You know that summer is here when the Music Festival Season begins in earnest. My Musical Idols and very good Friends flew into town yesterday for the commencment of their European tour. Maaaaaaaaan, I missed them - Smiles, Mase, Merc & Dave: your legend transends time. Thanks to Cliff I met them in 2003 when I helped them to organise an awesome After Party. The rest is history. I had the honour and priviledge to be invited to be on DJ Maseo's live radio show http://www.ustream.tv/channel/delasouls-dugout . Wow I love good music. Watch this space as the Guys are coming out with something COSMIC for their Summer tour in Europe and the UK! WORTH A LOOKIN !!! Surreal scene chilling with De La and Brand New Heavies at K WEST !

YOU DONT KNOW DE LA SOUL?

De La Soul is an American hip hop group formed in 1987 in Long Island, New York.[1] They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolicoeur (Trugoy the Dove, Dave, Plug Two) and Vincent Mason (P.A. Pasemaster Mase, Maseo, Plug Three). The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Paul Huston (Prince Paul) with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'". Prince Paul was also sometimes referred to as Plug Four. The "Plug" names are alleged to come from the numbers that each bandmate's microphone was labeled on the soundboard. Posdnuos was always plugged into plug one, Trugoy was plugged into plug two, and so forth.

With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, has been hailed as a hip-hop masterpiece.[2] It is also the band's biggest commercial success to date, with their subsequent albums selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. A measure of 3 Feet High and Rising's cross-over appeal was the fact that it was voted Album of the Year by NME Magazine, a title better known for its taste in guitar-based music. De La Soul has influenced numerous other hip hop artists such as Camp Lo, Black Eyed Peas, and Digable Planets. They were also influential in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the longest standing Native Tongues Posse group, after the Jungle Brothers.

In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with the Gorillaz on the single "Feel Good Inc.".[3]

They are playing a special show to promote the new single featured in the worldwide Nike campaign on Thursday 11 June 2009 at the Camden Centre in London.

Nigeria We Hail Thee ...........To Absent Loved Ones xxx

My life is one that trangresses continents, nations and languages. Our dear Grandmother Princess Hannah Mebuliaghanje Jallah Adoki died ( RIP ) last year so I was summoned to her memorial in Lagos with the Family over the week-end. How lucky I am to have such a kind Family from my late great Mother Ibienebobo's (RIP) side. We laughed , cried, danced, ate and revelled - all in 4 days......Long live our Love!

Time Flies With People You Like - Bonds Restaurant

The good thing in this world is even in the most dire financial climate people still have to eat well: so why not eat well. "Marketing is often seen as a luxury for the good times. But in reality, good marketing drives revenue streams – it’s an investment that pays. With many organizations cutting back on marketing, now is the time to take advantage and be aggressive." With that in mind I took a lovely Lady Client from the City to one of the square mile's most sumptuous restaurants - Bond's of Threadneedle. Time flies in good company : 2 hours flew in great stead, with laughter and without wine. Great to see you Amanda ;-)

Bonds Restaurant
High ceilings, lofty columns & all-round architectural grandeur betray Bonds’ origins as a City banking hall, yet for all the opulence there’s a pleasing economy to the approach here. Ingredients are fresh & seasonal, cooking avoids unhealthy excess, & the keen prices are entirely appropriate to the times. The kitchen partners super-fresh Dorset crab with creamy pea & pistachio bavarois & zingy pink grapefruit jelly. It also deploys layered boulangère potato with dried fruits & Provençal-style tomato as the convincing foil to pink Elwy Valley lamb. Presentation is tip-top. If you thought îles flottantes the dullest of French desserts, head chef Barry Tonks’s sensational reworking of the meringue & custard combo is a revelation. The wine list isn’t the City’s longest, but nevertheless embraces everything from a 1999 Château Pétrus at £1,300 to Three Choirs English rosé. Great feed !

Pending Baby No 3 , Sexy Scott Maslen & Cipriani Luncheon

Well.....not long to go now! Alistair, Jane and us all are on call as they are due to had their 3rd lovely child any day now. I have nt seen my man so nervous since the last birth of his number two: the naughty Maisie May. All hands on the deck as Jane's bump becomes even heavier and the joyous day is soon uipon us. Bonne chance mes Amis and Godspeed xxx

My good Friend Scott Maslen www.scottmaslen.net aka Jack Branning Of Eastenders made it to be TV's Sexiest Male at the Soap Awards :-) He was very embarassed but what great PR ...nothing like a humble hero. You 'll be the next James Bond don t you worry mon Ami. ONE TO WATCH Check him out on Friday Night's Jonathan Ross on BBC1.

This week has been filled with selling packages to the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco F1 Grand Prix..... Thank God for the slight upturn. Off to Nigeria imminently I though it a good idea to see some Clients we had nt met up with for a while. Top to have Alistair come along as well as we make an awesome duo( If I may say so myself). We took a fantastic Lady Client for lunch to say thanks for the biz, at the supremo italian restaurant Cipriani http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/london.php in Davies street. Needless to say I ate very well and thanks to the aimable company we had a cracking time. "Best kidneys I 've ever had" , which was a reassuring statement from critic gourmand Alistair Graham. Nice one Cipriani . I did nt realise they were in the middle of a court case over their name though.........mmm everyone has their own problems don t they.

PS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIENDS DANIELLE AND NICK ON HAVING A BABY BOY - HURRAY! 20 HOURS LABOUR AIN'T TOO EASY EITHER. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE !

Week-End Bliss At The Square Restaurant

What a glorious week-end non? Sun, my niece in her school's rendition of the musical Bugsy Malone, snacks at shoreditch house, a juke box jam at the Tavern Arms in Aldgate East and most delectable dinner at the Square. Over the last 9 years I have had a the pleasure of planning a few private dinners for Clients in their private room: but never have I had a pleasure of sampling it's culinary delights. A dear Friend and I have started a dinner club with our lovely wives when once every couple of months we take them out to some of London's off the beaten track unique restaurants. Being as well heeled as he is; he has now uped the ante and suggested the Square. Being a man of very finite means I hesitated ( credit crunch and all). Although I was ready to pay my half he kindly settled the bill by saying " You two more than compensate for the bill with your company Babs". Glory be to God - there are still angels that walk amongst us. For a couple who,"live under their means": a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose with every couse was not only decadent but most heavenly. EE & SE we salute you XXX!!! The food was mouthwateringly awesome - I had the freshest Tartare of Veal with Grilled Asparagus, Berkswell Shavings, Pea Shoots and Tuna Cream for starters. For main course I had the Herb Crusted Saddle of New Season’s Lamb with Spring Carrots,Mint Jellies and a Jersey Royal Foam. For Desert, in which I don t usually indulge, I had the Crème Brûlée with Grapes and Sauternes which stunned me back into the world of sweets. Stef had the Roasted Pears with Caramelised Wafers, Salted Caramel Foam and “Dulche de Leche” Ice Cream..... tastebud explosion! If you're flushed and want to treat or be treated then I most wholeheartedly recommend the Square for a most veritable meal!!

The Square http://www.squarerestaurant.org/ is the sister restaurant to The Ledbury, based in Notting Hill, London.Owned by Philip Howard and Nigel Platts-Martin opened its doors in King Street, St. James' in 1991.

Seven years later it moved to its current location of Bruton Street, Mayfair. The Square, its food, its wine and its owners have amassed a multitude of awards and accolades along the way. Most recently, the restaurant won the BMW Square Meal 'Restaurant of the Year 2007' for an unprecedented second year and currently holds the Which? Good Food Guide's 'Best Wine List 2008'.

Prince's Trust "Stars For A Cause Auction Preview"

The Prince's Trust www.princes-trust.org.uk is an awesome Charity. Not only do they throw splendiferous parties but more importantly they help so many young guys and dolls steer the right course. Last night I was indeed honored to attend their Stars For A Cause Auction Preview. A preview event where Hollywood stars give their shoes, autographed shirts/pictures and in Hugh Laurie's case KISS away to be auctioned in Los Angeles at the end of the month (28th May for those interested) Lots of Ruinart Champagne, ambient music, press, the alluring actress www.sofiahayat.com and the awesome actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Upon asking him to pose for a picture I commented that "Sexy Beast" was one of my most favourite films this century. To this he retorted" Only this century" . To which I responded," Well Gandhi was for the last" . That seemed to put a wry smile on his face ;-) Bonne chance Prince's Trust!

Visit To My Old School - King's Canterbury

"You had 15 years to plan a reunion. Only you Babs could call 2 days prior and WANT TO SET ONE UP", said Mark Northeast. My old school Friend who was the most prolific Victor Laudorum in Cricket, Rugby, Football, Athletics and Tennis. Yes even more than I ;-)
Sacha, Mark, Tom , myself and our Lovely other halves spent time recalling our glory days when we were kings with aspirations of demi gods. Funny what a 20 year drift can do to your memory. Great to return to King's School, Canterbury - the oldest school in the world and see where it all began www.kings-school.co.uk . Great memories .....

DJ WEBSITE LAUNCH

Mmmmm ........with the recession in full flow one has to think geometrically to enhance one's returns. Cash is no longer king: its god! Watch this space for our Summer venture for your musical pleasure :-0

Dinner At Double Club, Relaunch Of 24 & Momos

One of my Good Friends and Father to Horatio my Godson ( Of 3) was in town so we decided to take our Lovely Ladies for Dinner at the excellent Double Club Restaurant www.thedoubleclub.co.uk and a few other hotspots. This included 24 Club. A good firend re-launched his West End Club on his Birthday last Friday with a bang www.24london.eu . It looks so futuristic and electronic I am sure someone will be calling them up for their next movie or music video. It has these interactive screens on the tables for technocrats, like me, who like gizmos and gagdets. Mmmm .... will be calling you for an Amplification soon Buddy !

Valmont Club Amplification Evening

Our usual venues for Amplifications ( Complimentary Cocktail & Canapes Evenings Sponsored By Brands/Venues To Draw Our Tribe To Superior Quality Venues) are , more oft than not, based around the West End. So this time we decided to show some love to Friends who own the fabulous and sumptuous Valmont Club on the Fulham Road. In the town centre we would usually have between 150-250 through the doors but off the beaten track we were happy to have 130 through the doors. But where are the Guys? I know you're not all in relationships! Missing out on some very nice, natural and pretty Ladies..... Next time ;-) Thank you Dipak and the crew..... Top Night. See you again soon!!!!

Valmont Club www.thevalmontclub.com