Big Freedia Brings Bootay Shaking to TO - Y'all Get Back!

Location: The Garrison - 1197 Dundas Street West

Cost: $10 Pre-Sold (Soundscapes Music Store), $15 @ The Door

It's been a while since someone on the music scene has truly paid homage to the booty and bounce music. We can't forget Sir Mix A-Lot's anthem "Baby Got Back" or Juvenile's "Back That Thing Up", but thanks to N'Oreleans native Big Freedia, we can dust the booty shorts off once again and get back to some good old fashioned fun! Big Freedia is part interior decorator, part T-Girl, part Bounce music ressurgence pioneer and 100% Azz-clapping aficionado. Hailing from New Orleans, the entertainer is bound to make anyone jump on the dance floor and shake what their mama and grand-mama gave them. Thanks to the Yes Yes Yall crew who hosts one of TO's biggest queer hip-hop parties, Big Freedia will be hitting up the stage at the Garrison on Wednesday June 1st and Sexismo will be there, live and direct! We can't wait for the earth shattering, booty popping mayhem.

Links: http://bigfreedia.com/ , http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220791787947194

Photo Credit: http://bigfreedia.com/

Adios Oprah

Location: TV Land

It's been 25 years since Oprah Winfrey crashed on to the television talk show scene making history with her emotive and candid topics in the mid 80's. In two decades, Oprah has become an archetypal television figure and source of profound inspiration and adoration with a fan base that spans millions! Last week, Oprah said farewell to her beloved audience leaving viewers with an emptiness as they wondered what they will do at 4:00pm daily from then on. When asked if ending the show was bitter-sweet, the big O commented that, "there is only sweet" in ending the show. When you are Oprah, you don't seem to have many regrets. Oprah's final episode was done in classic Oprah fashion. Of course, Oprah was the main focus of the show but the queen of TV graciously thanked her fans and guests for allowing her to share her platforms and success. Oprah also left the audience with positive affirmations like, “You are responsible for yourself, for your life” and "a calling lights you up and lets you know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be...so in your own way...you can illuminate the world". I actually used the last quote as my Facebook status because I truly believe that true passion ignites you. It is indisputable, that Oprah will be tremendously missed and whether you hate or love her, her indelible influence will remain long after the end of her show and career. Here are some interesting facts I found on the big O:

> At 17, Oprah won the Ms. Black Tennessee Beauty Pageant (Love you Oprah but never thought of you as a beaut)

> Oprah gave birth to a child at 14 who died shortly after in infancy.

> Yale University claims that a study indicates that Oprah's shows on gay issues in the 80's, broke 20th century taboos and allowed the LGBT community to enter mainstream.

> Oprah claimed to have done crack during the 80's with a man she was romantically involved with stating that she was more addicted to the man than the drug!

Oprah's voyage to success proves that adversity doesn't have to dictate whether or not we achieve success. We will miss you Oprah but we know if you have anything to do with it, this isn't the end.

Link: http://www.drdeclutterblog.com/1007/notes-from-the-last-words-of-oprah-on-her-last-show-may-25-2011/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey

Photo Credit: http://www.drdeclutterblog.com/1007/notes-from-the-last-words-of-oprah-on-her-last-show-may-25-2011/

Sexismo Off Broadway?

Location: Fuerza Bruta Stage - New York

There are times in your life when one moment changes you forever! It's those moments that make you believe in the great intangible things of life like magic and love. That's exactly what the off Broadway production Fuerza Bruta did for me last week. I went with two of the most awesome girls I know (Sade 'Baboon' Bully and Sherilyn 'Bubbles' Mclean) and the second I saw lead actor, choreographer, and creative director Billy Mulholland on stage I said "I have to get on that stage!". The last time I uttered those words was at the M.I.A concert at the Sound Academy last year and the next thing you know, I was being hoisted on the platform to dance with the Sri Lankan pop queen and company. Fuerza Bruta is unearthly and a full sensory experience. There are gunshots, blood, beautiful people swinging on ropes, confetti, wind, water and sheer beauty. It's like getting a glimpse of creation through the eyes of the Navi people from Avatar. The entire cast is beautiful and intense and I'm so honored and thrilled that I was chosen to share the stage with them! The pic of me above was taken seconds before I leapt on the stage and got buck wild with the cast. AMAZING!!! You have to watch this show if you are in NY. It will change your life.

Link: http://www.fuerzabrutanyc.com/

New York vs Tornoto

Location: New York

Sexismo is back from the Big Apple and I kind of feel like I cheated on Toronto with a prettier, shinier version of itself. There has been an age old, secret feud between Tdot and the Big A. Zoo York always seemed to be the it place, casting an intimidating shadow of glitz and glam on Toronto as its lesser but more homey counterpart. Here's what we think about New York going head to head with Toronto. There are certain things that NY just does better and here's a short list (In no particular order):

1) Street Food (We LOVE food here at Sexismo and the chicken gyro I had on the streets of Manhattan made me want to propose to Muhammad the vendor. Yum!! TO should really get on to expanding the vending laws to incorporate, delicious eclectic street meat so we can start stuffing our faces with the good, bad stuff).

2) Friendly People (Canadians its true...you guys may be "polite" but it ends there. Lets face it, unless the sun is shining at the right angle, Torontonians can be frigid beasts, barely gracing you with an eff you glance. Zoo Yorkers are in your face with friendliness and its all open and genuine.

3) Parties for Rockstars (In this case, NY is the cool parent that makes you stay out way past the 2:00am curfew and treats you like the adult you are, bumping up the nightlife fun to a very decent 4:00am. True, there's more time to make trouble but that's what life's about!

Ok so we got the good things out if the way, now its time for some bad. NY is an amazing city but it can be extremely lonely and this seems to be the consensus among its residents. It is also the most competitive city in the world so its not for people with light, small cajones. That being said, NY is a special, magical place and we will always remember the love affair we have with this magnificent beauty.

More Brits Behaving Badly

Location: Needs No Words Or Clothes

Of course not all Brits are on the Royal Wedding hype train. Some of them like to take the ehem "cheeky" approach.

Link: http://thinkcontra.com/blog/archives/9259

Photo Credit: http://thinkcontra.com/blog/archives/9259

Did Mcqueen Really Call Prince Charles a C*nt?

Location: Royal Insult

Alexander Mcqueen was as infamous for his outlandish, couture fashion designs as he was for his rebellious personality. While working as an apprentice for the Gieves and Hawk company in London, Mcqueen allegedly wrote "I am a C*nt" in the lining of a jacket designed for Prince Charles. If he were alive today, I'm sure that he would be a little shocked that even after his jagged history with the Royals, he was still influential in the wedding dress design for the new daughter-in-law of Prince Charles. I love when the bad boys win in the end!

Link: http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=21027

Photo Credits: http://www.denimblog.com/denim-brands/a-tribute-to-alexander-mcqueen/

http://www.bite.ca/bitedaily/2010/06/fifa-world-cup-2010-england/

The Dress - The Other Star of the Royal Wedding

Location: The Royal Wedding

No Royal Wedding would be complete without absolute pomp, pageantry and fanfare from the Royals! The Royals have had hundreds of years in practice for preparing their nuptuals and they have used a few strategies to keep the public hanging on every aspect of the event. Everyone wanted to know who Kate would be wearing when she walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey and after months of tight secrecy, we finally got to find out today. None other than British Fashion Royalty Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen could design the flawlessly made ivory wedding dress. Kate wore the dress well and she showed off the right amount of skin proving that she wanted to adhere to tradition but still show her sex appeal. There's no doubt that Queeny had the final word on the dress but hats off to Sarah Burton who ensured that the lace applique was hand done by tailors who had to wash their hand every three hours! I'm a huge Mcqueen fan and I'm sad that he couldn't be around to see his work inspire and be a part of history but I'm sure that wherever he is, he will definitely get a kick out of being the rebel that allegedly dissed Prince Charles and still managed play a huge role in his sons wedding.

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Kate+wedding+dress+shows+sense+self/4696548/story.html

Photo Credit: http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/the-royal-wedding-a-day-in-photos/royal-wedding-a-day-in-photos-9/