I've got Issuu's! with Blaire and CXlll Magazines...

One thing I always look forward to discovering is the brilliant marriage of visual artists and mad creative geniuses!  Several Issuu publications provide the best balanced diet of visual stimulation with a slight 'dark horse' edge I really like.  Kind of 'Orange is the New Black' meets 'CMagazine'!

Stumbling through Issuu's site, I discovered both Blaire and CXlll sometime ago.  They are purrrrfect examples of this visual marriage I spoke of.  Of course I wanted to highlight some of their images and share them with you.  I certainly hope the Mad Genius' at Blaire and CXlll, don't mind my singing their creative praises!

Here are some of the Wicked, Sexy, Cool things you'll find from these two great online publications!

Enjoy and my all means...shake things up and live on the dark side for a while... All in fun! and of course...All in Love!

Best,

Hautezone

www.BlaireMagazine.com
www.CXlllMagazine.com

Wuthering Heights and the NYC Beat down I never saw coming...

This is one of those CRAZY but true New York stories, I doubted I would even tell a soul.  Like a New York minute, it was over in a flash.  Well almost!!!!

So I was minding my own business, on a balmy Sunday heading to friend Danielle's’ bridal shower in Brooklyn.  I’d been running around all morning and thought I’d  catch (take) the train to make up time.  Beyond arriving hot and sweaty from one of New York's famous ‘triple H days (Hazy, Hot and Humid).  What could go wrong?

After fifteen minutes or so, the train pulled into the station at 86th Street and Central Park West.  One of my favorite stations for its tree lines beauty alongside the park. Easy breezy.  Found a seat amongst thirty teens, just completing their trip to Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History.  I quickly settled into my seat, exhilarated at the blasting air conditioning hitting the back of my neck.  Pulled my book out, prepared to be lost in words.

By the time we reached West 4th Street at Washington Park, one of the boys had fallen asleep on my arm.  No big deal, I’m usually sandwiched between someone with ten shopping bags or the five guys who suddenly break out in song. Glee lives loud and large on the NYC subways!

On occasion, I noticed a woman seated across from me, sneaking looks at my book cover. Beautiful deep brown skin, sunken eyes, sinewy long legs stretched out beneath apricot colored linen shorts.  She just had to be a runner. She appeared calm, tall, slightly mysterious. Our eyes met.

Before I could turn the page she stood above me, eyes bright without saying a word.  I thought she was reading the subway map directly at the back of my head.  Suddenly she screams “What are you doing reading Withering Heights?  Black people aren’t supposed to read Withering Heights”!  At this point, I looked to my left and right just knowing there were video cameras recording this craziness.  I was being punked right? Wrong!

Other riders froze.  Some laughed REALLY hard.  When she screamed again “What are you doing reading Wuthering Heights”? Everything and everyone STOPPED.  I said “it’s a book and I’m reading it”!   She yelled “Stop reading it”!  I started laughing at this point myself.  But oh, her face and her eyes and those legs said she was serious.  Then she said “I’ll fight you for it”! Then my mind went blank.

I imagined the NYPD arriving on scene asking what started the melee, only to find the entire catalyst was a Classical book by Emily Bronte

I feared I would be seen by friends, family and colleagues being carried away in handcuffs, tossed into a police car “Book em Danno” after assaulting someone, defending myself with a reprint many times over of ‘Wuthering Heights’ that was paperback not even a hardcover.

Surely Heathcliff would have saved me.

Stranger things have happened! Welcome to New York!

A note of THANKS! to Hautezone readers: To say I’ve been gone awhile is an understatement!  BIG Thank You to those who consistently checked in to see what Hautezone has been doing.  With a mother who was ailing and projects, I just didn't have the steam to write.  But THANK YOU again for thinking of me!

"Mr. Grey will see you now"...

Universal Films has alas released the first poster from the upcoming sexy indulging drama inspired by the exceedingly successful EL James novel 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.  Not to be released until Valentine's Day February 2015, I don't think we should have wait to see an array of handsome men in grey suits.  

Do you agree?

So I ask you? Who doesn't LOVE a man in a suit??? Who is your favorite?

Images courtesy Flaunt magazine, Tumblr, Sartorialist, world wide web

Lupita Nyong'o - The Girl with 12 faces, and then some...

Who could forget this beautiful face? 

This brilliance,  sheathed in red dazzling draped Ralph Lauren, hoof to mane?  Giving life and power to the clavicle.

 The Girl (I prefer Leading Lady) of the moment is the incredible Lupita Nyong'o. Of Kenyan descent born in Mexico City,  Yale trained Lupita in the season of film awards,  is both leading the pack and WINNING! (Note: Hear that Charlie Sheen)! SAG Award, Golden Globe more to come and (to be continued) for her role in gut wrenching and drama laden "12 Years  A Slave" directed by Steven McQueen.  

In addition to her powerful acting skills, here are a few of her many faces - ALL BEAUTIFUL!  Clearly Lupita is multi-dimensional and has an incredible path ahead of her!