturally I wanted the Perry Ellis version) and that my own uniform was my school brown one they have always fascinated me.

I get so excited DJing even though I know that it’s really only me playing someone else’s music. I’d like to think that there is some artistry to selecting the right song at the right moment though. OK so it’s not rocket science but getting people dancing and keeping them on the dance floor always makes me very happy. And, even though I have a high grade in cello and used to drum any flat surface I could (much to my Mum’s annoyance), I’ll leave the actual making of the music to the professionals.

What makes me stand out? Probably that I’m over 6ft in heels! Ha ha but no, really with my main work as part of SIBLING I like to think it is because we are producing colourful collections of luxury men’s knitwear in a market drowning in a humour-less sea of black, grey and beige. So that strength of product and the fact that I’m over 6ft in heels…..

What are some current projects you are working on?
Collection 6 for SIBLING and selling in Paris in January and showing in London in February, possible events for Ponystep, a possible collaboration with a menswear manufacturer, SISTER by SIBLING, press trips to NY and Tokyo, my blog…

What are you hoping the future will bring for yourself and your career?

Firstly: A HOLIDAY! Secondly: a communications meltdown so that I can enjoy my holiday. Thirdly: a straight man to holiday with.

And…. that SIBLING continues to grow at the pace we have set and expands to eventually become a full men’s wardrobe. That I can still make friends with Doormen and bring a happy polite vibe to any event and finally, that I have ample opportunities to wear a new dress, heels and subject people to my record collection.
 

What are your favorite places in the general London area?
Anywhere that has the following: friends, good music, clothing, cake or ice cream. Mainly that revolves around the East London area, as I’m too lazy or too busy.
 

What's it like to be a creative in a city like London? Do you feel happy, sad, stressed, paranoid, etc.?
All 4 sometimes or a combination like on a Jelly Belly menu. It depends what time of the year it is, whether we are at deadline, cash flow is only flowing OUT or it’s Fashion Week. But I don’t get stressed out easily especially when with a screaming crowd of people trying to get into a party. I get quite Zen about that strangely.

I was once described as a ‘very happy soul’ and I’d like to think that this is me 99% of the time. Yesterday I was also described as the combination of ‘a school mistress and a 4 year old kid…’ either I think sums me up.

 

Do you have any advice, life tips, suggestions for the Ladies Lotto community?
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Try to say ‘yes’ a lot (OK within reason).
Swallow your fear as most of the time it’s only in your head.
Think outside your age bracket.
Don’t plan the life out of things.
As the Patron Saint Of Cool Drew Barrymore stated: BREATHE

Oh and don’t forget to tip the coffee girls and boys and say thank you to bus drivers and your parents.

To see more of the SIBLING collection, be sure to visit the LONDON Show Rooms at the Soho Grand Hotel in NYC from October 25-26, 2010. For more information on Cozette, visit her website site: http://www.cozettemccreery.com

Seven Questions is a Q+A segment I, Susie G, will be doing EXCLUSIVELY for Ladies Lotto. Seven Questions will be featuring female artists, creatives, and the like from various locations worldwide. The goal of this is to introduce creatives to the LL community and the interwebs, and hopefully create potential collaborations, networking opportunities, etc. All interviews are done via e-mail correspondence. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have suggestions for future interviewees @ d j s u s i e g [at] g m a i l [dot] c o m. 

There's A New Sheriff In Town

Marisol Valles Garcia (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

20-year old Marisol Valles Garcia was named the first female police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, a Mexican border town laden with drug violence. She was the only person who accepted the position which, after 28,000 drug cartel related deaths over the past 4 years, has left most people scared and intimidated. Ms. Garcia, a student studying Criminology, hopes to hire more female officers and take a different approach to policing. One resident stated "well, let's see what a woman can do..."

Read more about Ms. Garcia here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39760545/ns/world_news-americas/

Flashback: Don't You Get Fresh With Me

Buffalo Stance from Neneh Cherry on Vimeo.

All time classic Neneh Cherry's Buffalo Stance is an anthem about real love and power. Fact: Swedish born Neneh Cherry moved to London at the tender age of 14, became a housemate to the late Ari Up along with being in a band called the New Age Steppers together.

Seven Questions with Vintage Stylist Sammy Davis

 
What do you get when you take a sweet Pennsylvanian girl with a panache for vintage clothes and plant her in one of the world's most hectic cities? You get one Miss Sammy Davis! Entrepreneur, vintage stylist and specialist, and host to her own online TV series, Sammy wears a lot of hats with lots of spunk.  Her website, Sammy Davis Vintage, is the online HQ for all things Sammy and has attracted a bit of a following as well. Even though Sammy always seems to have a new project she's getting herself into, I managed to steal her attention for a hot second so I could catch up with this Vintage guru.

What is your name, age, occupation(s), location(s)?

Sammy Davis, 24, vintage advocate + web series host, New York City

Why do you do what you do? What inspires you in general and in your work? What makes you stand out from other artists?

I do what I do because I believe that fashion can be fun and that experiencing it can make you feel great and inspire you to DO great, too. That's why I love vintage clothing and thrift culture. It's a creative, intellectually stimulating way of pursuing a wardrobe that's not average -- it's awesome. And because of how it makes you feel (awesome) you are motivated to do awesome -- whether it is by treating others with compassion or just donating your time to contribute what you can to the happiness of the people around you.

I believe that my clothes feel better. That my styling looks better. That working with SDV is a 360 experience of feel-good fashion. It's like when you have a loving, Italian mother making you a home cooked -- she could be using the exact same ingredients as Olive Garden, but  because she is infusing her food with love, it just tastes so much better!

That's how fashion with SDV is. It just feels better, because I infuse it with love.

What are some current projects you are working on?

I just launched my web series all about living the totally vintage life. Check it out at youtube.com/sammydavisvintage

Here is where you can see how I not only live the vintage/thrifting/DIY lifestyle, but how I love that life and pursue positive thinking everyday, in all shape and forms. I hope that you won't only be inspired to seek out the style I promote, but to feel *better* after watching one of my videos. 

What are you hoping the future will bring for yourself and your career?

The immediate goal is to grow as a web series on YouTube and offer everything all-about-vintage to existing and new fans. The future is wide open -- I can't wait to write a book about thrift store style and to go on a vintage-hunting road trip. Maybe that road trip will turn into another web series -- or a show on the Home & Garden Network! The future is bright.  

 

What are your favorite places in the general NYC area?

I live in Spanish Harlem, and I represent the area to its core. I love walking below the Metro North, which begins at 100th Street. The Northern end of Central Park is where I begin my morning runs. Nothing is more beautiful than the ripples of the Harlem Meer at 7 in the morning!

I also love hanging out in Morningside Heights/UWS area, near Columbia University. Great people, great eats, low-key environment.

And when I need some stimulation? I'm a sucker for the Lower East Side. There's just too many beautiful, fashion-forward people to admire!

What's it like to be a creative in a city like NYC? Do you feel happy, sad, stressed, paranoid, etc.?

I have highs, and I have lows. But my lows are always on the way to another high -- they are growing pains that I need to carry forward with focus and with fortitude. I am so grateful to be a creative in a city where people understand and respect what it is that I want to accomplish with my time on this earth. It's a blessing that I hope to pay forward to other young, blossoming creatives in this city. 

 

Do you have any advice, life tips, suggestions for the Ladies Lotto community?

Do one thing regularly everyday to keep you centered. Whether it's reading an inspirational quote in the morning or pushing yourself to run 6 miles in Central Park like me -- find an activity that awakes you to your day with a balanced mind and great vision. 

Want to get your hands on some of Sammy's vintage duds? Be sure to visit www.sammydavisvintage.com and enter the "21 Dresses Giveaway" for your change to win 1 of 21 vintage dresses that Sammy is giving away from her own vintage collection.

Seven Questions is a Q+A segment I, Susie G, will be doing EXCLUSIVELY for Ladies Lotto. Seven Questions will be featuring female artists, creatives, and the like from various locations worldwide. The goal of this is to introduce creatives to the LL community and the interwebs, and hopefully create potential collaborations, networking opportunities, etc. All interviews are done via e-mail correspondence. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have suggestions for future interviewees @ d j s u s i e g [at] g m a i l [dot] c o m.

Los Angeles, Learn How to Work It @ Polistic 101

Wednesday, October 27
8:00pm - 12:00 Midnight

Rush Street
9546 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA

Pole dancing classes & networking

Plus Complimentary:

• Live.Love.Tarot Card Readings by Julie Rose
• Photo booth by Susan Ledgerwood
• Well-being consultations byErin Lanahan
• Vanity Girl Hollywood Demos with Founder Maxine Tatlonghari featuring Makeup by Kenetia Lee and Sexy Hair by Anya M. Hair

Music by DJ Cat NYC

Free for Ladies Lotto members and friends

RSVP Required ~ rsvpla@ladieslotto.com

Staying Golden (Girls)

Who doesn't love the Golden Girls? There are some super fans who will go above and beyond expressing their love.

Check out these fun babies from OLD HOLLYWOOD. They come in "Dorothy", "Blanche", "Sophia", "Rose" and even "Stan"!! $140 a piece, collect all of them here:

http://shop.oldhollywoodmoxie.com/products/the-golden-girls-necklaces

Legend of Zelda

"So many young people are so afraid of becoming old. I would like them to know that from someone who is ninety-four years young, it is fun to be old." - Zelda Kaplan

Born in 1916 Zelda Kaplan is more stylish than you or I. She is also a perfect example of age being just a number and the ferocity of curiosity.

"For the past fifty years, Zelda has collected cloth from remote African villages, turning them into her own designs. However, what is truly astonishing about Zelda is the noble cause that has given her the zeal to dedicate herself to living in mud huts in these isolated areas, without electricity, for months at a time. Her mission was to gently educate indigenous people, by living among them, as to the damaging affects of the 1000-year old tradition of clitorial surgery that is routinely administered to the young women of the indigenous tribes." - Style Like U

Read more about Zelda on Style Like U: http://www.stylelikeu.com/closets/zelda-kaplan-2/

Modern Mamahood: The BabyBook-umentary

RJ naming body parts during our BabyBook-umentary

Like many other mamas...especially Modern Mamas, I seek out tech-savvy, convenient, yet creative ways to do all kinds of things. Lately, I've been having a hard time making the time to update my child's baby book (which is sad), but by the time I looked at the book we have, I noticed that after the age of 1yrs old, it just jumps to 2yrs old like nothing notable happens between 1 and 2yrs old.

With my daughter being 15.5mo, so much change has occurred recently, I wanted to document it, but didn't feel like writing it down. With such easy access to grabbing video footage these days, I decided we'd do a "BabyBook-umentary" instead (I think this is something I made up). My husband and I had a lot of fun doing this and I'm positive that when our little family looks back at this years or decades later, it will be epic.

Create your own BabyBook-umentary:

Time to complete: 10 minutes
Difficulty level: Super duper easy

Things you'll need:
Slips of paper, a pen or maker, a way to capture video

How to:
1. Cut paper into squares.
2. On each piece of paper, write topics you will talk about such as: bath-time, favorite shows, what he/she does all day, etc.
3. Shuffle the pieces or put them into a "hat".
4. You can choose to do this with or without your child, although with is probably more fun, so grab that cutie of yours.
5. Start recording and tell your future self and your future child what you are going to be doing in this video or maybe prepare something to create a special intro.
6. Pull out each piece of paper one by one and talk about each subject. Whether you want to mention a few things about the topic, or tell a story, or get even more creative is up to you.
7. Conclude
8. If you have the means to do some simple or more extreme editing to make it fancy you could add a title page or funny phrases throughout the Babybook-umentary.

Having fun while recording!

We had a lot of fun doing this. My little tot, RJ spent most of the time watching herself do funny things on the screen as we were recording (we used the Photobooth recording feature on my MacBook Pro laptop). We covered five different topics and it took about six minutes on camera.

For those mamas with the tech-itch, let us know if you end up creating your own BabyBook-umentary!

The Modern Mamahood Column on the Ladies Lotto Blog:

As our Ladies Lotto community grows and evolves, we now have quite a few mamas and mamas-to-be! The LL Modern Mamahood weekly column presents the issues and products related to being a Ladies Lotto Mama. Blogger: Lana Perry

Untypical Girl: Ari Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyXGblps64M

Typical Girls - The Slits

By now many of you have heard of the recent passing of The Slits' lead singer Ari Up.

She was not only a "shero" but a friend. She served as an inspiration and a teacher to generations of women. Without Ari Up there would be no Madonna, there would be no Kathleen Hanna, there would be no Santogold, no MIA.

As girls we grow up within the constrains of society. We must conform to the standards of society governed by men, by the media, by the marketers who want to sell us beauty and fashion products so that we can become "typical girls". But Ari, born Ariane Forster in Munich, was never going to be that typical girl.

Ari Up was a revolutionary genius. At the tender age of 14 she was fronting an all female punk band. As Jon Savage wrote today " No one had seen young women behave like this on stage: enacting a flagrant parody of sexuality, at the same time seemingly tougher and more disturbing than the other (male) groups on the bill."


Ari Up is one of the very few women I have encountered with truly a free spirit, she worked on her own time line and frankly, she lived her life without fear. I've spoken with people in Brooklyn, in LA and as far away as Tokyo who are in a state of grief from her passing. She touched so many lives and really shined a light upon us all.

We've covered Ari Up many times on Ladies Lotto's blog and we were lucky enough to have her speak at a Ladies Lotto meeting a couple of years back. If you were able to attend that event,you know how powerful she was.

She will be missed very much and her memory will never be forgotten.

Here is a link to past posts as well as the gallery of photos of her explosive energy she brought to that event.

http://ladieslotto.blogspot.com/search?q=the+slits



http://www.flickr.com/photos/22759170@N02/sets/72157607542965661/show/

http://ladieslotto.blogspot.com/2008/09/revolution-at-socialista.html

Gorillaz in Chicago

(left, Damon Albarn of Gorillaz)

The Gorillaz are on their Plastic Beach tour with an amazing cast of musicians (Pharcyde, The Clash, etc) guest starring along the way. Me and some friends threw a party for them on Saturday when they came to Chicago. Hypnotic, an amazing brass band from here, are currently on tour with them too. They hosted and performed the afterparty and Maseo from De La Soul also blessed us with a surprise DJ set. It was so good to see legends Bobby Womack and The Clash's Mick Jones come out and have a good time. Damon is a genius for putting so many different artists on the tour, it made a really great party. It was also my birthday so it was great to be surrounded by family, friends and so many talented people. Ironically I don't really carry a camera out, but Mel D Cole is way better at capturing a great party than I'll ever be. Thanks to him for flying out and shooting. He has a column at Highsnobiety where he talked about the night as well.

The Clash's Mick Jones rocking out in the sailor hat

We should've traded hats...

The Pharcyde's Bootie Brown













De La Soul's Maseo



Chicago's Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Up North - New Dance Music From Far North

The new sound of Scandinavia is coming to Williamsburg Brooklyn October 20. Dance your night away with four rising acts representing the emerging electronic music scene from the far north.

Live performances and DJ set by
O’Spada (Despotz Records)
Marcus Price (Palms Out Sounds)
Ploctor (The Swedish Model)

Representing Scandinavian south side is Danish duo Fagget Fairys (ArtRebels/Palms Out Sounds)

Hosted by The Swede Beat Magazine
www.theswedebeat.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
9PM – 3AM
Open Kanon Vodka Bar 9PM - 10PM

Public Assembly (back room)
70 North 6th Street
Williamsburg
$5

FACEBOOK INVITE: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160311217321127

Stay tuned at www.theswedebeat.com/events, www.facebook.com/theswedebeat or
www.twitter.com/theswedebeat for event details, updates and news.

The Lady and Miss Wax

Late last month Ladies Lotto was one of the few press outlets invited to the Raw x Wax holiday preview shoot at Ruth Roche's Rare Studios in New York City. I got a first look at what is going to be one of the most sought after pieces on the street. Lady Ness -- the alter ego of Rawthentix co-founder and editor, Vanessa Diaz -- and Miss Wax, AKA Kylee Fauss will introduce their limited edition shoulder harness to the world just in time for Winter 2010/11.


It's plain to the naked eye that the shoulder harness is not for the faint of heart. The harness is made of premium leather; with a choice of gold, silver or gun metal studs, and coordinating chains of different lengths. Each piece will bear the logo of Miss Wax and Lady Ness on laser-etched charms. The harness can be worn several different ways; off the shoulder, a chain can be wrapped around the body and it's versatile enough to wear over either shoulder.

The piece was inspired by bold, iconic women like Wendy O, Tina Turner as Auntie Entity, don diva Grace Jones and Siouxie Sioux. Lady Ness was also inspired by the punk rock scene, and she and Miss Wax share an affinity for military as well as 50s inspired looks. The harness stands on it's own, as an element that can be used to dress up, dress down or just plain blow up an outfit. It doesn't matter if you pair it with an ultra sheer Spaks top and skinnies or a basic sheath -- all eyes will be on you -- you are going to kill it.

The shoot couldn't have gone off without a hitch without the amazing ladies on set; Fatima Sheikh, Ruth Roche, Elizabeth Sagarin and publicist turned model, Sarah LaRosa. We're not done with the Lady Ness x Miss Wax collaboration. We're extremely excited about the harness so stay tuned for more news about the final product and a little unveiling action. As always, Ladies Lotto brings you news fresh out of the oven.

Photo credits: All photos by Kizzy-Kay Graham except Raw x Wax image with model; by Linus Shentu.

Nailing It!

A Fall inspired nail do for the lovely Ladies Lotto.

This Fall it's about more than adding new pieces to your wardrobe. Our girls Julia and Nina Werman of Valley created a fresh look that will go great with any outfit.

What
Val Gel with a leaf-toned glitter gradation and an abstract ring finger design.

Why

Ladies Lotto is for real, which is why we're celebrating a natural nail length, without extensions or any false pretenses. Ladies Lotto is maturing and coming into its own, so we're keeping the nail art articulate, refined and curvy..no need to go overboard or try to get attention...less is more.

Where
Valley
198 Elizabeth Street
NYC 10012

www.valleynyc.com

Dog Days: Are You 'Under Employed'? Volunteer Opportunities At Your Local Animal Shelter (Cats & Rabbits Included)

I spent a little time this morning chatting with a very qualified journalist friend who's business has slowed due to the economy. Having more time to do well, whatever she wants, we talked about the idea of volunteering, in particular for local animal shelters.

I did a little digging and found out there are several ways you can spend a little of that down time helping others in need. So if you're under employed as I like to call it, sign up with your local shelter asap!

Here are the various ways you can volunteer (there is something for EVERYONE):

• Canine Companion: pretty self-explanatory but you can work directly with animal shelter employees to keep dogs company - walking, feeding, straightening up cages.
  
• Feline Companion: same as above except with kitties, MEOW.
• Small Animal Companion: same as canines and felines except we're talking guinea pigs, rats, birds, hamsters, etc.
  
• Rabbit Socializer: YES! Rabbits. LLSF's Alma Pagliarulo mentioned she adopted two bunnies this year and because they are animals of prey, they have a longer adjustment period than others. She also said they are fluffy, cuddly and POTTY TRAINED.
• Adoption Counseling: you can show potential adopters around the shelter, introducing them to the animals and answering their questions. This is your chance to really "sell" the animals - get them good homes!
• Adoption Event Counseling: serve as the "brand ambassador", attend events and speak with potential adopters and show off animals! You know, shake hands kiss babies.
• Community Outreach: recruit new volunteers, educate the community, get donations!
• Greeter: "Hi, welcome to the animal shelter. May I take your order?" Something like that...
• Administrative Support: 'nough said
• Foster Care: "Foster care volunteers provide homes, care and a nurturing environment to potentially adoptable animals. Often times, these animals need time to grow, heal and learn to socialize in a safe and caring environment before becoming adoptable." *This is something I recently did and it was very much worth it. I highly recommend it if you can. It doesn't take too much time and effort believe it or not but those animals will thank you. A far better life than a sterile, cold cage.
  
• Transport Volunteer: Pet chauffeur
  
• Pet Photographer: Say cheese. You're taking head shots of animals so they can find awesome homes!
  
• Canine Groomer: This takes a steady hand and an eye for beauty. Trim, groom, style.
  
• Development and Special Events: Help with your brain power to create new ideas and events for FUND RAISING!
  
• Marketing / Public Relations: Write ups, coordination and development of marketing and publicity programs.
• Web Design/Development: Below is a list of local shelters you can connect with. As you can see, they really need help with their websites.
  

New York City: http://www.nycacc.org/howtovolunteer.html
Los Angeles: http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/VOLUNTEER%20OPPORTUNITIES.asp
San Francisco: http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=994
Chicago: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cacc/provdrs/care/svcs/volunteering_at_chicagoanimalcarecontrol.html
Miami: http://www.miamidade.gov/animals/about_volunteer.asp
Seattle: http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/fostervolunteers.htm

ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/volunteering-at-aspca.html

Brown Girls Burlesque Presents Culture Classics!

Burlesque is a hot topic right now especially with the unimaginative and sensational "Burlesque" movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera set to hit theaters later this year. But burlesque is hardly a new phenomenon. Just ask the ladies of Brown Girls Burlesque (BGB), a women of color theatrical troupe, founded in 2007 to create a space for women of color to express their individual stories from a cultural perspective that is often left out of the mainstream burlesque scene. They are proudly presenting their 3rd annual spectacular, Culture Classics (A United Nations of Burlesque), this Friday and Saturday, October 22 and 23 at the Kumble Theater at Long Island University in Brooklyn.
I had the transformational opportunity to study with these ladies this summer, and in the spirit of self-disclosure, I am doing some stage managing for this event. Let me honestly say how I am in awe of their ability to storytell using sass, sex, and satire. This is not just about women stripping and strutting but they are making statements and exploring issues such as colonization and the otherness of the immigrant, the Brown Paper bag boundaries of Blackness, the Filipina mail order bride, and a Creole woman’s knack for enterprise, among others. The production also includes capoeira, poetry and aerial silks performances from some of the finest artists in NYC. For the grand finale, the ladies of BGB perform a Congolese Can-Can dance with ornate costumes designed by BGB core member Dame Cuchifrita and made by "The Ladies of the Room Bali," a cooperative group of talented Balinese seamstresses. This is truly an international production honoring women and our myriad of experiences.
Today is the final day to get discounted tickets for $20 before they go up to $25. It is well worth it, you will certainly be wowed, entertained and aroused. Be sure to support these brilliant and beautiful ladies as they pay homage to brown women around the world! Check out this video for more information about Brown Girls Burlesque and Culture Classics.

Know This: The New Tax Man

Ladies - this is going to creep its ugly head in your life sooner or later. Read about what bailed-out banks are up to now: Quietly buying up tax debt and threatening homeowners with foreclosure. One woman lost a home with a paid-off mortgage -- over a $362 water bill. Story is by Huffington Post Investigative Fund


The New Tax Man

Powered by Ergo:Ux

http://huffpostfund.org/thenewtaxman/

CMJ 10/19 @ BACKSTAGE x betteryet ANAVY + Narcisse CMJ Mix

Creatively, New York City has an army, betteryet ANAVY

You are cordially invited to the official CMJ x betteryet ANAVY #Experience

BACKSTAGE: 152 ORCHARD ST. BTW STANTON & RIVINGTON

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

8PM - 2AM

$5 COVER

21+

Facebook Invite [http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159425434084876&ref=ts]
Facebook Fan Page [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Betteryet-Anavy/165425356802009?ref=ts]

Venue Website [http://backstagebarnyc.com/]

*NARCISSE CMJ CLUB MIX 2010*

DOWNLOAD

[http://www.mediafire.com/?vkfyn8jcspebkem]

TRACKLIST

1 Narcisse Intro

2 Delorean- Real Love

3 Delorean- Real Love (Narcisse Remix)

4 Narcisse- Je Veux

5 LBCK- Take Me Home

6 Tony Lionni- Found A Place

7 Jason Chance- Head Shake

8 Boys Noize- Yeah

9 Midnight Magic- Beam Me Up (Jaques Renault Remix)

10 Carte Blanche- In The Mix

11 Pirupa- Get Funky

12 autoKratz- Always More (Shadow Dancer Remix)

13 French Soler- Lies (The Phantoms Revenge Remix)

14 Bochan- Chnam Oun 16 (Narcisse Remix)

15 Nujax- Aya (Night Drugs Remix)

16 Armand Van Helden- You Don't Know Me

BONUS DOWNLOAD

[http://www.mediafire.com/?dv6a7d2l4xaf22x]

17 Blind Benny- Hooray! (Narcisse Remix)

NARCISSE MYSPACE

[www.myspace.com/homeofnarcisse]

SPORTMAX Wine Tasting - Tuesday, October 26 (NYC)

Join SPORTMAX in tasting some delicious wines from Bodega Del Desierto!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

SPORTMAX, 450 West Broadway, NY, NY

RSVP to 212-674-1817 or MMSOHO@USA.MAXMARA.COM

Flashback: It's Enough to Drive You Crazy If You Let It

Who hasn't worked 9-5 and sometimes 5-9 on top of that? We've seen our hard work fatten the wallets of big bosses with little thanks. Dolly's 9-5 is not only an empathetic working woman's song, it is a song about never forgetting the dream. Keep that baby alive!




"It takes a lot of money to look this cheap" - Dolly Parton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZGg2A3_3IA

A Woman Has No Place...

"After Louise Bourgeois", by Deborah Kass

A woman has no place in the art world unless she proves over and over again she won’t be eliminated.

-Louise Bourgeois


Deborah Kass

Exhibit through October 30th

Paul Kasmin Gallery
293 10th Avenue
New York, NY

212-563-4474

Three Ways Your Small Business Can Invest in Social Good

So you own your own business and you're looking to give a little back all the while maintaining a solid profit margin? Open Forum shares three ways small business are investing in social good.

1. Partnering with Non-Profits
2. Raising Funds Creatively
3. Promoting a Company Philosophy

Read more about who is doing what here: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/3-ways-small-businesses-are-investing-in-social-good-alexander-hotz

Modern Mamahood: Stimulate

This past weekend was A3C Hip Hop Festival in Atlanta for me -- I run sponsorship for this annual event and we completely blew it out of the water this year. Really good times!

While I was there, one of the vendors I had in our merch area brought her 16-month old son along for the day. Her son was very chill and laid back and really doing absolutely nothing the entire time.

I know it's a matter of fact that males develop slower than females throughout their earlier years, and I am the last person to pass judgment, but this child seemed sadly under-stimulated. Here's a toddler who has learned to walk but is content just sitting on mommy's lap, not playing with anything, or doing anything (we talked long enough for me to know there weren't any other challenges this child was dealing with).

So this leads me to believe that like many other toddlers and babies I've witnessed, this child must be under-stimulated. Comparatively, my daughter who is the same age is such a wild little beast-baby, there's no way I'd be able to keep her contained at a vendor booth for 12-hours.

In thinking about this, I just wanted to remind parents to STIMULATE your growing, thriving children. I'm guessing that LL-mamas would naturally do this; we've got so much creativity and hunger to learn and explore within ourselves. But this is a message I took home with me and have begun improving on already.

If you need help thinking of new ways to engage your children, or if you have a friend or relative who does...start by thinking of all the ways you could help them learn about:

• Their senses: Music, new foods, textures, perfumes, books, conversation
  
• Their imagination: Make stuffed animals talk and move, make forts and tunnels out of your environment, use a banana phone
• Their world: Take them outside and let them get a feel for all the different elements of the earth and weather, let them see people of different sizes, colors and dress, take them to busy and also empty spaces
• People: Teach how to greet people and how to say good-bye, let them approach other little kids and adults under your supervision, remember they follow your lead so smiles go a long way toward a friendly child
• Motor skills: Show them how to run and roll around, give them safe places to climb and balance, let them try to do things even if they get frustrated

Point is, guide them on their journey of experiencing the world. As a new mom, I'm always intrigued by how often I have to demonstrate how to play with new toys before my daughter gets how to do it herself. Logically, we need to take the lead in so many other areas as well if we want a well-rounded, social, confident little cutie.

The Modern Mamahood Column on the Ladies Lotto Blog:

As our Ladies Lotto community grows and evolves, we now have quite a few mamas and mamas-to-be! The LL Modern Mamahood weekly column presents the issues and products related to being a Ladies Lotto Mama. Blogger: Lana Perry

We've Been Robbed: Who Stole Feminism?

Jessica Valenti's recent article from The Nation addresses the appropriation of feminism by the Right. Historically, conservatives have been anti-choice, anti-equal rights, anti-any policy that guarantees women an equal playing field. So why is the Right embracing feminism or the women's movement? The answer rests with the female candidate. Falsely described as feminists simply because of gender, not because of their political philosophies, these female candidates loosely use the term damaging the movement's historical and present day relevancy.

Here's a sample of Valenti's article:

Sarah Palin opposes abortion and comprehensive sex education. While mayor of Wasilla she made sexual assault victims pay for their own rape kits. She also calls herself a feminist. Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has said that allowing women to attend military academies "cripples the readiness of our defense" and that wives should "graciously submit" to their husbands—but her website touts her "commitment to the women's movement." Pundits who once mocked women's rights activists as ugly bra burners are abuzz over the "new conservative feminism," and the Tea Party is lauding itself as a women's movement.

Read the entire article here:

http://www.thenation.com/article/155109/who-stole-feminism?rel=emailNation

Valenti offers a solution to the misappropriation of feminism:

If the new wave of feminists—the leaders of small grassroots organizations across the country, the bloggers who are organizing hundreds of thousands of women online, the advocates for reproductive justice, racial equality and queer rights—aren't recognized as the real advocates for women, then the future of the movement will be lost.

So instead of wringing our hands every time a new female candidate with distinctly antiwoman policies pops up, let's use it as an opportunity to re-establish what feminism is about and to support the up-and-comers in our midst.

Read it, post it, pass it along. It's high time we start our own wave of feminism.

Please Play My Song on the Radio - Tonight!

Ladies Lotto will be on Newtown Radio show "PLEASE KILL ME" tonight from 8-10pm EST!

Newton Radio

Host Chasaty will be get down to the bottom of what Ladies Lotto is about plus an all lady set!

Tune into tonight from 8-10PM at http://newtownradio.com

I (me, Natalie Blacker, founder) am excited to be DJing tonight on Newtown Radio’s “Please Kill Me” Show hosted by Chasaty.

I’ll be playing an all female set from blue-eyed soul crooners like Lani Hall, dancehall queen Shelly Thunders, punk dance goddesses Delta 5 and everything in between (including 60’s girl groups and 80’s – current hip hop).

If you can listen, please do so from 8-10PM tonight!*

http://newtownradio.com/

*there will be an archive of the show available on the site