Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Happy Birthday to Us! Chat 'Bout Cleveland is 1!


...Let's see... it was about 50 posts (not including this one), more than a few dancehall events and close to 365 days ago, Chat ‘Bout Cleveland was born. What began as the ‘little blog that could’ turned into a mighty source of the Cleveland, Ohio dancehall scene.

Chat ‘Bout would like to take this time to thank all of its supporters for the last year. A special thanks to Makka B, Leisa Engel (for all the mentions on your program), Dancehall Queen Destiny, www.mplsreggae.com, www.caribbeangroove.com,
www.chicagoreggae.com, and the 2600 visitors (and counting) for supporting our site with your comments, corrections, and pictures.

It’s been a great FIRST year, but stand back! We are JUST GETTING STARTED!

Thanks for the love,

Bashy Bloggette and Tattletale

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Bashment Review: Lava Ranks "School Girl Crush" Birthnight Bash: Pass or Fail?

It was all about Lava Ranks’ Birthnite bash last Saturday at Dailey’s Blue Mountain Inn. As this is becoming the year of the dancehall theme, Chat ‘Bout was glad to see a “School Girl Crush” dance since there hadn’t been one in a long while….

As Chat Bout entered the dance, we were greeted by the guest of honor, Principal Lava Ranks, sporting a suit and tie along with a group of plaid gals sporting the traditional school girl looks complete with backpacks and knee socks. (Did they read the blog and decide to STEP up to this theme?) We were pleased to see many partygoers out and about representing their school days with plaid skirts, ties and khaki all around.

Other celebs in the school yard included the God Bless Crew, The Untouchable Crew (sans Sharon), Blacka, The Designing Women Crew (still getting much love for their Labor Day Birthnite Bash), Toronto Jay alongside Desmond, Ms. Brandi from the CGP Crew, Ms. Trini and Destiny. Also in the place was The Big Man himself, Mr. Dailey.

All of Cleveland’s sounds came out to support this birthnight bash. Of course, New Horizon was on hand spinning a few tunes (was it me or were there more selectors behind the booth that people on the dancefloor?), Sample Jacks’ KC Platinum played a few tunes and lead the birthnight greetings to his fellow selector and told the crowd that Lava Ranks will soon be off the market as he announced his engagement to R & B female selector, DJ Juice. (Hmmmm, was that why the happy couple were on the party flyer?) The future Mrs. Ranks also blessed the crowd with an R & B set during the dance.

Getting their “A” in school house fashion included the cutie dressed as the tennis instructor, the cap and gown ensemble complete with the hot gal dotted dress underneath, Lady T in the tan plaid ensemble, the hot boy sporting the school boy vest and khakis, Jodi Untouchable showing how sexy a lavender school girl can be, the mother and daughter team rocking the high waist denim skinny jeans and jumpsuit, respectively, and the cutie in the peach House of Dereon frock.

Feeling Blue that you missed out on the (themed) fun? Get ready for Super Dee’s annual Blue and White Birthnight Bash on October 6th!



Keep up the good (fashion) work Cleveland! And……


Stay Bashy!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Three the Hard Way- A TRUE Red Carpet event!

There was no bigger finale to Summer 2007 than Three the Hard Way - The birthnite bash featuring Mr. Dailey, Tanya Classic and Tammy Trendz (Designing Women Crew) The bash featured a “new look” to the Inn, a host of Cleveland’s dancehall celebs, and great vibes! If you missed it, I am sure you heard about it, since this dance was N I C E !

As Chat ‘Bout entered the pre-bash dinner, we were taken back by the décor! The covered ceilings, lighting, tablecloths (with placemats!) made us immediately call a photographer to be on hand to capture the follow up bash.

The annual dinner featured a host of the family and friends of the trio. Attendees they were treated to fine Jamaican cuisine such as Jerk Chicken, Fish, and of course, rice and peas. For the American palette, there was roast beef, mac and cheese, chicken and of course, spaghetti on the menu.

In between the mingling and socializing, many guests took time to take in the look of Dailey’s as well as groove to the Sounds of New Horizon as they treated the crowd to smooth Reggae tunes.

As Three the Hard Way arrived they were all dressed in shades of copper and gold as well. Mr. Dailey traded in his traditional dark suit for a light color tan suit matching to coordinate his co-hosts. Tanya Classic donned a sequin trimmed cocktail number while, the always sultry Tammy Trendz wore a show stopping midriff bearing ensemble.

The dinner ended at about 11pm as some guests concluded the evening, while others left to change into more bashy attire. Some guests arrived at the bash earlier than usual to ensure their place in this sure to be ram event!

….Fast forward a few hours as we enter the sell off birthnite bash at an earlier than usual 1am. As expected, the parking lot, main street and all sides streets were packed! After finally finding a space - much farther than usual - we proceeded to the dance. Just as we were getting over the Celebrity Parking sign in front of the building (I wonder what we needed to park there?), were we equally taken back by the RED CARPET!

Once inside, many of the tables and chairs for the dinner were removed for the bash but the elegance of still remained as we continued to overhear how “nice” everything was at the party this year. The added touches like the Velvet Ropes and Champagne fountains in the V I P section definitely brought the dance to another level.

In true Designing Women fashion, the ladies took a break from the festivities to chance into more bash appropriate ensembles – Tanya in a classy but sassy gold trimmed halter jumpsuit and Tammy – oh my, you HAD to see it to believe it! An iridescent shorts jumpsuit with exaggerated train and high collar. I guess that is what the flyer meant by costumes designed by druewho? (The same Drue of The Designing Women Crew). Hence the name, designing women? knew? (To look up this designer go to,
www.druewho.blogster.com - check it out!)

Other dancehall celebs coming to wish a happy b-day to the trio were The Untouchable Crew, Maggie, Jody and Sharon (missed Maggie at the dinner, though), Eye (Ocean Wave), Blacka, Promoter Brokefoot, First Class, Toronto Jay, and a mega blast from the past – Mary Ann! (She had a party with Mr. Dailey and Tanya a few years ago)….

Selectors on hand to bear birthday greetings were Makka B, taking time from promoting his big bash in October to spin a host of R & B and Rap tunes to warm up the crowd, Sample Jacks’ Lava (sans KC Platinum), Rick Hype and CB from Star Temple, and Caribbean Groove’s Leisa Engel and DJ Chubby took a moment to wish birthday greetings to her fellow Virgos and of course, New Hoizon was on hand to conclude the evening with there array of dub plates and new tunes to keep the crowd moving to sunrise.

Before cutting their birthday cake (yes, there were three!), the trio was serenaded with a special birthday song from one of the partygoers. Still feeling festive at about 2am, Mr. Dailey took over the dance to thank everyone for their support and declared that the dance would go until sunrise!

At the end of the night, we were able to snag one of the Three the Hard Way keepsakes – a candle holder with the party theme and one for each of the hosts. I don’t know about you, but we can’t WAIT to see what this trio has planned for NEXT year!

Stay Bashy!



Check out these pics! In order of appearance: 1. Caribbean Groove's Leisa Engel heats up the place with some tunes, 2. Birthday Girls, Tanya and Tammy, 3. New Horizon took the dance until sunrise! 4. Some partygoers enjoying the vibes of the bash, 5. Tanya Classic cuts one (of three) of their birthday cakes, 6. Tanya with Makka B of Mega Force, promotes Tony Matterahn (October 26th), 7. Tammy Trendz and Tanya Classic of Designing Women Crew share a laugh, 8. DJ Chubby and Leisa Engel checking in, 9. Mr. Dailey thanks all supporters of the bash, 10& 11. Tammy and Tanya make there runway walk down the Red Carpet! (Trust us, we tried to get Mr. Dailey on the Red Carpet!)