Wimbledon Party At The Valmont Club

Wow..... when we 1st produced our Amplification Events I didn't think 8 years later they would still be growing stronger and stronger. Valmont Club was bouyant with friendly people, cocktails, strawberries, canapes and burlesque dancers. An Ode to MJ went down a treat. So many dancing feet, with rhythm I may add. Black, white, brown, yellow and green: if you like to party you'll be in our scene. Great to see Lissa Davies back on top form and thanks to Jay Jay, Ulric and Debs for popping down. Also thank you Dipak,Manoj, Thierry, Carlos and The Valmont Crew. All we need now is to see Murray at least in the final. Come on you beauty.....

Hard Rock Calling Presents Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen

After a torrentially rainy but fun night spent at the Grand Union Pub on Saturday- the affable and enlightening Pat Bird's 40th Birthday Party celebrations- we wre invited to a Hyde Park Rock concert by Jay Jay Epega of Epegamedia ( my Sis x). What a merry bunch we were - Jay & Dylan ( my niece), the Mrs & I , Ulric ( Off TV Series Eastenders) & Debs, Adam ( Off TV Series Eastenders) & Ruth , Cheryl ( Off TV Series Eastenders), Olli and son & I can t forget Thomas McGill. What larks we had ...... going to be a great summer !!!!!

I'm not one that has listened to rock for a while or really invested any emotions in this genre of music but was I wrong to miss out for so long. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. Hard Rock Calling Festival http://www.hardrockcalling.co.uk/home/ in Hyde Park was full of kind people, slick and acoustically tunned music. James Morrison's dulcet tones made his songs memerising. The Dave Matthews Band were loud and proud. But the best music came from "The Boss" himself ...... at 60 years young his voice was the best I have heard live for a long long time. The guitar licks were stroming and the E-Street Band were masters of their art. I love Rock ..... especially when played by super pros. Long live Rock & Roll ( It did come from Rhythm and Blues so what do you expect ) !

R.I.P MJ & Black Eyed Peas Party

What a fantastic week-end in London we had. On Friday the Guys & I went for our customary cheap dinner ( this time at Busaba Ethai in Bird St) for a catch up and reflection on Nigeria this week. After a cost effective but most substantial meal we caught up with our Ladies to head to the club of the summer ....... baroque ( Previously Burlington's) where my good friend Alvin Haywood of Alvin Haywood PR threw a magnificent ode to Michael Jackson Party. No one was on their seat: everyone dance. Even special guest stars the Black Eyed Peas ( save Fergie) where enjoying and reminiscing their childhoods through a kaleidescope of songs.

" Although you breath no more; MJ, in your songs you always took our breath away. That will never change!"

Great party, beautiful company, awesome music...... we thank God for the blessings bestowed x

Pop Up Bars - Opera Quarter Bar

After Double Club's 

www.thedoubleclub.co.uk great success some Friends of mine ( Bar Gurus Lincoln Hall & Douglas Ankrah) decided to set up the latest fly bar concept to hit London: 

Opera Quarter Bar™ 

The World’s Most Exciting Pop Up Bar 

A blend of art, design, music & mixology

13 – 15 Tavistock Street, Opera Quarter, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PA

www.operaquarterbar.com

Concept

Open for a short period only, the Opera Quarter Bar will be the best bar in the world.

A stunning Grade II listed Georgian Townhouse in the Opera Quarter, Covent Garden’s historic food quarter, the Opera Quarter Bar will showcase the world’s leading bartenders, designers, artists and bands. 

The brainchild of Douglas Ankrah (multi award winning co founder of Lab, Townhouse and author of ‘Shaken & Stirred: Douglas Ankrah’s Cocktails’) it is a collaboration of the best people in their various fields and the aim is to create an inclusive bar open to everyone.

“We don’t have any big backers on this project it’s literally a bar by people who love bars for people who love great bars. A lot of what is in the bar such as the antique furniture has been generously lent to us by friends who have joined our little Opera Quarter collective” Douglas Ankrah, Founder 

“Our aim is to create somewhere exciting in which to enjoy summer 09 in London, especially as many of us aren’t going to be jetting off anywhere exciting this year.” Lincoln Hall, Guest Relations 

In keeping with this community spirit prices are going to be kept affordable and there will be music, art and all sorts of happenings throughout the summer for the public, starting with a pre Glastonbury warm up with White Lies band members DJing on Wednesday 24 June. 

Art

Art Curators Lee Johnson and Bakul Patki aka 'Watch This Space (www.watch-this-space.org) will be using the space to exhibit work from a selection of exciting contemporary Artists. 

This will be the inaugural show for Watch This Space, whose mission is to encourage creativity in these challenging times. Artists confirmed so far are Nick Cunard (above left), Sky Sharrock, Ilaria Conte, Monkey Punch III (above centre), Sarah Kate Wilson (above right), Sohrab, Izzie Klingels, Suzie Q and the owls and Hazel Atashroo.

Watch This Space for updates. 

Design

The building is a beautiful Grade II Listed four storey Georgian townhouse. 

Dave Knight and Dom Taylor from dtwo (designers of Callooh Callay amongst others) are responsible for creating an exciting and comfortable lounge bar using the Georgian features such as wooden panelling and open fire places but giving them a twist, introducing contemporary art and design to create stunning juxtapositions. 

As it’s a pop-up and only here for the summer they are able to create some spaces that just wouldn’t be practical in a long running bar such as featuring antiques borrowed from a leading antiques dealer. 

Ground Floor/Main Bar Design:

“Think reclaimed cottage kitsch tables giving a bit of character to the new wave for Covent Garden – were planning to lift the tops off and insert clear polycarbonate tops so punters can look through and into the draws and compartments containing weird and wonderful items and neon up lighters making the drinks look sublime….The tables in the ‘Snug’ will reflect the cabin/open fireplace feel by using cut logs cellulose sprayed in a one tone lairy colors and held together with ratchet straps more commonly used by truckers….

Expect OSB (oriented strand board) usually found on building sites to adorn the wall and floors – ripped into parquet batons, stained and screwed to the floors and curving up and around the walls with decorative ‘snake eye screws’ paving the way. The only thing to break this pattern up will be the clever use of dtwo’s warped wallpaper and the pressed tin ceilings bouncing light around the space and mimicking and distorting around any architraving, light switches, mirrors or artworks.

Lighting - Think old school candelabra only we’ll be replacing the candles with edgy T6 tubes and floods of warm neon glow & opulent amber chandeliers towards the back.

Intertwining the old and the new dtwo will be dipping antiques in rubber, allowing them to ‘drip dry’ in another exciting twist.

Reflecting the hygienic aspect of the bar are we are proposing to tile the whole area after raising the floor level. Walls floor Bar carcass and back bar.” 

The brand identity, website and menus have been designed by Hijack Studios. 

Music Mark Beaumont is an NME columnist, DJ, promoter and author and will be bringing his canny musical ear to the sounds of Opera Quarter Bar. He'll oversee celebrity DJ sets every Wednesday providing a VIP atmosphere to a free-for-all bar, and curate acoustic sets from the best up-and-coming acts in the country every Sunday.

Wednesdays will be the Moonlighting Sessions with well known band members moonlighting as DJs. 7pm – 12.30am, entrance free. Confirmed acts so far: 

24 June 2009: Akvinta Pre Glastonbury Warm Up with the White Lies 

As one of 2009’s biggest rock success stories, Ealing’s White Lies have enjoyed numerous hits and a Number One album in their January debut ‘To Lose My Life’. Their impeccably tuneful take on the dark pop sounds of Joy Division, Editors and Interpol has seen them straddle rock boundaries, playing sold out shows across the country. They are currently preparing for their biggest UK tour to date, taking in a show at London’s Brixton Academy.

15 July 2009: The Holloways DJ

Currently putting the finishing touches to their eagerly-awaited second album, The Holloways take a well-earned studio break to show the Opera Quarter Bar the impeccable musical taste behind such jaunty hits as 'Generator', 'Two Left Feet' and 'Happiness And Penniless'.

5 August 2009 – Dave Gedge (the Wedding Present) DJs 

As singer and fulcrum of legendary indie outfit The Wedding Present, David Gedge has been a major influence on alternative music for over twenty years. His classic tracks such as ‘Brassneck’, ‘Kennedy’ and ‘My Favourite Dress’ have often been imitated but never bettered and The Wedding Present are still going strong eight albums later, releasing the fantastic ‘El Ray in May last year. The Wedding Present also hold the record for the most number of Top Thirty singles in one year, equalling Elvis Presley’s record by releasing a single a month throughout 1992.

Check out www.operaquarterbar.com for the latest guest star DJs, dates and times. 

Mixology

The Opera Quarter Bar is Douglas’s biggest project since he cofounded Lab & Townhouse. He will run it himself with assistance from some of London’s top bartenders including Bar Manager Roberto Valle (ex Whiskey Mist & Trader Vics).

The drinks will be second to none. Drink menus will cover different themes i.e. Prohibition, Tiki, Disco, Hollywood Glam etc plus Douglas’s top ten best creations including his world famous Porn Star Martini. 

World famous mixologists will be making special Guest Star Appearances including Salvatore Calabrese and internationally acclaimed molecular mixologist Eben Freeman from NYC and the UK’s own Heston Blumenthal of cocktails Tony Conigliaro. 

For details of the Guest Bar Star events please check out www.operaquarterbar.com 

Cocktail Master Class 

Every Saturday 12pm – 3pm the public can join Douglas and his team of leading mixologists for a cocktail master class where they will learn to blend, muddle, shake and stir with the very best in the business.

The Master Class will include lunch and students will be given a cocktail kit to take home with them. 

Perfect for groups and a sophisticated way to start a stag or hen party. The Master Class costs £150 person with a 10% discount on bookings of ten or more.

Food

The Opera Quarter Bar will serve delicious Japanese tapas style dishes daily from Midday.

The menu has been designed to encourage diners to select a variety of dishes in almost random fashion to be shared amongst the table so that a combination of taste and flavours can be enjoyed. 

Perfect for light, healthy summer dining the menu has been created by a top chef to satisfy the most discerning palates and sit perfectly with Ankrahs 'to die for drinks'.

Private Parties & Events 

The ground floor bar will be open every day from Midday to 1am, serving teas, coffees, food and of course cocktails. There is also outside seating – perfect for a sunny afternoon’s drinking or al fresco lunch. 

Floors 1 and 2 each feature two rooms and can be reached by a separate entrance, making them perfect for private parties, events and meetings. When not being used for private functions they will be open to the public. 

This will be THE place to have a party or event in July/August 2009, but book early to avoid disappointment. 

People

The following people are part of the collaboration that is the Opera Quarter Bar and are available to interview. 

Douglas Ankrah – Founder & Head of Operations

Roberto Valle – Bar Manager / Head Bartender 

Lincoln Hall – Guest Relations 

Art – Watch-This-Space 

dtwo design – Interiors

Hijack Studio – Website & Branding 

Mark Beaumont – Music Director 

Schedule of Events & More Information 

Check out who and what is happening at the Opera Quarter Bar at www.operaquarterbar.com 

More information on the Opera Quarter, London www.operaquarter.co.uk

For Events - come through us for a better price Baba@emc3.eu !

HAC

This week we organised a very enthralling and captivating event at the hidden gem in the city called the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) www.hac.org.uk/html/corporate-private-events/venues-at-the-hac/?PHPSESSID=9ed42c54191317cd20 . For a most favourite Client it was an Edutainment Experience Event called " Serve Your Country" about the seemingly never ending war in Afghanistan. Opium wars I call them. Enough respect to the Army and Special Forces Guys fighting to eradicate the Taliban and Drugs in this country of over 6 languages , 14 different tribes and the size of France and half of Germany put together. It is not an easy task serving your country. To put your life at risk for a country and more importantly politicians who use you as pawns in a mad game of chess is most worthy. Really puts your problems in perspective as meaningless most of the time. A big thank you has to go to Major General Richard L Barrons CBE , Lieutenant Colonel Gary Wilkinson and the Soldiers involved. We salute you Gentlemen - for your tenacity, discipline, allegiance and love for this fine country !!!! BIG UP !!!

Picnics In The Park Part II

Over the last May Bank Holiday I was full to the brim with my Lovely Family so I had to postpone a Picnic planned.

On the gloriously sunny saturday that was the 30th May we had a wonderful day of about 40 friends, chicken, cakes, ribs, champagne, cider, ice cream, rounders, boules, croquet, volley ball, lovely babies, music, running kids and side splitting laughter. Helped us to forget the dodgy MPs and credit crunch for one day at least. Long may these days reign.

Must organise another one soon.......good to see you all x

The Clothes Show Friday 29th May 2009

Wow what freaky weather we're having. Jumping on and off the tubes has nt been easy when going for site visits, events and client meetings. Thank God for the summer attire otherwise.....Well last Friday there was one tube , bus , tube trip I was not looking forward to. That was the long drift that is the road to the Excel Centre in Docklands for the Clothes Show. 'Why did they choose to have it there?' I asked myself - soooooooooooo far! Well upon reaching the the show with the Mrs I find out why. The Excel Centre is an awful long way away but my is it a great space for a MEGA EXHIBITION. So much luxurious space and state of the art facilities that you need roller blades to get around and see it all. Fab space!

Thanks to my PR Guru Sister Jay Jay we got VIP Seats at the most fabulous Fashion Show I have been to for a long while. The Awards were presented by Erin O'Connor and sadly this part was a weak run through. But the show was 40 minutes of Kool Britannia through the years ... from the 1950's Brighton Rock , Beatles Sixties Rock 'n' Roll ( Rhythm & Blues From US really) , Jimi Hendrix 70's, Mods, Punk, New Romantics, Hip Hop, Disco and Hoxton Quiffers - this is what we love about UK . The STYLE, FASHION, MODELS & DANCE TROUPE were magnificent. Oh yes and Jordon was also modelling , poor thing. Got great ideas for a Fashion Show we have to put together ....mmmm! Nice one Guys !!!! Same again soon please :-)

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'.