This cute and cozy hidden gem, rest amongst the M street apartment lofts, on the corner of 962 Marietta Street, NW in Atlanta GA.
It doesn't take long for the crowd to start piling into the Urban Grind Coffee House to fill-up the limited amount of seating. I was able to get a corner seat on one of the very comfy couches that provided me an excellent view of the make shift stage, against a window view. The up-close and personal living room stage setting at the Urban Grind, means that there is not much room for the nervous and shy artist. No way! Before you take a few steps into the Urban Grind, Oops! You're on the mic! In other words, if you're performing at the Urban Grind, have your poetic spoken words and music flow, all in a ducky row. If not, it's all good here - the audience and Poetic host,
Ms. LadyVee, are there to lend a very encouraging and supportive hand.
Hungry? Apparently the food isn't bad either. The cafe line was already kissing the door before 7:00pm. Quite a few Urban Grind goers hurried in and either headed for the food line before grabbing a seat, or claimed a seat, and headed for the cafe line. With eats such as salmon burgers, pesto chicken and a choice to build your own sandwich, who can resist a bite? There are also espressos, shakes and a host of other hot and cold beverages to go with your meal.
Ms. LadyVee is the all too creatively poetic comedic host, who gets the show started with a "Do You" shout out to the audience. How encouraging is that? I'm encouraged!
The open mic started with rapper DJ, who at 15, already has a CD under his belt. With rap lyrics like, "She said she's feeling me, but I don't know yet. She said she's feeling me, but I don't know yet! I got swag you will never have. I got swag you will never have," lets us all know exactly why he's in CD mode. Wow! I want some of what he's got!
Up next was My Beautiful the Poet
, who was just a few days away from her wedding day. She recited a poem and dedicated it to her fiance. How sweet!
At first I didn't know what to think when I entered such a small venue, but gosh, this open mic was getting good, and the ambience was extraordinarily friendly, with a fun party feel. With all of this excitement happening, guess what happened next? Just when I was getting into the groove of the talent and wanting more, nature called. Gosh darnit to pieces! I just can't get up yet. What? And loose out on all this talented excitement? I don't think so! So I decided to hold my ground, practice my kegels and glued myself to my seat, determined not to loose a beat - in hopes that intermission would soon come. hehe...Seriously though, I needed to go!
Next up! The Smooth Brother
. Yes, that's exactly what he called himself. So I sat back and waited for the smooth to arrive. He sang, or should I say he crooned a love song. Wow! This must be lover's rock night at the Urban Grind. So far, everyone who took to the mic had a love story to tell. This brother reminded me of a younger version of Keith Sweat, pleading for his love to pick-up the phone. Gee, I haven't heard that one coming from a guy in a while. Keith Sweat, watch your back! Your predecessor is on your heels, boo.
Next up was Sporadic who took to the mic sporadically with a rap song that went like this, "You have to have more than a good body - You gotta have big brains and you have to suck big thangs!" (Blank Stare) Okay, did he mean a big charm pop? If so, I'll have a double portion with a rich creamy filling in the middle - make mine to go, please! Is anyone else getting a visual of a different kind of BIG charm pop? Or is it just me? Okay well let's just keep that visual to ourselves, shall we? hehe...
Time is going on and I'm still trying to hold out for the intermission, even though the Urban Grind flow is outrageous - I'm hooked from head to toe! Ha! Ha! I'm feeling my own poetic flow!
Deshawn enters the minature stage, singing, "Make time for her," - Yes, another love song people. Okay, that did it! The next time I come to the Urban Grind, Do You Lyrical Lounge, I'm bringing my significant other so that I can, observe the show, write, kiss, kiss, - observe the show, take a picture, click, kiss, kiss, squeeze squeeze - "Easy tiger we're in a public place,"....observe the show, write, kiss, kiss...hehe ~wink~ I had absolutely no idea Georgia had such sensitive, humble, and vulnerable men - I find that very surprising. Maybe I need to stop watching the news.
My adrenaline was really going by now when this next vocalist slash keyboardist hit the mic. This guy could really play the keyboards. Can you say, "Are you available to be my keyboard player?" (Excited blank stare)
Clearly, the Urban Grind is a serious hot spot for artist and anyone who is looking for a fun performance night out. And did I say that the host LadyVee is so kool? She teaches creative writing in the summer - obviously one of my favorite passions. Oh, and did I say that she is also a spoken word artist with a CD under her belt? That's right!
Ms. LadyVee rocked the mic with one of her spoken word poems called
I Love A Man. hmmm...Looks like we have something in common, huh? But that's another story for a whole 'nother blog. hehe...
Just when I thought I was about to have a bladder explosion, it happened! INTERMISSION! Yess!
~Gets up and ask my neighbor to hold my seat. Climbs over the closely knitted couch about to explode, and jets to the bathroom like a tsunami was right behind me~ Whoosh! Phew! That was close! ~sighs with a breathe of relief, then wipes brows~ Glad that's out! I'm back, and with a few minutes of intermission left, It was time for some friendly neighborly chat.
Neighbor: So, have you been to the Urban Grind before?
Me: This is my first time here. But this is a really kool place. I think I'll come again.
Neighbor: Yeah. This is my first time too, and I didn't know this was such a fun place. I'm glad I came.
Me: Yep!...Back to the show!
Up next! Rewamp, Rewamp, was next on the mic spewing out her spoken word poetry, "I'm tired of young girls dressing like hoes! I had enough of people asking for stuff for free..." (Blank stare) Gee, I actually love getting the freebies - and, I got into the Urban Grind for free....Does that include me? (Blank stare)
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Last but surely not least, Jalique got on the mic with a spoken word poem and told the crowd, "Don't worry about your image because your image don't mean a thing. Don't worry about your image, because your image don't mean a thing." Hmmm...Well okay, I'll admit it. Maybe I work a little too hard on my outfit each day, but I'm getting help Jalique. I'm in, Ignore My Image Anonymous, and they're working with me everyday. When I go out now, people are starting to ignore my outfit. And as for the 99.9% of the people who waste their time making me feel good about myself, thereby complimenting me on my outfit, and comfirming my innate ability as a fashionista who has skills with a top and bottom, well, I have actually gotten better, because now that my image is SHOT, I am starting to look down at the ground for support. Whoops! there goes that blank stare again! hehe...
As LadyVee put it when she closed out on the open mic, "I Chose My Days to Be Silent Never More." ...And there you have it people...#NufSaid! ~wink~
The Do You Lyrical Lounge Open Mic, takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month, at the Urban Grind Coffee House. Everyone attending the event gets in for $5.00.
Ms. LadyVee's 2 poetry collections, 'Imagination Overload' & 'Clenched Teeth Smiling, can be found on Authorhose.com online bookstore and her website
www.scriptfury.weebly.com.
Halimah Richardson is a writer, vocalist and bassist. She has written a screenplay called, A Different Kind of Christmas Carol, and she is also working on her debut CD. You may Contact Halimah Richardson for bookings, music, and writing projects, at: thehitzfactorymusic@gmail.com
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