Sanisse's Birthday at Safari Steakhouse
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

Archie Paige was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set

Omar on the left, Archie on the right


Donnell, Dwayne, Lorenzo, Smoke, DP, Mike Smith, Jacques
The line up was: James (backup/lead vocals), Sean (Kal'el, joined in during the third set), Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Mike Smith (drums), Smoke, and Jacques
Darrell and Kimberly were there.
1) Don't Stop - instrumental (horn hits start it), Donnell and DP played on the dance floor

Smoke, Omar, Donnell, DP


Doc, Lorenzo, Dwayne, Donnell, Mike Smith, DP
2) Donnell & Halima-led (Sade's) Cherish the Day
Sanisse was there; celebrating her birthday.
Halima was talking and Omar said, "Crank that sh*t up" repeatedly through a conga mic. He started to play the congas before Smoke threw him off.

Doc, James, Dwayne, Donnell
3) James-led Jill Scott's Not Like Crazy
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - there was a nice crank
Mara was there. Packy teased her for wearing work boots. She said she came from work.
5) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
Candall and Yolanda were there.
6) Alternating Halima-led Floetry's Say Yes / Lionel Richie's Hello (tease)

Kintrea, Shadonna, and Shawn were there.

Second Set

Sanisse, Packy, DP, Donnell, Jacques, Smoke


Tony, Candall (on dance floor), James, Doc, Donnell, Smoke, Godfather, Dwayne, Cookie, Omar, DP, Mike Smith
Donnell joked about Godfather: "Hopefully he's going to make it on time for his birthday".
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima altered the lyrics to "With my makeup"
June, Dave, Chanel, and Angie were there.
2) They started to perform the music to Alicia Keys' Unbreakable (or Eddie Kendricks' Intimate Friends) / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Sanisse, it's your birthday!" / Halima-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable
Donnell said, "Just one second, let's just get warmed up. Matter of fact, 6 minutes".
3) 6 Minutes percussion solo - the crowd said, "Wind me up, Smoke", Halima said, "Don't nobody say nothing" and she laughed, Donnell sang, "Sanisse is here"
4) Donnell-led "___ Is in the House"
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - the crowd responded
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
Britney was there.
7) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Donnell chanted "Eya eya" and the crowd responded "Ho"
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight (tease)
9) Halima-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Overnight Scenario (tease) - the crowd sang along
11) Donnell & James-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - the crowd responded
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell said, "Girls got..." a line unfamiliar to me, the crowd responded to it
13) Donnell-led "25,25,25" - the crowd responded / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
Tiffany F. was there.
Donnell said, "We'll do all the old school Sunday. Godfather is celebrating his 99th birthday."
14) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
Donnell said, "Women be faithful and true. Women take your man to Ocean Air." Halima said, "Men give your women money so they can take you to Ocean Air."

Cookie, Mia (of the Cranberries crew, I had recognized her as a girl I had danced with once at Tradewinds and part of the Cranberries crew, but I hadn't recognized her at the time as the bartender Stomp introduced me to as Rockin' Cranberry at the second Redskins game watch, probably because she was wearing a Redskins cap at the time), and Tyrell were there.

Third Set
1) James-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind
2) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease)
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Sean arrived -->

Patrick (on dance floor), Doc, James, Lorenzo, Sean, Dwayne
4) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny - I filmed it
6'9 was there.
5) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable
Blak was there.
6) Donnell & Halima-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up - it went dark
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - it went dark again
8) Donnell-led NORE's I'm a G
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
10) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - Donnell shouted, "Aya" and the crowd responded "Awa-ah" / Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease) / Slick Rick's La Di Da Di (tease) - "We likes to party, Familiar Faces likes to party" / Tupac's Hail Mary (tease) / Dem Franchise Boyz? I Think They Like Me / Donnell sang, "He won't make love to you like I do, He don't understand you like I do"
The house lights came on.
11) Donnell-led "In and out and up and down, Here we go tonight"
Jay Gotti and Killa Cal were there.
Donnell joked, "Rhonda, you cheating on me, right in front of me?"
Donnell said, "Angie, working the room. Here comes Chanel, she's in training."


Sanisse on the left, Yolanda on the right


Jay Gotti (left in background), Krystal and Shonda
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich