Vintage Music Mondays: Mary J Blige's "Real Love"

Happy Monday! I've been overwhelmed by some new opportunities so please excuse my lack of posts. Anyway, here's Mary J Blige's "Real Love." My husband and I attended Mary J and Jay Z's concert here in Miami this past Saturday. They turned it out of course, Jay endorsed Obama, Kanye West made an appearance and I have the footage. So, look out for that this week as well as interviews with some special people in the beauty and art worlds.

Obama is Brutally Honest & I Love It!!

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama gave an enlightening, personal and remarkably honest speech about race in America and concerns about Rev. Wright. His speech has been deemed by many pundits and observers as "historic." I agree. Obama set the record straight like no other politician I have heard in my lifetime thus far. I could get deep in thought right now, but I'll let you judge for yourself. If you haven't watched this special moment in time, please do!

Society Stars: Children of the City Gala

David and Leilah Tyree, Cheryl Rogers with Jesse Tyree


Selita Ebanks and Steve Schirripa


Thomas Gilmartin, David Tyree and Yvonne Riley-Tepie


Selita Ebanks, Chris Gay, Duncan Olde, Katie Walters, Miguel Avalos and Harold Palacios

The Children of the City Gala was held in New York at the Tribeca Rooftop last week. The Gala's 27th anniversary brought out philanthropists, athletes, models and corporate bigwigs. The organization's annual gala honored New York Giant, David Tyree with the Children's Champion Award this year. Sopranos star Steve Schirripa served as the Master of Ceremonies, and New Jersey Nets star Richard Jefferson was a guest of honor. Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks and COC Founder/Executive Director, Joyce Mattera were among the presenters.

Guests enjoyed dinner and entertainment in support of a worthy cause. Notable patrons like COC Board of Director Rocco Basile and Yvonne Riley-Tepie, assistant VP of Marketing for Commerce Bank in Brooklyn and Queens, were in attendance.

Children of the City is a community based organization that has been serving disadvantaged children since 1982. Its mission is to reach at risk inner city children with hope, guidance and resources to positively affect their lives and communities, breaking the cycle of poverty and its effects. Children of the City's outreach provides disadvantaged children with prevention programs, crisis intervention, educational support and healthy activities through small groups and large gatherings of children that continually produce tremendous documented progress and results. It currently reaches over 2,000 children and youth in Sunset Park each year, serves 900 children monthly through home visits from volunteers and counselors and provides daily academic support to those at risk of educational failure.

Vintage Music Mondays: Soul Glo

My husband and I watched Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" this weekend and laughed our heads off. Enjoy this "Soul Glo" scene from the classic 80's movie. Thank God the jheri curl went out of style!!

Sports: Lewis Hamilton Wins the Australian Grand Prix

The Formula One races are on again and I'm happy to say that McLaren-Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton still has his mojo. The handsome Briton won the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. The Australian Grand Prix is the season opener for the Formula One races. Hamilton won the race effortlessly while the other drivers struggled. If you follow the Formula One, then you've heard about the racist drama Lewis Hamilton was experiencing in Spain due to his ex-racing partner Fernando Alonso and the Spanish racing fans. Well, Alonso came in third place and I hope he enjoys the slice of humble pie that Hamilton just served him.


Australian Grand Prix results

1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 58 laps one hour 34 minutes 50.616 seconds
2. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber +5.478 secs
3. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota +8.163
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +17.181
5. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes +18.014
6. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota 1 lap behind
7. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari Retired - 55 laps completed
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari Retired - 53 laps completed

Society Stars: Mario Launches "Do Right Foundation"

The handsome singer Mario launched his "Do Right Foundation" on Wednesday at Challengers Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. The mission of "Do Right Foundation" is to focus on and provide role models for underprivileged youth whose parents suffer or suffered with substance abuse. In addition to providing role models, the Foundation also provides home tutoring via the Catapult Online program and Dell sponsors computers for the children.

As you may know, Mario revealed last year on MTV that his mother is a drug addict. I find it admirable that Mario is using his own experiences and hardships to address and assist children coping with this problem in the community.
Keep up the good work Mario!

Society Stars: March of Dimes 33rd Annual Beauty Ball

Deborah Medeiros Baker, Vanessa Williams and Pamela Wint


Vanessa Williams, Bernd Beetz and Vera Wang

Beautiful and age-defying Vanessa Williams hosted the March of Dimes 33rd Annual Beauty Ball at Cipriani 42nd Street in NYC last night.

Event Co-Chairs Bernd Beetz, CEO of Coty Inc and designer Vera Wang were Event Co-Chairs for the charitable event.
The Annual Beauty Ball is one of the beauty industry's most anticipated social gatherings of the year. Patrons including celebrity stylists Deborah Medeiros Baker and Pamela Wint enjoyed dinner, auctions and acrobatic entertainment.

The March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, awareness and education.