Cookie and 6'9's Birthday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

When I walked in, a woman with dyed red hair grabbed/hugged me. She talked with Shelle, who waved to me. It wasn't until I sat down that I realized the woman was Renee. Angie walked over and said hello. I asked if she had indeed been at Tradewinds on Saturday. She said she had been, but she and Tracy didn't dance in the middle of the dance floor like me. Ray, Candy, Michon, and Tim (LJ) were there. Shelle went and talked with Donnell and left before the performance. Halima wore a bandana, Doc called her Jimi Hendrix.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - YC joined in
Donnell said Jacques was hearing new beats
Donnell announced that on August 31st (he alternated between saying December 31st and August 31st, but I confirmed he meant August), they would have three Sopranos - Kimese, Yannie and Halima
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - YC continued to sit in
Halima said Miami was something serious, she saw her mother, but here today she is so glad to be back
3) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You - Mike said, "Like Stevie Wonder said those three words, sweet and simple.", Mike danced with a woman in the audience on the dance floorBR> Donnell joked that Cookie and DeeDee kicked us off the boat ride, it must be something special for Cookie to be out
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
5) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever
6) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - with improvs
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
Donnell said, "She warmed up too early."
Halima talked with the audience - I didn't hear all that she said, but it was a dialogue with the whole audience, not a monologue with the women as usual
8) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady - in Cookie's honor
Donnell said, "6'9's at the bar, don't buy him any drinks".
Mike said, "He's behind the bar!"
Donnell said they would have a pool party on August 20th.
He joked that Mike's Rearview2.com will have a thong contest and the winner will win $200.

DeeDee and Cookie were there. I said happy birthday to Cookie, she thanked me for coming. Sharika came by and said hello. Donny Ray, RE Angie, Tamara, 6'9, Nikiya, Ras Lidj, Stacey, Los, Tata, Slim Goodie, Yvette, and Felecia were there. I went outside. Mike told Godfather about a dream. During it, a cop told Mike that whoever had a cup had to go inside. Since Mike didn't have a cup, it was weird. Mike's dream - He and Cherone went to a record store. Cherone got into a fight with another woman - it was Bernita (Godfather's wife). Mike worked to break it up, saying Bernita was like his sister. He saw Donnell behind a rack laughing and asked him why he didn't break up the fight. He went to tell Godfather and his brother was there, just back from Vietnam and was telling stories. Mike went home, he hadn't unpacked from Miami yet. The bag was on the bed and OJ Simpson was standing on it, with his shoes on.

I went in and later talked to Halima. I told her jokingly that she had taken my Betty Davis comment too seriously (Betty Davis was friends with Hendrix. She introduced him to her husband Miles Davis - she had a strong influence on Miles' fashions). I told her Shelle had been there. Stacey said hello to me. I talked with Tamara, asked her about the sunglasses - she said it's a fashion thing.

Second Set
Donnell thanked Seek Abundance for everything for the video shoot.
He then said they would only be accepting thongs on women for the pool party.
Halima said, "Then I won't be there, or do you mean thong sandles?"
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) They briefly performed the music to Faith Evans' Again
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
I don't remember if they went back to performing Faith Evans' Again
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Donnell-led "If you look and you see..."
11) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - the crowd shouted Go-Go Smoke-ay during the song
13) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - Donnell called up Whitie to guest rap (Slim Goodie at first thought Donnell meant Ytee, I believe this is the same guy who guest rapped with them last July) - this time everyone in the band danced during the sample, then they played
14) Donnell-led possible a Vinnie D cover - "My name is D-Floyd, I can't get scared, Vintertainment (another stage name for Vinnie D, which is why I suspect it may be a cover of his), God I'm on my Way"
15) Donnell-led Lap Dance - a shorter performance than usual
Donnell said, "Security is furious"

Sugar Bear and Dey were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to Pinky.

I went over to DeeDee and got some cake. I asked her if Cookie had already left. She said she had another engagement.

As Lorenzo walked out, I told him he didn't need to give me his resume, I was just curious as to who else he has played with. He said he would give me his resume anyway.