Santa Cruz Island

Although I am a little bit tardy on this post, I am doing it in the honor of Nikolai's birthday today!

The ship left the Santa Barbara harbor at 4am the morning of August 16, 2009 while we were still snug in our cots. As the engines rumbled silently beneath the floorboards, we lay asleep knowing that another SCUBA adventure would soon begin. The next morning came quickly, making waking up that much harder. We walked up the stairs to an amazing made-to-order meal and a buffet with something from each of the five food groups.

After a small bite, the captain went over the dive plan and instructed us to get suited up. It was quite a task orchestrating each of the thirty divers in and out of the water. The first dive we took it easy while we acclimated ourselves to the new environment. After we surfaced, our breakfast order from earlier was completed sitting on the counter of the galley with a sheet of strategically placed aluminum foil. We ate quickly and hurried for our last two dives of the day. We managed to get our wet gear back on for another giant stride off of the deck. Nik was equipped with his Canon S50 equipped with the waterproof housing - Nice! Rather than me trying to describe it, why don't I just let the video speak for itself...



We had an amazing time on this trip and cant wait for the opportunity to dive again with Truth Aquatics. A special thanks to the Manager Chris Callahan and the crew of the Truth, you guys have a first class dive operation!

Sachs:Hill Wedding

AnneMarie & Adam had come to us with an idea of incorporating paisley into their wedding. We were able to design their entire event around a swatch of paisley fabric that they had purchased online. The aisle runner, table runners, belly bar sashes, pillows, invitations, stationary, and the cake were all made with a paisley design. This wedding was not only beautiful but unique and personalized to compliment the couple's non-traditional style. Their wedding party was another example of their unconventional ways because it wasn't just broken down into bridesmaids and groomsmen, they also had bridesmen and grooms women. This group was definitely a fun crowd and continued their party with bottle service at Prospect Bar & Lounge.


Venue: Museum of Contemporary Arts, La Jolla
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Bauman Photographers
Videography: treMEDIA Group
Floral Designer: Willem-Aidan Floral Design
Rentals: Magical Party Rental
Lounge Rental: Concepts Event Design
Catering: French Gourmet
DJ: Events by Design
Guitarist: Colin McAllister
Officiate: Pastor Mike
Lighting: Events by Design
Stationary: Eitak
Hair/Make-up: Susie Beyer-McCartney
Transportation: Simply Elegant Limo
Photobooth: ePod Events
Flower Donations: Blooms from the Heart

Doran:Burns Wedding

Kathy and Josh's wedding marked the first ceremony for me where an english bulldog (Chunk) was part of the bridal party. That pretty much illustrates Josh and Kathy's personalities - fun, original, and family oriented. I had fun with this couple and their families who were respectively from New York and California.


Although the day was hot at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard, the weather cooled down just before the ceremony began at 5pm. The prelude music was comprised entirely of Enya songs. The crazy side of the bride and groom came out during grand introductions when I played Ozzy Osbournes Crazy Train and AC/DC's Thunderstruck.

Catering and coordination services were provided by PearTrees Catering and Stefanie Lynn Muse from Inspired Events. I thoroughly enjoyed the made-to-order stir fry station accented with chinese to-go boxes, chopsticks, and chili sauce.

The guests had a great time and the dance floor stayed packed until I had to pull the plug at 11pm. Since the bride is from the east coast I was asked to a lot of play De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Diddy, Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Notorious BIG. The last song of the evening was the YMCA and everyone in the courtyard participated... even the Dj.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Burns!

MovementU

I have worked with professional tri-athlete Jessi Stensland on several video projects in the past, so when she called me about helping to develop a video for her new seminar, I quickly jumped at the opportunity. As a tri-athlete, Jessi has continuously pushed her body to it's physical limitations to become one of the premier athletes in her sport. In the process, Jessi has developed key workout strategies to minimize injury, increase flexibility, and enable to body to become more energy efficient. We both agreed that adding a video to the seminar homepage would be more personable, encouraging more participants to register. We filmed the spot at San Diego Audio & Video in approximately one hour.

Her new seminar titled MovementU will be held at the top athletic performance training centers across the United States. This full-day experience is designed to enhance participants' understanding of the body and how to prepare it to perform injury-free and energy efficiently. A dynamic and functional workout will kick-off the day followed by an in-depth introduction to the fundamental elements of athletic performance. Each of the three sports will then be addressed individually with an emphasis on the following:

• Proper mechanics for movement efficiency
• Common sport-specific biomechanical limitations
• Functional and corrective exercises

Click Here to Check Out MovementU!

Browning:Waibel Wedding

Terri and Erik were my fun couple from Arizona. They selected the Bernardo Winery as the location for their wedding ceremony and reception. What I will remember most about this couple was their love for each other, their love for wine and cigars, and their awesome family.


I had the opportunity to work with Krystel from Couture Events who was providing day-of coordination services for Terri and Erik. Krystel and her crew did an amazing job in pulling off a spectacular and intimate event. The music of the evening included classics such as Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Jack Johnson, the Beatles, and of course, lots of 80's music. Yes, Erik was a HUGE 80's fan and had me build my dance mix around Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, the Cure, and many more classics.


The entire event was documented by Erica Schneider and her team from Acres of Hope Photography. The evening concluded with the bride and groom exiting the venue to the main theme from Star Wars. Thanks for such a memorable event and congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Waibel!

NOTE - I forgot my camera and these photos were captured on my Verizon Wireless Blackberry Storm.

Roman:Rich Wedding

When I first met Duane and Jen I thought they were such a cute couple. Just the way they interacted as I asked them questions about the wedding illustrated that they were madly in love with one another. After I was hired to provide Dj and lighting services for their reception and the Bernardo Inn, Duane and I immediately went to work on the music.

With such a profound love for all types of music, it was very important that I take their guests on a musical journey through the minds of Duane and Jen. This musical journey began at the cocktail hour as I played some classic jazz infused with 80's and 90's R&B hits from artists such as Keith Sweat, Jodeci, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson.


As guests were invited into the reception ballroom they were immediately inundated in the decor accented by the dramatic uplighting placed throughout the room washing the walls in pink and amber. The journey then continued at dinner as we listened to the sounds of John Legend, Robin Thicke, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Neo, Jamie Foxx, and Usher.


Erin Melton from Behind the Bride provided the day-of coordination services and kept me on track with the timeline and entertained with her "funky" dance moves. Each of the guests had nothing but great things to say about how the event turned out - all thanks to the vision of Duane and Jen. We danced until 11pm when Boyz to Men's End of the Road concluded the evening and our musical journey. Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs Roman!

Smith : Benson Wedding

Who would have ever thought that you could find true love through social networking sites? Although Brian and Heidi originally met at summer camp as teenagers, Facebook is what ultimately brought them back to each other. And on the one year anniversary of their first date, they became husband and wife.

I had the pleasure of providing Dj and MC services for this happy couple at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard on what turned out to be a gorgeous day. The mood was set with a modern mix of contemporary music including Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, John Legend, Amy Winehouse, and more. The couple's first dance song was performed by San Diego musician Tyler Hilton. This was my first time hearing of Tyler but he is awesome!

The evening ended on the dance floor as the guests rocked the night away to a mix of old school hip hop, funk, R & B, and top 40 hits. Good times, good people, and good fun. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Benson!

May:Hoffman Wedding

The end of the summer is such a bittersweet time of year here in San Diego. It means beach days and backyard bbq's will soon be coming to an end for yet another year. Labor Day is often seen as the "end of summer" holiday and it makes the perfect environment for a wedding.

I had the pleasure of providing dj/mc services for Danny May and Christie Hoffman as they tied-the-knot at the historic El Cortez in downtown San Diego. The ceremony was vintage Hollywood with a modern flair highlighted by the use of Goapele's Closer as the recessional song. The beautiful ceremony was performed by Jeff Zlotnik, Executive Director for the Meditation Initiative located in San Diego.

Cocktail hour took place outside to a DJ Mark Farino Mushroom Jazz mix that put everyone in a mellow mood while they awaited the grand introductions. Our grand introductions started off with the guys entering the ball room to nothing other than What They Do by the Roots. Although the guys did it up big time, the girls definitely outperformed the guys when they hit the ballroom to Ciara's 1, 2 Step.

Dinner music consisted of a playlist including Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, Dean Martin, and more. The highlight of the evening was when Christie's 80 year old great aunt Mary Ann performed Exactly Like You. She received a standing ovation and set the party off to a great start.

The evening continued on the dancefloor until 11:00pm when the staff made us pull the plug. The day was a complete success and all of the guests left in good spirits. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Danny and Christie May! Thanks for including Events by Design in your wedding plans and I hope you have a muy bueno time in Cancun.

Venue: The El Cortez
Catering/FLorals: Ranch Events
DJ: Events by Design
Officiant: Jeff Zlotnik, The Meditation Initiative
Photographer: Justin Lee Photography

Huynh:Welch Wedding

I have been extremely lucky to have worked with the sweetest couples this year. Ailien and Drake were certainly no exception considering the fact that I was tearful when their wedding day passed. Logistically, this was a jam packed day filled with several wardrobe changes, hair & make-up touch-ups, and different venues throughout San Diego. Visually, this was one of the most beautiful and stunning events we've done this year. Every vendor really came together for this wedding to make it a spectacular day for Ailien & Drake.

The first event was a traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony in Mira Mesa. The couple wore traditional outfits with head pieces that were custom made and absolutely beautiful. Next, the church ceremony was held at St. Therese of Carmel which has an amazing view of Carmel Valley. The cocktail hour that followed was on the Windsor Lawn of the Hotel Del Coronado where guests were greeted with tray passed hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Finally, the reception was held in the Hotel Del's Grand Ballroom. The guests entered the historic room and were in awe by the amazing centerpieces, warm blue lighting, and the A&D monogram that made its way onto every little detail of the wedding. Lucky bamboo favors were lined up at the door which doubled as escort cards. Needless to say, the 3-course meal, seafood station, and sushi bar were a huge hit. The fun began with a live 5-piece band, The Antix, and continued throughout the night by the DJ expertise of Pro Motion Entertainment. This was definitely a night to remember and best of all...Drake & Ailien could not have asked for a more perfect day!

Venue: Hotel Del Coronado
Ceremony: St. Therese of Carmel
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Bauman Photographers
Videography: NR3 Video Productions
Floral Designer: Willem-Aidan Floral Design
Rentals: Concepts Event Design
Band: The Antix
DJ: Pro Motion Entertainment
Lighting: Swank Audio Visuals
Stationary: Eitak
Hair: Integrite
Makeup: DJ Castillo
Transportation: Top Dog Limo Bus
Rehearsal Dinner: Pacifica Del Mar

2009 Start! San Diego Heart Walk

As an African American, heart disease has hit very close to home. As a result, I started to change my eating habits several years ago in order to cut the cholesterol and fat out of my diet. In addition, it was necessary to remain physically active in order to reduce the factors that could ultimately lead into the development of heart disease that my father is suffering from.

That is why I have been a supporter and volunteer for the American heart Association for quite some time now. A close friend of the family is the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for the San Diego branch and I have had the opportunity of working on a few video projects with him. Most recently, he contacted me to develop a short public service announcement with volunteer and CEO of ROEL Contruction Wayne Hickey to promote the 2009 Start! San Diego Heart Walk. Please come out on Saturday September 19th and support the cause! Here is the final video:

Updated Photos - Pacillo:Lach Wedding

I just received these photos for Ashley and Mike's wedding at the El Cortez and I had to share them. This was such a beautiful and fun wedding!

Venue: El Cortez
Ceremony: Prado Patio A, Balboa Park
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Jenetta Lea Penner
Flowers: Haydee's Creative Flowers
Linen: Magical Party Rentals
Catering: Culinary Concepts
Entertainment/Lighting: Events by Design

Happy 70th Kirk!

Kirk Robison, an entrepreneur from Texas hired me to provide music for his birthday party at a private residence in Del Mar with some close family friends. I met with Kirk for the first time at his beachside pad and had a diffilcult time concentrating with the gentle ebb and flow of the waves in the background. He decided to hire me there on the spot as we discussed some of the music he wanted to hear at the party. Most of all, Kirk loves the Beach Boys and made it clear that they would be a huge part of the event. The catering was provided through my favorite seafood restaurant in San Diego, Pacifica Del Mar. Chef Chris Idso was even there in the kitchen preparing a wide range of food from chicken satay to baked wild mushrooms and parmesan in puff pastry with truffle oil. MMMMMmmmmmm!



Prior to meeting Kirk, one of his two daughters Amy contacted me about doing a surprise slideshow for the party. We scanned approximately 160 photos including some slides from his wedding and put them into an awesome montage documenting his life. Thanks for the opportunity to share in this special event!

1996 Avocado League Track & Field Prelims

Every once in a while I like to think back to my high school years and all the good fun we had playing sports. These trips down memory lane often come in the form of conversations with friends, old songs you hear on the radio, and if you are lucky you have some video to watch. Taking a trip down memory lane is always much easier when you have archival video footage. I wouldn't call myself a visionary but I definitely recognized that the moments we shared as adolescents would quickly fade away. I took advantage of any opportunity to bust out the shoulder mount VHS video camera and document my experiences as a high school athlete.


This video is a little bit of footage me and my "crew" took during the 1996 Avocado League Track & Field Preliminaries. Keep in mind that this video is approximately 13 years old and has been converted to digital from an old VHS tape - hence the poor quality. Anyway, thanks to my camera crew including Michael Duncan, Jason Eubanks, and Joe Kim. In addition to my track and field home videos, I also have an extensive library of football footage dating back to my sophomore year. I will do my best to keep posting more archival footage for your viewing pleasure. "May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future."

Limon:Guillen Wedding

What a beautiful day it was for a wedding on the San Diego Bay. I had the great fortune of providing the musical entertainment for Lisa and Jorge Guillen at the Dana in Mission Beach. Their storybook day began with an intimate ceremony by the waterside and ended with some Latin music on the dance floor. The guests were having a great time throughout the evening listening to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Etta James all mixed in with some Flamenco.

We also had a surprise fire twirling performance from the maid of honor. I don't know if that was against the fire code or not but it sure heated things up! Jonathan Chan Photography Was there to capture the whole thing... In all the guests left satisfied and the bride and groom left married. What a wonderful day!

San Juan Capistrano Mission

Zion National Park Montage

Finally finished the video. Enjoy!

Blooms from the Heart

Do you ever feel guilty about throwing away beautiful floral arrangements at the end of an event? We have the perfect solution to this dilemma...Blooms from the Heart!

"Blooms From The Heart partners with San Diego area event planners, venues, businesses and individuals to collect flower arrangements, loose blooms or plants that might otherwise be discarded. The flowers may be from an event, gala or celebration, or business décor or product due to be replaced.

Collection of flowers following an event is done at the event venue or event planner’s place of business the day after the event and the flowers are transported to the Blooms From The Heart staging center. Flowers from other sources are picked up at the business location on a pre-determined schedule. Flowers can also be dropped off at the staging center. The flowers should be in good condition with at least 4 days of healthy life remaining.

Our volunteers quickly and lovingly repurpose the recycled flowers as needed, breaking large arrangements into smaller ones or arranging loose blooms in vases or other containers.

The new arrangements are then delivered to local hospitals, hospice centers, senior care facilities, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers and other facilities where they can be enjoyed. Blooms From The Heart partners with administrators, management and staff of these facilities to coordinate the deliveries. The recipients include the elderly and sick or terminally ill patients, those who have been abused, left homeless or otherwise forgotten, home bound individuals and others in need. We strive to send a message of caring and compassion with every single bloom delivered."

Irieside Releases First LP!

My hometown of Oceanside, California isn't widely known as a hub for music, but the subculture in this seaside town has given rise to a new and unique sound. Irieside is a local band that has transformed their daily experiences as "O'Siders" into an album packed with beats, amazing guitar riffs, floetry, and a trumpet which makes it all sound completely original. I like to think of the style as a fusion of hip hop, rock, ska, and reggae. Highly influenced by reggae legend Bob Marley, Irieside focuses on sending positive messages, good vibes, and irie feelings.

Members of the band include drummer and back up vocalist Sid Hilarides, bass guitarist and back up vocalist Steven Stotelmeyer, Arjay Pantig on the trumpet and back up vocals, lead guitarist and lead vocals Benny Blessing, and the emcee Anthony Williams. Irieside's first album successfully tells the story of a band who started from the bottom in the Oceanside streets but has grown to have a huge following in San Diego. Congratulations on your first release Irieside, your fellow "O'Siders" are expecting big things out of you.

The entire album was produced at Above Ground Records in Escondido, California. Stay posted on details of the first music video coming soon...

VISIT IRIESIDE ON MYSPACE