Hey guys!  VOTE FOR ME to be Miss May on Two Naked Men Making A Sandwich!  In order to vote, all you have to do is watch the video and "like" it from your YouTube or Google account.  The winner is chosen based upon who has the most views and likes.  If I win, I'll host segments of the show throughout the month of May!  Haha and yes, I am well aware that I'm no singer... believe me, I'll never claim to be... but this video is so me. :)
Thanks in advance for your votes!! 
XOXO Nicole

Two Naked Men Men Making A Sandwich is a parody cooking show that's currently in its second season.  And you guessed it-- each episode stars two naked men, wearing nothing but their cooking aprons (ou la la)!  Each episode is filmed in the metro-Atlanta area in association with Scattered Films and Unproductive Productions. 

If you want to learn more about the Two Naked Men Making A Sandwich webseries, check out their links below:

TNMMAS Official Website - see what they're all about!
TNMMAS on Facebook - be a fan!
TNMMAS on YouTube - watch the episodes!

On the heels of this weekend's huge opening of The Hunger Games (it earned $214 million worldwide!), I have to stop and think:  Is this our replacement for Harry Potter and the beloved Twilight series?   Now that Harry Potter is over and Twilight will eventually end, at least the book-turned-movie fan population who's been coping with the loss of HP has something new to focus their attention on. 

I've never been one for sorcery or glittering vampires, and I admit, I've only seen the first HP movie and somewhat boycotted Twilight, but The Hunger Games really caught my attention.  Although the whole idea of America turning into Panem and the Capitol hosting a fight to the death seems somewhat far fetched, I think the idea of survival of the fittest speaks to all of us at a core level, myself included.  Just like any good junkie, I read the book and was immediately sucked into the characters and the story line, staying up late and ditching friends to read, over going out for the night.  My Amazon basket right now includes the next two books in the Suzanne Collins series:  Catching Fire and Mockingjay, which will also be made into movies in the coming years. 

You know how any time we read a book and then see the movie, we always walk away from the theatre somewhat disappointed that the film didn't meet our expectations?  Or maybe that the writers and directors of the film left out pieces of the book that you felt were important?  Well, I have to say, of all the movies I've seen as interpretations of a book, The Hunger Games stayed more true to the written version than most.  Granted, little bits and pieces were removed, but overall, the folks behind the scenes made some right decisions.  I will say, I did enjoy the book more, but I think that's for one very specific reason that we don't always consider.  When a reader is following along in a novel, he or she is reading every thought, every feeling, every observation of the narrator.  Whereas, in a film, it would be silly to vocalize all of those things.  Instead, the actor has to emote all of those thoughts and feelings, leaving it up to the audience's  interpretation.  We don't become as connected to the individual narrating the story through a film as we do in a book.  We simply have to be accepting of that and open our minds to the movie version.

Now, in order to keep up with the "Team Edward" t-shirts, I've gotta get to the screen printing store to have my jersey made.  Number 12 with "Everdeen" across the shoulder blades.  Oh yeah.  The odds are ever in my favor.

Micah Dalton is a tried and true Atlanta favorite, known and respected by just about everyone involved in this southern music community.  Not only is Dalton a fiercely talented writer, musician and vocalist, but he is also deeply involved with the community and making music with others.  Micah started ATL Collective (co-founded with David Berkeley), an eclectic group of musicians in Atlanta who come together once a month at Eddie's Attic to perform a series of songs by one selected artist.  This month, for example, they'll be covering Bruce Springsteen's album, Born in the USA, on March 18th.  These aren't your typical cover shows, though, as they make each event of musical storytelling a unique experience, leaving you with the feeling that you've just listened to this classic album for the very first time.  Another collaborative effort of Micah's is the annual Christmas show at Eddie's Attic, which he performs in with Ryan Horne and Nathan Angelo.  I went this past year and had a blast-- so great to see a community of artists come together and create something as memorable as these guys do. 

Though Micah has many other albums that precede this one, I'm especially excited about Blue Frontier.  I've listened to the album at home, of course, as well as got a little live preview of a few songs at the Christmas show.  I keep finding myself with the track, The Way Our Seasons Change, on repeat.  Needless to say, Blue Frontier will undoubtedly be his best CD to date.  

The official release date for Blue Frontier was on March 13, 2012.  To kick off the release, Dalton hosted a CD release party last night at The Vinyl with live performances by the band, Shook Foil and singer-songwriter, Peter Groenwald.  Another great collaboration that I was thrilled to be present for.  Micah and his band took the stage at the end of the night, accompanied by The Shadowboxers and vocalist Molly Parden, performing some of his previous hits, as well as introducing us to the new musical stylings on his latest album. Funny, because even Micah said in his live performance that he's gotten a lot of positive feedback about The Way Our Seasons Change (the song I mentioned earlier), and that it seems to really resonate with people.  I can relate.  I couldn't help but notice the track, Bad Blood, off of Blue Frontier, was a crowd favorite-- myself included.  I also loved how Micah, an Ohio native, threw in a little MoTown flair to some of his music (I'm a Detroit-born girl, so some MoTown flavor is always appreciated).  After the performance, I bought the hard copy (because I still listen to CDs... I'm old school like that) of Peter Groenwald's EP, Sweet Science and of course, Micah's newest addition.  You can purchase your own copy on iTunes, Amazon, or through his website listed below.   

I have been a fan of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers since the fall of 2010, when a friend of mine told me to listen to them. I obliged, and within a few minutes of YouTubing a few of their songs, I had gone to their website to order their newest album at the time, Glassjaw Boxer.  Though this is a relatively new band in my repertoire (they started in 2003.. I'm behind the times, apparently), it was like a whirlwind romance, as my love grew quickly for the music of these Massachusetts natives.  Glassjaw Boxer has insightful lyrics, many written by Stephen Kellogg, expressing his love for his family, and a clear American folk-rock influence.  

Nicole's Top 10 SK6ERS Lyrics (Mostly from "Glassjaw Boxer" and "Gift Horse", in no particular order):
1.  "She was on fire and wild and American"
2.  "Brown-eyed actress"  (I'm sure you can't guess why on Earth I'd like that one)
3.  "Did you ever think that, maybe, if you're not happy, it's because of you?"
4.  "And I'll wear your memory underneath my shirt like an Indian tattoo"
5.  "It's okay in the clouds, but I love it, right here, with my feet on the ground"
6.  "She's got a sun kissed smile that the winter won't go near.  And her hips could shake a mountain and her              lips could start a fire."
7.  "Call it artistic or agnostic, altruistic, now I've lost it.  This uncertainty just gets to me."
8.  "I don't have the time for your nostalgia or your criticisms.  You live and learn.. me, well, I learn to let go."
9.  "With a fierce disposition like the beat of a drum, you get hurt more than others but you had more fun"
10.  Umm and the entire song, "Noelle, Noelle"

A friend of mine who works for a local apartment complex was having issues with tenants not cleaning up after their pets... so what did she do?  Being a filmmaker as well, she made a video... and I star in it, along with my "dog", Rover, played by the talented (and not so slobbery) Dominick Racano.  It's pretty silly and ridiculous, but gets her point across with humor, which I think is always the best way.  So take a look. 

You can see other videos of mine HERE

I love seeing people I know follow their dreams, make a breakthrough and find success doing what they're most passionate about.  That being said, I was beyond excited when I heard that Matt Ryan, "Ducky Duke", was going to be on NBC's hit tv show, The Voice.  Matt and I go back to the high school lunch tables and he has always been a creative guy who cares about his friends and marches to the beat of his own drum.  You can't help but respect that.  Over the last several years, Ducky has been hard at work, creating music and playing shows with his band, Ducky and the Vintage, in and around Harrisburg, PA.  Not only that, but he is a supremely talented painter with an affinity for creating imaginative murals that reflect his personality (click the link to his official website below to see more of his work). 

A big break came when Matt did a blind audition for NBC's The Voice.  Ducky was featured as the first performer on Season 2's third episode, airing on February 20th, 2012.  Before stepping out onto the stage, Ducky, dressed in black, tested his moves in his red cowboy boots, tipped his fedora over his shaggy jet black hair, smoothed the ends of his iconic mustache, and prepared for his big moment.  On the stage, he performed "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys for host Carson Daly, judges Christina Aguilera,  Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and millions of viewers across the US and beyond.  Ducky's high energy, real grit and irresistible stage presence blew the crowd and judges away.  Although no judge pressed his or her button, it was apparent to all watching the show that they felt as if they'd made a mistake, with Blake Shelton saying, "Ducky's one of those that I'm probably gonna look back on this and regret it a little bit."  And Carson Daly launched the #whattheheckhappenedtoducky movement on Twitter by saying, "I think, tomorrow morning, when we wake up, there's gonna be a big internet buzz, like the 'what the heck happened to Ducky' movement." 

Now, after the airing of his episode, Ducky is playing more and more shows around Pennsylvania, making radio appearances and has been set to perform on Last Call with Carson Daly.  I was lucky enough to get a tidbit of his time to ask a few questions about his experience on the show, as well as get the 411 on what's to come.

NK:  How long have you been writing and performing music?
DD:  I've been writing lyrics and music since I was 9 or 10.  Been performing since I was around 7 years old.

NK:  Wow, you've had a lot leading up to this point!  What made you decide to audition for NBC's The Voice?
DD:  My manager just let me know I had an industry invite to audition, so I did it!

NK:  Tell me about your experience on the show-- preparing, performing, the judges and your interactions with the other musicians.
DD:  Well, it was amazing being on the show!  There was a lot of running around, practice and networking.  But mostly good hangin' out and havin' a good time with all the other contestants.  Lots of partying in our down time.  Performing was easy; it was hard to stay still after 6 cups of coffee.  Overall, the whole experience was awesome!

NK:  Ok, I have to ask-- the mustache.  It's become your trademark!  How did that all start? 
DD:  The stache.  I actually grew it for a music video that ended up getting postponed cuz I made it on The Voice.  I left it grow for a Halloween party too.  I've trimmed it up and gotten a hair trim since the show.  It got a little out of control there for a while. 

NK:  Another must-know.  Where did you get the name, "Ducky Duke" from?
DD:  The name, "Ducky", is completely random, it came from my best friend, Alison, in high school.  I was trying to get a duck hat or plush duck out of a crane game machine at a diner.  She said, "you got it, Ducky Duke", and there it is.  "Ducky" became a stage name after I moved to Harrisburg and everyone started calling me that.  So I stuck with it.  I still go by Matt too, though. 

NK:  Haha, I love that story!  It's so cool to see you trending on Twitter!  How are you feeling about the #whattheheckhappenedtoducky movement?
DD:  I feel great about the whole trending thing!  I've definitely gained a shit ton of fans from it, which is a blessing in itself.   Gotta thank Carson for starting the movement.

NK:  What can America expect from Ducky Duke in the near future?  Are there any television appearances coming up or tours with Ducky and the Vintage?
DD:  Well, I'll be in LA this week to do an interview for Last Call with Carson Daly, the late night show.  I'll be performing a few original tunes acoustic from my band on the show as well.  Then I'll be playing The Whiskey in LA too.  We'll be releasing an EP soon and hopefully starting to tour.  There's a lot coming!  So stay tuned!

NK:  Tell us one thing we don't know about you that we should know!
DD:  Something that ya should know is I'm A.D.D.  I'm lucky I have friends and my girlfriend, otherwise I wouldn't get anything done!  Haha.  I do have trouble paying attention 90% of the time and remembering names. 

NK:  Thank you so much for your time!  I look forward to seeing your career skyrocket from here on out! 

If you want to learn more about Ducky Duke or stay in touch with him, here are some useful links:
Ducky Duke Design
Twitter
Facebook




In the  meantime, check out the video below and KEEP IT QUACKIN'!

Two eggs over easy.  Hashbrowns-- scattered, of course.  OJ.  Whole wheat toast. 

OH baby, this is the recipe for romance on Valentine's Day!  As a silly joke, my date and I kept saying that we were going to go to the Waffle House in celebration of Cupid's favorite day.  Of course, everyone looked at us like we were crazy and laughed, thinking we'd give in to the pressures of Hallmark's marketing techniques and go somewhere "special"... but fear not!  I'm no high maintenance chick.  Our plan got much more serious when I got wind of the WaHo's special plan for their customers on this occasion.  On the radio, they were saying that, by reservation only, select Waffle Houses in the Atlanta area would be dressing up their restaurants with white table cloths, dim lights, flowers and candles in honor of Valentine's Day!  I'd never heard of this before, but apparently 2012 was their 5th year doing it, and not surprisingly, it gets more popular every year.  So, we donned our traditional Valentine's Day red and headed out to celebrate my love for eggs at the south's favorite breakfast joint, Waffle House.  Upon arrival, the door was held as we walked in to the balloon-filled restaurant, there was a maître'd awaiting our names for reservation, the waiters all had on black bow ties and the spherical lights hanging from the ceiling were covered with candy heart stickers with sayings such as "be mine".  Needless to say, it was fun to see my late night hangout all dressed up and a fantastic low-key way to celebrate... plus, you can't beat a lovely dinner for two for less than $20 -- including tip!  Happy Valentines Day!!

HA!  Our WaHo escapades made the news:  http://projects.accessatlanta.com/gallery/view/entertainment/wafflehousevday021512/#sldr_hm

Several months ago, I started seeing billboards around Atlanta, advertising the High Museum of Art's newest special exhibit, Picasso to Warhol.  Being a loyal fan of both of these iconic artists (I mean, really, my cat is even named "Picasso"), I knew I simply HAD to go to this exhibit.  I couldn't help but wonder who made up the "to" between the names, "Picasso" and "Warhol", so I started doing my research.  The exhibit consists of the works of 14 contemporary artists, all from the 20th century:  Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Fernand Léger, Marcel Duchamp, Constantin Brancusi, Giorgio De Chirico, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Jackson Pollock, Joan Miró, Louise Bourgeois, Jasper Johns and last but certainly not least, Andy Warhol.  I was surprised that I was only familiar with just less than half of the aforementioned artists, so I did a little homework, diving into their works of art-- I wanted to know what I was looking at before I showed up.  It's funny, because I recognized many of the pieces, but never knew the artist behind them.  Walking into the exhibit, I was greeted by Picasso's Girl Before a Mirror (above), a vibrant abstract-- what a perfect way to set the tone.  This was followed by breathtaking pieces by Jackson Pollock-- what really pulled me in with some of his pieces was the fact that I could see his hand prints around the edges... I could really envision him standing over his canvas, stretched across his studio floor, dripping paint across his work and getting down, closer, to add his personal touch.  Oh, to have been present for such things.  Matisse was next.  The High Museum had an impressive collection of his art on display, many pieces I recognized were present, but the one that I loved most was a collage of cut paper in stripes of bright colors with black cutouts of a woman's eyes near the top.  I believe it was a cover he did for a catalog or magazine...  called Exhibitionist, maybe? If they'd had a print of it for sale, I would have bought it in a heartbeat... I can't even find it online now... kills me (so keep an eye out for me, will ya?).  I was later greeted by the brilliant mobiles constructed by Alexander Calder.  His work was one which I referred to earlier-- I'd seen pieces before, but never took the time to learn who had made them.  Now I know and I'm so glad I do.  I glided through the exhibits of several other artists (I won't go into detail with each and every one) until I got to the part I was most anticipating:  Andy Warhol.  An entire room was dedicated to Warhol's creations.  Walking in, the first thing I noticed was a set-up in the middle of his iconic Brillo boxes.  Looking around, they had all 32 of his Campbell's soup paintings (above), his S&H Green Stamps and of course, his infamous self portrait (above).  I was so overwhelmed with joy to see these great works in person and I can see how they shaped our world today.  I highly recommend making the trek down to the High Museum of Art to see them for yourself while they're in Atlanta.  The exhibit lasts until April 29, 2012. 

Visit the High Museum of Art's webpage:  http://www.high.org/

My friend, Laura, and I were gallavanting around Little 5 Points, the East Atlanta Village and Decatur one day in December, taking pictures and goofing around.  We were driving down the road when I yelled to stop the car-- I'd seen a new mural painted in an underpass and found it so beautiful.  It had vibrant colors and a positive spirit; I was drawn to it.  As we got closer, to my surprise, I saw that the artist was still out there, painting his work of art.  I stopped to talk to him for a moment, admire the piece he was working on and of course, take some photos!  I love finding local art and spreading the word!

Find him on facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/HENSE/

Check out his website:  http://www.hensethename.com