12 Days.

Shout out to myself for putting together this 12 days of holiday movies, at first I was calling it the First annual, but that would imply I would be doing this again. As much fun as I had, I think once was enough. I’m so excited that you guys joined me during the posting of the list, to tell me which movies where your favorite and those must see movies. I found myself looking forward to sharing my top movies, recording my video for the day and I anticipated you guys feedback.

Just in case you missed any of the movies, here a full list in order.

1. The Best Man Holiday
2. Last Holiday
3. The Preacher’s Wife
4. Elf
5. Home Alone
6. Almost Christmas (This/That) This Christmas
7. Get Santa
8. Die Hard
9. A Christmas Prince
10. (Double Header) The Nightmare Before Christmas/Bad Santa
11.The Holiday
12. How the Grinch stole Christmas

Tristan Jonez

We Wish You.

Hopefully your Christmas was merry, and Santa brought you everything you wrote on your list. Surprisingly this year, I asked for nothing but I received a super abundance of Love!

Every single year, my family throws a Christmas Eve dinner/party in Peekskill, NY. This year I was actually in jeopardy of missing it as my job was attempting to hold me hostage but by the heavens I broke free, took metro-north then a cab and arrived fashionably late. I must say, I had an amazingly fun time this year. Literally you could feel the love, bursting thru the damn walls. Lord knows my family has its ups and downs, hell my favorite uncle just passed away but his presence was felt. The house felt full.

Although I don’t always appreciate them, I’m lucky to have the family that I have. Even the folks whom I choose not to communicate with, they’ve helped to create who I am and I implore you to find things that you love about your own families.

Happy Holidays!

Tristan J

Piece Of Velvet

When something is good, I will praise it from the mountain tops. I will be their public relation guru, making sure I let everyone know all about the goodness I recieved. However when something is not deserving of praise, when something is deserving of critique, I am here to administer that as well.

So, I was planning and hosting a gender reveal party for a coworker turned close friend. With this being her first child I wanted to make sure I did an amazing job, from decorations to the balloons, to the guest list, so obviously the cupcakes chosen was going to be a big deal. The sweets was the focal point, so not having any cupcakes would be very noticable. I could have spent my money ANYWHERE, but I choose to go with Piece of Velvet, as the product itself is quite tasty. I placed my order six days (!!) prior to the event so I would be assured it would be ready to go for Thursday December 21. So you can imagine my surprise when my order was not ready upon picking it up, hell it wasn’t even in the Harlem location.

12:40 Arrived at Piece of Velvet in Harlem, to which the Counter Rep, Keisha advised there was no order ready for me, and it would not be there until 2pm.

1:45 I return back to the Harlem location, Waiting patiently for 2pm.

2:15 I question the Counter Rep, was the delievery, going to be coming soon? Was Advised, the van has left Bklyn, and would be here, but did not have a solid time of arrival.

3:40 Van still not arrived, Still no time of arrival. I asked where specifically was the van currently, Keisha advised, she was told they were on their way.

4:15 Van Arrives at the Bklyn store, Advised by Counter Rep Keisha the van would be at the Harlem Location in twenty minutes.

5:00 Offered beverage, since I had been in the store for now, over four hours.

5:45 Van arrives, advised my order was not with the arrival of products. Driver suggested it may have gone to the Bklyn Store. Counter rep Keisha makes several calls, was advised my original order was ‘messed up’ by a driver, and a new batch of cupcakes were being created.

5:50 Driver takes my number, and advises he will bring my order to Laguardia Airport as a courtesy.

So At this point, I am frustrated, furious and just plain ole angry, that there has been no communication. Especially when the order was placed in advanced. I head to work with the thought that eventually what I ordered will be delivered to me. So imagine my utter surprise when I call the driver, and he tells me he doesn’t know where the cupcakes are, and that there is so much traffic. Its embarrassing that as a company, this is what you do? This is how you handle discrepancies with customers? I was as respectful and polite as a person could be. There was no manager, no owner, nothing. Granted the Yelp Reviews are in shambles, but I never had an issue with them, I also have never made a custom order. I know better for next time, but I felt it my duty to warn you guys. Be careful with whom you decided to spend with, some folks could care less about customer service.

With Love,

Tristan Jonez.

Why Wait?

Why wait for 2018? Do it Now.

Recently I listened to a video snippet, and the author told me, why wait until 2018 to make the changes you’d like to make?

And shorty, is right! Why am I going to wait until 2018 to start fresh, when everyday I wake up translates to a new beginning? With the rise of the sun, I am able to decide who I want to be and who I want in my World. Everyone’s manual for living looks different, so I have to find the instructions that work best for me. Find the people who work best, with my vibe, who brings out the best in me. Letting go is extremely hard for me, especially since my mother died. I hold on to folks tight, I look past their wrongdoings at my own detriment and I allow them to stay in my World. I find them sucking the life from me, and once I’ve hit rock bottom only then do I let them go.

This situation, this friendship, this love is NO longer serving me. Its no Longer allowing me to grow, no longer allowing me to be the best version of myself, no longer making me happy. I wish you the best, take care, thank you. I’ve found that speaking this outloud makes the transition easier. Can people change, sure they can, but for my own peace, they have to change elsewhere. Protecting my own energy is my top priority, everyone can and will be second my own self. Eff how they feel.

I’ve had a few light stealers, and I’ve let each and everyone of them go. God Bless ‘Em

Jonez.

Chinatown (SanFran)

Why y’all didn’t tell me Chinatown in San Francisco was so amazingly filled with street art? I was literally blown away with the art that was displayed on each and every street! I loved that all the pieces had some sort of dedication to asian culture. I was able to chop it up with Tupac and Bruce Lee at the same time. (Laugh) However I don’t feel as if I saw very traditional art pieces only, there was always some sort of popular culture element. Although, I don’t feel as If I truly look like a tourist while traveling, I definitely felt like one during my time in Chinatown but I didn’t let that stop me from being the touristy tourist! I tend to stay away from Boba Tea in NYC, as I’d rather not chew my tea, call it lazy, but whatever. But when in Rome, you normally do as the romans, so I had my first official boba tea, and let me tell you, it was so good! Sweet, but the mango flavored green tea was an incredible balance. I had to have something to drink while fighting to walk up all the hills!

I am a bit upset, I went all the way to Chinatown in San Francisco and I did not experience the joy that is The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. If we are what we eat, then I should be a fortune cookie! I find that I throughly enjoy that taste of a fortune cookie, its just so damn good! Whenever I order from the Chinese restaurant, before I can even get my order out, I am asking for fortune cookies! It is a must that my next visit includes a stop at the Fortune Cookie Factory!

Jonez

Vintage train

Vintage Subway Trains have arrived for the holidays! Aren’t you so excited? I am.

I am semi obsessed with the 1930’s; The music, the culture, the people. I think I was born in the correct time, but to have a glimpse in the past makes me so super excited. The MTA, which at times I despise, is hosting their annual holiday return of vintage trains, which usually runs between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Since the MTA is celebrating this year’s unveiling of the second ave subway line, its being dubbed as “Shoppers Special” and will run on that line. There are a eight train cars, that were used from 1930 until about the late 1970. The MTA does an extremely good job of keeping the vibe of the trains in perfect condition of yesteryear. Every Sunday (10a-5p) from now until Dec 24th, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the past in the present. You’d think getting this experience would cost an arm, but all it cost is the swipe of your metro card. We usually only get panhandling for the price of our metro swipe so this is a welcomed perk!

Tristan J

SideNote: Please Please Keep ‘Showtime’ off these vintage trains, allow me to pretend I really am back in the 1930’s.

What A Day

Yesterday was one of those days that go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes.

Meditating didn’t work, neither did positive thinking. It was just one asshole person after the other, after the other. It’s funny how people believe their problem is more important that anyone else, and you should stop what you’re doing to accommodate them. No matter how ‘nice’ you are when you aren’t moving in service of them, its an issue. Thank God, I have enough common sense to empower MYSELF, and teach myself whatever I need to know to improve my work life. Folks at my workplace would rather depend on others for their answers then have the nerve to get upset when your focus is needed elsewhere.

So I accept that it was just a shitty day, the good news, my day is officially over. The even better news, I will NEVER have to repeat this day for as long as I live. Just like that, I can move on and Cheers to tomorrow! I will manifest what I’d like for tomorrow, and it will be an amazing day. I will be notified of a new opportunity, something that elevates my spirit higher. Complaining just takes too much energy, and lord knows I need all my energy. Instead of complaining I will be changing my situation. Not happy with work? Change it. Maybe I won’t be quitting my job but I can join a different department, possibly a different shift. Make ALL the changes you need to until you are as happy as you’d like to be.

Tristan Jonez.

Christmas With Dru Hill

I am always excited when I get new music from Dru Hill, but they dropped a holiday album, and I think I need a tour as well!

Christmas in Baltimore, is their first project of new music in seven years! Seven years, y’all! Before I heard a song, I was excited to hear they had been in the studio together. My only Christmas wish this year, is for the R&B group to continue to create new music. Of this 9 song project, there are only two songs I could’ve done without but I’d still listen to at least half of those tracks (Fireplace, Silent Night) before I turned to the next song.

My two absolute favorite songs are Favorite Time of Year and This Christmas. This Christmas is an original song, not the classic holiday song we are used to hearing. I just love me some R&B, and Dru Hill. I can definitely see this album in rotation for the Christmas season and maybe I’ll even push it to February. Have you heard the new album yet? And speaking of touring, has any of you been to their anniversary reunion concert? If so, please tell me all about it!

Tristan Jonez.

OscarGrant

There are life changing moments that most time happens without us really understanding the impact. Oscar Grant III was that life changing moment for me. I remember everything I was doing prior to hearing the news of his murder. I was sitting at my desk, preparing to get started on the orders I needed to enter for the day, I remember hearing the news and feeling such an extreme sense of loss, it was as if my best friend had died. Keep in mind, prior to that day, I didn’t know anything about Oscar, had never even heard of him until that moment, but I was incredibly sad at the loss of his being. I made the mistake of watching the released footage of his death on whatever site had it available, and I cried so much I had to excuse myself to the restroom. With that one shot, his life gone. His dreams and goals would never come to fruition, he would never have the opportunity to see his daughter grow, he would never be able to right his wrongs. Hands down, one of the most significant memories in my life, and I still felt the pang of what he could have grown into.

I recently visit San Francisco for the first time, and while on the BART, I sat across from the Map, and my eyes landed on Fruitvale station. I once again felt sadden by the events that occurred in 2009. On a day where we all celebrate whats to come, how we were going to do better than the previous year, Oscar wouldn’t get the opportunity to fulfill his resolutions. I know life isn’t fair, and we aren’t supposed to question the moves of the Creator, but what good has come from Oscar being gone? Besides feelings of anger and sadness? I will be going back to California and as much as I would like to visit Oakland, I don’t think I am strong enough to do so.

I’m thankful to have been exposed to Oscar Grant III’s story, I do believe I am a better person. I want to believe I love harder, am more compassionate, a tad bit more of a risk taker, because I know Life isn’t to be lived forever but to be cherished!

And for that, I thank you Oscar. You’ll always be held within the depths of my heart.

Tristan Jonez.

12 Days Of

Because I started to explore my own city in December, I am so into the 2017 holiday season! I honestly believe New York just outdoes its self for Christmas/Holidays which in turn has made me feel very jolly about the season. Let’s celebrate with the 12 days of Christmas … In movies. When was the last time, you really sat down and took in a holiday movie on purpose? I honestly can’t remember the last time I did, So I was thinking we could turn this into a group activity this holiday season starting on December 13. I am still going thru a bevy of films, and I am not sure which ones will be picked as our featured film each day but I promise they will be filled with the spirit of the holidays.

I want to make sure I create a list that doesn’t just include movies from the present but we have to have the classics mixed in. Classics such as, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, ‘Home Alone’, ‘Trading Places’, ‘It’s a wonderful life’ and ‘Preacher’s Wife’ to name a few. If I am being honest, I’ve never watched ‘Elf’, ‘A Christmas Story’, or ‘It’s a wonderful life’, so this is going to definitely be a magical 12 days of Christmas for our viewing pleasure.

SideNote: If there are movies you’d like us to watch, send me a note and we’ll squeeze them in!

Tristan J

MarketStreet Sale

Can we talk about San Francisco?

Every time I visit, I am always in awe of Market Street. Its as if, gentrification has gone terrible wrong. All in the downtown area is filled with not only the homeless population, but the mentally ill, plus addicts and drug dealers. Although Its an environment I’m familiar with, it still unnerves me. I’d like to believe I could navigate through it without being tested, its still upsetting to see. In the middle of whats going on, you then have luxury businesses, and shops, tourists and children on field trips. As a city, this has to be a concern for the admin, right?

Then we have gentrification, which is concerning alone. However I get the feeling, this is not something new. This is just the new normal. I wouldn’t want to walk thru market str all willy nilly at night, my damn self, if I’m being honest. There’s just so much that can go wrong, especially because it doesn’t look as if the police presence is a strong as it was in Harlem when gentrification was at its peak. For what it is worth, there seems to be a sort of harmony, between what Market Street used to be and what it is currently. I don’t see much change in sight until the city has properly dealt with the homeless/mentally ill population.

Your thoughts?

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: I’m very curious to research the crime rate in that area of the city compared to the rest of the city.

SuperDuperMuper

I love a good burger joint even though I usually opt for the chicken sandwich. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a burger. Well today, while searching for food, I came across Super Duper Burgers and baybeeeeeeee I’m in love! As routine, I ordered a chicken sandwich, I added pepper jack cheese and their super duper sauce (Laughing) with an order of garlic fries, that comes topped with mozzarella cheese. Boy ole boy! The fries were delicious, even without the garlic/cheese, next time I will try out their trio of dippin’ sauces. I caught myself staring at the burgers as they were being cooked on the grill, and they looked so juicy, so well done (I Love my burgers burnt) I was itching to order a burger in addition to my chicken sandwich, but I knew my eyes was being bigger than my stomach!

The first time I passed by this spot on my way to the San Francisco Museum of Art, I remembered because they have a happy hour. I know there are plenty of burger places that caters to the after work crowd, but something about the signage was memorable. Because the fries were so filing I wasn’t able to finish my meal, but a few hours later, I smashed it! Even cold, my chicken sandwich was really tasty. I am interested in trying everything on the menu, but first I have to find where the bread they use comes in the Bay Area. It was slightly sweet, extremely soft, and it melted in my mouth. Damn!

When was the last time you fell in love with a sandwich?

Tristan J