According to TMZ, Jay-Z and Beyonce are currently house shopping and are considering a bungalow that once belonged to Ricky Martin. The $12.5 million mansion is 9,491 square feet and includes seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, swimming pools and sweeping ocean views of Miami Beach. Their new neighbors would include Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Meanwhile, the expectant couple was recently spotted dining at Oprah’s former chef Art Smith’s Table Fifty Two in Chicago. Jay was in the Windy City for his “Watch the Throne” tour with Kanye West.
The Queen of Soul, Dr. Aretha Franklin, received a backstage visit from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and his lovely wife, Dr. Sharon Malone-Holder, after she accepted her Doctorate of Humane Letters from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. It was part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum’s week-long celebration of her American Music Master Honor. Dr. Cissy Houston performed at the star-studded event.
The New York Branch of the NAACP hosted its centennial holiday gala 2011 on Dec. 2 in the Mercury Ball Room of the New York Hilton in the Big Apple. The evening was in memory of my dear friend, Kathy Keeton Guccione. The illustrious crowd that joined longtime president of the New York Branch and member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, the magnificent Dr. Annie B. Martin, included the Honorable John Liu, the Honorable Bill Perkins and Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers.
The evening’s honorees were Anthony Harmon, director of parent and community outreach, UFT; Joseph Nazario, secretary treasurer, Social Services Employees Union, Local 371, AFSCME; and Alma Roper, executive vice president, Local 1549 DC37, AFSCME.
“In Living Color” veteran Kim Wayans was at last week’s IFP Independent Film Awards, sponsored by Euphoria Calvin Klein, at Cipriani in New York City to cheer on “Pariah” director-writer Dee Rees, who won the Breakthrough Director Award. Wayans portrays the mother of Lee, a teenaged girl struggling with her sexuality in the critically acclaimed film hitting theaters on Dec. 28. Spike Lee is among the executive producers.
McDonald’s recently started Art Basel off right at Ricochet Lounge in Miami. Celebrities, artists and socialites partied the night away while listening to an exclusive performance by Nas. The club was packed and guests enjoyed Big Macs and Big Mac Snack Wraps throughout the evening.