The 2017 Chicago Marathon BQ Mix - Music Mix For Your Run

In support of my friend Sheri Matthews, who ran the 2017 Chicago Marathon, I created this running mix for her to listen to while she ran the streets of Chicago. It’s a one-hour, mix with BPMs from 130 to 100, perfect for your run or a race where you are attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon … which Sheri did listening to this music.

So yeah, I’ll take partial credit.

Setlist

• Tony Bennett - Chicago
• Drake - Passionfruit (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
• DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (Ronnie Lopez Snake Bootleg)  
• Britney Spears - Work Bitch (Select Mix Remix)
• Afro Rican - Give It All You Got
• Fergie - Fergalicious
• Run D.M.C. vs The Scene Kings vs Aylen - It's Tricky Wild Style (LOCZI Show Edit)
• Run D.M.C. vs Reid Stefan - It's Like That (Kaos Bootleg)
• Kesha  - Die Young (PeteDown Acapella Out)
• DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho  
• Missy Elliott - Work It (Mayeda Remix)  
• DMX - Party Up (Ruen & Mister Gray Remix)
• Lauv - I Like Me Better  
• Steve Winwood - Higher Love
• Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend)
• Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Select Mix Remix)
• Mase - Feel So Good (Select Mix Remix)
• Sam Hunt - House Party (Bpm Supreme ReDrum)  
• Avicii ft Zac Brown Band - Broken Arrows
• Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life (Lost Kings Remix)
• X Ambassadors - Unsteady (Boehm Remix)  
• Calvin Harris vs Tinie Tempah - Girl Bounce (Schoeny Bootleg)  
• Pink - Raise Your Glass
• 50 Cent ft Olivia - Candy Shop (Michael Noiser Bootleg)  
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It (Jeff Nang Future House Remix)
• Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
• Ja Rule - Livin' It Up

Want this mix? Download it here.

Richard and Stacy’s Intimate Wedding at the Hilton Torrey Pines

Richard and Stacy walk the sand after their wedding ceremony at the Hilton Torrey Pines.

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There are times I instantly connect with my wedding couples and meeting Richard and Stacy the first time was one of those. In fact, I felt that connection in the initial emails with Stacy. These connections always prove to be instrumental in planning their party and ultimately the end result.

Richard and Stacy were married at the Hilton Torrey Pines on October 14, 2017. It was an intimate gathering of 40 friends and family celebrating two wonderful people.

When guest counts are “small,” it can sometimes be difficult to get a real dance party going. But not the case for this crowd. Despite what I’m calling the “world's smallest dance floor,” this crowd was great and kept the good time flowing all night.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

First Dance
Robin Thicke - Sweetest Love

Dinner
Chris Malinchak - Wonderful
Praful - Sigh
Greg Adams - Firefly
Steve Cole - Everyday
Nick Colionne - High Flyin’
Jack Johnson - Breakdown
Jack Johnson - Situations
Bay Ledges - Safe
Bob Marley - Is This Love
Mr. Probz - Till You're Loved
The Lumineers - Ophelia
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
Charlie Puth - Some Type Of Love
George Ezra - Budapest
John Mayer - Half Of My Heart
Beach Boys - Fun Fun Fun
Capital Cities - Safe And Sound
Bay Ledges - Safe
HAIM - Want You Back
Bob Marley - Is This Love
Jack Johnson - Situations
Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Mellow Mood
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Jason Mraz - Live High
Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
311 - Amber

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Father/Daughter Dance
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

Open Dancing First Set
Lionel Richie - You Are
Chaka Khan/Montell Jordan - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman
Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City

Cake Cutting
James Taylor - How Sweet It I To Be Loved By You

Open Dancing Second Set
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
Four Seasons - Oh, What a Night
Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It
Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride (Select Mix Remix)
Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
Journey - Don't Stop Believen’ (Live)
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f./Ray Dalton - Can't Hold Us
B-52's - Love Shack
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Tom Petty - Free Falllin’
Rick James - Superfreak
Maroon 5 -Sunday Morning

Last Dance
Colbie Caillat - Turn Your Lights Down Low

Vendor Team
DJ/MC: DJ Kanoya Productions
Photographer: Brant Bender Photography
Venue: Hilton Torrey Pines

Chew The Scene 2017 at Brick - Liberty Station

The 2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival kicks off with a party at Brick in Liberty Station.

Kicking off the 2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival Season

It does not matter if it's a wedding or a food and film event (as shown here). I'm all about creating the right vibe for the right moment.

DJing this years Chew The Scene, which took place at Brick in Liberty Station, as well as other Pacific Arts Movement events during its 2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival season, always calls for that. It's not about getting people to dance (although a few did toward the end of the night), but providing the right beats, for the right moments at the right volume at the right time. That's what enables others to enjoy the atmosphere they are in.

During the set a woman came up and complimented how much she enjoyed the music. I jokingly asked if it was better than last year, to which she replied, "yes."

I was the DJ last year ... but hey, I'm always happy to outdo myself.

Here's a look at the setlist.

• Robert Palmer - Every Kinda People (Joey Negro Multicultural Multitrack Mix)
• Fugees - Ready Or Not (Cheyenne Giles Remix)
• Justin Bieber vs Aaliyah - Let Me Love You vs Rock The Boat (Hype Intro Kerry Glass Edit)
• Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Simone Nu Disco Remix)
• Lauv - I Like Me Better
• Chromeo ft Toro Y Moi - Come Alive
• Snakehips & MO - Don't Leave (Kue Remix)
• Stoned Butterflies - Love The Music (70's Mix)
• DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho
• Ivan Jack - The Dock Of The Bay
• Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (Disco Killerz Remix)
• Chachi & Paige - Land Down Under
• Halsey - Colors (Sam Feldt Remix)
• Soul ll Soul - Back To Reality (KLATCH Remix)
• Calvin Harris vs Tinie Tempah - Girl Bounce (Schoeny Bootleg)
• George Michael - Careless Whisper (DJ Amor & DJ O'Neill Sax Remix)
• Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This
• Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Something (Hot Classics Remix)
• Ce Ce Peniston - We Got A Love Thang (Select Mix Remix)
• DJ Dan & DivaDanielle - I Got A Man
• Lorde - Green Light (Chromeo Remix)
• Sage The Gemini - Now & Later (Merk & Kremont Remix)
• Felix Jaehn f./Jasmine Thompson - Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Next - Too Close (Andrew Masta & The Disco Punk Nu Disco Dance Edit)
• HAIM & BloodPop - Little Of Your Love (BloodPop Remix)
• Bruno Mars - 24k Magic (Rock It Scientists Hype Edit) (Dynamiq Cutdown) (Dirty)
• Calvin Harris ft Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean - Feels (Fabian EWF Mix) (Hype Edit)
• James Brown - Soul Power
• Destiny's Child - Jumpin' Jumpin' (Jean Tonique Remix)
• The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (Mr. Collipark Remix)
• Clean Bandit ft Anne-Marie & Sean Paul - Rockabye (PeteDown Moomba Mix)
• LL Cool J - Around The Way Girl (Untouchables Remix)
• 99 Souls ft Destiny's Child & Brandy - The Girl Is Mine (DiscoTech Midnight Remix)
• Starley - Call On Me (Ryan Riback Remix)
• Palm Trees - Casanova
• Blackstreet - No Diggity (Bondax Edit)
• Hailee Steinfeld & Grey ft Zedd - Starving (Kay Stafford At The Ibiza Beach Remix)
• Drake - Passionfruit (BPM Supreme Remix)
• Jamiroquai - Cloud 9
• Hall & Oates - Out Of Touch
• Seinabo Sey - Younger (Kygo Remix)
• A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)
• Lost Frequencies f./Janieck Devy - Reality
• Tori Kelly - Hollow (Promo Only WestFunk Intro Edit)
• Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little) (A-Trak & DiscoTech Remix)
• Flo Rida - I Cry
• Disclosure - Latch (Lost Kings Remix)
• Sam Feldt & Kimberly Anne - Show Me Love (EDX Remix)
• Everything But The Girl - Missing (PB Remix)
• Tom Petty - Free Falllin'
• Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
• Arrested Development - People Everyday
• A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Remix)
• Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa (Remix)
• Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
• Mariah Carey - Fantasy
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• Mann ft 50 Cent - Buzzin (Remix)
• Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)
• Bruno Mars - 24k Magic (Rock It Scientists Hype Edit) (Dynamiq Cutdown)
• Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
• K7 - Come Baby Come
• Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do
• Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
• HAIM - Want You Back

Courtney and Nick's Garden Wedding at Green Acre

Courtney and Nick’s ceremony at Green Acre on October 7, 2017.

Courtney and Nick’s October 7, 2017 wedding took place at Green Acre, a hidden gem of a venue located within the inland area of La Jolla. It’s the perfect spot for a secluded celebration and the two of them put together an amazing celebration with family and friends.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

First Dance
Ed Sheeran - Perfect

Dinner
Noah Cyrus f./Labrinth - Make Me Cry
LP - Lost On You
Julia Michaels - Issues
HAIM - Want You Back
Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Drake - Passionfruit
Discotron - Disco Ballin'
Carl Carlton - She's A Bad Mama Jama
Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills

Father/Daughter Dance
Rascal Flatts - My Wish

Mother/Son Dance
Jackson Five - I’ll Be There

Open Dancing First Set
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Usher - Yeah
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Fitz And The Tantrums - HandClap

Open Dancing Second Set
Lil Jon - Get Low
E-40 - Tell Me When To Go
Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Juvenile - Back That Azz Up (Fraze Remix)
Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back
Fergie - Fergalicious
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Lady GaGa - Just Dance
Kesha - Tik Tok
Cali Swag District - Teach Me How To Dougie
Lil Wayne - Go DJ
Future f./Kendrick Lamar - Mask Off Silento - Watch Me
Romantics - What I Like About You
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Kingsmen - Louie Louie
K C & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Tupac - California Love
Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It's Hot
The Game - How We Do
Too Short - Blow The Whistle
50 Cent - Just a Little Bit
Sean Paul - Get Busy
Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee f./Justin Bieber - Despacito

Last Dance
James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go (Last Dance Remix)

What I'll Miss About Christina

The Abrenica Family from left: Alyssa, Christina, Italia (front), Elijah, Lawrence (holding Kaden).

Christina Abrenica passed away on October 12, 2017. Christina, married to Sheila’s brother (Lawrence), was 44 and had battled brain cancer for the past year.

There is no doubt that death at 44 is way too soon. But it’s comforting to know that her life was filled with the type of life milestones that many aspire to have.

She became a wife at 19; a mother at 20; a grandmother at 40; celebrated 25 years of marriage. In total she and Lawrence raised three children.

During the past few months, when her prognosis was bleak and her life was coming to a close, I scanned the memory book inside my head. I wondered what I would miss about her.

I struggled because I couldn’t pinpoint a single individual thing I was going to miss. And I realized that’s because her life, and the way she went about it, was not lived individually. It was one of selflessness.

The softball/baseball/football mom that rarely missed a game. The mom who made lunches and dropped notes into them. The Aunty who always had a hug and a kiss for her nieces and nephews.

I’ll miss seeing what she did for others and how good I could tell it made them feel.

==========

In her final hours, she was surrounded -- in her home -- by her family (her parents, two sisters, her husband and three children). This gathering was nothing new as it mirrored several special moments that these same people assembled throughout the years for birthdays, holidays or just Sunday football game watching.

At one point, the sounds of soft cries was broken up as Lawrence asked if anyone had a funny story to tell.

This group has been gathering for more than two decades and there are of course funny stories to tell. In fact, not a gathering went by without a reflection on some high school shenanigans and adolescent anecdotes. So why would this moment, this final gathering with Christina, be any different?

Tears quickly turned to laughter. Quips were punctuated with barbs from her Sicilian dad. Her mom would chime in, correcting facts from incidents that happened 30 years ago. Her sisters talked over one another as they each had details to contribute of a particular story.

What was missing was Christina’s contributions. She always had additional details to make the story even more funny. But she also had an uncontrollable laugh, so intense it would go from audible to mute as she bent over literally crying herself laughing.

And while these gatherings and storytelling sessions will continue after today; they will be absent of that laugh and those additional details.

I’m really going to miss that too.