OUTTOWNs TOP 10 SOCIALITES/PROMOTERS of 2008

From veteran promotion group The Platinum Group and its main socialite Jacque Land on the scene to the newbie STL 365 and its weekly Friday Movie Nite, the STL has many social groups who have promoted on and poppin' events for us to network and get our party on. The following are the Top 10 Socialites/Promoters who made a mark this year.


But before we get to the Top 10, herre are a few socialites/promoters who didnt make the cut, but still made an impact in the STL.

11 Something Blue

12.SYGU

13.Precision LLC

14.Close to Famous

15.Alive Magazine

10.MPAC. made the mark this year with its monthly Eye Candy Party that has been going for a few years now. The event brings out huge crowds that is held at the Loft. Its leader Mo Spoon (pictured) also was quite the socialite going to various other promoters events this year. The upcoming events from MPAC were a FREE holiday party Dec. 19th and December Eye Candy Party - Day after Christmas Great Gift Giveaway", Dec 26. Both are held at the Loft.

9.UC ME/Derrty ENT. This hip-hop promotions company, led by Lunatics Nelly (Derrty) and brothers Muprhy Lee and Kyjuan (UC ME) did it up in 2008 with hosting events by themselves or with other promotion groups including Monopoly or Loose Cannon (who's promoter S.L.I.M. is pictured with Kyjuan in pic above) in or out of town (more recently Nelly's Derrty Weekend) as well as gettin' into fashion with UC Me/Applebottom Fashions with some memorable fashion shows couple at Lumen and Alive Magazine's Fall fashion week, this team definitely got it crunk.

8.The Power Couple Inc. From their NYE bash Fortune (with Loosecannon) at 555 Building, to bringing in the provocative Punany Poets in Moolah Lounge (that folk still talkin about) and the Posh party at Scape (that had a female model on top of a table whose torso was topped with appetizers), this power couple, Keith and Carri Griffin (pictured) aka the Black Beckhams made a brief but impacting shake on the STL scene bringin in a touch of class and eliteness for the grown and sexy crowd.

7.Vanita Applebum Entertainment. This music promotion company made an impact this year with its monthly Suite Soul Spot that showcased various singers and musicians in the STL area as well as bringing in national headliners with a indie feel. Its leader Vanita Applebum, a social head in the neo soul/underground circuit (pictured with Suite Soul Spot headliner Eric Roberson at its recent 1st Year Anniversary show ) also co-sponsored other STL events including Cafe Soul and music seminars.

6.Cafe Soul. This threesome made big strides in 2008 with showcasing STL and regional talent. Comprised of signer Coco Soul (center), Live Nation's Angie Brown (left) and Nichol Stevenson (right), this group had a popular monthly event at Lucas School House and three memorable events including May Day concert at Kiener Plaza, its 2nd year Anniversary party at Lumen and opening up Foxy 95's inaugural Foxy Fest in Forest Park, these three sistas did it up with their group as well as attending other promoters events. Its upcoming event is The Cafe Soul Allstar Finale and Farewell Dec. 19 at Lucas School House.

5.Fred Finley and Harry Michel. These promotion vets made a huge impact in 2008. The guys of the immensely popular monthly networking event 1st Fridays, also ventured off into co-sponsoring a supergroup promotions events FLAUNT YOUR TASTE and ALL BLACK AFFAIR earlier this year with some of the STL's top promoters. Besides 1st Fridays, the duo had a brief Sunday event called Champagne Sundays at Sol Lounge and they opened a new club, Exo Bar and Restaurant on Locust in September. Its upcomimg event is a collaboration with FREETIME on Miracle on Locust St. on Christmas Eve at its club Exo.

4.Stress Free Fridays. Mark Anthony Jones (left) and Mario Wayne(right) had the top weekly happy hour for the black upscale and business folk. Four years running, this duo used many of the popular (and soon to be popular)venues in the STL for its popular networking event. They also paired with several of the STL promoters on their events (just recently with Soul Stylz at Exo) Because of their efforts, they received several awards including receiving a Declaration from the City of St. Louis commemorating Stress Free Fridays Day in June and most recently was nominated for the What's Right with the region Award through KMOV-TV. Both guys are also big time socialites to many of the events that took place in the STL area. Its upcoming event is a collaboration with Blue Lotus on An Ugly Sweater Christmas Affair and Toy Drive at Nubia on Dec. 19.

3.Soul Stylz. From their event Couture at Milhalis Chophouse, co-sponsoring a super promotions group event SHADES at J Bucks and its monthly and popular Zodiac Connections parties mostly held at J Bucks downtown STL, this group (pictured Boone, Treanna, Carletta and Jamie Spencer) brings a sense of fashion style and mixes it up at many social scenes with their group, as a duo (especially Treanna and Spencer) and separately especially Spencer who was a mainstay at Got Lyrics at Van Gohz and Cafe Soul at Lucas School House. Earlier in the year, Treanna moved away from St. Louis and was quickly replaced with Miss Alma (who was the socilaite herself at various events) also left a few months in the group and was replaced with Treanna when she retured to St. Louis later in the year. Its leader Boone was also one of the Dapper Dans on the social scene as well. Its upcoming events are ZODIAC CONNECTION.: The Final Connection at VITO'S on Dec. 20 and a collaboration with SYGU for a NYE party at ST.LOUIS CITY HALL.

2.FreeTime. These guys (pictured Adrian Saddler, Roy Robinson and Daryl Frierson) are the Young Black Upscale Men Trio. They had at least one event going on and were the only group that came to other promoter's events as a trio for the whole year. From the FREE TIME/XM2's Kingdom Come event at J Bucks in January, co sponsoring with the super promotions group on FLAUNT YOUR TASTE at the Loft (hosted by"BET's 106 and Park's" Terrance and the ALL BLACK AFFAIR at Lumen (hosted by singer Amerie) this Spring, their 3 year anniverary party at Reggie's Backstage in the fall, putting on Parties with a Purpose with diffrent causes and bringing back the weekly networking event "Groove Theory" in October held now at Exo, these guys reflected the essence of how to throw a party and be gentlemen at the same time. And not to mention, its member Saddler was nominated this year in Essence’s Magazine’s A FEW GOOD MEN competition. Its upcoming event is a collaboration with 1st Friday called Miracle on Locust St. at Club Exo on Christmas Eve.




AND THE NUMBER ONE SOCIALITE AND PROMOTER of 2008 IS:

WHO ELSE?

1.Mocha Latte/Monopoly Promotions. From creating and hosting weekly events such as Got Lyrics open mic at Van Gohz on Wednesday nites earlier in the year, My Drink and My Two Step (which is now called Ladies Nite) on Thursday nites at Dante's, The Best Damned Fridays Period that was first held at Skybox (and now Lush), and bringing back the popular Sunday Night Shindig (also at Lush), this Hoodstar was here, there and everywhere in 2008 holdin’ it down through her promotion company Monopoly Promotions. Whether she was hosting party, having party (Her b-day party at Dante's was memorable with her Queens Court alone.LOL), co-sponsoring events with UC ME, Derrty ENT and Loose Cannon in and out of town, booking talent (Torre Sanders, TEV Smith), authoring a weekly column "Coffee Talk" in the Evening Whirl, Miss Latte affectionately known as Queen of Promotions has the club scene on lock for the third straight year according to OUTTOWN (She didnt get a Mocha's Corner on OUTTOWN for nuthin!) Its upcoming events are a b-day party for Derrty Ent's Murphy Lee and Slo Down of the St. Lunatics at Best Damned Fridays Period Dec. 19 and a private invite only function on Dec. 21. Both events will be at Lush.

NOTE: The criteria for the Top 10 was based on the number of times each socialite/promoter, who were non-media or a dee-jay, was searched on OUTTOWN’s weekly blogs, the frequency socialites in a promotion group attend other functions, and the events (for age group 21 to 35) promoter’s had that made an impact on the club scene.