Essence Magazine and Ford Presents #MyFordCity Atlanta Recap Tuesday 13 December, 2016
I attended the Essence Magazine and Ford #MyFordCity event as a blog partner and I am here to recap the creative experience. It was an unparalleled Atlanta culture guide from the perspectives of four young dynamic African-American influencers representing the city’s social and cultural landscapes today. So what made the event unique was the theme of the My City 4 Ways to showcase the culture in Atlanta in Food + Music + Art + Style which the town really thrives in. As a local to Atlanta and a lifestyle blogger, I write about each of these topic weekly but there is always something new to learn about this city as its an infinite place of creative people and great businesses. I’ve been to several Ford events in the past so I knew this was going to be a high energy experience.
This innovative curated experiences included culinary demonstrations,interactive art installations, pop-up fashion shops from local designers, “Ride & Drive” with Ford Vehicles, wine tastings and more throughout the event.
Attendees got a chance to test drive several of the new 2017 Ford models
Comedian Loni Love + Essence Love & Relationship Editor Charreah Jackson
Essence Lifestyle & Relationships Editor Charreah Jackson moderated the event withQ&As for each highlighted influencer;Designer Kenya Freeman [Style Influencer]; Visual Artist Kashmir Thompson [Art Influencer]; Grammy-nominated Singer-Songwriter Anthony David [Music Influencer]; ATL Food Blogger Erica Keys [Food Influencer].
Food Blogger Erica Key + Celeb Chef Akhi making vegan mac & cheese live.
Food is a big staple in Atlanta. It is very much so a foodie city that is growing all the time (you all see my foodie reviews) and throughout the event attendees got a chance to sample some Atlanta local restaurant signature appetizers. The Atlanta influencers in the food industry that were highlighted at the event were celebrity Chef Akhi and Food blogger Erica Key (heyyy girl) who did a live demo on vegan mac and cheese. Chef Akhi is very much so about that vegan life and I honestly didn’t think it was possible to make that dish without cheese. Well it was done, but I didn’t get any samples to see. More people are going vegan nationwide so a good demo to give people options on a southern comfort dish.
The McBride Sisters have a new rose Truvee Rose for sampling.
I want to do an honorable mention of the McBride Sisters wines. Wine is apart of food culture, but what makes The McBrides Sisters brand different is their touching story. A real long lost sister/sister tales of siblings who met for the first time in 1999 and discovered their love for wine! Their love for wine turned into them creating The McBride Sisters wine, which makes them the 1st African American sisters to own their own wine company. Isn’t that amazing. I am a huge supporter and very proud of them. They are so beautiful and sweet, but smart and doing a great job with their branding and wine flavors in an industry dominated by people not of color. I highly recommend you check out their Truvee collection of wines.
Robin + Andrea McBride and I showing off their brand of wines! Love it!
Admiring my own style at the event!
Charlene creator of the African Print brand Suakoko Betty
The Suakoko Betty clutch match me slightly
So Style was another highlight at this event and Atlanta is a city with emerging fashion. There were many local vendors who had pop up shops around the venue but I have to highlight Suakoko Betty. I have known about the African print brand for years but I never worn any. As a matter of fact I never worn any African print attire yet in my life, but I would love to! It’s a big trend here but I want to make sure it’s authentic and fashion forward. Suakoko Betty is very authentic as the fabric are custom woven in Liberia. I cant wait to adorn myself in some Suakoko Betty in the future and take my style to the next level! Everything from the brand is custom and unique!
Custom mural for the attendees to color on as collective art!
Next category that was displayed throughout the entire venue was art. Art was all over the place, plus the event was hosted at the well known Atlanta Mason Murer Art Gallery. So many local artist displayed their works on the wall and even some interact pieces were in the mix.
I don’t pass up opportunities to write positive words on a huge chalkboard. Cute idea!
i love this artistic candid of Tamara (naturalhairrules.com) and I! Blogger love!
A photograph of one of the most well known women in Cuba. #Goals to meet her in Havana in 2017
A Different World Art and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Martin and Friends Pillows
House Party Pillow!
AW R.I.P. Tommy Ford
Favorite local artist who displayed their art here was KashmirVIII. I feel in love with the art instantly as there were paintings, pillows and even purses with African American 90s pop culture pieces to admire. The artist style is of faceless but color characters of famous people we know. Many works of art from A Different World, Martin, House Party, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, etc…I am so in love. She also makes modern pop culture pieces as well. The artist can make any custom order you want, and I would love to put in an order soon. Super talented!
Singer Anthony David getting the crowd moving
Singer-songwriter Tweet closed out the event with a sultry performance.
R&B singers Algerbra, Anthony David and Tweet
The last category that was highlighted at the event was music. The whole world knows how big the Atlanta music scene is here so of course Ford + Essence had to bring out some great artist perform for us. The two artist were R&B/Neo Soul artists of Anthony David and Tweet. Algebra also made an appearance during Anthony David set. All of them are locals of the Atlanta area. Great soulful music to vibe to and an awesome way to close out the event!
Give a round of applause to event coordinator of #MyFordCity Atlanta event I’na Saulsbery of the Starfire Group. She always throws some of the best interactive events in the city!
I am so happy I was a blog partner for the event and it was lots of fun and good energy. I love when events serves its purposes and I got something from each category of Food + Music + Art + Style. Everyone really got a feel of the Atlanta culture in each category and a great way to support the locals in each topic as well. Of course thanks to Ford for showcasing their 2017 cars, as I have already previewed 2 myself before the new year has started; the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi and the 2017 Ford Escape. Im glad the attendees got to test drive them as well so people can see how well they ride. Thank you Ford and Essence Magazine for having me. Definitely fun times in the city!
Does Your City Thrive in Either Food, Music, Art or Style?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty
This looks like it was an amazing day! I would have loved seeing the Love woman. I do find her very funny. Seeing all the artists and happenings must have been very cool. So glad you had fun 🙂
It looks like a great event. I love the fusion of the varying lifestyle aspects. I recently purchased the Different World clutch from Kashmir. Dope to see her doing her thing.
I’m jealous (lol)! This looks like a fab fun event. I love the new FORD designs. The ‘Martin & Friends’ pillows are too cute. I must have the ‘Tommy’ one asap.
Oh I wish you could have sampled the vegan Mac and cheese, I would have loved to hear how it tasted! Great, comprehensive recap of what seems like an amazing event.
oh this looks like a fun event! There are so many amazing hair in your pictures too (first thing I always notice ha). I hope you get to met that lovey lady in Havana, I’ve been once and it was magical!
The My Ford City event sounds amazing! My dad lives in Atlanta, so I can testify to Atlanta being a “foodie city”! Lol! I love the art that you captured from the event. I also love the African fabric! Looks like you had a great time!
This event sounds incredible! I love Atlanta and have a blast every time I visit. There’s always so much going on, and this event seems to have highlighted everything so well! Looks like you had a lot of fun!
What an event! You always attend some pretty fantastic events! Looked like there was so much like food and style, that would really peak a lot of peoples interest!
This looks like an AMAZING event. I love the throwback 90’s sitcoms, but now I have the Fresh Prince theme song stuck in my head with a urge to binge watch Martin…. <3 me some Pam!
This looks like such a fun event and I love your outfit!! And I live in LA, so it thrives in most of those areas! I feel very lucky to be here but I definitely don’t take advantage of it enough!
Wow ! It looks like you had such a good time at the event! This is one of the reasons I love blogging so much! You get to experience so many amazing things!
This looks like it was an amazing day! I would have loved seeing the Love woman. I do find her very funny. Seeing all the artists and happenings must have been very cool. So glad you had fun 🙂
We have two major Ford manufacturing plants here in my city. I wonder if we have these kinds of events. To Google I go!
That sounds like a super fun event! Ford cars are awesome 🙂
What a fun event, you look like you had a great time with your McBride sisters! The art is beautiful. I would say my city thrives on food!
This sounds like it was a great event. I have to say, you never disappoint with your trips. I love reading about them.
That sounds like it was a fun event. I love the look of that car AND your leopard print number. Both are super sassy.
Sounds like an awesome Atlanta event. Atlanta is definitely a foodie city so it’s cool they had a food blogger and celeb chef team.
You always go to the most fab events. This one looks amazing!!
It looks like a great event. I love the fusion of the varying lifestyle aspects. I recently purchased the Different World clutch from Kashmir. Dope to see her doing her thing.
I’m jealous (lol)! This looks like a fab fun event. I love the new FORD designs. The ‘Martin & Friends’ pillows are too cute. I must have the ‘Tommy’ one asap.
You look great with that blue car! And all that art mkes me swoon!
I’m so jealous! What a fun event…and you looked gorgeous! I really want to visit Atlanta for one of these fab events!
St Louis definitely has a music scene with the blues, and in food our Chef Girard is fantastic. There are lots of art festivals all over the city!
What an inspiring event! That outfit is fierce!
This looks like a great event, thanks for sharing all the great pictures.
Oh I wish you could have sampled the vegan Mac and cheese, I would have loved to hear how it tasted! Great, comprehensive recap of what seems like an amazing event.
This event looks awesome! It looks like you had a wonderful time and everything was so colorful! I wish I could have tried some of those goodies!
Your event life is fantastic! Looks like you had a blast. Tweet still looks fabulous!
oh this looks like a fun event! There are so many amazing hair in your pictures too (first thing I always notice ha). I hope you get to met that lovey lady in Havana, I’ve been once and it was magical!
I love Ford cars! My grandfather worked at the Ford factory. This looks like a great event.
The My Ford City event sounds amazing! My dad lives in Atlanta, so I can testify to Atlanta being a “foodie city”! Lol! I love the art that you captured from the event. I also love the African fabric! Looks like you had a great time!
That sounds like an awesome event! Love that Ford holds event like this that promotes food and style!
It looks like you had a great time at the event.
I love your pictures…and your style. I am a fan of your boots!
The event looks like fun and test driving the Ford cars must have been great!
This event sounds incredible! I love Atlanta and have a blast every time I visit. There’s always so much going on, and this event seems to have highlighted everything so well! Looks like you had a lot of fun!
What an event! You always attend some pretty fantastic events! Looked like there was so much like food and style, that would really peak a lot of peoples interest!
What an event! I love your lipstick in these photos – it really suits you
This looks like an AMAZING event. I love the throwback 90’s sitcoms, but now I have the Fresh Prince theme song stuck in my head with a urge to binge watch Martin…. <3 me some Pam!
What a wonderful event full of fun and education! Atlanta is so rich in culture.
Looks like a fantastic time with Essence Magazine Presenting the Ford City in Atlanta event. Looks awesome, I love Ford.
This looks like such a fun event and I love your outfit!! And I live in LA, so it thrives in most of those areas! I feel very lucky to be here but I definitely don’t take advantage of it enough!
Cute outfit! Looks like a awesome time.
I love this! Looks like such a great event! <3 Atlanta!
Fabulous Event!!! Seems like you had so much fun! I would love to attend something like this!!! I also love your dress!!
Wow ! It looks like you had such a good time at the event! This is one of the reasons I love blogging so much! You get to experience so many amazing things!
What a fab place to be. Food, music, style – must have been absolute fun. Love your ensemble!
My city does all things travel related really well. There’s so much to see and do in Atlanta. Hope to be there soon.
Oooooo now this looks like it was one awesome event!!! Looks like you had a killer time!
This looks so amazing! Atlanta is really doing big things these days and it’s nice that other people are noticing!
DC has all 3. I love your pictures. I have a Martin purse from Kashmirr. Looks like a great event.
I liked the artwork. Very nice event, looks like a good time
This looked like so much fun. I’m loving that chalk board about how to a good day.