Lamborghini’s concept SUV, the Urus, is making a wave in the automotive world. Lamborghini’s R&D Director, Maurizio Reggiani, recently revealed some key details about Urus.

Reggiani said “We envisage a start of production no sooner than early 2017.” He also revealed the model will ride on the PL73 platform that will underpin the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg and the production version of Bentley’s EXP 9 F concept. The Urus will be made from steel with a target weight of 4,400 lbs (1,996 kg), says Reggiani. To achieve this target weight, the crossover will likely have carbon fiber reinforced plastic seat shells and an aluminum-magnesium hood, tailgate and doors.

Reggiani said the model will likely use a twin-turbo V8. Nothing is official, but Automotive News is reporting the engine could be based on Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 and have an output of approximately 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS).

If everything goes according to plan, Lamborghini will sell 3,000 crossovers annually.

source

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-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

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All the fashionisto’s of the world…this is for you. The WTAPS Tanker Bag is made from canvas and leather and features a resemblance to the Hermes Birkin bag. The bag can be used for work or as an overnight bag for those weekend getaways.

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-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

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The shoe that became as iconic as the Rookie of the Year who wore it, Reebok’s Question Mid was aptly named for a player who many questioned ahead of the 1996 draft.  Yet, defying all who questioned his size and skill, 21 year-old Allen Iverson became the No. 1 pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the deepest drafts.

Iverson would answer many questions the minute he stepped onto a professional basketball court. Exploding for 30 points in his first game, he continued to exceed the already high expectations during his rookie season with a dazzling display of fearless play and scoring ability.  Whether he was breaking ankles with his deadly crossover or putting up 40+ points in 5 straight games, Iverson racked up a number of signature moments in the Reebok Question during his unforgettable rookie season.

Originally released in 1996, the Question would become one of the best-selling Reebok sneakers ever created and a staple of nearly every “Top Sneaker” list. The shoe featured a full-grain leather upper and a pearlized outsole.  But, perhaps the most unique design detail was the honey-comb shaped Hexalite cushioning system alongside the shoe marking the first time Reebok’s technology would be blown out to the midsole.  Considered the most popular model in Iverson’s signature Reebok line, the Question is a classic “must have” for sneaker collectors and basketball fans alike.

On May 25th, Reebok will have a 1 TIME DROP of the original white/red Question Mid with pearlized toe.  This is a limited time release, after which the iconic shoe goes back into the Reebok Vault.  While the nubuck toe version has been re-released in the past, this is the FIRST time Reebok has re-released the Question with the pearlized toe since its original launch in 1996.

Price Tag: $125.00

Available at: Reebok.com, Jimmy Jazz, Villa, Shoe Palace, Shiekh’s

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-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

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Rihanna’s sexy level is at an all time high! Especially after the release of here video “Where Have You Been“.  Terry Richardson is known for capturing the raw essence of celebrities…which says to me that Rihanna sells sex. Ok, Get your mind out of the gutter, not in a prostitute way! Kudos Rihanna for making more than half of them men in world “stiff”.

What Do You Think?

-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

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Last Thursday I had the opportunity to have cocktails and dinner with Anthony Sosnick (Founder & President of Anthony Logistics for Men) at his loft in SoHo, NY. What an awesome time! If you didn’t know, Anthony aka Tony:

• Was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan
• Spent the 90’s partying in the rave scene with Kid Rock
• Is an awesome guitar player and started a music school in NYC
• Also an avid art collector
• Left the real estate arena once he realized the grooming space was lacking a head to toe brand geared toward the modern man.

With drive and perseverance, Tony created Anthony Logistics For Men in 2000 after two years of extensive marketing and product research, hundreds of surveys, worldwide focus group studies and thousands of distributed samples. Tony’s meticulous approach toward perfection led to the development of a men’s grooming line that was based on direct feedback on the specific concerns and needs of men… right down to their preference for oversized tubes and fragrance free-blends.

Anthony Brands Inc. is now comprised of an impressive portfolio of brands, including Logistics, SPORT, ACTION, Anthony For Little Men and Shaveworks The Cool Fix.

Now that you are caught up on the founder and brand, lets talk about the dinner.

Anthony Sosnick's Loft – NYSun.com

The evening started off with a tour of Tony’s 3,000 sq foot SoHo loft with a glass of wine in hand. The walls were decorated with amazing artwork from several different artists. One of the pieces that stuck out the most was the “Enjoy it…while it lasts” piece by Tim Berg. The piece depicts the different stages in eating a popsicle. Tony mentioned that there were only a couple pieces sold and that Kanye West purchased the last one. Luxe right?

Enjoy it…while it lasts by Tim Berg – NYSun.com

After taking the tour of his beautiful home, we sat for conversation and dinner. The delicious dinner was prepared by Chef Josetth Gordon, co-author of Party Like  A Culinista. During dinner Tony answered questions that were submitted by some of our readers via Facebook and Twitter, check out two below:

Reader 1 (Facebook): My hubby breaks out a LOT!!! How do we go about controlling this??

Anthony: Look for a face wash that has salicylic acid or glycolic acid in it. Then use a astringent with a cotton ball. Followed up with an oil free facial lotion. If it is still persists, use a clay mask. (Try the Complete Acne Treatment by Anthony)

Reader 2 (Facebook): What are some good products for men who choose to shave their heads bald and want to be consistent with smoothness ?!!

Anthony: Clean the surface first. By cleaning the surface it prevents razor burn. Use Anthony Shave Gel. Gels are better than creams. The Anthony gel has Aloe Vera beads which moisturizes the skin.

All in all, Tony was an awesome host! I was able to gain a wealth of information about him and Anthony Logistics for Men.

Make sure to check out Anthony.com to view their products. My top LUXE picks (which I personally use):

1. Glycolic Facial Cleanser – $21

2. Facial Scrub – $36

3. Ingrown Hair Treatment – $28.50

4. Continuous Moisture Eye Cream – $32.00

Chef Josetth

Guinness Beer Ice Cream

What Do You Think?

-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

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Somebody should tell Kimberly Jones (aka Lil Kim) that courtesy of iTunes, she has $9.99 coming her way. In my daily haste, post my morning prayer, a sudden urge to hear “Big Momma Thang” led me to download the 1996 studio album instead of search for it somewhere in a box between Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” and the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. While I’m not always as quick to make such a sympathy purchase, I’m painfully acknowledging the fact that Kim as we knew her has outlived the glory days and has been usurped by this generation–the generation of Trey’s Angels, Lady Gaga’s Monsters and Nicki’s Barbz-as the Queen of Rap and Hip-Hop.

Let the record show that Nicki Minaj is on track to take this title to a whole new level. When you kiss Madonna, you’ve made it. I love(d) you Kimberly and I’d much rather see you succumb to an old-faithful in the industry like Trina, but Nicki has the game on lock – the keys: mainstream music, pop influenced tracks with European appeal and an affiliation with one of the hottest labels in business right now, Young Money & Cash Money Billionaires Entertainment (YCMB).

In spite of the mix-tape singles critics are still denying Nicki Minaj is a true rap/hip-hop artist. We’ve thrown her in a pop class of “rappers” that technically does not exist. The pop stuff is the money-maker though rap is her roots so I’ve excused Nicki because I can respect the hustle. Besides, there are traces of hip-hop in plenty of her music. If anything Nicki learned something from her predecessors. The naked truth is this: there’s money to be made by the “versatile” artist. I’m no musical critic of clout but “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” is something for the people-all people. It has the grunge that was Nicki in 2009, the pop-star that is Nicki in 2012 and maybe the more R&B flavored Nicki on tracks like “Young Forever” and “Fire Burns”. Along with current musical phenoms like Lil Wayne and Drake, Nicki is the face of YCMB; for anyone on the cusp of puberty, they’re like the Jackson 5 were to our parents.

Side by side it’s interesting to analogize the two when in fact Nicki’s attempt to be a “creative artist” is probably more easily compared to Missy or Lady Gaga. [Damn music misses Missy!] Kim’s album sales during her darkest hour are right there with Nicki’s at her best, but where was Kim’s million-dollar Pepsi endorsement back in the early 2000s? Per popular demand, Nicki’s seems here to stay. Should Nicki have come out revering an artist who carved a path for her, an obvious role model from whom she borrowed aspects of style both lyrically and in regard to “fashion”? Hell yes. As a former convict who hasn’t had a “hit” album in almost a decade, should Lil Kim have embraced the opportunity to collaborate with a young, similar, up-and-coming female emcee? Duh. History reminds us that pride goeth before the fall. While we’re jammin to NOTORIOUS K.I.M. trying to grasp why in the world we were so raunchy in our teens, there’s an unsupervised child on the south side (pronounced souf’ side for street credibility) practicing choreography from the MTV-banned, infamous video “Stupid Hoe.”

Keep it poppin” like a bad back.

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-Brian Riddick

Girard-Perregaux, iconic luxury Swiss watch brand, is proud to announce the unveiling of an industry first, the print and online journal: The New Face of Tradition, Eight Young Watchmakers and the Art of Making Time. Not assuming brilliance and lightning strike in one place, Girard-Perregaux observed these young watchmakers not only in their own Atelier, but also in their time with friends, family and alone. What are their other passions beyond making time? What makes them tick?

The New Face of Tradition will be a first in the luxury watchmaking industry, highlighting not only the work of the incredibly talented watchmakers in their famed Manufacture based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, but also the diversity of passions these artisans possess. From rock & roll stars to puzzle masters and international alpine horn champions, the young watchmakers are as multi-faceted as the Girard-Perregaux luxury timepieces they create. They are following in the proud tradition of the iconic craftspeople that have kept Girard-Perregaux at the forefront of watchmaking for 221 years: Jean-Fronçois Bautte, Constant Girard-Perregaux, Luigi “Gino” Macaluso, and now Dominique Loiseau.

In addition to the printed version, the journal will be hosted at www.TheNewFaceofTradition.com, an online site where people may further explore the interests, passions and “extra-curricular activities” of each young watchmaker.

The journal was launched on May 1, 2012 with a special event at Cipriani Dolci in New York City, where our staff had the opportunity to participate in an in-depth one-on-one workshop with the watchmakers. The workshops demonstrated the intricacies of the movements and include hands-on lessons on how they are built. In addition, Girard-Perregaux featured the latest 2012 novelties and Museum pieces from its historical archives.

“Too often brands hide their talented watchmakers behind the curtains of their manufactures”, says Michele Sofisti, CEO of Sowind Group (Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard). “We are proud of the young artists we share our passion for watchmaking with and are excited to show to the world who they are. The New Face of Tradition seeks to break away from the current image many people have of the craft. It is not an antique (and certainly not a dead) art; it is young, revitalized and constantly evolving, much like the people behind it”.

New York City is only the first stop of The Girard-Perregaux Young Watchmakers Tour. Later this year the international tour will move on to Beijing, Paris and several other international cities

 What Do You Think?

-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

Follow me on Twitter – @Phaon

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Getting a group together to dine is hard.  Coordinating calendars, choosing a restaurant that everyone agrees upon, and then calculating the tab at the end of the night is enough to discourage the whole activity.  gDine to the rescue…

gDine takes dining out to a new level, offering their members access to amazing multi-course dining experiences at New York’s premier restaurants with pre-negotiated group rates. Think of it as easy online “shopping” for dining.

It’s Easy!
One site, dozens of restaurant options, and easy-to-use tools that make planning and booking simple.  They even offer a complimentary concierge service to help you coordinate and plan your group’s dining experience.

The Best Food Experiences in the City.
Reservations available at any time with menus showcasing the best of what each restaurant has to offer.

Pre-Negotiated “Group Rate”.
Everyone likes a value.  gDine tastefully walks the line, giving their members a discreet way to save while helping restaurants fill their tables.  gDine is for people who love food, not coupons!

Pre-pay and Split the Check!
What is the worst part of dining out with a group?  Splitting the check, of course.
The industry-first pre-payment feature lets your group pay for their entire meal online before they walk into the restaurant, plus with their Split-the-Check™ feature, everyone in the party can pre-pay for their meal on separate credit cards.

Becoming a member is Free and Easy, just sign up at www.gdine.com and start browsing there abundant dining options with new restaurants being added daily.

What Do You Think?

-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

Follow me on Twitter – @Phaon

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Marcella Precise drops a club banger titled, PAN-AM (We So Fly). The track was produced by the duo, Lady and a Tramp. The sampling of “Hello” on the track is pretty sick! Perfect blend. This drops just in time for all those rooftop, backyard and house parties.

Shouts out to Lady and a Tramp!

What Do You Think?

-Phaon Spurlock, The Southern Gentleman

Follow me on Twitter – @Phaon

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This June, ARTs East New York is hosting a pop-up gallery tour and invites artists in all disciplines to submit work for exhibition relating to the following three themes:

Threadz: Untwining Mistaken Messages Within the Fabric of Hip Hop

The tragic murder of Trayvon Martin forces us to think seriously about perceptions of Hip Hop culture and its representations in mainstream society. The reigning image of Black youth centers on the Hip Hop aesthetic, a mode of expression that can be identified by styles of art and fashion. We ask artists to examine Hip Hop as a depiction of the urban lifestyle, its reception by the larger public and its potential for positively reflecting the African American youth experience. This exhibition is being held in honor of Trayvon Martin, and works speaking directly to this heartbreaking death, and its connection to Hip Hop, are especially encouraged.

I ART East New York

East New York might be somewhere you visit, the place where you work or the community you call home. Even if you’ve only heard about the neighborhood, we invite you to explore East New York through your art. Pieces that most creatively and positively portray the culture, character and community of this Brooklyn destination will be chosen for exhibition.

Juneteenth: A Revelation of Freedom

Juneteenth commemorates the day on which African Americans in Texas, who had been kept enslaved two and a half years past the abolition of slavery, finally received news of their freedom. For this exhibit, we are requesting works that celebrate this moment of enlightenment, pay homage to ancestors who afforded this autonomy and investigate the African diaspora at large as a legacy of liberation. Pieces that best honor and examine the legacy of the African experience in the United States will be included in this important exhibit.

Entry Requirements:
Submit up to five works per theme for consideration. Pieces should not exceed 6’ in any dimension and weigh no more than 50 lbs. E-mail JPEGs of 300 dpi resolution and 4” x 6” size to erika@artseastny.org

Include the name and dimensions of each piece, along with a short description and personal bio. Entries will be accepted through May 11th at 11pm. There is no fee for submission or participation. Selection Process & Accepted Work
A committee will make the final selections for the show and artists will be notified of selection via e-mail at the end of May. All artists are responsible for delivering their works to ARTs East New York and ensuring their readiness for installation. Designated appointments for drop-off will be arranged at the beginning of June. Exhibition Information:

All three exhibitions will be part of a one-night pop-up gallery tour on June 22nd in East New York. I ART East New York will be displayed in establishments around the New Lots Triangle. Juneteeth will be showcased about the perimeter of the New Lots Library. Threadz will have a month long run at the ARTs East New York gallery. ARTs East New York will charge a 10% commission fee for any works sold during the show. Works not sold will need to be picked up from 851 Hegeman Ave. at a time and date arranged with the artist.

About ARTs East New York:
The mission of ARTs East New York is to provide access, affordability and exposure to the arts for the East New York community while using the arts as a tool for social change. ARTs East New York uses the arts to transform youth culture, enhance neighborhood beautification, and increase civic engagement.

ARTs East New York Inc.
851 Hegeman Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11207
718.676.6006p
718.676.6007f
Artseastny.org