I HAD INTENTIONS OF ONLY WRITING ABOUT THE JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND GRILL, BUTAI, AND THEIR HAPPY HOUR I ATTENDED YESTERDAY WITH ITS $5 MARTINIS AND $3-$6 SELECT FOOD MENU, BUT IT WAS THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS THAT LEFT ME THINKING FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT ABOUT MY OWN PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
WHEN I CHOSE THE NAME STARVING CELEBRITY IT WAS MERELY BECAUSE I WANTED TO EXPRESS THE STRUGGLES OF A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE "INDUSTRY". YES THERE ARE DAYS WHEN MY DINNER MIGHT CONSIST OF RAMEN NOODLES OR SOMETHING CHEAP OFF THE DOLLAR MENU, BUT NEVER HAVE I EVER GONE DAYS WITHOUT A MEAL, WONDERING WHERE I WAS GOING TO LAY MY HEAD, OR EVER HAVE THE FEELING THAT THERE ISN'T ONE PERSON IN THIS WORLD I CAN GO TO FOR A HELPING HAND. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THAT STRUGGLE EVERYDAY.
AFTER LEAVING THE RESTAURANT, ME AND A SMALL GROUP OF FRIENDS BUMPED INTO THIS LADY PUSHING A STROLLER WITH THE MOST BRIGHT EYED, CHARISMATIC, SMILING LITTLE GIRL IN A YELLOW DRESS. WE STOPPED TO EXCHANGE A FEW GAMES OF PEEK-A-BOO WITH THE CHILD, AND BEGAN TO TALK TO THE LITTLE GIRL'S MOTHER WHO HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS FOR SOME TIME NOW WITH HER 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. CLEAN OFF CRACK FOR 10 YEARS NOW, SHE CONTINUES TO AVOID HER DAUGHTER'S FATHER WHO SADLY IS STILL WRAPPED UP IN THE WORLD OF DRUGS, AND IS IN A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO KEEP HER DAUGHTER FED AND OUT OF HARMS WAY.
PAN HANDLING HAS BECOME HER ONLY OPTION IN HER EYES. WHEN ASKED WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP HER SITUATION AND OTHERS LIKE HER, HER RESPONSE WAS GET RID OF THE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY SHELTERS, AND WORK ON RE-BUILDING THESE PEOPLE'S SELF ESTEEM. "THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL OUT HERE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, [PEOPLE] DON'T THINK!" SHE THEN TOLD US ABOUT THE COLDNESS OF SOME WHO PASS BY CALLING HER NAMES, THROWING TRASH ON HER AS SHE SLEEPS, AND ACCUSING HER OF PARADING HER DAUGHTER FOR MONEY. "THEY FORGET WE'RE PEOPLE TOO, AND THE TABLES COULD TURN ONE DAY." SHE CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SECURE A JOB, AND ESCORTED OUT OF ESTABLISHMENTS BASED ON THE WAY SHE LOOKS, AND MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE OF GETTING HIT WITH HARD TIMES THAT MAKE TIMES EVEN HARDER.
IT TAKES NOTHING BUT A FEW ENCOURAGING WORDS, AND A LITTLE GIVEN TIME AND EFFORT TO GIVE A GLIMPSE OF HOPE BACK TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NEED IT. I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO GIVE MONEY TO THE HOMELESS (FOOD YES), BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT TO PUTTING A BAND AID ON A BULLET WOUND. IT'S MORE HARMFUL THAN HELPFUL SIMPLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT CONDITIONS PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS BEG, WALLOW IN SELF PITY, AND FEEL ENTITLED TO THE CHANGE OUT OF YOUR POCKET. IT DOESN'T HELP THE GREATER PICTURE, AND NOR DOES IT HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF BEING SUCCESSFUL. IN THE PAST I'VE ATTENDED COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR PROGRAMS TO HELP THE HOMELESS, BUT CLEARLY THERE ARE SERIOUS ADJUSTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. I'VE FOUND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS THAT APPEARS TO DO MORE THAN AN ANNUAL SOUP KITCHEN. THEY REALLY RESEARCH THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND FIND REAL WORLD SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THE WEBSITE, DO PERSONAL RESEARCH, AND REALLY THINK ABOUT GIVING A HELPING HAND.
BROOKLYN. GOOD OLD BROOKLYN. I FINALLY DECIDED TO GIVE THE BOROUGH ANOTHER CHANCE AFTER MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE IN EAST FLAT BUSH, AND I MUST ADMIT IT WAS PRETTY REFRESHING. IT WAS A LITTLE SLICE OF DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN WITH MUCH LESS TRASH AND FEWER CROWDS OF SLOW WALKING TOURISTS. I WAS ACCOMPANYING BRANDI WOMACK, CREATOR OF IMKEEPINGUP.COM, TO AN EVENT HER FRIEND WAS THROWING AND AFTER A GOOD 45 MINUTE TRAIN RIDE TO BERGEN STREET, WE MADE OUR WAY TO BERGEN AND 5TH AVE TO FIND THE STYLISH, COZY RESTAURANT AND BAR MELT. THE DECOR WAS MINIMAL, MODERN AND SLEEK WITH DIM CANDLE LIGHTING, OFF WHITE WALLS, AND ACCENTS OF PLUM HERE AND THERE. THE PATIO TERRACE STAYED OPEN ALL NIGHT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO COME TO ENJOY THE FREE COMPLEMENTARY TRUMP VODKA MARTINIS ON THIS NICE SUMMER EVENING. (NOW I KNOW YOU DIDN'T THINK THERE WASN'T A CATCH TO ME TRAVELING ALL THE WAY TO BROOKLYN DID YOU? COME ON THIS THE "STARVING" CELEBRITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.) THE METS VS. THE REDS PLAYED ON THE FLAT SCREEN TV, AND SOUNDS OF THE LATEST HITS SEEPED THROUGH THE SURROUND SOUND SPEAKERS. IF THE TRUMP MARTINIS WEREN'T YOUR THING YOU COULD DEFINITELY ENJOY A FRAMBOISE OR A GLASS OF SANGRIA FROM THEIR VAT OF HOMEMADE BEVERAGE THAT SAT ON TOP OF THE BAR.
THE SOCIALITE AND MYSELF WERE JOINED BY BABY PHAT'S OWN SHYAH DICKERSON, AND ADVERTISING GURU ATALIE SHORT. NOW ON OUR THIRD ROUND OF DRINKS, AND TWO ORDERS OF TUNA AND AVOCADO TARTAR AND MASHED POTATO SALMON CAVIAR ROLLS LATER I DECIDED TO PART WAYS WITH MY FABULOUS CROWD AND HEAD HOME.
SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH THE TRAIN TOOK NO TIME TO GET THERE. AS I'M SITTING THERE A YOUNG WOMAN ENTERED THE TRAIN. SHE HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN HER EARLY THIRTIES, BLOND HAIR, CANARY YELLOW TANK, JEANS, AND SNEAKERS. A LITTLE FRAZZLED, SHE QUICKLY PULLED OUT A PALE PINK CONTAINER FROM HER PURSE, REACHED FOR A SINGLE TINY WHITE PILL, AND DOWNED IT WITH A SWIG OF DEER PARK WATER. SCANNING THE ROOM, SHE NOTICED ME WATCHING HER AND QUICKLY PUT THE POUCH BACK IN HER BAG.
THEN I LOOK DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT OF HER AND THERE IS A NEW TRAIN ADVERTISEMENT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. IT WAS A SPOOF PRESCRIPTIONS DRUG AD PROMISING TO CHANGE WHO YOU ARE WITH A SINGLE PILL ENDORSED BY MULTI GRAMMY "YOU BETTER GIVE HIM AN AWARD OR HE'LL CRY" WINNING KANYE WEST. I STUDIED THE POSTER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY MR. WEST WAS TRYING TO SELL. DOES HE HAVE A NEW CD COMING OUT? MAYBE A CLOTHING LINE? OR AN ENERGY DRINK? NOPE. KANYE WEST HAS JOINED THE DIDDY LIQUOR ENDORSEMENT CLUB AND IS THE NEW FACE OF ABSOLUT VODKA. CONGRATS MR. WEST. I HOPE ABSOLUT GETS AN AWARD FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE VODKA OF THE YEAR OR WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT.
JUST WHEN MY MIND WAS PLAYING VIVID IMAGERY OF KANYE ON THE TELEVISION RANTING ABOUT HOW THE GREATEST RAPPER/PRODUCER AND THE GREATEST VODKA KNOWN TO MAN WAS GETTING "HATED ON" AND AMERICANS "NOT CARING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE OR VODKA" I WAS SNAPPED BACK INTO REALITY WHEN I FELT A NUDGE FROM A TINY LITTLE ELBOW. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT TO SEE A SCRAWNY LITTLE KID NO OLDER THAN TEN WEARING A WIFE BEATER AND JEANS, CARRYING A WHITE PLASTIC BAG WITH BLUE WRITING FROM AN UNRECOGNIZABLE CLOTHING STORE. I GLANCED AT MY PHONE NOTICING THAT IT WAS WELL PASSED MIDNIGHT. I LOOKED BACK AT THE KID WHO WAS NOW FIXED ON THE GROUP OF TATTOOED AND PIERCED TEEN AGED GIRLS GIGGLING ABOUT WHATEVER. I DON'T PARTICULARLY REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO RUN THE STREETS AT HIS AGE OR THEIRS, BUT I GUESS-AS EVERY GENERATION STATES ONCE THEY'VE REACHED A CERTAIN AGE- "TIMES ARE CHANGING". I MEAN THERE WAS THAT ONE INCIDENT AT THE AGE OF 15 GETTING CAUGHT AT THE CLUB BY MY PARENTS DOWNING A FEW RUM AND COKES AT THE BAR, BUT I MEAN YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE RIGHT?
AFTER A FULL HOUR OF PREPPING, TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING LOOKING REMOTELY LIKE A MOTORCYCLE/BIKER FIT, I JOURNEYED DOWN TO THE LOWER EAST SIDE ALL BY MY LONESOME TO DAMON PERUZZI'S DANCE.MUSIC.SEX.ROMANCE PARTY AT THE HOTEL RIVINGTON. THIS TIME AROUND THE THEME WAS LEATHER, TATTOOS, CHEST HAIR, AND VESTS ALL IN CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF STYLIST AND JUST PLAIN SEXY SHAUNDEL.
FEELING LIKE DOROTHY AND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, THE FIRST FRIEND OF THE NIGHT I BUMP INTO WAS A RETRO KID REJECT DECKED OUT WITH THE HIGH TOP FADE, ACID WASHED SKINNY JEANS, AFRO BEADS, AND SNEAKS. WE SHARE A CAB DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I CAN EXPENSE THIS TRIP TO MY JOB AND THE FARE WOULD BE JUST PLAIN PSYCHO, AND COME TO FIND OUT WE WENT TO THE SAME UNIVERSITY. SMALL WORLD. I PARTED WAYS WITH MY NEW FRIEND AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF AT LOTUS NIGHT CLUB, WHICH BY THE WAY CLOSES AFTER THIS WEEK, AND TRIED MY HARDEST TO EXPLAIN WHERE I WANTED TO GO TO OUR SPANISH CAB DRIVER WHO DIDN'T KNOW MUCH IN ENGLISH EXCEPT "PAY ME NOW." TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR HIM I HAD HIM DROP ME OFF A BLOCK FROM THE VENUE ON A MORE POPULAR STREET.
THIS IS WHERE I MEET THE SCARECROW LOOKING FOR A BRAIN. JUST KIDDING, I WASN'T TOO SURE IF I WAS GOING THE RIGHT WAY, SO I STOPPED THIS GUY TO ASK HIM WHERE RIVINGTON STREET WAS LOCATED, AND WITH THE MOST PLEASANT ENGLISH ACCENT, THIS TALL WIRY FELLOW AGREED TO TAKE ME TO MY DESTINATION. AS WE'RE WALKING I LEARN THAT NOT ONLY IS HE A COOL DJ, HE IS ALSO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE HONORABLE PATRICIA FIELDS AMONGST OTHERS. THEN FROM STAGE RIGHT, IN COME HIS ENTIRE POSSE. DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM, BUT THEY WERE SOME PRETTY DOPE PEOPLE. MY SLENDER ROCK STAR POINTED ME INTO THE APPROPRIATE DIRECTION AND WENT ON WITH HIS JOLLY EVENING. CHEERS.
NOW TO THE ACTUAL EVENT. THE PARTY WAS A "IF YOU HEAR ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW ABOUT IT" TYPE OF AFFAIR WITH NO LINES, NO LISTS, NO QUESTIONS, JUST ENTER. SO THAT'S WHAT I DID, I ENTER PASSED THE VELVET ROPE, MADE MY WAY THROUGH TWO DOORS, AND NESTLED IN THE BACK WAS THE BLACK AND PURPLE VELVET ROOM STOCKED WITH DANCE FLOOR, BAR, AND STRIPPER POLE? BY THIS TIME THE PARTY WAS JAMMED PACKED WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DOLLED UP, THEMED UP, LEATHER AND RUFFLED UP. I WALKED THROUGH GIVING CHEEK KISSES TO THE REGULARS, I BUMP INTO SOME OLD FRIENDS WHO I DIDN'T EVEN EXPECT TO BE IN TOWN, AND GOT REACQUAINTED WITH A FEW PEOPLE I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO IN A WHILE. AS I MADE MY ROUNDS I NOTICED THAT ALSO IN THE BUILDING WAS THE BAD BOY GANG INCLUDING SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS SUPERSTAR ASSISTANT KARLEEN ROY, RICH DOLLAZ, AND RYAN LESLIE, JUST TO NAME A FEW. AND I CAN'T FORGET MISS TAMIKA McCORMACK OF VIOLATOR RECORDS.
MODELS, DESIGNERS, STYLISTS, AND ENTERTAINERS GATHERED AROUND TO WATCH RYAN PERFORM TWO OF HIS LATEST HITS WHICH PUT A PAUSE TO THE PRINCE RECORDS AND DONNA SUMMERS HITS PLAYING MINUTES BEFORE. AFTER THE PERFORMANCE, THE CROWD SLOWLY WITHERED AS TALKS OF HEADING TO LOTUS ARISE. AS MUCH AS I TALK ABOUT THAT SPOT, YOU'D THINK I OWNED STOCK, IT'S A SHAME IT'S CLOSING.
THE CONGREGATION MADE ITS WAY OUTSIDE FOR MORE CHAT AND MINGLE, DISCUSSING OUR PERSONAL VIEWS OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE, GREEK LIFE, AND THAT "NEW YORK VIBE." FINALLY POLISHING OFF THE NIGHT UPTOWN TO GRAB A SLICE OF PIPPING HOT PIZZA AT BIG AL'S.
ALL IN ALL, THE EVENING WAS A SUCCESSFUL ONE.... UNTIL NEXT TIME.
....I HAVEN'T BEEN TOO HYPED ABOUT THE HYPE LATELY. MAYBE I WAS THE ONLY FEMALE IN NEW YORK CITY, BETTER YET THE WORLD WHO DID NOT SEE THE PREMIER OF THE EVER SO ANTICIPATED SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I HONESTLY CAN WAIT UNTIL IT COMES OUT ON "MOVIES ON DEMAND" AND I HAVE THE OPTION TO PAUSE IT IN BETWEEN TAKING LOADS OUT OF THE LAUNDRY. I ALSO DON'T REALLY CARE TOO MUCH WHETHER OR NOT NAS COMES OUT WITH HIS N*GGER CD. MAYBE YOU DO, I'M NOT MAD.
THE ICING ON MY DROLL CAKE, AND WHEN I USE THE WORD DROLL IT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF MY FEELINGS OF ENAMOR FOR IT, WAS WHEN I COULDN'T STOMACH 2 FULL HOURS OF ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE AWARDS SHOWS, THE 2008 MTV MOVIE AWARDS. AFTER TAKING IN SIGHTS OF CHRIS BROWN'S OUT-DATED, AND NOT IN A COOL WAY, MOHAWK I REALIZED I COULDN'T TAKE IT. I ALMOST STUCK IN THERE WHEN MIKE MYERS FLASHED HIS PASTY WHITE BELLY ROLL, BUT THEN ON SECOND THOUGHT I OPTED OUT. I HEARD THERE WAS THE TYPICAL MAKE OUT SESSION ON STAGE, AND THIS YEAR IT WAS BRIANNA EVIGAN AND ROBERT HOFFMAN WHO DID THE HONORS.
MAYBE INSTEAD THEY SHOULD'VE REINACTED WHAT "REALLY" HAPPENED WHEN 50cent's HOME WENT A BLAZE WITH BABY-MAMA, BABY-MAMA NEW BOO, BABY-MAMA NEW BOO'S HOMIES, AND BABY SOUND ASLEEP INSIDE. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINING. KELS, WHEN YOU DONE GETTING CAUGHT, GET ON THE REMIX, AND MAKE "THAT" A BALLAD!
THE 12TH ANNUAL BRAZILIAN FILM FESTIVAL KICKED OFF LAST NIGHT IN MIAMI WITH THE OPEN AIR CINEMA OPENING NIGHT CEREMONY. THE FESTIVAL IS GOING UNTIL THE 7TH OF JUNE, AND YOU'RE SURE TO SEE THE BEST OF BRAZIL'S INDIE FILMS IF YOU CAN MAKE IT.
AT THE COLONY THEATER....
Features and Short Films Screenings: Saturday 7pm, 9pm & 10:30pm; Sunday & Monday 7pm & 9pm Colony Theatre - 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Tickets: $10
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO MIAMI, CINE FEST BRASIL WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY TO THE BIG APPLE IN AUGUST 10-17. SAVE THE DATE. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF BRAZIL CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING TO HELP THE STREET KIDS OF BRAZIL.
