For my family, I buy the bulk options from amazon and get the 3 oz or 2 oz containers. That makes sure they are far from the 4 oz amount. I also make sure my family doesn't have more than four containers in the quart-size clear bag. That is to ensure they are under the rule and have what they need: 2 things of body butter, deodorant, and toothpaste.
If you don't have to, I suggest you leave the body products out of the carry-on.
]]>Before watching this show, I didn't contemplate going to the mountains or chartering a yacht in the middle of the ocean. It was also due to this show that when the planes were being grounded last summer, and we couldn't go to LA, I considered where we could drive out of the state instead. It is also why my family is excited about our planning a trip to the desert. They show some great ways you can experience the states of Arizona and Nevada outside of the conditioned way we think.
So before your next vacation, look at this show to get out of your comfort zone.
By the time we went to the hotel, we had already felt this visit was a waste and couldn't wait to go home. The hotel we chose was The Sire. We meet this great concierge who recommends a restaurant for us to try. We take our bags to the rooms and instantly fall in love. The rooms are great, the beds are big and comfy, the decor matches and are elegant, and the bathrooms are fantastic. The downside is the views. You either have the view of a dumpster, the brick wall of the opposite building, or the street.
After we left, we went to the restaurant recommended to us by the concierge. We were tired and hungry, so we just wanted something close that didn't require reservations. We went to Carson's, which was recommended to us. Parking was horrible because there was construction next to the parking lot on the back street. We walk up, and people turn their heads to us. We go inside, and the waitress looks at us and says there is a 2 hr wait. The inside is empty, and the patio has only three couples outside. No other customers were waiting, and the people who walked in the right before we were seated without stopping. We weren't asked if we had a reservation and were automatically told there was a 2hr wait. The apparent racism was too much. We didn't say anything and went right back to the car.
We drove back to the hotel and had the food from the eatery in the hotel (The Mad Horseman). The lady serving us was amiable. The food could have been better. Only the fries were decent. The next day couldn't come soon enough. The room was great, and no discernible noise. It had the best shower with multiple jets and a waterfall showerhead.
I would only return to Lexington again in dire need, but The Sire is a great place to stay. I wish someone would remake it in an area where black people are welcomed.
The drive from Atlanta is approx. 3.5 hours but the last 1.5 hours is a little hard because it's all highway and trees. Trying to drive this portion back in the early morning hours proved to be such a nerve wracking experience I decided to no longer leave heading back to Georgia until the sun comes up. Only native Tennessean's are built for that drive.
Each time on my visit I chose to stay at The Tennessean Hotel. The Tennessean Hotel is a great stay. The rooms are a great size with fantastic bathrooms that are big and clean. The rooms with a view give you a good view.
For someone who travels with my adult daughter each time being able to get a double king room is always a plus. The room service is great with an array of menu selections that change with the seasons. Great housekeeping services and accommodating valet service. With it being so close to the square market with restaurants, the black service to 4 mile radius is great if you don't want to drive for the night.
I mostly ordered room service do to the time schedule I had to adhere to for the contracts I was working. However, there were a few I have visited.
Cafe 4
The Herb Roasted Half Chicken was excellent and I would definitely want it again. however, the service was abysmal. It took forever to get something to drink, there was bugs in the ice, and the staff were very rude. The Lobster BLT Flatbread was a mix of things that shouldn't go together. I refuse to spend my money there again with the horrible service.
J.C. Holdway
They have great service and the atmosphere is great. I have had several of their dishes in different seasons and they are always delicious. They are great at accommodating for bigger parties at last minute notice. I would recommend that you make this a must stop when in Knoxville.
Lonesome Dove
When I saw this as a dinner place for our team to meet up, I will say I was skeptical at first. However, after being there I will say it was a great choice for a team dinner. There were plenty of options to choose from and the ambience was just right.
Pete's Coffee Shop
Average food but a savior for when you miss hotel breakfast deadline. It feels like Waffle House inside with different small time diner food options. If you miss breakfast time and starving it hits the right spot.
All in all there are some great eatery spots. However, I wouldn't travel to Knoxville for leisure.
]]>I am advising you to always double check your bag the night before. The rule of thumb for liquids through the airport is the amount of each liquid should be less than 3.4 oz and can fit in a quart size bag. My rule of thumb is put all liquids in checked bag and buy anything to drink in the airport. That is why we get to the airport 2hrs earlier to make sure we get through security and make sure we are able to grab water, sodas, and snacks in the airport. You never know when there will be a delay or re-route best to be prepared.
]]>We went to Hawaii for my 50th birthday and Charleston for my daughter's 30th birthday. For Hawaii we would say it was great except for the flights. For Charleston we say it was great except for the racism. Between the looks, the feeling, and the actions by the people there it was very off putting that we made a unanimous decision as family not to go back. Why spend money where we are not wanted?
We stayed at The Loutrel Hotel. One of the best hotels we have ever stayed. Between the great size of the room, the comfortable beds, and awesome free snacks constantly restocked. The only down side were the people staying there giving us looks of "You can stay here?"; talking down to my family, and trying to order us around. It is lucky for them that we choose to ignore and move away from such actions.
Since everyone was getting the new variant of COVID when taking the plane and constant flight cancellations we decided to drive to Charleston. It was a decent 4hr drive, except the last 2 hrs was spent on country back roads with sketchy stops and a lot of confederate flags. So we stayed in the car and drove 4hrs straight, so by the time we got to the hotel we were tired and starving. We decided to check-in, drop our bags, and go to a restaurant in walking distance. Near The Loutrel there is the Street Market, Buggy Tours, and tons of restaurants.
In the end we decided to go the Oyster House Seafood Restaurant around the corner from The Loutrel Hotel. There was no wait and it had a decent menu outside. We got there 1 hr before they closed so we thought it would be fine. From the start it wasn't. They wouldn't sit us outside and put us in a corner next to the kitchen. Let me tell there were plenty of people outside and empty chairs. Inside there were people at the bar and in other parts. However, the whole middle was empty of people and they would only sit us near the back corner near the kitchen. Then the waitress took 30mins to get to us and had an attitude. When taking our order she emphasized the prices like we couldn't afford them. The whole customer service was horrible. Then we get the food and some of the order is wrong. We were tired and hungry so we just ate but the food wasn't even that good. I had an upset stomach afterwards because of the Charleston She Crab Soup. I thought I should try something special from Charleston. After that I refused to get it from the other restaurants that served it. Just in case. Then we paid and left a tip and the waitress start apologizing but it was too late at that point.
The next day we thought we had brunch reservations at Eleve Rooftop. However, it was a weekday and apparently they only have brunch on the weekend. So we decided to walk to the Joe Riley Waterfront Park. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We saw different kinds of boats, birds, and we even saw dolphins. It was amazing just to sit there and there are so many places to walk if you want to.
Since we had the reservations we started to walk to Eleve. By the time we we got there, there was no one there and we only had lunch options. However, the staff was nice and the view was great. The food was good to, made us think we were going to get a better experience today. If it wasn't raining we would have sat outside. It was also perfect timing because we thought it would be great to walk to the hotel especially because parking was difficult. When we walked there it wasn't raining but right when we went inside it started to rain. It started to slack we when left so it wasn't a bad walk.
We were waiting at the hotel for my aunt and uncle to drive up from Atlanta so when they arrived we knew they were going to be very hungry. So we went to The Home Team for a simple barbeque because we had reservations later and it was just to help knock the hunger off for them. The food wasn't good and the waitress wouldn't sit us outside again. It stopped raining and the sun came out so we wanted to sit in the covered area. However, they said they were having a party out there. However, we saw a couple obviously out there and another after us were seated out there on the other side away from the party. We couldn't get a table either so we had to crowd in a booth.
Please note this was my daughter's actual birthday so we had reservations for The KingsTide on Daniel Island for a special dinner. It is on Daniels' Island and everyone gave great reviews for the ocean view. We had a party of 5 and on the website it recommended to reservations to get a place outside. So we had reservations and came dressed up. We told them about our reservations and they refused to sit us outside. Mind you we reserved a week in advance and called to make sure we could sit outside and they refused us. From the time we walked through the parking lot we got "How dare you come here?" looks from everyone. When we went to the hostess she was taking aback when we said our name for the reservation she was beyond shock. They said it would be a minute to set-up the table. We decided not to argue since it was my daughters birthday and we could still see the view from inside. The waitress we had was beyond nice and very helpful. All the food was great and I had the best Oysters I have in my life. Everything except the way the diners looked at us and how we weren't allowed outside was beyond exceptional. The view was amazing even at night with the city lights bouncing on the water.
The next day we went to Folly Beach. I have a friend who is a native to Charleston and she recommended that we sit further from the pier. As we took a walk near the pier I noticed there weren't as many stares. However, as we went down further we got the "How dare you come here?" looks unless we were near my friend. The view was beautiful and the waves were rolling in lovely. It wasn't too rough and the water was warm.
The next day we had at Brunch reservations for Virginia's on King. The reviews raved about this place. Let me tell you two drawbacks. The parking is horrible. If you can't walk from the hotel there get a buggy cab, pedal cab, or uber. Do not, I repeat do not try to drive and park there. It took 1hr just trying to get a parking space. The 2nd thing is the buttermilk pancakes are spiced pancakes. Other than that the people were great, the food was great, and the ambience was good.
We were able to score an awesome last minute reservation for a Salt Marsh Tour that goes to Morris Island. The boat captain we had was nice but the other people on the Salt Marsh Tour were giving off don't come on my boat vibes. We also had disrespectful people boarding the boat with us. However, the ride was smooth, informational, and beautiful. When we got to Morris Island the people who were docked there kept staring at us. But once we got to the side no one was on it was peaceful and so beautiful. The tide was the best I have felt it was like being back on the lagoon in Hawaii. You could see the lighthouse and so many seashells. On the ride back we saw so many dolphins right next to us. It was amazing with a side of racism.
After we came back from the boat ride we changed and went to our reservation at Momo River Front Park. It was a little hard to find in the maze like back street but I am glad we finally found it. The food was amazing and the staff was great. This was the most peaceful time we had with no problems from diners and staff the whole time we were there. Please try the pimento cheese spread it is divine.
If I had to go back to Charleston it wouldn't be because I wanted to go for a birthday again. I would stay at The Loutrel again and eat at Momo River front park. I would also explore the North Charleston food area. That area seemed more comfortable for black people.
]]>So this past January I turned the big 50 and decided I wanted to take the family back to Oahu, Hawaii where I was stationed at the age of 18. My daughter was born there so I thought I'm turning 50 and she turns 30 this year so what better way to celebrate both our birthdays.
We had an absolute blast and I wanted to recap the great time we had here.
Hotel
We stayed at the Prince Waikiki and the rooms were great. I ended up in the Ala Moana Tower and the rest of my family stayed in the Diamond Head Tower. I booked 4 King OceanFront Premier rooms however on check in I received a Double OceanFront Premier room instead. That turned out for the best because I just used my other bed as a Lounge area. The bathroom with separate shower and tub was awesome and it was my first time using a bidet...loved it! Overall I would rate the Prince Waikiki a 4.5 out of 5 because the Customer Service was top notch.
Food
I will be honest navigating 5 different palates is a lot. Yet here are a few places that were a win for everyone.
Chart House Waikiki - loved the ambiance and the vibes provided by the live music. 4 out of 5
Sweet E's Cafe - We ate here for breakfast 4 out of 5 days. Absolutely loved the local fried rice and veggie omelet. 5 out of 5
Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider - This is where the big 50 Dinner took place and the ambiance, food and service were phenomenal. 5 out of 5
Activities
Well we enjoyed a number of beach excursions around Oahu and a few of our favorite beaches are listed below.
Laniakea Beach - We enjoyed the view here but the waves were for the experienced surfers.
Sandy Beach Park - thoroughly enjoyed the beach here and the strong breaks were not for the weak.
Halona Beach Cove - I did not make the trek down to this gem however my daughter and son were very adventurous and my son even dove off the cliffs into the ocean here.
Self Guided App from Apple Store this was the best $8 spent because it would point out local landmarks and items of interest outside of the normal tourist tours. It helped that we rented a car to allow our family to navigate our own pace.
Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park - This by far was my favorite because of the locals and the cove for just relaxing in the ocean. My son said I brought him to a kiddie pool in the Ocean, lol. My daughter and I loved it!
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So my Child Genius and I have started a Podcast titled "Geeks and Heathens" where we talk about pop culture, art, music, and any random thing that we find interesting during the week. On this week's episode 6 we have our first in studio guest, Charity "Cake" Hamidullah who is a tattoo artist, muralist and artist but really just an all around badass. On this week's episode we are talking about the following random topics, lol.
You can subscribe on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever Podcasts are played. Let us know what you think.
]]>I follow too many Haitian artists on instagram who travel between the U.S. and Haiti to believe there isn't an abundance of beauty and history to learn from.
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This is the oldest of all the black resort towns in America. Founded by Charles and Laura Douglass in 1893, Charles was the son of the well renowned Frederick Douglass.
This beach is located approximately 35 miles outside of Washington D.C. and was the very first black owned resort in the history of America. This destination was birthed from an act of racial discrimination when the Douglass’s were denied entry into a restaurant on Chesapeake Bay. Charles Douglass then decided to delve into the real estate industry and began purchasing beachfront property and selling lots to his friends and family. Some of its earliest purchasers were notable African American politicians in the DC/Baltimore area including Senators, Congressman and Judge Robert Terrell and his wife, Mary. Terrell was the first black judge in the District of Columbia.
When Charles Douglass died in 1920 its ownership was transferred to his son Haley Douglass who in 1922 led a movement to make Highland Beach the first African American incorporated municipality in the state’s history.
Today there are approximately 90 homes still owned and occupied by descendants of the original settlers of Highland Beach and the Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center ‘Twin Oaks’ is a local attraction at this distinctive resort destination.
Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Dubois and singer Paul Robeson all made Highland Beach their summer home.
More info here:
1. https://www.highlandbeachmd.org/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Beach,_Maryland
3. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-near-highland-beach-maryland-105448.html
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Here at Root Compass Modern Nomad we are currently obsessing over all things Faith Ringgold. Her story quilts continue a tradition passed down in the Black community for decades. Per her artist bio found on her website below and a few videos where you can learn from the artist in her own words.
Faith Ringgold, born 1930 in Harlem, New York, is a painter, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, writer, teacher and lecturer. She received her B.S. and M.A. degrees in visual art from the City College of New York in 1955 and 1959. Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of California in San Diego, Ringgold has received 23 Honorary Doctorates.
During the early 1960’s Ringgold traveled in Europe. She created her first political paintings, The American People Series from 1963 to 1967 and had her first and second one-person exhibitions at the Spectrum Gallery in New York. In the early 1970’s Ringgold began making tankas (inspired by a Tibetan art form of paintings framed in richly brocaded fabrics), soft sculptures and masks. She later utilized this medium in her masked performances of the 1970’s and 80’s. Although Faith Ringgold’s art was initially inspired by African art in the 1960’s, it was not until the late 1970’s that she traveled to Nigeria and Ghana to see the rich tradition of masks that have continued to be her greatest influence.
She made her first quilt, Echoes of Harlem, in 1980, in collaboration with her mother, Madame Willi Posey. The quilts were an extension of her tankas from the 1970’s. However, these paintings were not only bordered with fabric but quilted, creating for her a unique way of painting using the quilt medium.
Ringgold’s first story quilt Who’s Afraid of Aunt Jemima? was written in 1983 as a way of publishing her unedited words. The addition of text to her quilts has developed into a unique medium and style all her own.
]]>A young and ambitious married couple, Willa and Charles Bruce, purchased some of the land that makes up Bruce’s Beach in 1912. They added three lots to the original land and soon set to work, establishing a resort that was open to all African Americans. Given that segregation practices had restricted most beach access for blacks in the city, the new resort was welcomed by many who had until then hardly had the chance to experience the area’s coastal beauty.
Land around the resort was bought by wealthy land developer George H. Peck, also in 1912. Being a bit of a maverick for the times, Peck did away with the common practice of racial segregation by offering up the plots for purchase to African Americans. It was he who also founded Peck’s Pier, which was originally the only local pier accessible by African Americans at the time. Thanks to his actions, black families were able to buy properties near the Bruce’s beach resort and build their own summer homes. This helped the area grow into an important fixture of Manhattan Beach’s black community.
More can be found in the links below.
1. https://www.californiabeaches.com/bruces-beach-park-history/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce%27s_Beach
3. https://alisonrosejefferson.com/african-american-leisure-southern-california-tales-and-bruces-beach/
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As the owner of this piece from the Vetiver Night Women series, I want to discuss how intimately it reminds me that I am composed of Stars and bring that energy to bear here on Earth. The artist behind this piece Brianna McCarthy is best described as a Genius with her ability to bring to bear these beautiful pieces of art.
Here bio is actually below:
"Brianna McCarthy is a mixed media visual communicator working and living in Trinidad + Tobago.
She is a self-taught artist and aims to create a new discourse examining issues of beauty, stereotypes, representation as well as the documenting the process – particularly poignant in an ever smaller digitally connected world.
Her form takes shape through masking and performance art, fabric collage, traditional media, and installation pieces."
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This documentary below gives a glimpse of the Aloha spirit but I would be remiss if I didn't also include a video documenting the true History of the Islands and it's people.
Hawaii History
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This image presented itself in my Pinterest feed and lead me on a fantastic journey of discovery. Below is a small snippet from Elizabeth Catlett's Wikipedia. Her graphic paintings and sculptures are giving me a major inspiration to start creating again.
"Elizabeth Catlett (April 15, 1915[2] – April 2, 2012)[3] was an American and Mexican graphic artist and sculptor best known for her depictions of the African-American experience in the 20th century, which often focused on the female experience. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C. to parents working in education, and was the grandchild of freed slaves. It was difficult for a black woman in this time to pursue a career as a working artist. Catlett devoted much of her career to teaching. However, a fellowship awarded to her in 1946 allowed her to travel to Mexico City, where she worked with the Taller de Gráfica Popular for twenty years and became head of the sculpture department for the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas. In the 1950s, her main means of artistic expression shifted from print to sculpture, though she never gave up the former."
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The definition and history of Afrofuturism is found on Wikipedia.
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African diaspora culture with technology. It was coined by Mark Dery in 1993[1] and explored in the late 1990s through conversations led by Alondra Nelson.[2] Afrofuturism addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture and science fiction, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning black futures that stem from Afrodiasporic experiences.[3]
This conversation between Granville Carroll and Ohemaa Dixon is an interesting conversation on how Afrofuturism impacts their respective works.
Additional context and works by both artists can be found on HAFNY.ORG.
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This view of Idaho has spurred Wanderlust in revisiting the classic American road trip.
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This is a very interesting view on repurposing classic architecture instead of tearing it down.
]]>This is my absolute favorite to play when I first board a plane.
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