elevatedla, an urban lifestyle guide

Foreign Exchange feat. Darien Brockington - “Take Off The Blues”

g.vitte — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:51:37 +0000

The Foreign Exchange feat. Darien Brockington - “Take Off The Blues” from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

Mixtape Madness…early…

g.vitte — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:44:55 +0000

Last March we posted Mixtape Madness sharing some of the hottest mixtapes of the year which seem to all drop around march. For some reason 2009 has been on fire with heat dropping from many different places, so we must share the goodness a few weeks early…. Download and get familiar.

Drake: So Far Gone | we knew back in November 07.
Sean G: The Lever 2009 Mixtape | Pictured above
J. Period: The Abstract Best Mixtape | Q Tip Remix Project
U.N.I. & Mick Boogie: Before There Was Love Mixtape | Check the video below for some insight on the group, and peep the DJ JunkFood cameo in the first few seconds.

Check back we will I will be posting more mixtape as i review them, don’t wanna share trash.

Valentines Day… For Squares Suckers & Lames?

Champ — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:08:40 +0000

“these bums will buy you cliche` flowers and candy and consider it as an investment with a sexual return.”

I know the ladies are ready to light me up with comments and emails, but bear with me. You are so deprived of romance and consideration for most of the year, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for romance by obligation. Valentine’s Day is a romantic paradox. The soul of romance lives in spontinaety, and by declaring a day for lovers to be romantic, spontaneity looses its edge. A champion lover is frequently thoughtful throughout the year. That is why I am declaring a new holiday: The Champion Lover (CL) holiday. Think of it like sick time at work. You can take it as you need it (nh). Everyone has 12 Champion Lover holidays per year. You can take one every month or you can spend like two weeks this summer cupcaking with your boy/girlfriend, wifey/hubby, life partner, f%#ck buddy, or what ever you kids call it these days. Every holiday has to have traditions or customs… We will keep it simple. There is only one rule. Be selfless. When a Champion Lover does things for someone he/she cares for, it is done for no other purpose than to make that person feel special. On Valentine’s Day, most of these bums will buy you cliche` flowers and candy and consider it as an investment with a sexual return. Lame! It has to be done just because you love to do it. Do it for the look on her face.
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Photo Gallery Updated!!!

g.vitte — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:45:25 +0000

After being verbally abused, threatened and attacked, I felt it was my best interest that I stop holding the event photos, and post them up for all to see. The relaunch is near, but who am I to withhold the goodness from you all. Check the gallery, and enjoy the photos. Shout out to Lazo, for taking some pretty fresh pics. Stay tuned for elevatedla.com 2.0…

Last Call for 2008

g.vitte — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:52:13 +0000

The gifts have been opened and dinner served, there is only one thing left to do to close out the holiday season, and that final task is to raise your glasses and welcome the new year. You can view some of the history we made throughout the year in our photo gallery, and can rest assured that in the next year we wont stop. If you wish to be apart of the selected few to ring in the new year we me and the crew, click here, and order your tickets. Happy New Year and Welcome Two Thousand & Shine (2009).

Spot: Stone Rose Lounge, Sofitel Hotel

ElleB — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:52:15 +0000

I remember when the The Sofitel hotel might as well been non-existent. That’s back when rappers, on their records, told you about the hottest clubs you’d never been to but had to make a point to crash.

“…The peanuts in LA, Bubblin’ in Dublin’s” (I Just Wanna Love You, Jay-Z).

I don’t know about the Peanuts gang, but I remember getting into Dublin’s on Sunset with someone else’s ID because I just had to be there. Only to be disappointed that there were no Jigga sightings for all the hoopla surrounding the place.

Yes, The Sofitel existed then. I remember having a singing gig there - some benefit. And… I remember thinking, “Who ever knew this place was behind the Beverly Center?”

Well, in the past five years, the Los Angeles nightlife has been renovated. Sure, you still have the SBE hotspots made popular by The Hills but now there are far more low-key yet sexy nooks all around the city and The Sofitel’s Stone Rose Lounge happens to be one of them.

The hotel lounge is the new destination of the Los Angeles Urban elite and their posses. The Stone Rose is sleek with an alluring ambience dictated by the colors of its decor. The main room is lush and warm with reds and oranges and is offset by a bluish almost cavelike adjacent. I don’t know who the DJ was that night (nor did I even see a booth), but the music was on point as well, playing early 90s hip-hop mixed with grooves from all decades to keep the body moving and the conversations light and lively.

If you want to get dressed up and kick back, Stone Rose is a great option. And unlike the club scene, there is never a cover charge or table service required to get seat.

Unfortunately, valet parking might as well be considered a surcharge for living in LA because it’s mandatory everywhere you go. And the Stone Rose was no exception at $15 per car. But if you’re LA savvy, you’ll also know where to find free street parking just a short walk from the entrance.

The Stone Rose Lounge is soulful and sexy with a mixed crowd - my kind of LA.

The Seasons Best…

g.vitte — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:24:47 +0000

While today we maybe seeing the seasons worst, the Seasons Best is upon us. Celebrating the goodness of the Holidays and the close of a another year and raising one last toast before we enter 2009. The forecast promises the rain will halt and we will have some nice cool Winter weather, prefect for breaking out those coats that see very little use in So. Cal. Bring a unwrapped toy for the kiddies, and if you plan on drinking, bring a designated driver with you too. Happy Holidays from the Elevated Family, see you Friday.

Seasons Best
Element Night Club
1642 N. Las Palmas..

Sidenote: Get ready for New Years Eve Early!

Recession Special: Five Four Warehouse Sale

g.vitte — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:10:38 +0000

In our current economic state there are a few options on how to deal with the drama. You can say “Fuck the Recession, Recess Is On,” like the Morgans Hotel Group who believes that “Attitude is Everything” and has created a lifestyle and marketing blog that suggests people should continue to live the good life and partake in life’s simple pleasures. Sharing promotions and specials from some of the nations nicest hotels, restaurants and spas, encouraging everyone to look at the bright side of the dollar down turn.

The other alternative, is to tighten the belt and be smart with spending. I like to find a happy medium between the two, being mindful of my pockets and staying positive while taking advantage of the low gas prices and special holiday sales. This weekend Five Four Clothing will have their Warehouse Sale, slashing prices to appeal to those who need extra persuasion to spend. Catch me there early grabbing up the goods before they are gone.

Five Four Warehouse Sale
12.13 - 12.14 | 9am - 5pm
Porter St, LA 90021

Good Eats: OHANA’S BBQ [Post gym approved]

ElleB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:16:48 +0000

1.5 miles on the treadmill
4 sets at the row machine
4 sets of push-ups (and not the girl kind…)
2 sets of sumo squats
200 crunches in between reps
4 sets of lunges…

and then lunch. I think I deserve it. But I don’t wanna blow my work out. My workout partner suggests a Hawaiian BBQ place. She says, teriyaki sauce, macaroni salad and white rice. Instantly, I think empty calories, enriched wheat flour, and more starch. I frown. We end up there anyway.

Much to my happiness - well my abs actually - we were at Ohana’s BBQ in Studio City on Ventura Blvd. I ordered the BBQ Chicken combination plate, where the teriyaki sauce was optional and I could have bean sprout salad and brown rice. While I understand that not everyone is not a health nut, I like a place that has options for the health conscious and not so conscious alike. The price point was a bit high for a lunch meal about $9.50 with tax but I can appreciate a bit of sticker shock when the portions are hearty… just enough left over for dinner.

So if you’re ever in the area and want a light yet filling lunch or dinner packed with veggies and protein, check out Ohana’s BBQ. I’ll be back.

Ohana’s BBQ
11269 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604

True School Radio… LIVE RIGHT NOW

g.vitte — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:10:54 +0000

Broadcasting right now 9th Wonder and the True School Family way out in NC. We got the line stream, something perfect to close out the work with… Check out the stream every friday 4pm…