When I first moved to San Francisco in 1997, one of the first of many amazing people I met that would illuminate my path there was Ursua Young. She was a fixture in my new found hood, The Lower Haight, a neighbourhood overflowing with talented artists, djs and producers (not too mention a few crack dealers and junkies as well. we called them 'rent control'). Even in this mecca of talent, Ursi stood out; creating her art for shows as well as local record labels, manning the door at our local dj bar, The Top, and generally being an ambassador for the Lower Haight...the defacto queen/den mother of our Lower Haight Posse.

It has been a real pleasure over the years to watch her style develop as our friendship continued to grow. I've attended countless numbers of her openings, sometimes having the privilege of djing for them, often alongside her future husband and my old production partner from 2 Block Radius, Tom Cloutman (aka Schnezzy).

Eventually we both would move on from The City but we still maintained a tight connection, reuniting often in far flung locals such as Laos, Brazil and Grass Valley ;) As a friend and fan of Ursula the person and the artist, it gives me great pleasure to share with you this promo clip for her newest show, Voyage into a Parallel Universe, where the line dividing fantasy and reality is as thin as the wings of a fairy. Her work evokes an urban fantasy world inhabited by wide-eyed nymphs and architectural sketches reminiscent of the places she has called home, most notably, San Francisco.

If you are in the Bay Area from March 17 to April 23, do yourself a favour and make your way down to Fabric8 Gallery in the Mission District and take in the wonders contained in her works. I also suggest you bring a bit of cash so that you can take some of this beauty back to your own fantasy world/home.

[ music is by Ursula's husband and one of my best friends, Schnezzy from 2 Block Radius ]

Thanks to everyone that came out and boogied with the BSC to the sounds of the one and only, Gilles Peterson! After playing the night before for HRH Prince Harry and invited guests on top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, including Sao Jorge and Ed Motta, Mr. Peterson did not disappoint the Botafogo Social Club dance floor. Dropping tune after tune, with short interludes on the mic (this one going out by request, dedicated to those who know!), he left us sweaty and breathless. So many of my personal faves were played, including an unknown to me mix of 'Les Fleur' by Minnie Riperton, my mind is still reeling! And when he was done, I'd like to think me and the rest of the BSC crew (Mike Frugaletti, Jan Roldanus and Doug Gray) more than held our own against the reigning champ of funky grooves. It was a night I will never forget and I thank all of you that came out from the bottom of my groove-filled heart!