Niecy Nash's Fabulous Book Launch @ LUXE HOTELS Rodeo Drive

LUXE HOTELS Rodeo Drive was the perfect place to host
Niecy Nash's launch of her book,

Niecy Nash in Beverly Hills, CA, @ LUXE HOTELS RODEO DRIVE
autographing her book, "It's Hard To Fight Naked"

 "It's Hard To Fight Naked".
Upon arriving at the LUXE HOTELS Rodeo Drive, you were whisked away, up, up, up to the Penthouse Level, over looking the world renowned most fabulous place to shop -  Rodeo Drive, Darling...

Niecy Nash is a hopeless romantic, and has searched her heart, reaching out to those who love love, and has decided that she "wants you to get the very thing that we are created for - a great relationship. But you have to want it too. The universe will send you somebody amazing, but why would it ever send the best for you when you're not at your best?
It's time for a tall glass of "act right!"

Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller, XEROX Corp.,

Dawn Sutherland,VP Finance, Controller USCO, XEROX Corp., (wearing a Carolyn Wilbourn  Design)  believes in supporting local Authors/Artist was there to celebrate Niecy's book launch, and said,

The multi-talented Brandy and Carolyn Wilbourn

 "The event was lovely, Star studded with a really nice crowd. The atmosphere was awesome, the food was great, and the song that Brandy sang, to celebrate Niecy and Jay's 2nd anniversary was lovely."

Cedric the Entertainer, Carolyn Wilbourn, Clothing Designer

Cedric the Entertainer, who plays Rev. Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine, Niecy's on screen husband
(Niecy's character's name is Lolli Ballentine) on the current hit show on TV Land, "The Soul Man" was there to celebrate as well. The new season starts Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 11PM/10C on TV Land   #thesoulman

I'm with you, Niecy. I believe that everyone should take a moment to invite love in, let it sit a while.
I look forward to reading, "It's Hard To Fight Naked"... 

Smooches, C


LUXE HOTELS Rodeo Drive 360 N. Rodeo Drive | Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310.273.0300
For Special Events, contact Michelle Sharp, Catering Manager: michelle.sharp@luxehotels.com

You can catch Niecy Nash - @NiecyNash on Twitter. Also, Niecy currently stars as Lolli Ballantine, with Cedric the Entertainer, on TV Land's The Soul Man.
Media inquiries for Niecy Nash, 
contact Kristin Dwyer, Gallery Books.
kristin.dwyer@simonandschuster.com, Jenni Weinman, Patricola PR, INC. jenniw@ppr-inc.com,
You ROCK,  William P. Miller, Special Events @WPMillermoments Twitter. Great job! Kita Williams PR - kitapubdiva@aol.com 

Happy Mother's Day!

It's a lovely Sunday morning, and as we rise and shine, I'd like to wish my Mother, and all of the women around the globe, a Happy Mother's Day!

Life is too short, and so precious, and it takes someone with a heart of gold to love
and help guide a little one from infancy to adult-hood. So, hats off to all of the Mothers (biological, adopted), Aunts and Cousins that have nurtured children (especially those born from another woman's womb) around the globe, a very happy Mother's Day.

I have a few lovely suggestions as to great places to take your Mom for breakfast/brunch/dinner today in Beverly Hills...

Villa Blanca - 9601 Brighton way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310.859.7600 - For the Mom who believes that she too, should be Lisa Vanderpump's BFF on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!

Villa Blanca Restaurant in Beverly Hills

Le Pain Quotidien - 9632 S. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310.859.1100 - For all of the Francophiles living in Beverly Hills |  Los Angeles, but wishing they were in the South of France!

 Le Pain Quotidien Beverly Hills, Organic Chicken Curry Tartane  (photo by Carina N.)

Jack N. Jill's - 342 N. Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 |  310.247.4500 - For the Mom that loves New Orleans, Louisiana, Southern Comfort food, home made, with love,
 by Robert Benson, Executive Chef/ Owner and Danny Kim-, from the scratch!   
Enjoy your day! Smooches, C

Jack N' Jill's Restaurant in Beverly Hills

Welcome to Beverly Hills Milken Institute Global Conference Attendees

It's Saturday morning, and Beverly Hills is all a buzz with people from around the globe, in town to attend the Milken Institute's Global Conference.  There's so much to see and do, so all of you who have come to town to make Beverly Hills their home for the next few days, please, take the time to visit
The Paley Center for Media,
The Beverly Canon Gardens, the various Art Galleries and let us not forget, GEARYS Beverly Hills, the oldest retail establishment in the City of Beverly Hills. Enjoy your visit!

GEARYS Beverly Hills 351 N. Beverly Dr. 310.273.4741 | The Paley Center for Media .465 N. Beverly Dr. 310.786.1000

Montage Beverly Hills Hotel - Chef Scott Conant - Fabulous

The temperature in Beverly Hills this Saturday morning? (62°/ 53°°F°C) Well, I have some good news!
The Montage Beverly Hills Hotel (@MontageBH)  has a newsletter called Nouveau Montage. So if you're looking for a wonderful place to duck into, by all means, step on over to the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel,  to the spot -

Montage Beverly Hills 

Chef Scott Conant - Scarpetta BH

Scarpetta Restaurant. Chef Scott Conant  (Twitter: @conantnyc)
knows how to spice up your life - using seasonal ingredients that make you feel as if you are back in Italy! He is currenly a judge on that fabulous food show,
 Chopped All Stars,  which premieres on Sunday, April 7 at 9pm/8c(#Chopped)

Bundle up and get on over to your second home -
 Scarpetta Beverly Hills @ the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel.
Smooches, C


Montage Beverly Hills 225 North Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310.860.7800

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr - R.I.P.

Dr. King Jr., We just want you to know that your life was not in vain.
You looked at the man in the mirror and set our to make a difference in this world - and you did.

We celebrate progress in America due to the sacrifice that you and Reverend Abernathy and the many members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) have made during the civil rights movement of the 50's - 60's here in America; Making sure that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were put into place. Ensuring certain unalienable rights of all citizens of the USA. America is a place where no one should be treated like a second class citizen - especially in their own home.

We as a Nation shall continue to make strides in the name of freedom and civil liberty and justice for all in this beautiful place called America!














Love,
C
Photos: AP
Referrences: Andover Harvard Library, Wikipedia,
beverlyhillsbusinessexcellence.blogspot.com, article re-posted from 1.17.11 , 2.12

The Mayor's MASKED Ball w/ UNCF

The invitation to the Mayor's Masked Ball 2013

"Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, in conjunction with UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball, held at
 Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City.
Chris Schauble, Co-Anchor, KTLA 5 Morning News announcer, and Vera Jimenez, Meteorologist, Reporter, KTLA 5 News and Master of Ceremony, Jim Hill,
 Sports Anchor, CBS 2/ KCAL 9  were outstanding!
Loretta Divine, Anna Maria Horsford, Crystal Wright, and Obba Babtunde  were cuttin' up a rug and in the house, dancing to the Classic R & B Group, The Whispers!

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF welcomed everyone so warmly.

Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor of  Los Angeles, CA.

The Invocation was done by Rev. Zelda Kennedy, Senior Associate, Pastoral Care and
Spiritual Growth All Saints Church.

It was April 25, 1944, when  Frederick D. Patterson (President of Tuskegee University) and
Mary McLeod Bethune, UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to or nation."

Chris Schauble, Anchor, KTLA 5

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel,Toyota Motor Sales

Jim Hill, Sports, Anchor, CBS2/KCAL 9

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. was so lively and entertaining.

Lisa D. Cagnolatti, Vice President, Business Customer Division of Southern California Edison was very hospitable, with the largest mask I've ever seen! She had the entire audience rolling!

Carl A. Ballton, President, Union Bank

Hats off to Carl A. Ballton, President,
Union Bank Foundation, for sincerely working so diligently in the community, making sure that the richness of our culture is preserved, as well as supporting HBCUs.



 Earvin "Magic" Johnson  - and Sheryl P. Underwood were the Honorees.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Honoree

Sheryl P. Underwood, Honoree

Did I tell you that the full-time Husband, Father, MBA All Star, Entrepreneur and Joseph (the Biblical character that forgave his brothers and took care of his family during a famine. How? His brothers sold him into slavery and he worked his behind off, and was eventually rewarded by being entrusted with all of all of the Pharaoh's store houses of food stuffs, during feast and famine) in the community,  Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his lovely wife, Cookie, are life/purpose driven and provide so much help within the urban communities across the United States in more ways then one can imagine.

This remarkable man (I'm talking "Magic" Johnson, ya'll), along with the late Jerry Buss (R.I.P. Jerry Buss), from day one, have made things happen in the Los Angeles area. Magic Johnson says, "For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There's winning and there's losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen. But what's never been acceptable to me is quitting." Yes, Magic Johnson, you consistently show by example that you are not a quitter. Thank you, Magic Johnson, for showing our children first hand, how to work hard, gain success and reach back and uplift others. You are your brother's keeper, and we love you for that.

Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller USCO,
XEROX Corp.

Sheryl P.Underwood is truly a brilliant woman. Her comedic timing is impeccable. Sheryl, a co-host of the show, "The Talk", on CBS International President of her beloved Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., makes it a goal to help people as often as possible. She humbly accepted her award, and spoke to the audience from her heart, stressing the importance of making sure that we continue to support our youth, ensuring that they have better opportunities. Keep letting your light shine, Sheryl!

XEROX Corporation actively supports the community and was one of the sponsors for the event.
Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller, USCO Southern California / Las Vegas Operations looked absolutely fabulous!
Yes, Dawn Sutherland does fabulous quite well, wearing a gown designed by Carolyn Wilbourn, of Wilbourn Exclusives, out of Atlanta, GA.

Dawn Sutherland is committed to making sure that our youth succeed, getting all the necessary tools needed to grasp and obtain higher education.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., Founding sponsor is an awesome corporation. See how they continue to fly!

Smooches,
Carla













(photo of listing of sponsors - Richard Nichols, All other photos are taken from each person's website - and UNCF)

GEARYS Beverly Hills - Annual Event, March 1st - 3rd 2013

You did say that you like the finest Crystal, china, silver and fine jewelry - right? I thought so!

Well then, I must share with you the good news!
 I am so excited about one of my all time favs...
GEARYS Beverly Hills, the oldest retail establishment in Beverly Hills (1930)

GEARYS Beverly Hills is having their annual sale, Honey Child...and in all the years, I've never been disappointed...











GEARYS Beverly Hills is located at 351 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Wed & Thursday Feb 27 & 28, 10AM - 8PM - you get an additional 10% off

Official sale starts Friday, March 1, 2013 @ 10:00AM - Sunday, March 3, 2013

Sale is only at the Beverly Drive location. Rolex Herend and Hermes not included. No phone orders. In-stock merchandise only. No gift wrap or shipping. No house charges. All sales final.

85th Annual Oscars ~ Off the Charts Darling ~

It's the 85th Annual Oscars, and the oh the city is all a buzz! There are so many good films being nominated - make sure you watch the show, and we'll discuss it a bit....loving every minute of it, Darling.... Quentin T., Reggie Hudlin - you better bring it! (Django Unchained)

Best Picture-
Django Unchained -
Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, Producers

Zero Dark Thirty -
Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, Producers

Beasts of the Southern Wild-
Dan Janey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers

Actor - In a Leading Role

Denzel Washington - "Flight"

Reginald Hudlin, Producer of "Django Unchained"

Denzel Washington - Flight

Daniel Day-Lewis - "Lincoln"

Daniel Day - Lewis - Lincoln
Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook

Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables

Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

Hugh Jackman - "Les Miserables"

Actress - In a Leading Role
Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

Quvenzhane Wallis
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver linings Playbook
Naomi Watts - The Impossible
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour

Sally Fields - "Lincoln"

Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin - Argo
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

Anne Hathaway - "Les Miserables"

Actress - in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams - The Master
Sally Field - Lincoln
Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Jacki Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook
Animated Feature Film
Brave - Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Frankenweenie - Tim Burton
ParaNorman - Sam Fell and Chris Butlerand of Misfits -
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Peter Lord
Wreck- It Ralph - Rich Moore

Smooches,
Carla

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is truly a day to spend loving on someone special. An example of a couple that has allowed love to come in and sit for a while, and extending family love into the community and the Diaspora =
Dr. Bernard & Shirley Kinsey.
When I'm around them, I can see how much they love and respect each other, and it's awesome!

Dr. Bernard & Shirley Kinsey -  Portrait by Artis Lane

This dynamic couple is busy educating the American Community at large, concentrating on clearing up all of the misunderstandings surrounding the contributions that African Americans have made to this beautiful country, our country, America. The Kinseys' currently have an exhibit in Los Angeles at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, CA - MOAD SF, entitled,
 "The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, Where Art and History Intersect", now through May 19, 2013. The Kinsey's also have an exhibit at Walt Disney World's Epcot, the American Adventure 'March 2013.This exhibit tells the American story of "determination, courage, hope, struggle and inspiration" through 40 pieces of  art, artifacts, books, sculptures and documents from their private art collection. Make sure you check them out!

Now more than ever, we can all use some love. It's kind of nice, inviting love in, having it sit down and visit for a while.
Stevie Wonder states it best in the song entitled "Love's in Need of Love Today" -

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!
Love & light, Carla

The official Dr. Bernard & Shirley Kinsey Website: http://www.thekinseycollection.com/
Other articles on Dr. Bernard & Shirley Kinsey that we blogged about:
1.10.11 http://beverlyhillsbusinessexcellence.blogspot.com/2011/01/kinsey-collection-arrives-in-san.html
2.13.12 http://beverlyhillsbusinessexcellence.blogspot.com/2012/02/pan-african-art-film-festival-slavery.htm

The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2013)

Beverly Hills / Hollywood is all a glow with fabulous people in town for the
70th Anniversary Golden Globe Awards....Oh yes....





The Best Motion Picture - Drama
Argo - Winner
Django Unchained -
Life of Pi -
Lincoln -
Zero Dark Thirty -

More to come....Smooches, Carla